Category Archives: CHRISTIAN VALUES

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Strength for battle, #godindailylife, #thebibleindaily life

“You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.” (Psalm 18:39, NLT)

Starting the day with psalms. I stayed in bed longer than usual, dimly aware of the emotional burden lingering from the day and night before. As I’ve done often in recent weeks, I listened a long time as the soothing voice on the audio Bible spoke the truths in Psalms. Gradually, the Living Word brought comfort, encouragement, and some clear ideas that had me out of bed, quickly feeding Lily bugs and sitting at the computer.

The big windows in front of my desk open to the east. A thin sliver between two buildings from my second-floor condo offers a view of the sun before it clears the city horizon. As the rising sun flamed the sky, I looked through the winter bare branches of the crepe myrtle trees in front of the windows. In just a few weeks the branches will be covered with leaves thick enough so as to block all but the brightest of the morning sun’s piercing rays. We have all begun another change of season in this beautiful world God has given us.

Change is hard. I have some thoughts about changes we are seeing in our world.

What in the world is Satan doing? Satan is doing all he can to steal, kill, and destroy the world, its people, and the great awakening God has begun. Watching President Trump’s March 4 address to Congress deepened my understanding of: (1) how big the fight is and (2) how personal the enemy intends to make it for all believers.

Satan is attacking every way he can. Some of his purposes are to:

  1. Hurt you and therefore hurt God, by attacking all that you love and all that you need.
  2. Steal you away from God and the good that you are doing in your personal life.
  3. If he cannot do that, he seeks to at least damage you and make you stop fighting. He will use the same old tactics and the same old tactics in what seems to be new ways.
  4. And if all that fails, he will do all in his power to steal your joy. But, remember and keep it foremost in our mind — Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). More about that later.

Dealing with daily life.  Merely moving forward with my own personal life has been especially challenging the last two months. I think it’s been the same for many believers. By God’s great grace, I have stayed the course in spite of Satan using all the old tricks that previously pulled me into the pit of depression. That story is told in the two books Undepressed: How God’s Word Can Heal Your Heart and God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security (available on the Books, etc. page of this website).

What healed depression, when all else failed, was learning to meditate on the Word without ceasing and diligently studying the Word in my areas of personal need. The Word changed how I think about many things and provided training in handling feelings, even in deep valleys. We truly are blessed when God teaches us, out of His law, how to keep ourselves “calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.” (Psalm 94:12-13, AMPC).

I got mired in that pit of depression a few years ago mainly because I allowed negative thoughts and feelings to linger.

arrows in shooting target

Photo by Kenny  Eliason on Unsplash

A different attack.  Recently, however, the enemy of our souls has tried a different version of an old attack: sudden, overwhelming negative thoughts and feelings. I knew how to stop negative thoughts from snowballing, but this was sudden pangs of sorrow, hopelessness, and helplessness, along with sudden feelings of despair so deep that the thought came “If it hurts this bad, I can’t go on.”

Thank God, and I do mean thank God, I did the things I know to do and God gave victory over those sudden intense feelings. Each time, we pressed on, with me having been made stronger because of the struggle.

Then an ambush.  But Satan did not give up, of course. Yesterday came sudden feelings—not ones I had caused myself by letting thoughts linger. This was sudden feelings of anger, a feeling I seldom struggle with. Feeling extra tired and out of sorts physically, I nonetheless followed through with my plans for the day. Early on, two people each said something that–unknown and unintended by them–triggered old hurts from the past. As the day went on, my plans turned upside down, and I got lost while driving (something that does make me angry). On and on and on the little irritations added up. As the gnats of frustration buzzed around inside my head, I got frustrated, flustered, mad, then resentful, bitter and finally really, really angry to the point of wanting to just throw something. It was a most unpleasant afternoon and evening.

I should have stopped, said out loud to Satan “Devil, James 4:7 in God’s Word says that if I resist you, you must flee so be gone!” And then I should have filled my mind and mouth with praise to God, quoted Bible verses I know out loud, and read my Bible and prayed in tongues and kept on hiding myself under God’s sheltering wing until the emotional storm passed.

But that is not how it works for me sometimes, especially lately. If I do not have my shield of faith lifted up (Ephesians 6:10-18), Satan’s lies hit their mark. The thought comes “It’s never going to be right. It’s too messed up to ever be restored.”

Do you see how at that precise point the enemy is trying to steal hope?

I believe the enemy of our souls is attacking believers with anything and everything he can. He seeks to discourage us through world-wide events, events in our area of the world, in our personal life, in our bodies, in the lives of those we love, in our relationships, our work, and on and on. He uses his same old tactics and he uses them in different ways.

white concrete dome museumPhoto by Louis Velasquez on Unsplash

The point of this story. My point in all this is to show how crafty the enemy is. On March 4, when President Trump gave his address to Congress, we saw how powerful the enemy is in the hearts of those who yield control to him. When democrats remained seated throughout the President’s address, when they interrupted him, when they would not even stand to celebrate with a young boy who is courageously fighting cancer, they gave a clear demonstration of the power of the devil—let me repeat–in the hearts of those who yield control to him. Consider this Scripture.

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living” (Romans 6:16, NLT, emphasis added)

Part of the coming change is the increase in evil and the effects that will have. We are living in the last of the last days. Evil will grow stronger. 2 Timothy 3:13 warns us that “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (NKJV) And the verse right before that says “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” We have all read how the Civil War split families and friends apart as hatred and fear consumed and controlled hearts. I see Satan stirring up that same level of hatred and fear.

a white mannequin with a red band on its head

Photo by David Underland on Unsplash

[1] Many are deceived.  The people who opposed and dishonored President Trump and the Office of the President of the United States are deceived, hardened and blinded by Satan. Many people we see in our everyday life are in the same snare of the enemy. Perhaps you know where differences in spiritual and political views have shattered a relationship. I do. I am convinced this is happening around our nation.

[2] We must keep fighting. We who are standing with the Lord must keep fighting. We cannot stop just because God mercifully gave us a reprieve through President Trump and the courageous people who are fighting for truth, justice, and liberty. God is making dramatic changes for good every day in our world and in America. We must do our part to keep our nation turning back to God. We must keep educating ourselves and taking whatever actions we can. See the “What to do about our world?” page on this website. Midterm elections will soon be here, and the radical left is already working to take back the ground they lost.

[3] Satan will persist. Satan will keep using everything he can to destroy God’s agenda for America, the world, and individuals, unbelievers and believers alike. BUT “when we place ourselves under God’s protection, Satan has no authority over us.”  And he only has the power over us that we allow him to have. Read this quote from gotquestions.org

“We have no authority over Satan in ourselves. God has all authority, and He fights on our behalf. Our response to Satan’s attacks should include submitting our lives to God, living in a holy manner, praying for God’s protection, and resisting sin. When we place ourselves under God’s protection, Satan has no authority over us. He will flee. In addition, we can respond to the devil’s temptations as Jesus did. All three times Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord responded by quoting God’s Word (Matthew 4:1–11). If Jesus defeated temptation through Scripture, we should certainly rely on the Bible to overcome Satan’s temptation in our lives. It’s not called the “sword of the Spirit” for nothing (Ephesians 6:17).”

For an encouraging teaching on this subject, read the entire post: . Does a believer have authority over Satan? | GotQuestions.org

[4] Beware of deception. If Satan can so completely deceive so many politicians (who have at least some intelligence), then he is doing the same with millions of everyday Americans, AND HE IS ALSO WORKING AND WILL KEEP WORKING TO DECEIVE YOU AND ME AND THOSE WE LOVE.

a black and brown snake with its mouth open

Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash

I beg you: do not watch mainstream media. Although its number of followers is declining, this remains one of the enemy’s most venomous weapons. Instead, watch conservative news that gives God’s perspective. News sources I have followed for years and which I trust are:

  • Intercessors for America -An on-line community of believers interceding for our nation. The website has multiple resources as well as opportunities to join in prayer via email as well as live phone calls.
  • Other conservative news sources like Epoch Times and The Western Journal.
  • Listening to the above news sources will lead you to additional reliable ones.

Satan wants to move us into fear, hopelessness and then into doing nothing. He wants to stop the progress we are making in our personal lives and in the spiritual battle raging right now in the heavenly realms.

What are we to do?

