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The Power of One Person to Make a Difference

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How often have you, as have I, said, “I’m only one person. What difference could I make?” The Bible and history is full of brave ordinary people who stepped out of their comfort zone to make a difference.

As men and women of faith, we know if God calls us to take a stand, we can rest assured He will stand with us. I learned this truth when answering His call to start Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry almost thirty years ago, and it’s still a vibrant ministry in churches today.

In past blogs, you’ve read how I also inadvertently became the spokesperson for championing others to join me in protecting children from obscene and pornographic material in our public library. That meant not only writing letters and emails, but also physically appearing at library board meetings, meeting with the librarian, and voicing my concerns not just once, but for as long as it takes.

Initially, I just wanted to post on a community Facebook page from the comfort of my office and fill out the library forms to have obscene material removed. But if I was really going to make a difference, I had to appear in person. Inconvenience my schedule and take the slings and slanders of those opposing removal of the books. Currently, a law is pending in Idaho Legislature that backs my position. I’m sure it will require me going back to the board to be sure they enforce it.

In today’s blog, I want to share the story of Trent Saxton, who I only met a week ago thanks to my cousin Karen in California who is a member of an American Conservative Facebook group that Trent started. When Karen sent me Trent’s post, she prefaced it with, “A new law to be passed in your state by a Californian who moved to Idaho.” That sparked my interest since we live in Idaho!

Here’s Trent’s story of discovering the need to change an existing law in his new home state of Idaho and doing something about it.

Dear Idahoans,

I recently purchased a new 2024 GMC so my old Toyota plates will be placed on my new truck. In Idaho, you must purchase another set of new plates (silly) in order to sell your used automobile. Understandably, a prospective buyer can’t test drive your used vehicle without metal plates on the car.

I wanted to change this law to paper permits with a 30–60-day grace period. This allows time to sell your car without having to re-register the car and buy new metal plates. I contacted customer service specialist Mary Miller, a 21-year veteran at the DMV, on January 18th and told her I wanted to change the law…LOL. She was a little hesitant to pass me on to her supervisor, motor vehicle supervisor, Kimbra Asqueta.

Again, I told her what I wanted to do. So, Kimbra sent me to the County Assessor, Brian Stender. All of this took a matter of ten minutes. Brian agreed with me that this law should be changed to a 30-60 day “grace period,” without having to purchase new plates. After you sell your car, those plates end up in a landfill. To change the law, would require going through the legislative process in the Capitol. The next day, I contacted my State Senator, Tammy Nichols. She helped me receive a “purple slip” (to write a Bill) and Sen. Chris Trakel carried the Bill to the Senate. They both helped sponsor the Bill S-1282.

Brian Stender and I walked the halls of the Capitol looking for support. All this took place in a matter of six weeks! It’s a NO BRAINER BILL! Most of all, it’s non-partisan. It helps everyone in the state equally.

The Bill passed at the Senate committee level, 34-0-1, one Senator was absent from the committee. Next, it moved to the House of Representatives for their committee hearings. Representative Clay Handy carried the “Bill” in the House on March 12 and it passed 69-0-1. Another absentee! Governor Little signed the bill into law, which goes into effect July 1, 2024!

This law will save YOU money and save DMV time and effort in the entire state. Most, if not all, forty-four County Assessors throughout the state are in support of my Bill. They see the common-sense issue and it’s a win-win. I have spent hours walking the halls of the Capitol meeting with your representatives to change this into an easier, more efficient law for all Idahoans.

Who says the little guy can’t make a difference when you are determined and have the support of your elected officials.

___________________

My Follow-Up Interview with Trent about His Political Success Story

When I read Trent’s story, I was immediately impressed with one man’s determination to right a wrong. He saw a problem and took it upon himself to do something about it by investing his time and energy. I contacted Trent to see if I could share his inspirational story and asked him a few more questions.

  • What prompted you to go through this political process?

Trent: I wanted to change that law in the State of Idaho. It amends section 49-523 of Idaho DMV Code to revise a provision regarding temporary vehicle registration permits for owners. Makes a whole lot of sense, saves time and money, and stops the metal plates from being thrown into landfills. It’s a no brainer Bill…LOL  should’ve been written this way years ago. The County Assessors love it and so do DMV workers.

I started this process Jan 18, 2024, and it was over by March 7, 2024.  On that same day, I had a stent placed in my heart…nice gift for a 74-year-old. Ha!  All Glory to God and determination.

  • Where did you live in California and how long have you lived in Idaho?

Trent: Placerville for 30 years (former Mayor) and then Portola, CA. north of Lake Tahoe 60 miles. I moved here two and a half years ago.

  • Why did you move from California?

Trent: Taxes, politics, regulations, laws, all the reasons most Californians move out of California.

  • How did you pick Middleton to live in Idaho?

Trent: Purely by accident. Never been here before. I liked the rural atmosphere (which is now changing).

  •  When you say you walked the halls of the Capitol, who were you talking to and what was that process like? Were the people you talked to receptive?

Trent: Everyone was receptive because “many” were unaware that they either had broken that law or were about to break it. They never thought it was an issue to drive and show someone else their used car just to sell it!

 You have a beautiful Capitol building in Idaho. The Senate is to the West and the House is to the East. I simply met Senators in their offices and gave my 3-minute sales pitch. I started by saying, “Did you know you had to buy plates for a car you were going to sell?” I would get a blank look followed by a, “No, you don’t?!” answer and then I had them in the palm of my hand. The rest was easy after that!  It was not a hard sell and many just said, “I’ll support you.” I said thanks and left them immediately. 

  • What is your profession?

Trent: DC, Doctor of Chiropractic in private practice and formerly an Instructor at the Southern California University of Health Sciences (LACC) and Occupational Health, C.E.

  • What prompted you to start the American Conservative Facebook page?

I started American Conservatives five years ago in response to politics in my California county and the Trump campaign in 2020.

  • Can I ask, are you a Christian, Trent?

Trent: I would like to think that I am. I fall short, I am sure, so I ask for His forgiveness all the time. I attend a nondenominational church. I do not like “religion” as a whole. I have studied many religions, but there is only one God. I believe that Jesus Christ was sent to earth as the Son of God, that He died for all mankind’s sins, He arose into Heaven, and will return (not soon enough) one day like a thief in the night.

Trent and his wife have been married thirty-four years.

Where Does the Bible Say Christians Shouldn’t Get Involved In Politics?

The Bible actually tells us to occupy every area of the culture and gives us numerous examples of biblical men and women stepping into the political arena to make a difference and in many cases, to save lives physically and spiritually. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13 KJV

In my book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As a Woman of Faith, I feature 50—yes you read that right—50 brave biblical women and 28 current day women who took a stand in the public square to make a difference in their world.

  • You’re probably familiar with the story of Esther in the Book of Esther, who with prayer and fasting agreed to step out of her comfortable plush life as queen into the cunning world of politics to save her people, the Jews. What if Esther had let the Jews, including herself, be annihilated? Who can forget her brave declaration, “If I perish, I perish!” Most of us aren’t going to have to die to make a difference. But like Trent, myself, and many of you, we will have to make sacrifices of energy and time to venture into the unknown to make a difference.
  • Deborah left her comfortable meeting place under the shade of the “Palm of Deborah,” where she settled the people’s disputes, to go into battle as a co-commander with Barack. She literally explained God’s battle plan to the military leader. (Judges 4-5)
  • There were 48 other lesser-known women in the Bible too who took a brave stand to make a difference in their culture.

The list of men in the Bible who went into the political arena is also long. Just to name a few . . .

  • Joseph was promoted to the highest political position in the country, only second to Pharaoh, and saved his own family and the entire community from famine. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” Gen. 41:41-44 NLT
  • Daniel stayed true to his faith as he too accepted a high position in government. Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. Dan. 2:48
  • David was a king, the highest political position in the land.
  • Paul was always confronting and contesting the political powers.
  • The temple guard and Sadducees tried to stop Peter and John from preaching about Jesus. But when “they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” They told them to stop preaching, “But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:13, 17, 19-20)
  • Jesus never shied away from confronting unjust political leaders and laws.

I’m sure you can think of even more examples in the Bible of men and women engaging in politics and the culture. Today, Politics has become its own religion, while we sit in our pews and let babies be killed, children mutilated, or trans ideology inoculate the brains of children and adults. Where in the Bible does God call us to sit by and do nothing?

The church is letting this happen on our watch, but like Esther (Esther 4:14), we were born for such a time as this! Believers are alive right NOW in this crazy world to bring God back into our culture, our families, our churches, even politics. The other side will take as much ground as we submit to them.

“God calls us to fight until He returns . . . God made us to stand with courage . . . Bring your faith into every area of the public square and those who are telling you not to . . . are wrong!”—Eric Metaxas

We need more people in our churches like Trent who saw an obvious problem and went through the political process of correcting it because he could! And so can we.

“Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature …. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”—President James Garfield

“The people who know their God will be strong and take action.” Daniel 11:32

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8

Join me and other believers around the nation on Monday mornings to pray together via zoom. A powerful way to start the week praying with like-minded believers! My Faith Votes keeps action partners updated on what’s happening in the nation that effects religious freedom, sanctity of life, strengthening and protection of the family, and care for the needy. Go to MyFaithVotes to sign up.

Many states like Idaho have our own MyFaithVotes weekly morning pray time via zoom, and you can check that out on the MyFaithVotes website. If you’re in Idaho, email Olivia Veldhuis @ [email protected] to join us on Tuesday mornings.

If you haven’t seen the movie Letter to the American Church, you can watch it for free on Friday, April 12th. For details and to register go to www.myfaithvotes.org/LTAC. To bring the movie to your church www.Lettertotheamericanchurch.com.

If you didn’t read last week’s blog, we all must be prepared to give an answer. How to Respond When Labeled a ‘Christian Nationalist’!

Please leave a comment here. I always reply!

March 25, 2024
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Respect Your Weapons of Fasting and Prayer!

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I hope you didn’t look at the title and discount this blog because you saw fasting. Hang in with me. I’ll explain why I chose this topic after battling with it myself for over a month.

Each week, I wait on the Lord to reveal a topic to write on and He never lets me down. Sometimes it’s at the last minute. Other times, I look for more confirmation, especially if it’s a hard one to tackle and maybe not one I’m eager to apply myself!

