MONEY AND SEX:

Freedom or captivity?

Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

• In my humble-blunt opinion...the two arenas that "fell" and derail more people are money and sex. I am not skilled at the first one and was skilled at the second in my youth long ago.

• Some people are spectacular in the manifesting of money! It seems to flow off their hands like hot fudge on a sundae...sweet, sumptuous, powerful, easily manifested.

• Then there are people like me...the opposite to this ease, scrambling for the foundations.

• For decades, my financial life has mostly been held together with tape and safety pins, fragile on the surface, not easily movable and yet containing the "grit" of a determined survivor. I have had all kinds of jobs in my life, mostly simple and basic jobs, but work, nevertheless. I made sincere effort and made enough to keep the rock bottom basics afloat but not nearly up any corporate ladders. Street smart folks like me are resourceful and excellent survivors...but it gets exhausting running so much, especially as one gets older.

• Cutting up all my credit cards back in 2002 when I filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy (Chapter 13 is a “payment plan”), was a sobering and tempering blast of ice cold water that I obviously needed in order to awaken me to realities and also "aim me toward my gifts", a phrase that Holy Spirit just dropped into my heart as I wrote this. My gift for words began to develop more deeply from that time of crisis. Also, I have ZERO credit card debt! Yay!!! I did NOT rebuild my relationship with Visa or Mastercard when the payments were over.

• Sex, I was good at... but my soul and body were still not fed. By good, I mean I knew the basics and how to meander and reasonably be with men without being a "temptress" with regalia, just a mutual attraction. Surface connection drove me and unfortunately for me, the surface evaporated quickly into emptiness, and the desire proved to be a very shallow liar. My body was not fed, not with pleasure. It remained a soul-less act. I had far too many sex partners, often one-night stands. Two abortions in 1973, multiple sexually transmitted diseases, multiple broken hearts (mine and others), emotional and financial disarray, not a great legacy. So much for the devil's selling gig! I looked under the hood and starkly saw the empty promises and the filth. Cybering ( having sex verbally online) in the few months long ago that I was ensnared in it, was particularly debasing and demoralizing. Chasing and chasing and chasing and finding empty cold air, that is what it was. Not fun, not satisfying in the least. I probably could have been a good writer of erotica…but no, that did not reach my soul!

• The human soul is both dynamic and yet delicate, easily damaged.

  So much is intertwined with these two powerhouses of money and sex...and yet an ocean of tears has cascaded off these, a source of great sadness and hurt for me and I am sure, for others.

• I think of some of the modern sayings regarding money, including Liza Minelli and Joel Crey’s characters singing about the world going 'round from money (from the movie "Cabaret"), the popular phrase " big bucks, " rock and roll and some Motown songs on money, including Pink Floyd "Money" and " Money Money Money " by the O'Jays . The Bible speaks of it, with " the love of money is the root of all evil", (not money itself but the LOVE of money) and also the phrase " filthy lucre".

• Sex...I do not even know where to begin...history, music, art, drama, movies, television, dance, books, fashion, the world is flooded with references to the sexual act and the pursuit of it. It certainly seems "hope springs eternal." I realistically think the marketing machine spins the fantasy but perhaps dreadfully few manifest the "Sold Goods."

• There is the realm of commerce, sometimes referred to as " business. " Among a myriad of human realms, there includes the business of retail, the business of finance, the business of education, the business of food, the business of transport, the business of building, the business of government, the business of garments and fashion, and yes, the business of sex. Business is not inherently bad, but it can be cold and controlling, and yes, to me, without soul or spirit.

• I truly believe, based on the seven plus decades I have lived on this earth, the devil's marketing machine (AKA lying!), spins so many effective fables. We are pressured to buy this product, attend these classes, live in this city or neighborhood, wear this garment or color, drive this car, work in this "cool" field, be a rebel ( talk to me about being a rebel...I can tell you a few unhappy tales) and etc., ad nauseum. Repetition has to be part of marketing strategies. It is not wrong to seek to make money, nor to enjoy sexuality within the covenant of marriage of husband and wife. It is simply recognizing that the external things of money and sex alone will not give you solace or true comfort, nor save your soul!

• I tell you, untold numbers of dear human beings have been cruelly overwhelmed on the altar of demands to be shaped to the hard-driving ethos. I am one.

• It is debilitating and dehumanizing.

• The devil is a Master liar. Look how he has entwined himself into all corners! He comes dressed as a light angel...but just under the surface, there is a "ravening wolf."

• I remain a " watchman on the wall," not with scolding, harassment or condemnation...as I myself have lived much of this Travail. I speak from the vale of tears, to a substantial extent. I keep watch on behalf of the brokenhearted, of which I have plenty of experience! I advocate for the profound healing power of God and His Son. This is not “just be good!” This is allowing God to visit you in your sorrow and “bad” and let Him begin to help you, one single step at a time. His Son Jesus Christ took all our burdens on the terrible Cross of Calvary!

• I ask you to cry out to God and His Son for HELP IN TIME OF NEED. God provides the haven of shelter, guidance, provision for each day, and a belonging in which you are loved, cherished and valued for your LIFE. You are given gifts that apply only to you. This is not a temporary "high" but the profound place of value, love and family, fellowship. This is life into Eternity with God! It is not easy but it is worthy!

• As I have said so many times...and will repeat until Papa calls me Home...ASK FOR HELP, moment by moment...

  Wendy Elizabeth Williams, Friday June 27, 2025

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  --Consider hiring me to do some short hops of writing for you! I am very skilled at what I call "emotional-descriptive writing." Very affordable, no long term commitment! I believe authentic emotion can be an honorable way to share you and your work with the world. I sometimes think of what would draw me to buy...and that draw for me would be a resonating of emotion in what the product or service is. Contact me here on Substack Notes via a Direct Message or on my Ko-fi page with a message there.

  --Finally, please pray for me that I clearly hear the still, small voice of Holy Spirit guiding me, as He is my writing coach! Bless you, Wendy