HANGING ON

 Have you ever come to a place in life that you know you are doing everything right but in spite of your best efforts life is going horribly wrong. 

I'm in that uncomfortable place right now where I'm smiling on the outside but screaming Foul on the inside.I have been bringing my prayer requests to God but there are no answers in sight. I don't understand why he feels so far away especially when I need his help now more than ever.  

Are you there God? Can't you see I'm just hanging on by a thread.   

Sounds a little dramatic but as a prayer warrior, I was feeling confused,frustrated, and abandoned. In the process of seeking God's answer I began to realize I was missing something vital to my spiritual growth. I have been a Christian for a long time so I believe with all my heart that God answers our prayers. I have seen him work many times in my own life and the lives of others. So why was waiting for him to answer this time becoming so difficult to bear? 

• Fortunately, God didn't make me wait long for his encouraging answer. First off, he showed me that waiting is a big part of the blessing. Remember Abraham and Sarah , our spiritual founding fathers. God promised to make him the father of nations but they had no children. (Genesis 12:2-3) In spite of Sarah's advanced years they waited and believed for 40 years. God kept his promise and answered their request with a son, who was a blessing to his elderly parents and to future generations to this day. So while we anticipate God's answer to our prayers, understand He is doing something bigger within us by helping us develop perseverance. "Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)
• Next, he showed me that suffering, disappointment, hardship and trials are also part of the blessing. God cares deeply for our spiritual growth so along with perseverance he wants to forge in our lives greater trust. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) As we wait , he is building greater confidence in us so we learn to move forward in faith before the answer comes . Lets face it, it's easy to trust when life is going our way bur trusting God in the storms of life produces champions. God is growing prayer warriors for the future.  
• Finally, coming to the end of yourself and feeling like you are hanging on by a thread is a very real emotion when trouble surrounds us but God wants us to operate in faith : not fear and defeat. When we are weary, tired, and frustrated and want to give up, our Heavenly Father hands us another blessing. Humility.  God exchanges our human inclination to take matters into our own hands with his power and strength to endure all things. "With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 ) 
• The point is, the next time you feel like waiting is just too much to bear, remember: the greatest blessings are built into the process.  

THE ART OF WAITING

 Did you ever wish God answered prayer more like an Amazon order? You phone it in and it arrives within hours or at least a few days after your request. 

I'm currently in the process of waiting for a huge prayer request for OVER two years. In that two year window God has answered my other prayers and petitions relatively quickly with answers ranging from a definite yes, a parental no or the very much dreaded...wait.

When God says not yet, I tend to allow discontentment, and disappointment take control of my emotions. Waiting for this length of time has led to hopeless moments when I felt like giving up and giving into the temptation to stop praying. Truth be told, I have been at this point in my faith journey many times before and if I've learned anything in my years as a follower of Christ is he is faithful and hears our prayers. "Don't fret or worry, instead of worrying pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers letting God know your concerns." (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG) On the flip side of discontentment is dissatisfaction, a better place to park your emotions. When we are not satisfied with the result we can choose to persevere. Moving forward with a positive mindset sets the stage for God to bless us while we wait. God is not in the business of instant gratification. He is a loving father who wants us to trust the outcome to him and his timing. He said we should shape our worries into prayers so here goes my prayer straight from the pages of scripture. "For the vision awaits the appointed time; it hastens to it's end, it will be fulfilled. It seems slow in coming yet I will wait for it. It will surely come. It will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3) Thank you Father God. Amen

As of this posting I am still praying and waiting, although, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how long it takes I will be waiting in expectant faith for God's answer. I believe "Nothing is impossible with God." ( Luke 1:37)

 

 

HOW TO HANDLE GIANTS

The other morning while I was enjoying my coffee and looking over the news headlines, I couldn't help but think how similar we are today to the Israelite's thousands of years ago. The slaves at that time were miraculously delivered from bondage to Egypt, led through parted waters by Moses and wandered through the desert for forty years until  God brought them to a land that was filled with milk and honey. A remarkable journey to freedom but their story doesn't end there. 

The people arrived at their destination and Moses assigned leaders from every tribe to go spy and scope out the lay of the land. Although they encountered plentiful crops, water and grazing fields for livestock their focus was on the giants. Mighty men who were decedents of Nephilim, savage warriors known for their ferocity. Instead of confidently taking over the land God himself promised them, they pulled back and cowered in fear. Were these giants real? Yes. Was fear a rational response? Yes, but something else was the underlying issue. A greater giant seized their minds. UNBELIEF. The leaders who were sent to scope out the land and bring back a report caved to doubt, putting mistrust into the minds of the people they were supposed to lead.  Only two men, Joshua an 85 years old warrior and Caleb, brought back a good report because they believed God's promise of provision in spite of the danger that was ahead.

