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The Battle Belongs to the Lord

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Like many of you, I went to bed Election night fairly confident that President Trump would win the election; although it was concerning that some of the states had stopped counting ballots for the night. That seemed strange as the President noted in his speech that night. Yes, I stayed up to hear him.

Then the world woke up to a complete turnaround. Somehow, in the middle of the night, thousands of ballots only marked for Joe Biden showed up in all the battle ground states and President Trump had lost his lead in those states along with several other key states.

What happened?

That’s what President Trump’s legal team along with everyone who voted for him is asking!

As my husband and I prayed together asking for God’s intervention to reveal any fraud and allow America to have a fair and legal election, I heard in my spirit, “The battle belongs to the Lord.”

I knew that God wasn’t telling me to sit on the sidelines and do nothing because He was in control. No, He was saying that as one of his spiritual followers, workers, and warriors, it was my job to join forces with Him in the battle between good and evil.

For many years in my morning quiet time, I pray Matthew 6:10: “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Now, God was calling me to take action toward that goal in this election.

Voting was a good start, but not enough. Now we need to make sure there is a legal and fair election. Everyone’s legal ballot counted and all fraudulent ballots cast aside.

Suddenly, I felt an uncanny peace and calm come over me. I was even surprised at my own response. Anxiety and worry was a waste of energy and time. There was the Lord’s work to do. A battle is raging and I’m in the Lord’s army.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

What Weapons Do We Have for the Lord’s Battle?

Another verse I pray every morning is Zechariah 4:6 NLT: Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

There’s a spiritual battle taking place in the heavenly realms as well as a physical and legal battle for truth to prevail in our country. Each of us will live with the results of whoever wins this election and for any Christians who voted for the Biden/Harris ticket, I wonder if you actually studied what they plan for our country and the church.

We’ll all be held accountable for the political platform we chose to support.

The Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18 describes what those who care about the lives of the unborn, the freedoms we enjoy in America, the future of religious freedom, and the integrity of our government should be doing right now.

My husband and I have prayed and personalized the Armor of God daily since we were married almost twenty-eight years ago. I’ve often said that I might not still have life if I didn’t suit up in my spiritual armor every morning.

The weapons we use in this spiritual battle are our Bibles, our prayers, our voices, our faith, and our activism against any schemes of the devil and his evil plans.

Christians should stand together strong and united by the Gospel as we go to war for the truth to prevail and lies and deception to fail.

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. 

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

We place our trust in our Commander-in-Faith and apply God’s Word to every area of our life, no matter the consequences. When Satan sends the arrows of depression, discouragement, dissolution, and denial, we remember our hope is in Jesus not judges!

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

God Has a Battle Plan

Regardless of the results of this election, we prayerfully ask God to show us why He allowed the outcome and what He wants us to do now!

I’m not sure yet what God’s plan is but I do know He doesn’t want His people to cower or succumb to any evil imposed upon them. Just the opposite! He wants our light to shine brightly in the darkness. He’s up to something and we’re on His team, so put on your spiritual armor and engage in the battle. There’s a war to win!

I’ve written before that God is so kind to confirm that I’ve heard correctly in my spirit what He wants me to write to you. I finished this blog on Saturday and Sunday morning our pastor’s sermon topic was “Living as Christians in a Harsh World.”

Pastor reminded us that if the Democrat platform prevails after this election, we may not experience the same religious freedoms we know today and Christians and pastors who adhere to God’s ways and His Word could come under persecution. We’ve already seen that with the closure of churches during COVID and the attack on pastors who open their churches regardless of tyrannical mandates to stay closed.

Our pastor pointed out that this will not be the first time believers have come under attack starting with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We live in a world that isn’t like us and doesn’t always like us. But not to worry, our life is in Jesus!

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” John 15:18-19 NLT

As I said in last week’s blog, Biden has been saying that he will unite the nation, but there is nothing in his platform that Bible-believing, Jesus-following Christians could unite with or validate.

Liberal progressivism is atheism. That is the direction right now of the Democrat party and if they gain power over us, the church is going to suffer. But we stand strong and we do not bend or waiver under adversity.

And this could be what God is up to . . . separating true Bible-believing Christians from “Christians” in name only.

But that will be for another article.

For now, keep fasting and praying for our President and for all election corruption, fraud, and unethical or illegal activity to be revealed and prosecuted.

Pray for the President’s legal team to be wise and persistent and for the integrity of all the ballot counters.

If you participated in President Trump’s rallies or live where the votes are being contested, take your Trump signs and flags and go sing praise songs while interceding outside the ballot counting facilities.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose heart.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Tim. 2:1-2 NLT

I wrote a timely Crosswalk article last week: How Can I be Slow to Anger in Today’s World?

Here is an article by Pastor Robert Jeffress who has been a supporter and spiritual advisor to President Trump. I’m not sure I agree with all of it but it’s a good read. If Biden is elected, how should Christians respond?

November 9, 2020
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Christians Should NEVER Validate an Evil Political Platform!

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I struggled with what to write about the day before an election that could change the trajectory of our nation. How we experience the American way of life. How we practice our Christian faith.

This is not an election about whether you like a candidate’s personality or communication style; it truly is a choice between good and evil.

Many will challenge that statement so let me explain.

Biden has been saying that he will unite the nation, but there is nothing in his platform that Bible-believing, Jesus-following Christians could unite with or validate.

The Bible is clear in The Message translation of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them;
    I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
    leave it for good,” says God.

God could not be more adamant that His people don’t vote for a political party that champions evil and removes God from their platform!

He warned the Israelites when they went into the Promised Land not to partner with pagans, but they didn’t listen to Him and there’s been a battle between people who walk in the light and those on the dark side ever since.

They are corrupt and not his children;
    to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation.
6 Is this the way you repay the Lord,
    you foolish and unwise people?
Is he not your Father, your Creator,[a]
    who made you and formed you? Deut. 32:5-6

Our country was founded on Judeo Christian values that both parties agreed to in the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. God’s principles were central to those two documents that form the basis for our government and laws. At least they should!

But the Democrat party wants to remove God and His moral principles and values from the public square, from their convention platform, and in some cases even the Pledge of Allegiance. While incredulously Biden’s campaign slogan is “a battle for the soul of the nation!”

He’s got that part right, we are in a battle but it’s a spiritual battle and only God, not a godless political party, can put the soul back in America and possibly unite us again!

Here are just a few areas that this election highlights to Christians on how we should use our voting power to vote our values for the Presidency, the Senate, and the Congress, as well as local officials.

Christians can NEVER Unite with a Murder-Driven Platform that Denies the Sanctity of Life!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Ps. 139:13

The most profound moral division between the Democrat and Republican platforms is on abortion— the spilling of innocent blood in murdering, yes murdering, millions upon millions of precious babies created by God in their mother’s womb, who never had a chance at life.

Abortion is cherished by the Democrat Party in the name of arrogance, pride, and moral decay. They are in rebellion against God’s commands that sex is for the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Proponents of abortion encourage sexual promiscuity without responsibility.

The opposite of pro-life is pro-choice of having sex without consequences.

The opposite of pro-life is pro-death when a life is not convenient.

Science, as well as God, tells us that sex results in possible conception of a child.

Democrats promote sex without consequences. Their solution is genocide that allows the ripping apart, poisoning, or burning in the womb of a viable child who feels pain. Even extending this barbaric torture up to and after delivery.

