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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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What Does It Mean to Pray for Your Enemies?

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When I woke up Friday morning to the news that Donald and Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19, like many of you, I immediately started praying.

I heard President Trump in a phone interview with Sean Hannity late Thursday night and I commented to Dave that the President’s voice sounded tired, which is understandable since it was late and he had just spoken at an event. But looming in the interview was the knowledge that senior White House advisor Hope Hicks had been on Airforce One with the President and had just tested positive for COVID.

We prayed that night, “Lord please protect the President and First Lady.” But sadly, they both do have COVID along with some of their staff and Republican senators.

I knew instinctively what was going to happen next after their diagnosis. The vitriol on social media, mainstream media, and many liberals and Democrat politicians would start spewing from the abyss.

City Pages, an alternative weekly covering Minneapolis and St. Paul, published an article Friday headlined, “Let’s laugh at all these very good ‘Trump has COVID’ tweets.” Editor-in-chief Emily Cassel led the piece by writing, “So President Trump and the First Lady have COVID. Man, anyone else just in a really, inexplicably good mood this morning?”

We’re in a cancel, carnal, cruel culture so repulsive that people would wish death to their President and political opponent. Granted there were some politicians from the opposing party, including Biden, who declared a partisan truce and wished well to the president, at least for now.

I don’t know about you, but anticipating the evil attacks on our President and First Lady, I tried to stay off social media and just pray. I knew my friends and followers would be posting about praying, but others might want to post examples of the horrible things said by others. I didn’t want to taint my mind.

I wanted to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Phil. 4:8 NLT

I needed to focus my thoughts on President and Melania Trump having a quick recovery and healing from this terrible plague and not let my mind be filled with the comments of insensitive and hideous people actually celebrating the possible demise of our President to this unseen enemy.

They wanted him to suffer. Die. Joking about a dreaded illness.

What kind of person does that?!

 “If you find yourself rooting for someone’s death—anyone’s death—it’s time to pause and take stock of how your own souls has rotted.”—Tucker Carlson.

 “If you gloat over other people’s afflictions, you are not worthy of being called a human” is another worthy quote I read.

I would not give this human depravity an audience.

My Personal Epiphany

Then the Lord asked me a question I had to address: How would you react if it was Biden who had contracted COVID?

I am praying that he doesn’t win the election. He and his liberal party represent everything I don’t want for our country, much of it I consider evil and ungodly.

So would I pray as earnestly for his recovery as I’m praying for President Trump?

Wow?!

How I respond would show what resides in my heart. Would I show Christian compassion? My husband says I would pray for Biden. I hope he’s right!

How a Christian reacts to other’s misfortune is telling of their spiritual maturity when someone they don’t like is in distress.

Then the Lord brought to mind the verses on loving and praying for our enemies. Those we don’t agree with or even those we fear or have done us wrong.

The Sermon on the Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus first started with the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11). Then he taught about being salt and light, (13-16). He taught about the Law (17-20), anger (21-26), adultery (27-30), divorce (31-32), vows (33-37), revenge (38-42), and he ended his sermon with the difficult admonition to love your enemies.

Jesus Teaching about Love and Prayer for Enemies

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NLT

Are you convicted like I am when reading this teaching from Jesus? Even on the cross, He prayed for those who were putting Him, an innocent man, to a cruel death.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Jesus wants us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us when something inside us tells us to not even like them!

It doesn’t mean we accept or agree with their actions, which for purposes of this article we’re talking about those who go against everything we believe spiritually, morally, and politically.

Jesus tells us to be like Him. We must pray for our enemies and be kind to them. I take that to mean we pray for their salvation and what greater “love” could we show for them than to pray they become believers.

Bill O’Reilly commented last week, “If you feel glad that Donald and Melania Trump are ill, then you have a sickness, too. And while most recover from Covid, the disease of enjoying the suffering of others is rarely defeated. That disease is called evil.”

O’Reilly is right that evil is a disease, but there is a cure for it: Jesus Christ.

I think that Matthew 5:45-48 is calling us to pray for those we hear and see vomiting hate and evil. We detest what they’re doing, so we pray that someway, somehow they find salvation in Jesus because He went to the cross for them just like He did for us.

Maybe some of them claim to be believers. Look at their actions and if they’re behaving according to the world or in a hurtful harmful way, we pray that they will return to God and His ways.

What we don’t do is match their behavior in our thoughts, words, or actions because Jesus warns us that then we’re no better than them.

I like this quote from Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family: “I believe strongly in being conservative in my politics–but liberal in my fellowship and in my willingness to pray for others.”

The person I’ve seen in politics who does the best at responding to opposition as a Christian is Vice President Mike Pence. He lets you know when he doesn’t agree with someone, but he does it in a way that is never demeaning or disparaging. He tends to defend his position rather than attack the other person personally. I’m looking forward to his debate with Kamala Harris this week. And I’m praying for him and his health.

Let’s be sure during this very contested political season that our comments and posts reflect the mind and kindness of Christ. That we pray for the hearts and souls of those who persecute us, or persecute the ones we care about, or decry our values.

Pray for those who seem consumed with anger and animosity.

If you remember in last week’s blog, I said the Lord kept giving me a vision of a sudden outpouring of the Holy Spirit over all those who are doing evil in our cities and government. A miracle of mass salvation!

I see all the rioters and haters suddenly dropping their weapons of destruction and their tongues of vileness being stilled. The tyrannical government officials and those trying to tear down our country, having a reawakening about the goodness of God and the greatness of the country He blessed us with—The United States of America!