Dave and I watch Flashpoint on Victory News Channel. Pastor Gene Bailey, who hosts the program, has been encouraging the “Flashpoint Army” of viewers to join a Corporate Fast for our nation from February 5th through the 25th. I felt a tugging in my heart every time I heard him talk about it. I struggled with the Lord. With my health could I actually fast?

Then last Wednesday morning, January 31st, I opened my email and saw CBN was covering live the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast in DC, so I decided to watch. The keynote speaker was Senate Chaplain Barry Black. He started by saying he wasn’t a speaker, he was a pastor, and so his message that morning would be from the Bible. His topic was fasting!

Now, I knew God was trying to get my attention! He wanted me to share about fasting with all of you, who like me, have been praying for a spiritual revival and reformation in our churches, nation, and government. Or maybe you need a spiritual breakthrough in your life. I’ve shared in previous blogs about my ongoing battle with our local library to remove inappropriate obscene books harmful to children. I’d prayed continuously (1 Thess. 5:17), but I hadn’t fasted.

I told my husband the Lord wanted me to not only write about fasting, but also join the 3-week Flashpoint Corporate Fast. His initial response, “You might lose more weight!” Now to some that might seem like a good thing. In my case, I need to maintain my weight so Dave had a legitimate concern.

Some of you might have health issues that don’t allow fasting food for extended periods, but you could fast a meal, do a liquid fast, or fast a favorite food or activity. Chaplain Black said many at the Capitol join him in the Wesley Fast and Prayer on Wednesdays when they fast until 3 pm. John Wesley originally advocated fasting on both Wednesday and Friday as a weekly spiritual discipline and wouldn’t ordain anyone into the Methodist ministry unwilling to fast both days.  But later, he only fasted once a week starting at sundown Thursday and ending at 3 pm on Friday. That seems doable.

There’s nothing magical about those days. If another day of the week works best for you then pick that if you want to only do a one-day weekly fast. Be flexible. Listen to the Holy Spirit so you don’t focus more on the fast than the reason for it—to draw closer to God and hear the Holy Spirit more clearly.

Fasting doesn’t always have to be food. Maybe it’s something that has a grip on you like screen time, television, news media, social media, junk food, or even caffeine and fasting it would be a significant sacrifice.

Why Fast?

Intermittent fasting is a popular diet regime, but spiritual fasting isn’t about weight loss, it’s about spiritual gain. Food has power. Food motivates. Food addicts. Food controls. We’re often willing to spend more time and money on our food purchases and preparation then we spend on our time with the Lord. Esau traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a bowl of stew!

Fasting helps us crave spiritual food from God more than physical food from the refrigerator or pantry. Fasting intensifies the powers of our prayers. Fasting is more dependent on faith than any other spiritual discipline. When we fast, we believe that God’s going to show up. We hunger and thirst for righteousness and knowledge more than food and drink.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matt. 5:6

Many describe fasting as a lifting of the fog of fear, doubt, uncertainty, and worry revealing clarity of vision on what God wants us to learn from His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is often portrayed as hard and painful. It is a form of self-denial, but the purpose of spiritual fasting is to focus on God instead of what you’re fasting. Every time you go for the remote or to check social media or grab that snack or cup of coffee, instead you stop and pray for God to have more sovereignty over your time, mind, and body than food or the outside world.

Your desire becomes more for God than the object of your fast. Many testify that fasting and prayer, not one or the other, is the most powerful effective spiritual road to revival. We know we need revival in our country and in our government, but maybe it’s revival in your home or in your life.

Examples of Fasting and Prayer in the Old Testament When Seeking God’s Intervention for Their Nation

Moses: This happened when I was on the mountain receiving the tablets of stone inscribed with the words of the covenant that the Lord had made with you. I was there for forty days and forty nights, and all that time I ate no food and drank no water. 10 The Lord gave me the two tablets on which God had written with his own finger all the words he had spoken to you from the heart of the fire when you were assembled at the mountain. Deut. 9:9-10 NLT

Nehemiah: When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. (Neh. 1:4 NLT) On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Neh. 9:1-3

Esther:  “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” Esther 4:16 NLT

Daniel: So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. Dan. 9:3-4 NLT

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. Dan. 10:1-3 NLT

Jonah:  The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. Jonah 3:5 NLT

Examples of Fasting and Prayer in the New Testament.

Many have falsely claimed that fasting was only a spiritual discipline for the Old Testament, but the Bible contradicts such a fallacy. I don’t know why we don’t hear more sermons on fasting.

Jesus: For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matt 4:2 NLT

Anna There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

Paul: He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Acts 9:9 NLT

Church Elders: One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Acts 13:2-3 NLT

Paul and Barnabas: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

 The disciples fasted after Jesus ascended into heaven, as should we as His disciples: One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” 15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matt. 9:13-15 NLT

Examples of the Thompsons Fasting

  1. Our first year of marriage blending a family was horrific. Without keeping Jesus at the center of our marriage, we would’ve never made it. On Mondays, we did a liquid fast and prayed for our family and protection from the enemy. We were both working and would call each other during the day for encouragement. Those Monday liquid fasts drew us closer to the Lord and to each other and helped us not just endure, but experience victory!
  2. When my daughter Kim and her then fiancé Toby accepted Christ in a premarital course we gave them as an engagement gift, we prayed and fasted for them to want to be baptized. Dave fasted tortilla chips, a daily bread of life for him to this day. I was addicted to Diet Coke, so that’s what I fasted. Soon Kim and Toby both started asking about baptism and Dave and I helped baptize them two weeks before their wedding. Dave went back to eating tortilla chips; I never drank another Diet Coke. The Lord removed the desire.
  3. Two of our daughters and their husbands experienced infertility. Dave and I both fasted all sweets and desserts as we prayed for the Lord to let them become parents. We didn’t tell anyone what we were doing, as we never did, according to Matt. 6:16, 18 NLT And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get . . . Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. But after not even eating birthday cake on our own birthdays, the family started noticing. After many months, Shannon became pregnant and had a baby boy, but Kim still wasn’t a mommy, so we kept on fasting and praying. Seven months later, Kim and Toby adopted our grandson Brandon, and the night they picked him up she called and told us to go out and have a hot fudge sundae!

“When praises go up blessings come down.” 2 Chron. 20:5-6

The Thompsons 2024 Fast

Dave and I are uniting with the Flashpoint Corporate Prayer and Fast to take a stand for biblical changes in our nation, culture, and world. Following is Flashpoint’s prayer list. The last four items I added, and this is not an exhaustive list for us.

  • Prevention of anti-God government decisions
  • Closure of the wide-open Southern border
  • The large number of supporters, especially in colleges, of the horrific Oct. 7 attack on Israel
  • What our children are being exposed to in schools and libraries
  • The unabashed censorship and attacks on Christians and biblical ideals
  • End abortion entirely
  • Remove men from women’s sports
  • Stop the gender confusion and mutilation of our children and end transgenderism
  • Removal of obscene and pornographic books from our local library

Together, from Feb. 5-25, we will set our faces toward God in order to bring about breakthrough. Why three weeks? Due to stubborn national and global strongholds, an extended time of fasting is necessary. They say it takes 21 days to change your life, to change your story. It takes 21 days of repetitive confession to change an inner narrative. We’re hoping to change our country. Also, Daniel fasted for 3 weeks.

What Flashpoint and We Are Believing for, Nationally and Globally, in this Fast:

  • An awakening to God in the Body of Christ
  • An awakening to God in Israel
  • An awakening to God in America and the nations
  • Fair 2024 elections
  • Ministry breakthroughs
  • Personal breakthroughs
  • Preparing for all that is coming

Pray and seek God for what He might be asking you to lay aside during a fast. Take that time to allow the noise to be silenced so His voice can be heard more clearly. Allow God to pinpoint the things He’s asking you to surrender.

The battle is not ours; it belongs to God. But we’re in the Lord’s army and fasting and prayer are weapons He’s given us to use towards victory. Fasting isn’t a way to get a better response to prayer. True fasting is a means of fostering a humble, repentant approach to prayer.

“He can turn our crisis into conquest. Release the power of your praise before the victory is won.” Chaplain Barry Black

Other Resources

PS Sorry this was long, but I always like to post the text of the Scriptures I’m referencing.

I’m so interested to read your comments on this article. Please leave a comment here.

February 5, 2024
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What’s the Big Deal About “Merry Christmas”?

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Many of us grew up in a culture that embraced Christmas. We said “Merry Christmas” as a joyful greeting, decorated Christmas trees, made Christmas cookies, sent out Christmas cards, gave Christmas presents, watched Christmas specials, participated in Christmas programs, and sang Christmas carols, not just at church but at school too!

Then subtly and slyly, the way Satan works, the concept of Christmas became culturally and socially controversial, even taboo. Stores and advertisers started removing the word “Christmas,” replacing it with “Holidays.” Sales personnel instructed to say, “Happy Holidays,” if anything at all. School Christmas programs called winter programs; Christmas break became winter break. People sued for publicly displaying nativity scenes. And on and on.

What’s wrong with saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? What are the “Holidays?” On New Year’s, do you say, “Happy Holidays” or “Happy New Year.” To our Jewish friends, do we say, “Happy Holidays” or “Happy Hanukah”? Do we send out holiday cards or Christmas cards? Do we buy holiday presents or Christmas presents? Do we put up a holiday tree or a Christmas tree?

A progressive liberal satanic culture has attempted to remove Christ from Christmas. But that’s impossible! There’s no reason to celebrate Christmas without the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Nonbelievers may celebrate Christmas for secular reasons, but Jesus is the only real reason for Christmas, which can’t be denied or erased.

Christmas is a Christian celebration! Without the birth of Christ, there would be no Christmas.

So why the controversy with saying “Merry Christmas”? It’s because the secular world doesn’t want to admit they’re participating in a Christian celebration, so they try to neutralize Christmas to accommodate their unbelief. Retailers commercialize Christmas to make money, so they don’t want to “offend” customers, even though those that eliminate Christmas in their advertising, offend every Christian, or at least it should.

Why Is Satan Trying to Steal Christmas?

