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Who’s Behind The War on Women?

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Over the years, it’s appeared outwardly that women are advancing in respect and career opportunities. Women are CEO’s, own businesses, hold political positions, host news programs, headline movies and TV programs, author books, own homes, are public speakers and the list goes on.

Until recently, we would’ve said that the culture was on the side of women achieving their goals. Or has it been?

What’s changed?

Who’s behind the devaluing of women and their safety?

Who’s behind the war on women?

I think the answer to those and even more questions originated in the Garden of Eden when the serpent, the Devil, chose to tempt Eve instead of Adam with the forbidden fruit. Sadly, she succumbed to the question so 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 wants to be God and when that fails, he wants to be sure that God’s people do not multiply and fill the earth as God predestined.

Satan will try anything to stop God’s people from multiplying. Since God gave women reproductive anatomy, the Devil is the commander, plotter, originator, and perpetuator of the war on women.

Remember in Ephesians 6 that we’re told 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. Those flesh and blood people perpetuating the evil often don’t even realize that they’re being played by Satan. Used. Deceived. Weaponized as they do his dirty work.

But like Eve learned, there will be a price to pay for anyone manipulated by Satan and sadly his victims.

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:10-12 NLT

One of Satan’s most effective tactical weapons is the use of lies to create confusion. As with Eve, if he can create enough doubt and confusion, his evil battle 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

Let’s look at some of Satan’s strategies in the War on Women!

The Battleground of Abortion

Many women believe the lie that they’re not carrying a baby; it’s just tissue and cells they’re told. Even with the advent of seeing the baby via sonograms, hearing the heartbeat, and knowing that each cell contains the baby’s DNA, Satan uses semantics to confuse them. It’s 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. Instead, 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 and allowed.

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a mother of five and grandmother of nine, is asked about how she reconciles her Catholic faith with her undaunted support of abortion, she responds: “Let me just say that I’m a big supporter of Roe v. Wade . . . . I am a mother of five children in six years. I have some standing on this issue as to respecting a woman’s right to choose.”

I often wonder what her children think when they hear her repeated and relentless defense of abortion?

An author of an article in the Washington Examiner wrote:

“I am a mother” is really not an answer to whether abortion takes a human life. It is, in fact, a false appeal to authority. And it looks especially bad precisely because a mother, of all people, shouldn’t have a hard time answering the question.

Pelosi does have some “standing on the issue” on account of her having a large family. For her, this shouldn’t be a difficult question. But as the standard-bearer for a party with a fanatical devotion to keeping abortion legal and available through all nine months of pregnancy, she cannot even bring herself to say whether a 15-week-old unborn child is a human being.

Imagine how fanatically devoted to politics one must be to deny even one’s most life-affirming experiences.

What a missed opportunity to support life and encourage women! She’s had five children and still rose to the third highest political position in the country. She could wear her motherhood like a proud badge of honor encouraging all women that you can have the blessings of motherhood and still achieve your goals.

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

We also know that the woman Eve was created as a helpmate for the man Adam. 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

We’re told in God’s Word that men and women would marry and come together sexually to continue populating the earth. Any deviation from God’s plan was an abomination and a sin. Period.

When my grandson was nine-years-old, he pointed out that of course men were not supposed to have sex with men or women with women because then the world would end!! There would be no more babies. No more people. That’s a no brainer even for a nine-year-old!

Even the animals get that! 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 humanity by causing what we now call “gender confusion.” Again, confusion does not come from God, it comes from Satan.

Confused men who think life would be better as a woman have demanded legal rights to pretend they’re women. They’re allowed to invade the private and public spaces of women in bathrooms, locker and dressing rooms, spas, beauty contests, and even competing in sports against biological women!

Logically and anatomically this is ludicrous and lewd, but instead of rationale people standing up for protecting women, the government is bending to social pressure from a fringe element.

A man is now “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.

How many biological women do you see trying to compete in men’s sports? Not many or maybe none.

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 invasion considered discrimination against women?

In a commentary by Joe Saunders in The Western Journal, Saunders wrote about comments from NFL quarterback Brett Favre.

 He was never more on target than when he nailed the issue of transgender “women” competing against true females on the biggest stages in sports. Liberals are going to hate it, but no sane, honest person — man or woman — could disagree.

“It’s a man competing as a woman,” Favre said with characteristic bluntness. “That’s unfair.”

Every human past puberty understands that there are basic physiological differences between men and women. It’s just that in the 21st century, liberals seem to have decided ideology trumps biology.

The Battleground of Motherhood

Last week, I wrote about this battleground and I’ll refer you to that blog “Never Poke a Mama Bear” where I point out that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are trying to eliminate Mother and replace with “birthing people.” Do you think Pelosi’s five kids call her their birthing person?

What’s a Woman to Do?

We must stay educated on the issues facing women today and consider them from God’s perspective. Educate our children and grandchildren to not become influenced or persuaded by the ways and sways of the world.

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

Get involved. 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. One of her comments was that other women were afraid to come forward and confront the spa owners who were allowing such an atrocity. But she wasn’t afraid and good for her!

Silence in the face of wrong is wrong itself!

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

The spiritual battle isn’t between Democrats vs Republicans or liberals vs conservatives. It’s between wrong vs right, evil vs good. Satan vs Jesus. The enemy vs the Savior!

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 about standing quietly on the sidelines; it’s about 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 who are willing to join Him in the fight for right. I hope you’re in the Lord’s army. I am.

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

The Lord has given me Joshua 1:9 not just once but several times today, so I leave you with a theme verse from my book Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith.

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July 12, 2021
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Never Poke A Mama Bear

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I’m sure by now you’ve seen the video clips that went viral of moms and dads confronting local school boards protesting the mandatory teaching in schools of Marxist critical race theory where children are taught to judge each other by the color of their skin. If your skin is dark, you’re oppressed and if your skin is white, you’re the oppressor.

You can’t get more racist or Communist than to teach these radical untruths to children in school and foster their mistrust and animosity toward each other at an early age. This is the exact opposite of what our Constitution and God affirms that all men are created equal regardless of race, color, or creed.

So I say bravo to those brave and concerned parents, like my daughter Kim in the opening picture, who are not going to allow their children to be indoctrinated in Marxist/Communist theology and ideology.

The parents speaking up at these school council meetings are black, white, brown and some had escaped Communist and oppressive countries and were not about to let their children be raised in a country where the leadership and school boards are quickly shifting their values to resemble the countries they fled.

When an interviewer asked one of the mothers at a school board meeting, who just happened to be black, why she was speaking up against critical race theory she responded, “Never poke this mama bear.” I think every mother knows exactly what she meant. When you start messing with our kids, moms are always going to rise up to protect them. Or at least they should.

An article titled “Largest teachers union says critical race theory is ‘reasonable and appropriate’ for kids, outlines what these parents are up against. Here’s an excerpt:


The National Education Association has approved a plan to “publicize” critical race theory and dedicate a “team of staffers” to assist union members looking to “fight back against anti-CRT rhetoric.”

New Business Item 39 also declares that the union opposes bans on critical race theory and the New York Times’ controversial 1619 Project – which roughly half the U.S. states have already implemented.

Additionally, the resolution calls for the union to “join with Black Lives Matter at School and the Zinn Education Project to call for a rally this year on Oct. 14 — George Floyd’s birthday — as a national day of action to teach lessons about structural racism and oppression.”

Get Involved!

Do you remember during the 2016 election when Franklin Graham went to the Capitol in every state pleading with people to vote their values? My daughter and I took the three grandkids to hear him as he stood on the Boise Capitol steps and one of the points he made was for Christians to get involved with the governing of their cities and states. Run for office. Make sure Christian and Conservative values are represented and heard in local government and decision making issues. He specifically mentioned running for school boards because there’s nothing more important than guarding the education and minds of our children.

