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What Will Be Your Legacy?

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Yesterday was Mother’s Day. I enjoyed some of our Mother’s Day traditions with my daughter, two granddaughters, and myself getting a pedicure together. Something we started when the girls were just toddlers. Even though this year I was slightly limited with the surgical wounds on my left leg, I still managed to have a wonderful partial pedicure with the girls.

We also had a lovely dinner together. I brought the family’s favorite Chex Mix for snacks, which goes back to my mother-in-law’s recipe that our kids loved. There was always a big bowl of it when we visited her. I was surprised the next generation, my grandkids, also love this timeless treat! When asked what he’ll remember about family gatherings, my grandson held up the bowl of my Chex Mix.

So Chex Mix is definitely a traditional legacy building memory in our family. Even though my mother-in-law cooked it in the oven for an hour stirring every 15 minutes, which I did too for many years, I now have it done in 10 minutes in the microwave!

I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy recently.

My husband’s cousin Pete’s wife passed away several weeks ago. A godly woman that I, and many, agree epitomized a Proverbs 31+ woman. She was 92 years-old when she went to be with her Savior passing away quietly in her sleep. She and her husband had been married 72 years!! They had 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Her name just happened to also be, Janet.

I remember vividly meeting Janet Hermanson over 30 years ago when Dave and I were newly married and attended a family funeral in Iowa where Dave is from and the Hermansons lived. Janet and her husband Pete picked us up from the airport and from the first greeting, I knew I was going to love my new namesake relative.

Janet welcomed me lovingly and graciously into the family and showed me how to make traditional Norwegian cookies, which I never was able to make as good as her. Janet’s warm welcoming kindness and hospitality rooted in her love for the Lord, for her husband, for people, her community, her state, and especially family and extended family made such an impression on me as a new wife.

I remember she had a “wall of brides” with pictures of her five children’s weddings. I was so impressed with this beautiful display of love that when our four children all married, I too created a wall of brides.

Because Janet and her husband Pete lived between Iowa and Arizona, we didn’t see them often, but they would always let us know when they were in our vicinity and we would get together as family loves to do.

Thanks to technology, Dave and I were able to listen to the livestream of Janet’s beautiful memorial service. Tears flowed as her brother-in-law shared fond memories of Janet before he read the verses about “The Wife of Noble Character” from Proverbs 31:10-31 and John 11 where Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had died closing with …
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

There were fond memories shared from a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law who admired all the many gifts of Janet, which she admitted could be a little intimidating. A grandson fought back tears as he shared his memories and those of his sister of their loving grandmother. A son shared how his mom parented with love and clever firm discipline. Many shared “Janetisms.”

One person said it seemed like Janet’s oven never turned off, as she always had her famous lemon bars, lasagna, cookies, cherry pie, and delicious treats coming out of her kitchen. She sewed, sang in the choir, helped others with tax preparation, was a bookkeeper on the farm and often went out in the field to help or drive truck or tractor, volunteered at church, supported 4-H, Sons of Norway, quilted, hosted family and friends, all while raising a family of five and welcoming dozens of nieces, nephews, and guests into her home.

She was witty, funny, spiritual, kind, godly, loved traveling, a loving wife sitting next to her hubby in their chairs even when they were no longer able to be in their home. Her children rose up and called her blessed and her husband praised her.

I could go on and on about sweet Janet Hermanson. Her memorial was a blessing to so many and her legacy filled the church.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
    but you [Janet Hermanson] surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Pr. 31:28-31

When I was sharing this story of Janet Hermanson’s memorial at the Women’s Revelation Bible Study at my church later that afternoon, the leader said she had just gone to the funeral of another Proverbs 31+ woman too!

Famous Legacies

Joni Lamb passed away last week at only 65. She was the President and cofounder with her first husband Marcus of Daystar Television Network back in the 70’s with the dream of using media to spread the gospel, which eventually became Daystar. A ministry that has blessed thousands over the years and many have come to know Jesus as their Savior. Joni helped build a platform that carried the gospel into homes across the world. She hosted conversations, encouraged believers, gave visibility to Christian leaders, and became one of the most recognizable women in Christian media.

With all the good it did, there was also controversy. But I want to focus here on the memory I came across on Facebook from Brooke Landreth who was a social media marketer and stylist at Daystar for 8 years. I’ve read many memories on Facebook from those who knew Joni, but this one especially touched me. Here is part of what Brooke wrote about Joni:

When I think about Joni, my eyes fill with tears because of the impact she made not only around the world, but on everyone she encountered, including me. Joni was someone whose presence made an impact simply through her ability to see people through God’s eyes. In the middle of the day, when I would pass her in the halls of Daystar, she would stop to give me a hug and always ask me how I was doing, despite wherever she was headed to next.

People were never the obstacle of ministry but truly the goal of ministry! And through her life, many encountered Jesus because of it!

She was a woman who was passionate about spreading the Gospel around the world and took a stand for truth no matter the cost. She brought out the gold in people through the words she spoke. She was a woman of generosity who often gave without expecting anything in return, and the unconditional love and heart she had for her family ran so deep.

I honor Joni for giving her life to the Gospel and for the legacy she is leaving behind. She will truly be missed by so many, but my prayer is that her children and our staff would carry the torch forward to bring Him glory!

I love you, Ms. Joni, and I will see you again in glory!

Charlie Kirk left a legacy of Turning Point USA as his wife Erika and the team carry on today. Charlie and Joni Lamb both have numerous videos and presentations that will be watched and shared for years to come to carry on their legacy, as will many others in public and private ministry.

Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” Luke 12:48

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Whether we’re famous or known only to our family and friends, we’re all known to God. Each of us will leave a legacy of what we did with the gifts, talents, and family the Lord gave us while we were here on earth. I like this definition of a “Spiritual Legacy”:

“A spiritual legacy goes beyond material possessions, encompassing the beliefs, values, teachings, and love you impart to others, shaping their spiritual growth and life choices. It reflects the influence of your faith and character on family, community, and future generations, creating a foundation for others to follow. This legacy is often intentional, involving consistent actions, mentorship, and the sharing of spiritual truths.”

A spiritual legacy is the lasting impact of your faith, values, and character on others, especially across generations.

–Biblical and Faith-Based Perspective

In the Christian context, a spiritual legacy is deeply rooted in Scripture.

For example, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes teaching God’s commandments to children, ensuring faith is passed down through generations. The Apostle Paul highlights generational faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, noting how Timothy’s grandmother and mother influenced his spiritual life. Proverbs 13:22 also underscores leaving a godly inheritance for children and grandchildren, emphasizing spiritual blessings over material wealth.

–Key Components of a Spiritual Legacy

  • Faith and Values: Demonstrating the importance of belief and moral principles in daily life.
  •  Acts of Kindness and Compassion: Small, intentional actions that inspire and positively affect others.
  •  Mentorship and Teaching: Guiding others in spiritual growth through example, prayer, and sharing personal experiences.
  •  Family and Community Influence: Passing down traditions, stories, and practices that strengthen spiritual identity and connection.
  •  Global or Cultural Impact: Extending influence beyond immediate circles through service, social justice, or humanitarian efforts. 

–Practical Implications

Creating a spiritual legacy involves mindful living, reflecting on your values, and intentionally shaping your actions to benefit others spiritually.

Spiritual legacy encourages personal growth, strengthens relationships, and ensures that your faith and principles continue to influence future generations.

Whether through prayer, teaching, mentoring, or example, a spiritual legacy is a lasting testament to the life you lead and the values you uphold.

I’ve always said that I pray my legacy to my family is that Mom, Grammie, Great-Grammie loved Jesus as her Lord and Savior and loved her family well.

To my friends, I pray I was as good a friend as you were to me.

To Woman to Woman Ministry and About His Work Ministries, I pray you’re always looking for someone to mentor and someone to mentor you.

For now, I’ll keep on writing this blog and making Grammie’s Chex Mix!

Have you thought about what your spiritual legacy will be?

PS: The above picture was AI generated from the context of my blog. I just shared it here for fun, this isn’t me or my grandkids or anyone I discussed in the blog but look at all the brides on the wall LOL!!

Please leave a comment here.

May 11, 2026
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Can I Have a Word with You in 2026!

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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
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7 Ways Satan Stops You From Reading Your Bible

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Satan works overtime in trying to stop us from reading our Bible because he knows better than anyone that it’s God’s written Word, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). It’s our only offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. A treasure chest of wisdom, teaching, knowledge, encouragement, and equipping for service in God’s earthly kingdom. The Bible is a love letter to those who believe in Jesus Christ and a spiritual resource for seekers.

We may not even recognize Satan’s assault on our lives with deception, distraction, and discouragement. But when we become aware of the enemy’s tactics, we can neutralize him. Here are seven ways Satan tries to keep your Bible closed and strategies to outmaneuver him.

  1. Not Taking Your Bible to Church

      As the pastor prepared to start his sermon, he told anyone who needed a Bible to raise their hand and they’d be given one to keep. No hands went up! The parishioners knew that every Scripture the pastor used in his sermons was on a handout in the church bulletin, as well as projected on screens at the front of the church. Why would they need a Bible?

      Sadly, this has become the norm in many churches today. Congregants become passive instead of participants, as they’re spoon-fed Scriptures and feel there’s no reason to bring their Bible to church. Can churches still be considered “Bible churches” when no one opens a Bible, sometimes not even the pastor?

      Regardless if your church projects Scriptures on a screen, take your Bible to church and look up Scriptures the pastor uses in his sermon. Make notes in the margin or underline passages in your Bible that God uses to speak to you. If you’re not sure where a book in the Bible is located, check the Table of Contents. The more you interact with your Bible, the quicker you’ll learn your way around it. Some people put index tabs in their Bibles to locate the various books. You may prefer having a Bible on your phone instead of a hard copy, but still open and read from it.

      I’m fortunate to attend a church where people bring their Bibles. What a blessing to hear Bible pages turning and the joy this must bring to our Lord.