There’s a satanic war on Christmas and you’d have to be naïve, manipulated, or deceived not to acknowledge it. Satanists were actually allowed to erect a satanic display next to the manger scene in the Iowa Capitol Building by falsely claiming they’re a “religion!” Satan is the antithesis of Jesus. Satan, the father of lies, sin, and evil who was cast out of heaven with a third of the angels, is the reason Jesus came to earth as a baby.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21

But Satan, who even tried to tempt Jesus before He started His ministry, has not resigned himself to being subservient to Jesus. As long as Satan is allowed to roam the world tempting and deceiving humans and promoting evil, he’ll try to duplicate, imitate, or eradicate the worship of Jesus Christ, especially on Jesus’ birthday.

A group that calls itself the Satanic Temple of Iowa placed with state permission an altar on the first floor of the Iowa State Capitol that displays what are described as the “seven fundamental tenets” of Satanism, including the statement that “the freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend.”

Completing the display are the temple’s seal, electric candles and a caped figure representing the pagan idol Baphomet, holding a ribbon-bedecked pentangle and topped with a gilded ram’s head. They actually wanted to use a real ram’s head, but the Capitol did say that was going too far.

Rightfully so, outrage and demands for removal came swiftly. Iowa state Rep. Brad Sherman said in the Dec. 8 edition of his Sherman Liberty Letter that the “disgusting display” should be removed immediately and called “for clarifying legislation to be adopted in accordance with our State Constitution that prohibits satanic displays in our Capitol building and on all state owned property.” He further proposed additional legislation to clear the way for displaying the Ten Commandments in all state buildings, including the Capitol, and in Iowa public schools.

In an article appropriately titled, “Sherman: Iowa Constitution endorses God, and Satan is his enemy,” Sherman points to the preamble to the Iowa Constitution, which says, “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the State of Iowa.”

Sherman says the exhibit has drawn widespread “outrage and disgust” among Iowans, “but few people think there is much that can be legally done about it because of free speech and freedom of religion.” “However,” he adds, “I disagree.”

“According to these opening lines of our Constitution, the foundation for laws and continued blessing and success in Iowa is based on these points: 1. There is One Supreme God. 2. Blessings over this state come from the One Supreme God. 3. We must depend upon the One Supreme God if we want to enjoy continued blessings,” Sherman writes.

He continues, and I fully agree, it is “a tortured and twisted interpretation of law that affords Satan, who is universally understood to be the enemy of God, religious expression equal to God in an institution of government that depends upon God for continued blessings.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to the Satanic Temple display in the Iowa Capitol Building: “Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable. In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for the season.” 

Lucien Greaves, spokesman and co-founder of the Satanic Temple, said it is always important for the group to seek equal representation in public forums that are open for “religious displays.” “People assume that we’re there to insult Christians and we’re not,” Greaves said. “And I would hope that even people who disagree with the symbolism behind our values, whether they know what those values (are) or not, would at least appreciate that it’s certainly a greater evil to allow the government to pick and choose between forms of religious expression.”

Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox interviewed a man from another state who felt led to go to the Iowa Capitol and behead the satanic statue. I was quite impressed the way Jesse pointed out the evil of this display and the spiritual warfare going on between Satanists and Christians during Christmas. I hope you’ll listen to this discussion here. It’s not long, and I was cheering for Jesse taking such a bold stand for good against evil. He also had on Lee Greenwood to talk about his new God Bless the USA Bible that contains the Constitution. (Amazon is NOT carrying this Bible!)

The discussion on Jesse Watters’ show pointed out that the worship of Satan is an evil cult, NOT a religion. Satanists have no constitutional right to invade the Iowa Capitol or any government facility with a display the exact opposite of Christmas. What stopped more Iowa legislatures from speaking out and banning the satanic display? Fear! One of Satan’s favorite tools to silence the truth! Sadly, it’s working in our government and even in our churches.

There’s a spiritual war against Christmas. There’s a war against the Christian faith. Too many Christians and churches are silent. This is our time to shout and sing about why a Savior was born on Christmas day. Not surrender to Satan and secularism!

Our current President is cowardly afraid to acknowledge Jesus as the Reason for the season. In Biden’s tree lighting comments, he never once mentioned Jesus and used “holiday” more than “Christmas.”

When President Trump wished the nation and the world a Merry Christmas in 2017 at the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony, he noted that “the birth of Jesus Christ forever changed the course of human history.” Trump continued, “There is hardly an aspect of our lives today that His life has not touched: art, music, culture, law, and our respect for the sacred dignity of every person everywhere in the world.” (Listen to President Trump live and read more of his message at In Christmas Tree Lighting, President Trump recalls ‘the Birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.’)

I posted Trump’s Tree Lighting message on Facebook that year and was amazed at how controversial it became. Some Christians saying this was a political stunt by President Trump. Really? Christians don’t make up the majority of the electorate and sadly, many fail to vote! In today’s secular culture there were probably more offended than thanked God for his message. Trump was brave and bold and he stated the truth. Refreshing in DC and I would speculate it’s why he’s coming under such a satanic attack right now.

 Those worrying about “political correctness” and inclusiveness on a clearly Christian federal “holiday” are the ones pulling the political satanic stunts. Tragically, it’s working.

That’s why Christians find themselves fighting not only to keep Christ in Christmas, but also to hold on to our religious freedoms.

What’s Our Role as Christians at Christmas?

With one week to go, here are some ideas:

  • Remind the world that every time they write 2023, or soon 2024, they acknowledge the birth of Jesus.
  • When someone tells you “Happy Holidays,” kindly and lovingly respond with “Merry Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.”
  • Have a Birthday Party for Jesus and invite your neighbors and friends, especially nonbelievers. (I wrote a blog on how to do this Celebrate CHRISTmas with a Birthday Party for Jesus)
  • Put a birthday bag under your Christmas tree and when someone asks whose birthday, joyfully answer, “It’s Jesus’ birthday.”
  • Greet everyone you meet, and in all your correspondence, with “Merry Christmas.”
  • Use every opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas and the story of Jesus’ birth.
  • Question schools and community efforts to remove the word Christmas and Christmas celebrations. We must not be silent. Voice your opinion. Be willing to take a bold stand for the Truth and for Jesus. Don’t let apathy or fear snuff out the light of Jesus.

When I asked my husband why Merry Christmas has become so controversial, he said, “Because the other side trying to eliminate a Christ-centered Christmas speaks louder than we do!”

Jesus was controversial when He walked the earth. They crucified Him for daring to say He was the Son of God who came to earth to save mankind from their sins. He told us that we too would not have it easy sharing our faith and the Gospel, but He also said whoever denies Him on earth, He will deny in Heaven.

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:32-34 NLT)

One year, as a single working mom before I rededicated my life to the Lord, I was hurriedly trying to get out my Christmas cards. I signed all the cards “Merry Xmas.” Only one friend boldly admonished me in her Christmas card that I had left “Christ” out of Christmas. I still remember that. She was right.

Will you join me and other Christians in making sure the world remembers that Christmas has only One reason! We celebrate and give thanks for Jesus Christ coming to earth as a lowly baby to die on a cross and rise again three days later on Easter to offer eternal salvation to those who believe in Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Merry Blessed CHRISTmas and Happy 2024 from the Thompsons

If you received this blog by email, please leave a comment here.

PS Since Christmas and New Years are on Mondays, there won’t be another Monday Morning Blog until January 8, 2024. But if you receive my monthly newsletter, I hope to get one out before the end of the year. You can sign up on my website if you don’t receive it already.

December 18, 2023
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Is Giving Thanks a Lost Tradition?

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This week is Thanksgiving when many of us will gather with family and friends to eat a big delicious traditional meal. Maybe watch football, play games, fellowship, and hopefully say a prayer thanking God for the many blessings we enjoy in our life. Often, the only time we really focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving is during that prayer before the meal we’re all anxiously awaiting with anticipation and appetites! If you’re looking for some ideas of how to offer a Thanksgiving prayer for various circumstances, I wrote a Crosswalk article on that topic—4 Prayers to Say At the Thanksgiving Table.

Last week, I learned a term that was new to me. As Dave and I were shopping at Trader Joe’s a full week prior to Thanksgiving, the aisles at this store and Costco were jam packed with shoppers. I commented to the Trader Joe’s checker that I was surprised people were shopping so early for the big meal a week away. Both she and the bagger simultaneously said, “Friendsgiving.” I didn’t hear what they said, so they repeated it several times. When I had a questioning look on my face, the checker said many people get together for a meal with their friends the weekend prior to having a family Thanksgiving celebration later in the week.

I love that idea. We’ve done that in the past too, as well as invited friends to the family dinner. But I’d never heard it called “Friendsgiving” before. When I posted about Friendsgiving on Facebook, I received many comments from people, including my daughter, who said it wasn’t a new term. Just new to me, I guess.

Thinking about Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving brought to mind a thought I’ve had for quite a while. Are we raising generations that have forgotten the courtesy of expressing gratitude not only to God, but also to others? Let me explain. I’m a boomer. My generation was born between 1946-1964. As soon as I could print, or even scribble, the expectation was that when I received a gift from someone, especially for birthdays or Christmas, I sent a thank you note to the gift giver whether it was family or friends.

When I was married, part of the shower and wedding preparation was ordering thank you notes to send out for the gifts we received. And when I was pregnant and received shower and baby gifts, as crazy as it was being a new working mom, it was a given I would make the time to send thank you notes.

I’m finding this thank-you etiquette courtesy is now a lost tradition. Yes, today it might be an email or text instead of a mailed thank you card, but often those aren’t sent either. Somewhere along the generational sequence, one generation didn’t pass down to the next generation the importance of showing gratitude for the gifts they receive. And we wonder why we’re watching generations of entitled children and adults today who expect someone else to pay for college loans they willingly took out and then complain about having to work 9-5 jobs!

Author Carol Roth says Gen Z’s (1997-2012) woes with fulltime work stem from “their parents failing them.” Here’s a quote from her article. “While it’s easy to dunk on these young people, I really blame the parents. This hurts, because Gen Z is being raised in large part by Gen X [1965-1980], which should make the kids awesome and self-sufficient.” She goes on to say that “young people consuming Marxist propaganda online and even in school it’s not surprising they want to do as little works as possible while still expecting food, clothing, shelter, entertainment and more will just fall from the sky for them.” I was happy to see she suggested mentorship as a solution.