[1] Know that God is fighting for you. Keep that fact in the forefront of your mind. Cry out to God as King Asa did in 2 Chronicles 14:11:

“Asa cried to the Lord his God, O Lord, there is none besides You to help, and it makes no difference to You whether the one You help is mighty or powerless. Help us, O Lord our God! For we rely on You, and we go against this multitude in Your name. O Lord, You are our God; let no man prevail against You!” (AMPC, emphasis added)

lightning strike at night

Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash

[2] Keep living your good and godly life.Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21, NIV). This verse is in the context of responding to those who have done evil to you. Remember that evil comes from the enemy of our souls. Satan sometimes uses people to hurt other people. He has deceived many people with radical left political views into thinking they are in danger from conservatives and Christians. If someone has harmed you in some way because of your Christian and/or conservative stance, remember that they are blinded by the lies of the enemy and do not know what they are doing.

Keep living for God with all your heart. Keep on doing good, in your personal life and for the cause of righteousness in our nation and world. Don’t know what to do? See the “What to do about our world” page on this website.

[3] Keep alert!  Carefully consider 1 Peter 5:6-9:

“6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (NLT)

Peter tells his readers to humble themselves before God, to cast all their cares on Him, to stay alert and resist the enemy, who is desperate, and to remember that all believers are having the same kinds of suffering they are. Why? Because God “cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (I Peter 4:7b, NLT)

[4] Above all: guard your heart!  In Proverbs 4:20-23, God pleads with us:

My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.  (NLT)

Please!
Make it your top priority
to get closer to God and to study His Word.

[5] Finally: Man up! You really have no choice. If you stop fighting the good fight of faith—if you slack off on your Christian beliefs and behaviors—you will face the enemy alone, one way or the other, whether you just sit down or whether you actively run away. The enemy waits and you will have to fight him without your spiritual weapons and without the tremendous help of the family of God, your fellow soldiers.

If this sounds harsh or insensitive, please believe me it is not. It is said with the utmost concern for your soul. I know what awaits you if you give up. The enemy of our souls has no mercy. His aim is to destroy everything and everyone who loves and serves God. We must live constantly “under the shelter of the Most High.“ (Psalm 91)

a horse with a saddle on its back

Photo by Alexander Popovkin on Unsplash

So man up, saddle up, and suit up in your spiritual armor, weary Christian soldier! God Himself is and will continue to be your strength. No matter what happens I can say, and you can too:

“18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!  (Habakkuk 3:18-19, AMPC)

Move forward with the life God has lovingly given you, love Him, serve Him, obey Him with all your heart. God’s army is marching on to victory. In your daily life and in the battle being waged in the heavenly realms, victory is stored up, waiting for us!

“He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for He guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,” (Proverbs 2:7-12, NIV)

Beloved, we have victory through our faith in God, so “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4, KJV)

 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.”
(1 John 5:4, NKJV)

The man standing on the mountain on the picturesque sunset backgroundPhoto by Getty Images on Unsplash

Salvations and Edifications, #thebibleindaily life, #godindailylife

A note from me to you: I am going to be writing long blog posts, rather than breaking them into two or more short ones, as before. Short writings do not work well for me. So, I will trust you to read a bit and then return to it later, as the Lord leads. So, here we go, with 2025. It is going to be an awesome year in Jesus!

photo of bed near task lamp

Photo by Alexander Possingham on Unsplash

Two days before New Year’s. I opened my eyes and stretched. In the darkness, I saw a small white shape next to me, then Lily Bugs was standing on my chest. I rubbed her velvety ears, then gently scratched under her chin, feeling the thrumming, silent rumbling that is her purr.

Well, Lord, You know I do not really want to but I know my desk and all my papers need to be organized, really organized. You know, where I go through each folder or stack of papers on my desk and all the cubbies. Thank You for helping me get so much year-end organizing and planning done already this week.

 So, Lord, once again I roll this day’s work upon You. I “commit and trust this day’s work wholly to You. I know You will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and thus shall our plans be established and succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3, AMPC, personalized)

Two hours later, after morning devotions and some preliminary work on organizing the desk, I sat down with a second cup of chicory. On a clean sheet of paper, using the post-it notes on which they had been hastily scrawled as the ideas had come to mind, I made an orderly list of my personal spiritual goals for the year. And that felt good.

Two worthy goals. Besides goals concerning worldly things (paying down debt, getting in better shape, etc.) do you have spiritually-focused goals for this year? Have you prayed about what you hope to achieve for the kingdom of God this year? Have you asked God to show you an area where you can grow spiritually?

Two of my spiritual goals are to lead souls to salvation (I am praying about a specific number) and to prepare myself to be better at mutual edification. Let me explain.

GOAL #1.  Will there be any stars in my crown? Remember this soul-stirring song written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt in 1897? It asks the question: When I get to heaven, can I know that I have helped win some souls to Jesus?  Here is one stanza.

“In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray
Let me watch as a winner of souls
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day
When his praise like the sea billow rolls.”

We must be busy about our Father’s work, just as Jesus was (Luke 2:49). We must not be lazy or idle. In Hebrews 6:11-12 God tells us He wants each of us “. . . to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. “ (NIV, emphasis added)

Am I prepared to labor in the harvest? (Mathew 9:38) If I wish to be a soul winner, I must (1) be prepared and (2) be praying for God to put souls in the path of my daily life.

How do I prepare to be a soul winner? Many books have been written about leading hearts to Jesus. Ask your pastor or mature believers what books they recommend.  One book I trust, because I trust the authors (T. L. Osborn and LaDonna Osborn), is Soul Winning: How to Share God’s Love and Life to a World of Despair. 

Another excellent book is One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven by Mark Cahill. I have read portions of this book and highly recommend it. Here is the description written on the back of the book:

“Are you ready for eternity? If so, are you helping others get ready for that journey into eternity that each of us must take? As believers, we all know we should tell others about the Lord, but we often don’t know how.  This practical book will give you ideas for starting conversations, examples of witnessing situations, and answers to common question. It will help motivate and equip you to reach both friends and strangers for Jesus for the rest of your life.”

A very simple way to lead someone to salvation is the Romans Road. Here is a link to a simple explanation.  What is the Romans Road to salvation? | GotQuestions.org   If you have these five or so verses of the Romans Road memorized, you will be ready when God puts some hungry soul in the path of your everyday life, at work, the grocery, the gym, or your neighborhood.

rectangular leaning mirror with brass-colored frameBegin memorizing these verses now while you read a good book or some articles about soul winning. Next, practice at home in front of a mirror or with a friend. Then, pray and watch God work.

You will likely not be able to lead someone to salvation every time, but you can be certain that you have planted seed in their heart and you can be certain that God will send another laborer to water that soul. Someday, one of God’s laborers will harvest that soul. The apostle Paul said, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (I Corinthians 3:6, NLT)

 

 

 

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

Be confident as you prepare yourself and pray to win souls. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave His followers what is known as the Great Commission. Jesus said:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Because God clearly tells us to win the lost, we can be sure when we pray for help that God hears us and we shall have the thing we ask of Him (I John 5:14-15).

Jesus does not limit this commission to those whose full-time work is that of a pastor, evangelist or teacher. The Great Commission applies to all of us, no matter our circumstance and situation. But what if you do not like to study or are “slow of speech” like Moses? God made you, and He does not make mistakes. Put your apparent limitation on the altar, try with all your might to obey God and then watch what He does for you.

GOAL #2: Our obligation of mutual edification.  Building each other up spiritually is clearly God’s specifically expressed will for every believer. Where does the Bible say that? For starters, study Romans 5:12, and 14:19, Philippians 2:4, Ephesians 4:15-16 and Ephesians 4:29. These verses are for every believer, as is the Great Commission. When we edify each other by “speaking the truth in love” we help each other grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

So, I ask myself the same two questions about this goal of edifying other believers: (1) Am I prepared to edify fellow believers at every opportunity? And (2) Am I praying for opportunities to do that and keeping my eyes open, being willing to give of my personal time and energy to do that?

How do I prepare to edify fellow believers? Let’s look at Ephesians 4:15-16 a bit closer. These verses are part of a section the NIV calls “Unity in the Body of Christ.” In this passage, Paul is urging the believes at Ephesus to grow up into maturity. Take time now to read Ephesians 4:1-16.