It almost seems like Franklin was prophetic as we watch the lunacy of liberal school boards. Not just in wanting to teach Communist indoctrination, but also in the pornographic immoral way many are presenting “sex education” starting in Kindergarten. Teaching gay and transgender lifestyles as normal options for children. Fostering gender confusion.

I heard former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany say in an interview that she’s only going to send her little girl, who is now a toddler, to parochial schools because she knows she won’t have to worry about what her daughter is being taught. This mama bear is protecting her cub from danger.

The Devil always goes after the children because they’re the next generation who will influence the world for either good or evil. We’re watching the fallout of teachers who have gone through the liberal progressive school system themselves and are onboard with biased teaching. Any teachers who speak up or refuse to teach what they know is wrong are often fired.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. 1 John 3:9-11

But parents and grandparents, you can’t be fired! You can protest and refuse to let your sweet innocent children be taught what you know is wrong.

You have a voice. You have a vote. You have a choice.

Masks and Vaccinations for Children

Another area you’re going to face in the fall as schools open up is school districts who want to enforce mandatory masks and vaccinations for your children to attend school. There are numerous studies showing how unsafe both of these practices can be for children.

Do your own investigation. Be informed. Pray about it. Make an educated decision and then take a firm vocal stand for what you know is right for your child!

In Communist countries, the government has more control over children than the parents do. Don’t let this happen in America. Don’t surrender your rights as a parent.

You might think I’m being a bit dramatic, but the way Satan gets a foothold is to subtly and slyly slither into normal life and before you know it, evil has become the norm.

I’ll be writing next week about the War On Women! One of the liberal’s sly strategies is to devalue and demean the role of mothers by referring to them as merely “birthing people.” Cancel motherhood! We can laugh at how ridiculous this is but the Democrats actually wrote that insidious term into the infrastructure bill so they weren’t laughing. They were serious.

Black Lives Matter’s manifesto is to eliminate the nuclear family and have BLM take over that role. As BLM infiltrates Democrat government and teachers unions, we’re seeing their influence and ideologies seep into language and legislature.

One of the first things the Democrat house majority ruled in January 2021 was to eliminate the use of gender identity including mother, father, husband, and wife. As reported in the Washington Examiner . . .
“The proposed rule package seeks to “honor all gender identities” by striking words including “seaman,” “chairman,” “father,” “mother,” “sister,” “husband,” and “wife” from use and replacing them with gender-neutral terms including “seafarer,” “chair,” “parent,” “child,” and “sibling.”

“Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi praised the “visionary rules package,” saying in a statement the package “reflects the views and values of the full range of our historically diverse House Democratic Majority.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy mocked the proposed changes, calling them “stupid,” while Representative-elect Marjorie Taylor Green called the measures a “blatant denial of truth” and an “attack on families.”

Why would Nancy Pelosi, a wife, mother, and grandmother, now praise eliminating those endearing ageless family terms? Since she admits that this “reflects the views and values of the full range of our historically diverse House Democratic Majority,” you know the left’s views and values have become sinister and dangerous.

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

So Mama Bears, you’re being poked from all directions.

Pick your battles.

Pray for guidance.

Protect your children and family.

Publically make a difference.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful. Pr. 23:24-26

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Political cartoon is by editorial cartoonist A.F.Branco A.F. Branco Cartoon – You Know, the Thing – Comically Incorrect.

Picture of the parents is from the article cited in the blog.
Opening picture is my daughter Kim Mancini taken on Mother’s Day!

July 5, 2021
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The 4th of July Has New Significance This Year!

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Did you ever think we would be living in a time when love of country, respect for the American Flag, and standing for the National Anthem would become controversial? Patriotism booed and considered deplorable. Athletes representing the USA abroad disgracing our country and themselves. Our government attempting to divide Americans into identity groups and pit them against each other. Children taught in school to judge each other by the color of their skin.

Have we become a country of race-baiting, ungrateful, unpatriotic citizens? Or are these just the people who yell the loudest and the media covers incessantly with glee.

I love the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, and I sing along with him, especially the lines, “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.”

I am proud to be an American, but I’m not proud of all Americans.

It appears that the Administration in the White House and the Democrat party is not proud to be American! They continually denounce us as a racist country and claim half the population, at least those who are conservative, white, drive pickups, and wave American flags, are a threat to our country?!

The current Administration is trying to see how far to the Socialist, Communist, Marxist, tribal, racist, liberal left they can take America. They’re turning us into a country our forefathers would never recognize as the free country so many of all colors gave their lives to defend.

If you’re saying don’t make the 4th of July political—Independence Day marked the initiation of politics!

A 4th of July Pop Quiz

Have you watched a man-on-the-street interview asking people if they know facts about our country’s history? It’s embarrassing. I wonder how many could answer questions about the 4th of July and why it’s a National holiday?

“What does July 4th stand for?”

  • From what country did America fight to win their freedom?
  • Why is July 4th Independence Day?
  • What year was the Declaration of Independence signed and adopted?
  • What is the significance of 13 stripes and 50 stars?
  • Why are our patriotic colors red, white, and blue?
  • What does a national flag represent?
  • Why are caskets of fallen soldiers wrapped in the American flag?
  • Why do we have fireworks on the 4th of July?

How about asking these questions and offering a prize to the one who knows the most answers at your 4th of July gathering. Here’s a website with a succinct overview: History of the Fourth of July – Brief History & Early Celebrations – HISTORY

So many more facts are lost in a culture that has forgotten our roots and trying to rewrite our history.

Liberal left politicians want to erase our heritage as if it never happened and turn a Democracy of freedoms into a country of government Socialistic/Marxist control of the people. They make it sound like the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness isn’t as valuable as the carrots they dangle of free healthcare, free college, free immigration free… free…which the naïve lap up without realizing nothing is free. Americans will pay the price with the loss of sovereignty and personal freedoms that so many brave soldiers gave their life to grant each of us. It will cost us dearly in taxes, independence, and quality of life.

For example, under socialism people will soon discover that “free” healthcare doesn’t mean the best medical treatment you need when you need it. The government will decide who, when, and to what extent you’re worthy of the healthcare they deem you can have or even whether they’ll let you have tests to receive a diagnosis. They’re even suggesting that the color of your skin or your heritage will determine who gets treatment first.

You won’t just call and make a doctor’s appointment. You’ll go through legal red tape, waiting lines, and a faceless worker in Washington deciding whether your life is worth healing or saving.

Since Biden wants to give illegal immigrants free Medicaid health insurance, he’ll need to put more than a 70% increase on our taxes to pay for it. And how good do you think that healthcare is going to be when it’s stretched to the limits with no money to back it and millions of extra people getting it for “free.” That’s why he hasn’t given specifics of how he would achieve this.

Some “progressive” politicians have argued that we’re the only major country without socialized healthcare. What Americans need to remember is that the entire point of July 4th is that we didn’t want to be like other nations. Other nations come to America for medical treatment. People are not migrating to other countries; they want to come to America because we aren’t like other nations. They come to America for a better life. And Biden/Harris have put out the welcome mat for illegal immigration at the expense and threat to American citizens.

No other country was founded on Judeo Christian values, where our Presidents end their speeches with “God Bless America,” or at least they use too. I haven’t heard that from Biden or Harris recently.

As hard as the liberal left is trying to move our country away from God, Christians need to stand in the gap and keep America a blessed nation under God. Where our currency still says “In God We Trust” not “In the government we trust.”

