I’ve been ruminating on this post for over a week now. I wanted to post it last week, but I just wasn’t ready. I’m not sure I’m ready now, but I feel like it needs to be done. Maybe in advance of next week’s election. <shrug> On that note, I won’t say WHO you should vote for because, in my opinion, neither of the candidates is a “good” candidate, but I do encourage you to vote. My motto is … who would Jesus vote for? 😀

Heb. 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

I’ve always believed this to be true. But I’m going to question a bit of “religiosity”.

I went to a church once that preached the above, but did not believe that God still punishes us. And while I believe that Jesus took the punishment for our sin when He died on the cross, I also believe that, at times, we need a good, swift kick in the backside so we can see straight.

So, if Jesus, aka God, is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then why would they believe that God would not punish us.

Here is my thought pattern:

Lev 24:15 – Say to the people of Israel: Those who curse their God will be punished for their sin.

Jdg 9:57 – God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled.

1Ch 21:7 – God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.

Ezr 7:26 – Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”

Ezr 9:13 – “Now we are being punished because of our wickedness and our great guilt. But we have actually been punished far less than we deserve, for you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive as a remnant.

Psa 99:8 – O LORD our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but you punished them when they went wrong.

Jer 50:18 – Therefore, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria.

But, you might say, this is Old Testament. Yes, yes, it is. But wait …

Rom 2:2 – And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

Rom 13:2 – So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Heb 2:2 – For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.

And in Acts 5:1-10, we read the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.

Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 

Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

I, personally, would call this punishment.

Also to support my supposition …
Heb 12:8, 11 – If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all…. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

What say you? Again, I’m still working this out in my head/heart.

Now on to updates.

I don’t remember my last update, but last week we closed on our old home.

We went from this 4500 sq ft home on seven acres to this 3000 sq ft home on .25 acres. We have been living here for five months now and are LOVING it. We’re still putting our stamp on the place with updates–mostly in the closets and pantry as they have wire shelves, which we both dislike, but it’s so convenient to all the things we do and has room to entertain. I’m already hosting a small group once a week, and I look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family here.

The below is my dining room (far back with chandelier), kitchen, and family room. This is the staged shot before the previous tenants moved. I didn’t feel like taking a new pic. 😀

I have been writing some, but it is VERY sporadic as most of my days are filled with childcare or small groups, both of which I love but are not conducive to writing. I hope to have a book out in 2025. I don’t know what though. I might even get more than one out. Wouldn’t that be a miracle? LOL

If you had a choice of the following, which would you like to read first?

1. romantic suspense fantasy of the shifter/supernatural variety
2. Book 2 in the Scottish Castles series – Iain’s story
3. Book 2 in the First Love Series – David’s story
4. Book 2 in an as yet unnamed contemporary romance series. Book one is On Angels’ Wings. This would be Titus’ story.
5. Contemporary Romance, standalone, not related to any book currently published. Marriage of convenience/heiress story.
6. Contemporary Romance, standalone, not related to any book currently published. Nanny/single father romance.

All of these are started but not yet complete.

Comment away. 😀

Many blessings to you all,