Do you see God’s master plan for building up the Body of Christ? We are to live in loving unity and we are to use the grace God has given us, whatever that may be, so that we may all become mature. To be mature is to be a fully functioning member of the Body of Christ. Then, Christ will cause all of us to “grow and build each other” up in love, as we each do our part. We can be ready in every situation to edify each one whom God puts in our path, inside as well as outside the church.

cup of coffee on saucer

Photo by Dani on Unsplash

Practical tips for how to edify others. As believers, we strive to be doing good at every opportunity, inside and outside the church, and not just when we feel like it. The person siting next to us in Bible study group may desperately need to share a cup of coffee and some one-on-one time with a fellow Christian. They might be desperately hungry for just one hour of true, personal conversation.

That stranger we meet outside the church may be a believer or not, but regardless, that stranger is a person God loves. If we are praying and looking for opportunities, we can speak a quick word of truth to someone standing in line at the grocery or sitting next to us in the doctor’s reception area.

God’s truth benefits anyone who hears it, whether they seem to receive it or not. Our part is to scatter the seed, then pray for God to grow the seed. So, what to do? Pray for help and study to equip yourself with the Word!

Step One: Meditate on verses that you think would be good to share with others.  You can start by recalling what God has done in your life. For example, if God has helped you out of deep financial trials, meditate on verses like Philippians 4:19:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

open bookPhoto by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Use a concordance or the internet and find other verses on the subject. Then, when you encounter someone in financial struggles, you can offer them comfort and encouragement through the Word and through hearing your story of victory through God over similar problems.

If you know a close friend is struggling with a particular temptation, meditate on and memorize I Corinthians 10:13

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT)

Think about your own story and think about people’s needs in general. God will lead you to the portions of His Word that meets those needs, no matter your level of knowledge. You already know more Scripture than you think. Simply take and use what is already in your mind, just as God told Moses to use what was in his hand (Exodus 4:17.)

And one important note: do not worry about saying the verse word for word. If you cannot memorize it and/or if you cannot remember it, God will still help you speak out the essence of the verse. Trust Him and just try.

Step Two: Practice speaking the Word out loud so that you become accustomed to hearing your own voice saying God’s Words. Then it will feel natural and will sound natural. Remember, though, the Word of God is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). His Word will touch the spirit and soul of that person you are seeking to help. God loves that person far, far more than you can, and nothing is too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17). God makes the eyes to see and the ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12).  Touching the heart is His part. Our part is to speak the Word in love, to be the living channel through which God can touch others.

Usually, there is no need to pause dramatically in the conversation and say, “Now, friend, I am going to share a Bible truth that I think you need.” Think how Jesus talked to people in need. Just talk naturally about what they need and what God has said about that need.

If you are talking with a friend struggling with family troubles, say, “You know, I finally learned that God will keep me in peace during rocky times when I remind myself that God promises to keep me in complete peace if I trust in Him and keep my thoughts fixed on Him. (paraphrase of Isaiah 26:3, NLT)

yellow lights between treesPhoto by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

Share the light you have. Beloved, you have been given a measure of a vast and limitless treasure, a measure of the light of God’s truth. Countless millions are walking in darkness and desperately need the light you have. Small as it may seem to you, the light you have is a bright path to souls staggering in darkness.

When you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you were saved (Romans 10:9-10) and Jesus, the Light of the World, took up residence in your heart. Think about that. The God Who made all that is lives inside you. You have all that you need in Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was teaching about salt and light, He said:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (NLT)

People all around us need to hear God’s wisdom. Will you turn away and leave them blindly groping in the dark, shackled by fear, doubt or some other torment from the enemy? If you saw a little child stumbling about near a deep ditch, would you not stop in your busy life and run to pick that child up? Friend, that is what Jesus has done for each of us. We must do that for others. We must feed His sheep (John 21:15-17).

Helping others we see in need is not an option if we are to walk in right standing with God. I must take to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:37-46.

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”  (NLT, emphasis added.)

That “they” in Verse 46 means the unrighteous, those not in right standing with Jesus. Why are they not in right standing? Jesus said “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.” (Verse 45).

Notice that this passage is part of Jesus’ discourse about the end of the age, the time when “the love of most will grow cold”. That is beyond question the times in which we live.

Am I in right standing with God regarding this? Oh, Lord, open my ears and let me take to heart the truth in Verses 45 and 46! God says we are not in right standing with Him, if we refuse to help those in need.

I have usually heard this passage taught as concerning doing physical acts of service but the principal also, I believe, concerns sharing the Word of life, just as we would share a cup of water or food or clothing.

When we reach out to others with God’s love—be that His Word or some tangible physical way—we let God Himself flow through us. He can use us to touch fellow believers, those who are lost, and all with whom we come in contact.

Further, there is another general Biblical principle that I believe applies here:

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. 28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you. (Proverbs 3:27-28, NLT)

woman in gray shirt standing on green grass field during daytime

Photo by Gonzalo Facello on Unsplash

We must be ready for the great harvest that has already begun! Friend and fellow pilgrim, we must pray, equip ourselves and then be looking for ways to let God do good through us, to win the lost and to edify our brothers and sisters in Christ, in church and out in the world.

What a privilege! What a sacred responsibility! And oh, oh, oh! What a light He sheds on our way!

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

    • Refrain:
      Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
      To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

(“Trust and Obey”, by John H. Sammis, 1887)

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Are you ready to vote?

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on Unsplash

Are you registered to vote? If not, get busy!  The deadline to vote in Travis County, Texas, where I live, is October 7.  An astoundingly large percentage of believers do not vote. Please do not be one of them! If you do not vote in an election, you have, by default, voted for whoever wins that election.  Think about that.

Unsure if you are registered? Maybe it’s been a while since you voted. If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote, visit Can I Vote | NASS.  You can also contact your county’s tax office.

Are the people you know registered? Ask others if they are ready to vote. It only takes a few seconds to ask someone else if they are registered to vote. You can work that into a brief exchange with the person who sells you one bottle of aspirin at the drug store or the person who bags up your groceries. And certainly you can easily ask family and friends.

Being good citizens. Jesus taught that we are to be responsible citizens. Part of good citizenship is to pay taxes. In Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus demonstrated this aspect of being a good citizen. The NIV labels this portion of scripture “The Temple Tax.”

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

And in Mark 12:13-17, which the NIV Bible labels “Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar” is another example of where Jesus said to pay taxes.

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at Him.”

Another part of good citizenship for an American is to vote. Think about it. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren and our fellow citizens – and most importantly, to God!

boy in blue dress shirt standing on green grass field during daytime

Photo by Chris Hardy
on Unsplash

Our turbulent times. . . what can YOU do?

Free Earth Globe photo and picture

What are you doing about our world? Like me, you are likely horrified and enraged by recent events, like the attempted assassination of former and future President Trump, the deliberate murder of 12 Israeli children by Hezbollah while they were playing soccer, and the unspeakably perverse mockery of the Lord’s Supper at the opening of the Olympic Games. I could go on. My question is: What are you and I doing about it?

“Silence in the face of evil” As Mark Meckler, President of Convention of States, phrases it: “We are Christians in every arena of life.” Christians do have a role in the secular world. God has a role for each believer to play in this battle against evil. To choose to be silent and do nothing is to be as the German citizens who chose to not see the concentration camps close to their cities. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

The Nazis aimed to annihilate first the Jews, then they would have come after America, anyone who was not part of what Hitler had brainwashed them to believe was the superior Aryan race. Satan was the force behind Hitler just as he is the force behind Iran and its proxy nations that are seeking to annihilate all Jews. They also plan to annihilate every person who is not of their race.

Satan is behind the evil we see in our nation and his goal is always to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). He controls those who promote abortion, transgenderism, antisemitism and all the other evils we see increasing. As United States citizens, we have the power to remove the political leaders who have been forcing Satan’s agenda on America. We can and must, must, must vote but we can and must do more.

What can an ordinary person do?  Besides praying and fasting and voting–the bare minimum—you can do much more. You can contact governmental representatives, speak at board meetings, help with the voting process, or run for office and/or support others who do. And never forget:  bless and pray for Israel.

For details about these options, read the “What can you do about our world?” page on this website.  What to do about our world? | wordsofhopeandhealing.com

How to help with the voting process.  I urge you to listen to the July 29, 2024, Flashpoint podcast. Starting at about minute 33, Gene Bailey, Hank Kunneman and Mark Meckler have encouraging words about getting involved in our world. Use the link below.

