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When Did Bible-Believing Christians Start Being Labeled “Right Wing”?

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The title of my September AHW Ministries newsletter’s opening article is “Lord, Bring Our Prodigals Home!” I wrote that article because of the recent interest and activity around a book I wrote almost fifteen years ago as a memoir of being a prodigal mom raising a prodigal daughter, Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents. My daughter Kim shares her journey during that time too and each chapter also includes the story of other moms with a prodigal daughter and some of those daughters share their story.

The key to praying for my prodigal I discovered was praying and personalizing Scripture. Praying God’s Word back to Him for my daughter. Instead of just praying my will, I prayed for His will in her life. The back of the book has a section 40 Days of Praying Scripture for Your Daughter and this can also be applied to prodigal sons or grandchildren.

In the past few months, the Lord has brought Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter to my attention in a variety of ways. One of the contributing mothers in the book sent me a praise for her daughter’s return to the Lord and to her family after 10 years of praying. A few days later, another mother emailed me that she had just read the book and it was helping her in communicating with her daughter. Sales on the book have suddenly increased noticeably. A couple who has a podcast, “It’s Not How You Start But How You Finish,” contacted me for an interview on the book, which you can listen to here.

Again, I hope you’ll read the full article in my AHW Ministries newsletter of what God is doing with this book and listen to the podcast because I don’t want to repeat it all here for those of you who already read my newsletter. If you don’t receive my newsletter, you can sign up on my website or let me know and we’ll sign you up.

But here’s what I do want to talk about in this blog. Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter has been out since January 2008, so I hadn’t looked for a long time at the comments on Amazon. I’m not an author that is always checking my reviews because I’m usually on to writing the next book or article, but with all the activity lately, I decided to take a look. God wanted me to see a comment which was right on top.

At first, I chuckled, but then I was sad for the mother. It was the best “worst” review I’d ever had.

The reviewer returned the book, gave me only 1 star, and headed her comment “This book is for the deeply and devoted right wing Christians.” This was startling since it was my first time being referred to as a “right-wing” Christian. I’m always clear that I’m a Bible-believing Christian and in today’s culture that can set you apart because anyone can say they’re a Christian, but fewer and fewer people are connecting Christianity with the Bible and that’s a real travesty.

Here’s the first paragraph of the reader’s comment. I would encourage you to go to the page on Amazon if you want to read the remainder because it makes it even clearer why she thought my book was only for the deeply devout Christian and yet I ask: how can you be a Christian and not be devout?

“I have no judgment for the author or the tone of this book. For Christians who are devoted to God and extreme in their beliefs, this book is for them. My own struggles with my prodigal daughter led me to buy the book with hope to help guide me through my pain. However, the book is not so much about daughters coming home to their family as it is daughters coming home to Jesus. Over and over again, the dilemma was about the prodigal daughter coming back to Jesus and religion.”

I was elated that she got my point in the book that the answer to any prodigal’s life-changing return is first their return to Jesus! But I was deflated that she rejected this truth as too “right wing.” She added the term “religion,” but I talk about a relationship with Jesus NOT a religion.

My Thoughts on Being Called Right-Wing Christians

I don’t receive or acknowledge “right wing” as an acceptable term for Christians. I find it offensive to make it sound like we’re eccentric or on the edge to be extremely in love with Jesus and the inerrant Word of God, the Bible!

I don’t accept “Cultural Christian” or “Progressive Christian” as a description for any Christian because you’re either with the culture or with Christ. There’s no in between. The Bible is clear that we will have to be in the world while we’re alive, but we must not become of the world. Christ came to change the culture and turn people away from sin, not embrace sin as acceptable because it makes them feel good.

Christ came to make us holy NOT happy! What so many don’t understand is that when you let go of the secular culture and grab the hand of Jesus, you will be happy for eternity.

14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. John 17:14-17 NLT

I had a Facebook “conversation” where someone told me God did not create her or the climate. So I asked well then who did? She said that I needed to study biology instead of the Bible, which she referred to as “fantasy.” I said, well one thing the Bible and biology both agree on is that we’re all going to die and I know where I’m going to spend eternity. Do you know where you’re going when you die? The conversation ended.

The Bible tells us this world is but a bleep in the big picture of our life. Attempting to be a Christian who thinks that Jesus died on the Cross so that we could keep on sinning because He loves us so much or that the Bible doesn’t apply to today’s world is left-wing, wrong-wing, believing Satan-infused-demonic wing progressive lies and rationalizations.

Every Christian must make the decision to remain Christ-like and be a Bible-Believer no matter what names they call you. In fact, if someone isn’t calling you a name in today’s culture, you might not be wearing Jesus on your sleeve, and I’m not talking about a t-shirt.

Christians are not left wing or right wing, we’re under Jesus’s wing!

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Ps. 91:4 NLT

In Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, my daughter, Kim, came to the realization that being a Christian cannot be inherited or passed down through your family. Living in a Christian family doesn’t make you a Christian. It educates you and certainly wraps you in Christian love, but choosing Christ as your Lord and Savior is an individual decision only you can make.

Kim wrote about an experience she had in the Bible-based premarital course Dave and I gave her and Toby as an engagement gift, which they didn’t appreciate, but that is where they were both saved!

“Pastor Pete made it clear we couldn’t get to heaven on our parents’ faith—something I had been counting on—it had to be our own personal decision and relationships with Christ. That really got us thinking. I know that because we committed our lives to Christ, God has blessed our marriage.”

You’re either Holy Spirit-filled, or you’re not. I think God is putting the pressure on currently for the true Bible-believing Christians to step forward. The words I wrote in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, still ring true today because they were based on the premise that Jesus is the Only way, a truth that never changes.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:9-11

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

Note: Dave and I saw the movie SuperSpreader about worship leader Sean Feucht’s journey in starting the ministry Let Us Worship during a time when Covid was closing churches and not allowing people to sing in church. A powerful movie only in theaters until 10/6 so I hope you’ll find out where it’s playing in your area. Sean lives out Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (NLT)

My book Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter is also available on my website signed and personalized.

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

I apologize if you receive an email of this blog twice, but we’re having problems with MailChimp our delivery mechanism and it didn’t send out the blog to the majority of our mailing list the day it posted so we’re reposting it again.

October 3, 2022
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Who Is the Real Threat to the Soul of Our Nation?

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This past week, I’ve felt a sense of oppression that I couldn’t shake. I woke up with it every morning as I prayed asking God to reveal the source and why I was functioning each day under a dark cloud. I now think that it was the Lord awakening me to a heightened discernment of prevalent evil. I honestly wish I could walk away from this awareness and avoid dealing with it. But I know God has a purpose. He knows I will use the gifts He’s given me to awaken others too, so here I go.

The soul of America is God. The heart of America is God. The foundation of America is God.

Socialism replaces God with government and freedom with tyranny and we’re watching the deterioration of our beloved America right now with the current Administration removing God and His ways from every area of life.

In Biden’s “enemies of the state speech,” he looked and sounded like a dictator vilifying half the country who love God, family, and America but don’t happen to agree with his socialist policies. He called us evil, semi-fascists, and said we were a threat to the nation and destroying its soul. As he projected onto conservative Republicans everything he and his party are doing, he gave no specific examples of how we’re doing the country harm with traditional values and morality.

Yet, if he would only look in the mirror, he would see clearly the real threat to the soul of America.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24

When God is Removed the Nation Suffers

Here are just a few observable signs . . .

1. Measurable increase in crime and lawlessness

A mommy goes out for her usual morning jog and is kidnapped, raped, and killed by a man let out of prison early. A child sleeping in the back of the family car at a gas station or sleeping in his bed is shot and killed by random shooters. Another man released from jail early goes on a killing spree and videotapes his carnage on social media. Carjacking and robberies of stores and persons is rampant. Criminals are arrested and let back on the streets by progressive DA’s, judges, and the elimination of cash bond policies.

2. Open Borders

The Constitution and border laws are disregarded while unvetted and unvaccinated illegals from over a hundred countries are allowed to inhumanly flood our borders where drug Cartels and sex trafficking are prolific and horrific.

3. The Fantasy of Multiple Genders

Liberals cannot define a woman, fabricate multiple genders, and deny that there are scientifically and biologically only two genders, male and female.

4. Child Abuse

Young children are given dangerous hormones, puberty blockers, castrated, given mastectomies, and genitalia mutilated by physicians, as an acceptable medical practice even in “Children’s Hospitals.”

5. Parents Parental Rights Threatened

Schools are encouraged to transcend the parent / child relationship and sexualize young children. Parents are called domestic terrorists when they question what their children are being taught about CRT and perverted pornographic sex practices.

6. Compulsory Inoculation

People forced to take potentially dangerous vaccinations to attend schools, remain in the military, or keep their job.

7. Police are vilified and defunded.

8. Drag shows for children are normalized as “artistic expression.”

9. Abortion

Women consider it their “constitutional right” to kill their babies up until birth and sometimes after while calling it “healthcare.”