They expect every taxpayer to subsidize this horrific and savage practice of the shedding of innocent blood that has brought a curse upon America. How could it not? Abortion does have consequences.

Planned Parenthood is the primary baby murdering organization and they refuse to compromise with ways to reduce the number of abortions they preform because abortions are their primary business and source of revenue! Democrats will restore funding removed by the Trump Administration to Planned Parenthood, which is why PP is a huge financial donor to the Biden campaign with money made from the destruction of babies!

Biden, who professes himself a “faithful Catholic,” now endorses abortion in his platform. He will repeal the Hyde Amendment and continue to defeat born-alive protection bills! While he touts restoring the soul of America, He has sold his own soul to the evil partyline.

If you’re a Christian considering voting for the Democrats, knowing their stance on taking the life of a baby God created in His image, I challenge you to find justification for the sin of abortion in the Bible.

If you’ve had an abortion, voting for it won’t remove your guilt but Jesus is waiting for you to ask for forgiveness and repentance and He offers you grace and mercy, which brings the peace your heart desires.

Abortion: A Crime of Passion

Babies Lives Are Important, But . . .

Christians can Never Unite with “Gender Fluidity”!

“On his first day in office, Biden will reinstate the Obama-Biden guidance revoked by the Trump-Pence administration, which will restore transgender students’ access to sports, bathrooms and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity. . . . Biden will ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals have full access to all appropriate health care treatments and resources. This includes covering care related to transitioning.”—Biden campaign website

The Democrats who contend we should always “follow the science,” reject the science of biology that God created every human male and female.

Christians can Never Unite with a Political Party that Restricts Religious Liberty!

Democrat run states have kept their churches closed and inflicted penalties and fines on churches allowing their congregants to worship together. President Trump has repeatedly said churches are essential and should open now.

Obama/Biden lit up the White House in gay pride colors and if the Democrats are in power, they could prevent pastors from preaching the sins listed in Acts chapter 1. They have already shown hostility to religious freedom in running your business according to your faith beliefs as in the cases of Christian florists, bakers, and photographers who choose to not serve at gay marriages. Under the Trump Administration, their faith rights have been protected but they were persecuted under Obama/Biden.

Biden promises to make the misleadingly named Equality Act a top priority in his first 100 days. This federal legislation makes sexual orientation and gender identity protected civil rights, with no protections for religious organizations or people of faith who hold orthodox beliefs on sexuality as taught by Judaism and Christianity. It would also gut the landmark Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Equality Act treats churches, businesses, adoption agencies and medical professionals as discriminators if they operate based on their belief that humans are created male and female and sex is between a man and a woman.

Biden plans to reverse all of President Trump’s actions to protect religious freedom.

Christians can NEVER Unite with a Socialist/Communist/Marxist Agenda!

We’ve watched the Democrats, including Biden/Harris, stay silent while ANTIFA and BLM riot in the streets looting, burning, and destroying innocent business owner’s livelihoods! They don’t condemn what they refer to as “peaceful protests” while cities are destroyed.

They talk about the police being the enemy and reimagining the police, whatever that means.

The mainstream media supports the liberal agenda and feeds the people propaganda! Yes, just like in Communist countries. Often the networks all repeat the same identical mantra! That’s Communism!

Big Tech, which I wrote about in last week’s blog, censors conservatives while spreading liberal lies and talking points.

We see the “tyrant” governors and mayors in Democrat run states during Covid, but what would it look like if they were in charge of the entire country?! You might be able to leave California or New York now, but where would you go if the long arm of socialism and liberalism could reach you wherever you lived in this country?

We are one nation under God not under a liberal Socialist government!

The attack by socialism and communism on the status quo is a call to our consciences — those of us who consider ourselves Christians. This call warns us more strongly than any sermon that our task is to live in protest against everything that opposes God in this world. So poorly have we Christians filled this role that the question must be asked: Are we Christians at all? (Eberhard Arnold) The Intersection of the Gospel, Culture, and Politics

The Two Candidates

If I haven’t offended you too much and you’ve read this far, you may still have an argument about the character of the candidates so let me briefly discuss that too.

Biden is a corrupt politician. He had to back out of several previous attempts at the presidency because of his blatant lies, fantasized life stories, and plagiarism that were investigated by real journalists who exposed him.

He still tells the same lies and untruths, but as I said earlier, today’s propaganda media covers for him. For example, the recent discovery that he lied about having interaction with his son Hunter’s business dealings with foreign countries, and may have profited from them even while in office as VP, has only appeared on FOX and NEWSMAX. Silence on all the other networks.

The Democrats have vowed to increase the number of justices to pack the Supreme Court with liberal judges if they win the Senate and Presidency. A “liberal” Supreme Court removed prayer from the schools, made Roe v Wade the law of the land, and went against the vote of the people to legalize gay marriage.

President Trump has his character flaws, as has every past and future President. But it’s never mentioned that Trump has asked for forgiveness for his past discretions in his personal life. Christians should grant grace to a man who acknowledges his wrongs.

It’s amazing how many Christians want to continually go back to things he did and said years ago, ignoring the person he has become in the past four years and the good he’s done and the promises he’s fulfilled for our country, and Christians in particular. In his first term, he has put three conservative justices on the Supreme Court and hundreds of federal judges.

President Trump definitely has room to improve. Even his wife doesn’t agree with some of his tweets, but unlike corrupt politicians who just tell you what you want to hear, as his family attests, you always know what he’s thinking.

President Trump made his money before becoming president and walked away from a good life because as a patriot, he saw the downward slide of America. He doesn’t take a salary as President but donates it. Unlike Biden, who has become rich as a politician!

I believe God put it on Trump’s heart to leave the comfortable life he had and step into the lion’s den of Washington where he has been unmercifully spied on, plotted against, resisted, hated, lied about, and even impeached.

God is using this unlikely man to unveil the evil and corruption in our government and the underground world. I pray he has four more years because the work isn’t finished yet.

Many people think that Jesus came to Earth to unite the world, but He actually came as a divider to separate those who would follow Him and His ways at any cost from those who might follow Him in name only or those who chose a secular life. Divide, not unite, those who chose the world over His ways.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matt. 10:34-38

Sadly, many deceived “Christian” leaders have tried to meld Christianity’s truths with secular culture’s fallen mind-set and morals.

Christians are to infiltrate and influence the secular world but never let the world’s ways invade the church or their personal lives.

We don’t unite with evil, we fight evil.

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

God does not compromise or condone evil and neither should we, His people.

If you’re a Christian voting for Biden/Harris, I would ask you to prayerfully consider why you would choose the Democrat’s evil policies and plans that will affect our country for future generations as they vow to eradicate generations that will never get to take their first breath.

If you know a Christian voting for the Democrat platform, please prayerfully send them this article.

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2 ESV

A closing note from Pastor Bill Johnson a fifth-generation pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, author of Born for Significance, and speaker on revival and the Holy Spirit, who wrote an op-ed for The Christian Post on why he voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and will again in 2020. In it he says,

“For me it is worthy of note that I’ve never seen a president who loved prayer as much as Donald Trump — and that includes from those I voted for and those I didn’t, . . . His passion for godly counsel is also legendary. His historic actions for Israel should appeal to believers, as the biblical mandate to pray supportively for Jerusalem is a clear priority in scripture.”

