IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR who is crass, crabby, or cruel, here is a great lesson!

 

ON A CERTAIN DAY I was again out in the backyard with my terrier, Tina…
and it was very interesting. Never happened before, probably never will again. It was a shocker!

When we go outside to the back as I’m caring for her, I’m enjoying time with Tina, and God in my beautiful backyard. I will most always never be quiet. I’m not programmed that way: that’s fine, I like myself. So, as I’m either talking to Tina, talking with God, reading Scriptures aloud I’ve brought with me, or singing: and I am having a most wonderful time! I loved the recent day here in Minnesota when it rained all day long and I had to dry Tina off every time we came in. I hung my raincoat on the chair so it would hopefully dry before our next trip out. I love the sound of the rain rushing through the gutters!

And when I’m outside, often I will sing It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood that our most beloved Fred Rogers taught me… I love that man! Of course, as a child of God, I love mankind: but being not stupid, I sure don’t like everyone. Why else would I pray for their souls? Why else would I denounce Satan’s kingdom?!

I don’t like them. I love them!

Truly I say to you, on one particular day I was singing this beautiful song. Now to the ungodly it sounds corny. Why? Because the bitter are not only bitter, they are cynical.

Selah.

And I was enjoying myself. Furthermore, I was enjoying God and all His goodness as usual… The amazing thing was, when I had just finished this song I heard a man say loudly, severely: “No!” I heard it. I didn’t respond because as I thought about it, and have a strong belief on who this man is, rather – what he is, I knew he wanted a resentful reaction from me. He wasn’t going to get one… He is the man right behind the fence. And yes, he was serious in his “No!”

Selah.

He is my neighbor physically; and if you remember, we have had trouble with him and with his wife (more than I am telling you now.) We had our other dogs before they got ‘Ace.’ And that doesn’t matter. I just state this because some people really believe that would give me more rights. It does not. Their dog not only barked quite frequently and for more than just a couple of minutes; Ace tried to come through the fence the first time I knew of him! He was not a big dog, but he was big enough to bite hard and hurt my two Pugs, Rocky and Riley, who we had at that time.

Ace was such a nuisance. These people are arrogant, not caring for our peace (and safety.) At one time, even their neighbor scolded me. I really could see sheer hatred for me in her eyes as she verbally attacked me! I’ll never forget my words back to her: “What are you talking about? This is my property!” My dogs and I have a right to be in our yard. She sure didn’t think so! I took great pleasure in mocking her. Jesus does that…

Ace almost always started the barking: and if my dogs did start the barking and even when they didn’t, I stopped them immediately, not after five, ten minutes or longer either. And it was rare Rocky and Riley barked first at all!

Selah.

So when the man said “No!” I gave no evidence of hearing him. He is, after all, a coward. Inwardly, he just confirmed to me what a jerk he is. As I said, I did not respond: but with every attack, problem or uncertainty, I go to God and ask Him things. Very smart! Very Christian!! In this case I asked Him about wanting neighbors…

I went to Him in order to confirm that I was not doing anything evil because I don’t want neighbors nearby. I want a huge acreage. Why? Yes, I do love people; but I don’t like having neighbors so close that I can see them. I cherish my privacy. Why? Why does a woman who loves people, who wants everyone in Heaven, want privacy? Neighbors that are far away so that I don’t even hear or see them?

I’ll tell you why. God relates to us that most people will not enter the kingdom (Please read all the Scriptures below pertaining to this Joy Story.) He tells us we are not to have anything to do with some, and some we are not even to pray for (something not taught nearly enough.) He tells us this for good reasons because God is always right and always God!

Selah.

So, how could I sing a song like this: Won’t you please be my neighbor? and mean it? That was my question. That’s what I wanted to know. I already really did know the answer. How can I be right feeling and believing this way when I don’t like them and want my privacy regardless? I want to be away from you, my mean neighbor.

 

 

HERE IS THE ANSWER:
Yes, I want this arrogant and truly hateful man to be my neighbor! But the question is: where?  Where does God and His children want the ungodly? Heaven, of course! But they, like we children of God, cannot enter through the gate with their baggage of sin.

Selah.

They are no better than we are. They are required by Law, God’s commandments that is, to love Him, to love themselves, and to love me! They are required to be humble, asking Jesus to take their sin given them eternal life by grace, through faith… Claiming Christ Jesus to be their only Lord and Savior is mandatory to be a good neighbor…

Selah.

Nothing profane is allowed in Heaven. And that is what I was, what you were, and what sinners are to this day…

 

Revelation 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

We, Israel and the Church follow respectively:

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

 

Matthew 22:35-40

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

A Christian willingly bows to the will of God, knowing He is I AM and we are His creation. We submit to things we may not even like to, knowing it’s completely stupid to think we know better than our holy, perfect, and merciful Father.

Selah.

A Christian wants God’s will not only in their own life, but that of others. Jesus did die once for all, after all. So, yes! I want neighbors; those whom are like-minded. I want brothers and sisters who love God like He requires us to because we want to! I want people who love me just as they should; so many people haven’t… Same with you. These neighbors will welcome me just as they welcome their most beloved on Earth! The joy of this thought overwhelms me with tears quite often.

Beloved,
There will be no division in Heaven when Christ puts the father of lies and his entire brood into the lake of fire. We will be free from every sin, from all sin and from every sinner.

Selah.

But, first and foremost, I want all in Heaven because God is worthy. He is worthy to be loved, to be worshipped, adored, revered, and trusted without hesitation. God is worthy that all of His humanity should have loved Him and bent to His will, His perfect will, right from their first knowledge of His being.

Selah.

I pray for all people I am supposed to. Did you know there are those we are told not to pray for? True.

So, as I sing Please, won’t you be my neighbor!  I do mean it! In the meantime, someday I will move to a bigger property: and for now, the crass, crabby, and cruel neighbors I know of, I will pray that they, like me, will humble themselves and announce to God: “I need You! Save me!”

I encourage you all today and every day to pray for the unholy. You may not like the word sinner – tough. That’s what they are and that is what God calls them. Truth of the Bible can never be evil…

If being polite hides truth, don’t be. If conforming to fit in compromises His will, do not.

Be holy as He is holy…

 

1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

 

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

 

 

2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE…

 

 

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

 

Revelation 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.