I can look at our headlines and clearly see GIANTS. Chaos fills the news cycle and attacks our minds like arrows shot from the enemy's bows. Some days I'm tempted to despair. But then I remember the words God spoke to Joshua. " Be strong and courageous for you will bring the Israelite's into the land I promised." Moses, Joshua and Caleb saw the same obstacles the other leaders saw but they saw these so called giants through the eyes of faith in the power of God.

The take away I get from Numbers 13  in the Old Testament is how important strong leadership is to a nation. A minority with faith always outweighs the majority who fears. We need bold, God fearing leadership or we are doomed to failure. Thankfully, we have that kind of leadership in the White House now. 

So what can we do to handle the giants we are facing in the world today? I believe "We the People" have a monumental role to play as our 250 year journey continues. We need to back up our leaders with prayer every day and have faith that 'where two or more are gathered He is with us."  Show up and vote for responsible, intelligent men and women who serve with common sense. Be bold enough to stand against evil so the culture does not change the fabric of our country but that Jesus will change the culture.

  

 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS '2026'

 What if we began our New Years Resolution from a different perspective. What if we begin the year in an attitude of surrender instead of my way or the highway. What if we surrendered our plans, dreams, desires and expectations to God's will for our lives. What might that look like?

First of all, let's examine what it means to hand over control to the Creator of the Universe. When we choose to surrender our future into God's hands we are not giving up or giving in to someone who doesn't have our best interest at heart. On the contrary, we willingly turn over our small expectations for His greater plan for our future. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and to give you a (great) future." Jeremiah 29:11

When we hold onto our wish list too tightly we are actually asking for second best. God's plan is far greater than anything we could ask for, hope for, or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)  Surrendering to God is a leap of faith. It demonstrates to our Heavenly Father how much we trust Him to keep his word and to take care of everything that causes us anxiety. Your finances are not as big as God's provision. "And God will supply all my needs...(Philippians 4:19) Your health is in the hands of the great physician. "And the prayers offered in faith will make the sick person well,,, (James 5:15)  Relationships? Love God with your whole heart and love others as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)

The bottom line is...when we surrender our plans in exchange for God's will, we choose to partner with the King of Kings and invest in His kingdom and mission here on earth. All the success in Wall Street can't compare to what God offers now and eternally. "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

 

IF THE MOUNTAINS BE REMOVED

It's amazing to me how quickly we have moved through the autumn season this year. I blinked my eyes and , poof...like magic, the orange, red and golden leaves had all blown off the trees leaving a stark grey reminder of the cold winter months ahead. It made me realize that like the changing seasons, our lives are in a constant state of transition. However, God's word assures us that no matter what is changing around us we are safe in His care. "The mountains may depart and the hills be removed but God's steadfast love shall never depart from us." (Isaiah 54:10)

This verse in the Bible really spoke to my heart about letting go of the past and fearlessly embracing what lies ahead. As we move from season to season in our lives we will experience good and bad times but God assures us that He is with us through it all. His love is constant and never changes.  "Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Our good news take away is God's character is steadfast. His love for fallen humanity is unchanging. Our feelings and thoughts fluctuate but His stay firm.  No matter what we face going forward in life always remember God loves us, and cares about us, like a loving father. His thoughts for us are for good. He remains patient with us, always calling us back to faith. Look to Him for all your needs. His love is the one and only constant in our lives. 

REVIVAL

The Apostle Peter wrote to us during a very dangerous time for Christians a few years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He said "The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that YOU MAY PRAY. "  Prayer is often overlooked, even by believers, but in reality it is a mighty weapon given to us to use against the attacks of the enemy. An interesting chapter in 2 Chronicles 20 in the Old Testament tells us about the importance of our battle formation when we pray.  King Jehoshaphat was preparing for war and appointed singers to pray as they walked in front of the army of warriors. Before the army engaged in warfare the prayer warriors thanked God for the victory- in faith- before anything happened and miraculously God's people won the battle. We need prayer warriors today who are not intimidated by the the jeering crowd of unbelievers who preach prayer is useless.