FlashPoint: We Will See America Change! (July 29th 2024) – FlashPoint (govictory.com)

In that podcast (at about minute 38) you will also learn about the organization called Faith Wins Home – Faith Wins.    This organization will provide materials to lead you in setting up a voting registration booth in your church, as well as other ways to help ensure the voting process is legal. See the “Take Action” page of faithwins.org.

Do not fear these “turbulent times”!  I hope you regularly listen to the Give Him 15 podcast by Dutch Sheets. The July 26, 2024, podcast “Turbulent Times are Here” is especially comforting. Please take time to listen to Dutch’s powerful insights. You will be strengthened in your faith.  Prayer | Give Him 15

My prayer for you:

I personally find that I feel more peace when I am taking action, when I am doing what God shows me I can do in this battle for righteousness. I pray you find the same peace.

24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; 26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). (Number 6:24-26, AMPC)

 

How many roses has God given you?

His love gifts are everywhere. Predawn coolness filled the room. I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of it on the bare skin of my arms. I pressed my palms around the mug of tea just the right temperature for sipping. Inhaling the cool air deep into my lungs, I put the tea on the window ledge and picked up the pencil, ready to continue my journaling with the Lord. My eyes paused, finally, on the profusion of pink roses swaying just outside my window. That’s when conviction came, that piercing within as you realize you have hurt someone you love most dearly,

“Oh, Father! I am so, so sorry! Forgive me! I remember the thrill of first seeing that this wild rose bush had climbed all the way to my second-floor window, letting me see two roses while sitting in this very chair. That delight lasted for days. Looking at them with gratitude was a thing between us, just You and me, throughout the day. And look at how many more roses You have caused to grow and blossom! Just look at them! Oh, when was the last time I thanked You for these beautiful flowers!”

How often do I take His specially chosen love gifts for granted?  That morning, I counted 22 roses in bloom or in bud. When had I begun taking this precious gift from God for granted? How would a human husband feel if his wife plunked the carefully chosen bouquet of her favorite flowers in a corner and never looked at them again? How many times the past few weeks since the roses began blooming had God nudged me to stop and sit down with Him and just thank Him, to just spend a few minutes specifically thanking Him for those roses?

It is fitting and appropriate to give thanks, to praise and to worship the Lord. The Bible is filled with verses telling us to give our thanks and our praise and our worship to God.  I Thessalonians 5:18 says: “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)

Why? It is appropriate.

 Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart]. (Psalm 33:1, AMPC, emphasis added)

Why is it appropriate? One of many reasons is because “God is good and His love endures forever”!   This fact is so vital for us to keep in mind that God repeats it multiple times in the Word, especially in Psalms. He even included an entire psalm that repeats this teaching. The phrase “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” appears in each of the 26 verses of Psalm 136. Selah!

God delights in our praise and thanksgiving and worship. It pleases me greatly that praising God, thanking Him, and obeying Him whole-heartedly are gifts I can give to Him, little of course and by no means anywhere near what He deserves. However, when I keep Him first in my heart and love Him with all my heart, I know that gives Him delight

The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.  (Psalm 147:11, AMPC)

Being ungrateful is spiritually dangerous. When I complain—about anything—I open a door to the enemy. I am making a way for him to steal, kill and destroy the good things God has prepared for me, including an intimate relationship with Him.

God hates complaining. Read Psalm 78 slowly and prayerfully. Do you see how many times God was merciful and forgave Israel and did not destroy them? But do you see that eventually they got what their actions deserved?

Why do we become ungrateful? We get distracted by many things, our own desires, someone else’s agenda, and the ways of this dark world. This world is filled with “troubles, trials, distress and frustrations.” Just before Calvary, Jesus lovingly told His disciples that they would have “troubles, trials, distress and frustration” in this world. But He also told them “but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33b, AMPC, emphasis added)

God understands and “imprints on His heart” that we are just frail human beings (Psalm 103) so He always, always, always provides a way to escape from temptations. That includes those that come from within our desperately wicked hearts (Jeremiah 17:9)  as well as those that come from living in this world. Paul told us:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (I Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

Praising and giving thanks protects me. When I consciously, purposefully, tell God “Thank You” for the little things that are right in front of me – a Bible to study, food to eat, a home to live in – I begin feeling gratitude, peace and hope. Expressing thanks to my heavenly Father helps me think about His great love toward me and about Who He is. How can I fear or complain when I am pondering the fact that the One Who holds the world in His loving hands dearly, dearly loves me? Like all His commands, the command to give God thanks is good for us.

Like gifts from a child. One of the first gifts a child gives is the head of a flower plucked from the back yard and lovingly presented in a chubby fist. Like the little drummer boy “I have no gift that’s fit to lay before a King” but I can give Him the very best of my heart. I can give Him my gratitude and my conscious awareness of Him. I can just sit down with Him and say,

“I love You Father! Thank You for those roses! Thank You for teaching me from Your Word. Thank You for leading me to have a closer relationship with You. It is so good to just sit in Your presence, Father. I love the peace I feel when my mind is on You.

Help me remember, please, to stop the busyness of my hands and sit down with You. Thank You that I feel Your love when I do that. Show me how to please You more, Lord.  Show me how You want me to live every hour of every day You give me on this earth. I love You Lord, I just love You. . . “

A stained white garment

Stained, again. “Oh, no! Not again!”

As I closed my Bible and put it on the side table next to the rocker by the window,  I looked down at the little spatters of burgundy on my favorite white everyday top. I must have, once again, held the tiny communion cup too close when I’d opened it.

There have been seasons in my life where I take communion at home with the Lord every morning. For years, I used grape juice and bread or crackers, but a few months ago I purchased a box of pre-filled communion cups and wafers, like those used in many, perhaps most, churches. The plastic lid covering those cups is hard to remove.

In other seasons of life, I have taken communion at home as the Lord leads like, for example, when I am deeply convicted of sinning against the Lord or another person in some way, like this morning or when I want to commemorate or  celebrate something with the Lord.

God cares very much about celebrating important things by doing something concrete, like the Lord’s Supper and meeting with Him at church on the Sabbbath day. Consider also the feasts, the festivals, all the altars He commanded to be built in the Old Testament. And how about the twelve stones taken out of the river bed of the Jordan to celebrate the miraculous crossing of the river described in Joshua 4:1-11?

God’s ways to deal with sin. I hasten to say that this is my personal habit, something Holy Spirit has put on my heart to do after I heard about it from others. There is no verse in the Bible that tells us we must take the Lord’s Supper each time we are convicted of sin. The blood Jesus shed on the cross paid the full price for sin once and for all. By faith in His sacrifice my sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. The practice of bringing a sacrifice for sin to the temple was for God’s people before Jesus came.

Then Jesus came to earth and fulfilled the Law with His life, and His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus made the way for us to be cleansed of sin and to have eternal life.

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” John 3:16, (AMPC, emphasis added.)

After Calvary, the age in which we now live, the God-prescribed way for believers in Jesus to be cleansed from sin as we go about our daily life is found in 1 John 1:9. God promises us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

Getting those stains out. So what happened to my favorite everyday top? I remembered a household tip learned when I was a secretary for the Sheriff’s Office. Once when a deputy—wearing a snowy white uniform shirt—was fixing a jammed stapler he somehow got blood on his sleeve. Another deputy retrieved hydrogen peroxide from the clinic, poured a bit on each spot and rubbed. As she kept rubbing the liquid into the fabric, the hydrogen peroxide foamed away the blood stain. Completely.

I see several spiritual lessons in that process.

[1] Sin is an unavoidable part of being human, just as accidents are. In Romans 7:14-25 the Apostle Paul describes his struggle with sin. If you have never studied this passage, read it over first in the NIV or the NLT, then do a thorough study. In this passage Paul explains that, although he wants with all his heart to do what is right,  his human, sinful nature always fights against that. Yet Paul rejoices that God, through Jesus, delivers him. Paul says,

“(v. 21) I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. (22) I love God’s law with all my heart (23) but there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (24) Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (25) ‘Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God’s law but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (NLT)”

I clearly remember the relief I felt the day I first understood the next verse, Romans 8:1.

“Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation [no adjudging guilty of wrong] for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1, AMPC, emphasis added).

 God does not condemn me for how my human nature reacts any more than He condemns me for how my physical flesh reacts when I fall and scrape my knee.