The 4th of July celebrates winning the battle for freedom to be different from other countries. A Democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people. Where the government works for us NOT controls us.

As you plan your festivities—parades, BBQs, fireworks, pool parties, trips to the beach—how about starting those events with the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the National Anthem, and a prayer to God who has allowed us to live in this great country.

Remind the children at the gatherings why you’re celebrating this holiday. Our generation must pass down to the next generation our country’s history and why we don’t want to repeat past mistakes.

If anyone who refuses to stand for the National Anthem, say the Pledge of Allegiance, respectfully represent the USA abroad and at home, dares to celebrate the 4th of July . . . might I say they are hypocrites who either have no idea what July 4th represents or they have no idea what they’re even protesting.

God has allowed each American to live in the greatest nation in the world. Have you ever opened your eyes in the morning and said thank you God I’m an American? If we allow them to take God and patriotism out of America, we won’t be able to say that anymore.

Have you noticed how both sides of the political arena are always saying, “The American people want to know.” “The American people deserve to know.”

Let’s show them what the American people really want and deserve:

A country that honors God, honors our flag, honors those who have gone before us and fought for our freedoms, and honors the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States of America!

May God bless America and may America be worthy of His blessing!

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June 28, 2021
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How “God Winks” Can Help Us Through Difficult Times

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When I said in my last blog that I’d be taking a break for my husband’s knee replacement surgery, I didn’t expect to be MIA for six weeks. We heard stories of people having this surgery as outpatient or at best coming home the next day. I had no idea the journey that lay before us and we’re still venturing on, but God did. My husband continuously says he doesn’t know how anyone goes through this without God!

Praise God, He was our constant companion, even though I must admit I had a few meltdowns along the way!!!

For those of you who prayed for us, we’re grateful. Please keep praying! If you didn’t know about what we were going through, I’m sure you know someone having a difficult time right now and I encourage you to stop reading for a moment and pray for them. They’ll feel your prayers. They need your prayers.

Back to our story . . .

Dave got off to a rocky start when he had a bad reaction to the meds and anesthesia used during surgery. While he was in the hospital for five days, his oldest daughter Michelle and I were with him all day and evening. Michelle had flown out from Chicago to help us with his transition home.

Then to my shock, the doctors determined he wasn’t home ready and needed to go to a rehab facility where he would be placed in COVID quarantine. We could no longer see him! He had a negative COVID test right before they moved him, and we were all vaccinated, but those were “the rules.”

We walked with him as they wheeled him down the sidewalk to the rehab facility, but when the elevator doors shut, I was shut out of his life. Half of my heart ripped away!

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 2:7-9

I’d been his advocate in the hospital and now I was standing on the outside. I couldn’t stop crying. I’m crying now just remembering. I was one of those people you read about kept from their suffering loved ones. It’s reality to me now. It’s cruel.

I came home alone and Michelle flew home. Our family’s only visible communication with Dave, doctors, therapists, and nurses was FaceTime. Dave was there for eight days where he received physical, occupational, and recreational therapy and excellent care, but this was so beyond what we had anticipated.

I stared blankly when people asked, “Why?” Every time I heard that question, or about people who came home the next day, it only made me feel worse. Sad. Heartsick. Despondent.

There’s a lesson for us all. When someone is going through a traumatic experience, hearing how someone else sailed through it only impounds the hurt and trauma. All I wanted was a hug or a prayer. Compassion.

My worst nightmare became reality when 5’5” 122 lb. me, who had recently had surgery, would be bringing home by myself 6’4” 230 lb. hubby who could barely stand up and move by himself, even with a walker. He would have to stay in our basement “Man Cave.” It would be a long time before he could navigate stairs up to our living level.

And so the journey began even though I felt completely inadequate for what God was asking me to do on my own to successfully help this man I love so much recover well and safely. It seemed overwhelming. It was overwhelming.

But of course, I wasn’t completely alone. That’s when the God Winks started!

God Winks Don’t Miss Them!

Dave and I had prayed before his surgery and during his recovery that we would be a witness and light for God’s goodness to everyone we met, and that they would see Jesus in us, no matter what. Maybe that prayer set us on this trajectory because God wanted to use us for His glory. I can’t say I always represented Him well. My emotions at times overtook me when I couldn’t stop crying or heard myself having an unkind outburst, but there were also some amazing experiences where God’s glory shown through in spite of us.

God Wink #1

I thought daughter Michelle came to help after we got home, but it turned out God wanted to use her to support me while Dave was in the hospital and through the experience of sending him off to rehab. Michelle was my rock, a calm and steady voice, gentle pat on my back, and hug that guided me through the crisis and chaos. When I was too upset to eat, she located a smoothie shop nearby that’s now become my favorite!

We live 1 ½ hours from the hospital and rehab. So our daughter Kim, who lives closer, welcomed Michelle and me to stay as long as we needed, which meant my two granddaughters gave up their bedrooms and slept on the couch. No complaining. That’s what love does.

While I was away from home, neighbors Joni and Mike, who are also part of our Couples Bible Study Group, watered our plants and mowed our lawn. Mike takes our trash to the dump when he’s home. (We live in the rural mountains, no trash service.)

God Wink #2

One of the male nurses in the hospital stopped in Dave’s room, even though Dave wasn’t his patient that day, and said he had looked up my books on my website! He was a Christian too.

When Dave was in rehab, I brought some of his favorite juice to help him get more fluids since his BP kept dropping. The nurse that came to the door began comforting me about not being able to see him and I noticed the cross around her neck. Turns out, she’s a Christian also and Dave was her patient for the day. I knew he was in God’s hands.

She assured me that rehab was right where he needed to be. He wasn’t capable of coming home yet, but they would work to get him ready. Rehab was actually a God-Wink blessing.

God Wink #3

Several days before I brought Dave home, three men from church came over and helped prepare the Man Cave by taking off doors, moving furniture, making repairs, and taking Dave’s recliner downstairs.

God Wink #4

Leanna, a dear friend from our Couple’s Bible Study Group, got up early to leave at 6:30 am to drive down to Boise with me to pick up Dave from rehab. I don’t function well early morning, but with Leanna in the car and Jesus at the wheel, it was a beautiful morning even though it had been a rainstorm the day before.

God Wink #5

Dave’s second night home he had cramps in his calf and shooting pains down his leg. He was wreathing and crying in pain. Hot compresses helped but he couldn’t stand up. Leanna, who called me every day, had said call us no matter what time of night. So I did. She and her husband Bob and muscular son Ty came right over and the men got Dave up out of the chair and into bed. Ty gave me his number to text if I needed him in the middle of the night or next day.

God Wink #6

Friends Cynthia and Tom, who were dropping off food they had bought for us at COSTCO, were here when the doctor’s office called about Dave’s leg cramps and shooting pains. We needed to bring him to ER (1 ½ hours away) for an ultrasound to rule out blood clots. When we got off the phone, Tom said he would drive us and Cynthia said she would sit at our house and wait for UPS to drop off medication that needed a signature.

This was the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, a heavily traveled day in our area and I had been up all night with Dave. This couple was having a family reunion at their home in a few days, but Cynthia said that taking time to help us was confirmation to her that God had the reunion under control! Praise God there were no blood clots.

God Wink #6

The following day, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, daughter Kim and hubby Toby came up to plant our garden, mow our lawn and do other things on my “to-do” list.

God Wink #7

Memorial Day, Barb from our Couple’s Group stopped by to ask where I needed help. She folded all my laundry and vacuumed my whole house! Amazing timing since around 4:30 pm I got a text from long-time friends from Arizona, Debbie and Jerry, that they were about an hour away and what did I need at the store?! I thought they were coming the next day, but thanks to Barb, my house was ready and I had food to feed them because Gene, another friend from church, had brought over a tray of her famous enchiladas the day before!