We have to look for things to praise, even when small, and focus on finding ways to “be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

Let’s keep our minds and hearts positive and loving as we pray for the recovery of our President and his beautiful wife, even if he isn’t your preferred candidate. Remember we haven’t reached perfection either.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

October 5, 2020
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Babies’ Lives Are Important, But . . .

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As someone gives you a compliment, have you ever braced yourself because you know by the tone of their voice that the disclaimer “but” is coming in the next breath. For example,

I love your new hairstyle . . . but I’m not sure about the color.

You’ve lost weight . . . but I’m sure you’ve still got more to lose.

I want to come to your party . . . but I’ll have to see how the day goes.

I agree with you . . . but aren’t you getting too political.

Are you shaking your head in agreement? We’ve all been there and maybe we’ve been the one tying two opposing thoughts together with that little qualifying dangler “but.”

In reading comments on social media, I’ve been appalled at how often I see people saying something like, “Abortion is an important issue, but this can’t be a one issue voting decision.”

Why not? What could be more important than saving a life versus “legally” murdering a life?

Looking at our own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews would anyone make that same statement. “Well, yes their life is important, but . . .”

But what? We say we would do anything to protect them and lay down our life for theirs. Anything but vote for them to have life?!

When we don’t vote against abortion, we’re voting for it.

When we don’t vote for the party working to eliminate abortion, we’re voting for the party that wants to keep it legalized and stretch the limits to genocide like in New York and Virginia.

Excuses

I hear, “I can’t vote for Trump because I don’t like how he talks or something he said or did over a decade ago, or his tweets.”

Seriously?! His rhetoric versus the life of the unborn?

Or, “Yes I’m a Christian but abortion isn’t my main concern.”

Really? Isn’t cherishing the sanctity of life, the gift from God, at the heart of Christianity?

What about a candidate who uses his Catholic “faith” to his political advantage but is willing to set the precepts of his faith aside as a liberal Democrat. What kind of character does that show?

What kind of man would trade his soul for power?

In Biden’s book Promises to Keep: On Life in Politics, he wrote, “I’m as much a cultural Catholic as I am a theological Catholic.” What does that mean? By his current stance on championing abortion, it means he’s allowing his faith to adapt to the culture rather than allowing his faith to change the culture.

He’s saying, I’m a Catholic when it’s convenient but when it interferes with my political aspirations and power, I can disavow its precepts. I can apply cancel culture to the Catholic stance on right to life!

That my friends is not how faith works. I think you would agree that you apply your faith to every aspect of life or it’s not true faith. Faith isn’t like a cafeteria where you pick and choose the aspects you like, or what works well with your situation, or is convenient.

Faith is all or none.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matt. 22:37

I wonder if Biden has listened to Fr. James Altman’s convicting YouTube video: You Cannot be Catholic & a Democrat. Period.

How Does Your Vote Save Lives?

Biden and his running mate Harris not only endorse abortion up through birth, they want to make every American taxpayer pay for it!

The Biden/Harris (or Harris/Biden) agenda is characterized as the most pro-abortion ticket in history.

Biden vows to overturn every prolife advancement that President Trump has accomplished.

President Trump defunded Planned Parenthood. Biden has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood that profits from the death and dismemberment of the unborn!

President Trump is unquestionably and undeniably the most pro-life president ever!! And I might add, he’s also the most pro-faith president who puts action behind his words.

What could President Trump ever have done or said that would justify “but I’m voting for the liberal, pro-abortion socialist Democrats.”

What Christian could say, “but I’m ok with the savagery of murdering preborn babies?”

What human being could say, “but I’m ok with one pre-born baby murdered at Planned Parenthood every 97 seconds?

Let’s look at what God says about the sanctify of His created life.

 “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood . . . Proverbs 6:16-17

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Psalm 22:10

Sin Hurts

Often, we’re reticent to talk about abortion in the church because sadly, many women have had abortions today and it hurts to be reminded.

No one likes remembering their sins. It’s convicting.

The Good News of the Gospel is that when we surrender our life to Christ, He forgives us of all our past sins and wipes the slate clean.

We will always live with consequences of our actions but God remembers our sins no more. That cleansing forgiveness provides freedom from the guilt. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Many women today share their testimony to encourage and mentor other women in similar situations. I suggest ways to do this in Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness.

A New Opportunity to Save the Babies

Ruth Bader Ginsburg died after I had already written most of this post. The minute I heard it, I knew why God had me write this week on the topic of abortion. Ginsburg was a staunch liberal advocate of abortion as a “woman’s right.” Even though as I listened to commentators discuss her life, she was able to progress in her law career as a wife and mother of two children she “adored” and four grandchildren.

Instead of taking the position that women could do as she did and have a successful career as well as be a mother, she was an activist for women disposing of their unborn babies. Sad.

President Trump now has the opportunity to place a pro-life Justice on the Supreme Court and after almost 50 years, there’s a glimmer of hope that Roe vs Wade could be overturned.

The future of millions of babies rests on filling this Justice seat.

Biden will most definitely place a liberal pro-choice, pro-abortion judge and since these are lifetime positions, murdering the future unborn would be “legal” for many more years.

So tell me again why anyone who believes in the sanctity of life wouldn’t want a President in the White House who will fight for the life of future generations?

What “but” could anyone come up with that would justify trash cans filled with dismembered human beings? I can’t think of one!

Often, we say I’m just one person what can I do? You can let your voice and your vote be heard no “buts” about it! Vote for life because yes that is the single most important issue on the ballot on November 3.

Jesus Christ is our Savior and Creator of life.