It is evident we are in the final days that Peter was talking about. As predicted thousands of years ago in the pages of the Bible, suffering, persecution and sometimes death has become the norm for Christians seeking a true, born-again relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago we witnessed the assassination of a young leader fighting a battle for our conservative values; highlighting faith, family and freedom. Young and old alike were listening to him tell the gospel story of love and forgiveness from a loving God who gave his only son to redeem us. A hater in the crowd, shot and killed him for his words. The following week, after this modern martyr's death, churches were filled with people coming back to repent and pray after years of hiding in the shadows afraid to speak up. Others rushed to the alter for the first time to ask Jesus into their hearts. Fear turned into courage and our squeaky voices became the roar of a mighty army. 

Unfortunately, the enemy of our souls has other plans. He wants to wreak havoc and cripple us with fear by using people filled with hatred to kill innocent believers while they gather to pray in churches across the country. If they can scare us away from prayer and worship their reign of terror will continue. But... if we cling to faith and pray they will be defeated. You might wonder why there is so much hatred of the gospel message? Over two thousand years ago, Jesus gave us the answer.  He said "If the world hates you, understand that they hated me first." (John 15:18) Thankfully, Jesus left us with instructions on how we need to live in these days that are increasingly evil. He told us to live intentionally.  Each one of us has a part to play as we commit ourselves to prayer and studying God's word...the Bible. Like other brave men and women who went before us we must be ready to tell our friends, family and co-workers why we have the hope that is burning inside us. While there is still time, God wants us to make the most of every opportunity so unbelievers hear the good news of salvation. Maybe you have not made a decision yet to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Maybe you have been holding back for fear of losing friends or your job. Don't let the negative mindset of fear stop you. Jesus is calling you right now to be part of his family of believers.  "If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heat God raised him from the dead you will be saved ( Romans 10:9 ) 

PRAYER   Father God, I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior, I ask forgiveness for my sins and I choose to walk with you forever. I am yours now and always.  Amen
 

PERSCRIPTION FOR HEALING

 

Last summer began like most other years. I was healthy, happy and absolutely sure I had all the pieces to my health puzzle together. My blood work was up to date. I was exercising regularly and feeling good. I had no issues to write home about...until...my left leg swelled to twice its normal size. No pain. No warning. Just swollen.  I knew immediately it was a blood clot. After rushing to the ER and having an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, I was informed that I was fortunate this clot did not travel to my heart lungs or brain and cause a major stroke or in many cases death. The doctor handed me a prescription for a tiny pill to thin my blood and keep the clot stationary. Seriously!! This little pill against a clog that could break loose and cause catastrophic damage or even death !!! Crazy thing was, I took the pills without question, expecting them to work their magic on this silent killer.  

In spite of what the doctor said I didn't think luck had anything to do with the outcome of this blood clot. As a Christian I knew it was God's hand upon my life that had kept me alive. Having a near death experience got me thinking about what the Bible says about our health and healing.

PROVERBS 4:20-21  "Attend to God's word, incline your ear to them, don't let them depart from before your eyes, and keep them in the midst of your heart. FOR THEY ARE LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH."  In other words, read the word, particularly healing scriptures. Think about them. Meditate on them. Commit them to memory. Eventually, His word will work it's way deep into your spirit and you will not be shaken by the fear of illness. 

• First off, God's word is a healing agent. It has power and is active to produce whatever it promises. Like natural medicine, the word of God when applied to the situation is the catalyst to healing of our bodies. His word and a pharmacists pill both have the capacity to produce healing when taken according to the prescription.
  
• Second. Medicine is no respecter of persons.  It works for anyone who takes it. God is willing to heal anyone who asks and applies the "medicine" of his word to their spirit. 
• Third.  Most importantly, medicine must be taken according to the directions to be effective. We can't take our meds once a day when the prescriptions clearly says take the medicine with three meals. So it is with God's medicine. Become a daily reader of healing scriptures and watch your mind and body respond with positive energy and health.
• Fourth. It takes time for medicine to work. Most people give natural medicine time, patience, and money as they wait for physical improvement. They go back to the pharmacy for refills as prescribed, being diligent to do as the doctor instructs. God is our great physician who created us and knows us inside and out. Keep reading, and digesting God's word and believe it will work the healing God intends.

 Listed are some healing scripture to get you started.

PSALM 107:20       ISAIAH 4:12    HEBREWS 4:12   EXODUS 23:25   DEUTERONOMY 7:15

PSALM 30:2    MARK 11:24    PSALM 42:11     PSALM 91    PSALM 103:2-3  

There are many more verses  in the Bible concerning physical healing. Look them up on Google and check out John Hagee healing scriptures and Joyce Meyers healing scripture print outs.