      As we grow in our maturity and relationship with Jesus, taking our Bibles to church, looking up Scriptures, writing notes in our Bible, reading along in our Bibles also sets a godly role model for our children and grandchildren. Flashing Scriptures on a screen or printing them in a handout often tossed after church, will never replace knowing and reading the written Word of God from your personal Bible.

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

      2. Dark Churches

      Several years ago, I wrote an article “Why Is the Church Going Dark?” The single most repeated comment was from people complaining they couldn’t read their Bible in dark churches. Even though churches may slightly raise the lights during the sermon, it often isn’t sufficient to locate or read Scriptures in your Bible. Many said they gave up and relied on the screens.

      Usually, the justification given for a dark church is to attract the younger generation. I haven’t seen any studies supporting that premise. Church youth rooms are brightly lit. We’re called to mentor the next generation using God’s Word to teach them the value of knowing and reading their Bible to develop their own personal relationship with the Lord. Sitting in a dark room looking at a screen, or maybe at their phones, robs them of the opportunity to discover and interact with the intertwining wonders, prophecies, symbolisms, and foreshadowing of Jesus in the Bible.

      Some parishioners say they prefer it dark so they can worship without being seen or distracted, but one of the purposes of church is corporate worship and fellowship with the family of God. Families don’t sit at home in the dark. If you attend a dark church and you can’t read your Bible, talk to the pastoral staff and ask them to turn up the lights during the sermon.

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

      3. Relying on Devotionals

      Like many of you, I enjoy reading a daily devotional in my quiet time with the Lord. But it can become expedient and convenient to read the devotional without ever opening your Bible. We might be tempted to let the devotional suffice as our daily Bible reading, especially when time is limited. If this becomes a regular habit, we could go days, weeks, months, or even years without ever reading from our Bible.

      Devotionals often include Scripture references without printing out all the specific verses. This sneaky way looks good, but also keeps your Bible closed, and that’s not good. One way to interact with a devotional is to look up in your own Bible all the Scriptures referenced and read them in context from the Bible. Ask God how He wants to apply the passages to your life, not just from the devotional author’s perspective.

      A devotional is inspirational, but it’s the author’s viewpoint and discernment on a particular Scripture or passage. Someone else’s interpretation of verses they’ve read in their Bible. God wants us to study, read, and research in our own Bibles. Never let devotionals replace devotion to your Bible. Devotionals have their place, but let it be said of us . . .

      I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Ps. 119:16

      4. Time Pressures

      We live in a fast-paced, urgent, and over-committed world. God definitely doesn’t want us racing through life with pressures that don’t offer an opportunity to sit for a moment and read a few words from Him before we head into our day. Satan does want us living over-committed and stressed. He wants us to struggle through days with a heavy burden that causes many to turn to unhealthy addictions instead of to God who says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

      Satan tells us to get up and get going or we’re a slacker and a loser. God says, give me a few minutes of your time and I’ll help you enjoy the day relaxed, refreshed, and productive. Some people, like me, wakeup with a to-do list on our mind or fresh ideas for a project. We’re tempted to make coffee or tea and get to work. Maybe you identify. I’ve learned if I take a few moments to open my Bible and ask God to reveal His plans for me through His Word, my day goes smoother and often a Scripture will be exactly what I needed.

      Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. Ps. 119:49

      5. Don’t Know Where to Start

      The Bible can seem intimidating when you first begin reading. It’s actually a compilation of 66 separate books! Maybe you’ve tried starting at the beginning in Genesis and the reading goes well until you get to Leviticus and Numbers. Satan plants doubt in your mind of why everyone is so inspired with this Book of animal sacrifices and genealogies. Soon the Bible is back on the shelf collecting dust.

      Instead of abandoning the Bible, reach out for help. Mentoring from a spiritually mature believer can offer suggestions and guidance like starting with a Life Application Bible, which offers explanations and ideas of how to personalize Scriptures.

      Unfortunately, there aren’t many Christian bookstores available to peruse and look at different Bible translations, but you can shop on websites with peak inside views to find a translation that resonates with you. When I first started reading the Bible, I actually chose an illustrated Children’s Bible and I recommend this even for adults. Jesus tells us to come to Him as little children. Eventually, you can progress to a more mature translation that suits you best.

      Joining a Bible study at church allows you to study and learn different books of the Bible with fellow believers who share wisdom and discernment in how to apply Scripture to life and world events.

      The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Ps. 119:130

      6. Feeling Like a Failure on a Reading Plan

      It’s a new year and you’re going to read the entire Bible in a year! You have the best of intentions. Maybe you select a daily reading plan with some of the Old and New Testament, adding in a Psalm and Proverb.  You’re excited and stay on track for the first few weeks, then life happens. You miss a few days and feel the serpent chiding with thoughts like, “You’re never going to make it through the year.” Or, “You’re so far behind, you’ll never catch up now. You might as well just give up.” Or, “Why do you want to do this anyway? It’s too much.”

      Sound familiar? It does to me. Here are some suggestions.

      • Join an online group reading the Bible in a year to provide encouragement that you can do it.
      • Put your Bible in a place where you see it as a reminder to pick it up and start reading.
      • Ask a friend or family member to join you. Doing things together is always better.
      • Some people are auditory learners and do better listening, so find a reading plan online that offers auditory daily Bible reading. I like to use my ear buds and listen to the Bible while I’m walking or on the treadmill. There’s usually sound effects and different people reading various roles with inflection and emotion. The Bible comes to life.
      • Even when you fall behind, keep going. No rule or statute commands reading the entire Bible in a year. Maybe it’ll take a couple of years. That’s okay. Every time you do read, God will speak to you in a new fresh way or reveal something you hadn’t noticed in the last reading of the same passage. An adventure with God. He’s not grading you on how fast you read; He just wants you to do it!

      I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. Ps. 119:147

      7. You Doubt If the Bible Is Relevant or Inerrant

      One of Satan’s most notorious lies to convince you not to read your Bible is to plant the seed in your mind that it’s an archaic book of fables written by men and has no use or relevancy in today’s modern culture. Sadly, even some pastors and theologians have fallen into Satan’s snare and abandoned the timeless inerrancy of the Word of God.

      G. Campbell Morgan once preached a sermon titled “Famine for the Word of God.” He said maybe there was someone in the congregation who, “You have become hardened to the touch of God, unconscious of the fact of God; and though His Word is living and quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, it fails to affect you.”

      When we stop reading our Bibles, we’ll suffer the fate of spiritual famine by losing our appetite for God’s Word, the bread of life (John 6:35). “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11 NLT

      Just as Jesus used Scripture to respond to Satan’s temptations in the desert before Jesus started His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11), the best way to combat Satan’s lies is with God’s own Words.

      God wrote all Scripture through human willing hands and hearts. 16 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. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT

      Jesus Christ is the Eternal Word of God. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. John 1:2 NLT

      Jesus and the Bible never change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Heb. 13:8 NLT

      No one should ever add or subtract from the timeless inerrant Bible. And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. Rev. 22:18 NLT

      We never reach a place in our faith where we know it all. God’s Word is new every morning and every reading. Never let Satan lie to you that the Bible is intimidating because the truth is that God’s Word is always inspiring! f you want to hear God, you need to engage with Him through the way He communicates: Prayer and His Word, the Holy Bible.

      “If we want to grow in our love for the Lord, we must draw near to Him through His Word. As we learn to know Him intimately, our love will increase and we’ll desire to obey. Unless we invest in Scripture, our fervor for the Lord will fall short of what it could be. And if you ever feel disappointed that your love for Christ seems small, open the Word of God and obey whatever He says, He will abide with you and disclose Himself, thereby increasing your capacity to love and know Him more.” Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Magazine, April 3, 2018

      A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. And John told everything he saw: God’s Word— the witness of Jesus Christ! How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book! Time is just about up. Revelation 1:1-3 The Message

      Please leave your comment here.
      You might also be interested in my latest Crosswalk article as the summer starts winding down. 4 Ways to Get Back into Church and Spiritual Practices after a Busy Summer

      August 18, 2025
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      Vote To Let Freedom Ring and Remain!

      0

      Engaging in discussion regarding the people and platforms involved in the 2024 election can be frustrating and even divisive. This blog will post the day before we find out which side will govern our country for the next four years or maybe longer. It might take days in our current election chaos to know the outcome of the election. That says so much about the deterioration that has occurred at every level of government.

      What’s distressed me most this election season is discussions with fellow believers who have opposing worldviews. We read the same Bible and pray to the same God, so how can this be? I think the answer is the powerful influence the mainstream media, which has literally become a propaganda arm of the Democrat/liberal/progressive party, has effectively had on the minds and hearts of people who to me seem brainwashed and blinded by Satan’s lies. Yet, they’ll tell me I’m brainwashed as they defend the evil the Democrat party wants to inflict on us. It amazes me that they can’t see the moral, spiritual, and economical destruction that’s occurred in our country and our culture over the past four years. How could they call this good?

      I’ve also seen Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) at its worst exemplifying the power of propaganda and lies to influence intelligent godly people to hate and detest someone so much they would vote against Trump knowing the other side has an evil, demonic, anti-God agenda. They hate Trump more than they love America. Even Trump commented recently when asked why he thought so many people have such strong views against him, even to trying to assassinate him. His response is that only consequential candidates produce that kind of reaction in people. Many in the deep dark Washington swamp don’t want him in power because they know he’ll reveal and remedy the evil that’s taking place there.

      Speaker Johnson has warned that Republicans need to win the Senate and the Congress because if the Democrats win either one, they’ll immediately try to impeach President Trump. How crazy is that?!

      As we countdown to the election, here are links to the blogs the Lord led me to write about this election. Also, I’ll post the About His Work Ministries opening newsletter article “What Does It Mean to Think Biblically” because not everyone receives my monthly newsletter. (You can sign up at my website.)