Donald J Trump is our President and defender of life.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deut. 30:19

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Nehemiah 9:6

Note: Live Action is a good pro-life website.

Lest you think I’m becoming too political, abortion is a moral and spiritual issue that has been politicized. I will not be silent or stop speaking out for the unborn and for those in government who can make a difference.

If you missed my blog last Monday, I was at our church women’s retreat for the weekend learning how I can use my personality to care for others. If you didn’t miss me . . . but you didn’t want to say anything, that’s ok!

September 21, 2020
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Why Watching Church Online is NOT a Substitute for Attending in Person

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“15 Days to Slow the Spread” seemed doable when the Coronavirus Task Force first asked everyone to shelter-at-home. Churches complied by shutting their doors to protect their parishioners. Those who already had online services expanded access and those like ours who didn’t already video messages started videoing.

Then 15 days morphed into 30 days, which segued into 45 days and churches are still told today that they’re not essential and mandated to stay closed or open with tyrannical restrictions.

A number of pastors across the United States are rightfully questioning this discrimination against the church when liquor stores and casinos are considered essential. So they’ve begun finding creative ways for their churches to meet, even under penalty of fines and threats of imprisonment. Hard to imagine that would happen in America!

Other churches remain closed today. One mega church announced they plan on staying closed until 2021?!

The purpose of this blog is not to discuss why churches need to open NOW because I’ve covered that extensively in previous blogs. I’ll list a couple at the end of this article.

But I do want to talk about why it’s important for believers to not become accustomed to sitting at home in their recliners in pj’s with a cup of coffee watching a sermon online and calling it church.

Why We Go To Church

One winter Sunday morning, hubby was sick! If our steep driveway wasn’t covered in ice, that wouldn’t be a big deal. I’d hop in the car and head off to church by myself. But I hadn’t driven our new car in snow and ice and didn’t want my first off-roading attempt to be without him.

I could stay home and watch church online or on television. I’d done that for more Sundays than I’d care to remember when a concussion, kidney surgery, three eye surgeries, and a broken wrist had kept me home. I was desperate to go to church.

Whew, friends with a jeep rescued me that Sunday.

Why was it so important to go to church? While homebound, I’d watched a number of excellent church services online and on TV . . . but it’s not the same as worshipping together with my church family.

When our Governor in Idaho announced that churches could open in COVID Phase One of reopening Idaho, our church literally opened the doors May 1 with all the recommended precautions.

As I walked through the church doors that first Sunday, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. I immediately realized what had been missing watching services at home.

People were missing. My brothers and sisters in Christ were missing.

Singing, worshipping, and praying together were missing.

Seeing each other’s smiles and yes, sometimes, tears were missing.

Church is not just the sermon. Church is the gathering together of God’s people!

Yes, believers have our personal relationship with Jesus which we experience wherever we are, but we don’t experience the Christian life alone. That’s why God said it’s not good to be alone and there are so many Scriptures reminding us to encourage and support each other.

Online church absolutely is a tremendous benefit for people who can’t attend church because of physical or transportation issues, out of town, working, or need to stay home with a sick child or family member. It’s a wonderful tool in an emergency like Covid was in the beginning or for anyone who is high-risk.

Online church also is an outreach opportunity for those who are hesitant to walk into a church.

But for those with no restrictive issues, here are five reasons I feel God wants us to worship together in His house and follow the example of the first church.

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place” (Acts 2:1).

5 Reasons to Meet in Church Together

1. Fellowship and Relationships

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals . . . with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42, 46-47)

The early church, a template for today’s church, understood that the meeting together of believers creates community. We need each other to uplift our spirit when we’re sad and rejoice together when we’re glad.

You can find good teaching and truth online, but you need to be in church to experience the fellowship of fellow believers and develop relationships within the church body.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

2. Celebrating Communion, Worshipping, and Praying Together

“All the believers devoted themselves to . . . sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. They worshiped together at the Temple each day . . . all the while praising God . . . . (Acts 2:42, 46-47)

You share communion, the Lord’s Supper, together in church. Our church also has a time of Prayer, Praise, and Share every Sunday where the congregation can ask for prayer and share praises.

Many churches list in the bulletin or announce those in need of prayer so the church can pray for each other and celebrate praises together. “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him” (Acts 12:15).

God instructed the congregation to sing in church because it is a unifying expression of worship. What a joy to worship and sing praise songs to the Lord in unison.

“Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Col. 3:16).

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:1-4)

3. We Are the Family of God

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (Acts 2:44-45)

Watching church is like being an observer instead of a participant.

We need each other. We are one body, the Bride of Christ.

The church needs us to serve. Church isn’t taking in selfishly; it’s giving out selflessly. We don’t attend church solely for our own benefit. We’re also there to serve the body of Christ, our spiritual family. Christ wants us to care more about others than our own convenience or inconvenience.

We are to use the spiritual gifts and talents the Lord has given us to benefit the church. (1 Cor. 12:12-22).

“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body” (Col. 1:18).

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:27).

4. Accountability and Mentoring

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.” Colossians 3:16

There’s always going to be a time when we can’t make it to church, but it should be the exception, not the rule. The tendency today is to isolate ourselves in front of electronics where we interact with a screen instead of each other. A clicker or mouse replaces friendly face-to-face interaction.

I’ve heard testimonies of people saved by watching a preacher on television or online, which is wonderful. But one of the surest ways to stay true to your faith as a believer is joining a church to spiritually grow and mature with other believers who encourage us and keep us accountable.