SHARK BAIT

 Its summer and swimming in the murky ocean water is a past time most of us enjoy. I like to hit the freezing water and ride the waves just like I did as a kid. It's all fun and games until I begin to hear those few musical notes, playing over and over in my mind, from the 1970's movie JAWS. All of a sudden panic strikes and I find myself struggling to sprint out of the water as fast as possible, imagining I'm being followed by a great white. Crazy how our thoughts affect our emotions even when we know our terror is ill-founded.

Fear sells movies but when it comes to our lives, fear has the power to cripple our faith. In the Bible, God tells us to "Fear Not" 365 times; a daily reminder. Whether its fear of failure, rejection, the unknown, or of not measuring up to expectations, this emotion can render us helpless when we fall for its intimidation tactics. Fear is used by the enemy (Satan) to trick us into doubting God's good plan for our lives. "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of POWER, LOVE and  a SOUND MIND." (2Timothy 1:7)

The feeling of fear is universal, an inescapable emotion built into our DNA to keep us alert when we perceive danger. However, God has already equipped us with his strength, love, and mental clarity to face whatever situation has us terrified. No doubt, fear is a formidable foe and runs the gamete from stomach flutters to full blown panic attacks. So...how do we counter balance the inevitable dread of bad news.   

FAITH always trumps fear.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)  We need to believe God cares about us and He is in control, no matter how bad our situation looks. I'm not suggesting blind optimism, wishful thinking or a naive denial of our misfortunes. I'm saying, we have to anchor our belief to God's promises, not our circumstance. Faith is our choice to rely on God's faithfulness even before we get the good report we are hoping for. 

We all face difficulties during our lifetime and fear will always be lurking under the surface of our thoughts but anxiety, dread and terror can't drag us under and drown us in despair when we believe God is in control and bigger than our worst nightmares. "For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

DEEP DIVE

I used to scuba dive in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. I remember the feeling of excitement as the boat, filled with other enthusiastic divers, made its way miles away from the dock. Once we arrived at our destination we donned our gear, checked our air regulators and sat on the side of the boat waiting our turn to fall over backward into the cool ocean water. 

It usually took me a few minutes to realign my focus while I watched schools of barracuda and yellow jacks hang around the new arrivals watching and listening to us bubble and hiss from our air tanks. Two by two, we paired off with our dive buddies, and began our decent into the unknown. 

As we went deeper we needed to be acutely aware of our surroundings. The coral reefs were beautiful but the water beyond was murky, hiding predators, and our vision was blurred. Our focus also needed to be on our air regulators that let us know how much air we were using and periodically we had to check our compass so we didn't get lost or go to far from the boat. Things tend to get confusing when your swimming at deep depths. Diving is a great adventure and lots of fun but safety is paramount. If we don't follow the rules for safe diving our lives could be in danger.

Actually, we can learn a lot from scuba diving when it comes to our spiritual lives above the surface. 

As we navigate life, we need to check our equipment...our minds and hearts...and stay sharp. Life can be going well, but beyond what we can see an enemy is prowling, hoping to catch us off guard. The Bible clearly warns us of danger and how to navigate the issues we face everyday. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1Peter 5:8 )  Spiritual warfare is nothing new, its been affecting believers from the beginning of time. Our best defense is to be alert to our surroundings. Make sure you are not drifting away from God's protection and into sin that has the power to devour your soul.  When God tells us to be sober minded he means to live our lives deliberately, making sure we are staying within the perimeters set by his teachings. Don't neglect prayer when your life is going well. Be prayed up and ready. God's words, in the Bible, are our compass to keep us from getting lost and falling for the worlds errors. We live in a beautiful world but beyond what our physical eyes can see is a dangerous enemy who glorifies sin and mocks faith. 

Check your surroundings. Stay focused. Be sober minded. Pray. Read the Bible and be vigilant to do what it says. Why? Your life depends on it.

IF YOU ARE REAL...PROVE IT

 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Christian faith but for some of us, it's a sticking point where doubt clouds our vision. The Bible tells a story about doubting Thomas, one of Jesus closest followers before his death and crucifixion. This guy was part of the inner circle. He spent intimate time with Jesus and his chosen twelve. He saw Jesus heal the sick, walk on water, cure diseases and raise a man from the dead, yet he wasn't on board 100%. The night Jesus died Thomas ran away and hid. He ended up not being around when the Resurrected Savior appeared to the disciples. When they told Thomas about this supernatural event he scoffed at them like they were delusional. 

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side I will not believe." (John 20:25 ) 

A week passed until the disciples were in the house again, and this time Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas , "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side  Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God."Jesus didn't condemn him, or shame him. Instead he challenged Thomas to stop doubting and believe.

