Victimized....

Victimized....

Over the course of 42+ years of business ownership my late husband and I have met and worked with a lot of people. He met  a lot more as he was in it on a day to day basis.

He had mining claims, gravel pits, ranch ground, data about mining and mines, forest grounds and products....he worked with public and private land issues....worked with environmental issues, water rights, archeologists.....and for the most part, he worked  with great people who were to be respected and respected him in return....

But, there were a few who took advantage  of him, and some who succeeded, others who tried...taking funds, embezzling funds, "loans", taking ground, non payment for work done, etc...There were many sleepless nights, as well as many long talks with forensic accountants, lawyers, each other, advisors over being the victim of such actions.....

We would fast and pray, delve deeper into God's word, searching for His will on such matters...leaning heavily and moving forward with what we felt
God was teaching us, and the direction to take on each matter...

I, being a peacemaker, just wanted it all to go away, at any cost...wanted smooth sailing all the time....don't ruffle things.....he, wanting the same, although  he had the courage to see it through until justice had been served in each instance...and we did ....

I was reminded of these times again the other day when I received a "scam" telephone call....telling me I had one half hour to respond or the police would arrive at my door for my arrest in IRS  tax evasion and past debts.  I could get out of this  by "paying".. I took all of his information and not giving mine...then I called one of my " advisors", my son. Being a policeman, I thought he would know the procedure on reporting..and he did ....there is a site, IRS impersonation scamming, to which to report calls....

Even In the unsettling times....thank YOU for watching  out for us, giving us guidelines in Your Word on dealing with evil ones...those who would use us, take advantage of us....but You give peace in those times as well...thank you....

[ Psalm 121 ] [ A song of ascents. ] I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Psalm 37
Of David.

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
    then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
    and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
    their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the Lord
    and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
    a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
    there will be no future[e] for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.