If you haven’t voted already, please pray and let God lead you to vote your faith values for President, Senators, Congress, local candidates, and our country.

God Bless America!

November 2, 2020
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Have We Willingly Forfeited Our Privacy and Freedom to Big Tech?

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I remember well attending a writer’s conference with a friend in the mid-nineties and the speaker said he would periodically check his email to take a break from writing.

I naively asked my friend, “Why does anyone need email? Who has time to sit and read it?”

She looked at me incredulously and said something to the effect that once you have it, you’ll love it.

She was instrumental in helping me set up my first email account and then sent me emails nonstop. At first, I looked at them as an intrusion in my life. This was before IPhones and my computer was upstairs so it wasn’t convenient or important for me to run up and down the stairs to see if anyone had sent an email.

My friend and I used to talk a lot on the phone or in person, but then our mode of communication became almost exclusively email. I also learned that our words could be misconstrued and misunderstood on the computer screen and our first disagreement came via an email message.

Next, came Facebook which again seemed like a major intrusion in my life but when my daughter moved from California to Idaho and she set up a Facebook account, we became “Facebook friends” so I could see what was going on with her and the young grandchildren.

And hey, it was free as opposed to long-distance phone calls, even though I still preferred hearing her voice and seeing the hard copy pictures she sent in the mail.

Soon, I was Facebook friends with many people I recognized and many I didn’t! It was a fun way to stay in contact and connected. But again, it meant climbing the stairs and sitting at the computer a big chunk of time.

Later, as my writing and speaking ministry was flourishing, I attended another writer’s conference where I took a workshop on how to use “Twitter.” That seemed much more complicated and had a number of steps to actually set it up and use effectively. Maybe I’d work on it later.

I progressed to a Blackberry and a laptop so I no longer had to climb the stairs to my office to engage in email and social media. It was accessible 24/7!

Book publishers expected authors to have a social media presence and it was advantageous to have numerous followers.

Social media began to consume a big part of my waking hours.

I long sometimes for the days when I asked my friend, “Who has time for this?”

We’ve Lost Our Privacy

Like many of you, I’ve begun to see social media acting like Big Brother. If I Google or look on a website for an item, I suddenly see ads for it popping up on Facebook. It almost seems that if I even just say I might need something, ads appear for it.

Just yesterday, I was talking face-to-face with someone in the privacy of my home asking about carpet cleaners in our area. Last night, while scrolling through Facebook, there was an advertisement for a local carpet cleaner!!

Coincidence or is Facebook somehow listening to my conversations if my IPhone is near?!

No, we don’t have Alexa. I’ve read Alexa does listen in on conversations in your home.

Years ago, my daughter told me, “Mom, just Google anything you want to know. It’s all there.”

She’s right and actually it’s quite helpful when I’m doing research for a book, even if I’m looking for a Scripture on a topic.

But there’s a downside to all this “free” technology that we’ve ignored.

Big Tech knows way too much about us and we’ve let them.

Big Tech knows where we are, where we live, where we go, what we buy, and maybe what we say and think.

Big Tech has all generations addicted to electronic devices, which have become a necessity rather than a luxury. We’re hooked!

And we’ve ignored Big Tech’s personal invasion into our lives.

Now Big Tech has us just where they want us so they can control what we see, read, and think.

We’ve Lost Our Freedom of Speech

There is no question that Facebook, Twitter, and Google are biased and loyal to the liberal left. Their goal in this election, and universally, is to squelch and censor any communication that does not fit the Democrat and liberal talking points and agenda.

Our President, his campaign, the White House, conservatives, Republicans, and Christians are having their social media accounts censored, locked, and closed, including by YouTube owned by Google.

Even though Congress and the Senate have themselves been censored if they’re on the wrong side politically of Big Tech, they’ve done nothing to stop this communist type censorship.

We’ve heard the stories of China and Russia censoring what people can say and hear in their countries and we said this could never happen in America, yet here we are.

It’s not Russia interfering with the election. It’s the Big Tech conglomerates who can shutdown anything that doesn’t support their liberal platform, beliefs, and candidates.

And we let it happen. We’re sacrificing our freedoms for what they dangle in front of us as free convenient communication while they censor and control us!

I’ve watched Congress and Senate bring the heads of each of the Big 3 into question them, and things only get worse. After the election, next month the Senate is questioning Facebook’s Zuckerberg and Twitter’s Dorsey on alleged censorship, but the damage is already done for this election.

Will they be held accountable? Will anything change? I’m doubtful.

When I saw many in China forced to wear masks and locked into their homes, I thought that would never happen in America. But it did!

Would you have ever thought schools would be closed in America?

Churches closed?

Neighbors encouraged to snitch on each other?

Support for defunding the police and the Pentagon?

Socialism/Marxism/Communism on the ballot?

There are substitutes for Facebook available, but none are very effective.

I’m speaking to myself when I muse whether God is telling us to use the time we spend on social media to instead communicate with Him through His Word, not the world’s ways and words.

I’m going to write more about that last thought next week.

Social media definitely has its rightful place in our society. It can be used for good.

I’m just considering how it’s also being used to manipulate and distract us from good.

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

As you prepare to cast your vote in a week, consider which party supports freedom of speech?

  • Which party is using Big Tech to control what you hear and say?
  • Why don’t they want you to know and share the truth?
    What would America look like if they won?

Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—
    leaders whose decrees permit injustice?
21 They gang up against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord is my fortress;
    my God is the mighty rock where I hide.
23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
    He will destroy them for their sins.
    The Lord our God will destroy them. Psalm 94:20-23


I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

October 26, 2020
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Vote Your Values for America

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We’re three weeks away from Election Day. Maybe you’re voting by mail, or you’ve already voted, or like us, you’re exerting your right to vote in person. Some have said this is the most important election in history!

I’m sure there were previous elections where voters felt the same urgency, but what we see in this election is literally the difference between remaining a free nation under God and converting to a Socialist/Marxist/Communist controlled nation excluding God.

That’s definitely important and worth taking a moment to discuss and it’s why I’m writing on this topic now.

First, I want to address those who think that the church should stay out of politics. Like never before that fallacy is refuted as we see politicians invading the church using their power to close churches and synagogues.

I won’t repeat here what I’ve said in numerous past blogs regarding the oppression from mostly Democrat run states on declaring the church nonessential and the need for the church to speak up and take a stand for justice.

I encourage you to listen to this short video from Los Angeles Pastor John MacArthur who I agree with completely.

If your church is still closed, share that video with your pastor.

If you’re OK with your church being closed, Pastor MacArthur has a word to challenge you too.

The argument that church and state should stay separate has been debunked. It was to protect the church from governmental overreach not to prevent the church from having a voice in government.

Personally, I’m so glad that VP Mike Pence, a devoted born-again Christian, went into politics and stands up in government for our constitutional rights and the right to life. He and President Trump have been stronger proponents of saving the lives of the unborn than any presidential team in our history.

President Trump’s pro-life agenda alone should make the voting decision for every Bible-believing Christian. He not only promised to be pro-life, he has lived up to his promises. If you think the abortion issue is not a strong enough reason, then I hope you will read my blog Babie’s Lives Are Important, But . . .