[2] God has prepared the way to deal with all our sins. When we genuinely repent and turn away from our sins and toward God, our sins are blotted out (Acts 3:19). We are born again, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. Then, as we live this new life of serving God, as we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. How does that happen? As we saw earlier, when we confess our sins to God He forgives us. Look at this section of First John, which the NIV labels “Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness.”

(5) This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. (6) If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

(8) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us form all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.” (NIV, emphasis added)

[3] It is best to confess our sin immediately. Perhaps you have heard “It is best to keep short accounts with the Lord.” This pearl of wisdom comes from the Word. Leviticus 5:5 tells us “When you become  aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin.” (NLT)  Psalm 32:3 shows what happens when we refuse to confess our sin. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.”(NLT)

If I had let that blouse with the grape juice stain sit in the laundry basket for a few days, it likely would not have come out. I had to interrupt what I had planned to do, find the prescribed cleaning agent, then take time to follow the prescribed procedure.

[4] We must be ever vigilant against sin. Whenever I wear my white blouse, I am extra careful about possible spills or stains and I glance down at it several times a day to be sure it remains unstained.

Once God cleans us up, He changes our basic habits and attitudes. He gives us a new nature, a new garment so to speak as He covers our sin with His righteousness. In the Bible, garment is a “symbol of covering, evil or righteous, defiled or beautiful.” (Interpreting the Symbols and Types, Kevin J. Conner, p. 144)

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10, NIV, emphasis added)

Once we are robed in His righteousness, we must watch daily to keep our garments clean, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12).

And look at what Jesus promises in Revelations 3:5:

“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and His angels. (NIV)”

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, recorded his musings upon the purpose of life. He told us to keep ourselves pure, to keep our garments white.  In Chapter Nine, after Solomon concludes that good and evil, death and life happen to everyone, he says it is best to go ahead and live your life. “There is hope only for the living. . . ‘It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” (Ecclesiastes 9:4, NLT). Then Solomon continues:

“Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God]; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments be always white [with purity], and let your head not lack [the] oil of gladness]. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-8, AMPC, emphasis added).

In Verse 10, Solomon counsels: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” (NIV).

That says to me that I am to live my life, with joy, keeping my heart pure before God by living in the light that comes from understanding the Word of God. I am to keep my heart clean before God by confessing any sin as soon as I am aware of it.

Washing with the water of the Word works. After rubbing out those stains on my blouse, I laid it across the back of the couch to dry out before putting it in the laundry basket. When I got back from errands, I picked up the blouse. I looked at every inch and could find no trace of stain. It was completely white. Consider these verses.

(25) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself up for her, (26) So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, (27) That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. (Ephesians 5:25-27, AMPC, emphasis added).

            Selah, oh my soul, selah! God loves me so much that He compares me to His bride. God has made the way—despite my frail human flesh—for me to be holy and without blame in His eyes. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14, KJV).

 

Everything We Need, Part Two

Review of Part One: In Part One, we looked at the first three verses of the first chapter of Second Peter. We learned that, through having a personal relationship with Jesus, God has already provided everything we need for life and for that life to be godly. In Part Two, we see how He does that and how we are to respond.

His exceedingly great promises.  First, go back and re-read the first three verses of 2 Peter chapter one. Then read verse 4:

(4) By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape (by flight) from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed) and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. (AMPC)”

In this verse Peter tells us that the cause of the moral decay filling the world is lust and greed. However, we can flee away from that and share in God’s divine nature through the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. God has given us His very great promises because of His glory and His goodness. Look closely at the first three phrases in the next verse, verse 5.

(v. 5) For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop. . . 

That phrase “For this very reason” points back to verse 4. Peter says that because of the great promises God has given us, we must make every effort, which means be diligent, to add godly qualities to our faith. Then Peter lists seven qualities that we can – and are supposed to — develop in ourselves. We develop these by God’s grace of course, but it requires our effort or it will not happen.

To reiterate, Peter says God has given us all that we need to live a godly life and the way to live that godly life is to flee the world’s corruption by participating in the nature of God. We do that by diligently exercising our faith and continually growing in Jesus, which means developing godly qualities.

What qualities should we pursue? Verses 5 through 7 list the godly qualities Peter says we can develop. We are to add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Putting each phrase on a separate line makes the process of how to acquire these qualities easier to see.

 “For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort

  • in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy),
  • and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),
  • And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control,
  • and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance),
  • and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
  • And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection,
  • and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.”

 The process of developing godly qualities. Do you see the pattern? As we exercise, or use, one quality, we develop another godly quality, another attribute of the divine nature. “In exercising _________ develop ________.”

When we obey God and exercise, or use, the small bit of spiritual muscle we have, God develops that muscle. As that particular spiritual muscle develops—in response to our using it–the spiritual muscles and tendons around it also grow and another good quality starts to grow. And on and gloriously on!

A good comparison is physical exercise. Let’s say I’m a high school gym student. The coach says he is sure I have potential as a distance runner. I have faith in him, so I add to my faith in what the coach told me by starting with what I have. I diligently, industriously, start running every day. As I continue exercising my faith in what the coach told me, I develop strength, in general, in several body systems and muscles. As I continue running daily, my legs become stronger. I see (or the coach tells me) I must also do strength training to develop my quadriceps muscles so my knees will stay strong. I do that and next the coach assigns exercises to strengthen my hips and on and on until I have a well-trained runner’s physique.

Or consider someone who wants to have strong arms. I start with biceps exercises and those biceps muscles grow as I diligently work out, week by week. While I am developing my biceps, the triceps are also affected. Next I add triceps exercises. Next come the shoulders. And on and on until all muscle groups are strong.

Why do we need to develop these godly qualities? The answer is simple: these qualities will keep us from being idle or unfruitful, both of which are dangerous spiritual conditions. Look at verse 8.

(8) For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

 

Notice we must develop these godly qualities and then keep on developing them. These qualities must “increasingly abound.” God puts a stern warning in Verse 9 for those who do not keep growing.

(v. 9) For whoever lacks these qualities is blind [spiritually shortsighted] seeing only what is near to him and has become oblivious [to the fact that] he was cleansed from his old sins.”

Do you remember how many times in the Old Testament God had to punish the Israelites because they lost sight of what He had done for them, could not see clearly Who He was and turned to their old ways of living?

Remember that God has already made the way for each of us to develop these qualities. God equips us for everything we need to live a godly life. If we fail to develop spiritually, we harm ourselves. Greatly. We remain spiritual infants, weak creatures and easy prey for the enemy of our souls. Our spiritual infancy requires that someone else carry us, feed us, and put up with our immature behavior.

Do you want to avoid stumbling and falling?  God gives us a priceless promise in verse 10. He says if we work diligently to develop those godly qualities, we will never stumble or fall.

(v. 10)  “Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall” (emphasis added).  (The NLT says “fall away.”)

That “because of this” at the start of verse 10 connects this verse to those that came before. Because of the great potential that awaits us in God’s promises, we should be eager to do what God says and work diligently to develop God-like qualities. God does not promise a life free of problems, in fact Jesus says quite the opposite in John 16:33. However, God does promise we will be able to keep walking safely with Him. And it will be with joy and all the other results of having an intimate relationship with Jesus (Galations 5:22-23).

(v 11.) “Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The Enduring Word Commentary has this note about 2 Peter 1:11: “Peter here reminded his readers of the great reward of a calling and election made sure. They would enter heaven gloriously, not as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15.)”  Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and meditate on that warning.

Be stirred up. Friend, may we be reminded about these things and stirred up “by way of remembrance”, as Peter wanted us to be. Peter said, “I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle (tent, body) to stir you up by way of remembrance.” (2 Peter 1:12, AMPC).  May we diligently exercise our faith so we may become strong and develop every godly quality.

Godly qualities will save us from the darkness of our present world. And we will shine like stars in that darkness. As the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:14-16:

Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves].

That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (fault-less, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world. ( AMPC)

 

 

Everything we need

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV, 1984)

For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).  (2 Peter 1:3, AMPC)

We already have everything we need for. . . . I watched Lily closely. She had just started her morning catly ablutions, thoroughly licking one slender paw, rubbing it over and over the right side of her face, then more licking and more rubbing until that side of her face was satisfactory, then repeating the process on the left. Next came her shoulders, then tummy which required an awkward posture and finally her hind parts, rear leg straight up in the air in the most undignified way.