10. Woke overtakes morality and sensibility.

11. Diversity and equity replace all men and women are created equal.

12. Biological men allowed in women’s sports, showers, and locker rooms.

13. Marriage is no longer between a man and a woman.

14. Gay, transgender, and drag rights outweigh citizen rights.

15. Censorship is acceptable.

The Real Threat to the Soul of Our Nation

You may think that I’m leading up to calling Biden and the progressive Democrats the threat to the soul of our country and that’s partially true because they’ve sold their soul to the one who is the real threat: Satan.

You think that’s an overstatement? Joe Biden appointed as White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator a gay doctor who has been pictured touting his tattoos of the official symbol of the Church of Satan: The Pentagram. It seems like Joe Biden could have a Satanist working in the White House. Monkeypox is transmitted by gay men having sex with each other, something you seldom hear mentioned.

More and more I see Conservative commentators not afraid to point out the obvious. Jason Whitlock on Tucker Carlson Tonight said, “The Democrats are so busy calling us names why don’t we call them out on what they REALLY are a Satanic Cult!”

Only Satan could be behind what we’re watching happen in our country today. And Satan is not a respecter of red and blue states. Satan knows no boundaries!

When the Threat is Close to Home!

I and many of my fellow Idahoans were shocked that last weekend in Boise, Idaho, traditionally a Conservative red state, the gay community held a Boise Pride parade and weekend “festival” that originally was advertised to feature a Drag Kids Show on stage for kids 11-18 and a Drag Story Time!

Many local businesses supported and sponsored this event. They too have been deceived by this gay pride movement just like they were with the BLM scam that received thousands from businesses and then BLM exploited the money and did nothing to help the black community.

News of the Boise Gay Pride weekend traveled to California! Pastor Jack Hibbs posted on Facebook an urgent call to attention. Here’s part of it.

“To my dear fellow Watchmen in Idaho, I’m sorry, but for many of you, I’ve not yet had a chance to meet, and sorry again for this topic of urgency. Even down here in Chino Hills, California, we’ve heard about the City of Boise hosting a “Drag Kids” event at its pride celebration this Friday-Sunday. (THIS WEEKEND) We need to urgently gather as many Calvary Chapel pastors who are willing (and we may be joined by a number of LDS Ward/Stake presidents) to visit current Sheriff Matthew Clifford. [I later learned he refused to meet with the pastors]

We need to encourage him (and he is willing but must hear from the public first for him to act) to make an announcement that he is planning to arrest any organizer that contributes to the delinquency of minors and any persons who commit lewd acts in public especially if there are children present.

I need you, dear pastor, and your church to take a firm stand, or Idaho might become California in short order.”

Awaiting His Return!

Pastor Jack Hibbs Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

Many of us got busy and started contacting the sheriff and the sponsoring businesses of this event, and to their credit, I know of five that rescinded support when they heard about the children’s grooming events. I hope there were more. By Thursday, the Gay Pride group had canceled or “postponed” the Kid’s Drag Show.

It was confirming that when we join together peacefully and politely and let our voices be heard to pushback against evil, we can make a difference. Even though the pride group is now fabricating talking points that we’re “the extremist” threatening the children. As Calvary Church Star, Idaho points out, “that is the furthest thing WE AS A CHURCH BODY are guilty of. Don’t be freaked out- Satan-the great deceiver has always been after the next generation. We are FOR these children and our hearts should break for the confusion and hurt they are being taken thru…but being groomed into a life of DRAG is NOT the answer.” Amen

This church hosted a prayer vigil on the steps of the Capitol on Saturday during the pride event.

I also joined the Values Advocacy Council group http://boise.vacmail.org to do my part in saving Idaho! No matter where you live, we all need to heed Pastor Hibb’s warning about Idaho, or your state, turning into California. Many of us moved to Idaho because it was a conservative red state, but we need to work to keep it that way.

An entire month of “Pride” in June wasn’t enough. On 9/11, a day where satanic evil killed 3000 innocent lives and we should all be reverently commemorating the tragedy not celebrating evil, a pride parade took place right here in Boise trying to exploit young children!! It’s as if Satan is laughing at us.

I think Satan knows his time is short and he’s not holding back. He’s testing how much he can get away with and will we try to stop him? And yes, I do believe he’s invaded the core of the Democrats in Washington and Democrat run states who would see nothing wrong with the gay pride event or the 15 items I listed above. In fact, they vote for championing and legalizing this evil.

Even as Biden calls Conservatives and those who believe in biblical moral principles evil and “extreme,” there’s currently a demonized mind set in his administration. They don’t even realize they’ve become Satan’s captives doing his dirty work for him. When you open the door to the demonic, you welcome Satan into your house, including the White House!

Let God arise and may His enemies be scattered.

Let God’s people arise and may their enemies be scattered.

The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. Pr. 28:18

What Do We Do as Christians?

Yes, my heart is heavy for the soul of our country, my birth state California, and now my home state Idaho, and family members who don’t know Jesus. Blatant evil is so prevalent today and it weighs heavy on me. I know the Lord won’t lift that burden because He wants me to continue taking action to shed the light of Jesus as far and wide as I can.

It was a joy to partner with other conservative groups and friends on Facebook as we worked together to challenge the local businesses to do the right thing and protect as many children as we could from this horrific exploitation, but there were parents who were going to allow their children to be a part of this evil.

Deception. Spiritual Blindness. Media Propaganda.

We pray and we act where God leads us to help put God back into the soul of America. Without that, we stumble and fall as a nation, but with God at the helm, we will soar to victory.

If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— 3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Deut. 13:2-4 NLT

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Heb. 10:39 NLT

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September 11, 2022
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They Called Jesus and His Followers Names Too!

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In my last two blogs, I’ve talked about the goal of the left, especially the left-leaning media, to create words and redefine others and the latest assault is “Christian Nationalism.” Oh, and they usually put “white” in front of that slur so they can somehow tie it to “white supremacy.” I’ve also mentioned that the goal of Marxism is to destroy the family and the church to ultimately destroy and control the country.

They’re attacking the family through the LGBTQABC and transgender movement invading our schools. The DOJ calls parents domestic terrorists for wanting to stop their children’s indoctrination with racism and sex grooming. The left wants to eliminate parents from knowing what’s happening without their permission in the schools.

The church is also under siege. The left has tried to use the racism card but when that failed, they’ve come up with calling us names like labeling patriotic Christians who love God, family, and country as “Christian Nationalists” and then equating that term with the Taliban! Notice a theme here. You fall into this category by their definition if you maintain that America was founded on Judeo Christian principles and profess there’s nothing in the Constitution or Bill of Rights that says there should be a separation of church and state.

Do you see how they’re also subtly trying to silence teaching American history and sharing the Gospel with these outlandish claims?

Liberals who haven’t accepted that abortion is NOT a right given in the Constitution have now segued to the absurd accusation that the conservative majority in the Supreme Court that led to the overturn of Roe v Wade is a result of the “Christian nationalist movement!”

If you want to know what they mean by “Christian nationalism,” Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism conveys the following radical propaganda: “The term ‘Christian nationalism’ is not a word game . . . It is descriptive of an ideology as well as a political movement engaged in an organized quest for power.”

Absurd! Deceived! Demonic! Name-calling! Yes, Word Games!

They want to force us to denounce our flag and patriotic views! To be afraid to say what we all know is true that the further our country moves away from God, the closer we get to destruction. To put blinders onto the moral deprivation, lawlessness, and decay of our culture we can all see for ourselves as God was removed from our schools and our government. Silence us from saying our country was founded on Judeo Christian values for fear of being called a “Christian nationalist.”

It won’t work! They can’t intimidate us! We already have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. We’ll keep singing songs like “Proud to be An American” by Lee Greenwood and “Same Power” by Jeremy Camp. I love both those songs!!

We’ll also sing God Bless America because God cares about our country just like He cared about giving the Israelites the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 26:15, Moses told the people to pray “Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

But Moses also warned them not to forget the Lord’s ways, “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.” Deut. 8:1

Just like America has forgotten God, the Israelites failed. So, God told them what they needed to do. It’s the same thing our nation needs to do now as I wrote about in Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten.

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

Calling us Racist Didn’t Work and This Latest Name-Calling Attack Won’t Either.

Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, addressed this issue in a recent sermon where he said he wasn’t a “Christian nationalist, but insisted the United States was founded as a ‘Christian nation’.” He pointed out that a perversion of the Constitution by progressives, atheists, and others has led to the creation of a secular nation now defined by a culture that is both tragic and decadent.

He pointed out that, “Today, over 10 million teenagers in the U.S. drink alcohol regularly; 20 percent engage in binge drinking; 2,800 children die each year as a result of gun violence; another 14,300 are injured. Nearly 1 million babies were murdered in the womb last year, and one in four women in the U.S. will have aborted at least one of their children by age 45. On and on and on it goes. Are these tragedies just a coincidence?” he asked.

“Now, just consider the warning that God gave to His own people Israel. In Hosea 4:6, He said, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest.’ Listen to this: ‘Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children,‘ Jeffress said.

“He’s given us so much. You can see His hand in the founding of our country. But in the final analysis, God is no respecter of people or nations. Any nation that reverences God will be blessed by God, and any nation, including the United States, that rejects God will be rejected by God,” he rightly emphasized.