You might question if the Democrat Party is actually socialist when you see Joe Biden professing to be a moderate. Maybe he used to be but with the manifesto agreement he signed with Bernie Sanders to get their socialist votes and endorsement, he sold away the American dream to the liberal progressives who have actually said as much.

Please take a moment to read this article Progressives, including ‘Squad,’ release agenda to push Biden to the Left. Here’s a quote:

The progressives acknowledge Biden wasn’t their top choice, but they make the case he’s far better than President Trump and they have a better shot of mobilizing pressure on him to adopt their agenda if he wins office. The People’s Charter is the vehicle to organize for the election, to activate the base and hold Biden accountable if he wins, organizers say,

“We’ve always said that electing Joe Biden was a doorway, not a destination,” said Working Families Party National Director Maurice Mitchell in a statement. 

Is that the America you’re voting for? Are those your values? Is progressive socialism/communism what you want to leave to future generations? I don’t!

The Democrats will not denounce the Marxist organization behind Black Lives Matter, or ANTIFA, and in fact, support them and try to convince us that we’re not actually seeing the rioting in the streets of their cities.

I feel as Christians, we should vote for the America we want for our children and the generations to follow.

That means we don’t look at the personalities of the two candidates or whether we “like” them, we look at their vision and platform for America. Those values should line up with our Christian beliefs.

The Democrats refuse to reveal a list of Supreme Court Justice recommendations probably because they know they would be too radical.

Neither Bidden nor Harris will deny that they would pack the Supreme Court, which would make it another political branch and cancel government checks and balances.

They say publically that they don’t support the New Green Deal and yet their website says they do! Harris was an original supporter of it and both are on record saying they would eliminate fracking and yet now deny it.

Biden claims to be a “practicing” Catholic but is denied the sacraments because he supports abortion until delivery, maybe even after, something in the past he denounced.

He’ll say and do what he must to get power, and if he wins, he’ll say and do what he’s told. Not what we the people tell him but what the liberals have planned for him and for us.

Do you see a pattern here?

You may have seen this chart before but I think a visual says it best.

Please don’t listen to the biased media propaganda. Do your own homework.

It’s also important that you look carefully at those you’re voting for at local levels. We’ve seen the power of mayors and governors as many liberals ignore the looting, burning, and rioting destroying their cities while keeping their constituents in tyrannical lockdowns.

Vote carefully for your school board members because they control the curriculum for your children.

I recommend before you vote, go to My Faith Votes. You can see the two party platforms and learn about your local and federal candidates and determine which agree with biblical values for America.

Don’t just listen to me and definitely don’t rely on the media to make such crucial decisions. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance.

Vote!

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 2 Peter 3:13

Pray!

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Ps. 25:4

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Pr. 4:5

I wrote a blog similar to today’s prior to the 2016 election that I would encourage you to read, God Does Tell Us How to Vote!

I like this quote I read recently: “I’m not voting for a man . . . I’m voting for what God can do through a man!”

Regardless of the outcome of the election, nothing will change in our personal worship and dependence on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is enough. He will sustain us. He will show us the way we should go.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Pr. 3:5-6

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

October 12, 2020
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We Prayed. God Blessed Us. Now What?

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Only God would coordinate the timing on September 26, 2020 of the Franklin Graham Prayer March 2020 and The Return with Jonathan Cahn both in Washington DC on the National Mall on the same day that President Trump announces the nomination of a conservative Christian woman Justice for the Supreme Court!

Only God!

This was no coincidence!

A friend messaged me what I also believe to be true: “I believe the remnant is storming the Highest Court in prayer and praise!”

I do believe that God heard the prayers of His people and the heavenlies smiled down on us.

So now we keep on praying and believing. We must not stop because you know that Satan is only going to ramp up his efforts to create chaos, fear, and turmoil.

I also participated in a “March for Peace and Prayer in America” in my small rural mountain community. It was nondenominational and not political. You could bring “signs of prayer and peace but please no negativity.”

As I discussed the walk with a friend from church, I found myself wondering if carrying an American flag would be considered political. Negative?

I’m happy to say we carried a large American flag and signs with encouraging Scriptures and quotes. Some of those walking were barely able to walk from the very young, one with a cane, and even some slightly lame. But everyone completed the march and gathered together at the end for encouragement and prayer.

The morning started with rain that cleared before we walked and God blessed us with an affirming rainbow!

What a spirit-filled day from coast to coast!

How Have We Strayed So Far?

As we watched the joy and smiles of the thousands walking, and some even in wheel chairs on the National Mall, I noticed many carrying and waving with pride small American flags. I couldn’t help but think what a sad day in America when emblems of patriotism and love for our country are politicized. Even scorned and burned.

I ask myself so often: How did we let this happen? I know many are bravely and boldly speaking up, as am I, but why are so many denouncing their own country? Why are children being taught that America is bad when the rest of the world looks up to us with admiration? At least they used to.

Why are we letting a fringe element of Marxists convince us that there is “systemic racism” in our country?

Why aren’t more people acknowledging that the problem is systemic secularism?

People are rejecting what they once held true and dear to fit in with a system that is rejecting not only our country . . . but our God.

As I pondered these thoughts, my Bible reading was Psalm 37 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I’m going to share with you some of the verses that spoke directly to my heart in these troubling times where God calls His people to action but not agitation.

I add my commentary in italics and add emphasis to the scriptures. I hope they bless you too!

Psalm 37 “Instruction in Wisdom”

Isn’t wisdom what we all want right now as our tempers rise with current events? I’ve even had some friends say their blood pressure is literally rising. God says this:

Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.[b]
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.

God tells us that if we trust Him completely and continue doing what we know is right and good, even in the midst of all the rioting, lying, COVID, and evil we’re watching daily, He will keep our lives secure.

He wants us to keep our focus on the Lord and the joy that He brings to our life and He will give us what we’re praying for either on earth or later in heaven.

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.

I don’t know about you, but at our house we’ve found ourselves very agitated at the injustice and evil that seems to be prevalent in our country today. But notice that in eight verses, God tells us three times to not be agitated by those doing evil because it does no good. In fact, it can bring harm to our health and well-being.

Instead, we need to do just what thousands of us did on Saturday, pray with trust that God is on His throne and we will get our land back if we don’t lose hope.

A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.
13 The Lord laughs at him
because He sees that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

. . .

The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—they will fade away like smoke.

As Christians, we know that doing wrong or evil to satisfy the culture, never pleases God. Even though we’re laughed at and disparaged, we let it bounce off us because our future is eternal life. Those who are scoffing at God will learn some day that their future is literally in hell.

A man’s steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.

25 I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.

Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there[i] forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.

God reminds us that in the end, His justice will prevail. Until then, we seek righteous wisdom from God and follow guidance from His Word. We will dwell safely and securely with the Lord forever.

This theme runs through the remainder of the psalm. As you continue reading, pray that God will speak to you to calm your heart, mind, and soul as you pray for His righteousness to prevail in our world and that those promoting and supporting the evil will be unveiled and stopped.

It may look like they are winning for the moment, but God is always the winner.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.

32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.
36 Then I passed by and  noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.

Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.

Amen!

So What Do We Do Now?

We keep on praying!

Let’s pray for Amy Coney Barrett and her family. We know how malicious the attacks will be but the Lord will be her strength and give her the right words and countenance.

Pray for President Trump as he continues to govern our nation while campaigning.

Pray for an outpouring of the Spirit on our nation.

