Home Archives for praying scripture

Standing Triumphantly Against the Spirit of Deception

4

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the deception in the world today, sometimes even in the church. If you have the Holy Spirit living inside you, and every true Christian does, it’s easy to decipher the enemy’s attempt to deceive. Sadly, many are falling into Satan’s sly trap.

A favorite tool of the enemy is using words and semantics to hide evil. Here are some examples:

  • “Pro Choice” means pro-abortion. A woman choosing to have her baby never calls this “pro-choice.” She says, “I’m going to have a baby!” No baby chooses their own death
  • “Women’s Healthcare” is used to disguise abortion where one of the patients, the baby, always dies. Murder not healthcare.
  • “Trans rights.” Trans is a concocted word to describe a mentally ill or perverted man or woman who feels they have the right to impose their confusion or perversion on others. They don’t have that right.
  • “Immigrants” or “Undocumented” used to disguise illegals who broke into our country illegally.
  • “Calling Islam a religion.” Islam is a political deadly ideology whose goal is to wipe out Jews and Christians, and to replace the Constitution and rule of law with Sharia law.
  • “Democrat Socialism” is a soft word for Communism. They added “Democrat” so they could run as Democrats in elections. When they win, they’ll drop Democrat and destroy the Democrat party from within.

Democratic Socialists of America have officially adopted a radical platform that includes:

1. Abolishing the Senate

2. Granting full amnesty to all illegal aliens and noncitizens allowing them to vote

3. Replacing the President and Supreme Court with bodies subordinate to Congress

4. Defunding and destroying the Department of Defense, the Pentagon, and our military

5. Ending ICE and deportations allowing open immigration

6. Defunding the police

7. Government control over housing, industry, and private property

The deceived try to defend “Democrat Socialism” as taking care of the poor. Do you see anything about helping the poor in the above platform? Under socialism and communism, everyone becomes poor except for the elites in control of government and the money.

The Democrat Socialists’ plan is to destroy the Constitution and Bill of Rights and replace our Republic with a socialist state.

Already Mamdani, the Communist /Islamist NYC mayor, is calling for a 16% increase in his annual salary and a raise for other senior government officials while not providing any of the “free stuff” and “affordability and “progressive economic policies” he touted in his campaign.

Communists, Socialists, and Islamists lie and only the undiscerning believe them!

People my age lived through the threats of the cold war and Reagan’s famous “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall” between communist East Berlin and free West Berlin. We were taught in school America’s true history and the perils of communism, yet there are actually boomers today deceived by Communist propaganda.

America is no longer in a political battle between Democrats and Republicans. It’s a spiritual battle between good and evil.

The discerning and the undiscerning.

One side believes our rights come from God and government exists to protect us. The other side are atheists who do not believe in God but believe government is the highest power, their god, and your rights are whatever the people in charge decide to let you have.

Ronald Reagan famously and discerningly said, “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem!” Amen!

They can change the label: Socialist. Democratic Socialist. Communist. National Socialist. Fascist. Islamist. It all means the same thing: loss of individual rights and freedom.

Remember, NAZI stood for the National Socialist German Workers’ Party.

USSR stood for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Cuba was sold as a people’s revolution and became a communist dictatorship that generations of people risked their lives to escape.

The point is not that every socialist is Hitler, Stalin or Castro. The point is that every generation seems to produce another group of people who think THIS TIME they can give government enormous power and somehow human nature will be different.

It never is.

Discerning people know Socialism/Communism’s rudder is envy, jealousy, and the desire for power.

Lack of Discernment Fuels Conspiracies

Last week, during the preliminary hearing, we relived the horrors of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Much of the incriminating evidence presented against Tyler Robinson was known last year. Robinson’s confession in person, in letters, and texts. The rifle wrapped in a towel with his DNA. His own parents recognizing him in videos before and after the murder convinced him to turn himself in to the authorities.

Yet, since Charlie’s untimely and tragic murder, ridiculous deceptive conspiracy theories have been highly publicized and believed by the undiscerning.

Conspiracy theories are prevalent against Israel, Iran, Jews, Christians, Patriots, and just about anybody. Before Senator Lindsey Graham’s cause of death was even known, the media and social media was rampant with conspiracy theories.

And that’s the heart of most deception!

Lying, deceiving media that gives voice to the devil and people who should know better like boomers, Christians, bloggers, podcasters, and even pastors falling into the devil’s trap.

How Do You Resist the Spirit of Deception?

Resisting the spirit of deception requires vigilance, discernment grounded in God’s Word, and prayerful reliance on the Holy Spirit.

The Bible repeatedly warns believers about deception. From the earliest chapters, deception is portrayed as a tool of Satan, as seen when the serpent deceived Eve in Genesis 3, leading to humanity’s fall.

The Apostle Paul cautions in 2 Corinthians 11:3 that believers’ minds can be led astray from devotion to Christ, echoing the danger of subtle deception. Paul also instructs in Colossians 2:8 to avoid being taken captive by human philosophies or empty deception, highlighting the importance of grounding faith in Christ rather than worldly ideas.

Jesus Himself warns in Matthew 24:4-5 about false prophets who will mislead many, emphasizing the prevalence of spiritual deception. 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.“

The Holy Spirit is essential for discernment, as Jesus promises in John 16:13 that the Spirit will guide believers into all truth. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.“

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the Armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Tools to stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

Dave and I pray the Armor of God every morning. I’ve often said, I might not be alive today had we not started this spiritual practice when we were first married 33 years ago! I highly recommend you add it to your devotional time if you don’t already.

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

Sadly, many people you and I know have been devoured by CULTure. I hope and pray it’s not you.

Believers are instructed in 1 John 4:1 to discern whether information aligns with Scripture.
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.“

It’s important to remember though that even the Devil knows Scripture and people like James Talarico, the heretic running for Senate in Texas, has misused and misinterpreted Scripture. He actually is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which is not a church of God. 

My Faith Votes “Friday Five” on 7/10/2026 discussed the 226th General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approving a resolution supporting expanded access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender individuals and opposing state laws that restrict such treatments, particularly for minors. The resolution also builds upon the denomination’s recent approval of an amendment adding gender identity and sexual orientation to its constitutional anti-discrimination provisions, pending ratification by its presbyteries.

As Christians, right away your discernment antennae should go up not only against the deception of this denomination, but Talarico falsely portraying himself as a “Christian.”

Unfortunately, there is a growing challenge facing many churches today: whether we will stand on the unchanging truth of God’s Word or allow CULTural pressures to redefine what God has already established.

There’s no redefining or reinterpreting Scripture that plainly teaches God created mankind “male and female” and while every person is worthy of love, dignity, and compassion as one made in His image, we must also lovingly uphold His design for humanity.

The enemy delights in sowing confusion, division, and deception, but Jesus declared, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Jesus is our discerning guiding light to separate truth from the enemy’s lies.

Psalm 37:1-3 encourages us to . . .

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good;

Practical Steps to Stand Firm and Triumphant Against Deception

Prayer and Spiritual Warfare: Targeted prayers, especially during quiet or reflective times, can break the influence of deception. Prayers can include asking God to expose lies, dismantle strongholds of deceit, and protect your mind, will, and emotions from demonic influence. Seek the Holy Spirit’s intervention and clarity.

Scriptural Grounding Against Deception: Regular study of the Bible equips believers to recognize false teachings. Being rooted in God’s Word allows you to distinguish truth from lies, even when deception appears subtle or convincing. That’s why it’s vital that Christians read their Bible daily more than listening to the news or scrolling on social media, which can be so deceptive. 

It isn’t enough to sit in church on Sundays. If you’re not opening your Bible everyday . . . you will be ripe for deception. 

Nehemiah 6 illustrates how steadfastness, prayer, and discernment help resist manipulation and false accusations. Stop right now and read how Nehemiah stood firm against deception. I love the Book of Nehemiah. 

Renouncing Deception: Actively rejecting lies, false visions, or misleading influences through prayer and declaration strengthens spiritual protection. This includes renouncing any agreements with deception, whether knowingly or unknowingly, practically or even in your mind. I actually find myself denouncing lies in the name of Jesus that I hear on the radio or TV.

Walking in Love and Truth: Love for others and adherence to God’s truth serve as defenses against deception. By prioritizing Scripture over human opinions and worldly philosophies, believers maintain clarity and spiritual integrity.

However, some are so deceived, words will never change their mind. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. So earnest prayer is the hope they someday see the truth.  

Whether the deception is political, conspiracy theories, media propaganda, social media, or even in your family or church, this is no surprise to God. Numerous Scriptures warn us to depend on the Holy Spirit, not the CULTure of the world.

    Prayer to Stand Strong Against Deception

    Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I take a stand against any deception trying to take root in my mind, heart, and soul. I bind every lie and shatter every false vision sent to mislead me. Holy Spirit, search my heart and reveal any area where I have believed a lie, replacing it with Your unchanging truth. Please help me to always walk in discernment, love, and faith, protected by Your Word. Give me Your Words to use when standing firm against the evil of the enemy. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11) Amen

    Please leave a comment here.

    July 13, 2026
    Return to top of page

    The Devil Always Reveals What He’s Afraid Of!

    3

    On November 8, 2021, I wrote a blog, “They’re Coming for Our Children.”

    Well, “they’re” still coming for our children.

    Who are the “they”?

    Liberal left Democrats . . .

    Legislators. Congressional representatives. Governors. Sexual perverts. Rainbow, Trans, Drag cults. Sexual ideology (I don’t even want to honor it here with their initials). Woke. DEI. Schools. Teachers Union. Some teachers. Medical professionals. Surgeons. Hospitals. Doctors. Judges. Islamists. Socialists. Atheists. Liberal media. Sex traffickers. Perverts. Radical activists.

    They are knowingly, or maybe unknowingly, the devil’s pawns.

    They’ve become disciples of demonism.

    They’re advancing the devil’s agenda to destroy the minds and morals of pliable young children.

    They claim to want accountability for the Epstein files, while thousands of unaccompanied children were trafficked over the border and lost during the Biden administration!

    They campaign for the murder of children in the womb up through birth and babies surviving botched abortions are by law left to die in states like Oregon!

    They stump for the horrific sexual mutilation of children by the medical profession and in San Diego last week a judge literally forced a hospital to keep mutilating and destroying children’s lives. The epitome of demonism.

    They want young school age children exposed to X-rated books as young as kindergarten. A teacher in Nashville who didn’t want to read a mandatory “language arts curriculum” book about same-sex marriage to his first-grade class was reassigned to a lab position, even though he asked for a religious exemption which was denied.

    “The principal indicated that the belief in same-sex marriage is so fundamental to the language arts unit that Mr. Rivera could not possibly be permitted to teach in any portion of the unit, and therefore had to be removed from the first-grade classroom,” according to First Liberty who represented the teacher.