Debbie and Jerry had planned this trip to visit us before we knew Dave was having surgery and they said they would only still come if they could be of help. I said, “Oh yes! Please come. I need help!”

They were visiting angels as Jerry is an amazing “handyman” and Debbie just pitched in and saw the many things that needed doing while I was tending to Dave downstairs. Together they cut down on the thousands of steps I was taking up and down the stairs. Debbie went with me to Boise to grocery shop and go to a doctor’s appointment with me to take notes when my brain was exhausted.

I was sad to see them go, but we all were aware of God’s timing in bringing them to “visit” when I needed them most. I finally felt a little rested and ready to tackle Dave’s recovery on our own.

God Wink #8

Now for the over-the-top presence of the Lord showing His face in an act of kindness of two strangers, Scott and Donna May. Physical therapy recommended we get a recumbent bike for Dave. I put a request on our local community Facebook page and began getting messages about bikes for sale. One in particular looked perfect but it was pricey even used. Then there appeared a message from a gentleman who said he had one he could loan us that they only use in the winter and he could deliver it?!

I asked for a picture and it was the exact one I had considered buying. I messaged back thanking him for his generosity and he responded, “Christians help Christians!” I wondered how he knew I was a Christian, but I certainly told him he was an answer to prayer.

When Scott and Donna May brought the bike over the next day, I asked how he knew I was a Christian. Scott laughingly admitted he had looked at my profile and website to be sure I was someone he could trust to return the bike LOL!

Donna May said she refers to these serendipity experiences as “God Winks.” I assured them that God had definitely been winking at us.

And He still continues. Neighbors Bob and Theresa, also in our Couples Group, called and said they’d noticed our lawn getting pretty long again. Could they come over the next morning and mow and spray for mosquitoes. Bob also stops by and picks up our bags of trash to take to the dump.

A physical therapist we’ve been working with in town was concerned about Dave using our shower if we moved him upstairs and offered to come over to our house after work and check it out! He did a survey of our home while he was here to give us tips on moving Dave back upstairs, which we did several days later.

What’s the Take Away from Our God Winks?

1. Ask for Help!

Don’t try to go things on your own. Let people know where and when you need help! We also asked for prayer and I know our church was praying for us and for God to watch over us.

Many times people will just say, “Let us know when you need help.” But then we don’t because we don’t know what kind of help they’re prepared to give and we don’t want to be an imposition.

2. Receive Help

It’s a blessing for others to bless you! Let them. Yes, it’s humbling and maybe even embarrassing, but the Bible tells us that “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecc. 4:9-10 NLT

3. Join or Form a Bible Study Group

Our Couples Bible Study Group have been through many things together and as one woman in church put it, “Your group is really tight.” We’re there for each other to celebrate the good times, help each other through the difficult times, pray and learn more together how God wants us to navigate the world through the wisdom in His Word.

4. Be Alert to Who Needs a God Wink

Because people are reticent to ask for help, or impose, let’s try and notice when and where someone needs help and then just do it. I’m sure there’s someone in your life who needs a “God Wink” right now!

Note: There are many issues in the world today that I want to write about, but I’ve been so consumed with our issues that I didn’t have the energy or brain-power to tackle them. For several nights after I returned home alone, I couldn’t even turn on the news to hear the world’s troubles because I was living through troubles in my own little world. It all seemed like more than I could process.

I told a friend that I’ll know when the Lord frees my mind to write again, and today was the first day I’ve actually sat down at the computer to write. I’m not sure how consistent, but I’ll try to be back on Mondays. We’ll find out this week when Dave will have his other knee done. Yes, we’re doing this again in the near future, but I know God’s winking at me right now and assuring me He’ll be right there seeing us through it.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 The Message

Photo by Saad Chaundhry @saadchdhry

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June 21, 2021
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What Does It Say When the Leader of the Free World Won’t Say “God”?

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President Regan used to describe the Soviet Union as a godless Communist State. What would he think today watching America become exactly that with an Administration that wants people to worship government, not God. Socialism and critical race theory have become their religion.

By now you’ve probably heard or read that on the National Day of Prayer’s 70th Anniversary, Biden spoke of social justice, global warming, and racial reckoning in his socialist speech, never mentioning the One and Only God to which we pray?! He was the first President in 70 years to omit the Holy name of God! What he didn’t say that day speaks volumes not only about him, but also about his entire Administration and the Democrat party.

They deliberately left out God, even though God is the recipient of our prayers. At the Democrat Convention in 2012, they voted to entirely remove God from any of their platforms so why should we be surprised they omitted Him on the National Day of Prayer?!

God is an entity they can’t control and they refuse to acknowledge that He is the Creator of our environment and mankind. They cannot harness God, censor God, cancel God, emulate God, or vote God out as Ruler of the Universe, so they try to ignore and dismiss Him, as if anyone ever could.

My question is why more people didn’t notice their godlessness not only at the time of that 2012 Convention, but also during this last presidential campaign when Biden was trying to woo Evangelicals. Why did so many Catholics, Christians, clergy, and Christian leaders support Biden? Was it just because they thought Trump was crude, but they didn’t care that Biden would represent a godless party? Did they overlook that Biden would claim to be a “faithful” Catholic while supporting and endorsing the murdering of millions of innocent souls in abortion?

Putting in a word for Trump right here, I often pointed out during his tenure as President that he was the first President in my lifetime to repeatedly speak of Jesus and the Gospel openly and unashamedly in numerous speeches, especially at Christmas and Easter, but not limited to those Christian holidays!

I have to wonder what all those Evangelicals and Catholics who voted for Biden think about him now and the downward spiral he’s taking our country into Socialism, Marxism, and Communism?! Was it worth it to turn your back on your own faith just because you didn’t like President Trump’s style?

Maybe you didn’t like some of the words he used. Have you heard Biden? He can cuss with the best of them and he’s a pathological liar. Real lies, not just media trumped up lies.

I’m reminded of the Book of Judges when a good Judge who listened to God was followed by a corrupt Judge, until in the end “everyone did whatever he wanted” (Judges 21:25 HCSB). But we don’t have to go down the dark path of the current Administration. We have a choice of whether to surrender to evil or stand up for good and keep America the land of the free. A country whose motto is “In God We Trust!”

Never Be Afraid to Say the Name Above all Names, God!

If Biden won’t say God, we need to say the name of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every chance we get!

No one has ever rejected us when Dave and I tell everyone we meet, from the grocery store clerk, to the restaurant server, to the doctor or healthcare professional, or anyone we’re having a conversation with, “God bless you and you have a blessed day.” Sometimes they’re a little surprised, but seem truly blessed and often say back to us, “You too.” Or “Thank you.” Or “Bless you too!”

I’ve asked in church for prayer for our doctors and then let him or her know others are praying to God for them. We hear, “Thank you!” or “Good!” Or even, “I believe in the power of prayer!”

When Dave explains the pain he’s having in his hand to a doctor he’ll say, “When I go to hold my wife’s hand while we’re praying in church, my hand starts tingling in pain.” A subtle witness.

Describing the pain in his knees, he’ll give the example, “It’s really bad when I’m standing, like when I’m singing in the worship team at church.”

There are so many ways to open the conversation or infuse the conversation with God. To let others know you’re a believer and you’re proud of our Great God!