Pray for a down pouring of rain and cold temperatures on the cities where the riots continue.

Pray for the safety of our police force and the military.

Pray for the coronavirus plague to subside.

Pray for churches to open their doors.

The vision the Lord keeps giving me is a sudden outpouring of the Holy Spirit over all those who are doing evil in our cities and government. A miracle of mass salvation!

There is no one outside of God’s reach, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)

Nothing is impossible with God.

Let me know what you’re praying for. What vision is God giving you?

September 28, 2020
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God Will Not be Silenced So Why are His People Being Silent?

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Every time I hear the term “Silent Majority,” I cringe. I cringe because they’re talking about conservatives, especially conservative Christians.

I wonder: If we’re in the majority, why are we silent?

If we know the Truth and truly believe that the Truth will sustain and maintain righteous freedom, why are we silent?

If we’re in the majority, what are we afraid of? Why do we let the vocal minority claim the public square?

If God is on our side, who should we fear?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Rom. 8:31 NLT

Why are we cowering and not only staying silent but letting ourselves be silenced, dismissed, opposed, mocked, and marginalized?

It’s clear that mainstream media really has no idea who we are or the grit in our soul . . . maybe because we don’t tell them!

We let ourselves be referred to as living in “fly over states.” “Middle America.” “Kitchen table people.” Even “smelly Walmart shoppers.” “Blue collar workers.” Suffering from “cognitive dissonance.” “Deplorables.” Illiterate “credulous rubes.” And more . . . .

“People who love your guns and love your Bibles.” As if that’s a negative.

Many times the “silent majority” defamation is spit out with disdain unless a politician is trying to win our vote.

Politicians know we’re not silent when we go to cast our vote. And cast our vote we must!

The “silent majority’s” voice is “heard” loud and clear at the ballot box but why not also on the soapbox?

Why Wait Until Election Day to Give God a Voice

No matter what your political persuasion, if you watched the Republican National Convention, you saw everyday people speaking out and taking a courageous stand for their faith, their beliefs, and their aspirations for our country. They were not afraid!

Many of these men and women probably never read a teleprompter before, but they spoke clearly, distinctly, and passionately looking straight into the camera and letting their voices be heard across America. They were NOT silent!

I applauded each one who took such a brave and bold step. I kept wondering what the rioting minority might do to try to disrupt their life. Because that’s what bullying, abrasive, mean-spirited people do who can’t make their point in a civilized way or win by fair means.

You’ve read in past blogs how troubled I am when churches acquiesce without even a fight and close their doors. I don’t think Jesus would have done that nor would his disciples and apostles. They were not silent!

I wrote about that last week, Why Watching Church Online is NOT a Substitute for Attending in Person.

When I wrote the book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, I became familiar with many biblical verses and circumstances where God knew we would need His support to be brave and not give a foothold to the enemy.

Yes, Satan is the one who really wants to silence us!

“Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” 2 Sam. 10:12

As we watch civil law go counter to God’s laws and rampant tolerance for everything except Christianity, we’re under intense pressure to comply with the culture. God says, “Stand firm in the faith” and don’t crumble.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13

Courage is faith that calls on God to help us speak when we have the opportunity and remain silent when the time is not right.

We will not be silenced by those who oppose us and try to suppress us. Instead, opposition gives us a platform to show who we are in Christ and for Christ!

God tells us we can trust Him to stand right beside us! Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Ps. 31:24 NLT

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NLT

Jesus also warns us . . .

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Mt. 10:33

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Tim. 1:7

How and When Should We Speak Out?

We have so many opportunities to give God the glory in our life for the little and big things He does every day.

If you’re on social media, you have a constant platform to speak truth. It’s not a place to get into arguments trying to prove your point as you’ve probably already learned. But it is a place you can “speak” and defend your beliefs. Expect that you might get pushback, but ignore it. If someone is debating you, it means they heard you.

Again, the point isn’t to prove you’re right but maybe to encourage others to bravely speak their views. You never know who might be persuaded by something you say. That goes for conversations also.

Being a kind and considerate person can win over many people or they might at least be willing to consider your opinions.

It’s sad when I hear people say to be careful what you say because someone might hurt you. Is that the world we want to live in? Intimidated by bullies and thugs?

I don’t know where God wants you to speak out in your life, but I would ask you to pray about it.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 NLT

People often thank me for not being silent about God and the conservative Christian agenda. But my response is that speaking out at appropriate times for what you believe shouldn’t be unusual. Everyone should!

We can’t be silent at a time when evil is flourishing all around us!

Saying nothing is saying something!

Silence is deafening!

Women wouldn’t have the vote today if the suffragettes had stayed silent.

Don’t let the culture cancel your voice or your right to speak or your courage to speak.

We speak the truth in love but we speak!

Pray before you speak, then speak the words God gives you.

Except for the part about being too young, I relate to the prophet Jeremiah when I don’t know what to say in a blog every week. When Jeremiah questioned God about what he should say, God said:

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 1:6-8 NLT

Let us be known as the majority who speaks up courageously and graciously for moral values, truth, faith, patriotism, and Almighty God!

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 That my [a]soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Ps. 30:11-12 NASB

As the Lord encouraged Paul so should we be encouraged that the majority of Americans agree with us. Let’s not be silent or silenced!

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” Acts 18:9-10 NLT

A True Story

After I had this blog ready to post, I saw this story below of a pastor’s response to someone who sent him a private message to please stick to preaching and stay off politics.

“I responded graciously and thanked her for her thoughts. [Then I wrote] I only talk about Jesus Christ and His Kingdom on Sundays. However…. I am an American citizen. I pay taxes. When I write on my personal page, I am writing only my thoughts and represent only what I think. You are free to disagree with me and I will respect you, honor you, and encourage you to speak your disagreement freely!

But I do not write in a vacuum. I know history. I understand philosophy. I know the principles upon which this great country was founded. Historically, I’ve been called a “classical liberal” because I’ve advocated for the abused, stood up to those in power, preached the equality of women and all ethnicities, and encouraged people to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

That said, I can and will no longer remain silent when it comes to our nation. I’ll talk about Jesus with you all day – and if you come to Emmanuel on Sunday mornings or Wednesday night – that’s all you will hear me talk about – the Savior and the Scriptures. But on my personal social media accounts, the Spirit has prompted me to begin speaking up, and the more people write me telling me to “stick to preaching,” the more I’ll write. :)” [Emphasis added]

August 31, 2020
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The Truth the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth!

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The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. Proverbs 12:22 NLT

How can we possibly know the truth from lies today? It seems like we’re living in a culture of deception that leaves us wondering, who can we believe?

People raise their right hand in Congress swearing to tell the truth and later evidence proves they lied. Some are prosecuted for their lies and others get a pass depending on politics.

Dr. Fauci is on record at the onset of COVID telling us that masks were of no help warding off or spreading the virus. Now as he insists that everyone should wear masks, he explains he based his earlier comments on trying to save masks for medical professionals. In other words, he lied to us! So how can we really ever believe anything he says?! Might it all just be political and not really medical?

The CDC changes their guidelines regularly. I’m not sure if they’re motivated by politics or they really have no idea how to treat a plague that has no precedent.

Many report never having been tested for coronavirus, but receiving a call they are positive? All the reported COVID statistics seem questionable. Intentional lies for political reasons or human error?