      What Does It Mean to Vote Biblically? continues to receive more hits than any blog I’ve ever written.

      Don’t Be Fooled by the ‘Joy and Vibes’ Political Shield, which now has turned to ugly name calling, yelling, and angry tirades.

      What Does It Mean to Think Biblically Versus Culturally or Secularly?

      The opposite of thinking biblically is thinking secularly. Christians should vote their faith and values, but when we see the polls of Christians voting for a candidate whose platform is anti-biblical, anti-life, anti-Christian, anti-God, and anti-capable, it’s evident that many Christians aren’t checking with God or their Bible before selecting a candidate’s platforms and policies to govern our land. That goes for down ballot too.

      It’s blessed me to see many Christians during this election cycle who aren’t afraid to discuss politicized biblical issues like sanctity of life, marriage, sexuality, protecting children from pornography and gender mutilation, and God’s design for humanity. Social media is full of brave posts and conversations. Now many are speaking and posting biblical values publicly. Praise God!

      I even heard one pastor say, “Don’t be afraid to talk about politics and religion at holiday or family gatherings.” For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Tim. 1:7 NLT

      We need to speak God’s truth no matter the circumstances. It’s the fear of man rather than the fear of God that has sent many Christians underground and silenced them. This has congruently allowed a nefarious government to successfully enforce laws contrary to God’s laws. But God’s Word in Hebrews 13:6 NLT assures us, “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’”

      However, here’s what “mere people” will try to do when Christians don’t speak up and vote. Ohio voted to codify abortion into the state constitution and a judge recently ruled unconstitutional the state’s previous six-week abortion ban law, which had been the law in Ohio since 2019.  “Ohio voters have spoken,” Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins wrote in the filing. “The Ohio Constitution now unequivocally protects the right to abortion.” I would add, nullifying rights and protection of the unborn.

      Why weren’t there enough Christian Ohio voters to protect the unborn? Ohio, once considered a conservative red state, is now a “swing state.” Up for grabs politically and morally. How did the Christians in that state let this happen? How is it that after the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional Roe v Wade and sent the decision back to the states, that we now have more abortions not fewer? More precious babies killed in the womb before they have the right to life?

      Harris’ platform is to federally codify abortion in every state, which would strike down unborn baby protection laws like those we have in Idaho that bans all abortion. Christians need to vote against her and her radical platform.

      Pro-life activists and leaders in Missouri are sounding the alarm about Amendment 3, the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative,” on the ballot that would not only result in unrestricted abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, but would also “go way beyond abortion” and enshrine transgender surgeries on children. Let’s pray Missouri Christians are sounding the alarm to vote it down.

      How are some Christians okay with killing human babies? Surveys tell us they are?  45% of Christians and 6 in 10 Catholics say they’re in favor of abortion and are voting for an unbiblical political platform?!

      The only answer has to be that some Christians aren’t praying and reading their Bible to help them think biblically. Their worldview is influenced by secular culture, not God’s Scriptures. They may go to Bible studies, attend church, and check the Christian box. But they’re not allowing the Bible to transform and renew their mind and heart, thus their thinking and actions. How can I say this? Because God would NEVER condone killing human babies that He creates in His own image.

      Randall Terry of Operation Rescue, along with several pastors, created TV commercials to depict the horrors of abortion and he’s paying to run them during prime time. Here’s the link to one that ran on The View, but warning, it’s graphic.

      Tools For Thinking Biblically

      Our Couples Bible Study group is viewing and discussing a My Faith Votes free online video series “Think Biblically” led by faith experts to help Christians stand firm on God’s Holy unchanging Word and think biblically about culture and politics. The video series is designed for churches, small groups, families, friends, couples, or on your own. The focus is to help Christians firmly align their beliefs with God’s Word and gain an understanding of how their views of culture align with a biblical worldview.

      A quote from Think Biblically website: “In today’s polarizing world, many struggle to anchor their views on the truth of God’s Word. Now, more than ever, Christians need to evaluate our nation’s issues through a biblical lens and stand with an unshakeable faith.”

      Another free resource, even after the election, is from Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Billy Graham and daughter of Franklin Graham. Fearless Family: Eight-Day Election Prayer Guide to take a biblical look at the issues affecting the heart of our families. Cissie writes, “Today, we are surrounded by a culture, both inside the church and out, that continues to compromise on truth and morality. It feels as if the only sin in America today is to call something sinful! Marriage, gender, sexuality, equality, and justice are simple words that have been twisted and redefined in ways God never intended. People are choosing to be ruled by their feelings rather than truth. My grandfather once said, ‘The secret strength of a nation is found in the faith that abides in the hearts and homes of the country.’ We must have a strong faith if we want to have a strong nation!”

      What Does It Mean to Think Biblically?

      • We’re guided by God’s Word and His truths alone, not the latest cultural or political trend or talking points.
      • We will not bend to political or social pressure.
      • We will not break our vows, promises, and adherence to God and His laws.
      • We will stand for our faith and biblical values, even when they’re unpopular, especially when they’re unpopular.
      • We won’t be intimidated or coerced into denying the Gospel. We will be proud of our faith never apologetic for our Christian beliefs.
      • We will fill our minds with Scripture not propaganda.
      • Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
      • Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:2
      • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Pr. 4:23
      • For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb. 4:12
      • All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

      “Our battle is not between political parties—it’s a matter of good versus evil. Truth versus lies. And God’s absolute truth never changes—no matter how our culture tries to redefine it.” Cissie Graham Lynch

      Please Pray and Vote on November 5th If You Haven’t Already!

      If you’re undecided about how to vote, listen to this message by Pastor Jonny Ardavanis at Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin, TN “Pastoral Perspective on Politics.”

      Also join in a prayer group on Monday Nov. 4th as they take place online, in person, or in your own homes and churches. Pray for God’s will to take place at the voting polls. Election interference subverted. Truth and justice prevail.

      My hope for after the election is “Revive in 2025.” I pray God is preparing us for a mighty revival and just as we became brave and bold speaking against the evil that one side is trying to legitimatize, we would continue supporting biblical values and God’s good and gracious plans for the America we’re so blessed to call home. No victory is ever won easily. It takes diligence, persistence, focus, and God’s wisdom and discernment.

      This will be my last blog for the month of November. I want to thank you for letting me share what God puts on my heart each week. I pray no matter who wins this election, you’ll continue serving God wherever and however He calls you!

      Have a blessed Thanksgiving month. To God be the glory for the things He has done and will continue to do until His Son, Jesus Christ, returns.

      Here’s a beautiful song from Danny Gokey, My America. Listen, watch, enjoy.

      Please leave your comments here and I will reply.

      November 4, 2024
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      The Lies Satan Uses to Deceive Christians and Churches

      7

      You’ve heard it said, maybe you’ve said it yourself, “Christians and the church should stay out of politics.” Satan has used that lie effectively to transform America from a country that honored God and godly principles to electing a current administration that bows to evil demonic ideologies. It’s been a steady progression to a tipping point of a 2024 American presidential ticket with two progressive extreme left neo-Marxists! Both of the candidates on that ticket have demonstrated a lack of integrity, honesty, and morals, while embracing Marxist ideologies that attempt to replace God with government.

      By trying to become gods without submitting to the God, they rebel against Romans 13:1-2. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (vs. 1).  We’re only to honor government that acknowledges its authority comes from God. Those currently in power, and seeking to keep power, fall under the second verse.  2 “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority [of God] is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

      God has more to say to governing rebels about their insolence.

      There are six things the Lord hates—
          no, seven things he detests:
      17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.       Pr. 6:16-19 NLT

      How did these kinds of people get into power? We let them! Christians and the church, which should’ve put on their armor of God to speak loudly and boldly against evil and demonic inroads in our government, instead chose complacency, apathy, and silence. What are some of those evil principles you might be asking. Here’s just a few demonic travesties the progressive liberal left champions . . .

      • Federally codify as a “constitutional right” the savage and barbaric murder-on-demand of human babies in the womb, even after birth, calling it “healthcare” or “women’s reproductive rights.” Some blue states, including Minnesota under Governor Walz, have already codified this in their state constitutions and at least two babies in Minnesota were left to die after birth. The destruction of human babies during abortion would be vehemently condemned on rats, but if you speak or pray too loudly to protect human babies from being viciously murdered, you might be arrested.
      • Allow malpractice doctors to hormonally and surgically mutilate and castrate minor children deceitfully calling it “healthcare.” Walz deemed Minnesota a “sanctuary state” for this atrocity on children. Walz will take your children from you if you don’t agree to letting your child’s body be permanently altered and made infertile.
      • Allow unvetted illegal aliens to invade our borders, obtain citizen benefits, vote in elections, and thereby facilitate child sex trafficking and smuggling of drugs killing thousands of children and adults. Harris, the “border czar” for the past 3 ½ years, encouraged and facilitated this invasion.
      • Voter fraud.
      • Incarcerating political prisoners, conducting legal warfare against political opponents, while letting criminals go free.
      • Children taught perverted sex practices in school starting in kindergarten.
      • Children brainwashed and indoctrinated in schools to believe the lie that they can change their gender and parents coerced into agreeing with it, never told, or threatened with loss of parental rights if they don’t agree.
      • Children exposed to obscene and pornographic books in school and public libraries.
      • Forcing people to take an experimental vaccine or lose their job or military status and closing churches, which Walz did in Minnesota during Covid.
      • Allow men to compete in women’s sports, undress and shower in women’s locker rooms, and use women’s bathrooms in schools where governors like Walz put feminine hygiene products in boys’ bathrooms.
      • Pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protests encouraged not condemned, while pulling back support for Israel.
      • Promoting and financing a “climate change” “green new deal” scam/hoax.

      You might think what decadent country would allow such evil? You’re living in that country right now! Everything on that partial list is allowed and legalized, either federally and/or in blue Democrat run states.