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col. 4:5-6 NLT

If we don’t keep God at the forefront of our lives, our conversation, our social media comments . . . and we don’t profess our disdain at a government that is trying to remove God from the conversation . . . we will soon find God is no longer relevant or revered in our country. I will go so far to say it will be our own fault! We’ll be held accountable for what we say and what we don’t say.

Joe Biden and the Democrats will be held accountable to God someday when He asks them: What did you do with the life and position I gave you? They’ll be responsible for everything they did or said, or didn’t say and do, and so will we.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Pr. 10:9

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:12-13 NLT

Don’t be discouraged by the current godless Administration. Keep praying! Actually, pray for many in the Democrat party, especially Biden who has strayed from his Catholic faith, to be guided by God! Keep saying the Name of God, the Name above all names, not just in church but every chance you get!

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:9-11 NLT

Note: Dave is having knee replacement surgery on May 11 so we cherish your prayers for all to go well with the surgery and recovery. I will be his chief caregiver and we’re blessed that our oldest daughter is coming from Illinois to help. I’m not sure when I’ll be back with my Monday Morning blogs, but until then . . . May our Great God bless you with courage, boldness, and opportunities to share His Name and His love wherever you go.

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Cartoon is by A.F. Branco used with permission. Welcome to the Club – A.F. Branco Cartoon – Conservative Daily News

May 10, 2021
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“We the People” Is NOT the Government

8

Like many of you, I forced myself to listen to Biden’s address to Congress because I wanted to know what his plans were for our country. An educated public is a prepared public so ignoring him is the worst thing we can do. It’s like putting our head under the covers and hoping for the best.

We the people need to take responsibility for our country and not think that if we ignore those in power because we don’t agree with them, that they’re just going to go away. They’re never going to stop pushing their Socialist agenda on America until we the people stand up unified and say “Enough!” We’re not gonna take it anymore!

As I listened to his speech, not totally focused, I suddenly became very focused as I heard him refer to his administration as “We the people.”

“It’s time we remembered that ‘We the people’ are the government,” Biden said while trying to convince listeners that we shouldn’t fear government intervention in our lives. We should willingly subjugate our freedoms to big government who would become our caretakers as well as our overseers. We would owe the government complete homage to their will and whim in return for them spending trillions of our dollars to control us, especially our families.

Here’s what the Constitution actually says about “We the people”:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The government is only established to serve we the people, not control we the people. They serve at our pleasure to preserve the freedoms of every citizen regardless of color, financial status, religious belief, political affiliation, profession, or location. We don’t become their minions from cradle to grave to tell us what we can do, think, say, eat, drive, believe or when we can go outside, go to school, work, recreate, worship or mandate we get vaccinated or cover our faces.

So why hasn’t there been more pushback from we the people to Biden’s erroneous statement? Why aren’t Conservatives and Republicans in Congress and government calling him out on such a preposterous position? Why isn’t every American on both sides of the aisle correcting him as to the meaning of “We the People?”

Lies, Lies, Lies!

Then there were his lies about what happened on January 6 at the Capitol with the preposterous claim that it was the worst thing America has encountered since the Civil War!!!

Say what?!

Thousands of people on both sides lost their lives in the Civil War as the battle raged on to free the slaves, which eventually happened after….

The Union and the Confederacy quickly raised volunteer and conscription armies that fought mostly in the South for four years. Intense combat left between 620,000 and 750,000 soldiers dead, along with an undetermined number of civilians. The Civil War remains the deadliest military conflict in American history, and accounted for more American military deaths than all other wars combined until the Vietnam War.

Has Biden completely lost his memory of 9/11 when Islamic terrorists attacked our country and over 3000 people lost their lives, not to mention all those who succumbed in the aftermath?!

He falsely said, “white supremacists” were the most dangerous terrorist threat in our country today, completely ignoring the terrorism and destruction of BLM, Antifa, and the Cartel. Glossing over China’s threat to the USA!

He falsely said, “people were killed” on January 6th. Only one person was killed that day. A Capitol police officer shot Ashli Babbitt, an unarmed, white, veteran, Trump supporter woman who had both hands visible. We’ve heard nothing about the police officer or his justification for murdering her. Why aren’t Conservatives and Republicans in government in an uproar and demanding an explanation and investigation into her death? All we hear are crickets.

Or what about those arrested that day who are still in prison with no bail four months later, while Antifa members are often released the next day or never arrested?!

Congress went back to work that very night on January 6! Hardly an insurrection. I’m not denying things got out of hand, and people went where they shouldn’t have in the Capitol, but the Democrats are treating it like Pearl Harbor!

Biden, with the help of liberals and Democrats, is lying over and over and people are buying into the false drama and fake stories the media promotes to take the focus off the real threat to our country, the current administration!

Why aren’t we the people demanding answers to these and so many more questions?

When we hear Democrats and liberals try to convince us that we’re a systemically racist country, why isn’t anyone pointing out that we had a black President for 8 years and we now have a “black” VP?

Why are we the people allowing them to inflict our country with reverse racism and condemn small children in school for being white?

Why aren’t more parents speaking out against “critical race theory” being taught in our schools and the insanity of having small children wearing masks? Some parents are, and I commend them for their bravery in fighting for the wellbeing of their children.

My Struggle with the Lord

This wasn’t really what I wanted to write about this week, but the Lord kept it resonating in my thoughts. We wrestled much like Jacob* did with the Lord until I surrendered. I’ve received many comments on my recent blogs telling me that I’m putting into words what many of you are thinking but my response is always the same: You have words too, please use them however the Lord leads. Have you been wrestling with Him too about being more involved in the destiny of our nation? Our children and grandchildren’s future? Reimagining One Nation Under God as I wrote about last week?

We the people will soon become Biden’s morbid forecast of “we the people are the government” if we don’t find ways to fight back and take a stand for the freedoms and democracy we cherish in America.

What about We the People Christians? Why are we staying silent? Why isn’t the church speaking out? Why are some churches still closed? Why are some pastors succumbing to the politically correct way of interpreting the Bible?

We’re a mighty force when we unite with one voice but we are weak and ineffective when we retreat to the sidelines as we watch our country being destroyed and do nothing.

We the people have our voice and our vote. We need to ask God how to use both wisely and bravely.                                                     

Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-4

PS: I’m so glad that Greg Kelly on NEWSMAX continues to report on the killing of Ashli Babbitt. He interviewed her husband on April 29. He continued the investigation on April 30 and he brings up her name almost every program. I pray he doesn’t give up until we have some answers.

*I also wrote a blog recently for Crosswalk 4 Lessons from Jacob’s Ladder to Encourage and Challenge You.

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May 3, 2021
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Reimagine One Nation Under God

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Democrats, progressive left liberals, the media, and the White House have introduced the word “reimagine” into their rhetoric. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seldom heard or used that word in my own vocabulary. Suddenly, we hear it in situations where I feel the user wants to disguise or mask what they really mean knowing that if they come right out and say their true intentions, it won’t be received well.

Reimagining seems more esoteric.

The definition of reimagine is to “reinterpret (an event, work of art, etc.) imaginatively; rethink; to form a new conception of.” The most prevalent use of this nebulous creative way of rethinking today is to apply it to policing and “criminal reform.” In the process, they’re trying to reframe policing as racist and brutal and send criminals back out into the streets to terrorize our cities.

In fact, the Democrats want to reimagine our entire country as systematically racist and create the perception that there’s universal racism in need of reform. The mainstream media echoes the mantra.

Their idea of “unity” is that we all agree that America’s problems originate from the police, “white privilege,” “systemic racism,” climate change, guns, not wearing masks, questioning the vaccine, using the wrong pronouns, not letting men play in women’s sports, wanting to save babies, border protection, following the Constitution, fair voting laws.