“America was founded predominantly … by Christians who wanted to build this Christian nation on the foundation of God’s will,” he said. “And furthermore, these men believed that the future success of our country depended upon our fidelity to the Christian beliefs. And that’s why we can say, though it’s politically incorrect to do so, we say without hesitation or apology that America was founded as a Christian nation, and our future success depends upon our country being faithful to those eternal truths of God’s Word.”
Robert Jeffress rejects ‘Christian nationalist’ label | Church & Ministries News (christianpost.com)

I hope you, like me, agree with Pastor Jeffress and those beliefs alone can now get you labeled as a “Christian Nationalist,” a “threat to democracy.” I’ve been thinking of appropriate responses.

1. Like Dr. Jeffress, we reject this label’s definition and evil connotation, but adamantly and vocally stand by our Christian beliefs and patriotism.

2. We remember our first allegiance is to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, not a government, an official, a president, or people calling us names!

3. We ignore the slanderers and continue living our lives as honorable Bible-believing, born-again Christian American citizens.

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT

Their Goal is to Divide and Weaken the Church

And it’s working. There’s even a group called Christians Against Christian Nationalism that completely distorts and insinuates being a Christian who loves Jesus, the Bible, and country is somehow a power grab and evil?!

I see confusion and misunderstanding all over social media. It broke my heart to read a comment on Facebook that the writer who had been a Christian for many years was now afraid to refer to herself as a Christian because “Christians are giving Christianity a bad reputation.” This is exactly what the devil and the Marxists hope will happen. That Christianity will become so distorted and tainted that the core TRUTH of the Gospel and the Cross will fall under the weight of slander and misrepresentation . . . eventually silenced.

Here’s just one example of how this confusion is generated in the public arena.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who calls himself a Christian, accused his Republican colleague and sister in the faith Rep. Lauren Boebert of advocating for “the Christian Taliban, after she spoke in a church and said she is “tired of this separation of Church and state junk.”

Boebert, a born-again Christian, argued that the principle of separation of Church and state is not in the Constitution and was only in a letter that “means nothing like they say it does.” Boebert was likely referencing an 1802 letter from President Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Church Association in Connecticut stating that the First Amendment has “a wall of separation between Church and State.”

In context, Jefferson was referring to the fact that the government can’t establish a universal religion or interfere in the church. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution “prohibits the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion” and “government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.” It also prohibits the government from “unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion.”

The purpose was always to keep the government out of the church, like they unconstitutionally did in forcing churches to close during the pandemic, not to keep the church out of government. Say that truth today and you’re labeled Christian Taliban.

As opponents often use the term “Christian Taliban” or even “Christo Fascists” to demean conservative Christian policy stances, conservative radio host Larry O’Connor reminded Kinzinger that he, too, was once branded as “Christian Taliban” before he was elected to Congress in 2010.

“All of us at Breitbart helped you win in 2010 when the protesters in the streets were calling YOU Christian Taliban and Nazi. Remember all the posters of you and Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin with swastikas?” O’Connor noted. “You’ve become the very people we fought against to help you get elected.” Adam Kinzinger slams Boebert’s call for Church to direct gov’t | Politics News (christianpost.com)

Names the Government and Religious Leaders Called Jesus

The Pharisees were the religious government of the day and they even accused Jesus of doing miracles in the name of Satan. They labeled Him a blasphemer and demonic.

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” 3But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. 34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.” Matt. 9 1-3; 32-34

When He called them out for their hypocrisy, they tried to trap Him.

But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you’….

One of the experts of the law (Scribes who were mostly Pharisees) answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things you insult us also.’ Jesus replied, ‘And you experts of the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them’….When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say.” Luke 11:37-41, 45-46, 54

As followers of Christ, none of the attacks on Christianity should come as a surprise or discourage us. They only come after us because we represent a formidable and effective threat to tyrannical control of our country and attempts to destroy our culture. I heard a pastor (who BTW is black) say, and I agree, that his biggest sorrow is that his children and grandchildren are not enjoying the America he knew growing up. One that never would’ve allowed the degradation of morals and cultural demise we’re watching today, much of what I’ve written about in previous blogs.

Who could’ve imagined men would be allowed to participate in women’s sports, locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms; pronouns we learned in English now discarded with new ones made up every day; children encouraged to change to 101 different genders; the definition of marriage between a man and a woman discarded, and on and on.

We must not adapt to this immoral society. As Bible-believing Christians, we live unequivocally by God’s Word and set examples for the next generation to follow. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1

The world didn’t accept Jesus and His followers either, so let’s not be naïve and think everyone is going to accept Christ-followers. But the only acceptance we seek is that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We remember that this world is not our permanent home; we’re just passing through. But while we’re here, we seek to fulfill the purpose God has for each of us to be About His Work! We occupy and stay engaged until Christ returns for us.

“Grace lets us live as godly, loving Christians, even when politics fails!” Pastor Brian Smith

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:18-19

14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven. 15 With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. 16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him. Heb. 13:14-16 Living Bible

The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. Ps. 119:160 NLT

The last two blogs I referenced in the opening paragraph are:

We’re in a War of Words with the Devil

It’s Not Easy Being Me, But I’m So Glad God Chose Me to Be About His Work!

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August 8, 2022
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How Do We Love Those Who Reject God and His Ways?

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“Loving people unconditionally is not the equivalent of affirming their life choices at the expense of biblical truth.”

The above quote was a post on Facebook by my friend Susan Reinhardt. I was browsing through posts while praying for the Lord to reveal what to write about this week when I came across Susan’s post and realized this was a theme the Lord had been giving me all week.

Since the leak of the SCOTUS draft opinion by Justice Alito on the unconstitutionality of Roe v Wade and stating that abortion legislation should be decided in the states not at the Federal level, we’ve all watched the screaming, yelling, vulgar signs, and vile words of the Pro-Abortion activists taking to the streets. Pro-death protests that women should be able to kill their own children have occurred nationwide, many involving violence. Protesters have targeted the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices, vandals have targeted at least five pro-life crisis pregnancy centers across the U.S., and Catholic churches have been threatened and vandalized.

Sometimes, the protestors admit to being Satanists, but Satan is rejoicing with all the protests. I’m sure many of the protestors are women who’ve had abortions and are seeking affirmation to alleviate their guilt. Then there are those who are just following the crowd or it’s something they were told was a woman’s right and they’ve never even considered that there’s another person involved with rights, the innocent baby. Or they haven’t read or heard details of the torture and gruesome realities of abortion.

You hear some of these activists interviewed and they’ve been force-fed by the media, Planned Parenthood, liberals, Elites, and Democrats that even though science proves there’s a living feeling moving human baby waiting to be born, they’ve believed the lie that it’s not really a fellow human being until its first breath. Lies! Lies! lies!!!

Satan is the father of lies and deception and without the Holy Spirit to help discern the truth, lies can seem believable. Just like Eve was deceived in the garden by the serpent Satan who had her doubting and questioning, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Gen. 3:1

 I’ll admit when I saw the angry, illiterate, disgusting words and signs of the protestors, I was appalled, repulsed, and angry. I’m sure many of you are too. Then I saw a sign one young woman was holding, “I wish my mother had aborted me!” The only emotion I felt was sadness for her. What little self-worth does someone possess who would rather they were never born so she’s championing that no child should have the right to life.

I realize that most of the protestors do not want to have a rational conversation, but that young woman was crying out for help. Was anyone listening? She needed someone to tell her there’s a God who created her with a purpose for her life and He wanted her to be born.

My mother once said to me, if she had known all the illnesses she was going to have in her lifetime and might pass on to her children, she wished she had never had me! I’ve never forgotten her words and I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t have had a chance to live the life I’ve enjoyed or accomplished what the Lord had planned for me, especially to be known and loved by Him. That poor girl holding the “I wish I hadn’t been born sign” needs to know she is loved by God.

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 2 Tim. 2:24 NLT

Our Battle is Not Against the Protesters or Pro-Death Advocates!

I heard a woman who leads a pro-life organization interviewed and it was pointed out to her how the pro-life groups are the exact opposite of the pro-abortion groups. Pro-life groups are typically smiling, praying, singing, holding life-affirming signs, and trying to have rational conversations with those who oppose them. When asked how she tries to combat the pro-abortion groups, she said many of them don’t really understand the barbaric torture of abortion and I wish we could just have open discussion with them. But most of the time that’s impossible. They just want to scream and not listen.

You may have seen last week during a Congressional hearing when a young pro-abortion activist said she believed that yes men can get pregnant!! It was hard not to just laugh at the absurdity of her belief, but it begs the questions: What did she not learn in biology? Where did she receive her brainwashing? Is she mentally ill or mentally incompetent? Could she give an example of that ever happening in history? Satan smiles at her illiterate response and God cries.

In the same hearing, a Planned Parenthood doctor wouldn’t answer if she had seen or removed baby body parts during abortion. Even she couldn’t verbalize the horror of what she does as a “doctor” while killing a baby in the womb. A doctor that took an oath to save life works for an organization whose sole purpose is murder under the false pretense of “healthcare.”

The Democrat led White House is already preparing for the nationwide violence they expect from their radical constituents when the Roe v Wade ruling is announced. Instead of telling their people not to riot or take violent actions and to be sure their protests are legal and peaceful, they’re expecting violence because that’s what the liberal left, progressives, and Elites do when they don’t get their way.