We’ve heard so many conflicting arguments on wearing masks, COVID treatment medications, closing schools, churches, businesses while protesters and rioters are encouraged to gather in large numbers with absolutely NO restrictions. Don’t sing in church, but you can shout in the streets. Lies? Politics?

The mainstream media picks and chooses parts of stories to report to support their bias and even manipulates what news to cover. They often fabricate and when caught in their lies, they seldom apologize or make a correction. Lies. Politics.

Attorney General William Barr explained it like this on the Mark Levin show Life Liberty and Levin when he condemned the media for “projecting a narrative” and selling a “lie” to the American people in their watered-down coverage of the civil unrest.

“You don’t see it on the networks. You don’t see it on the other cable stations. And yet you hear about these peaceful demonstrators. So it’s you know, it’s just it’s a lie. The American people are being told a lie by the media” Barr said.

Depending on which side of the political aisle you take a stand, you will either support or question the conflicting information you’re receiving daily on television, social media, and people standing six feet apart from you. If you point out the discrepancies, some might say you believe in conspiracies. Maybe there are conspiracies. Someone’s not telling the truth!

I’ll admit it might be easier not to question but simply accept all the governmental restrictions, which often have no consistent or logical basis. But I don’t think that’s what we should do.

We need to pray for discernment and not just follow like lemmings the ever-changing state imposed guidelines, strictest and Orwellian in blue states. Yes, that’s political, but it is the truth.

As I’m writing this blog, my August 8 devotional from Bill & Marsha Burns is so timely:

Keep your soul pure as you strive to be straightforward and honest. These are days when you cannot always trust those around you to tell the unvarnished truth. Prejudice will twist the facts to fit a certain narrative.

Open your heart and mind to know that which is correct, accurate and genuine without personal bias. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. 1 Peter 3:10 for “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.”

5 Steps to Discerning the Truth?

Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. Psalm 119:125 NLT

We will not find our source of truth in the world. The world is turning away from religious and moral standards and burning Bibles and flags in the street. Telling lies and manipulating people for political gain is now the norm.

But as believers, we have a standard of truth by which to measure everything that inundates us today. We put our hope and future in God’s truth. God never lies and His truth NEVER changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb. 13:8

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5

Praying for the spirit of discernment can prove to be a brave and bold request in itself. When we humbly ask God to reveal His will to us for specific situations, even when others may not see what we perceive, God may ask us to perform courageous acts that could be lifesaving or forever life changing.

We can become the brave spiritual warriors that our world needs so desperately.

James 1:5–6 reminds us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Here are five steps that help me discern fact from fiction, truth from lies.

1. Pray. Prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s wise direction and guidance gleaned from reading the Bible and prayer. Spiritual discernment and godly wisdom lets God guide.

2. Be patient. Discernment takes time and effort to develop as we grow and mature in our faith and develop an ability to sense God’s plan and purpose in a given situation.

3. Research the facts. Don’t take someone’s opinion or believe what you hear or read in the news or on social media as accurate. If you’re going to let something effect you personally, be sure you know whether it is true.

4. Consider the source. Ask questions. Is the information coming from someone you respect and has proven to tell the truth or are they simply passing along hearsay and opinions? Beware of the words, “someone said” “I heard” “I read” “everyone agrees” “probably” “maybe” “I think” . . . . Find out for yourself.

5. Obey. Expectantly ask God for the willingness, strength, and desire to take whatever action your discernment dictates and let God handle the consequences.

Some Christians are more sensitive than others are to the still small voice of God, but with patience, studying—not just reading—God’s Word, and a desire to know God’s will, we all have the ability to seek and obtain discernment to determine factual from fabrication.

Reliable information from misinformation.

When our hearts are filled with the culture of God’s Kingdom and not the world’s culture, we’re able to discern truth and dismiss deception. Lies become obvious and truth becomes apparent.

In moments that require the spirit of discernment, we need to pray for God’s protection and then respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. If we ignore the Holy Spirit, we may regret it or even feel responsible for a preventable crisis or someone else’s anxiety, discouragement, or deception.

It takes great courage to step out in faith on a revealed truth. If it’s God’s will, He’ll be there giving us the help, courage, and reassurance we need when it’s difficult or others don’t believe us.

We speak the truth in love, but we always speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us God!

For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us. Is. 33:22 NLT

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLT

Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. Hosea 14:9 NLT

Truth always frees our emotions, thoughts, and concerns from fear while unleashing a faith-filled hopeful spirit!

“One of the rarest commodities in the world right now is a healthy perspective. Have one. Look at falsehoods, deceptions, the language of animosity, and arguments against God that are rampant in social media and other public forums, and laugh at their futility.

Don’t get caught up in such thinking: You speak a different language. Your words and your attitude—your refusals to buy into empty disputes and debates—strip lies of their power. Your hope overcomes. It is a precious commodity. Offer it freely to everyone.” Chris Tiegreen, The One Year Salt & Light Devotional

I hope you’ll listen to this interview on Tucker Carlson with Professor Jason Hill who describes how our country is turning to “systemic nihilism,” the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless. We know the antithesis to nihilism, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Also listen to Carlson’s synopsis on what has happened to America in the past seven months. Not only do we have the Chinese virus, we are looking more like China every day. Is that political you ask? No, I would say it’s realistic and truthful. Pray for our churches to come out of their slumber and take the Truth to the streets.

I had a Crosswalk article publish this week that you might find applicable to your life right now and please share with others. Every Christian needs 4 Powerful Ways to Pray for a Hedge of Protection.

August 10, 2020
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The Riots are Not a “Myth” and Jesus is Not a Myth: The Bible is Real and We’re Watching It Come Alive!

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Last week, Jerry Nadler was questioned in a live interview about the violence and rioting taking place in Portland by ANTIFA and BLM. His response, “It’s a myth that’s only being spread in Washington DC!”

If you’ve watched any of the videos or news coverage of attempts to destroy and burn down the Federal Courthouse in Portland, or the rioting and destruction that’s been going on for months, it’s hard to imagine such a ludicrous comment. It’s as if Nadler actually thinks he can declare the carnage a myth and everyone will look the other way and ignore what we all see is happening every night in the streets of what once was a beautiful city.

It’s definitely not a myth. Here’s the reality Nadler can’t deny.

“Throughout the night some people in this crowd spent their time shaking the fence around the building, throwing rocks, bottles, and assorted debris over the fence, shining lasers through the fence, firing explosive fireworks into the area blocked by the fence, and using power tools to try to cut through the fence,” the bureau said in a statement.

“People wore gas masks, carried shields, hockey sticks, leaf blowers, flags, and umbrellas specifically to thwart police in crowd dispersal or attempt to conceal criminal acts. People against the fence sprayed unknown liquids through it toward the courthouse. People tied rope to the fence and attempted to pull it down,” the bureau said.

“At about 1:03 a.m. people in the crowd attached a chain to the fence and with many people pulling managed to pull a section of it down,” the bureau said, with protesters also lighting fires in the street.” [From the interview article above]

This past weekend, the rioters burned Bibles and the flag in the street! A satanic statement of who is at the center of the riots. There’s no denying evil motivation when you burn Bibles!

There was a satirical meme going around social media with Nadler sitting in Congress while the building was burning and everyone evacuating, but he was still in his chair proclaiming it’s all a myth. As I watched that meme, all I could think of is Armageddon when many will dig in their heels protesting that God, Jesus, and the Bible are all a myth while the world burns.