    In Florida, a school board voted to keep a graphic animal sex book on school library shelves and there are so many other examples of this in school libraries.

    How does any Christian teacher teach today without violating their Christian beliefs?

    You’ve probably seen disgusting video clips of gay and trans crossdressing teachers bragging about how they discuss their sexual preferences and liberal Trump-hating political beliefs with their young classes. Is DEI forcing schools to hire these radical teachers?

    CBN News broke the story about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth firing a FT. Bragg teacher who identifies as a “trans wolf” with the name ‘Lilith Deathhowl.’ Parents had been upset since early 2025 that administrators hadn’t taken action to remove the teacher after he engaged in “disturbing behavior” that involved dressing in feminine clothing in class, as well as wearing a dog collar with fetish tags and an animal tail.

    A letter from Liberty Counsel, which had been calling on the Department of Defense Education Activity to remove the teacher from the classroom, reported that the teacher had involved children in his sexual fetishes by:

    •     telling students he turns into a “wolf” at night – his fetish animal;
    •     directing them to howl like wolves;
    •     requiring them to call him by some of his online wolf character names;
    •     requiring his students to address him by inaccurate female names and pronouns;
    •     and telling the children he is “actually a woman” who “likes boys.”

    Parents reported that their children felt scared and anxious after the teacher flaunted his sexualized persona. One mother told Liberty Counsel that her daughter expressed fear, saying, “Mommy, I’m scared he’s going to come eat me,” referring to statements the teacher made about turning into a wolf at night. 

    School principals and teachers are encouraging children to walk out of school and become anarchists protesting ICE law enforcement.

    Teachers can’t talk about Jesus; but they can talk about perverted sex, fetishes, and politics to groom young children?!

    Why Are Our Children Under Attack By Satan?

    Answer: The devil hates God and children are created in God’s image. Christian families have the potential to produce little Christians, which Satan hates.

    The devil hates school choice!

    The devil is afraid the young are going to rise up and be a source of revival and his rival in America.

    So he’s killing them through abortion or drugs.

    Or destroying their bodies and minds with sexual identity confusion, fetishes, hormones, and mutilation surgeries.

    Addiction to electronics and social media.

    Radicalizing them to acts of violence, where they’re often killed.

    Suicide.

    Whether a Christian or not, discerning people know that a young child who isn’t old enough to live on their own, drive, buy alcohol, fill a prescription, even buy aspirin, vote, or get a tattoo or their ears pierced without parental permission, shouldn’t make decisions that medically and physically alter their bodies and reproduction capabilities for life.

    Yet the rainbow mafia, trans lobbyists, and advocates have convinced the left to champion not only tolerance of trans ideology, but encouraging and in some cases legally forcing, parents to let their children be castrated and mutilated.

    Big medicine saw the value of having a patient for life knowing that biologically a man cannot become a woman or vice versa no matter how many body parts you cut off or how many hormones you drug them with.

    God made us either a man or woman for life, but many people bought into the devil’s lie and used children as a demonic experiment that has destroyed the lives of millions of children, some of whom are now old enough to realize the damage they were allowed to do to their body and are winning malpractice lawsuits.

    That’s a wakeup call to the medical cash cow. Instead of raking in money for mutilating children, they’re now forced to pay. Money can never replace what these children have lost.

    Even the Plastic Surgeons Association is admitting that surgically mutilating children is a horrendous practice. The AMA also issued a statement recommending these surgeries be deferred until adulthood, but hopefully they too will adhere to President Trump’s executive order when he first took office to stop this medical malpractice on innocent children and fearmongering their parents into compliance.

    A plastic surgeon who trained at a major Manhattan hospital is now apologizing for failing to “speak up” after witnessing minors as young as 13 undergo “irreversible” gender surgeries.

    “As a father to three young children and as a physician who took an oath to do no harm, I failed to speak up, and I just want to thank President Trump for having more clarity on this,” Dr. Ira Savetsky said on “Fox & Friends.”

    Now he’s speaking up because the hospital he works at after pressure from President Trump’s threat to cut off funds is discontinuing their “Transgender Youth Health Program.”

    The doctor’s defense for not speaking up sooner: “You work so hard to get there… you don’t want to make waves.”

    Savetsky now questions the pressure families receive when their child questions their gender. “I can only imagine what the parents were going through. I mean, they’re told that their child is going to kill themselves if they don’t have these surgeries. They’re pressured, and what are you supposed to do? You’ve dropped everything to do the right thing for your child, and I think that, unfortunately, there was a lot of financial motivation with these institutions.”

    Dr. Savestsky knew transgender surgeries on children was wrong and went against his oath to do no harm but he didn’t want to jeopardize his own career. He was a coward. He didn’t speak up until President Trump made it easier for him.

    He and his profession are responsible for the children who after having their physiological system flooded with hormones and multiple surgeries commit suicide. Or turn violent and go on shooting sprees often being killed or killing themselves. No man should ever experience PMS nor a women become masculinized.

    God didn’t create us to try to become something we’re not.

    While liberals have imposed tolerance, affirmation, and acceptance, these children didn’t receive the qualified mental illness treatment and access to spiritual counseling they needed. It’s like instead of getting psychological and medical help for a child with anorexia, you instead let them starve themselves to death while affirming how great their deteriorating body looks. What doctor or parent would ever do that?

    This debate isn’t about hate—it’s about medical ethics, child development, and parental rights. Riley Gaines, an advocate for keeping men out of women’s sports, argues that doctors should help kids and parents navigate confusion with care and patience, not label them as “born wrong.” For many parents, that’s a reasonable line: protect children from irreversible decisions while they’re still growing.

    Kids deserve compassion and caution. Most families believe major medical interventions should wait until adulthood, with parents—not activists or institutions—making those calls. A serious issue deserves honest discussion, evidence-based medicine, well-documented research, and respect for families.

    Trans ideology must be treated as the demonic threat that it clearly is to everyone. There’ve been multiple shootings, including of family members, at the hands of transgenders.

    Other types of mind radicalization by a violent and assassination culture have seen young men recently committing heinous crimes, assassinations, and attempted assassinations. When we woke up this morning to the news that there was an intruder at Mar A Lago carrying a gas can and gun, I knew before I heard it that he would be young. He was 21!

    Satan sadistically laughs at violence and murders, especially those that take down children.

    Sadly, Christians often aren’t good at standing up for truth.

    Good people often tell truth poorly, while evil people tell lies well.

    After all, the liars are getting their marching orders from the father of lies!

    You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

    The Devil is Afraid of the Next Generation!

    Praise God, many in the next generation are going back to church and reading their Bible even as the devil is using the left to try and make it ugly for them, especially for Turning Point USA (TPUSA) kids. These kids have experienced the contrast of good and evil. They saw a 31-year-old man who was trying to rescue them from the devil’s grip assassinated by a young man with a trans, furry male lover.

    The devil’s attempt to stop Charlie Kirk’s ministry to youth has backfired.

    Justin Streiff, Chief Operating Officer for TPUSA, explains the evil TPUSA is encountering as they’re exponentially growing after the murder of Charlie Kirk. “That [ugly] has always come with the territory when you’re speaking truth deep in the belly of the beast… But this semester is different.”

    Then he shares what some of the kids have been experiencing in the most hostile semester they’ve ever faced…Satan is turning up the heat:

    From coast to coast, high school and college students who dared to stand for faith, freedom, and this great nation have been stalked, slandered, threatened, and in some cases — physically attacked. 

    All for saying what you and I know to be true: 

    That America is worth defending. That speech must remain free. That Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy meant something. 

    Despite the opposition — our students didn’t back down. 

    They didn’t run. They didn’t hide.  

    They showed up — earlier, louder, and stronger than ever before. 

    But not without cost. 

    TPUSA reports that in spite of all the harassment on campuses their students aren’t folding.

    They’re still tabling at campus events.  

    They’re still meeting after school — still recruiting, still growing.  

    They’re still passing out pocket Constitutions and American flags.  

    They’re still launching chapters in hostile territory — places where they’ve been told, outright, that they’re not welcome. 

    And while their peers stage “ICE Walkouts” and chaos in the halls… 

    Our students are gathering to pray — for their schools, for law enforcement, and for this nation — quietly around their school’s flagpole.  

    That’s because these students made a decision — the same decision Charlie challenged them to every day: “It doesn’t take skill to be courageous. It takes a choice.” 

    They chose courage.  

    They chose to stand for faith, freedom, and family. They chose to defend everything that makes this country worth fighting for.  

    They truly are the courageous generation.  

    TPUSA Kids & Those Like Them Make Satan Afraid!!

    Pray for the next generation to keep making Satan afraid and for them to stay strong against this enemy.

    To keep the faith.

    To remain courageous.

    To give Satan something to worry about!

    “Because demons long for bigger and more interesting prey — a meal they can play with for a while before devouring it. . . A nation that cannot say, “this is a baby and he deserves protection” will soon be unable to say, “This is a child and she [or he] deserves protection.”—Seth Gruber, White Rose Ministry

    Please leave a comment here.

    PS “The incident on February 22 at Mar a Lago isn’t just a security breach; it is a call to intercede for a broken world where hearts are often consumed by darkness. We find solace in knowing that while ‘the horse is made ready for the day of battle, victory rests with the Lord.’ Let us stand in the gap, praying for the families of the fallen, the mental well-being of our youth, and the continued ‘divine hedge of protection’ over our nation’s leaders and future leaders.” Prayer from a Facebook friend

    PSS If you have a struggling child in your life, my book Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents might help. The principles of praying Scripture that I discuss apply to boys too.

    February 23, 2026
    Return to top of page

    Can I Have a Word with You in 2026!

    3

    Here we are with the first Monday Morning Blog of 2026!

    There’s something special about the beginning of a New Year. Some say it seems like January is the longest month of the year, but for me, I cling to every new day of January because the rest of the year flies by so fast. January represents a new fresh start. Many people even set new goals or resolutions like going to the gym, eating healthier, walking more, losing weight, going back to school, or fill in the blank.

    A common goal for many Christians is to read the Bible in a year and to select a word to focus on for the year. God’s Word and a personal word. I do both and that’s what I’d like to challenge you with as we kick off this New Year.

    Words Matter

    Whether written or spoken, words are how we communicate. God created us that way and breathed His Words into His chosen writers to provide us with the timeless inerrant Word of God, the Bible, to communicate with us and guide our life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Fourteen times in the Bible, the Lord cautions us, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

    We should also choose wisely the words we speak, hear, and read. Words can communicate good or evil. They motivate or manipulate. Depict or deceive. Convey truth or lies. Facts or opinions. Help or hurt. Encourage or intimidate. Cheer or criticize.

