He Is Jehovah-Jirah

 The Pharisee brags to God thanking Him that he's not like the tax collector--obviously a marginalized group in those days.  The tax collector, on the other hand, humbled himself before God, acknowledging himself as a sinner.  Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. --[Luke 18: 10-15] so tell me, i tell myself in the mirror, are you humbled before God and man?  Am I?  Can i be as a little child again?  Innocent and unassuming?  Is that the way i should think?

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. --[Ephesians 6:11] In whatever state i am to be content. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?  Can any good come out of West Boylston?  The Redneck City--city of white trash and gas-lighters?  The land of the working-class heathens who continue to make Dunkin' Donuts rich while getting fat and placated on sugar on their way to work?  Jesus was called a liar, a glutton, a drunkard, a man in league with the devil.  i have lived among the likes of them.  i was once one of them.

My words have been tarnished.  My motives have been questioned, i've been accused of being in league with the enemy.  i can tell by how people look at and talk to me.  i can tell by how they don't look and don't talk to me.  My writings, my words shall be discovered, and they shall be twisted.  Some acquaintances will say "but I knew him when..."  He was like that what you see on his old, dead Facebook account!

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God--[Hebrews 12:2]

i am not to look at myself, my circumstances, my troubles, but unto Jesus.  The self-righteous will be forsaken, but not the righteous--those who look unto Jesus.  The Lord will see to it.  i don't have to worry about my past or my future.  God is my Helper and He will see to it.  He is Jehovah-Jirah.