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)

 

WAS JESUS A PROTESTER?

 In this time of political and spiritual unrest, many Christians, myself included, are watching the decline of our nation afraid to "get involved." Some Christian denominations teach that protesting our government's evil policies is a sin. I'm no Bible scholar, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ so in layman's terms I'm a disciple. I believe that means I should follow the example of Jesus, who did not preach quiet submission. As our role model he stood up in the face of compromise and injustice and wasn't afraid to offend his listeners.

Jesus began his ministry making waves by turning the culture upside down. He went throughout all the towns and villages and spoke in synagogues, hillsides, and fishing towns challenging the spiritual and political leaders about the error of their message. Sometimes Jesus did his protesting quietly like on the Sabbath, a day of total rest, when he healed a man with a shriveled hand.(Mark 3:4) "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or kill?" At other times Jesus' actions were inflammatory like when He criticized the elders, (Matthew 23:3)"Practice and obey whatever they teach, but don't follow their example,for they do not practice what they preach." Sometimes his words and actions were provocative as the time the leaders brought him a woman caught in the act of adultery, a crime punishable by death. As her accusers stood around her with rocks in their hands Jesus said, (John 8:6)"Let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone." He never shied away from being publicly disruptive as the time he entered the temple courts yelling, turning over tables and flinging a whip to drive out animals and wealthy merchants buying and selling in the house of God. (Matthew 12:13) "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are turning it into a gathering place for thieves."  In addition, he restored sight to the blind, the deaf could hear, he cast out demons, and raised a man from the dead. Believe it or not, with this incredible record of how one man changed the world, he told us...his followers...we would do even greater things in his name.(John 14: 12-14)

Radical? You bet! Righteous anger moved him to act whenever he saw injustice, corruption and greed.

Jesus' words and actions started such a fire storm, angry mobs backed by religious and political leaders began to plot to kill him. Jesus' teachings are so countercultural he had the entire countryside in an uproar 2,000 years ago and now in 2023. Generations have listened to his message of the good news of salvation enabling him to start a movement that persists to this day.

His  earthly ministry was filled with advocating for the oppressed, abused, abandoned, and victimized citizens of his day, inspiring his followers to do the same. Jesus didn't hide from the haters, instead he allowed himself to be mocked, threatened, slandered, ridiculed, discredited and eventually crucified by the authorities.

Today, as the politicians and those who follow them, push ideologies that cancel the Bible and our fundamental rights under the Constitution as hate speech we need to ask ourselves, "what would Jesus do?"

 

Some words used from Stephen Mottson author of Social Justice Devotional March 16,2016

THE CITY BELOVED BY GOD

Have you ever wondered why the Bible refers to   Jerusalem as "The City of God?"  Or questioned why its so important for Christians to support Israel?  Let me try to shed a little light on God's special jewel that sits like a diamond in the middle east.

"His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." (Psalm 87:1-2)

We recognize the entire earth belongs to God yet His redemptive work had to take place somewhere and He chose Jerusalem as the epicenter of all things holy.

From the calling of Abraham to the shepherd boy David, who became Israel's greatest earthly king and made Jerusalem the kingdom's capital, we begin to see God's redemptive work taking shape. There the tabernacle of God found its permanence in the temple David designed and his son Solomon built. The institutions of sacrifice, worship, and priestly service were established for centuries. 

Jesus Christ recognized and honored the city and after His crucifixion and resurrection sent the apostles out with the gospel message. In this city beloved by God our heavenly Father will establish the physical geographic center of His ultimate kingdom upon the earth. For all these reasons and more God has a special love for Jerusalem.

Genesis 12:3 tells us "God will bless those who bless thee and curse him that curses thee..."  History has proven time and again that the nations that have made it a point to align themselves as allies with Israel have had the blessing of Almighty God shine upon them. On the other hand the nations that have turned a blind eye, deaf ear, and cold heart toward our Jewish brothers and sister and their homeland have experienced the curse of God. 

When we consider wealth, the spiritual principle of prosperity is tied to blessing Israel and the city of Jerusalem. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee." (Psalm 122:6)

The bottom line is we should support Israel because all other nations were created by an act of man, but Israel was created by an act of God!

CREDITS: Enduring Word Commentary

                   Seven Biblical Reasons Christians Should Support Israel  by Pastor John Hagee

 

GOD DOES NOT MAKE JUNK

 Did you know that listening to 30 minutes of negativity and criticism will damage neurons in your brain causing physical and emotional problems that can last a lifetime. Some scientists believe we need to experience at least three positive reinforcements to counteract one negative remark.

So who said, "words will never hurt me?"

  As a "recovering" pessimist, I can attest to the fact that a negative attitude sets off a tsunami of complaining, criticizing, discontentment and a sense of worthlessness. We can't keep believing the worst about ourselves and others, and expect to get the best. The bible says,"as a man thinks in his heart, so he is."  In other words, we will eventually become the person we think we are.

  Many of us came from homes where criticism was the norm, and not necessarily intentional. We may find ourselves carrying on the tradition by bringing harsh, cruel, and hateful words into our relationships and the workplace. People who dish it out are just as susceptible to the trauma of their cutting remarks as their recipients.

In a nut-shell, bad emotions, bad parents, and bad feedback deliver enough emotional clout to render the toughest of us a lifetime of problems unless we believe we have the power to reverse the damage caused by self defeating thoughts.

                        The good news......it is a proven fact that we can change our thoughts, and our lives, with some intentional positive energy.  

Sitting at the top of the recovery list is forgiveness.  In order to be positive we need to be free from bitterness. Stanford University conducted a "Forgiveness Project," where they trained 260 adults in the power of forgiveness in a 6-week course.   (I love it when science agrees with God.)

• 70% of the people reported a decrease in their feelings of hurt, abandonment, and despair.
• 13% experienced a decrease in anger
• 27% expressed fewer physical complaints (for example; pain, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness etc.) Forgiving those who hurt you (with words and actions) has also been linked to better immune function and a longer lifespan.   

Cultivate a happy heart. Gratitude is the second rule to staying out of the psychiatrists office. In a landmark study people who count their blessings felt happier, exercised more, had fewer physical complaints, and slept better then those who created lists of complaints.

 Right thinking begins with the words we tell ourselves. Quit thinking about what's wrong with you and start believing God does not make junk. Be positive on purpose. Don't feed the inner voice that keeps you trapped in insecurity!  Starve the little demons and watch what happens. Like a pebble thrown into still water,  positive reinforcement, over time, will cause a ripple effect that spills over into all areas of your life.