The Bible is Real and So Are Its Predictions

Dr. David Jeremiah writes in The Book of Signs, “Thus the nations do not believe that a time is coming when God’s judgement will inevitably descend. But be assured, He is storing up judgment against a day to come. The Bible is clear: one of these days God will have had enough, and His judgment will pour down like consuming fire against the world’s wicked nations.”

“They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” Revelation 16:9

Even as we watch today the birth pangs of the Bible’s predicted end times, many still do not believe the time could be short to turn their life over to Jesus. Instead, during the COVID pandemic, local governments, and even the Supreme Court, consider the church irrelevant and nonessential!

You can rest assured that it is NOT God closing the churches. Satan understands exactly how relevant and essential the church is, especially now, and I’ve written about this in The Rant, A Rave, and A Primal Scream and If God Is Pulling Back the Veil on Evil, How Should the Church Respond?

Jesus warns everyone to beware and be ready!

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Matt. 24:4-8 NLT

Luke 21:11 NLT adds that “There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.

Speaking to Christians, Jesus continues . . .

9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:9-14 NLT

Who is going to endure the persecution by the state and preach the Good News throughout our country?

Many pastors still have the doors of their churches closed, but others are opening anyway, and most are sharing their messages virtually transmitted to all corners of the world. Worship leader, Sean Feucht, is sponsoring outdoor revivals drawing thousands. God knows no boundaries.

But you and I are also God’s disciples and ministers. What better way to dismiss the myths about Jesus then to share our testimony of how Jesus changed our life. We all know someone who needs to hear our story of what Jesus did for us!

Speak the Language of Hope!

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT

If this pandemic inspires Americans to live better lives that would definitely be a positive outcome. But according to an article New Poll: Americans See The Hand Of God At Work In Current Events, surveys show that Americans are increasingly turning to drugs, alcohol and television during this pandemic, and a survey that was released just this week found that Bible reading in the United States dropped precipitously “between January and June!”

Oh dear friends, now more than ever we need to be in our Bibles daily meditating on God’s Word and applying it to our own emotions and concerns. Letting God speak to us, comfort us, and encourage us to live by faith not by sight. To live courageously not fearfully!

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Ps. 119:114 NLT

The world needs us! Our families need us! God needs us to be a beacon of light in a dark and dreary world.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Many today are living in fear because they have no hope. They don’t know where they’re going when they die.

It’s up to Christians to make Jesus real to them, but before they’re going to believe in Jesus, they need to believe that Jesus is in us!

They need to know we care about their life and their salvation.

They need to see the love of Jesus in our actions and words.

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT

We must live like believers!

Live like we believe what the Bible says!

Live like we trust God!

Live like we are Everyday Brave!

Live like we have hope!

Live like Jesus is real in our life and is not a myth!

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 NLT

This is an exciting time to live because if ever the love, forgiveness, and hope of Jesus needs sharing with a worried, fearful, depressed, frustrated, and deceived world . . . it’s NOW!

We were born and reborn for such a time as this.

Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference.

Don’t give up no matter how ominous or discouraging the world looks.

Fight for truth! Stand for truth! Speak God’s truth!

We’re the ones who are expected to help Jesus light up this dark world, at least our world.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

“The language of hope is revolutionary in the way we see, the words we speak, and the lives we encourage and change . . . Real change begins one mouth at a time, one new vision voiced in the lives of those who need a fresh breath from God. It begins at street level with those who carry the culture of the Kingdom within them and know how to express it well. It begins with people like you!” Chris Tiegreen

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:12-14

“All it takes is for good people to do something! Be activists in everything you do!” Charlie Kirk, Turning Point.

I hope I hear a resounding, “Amen!”

Note: When I finished writing this blog, a friend shared the YouTube of Charlie Kirk and Pastor Jack Hibbs at her church, Calvary Church Chino Hills. It’s so good. They start with Bible Prophecy and go on to cover a wide range of topics relevant to today’s events. Allow yourself an hour to listen. You’ll be blessed!

August 3, 2020
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If God Is Pulling Back the Veil on Evil, How Should the Church Respond?

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I recently commented to my husband that I had no idea there were so many people succumbing to the wiles of evil! I’m not naive about Satan being the active ruler of this world, but I am alarmed at how many deceived followers he has, especially in America.

Maybe evil is so prevalent today because during times of lawlessness, like we’re experiencing, evil goes unchecked by those in authority and in many cases is blatantly defended and encouraged. Never in my lifetime have I seen the display of evil actually bowed down to and elevated like in the Old Testament days when the people turned away from God and worshipped idols and other gods.

Would you have ever thought in America that . . .

Governors and mayors support and encourage the destruction of their own cities by anarchists and domestic terrorists.

Public and private property decimated and vandalized by cheering crowds and local officials do nothing to stop the mayhem, even telling the police to “stand down” while innocent citizens are terrorized? A congressional leader’s response, “People will do things.”

Vulgar and hateful words become graffiti covering city and government buildings.

Toddlers shot and murdered while sleeping in their beds and babies shot in their strollers or car seats.

Young innocent children playing outside, walking home, riding in a car, or getting out of a car shot dead and the local government does nothing.

Millions of unborn babies legally murdered by genocide in their mommy’s tummy. Or if born alive, they could still be left to die!

Police officers assaulted, disrespected, defunded, and restrained from protecting us.

Loss of our First Amendment and God-given right to attend church and worship together.

Guns confiscated from owners using them to protect their property from rioters who threaten to kill them and burn down their house. The victim homeowners are prosecuted but not the criminal rioting trespassers.

Criminals set free.

A Marxist organization that wants to disband the patriarchal family, eliminate the police, provide free abortions, support the LGBTQ agenda, and control America or burn it down, receive praise, money, followers, and is bowed down to and paid homage.

Sexual immorality runs rampant and few take notice, even in the church?

The Supreme Court allows tighter restrictions on churches than on casinos!

Craziness!

Anyone denouncing any of these anomalies is subjected to discrimination, slander, threats, hate, and told to let the carnage continue!

I could go on, but you see it all happening too. Most of this barely makes the mainstream media.

Evil and mayhem normalized.

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. Isaiah 5:20 NLT

Why Is God Letting This Happen?

I believe that God is exposing rampant evil because the church has forfeited its position in mainstream society. How many pastors have you seen publically respond to or denounce any of the issues I mentioned above? Yes, there are a few, but very few.

It’s a wakeup call. A line-in-the-sand moment.

If the church stays quiet and lets evil reign, Christianity will become irrelevant.

This is our deciding hour. Not to cower from Satan but to advance the name of Jesus Christ, the only hope and solution to the survival of America! Not to ignore evil but to confront it and boldly offer the only cure.

Much like God warns the Church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6 NLT:

Write this letter to the angel[a] of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit[b] of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

For the church or Christian who is trying to straddle between the world and the Word, God has a message to them also as He tells the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-16, 19-21 NLT.

14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning[a] of God’s new creation:

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! . . . 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

Pastor John MacArthur, Grace Community Church, wrote an excellent response to the unjust closing of churches: Christ, Not Caesar, is the Head of the Church: A Biblical Case for the Church’s Duty to Remain Open. I came across his article as I was finishing my blog, and once again, God confirmed that I heard His voice clearly on what I was to write.