Have you ever been there, where part of you believes but the other part is screaming Prove It.  I have.

 Like Thomas, I was supposed to know Jesus. I was raised Catholic. I went to church. I knew the Bible. I professed to believe...just not 100%.  One day, many years ago, I came to a tipping point in my life. I was broke, raising two children and my marriage was a disaster. My relationship with my husband hit rock bottom and we were headed for divorce. In desperation I cried out to Jesus. I literally prayed "God, if you are real,,,do something with this mess of my life." I ended the prayer and walked away disillusioned, confused, my heart full of doubt, and a mind overflowing with questions. The crazy thing was, Jesus showed up. Shortly after praying that prayer, even though I did not believe God heard me or cared, I started to read the Bible. Little by little my mindset and attitude changed. First, toward the reality of a God who sent his son to die for my sins, and secondly toward my relationship with my husband. He saw the change in me and began his own reading program drawing him closer to Jesus. Needless to say, its been 56 years and we are still together, navigating the ups and downs of marriage with the Resurrected Jesus. In effect, I did what Thomas was told to do...stop doubting and start believing.  When Jesus was finished proving himself to Thomas he said,"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and believed." (John 20: 29) 

KEEPING PROMISES

 Remember when you were a kid and swore a promise with the infamous "pinky swear"? I taught this symbolic gesture to my youngest daughter who took this Japanese inspired practice to new heights. She learned quickly that when she locked pinky fingers with me, and we made promises, whatever we swore to do became a done deal. Although these promises were silly like having waffles and ice cream for Friday nights dinner or having her two best friends for a  sleepover extravaganza these promises became an unbreakable agreement. Back in those innocent days of childhood, this simple gesture signified a promise that would never be broken. She learned she didn't have to do anything to earn these promises, she simply had to believe I would do what I promised to do. Pinky promises were more than a silly way of making a commitment, to us, it was a foundation of trust.

Did you know, in the Bible, there are 7,487 promises for your life. If you decide to read just one of these promises a day you will have a promise from God for more than 20 years of your life. If that's not great news I don't know what is.

 To the point of this blog... we can pinky swear (so to speak) with our Heavenly Father and trust him to fulfill all his promises. "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)  In other words, when you agree with God, and choose to believe the promises written in the Bible are for your life, you have in effect, done a pinky promise with God, the creator of all things. God tells us to come to him with childlike faith. He wants to bless you. Below, I have listed a weeks worth of God's incredible promises. Google the verses on your favorite Bible app. Each day, read and think about what God is promising you. You don't have to earn his promises. He actually cares about you and wants to abundantly bless you.  Don't wait to get started on the road to miraculous blessings. Accept his offer of an abundant, promise filled life.

God has a great plan for your life! (Jeremiah 29:11) 

All things are possible for those who believe. (Matthew 19:26)

God will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

When you are weak, God will give you strength. ((Isaiah 40:31)

God will guide you along the right paths for your life. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

You will prosper and succeed in all you do   (Joshua 1;7-8) 

God loves you and calls you by name. (Isaiah 43:1)

 

 

 

FOLLOW THE LEADER

"When the godly are in authority the people rejoice, but when the wicked gain power they suffer." {Proverbs 29:2)

We tend to look at the outward appearance of our politicians and judge them according to popular opinion instead of taking a step back and weighing our impression by a higher standard. Leadership should be about the platform and qualifications of the person we decide to put in charge of our families, bank accounts, safety and freedoms.When choosing our presidential candidate in the upcoming election, our vote has the power to alter the course of our great nation for generations to come.

We can't afford to put our signatures behind a weak leader who changes their position at the first sign of opposition or worse just to garner a vote. We need to put our weight behind a strong person with moral convictions that mirror our own, not some flimflam who's platform is constantly changing and tossed about by the wind.

Leadership and strength of character go hand and hand and are mentioned 360 times in the Bible. Why is the word of God important when we are talking about following the right leader for our future? 

We have witnessed throughout the past four years how quickly our nation has fallen into spiritual darkness. Without God leading the charge, we are doomed to have chaos and evil of every kind within each branch of government, in the deep state and the special interest groups. When I say vote your conscience I am not using some religious cliche. If  our leadership's ideals don't line up with the Word of God in the Bible we will reap a society that is following the wide road to perdition. 

My friends...we are the country's last line of defense against Communism or Freedom. Choose your leader wisely.  

 

  

 

FINDING THE WAY

Google has changed the way we devour and process information.  With a few clicks of the keyboard we can scour the internet to our hearts content looking for everything under the sun. 