But an even sadder consequence of not feeling compelled to be grateful to those who sacrifice their money and time on a gift or providing a college education or offering them a job, is we now also have a generation that has forgotten to say thank you for the sacrifice Jesus made to give them the gift of salvation.

It only takes one generation failing to pass down their faith, traditions, work ethic, or even the courtesy of showing tangible gratitude for a gift, for these things to be forgotten or eliminated from a culture, as we’re watching today with the void of Christian beliefs in government and in families.

Make This Thanksgiving a Wake-up Call in Our Life and Families

Even more important than thanking each other is to give thanks to God who is the provider of every good thing in our life.  I like how Dr. David Jeremiah presents the importance of experiencing continuous daily thanksgiving in his November 18-19, 2023, Turning Points Magazine weekend devotion titled “Thank Goodness!”

“Thanksgiving is understanding that blessings are hiding all around us, and we must find and focus on them. It’s the attitude of knowing we have a God in charge of all. It’s the habit of pausing to whisper, ‘Thank you Lord,’ throughout the day. It’s finding good times even in bad times and rejoicing even in sorrow. It’s noticing the color of flowers, the shape of clouds, the smell of fresh bread, and the comfort of a soft pillow at night.”

“Gratitude leads to ‘glad-itude.’ Counting our blessings is a positive step toward erasing our heartaches. The psychology of thanksgiving comes from the very mind and heart of the God who told us to be vigilant in thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2) and ‘in everything give thanks; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).”

With the birth of Christ, there were no longer Old Testament feast days of thanksgiving. All the ceremonial celebrations of Israel were fulfilled in the Messiah.  Instead, we’re told to give thanks in and for everything—the good and the bad times. As we gather together to celebrate our American holiday of Thanksgiving rooted in the harvest celebration of the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1621, let’s be reminded to give thanks in everything and to everyone—today and every day.

I personally want to thank each of you who take the time to read my weekly blogs and monthly newsletters. I appreciate your comments on the blogs and also for those who share on social media or forward them on email. We really are blessed to live in a time when we can freely communicate with each other across the miles and expand our friendships even to those we’ve never met personally. It’s a blessing I don’t take for granted and a ministry I take very seriously.

As the apostle Paul would say, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Cor. 16:23-24 NLT

Have a blessed and grateful Thanksgiving from Dave and me.

PS There won’t be a Monday Morning Blog on November 27, but I’ll be back December 4. Can you believe it’s almost December?

Please leave a comment here and I will reply.

November 20, 2023
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4 Prayers Asking God to ‘Give Us This Day’

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We all woke up to the news on Saturday October 7 that war had broken out in Israel. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel, reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Sabbath tranquility in Israel was ruptured on a day marking the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret and the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism and a time of atonement and forgiveness. The current incursion during Simchat Torah in Israel revived painful memories.

Iran financially and ideologically supports Hamas in their desire to annihilate Israel. As of this writing, Hamas has taken hundreds of hostages including families, children, and the elderly and thousands of Israelis (maybe even Americans) are dead or wounded. There were 3500 rockets in 6 hours of surprise Gorilla warfare and a barbaric ISIS-style attack against civilians. “Hamas is running the streets killing civilians” one local said. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu responded with full military mobilization and declared, “This is war!” Israel is calling this their 9-11.

Pastor Jack Hibbs responded on his Facebook page: “Throughout the decades, in our Bible prophecy, updates, and teachers, I have been preaching on this scenario for years. Now, keep your eyes on the Pacific Northwest for China to go against Taiwan or North Korea to do something stupid. Do not be surprised if simultaneously we see Hezbollah in the north of Israel, coming out of Lebanon and Syria. We could be looking at the setup of either Isaiah 17 or Ezekiel 38 or both.”

Since this attack was planned, funded, and equipped by Iran, Hal Lindsey considers it a precursor to the war prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39—a war led by Russia and Iran. All experts believe Russia is also tied to this current terrorist attack on Israel.

No one expected this day when they went to bed the previous night. Somehow it slipped by Israel’s top-notch Intel. But it happened. That’s exactly how the day of the Lord will come when God raptures His people from earth to heaven. It will be even more dramatic than war in Israel. It will usher in the 7 years of tribulation, which will make the evil we’re watching in today’s culture look mild. Praise God, if you know Jesus as your Savior, you won’t have to endure that horrific time, but I wonder how many of the Israelis who died knew Jesus as their Messiah?

We don’t know how this war in Israel will escalate or how it might even affect us here in America. Many people have been physically “prepping” for some world clash, but my response is always how many are spiritually prepping? How many are ready to meet Jesus? Your cupboards may be full but if Jesus isn’t filling your heart, it’s all for naught. It’s the difference between eternal death and eternal life.

A colorful plaque on the wall in our dining room reads, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.” I placed it in the room where we eat because we typically associate bread with a meal. But there are so many other areas of life to ask God to give us what we need for this day.

Especially helpful during a morning devotional time is asking God to bless this day and prepare us for whatever He knows is going to happen in our life, particularly those things that might catch us by surprise. We read in the Bible that God wants us to take life one day at a time, but always be ready for the unexpected and the day He takes us home to be with Him. No one knows the day or time, but it will happen when we least expect it, in the wink of an eye.

 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matt. 24:36 NKJV

Where Can We Find ‘Give Us This Day’ in the Bible?

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He was continuously teaching and mentoring his twelve disciples. Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life so the disciples often observed Jesus praying. One day the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Matthew 6:9-13, the “Lord’s Prayer,” is Jesus’ response to His disciples and to us on how we should pray. Many have memorized this prayer often recited in church or used as a model for prayer.

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matt. 6:9-13 NKJV

In verse 11, Jesus was referencing the daily bread, “manna from heaven,” God sent each day to meet the needs of the Israelites for food as they wandered in the desert. That the God of Israel could provide daily food for them was a confirmation that He was watching over them and guiding their life both physically and spiritually.

Jesus emphasizes this point in John 6:32 NKJV, Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

Jesus then referred to Himself as the living bread, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:33 NKJV

 Next, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NKJV

By emphasizing in Matthew 6:11 that we ask God to give us bread only for “this day,” Jesus was referencing the biblical history the disciples would know that God only sent the Israelites enough manna for each day. He wanted them to have confidence that there would be just enough for one day and He would rain down more the next day. If they tried to horde extra, it spoiled. They needed to trust Him for their daily provision. And so should we!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” Ex. 16:4-5 NKJV

Moses also reminded the people that spiritual food is as vital to life as physical food.

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Deut. 8:3 NKJV

Jesus referred to Deuteronomy 8:3 in Matthew 4:4 NKJV when he spoke of spiritual bread. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

What Does It Mean When We Ask God to Give Us This Day?

When we’re sick or going through financial or personal problems, we want answers for the future, now. How is it all going to turn out? What can we do to change things? Maybe we have enough to get by today, but what about tomorrow and the next day? We ask God to show us His plans and assure us that we’ll be fine. It’s all going to work out okay.

Matthew 6:25-27 is one of Jesus’ famous lessons about worrying about the next day. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Still, we worry until we learn how to turn each day’s needs over to God in prayer and trust that He has everything under control.

4 Ways to Pray Asking God to “Give Us This Day“

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Provision

Dear Father, You know our needs before we even ask but still You tell us we have not because we ask not. So Lord, I’m asking You to provide for my needs, maybe not my wants, but enough. Show me what I must do to work with You to obtain what’s sufficient for this day. These are scary times. The shelves at stores are emptying, prices escalating, and we worry about providing food and clothes for our family today. With Christmas quickly approaching, how can we afford gifts?

Lord, could this be Your way of helping us focus on the true meaning of Christmas?! Remembering that it’s not about how many gifts we give, but the gospel message we share with people who are more open to hearing about the gift of Jesus at that time of year.

Please help me not to panic and start hording and hiding away food and supplies. It didn’t work for the Israelites with their hording manna for more than a day and it won’t help for me to take from others who might need provisions more than I do. Guide me into prudent buying and give me wisdom to discern between a want and a need.

Thank You Holy Father for the abundance You’ve poured down on a country that seldom gives You the glory. Let me be the voice that says I have enough for this day, and I want to take time to enjoy and appreciate the Lord’s provision for my loved ones and me. Everyday give me a heart of generosity to give to those who might not be as fortunate as I am. I praise You Lord for Your abounding love and grace to all those who love You. Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Peace

Heavenly Father, You see from Your throne in heaven the chaos and crises befalling our world, and especially today in Israel. A world that is rejecting Your moral biblical values and principles. How this must break Your heart. Lord, it breaks my heart, and sometimes I lose my peace and am filled with anxiety when each new day brings more discouraging news. It seems like evil rules instead of You.

Please help me wake up in the morning with a sense of peace when I look out the window and see all that You’ve created and the sun has risen again on a new day. Remind me to thank You each night for another day of life.

When my thoughts wander to worrying, bring me back this day to remembering John 14:27 where Jesus assures us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” I pray Lord that You will bring peace to Israel and draw many hearts to Jesus during this horrible assault on their country. Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Joy

Dear God, I’ll admit I’m not joyful each new day. I want to be because I feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I need to smile and laugh more, but I look in the mirror and see frown lines on my face. More importantly, Father, I need Your joy to fill my heart and soul. Please help me to laugh. Give me a daily dose of joy.

I know Your Word tells me that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, as is the peace I so desperately crave. Just knowing You, Lord, as my Savior should fill my heart with bubbling over joy. Please help me this day to put a gospel song in my heart and a kick in my step that draws others to the joy of knowing the Jesus they see in me.

Fill me anew this day with Your Holy Spirit. Your living water. Your hope. Your peace. Remind me that the joy of the Lord is my strength (Neh. 8:10)! “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Trust

Precious Lord, I give this day trusting You will not give me more than I can bear but will always give me just what I need to stand up under any adversity. Father, I know that the foundation of my faith is trust in You in every way and every day. Trust is believing in what I cannot see but knowing that You see all and only want the best for me.

Lord, it’s a constant daily process of turning all my life, not just portions of it, over to You completely. Giving up control when I want to do things my way. I need You to remind me when I’m falling off course or trying to do things on my own. Each day unfolds with new challenges and opportunities, and I must seek You moment by moment in making decisions and choices.