Church is more than listening to a sermon; it’s an experience and an exchange with other believers. It’s where you help others grow, partake in ministries, serve, give of your talents and spiritual gifts, mentor, and receive mentoring.

“2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.[a] Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.” (Titus 2:2-5)

5. Setting the Example for Children

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. Psalm 145:4

It takes more effort to get dressed and drive to church than to flip on the computer or television screen. Your children and grandchildren are learning by your actions what takes priority in your life: God’s house or your house?

Teach by example that church is a privilege we should never take for granted and we should never let it be taken away from us. If we can go to Costco, shopping, Walmart, Home Depot, and even “peacefully protest” in the streets, we can go to church!

So yes, you can watch a service online anonymously and probably get something out of it, but what are you putting first in your life that seeks out convenience instead of commitment?

If your church hasn’t opened back up for services after COVID closure, I encourage you to remind your pastor that church is an essential part of every believer’s life and worth fighting for your 1st Amendment right to meet.

It wasn’t easy for the early church either and often the disciples and apostles were thrown into jail for gathering people together to share the Gospel, but we’re reminded of what Peter said when he met opposition from the authorities.

24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. Acts 5:24-29 (I would encourage you to read the entire passage Acts 5:12-41)

Sadly, many governing officials act from an ungodly worldview. If the government contradicts God, we answer to God alone.

As a child, I remember in Sunday school intertwining our fingers on the outside of our hands, putting our forefingers together, and opening our hands, saying the jingle: Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door, and where’s all the people? But intertwining fingers inside our hand and opening: Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door and there’s all the people!

 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

*All Scriptures are from the New Living Translation, with emphasis added.

Note: A true story of what can happen when the church stays silent! From the Facebook of Worship Leader Sean Feucht

Pastor Joseph Bondarenko (the KGB’s most wanted) was jailed for 10 years, tortured & told every day his entire family would die because of their faith. He refused to deny Jesus. Many of his friends were martyred but God spared his life. His story of boldness has now circled the globe.

For the American Church he warns:

“Don’t they realize what is happening now in America is exactly what happened to us in communist Russia?? It started with ‘Don’t gather. Don’t sing. Spread apart. Listen to the government.’ Then it quickly turned into full on persecution and the church did not wake up in time.

I am here to beg you to call the church to WAKE UP, STAND FIRM, CONQUER!”

The Rant, a Rave, and a Primal Scream

How is Home Depot More “Essential” than God’s Home?!

If God is Pulling Back the Veil on Evil, How Should the Church Respond?

August 24, 2020
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Virtual Grandparents’ Day of Prayer!

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Have you heard about the Virtual Grandparents Day of Prayer? 

Since two of my granddaughters and their friends visited us this past week, I thought it was a perfect time to remind you of National Grandparents Day on September 13, 2020.  

The Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) wants to make it a Day of Prayer for our grandchildren and their parents! This year they’re adding a virtual element to allow grandparents to pray together.

My friend Lillian Penner has provided information below to explain more about this day and how to participate.

What Is the Need?

The enemy prowls like a lion, infiltrating our culture with lies and deception. He attacks our families at all levels.

Even our Christian faith is under attack. As a result, parents and grandparents find themselves in a tug-of-war for the souls of their children and grandchildren.

Paul warns us, “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. They will reject the truth and chase after myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Barna Research confirms Paul’s warning. Fifty-eight percent of adults living in the United States agree that “identifying moral truth is up to each individual; there are no moral absolutes that apply to everyone, all the time. Surprisingly, forty-eight percent of adults identified as born-again Christians agreed with the statement.”[1]  

God has given grandparents a sacred trust – an opportunity to imprint another generation with His love and faithfulness. We need to intercede for the hearts, minds, and souls of our grandchildren and their parents, praying they don’t fall captive to the enemy’s deception.

With this in mind, the Prayer Ministry is inviting you and your church families to join us on National Grandparents’ Day (September 13th) for a Virtual Grandparents’ Day of Prayer.

WHAT IS A “VIRTUAL GRANDPARENTS’ DAY OF PRAYER”?

Several years ago, the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) saw the urgency to establish a day for grandparents to unite in prayer. Under the leadership of Lillian Penner, the second Sunday of September was named Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. This day coincided with the National Grandparents’ Day in the United States.

Churches enthusiastically responded by hosting events such as grandparent prayer breakfasts, luncheons and afternoon teas.

The present pandemic has forced many churches to close or limit the amount of available seating. Therefore, instead of the traditional Grandparents’ Day of Prayer, we are inviting you, as grandparents, to observe a Virtual Grandparents’ Day of Prayer on September 13th. We are encouraging you to pray with at least one other grandparent over the phone, via a conferencing tool such as Zoom, or in-person with careful observance of social distancing guidelines.

To learn more about participation go to https://christiangrandparenting.com/prayer/grandparents-day-of-prayer/ 

May God bless you richly as you pray for your grandchildren,

Lillian Penner, 

GDOP Coordinator, 

Christian Grandparenting Prayer ministry

[email protected]

 [1] The findings are part of the American Worldview Inventory and were released by George Barna, director of research at the cultural research center at Arizona Christian University.

August 17, 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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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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It Always Was About Jesus! He is the Real Target . . .

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“Look at China, Russia, Venezuela. First they topple statues, then they start killing people, and then they take away your rights.” David Marcus, The Federalist

I’ve never been convinced that the George Floyd murder was about racism. It was the heinous act of a demented depraved policeman. But because he was white and the victim was black, the race card was played and suddenly people were forced to take sides even though everyone agreed it was an egregious act.

It should have unified all Americans that justice needed to prevail.