“Hmmm, Lord,” I reflected, “You have given my little Lily and all cats everything they need for life, everything they need to take care of themselves. Either their mother, instincts or both teach them to keep themselves clean, to hunt and eat food, to socialize, to reproduce and to raise their young. I know that their grooming keeps their coat healthy by distributing oils, removes dirt and pests, calms them down and, if necessary, cools them. You’ve given them everything they need for life . . . ”

I paused a beat, then smiled.

“. . . just like You have given us everything we need for life and godliness through Your very great and precious promises. Let me see, where was that verse? I still remember the jolt of power in those words the first time I understood them. . .”

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV, 1984)

Background of our text: First Peter was written by Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, to a group of Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. Peter urged them to remember what Jesus did for them and he encouraged them to live holy lives. He gave instructions for living a holy life in a sinful world. Second Peter was written to the same group of Christians who were then in “danger being confused by false teachers. Peter reminds the Christians that the best way to resist false teachers is to grow in the knowledge and practice of the Christian faith.” (NIV 1984, Introduction to 2 Peter.)

The headings in the 1984 NIV show that Second Peter covers these topics:

  • Making One’s Calling and Election Sure (the section we will focus upon),
  • Prophecy of Scripture,
  • False Teachers and Their Destruction, and
  • the Day of the Lord.

Key point: It is just as important to live a holy life today as it was for believers sixty years or so after the death of Jesus, when this book of the Bible was written. The way to live a holy life remains the same. Furthermore, verse 9 contains the clear warning: if we do not have the qualities listed in verses 4 through 7, we are short-sighted spiritually and have forgotten what Jesus has done for us. But if we develop those qualities, we “will never fall. . . and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (v. 10-11, NIV)

Our text, 2 Peter 1:1-12.  Take time now to read the first chapter of Second Peter, then re-read verses 1-12 slowly. Here is a summary of what I believe Peter is saying in verses 1-3.

(Verse 1). I, Peter, am a servant and special messenger of Jesus, and I am writing to believers, those “of like precious faith.”

(Verse 2) I say to you believers “May you have even more grace and peace, which you will be able to obtain through knowing Jesus, which means to know Jesus fully, personally, precisely and correctly  .. .

(Verse 3) . . .  because through knowing Jesus we will find the power God has already given us for living a godly life.

In other words, God has put abundant grace and peace and total provision for a godly life in the pathway of knowing Jesus, of being one with Him. And knowing Jesus means knowing Him “fully, personally, precisely, and correctly.”

A more detailed look at verses 1-3. Let’s turn to the Amplified Classic Bible (AMPC) for a deeper look at these verses.

1. “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of ) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”

First, Peter reminds his readers that he is a disciple of Jesus and also an apostle. Peter says he is writing to fellow believers. He tells them that, as believers, they share the same privilege of having faith like his if they live in right standing (righteousness) with God. They have that privilege because of the right standing Jesus had with God the Father.

2. “May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” What a prayer!

Grace and peace. Most of us have heard that grace means God’s unmerited favor, a truth we need to be ever mindful of. But how often have you considered what God means when He says peace?  Look at what the phrases in the AMPC tell us peace is:

  • perfect well-being,
  • all necessary good,
  • all spiritual prosperity, and
  • freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts

Notice God says perfect, or complete, well-being. Webster’s 1828 online dictionary says wellbeing means welfare, happiness, prosperity. Peace also means we will have “all necessary good.” Remember that God promises in Psalm 84:11 that He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly (KJV). This peace God is talking about also includes having all we need to be spiritually prosperous or successful. Lastly God’s peace means we can be free from fears and agitating feelings and conflicts. As someone prone to insecurity and anxiety, I especially treasure that fact.

. . . be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. And how do we get that grace and peace? The NIV says “through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. Gotquestions.org says the following about knowing Jesus.

“When people speak of “knowing” Jesus, they refer to having a relationship with Him. Being a Christian is more than knowing about Jesus; being a Christian is knowing Him personally. Jesus spoke of the need to know the Savior when He prayed, “This is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.” (John 17:3).

The AMPC expands upon what a relationship with Jesus looks like with the following words “in [the full, personal, precise and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”  You no doubt have some people you know a little bit, but not fully. We are to have a full, complete relationship with Jesus, holding nothing of ourselves back from our wonderful Savior Who held nothing of Himself back from us. The next word, personal, speaks of our private life, what we do and with whom, and how we feel.

Precise and correct are the next two words used to describe what our relationship with Jesus should be. Precise refers to how detailed or specific something is whereas correct means being right or lining up with a standard.  To me, these two words mean we are to take great care about the details of our relationship with Jesus and that our relationship should be based on the truths of God’s Word.

Consider the religious leaders in the time of Jesus. They were precise in their attitude about man’s relationship with God, having rules about the little details of life such as how many steps they could walk on the Sabbath, but they were not correct, because as Jesus explained, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, NIV)

Verse 3. “For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that are [requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).” 

The first word in this verse—for—is not in the NIV nor the King James. These connecting words in the AMPC help me see cause and effect and connections between ideas. That “for” in verse 3 tells me that verse 3 explains verse 2.  In verse 3, Peter says God’s grace and peace will be multiplied in us as we walk with Jesus because God has already put everything we need for living a godly life in the pathway of knowing Jesus.

God, in His divine power, has already bestowed, or given, us everything we need for our life and for that life to be godly.  Bestow means to give something to someone or present it to them. A queen could bestow knighthood on a man but if that man did nothing with it, what then? You can place a bowl of food in front of someone, but if they do not eat, what good does your bestowing food on them do?

A theme I see repeated throughout the Bible is that believers are to act like believers in our daily life. If we have faith but do not do anything with it, our faith is dead. James 2:14-26 gives clear teaching on the necessity to put shoes to our faith. Notice especially verses 17–“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”– and verse 26 — “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” ( NIV).

Another theme present throughout the Bible is God’s charge to us to pursue continual spiritual growth. We are to follow Paul’s example and press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1-3). God tells us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), which means we are to take action regarding something He has already provided. We are to clothe ourselves with humility (Colossians 3:12), pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14) and on and on we could go with things God tells us to do.

How has God given us all we need for life and godliness? Look at the second half of verse 3. “Through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). God has already given us all that we need and the way to get that is through that full, personal relationship with Jesus. As we come to know Him, we perceive His glory, His true nature, not what others may have told us or what we thought. We also come to understand (at least a tiny bit) how wonderful He is. Awareness of these truths will draw us, or call us, to Him as surely as flowers seek the sunlight.

A question to ponder: God has given animals, including my Lily cat, the means to take care of themselves. What would happen if Lily did not eat the food I put in her dish, or if she did not groom herself? Please show me, my beloved Heavenly Father, how to perceive and fully use all that You have bestowed upon me for living a life pleasing to You. Amen.

Part Two: In Part Two we will start with 2 Peter1:4.

By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed) and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.” (AMPC, emphasis added.)

Read the entire first chapter of Second Peter, again, and see what Holy Spirit shows you the second time through.

Are you still praying for Israel?

So much is happening in our world. So much is happening in our world, the pace of events is accelerating, and much of what is happening seems horrible. But be encouraged! Yes, seemingly terrible things are happening “but our God is in heaven. He does whatever pleases Him.” (Psalm 115:3, ESV). God is still and will always, always, always be sovereign. He is allowing some evil things to be exposed, and He is allowing that for many reasons.

For a Biblical view of what is happening, and to help keep your heart safe in His peace, I recommend watching Victory News (https://victorynews.govictory.com, daily at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.) and Flashpoint (https://flashpoint.govictory.com, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 p.m.).  Another truthful and up-to-the-minute source for news from Israel is www.jerusalemprayerteam.org.

So much to pray about! There is much for believers to pray about and trust God for. Two especially helpful resources for prayer are the “Give Him 15” daily podcasts by Dutch Sheets and the Intercessors for America website. One thing we must pray about is Israel.

God tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good. (Psalm 122:6-9, AMPC)

And God promises to bless those who bless Israel.

And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. (Genesis 12:3, AMPC)

Are you still praying for Israel? The world was horrified when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 of last year. And Satan is still attacking Israel through Hamas and through  stirring up world-wide anti-Semitism. We need to pray for the protection of Jewish people world-wide. We also must pray for the enemies of Israel. Read Genesis 12:3 again and notice – God says He will curse those who curse or use insolent language against Israel.