Here is a paragraph from Pastor MacArthur’s article, which I encourage you to read, especially if you question whether the church is to follow the local government or God. If your church is closed right now share it with your pastor.

As government policy moves further away from biblical principles, and as legal and political pressures against the church intensify, we must recognize that the Lord may be using these pressures as means of purging to reveal the true church. Succumbing to governmental overreach may cause churches to remain closed indefinitely. How can the true church of Jesus Christ distinguish herself in such a hostile climate? There is only one way: bold allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our prayer is that every faithful congregation will stand with us in obedience to our Lord as Christians have done through the centuries.

Today in my church, our pastor preached on Acts 4:1-21 where Peter and John were arrested by the “temple police and the Sadducees” for publically teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Temple where 5000 people were saved! Peter and John were ordered to leave and commanded not to teach or preach again in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:19 NLT)

How Long Will God Tarry?

Evil will not end until Jesus returns, but it doesn’t mean we surrender to it until then. No, we fight against Satan with every breath in us! We put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Then together we take a bold, courageous, prayerful, vocal, and faith-filled stand against the schemes of the enemy.

Hebrews 5:13-14 reminds us of all the teaching and training we’ve had in the church—now is the hour to apply it!

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Honestly, God has put this so heavy on my heart to share right now. I can’t ignore the moral and cultural decline we’re watching in our world today. I hope you can’t either!

The Bible tells us that no one knows when Jesus will return. Also, no one knows when he or she will take their last breath. My burden is that we all be found ready for both.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose  for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served . . . , or the gods of the Amorites, [today’s culture] in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (my additions in brackets)

Note: We need to be praying for all our police officers. Here is a prayer I wrote for them and their families: 4 Prayers In Honor of Police Officers.

If you haven’t read my past blogs, I share thoughts on Don’t Let COVID Divide the Church! We’re On the Same Team!
America’s Problem is Systemic Secularism NOT Systemic Racism!

July 27, 2020
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Don’t Let COVID Divide the Church! We’re On the Same Team!

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It bothers me, and I hope it bothers you too, to see how easily Satan has used the COVID pandemic to divide Christians.

Church members used to have differing opinions on worship style music: Contemporary or hymns? Pews or chairs? Young or mature pastor? Multiple services or one? Carpet or wood floors?

They might also differ on theological issues like Pre, Post, or Mid Tribulation.

Sadly, sometimes those disagreements did divide the church!

Today, if you go on social media the topics disputed range from: open the church or stay closed? Meet outside or inside? Sing or don’t sing?

Wear masks or don’t wear masks? Social distance or be social? Back to school or keep kids home?

Then there’s the recent dividing issue of racism, which I talked about in last week’s blog America’s Problem is Systemic Secularism NOT Systemic Racism!

You would hardly know sometimes that it’s Christians communicating as they sling opinions as assaults and attacks on each other. Anger seeps through every word. Conversations escalate to arguments. Verbal attacks and accusations fly through the comments on a Facebook post, twitter, an article, or in person.

Just today, I became entangled in one of these tirades about wearing masks. Everyone was wrestling to have their voice heard and actually denounce any dissenting viewpoints. No grace or acknowledgement that others might disagree.

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit spiritually scolded me that this exchange was such a waste of time and energy. Often we’re trying to convince a stranger, as if they’re suddenly going to see our point of view. They’re not!

My last comment seemed to close the conversation for a little while. In an attempt to bring everyone to a realization of what we all need to think about. Here’s what I wrote:

I think if Christians spent as much time and energy sharing the Gospel as they do arguing over masks, we could see a huge revival and maybe even the rapture where for sure we won’t need masks or gloves. BTW I wonder why no one is talking about plastic gloves anymore? Anyway, I have a blog to write and bet you have better things to do today too.

I thought that was the end of the discussion until it turned to gloves. I was scolded that plastic gloves were never recommended for coronavirus protection. And off everyone went about gloves!

Sometimes, we need the righteous right hand of the Lord to give us one of those wake-up jolts to bring us out of the stupor we’ve succumbed to by arguing over issues where there really is no definitive answer or right way to think or do something. Or that we have no control over.

I meant what I wrote in the comment above. What if we put the same energy and effort into convincing people to give their life to Christ as we do trying to convince them to wear masks or stay home?

Why aren’t we as worried about other people’s spiritual death as we are about their physical death? Or is it really just about us?

I like Lou Holtz’s thinking, “I don’t want to stop living for fear of dying.”

Do We Want to Identify with The Mob or The Lord?

We’ve seen in this woke culture that if anyone disagrees with the mob, they use intimidation, horrible name-calling, ruining reputations, shouting down opposition, or even violence.

The mob is not the group we want to imitate.

If ever Christians needed to be counter-culture, it’s now!

There’s little in today’s culture we want to reflect in our own lives. But as we listen to all the arguing and dissent in the news today and on social media, it’s so easy to let some of it seep into our mind and yes our heart and conversation.

There are definitely two sides to society: a worldly culture that wants to eliminate God and His teachings and a godly culture that wants to share Jesus and the gospel with the world.

My belief is that while some might try to have a little of both cultures in their life, in a truly Christ-centered life, there isn’t space for any of the world’s ways.

Not easy. It takes so much prayer, discipline, and time in God’s Word to be able to differentiate God’s wisdom from Satan’s manipulation.

We must pray about everything we “hear” and ask God to help us discern if it’s truth or lies.

God is good. He will direct you.

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! Psalm 119:7 NLT

Don’t just repeat everything the culture is telling you right now. What is God telling you? Most times, it will be the exact opposite of a term or opinion you hear repeatedly.

Don’t accept anything as truth just because someone on the news or Facebook or even an “expert” said it like it was believable.

We’re living in a culture like the time of Judges where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. “All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” Judges 21:25 NLT

The only eyes we should focus on are God’s eyes, which roam the world looking for those who will follow Him exclusively. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chr. 16:9

I want to be one of those people that catches God’s eye and I know you do too.

With the closing of many churches today, Satan has the perfect circumstance to not only keep the church silent, but to also let differences fester. We all know that sitting home and watching a sermon online fills the void of hearing a message but does not replace the gathering together of God’s people to encourage each other and lift each other up, especially now.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew 10:24-25

We need to find ways to uplift and encourage each other through our conversation and interaction. Disagree without being disagreeable or disrespectful.

As God’s people, we unite for one purpose, to grow in our faith so we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We don’t know when the Lord will return, but it could be soon or He could tarry to give more time for people to repent. Let’s use our time wisely to be kind to each other and focus on what really matters, saving the lost and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thess. 5:11-12

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Cor. 1:10 NLT

Side note: I want to make clear that by uniting as the church, I mean the Bible-believing church. Sadly, many Christians and churches today have joined the progressive liberal culture to change the meaning of the Bible to adapt to culture instead of culture adapting to the Bible.

Pastor Shane Idleman has an excellent article I would encourage you to read about Christians who have adapted to the culture.

Also, one of the best factual commentaries on the Black Lives Matter movement is from Mike Huckabee’s opening monologue on his show July 18, 2020. It’s not very long, I hope you’ll listen. At first, it will say an error occurred please try again later, but just wait a few minutes and it will start. I’ve noticed that a lot lately on YouTube.

July 20, 2020
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