The woman leading the pro-life organization understood the evil one has deceived these people. Paul clearly tells us in Ephesians 6:10-13 who the real enemy is and how to combat him!

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

As Christians, What Should We Do for These Lost Souls?

Satan is blinding people to the truth and he’s unwilling to let the captives go. Even some news commentators have mentioned that the opposition we’re watching by the pro-abortion advocates and government officials seems like a spiritual battle. They can’t deny what their eyes are seeing.

Our job as Christians is to pray that the truth would set the captives free from this satanic woke cult that has invaded their heart, mind, and soul and replaced their sense of reason, common sense, and morality! I know that’s hard to do when they can be so belligerent and their actions are so detestable, but they’re lost and destined to eternal damnation. As my pastor says, they are our mission field. When we think of it that way, I don’t know about you, instead of feeling angry, I feel sorrow and even compassion for them. They are who Jesus came to save not cast aside as hopeless!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

Many people have the false belief that because Christians are to display Christ’s love, we cannot call out people’s sin. But that makes no sense. How will they ever be convicted that their actions are wrong if someone doesn’t help them see the truth? Jesus did not agree with sin. He went to the cross to provide forgiveness for sin, but the sinner has to acknowledge their sin and repent, and then they can receive forgiveness and be blessed with eternal salvation. That’s the Truth and Good News of the gospel and there is no shortcut.

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Cor. 4:3-4 NLT

It’s easy to love those who think like we do and agree with us, but it’s challenging to love our enemies or those who don’t believe like us. We are living in times when the spiritual battle between good and evil is prevalent and evident. As Christians, we must stand up for good and abhor evil. We don’t go along with evil to get along. We don’t accept evil so as not to make waves, even when it’s happening within our own family. We stand up for truth and morality always! We keep showing the love of Christ while not condemning but not condoning.

I share being in this exact situation in my book Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help, & Encouragement for Hurting Parents. My daughter never doubted my love for her, but she also knew that I didn’t agree with her actions at the time. They weren’t ok just because she was my daughter. I prayed daily for her for six years, never agreeing with her sinful choices but always loving her with a mother’s unconditional love and one day she accepted Christ as her Savior. Today, she’s a godly wife and mother.

I know many of you are in a similar situation right now. You have a loved one who is making bad choices. You still want a relationship with them but you don’t know how to do this without agreeing with the way they’re living. My advice to you is don’t change or waiver from your beliefs and truths. You stay consistent in living biblically but you show kindness, compassion, and love rather than condemnation. Keep communication open. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep close to Jesus. Don’t waiver in your faith or beliefs, but don’t stop loving.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Eph. 4:15

 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good! Romans 12:9 NLT

To learn more about the Purple Sash Revolution.

To read my recent post on abortion There’s Hope for America Breaking Free from Demonic Paganism!

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Since next Monday is a holiday, there won’t be a Monday Morning Blog but God willing, I’ll be back June 6th! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

May 23, 2022
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Why Is Biblical Citizenship Important?

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 “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ~ Elie Wiesel

More Americans voted in 2020 than in any other presidential election in 120 years. About 67% of eligible voters cast ballots that year, but that still means a third did not. That amounts to about 80 million people who stayed home.

My Faith Votes website is one of the places I go to learn more about candidates and elections. Their goal is to get Christians across America more engaged in the political process – 90 million Christians in America are eligible to vote, but as many as 40 million fail to vote in Presidential election cycles. And 15 million are not even registered to vote! 

Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, appeared on an edition of CBN News’ Faith Nation. Some people say churches should stay out of politics, but Yates says Christians should be involved in the political process and I agree.

“Our honorary national chairman is Mike Huckabee and said to me [Yates], ‘Do you do your dishes? Because if you don’t do your dishes and you just turn your back on it the stack of dishes is only going to grow and the stench from all your dirty dishes is only going to grow, so what you’ve gotta do is roll up your sleeves and do the dishes.’ And I think that’s a perfect analogy for what we’re doing here,” Yates explains. “We can’t just ignore it. We have to bring the good of our faith, the values of our faith into the election process, into the civic square.” [15M Christians Aren’t Registered to Vote: Churches Across US Participating in ‘Voter Registration Sunday’ | CBN News]

As Christians, we enjoy the unique privilege of dual citizenship of an earthly nation and God’s heavenly nation. While this earth is not our permanent home and we prepare for our eternal heavenly home, we have a responsibility now to be participating citizens. That involves not only living by the laws of the land but also participating in selecting those who govern our families and country.

“Though we belong entirely to Christ, we do not on that account renounce our citizenship in the earthly nations, any more than we leave our earthly families. Indeed, we seek to be good citizens, for those earthly nations themselves, and their rulers, received their authority from God (Rom. 13:1-7).” ((John M. Frame, “Toward a Theology of the State,” Westminster Theological Journal 51:2 (Fall 1989), 221.)) As quoted by Gary Demar in his article, What Does the Bible Say About Citizenship?

We need to do our part as American citizens to make sure we elect men and women of integrity who pledge to honor God’s ways in their authority as government and school officials.

Some Christians might think they’re only passing through life as pilgrims and strangers to this world as they await their home in heaven and, therefore, have no purpose, desire, or reason to become involved in the operation of this world. In other words, avoid all civil activities, including voting. But that couldn’t be further from the way God wants us to participate in this gift He gave us of life!

When Christians subjugate their civil responsibilities, evil rules over our lives and our world. We’re watching that right now, as I reiterated in last week’s blog, There’s Hope for America Breaking Free From Demonic Paganism!

God gave us life to make a difference, each and every one of us! That’s why I’m so thrilled to see many Christian Conservatives running for office and school boards and I pray many of them win. Our Founding Fathers based the Constitution and Bill of Rights on biblical values. They got involved in politics and set the example for generations to follow.

Our children and grandchildren are depending on us to research and vote into office principled people who will stop our country from heading into Communism. None of us want our children to grow up brainwashed and in a country ruled by dictators. We can’t just sit by and sit out elections.

The godly Apostle Paul saw no contradiction in claiming his Roman citizenship (Acts 16:37-39; 22:22-29) and maintaining that he was also a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20). There is no contradiction in Peter’s words when he commands us to submit ourselves “to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13–14) and his words to the officers of the temple when he and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Vote with Knowledge and Integrity

More than 25 million Christians, who are registered to vote, do not vote in Presidential elections. More than 65 million Christians do not vote in their local elections. That’s an appalling number that could have changed the outcome of numerous elections had these Christians gotten engaged as American citizens and cast their vote!

We’re earthly citizens of several regions, a city, county, state, and nation, and we should vote and be concerned about how we’re governed in each of those areas. As Gary Demar explains using Paul as an example, “the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27‑29) of the city of Tarsus in the region of Cilicia (21:39) and a resident of Jerusalem in the district of Judea (22:3). Had Israel not been subject to the sovereignty of Rome, Paul could have exercised his tribal citizenship as a resident of the “tribe of Benjamin” (Phil. 3:5). Paul had multiple civil citizenships. The concept of a single citizenship has more in common with pagan Greece than with biblical Christianity.”

We have a Primary election in Idaho on May 17 and many of you have similar upcoming elections in your states or may have already had it. As disillusioned as we were with the 2020 election, we must still get out and vote, but also do our part to keep elections fair, legal, and uncompromised. Many concerned and engaged citizens are working on that right now in individual states.

I have mentioned to you before about the Victory Channel program Flashpoint, which I hope you watch on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Every Christian Conservative that we’ve encouraged to watch Flashpoint have become faithful viewers. This program looks at current events from a Christian prophetic viewpoint and brings to light some of the darkness you won’t see revealed on any of the mainstream media programs. For that reason, like many conservatives, they’ve been canceled from most social media outlets, but you can watch them live on their TV program and also receive informative emails and join the “Flashpoint Army.”

“FlashPoint focuses on pertinent issues currently facing America and delivers news and commentary under the anointing—encouraging evidence and hope that God is indeed working to bring about His plans and purposes during these turbulent times. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.”

True the Vote has been researching and documenting the fraud that took place in 2020. Here is the opening on their websiteTruetheVote.org. “Our election processes are vulnerable from beginning to end—and those vulnerabilities are being exploited by groups who subvert our elections to serve their own purposes. The best way to protect voters’ rights is to equip citizens for service. That’s what we do. Now, that’s what you can do, too.” Their website offers ways you can get involved to keep elections uncompromised!

True the Vote partnered with Dinesh D’Souza to create the recently released documentary 2000 Mules. I encourage all of you to watch this movie and tell others about it. You can watch at Dinesh (locals.com) and SalemNow.com where DVD’s are also available for sale.

Rigged2020.com is another revealing documentary on the undeniable cheating that occurred in the 2020 election.

If you’re interested in helping in your local elections to keep them fair and honest, check out Electionintegrity.vote—“Fair and secure elections start with you! We help you use your voice to change your state laws and make elections fair and secure.”

Here are some additional websites to investigate, become involved, and encouraged that yes, we are called on to participate and partner in biblical citizenship to protect and personify our country’s motto: In God We Trust!