      Yet, how many of you have heard a sermon on any of this evil? How many of you have spoken out against it? How many of you realize that every moral issue we hold dear as Christians is being politicized because Christians stayed silent and let it happen while falling prey to the lie from hell that Christians shouldn’t be “political” or participate in government. That’s like saying Christians shouldn’t be emotional, logical, moral, or take a stand against evil. Instead, Christians should relinquish religious freedoms of their families, friends and neighbors to the diabolical policies of an anti-God government without objecting. Wrong!

      Lies straight from the pit of hell. Satan wants Christians to cower as he exerts his authority and power on the world with no pushback from those who have the Holy Spirit’s power inside but fail to tap into it. Just like when the serpent taunted Eve with the famous question that led to sin creating death for us all, “Did God really say that?”

      Yes, God told us to combat evil wherever and whenever we see it manifested in our own lives, in the lives of others, and in the public square. Christians have civic duties and responsibilities. The lie that the church should restrict itself to solely preaching the Gospel, but not teach how to take the Gospel into the world to combat evil is from Satan’s playbook, not God’s Holy Book.

      God is in Politics!

      God created government and politics just like He created every element of our lives and the world. God and godly men got involved in politics throughout the Bible!

      From Genesis to Revelation, we see the history of good and bad governments and the destruction of society when an evil regime is in power. Often, a prophet of God gave wise godly political council to leaders like Moses whose father-in-law Jethro told him to establish a government structure. God gave Moses the 10 Commandments laws to govern the people. Daniel and Joseph found themselves in ungodly governments, but didn’t acquiesce or stay silent. Each spoke God’s truth to those in political power and ended up in high positions in government serving righteously. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul as King, but later spoke God’s truth boldly against Saul’s misdeeds. The prophet Nathan confronted King David about using his power in government immorally and Nathan counseled David’s son, King Solomon.

      I could go on with biblical examples throughout history. Here’s the point: we need godly men and women today who are willing to serve in government. We need churches encouraging Christians to get involved in developing and supporting righteous laws and combatting evil however and wherever the Lord leads, but especially using their God-given right to vote. There is nothing prohibiting a pastor from telling his congregation to vote their faith and biblical beliefs. He should be discipling and guiding them in what biblically based faith looks like. He can do that in a nonpartisan biblical way.

      God didn’t create us to be puppets at the mercy of whoever is in power when they’re evil. God is the ultimate power, but He gave us responsibility and authority to occupy this land until His return. We’re not one-dimensional human subjects or slaves to whomever is in charge. We the people are the government and with prayer and research, we determine who we want to oversee the government structure that works best for the citizens. We’re actually the boss, not the White House.

      Political Engagement is An Important Stewardship for Christians!

      We’re to infuse God and His ways into every area of life from the family to the frontlines of government. Nothing in the Bible tells us to stand down and submit to evil. Instead, we’re to take our biblical worldview into every corner of the earth and every activity under heaven, including politics and government.

      Many argue that politics is divisive and we only want unity in the church. People will always have different opinions over everything from the music to the color of the carpet or maybe even no carpet. It doesn’t mean we don’t talk about our differences and work them out and the same should be said of political views.

      The unifying factor is always the Bible. What does the Bible say about all the issues I’ve mentioned in this article? That’s what pastors and congregants should be talking about. Do we just acquiesce to the culture or do we use the Bible and biblical principles to create a revival in culture?!

      We’re in our current cultural evil wokeness because of apathy, crowdedness, fear, lack of knowledge, and unwillingness to get involved. The Bible counters every one of those weapons of Satan. In Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, I give examples of fifty women in the Bible and twenty-eight modern-day brave women who understood how to put their faith into action and change history for the good of their families, communities, and in many cases, their nation.

      Pastor Jack Hibbs Gets It!

      I was thrilled to read in The Christian Post that Pastor Jack Hibbs at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California, one of the bluest and most progressive liberal governed states in the union, is implementing exactly what I’m discussing in this article. He’s not afraid and he refuses to back down and let California be consumed by the anti-Christ spirit that’s been ruling my birth state for far too long. Pastor Hibbs’ church is conducting a “Comeback California Tour” that seeks to equip churches legally and effectively to get involved in the political process ahead of the November general election.

      “For several months, I would say at least … four, five months, we’ve been putting our plan together, actual details, inviting the churches where we’re actually stopping, talking to the pastors,” Gina Gleason, who leads the church’s Real Impact ministry that’s devoted to equipping churches “to stand for righteousness in the public square,” told The Christian Post. Churches will also be able “to obtain voter and church-compliant election resources” and interact with local candidates.

      “California is at a crossroads, urgently needing the Church’s influence to reverse the moral decline and stand in the gap for our children, families and communities,” the website states. The events are an effort to “unite Christians to bring the values of Scripture and the light of Christ to our state, helping us rebuild and restore our communities,” it adds. 

      The “Comeback California Tour” is part of a broader effort by the California megachurch to get churches involved in the political sphere.

      That’s what I’m talking about! God created culture to be intertwined with the church. God created politics. Satan is using another lie to separate the Gospel and politics, which aren’t exclusive of each other. They’re dependent on each other. Many people still labor under the lie that the Constitution sets them apart but the Constitution and Bill of Rights were based on the Bible. Only man has tried to separate them. God established the law in the very beginning of time!

      I believe the coming election in November will determine whether America experiences God’s grace or judgement. Freedom or Marxism. I believe He’s looking to see how many good men and women there are in the church who aren’t afraid to mix the Gospel with government the way it was always meant to be.

      A false Christianity says we’re not to take politics into the church and Christ into government. There’s a mantel on believer’s today just as there was on Elisha, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all the Old Testament Prophets, Deborah, Esther, Daniel, Joseph, David, John the Baptist, the disciples, and of course, Jesus Christ to witness to all people everywhere whether in church or the public square, “Thus sayeth the Lord. . .”

      Jesus didn’t solely preach the Gospel. He covered all of life including sex, marriage, family, gender, lying, finances, health, work, business, children, babies, prodigals, adultery, sin, government . . . everything!

      As Christians, we must be part of God’s solution to our nation’s problems, not cower as a silent majority letting our country be destroyed as our failed legacy to our children and grandchildren. We have a moral and spiritual obligation to speak out against evil and share the truth. Would we have been silent about slavery as so much of the church is silent about murdering babies or mutilating children?

      What gospel are we preaching when we let evil prevail? Silence actually enables evil. We’re complicit with evil when we do nothing. Because we know who God is, we need to care who the President of our country is because he or she will determine if we’re a country under God or under Satan! Morals or evils will rule in our land!

      You can be sure the other side is not going to stay silent. They’re going to get involved in the spiritual and political battle. I know what side I’m on and how I’ll be involved promoting good versus evil in this election, which will determine if we remain a free republic. Please pray for God to lead and guide you where He wants you to go and what action He wants you to take. If we don’t do something together, we’ll lose this nation we love and want to pass on to the next generations.

       O my people, listen to my instructions.
          Open your ears to what I am saying,
      2     for I will speak to you in a parable.
      I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
      3     stories we have heard and known,    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
      4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
          we will tell the next generation
      about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
          about his power and his mighty wonders.
      5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
          he gave his instructions to Israel.
      He commanded our ancestors
          to teach them to their children,
      6 so the next generation might know them—
          even the children not yet born—
          and they in turn will teach their own children.
      7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
          not forgetting his glorious miracles
          and obeying his commands.
      8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—
          stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
          refusing to give their hearts to God.       Ps. 78:1-8 NLT

      I hope you’ll listen to this short interview with Jason Yates of My Faith Votes and Eric Metaxas author of Letter to the American Church and the movie by the same name. Check out My Faith Votes to see how you might get involved in your state and the free video series Think Biblically for your small group, Bible study, or Sunday school class.

      After finishing this blog, I read the article by Mark Gerson: “The Solution to Woke Insanity Can Be Found in an Unexpected Source. Moses and Joseph both needed to be publically truthful and that’s what woke insanity also needs.” I didn’t want to make my article any longer by quoting this excellent article, but please take the time to hit on the link and read it. God just confirmed to me that my blog today was exactly the one I was supposed to write to you. Take your time. Read them both and then pray about what you’ve read.

      Please leave a comment here and I will reply.

      August 12, 2024
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      God Fights for Prodigals When We Pray His Will!

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      “You know how it feels when you see any glimmer of hope in your prodigal.” —A praying mom

      If you follow my blogs and newsletters, you know I wait on the Lord to tell me what to write about each week. God is so faithful to not only give me a word, but also back it up with confirmation that I cannot ignore. So I know today there are parents and grandparents in my reading audience experiencing sorrow over prodigals in your family because that’s what God has told me to write about in this blog. It’s not the first time I’ve written on this topic, in fact, I wrote an entire book about praying for our prodigals.

      Last week, hubby and I participated in a prayer group where the common request was for prodigal children, most of whom were in the millennial age range in their thirties and early forties. That was the age of my own prodigal years. Even children raised in Christian homes sometimes want to explore their independence, which might mean venturing into the world’s ways. So, we prayed that night for the spiritual awakening, or reawakening, of all the prodigals.

      Then the next night, Dave and I watched a recorded Flashpoint program, which aired originally on the same night the group was praying for prodigals. Gene Bailey, the host of Flashpoint, interviewed Pastor Kent Christmas about his new book, Turning Sorrow Into Joy: A Journey of Faith and Perseverance. Here’s the interview: Kent Christmas on FlashPoint with Gene Bailey Interview Segment 4.9.2024 (youtube.com). If you have a loved one engaging in sexual sin, I highly recommend you listen.

      In the interview with Pastor Christmas, they referred to the previous night’s program when again the topic was praying for prodigals. Now God really had my attention, so we watched it also. Gene Bailey interviewed Pastor Tim Sheets of Awaken Ministries and his daughter Rachel Shafer who wrote together Come Home: Pray, Prophesy, and Proclaim God’s Promises Over Your Prodigal. Even as parents and grandparents agonize and grieve with tears on their pillow every night, Pastor Sheets and Rachel offered assurance that God will forgive returning prodigals.