But that’s not what happened. People with an agenda saw it as an opportunity to unearth racial tension as if we had never made any progress in 400 years. What started out as “peaceful protests,” even in the midst of a pandemic, turned into destructive rioting and violent mobs that didn’t care if they were hurting blacks or whites or even those on their side, they just wanted to create havoc and panic.

And so they did as Democrat governors and mayors ignored protecting their defenseless constituents. In many cases, the police, who could have stopped the chaos, were told to stand down, as the protesters then turned on them.

There seems to be no limits to what the rioters can do or demands they can make because after all it’s all about “racism.”

I’m not minimizing the need for improvement in race relations but the lawlessness we’re watching in the streets of liberal “blue” states is political not relational.

God Is Not One Dimensional!

Caucasians, who God created with white skin, are shamed and manipulated into renouncing their presumed “white privilege” as if admitting that God liked them better than his darker skinned creations. Heresy!

God made us all different colors by His design. Since we’re all made in His image, Jesus appears to each of us in our own skin color.

Just like at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon those gathered there from every nation, they each heard Peter and the believers sharing the gospel in their own language:

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers . . . “And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. Acts 2:5-6, 11-12

In his article America’s Jews and Christians Are Failing the Test of Their Lives, Dennis Prager wrote:

“Isn’t it fundamental to all Bible-based religions that we are all created in God’s image, that God has no race and that Adam and Eve, from whom we all descend, had no race? If you are a Christian, do you see Christians of other races first as fellow Christians or first as members of their race? If you are a Jew, do you see Jews of other races as anything other than fellow Jews? Does God?”

Only Satan Can Pit God’s Creation Against Itself!

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

Satan’s Strategy to Devour and Destroy America

  1. Use a pandemic plague to close businesses and churches and force people to stay home.
  2. Use a horrific murder by a police officer to create racial chaos.
  3. Perpetuate a falsehood that all whites are racist.
  4. Introduce sham terms like “systemic racism” and “white privilege.”
  5. Generate hate against the police and remove their capability to protect communities.
  6. Call for defunding and disbanding the police and give the preposterous idea momentum.
  7. Make government officials apathetic toward looting, burning, defacing, mob violence.
  8. Guilt Caucasians into apologizing that God made them white.
  9. Encourage whites to bow down to Black Lives Matter militia.
  10. Create a fake repentance theology of whites washing the feet of blacks or shining their shoes.
  11. Continue to keep churches closed or require prohibitive restrictions while thousands of protestors and rioters have no restrictions and passengers pack into planes.
  12. Keep pastors and “the church” silent or denounced, even arrested, if they claim religious freedom and the right to meet.
  13. Tear down all replicas of American heritage and history, good or bad, while horrified Americans helplessly watch or misguided and deceived Americans applaud.
  14. Create disunity and fear among all Americans politically, racially, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
  15. Reveal Satan’s real motive: Go after Jesus and the church, which often still isn’t meeting and pastors are still staying silent.

Jesus Has Always Been the Target

Destroying Jesus is Satan’s ultimate goal and everything in between was just carnage to distract.

Satan knows that the only answer to division and strife is Jesus and His church!

Government can’t legislate or force racial tolerance. It has to be a heart change and only Jesus can change a heart!

I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. Ezekiel 36:26-27 The Message

A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Rom 2:29 NLT

That’s why Satan’s ultimate target is Jesus!

If we’re too busy fighting each other over racism, defunding and disarming the police, taking down the President, rebuilding everything torn down by rioters . . . maybe we won’t notice that Satan is trying to wipe out Christ’s heritage . . . the church.

Christian and conservative content, videos, and Scriptures are already being censored on social media and YouTube.

Now Satan will Start taking down statues, pictures, replicas, or stained glass windows with “white Jesus” and defacing churches.

Next Satan will go after the cross and anything resembling the cross. He’s tried this before but hasn’t completely succeeded.

Then he’ll get the Bible censored as hate speech. There will be burning of Bibles and a law against preaching the Bible or carrying your Bible outside of your home. Maybe it will be illegal even to have a Bible.

Christians will ultimately receive the final blow because if we’re silenced, no one will hear the truth about eternal life with Jesus versus eternal hell with Satan.

Do you think these things could never happen in America? Well look at what’s already happened in the first six months of 2020 that you never could have imagined.

  • A President impeachment attempt over a diplomatic phone call.
  • Citizens mandated to not leave home. Wear a mask. Not allowed to go to a park, play tennis, or go to the beach. Schools closed. “Social distance.”
  • Small businesses closed and owners harassed, lost business licenses, fined, or jailed if they opened.
  • Hoarding of TP.
  • Not allowed to go to church and fined or jailed if you tried.
  • National monuments defaced and torn down with no one stopping the vandalism.
  • Liberal radicals take over the center of a major Capitol city with the mayor’s and governor’s help.

How will Satan achieve all of this?

By the deception of people who do not know Jesus and maybe some who do but are deceived by lies instead of trusting the truth they once knew and believed.

Satan uses people to do his work on earth.

I’ve said many times what the Bible teaches: there are only two forces at work in this world, Satan and God. If you’re not following God, by default you’re following Satan. There is no in between.

Rise Up Church!

“The most patriotic thing you can do is give your life to Jesus!” Said by Billy Graham years ago and it never changes.

The next most patriotic thing you can do is to help others know the difference between Jesus or Satan guiding a life. Share with them that . . .