    Here are some examples of how Satan has used words in our current culture for evil.

    • Killing a baby in the womb is “reproductive healthcare.”
    • Drugging and mutilating children’s sexual body parts is “gender-affirming care.”
    • Defining marriage as only between a woman and a man is “homophobic.”
    • Same-sex sexual relationships are “gay.”
    • Pretending to be the opposite sex is “trans.”
    • Men playing in women’s sports is “inclusive.”
    • Hiring on basis of skin color and gender is “DEI.”
    • Merit is “racist.”
    • Masculinity is “toxic.”
    • Godless evil is “woke.”
    • Incoherent deception is a “word salad.” An example of a deceptive “word salad” was used during the inauguration speech of the new Communist Muslim mayor in New York City, Zohran Mamdani—“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Anyone calling this out for what it really means—replacing American entrepreneurial freedom of democracy with socialistic dictatorial communism like in Venezuela—is labeled “Islamophobic.”
    • Christians crowning themselves as God’s chosen people is “Replacement Theology.”
    • The Christian church succumbing to secular culture is “Progressive Christianity.”

    I’m sure you could add many more to this list, but often Christians today are afraid to speak truth to lies because they fear the condemnation from man more than from God.

    God’s Word Is the Bread of Life

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

    Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

    In discussing John 6:35, our pastor gave the example of only opening your Bible on Sunday and maybe Wednesday night prayer meeting is like only eating a big meal on Sunday and maybe a snack on Wednesday, but no food the rest of the week. Our bodies would physically starve. Likewise, spiritual starvation occurs when we only partake of the Bread of Life, the Word of God, once or twice a week.

    It’s hopeful to see many churches and pastors, like our pastor, encouraging their congregations to read the Bible daily in a year, especially this year. Why do I say especially this year? Because the world is getting darker and darker as we approach the return of Jesus, and it’s vital we understand what the Bible says about it.

    We’re actually fortunate to live during the birth pangs of the end times. It won’t be scary or intimidating to believers if we have a firm faith foundation and understand God’s plan clearly explained and outlined in the Bible. Something you can’t fully appreciate by just reading a random Scripture. It’s important to see how the Old Testament is the foreshadowing of the New Testament and how all the puzzle pieces fall together in context as you reach Revelation.

    The Bible explains and foretells everything we’re encountering in the world today. There’s no reason to fear or worry when you know your role in history and how God wants you to live under all circumstances and in all seasons.

    I’ve read the Bible in a year numerous times and I’ve enjoyed reading different translations each year. Many of you have also read the Bible annually, but others might’ve only gotten as far as Lamentations or maybe even Isaiah and then put it aside as life happened. I want to encourage you to read it all the way through this year. We’re only five days in and you can catch up. It is doable. Here are some tips that have helped me.

    1. Have a designated time and place where you read your Bible daily and leave your Bible open in that spot.
    2. Even if you get behind, don’t lose heart. Catch up on the weekends, but keep going. It will get easier.
    3. Use a reading plan. I like YouVersion and CBN, but there are others and maybe your church is suggesting one. Our church handed out a plan for the year reading from the Old Testament and New Testament each day. Others like to include a Psalm or Proverb daily. Just pick one and get started.
    4. For the past two years, I’ve listened to the Bible using the CBN yearly plan. I asked for earbuds for my birthday and listen when I’m walking, at the gym, or doing household chores.

    It’s popular today to listen to Podcasts and I’m suggesting you listen to Godcast instead! In biblical times, church and temple leaders read the Scriptures from a scroll to the people. People didn’t have personal scrolls like we have personal Bibles today. The Scriptures were passed down by word of mouth and memorization.

    If you’re a highlighter or note taker, listening might not be as agreeable to you, but I think you’ll find it’s definitely doable to listen to the Bible in a year. I was out for a walk on December 31, 2025 when I shouted “Hallelujah” as I listened to the last words of Revelation 22 foretelling the return of Jesus.

    • Take the Read-the-Bible-in-a-year challenge with a group or a prayer partner so you can encourage and keep each other accountable.
    • Don’t spend a lot of time figuring out what to do. Just pick up your Bible and start at Genesis 1:1 and keep reading. God will bless your efforts and time in His Word!

    Here’s a portion of a testimony from Janet Marie Watson, an Idaho Facebook friend. She posted this on January 1, 2026, encouraging her friends to read the Bible in a year. Shared with permission.

    “Hi everyone. I hope you’re having a good start to 2026. I had to get on social media and say please remember to read your Bible. I have seen it change my heart and it changes my thoughts. Yesterday, I read the last portion of the 365 day Bible reading program I had last year. There is a thing we call discipline but I’m not sure this is as much a discipline as it is a determination. It doesn’t take long with daily portions. I read the whole Bible again. I have such a greater breadth to what I understand about God’s purpose and His larger picture. God has offered this to us as a personal gift.

    If I got a personal letter from a great leader, I’d be reading it. I am reminded of 1 John 3:1. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” . . .

    So find a program that gives you manageable portions to read each day. This year, I’m going back to one I’ve used before. It’s got a portion from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and the Proverbs for each day. I hope this prevents me from reading the plagues of Revelation the last few days of December. But if not, I’ll be ok. And like I said, it has changed me. The Epistles tell me how to conduct myself. How to temper my heart. And after about 13 yrs of reading the Bible through each year, there are portions that jump into my consciousness when I am tempted to be things I should not be.

    What’s Your Word for 2026?

    Starting in 2018, I began praying for God to give me a word for the year. A word that would glorify Him and transform me into the woman He wanted me to be. A word to guide my personal interactions, my writing, my thinking, and my spiritual growth. Not an easy word or one I was already good at, but one that would challenge me and cause me to delve deeper into my heart and soul seeking God’s help to live out.

    For example, I’ve never been a patient person so one year I chose the word “grace.” I wanted to be more grace-filled and less self-filled. A friend gave me a cross necklace with the word “grace” on it. I wore that necklace daily. Grace was such a difficult word for me that I actually kept it for two-years, but I haven’t mastered it yet. I still wear the necklace.

    As I was praying about my 2026 word, I read James 1:3-4 NLT in the closing days of my 2025 devotional. “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

    That word “endurance” struck a chord in my heart. My husband Dave had three major surgeries within a year. I became his patient advocate, caregiver, and maintainer of our home. There were times I didn’t think I had the energy or stamina to keep going, but God and love help you do what you think you can’t do. My endurance was tested, but God and love kept me going. I want endurance to come easier in 2026. While I almost chose “love” as my word, I realized that love fuels endurance so love will grow as I seek to endure well.

    How about you?

     Do you choose a word for the year and a Scripture to go along with it?

    Are you going to read or listen to the entire Bible this year?

    What worldly words are you going to stop using or stop letting influence your thinking and emotions?

    I’d love to hear your answers. Just hit reply and share.

    PS: January 2025, I shared that I was praying every morning with Pastor Jack Hibbs’ 5:00 AM PT Lift Scripture Prayer time. He recorded daily on Facebook Live, YouTube, and several other places so you could listen anytime and leave prayer requests while praying for others. I only missed a couple mornings all year.

    Pastor Hibbs felt the Lord leading him to do this for only one year, but one of the daily prayer partners who he called “Mr. Faithful,” James Choy, is carrying on the Morning Prayer time for 2026. You can find him @ 5AMBondservant on Facebook and Instagram if you would like to join us praying every morning. You’ll be blessed for sure.

    Please leave a comment here.

    January 5, 2026
    Return to top of page

    5 Prayers When You Need Peace and Calm

    0

    We’re living today in what seems like constant chaos. If you’re aware of current events, you know it feels like evil is overtaking good. Every news cycle carries another tragedy or escalated war both abroad and here in our own beloved country. It can seem overwhelming and depressing because it might seem like Satan has the upper hand, but as Christians, we know that Satan is the temporary ruler of earthly chaos and Jesus Christ is the eternal heavenly Prince of Peace.

    We do live in a fallen world that thrives on keeping us fearfully treading from one crisis to the next. It seems like every morning we wake up to a new peril: Covid variants, alarming statistics, recession, inflation, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, riots, anarchy, plane crashes, senseless horrific murders, wars, violence, antisemitism, political clashes, protesters . . . even the threat of the enemy attacking us from within with all the unvetted illegals allowed to cross into our country.

    In unsettling times, by the time I finish writing this article, there will probably be a new tragedy. But as Christians, we must remember that at all times we can find our peace in the presence of the Lord. He is the only effective cure and antidote to treat and temper the contagious epidemic of fear and evil we see all around us today.

    Sensational media headlines keep us stressed, agitated, and fearful because fear-fueled news sells. Press-induced or politically motivated panic will stoke more pandemic fear and consequences than the source of the crisis. Stay current with pertinent news that might affect you personally, but don’t overwhelm yourself reading everything written on the internet or listening to multiple “news” programs. Find trusted truth tellers that will give you facts not opinions.

    Then there are our own financial, physical, relational, health, and personal crises that often catch us by surprise and strike terror into our heart. We feel helpless as events seemingly spin out of our control.

    Fear is a powerful human emotion that can cause us to respond inappropriately or motivate us to take positive action.

    Or fear has the ability to paralyze us from taking any action. Fear can even stop us from turning to God, our Rescuer, who knows every personal and world disruption we will face. His timeless Word, the Bible, has all the answers and antidotes to keep us calm, cool, and collected. God assures us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

    We want to trust God but there are times when peace eludes us. We’re worried and anxious. We don’t want to be brave this time. Then God reminds us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

    Courage is Fear that Prays and Calls on God.

    I’m going to do something different this week and offer five prayers I hope will help you faithfully transcend from panic to peace. I prayed these prayers myself as I wrote each one out for you in first person to personalize and provide Scriptures to also pray.

    1. Take Your Worries to the Lord

    Lord, I know that Satan created the spirit of fear, anxiety, doubt, and worries to torture and entrap my mind and rob me of my joy, peace, and sleep. When what-ifs wake me in the dark of night, please help me to denounce Satan and remember 1 Peter 5:7 where you say internal peace is as simple as casting all my anxiety on you because you care for me. I am comforted that you see into the depths of my heart and the intricacies of my mind where unhealthy fears dwell. You already know what’s troubling me, but you want to hear me share my concerns with you to release the stronghold grip they have on my thoughts and emotions.

    Father, I trust that you don’t want me to waste a moment of my life fretting. Please calm my racing heart and fill my troubled mind with hope and my spirit with peace. Assure me that no weapon formed against me will prosper and you have a plan and a purpose for me in this time of turmoil. Show me your ways Lord and grant me the courage to follow where you lead. Amen

    “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

    “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

    2. Believe God Hears Your Prayers

    Lord, it saddens me that many people don’t understand the power of prayer and even mock me for taking my worries to you in prayer. So I pray first for those who do not believe in you. Where is their hope? I’ll admit that sometimes you seem silent when I so desperately want to hear from you. It’s torture waiting on you, and yet I will wait because I know my prayers are not in vain.