Keep this song in my heart: Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. I see clearly now that You are my source of provision, peace, and joy and I implore You dear Lord, help me to trust in You and You alone this day and every day. Amen

Pray Like Today Is Your Forever Day!

Like Israel, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, or for that matter even the rest of today. But God tells us He has numbered each of our days. While we’re here on earth, He knows the plans He has for us. So, it’s only fitting that we would turn this day and each new day over to Him to guide and lead us in what we say and do. How we feel and hope. How we respond and react. How we love and let love.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!” Lam. 3:23-24 NLT

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6-9 NLT

Please leave a comment here. I always reply.

October 9, 2023
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When Brave Choices Regarding Our Children are Hard!

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When I was writing Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, I chose “Brave Choices” as the chapter to feature Jochebed, the mother of Moses. We know how terrible our culture is for children today, but when Moses was born, Pharaoh was demanding the murder of all newborn baby boys. Parents and children have been the object of satanic attack since the beginning of time.

Today, we have our government calling parents domestic terrorists for trying to protect their children from Marxist propaganda and perverted sexual grooming in schools. In some cases, those parents have been falsely labeled, targeted, canceled, and even lost their job, as one California mother experienced. Even still she says, “It’s been tremendously stressful, absolutely devastating to my family … Hopefully people will be inspired to just be courageous and strong and supportive of each other. And it’ll inspire parents to stand up for their children and come together as a community to not let cancel culture happen to anyone else.”

Marxists are running the American Library Association and pornographic books are considered curriculum in schools. Emergency room visits by children and youth with mental and behavioral health emergencies in the United States have been increasing over the last decade with an increased prevalence of depression and suicide.

Parents and grandparents can relate to Jochebed when they send their kids out the door to school not knowing what harm might come to them physically or mentally. Imagine Jochebed’s angst when she was making her legendary brave choice. As she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, her heart twisted in turmoil: the joy of a new mother competing with fear for his life. Egyptian Pharaoh, observing the Israelites were multiplying too fast for his comfort, had commanded the killing of every Levite baby boy upon delivery.

Fortunately for Jochebed and Moses, the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, feared God more than Pharaoh and made the brave choice to defy Pharoah’s death command; “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” (Ex. 1:16)  Selective infanticide even back then.

How the midwives must have feared for their own lives when the dreaded Pharaoh summoned them and angrily demanded to know why they were letting the baby boys live. Without wavering or hesitancy, they calmly answered that the Hebrew women were much stronger than Egyptian women were and they delivered before the midwives arrived. These two women risked their own lives to save lives. Discovery of their secret would surely result in punishment or even death. Instead, God blessed their courage and grit, “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.” (Ex. 1:2)

God also caused Pharaoh to believe them so the king decided to take matters into his own hands by sending his soldiers to locate and drown newborn Hebrew males in the Nile River. Jochebed trembled with trepidation hearing the wails and screams of new mothers as soldiers ripped infant boys from their arms and mercilessly drowned the crying babies.

Jochebed and her husband Amram cried out to God to spare their precious son and trusted God to answer. For three months, she nursed and tended to her baby, while trying to muffle his cries and coos and cautioning her two older children, Miriam and Aaron, not to tell anyone about their new baby brother.

When she could no longer hide her baby, Jochebed resolutely wove together a basket to keep him safe from the flowing waters, swaddled him in a blanket, nestled him in the basket, and prayed as she tearfully slipped him into the Nile to float downstream, not knowing his ultimate fate. Would God protect her precious baby? Would the soldiers discover him? A mother’s distraught tears—a heart-wrenching choice.

Living Everyday Brave!

In an article titled, “Living Every Day Brave,” Rachel Linden wrote, “Today I am choosing to be every day brave. What does that mean, you may ask? In essence, every day brave means choosing courage in the face of challenge. Believing that on the other side of fear is something better. It means embracing bravery as a mantra, a habit, a way of life, and embracing it every single day.”

Some choices are easy, but others not so much. While vacillating between options, we’re often weighing the effect of our choice on ourselves or someone else. Sometimes, we have to dig deep to find the courage to make a hard choice . . . a brave choice we may not want to make, especially when it comes to our children.

In Putting the Basket in the Water: Trusting God in the Next Phase of Your Child’s Life, children’s teacher and author Ashlei Woods wrote:

“There comes a time – many times, actually – in the lives of our children where we have to put the basket in the water. We have to let go and trust the plan of the Father. The world is a scary place – a place where we fear our children could drown. But we must remember that we have to let go so that God can draw them from the waters for His great purpose. He has called us to be their parents, but they were His first.

My friend, whatever water you may be getting ready to put your basket into – remember that you have to put them in the water for God to draw them out and place them into His perfect plan. Though you might not be physically present with your child as much during the next phase of life, you can always petition the heart of the Father on their behalf.”

Susan Reinhardt commented on Facebook about Ashlei’s quote above, “I need this message again and again, reminder after reminder. The “water” grows much more tumultuous every day and can be terrifying, especially since I now have grandchildren to pray for as the world’s agenda is to own their souls. Praying, praying, praying!”

Susan has the answer for all of us with children or grandchildren heading off to school this year as the schoolroom turns into a political and spiritual battleground. As I was writing this blog, I came across an Op-ed by Jeannie Cunnion, “I’m a mom who left it all on the field raising my sons and I can’t stop smiling and crying.” The subtitle is “God was our coach and our leader, but now it’s time for my son to move on to college.” As the Lord led me to read this article about a mom sending her firstborn off to college, putting the basket in the water if you will, Cunnion shared why like Moses’ mother she could let the basket go with confidence. Here’s what she said:

“I know this: What I get right and what I get wrong does not determine who my child becomes. Yes, I play a vital role in his life. My words and actions matter greatly. But God’s sovereignty over my son’s life supersedes my significance in his life. What I’ve done is significant. But what God can do is supreme. And His wild grace covers us both!  

But more than anything, God was our coach. He’s our leader and He held us together. And for all the things I got wrong, this is one thing I got right – I left it all on the field and I entrusted the outcome of our effort to God. I trusted God with the son He entrusted to me. God knows what my son needs in this next season. He loves my son in ways I can’t comprehend.  He has a plan for my son that is better and bigger than what I often felt pressure to orchestrate for him.” 

Our Children and Grandchildren Need to be Prepared to Make Brave Choices

God lets us all make our own choices, yes even our children and grandchildren. They have free will, but we as parents and grandparents can make the decision to ask God that they would follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. S. Hawkins writes in his devotional The Believer’s Code, “An amazing aspect of God’s love for us is the fact that He gives us choices. We are not His puppets . . . . He loves you so much that He allows you to make choices in life. While most of the choices are small, some have the potential to be life-altering.” It’s those life-altering choices that keep us on our knees for our children and grandchildren.

They are His creation, made in His image, but he will not force then to remember that or to make choices according to His will or His commandments. That’s the hardest part in letting go. Some choices could change the trajectory of their life and that’s what scares us, but Janet Denison wrote in an article in Christian Parenting, Push the Basket from the Shore, the following wise advice for every parent and grandparent: “Put the basket in the water—then push!”

“Congratulations to all of you who had to put your babies in a basket for the first time and especially for that last time. Pray that they will row in God’s directions instead of anyone else’s—even yours. Pray that they will serve God and become who he has called them to be. Look forward to watching them achieve their [Jeremiah] 29:11 life.”

“How did Moses’ mom ever place her baby in that basket and shove it in the direction of Pharaoh’s house? It was impossibly difficult, but she wanted her boy to live. 

You will bless your kids if you follow her example. And, chances are, they will bless you in return. The baby Moses grew to become the man God used to save the children of Israel from slavery.  Weave the baskets, put them in the water, and equip them for their journey. Then give them your blessing as they shove off from the shore. It’s not easy, but it’s the right thing—actually, the ‘God-thing—to do.” 

I would add though that we as parents and grandparents must continue the battle to bring God back into our schools and actively do our part in preventing Satan from using public schools to indoctrinate our children. I read a great meme “It’s not about who is right and who is wrong. It’s about what is right!” We should all be fighting for God’s definition of right to prevail against opposition from those who are trying to turn our culture into Sodom and Gomorrah. It didn’t turn out well then and it won’t now either.

Please leave a comment here. I appreciate your thoughts and always reply.

*Portions of this blog were excerpts from Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith.

Who Me Everyday Brave?

August 21, 2023
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It’s Holy Week and Our God Still Reigns!

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It was difficult deciding what to write as we start Holy Week before Easter with such sadness and turmoil in our world. But as I prayed about whether I should focus on the evil we’re all watching take place or the God whose only Son went to the Cross under evil circumstances to offer us a way out of personal sin and guilt, I quickly knew the answer when God gave me several clues as He always does.

First, as I posted on Facebook the pictures of those six precious innocent Chrisitan children and adults at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn. gunned down by a mentally ill suicidal transgender woman who looked into the eyes of those three children, a substitute teacher, the custodian, and the head of the school. . . then pulled the trigger . . . I saw the epitome of evil.

Evil begets evil!

There is an evil belief system infecting our culture that people can play God and become their own gods. Doctors who should be helping troubled gender dysphoria patients receive treatment to learn how to live in the bodies God gave them are instead lying to them that they can become the opposite gender by being pumped with hormones and sterilizing drugs and mutilated with irreplaceable castration, hysterectomies, and mastectomies at ages when children often think they can fly too.

Those doctors, medical professionals, and facilities are as evil as the ones killing unborn babies. Instead of offering redemptive healthcare, which they take an oath to perform, they’re participating in child abuse and infant genocide. And as evidenced by the militant attitude of the trans movement and pro-abortion advocates, no one is happy or successful in trying to play God.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. Psalm 14:1

As I changed my Facebook cover photo to the pictures of those six who were mercilessly gunned down, God prompted me to also change my profile picture to the opening picture of this blog. He was guiding my hurt, heartbreak, pain, anger, and frustration back to focus on Him, the One and Only true God.

Then the title of this morning’s (3/31/23) Our Daily Bread was “Rest Assured in God” with the verse from Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Karen Pimpo wrote in the accompanying article, “When our world is troubled, how can we find rest? The Bible’s clear: there’s peace for those who trust in God, regardless of their circumstances.”

While browsing through Facebook before I sat down to write to you, I came across a post from Fox & Friends on their Faith & Friends concert series of a performance with Phil Wickham of his new song “This is Our God.” I’d seen that post several times, but this morning I opened it up weeping as I listened to the timely words of the song. I hope you’ll go to the link and worship too.