American Family Association–AFA. I receive their encouraging emails keeping me informed about world events, how to pray for our country and families, and voter information about candidates.

iVoterGuide.com—You enter your state and location to get a sample ballot. I love their maxim: “Grounded in God. Rooted in Research.” They have given Republican candidates a survey and share their answers along with providing background information i.e. where they go to church and where they rate in Conservatism.

MillionVoices.org is another site mobilizing Christians and they provide voter guides: Change Policy, Influence Policymakers – Million Voices. “We are led by John Graves, a lawyer, an influencer in politics, a business entrepreneur, and a Christian voice in the confusing world of politics. We got into politics because we were sick and tired of our voice not being listened to in all areas of policymaking: local, state, and national.”

“Million Voices mobilizes pastors and people of faith and freedom. We are an Association of Churches focused on communicating guiding truths through cultural apologetics and political discipleship. We have served and mobilized thousands of traditional brick-and-mortar churches across the nation and non-traditional churches.“

My Faith Votes says “One in three Christians don’t vote consistently!? We’re on a mission to motivate and equip Christians to Pray, Think, Vote in EVERY election.”

We have Dual Citizenship: we represent God on earth as it is in heaven!

The apostle Paul used all his privileges of Roman citizenship when he appealed to be tried before Caesar, “If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Acts 25:11

We know that Paul used this appeal to advance the gospel and to bring more people into heavenly citizenship and we should do the same!

In other situations Paul found himself, he often expressed his dual citizenship on earth and in heaven:
The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.” Acts 22:27-29

Paul also said, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Phil. 3:20-21

PRAY! VOTE! PRAY MORE! GET INVOLVED HOWEVER THE LORD LEADS.

The Lord is coming soon and don’t let Him find us uninvolved and uninterested in the world in which He placed us.

As God’s partners,[a] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[b]

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. 2 Cor. 6:1-4 NLT

Join me in a prayer I pray every morning that I am an active contributor and initiator of God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven! (Matt. 6:10)

Please let me know if you’ve found other faith-based organizations dedicated to fair and honest elections.

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PS Some followers have pointed out that the blog has been coming through small on their cell phone, but if you turn your phone sideways to read, it will have larger print.

May 16, 2022
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Our Forever Valentine: Jesus, Our First Love!

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Since my Monday Morning Blog is posting on Valentine’s Day, I thought it was only appropriate that we talk about love. Typically, we think about romantic love on this day, but there are so many different aspects to love.

Remember in grammar school sharing Valentine’s cards with classmates. You might’ve had a crush on one of them, but mostly you were trying to collect as many cards as you could that day. I’m not even sure kids still are allowed to share Valentines today but it’s a fun memory for many of us. It wasn’t about love, but more about friendship and camaraderie.

February is the month of valentines, but it’s also National Heart Health month, and a good time to reflect on your diet and exercise regime. At least, be sure if you’re eating chocolates today, it’s dark chocolate! At our house, we’re hoping the snow will start melting and there will be glimpses of spring and warmer weather.

When I think about true love, my mind always goes to Jesus. Yes, my husband and I make plans to do something special to celebrate our love on Valentine’s Day, but we both know that Jesus is our First Love. We wouldn’t have made it these twenty-nine years through the stresses and trials of a blended family and other devastating life issues if we hadn’t put Jesus at the center of our marriage, but most importantly, at the center of each of our lives. We don’t want to ever forget that Jesus Christ is our First Love!

In Revelations 2:2-4, Jesus admonishes the church in Ephesus that even though they were a dutiful church following all the religious rules and ceremonies, they had forgotten who they were serving and why they were even a church. They weren’t showing or exemplifying the love of Jesus.

 I [Jesus] know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Removing the lampstand meant they would stop being an effective church. And if we’re not careful, the same thing could happen to us in our personal lives too! When we forget the love of Jesus that burned in our heart when we first gave our life to Him, Jesus says . . . no matter how many Bible studies we attend, how perfect our attendance is at church, or how much we volunteer and tithe. . . none of it matters if we’re motivated by duty and not love.

A pastor once asked the children how we know Jesus is alive today. Their answer was He lives in each of our hearts. That’s true love!

So whether you’re single or married, I want to share three important points about what love has to do with our witness for Jesus, especially as we look at the tumultuous times we live in today.

Christians Need to Love Each Other

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:16-17

Jesus was talking to his disciples here and we are Jesus’s disciples now. God chose us to bear fruit and we can’t have a message of love if we don’t love each other. We can’t have dissention in the church or among church members. Sadly, Satan has used the current political and pandemic unrest to pit brothers and sisters in Christ against each other. In the Bible, there are no Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, Liberals, Conservatives, vaxxers or anti-vaxxer, maskers or anti-maskers.

There is only One timeless Word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb. 13:8

There is also only one kind of Christian: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3

As born-again Bible-Believing Christians, we’re appointed to go out and bear testimony to the world together. We should unite as one front! Whatever allows us to share the Good News that Jesus saves, we’re for; whatever prohibits that freedom or tries to silence us, we’re against.

Whatever upholds the teachings of the Bible, we’re for; whatever prohibits or alters those teachings, we’re against.

We stand together for the sanctity of human life, marriage between a man and a woman, God creating us as men and women, and we’re not afraid to lovingly bear that fruit for Jesus.

Anything separating us on those issues isn’t from God!

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Christ Loves Us with a Never-Ending Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39

Sadly, we see divided churches, families, friends . . . all proclaiming to be Christians yet separated by issues where there should be unity, and Satan wins because our witness is compromised. That’s a shame! There is a lost world that really needs to see the love of Christ displayed through a body of Christ that shows the love of Christ and agrees on what it means to be a Christian. But we know today that’s not the case. The good news is that nothing we do can ever separate us from the love of God for those who have truly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I had a man on Facebook tell me once that he had been a Christian for 50 years, read the Bible numerous times, been to church, talked to pastors, attended Bible study groups, but now has decided Christianity is a farce, doesn’t work for him anymore, and told me I needed to know that Jesus is not returning. Two things came to mind: (a) You can leave Jesus, but He will never leave you. (b) You can be a Christian in name only, but never have experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ, your First Love, which I wrote about in last week’s blog, A Society Crumbles That Doesn’t Recognize Sin. His words were so harsh I fear he was in the latter group.

I remember singing a song as a little girl, maybe you remember it too: “I have the love of Jesus love of Jesus down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay.”

How Much Love Do You Have to Give?

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 The Message

Do You Love Jesus Enough to Share Him with Others Or Are You Keeping All the Love To Yourself?

Another woman on Facebook wrote this:

FB woman: There are many other religions who do not make Jesus/Satan part of their belief system. All destined to damnation? It’s a big world out there and much of it overcomes the negative.

Me: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

FB woman: Written by John a century later, an evangelist trying to convert the world to his new religion. PBS and History Channel do wonderful educational shows on the origins of the Bible. Check them out. I have read the Bible extensively Janet, I just haven’t drawn the same dark conclusions. And the shows I mentioned are created by scientists and historians with no agenda but discovery. I wouldn’t want to rest my eternity on what someone else says.

This woman was very confused, but I was able to talk with her a little and point out that John was actually with Jesus during His ministry, not a century later, and she was resting her eternity on what scientists and television said rather than letting God speak to her through the Bible. Maybe I made some headway. My heart breaks for those misled by the liberal progressive godless agenda with their many “belief systems,” and for Christians who have forgotten their First Love.

Love says we will take the time to share the truth, wherever and whenever we have the opportunity.

I often have to remind myself that Jesus died for the liberal mainstream media and the godless radical progressives. It’s my job to let them know the gospel in a loving way. It’s up to them to make the choice. I don’t try to convince them, because you can’t reason with someone blinded by evil.

If they’re not following God, they’re following Satan. Those are the only two roads; there is no middle path. But now they’re accountable for knowing there is another way and maybe someone else will share a little more love down the road. Who knows, they just might decide that heavy load of anger, bitterness, revenge, meanness, bullying, lies . . . whatever has turned their heart so hard . . . just isn’t worth carrying around anymore.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
    but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
    point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:3-5 NLT

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Cor. 13:4-5

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You might also enjoy another blog How to Have a Date with Jesus!

February 14, 2022
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A Society Crumbles That Doesn’t Recognize Sin!

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I often ask in my articles: When’s the last time your pastor spoke about sin? Called sin out for what it is: an abomination to God.

Why are so many pastors and Christians afraid to use the word “sin” when the New Living Translation of the Bible mentions sin 1792 times!

You hear in church that Jesus went to the Cross to offer forgiveness for our sins, but pastors usually stop short of actually delineating the definition of sin. Listing and outlining sins that break Jesus’ heart and soil your relationship with Jesus.

Here’s a good Scripture passage to start with that does require some explanation but that’s what a pastor is trained to do. Verse 16 also acknowledges that contrary to what we’re often told about not confronting a fellow believer over their sin because that might be judging, it’s what we’re called to do and pray for them!