    I don’t know if the latest crisis will affect my family or me, but you are omniscient Lord, so I pray that you will spare us. But if fallout touches any of my loved ones, please comfort them with your healing balm. Sometimes our own choices can put us at risk. So Lord, I pray that we would all be judicious in our actions and interactions. I can remain in perfect peace because I put my future in your capable hands. Amen

    “You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’” Lamentations 3:57

    “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.” Proverbs 3:5-6

    “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
        will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
    This I declare about the Lord:
    He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
        he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT)

    3. Pray with Expectancy and Anticipation

    Lord, as I pray with confidence and great expectation, I anticipate your gracious answers to my prayers. When I remember your faithfulness to all generations, excitement and eagerness replace concern and discouragement. Please help me to remember that doubt and faith can’t coexist in my heart. If I’m doubting or anxious, my shield of faith has slipped.

    God I know that you’re looking at the big picture and I can only see a small glimpse distorted by my confusion and perspective. I realize that having faith doesn’t mean there won’t be setbacks or difficult times, but if I’m going to enlist your mighty powers, then I must prayerfully trust that your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray for a miracle of your design.

    Your answer isn’t always what I want to hear, or the option I was hoping for, but whatever it is I will give you the glory because regardless of the outcome, my eternity is with you. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus Christ enduring the brutal cross for victory over our sins and sicknesses and I claim that victory in my life and for my loved ones. Amen

    “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.” James 1:6

    Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

    “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10

    4. Remain Wise and Discerning

    Lord, I want desperately to take your Word to heart, but a tsunami of negativity and fear engulf me. My thoughts wander to worse case scenarios. I need your insight to diligently untangle truthful facts from embellished hysteria. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in filtering out what I should avoid listening to or considering.

    Infuse me Lord with discernment and wisdom. Give me clarity of mind and heart. Guard my mouth that I don’t spread gossip or hearsay to alarm others. Help me to exhibit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Like the apostle Paul, may I learn the secret of being content in all circumstances, knowing that I can do all things through you who gives me strength to fulfill your desires. Praise you Lord, Amen

    “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” Proverbs 1:5

    “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.” James 1:5

    “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6

    5. Look for Opportunities to Comfort Others

    Lord, we won’t live in a perfect world until we join you in heaven. This current situation won’t be the last crisis for the world or for me. I can’t outrun, outpace, outdo, outsmart, outlive . . . trouble. It has a way of popping up even in the good and prosperous seasons in the culture, my life, and the lives of those around me.

    Lord, quiet my raging emotions so that I can be a beacon of healing love and peace to those in my sphere of influence who are overwhelmed by panic and fear. Please help me memorize John 14:1 to share with others who ask me where my peace comes from: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” These are the words that your Son Jesus Christ spoke to His disciples to comfort them and they also give me comfort when I don’t know how the story ends. Use me Lord as your disciple to bring healing to a hurting world. I love you Lord, Amen.

    “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

    “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

    After You’ve Prayed . . .

    Taking recommended and reasonable steps to protect yourself and your loved ones will give you a sense of control that helps to manage uncertainties. Prudently, continue your normal activities that typically bring you joy. Healthy coping mechanisms like exercise, rest, eating properly, reading your Bible, staying connected to friends and family, and listening to praise music can help soothe frazzled nerves. If you have medical anxiety, contact your doctor.

    “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

    Please leave a comment here.

    June 16, 2025
    Return to top of page

    Let’s Celebrate June as “Life Month”

    3

    I’ve always looked forward to June as the official kickoff of my favorite summer season. But like many of you, I’ve found myself dreading being inundated and assaulted with a fringe activist group trying to force their choice of lifestyle on the public. Pride parades and rainbow flags mock and jeer at the very God who withholds his righteous judgment on the earth.

    The entire gay/trans agenda is about attempting to normalize perverted sexual desires and actions taken out of bedrooms and flaunted in streets, stores, commercials, entertainment, media, government, sports, schools . . . culture. “Gay” or “trans” has become such a part of culture that many intelligent people have disassociated it from what it actually is all about, SEX!

    Terms like gay, trans, and even pride make the perverted sexual movement sound mild and neutral, which is their goal. How many people would be comfortable having heterosexism indecently displayed in public on flags and paraded down the streets? Why then do we tolerate homosexual displays?

    Most people have just closed their eyes and ears, taken a big gulp, and bought into the lie that they have to smile and “tolerate” lewd sexual immorality. Any pushback called “hate” or “intolerance.” Well, God does hate this behavior. He doesn’t tolerate sin, and if you’re a Bible-believing Christian, you shouldn’t either. We don’t have to tolerate perversity.

    The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Pr. 8:13

    We show love to our own families, friends, congregants, and culture when we help people choose a lifestyle pleasing to God. When we go along with pride in sexual perversity, we’re going counter to God.

    Every family encounters prodigals of some sort, but that doesn’t make their ungodly choices right just because they’re our children, friends, or family members. We acknowledge that their behavior is sinful and wrong and passionately pray for them to find their way to God or back to God. If we truly believe in heaven and hell, we want our children and family in heaven with us. If they’ve chosen sin, whatever it might be, they’ve chosen hell. It breaks our hearts, but it breaks God’s heart even more.

    Long before June was designated as sin month, June 2 has been the day for 24 years that thousands of people from around the world join in a day of prayer for those who are walking away from God, their families and making destructive choices. We don’t celebrate prodigals, we pray for their eyes to open and turn from their wicked ways so why would any Christian participate in pride activities except to evangelize in love.

    An encouraging headline jumped out at me as I was preparing to write this blog. “Boise Pride Season Kickoff canceled due to low attendance.” I first saw the article on Idaho Liberty Dogs Facebook page. Their introduction to the post read, “Shout out to those of you who stood with us last year to protest Nampa Pride “all ages event” and exposed the public nudity that occurred around the presence of children. This is a win! Thank you and congratulations!!!”

    So many things to unpack from this, but the one that stands out the loudest to me is that moral common sense citizens stood up against the lewd perversion and public sexual exposure openly flaunted and even celebrated on the streets of Idaho. We can make a difference when we’re brave enough and bold enough to speak out against sin and satan.

    Yes, satan! Only deceived and demonized people would think a public display of perverted sex would be acceptable to God or Jesus. Yet, sadly, there are churches and so-called “Christians” who proudly fly the perverted sex flag in the name of inclusivity, which actually excludes the God they profess to worship.

    Why do I say “so-called?” Because no Bible-believing Christian can read Scriptures like the following and think a perverted sinful lifestyle is okay with God. God loves everyone, but he doesn’t love sin. He wants everyone to repent from sin, turn from their wicked ways, ask for forgiveness and repent. That’s what love does. God doesn’t want anyone going to hell, but the road to heaven is narrow and few actually choose it.

     Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-10

    “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt, 7:13-14

    Remember the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? According to Genesis 19, the sin involved homosexuality. The very name of that ancient city is where the term sodomy derives: “copulation between two men, whether consensual or forced.” Clearly, homosexuality was part of why God destroyed the two cities. The men of Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to perform homosexual acts on what they thought were two men.

     “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Lev. 18:22

    26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Roman 1:26-28

    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23

    Why June Is “Life Month”

    When you look at the above Scriptures how many of you would tolerate a month dubbed “Thieves Month”? Or “Adulterer’s Month”? Or “Pornography Month”? Or “Murderers Month”? Or “Drunkards Month”? So why would anyone, especially Christians, even use the term or acknowledge “Pride Month” when God hates pride, especially when it represents a sexual sin He calls an abomination.

    I’ve heard suggestions to rename June Veteran’s Month or Family month and those are good ideas too, but here’s why I’m in favor of calling June Life Month.

    A commentary by Owen Strachan in The Washington Stand, “June Is Life Month, Not Pride Month,” Owen wrote:

    “From many angles, the entire tone of June in America has shifted. It is one of aggressive approval of a heart attitude that the Word of God rebukes in no uncertain terms: pride. To be proud in one’s natural instincts and desires is to go against God at full velocity. It is to put oneself under certain threat of eternal judgment. Sin, after all, is at base nothing other than pride — it is choosing one’s way over God’s way, and one’s instinctual desires over God’s eternal truth. How we Christians should tremble and pray for all who exult in Pride Month. How we should reach out to them, and proclaim Christ in love to fellow sinners just like us.”

    As Christians, we should be commemorating and celebrating that in June 2022, the U. S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. God decided to strike Roe down in the very middle of Pride Month! Think about that. As Owen Strachan says, “What a rebuke! What an otherworldly intervention. . . believers should celebrate genuinely God-given victories. We who are saved by grace would be ungrateful children indeed if we did not honor this great outcome in the public square, one akin to the ban on slavery in Wilberforce’s day. Toward that end, here’s my encouragement: all through June, celebrate “Life Month.””

    Yes, God is love and God loves life! He created life and we should celebrate that especially as Christians!

    When my grandson was only nine years old, he could see that God was against homosexuality because “there would be no people.” He understood at that young age that a man and woman having sex together created life, something two men or two women together cannot do because that wasn’t God’s plan for sex or proliferating the earth.

    Many homosexuals and male women imposters have experienced trauma, difficult family dynamics, or mental illness. They’re searching for love and acceptance literally in all the wrong places. Young people are groomed and radicalized on TikTok. This is tragic.

    A generation is throwing away their future by trying to be something God never intended for them to be. They believe the lie that they would be happier if they could just become another gender or find their significance and identity by pretending they’re something they’ll never be. They’re broken people with damaged lives, and the Gospel is the only answer to the void in their hearts they’re trying so desperately to fill. They need Jesus. They need to know that they’ll find their identity and self-worth in being the best man or woman God created them to be.

    We need to be Christians who share the truth with them in love. Pray for the lost and show them a better way of living. Pray diligently for anyone living a lie to seek spiritual and psychological counseling.

    Neil Mamann of Values Advocacy Council says, “In my conversations with former homosexuals, many shared that what kept them from hearing the Gospel was being told they were going to hell simply for being gay. What ultimately led them to Christ, however, was hearing the Gospel from people who, while never condoning their sin, genuinely cared for them and shared that Jesus loved them. After coming to faith, they came under conviction and chose to leave that lifestyle.”

    So, I encourage you not to be silent this month. Don’t be intimidated or threatened by a pagan culture. Don’t go along to get along. You’ll never find that acceptable in the Bible. The most loving thing you can do for all people is to share the Gospel loud and clear and pray that many who have been deceived by satan’s message of deception and lies will hear God’s message of love and forgiveness not just in June but every day until Christ’s return.