It was clear God was reminding me that our only hope is belief in our Comforter and Savior, Jesus Christ, and nothing should distract us from this truth. With so many being lied to and even murdered because of Satan’s lies, our mission is to tell everyone of God’s overriding truths. The families burying their loved ones this Holy Week will mourn the loss of their loved ones while celebrating that they are in the arms of Jesus. Heavenly joy, but earthly sorrow for now.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:55

Good Begets Good and Our God is a Good God!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Is. 53:5-6

Isaiah 53:5-6 is the message of Easter we can’t ever overlook in the tragedies and unjustness of our culture. J. J. Packer said, “We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it.”

What is happening in our world doesn’t distract Jesus. He cares about what is happening in our heart!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.—Ezekiel 36:26

What should we do this Holy Week to prepare our hearts for an Easter celebration?

1. Fill your mind with Words from the Lord and not from the media.

Let’s take a break from the biased media and focus our minds on the reason our Lord and Savior went to the cross—to offer us eternal life regardless of what happens in this life. We don’t want to die, but if Jesus is in our heart, we have the assurance that we will be alive with Jesus for eternity. That should calm our hearts and comfort those who have lost loved ones or maybe just received an unwanted diagnosis.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.—Romans 12:2

I heard Pastor Greg Laurie say once in a Palm Sunday message, “There are five gospels . . . you’re the 5th! You are the temple of God.” Read the four Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. Get to know Jesus up close and personal. Walk with Him in His shoes; listen to His words and stories.

  • What was He trying to get people to understand?
  • What does He want you to understand?
  • Look for His personal message to your generation and how to influence the next generation for Christ.
  • What does He want you to do during the crises in our country? In our world?

If you were giving the sermon this Easter, what would you include?

2. Tell people what Jesus means to you. Why you love Him. That even while you were a sinner, He still loved you enough to die for you!

Our church has a Cowboy Breakfast as an outreach for the community on Easter Sunday, and Facebook just reminded me that I was the speaker 10 years ago. It was my privilege to share the Gospel and I didn’t worry what faith or lack of faith in those attending. Easter is about salvation through belief in Christ Jesus and that was my message.

My then 6-year-old granddaughter, Katelyn, shared the microphone with me to recite John 3:16. I was so proud of her! The next year she told me, “Grammie, I want to share John 3:16 at the Cowboy Breakfast again.” Since I wasn’t the speaker, she didn’t get that opportunity, but I pray she never hesitates to share the Gospel message.

God blessed Katelyn and me with a boldness that Easter morning to share the Gospel unashamed of our Savior with gratitude for His sacrifice and rejoicing at His resurrection. Here’s what one attendee wrote to me later:

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your message at the Cowboy Breakfast. It was clearly presented and probably the best explanation that I have heard so that people are not confused about making a commitment to Christ. So often people are afraid to say what is needed because they are concerned about offending their audience. It was important that you were clear on what sin is and how to make a personal commitment. I also received feedback from members of our Vineyard Home Study Group that were pleased that the truth could be so clearly spoken.

Thanks again for the time and effort that you put into preparation for those who needed to hear this message.

Other years, members of our church share their testimony with friends and neighbors who attend the breakfast. My husband Dave gave his testimony one year.

When is the last time you told someone your testimony of surrendering your life to Christ? It’s hands down the most important and meaningful day in your life. Yes, it’s greater than the day you married, gave birth, bought your dream house, or signed that important contract. Your rebirth in Christ should top them all!

Yet, we eagerly tell the story of these less significant events in our life, but often are reticent to tell the story of Jesus coming into our life.

We know He is with us every day, but do we give Him the credit and the glory for the things we know He has done and is doing in our life?

This week ask yourself why you don’t talk more about Jesus?!

Then share your salvation story with someone! Reflect back on the day the death and resurrection of Jesus really meant something to you. Tell people why it still does.

There is no greater witness to God’s goodness than sharing what he has done in your life. No one can question your testimony because it’s your personal experience.

Your story becomes your testimony when the focus is on God, not on you.

Your testimony simply shares your life before Jesus. How he changed your heart and spiritually, maybe literally, saved your life.

God has given you a story to share, so seize every opportunity to tell it.

Sometimes, God redeems your testimony by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past so it doesn’t become their future.

Who needs to hear this Easter what Christ has done for you and could do for them?

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.—Titus 3:3-7

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.—1 John 5:11-12

You might also enjoy an article I wrote for Crosswalk, 5 Refreshing Ways to Welcome Renewal Beyond Easter.

Have a blessed Easter the way the Lord leads you to celebrate this glorious day and honor the sacrifice He made for each of us who believe in Him to have eternal life forever!

No matter what happens in our world, remember that Our God Reigns!

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Rev. 19:6

If you received this blog in your email, please leave a comment here. I reply to all comments.

Also, if you don’t receive my monthly newsletter you can sign up on my website. Here’s the link to the March Newsletter with the opening article, “Are Your Women’s Ministries and Your Hearts Open to Teens?” I would appreciate receiving your response.

I also want to make you aware of a free e-book to share with parents and grandparents by Brandon Showalter and Jeff Meyers, Exposing the Gender Lie: How to Protect Children and Teens from the Transgender Industry’s False Ideology.

April 3, 2023
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Why Aren’t More People Speaking Out to Defend Women?

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Maybe you cringed with me on International Women’s Day when a man pretending to be a woman was given the International Women’s Day Courage Award by Jill Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Couldn’t they tell the difference between a man and a woman? They both stood smiling with this obvious imposter as if it was normal when he gave them both a peck on the cheek! Blinken flinched, but he took it like a true woke liberal.

It looked like a Saturday Night Live skit, but tragically, it was real life today.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, R-Ark., responded on twitter, “It’s International Women’s Day – a good time to remember that Democrats can’t even tell you what a woman is.”

Gov. Sanders said in her rebuttal to Biden’s State of the Union speech, “The choice is no longer between right or left. The choice is between normal and crazy.”

Other Twitter comments on the International Women’s Courage award given to a man:

“Nice of FLOTUS to encourage the diminishment of women on ‘international women’s day.’ Erasing women is abusive,” Dana Loesch, host of “The Dana Show,” tweeted.

“International Women’s Day: Not just for women anymore,” conservative Twitter personality Andrea Katherine wrote in reply.

“Why are the Democrats working overtime to push the trans agenda?” news commentator and former congressional nominee Karoline Leavitt asked. 

Legitimate question. Why are Democrats pushing the trans agenda when they pretend to be protecting women’s rights while simultaneously trampling on women’s rights?

When it comes to the left’s attack on women, which Biden essentially declared in his inaugural speech about furthering trans rights, they’ve gone crazy. He appointed an obvious man masquerading as a woman, Richard [aka Rachel] Levine as assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, which USA Today named as one of their “Women of the Year!” USA Today has gone crazy too!

We have a Supreme Court Judge appointed by Biden who can’t define a woman!

This liberal woke craziness is causing harm to and dismissal of real women. What do I mean by real women? A female human being who God created biologically and anatomically as a woman at birth.

Only a woman menstruates.

Only a woman has ovaries and ovulates.

Only a woman has a uterus and fallopian tubes.

Only a woman can carry a baby in her womb.

Only a woman has a natural female anatomy.

Only a woman has two XX chromosomes.

A woman cannot be a man and a man cannot be a woman. No matter how many surgeries or hormones, you cannot change DNA, create new DNA, or change biological sex. This was never disputed until a few mentally and sexually disturbed people decided to go on a war against women. The Democrat party championed and rewarded this ludicrous propaganda campaign to the detriment and harm of real women and real men.

Sadly, fewer and fewer people are willing to speak the truth for fear of “offending” the few who think they can be whatever gender and pronoun they choose. This socially deceptive, offensive, and harmful political manipulation and mutilation of genders is normalizing insanity. It’s harming mentally disturbed adults who obviously need counseling and subjecting our innocent children to this evil distortion of truth.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Is. 5:20

It’s demonic.

Who is speaking out against this evil?

Not the schools that let boys invade the privacy of girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms.

Not the sports industry allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports!

Not woke businesses encouraging equity instead of equality. Equity instead of quality and competence.

Not the politicians more influenced by a small perverted community than the sane majority they were elected to represent.

Not the media, except for a few brave souls like Tucker Carlson willing to say this is insane. I encourage you to listen to his monologue “Women’s Awards are Now Going to Men.”

Nothing is More Misogynistic than Erasing Women from Womanhood!

Why are the feminists not protesting in the streets? Because they’re steadfast liberals! Even though liberals are trouncing on women, feminists show true loyalty to woke ideology, not to women!

Until recently, everyone would’ve laughed at the idea of men wanting to be women. What man in his right mind would want to dress and pretend to be a woman?

What’s changed?

Who’s behind the infringement on women’s dignity, rights, and safety?

Who’s behind the war on women?

The answers started back in the Garden of Eden when the serpent, the Devil, chose to tempt Eve with the forbidden fruit. Paul worried about this in the Corinthian church, But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 2 Cor. 11:3 NLT

Eve succumbed to Satan by asking the question often used to justify sin today, “Did God really say?” The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Gen. 3:1 NLT

The disgraced Satan has always been at war with God. He wanted equality with God and when that failed, he tries anything and everything to stop God’s people from multiplying and filling the earth.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Gen. 1:28 NLT

Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. Gen. 1:6 NLT

Since God only gave women reproductive anatomy, the Devil is the commander, plotter, and originator of the war on women and misgendering. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, the pharmaceutical industry, and even some in the medical profession are enlisting in Satan’s army.

Just as Eve learned, there are consequences for anyone manipulated by Satan and his emissaries. One of Satan’s most effective tactical weapons is using lies to create confusion. If he can create enough doubt and confusion, his evil battle successfully rages on.

43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! John 8:43-45 NLT

What Are Satan’s Strategies in the War on Women!

  • The Battleground of Abortion

Women believe the lie that they’re not carrying a baby; it’s just tissue and cells. Even with the advent of sonograms, hearing the heartbeat, and knowing that each cell contains the baby’s DNA . . . millions of women still choose to kill their babies. Satan uses semantics to confuse them that it isn’t really murder. Just “ending or terminating a pregnancy.” “A woman’s choice.” “Women’s healthcare.” “My body, my choice.” “Reproductive rights.”