16 If you see a fellow believer[a] sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 1 John 5:16-18 NLT

In deciphering this passage, I read a commentary by Pastor John Piper who answers the question of what is a sin that does not lead to death. “Here’s my [Piper’s] answer: the sin that does not lead to death (that is, eternal death or damnation — which is what I think John means) is any sin that we commit that we are, by grace, capable of truly confessing and repenting from. . . The sin that does not lead to death is any sin—that we are still, by grace, able to authentically, humbly confess, and repent from.”

1 John 3:9 NLT further explains that Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

So we know that even as Christians we still have a propensity to sin in this world (Romans 3:23), but as born-again Christians, we should recognize our sin, repent, and ask for forgiveness. We don’t intentionally keep on sinning.

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:8-10

We can’t claim as believers that we’ll never sin again nor that every sin leads to damnation. But there is a sin that does lead to death and damnation and that’s the denial of Christ in your life.

So if you know someone who claims to be a Christian but they’re living a sinful life with no repentance, there’s a good chance they’re not actually saved and you want to pray that their eyes will open to the truth before it’s too late.

One commentary explains further: There is a sin unto death; which is not only deserving of death, as every other sin is, but which certainly and inevitably issues in death in all that commit it, without exception; and that is the sin against the Holy Ghost, which is neither forgiven in this world nor in that to come, and therefore must be unto death; it is a sinning willfully, not in a practical, but doctrinal way, after a man has received the knowledge of the truth; it is a willful denial of the truth of the Gospel, particularly that peace, pardon, righteousness, eternal life, and salvation, are by Jesus Christ, contrary to the light of his mind, and this joined with malice and obstinacy; so that there is no more or other sacrifice for such a sin; there is nothing but a fearful looking for of wrath and fury to fall on such opposers of the way of life; and as the presumptuous sinners under Moses’s law died without mercy, so must these despiteful ones under the Gospel; see ( Matthew 12:31 Matthew 12:32 ) ( Hebrews 10:26-29 ) . 1 John 5:16 – Meaning and Commentary on Bible Verse (biblestudytools.com)

Does God Ever Turn His Back on the Sinner?

Romans 1:18-32 lists sins that are so depraved that if the sinner will not truly repent from and stop sinning, God will turn them over to the sin and turn away from them. I can’t imagine the emptiness of a soul where God turns his back and says I’m done with you. Live your sinful life.

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.19  They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:18-32

So Why Am I Writing About Sin Today?

I had an ah-ha moment listening to two people on a news program last week who provided a credible perspective on a question I think many of us have:

How could Democrats so unashamedly support and encourage sin?

  • Murdering babies.
  • Releasing dangerous criminals back onto the streets to kill and maim innocent people.
  • Allowing cartels to stream illegals, drugs, and sex trafficking, even of young children, across our borders.
  • Refusing to punish theft and robbery.
  • Lying, lying, lying!

How could they promote, even in our schools, homosexuality and transgenderism and deny that there are scientifically only two genders?

Where is there conscience?

I watched the National Prayer Breakfast where politicians from both sides of the aisle participated and professed faith, and yet the left is championing and even legalizing so much evil and sin?! How can this be?

The answer came from an unlikely place but it awakened me to the answer as to “Why?”

I was listening to Jesse Watters new Primetime Show and was startled when in his opening monologue discussing Democrat leaders instituting soft on crime policies, he said the following:

“Why is it so hard for Dems to hold criminals accountable? Psychologically, many on the left can’t process the concept of good and evil. They can’t recognize sin. It takes on too much of a religious connotation and they’re very much uncomfortable with the idea of judgment.”

Wow! I said to the TV screen: “That’s exactly it Jesse! You nailed it!”

Watters doesn’t typically speak on religious topics, so I was surprised that he articulated this phenomenon so clearly. It made perfect sense as I’ve asked myself so many times how the left could be endorsing and enforcing such evil. You can hear Jesse’s entire monologue here. I recommend listening to it because his conclusion was that the Democrats have their own “savior complex,” insinuating that they’re trying to replace the real Savior. They want to be gods!

Sen. John Kennedy of LA commenting on Jesse’s monologue said, “the Dems have all gone woke and “the ‘wokers’ motto when it comes to crime is, ‘hear no evil, see no evil, prosecute no evil.’”

It’s true. When is the last time you heard a liberal denounce the deterioration of civility as “evil,” unless they’re referring to a conservative?

The 70th National Prayer Breakfast was truly pathetic. I didn’t hear anyone say Jesus even once and I think God was only mentioned in the salutation, “God bless America.” Democrat Senator Kristen Gellibrand introduced Biden as a “man of faith” and yet when he spoke, he never once mentioned his faith. He just predictably talked about himself. Harris patronizingly said she remembered going to church with her parents as a little girl but said nothing about having “faith” as an adult. The keynote speaker focused on you guessed it, racism.

Here’s what Rev. Billy Graham said at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1964. It’s still so true today! Sadly, our society is crumbling because those in power are progressively embracing sin, endorsing evil, and excluding the One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ!

“Home problems, business problems, health problems, family problems, personal problems. We want to scream at life. We want to bury our heads in the sand and say, ‘That maybe it’ll go away.’ But it doesn’t go away, it’s still there…Jesus said there would come a time in history when men would be pressed like this from all sides and He said there will be no way out. Except one. He said there will be one way out and only one. He said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can enter the Kingdom of God except by Me.’”

16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord. Zech. 8:16-17

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February 7, 2022
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6 Ways to be ‘Slow to Anger’ in Today’s Crazy World

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My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

Our nation seems to be teetering on the brink of its own destruction. The news is full of smash and grab theft, car jackings, senseless killings, criminals allowed back on the streets, illegal aliens bused and flown into our communities, government tyrannical mandates and lockdowns, an ongoing politicized pandemic, boys allowed in women’s sports, nonsensical defund the police campaigns, and now even an after-school “Satan club” in Illinois just to name a few of the atrocities and assaults on our peace. Daily we’re bombarded with contesting angry voices deluging the airways, media, public, and even private discourse.

You might feel your anger swelling up just reading the opening paragraph!

Undoubtedly, we’ve all experienced anger in our personal lives too! Someone says or does something we don’t appreciate. The car won’t start. Our child throws a ball through the neighbor’s window. A prodigal makes bad choices. Spouses get into a tiff. Our candidate loses.

Often, anger turns inward at ourselves. Maybe we didn’t get the job promotion. We failed the test, made a bad decision, or didn’t perform up to our own expectations . . . .

Anger bubbles up when we feel out of control. Occurrences like a pandemic that we can’t change make us anxious and mad.

Sometimes, we’re even angry with God. Perhaps for the loss of a loved one, a troubled marriage, a devastating health diagnosis, infertility, or God not answering our prayers the way we want.

Anger can range from annoyance and strong displeasure, to actual hostility that could lead to violence and bodily harm. Some people become so upset that it results in physical symptoms or panic attacks. Their face might turn red, neck vessels bulge, clenching of fits, pounding heart, sweating, muscle tension, blood pressure rises, ulcers, and even tremors or twitches.

Frequent uncontrolled anger can damage your health. Anxiety weighs down the heart. Proverbs 12:25

Many horrific acts occur and hateful words hurl in a moment of anger. You can’t retrieve actions or words. Uncontrolled raging anger makes us, and everyone around us, miserable. Repressed anger eats away at us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Anger is a legitimate emotion felt in the moment that requires quick resolution, which is why James warns us to be “slow to anger.”

What Does Being ‘Slow to Anger’ Mean Biblically?

Anger can be a root and result of conflict; and left to fester, it opens the door for potential sin. Anger isn’t necessarily a sin, but how we handle it can lead to sin: “in your anger do not sin” (Eph. 4:26).

The world is watching Christians to see how we react to unfavorable situations. Do we have the peace that passes all understanding that helps us express our emotions in a Christ-like way or do we react the world’s ways.

Are we able to show restraint and respond with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, or do we explode with a temper tantrum during adversity?

The Greek word for self-control is sophron meaning, “to be of a sound mind, sane, curbing one’s desires and impulses, temperate.” Our witness to our family, friends, community, and most importantly unbelievers that God is in control can be tarnished with one fit of rage.

The Context of James 1:19

James addresses his letter in 1:1-2 “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters when you face trials of many kinds.”

Commentators believe he was writing to fellow Jewish Christians from the early Jerusalem church, who were scattered to other areas after the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1) and were encountering hardships as they relocated and sought safety.

James’ theme relates to practical ways to maintain and display faith as a Christian while experiencing trials, temptations, and persecution. He gives us tools and reasons for keeping the lid on anger that could so easily arise: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20)

Why Did God Give Us Anger?

Notice that James isn’t telling us never to be angry, but to be slow to anger. Anger shouldn’t be an instant go-to response.

James specifies that “human” anger isn’t a righteous retort for Christians. In the Greek, and in some translations, it says, “a man’s anger.” Human anger usually has a self-centered motivation of how something affects us personally. It’s often accompanied with hurtful, even vicious words and can resort to inflicting harm.

Conversely, we might be righteously angry that someone we love turns their back on a relationship with Jesus because we know they will be lost for eternity. Or they choose a sinful lifestyle that will only bring them pain. But our anger should spur us on to persistently pray for their salvation and change of heart not berate them.