Sometimes our searches are a lot more important and there is more at stake, especially when we are looking for spiritual guidance and direction. Some research engines say there are 4,000 recognized faith's in the world. In that colossal number of religions there are five that are most widely known. So how do we sift through the opinion versus fact of finding and following the one true God.

At this time, Christianity is still leading the pack in theory, but 65% of people who claim to know God, believe Jesus is NOT the only way to eternal life. Unless we begin to think of the Bible...not the internet... as our life compass we become like ships without the correct coordinates to guide us through the storms of life. If you find you are lost and in doubt of the truth, search the Word of God for answers. The gospel of John 14:6 covers all loose ends. Jesus said, "I AM the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." For me, that's the end of the story, but to really bring this passage home we read in the book of Acts, "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which you can be saved."( Acts 4:12)  Jesus is the only name!  He died on the cross and rose from the dead and took our sins and guilt upon himself.  Why? Because God loves us and wants us to repent, follow Jesus, and live with him eternally in heaven. "Like sheep we have all gone astray, each one of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all." Isaiah 3:6

We can google whatever we want, and believe what we choose, but there is only one book to base our eternal life upon. The Bible is our road map leading us on our way home. 

 JESUS IS THE WAY

 

 
 

IDENTITY THEFT

I have realized over the years that one of the worst things we can do to ourselves is compare ourselves with others. Always thinking we are not as good as someone else will eventually pull us into full blown defeat. At first, unhealthy comparisons might seem like an innocent obsession. We enjoy imagining what it would be like to have their car, their house, their family, their life. However, comparison has a friend named discontentment and a cousin called ungrateful who will quickly move into your head space to steal your joy and in it's place will leave you feeling depressed and believing you are not enough. 

If you have ever found yourself thinking you just don't measure up let me share with you some really great news from our life coach...the Holy Spirit.

 "For we are God's masterpiece, he has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

Not only does God tell us we are each his special masterpiece but he has good things planned for each one of us. His plan is unique for you...just you. That means when we trust what his word says even the bad things that happen in our lives he can turn around and help us use them for good. God doesn't play favorites (Romans 2:1)  I realize some set backs are totally traumatic, like a bad diagnosis or the loss of someone you love but God can turn the worst situation into your biggest blessing if you will trust him.

Give God your paintbrush. He is preparing you for a 'one of a kind' life of purpose.

WATCHERS ON THE WALL

One of my favorite political commentators always reminds his viewers that,"Cutesy Time Is Over." I couldn't agree more. Believers are called to be Watchmen in order to sound the alarm when enemies approach our gates. At this point, our adversary  Satan, and his sinful ideologies, have surrounded the fortified city we call planet earth.  Unfortunately, many of God's Watchmen have abandoned their post for fear of offending someone. This is not the time to sugarcoat the Word of God. Sinful beliefs are running rampant in our halls of justice, our government policies, the entertainment industry and even our churches.  Calling sin what it is, rebellion against God and His commandments, is not 'hate speech.' Intimidation tactics should not bully us into silence and compromise...It should empower us to speak against the growing evil causing many to fall away from the faith we have long held as our standard in America. 

If sin is not such a big deal...why did Jesus have to die such a horrible death to pay the price for our rebellion? As Watchmen we have to stop calling evil good and good evil to appease the gods of this age. We have all sinned and fall short of God's glory. That's why we must admonish the unbelievers and backsliders to repent now, before its too late. Each one of us has a circle of influence. Our homes, our workplaces and social media are in dire need of Watchmen who will speak the truth and lead the lost to safety. God is waiting for sinners to have a sincere desire to turn from their rebellious ways and turn back to him.  If the Watchmen don't tell them who will? Repent and be saved.

"If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness."( 1 John 1:9)

"If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
 

DISPATCHED... INTO THE WAR ZONE

The dictionary tells us dispatched means to be sent off or sent away with promptness or speed. When we are dispatched quickly we are on an important mission and we should take the call very seriously.