And we must pray for the nation of Israel, that God will cause the enemies of Israel to be defeated (Deuteronomy 28:7), that Israel will totally destroy Hamas. Victory News includes a daily update from Israel where you can hear what is really happening.

An important prayer for Israel. The military arm of Israel, the Israel Defense Force, needs our daily prayer. In 2005, I was privileged to visit the Holy Land. While there, I learned the powerful prayer below. Will you join me now in praying for the IDF?

God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, may You bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the great sea to the approach of the Arabah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May Hashem cause the enemies who rise up against our fighters to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, blessed is He, preserve and protect our fighting men and women from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, may He lead our enemies under their sway, may He grant them salvation, and may the Scripture be fulfilled for them that says, “For it is Hashem your God Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.”  (Deuteronomy 20:4). Now let us respond, Amen.

How to help in a concrete way. The Israeli people also need our financial support. There are many organizations helping Israel. One such organization that I trust uses the money for helping Israel, not for personal gain, is www.jerusalemprayerteam.org.

Every prayer and every dollar help. I must ask myself, “Am I doing my part?”

 

What is happening to our world?

Image result for public domain picture of jesus and the worldGood things ARE happening!  You might not know it, but in the midst of all the evil seeming to take over our nation and our world, God has started the greatest spiritual awakening of all time. Unless you have been hearing truthful and Godly news sources, you likely will not believe that. You likely see no way out of the current darkness and possibly feel Armageddon is fast approaching. I say: take heart!

For about two years, I have listened only to truthful, Godly news sources, like those listed on the “What is God doing?” tab on this website. This is where I learned that God is NOW pouring out His Spirit, with signs and wonders and miracles and hundreds of salvations in big tent meetings, through the ministry of evangelists like Mario Murillo. Grassroots America has begun speaking out against things like our schools blatantly grooming our children for sexual perversion—which is nothing less than outright pedophilia. Believers and patriots are running for local and national offices and winning. Many organizations have obtained documented proof that the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump and that proof is even now moving some states toward decertifying the 2022 elections.

God is doing so much for His beloved America! When I first thought of writing this little summary, America still awaited the SCOTUS decision on abortion. Other rulings—like prayer on school grounds–have also supported the U.S. Constitution, which as I hope you know is based on Biblical principles, no matter which twisted way liberals try to rewrite the history of America, the only nation beside Israel which is devoted to God.

I beg you:  Get informed and then get involved! There is much you can do, yes, ordinary you.

Following is a brief overview of what has been happening to America. If you have not been following truthful Godly sources of news, it could take a while before you grasp the big picture. So, I pray this provides a framework into which you can add more knowledge as you start listening. No doubt, I will not get everything exactly accurate and someone who spends full time on telling truth would add much to this outline, but I believe it is a good start if you need a foundational understanding.

See the big picture.  Understand first that there are levels of attack. The topmost leader of the evil we see today is, of course, Satan, who has been scheming against God and His beloved humans since Eden. Under Satan are “rulers, authorities and the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan and his evil horde are pulling the strings of their human puppets.

The next highest level of evil is the deep state. A handful of unbelievably wealthy people have worked for decades to do Satan’s evil bidding and to depopulate the earth. Satan has promised them they will have it all. This includes people like George Soros and Bill Gates.

These people are pushing a globalist socialist, communist agenda. They want to destroy America and other countries and bring in the “New World Order” – a one-world government. Sound like the book of Revelations yet? What do you think mandatory vaccinations are preparations for? In Canada, the wicked despot Trudeau cut off all finances for truckers who protested against the vaccine.

The deep state aims to control the entire world, but especially Israel—the apple of God’s eye—and the United States, which was founded upon and dedicated expressly to God and religious liberty. “America was raised up to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.” (Dutch Sheets, givehim15.com, July 27, 2022).  No wonder Satan is so bent on destroying America.

They have been playing the long game for decades. They are responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (because he was trying to return America to the silver standard for our currency). They are responsible for the stolen 2020 election because they hate President Trump.

Their agenda. ­ They push socialist communism so that they can have control over the world. And they do this through political leaders and other influential, powerful leaders. This is why they are creating such chaos. Chaos makes people desperate for peace and safety. Make a country desperate enough and they will submit to anything.  Their ultimate goal is to wipe out much of the earth’s population so things will be better for them. That’s why the vaccines Bill Gates gave “generously” to a struggling nation made the children sterile. That is why Margaret Sanger, who started Planned Parenthood, openly targeted the black race for abortion and why the vast majority of such death clinics are in black neighborhoods, the easiest, most “productive” target. Their agenda to wipe out much of the human race—especially God’s people–and bring in the “New World Order” is why they used the plandemic to wipe out so many Americans and others.

What they did to churches.  The church in America has long been rotting, becoming progressively more silent against evil. This is the fault of the church but what put gasoline on the fire of unholiness was the Johnson amendment, which came about because LBJ replaced John F. Kennedy as president. The Johnson amendment gives churches a tax-break but on the condition that churches stay out of politics. Now you know one reason pulpits have been silent about all kinds of evil for so long.

Pastors have chosen to serve the god of money and popularity rather than the Holy One of the Bible. They have not spoken out against the evil things happening in our land because they do not want to lose their tax break and they do not want to “offend” their congregation and lose their church. And they have led their sheep into the same evil path, staying silent about and even affirming all kinds of evil.

Besides that, the pulpit in America largely stopped preaching the power of the blood and holiness many years ago. Not only that, the church stayed in its four walls and out of the pillars of society. Consequently, the foundations of our society were corrupted and that corruption has, like the contaminating filth it is, spread. Did you know pastors were heavily involved in America’s initial fight for freedom? They were called “The black coat regiment.” Did you hear that on mainstream media?

“But we are not to oppose authorities” you say.   Multitudes of churches and believers are cowering behind Romans 13:1-2 which states: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (NIV) This verse applies to righteous rulers. Verse 3 explains that this applies to “rulers who hold no terror for those who do right, buy for those who do wrong.”  Most of our world’s rulers today support those who do wrong and violently oppose those who do right.

What did Peter and the apostles do when the authorities persecuted them for preaching Jesus and gave strict orders not to teach in the name of Jesus? “Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than men?” (Acts 5:29, NIV)

They own the media. The deep state owns mainstream media and seeks to spread its evil agenda and to silence all those who speak for righteousness and truth. This is starting to change as God gives truth a voice through individual believers who speak out and through believers who create platforms that get the truth out.  But this is only the tip of the iceberg.  Mainstream media is still covering up most of the evil currently operating in our world.

The evil you see happening is by design. The covid epidemic—and other evil and destructions we now see, like the invasion of our southern border — was planned. Yes, covid is a real disease but it is a manufactured sickness, a test to see how quickly the deep state could control the world, to see how much we would put up with. What did the world do? We wore masks, forsook church, got vaccinated and believed the lies – like children are in grave danger and must wear masks in school. Did you know that the percentage of children who died from covid is miniscule? You will not hear that on mainstream news.

While they had everyone terrified of covid, they killed millions world-wide, especially among the elderly and those with health issues; did much to start ruining our economy, damaged the lives of a whole generation of children; and trained much of the world to submit to whatever they say to handle the next virus they are waiting to unleash.

This attack by the deep state, incidentally, prepared the way for them to use mail-in ballots as part of their theft of the 2020 election. Don’t believe it was stolen? See the documentary “2,000 mules.” And just wait. God is even now exposing evil, and His arm is lifted high.

The jackal sitting unlawfully in our White House is systematically destroying our economy through planned inflation, which he began by shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline immediately upon beginning his charade as our lawfully-elected president.  Besides that,

  • He abandoned American troops and civilians in Afghanistan as well as Afghanis who supported and had fought alongside the U.S.
  • He created and continues to deepen the gas shortage because he sold out to the hyper-radical environmentalists who funded his campaign and so is pushing “green” energy.
  • There are too many horrors to list and they grow daily.
  • All this, plus, the media is no longer covering up his incompetence and the world laughs at the leader of the most powerful nation on earth, God’s nation.

Image result for Cute Elementary ClassroomsWhat Satan wants to do to our children. Because the deep state controls the media, you are not hearing about the sexual perversion being taught in our public schools and the pedophilia teachers are committing using curricula approved by principals and school districts. To further the perverted homosexual agenda, teachers are preparing children to accept homosexuality and transgenderism by teaching them, in detail, about homosexual practices – under the guise of being “inclusive” and “gay rights.” THIS IS PEDOPHILIA! When parents protested at school boards, the jackal’s administration labelled them “domestic terrorists”.