  • Jesus saves. Satan destroys.
  • Jesus loves. Satan hates.
  • Jesus unifies. Satan divides.
  • Jesus heals. Satan defiles.
  • Jesus is peace. Satan is discord.
  • Jesus is courage. Satan is cowardice.
  • Jesus is truth. Satan is a liar.
  • Jesus reveals. Satan deceives.
  • Jesus is hope. Satan is despair.
  • Jesus is light. Satan is darkness.

Can you think of more?

When you see what’s happening in the world today or listen to the news, consider it through the grid of Jesus or Satan.

I’ve learned not to let what I see happening today shock me because it’s so clearly Satan’s tactics and schemes. But we have the antidote: Time is short. Death is sure. Sin is the cause. Jesus is the cure!

I love the song, The Same Power by Jeremy Camp because it reminds us that we have the same power in us that rose Jesus from the grave! “We will not be overtaken, we will not be overcome!”

Scripture tells us we have the power to pray against demons so let’s pray against demonic behavior that wants to rob and steal our country of the peace and harmony of Jesus.

We’re on the winning side but we still need to fight the spiritual battles to achieve victory.

Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. Mark 16:16-17

I want to close with a word of encouragement.

I’m blessed to see that finally the threat to the church is bringing out bold and brave pastors and churches. I hope you’ll take the time to read this post, listen to the pastor, and then pray God multiplies this ministry with pastors of all races and all denominations across the United States: Pastors Vow to Defend Houses of Worship, Not Allow Christian Heritage to be Erased.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deut. 31:6 NLT

We cannot be afraid. Pick up your sword of the Spirit and pray like you’ve never prayed before. Your life and the life of the ones you love could very well depend on it.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Eph. 6:17-18 NLT

Note: In my AHW Ministries June Newsletter, I share about the positive difference a mentor made in the life of Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican Senator at this time.

June 29, 2020
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Our Country Desperately Needs Kingdom Culture Not Cancel Culture

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Yesterday was Father’s Day and that’s always a hard day for me. Especially now as police officers are being devalued and renounced. The incident in Atlanta where the suspect wrestled with the officers and grabbed their Taser has been especially painful. You see my father was murdered by a suspect he had pulled over who wrestled with him. Once subdued, the suspect complained of a painful ankle so my father and his partner took him to the General Hospital.

When they got the suspect into the exam room, he wrestled with them again and managed to get my father’s gun out of its holster and shot my dad pointblank. My father only lived long enough to throw the gun to his partner and with his last breath say, “He got me in the heart . . .”

When a suspect obtains possession of an officer’s weapon, the officers are in danger!

The man who shot my dad one week before his thirty-seventh birthday was a thirty-six year old high school music teacher. I was ten, my little sister was four. My mom was a thirty-two year-old widow.

Cancel Culture Instead of Kingdom Culture is Feudal!

Nothing I can do today will ever change the horror of what happened to our family. My father was protecting his community. He didn’t deserve to die doing it. His family didn’t deserve being deprived of a husband and father. My daughter didn’t deserve never knowing her heroic grandfather.

I don’t know if the murderer had a family or if he has grandchildren or even great grandchildren now. What good would it do for me to find them and demand their shame and reparations for the years their ancestor took from us?

Are they responsible for what this criminal in their heritage did to my family sixty-three years ago? Would I feel better if I rioted on their streets or defaced their homes with graffiti?

Should I hate all high school music teachers? Are music teachers systemically evil because one teacher did something despicable?

I think you would agree that the answer to all those questions is no. He and he alone murdered my father. He is the one responsible for our pain magnified by him getting off on an insanity plea and only two years in jail! But justice is mine says the Lord and the murderer died of a heart attack shortly after his release from prison.

Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Rom. 12:19 The Message

It is true that this man’s actions forever changed our family. But he was the only one who could have tried to make restitution. If he had, which he didn’t, it would have been our choice whether to forgive him.

Hanging on to anger and bitterness causes torment and turmoil but never solves the root problem.

I can’t rewrite the large-letter headlines in the LA Times telling the world of my father’s tragic unjustified death. In 1957, it was big news when a police officer was killed on duty.

I can try to go back to find all the newspaper archives and demand all records of his murder be removed from history. I can rip up the yellowed newspaper articles in my family albums. I can research the murder’s family and demand they give our family restitution and destroy all his pictures in their family albums.

But nothing will bring my father back, change history, or heal any wounds in our family or theirs.

I hope you can see the parallel with what is happening in our cancel culture today.

Trying to blot out our country’s history or take blame for our ancestors’ actions will never solve the problems we’re facing today. It’s not a good use of our time, emotions, or energy.

The Truth About Forgiveness

In last week’s blog Every Life Matters to God, I wrote the following:

We can’t change the past or a past that we weren’t responsible for, but we can show the love of Christ to everyone God puts in our path. You can only apologize and repent for what you’ve done personally. If there’s racism in your heart, ask God to remove it. If you’ve shown racism to someone, go to him or her and ask for forgiveness, but you can’t ask for forgiveness for someone else’s sin. Likewise, someone can’t forgive you for something someone else did.

When it comes to the past sins of our forefathers, Ezekiel 18:20 speaks to it.

“The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.”

Our Christian faith is built on forgiveness. We were forgiven of all our past transgressions and sins when we asked Jesus into our heart. The slate was wiped clean for us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

We have to ask God personally to forgive our own sins. No one can ask God for us or on our behalf. Likewise, we can’t accept blame or responsibility for our ancestors or anyone else’s sins and we can’t ask God to forgive them. That’s between each person and God and whoever they wronged.

My grandfather was prejudice. I’m not accountable for his beliefs that I don’t share. I chose to NOT follow his example and raised my daughter to not be racist or prejudice as she is also raising her children. It only takes one generation to make a difference, positively or negatively.