The last thing Jesus instructed his followers to do before he ascended into heaven was to GO and share the Gospel with those who don't know the Good News of Salvation. We are all called to be God's ambassadors, his spokesmen on earth. Some of us will be called to mission fields across the ocean and to remote place not yet explored. But let's face facts...most of us won't be called to the remote jungles of the Amazon, however, we are all Sent into our own backyard mission fields.  "GO..and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Take a look around. Society today has a polluted view of Jesus in spite of the fact that there is a church on every corner. Many of us shy away from engaging our lost family members, coworkers and friends because calling out sin is considered hate speech. However, the truth of the situation is that people will burn in hell for lack of spiritual knowledge. Many people today have bought into the lies of the secular culture that perverts the grace and love of God into a license for immorality and deny the real word written in the Bible. The new fake gospel touts living a life of your own misguided choosing. No matter how loving and inclusive this ideology is cracked up to be, in truth its deliberate deception created by Satan is meant to lead the uninformed astray. Many ungodly people are trying to push their agenda into our churches. We can't live contrary to God's teaching and call ourselves Christians.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth but if salt looses its flavor its useless. We are 'sent' into a tasteless world to be like a preservative to add truth to what is spoiled in the culture by sin and falsehood. Salt is God's standards that we are encouraged to live up to. We are not to try to bring the error of the culture into church teachings we are to speak truth and allow the Holy Spirit to do his transforming work in the heart of the unbeliever. Our responsibility is to know what God's word says and be willing to defend our stand and not be swayed by opposing opinions.  

We don't need to be intimidated by a counterfeit gospel. God's word equips us and qualifies us to stand up for the souls of the lost. Jesus was known to eat and socialize with sinners in order to show us how to engage the lost without assimilating into their world. Like Jesus we are to inspire people to change their ways and follow in Jesus footprints. Build yourself up in faith by really knowing what the word of God says. Pray in the Holy Spirit and keep yourself free from sin that easily entangles all of us. Confess when you fall, turn back to Jesus and keep moving forward. Be merciful to those who doubt; speak truth to those running head first into a sinful lifestyle; show mercy mixed with fear. (Jude 1:20)

Jesus said,"the harvest of souls is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into his fields." Luke 10:2

 

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS...WE SHINE

As a fantasy writer, I love stories about warriors brandishing swords to slay dragons while the Angel Armies of Heaven cheer the hero's on and demons writhe in fear at their coming doom. Back in the day when I first put my ideas to paper few people saw the spirit world of 'good verses evil' as a force to be reckoned with in our everyday comfortable lives. Unfortunately, over the decades we exchanged the truth of God's principles with the current cultures condemned view of reality. 

Today, its easy to see our crumbling society through spiritual eyes. The veil has lifted and dragons, demons, and angels are living among us (figuratively speaking). Christians must lead the charge against the onslaught of darkness with the only weapons worthy of fighting a holy war.

Why do we need weapons and who are we fighting? We have an enemy, Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy our lives. Like it or not spiritual warfare is a reality for everyone, and you are a target.

" For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood..."(Ephesians 6:12-13)  As warriors in 2024 our weapons are not physical. Our weapons are spiritual and powerful for fighting lies and misinformation. The current culture has turned everything upside down. They preach good as evil and evil as good. Many people are confused, fearful and angry because they don't know what to believe. In these last days our rule of thumb must be...If its not in the Bible...don't believe it. Fight lies with the word of God. His truth is our spiritual sword to be used to correct, encourage and rebuke those who are stumbling through the growing darkness. (2 Timothy 4:2) If we don't speak up now, and tell them the truth, who will?

So...how do we engage the enemy? Read your Bible, our basic training manual. Don't just read it, do what it says. Memorize verses, and surround yourself with like minded people. When we hear bad news and feel powerless against the darkness surrounding our future... don't fear. God tells us our words have power. We need to speak life and hope, to ourselves and others, especially when it looks like victory is out of reach. It's in the darkest hour our light of truth will shine the brightest. Be a warrior. Rise to the occasion. "We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us." (Romans 8:37)  

ALL THE FORCES OF DARKNESS CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD HAS ORDAINED. (Isaiah 14:27)

 

INFO WARS... 2024

 As we move forward into our unknown future many of us are afraid, some of us are confused, a lot of us feel hopeless and the rest of us are just plain angry. There are few people I talk to that have a positive outlook on their lives as we brace ourselves for whatever lies ahead. Most of our despair and mental torment over the events unfolding all around us comes because information is thrown at us at the speed of light. The professionals tell us if we want to receive a more balanced view of reality, choose multiple, opposing sources of information. The problem with this is all media outlets have to make a profit so they sell what the culture wants to hear. In other words, whether it comes to us from a right wing or left wing source much of it is sprinkled with lies, hoaxes. misinformation, rumors, disinformation and regardless of fact checking the tainted truth keeps circulating.We try to digest these messages by filtering it through our friends, family and co-workers for their take on current events just to be overwhelmed by so many different opinions. Instead of understanding the world we live in we begin to suffer from "Information Anxiety" where we can't discern truth from lies.