      They emphasized that while you wait, stay rooted in God. Your feelings and emotions will lie to you, but God’s Word is truth, as I wrote in last week’s blog Knowing and Speaking Only the Truth Will Keep Us Free!

      Come Home contains 90 decrees in Scriptures to pray for bringing prodigals home.  In the interview, the authors mentioned several verses with the prophetic message of hope. Belief accelerates the power of God. Believe in a future where your children will come home physically and spiritually.

      But now this is what the Lord says: “Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” says the Lord. “Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future,” says the Lord. “Your children will come again to their own land. Jer. 31:16-17 NLT

      God promises He will fight for and save your children! You must believe and claim these promises and pray them over your children with unwavering faith.

      Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant[a] let his captives go? 25 But the Lord says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children. Isaiah 49:24-25

      The Message translation of Isaiah 49:24-25 says: Can plunder be retrieved from a giant, prisoners of war gotten back from a tyrant? But God says, “Even if a giant grips the plunder and a tyrant holds my people prisoner, I’m the one who’s on your side, defending your cause, rescuing your children. And your enemies, crazed and desperate, will turn on themselves, killing each other in a frenzy of self-destruction. Then everyone will know that I, God, have saved you—I, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

      Those verses emphasize that God’s on our side. He’s going to save our children. While we want to believe this, it’s tempting to take back our concerns and worries even after we cast them onto God. We should quit putting power into earthly circumstances and instead magnify God and His heavenly perspective as these following Psalms emphasize.

      All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. Ps. 22:27-28

      They [prodigals] will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Ps. 24:5 NLT

      My Daughter and My Prodigal Story of Redemption

      I wrote Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents with input from my daughter of what she was thinking and feeling during her prodigal years. For seventeen years, I was a prodigal raising a prodigal until God reawakened my spirit at a Harvest Crusade where I rededicated my life to Christ. On the stadium floor, I knelt and told the Lord, “Your prodigal has returned. I will go where you send me.”

      Kim didn’t receive well the dramatic change in my life. She was happy with the way we were living before. In spite of her resistance, I felt an urgency for Kim to also surrender her life to the Lord. I remembered a time when I stopped eating beef and switched to turkey burger. One day Kim, who was probably in middle school, said, “Mom, don’t you care about my health too?!” I thought she would still want hamburgers, but she wanted to be healthy like me. She hasn’t eaten beef since.

      After my rededication, I heard a message on the reality of hell. I couldn’t stand the thought of my daughter going there. I had a dream that I looked down from heaven and heard her saying, “Mom didn’t you care enough about my spiritual health to not give up on me?” That’s when I began praying Scripture for my daughter daily, biblically, expectantly, persistently, sacrificially, unceasingly, and thankfully.

      In Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, Kim writes, “Mom, I saw the book Praying God’s Will for my Daughter in your bathroom one time, and I felt resentful that you thought I was ‘lost’ and needed you to pray for me. You turned your life around so completely, and I couldn’t relate to the new, ‘weird’ you. All the praying stuff was outside of my comfort zone. When I learned you were praying for me, it upset me. I felt that I could take care of myself and didn’t need your prayers.”

      From the devotional Kim referred to above, I learned how to personalize and pray Scripture for her, which allowed me to pray God’s will while I journaled my will to release my feelings and concerns on paper. I share those journal writings throughout the book and include “40 Days of Praying Scripture for Your Prodigal” on page 313. Kim thanks me today that I never gave up praying for her.

      Satan is Targeting Children!

      Today, Satan is blatantly attacking the family and children more openly and abrasively than ever before.  Abortion for teenagers or gender changes without parents’ consent. Parents who want to know what their children are being taught in schools labeled domestic terrorists! Drugs are rampant and killing our children. Child suicide has reached record numbers. Schools are teaching young children about perverse sex practices as “sex education,” even as young as kindergarten. As “gay rights” became mainstream and legalized, Satan had to move it up a notch to transgenderism. Children are given drugs and surgically mutilated, irreversibly in many cases, and deceived into thinking they can change their gender from the way God created them. Drag grooming is considered entertainment for children, even though it’s a precursor to pedophilia.

      This isn’t normal or biblical. It’s satanical. Satan really is coming after our children, but Christians have the weapons we need to ward off the attacks of the enemy. Prayer. God’s Word. Civic action like voting, running for office, and activism.

      I’m not writing this article to promote my book, or any book, but there’s a reason God had these pastors and me write about saving our prodigals. Because we all need to know how to love and pray scripturally for children and grandchildren, while still maintaining a relationship with them without backing down from our biblical beliefs. Their very lives depend on it!

      If you have a child or grandchild involved in sinful activities, it doesn’t make it right. Yes, I know it hurts and it’s painful. Parents often think they need to go along with what their child is doing or risk losing the relationship instead of being godly parents and getting them the emotional, spiritual, and mental help they’re so desperately crying out for, while also praying unceasingly for them. If they were a murderer, and some are, you still love your child, but you don’t decide that murder is acceptable because your child committed it. That applies to any and every sin.

      I chose to unconditionally love but never condone. In God’s eyes, all sin is wrong, and all have sinned. Only repentance and asking forgiveness from Jesus for our sins places us in a right relationship with God. Salvation.

      We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:22-24 NLT

      Never Stop Praying!

      Declaring God’s Word over your prodigal activates your own faith!

      None of us know when Christ is going to return for believers. We watch the prevalent evil today and wonder how long it will be before the Lord says enough. No parent or grandparent wants to have a child or grandchild left behind. That was the urgency I felt when I was praying for my daughter’s salvation. Then I prayed for each of our eleven grandchildren to be saved with the assurance that I would someday see them all again in heaven. Yes, there’s been a few regressions, and I just pray all the harder because I know what God assured me with my daughter: God wants our prodigals back even more than we do!

      Don’t give up and let Satan win the spiritual battle for your prodigal’s heart and soul. Though it may seem contradictory, the more rebellious, defiant, stubborn, and argumentative your prodigal becomes, the more you should cling to this hope and encouragement: God is working in his or her heart, and they’re resisting. But that means they haven’t surrendered completely to Satan and are experiencing tormenting guilt. God hasn’t given up and neither should you. There’s still hope.

      I know it’s hard to do when your heart is breaking and you don’t see any change in the situation, but never stop praying for your prodigal. Pastor Christmas prayed and interceded for 14 years. I prayed Scripture for six years for my prodigal. Previous blogs from prodigal Alycia Neighbours whose story is in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, shared how long her parents prayed for her return: Never Stop Praying for Your Prodigal! and After the Party for the Returning Prodigal.

      Alice prayed for 27 years. She said, “It’s all you can do when everything else is out of your control.” In the chapter on Praying Biblically in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, Alice told how she prayed Scripturally for her daughter, which is how I prayed for my daughter EVERY DAY! It’s simply personalizing and paraphrasing God’s Word as a prayer back to Him. Here’s an example of how Alice said she prayed Scripture for her prodigal.

      “I’ve learned to pray for my daughter by praying back the Scriptures to God. For example, I pray Ezekiel 36:27-29 for Liz’s heart to soften and for her to return home: “God, give my daughter Liz a heart of flesh to replace her heart of stone toward spiritual things. Through Your Spirit, move her to follow Your decrees and carefully keep Your laws. Help Liz to return home Allow her to live in the land You, God, gave to her spiritual forefathers; may she be Your child, may You be her God. Save her from all her uncleanness.”

      As another praying mom Suzanne said, “I know God isn’t done with her, and I choose to see her the way He does!”

       “Never stop praying!” 1 Thess. 5:17 NLT

      Photo Credits: http://www.sharefaith.com

      PS Hear the interview I did on Solomon and Jamila Jefferson’s podcast about praying for your prodigals, It’s Not How You Start But How You Finish. click here.

      PSS The principles I share in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter also apply to sons and grandchildren. There are questions at the end of each chapter for use in a Support Group or Bible study group.

      Library Update

      • VICTORY!! Idaho’s Governor Little signed the Children’s School and Library Protection Act, finally addressing the widespread library porn issue in a meaningful way! It goes into effect this summer so I’ll  follow up with our local library to be sure they enforce it.
      • Gov. Little also signed Bill 538 that bars teachers from referring to a student by a name or pronoun that doesn’t align with their birth sex unless parents consent.
      • Last month, the governor signed House Bill 668, which blocks the use of public funds for gender-affirming procedures.
      • Gov. Little also signed House Bill 421. It states, “In human beings, there are two, and only two, sexes: male and female. In no case is an individual’s sex determined by stipulation or self-identification.” Most notably, in addition to ruling that sex and gender were synonymous, this bill “codifies in state law biological definitions for ‘woman,’ ‘man,’ and other sex-based terms, making [Idaho] the fifth to exclude men who identify as women from being legally recognized as female.”

      Idaho is on a role! What’s happening in your state?

      Please leave a comment here. I always reply!

      April 15, 2024
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      Jesus is Our First Love!

      8

      I know I don’t have to remind you that this Wednesday is Valentine’s Day! A day we traditionally show that special someone how much they mean to us. It can also be a difficult time for someone who doesn’t have an object of their affection to dote on or to be the recipient of doting…but it doesn’t need to be a sad day for those who know Jesus as their First Love!

      My First Prayer Garden

      Almost thirty years ago, I realized that even though I was happily married after being single for 17 years, my love for my husband wasn’t to take priority over my First Love, Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are so clear about this. When we were first married, we vowed to each other that we would always put Jesus at the center of our marriage.

      We love each other because he [God] loved us first. 1 John 4:19 NLT

      I never wanted Jesus to say about us what He said about the church in Ephesus in Revelations 2:5 NLT “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”

      The NIV translation says, “ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

      Just as our earthly relationships take time, energy, and nurturing, I knew my spiritual relationship with Jesus required the same attention and devotion or it could become stale and routine. So I decided to approach my devotional time with Jesus each day with the same attitude I would lavish on my earthly love, Dave. I set about finding a special place to spend time with my First Love and I called it my prayer garden.