Mark 3:5 shows Jesus’ anger and grief because the Pharisees did not believe he was the Messiah. He was concerned over their lack of faith and their example to others. “He looked around at them [the Pharisees] in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts . . .”

When Jesus cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal sellers (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:14-17), His anger stemmed from the lack of respect for God and His Holy temple. He also reprimanded sinful behavior from those who were taking advantage and gouging people who had come to Passover and needed an animal to sacrifice. And it was taking place on God’s holy ground!

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13 (NLT)

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” John 2:17 NLT

Jesus became angry for the right reasons but was never malicious, hurtful, or hateful.

We can and should have righteous anger over evil like abortion, child trafficking, and injustice, but just being angry serves no purpose other than a display of emotion. We can let our anger lead us to asking God what He wants us to do to stop evil. Then obey and do it.

Scriptures to Help Manage Anger

God knew that in our humanness, we would experience anger and so He gave us a number of ways to restrain from acting inappropriately. Here are just a few Scriptures addressing managing anger.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. Proverbs 14:29 NLT

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. Proverbs 15:18

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Proverbs 22:24-25

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. Proverbs 29:11

An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22

Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. Ecclesiastes 7:9 NLT

As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! Proverbs 25:23 NLT

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT

The Benefits of Being Slow to Anger

Unbridled anger unleashes an offensive attitude that often expresses itself in a barrage of vile words and/or aggressive behavior. While there may be a quick release of angry emotion, others may become victims of the residual fallout.

If we internalize and bury anger without dealing with the root cause, bitterness festers and our heart hardens.

Learning how to follow the smart advice of James to listen carefully before speaking and respond slowly while controlling our emotions could be the answer to many of our physical, social, and relational concerns.

6 Ways Christians Can Respond to Anger Today

1. Turn off Mainstream Media

Did you know the media outlets design the news to raise your blood pressure, anxiety level, and anger meter? The media wants you to engage angrily with the person or situation their reporting on—they want you mad. Occasionally, they’ll throw in a feel-good story, but usually it’s a series of “breaking news” that’s not substantiated or factual . . . just hearsay, opinions, or “maybes” . . . and you walk away worried . . . angry. Maybe even yelling at the screen!

The media purposely creates headlines to generate a negative response and the more salacious the title, the more people read the article. Even as Christians, we’re being conditioned right along with everyone else.

Dave and I like watching NEWSMAX and Flashpoint because they present current events from the perspective of how we as Christians should respond.

Keep current but not conflicted.

2. Refrain from Heated Discussions

We’re all guilty of saying to someone, “You make me so angry!” Maybe that person does typically irritate us, but it’s our choice whether or not we give into our anger.

If you find yourself raising your voice, change the subject. If you can’t debate without being disagreeable, don’t forge on trying to win the argument. It’s not worth it.

3. Don’t Engage on Social Media Over “Hot topics.

People feel free to express their anger on social media with words they probably would never use in person. I’ve experienced angry, vulgar, mean, vicious lashing out comments on my blogs, Facebook, and Twitter posts. It’s alarming that people live with such angry, bitter thoughts in their minds and hearts and use hurtful, X-rated words in their daily lives.

Ignore them. Engaging online with someone you may not even know isn’t a good use of time or energy. Avoid following people whose posts and comments tend to annoy you.

4. When Possible Take Positive Action

We may think that we can’t make a difference or change circumstances that upset us, but often we can. When you’re doing something about a situation and you feel a sense of hope and purpose . . . your anger subsides.

5. Recognize Your Angry Signs

Next time you’re starting to feel angry, notice your trigger body and mind reactions. Acknowledge that you’re getting angry. Stop, take a deep breath, and if possible step away from the source of anger. If you’re in the midst of a heated discussion, let the other person know you’re not walking away in a huff; you just need to take a break.

6. Release Your Anger to God

Pray and ask God what you should do regarding the source of anger. Defuse and release your anger to God. You’ll feel a sense of peace.

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

Let’s Pray

Father, I know I grieve You when I respond harshly in anger. It seems I do this most often with those close to me where I feel comfortable letting my emotions show unchecked. I need Your help to make me aware of the trigger signs that my anger is rising to a level where I’m going to verbally attack someone instead of taking the time to consider what I’m about to say and how it will be received.

I want to be a good example of Christian love to my family and those in my sphere of influence. I know that angry words and a mean demeanor is not the Christian image that I want to portray. I can’t speak of the love of Jesus and later act unkindly towards someone.

Please help me develop patience and learn how to channel my emotions in directions that are pleasing to You. When presented with ways I can rectify injustice or evil so prevalent in our world today, give me the courage and boldness to take actions that are helpful but not hurtful.

Lord please remove any unrighteous thoughts from me and use me to Your glory. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

We live in a fallen world. This isn’t Paradise yet. So there will always be something or someone in the world that could be a source of our anger. But remember: Jesus didn’t display “man’s anger” but the righteous indignation of God! Let us go and do likewise.

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Psalm 30:4-5

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January 17, 2022
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Don’t Just Be an Admirer of Jesus Be a Follower!

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In last week’s blog, Yes, You Can Be Biblical and Political, I mentioned that our Couples’ Group is studying Dr. David Jeremiah’s new book, Where Do We Go From Here? In Chapter One, “A Cultural Prophecy—Socialism,” Dr. Jeremiah had a section that resonated with my spirit, Resolve to Follow Christ and Not Just Admire Him! Take a minute to reflect on that concept.

What differentiates a follower of Christ from an admirer? Words we associate with a Christ-follower are self-sacrifice, service, surrender. We can observe outward reflections of a follower of Jesus by their life-style, countenance, choices, actions, language, inner joy, love, and willingness to profess their faith in Christ and belief in the Gospel at all times under all circumstances.

An admirer might be in awe of Christ as an example of a good and moral man and the sacrifice He made for us, but they’re not willing to actually follow in His footsteps. They claim to be a Christian, but they’re not willing to completely surrender their entire life to Jesus when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. The fruit isn’t there. They may go to church every Sunday, serve on church committees, sing in the choir, take communion, and intellectually understand faith, but don’t let faith and the Bible define their life.

Dr. Jeremiah quotes Soren Kierkegaard who put it this way: “The admirer never makes any sacrifices. He always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, songs, he is inexhaustible about how he praises Christ, but he renounces nothing, will not reconstruct his life, and will not let his life express what supposedly he admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all his strength to be what he admires.”

I think about Biden meeting with the Pope last week and claiming that the Pope told him he was a “good Catholic.” What does that mean anyway? Who determines what’s considered good? By whose standards?

Jesus doesn’t care if we’re a “good” Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, non-denominational, or a member of any organized denomination. Following Jesus is not about a specific church, religion, theology, or doctrine. He’s looking for one thing in His followers: a changed and surrendered heart. Salvation. Have you given your whole heart to Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit? Do you live out your faith everywhere and anywhere? Are you willing to pick up your cross and follow Jesus?

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24 NLT

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6. NLT

What It Looks Like to Follow Jesus

When we’re truly born again, we’re a new person. We’re granted a new life in Christ and everything changes, if we’re willing to be a follower and not just a sideline admirer of Christ. Paul explains the life of a Christian best in Colossians 3:1-11:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Maybe Biden, who I’ve only ever heard speak of himself as a Catholic not a Christian, and liberal progressive Democrats who claim to be Christians, admire Christ but not enough to follow Christ and make the political sacrifice of turning the Democrat party away from supporting and financing the murder of babies! Not enough to acknowledge that God only made two genders. Not enough to admit that God said marriage is between a man and a woman. Not enough to stop lying! Not enough to surrender their life to Holy Jesus, instead of the idol of political power!

Any politician, regardless of party affiliation, who is willing to be a Christ-follower will be hated and persecuted by the world but he or she will not back down because they understand that their authority comes from the King of kings and the Lord of Lords, not the government, and they will govern accordingly.

Here’s how Jesus put it:  The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:19 NLT

Biblical Examples of Christ-Followers

In Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, Chapter 17 “Brave Loyalty,” I offer examples of women willing to follow Christ no matter what the cost. Here is the opening to that chapter:

“In our current culture, it’s no longer cushy and easy being a Jesus-follower or loyally defending Jesus. Standing firm in our faith takes grit, determination, and fierce loyalty. When society tries to dissuade and discourage us from remaining true to Jesus, we must stand firm with bravery and courage, even it if means standing “alone”—God is always with us cheering us on.

Jesus was followed by many courageous women disciples, like Joanna, Susanna, and others who also went against the cultural norm to loyally support Jesus’s ministry, even as it became more and more controversial and his life, therefore theirs too, was in eminent danger. We can look to these women disciples as prime examples of faith and devotion to Christ and emulate them in our own lives as believing disciples today, regardless of daunting circumstances.”

Here’s a quick review of these women, which you can read about in Matt. 27:55-61; 28:1-10; Mark 15:33-16-8; Luke 8:1-3; 23:44-24:11:

Joanna was a wealthy woman accustomed to the glamour and prestige of living in Herod Antipas’s court as the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward and manager of his vast estate. When doctors couldn’t help her, she sought out Jesus who healed her and she became a devoted Jesus-follower joining a group of women who followed him on his journeys and financially supported his ministry. We don’t know what her husband or Herod thought of this, but she took the risk and joined Susanna and Mary Magdalene and a number of other women who traveled with Jesus during his ministry and became part of his inner circle.