    I hope you’ll celebrate June as Life Month. Look for opportunities to counter evil with good!

    “The gospel needs to go to the place where it is the least welcome.” Pastor Gabriel Render

    PS I was confirmed about writing this blog when I prayed this morning with Pastor Jack Hibbs on his daily LIFT prayer June 1, 2025. You can listen here and join us every morning on Facebook or YouTube.

    If you have a prodigal or know someone who does, you will find Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents applicable to daughters, sons, and grandchildren.

    Please leave a comment here.

    June 2, 2025
    Return to top of page

    Have a “Meaningful Memorial Day!”

    0

    I remember as a kid going to the cemetery every Memorial Day to put flowers and flags on my father’s grave, a World War II veteran, and on other soldier’s graves. There was always a ceremony. I don’t know how much that tradition continues today. It should. Our small town has a memorial wall at the park where people can purchase and place a brick in memory and honor of a local Gold Star family’s fallen soldier. There’s also a ceremony in their remembrance.

    Memorial Day is often “celebrated” as the beginning of summer, with a day off, BBQ’s and parties. But it’s actually a very solemn day to pay tribute to and mourn members of the military who died in service to their country. It’s a deeply personal day for many Gold Star families who lost loved ones in military service. It’s a day to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the country they loved.

    If you’re a Gold Star family, Memorial Day is truly a personal day of remembrance of your loved one and an ache in your heart that never completely goes away but may soften with time . . . or not.

    As we honor the life of brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, instead of saying “Happy Memorial Day,” can I suggest it’s more appropriate to say, “I wish you a Meaningful Memorial Day.”

    National Law Enforcement Appreciation Month and Memorial!

    May is also the month to honor those who lost their lives protecting us from harm domestically. The entire month of May is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. May 15th is National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15 falls is National Police Week.

    Far too often, we hear Police Chiefs tearfully making statements like, “We’re heartbroken to make this announcement of the shooting of three of our officers. We ask for your support and prayers for our fellow officers and their families as we try to cope with yet another tragic event in our police family.”

    I understand the toll this job can take on the officers and their families. I was so proud of my handsome father when he put on his California Highway Patrolman uniform and badge. Until the morning I woke up to wails and sobs coming from our living room filled with people. Even as a ten-year-old, I knew intuitively my father was gone. When he kissed me goodbye as he left for work that evening, it would be the last time I ever saw him alive. A reality our family lived with every day, but one we never thought would happen to us, until it did.

    The job of a peace officer is to run toward danger, at the risk of his or her own life, to save and protect strangers. It once was a noble respected profession, but today’s culture has come to expect that many will die senselessly. Their death barely makes the local news.

    President Trump is changing that when last week he awarded the new “Medal of Sacrifice” to the families of three fallen Florida police officers. “Congressman Brian Mast has introduced a bill to ensure this new medal will be awarded to any law enforcement officer or first responder who gives his or her life in the line of duty,” President Trump said.

    “For the first time in our nation’s history — all of our first responders, all of our law enforcement, all of our firefighters — we’re going to recognize that sacrifice from the office of the presidency,” said Congressman Mast. “And that has never taken place before.”

    We can also honor all police officers by using respectful words when talking about and to them. Pray when you see police officers patrolling or a police car on the road. Don’t pray for yourself that they don’t pull you over, but pray because you don’t know what awaits them the next time they make a traffic stop. When you hear a siren, pray. We never know when we, or our loved ones, might be the life they’re rushing to save.

    Four Prayers for Police Officers and Their Families

    Prayer for Protection

    Lord, we don’t know why You implant in the hearts of brave men and women to choose a profession that requires walking into danger and putting their life on the line to stop lawlessness and crime. You’ve given them a willingness to enforce the law to protect the communities where they serve. Are they fearless? Unintimidated? Thrill seekers? Or do they truly love their neighbor more than themselves and want to do their part in justice for all?

    Only You know for sure, Lord, what motivates them, but we do know they need a band of angels surrounding them with a hedge of protection. Lord, they face evil and the dark side of life every day. They see the worst of people and people at their worst. Their work tools are weapons. We pray Lord for their safety as they walk up to a car or house or unknown situation never knowing what danger awaits them. If they know You Lord, remind them to say their own prayer of protection and ask You to intervene against any foe. Perhaps something like David prayed, “I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!” (Psalm 1:7 NLT).

    When they emerge safe and victorious, Father, as David did when he was rescued from Saul, give them a heart to give You the glory. If they don’t know You as their Savior, become real to these officers. Let them know You took the bullet for them. Amen

    “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” (2 Samuel 22:31 NLT)

    Prayer for Wisdom and Guidance

    Lord, police officers’ days are filled with uncertainties and unknowns as they make quick and often life-changing or life-threatening decisions. Help them to be wise and invoke all their training and experience before moving or speaking. When they have the opportunity to investigate a situation before taking action and engaging, give them patience not to rush to judgement or anger. If they discern a quick decision or movement is required, direct them to move swiftly but safely. If they need to wait for back up or ask for help, don’t let them be prideful or rash but consider the best outcome for everyone involved.

    For those who have a relationship with You, remind them that You’re always there for them, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5 NLT).

    Guide them with their conscience and their code of conduct. Help them remember the protocol and give them the courage to do the next right thing for the best outcome. When they need to take orders from their chain of command, give them humble but steady hearts and guard their words.

    Give them compassion when they determine there is no ill intent but also a keen awareness for deception. Remind them that they may not have all the evidence to make a final decision. Help them to see the good in people, and don’t let their hearts become hardened and calloused by the deceit and dark-side of life they encounter daily. Amen

    “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” (Psalm 119:125)

    Prayer for Their Families

    Father, You’ve graciously given two families to every police officer: their personal family and their professional family. To their personal families, please give strength to endure the demanding schedule of a police officer. Provide understanding and flexibility for the times when their officer isn’t available for special occasions.

    Instill the family with compassion when he or she doesn’t want to talk about their work and give the family intuition to know when their officer needs the space to decompress when returning home. May the family never minimize the significance of a police officer’s work. Let home be a place of solace when he or she returns safely but perhaps scarred by what they’ve seen and experienced.

    Lord, it takes a special kind of love and patience to live with police officers. Remind the family members to pray for their officer daily and to let him or her know they’re prayed over, appreciated, and loved. Help family members to be alert and responsive when their officer is showing signs of stress, overwork, and trauma and encourage them to seek help. Likewise, Father surround the family with those who will notice the tenuous relationships that can develop within the family members.

    Father, these precious and brave families make sacrifices few understand. Fill their homes with love, peace, joy, grace, and closeness because they support a police officer even at their own sacrifice.

    Lord, every officer also has a close work family bond. They’re a team who have each other’s back and depend on one another for support, encouragement, skill, and camaraderie in facing the challenges of the job. Lord, bring unity and synergy to these men and women as they guard each other’s lives while working together to keep the streets of their communities safe and free of crime.

    “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

    Prayer for Mourners of Those Lost in the Line of Duty

    Father, there are no more heart wrenching screams than, “Officer down.” Except perhaps the torment of a family opening the door to see two fellow officers of their officer standing with grim faces and tears welling in their eyes as the family falls to its knees with guttural shrieks, “No God, please no!” Or maybe You hear them wailing, “Why God, how could You do this when they were only trying to protect our community?” “Lord, where were You when they were dying?”

    Lord, how does anyone comfort this family? Like Jeremiah they wail, “My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken” (Jeremiah 18:18 NLT). There are no human answers to satisfy or soothe their agonizing wounds of grief, anger, and sorrow. Only You can Lord. Psalm 147:3 assures, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  Psalm 34:18 NLT confirms, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

    We beg of You to surround them with love. Bring others to their side who’ve experienced their pain and understand the deep ache in their heart to pray with and for them. Keep away those who patronizingly tell them everything will be all right, because for this family, it will never be all right again.

    Father, You know the fellow officers who mourn with the family, especially those who were with the fallen officer. Remove the repeated nightmares of asking themselves what they could’ve done differently or why wasn’t it them in the coffin. Lord, You know that the death of their fellow officer will always haunt them and the memory will never fade. Father guide them to the help they need to recover from what they’ve seen and don’t let it cause division among the unit or place any in danger with fear and hesitancy. Guide them in keeping their focus on work when they’re on duty and help guard their minds from the “what-ifs” when they try to sleep at night. Help them rest and renew their resolve to do their job to the best of their ability.

    Father, we know You mourn with these families. Give them whatever they need. Walk beside them Father. If they know You as their Lord and Savior, draw them into Your embrace and fill them with a peace that passes all understanding. For those who don’t know You, open their eyes to seek You, the only source of relief from their anguish. Let them feel Your presence grieving with them. Your tears. Your hugs. Your love. Amen

    Note: I want to thank all of you who prayed for my husband and me while Dave went through another major spine surgery six weeks ago. I’ve been busy caretaking for him so you may have noticed there were no Monday Morning Blogs. Hopefully, I can get back to writing, but I will be discontinuing my About His Work Ministries Newsletter that appeared on the last Monday of the month.

    Please leave a comment here.

    May 26, 2025
    Return to top of page

    Praying for President Trump: A Call to Action

    3

    As you read this blog, you may be getting ready to watch President Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, or maybe you’ve already watched it. Regardless, history is being made as he becomes only the second president in United States history to win non-consecutive terms as we launch into a new era that Trump has called the “Golden Age.”

    Most of us would agree that the past four years have been hard, but we made it. I personally can see many reasons that God had President Trump wait until this year to reenter the White House and perhaps I will save that for a future blog. Today, I want to do something a little different and suggest a call to action to pray for success, protection, and wisdom for our new President and all those who will be serving our country with him and his family who love and support him. So, pray with me please and feel free to add any prayers the Holy Spirit brings to your mind in the comments.

    Dear Heavenly Father,

    We come together today using these humble written words and Your Words to praise You and pray for newly elected President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, cabinet members, and additional staff who will be serving the American people in the federal government. And we pray for all their families.

    Father, You tell us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 that You command us to pray for those in authority because it is vital to the success of any leadership, and we want this administration to be successful. You say, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

    As Your followers who want to live peaceful and quiet lives, we pray that our national, state, and local governments would rule with godliness and holiness and seek You always for wisdom, guidance, and discernment in governing.