Women are deceived into believing their life will be better without the life of their baby. Millions of women have a hole in their heart grieving the children they didn’t allow to be born. Only Jesus can help mend that hole and He will if asked.

Imagine how fanatically devoted to politics and power to deny and prevent a woman’s most life-affirming experience.

Female babies killed every second. Satan laughs.

  • The Battleground of Genders

God was very specific when He created only two, genders: Male and female.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen. 1:27 NLT

God explained their roles. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Gen. 2:8

God’s Word says that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman who will populate the earth. But ‘God made them male and female’[a] from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,[b] 8 and the two are united into one.’ Mark 10:6-8

Even with animals, God instructed Noah, “Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird. There must be a male and a female in each pair to ensure that all life will survive on the earth after the flood.” Gen. 7:3 NLT

Only Satan could try to subvert God’s plan for the continuation of humanity by causing what we now call “gender confusion.” Again, confusion does not come from God.

Some “confused” men are demanding legal rights to pretend they’re women. Logically and anatomically, this is ludicrous and lewd, but instead of rationale people standing up to protect women, the government is bending to social pressure from a fringe element and allowing “transgender” biological men to invade all the private spaces of biological women, even competing in sports against real women!

In 2021, a biological man was named “Miss Nevada!”

A biological 43-year-old male who “identifies as a woman” from New Zealand will compete in women’s weightlifting at the Olympics and this atrocity is now invading all women’s sports, including weightlifting in the United States.

We’re told it’s discrimination to not let confused men “identify” as women with all the privileges, but what about the rights of real women? Why isn’t this male gender invasion considered discrimination against women?

Every human understands there are basic physiological differences between men and women. In the 21st century, liberals have decided ideology trumps biology.

Women Must Speak the Truth Before Our Rights Become Extinct!

A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this. Deut. 22:5

I love Lisa Bevere’s Facebook post, “God would have never granted women a voice if He intended for them to remain silent.”

One woman said on Twitter that women are so polite it hurts to speak up. But speak up we must even when it hurts!

In the movie Jesus Revolution, my favorite line was from Kay Smith, “The lies are always loud; truth is quiet. And simple.”

50 years later, we’re watching lies screaming from the White House into every house and those who know the truth remaining silent. Some erroneously think if we don’t say anything about the insanity and immorality, it will stop. Just the opposite is true.

We don’t need to scream, but we do need to share the truth every time we hear or see a lie. We’ll never solve a spiritual problem with a political answer.

We must stand up for our young girls being infiltrated and indoctrinated with lies normalized by a government and culture with a sinister motive.

We must stay educated on the issues facing women and consider them from God’s perspective. Educate and mentor our children and grandchildren in the home and in our churches.

If you know someone influenced by false teachings or ideologies, take time to talk and pray for and with them. Share God’s purpose and plans for men and women and why He made us different and unique with specific life roles.

Don’t be afraid to stand up against wrong. Like the woman who protested when a male came into the women and children’s area of a spa in California and exposed himself. She was shocked that other women were afraid to come forward and confront the spa owners for allowing such an atrocity. She wasn’t afraid, and good for her!

Silence in the face of wrong is wrong itself!

Our tendency is to avoid adversity, but Jesus never avoided sharing the truth even when it wasn’t welcomed.

The spiritual battle isn’t between Democrats vs Republicans or liberals vs conservatives. It’s between wrong vs right, evil vs good. It’s easy to say we know who wins in the end so let’s not get involved, but other people are hurt when we don’t engage.

The Christian life isn’t standing quietly on the sidelines; it’s standing boldly on the Lord’s side of the spiritual battle.

What Satan means for evil, God will use for good! He’ll use those of us willing to join Him in the fight for truth. I hope you’re in the Lord’s army. I am.

Our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, aka the liberals, progressives, Democrats, atheists, imposters trying to be women. No, the battle is against the spiritual principalities of evil. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph. 6:10-13

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March 13, 2023
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You Must Know and Speak the Truth to Remain Free

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I was shocked last week when a friend posted on Facebook about the deadly Fentanyl crisis in our country. That wasn’t the shocking part because if you listen to FOX news or NEWSMAX or anything besides mainstream media, you hear every night how Fentanyl is flowing over our open borders and killing 300 people every day, especially children. No that wasn’t a surprise to me because I’m aware of the destruction of our country from the Left’s open borders. A crisis they NEVER talk about, in fact the VP tries to tell you the border is secure! Secure for the cartels maybe.

No, the shock was the first comment under my friend’s post: “What is fentanyl?”

How could you live in America and not know about fentanyl? Because mainstream media doesn’t talk about the drug crisis or the horrific deaths, rapes, and child abuse happening at the out-of-control open border. The ONLY newscaster at the border reporting what’s really happening there is FOX News reporter Bill Melugin. And he’s increasingly “irritating the White House” because he provides video evidence contrary to their narrative that the border is secure and everything is under control. Naught!

Now, this is not a blog sponsoring FOX, but it is a blog to draw attention to the news that is NOT reported and the continual lies told by the White House and mainstream media. There’s a looming threat to our country and many people are oblivious, like the woman commenting on my friend’s post. FOX along with NEWSMAX are reporting the raw undeniable evidence that we’re being lied to and deceived by this administration.

Fentanyl is now coming across the border looking like candy and laced into other street drugs and even food and drinks and it is deadly! Just today in church, I spoke with a father who lost his son to fentanyl. When have you EVER heard Biden or Harris even mention this lethal threat?! NEVER! Some progressive DA’s aren’t even arresting drug dealers!

I follow iVoterGuide, which is a Conservative Christian nonprofit organization researching who we should vote for in our elections. They provide information on candidates who have a record of championing Christian Conservative values. iVoterGuide is a division of AFA (American Family Association) which I also follow. I received an email last week from iVoterGuide that is so valuable I want to share parts of it with you. I know that not everyone follows links that I post, so I’m going to write below some of the invaluable points in their email with the subject line “Decoding the Left’s Lies.”

I’m always telling my husband how important words are in communication. If he says something is “up” I look up, but he might just mean it’s on top of something and not in the sky where I’m looking up. Sometimes what he describes as the bottom of something is what I think is the top. We have this conversation often. We’re not trying to deceive each other; we just have different perspectives.

Decoding the Left’s Lies

 But the left and the media are trying to deceive us. They have a diabolical plan to mislead and lie via misinformation, changing the definition of words, and creating new terms then making them into law. That’s what Debbie Wuthnow, President of IVoterGuide, shares in the email I present parts of to you here. The following is from Debbie’s email.

Words can be used to clarify. Words can also be used to “spin” or distort.

Part of iVoterGuide’s mission is to clarify issues when politicians try to distort them. This election year, our team is working overtime to “break the code words” politicians use to try to fool Judeo-Christian voters.

We’ve seen just this year how easily words can be abused. The White House, along with their liberal allies in the media, literally tried to redefine the word “recession” to avoid accountability for our economic freefall.

Here are a few examples of the “code words” we are fighting against that twist the truth and deceive voters into voting AGAINST their own beliefs and values:

CODE: “Reproductive healthcare” or “Reproductive access”

TRANSLATION: Abortion of unborn human beings, often without restriction for all nine months of pregnancy and often funded with taxpayer dollars. This also often means taxpayer funding of contraception in public schools, college campuses, and even workplaces.

In examining thousands of candidates across the country, we typically found the above code used by wishy-washy politicians trying to appease both sides when they address legislative or party platform language on the sanctity of life.

Make no mistake: Politicians using this code are almost never truly pro-life.

CODE: “Gender-affirming care”

TRANSLATION: Radical and dangerous sex-change procedures, including artificial hormone injection and surgically re-creating reproductive organs—which often means genital mutilation. Such procedures are increasingly being pushed on minors, sometimes as early as middle and elementary school.

Studies show that far from curing problems, these procedures often magnify the problems of those struggling with their sexuality during adolescence (the suicide rate is actually higher post-procedure than prior to the procedure).

Voters must ensure the candidates they vote for are not being fooled by this deeply harmful rhetoric—or worse, covertly supporting it.

CODE: “Expand voting rights”

TRANSLATION: Enable ineligible voters to vote. This deliberately makes election fraud difficult to detect, difficult to investigate, and difficult to prosecute effectively.

The following are some examples of this dangerous code in action: stopping the cleaning up of voter rolls, expanding automatic voter registration and early voting, introducing same-day voter registration, allowing online voter registration and absentee ballot requests, letting voters opt-in to automatic mail-in ballots, pre-registration of minors as young as 16, not requiring any official photo ID to vote, and more.

As you’ll notice, all of these proposals disproportionately benefit the Left, since they would have a greater impact in highly concentrated urban areas which always vote more liberal and many of these measures would also incentivize inexperienced, low-information voters who are more likely influenced by the mainstream media.

We must elect leaders who will recognize the threat and the lie of “expanding voter rights” and stand up to those proposing this nonsense.

CODE: “Social Emotional Learning (SEL)” or “Whole-child education”

TRANSLATION: Harmful indoctrination based on feelings rather than facts. Instead of teaching schoolchildren tried-and-true facts regarding history, science, math, etc., this new methodology focuses on teaching kids to “get in touch with your senses and your feelings,” consider that “your truth may be different from the truth of others,” and “explore your identity.”

This often manifests itself as Critical Race Theory (CRT), graphic sex-ed literature taught as young as elementary school, teachers asking students about their “gender identity” and picking out “preferred pronouns,” and radical events like “drag queen story hour” (Note from Janet: this actually happened in Boise the Capitol of Idaho with a “drag kids show” on 9/11! I wrote about it in my blog Who is the Real Threat to the Soul of Our Nation)!

CODE: “_____ justice” (Environmental, economic, racial, social, etc.)

TRANSLATION: Forced redistribution of wealth, property, and income from “oppressor” groups to favored “oppressed” groups, usually funded by higher taxes on the oppressor groups.

Many candidates using the above code words support policies or platforms that amount to socialism. These terms are usually just an excuse to offer handouts in an attempt to earn minority votes, appease the woke mob and “politically correct” police, cater to climate change alarmists, and generally sow division.