      At that time, we were living in sunny Southern California, so I could have my quiet time outside almost every day. I’ll share with you in a moment how I have this date with Jesus now in our home in Idaho.

      Thinking of Jesus as the lover of my soul and the One I love above all others, gave me the idea of creating a romantic atmosphere for my daily “Quiet Time” with Jesus. It needed all the touches of a special date. First, it must be quiet and free of interruptions, so that meant outside. Since my backyard was all cement, I arranged colorful potted plants in a shaded alcove of the patio and hung a hummingbird feeder. Our house overlooked a small lake, so I had a beautiful view. I placed a chair for Jesus and a chair for me with a small table in the center for a romantic fragrant candle. I later added wind chimes, and my son-in-law made a waterfall. Walla, I had a Prayer Garden.

      The importance of having the chair for Jesus was to remind me that even on the days when I was rushed and missed our date . . . Jesus was still out there waiting for me. Every time I looked out at that prayer garden, my heart ached because I had neglected my First Love for whatever was happening in my life that day.

      My Date Bag is Always Packed

      Then I packed a date bag with my Bible, a journal, devotional, highlighters, pens, Post-it notes, current Bible Study, and oh yes, a lighter for the candle. One trip back into the house for something I forgot could be a major distraction.

      First thing every morning, I grabbed my cup of coffee, my date bag, a blanket or sweater if it was chilly, and headed out for my date with Jesus in our Prayer Garden. Here is a major key to intimate time with my First Love—I shut the door to ALL interruptions. In those days, we didn’t have cell phones, so I let the answering machine take care of any phone calls and the family knew when I was having my Jesus date, the Do Not Disturb sign was out.

      Now I was ready to read God’s love letter to me in my Bible, pray, journal, and work on a current Bible study. Most importantly, I could take time to hear God’s still small voice saying how much He loved me and telling me the plans He had for me.

      When our date was finished, I repacked my date bag and put it back in the same spot every time by the patio door so it was ready for tomorrow’s big date. If the weather wasn’t good, Jesus and I curled up together on the couch and I played soft instrumental worship music in the background.

      Idaho Dates with Jesus

      When we were looking for a new home in Idaho, two things on my priority list were a writing room with an “ah ha” view and a place to have my special Quite Times with my First Love. As we toured homes, I was always looking for both, along with a kitchen with a scenic view, I could see the fireplace, and easily chat with visiting friends and family. In other words, don’t wall me in while I’m cooking!

      Praise God we found the perfect home for us. Now that we live in Idaho with its four seasons, my Quiet Time locations change with the season. When the weather is nice, I’m out in the deck swing, and when it’s snowing or cold, I have a Quiet Time chair next to the fireplace with a beautiful forest view from our many windows. I still have my Quiet Time bag packed and ready to go depending on where I’m having my date with Jesus. It’s my most favorite part of the day!

      At the end of our date, I sit back close my eyes and linger in conversational prayer being sure to let my First Love talk to me. He always whispers words of love and endearment as He reveals His plans, visions, and goals for us. Often, there are answers to prayers and previous questions. Many times, we just share a sweet silence.

      “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Ps. 46:10 NLT

      Like any wonderful date, I hate for it to end, but I know my First Love will be waiting eagerly for our special meeting tomorrow.

      To keep romance exciting, it’s good to vary the activities on dates, so I constantly add freshness to my Quiet Time with variety. Each Christmas, I pick out a new devotional for the coming year. Sometimes, I select one with an area for journaling love letters to the Lord. I start my Quiet Time date by praying the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18 and would never think of going into my day without this spiritual protection. I alternate working on my small group Bible studies or one I am doing for fun. Some years, I read completely through the Bible, and other times, I leisurely enjoy the Scriptures.

       “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matt. 22:36-39

      How about you? Tell me about your dates with Jesus.

      Happy Valentine’s Day!

      Here is a poem I wrote about my California Prayer Garden. Enjoy!

      OUR PRAYER GARDEN

      You wanted to meet me early in the morning

                  In a place that was special to just you and me.

      My heart was willing, and I had such a yearning

                  To talk and be in your presence daily.

      I began to arise just after the sun came up,

                  And  searched for a place where we could meet.

      It had to be quiet where no one would interrupt,

                  For the time that we shared would be so sweet.

      I moved from room to room,

                  As I tried to find the aura,

      For you and me to just commune

                  Every day at the same hour.

      As we began to spend our time,

                  I felt you nudging as I would pray:

      “Our get-togethers need fresh air and sunshine.

                  Let’s be amongst the beauty of the day.”

      Of course, it was there all along.

                  The table, the patio, the view—

      I had all the makings for a Prayer Garden,

                  But flowers were sadly very few.

      A “green thumb” I have never been,

                  But I knew this was the spot for us.

      And it would not be a Prayer Garden,

                  Without the ferns, oleanders and hibiscus.

      A shopping trip to the nursery was fun,

                  Even though I didn’t know what to buy.

      Some flowers wanted shade and others liked sun,

                  So I just bought what caught my eye.

      Soon my garden was worthy of comment.

                  The flower beds were colorful and in full blossom,

       And the array of potted plants carpeted the cement.

                  The transformation was truly awesome.

      One final touch called out to me,

                  Wind chimes to catch Your breath in the breeze.

      A hummingbird feeder for quiet company,

                  In the place where we will meet when ‘er You please.

      Jesus, I know now why you sought a garden

                  When you went to pray alone that night.

      Amongst Your creation God’s presence is sovereign,              

                  You just know God’s plans will turn out right.  Janet Thompson 7/17/96

      Please leave a comment here to this blog. I always reply and enjoy reading your thoughts.

       I apologize that the link to reply to last week’s blog wasn’t working, but it is now if you would like to leave a comment or haven’t read it yet Respect Your Weapons of Fasting and Prayer!

      One more thing. Thinking about those who might be alone on Valentine’s Day, many people in our churches can feel marginalized. I wrote an article for Crosswalk.com that I hope you’ll share with the pastors and ministry leaders in your church. It’s a slideshow if you read it on a computer. 13 Ways to Recognize the Overlooked People in Your Church.

      February 12, 2024
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      The Truth About Grace

      10

      Like many of you, I pray for the Lord to give me a word and verse He wants me to focus on to improve my spiritual witness and my walk in the New Year. At first, I chose ‘persistent’ for 2024, but my husband and friends quickly squelched that one reminding me that I already am a very persistent person in my faith and life. It must be a word where I need to improve.

      As I prayed about my 2024 word, the Lord revealed that I needed a heavy dose of grace in my communication and actions. What I probably needed the most was patience, but we all know it’s not a good idea to pray for that or the Lord might give you an abundance of experiences requiring patience. However, patience is often required to exhibit grace.

      The Scripture that best reflects my pursuit of grace is Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

      I probably would’ve made a good lawyer because I do have skills to win an argument or get my point across, but I may win the case and lose the relationship. I first became awakened to focusing on grace when our Couples Group did The Chosen Bible Study, which covers the Sermon on the Mount. Lesson 3 was on Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” In that week’s study, two Scripture passages hit home to me.

       1 Peter 5:5 ESV “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

      Eph. 2:4-7 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

      Then we came to Lesson 5, The Merciful and Their Mandate, with Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

      We were reminded that the ability to reflect meekness, mercy, and thus grace, comes from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

      And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

      So my 2024 word is ‘grace’ and the Scripture I will pray repeatedly is Colossians 4:6. But what about the Spirit of truth?

      Balancing Grace and Truth

      John 1:17 says, For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Not Grace or Truth. Not Grace versus Truth. Grace and Truth. Yes, they can occur simultaneously, but it takes work. Displaying both grace and truth is a delicate balance, and often, we err towards one side or the other.

      Christians often err on the side of grace resulting in sin not only tolerated, accepted, and overlooked, but made lawful and legal. We know the commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” but abortion is still legal in many states and called a “woman’s choice.” The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and marriage is between a man and a woman, but homosexual marriage is legal in America and called a lifestyle choice.

      Sin has always been a choice, that’s why God sent His Son to earth to offer us mercy and grace. Not grace to keep on sinning . . . but grace to choose to turn from our wicked ways, seek forgiveness, and accept eternal life with Christ. An undeserved second chance to live a righteous life— the balance of grace and truth.

      When faced with a sinful situation, many Christians fear sounding judgmental so their response is full of grace but evades the truth. This can appear to condone the sinful behavior. Or we’re so shocked or appalled at the sin we know God hates that we slam the person with biblical truth. Very few people are receptive to a condemning approach.

      I tend to err on the side of wanting the truth told, but not always presenting it in a grace-filled manner. How do we not condemn, but not condone? How can we tell the truth, but still extend grace?

      Truth or Grace?

      “You’re late!” A greeting to the last arriving meeting members. Truth but no Grace.

      “Where are you going to live?” A response to a Christian who announces she’s going to live with her boyfriend. Grace but no Truth.

      “That dress looks terrible on you.” Truth but no Grace.

      “It’s alright. No problem.” A reply to a friend backing out on an important commitment. Grace but no Truth.

      “You’re going to hell if you keep up that behavior!” Truth but no Grace.

      “Ok, I understand…” Said to the friend you babysat for numerous times, but when you ask to do a trade, she’s too busy. Grace but no Truth.

      “Congratulations!” A gay couple tells you they are getting married. Grace but no Truth

      Follow Jesus’ Example

      Randy Alcorn wrote an excellent book, The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christ-like Balance. Randy points out that the early church drew thousands to Jesus by copying the only model they had at the time…Jesus Himself. Today, we often ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Those people knew what Jesus would do. We could arrive at a number of adjectives describing the character of Christ that would let us know what He would do today, but Randy suggests all reduce to two character qualities…yes only two!