More parents are speaking up and the tide is turning in some states but last week I saw a podcast on Victory News where a teacher explained to other teachers the correct pronouns to use on report cards so that a child who “identifies” as being of the opposite sex while at school can continue to pose as the sex they want and the teachers will not, inadvertently, let the parent know what is going on at school with their own child. Some children have begun sex change treatments which were deliberately hidden from parents.

This is all part of a planned attack by Satan. Go online and search “We are coming for your children.”  A San Francisco gay men’s choir spells out exactly what the left wants to do with YOUR children and grandchildren. It is disgusting and I hope it infuriates you.

This is one more reason why you need to start listening to conservative, Christian, patriotic, righteous news and stop listening to and believing the enemy.  Are you mad yet?

Why the deep state supports violence, defunding the police, and taking our guns. If the only people allowed to have guns are criminals, then the only people with guns will be criminals. Then, the evil, totalitarian, socialist progressives and the deep state can control us. Then America would be in a situation like Australia, where people were forced into covid camps for not obeying the governments covid rules. The right to bear arms is the second Amendment to our Constitution. Yes, gun violence is horrific beyond words, but the solution is to allow law-abiding citizens to bear arms. Mainstream media has not told you that since the tragedy in Uvalde at least two other potential mass shooters were stopped by citizens using their legally-permitted guns.

Blind justice. The deep state worked years ago to get corrupt judges and prosecutors and legislators into office. That is how Congressman Lee ZeldIn could be attacked with a knife, during a political rally, and his attacker immediately released from jail. Such things are happening all the time. You just do not hear about them on the media that the globalist, communist, socialist deep state owns.

Image result for public domain picture of united states mapBorders. The jackal’s puppets have purposefully moved him to allowed millions of illegal aliens to cross our southern border. And they are being relocated throughout the US. Many of these are sex traffickers, drug traffickers, terrorists and other criminals. Thousands are dying as they are smuggled across the border by the drug cartel. Fentanyl use has exploded as it has flowed like a river across the border. Why does the administration do nothing? They are planning for the illegals to be grateful for being allowed into the US and to vote for them.

January 6 theater. This is a blatant attempt to stop President Trump from running in 2024. I will not give it the dignity of explanation but start listening to conservative news outlets and the truth you hear about this sham will seem unbelievable. And what about the rampant violence in our cities which is not covered in mainstream news and about which the left does nothing?

What they are doing to our beloved military.  I say “beloved military” because I am deeply, deeply grateful to the men and women and families who have sacrificed and are even now sacrificing so we may live in a free country. Satan is working to weaken and destroy our military. Thousands are being discharged because they refuse to take the vax.  Leaders are spending resources teaching our military how to use the “proper” pronouns lest they offend someone who is deluded into thinking they can change their sex. They have been forced to work alongside homosexuals and do you really think the trouble this perversion causes is reported by mainstream media?

In China the government removed ALL “girlie” boy effeminate movies and tv shows for children, replacing them with media that teaches boys to be men. Communist China is raising up a generation of men who will fight like men. What is our media teaching our young boys, our future soldiers? How to be weak, intimidated, and to tolerate that which is disgusting and vile in God’s sight.

God puts an instinct into males to be men and fight to protect females and children. What will our future soldiers be if that instinct is beaten out of them by years of lies and punishment for following their God-given instincts?

See the source image

Distractions! All these and many more distractions are coming now, before the 2022 midterms and who knows what else they have planned? They are already making noises about another plandemic. And look at the hatred unleased against abortion.

The curse of abortion over the United States. When our Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, returning this issue to the states, where it should have always remained because it is not a constitutional “right”, a curse was lifted off our land. Abortion is a blood sacrifice to the god Molech. That is why you see such unbelievable hatred from those who support it. They are demonically controlled and influenced. How else do you account for the violence and hatred? It is demonic control and it is also the flesh. People do not like it when they have to pay the consequences for their sin. They want abortion so they can continue their sexual immorality without the consequence of raising a child. So Satan has brutally murdered millions of babies in the womb. Their blood has cried out to God and He is bringing justice.

Did you know some states were approving abortion up to 30 days AFTER THE BABY WAS OUT OF THE WOMB?

If you vote democrat, you are supporting this abomination. One hundred percent of democrats in the House voted to keep Roe v. Wade intact.   Think about that. If you voted for the jackal now in the White House you voted for abortion and for all the evils now seeming to prevail.

Wake up! You can do something! You can repent of that and start praying for and supporting righteous leaders and righteous endeavors. You can make a difference!

The tide is turning, God is already doing mighty things. Look at the other Supreme Court decisions that defend righteousness. Look at the truths that even mainstream media is starting to proclaim (because they have no choice.)  Just this should convince you.

But if you listen to the prophets, you have been hearing them say, for years that God is doing many things behind the scenes, exposing and destroying evil. Prophets have been saying for months now that the Third Great Awakening has already begun, with signs and wonders and hundreds of salvations happening in tent revivals as in former days. They also predicted the many ways righteousness is starting to flow in our nation.

Everyday Americans are waking up and taking action. Grassroots efforts and organizations that oppose evil and promote righteousness are exploding. God is about to unleash a Niagara of justice and righteousness. (Amos 5:24)

Will you get involved? I beg you: will you get involved? You are alive at this time by God’s design. He has things for you, personally, to do in this fight, just as God had things for Esther to do. And He will equip and supply you as you stand and start fighting.

I ask you: Do you want to look back and remember that you did your part in God’s fight? Or do you want to remember that fear and disbelief kept you from taking your stand against evil?

How do you think the Holocaust happened? Little by little, one lie at a time.  People believed lies because they were repeated over and over and those who could help the Jews stayed silent. And the Jewish people themselves, these precious souls who are the apple of His eye? What about them?

 

The last exhibit in the Holocaust Memorial Museum is the “shoe pile”, a pile of 4,000 shoes of holocaust victims.  May we never forget and may we never cease to pray for Israel and the peace of Israel. What happened to God’s beloved Jewish people is a warning for us. They were deceived, and those who suspected evil was being done and who could do something remained silent.

Socialist and communistic leaders promise people things will be good if they just submit and obey the government. Think about it.

Here is part of an article from the October 12, 2021, Seattle Times.

The 4,000 shoes on display are on loan from the State Museum of Majdanek in Lublin, Poland,” said Steven Luckert, curator of the permanent exhibition. “In general, the shoes are the objects that leave the most profound impression on the visitors. It shows the magnitude of Nazi murder through something so deeply personal.”

Men’s loafers, children’s bootees and women’s two-inch heels are piled in a disordered heap. The women’s shoes, once beautiful, may be the most shocking remnants in the exhibition. They are the reminder that some victims were hopeful, taking their finery and most-feminine footwear on trains that led to this.

“Some of the shoes are very elegant, and the variety gives the sense of the deception at work to fool the victims,” Luckert said. “Jews were told they would be building new lives someplace in the East, not told they were being sent to be killed.”

In the 1930s, the quotation below appeared in many public addresses of the German pastor Martin Niemoller:

“First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews – and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me–and there was no one to speak for me.”

If you are doing something, keep doing it and even more! If not, I must ask: how long will you remain passive and indifferent?

Specific things to do – now:

  1. At home alone, with in-person prayer groups or on-line. Put your boots on the ground and go to places and pray.
  2. Get informed – go to the “What is God doing?” page of this website and start listening regularly to conservative, Christian media. Besides speaking truth, they give ways to get involved in God’s fight for righteousness and justice in our land.
  3. Send letters and emails and call your government representatives, at all levels. millionvoices.org has made this easy. Check it out.
  4. Serve at polling places, run for local offices – yes you!
  5. Go to school board meetings, city councils, legislative sessions – whatever is available to you — and pray and speak as the Lord leads.
  6. Speak up to your pastor. Just writing a respectful, but truthful letter to your pastor can move him or her to start speaking up for righteousness.
  7. Start a prayer meeting for your city, state and nation – just you and one other person can move mountains.
  8. This is just a starter list. As you seek God and get in the fight, He will lead you personally.

Fellow believer, I have been bold and I wish I could be even bolder! We must be about God’s work and do our part to destroy the works of the enemy. (I John 3:8) We cannot remain passive and silent. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30, NIV)