Conservatives, Christians, Republicans and their values are the real problem.

Yes, if we would just acquiesce, conform, and agree with the left’s liberal/Marxist /Communist takeover of America, we could all live in Joe Biden’s version of “unity.”

They want us to . . .

Reimagine America as “whites” apologizing and making reparations for being born white and racially categorizing all conservative Caucasians as white supremacists.

Reimagine that rioting is actually “peaceful protests” and we’re not actually seeing looting, burning, stealing, and violence in the streets of America.

Reimagine the meaning of words and eliminate words they deem no longer acceptable.

Reimagine that you can change your God-given sex.

Reimagine the biological definition of gender.

Reimagine who responds to your 911 call.

Reimagine life without the security of law enforcement or owning guns for protection.

Reimagine that releasing hard-core felons and criminals is not a danger.

Reimagine the Supreme Court.

Reimagine the need for three separate branches of the Federal government.

Reimagine America’s history.

Reimagine when life starts and who is worthy of life.

Reimagine mandatory masks forever.

Reimagine the meaning of fair and legal elections.

Reimagine who can censor and cancel you.

Reimagine the need for classroom school for your children.

Reimagine how you worship in church.

Reimagine two equal political parties.

Reimagine the military.

Reimagine how you celebrate holidays.

Reimagine the Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Amendments.

Reimagine 50 states.

I bristle every time I hear “reimagine” from the mouths of news commentators, liberals, progressives, leftists, Democrats, and politicians using the term to camouflage the Marxist plans and schemes they have for America. Doesn’t “reimagine” sound more palatable than make America Communist!

Even some liberal-woke “progressive” churches and church leaders are trying to reimagine the Bible and God. Reimagine the remaking of God in their own image.

Here’s who is behind reimagining America and God: Satan.

Can You Imagine?!

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Is. 55:8 NLT

The reason I titled this blog Reimagine One Nation Under God is because we’ve moved so far away from how our Founding Fathers imagined America. Can any of you remember what it was like when Christianity’s values were at the core of our nation? I can.

God and moral principles and values were respected, as were those who lived by them. Not by everyone but the majority.

People understood the harrowing hazards of Marxism and Communism and would do anything to make sure those ideologies didn’t invade our country.

People could disagree and debate without being canceled or “racist.”

People honored the American flag, stood for the National Anthem, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance with their right hand over their heart.

Children were in classrooms where the day started with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. They learned reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, science, social studies, they weren’t indoctrinated with Marxist critical race theory or perverse sex curriculum.

Boys grew up to be men and girls grew up to be women!

Our government and the White House were not intentionally instilling racial discord into our nation but sought to bring all races and colors together to live in harmony.

Elected officials, the President, the Vice President loved our country and were proud of it and the union they represented.

Children were taught to value the country they were fortunate to live in, not despise it.

God mattered! God’s creation mattered! The men and women in blue mattered! All people mattered! Babies mattered! Life mattered! Freedom mattered! Marriage between a man and a woman mattered! Faith mattered. And they all still do! Don’t let anyone coerce you into saying or believing they don’t! You matter to God!

Can you remember that America?! Well let’s not just reimagine One Nation Under God, let’s be part of the movement to reinstate One Nation Under God with Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for every citizen . . . every color, every creed, every age!

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 NLT

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT

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April 26, 2021
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Do You Know the Truth? It Will Set You Free!

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Dave and I were watching an action-packed program we enjoy on television recently and one of the main “good guys” was about to be captured by the enemy. He took off his wedding ring and gave it to his friend (who was escaping) with instructions to give the ring to his wife.

The friend assumed this was a sign of defeat and that the captured man wasn’t planning to ever return home. But when he visited with the wife and gave her the ring, her face lit up as she took off her ring to show the matching inscriptions. Hers said, “You will know the truth.” His said, “The truth will set you free.” The wife knew this was a message to her that her husband would eventually be freed when the truth was revealed.

This is not a faith-based program so I was impressed that the scriptwriter must have known John 8:32 and wove it into the plot.

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

A few days later, I saw a headline from The Blaze that caught my attention, “Glenn Beck opens up about family tragedy, shares powerful message: ‘STOP saying that there’s nothing we can do.’” Let me preface that I don’t listen regularly to Glenn Beck’s program. I enjoy hearing him occasionally being interviewed but this was the first time I’d ever “tuned in.” There was a live clip of his radio program in the article.

I give you this backstory for a reason.

I’ve said many times as I ponder and pray about what to write in my weekly blogs that the Lord starts giving me clues leading me to the topic and when I pay attention to the Lord’s nudges, the article takes on a life of its own.

When I hit “play” to hear Glenn Beck, his first words got my attention: “We don’t love truth anymore. We don’t even know what truth is!” He went on to say, “We’re losing truth to trust that something better is going to happen.”

Wow!!! There it was again, truth.

Beck pointed out that sometimes you have to accept the truth even though it’s not the truth you want. I laughed when I looked up to see how truth was defined in dictionaries and not one of the sources gave an absolute definition of “truth.”

John McArthur has an article What Is Truth? exploring this very concept of trying to define absolute truth apart from God, which is impossible. Here is his summary:

“Truth is not subjective, it is not a consensual cultural construct, and it is not an invalid, outdated, irrelevant concept. It’s not what you want it to be. Truth is the self-expression of God. Truth is thus theological; it is the reality God has created and defined, and over which He rules. Truth is therefore a moral issue for every human being.

How each person responds to the truth God has revealed is an issue of eternal significance. To reject and rebel against the truth of God results in darkness, folly, sin, judgment, and the never-ending wrath of God. To accept and submit to the truth of God is to see clearly, to know with certainty, and to find life everlasting.”

In other words, only God’s truth is absolute!

When we don’t trust God’s truth as the glue in our lives, when it looks like the world is coming unglued, it’s so easy to fall into despair, the opposite of joy and hope. I understand that and I’m sure you do too. Without reading my Bible and devotional everyday, meeting with our church Couple’s small group, spending time with family and friends, praying, and trusting God to guide my life, the enemy can rob my joy!

Sadly, the focus of Glenn Beck’s program was grappling with the tragic suicide of his brother-in-law on Easter night. Somehow, he had fallen into despair and lost hope in living in today’s world. He’s not alone. There are 130 suicides a day and it’s the 10th leading cause of death.

The world has lost its firm foundation, God. It’s lost a moral compass, God. America specifically is choosing an atheistic platform that thinks that man can control the world that God created and faith is a fairy tale. When in reality, that’s living a lie founded by Satan. The faster America moves away from God, the faster we move towards destruction and the truth is . . . it will happen. The Bible is clear that a devastating tribulation will take over the world someday.

Jesus Is Truth! Satan is the Father of Lies!

When a group of Jews and Pharisees were arguing with Jesus, he told them where their false thinking originated. Insert any lying or dishonest person’s name into these verses.

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

We hear lies and propaganda today from the mainstream media, news pundits, the government, politicians, and woke cancel culture who either are so deceived and blinded by Satan that they no longer know the truth, or they’re so consumed with a thirst for power they dismiss, devalue, distort, and dispose of the truth.

The goal is to mislead the public, you and me. They don’t care if they’re instilling fear into people; fearful people are easier to manipulate.

Eventually, the perpetuators of lies believe their own lies. Truth has no value or relevance to them.

When they lie, just as it says in John 8:43-45, the lies become consistent with their character . . . the character of evil. They’ve succumbed to their father, the father of lies, the devil. Today, we’re watching the results of Satan’s attempt to destroy America through corrupt hunger and thirst for power and lies.