      “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:1, 14.

      Jesus was full of both grace and truth ALL the time. He had the perfect balance of justice and mercy. Not grace one time and truth another time. Everything He did and everything He said embodied both character qualities. Notice that grace comes first in the verse because it was a new concept to the early Christians. They knew about the truth of the law from the Old Testament, but the grace of forgiveness that Jesus brought was brand new to them. 

      Even in Jesus’ day, with his example for them to emulate, some like the Pharisees still chose to rely only on truth, and we call them legalists. Jesus pointed out that the law could only reveal sin, but only the grace of Jesus Christ could remove it.

      We want others to know Jesus by what they see in our life, but then we have to ask ourselves what do they see in us? Are we full of grace and truth? Does it seem like a paradox sometimes? It shouldn’t. Randy points out that grace without truth, or truth without grace, are like a bird without one wing.

      Don’t Bait and Switch

      Communicating with grace and truth is not telling someone something flattering, then zinging them with truth. That bait and switch approach is never effective. They feel manipulated and tricked. Have you ever had that happen where you wonder: Did they just compliment or chastise me? Telling the truth should never cause confusion. It needs to be clear and concise.

      Grace also doesn’t mean sugarcoating. That’s not what Jesus did. The passage in John 4:7-26 with Jesus and the Samaritan woman is a pattern for displaying grace and truth. Notice Jesus didn’t compliment the woman, then slam her with the truth. He first asked her a question, “Will you give me a drink?” which was a display of grace since Jews didn’t talk to Samaritans. The remainder of the passage is an example of Jesus telling the truth with grace. He didn’t avoid the truth because it would embarrass or put her on the spot. He confronted her with the truth of her sin of living with a man that wasn’t her husband then mercifully offered her the grace of forgiveness and eternal life. And what was the result? The woman left her sinful life and became one of the first women evangelists (John 4:28-30).

      What About You and Me?

      We can check ourselves with Randy Alcorn’s “Two Point Checklist” to help determine if we are a grace and truth Christian.

      1.  Are nonbelievers uncomfortable around you?

      It could be you are erring on the side of legalistic truth. People were drawn to Christ, who was both grace and truth, but ran from the Pharisees who had only the ‘truth.’

      2.  Do all nonbelievers like you?

      A red flag you’re erring on the side of grace. The true spirit of grace is that you love enough to tell the biblical truth and share the Gospel.

       Truth without grace:            Destroys          Crushes

       Grace without truth:             Deceives          Cowardly

      Grace and Truth together:    Draws              Christ

      God’s truths are guardrails in life to prevent us from going over the cliff into the sinful abyss, not tools for beating us over the head. Truth is a lifeline, not a weapon. Truth can release someone from bondage or rescue him or her from certain death. When we choose to bypass truth and go straight to grace, it’s no longer grace. Offering someone grace without the truth—the guardrail that protects and sets us free to know the true grace of Jesus—is sending them over the cliff in a loving way.

      A quote from Randy’s book: “Truth without grace breeds a self-righteous legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ. Attempts to ‘soften’ the gospel by minimizing truth keep people from Jesus. Attempts to ‘toughen’ the gospel by minimizing grace keep people from Jesus. It’s not enough for us to offer grace or truth. We must offer both.”

      This balance is something most of us will spend a lifetime trying to achieve and only Jesus was perfect at it, but the Holy Spirit will help us if we ask. Tricia McCary Rhodes writes in Taking Up Your Cross, “To be humble is to live always with poignant awareness of God’s extravagant grace poured out in exchange for our complete inadequacy.” Isn’t that the TRUTH!

      “If we get it wrong about Jesus, it doesn’t matter what else we get right.” —Randy Alcorn

      In the first week of the New Year, I’ve heard the Holy Spirit repeatedly nudging me to remember grace or reminding me I bypassed it! The Holy Spirit and I are going to do a lot of communicating this year!

      But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Ps. 86:15

      How about you? Did you pick a word and Scripture to guide you through 2024? Please share it with me.

      Leave your comment here and I will reply!

      January 8, 2024
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      Three Lessons Beyond the Story of His Only Son!

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      Last week, Hubby Dave and I saw the latest movie from Angel Studios, His Only Son. I was thrilled that just like Jesus Revolution, this new Christian movie stayed in theaters long after its Pre-Easter release and the five day expected showing. That’s because many Christians poured into theaters to support His Only Son.

      When I looked over at Dave during the movie to see if the sounds he was making meant he was falling asleep, I discovered to the contrary, he was crying. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac brought my tenderhearted husband to tears more than once.

      If you haven’t seen the movie, I don’t want to give away too many details, but it’s the familiar story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son, Isaac, born to elderly parents. The son that God had told Abraham would bring descendants outnumbering the stars in the sky. It’s a beautifully filmed movie with superb acting as it brings the Bible story of Genesis 22 to life. If you haven’t seen it and it’s still in your theaters, I encourage you to go, enjoy, and maybe cry at a father’s love for his son, but his even greater love for the Father in Heaven who Abraham trusted and obeyed, even when asked to perform a seemingly impossible sacrifice.

      Interwoven into the story was a brief glimpse of Sarah’s servant Hagar when Abraham and Sarah attempted to go ahead of God. In today’s blog, I want to fill in some of the blanks with lessons from the story of Hagar and Ishmael, discussed in conversation during the movie if you listen closely, but not depicted.

      We can learn from the consequences of Abraham and Sarah’s poor decision about using Hagar to circumvent God’s plan. Consequences still felt in the Middle East today.

      Who Was Hagar?

      When we first meet Hagar in the Bible, she’s an Egyptian maidservant to Sarai (later called Sarah), the wife of Abram (later called Abraham). Sarai was infertile and desperately wanted a child. God had told Abram that he would have an heir, a son, and yet as time passed the aging couple still didn’t have a baby (Gen. 15:2-5).

      Mistakenly, Sarai thought the Lord had kept her from having a baby so she came up with her own plan to give Abram a family. (Gen. 16:2) In those days, a maidservant had no rights and was required to comply with whatever her owners told her to do. When her barren and desperate mistress Sarai decides to use Hagar as a surrogate to provide her husband Abram with a child, Hagar has no option but to obey. Abram agreed and slept with Hagar and she became pregnant.

      The movie alludes to this, but tastefully never shows Abram and Hagar in any sexual scenes, not even an embrace. This seems like an odd practice to us today, but it was actually an ancient custom in biblical times to ensure the birth of a male heir.

      What Happened Next to Hagar?

      When Hagar learned she was carrying Abram’s child, she felt superior to Sarai and the Bible says she “began to despise her mistress” (Gen. 16:4). Maybe Hagar was upset that her mistress forced her husband on her, or she felt rejected that Abram didn’t treat her as a wife, and she took her frustration out on Sarai. Whatever the reason, she wrongly thought that her pregnancy empowered her to treat Sarai with contempt.

      When the relationship between the two women deteriorated and became hostile, Sarai complained to her husband. Abram told her that this had been Sarai’s idea in the first place and Hagar was hers to do with what she wanted. He wasn’t going to get involved with their dispute. Sarai took that as permission to mistreat Hagar, so pregnant Hagar ran away into the desert. But what she didn’t expect was an encounter with God, which we don’t see in the movie.

      7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Gen. 16:7-9

      The angel of the Lord also told her she would have a son and name him, “Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” (Gen. 16:11)

      So obediently, Hagar returned, gave birth to her son, and stayed on as Sarai’s maidservant. Sixteen years later, Sarai, renamed by God, Sarah, finally had her own miracle son as God had promised, but like any older brother, Ishmael started teasing his little toddler half-brother Isaac. Sarah was having none of this and demanded that her husband, now called Abraham, send Hagar and her son away . . . this time permanently. The movie eludes during a conversation that this took place, but we don’t see it happening. We hear about Ishmael, but never see him.

      The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” (Gen. 21:8-10)

      Abraham, now the father of both sons, protested but to his surprise, God intervened and incredulously told him to let them go. Listen in the movie for when Abraham discusses why he let them both go.

      11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring[a] will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” (Gen. 21:11-13)

      Reluctantly, Abraham agreed and sent Hagar and Ishmael out into the desert with food and water.

      14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. (Gen. 21:14)

      God has lessons for us to learn from every biblical story and He tells us the story of Hagar in the Bible so we can apply what she learned to our own lives. Here are three important life application lessons.

      Lesson #1: God Never Rejects Us

      Hagar must have lamented her painful mistreatment and abandonment. Why was all this happening to her? When her hurt and despair sent her fleeing into the desert the first time, she was surprised but also very relieved and blessed when God met her there. She realized that even in her lowly position in life, she was important to God and He hadn’t rejected or forgotten her.

      It was hard to hear God wanted her to go back to Sarai and endure abuse, but then God gave her a name for her son, Ishmael. God said He would even multiply Ishmael’s descendants. Wow, that was quite a promise, which God did fulfill in later years.

      Hagar agreed to God’s plan and called the Lord, “The God who sees me, for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Gen. 16:13)

      God heard her cries of affliction. Amazingly, a slave girl was the first recorded appearance of God face to face in Scripture. Others had heard His voice or seen visions, but here was God in person.

      Like Hagar, when it seems like others are rejecting you, God sees and hears you. Don’t let rejection define you; allow it to refine you. Hagar had the confidence and security in God to humbly return to Sarai and Abram and fulfill her role in biblical history.

      Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Ps. 66:20)

      The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. (Ps. 94:14 NLT)

      Lesson #2 God is Near to the Brokenhearted

      When Abraham sent Hagar and her son Ismael into the desert, it looked like they would surely die when the supplies Abraham had given them were exhausted. Now her precious son who God had given her and even named would starve to death. It was too much for her to bear. She couldn’t watch as he curled up in a fetal positon under a tree, but she couldn’t block out his starving moans and wails.