Voters must be aware of the spineless politicians willing to play these games so they can vote for candidates who will not cave to the pressure.

You Can Be a Codebreaker

When you support iVoterGuide, you support our team of expert researchers working hard to decode where candidates stand on crucial issues for conservative voters in races across the nation. And right now, we are in the middle of our 5 Million Movement—our initiative to get this vital research into the hands of five million faith-based voters by Election Day, November 8.

As I’m sure you’ve read, numerous races are going down to the wire. And many are predicting a “red wave,” but it will not happen by itself—especially with the Left doing their best to push back.

Faith-based voters MUST get out and vote in record numbers—and they MUST be properly equipped to vote for the right candidates!

iVoterGuide has proven to be the key difference maker in hundreds of races up and down the ballot across the nation for years, and we are working to make 2022 the biggest year yet!

Back to Janet

That’s the end of what I wanted to share with you from this excellent informative email.  iVoterGuide is one of the resources where Dave and I go to learn about who to vote for that represents our values. You can learn more about them and donate if you choose at iVoterGuide | Voter Guide Tool | iVoterGuide.com

Often I’m described as “bold and courageous” and my response is always, “Shouldn’t every Christian be?!” This is not the time to be uninformed and unwilling to speak up. I wrote an entire book for women on Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith and in that book, I highlight numerous women from the Old and New Testament who did incredibly courageous actions against incredible hardships, as well as the stories of modern-day brave women. Why do we in the 21st Century think we should be timid and fearful as believers?

Can I be so bold to say that if our country goes down in flames, it will be because the church stayed silent and let it happen. Exactly what happened in Germany with Hitler. We’re better than that. Yes, we pray, but we are also the Lord’s hands and feet while we still have breath and if we care about the world we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren, we will get involved. There are good people who are willing to serve, we just need to do our best to be sure they get elected and bring our country back from the brink of toppling and instill stability into this nation we love. We need to make America godly again!

The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
    but the godly are as bold as lions.

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.
    But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. Pr. 28:1-2

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September 26, 2022
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Who Is the Real Threat to the Soul of Our Nation?

15

This past week, I’ve felt a sense of oppression that I couldn’t shake. I woke up with it every morning as I prayed asking God to reveal the source and why I was functioning each day under a dark cloud. I now think that it was the Lord awakening me to a heightened discernment of prevalent evil. I honestly wish I could walk away from this awareness and avoid dealing with it. But I know God has a purpose. He knows I will use the gifts He’s given me to awaken others too, so here I go.

The soul of America is God. The heart of America is God. The foundation of America is God.

Socialism replaces God with government and freedom with tyranny and we’re watching the deterioration of our beloved America right now with the current Administration removing God and His ways from every area of life.

In Biden’s “enemies of the state speech,” he looked and sounded like a dictator vilifying half the country who love God, family, and America but don’t happen to agree with his socialist policies. He called us evil, semi-fascists, and said we were a threat to the nation and destroying its soul. As he projected onto conservative Republicans everything he and his party are doing, he gave no specific examples of how we’re doing the country harm with traditional values and morality.

Yet, if he would only look in the mirror, he would see clearly the real threat to the soul of America.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24

When God is Removed the Nation Suffers

Here are just a few observable signs . . .

1. Measurable increase in crime and lawlessness

A mommy goes out for her usual morning jog and is kidnapped, raped, and killed by a man let out of prison early. A child sleeping in the back of the family car at a gas station or sleeping in his bed is shot and killed by random shooters. Another man released from jail early goes on a killing spree and videotapes his carnage on social media. Carjacking and robberies of stores and persons is rampant. Criminals are arrested and let back on the streets by progressive DA’s, judges, and the elimination of cash bond policies.

2. Open Borders

The Constitution and border laws are disregarded while unvetted and unvaccinated illegals from over a hundred countries are allowed to inhumanly flood our borders where drug Cartels and sex trafficking are prolific and horrific.

3. The Fantasy of Multiple Genders

Liberals cannot define a woman, fabricate multiple genders, and deny that there are scientifically and biologically only two genders, male and female.

4. Child Abuse

Young children are given dangerous hormones, puberty blockers, castrated, given mastectomies, and genitalia mutilated by physicians, as an acceptable medical practice even in “Children’s Hospitals.”

5. Parents Parental Rights Threatened

Schools are encouraged to transcend the parent / child relationship and sexualize young children. Parents are called domestic terrorists when they question what their children are being taught about CRT and perverted pornographic sex practices.

6. Compulsory Inoculation

People forced to take potentially dangerous vaccinations to attend schools, remain in the military, or keep their job.

7. Police are vilified and defunded.

8. Drag shows for children are normalized as “artistic expression.”

9. Abortion

Women consider it their “constitutional right” to kill their babies up until birth and sometimes after while calling it “healthcare.”

10. Woke overtakes morality and sensibility.

11. Diversity and equity replace all men and women are created equal.

12. Biological men allowed in women’s sports, showers, and locker rooms.

13. Marriage is no longer between a man and a woman.

14. Gay, transgender, and drag rights outweigh citizen rights.

15. Censorship is acceptable.

The Real Threat to the Soul of Our Nation

You may think that I’m leading up to calling Biden and the progressive Democrats the threat to the soul of our country and that’s partially true because they’ve sold their soul to the one who is the real threat: Satan.

You think that’s an overstatement? Joe Biden appointed as White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator a gay doctor who has been pictured touting his tattoos of the official symbol of the Church of Satan: The Pentagram. It seems like Joe Biden could have a Satanist working in the White House. Monkeypox is transmitted by gay men having sex with each other, something you seldom hear mentioned.

More and more I see Conservative commentators not afraid to point out the obvious. Jason Whitlock on Tucker Carlson Tonight said, “The Democrats are so busy calling us names why don’t we call them out on what they REALLY are a Satanic Cult!”

Only Satan could be behind what we’re watching happen in our country today. And Satan is not a respecter of red and blue states. Satan knows no boundaries!

When the Threat is Close to Home!

I and many of my fellow Idahoans were shocked that last weekend in Boise, Idaho, traditionally a Conservative red state, the gay community held a Boise Pride parade and weekend “festival” that originally was advertised to feature a Drag Kids Show on stage for kids 11-18 and a Drag Story Time!

Many local businesses supported and sponsored this event. They too have been deceived by this gay pride movement just like they were with the BLM scam that received thousands from businesses and then BLM exploited the money and did nothing to help the black community.

News of the Boise Gay Pride weekend traveled to California! Pastor Jack Hibbs posted on Facebook an urgent call to attention. Here’s part of it.

“To my dear fellow Watchmen in Idaho, I’m sorry, but for many of you, I’ve not yet had a chance to meet, and sorry again for this topic of urgency. Even down here in Chino Hills, California, we’ve heard about the City of Boise hosting a “Drag Kids” event at its pride celebration this Friday-Sunday. (THIS WEEKEND) We need to urgently gather as many Calvary Chapel pastors who are willing (and we may be joined by a number of LDS Ward/Stake presidents) to visit current Sheriff Matthew Clifford. [I later learned he refused to meet with the pastors]

We need to encourage him (and he is willing but must hear from the public first for him to act) to make an announcement that he is planning to arrest any organizer that contributes to the delinquency of minors and any persons who commit lewd acts in public especially if there are children present.

I need you, dear pastor, and your church to take a firm stand, or Idaho might become California in short order.”

Awaiting His Return!

Pastor Jack Hibbs Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

Many of us got busy and started contacting the sheriff and the sponsoring businesses of this event, and to their credit, I know of five that rescinded support when they heard about the children’s grooming events. I hope there were more. By Thursday, the Gay Pride group had canceled or “postponed” the Kid’s Drag Show.

It was confirming that when we join together peacefully and politely and let our voices be heard to pushback against evil, we can make a difference. Even though the pride group is now fabricating talking points that we’re “the extremist” threatening the children. As Calvary Church Star, Idaho points out, “that is the furthest thing WE AS A CHURCH BODY are guilty of. Don’t be freaked out- Satan-the great deceiver has always been after the next generation. We are FOR these children and our hearts should break for the confusion and hurt they are being taken thru…but being groomed into a life of DRAG is NOT the answer.” Amen

This church hosted a prayer vigil on the steps of the Capitol on Saturday during the pride event.

I also joined the Values Advocacy Council group http://boise.vacmail.org to do my part in saving Idaho! No matter where you live, we all need to heed Pastor Hibb’s warning about Idaho, or your state, turning into California. Many of us moved to Idaho because it was a conservative red state, but we need to work to keep it that way.

An entire month of “Pride” in June wasn’t enough. On 9/11, a day where satanic evil killed 3000 innocent lives and we should all be reverently commemorating the tragedy not celebrating evil, a pride parade took place right here in Boise trying to exploit young children!! It’s as if Satan is laughing at us.

I think Satan knows his time is short and he’s not holding back. He’s testing how much he can get away with and will we try to stop him? And yes, I do believe he’s invaded the core of the Democrats in Washington and Democrat run states who would see nothing wrong with the gay pride event or the 15 items I listed above. In fact, they vote for championing and legalizing this evil.

Even as Biden calls Conservatives and those who believe in biblical moral principles evil and “extreme,” there’s currently a demonized mind set in his administration. They don’t even realize they’ve become Satan’s captives doing his dirty work for him. When you open the door to the demonic, you welcome Satan into your house, including the White House!

Let God arise and may His enemies be scattered.

Let God’s people arise and may their enemies be scattered.

The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. Pr. 28:18

What Do We Do as Christians?

Yes, my heart is heavy for the soul of our country, my birth state California, and now my home state Idaho, and family members who don’t know Jesus. Blatant evil is so prevalent today and it weighs heavy on me. I know the Lord won’t lift that burden because He wants me to continue taking action to shed the light of Jesus as far and wide as I can.

It was a joy to partner with other conservative groups and friends on Facebook as we worked together to challenge the local businesses to do the right thing and protect as many children as we could from this horrific exploitation, but there were parents who were going to allow their children to be a part of this evil.

Deception. Spiritual Blindness. Media Propaganda.

We pray and we act where God leads us to help put God back into the soul of America. Without that, we stumble and fall as a nation, but with God at the helm, we will soar to victory.

If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— 3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Deut. 13:2-4 NLT

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Heb. 10:39 NLT

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September 11, 2022
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