Just like I don’t expect the generations of my father’s murderer to be responsible for his sin, we aren’t responsible for our ancestors past sins and it shouldn’t make us feel righteous trying to do the impossible to make amends for something we didn’t do. We shouldn’t feel we’re doing something virtuous because we aren’t.

What we can do, as I said in last week’s article, is ask God’s forgiveness if you’ve participated in racism, or any sin, either in your heart or actions. If you need to go to someone and ask for their forgiveness for your unrighteous behavior, do it.

Then ask God to guide you to where He wants you to be a source of peace and reconciliation between all people!

If we’re not part of the solution, we’re part of the problem. We certainly see many problems in our world today that we could help solve by intercession, prayer, and personal action.

Every morning I pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) Ask the Holy Spirit to help you envision what a Kingdom culture looks like from God’s perspective and then pray it infiltrates our world.

We need to realize that Satan’s goal is to divide us both as Americans and as Christians in any way he can. Race. Religion. Relatives. Relationships. Regions. And the Devil is using politics, media, and anarchists to achieve his goals.

Differences don’t need to divide us unless we let them. We have a choice.

How I Found Kingdom Peace Amidst Earthly Injustice

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Rom. 12:17-18 NLT

It’s easy to say we need to forgive but it’s so hard to do when the offense is egregious. The year after my father’s murder, I was invited to a church camp where a camp counselor sat on my cot and said, “I know you’ve lost your earthly father, but would you like a heavenly Father who will never leave or forsake you?” I accepted Jesus into my heart that day when I asked Him to forgive my sins.

I don’t think I ever intentionally “forgave” the man who murdered my father, but I was able to not let that tragedy define my life. I had peace in my pain. I grew up fatherless and my mother never worked. Somehow, someway, checks came in the mail I guess from his life insurance and maybe the Highway Patrol. I know the CHP did set up a fund for my sister and me to go to college.

Life wasn’t easy for us and we lived frugally, but God used those hardships to develop me into a woman He could use someday to be About His Work. It didn’t happen early in my life, but once I completely surrendered my will and my ways to Him, it’s been a joy serving my Lord and Savior. My ministry tagline is “Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness!” God has certainly given me many experiences to share of His faithfulness to all generations.

My mother sadly turned away from God after my father’s murder. She said no just God would ever do this to a man who was just trying to protect his community and her heart hardened toward God. I watched her physically, emotionally, and mentally deteriorate over the years. As I look back, she probably had a mental breakdown.

Only Jesus can heal a hurting grieving heart.

It was a tumultuous relationship with my mother, but I did eventually forgive her for the hurtful abusive years even though she never asked for my forgiveness. That’s what kingdom Christians do.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matt. 6:14-15 NLT

Will our country ever come to a place where we settle the past and move forward to the full potential of actually living again as the United States?

Only God knows and only God could bring that miracle to fruition. We can pray and hope!

 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Eph. 4:1-3 NLT

Last week, I asked you to send examples of Christians ministering during the riots and protests. I did receive the same video from several of you. It’s a beautiful example of what Kingdom culture looks like and what God can do when we answer the call He gives us to share the Gospel and help others find eternal life, the only life that really matters.

June 22, 2020
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Every Life Matters to God!

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I am appalled at the latest trend to make it politically and socially offensive to say that all lives matter. I’m even more appalled at how many Christians and pastors have taken up the Black Lives Matter movement mantra, even apologizing for the color of their own skin. That doesn’t help anything. It only exacerbates the division in God’s creation and says that God made a mistake when He chose to make us black, white, brown, yellow or whatever the color of our skin.

I want to preface this article with a point I made in last week’s blog I Only Bend My Knee to Jesus Christ and No Other! My family is diverse in skin color but unified in love. That’s how God wants us all to live in His universal family.

God hates all forms of racism. He cares about every human being because He made everyone in His own image, regardless of race, nationality, political persuasion, or birth status.

It is not racism to accept the way God made you; it is racism to think your skin color makes you more deserving than other skin colors.

All lives matter to God. Any pastor or Christian who renounces that statement is deceived, doesn’t understand the nature of God, or is bending to the liberal progressive social woke agenda that wants to revise and remake Christianity in their own image.

Like these comments by Southern Baptist President J.D. Greear:

“Southern Baptists, we need to say it clearly as a gospel issue: Black lives matter,” Greear said. “Of course black lives matter. Our black brothers and sisters are made in the image of God. Black lives matter because Jesus died for them.”

“And, oh by the way, let’s not respond by saying ‘all lives matter,'” Greear said.

I want to say clearly to Greear: The “gospel issue” is that all lives matter because Jesus died for everyone!

The church must not become so politically correct that they only say what the liberal mob tells them to say but not what God’s Word says.

Many churches and Christians are attempting to be worldly woke and not godly wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 3:19 NLT

God Cares About Everyone!

God loves and mourns all the black, brown, and white babies aborted every second. Their lives matter to God and should matter to all who turn a blind eye to their demise. Precious babies are killed before they have a chance to protest their treatment.

Statistics show that more black babies are aborted than are allowed to live! This breaks God’s heart and it should ours too! In 2016, black pastor Mark Burns in an interview bemoaned the fact that “abortion clinics” are “positioned strategically within urban communities” resulting in the abortion of “14 to 15 million black babies.”

Burns additionally explained that “you cannot declare ‘Black lives matter’ when black baby lives don’t matter.”

I would add that you can’t declare black lives matter when blacks are killing each other in Chicago and killing black policemen and there is no outrage! Why not?