So...what can discerning people do to feed their brains a well balance diet of truth as we navigate these choppy waters of Info Wars in 24? First and foremost, if you want to remain calm, don't leave your Christian convictions behind to embrace the trends of the culture. If your friends decided to jump off a cliff I'm pretty sure you wouldn't follow them. Right? In my opinion, there is still only one source of absolute truth. Yes, I know, collage has embedded in our minds there is no such thing; it's your own truth so believe what makes you happy. I beg to differ. The Bible IS our only guide in these foggy days ahead. If you can't match the truth in the Bible with what the journalists or Podcasters are saying, change your stand. Don't keep following the wrong information. God says "Thou shalt not kill." End of Story. God says, "Thou shalt not lie, cheat, steal, covet, hate etc.  If He said it, its true. The reason we are confused, afraid, hopeless and angry is because we choose to believe worldly lies and not back up our beliefs with the Bible.

God wants us to let go of anxiety and live with a sense of inner peace. However, there is a condition. We have to wholeheartedly follow where he leads. "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume you know it all. Run to God!  Run from evil. Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life." (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)  

 As the year unfolds we need to cut loose all deceit. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy our lives. Jesus came that we might have an abundant life. Choose faith and truth over fear and lies in 2024.

Source...The Information Age u-s-history.com

A FREE GIFT

In spite of the 1927 idiom "The best things in life are free", consumers of this generation choose to ignore the wisdom of the phrase and instead we've adopted the adage "Shop till you drop."

According to Nerdwallet, 56% of Christmas shoppers will not be able to afford as many gifts as they want to buy this year due to inflation. In spite of the rising cost of daily necessities, 74% of shoppers will max out their credit cards and tap into their savings in order to cover the overages thinking all the gifts under the tree will make their holiday merry and bright. 

I'm not trying to sound like a Grinch...I find myself in the same boat...or sleigh so to speak. Sometimes I think my heart is two sizes too small when I get overwhelmed by the expense of the holiday and ignore what the season is really all about.

In all the frenzy of making Christmas the best we can, maybe we've lost sight of the greatest gift we could give our family...faith in the One who came as a baby in a manger to redeem us for eternity. God tells us to come to him just as we are. Angry. Disillusioned. Lonely. Broke. Broken. Hurting. Dirty. Confused. God loves us before we ever start loving him."For God so loved the world.." He wants us to know Jesus is his gift of salvation to us... "he gave his only son."  All we need to do is reach out to God and accept his gift. No cost. A free gift.  "Whoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life." (John 3:16-17)

The Grinch finally realized all the packages, ribbons, boxes and bags couldn't buy happiness, and that the spirit of Christmas comes every year with or without all the stuff. The real heart of the season is Jesus Christ...God's free gift to humanity.  Like the Grinch so wisely said, "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more."

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR

People from every walk of life are speculating the possibility of World War III and the End Times. If you have ever wondered about the prophetic words in the Bible and were skeptical about its authenticity now would be a good time to check it out for yourself. In the book of Matthew (24:37), written more than 2000 years ago, Jesus told his disciples about future events concerning the end times. He begins by telling us that certain people will claim to be the world's savior (Messiah) in order to deceive as many people as possible. He goes on to say "there will be wars and rumors of war but not to be concerned, such things must happen before the end comes."  He tells us these signs are the beginning birth pangs.

If you know anything about giving birth, you understand that a woman can be in labor for hours, sometimes days, or the baby can come so quickly she doesn't have time to make it to the hospital in time. Jesus doesn't tell us exactly when he will return to the earth only that he will return. Although the timing is vague he leaves us with clues to look out for because he wants us to be ready...not caught off guard. There will be no time once the trumpet sounds.

In another scripture passage Jesus tells us what humanity will be like before that great and terrible day comes upon the world. Believers will experience persecution and death. People will be selfish and love themselves more than they care about the truth of God's word. Our children will be boastful, proud, abusive, haters and disobedient to authority. Ideologies will go from bad to worse as each generation drifts further away from God and his teachings. Before the end comes, people will be unholy, calling good evil and evil good. Sexual sin will abound. People will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (Paraphrased) 2 Timothy 3: 1-4

There are many other scripture verses in the Bible that warn us that darkness has come upon the earth like in the days of Noah. Before the flood people were violent, corrupt, and sexually depraved. Sound familiar? Noah is described as a preacher of righteousness. Like today preachers abound, but few care to listen. In spite of God's warnings, the people of Noah's day refused to see the signs of destruction.(Genesis 6). Look these things up in the Bible yourself. Don't wait to get right with God. Repent now and turn away from the sin that holds you bound. "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart God raised him from the dead you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)