    The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. Ps. 33:10-12

    So first, we pray that President Trump, his advisers, cabinet, and team would look to You, Lord, as they make and execute their plans for our Nation. That they would humbly and patiently seek Your will and not their own. We trust Father that if they would simply ask You will help them with all the decisions and policies they will be making, changing, or discarding. The king’s [President’s] heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. (Pr. 21:1)

    For those, Lord, who refuse to seek You, we pray for their removal from positions that would inflict anything on constituents which goes against Your Word and Your will. We especially pray for eyes to open and hearts to break for the imperative need for righteous protection of the unborn. The removal of evil teaching policies and sexual grooming in the education of our children and grandchildren and that You, Lord, would be brought back into our schools along with a patriotic love for our country. We pray that marriage and sex would be governed as you designed in creation and not as man has “reimagined” and distorted it.

    Lord, Your Word tells us in Proverbs 29:2 that, When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Lord, we have been groaning now for four years under a heavy burden of wickedness and unrighteousness with evil, lies, and injustice in our government. We identify with Old Testament people as they vacillated between bad and good judges and kings. We praise You and give You gratitude for hearing the pleas of over 77 million Americans who voted for a return to civility, common sense, and biblical principles and values in our country as our founding fathers envisioned in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

    We praise You, Lord, that there are some godly people now in positions of authority. We pray not only that they would not bend or break in their devotion to You in all their actions, decisions, words, and policies, but that they would also be a witness of the power of Jesus Christ in their life as they serve along some who may not know you personally. Let the faithful never be afraid to share that their hope, strength, and power originates from You, Lord. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matt. 10:32-33)

    Please let each official who knows You as his or her Savior remember Your counsel to live by and govern with a biblical worldview and be ready to explain the reasons why. 1 Peter 3:15-16 advises how to do this.  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

    We pray Lord that You will protect President Trump from physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual harm. We know that the worst of all the world’s enemies is Satan who prowls around like a roaring lion night and day looking for someone to devour. We’ve watched satanic evil target President Trump in assassination attempts to take his life and lawfare to falsely slander and imprison him. Yet still he has prevailed. We see in his words that he understands it is You, God, who has saved him physically, and we pray he is saved spiritually. Let all the attempts of the evil one against President Trump, his family, his cabinet, and his team bounce off their shields of faith and boomerang back on the assailants. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph. 6:16

    Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Pr. 30:5 NLT

    Franklin Graham reminds us that, “As we pray, remember above all that our hope is in the Lord, not men. Only [You] God can save souls and only [You] God can bring revival to the nation—a moral and spiritual transformation that brings stability, true peace and God’s blessings.”

    Oh Lord, You never fail and You always achieve Your good and rightful purpose. Let us be people who continue to pray for our president and government not just on Inauguration Day, but every day. Even when we can’t see clearly what You’re doing, You tell us to partner with You in praise, prayer, and purpose. So, we now humbly submit and commit to You that we will do just that to the best of our ability. We will give You all the praise and glory for the blessings You have given each of as American citizens currently and Heavenly citizens for eternity.

    “We have no King but Jesus.” John Adams

    If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14)

    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer. 29:11-13

    Amen

    If you would like to add a prayer thought or leave a comment, please click here.

    January 20, 2025
    Return to top of page

    What Does It Mean to Vote Biblically?

    5

    The 2024 election is quickly approaching on November 5th. Some of you may have already started early voting and good for you! For those who are still considering who to vote for and how to vote on your state bills, I wrote this blog for you.

    I’m in leadership as an Idaho Area Coordinator for My Faith Votes. On our website, we offer a Pledge to Vote Your Biblical Values. I encourage you to take that pledge to vote in every election, be an informed and prayerful voter, and pledge, “As a Christian, I commit to voting for candidates and policies that uphold the sanctity of life, the traditional family, religious liberty, and justice for all. I believe that my biblical values should guide my choices at the ballot box, ensuring that our nation’s laws and leaders reflect God’s truth and righteousness.”

    When we encourage everyone to vote their “biblical values,” that can mean different things to different people. It shouldn’t because according to Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ and the Word of God is timeless and universal. Unchanging. The Bible clearly states what we should champion and support or reject with our vote. By definition, our biblical values are based solely on Scripture and should reflect our biblical worldview.

     All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT

    We typically rely on instruction manuals, Google, or YouTube for how to use appliances, automobiles, take medication, operate machinery or technology, find destinations . . . the list is endless. Guidance is essential to assure we’re functioning correctly for our own good and not harm.

    For the Christian, our Life Instruction Manuel is the Bible. Like every owner’s manual, the Bible must be read to be useful. It contains everything believers need to know to follow Christ, glorify God, and live fruitful and righteous lives in a culture that tries to tell you that your faith can be set aside when you do something as important as voting.

    What does God say about platform and policy issues that candidates champion to govern our lives, the lives of our friends and families, our communities, our churches, and the future?  Are their platforms biblical or unbiblical? It doesn’t matter what our personal opinion is of them, it matters whether or not they will govern biblically.

    Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries, wisely advises, “We can figure out which candidate is most likely to lessen evil when it comes to diminishing life, when it comes to diminishing liberty, when it comes to diminishing the value of property. We’re not seeking a perfect world. We’re not utopians. But we are trying to figure out how to lessen evil so that people can be more free.”

    We vote as our civic duty as an American, but also as our biblical responsibility as a Christian. However, research from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows as many as 104 million people of faith, including 32 million self-identified Christians who regularly attend church, are unlikely to vote in the upcoming 2024 presidential election mainly due to lack of interest. How could this be biblical when Christians could be the deciding factor in matters of life and death, good and evil? How can they stay home?

    While the survey revealed some Christians don’t vote from complacency, it also showed many want instruction and guidance from their church on how to think about the issues from a biblical perspective. 

    “Pastors often seek opportunities to have a positive influence in people’s lives and upon the culture, and to help the community in which their church is located,” the long-time researcher George Barna explained. “This research underscores the fact that simply encouraging people to vote in order to fulfill their biblical responsibility would not only be seen as doing their job while helping the community, but an estimated five million regular churchgoers would be likely to vote as a result of that simple exhortation. That, in itself, could change the outcome of the election by simply doing their job and getting congregants to fulfill one of their chief duties as an American citizen.”

    When 45% of Christians and 6 in 10 Catholics say they’re in favor of abortion or are voting for an unbiblical political platform, it’s evident to me that pastors aren’t teaching biblical values and many Christians have not read their Bible. Culture, not the Bible, is shaping Christian opinion rather than God’s truths.

    I’m not a pastor, but I am a seminary graduate and have been in ministry for thirty years. In this blog I’m providing Scriptures and resources for voting biblically in this election and every election. My blog would be far too long if I included all the issues, but you can hit on the highlighted links below to see the differences between the Democrat and Republican platforms according to Scripture to determine which federal, state, and local candidates will govern with more good than evil as measured by the Bible.

    Did God Really Say?

    Satan has used his most effective tool against living righteously since the Garden of Eden when he asked Eve, “Did God really say?” I’m here to tell you that God really did have something to say about many of the spiritual moral issues in our culture which we the church have let become politicized and are on the ballot on November 5th. I’m not talking candidate’s personalities. I’m talking about policies, which will become the law of the land if elected.

    Do your own research. Read your Bible. Don’t let the biased media or even the candidates themselves influence your vote. Look at their policies and plans and your local ballot bills, then look at what the Bible has to say about each issue. That’s what should influence your prayerful vote as a Christian. Let’s look at a few of them.

    ABORTION vs RIGHT TO LIFE is on the ballot in many states, and it’s also a Presidential issue because Harris has vowed that on day one, she’ll try to codify Roe v Wade into federal law. She and Democrat politicians tout the distorted lie that abortion is “reproductive rights” and “women’s healthcare.” That’s called twisting language that we see described in 2 Peter 3:16b-17.

    Trump was the most pro-life President in history. He appointed three constitutional Supreme Court Judges who helped move the abortion laws from the federal government to the states. Sadly, because of the wide use of the abortion pill and “sanctuary abortion states” denying the sanctity of life and sacrificing babies to Molek, abortions have increased.

    Harris has used Satan’s “Did God really say?” tactic to argue repeatedly that “you don’t need to abandon the principles of your faith or deeply held beliefs to support ‘abortion rights.'” She’s suggesting you can “choose” to kill babies guilt-free because it’s a woman’s right?! It’s Ok with God. Wrong!! That’s a nonsensical, unbiblical, demonic, and heretical lie. Harris denies that the government should protect a baby’s right to life even though the first “right” listed in our nation’s Declaration of Independence is the right to life, firmly rooted in the Judeo-Christian standards of morality upon which the United States of America was founded. Murder is a crime.

    The truth is a Christian absolutely must suspend their faith in God and biblical principles to support legally or illegally killing babies. Kamala Harris has zero authority, faith, or knowledge of the Bible to speak on this matter and no person of faith should be persuaded by her. Yet she’s deviously planting doubt in many people’s minds, including pastors and Christians. It’s called syncretism!

    She clearly told pro-life advocates they were “at the wrong rally.” These two young men bravely told her, “Abortion is a sacrament of Satan. Christ is King! Jesus is Lord!” They went there to represent God and counter her abominations with truth, but any Christians cheering and voting for a candidate stumping for the “freedom” and “right” to kill babies, are the ones at the wrong rally.

    What Does the Bible Say About Abortion vs Right to Life?

    When God creates each child through conception, there’s a flash of light and life begins. God gives him or her a spirit and soul that can’t be destroyed or denied. That’s a spiritual not political fact. Biologically, no person has ever been born without a spirit and soul.

    Unborn babies are human. Humans are sacred! God declares in His Word the sanctity of life that He created in His image.

    • “You must not murder.” Ex 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
    • [Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Ps. 127:3-5
    • I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Ps. 22:10 NLT
    • “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
    • I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.” Is. 44:24
    • Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. Is. 49:1
    • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jer. 1:5
    • As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecc. 11:5
    • “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Lev. 18:21
    • Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed. Pr. 31:8
    • There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood. Pr. 6:16-17

    You absolutely would have to abandon and deny your faith and God’s Word to be a Christian who supports or votes for abortion or any candidate promoting abortion! It’s a sin. Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy everything God loves. It’s an abomination to God to shed innocent blood. If you’re still not convinced, please watch Baby Olivia.

    If you know someone who has had an abortion, or maybe you have, God sees you and you can repent and ask for His forgiveness. He’s waiting with open arms of grace and mercy. 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

    For each party platform and presidential candidate’s position on abortion, go to ivoterguide Understanding Right to Life. On that link, you can also enter your address and view where the presidential, state, and local candidates in your area stand on this issue.

    An article to read: Being Human: Abortion and the Church – Light Magazine

    Please listen to this message by Pastor Keith Harrington of Rockharbor Church in Meridian, Idaho in his Truth Wars series titled Imago Dei (the image of God) and the Sanctity of Life and the testimony of a brave couple sharing their abortion story.

    RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: This category covers LGBTQ+ and trans issues infringing on the religious freedoms of those who don’t agree. Protecting Title IX to keep men out of women’s sports and private areas. Sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Defending family. Preventing schools from teaching sexual deviancy and promoting gender confusion. Protection of children from sex change indoctrination and castrating surgeries and drugs.  Bringing the Bible, 10 Commandments, and prayer back into schools. Allowing religious speech in the public square.

    “Watchdog database Stop the Harm reported that just under $120 million in medical expenses were submitted to insurance companies for treatments designed to hide a minor’s gender characteristics in the United States between 2019 and 2023. The database, launched by the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, reported about 14,000 minors receiving such treatments within the four-year period. About 8,500 minors received hormone blockers and more than 5,500 minors underwent actual surgeries to hide their gender characteristics, the database reported.” 

    Read more at World. These children have been permanently mutilated and castrated for life. This atrocity is happening at the nation’s largest children’s hospitals designed to treat and save children’s lives, not maim them for life at an age many are too young to fully appreciate or comprehend the damage being done to their bodies. Who could’ve ever imagined this travesty would happen in America, but the Biden /Harris administration has championed this by protecting the doctors and hospitals rather than putting a stop to the madness and Harris would not stop it either.

    The Biden/Harris administration tried to change Title IX to include gender and allow boys to play in girls’ sports and be in girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms. Harris will not support girls. President Trump says he will ban ‘trans’ aka men in girls’ sports.

    What Does the Bible Say About Religious Liberty?

    Gender isn’t fluid, it’s God-given. To affirm radical gender ideology is to implicitly deny the workmanship and sovereignty of God. It’s to deny God and His Word. Government is ordained of God (Romans 13:1-7), but government cannot become God.

    • “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21
    • So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen. 1:27
    • That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Gen. 2:24
    • God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity:  Romans 1:18-32

    Read this article discussing Harris and Trump’s positions on men playing in women’s sports. DAVID MARCUS: Kamala Harris can no longer hide from her dangerous stance on men playing in girls’ sports | Fox News

    For each party and candidate’s position, go to ivoterguide Understanding Religious Liberty.

    My Faith Votes!

    I encourage you to go to My Faith Votes My Voter Hub where you can print out a copy of your ballot, Compare the Party Platforms, and download an important Presidential Election Candidate Comparison Guide Fact Sheet covering a number of current political topics. Also, find A Christian’s Guide to Today’s Issues: Abortion, Immigration, Religious Liberty, Gender, Parental Rights, Gun Rights, Government, Justice, which also includes Scriptures as I have done in this blog.

    You can also become an Action Partner and pray weekly from zoom or your phone with other believers across the nation who work and pray together to be God’s hands and feet in returning America back to its godly foundation.  

    iVoterGuide

    iVoterGuide is Grounded in God. Rooted in Research. They’ve done the biblical ground work for you on important topics this election. In addition to Right to Life and Religious Liberty, which I discussed above, here are the additional issues I didn’t have room to include in this blog but are important in this election. They’re discussed in detail with Scripture. At each link, you can also find out the candidates’ positions both federally and locally. I hope you’ll take advantage of their wonderful research.

    Understanding National Defense For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Rom. 13:4

    Understanding Healthcare Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Tim. 5:8

    Understanding EconomyAlso, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jer. 29:7

    Understanding Border Security No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. Is. 60:18

    Let the Bible be Your Voter Guide!

    Which candidates will protect the unborn through the elderly? Which candidates will support Israel?

    We must as Christians do our part to ensure as much as it is up to us that candidates who protect biblical principles are voted into power. But we must always remember that our highest authority is God. The mandate in Romans 13 is simple: obey God, then man. When man’s orders conflict with God’s, we follow God. So pray, read your Bible, and vote how God instructs you in the Bible.

    Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Ps. 119:105

    Please leave a comment here. I will reply. Thank you.

    If you would like to listen to Pastor Keith Harrington’s previous week’s Truth’s War’s Message on things to consider when voting “Governing the Earth” click here.

    October 21, 2024
    Return to top of page

    Revenge of the ‘Normies’!

    12

    If you’re like me, you’re longing for a past era when life seemed more normal. A time of universal ethical and moral values adhered to and abided by most people. No one questioned whether they were a boy or girl of if they could do the impossible and change genders. Borders had meaning. Marriage was between a man and a woman. The justice system was trustworthy. White House occupants loved America. You just want to be a “normie” again.

    But we’re living in an upside-down world of crazies who try and gaslight us that what we’re paying at the grocery store or gas pump is normal. It’s always been this way and, anyway, you have plenty of money in your pocket to pay inflation costs that the current administration imposes on you. And what’s all the fuss about the border? It’s closed.

    No, the border isn’t closed as thousands of unvetted illegals flood across every day and night. No, we don’t believe the inflation rate was 9% when Biden became president! Yes, we know how much we paid for things under President Trump and the inflation rate was 1.4% when he left office. It’s been rising every month since Biden took office. Under Biden, all Americans have faced increasingly higher prices for food, gasoline, and other common household items. And while prices have been going up, wages have been going down, placing additional stress on family finances. That’s not normal!

    No, we aren’t better off now than we were under Trump; we’re barely getting by. Oh, and what about the war we’re financing, while pulling support for our ally Israel? What about the Biden administration trying to make you believe it’s normal for naked men and women to gyrate down public streets in front of children in garish outfits with girls kissing girls and guys kissing guys. Not just in the streets, but in children’s programs, TV programs, and movies. Men allowed to play in women’s sports. A presidential cabinet with a man masquerading as a woman, another man married to a man, as Biden brags he has the most diverse staff in history. That would be true, but that doesn’t make it a good thing. It’s not normal!

    And what about our justice system, which in the past was something we could tout and trust as the best in the world. Now under Biden, we’ve deteriorated into a banana republic. When he knows there’s no way he can gaslight enough people to vote for him with even Democrats denouncing the party, he resorts to trying to use lawfare to unlawfully imprison his opponent who he can’t beat at the polls. Not normal!

    A friend shared a meme with me that reads:

    Liberals: “If we could just jail Trump, get rid of MAGA, end the Electoral College, stack the Supreme Court, ban voter ID, and censor free speech, we could save democracy.”

    That’s not normal. It’s tyranny, which we’re teetering on the edge of right now.

    • Biden calls normies and mommies terrorists and an existential threat.
    • Clinton calls normies deplorables and a cult that needs deprogramming.
    • Hochul calls normies clowns who should leave New York and go to Florida.

    What Does Revenge of the Normies Look Like?

    The revenge of the normies has a unique way of showing our dissatisfaction. Instead of creating riots in the streets, importing paid professional protestors, and burning cars and buildings, the normies prayerfully went to their dwindling checkbooks resulting in “record” fundraising for the Trump campaign, which raised nearly $53 million in the first 24 hours after Trump was found guilty of all 34 contrived felony counts in the fraudulent criminal trial in New York City. $34.8 million came in from 6 p.m. ET to midnight immediately after the verdict in the case went public.

    The campaign said fundraising was “nearly double the biggest day ever recorded for the Trump campaign on the WinRed platform” and emphasized that the guilty verdicts “have awakened the MAGA movement like never before.” Normies are waking up!

    That news is definitely a threat to the Biden campaign and deplorable to Hilary. Hochul isn’t laughing now since she allowed this travesty to take place in her state where everyone knew the judge, jury, DA, and Biden-picked prosecutor would all be Trump haters with the biased and unfair persecution of a political opponent that places New York on the map as a banana republic.

    In a normal world, an elderly man with dementia, who can’t be prosecuted in court for his crimes because he is too feeble and forgetful, would not be considered a viable candidate to lead the free world! Only in an abnormal world!

    In a normal world, we wouldn’t have an entire month or even an entire day devoted to a secular celebration of taking pride in blatant sin! Only in an abnormal world!

    Trying to normalize crazy will NEVER fly with the normies, who must engage with the culture and take action now like only normies can. So, what do we do?

    1. We Pray. Our action should always begin with prayer. But get ready my fellow normies. When you pray, God is going to give you action steps He wants you to take, and you must be ready and obedient when you hear the call. That call will be different for each of us, but you’ll know when God speaks. He’s never coy, always direct.
    2. We Read Our Bibles. Numerous Scriptures apply to our current times. One that I heard on Flashpoint the night of Trump’s guilty verdict was Psalm 112. Even though we might be angry, frustrated, even worried about the thought of another four years under the current regime, God has a plan. Think how long Joseph was in prison before he was elevated to the highest position in the land. Those who are bringing up Trump’s sordid past, I would use Jesus’ admonition from Scripture, “Let any one of you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7).

    Then there’s the Scripture that’s so hard to follow where we’re told to love our enemies and actually pray for those who persecute us. (Matt. 5:43-48) The way I apply that to the evil I see, especially with Biden who is a pathological liar and so corrupt, is to pray he would have a soul reformation. Wake up one morning to the pride and power that’s overtaken his sense of right and wrong, and repent. Me of little faith, I can’t imagine it happening, but nothing is impossible with God. (Matt. 19:26)

    Here’s Psalm 112 that we normies can personalize for ourselves to count it all joy when we encounter persecution and trials or when it seems like evil is winning. (James 1:2-4)

    Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord
        and delight in obeying his commands.
    2     Their children will be successful everywhere;
        an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
    3 They themselves will be wealthy,
        and their good deeds will last forever.
    4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
    5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
        and conduct their business fairly.
    6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
    7 They do not fear bad news;
        they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
    8     They are confident and fearless
        and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need.
        Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
        They will have influence and honor.
    10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
        They will grind their teeth in anger;
        they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

    1. United We Stand: Satan would love to divide normies and get us going at each other. That would definitely be our downfall. “They” like to call us the silent majority, but we must be silent no more. So many Scriptures tell us to stand strong together. Even when they try to knock us down or divide us, as they will do, we know what we believe and are committed to never give up and never give in! What comes to mind is an old hymn “I Know Whom I Have Believed” published in 1883 by Daniel. W. Whittle

    I know not why God’s wondrous grace
    To me He hath made known,
    Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
    Redeemed me for His own.

    Refrain:
    But “I know Whom I have believed,
    And am persuaded that He is able
    To keep that which I’ve committed
    Unto Him against that day.”

    I know not how this saving faith
    To me He did impart,
    Nor how believing in His Word
    Wrought peace within my heart.

    I know not how the Spirit moves,
    Convincing men of sin,
    Revealing Jesus through the Word,
    Creating faith in Him. I know not what of good or ill
    May be reserved for me,
    Of weary ways or golden days,
    Before His face I see. I know not when my Lord may come,
    At night or noonday fair,
    Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
    Or meet Him in the air.

