HOW THE WORLD WORKS...Crucial Insider Info

Alan Greenspan

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2008

I still recall my shock when I saw former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan sit before Congress to explain his part in our global financial crisis. Greenspan told a House panel he was in a "state of shocked disbelief." He admitted making a mistake in an assumption that "banks operating in their self-interest would be sufficient to protect their shareholders and the equity in their institutions."

"(It was) a flaw in the model that I perceived is the critical functioning structure that defines how the world works." (Associated Press, 10/24/08, italics mine)

How the world works. Surely a financial expert like Mr. Greenspan should know that by now. Especially the greedy nature of the human heart.

The earth's suffered a permanent tilt. The world's mechanism is in a quagmire. Hurricanes blow. Earthquakes rock. Tsunamis sweep away thousands. Beetles attack your favorite shade trees. Kids get sick.

And ever since The Fall, we humans tend to produce our own mayhem. The planet's peopled with selfish users. Cheaters all, if given the right chance. People scam you. We're all a distortion of what God created us to be. That includes everyone in your town. Your neighborhood. Your church. Your family. It includes you. . .and me.

That's why there's wars and rumors of wars. All around you. So, you get battle weary. You aren't behind the lines. You aren't back at headquarters. You aren't across the sea in the safety of the homeland. You're on the front with bullets hissing left and right. 

Jesus knows how the world works: "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows" (John 16:33 TLB). So did he. Those who follow Jesus deal with the real world, not a made up, make-believe, everything and everybody's okay type of mentality. We learn how to contend with brutal battlefield reality.

But it's not all war and betrayal. We praise God for gorgeous sunsets. For honest gained wealth. For fresh water and sweet, juicy oranges. For the ability to cure countless diseases. For signs of sincere, sacrificial love.

Thank Him today for every blessed moment of R&R relief. 

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When did you first notice the way things really are on this planet?

Have you made your peace with life as it is? With God?

In what way do you find daily joy and contentment, in spite of it all?

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Find a free download of the article, "31 Ways To Win The Fight For Personal Peace" at http://BlyBooks.com/articles.htm/

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God Is Good All The Time

Janet Chester Bly's book, God Is Good All The Time, is available through the Bly Books online bookstore: http://BlyBooks.com/store.htm/

RELEASE REMORSE

Janet & Jan

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2008,2010

A friend and I discussed the points of a sermon we heard Sunday morning. We both agreed that even though we know that God loves us … one of the hardest things we struggle with is feeling free to be ourselves. We don’t want to offend. We don’t want to stand out. We want others to like us.

We both shared times when we acted out, or blurted words, perhaps part of our true natures, that reaped embarrassment or guilt.  We’ve blown it. This caused us sometimes to be reticent to say or do anything in a similar situation again.

“How do I release the dumb things I’ve said or done and find relief to be the person I really am?” she asked.

We all dread dredging up past painful memories. When we’ve done wrong things. Or failed to do something right. We fired lightning sparks in the situation, instead of enlightenment. We flunk the tests of life. Guilt’s our grade.

But at least guilt’s better than a dead conscience. Still, finding a way to reconcile, to make peace with ourselves, with others, with God … that’s glorious. Working through the trips of guilt proves our spirits are alive. We’re responsible persons. We’re accountable citizens. We’re spiritual beings. We repent, turn around, and go the other way.

In all sorts of moods and weather, finding true inner peace when we disappoint ourselves, when we hurt others, can take a long time if …

We won’t admit it when we’re wrong.

We know we’re wrong, but we’re full of excuses … such as, blame others.

We’re unable to admit we’re capable of wounding words or fatal flaws.

We refuse to apologize without qualifiers.

We’re unable to accept forgiveness and go on.

We fail to realize we’re as faulty as those we judge.

We won’t allow God to heal us, to put us together again, as only he can.

We make peace with shame when we give our moral failure to God’s Son, Jesus (1 John 1:9). We call it what it is. We place a name to the deed.

My friend and I discussed the need to transfer every detail of wronged relationships and their aftermath to God, our best Friend.  To surrender to his wise and powerful keeping everyone involved and affected.

When we depend on him to make crooked places straight, when we do a free-fall into his love, his acceptance, his grace … we rid ourselves of remorse. We release that best part of us we call personality, our unique gift to the world. He heals our souls.

“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:5 NKJV).

When do you experience the most freedom to fully be yourself … and have no need for later regrets?

You may download the free article, “31 Days To Win The Fight For Personal Peace” at http://BlyBooks.com/articles.htm