The only reason Bible-believing Christians recognize lies is because our Father is the Father of Truth. I’m sad that I have to qualify Christians but there are many who are buying into the lie of “progressive or liberal Christianity” which is of the world, not the Kingdom. As frustrating as this all is, praise God we know the Truth. Can you imagine living under the cloak of Satan’s lies?!

But so many people like Glenn Beck’s brother-in-law have lost their will to live. What we know as truth is that even though it looks right now like Satan is winning, he’s not! But we also know this means that we could be very close to the return of Jesus. I love how Glenn Beck closed out his program: “Stop saying there’s nothing you can do. Stop living a lie. I’m not going to participate in a lie. Some don’t know the truth, but we do!”

I’ve said that same thing so many times myself in these blogs. Maybe you can’t save the world but you can let God work through you to help save your corner of the world. We need to stop wringing our hands in despair that the election didn’t turn out the way we wanted. We need to face the truth that the Liberal atheistic Democrats are now in control . . . for now.

Peter and the other disciples were discouraged when it looked like evil was winning after the crucifixion of Jesus. Disappointed yes, but not defeated. It didn’t stop them and apostles like Paul from sharing the Truth that Jesus is alive and offers salvation with whoever would listen.

When you hear the lies of the world, let it motivate you to tell God’s Truth. We don’t have to engage in political rhetoric, we just need to share the Gospel, live the Gospel, and help set as many captives free as we can. Even those who are the worse liars can still be saved. Our God is the God of the impossible. I hope you believe that! Pray for everyone you know who is under Satan’s yoke.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26

A Sweet Story!

Dave and I were having lunch with some friends and Dave asked the teenage waitress if they had Diet Pepsi, not Diet Coke. The young waitress asked us why not Diet Coke? I replied that we didn’t want to support Coca- Cola’s recent woke flip-flop on the new fair and legal voting laws in Georgia. She nodded knowingly, “Yes, they called it racist.” I pointed out that Coke was for the laws until the liberal left started calling the laws racist along with Delta and the MLB. She agreed.

When she brought our meals to the table and our friend said, “Let’s pray,” the young waitress asked if she could pray with us and put out her hands to hold hands with us! That’s what I’m talking about!

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”[b] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:14

Hal Lindsey wrote in his newsletter last week that we very well could be approaching the end times. How bad does it have to get before that happens? Only God knows, but we need to live prepared that it could be any day now.
“We live in increasingly perilous times. In fact, the world seems poised on the precipice of the worst period of tribulation ever seen — tribulation vividly described in the books of Daniel and Revelation. But before that terrible period begins, God will snatch away His people like a government removing its ambassadors before the onset of war. These are days to stay close to God, close to His word, and close to His people.”

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Cor. 1:18 NLT

Cleave faithfully to the Truth! It will set you free! And that’s the truth!

PS: I had this blog written and posted when Dave and I sat down to watch The Benny Report on NEWSMAX. I marveled yet again how God confirms what He wants me to share in my blogs when Benny Johnson’s theme on April 17, 2021 was about the “lies” being told to the American people as he reiterated that our rights and freedoms are granted by God not the government. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch.

If you received this article by email, please leave a comment here. I appreciate hearing your thoughts.

April 19, 2021
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Jesus Loves the Little Children Our Government is Exploiting

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When we hear on the news about the “border crisis” and the surge of thousands crossing into our country from other countries, it can seem so distant from us, unless you live in a border state. Border security, something that should be of great concern for America’s safety, has become dangerously and erroneously politicized with the Biden Administration’s only focus on erasing everything that President Trump had accomplished, even when it hurts our country and its citizens.

On the nightly news, we see pictures of the caravans and lately we’ve seen the insanely crowded and unhealthy conditions of the overflowing detainment centers. Especially heartbreaking are the ones for children crammed into facilities not equipped for such large numbers.

We worry about how many of these illegals have COVID while we’re all forced to wear masks and parents are fighting to get their kids back into school. We wonder if we’re the only ones worried about all of this?!

How can the Biden Administration brush off this travesty and falsely call it humane as they continue to encourage people from all countries to flood our borders with the promise that migrant children will not be turned away at the border and will be placed in federal shelters. And once you’re here, America will take care of you!

But Biden conveniently leaves out, if they make it here alive! A sick and cruel incentive that Biden is enticing parents to send their children alone on a treacherous dangerous journey.

Again, it still seems distant and solely the source of news monologues and partisan arguments.

Until the twisted and evil reality could no longer be ignored as we watched the video clip of a frightened 10-year-old little boy in a hoodie with tears streaming down his face who had come all the way across the border from Nicaragua now wandering alone on a dirt road fearing for his life.

How could tears not pour down your face too and your heart not break imagining the terror of this child alone in a foreign country where he doesn’t speak the language. Lost and afraid of being robbed and kidnapped, he sobbed to the off-duty border patrol officer who happened to come upon him that no he wasn’t with his mommy or daddy and the group he was traveling with “left me behind, of course.”

But as the young unaccompanied migrant boy pleaded for help, he had been told the words to say, “turn myself in to you.”

His parents didn’t send him off to camp, they sent him on a harrowing journey with a migrant group who obviously weren’t looking out for him! He didn’t have a bottle of water or even a backpack and how many days had he been traveling before the group abandoned him?

I heard the WH Press Secretary refer to “loving parents” who were sending their children of all ages alone on these perilous journeys. Last week, we saw two sisters three and five dropped over a 14-foot wall by themselves. What are these parents thinking??? How many of these children never complete the journey or are traumatized for life?! How is this considered “loving”?

19,000 unaccompanied minors traveled across our southern border in March!! Parents of 19,000 children intentionally sent their children alone to our border with no guarantee they would make it safely! 18,890 in February! How many “John Does” never made it? How would those parents ever know what happened to their children?

Look at your own children and grandchildren . . . no matter how bad life gets, would you ever subject them to such an atrocity? Of course, not. You make it through somehow together at home. Or you travel with them.

Have you ever thought that your child was lost in a mall or at the park? Remember the terror that struck your heart. Were you ever lost as a child or separated from your parents? Or heard the cries and sobs of a young terrified child who lost sight of their parents!

It all seems unimaginable, like something from a sci-fi or horror movie and yet it is happening everyday at our southern border and our government is encouraging it! Biden in my mind has done horrible things since taking office, but that little boy’s tear-streaked face captures it all. Has Biden seen that video? Does it not break his heart? Did he watch those little girls dropped over the wall?

Biden and Harris are ignoring the tragedy of all these unattended migrant children while they continue to encourage parents to inhumanely sacrifice their children! What is wrong with them?

Evil is the only answer.

First, they encourage the murder of children in the womb and now they entice desperate parents to do the unspeakable act of sending their innocent children purposely into harm’s way . . .

God has a proclamation for this kind of shameless treatment of children:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matt. 18:6

The Little Children and Jesus

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17

I think we can safely say that Jesus hates what He is watching happen to these little children He loves so much. Some are actually sold to cartels to be used over and over again to cross the border and many are brutalized and raped. Rep. Chip Roy told Todd Starnes he saw a 7-year-old little girl who traveled across Mexico by herself and crossed the border without any family.

Biden/Harris and the Democrat party using these children as pawns, as bate, are as guilty and demented as all the traffickers and cartels. They’re encouraging this and they know it! That’s why they don’t want reporters or politicians to take pictures. They don’t want the public to see the reality of what’s happening to these unaccompanied innocent children.

But now we have seen it and we can’t ignore it. [If you haven’t already seen the video of the abandoned little boy, please open the links I’ve provided.]

