1 Samuel 16:14 “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit tormented him.

Judges 16:20 “Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.”

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Does our country, does our world, even recognize the presence of God.  How about us as individuals?  Samson did not know when the presence of God had left him, that is, until the consequences of his sin and the departure of the Spirit, were evidenced by his weakness and inability to overcome, which led to him being overrun.  King David relished the presence of God.  He begged with all that He was for the Spirit of God, for God’s presence with Him, to not be removed “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”  (Psalm 51:11)

So would we know if the blessings that God has poured out on our country been pulled back.  Not because of consequences, but because we cherish and walk in the presence of God.  Does our collective spirit even recognize God?  Our collective spirit consists of all of us as individuals.  We must ask ourselves if we, as individuals, know the presence of God and so we would know the withdrawal of it.  If not, God has provided a simple answer.  It is to humble ourselves before God and to willfully know Jesus as both our Savior and our Lord.  It’s not too late, but there is only one way, God’s way.  May we be so humble and soft of heart as to obey.  Family and Friends, as always, God calls out to us and He is grace is available to all through Jesus.  Let’s not ignore and so reap.  Praise God for His mercy and Grace!  Praise God

A Ringing Bell

The first time they heard the bell,

They stopped and thought,

They liked the sound.

It was the inaugural ringing of the bell.

On the second day they were,

Grateful and wondered,

How faithfully the bell would ring?

They stopped and thought,

They liked the sound.

After a month of the bell ringing,

Every day at the same time,

They no longer always noticed it,

But when they did,

They stopped and thought,

They liked the sound.

After six months of the bell ringing,

Sometimes, just sometimes,

 It was an annoyance,

But still, mostly,

They stopped and thought,

They liked the sound.

They think that this bell

Is a curious thing.

They remember when it began,

And they did not believe it would continue.

Now they only sometimes,

Notice the ringing,

 Having heard it so many times.

They probably wouldn’t notice,

If it stopped.

One, a prestigious one,

Said “please stop.”

Still, sometimes,

Most, some,

They stop and think,

They like the sound.

The bell has been ringing,

A very long time,

Some still stop and think,

“I like the sound.”