      15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she[b] began to sob. (Gen. 21:15-16)

      But, what was she hearing now? Could it be a second encounter with God?! Yes, He had heard the cries of her son and asked her what was wrong? The Angel of the Lord spoke to this distressed mother yet again and reassured her not to be full of fear or sadness. Just as He had promised, God reaffirmed that her son’s legacy would be a great nation.  

      17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” (Gen. 21:17-18)

      When we’re in deep despair, our tendency often is to shut out the world, and sometimes that includes shutting out God. But God is the one who understands our distress like no human can. Sometimes He will put people in our life and speak through them to comfort us, but what He longs for us to do is bend our ear towards Him and listen. Let His presence comfort you with the hope that He’s going through this with you and He always has a plan if we open our eyes to see our opportunities and listen to the wisdom He whispers in our prayer time.

      The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps. 34:18)

      Lesson #3 God’s Plan Is Always the Best One to Follow

      When Hagar opened crying eyes, to her astonishment there was a well of water in the middle of the desert. Only God! She ran to fill her wineskin and gave her thirsty son a refreshing drink.

      19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. (Gen. 21:19)

      Bravely, Hagar believed God and trusted that even as a single mom rejected and stranded in the middle of nowhere, if God said it was so, then she would trust Him and obey again. God was faithful to His promise.

      20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. (Gen 21:20-21)

      While we often focus on Abraham and Sarah, God has a powerful lesson in the story of Hagar. Through no fault of her own, she became entrenched in the couple’s contrived plan to fulfill God’s promise themselves instead of waiting for God’s perfect timing and plan. We can’t outsmart or outdo God. His plans always are for good and will prevail, but we’ll pay a price when our impetuous and prideful thinking is that we know best.

      22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.[a] 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. (Gal. 4:22-23)

      Just as God promised, Ishmael became a great nation but to this day, his descendants continue to be in conflict with the nation founded by his half-brother Isaac.

      Everyday Brave Hagar

      I include Hagar in Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith because she didn’t let the hard life that she encountered defeat her. She had a personal experience with God and He protected and provided for her. She courageously understood that God was the One she could depend on and trust. He would make a way when circumstances seemed impossible.

      Even when we don’t see God face-to-face like Hagar did, or maybe have trouble feeling His presence, our faith assures us of the truth that we’re never alone. God has promised to never leave or forsake us even when others disappoint or even abandon us. God is always just a prayer away.

      God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5b)

      If you received this blog by email, please go to the website at this link and leave a comment. I always appreciate hearing from you and reply to each comment.

      April 17, 2023
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      How to Celebrate a Peaceful Joyful Post-Election Thanksgiving

      4

      A resounding and fervent prayer request from our Bible study group prior to Thanksgiving following an election, went something like this: Please, Lord, help us to be a light on Thanksgiving with the eclectic group of people attending with differing political and faith beliefs.

      Whether it was all family, all friends, invited guests . . . or a combination . . . most of us were apprehensive how the day would turn out.

      In the fragile aftermath of the recent volatile election, I imagine many of you are having similar concerns and conversations. I remember my mom cautioning that if you want to keep the peace, never talk about religion or politics. As a kid, I never understood that warning. Believers are supposed to tell everyone about Jesus. Since being a Christian is our first identity . . . how could we not talk about our Savior? Isn’t everyone entitled to his or her own spiritual and political opinion?

      Then I grew up!

      If you follow me, you know I’m bold about my first role in life: being a born-again Christian. All other roles come second. But as I wrote in Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten: “Bold doesn’t mean obnoxious. It simply means not being afraid to speak the truth, even in the face of adversity: ‘Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold’ (2 Cor. 3:12).” For example, if someone asks what I do, I answer, “I’m a Christian author and speaker.” They usually ask what I write, and I say, “Christian living nonfiction.” My response often opens the door for further discussion of the types of books I write and my faith.

      For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 NLT

      So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

      Is Thanksgiving a Religious Holiday?

      That could be an awkward question in some circles.

      I was with a group of people and mentioned how I hoped people would set their differences aside on Thanksgiving Day, and one person said, “It’s just a time for eating a lot of food, watching football, and shopping online anyway.”

      Me: “I’m pretty sure the first pilgrims who celebrated Thanksgiving didn’t have TV or Amazon.

      Another responded: “Well at least Thanksgiving isn’t a religious holiday.”

      I asked: “Who then are we thanking?”

      Complete silence.

      Of course, the answer is: God.

      Abraham Lincoln made it an official national holiday “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”

      The English colonists we call Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving as part of their religion. But these were days of prayer, not days of feasting.

      Yes, it’s a time of family and friends gathering, but as we sit around the feast together, we can’t thank each other, or aliens, or the “big bang” for giving us life, the sun, the moon, the trees, the ability to grow the food, the earth, the waters, the sky, sweet babies, and all the blessings we enjoy.

      We read in Genesis that God spoke everything into being, and yet, many of us will be sharing turkey and dressing with people who don’t believe or discount the existence of God. They don’t know where they’re going when they die, or where everything we enjoy on earth came from . . . and maybe they don’t even care.

      They’ll walk out of the room when we pray before the meal and may try and bait us into an argument over who we voted for and why. Or what happened to the expected “Red Wave?” Maybe after a few drinks, their conversation will turn ugly, even though innocent young eyes are watching how the “adults” interact.

      My husband and I pray beseeching God to prepare us to be a light in the darkness . . . not to avoid the darkness because that would be the cowards way out . . . but to help us respond as if Jesus was standing behind us speaking through us. You’ve all been in situations where it seemed like Satan was standing behind or speaking through the other person . . . at least I have . . . so how can we have Jesus reflect through us? Granted, the other people might not recognize Jesus . . . but they’ll see there’s something different about us.

      Biblical Ways to Have a Peaceful Joyful Thanksgiving

      As I prayed and talked to the Lord, here’s a list I came up with. I’d love to hear your ideas too.

      Don’t worry what to say. “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 (Jesus was talking to his disciples if they were arrested, but I think it could apply to us too if we felt our faith was being tested or put on trial.)

      Speak kind words. “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Pr. 16:24 NLT

      For your part, maintain peace. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

      Don’t instigate or respond to leading antagonistic discussions. “Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.” Pr. 26:17 NLT

      Play with any children present. “We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” Ps. 78:4 NLT

      Don’t drink. “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 NLT

      Smile, Smile, Smile. “Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 42:5 The Message

      Listen. “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Pr. 12:15 NLT

      Take a deep breath and think before you speak. “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” Pr. 29:20 NLT

      Less is more. “The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?” Ecc. 6:11 NLT— There’s “A time to be quiet and a time to speak.” Ecc. 3:7 NLT

      Silently pray in your mind. “Pray continually!” 1 Thess. 5:17

      Have a secret sign or word between you and someone else that signals: Let’s change the subject or move into the other room. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecc. 4:9

      When you’re Hosting, pray and thank God for each guest. Ask to be a blessing and to share joy. Pray over your home and each chair at the table. Before the meal, pray as you normally would, your guests know they’re coming to a Christian home. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

      If you’re a Guest—As you walk up to the home, pray to be a blessing and that God will stir up the fruit of the Spirit in your heart. If you’re hosts don’t pray before the meal, bow your head and pray over your food as you normally would. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23

      Thanksgiving is a day for harmony and focusing on God and giving Him thanks and praise in whatever way He leads. Fiction writers have a saying: “Show don’t tell.” Which simply means, you don’t always have to speak Jesus with your words, you can show Him with your actions and people will want what you have!

      Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 NLT

      Past Thanksgiving Blogs

      Here are a few past Thanksgiving blogs you might enjoy reading. I do give thanks for each one of you who have followed me on these Monday Morning Blogs, and I pray you have a joyful, peaceful, and God-filled Thanksgiving Day.

      Acquiring Overshadows Thanksgiving

      What Are You Most Thankful For?

      Love Your Body During the Holidays

      I also have a Bible study Face-to-Face with Euodia and Syntyche: From Conflict to Community that discusses many biblical ways to resolve conflict peacefully.

      Thanksgiving Tablecloth Idea

      In Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten, I share a way to use your tablecloth as a conversation piece and make memories for generations to come. Here is an excerpt from the book. I hope it gives you some ideas. I’ll be taking our Thankful Tablecloth with us this Thanksgiving to my daughter’s house.

      When my breast cancer journey started, I became keenly aware of making memories with my family. At times like that, you think seriously about your mortality and the legacy you want to leave with your loved ones. You appreciate each new day of life. The sun rising every morning is an act of God to celebrate.

       Holidays like Thanksgiving have new meaning. Typically, Thanksgiving is a celebration where family and friends gather for a feast, and everyone says what they’re thankful for in the past year. But after finishing the dishes and putting away the leftovers, how many really remember what everyone said?

      The Thanksgiving following my first breast cancer surgery in 2002, I had an idea of a Thankful Tablecloth. I purchased a Thanksgiving themed tablecloth with plenty of white space and a box of wash-resistant colored markers. After Thanksgiving dinner, I brought out the markers and asked everyone—kids included—to find a spot on the tablecloth to write what they were thankful for that year, sign, and date it. We traced handprints for the tiny ones with their name and age.

      Today, we have years of thankful messages to read every Thanksgiving and remember the many acts of God’s goodness to us and the people who joined us at the celebration table each year. If we go to someone’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, I ask if I can bring our Thankful Tablecloth and markers.

      When I go to be with the Lord, I pray my family will continue bringing out the Thanksgiving Tablecloth as a reminder through the generations of how good God has been to our family and friends.

      If you receive this by email, you can leave a comment here.

      PS: My plan right now is to take a sabbatical from my Monday Morning Blogs until the New Year so don’t be alarmed if there’s not a blog in your inbox on Mondays until then. Of course, the Lord could always prompt me to write one and surprise you; but if not, I thank all of you for letting me chat with you on Monday Mornings. Dave and I wish each of you a blessed Christmas celebration of our Lord’s birth and a glorious New Year.

      November 21, 2022
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