When you remove all the political rhetoric, people with platforms need to be brave enough to call out the Biden Administration on this in a way they can’t ignore. To play the video of that lost frightened little Nicaraguan boy pleading for help and put the onus on Biden. Not just the nebulous “administration” but Joe Biden! This is what you’ve caused Joe. This is what you could stop if you were an honorable man.

What Can We Do?

We can take it personally, just like that little Nicaraguan boy became personal to me. Contact your Congressmen and Senators and make it personal to them. Call it what it is, child abuse perpetuated by the current administration.

Pray for these children. It’s hard to imagine how afraid and traumatized they are right now. These children weren’t separated at the border from their parents, these children’s parents separated themselves from their children at home!

It’s unimaginable but it’s also endtimes specific.

21 “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child.” Matt. 10:21 NLT

To close on an encouraging note, my family and I went to see the new faith-based release, The Girl Who Believes in Miracles. I encourage you to go see it now! We were the only people in an afternoon matinee and I’m sure if more people don’t go watch it that it won’t be at the theaters for long. You’ll cry and laugh and hug your family. You’ll also be touched by the Holy Spirit speaking to you how He wants your faith to match this little girl’s faith.

 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 NLT

The opening picture of Jesus with the children is a mural available for purchase on their website.

The political cartoon is used with permission by the artist A.F.Branco. https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/04/branco-cartoon-bull/
You can see his daily conservative legal cartoons on FOXnews.com or at A.F. Branco | Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion.

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

You might enjoy a new blog I wrote for Crosswalk, 4 Powerful Prayers for Forgiveness in the Bible.

April 12, 2021
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Have We Forgotten How to Disagree Amicably?

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Last week, I posted this comment on Facebook on a smiley face background,

I did it!! Walked into Walmart w/o a mask. Only person who said anything was a woman w/o a mask too who said “Nice to see your face!”

After a year of wearing masks, I must admit, I did feel a bit emboldened as I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.

Even as you read my Facebook post, some of you might have thought, “You go girl!” While others are thinking, “You’re endangering fellow shoppers.”

As a side note, the county I was in had lifted the mask mandate weeks ago but private and corporate stores like Walmart and COSTCO still had their signs up requiring masks. I’ve also had COVID and the vaccine (another controversial topic) so I wasn’t a threat to anyone. I was just smiling and breathing freely as we’ve been doing at our church for months. It was invigorating, a flashback to “normal.”

I honestly wasn’t prepared for the tremendous response this post would receive. I should’ve been ready for it though since masks have become the latest source of division and disagreement among Americans, including Christians.

We just experienced a divisive election with controversial consequences and there’s no end of things to disagree about with COVID. Anyone spending time on social media knows that people say things to each other they probably would never say face-to-face.

So I braced myself as I saw the comments on this post flooding across the screen and even speculated if I should delete it. But then, something so inspiring happened. A dear friend who has suffered severely from Covid posted her perspective and with love and tears, we both kindly shared our experiences and perspectives while maintaining and confirming our sweet friendship and vowing to continue praying for each other.

Relieved that we made it through as two Christians who care about each other and appreciate the other’s opinion, I noticed that another friend who read our discourse wrote this comment . . . “I appreciate your ability to discuss this hot topic with respect and civility and both of your points of view are valid.”

Wow! To everyone reading the comment trail on my post, my friend and I had unknowingly been an example of how to present our opposing sides amicably because we cared about each other. Shouldn’t that be how all Christians communicate when they disagree?

The answer of course is yes, but do we? Why don’t we always remain civil even when we don’t know the other person we’re communicating or disagreeing with? Can’t we still be amicable and show respect? What a witness that would be to a watching world!

My daughter is very good at presenting an opposing position, often using humor. I’ve never seen her attack another person for their beliefs, even when she vehemently disagrees with them. She’s actually much more tactful than I am and I applaud her because that’s a gift.

If It’s In Your Heart, It’s Probably Going to Come Out of Your Mouth!

Jesus warns, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). So whatever you say is residing in your heart. Even when we try to take back a comment or claim we really didn’t mean it . . . Jesus says we did mean it. It was in our heart all along. We can apologize for saying it, but we can’t take it back.

It’s especially important that the body of Christ learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. God wants Christians to be of one accord in all our relationships, both personal and spiritual. He gave us numerous guidelines in the Bible because He knew that as humans filled with pride, ego, differences, and opinions, we’re going to disagree.

That’s also the beauty of unique personalities. Often seeing things through someone else’s view gives us a new perspective. But what the world needs to see from us as believers is that we live in peace with one another, whatever it takes to achieve it. A house divided cannot stand, and with all the division in our world today, the church must stand together firm in the belief that our God reigns and His Word determines how we navigate our relationships.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps. 119:11

Five Ways to Disagree Amicably!

1. State your opinion, but don’t force it on the other person.

Friendships should be a safe place to disagree. If you have a variety of friends, you’re going to have a variety of differing opinions. You can learn from each other.

In our couples small group, we get into some heavy exchanges of opinions, but we always know at the end of group we’ll pray, have dessert and coffee together, and leave as friends. After one evening of especially heated discussion, one person prayed that they were grateful we respected each other enough that we could express our thoughts openly, but still maintain our friendships.

We’re still brothers and sisters in Christ, even though we don’t agree about everything.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Ps. 19:14

2. Don’t devalue the other person.

Don’t attack their character. Remain humble.

Use “I” statements; avoid “You” attacks. State the benefits of your position rather than the hazards or negatives of their beliefs.

No name-calling allowed.

I think we would all agree, say it to my face, not behind my back. If we’re not willing to confront someone, then we shouldn’t say it at all.

Respect must be extended for it to be received.

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. 1 Peter 2:17 NLT

3. Consider your motives.

We get into disagreements because we want the other person to acknowledge we’re right. Sometimes we care more about being right than “our truth” helping the other person.

When one of my granddaughters was in third grade, she was sharing Jesus with two classmates of a different faith and they ended up in a disagreement. I asked my granddaughter whether her motivation was compassion for her friends’ salvation or wanting to be right.

If it was their salvation, she should share about why she loves Jesus and He loves her. If she just wanted to be right, she probably focused more on how wrong their faith was and that made them mad. She agreed she would be far more effective showing them Jesus’s love than trying to win an argument.

People will know the love of Jesus through the love we show them.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Rom. 13:8

4. Establish that your relationship is more important than the disagreement.

When you see a conversation turning into a disagreement, stop! Establish between the two of you that your relationship means more to you both than the issue at hand. If you both agree that continuing on would be harmful, then change the subject.

No disagreement is worth losing a friend, acquaintance, or a family member.

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 2 Tim. 2:23

5. Let it go and pray!

Often a disagreement drags on because one of us won’t give up, or we take the bait to engage instead of letting it pass.

We want the other person to come around to our way of thinking because we’re sure our way is the only correct way and we have a great argument to support it. Tempers and voices rise or dash across the screen, usually with extra !!! We say things we wish we hadn’t. Relationships fall apart.

It takes discipline to let the other person have the last word and then let the issue go.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Dear Lord, Satan is trying with all his might to divide your house and your people. We pray Lord with all our might that we would not let that happen. We would remember that a house divided cannot stand. Help us to be the peacemaker in our communication with relationships, friendships, and families, without bending or compromising on the Truth. And Lord, if it must be that there are those who choose to no longer be our friends or in a relationship with us, guard us against a bitter heart. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 1 Cor. 3:11

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

PS There won’t be a Monday Morning Blog for the next 2 weeks but hope to be back April 12th.
You might enjoy reading my article 5 Refreshing Ways to Welcome Renewal Beyond Easter. Happy Resurrection Easter to everyone!

March 22, 2021
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