    1. We Vote Our Faith: Normies must vote! We have no right to complain or bemoan our government or the economy when we sit home on Election Day. Statistics show that only one in three Christian normies vote. That’s pathetic. We would not be in the mess our country is in right now if the other two-thirds researched the platforms of those running for office and voted their beliefs and faith. Can you imagine how different our world would be then?!

    That’s why I’ve become so involved in serving in the My Faith Votes Ministry. It’s not political. It’s biblical, informative, encouraging, and motivational to take action to get normies off the couch and out to the voting booths. We can make a difference. For those who don’t think voting is worth their time, just look at what’s happening as our country is deteriorating. The men who literally sacrificed everything to give us the Constitution and Bill of Rights thought politics and voting was important to maintain our freedom and many men and women have since risked their life for those freedoms.

    Politics has become a dirty connotation, but it runs throughout the Bible starting in the Old Testament. Joseph became the highest political figure in the government, as did Daniel. David was a King. 1 and 2 Kings are devoted to the stories of good and bad political leaders, as are 1 and 2 Judges, 1 and 2 Chronicles. God has used politics for good in the past, but Satan hijacks politics when God’s people aren’t diligent. When Jesus was on trial, people let themselves be persuaded by bad political and spiritual leaders and yelled, “crucify him.”

    Normies know better than to be influenced by bad political or spiritual leaders. If we want some semblance of normal back in our country, our lives, and our children’s lives, we must pray, read our Bible, stand together in unity, and vote in the revenge of the normies Jesus-style. We don’t accept as normal or right anything wicked and wrong. We’re not afraid to speak God’s truth to lies and live counterculture. That’s normal!

    “While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered authority.” –A. W. Tozer

    The “Revenge of the Normies” opening picture is a meme created by Facebook friend Dana Pratola

    Please leave your comments here. I will reply.

    June 3, 2024
    Return to top of page

    Let’s Make America Godly Again!

    4

    The title of this week’s blog originated from an interview I heard on FlashPoint with the “Praying Great-Grandmother,” Rebecca Lavrenz, who was just found guilty on April 4, 2024 of four misdemeanors for walking into the Capitol on January 6th for less than ten minutes. Her story is alarming! She prayed and fasted for five days before driving 25 hours from her home in Colorado to the rally in D.C. to pray. She says on her website Restoring Godly Culture, “I bring God with me wherever I go . . . He told me to be there to pray.”

    Videos show her peacefully walking into the east side of the Capitol building where Capitol Police ushered people inside. There’s even a video of her chatting with a police officer as she was leaving. Videos also show her staying within the roped designated area, as instructed, while she walked around praying then left. That’s it. That’s the crime for which the FBI came after her almost two years later in December 2022. This praying patriotic grandmother awaits sentencing in August 2024.

    Here are the charges. Each one could result in a year in prison and $100,000 fine per charge. Remember the Capitol police stood with the doors open for her to enter and leave and all she did was walk around praying and at one point dropping to her knees in tears and prayer.

    • 18USC 1752A1: Entering and remaining in a restricted building.
    • 18USC 1752A2: Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
    •  40USC 5104E2D: Disorderly conduct in a capitol building
    •  40USC 5104E2G: Parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building

    On her website under “My Story,” Rebecca describes herself, “I am a God loving, praying mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loves my country, family, and the things that are on God’s heart. I count my life as no longer mine, but God’s, which has lead me to the situation I now find myself in . . . . I went to Washington, D.C. believing God had chosen me for this assignment to pray and put action to my faith, not knowing He would also lead me to carry His presence into the Capitol building itself on January 6 to reconfirm the covenant which was set forth in the year 1620 by our pilgrim forefathers, that this country was established ‘…for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.’”  

    She also posts her Mission Statement. Do you have a mission statement for your life like this one?

    I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Phil. 3:10

    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt. 6:33

    Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations, you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Is. 58:12

    Philippians 3:10-Matthew 6:33-Isaiah 58:12

    My Mission in life is to know God and make Him and His ways known, with a vision of restoring our nation back to God’s original intent and that of our founding colonists, declared in the words of the 1607 First Landing Covenant. 

    “We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all Generations, as long as the Earth remains, and may this Land…be Evangelist to the World.”

    Each time I’ve seen Rebecca interviewed, the joy and love of the Lord shines through her. There’s no bitterness or anger, even though her defense attorneys, support witnesses, or herself weren’t able to use or even mention the First Amendment in court. In fact, the jury asked twice why they couldn’t consider the First Amendment when they were deliberating.

    Rebecca says as surprising as it was to hear “guilty” to all four charges, she immediately had a peace that God would still use it for good to reveal the injustice in our courts today.

    Yet, we watch anti-Israel and pro-Hamas activists in the streets yelling “Death to Israel, Death to America!” “We are Hamas!” Hamas are terrorists?! They’re creating sit-ins to close bridges and roads leading to airports with seemingly no consequences or even arrests, while praying grandmas are being shackled, arrested, charged, and jailed. Sadly, Rebecca is not the first grandma this has happened to and many political prisoners languish in jail since Jan. 6, 2021.

    How Did This Injustice Happen?

    America has forgotten that our “rights,” even those in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, don’t come from man or government, they come from God. Government is not the highest order in the land. God is and we’re accountable to Him.

    Originally, all civil laws were based on moral laws. The further we get away from that premise, the more rights and freedoms we actually lose. Civil law with moral law gives us freedom and rights. Civil law without moral law is tyranny.

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

    For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Is. 9:6-7 NLT

    The founders of America were specific about everything in the Constitution because they had a real fear of power in the hands of a ruling class. Government should be responsible to the people, not to each other. The people are the bosses and government exists to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the people whom they serve and are responsible to.

    Government without checks and balances will always have a propensity to want to rule and create civil law without consideration of moral law. This leads to a pharisaical, tyrannical ruling class who see themselves as gods. That’s where we are right now in America.

    “The Constitution is a limited one, possessing no power not actually given, and carrying on the face of it a distrust of power beyond the distrust indicated by the ordinary forms of free Government.”—James Madison

    The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jer. 17:9

    Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Pr. 14:34 NLT

    Morality isn’t not doing what’s wrong; moral character is doing what’s right!

    Why Aren’t All Christians Voting to Keep America a Godly Nation?

    As Christians, we’re citizens of heaven, but as long as God gives us breath, we’re also citizens of earth. That makes us responsible. Our job is to vote our faith and our values! God will determine the outcome, but that doesn’t mean we do nothing. We vote! We speak out! We get involved!

    Doing nothing isn’t the attitude we take with our own physical health. We don’t say that we’re going to die anyway someday, so why bother to ever go to a doctor? People use the excuse for not voting that God’s in charge so why bother to vote for who will be overseeing the health of our country and the future of our children and grandchildren for generations to come. Abstaining from voting isn’t biblical or moral. We’re to love and protect our neighbor and family as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27).

    Not voting our values, faith, and beliefs forfeits our duty and privilege as an American by abrogating our responsibility of protecting and caring for those we love most and our fellow citizens!

    Some people say, “I don’t get involved in politics or vote, I just pray.” That sounds so spiritual, but it’s not. A church that doesn’t encourage the flock to exercise their voting rights is spiritually and civically negligent. I know that might offend some. If you’re offended, ask yourself why. Then consider what if the disciples had taken a laissez-faire attitude after Jesus ascended to Heaven. Rationalizing: Well Jesus is determining everything from heaven now anyway, so we might as well just go fishing. They actually did go back to fishing before Jesus’ resurrection when He found them and told Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

    Jesus made it clear to them, and to us, that He left us on earth to occupy until His return. That means putting our faith into action, not always popular then or now. But Jesus’ disciples weren’t intimidated or dissuaded, and neither should we be. They used every tool they had to reach people with the truth of the Gospel.

    Christians must not lose our voice in the public square because we acquiesced and allowed people into public office who try to silence us! The Bible is very clear that faith without action is dead!

     And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades, will not overcome it. Matt. 16:18

    You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:20

    Evangelical Christians make up about 35% of the voting population, 68 million! Unexplainably and inexcusably only half register to vote, and of that group, only half show up to vote! That’s pathetic, embarrassing, and tragic. Then we lament and wonder why moral law no longer influences civil law. If those potential Christian voters had voted in past elections, America would be a much better country today.

    Satan uses this vulnerability and laziness in the body of Christ to divide Christians in their beliefs and values. A good example of that is on the topic of abortion or transgender atrocities. If Satan can weaken our influence and impact through infighting, fear, and complacency, we will see less and less moral law, and consequently less of a godly America!

    We’re the stewards of our country. You and me! Every voter will determine not only the candidates that win, but whether or not America can truly live up to its motto, “In God We Trust!”

    Don’t vote just so you get your way, or everything turns out how you want. I’ve heard some Christians say, if the next election isn’t fair, they’re not voting any more. That’s a defeatist position that Satan loves to hear from Christians. God rewards us not based on what other people do, but based on what we do! (Luke 19:11-27 “The Parable of the Ten Talents”)

    And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13 KJV

    If we have a bad meal at a restaurant, we don’t say I’m never going to eat out again! We research a restaurant with good reviews of food we like. If we’re not happy with a particular doctor, we don’t say I’m never going to a doctor again. We do our homework and try another doctor. Our country’s political and spiritual health could depend on our research, participation, prayer, and vote!

    “All that the best men can do is to persevere in doing their duty to their country and leave the consequences to Him Who made it their duty, being neither elated by success, however great, nor discouraged by disappointment, however frequent and mortifying. . . We must go home to be happy, and our home is not in this world. Here we have nothing to do but our duty, and by it to regulate our business and our pleasure.” –John Jay, first Supreme Court Chief Justice

    I hope and pray you do your civic duty to research candidates, both local and federal, vote your faith, and pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven!

    The people who know their God will be strong and take action. Dan. 11:32 HCSB

    Please pray God will use praying grandma Rebecca Lavrenz’s story in a powerful way! That’s what she would want even if she goes to prison for praying.

    Calls to Action

    • Dave and I have been taking a Biblical Citizenship class from Patriot Academy and some of the ideas I express in this blog came from our classes. We highly recommend this course.
    • Read Hal Lindsey’s blog from April 21, 2024, An Ancient Evil Reborn in Today’s America. Here’s a line about those young people born post 9/11/2001 chanting in America, “We are Hamas!” Lindsey says what I said above, “If they ‘are Hamas,’ they want to replace democracy with a theocratic ruling elite.” Don’t let this happen on our watch. We were born for such a time as this!
    • Listen to this podcast with Michele Bachmann, The Center of the Storm. Two people sent this to me. It’s that good and full of need-to-know information about the times we’re living in today.

    Please leave a comment here. I reply to every comment.

    April 22, 2024
    Return to top of page
    Next Page »
    Return to top of page · Copyright © 2026 Crown Laid Down Designs All Rights Reserved · Our Privacy Policy