Every police officer’s and first responder’s life matters to God!

Every military man and woman’s life matters to God!

Every civilian’s life matters to God!

Every child’s life matters to God!

Every elderly person’s life matters to God!

Even every criminal’s life matters to God because He wants to see all of us in heaven someday with Him.

You can’t name a person God doesn’t care about.

Any follower of Christ who doesn’t believe that God wants the best and cares about everyone, needs to read the Gospels and Epistles in the New Testament.

God confirms to me that I’m on track with the topic of my blog when I see other Christians with a similar message. I encourage you to follow Mario Murillo Ministries. Several days ago, Mario, who is Costa Rican, wrote an article “Christians Repenting for Being White.” Here are a few quotes but follow the link to read the entire article.

Something strange is in the neighborhood: Christians and preachers who have yet to repent before God for a. grieving the Holy Spirit; b. for preaching an artificial Gospel; or c. for their silence on abortion and sexual sin are, instead, repenting for being white.

Shame on these Christians who won’t pray right or repent correctly. What an offense to a heart-broken God Who is trying to save our nation, that you would engage in Pharisaical grandstanding, just to look ‘woke’ in the eyes of those we should never try to impress.

The only force that is able to save America is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The only love that can stop the crushing cycle of oppression and hatred is the love of God. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, now that you realize your need for repenting…for God’s sake, don’t repent for being white, repent for sinning against the Lord.

Repentance and Forgiveness

The only answer to the turbulence in our world is Jesus!

Sin is the root of racism, hatred, and lawlessness and that’s the “mantra” Christians should shout above all the noise. We have the answer. We know the cure!

Fairness and equal rights will never happen without a God-centered worldview. You can’t legislate or demand love of truth, equality, and righteousness.

Only God changes a hardened heart from hatred to hope.

Everyone has sin or omission to repent of, ask forgiveness from, and then choose to do better in the future. That’s what Christianity is all about. Admitting our faults and failures, repenting, and vowing to do better now and in the future.

We can’t change the past or a past that we weren’t responsible for, but we can show the love of Christ to everyone God puts in our path. You can only apologize and repent for what you’ve done personally. If there’s racism in your heart, ask God to remove it. If you’ve shown racism to someone, go to them and ask for forgiveness, but you can’t ask for forgiveness for someone else’s sin. Likewise, someone can’t forgive you for something someone else did.

Hanging on to anger and bitterness causes torment and turmoil but never solves the root problem.

What troubles me the most is that the church has been silent during the recent protests and riots. The early days of abolition started in the churches with blacks and whites working together. In the past, we would’ve seen groups of Christians and pastors on the streets not protesting but sharing the gospel, praying with those who are hurting, spreading the love of Jesus to counter the hate and destruction.

Since churches weren’t able to meet during the pandemic lockdowns, is it possible that God wants the churches to get out of their buildings and hit the streets?!

No one is worried about community spread it seems during the protests so churches can be missionaries among the masses. Mentoring, counseling, praying. Maybe they are and we don’t see them, but what a difference it will make if Christians are praying with protesters not chanting woke slogans. Again, it might be happening and if you know about it or participated personally, please let us know.

If you’re looking for affirmation and everyone to like you because of your choice of having a Jesus-eternal vision and not a world-cultural vision, you’re not going to find it. Even Murillo prefaced his article “Let me bid a fond farewell to some of you who will read this. Because after some of you read this, you will not read anything I write, again.”

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19

John 17:6 reminds us “‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word,’” Jesus was praying for His disciples.

We are His disciples today. God pulled us out of our worldly ways and gave us a new life in Christ and that’s the message of reconciliation He wants us to share with the world.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:17-19

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

More Thoughts

I want to add some words about Black Lives Matter. It’s a radical movement and organization. I encourage you to go to their website and see if you agree with their purpose and tactics. There are many other ways to affirm our black brothers and sisters without becoming part of a liberal activist, and often violent, “global” movement seeking division and power, not unity and peace. They’re worldly focused not God-centered and that’s always doomed to failure.

We can’t let Satan outwit and take advantage of us by using the manipulation tool of emotions to create a political strategy for power. Run everything by God and Scripture before you get involved.

I also want to share with you a blog from Natasha Crane, 5 Ways Christians are Getting Swept into a Secular Worldview in This Cultural Moment. I’m only going to quote a small part here, but I encourage you to read the entire article.

“Christians, we need to open our eyes to a very important fact: research shows that those committed to a biblical worldview are now a minority. This means that if everyone around you is jumping on a bandwagon of some kind, there’s a really good chance it’s not a bandwagon rooted in values consistent with a biblical worldview.

“Maybe that’s not the case in a given situation, but you won’t know unless you take the time to thoughtfully evaluate what’s going on and determine if this is a bandwagon a Christian should be on. If you don’t, you may unintentionally be espousing the values of a worldview in significant conflict with your own.

“How do we do a better job of being mindful of this?

“Carefully read statements of belief on the sites of organizations you support and promote. For example, before you champion the organization Black Lives Matter, be sure to read the statement of beliefs on their site (these reach far wider than a statement of black equality—their support for abortion, desire to “disrupt” the traditional family structure, and call to erase all gender lines are just a few of many concerns here).

“Before you donate, look at public financial statements to see where funds are being used. An organization’s statement of belief might be broad enough to not raise a red flag, but where the money goes speaks volumes.

“Don’t use hashtags until you understand where they originated, what they represent to the people who created them, and what they (likely) communicate to those around you.”

Continued . . .

June 15, 2020
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