These women bravely went against cultural norms to care faithfully for Jesus and the disciples. They selflessly gave of their time, energy, and resources to serve and support Jesus’s ministry, even though everyone knew the Pharisees threatened to expel Jesus’s followers from the synagogue. This didn’t deter them. They were committed Jesus-followers not mere admirers.

Current Example of Christ-Followers

If you’re not familiar with In-N-Out Burger, like Chick-fil-A, they are a Christian owned restaurant chain with Scriptures printed on all their cups and wrappers! I encourage you to read this article where the Jesus-follower owner, Lynsi Snyder, shares her faith and her testimony. Here’s the opening paragraph of the article: “In-N-Out Burger hasn’t necessarily been secretive about the fact that it’s a Christian establishment. It has printed John 3:16 on the bottom of its cups. However, like Chick-fil-A before it, the owner and heiress of the burger chain, Lynsi Snyder, is letting everyone know just how much Christ means to her publicly.“

Sometimes we need to engage in righteous rebellion. It is God and not the government that we obey when there is a moral conflict between the two. You may have read recently that several In-N-Out Burger restaurants in California were shut down because they refused to be vaccine police. Here is their statement:

“The reason for the closure is that In-N-Out Associates were not actively intervening by demanding COVID-19 vaccine or testing documentation and photo identification from each dine-in Customer before serving them. Rather than acting as enforcement agents, our Associates were allowing our Customers to be responsible for their own compliance with the divisive local regulations,” In-N-Out Chief Legal and Business Officer Arnie Wensinger said in a statement.

“We refuse to become the vaccination police for any government. It is unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe to force our restaurant Associates to segregate Customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry, or any other reason,” Wensinger said in a statement.”

In a tweet the Chief legal and Business Officer also wrote:
“We fiercely disagree with any government that dictates that forces a private company to discriminate against customers who choose to patronage their businesses. This is clear governmental overreach and is intrusive, improper, and offensive.”

We Must Live As Jesus-Followers, Not Mere Admirers!

I’ll leave you in closing with another quote from Dr. Jeremiah:

“To persevere in an increasingly socialist culture, you’re going to have to decide whether to be a Christ-follower or merely a Christ-admirer. . . . Set your mind fully on the hope you have in Christ, and be ready to pay any price, challenge any foe, and confront any lie for the sake of the Gospel . . . At any moment, Jesus Christ will descend from heaven for His people. We haven’t long to wait. But until then, we need to understand what the age requires—and we need to do what the Lord commands.”

When Christ returns . . .
the government will be on his shoulders. . . .
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this. Isa. 9:6-7 NLT

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November 1, 2021
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My 2x “COVID” Survivor Story Has a Message for Everyone!

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I was in shock! I slammed down my hand on the exam table exclaiming, “No way!”

My doctor had just told me I tested positive for Covid for the SECOND time!!

Yes, you read that right. I already had Covid and was living under the false pretense, as many of you might be, that I had antibodies to protect me against any recurrence.

But there’s more . . .

Not only did I have antibodies, I also had made the choice to be vaccinated to protect my hubby who didn’t get Covid when I had it the first time. When we originally heard the horror stories about Covid earlier this year and he was 75 years old with shortness of breath issues, he got the vaccine at the VA. A couple months later when it was available in our remote area, I decided to get the vaccine also and have double protection for him.

Or so I thought . . .

For a week at the beginning of October 2021, Dave and I thought we had “colds” because how could it be anything else?! We’re protected right?! Our symptoms were each a little different: mine was like a sinus headache with sniffles and a tummy ache; he had congestion and a cough. No fever, no body aches. We both were tired, but got up every morning, dressed, and continued our day sniffling, sneezing, Dave coughing, and me complaining of a pressure headache behind my right eye and food tasted blah like it does with a cold.

We took Musinex for our “colds” along with other supplements we’d been taking all year: Vit. C, Vit. D3, Beta Glucans, Elderberry, plus our handful of daily vitamins and supplements. We beefed up our Vit. C, Zinc, and added Quercetin with Zinc and stayed home.

But we weren’t getting better and my granddaughter’s 16th birthday was coming up. She and I were going to get pedi’s together, so I decided I had better go to the doctor.

Imagine my surprise when I was positive for Covid!! After I recovered from my shock, my doctor explained it was because this time I had Delta, which is what most new cases of “Covid” are now.

Dave went in the next day to confirm and he also tested positive for “Covid,” which we now knew was Delta.

So to recap: we were both vaccinated and I had Covid-19 antibodies. Now we had Delta!

Delta Changes Everything

Here’s what the government doesn’t tell you or want you to know as Biden continues to make false statements like “mounting data shows that they (vaccines) work” and “they (vaccines) move the dial to eliminate this disease.”

That’s not true! We’re proof that they’re not telling us the whole story because I believe they want the power of controlling people by corruptly, ruthlessly, and insanely mandating these vaccines. If they actually admitted that the vaccines don’t work well against the new Delta variant, then people would be hesitant to get them or fight even harder against the mandates. Oh yes, Biden has now changed the terminology from mandates to “requirements.”

And speaking of changing terminology . . . to explain away all the people who are getting “Covid” in spite of being vaccinated, they’re calling it a “breakthrough.” Breakthrough minimizes and makes it sound like it’s the same original Covid-19 but a “lighter case.” Even though thousands of “breakthrough cases” are ending up in the hospital and many are dying.

Breakthrough doesn’t explain how I got “Covid” twice, which I just heard a doctor say on a podcast is impossible. So like us, many breakthroughs are probably Delta! Why don’t they want us to know there’s a difference?

Dave and I both received vaccines months apart and I had antibodies so the chances we would get sick on the same day with “breakthrough” cases are slim to none.

96% Fully Vaccinated in Israeli Hospital Delta Outbreak.

It was explained to me that my original Covid antibodies are useless against the new Delta variant and the vaccine was designed to fight Covid-19, which explains why I actually got Delta this time. Not “Covid again.” Even though they’re calling everything “Covid” like it’s all the same thing. It’s NOT!

Instead of revealing that many new cases are Delta, a new mutated Covid virus, “breakthrough cases” insinuate they’re from the original Covid-19. I believe they don’t want to admit that the vax and antibodies from Covid-19 aren’t effective against Delta. I think you’ll hear about more cases like mine but probably not for a while until the media catches up and they’re forced to talk about it. That would put a damper on their unconstitutional vaccine mandates.

The “booster” is also just a lower dose of the original vaccine, which did not help us.

Most people tell me they’ve never heard of anyone getting Covid twice like I did or they feel “safe” because they have antibodies or have the vaccine. That’s all a false since of security the government is spreading. I can only think it’s because they either haven’t “followed the science” and studied the Delta variant or they have studied it but aren’t telling the truth about their findings. They’re making too much money with the vaccines.

A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. Pr. 29:4

Covid is becoming like the flu, which has variants every year. At least with the flu shot they tell you it’s not good for all the variations of flu. With Covid they’re lying and mandating something they know won’t work for every mutation!!!

When in reality, people like us are getting infected now with Delta, which isn’t going to be as responsive to the vaccine. I’ll concede that the vaccines may have kept us from having harsher cases and kept us out of the hospital, but we also did our part by taking protective supplements all year to boost our immune system.

Just tonight as I’m finishing this blog, the following panic article posted: J&J Vaxxers Being Urged to Get Another Shot ASAP! “Experts are hurrying to persuade those who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to go out and get the booster shot as soon as possible following a new study that showed a drop in its effectiveness during the Delta variant surge.” The drop was to 3% effective!!! “Vaccine protection fell among other vaccines as well—with Moderna’s falling from 92% to 64 percent, and Pfizer’s from 91 percent to 50 percent.”

For Dave and me the drop was to zero percent effective against Delta variant! Would you get a vaccine that’s only 50% effective? Would a sane legitimate government mandate it?

My Revealing Research

Joe Biden is trying to convince everyone that the vaccine is going to wipe out all Covid, completely ignoring what sources are saying . . .

“Just when the world thought that the COVID-19 pandemic was ending, a variant of the original virus has surfaced. The Delta variant is basically the same basic symptoms as COVID-19, but it is just different enough to slip past the vaccine and infect people yet again. Another new factor of the Delta variant is that it seems to be affecting and spreading in children, whereas the original virus mainly affected older adults.” 

In other words, the Delta variant is NOT the same as the original Covid!

“The Delta variant, virtually non-existent in January, now accounts for most current infections. Several studies have already demonstrated the higher infectivity and virulence of the Delta variant. It is also more likely to escape the vaccine: the efficacy of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines dropped significantly with this variant, compared to the original virus.” [Canadian Study Shows the New Variant is 133% More Deadly Than the Original Virus.]

Labs aren’t routinely testing the variant, but they admit: “The highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 is behind the vast majority of new cases in the United States, and the country is logging over 100,000 infections daily. Due to the volume of COVID-19 cases, sequencing is not performed on all viral samples. However, because the delta variant now accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases in the United States, there is a strong likelihood that a positive test result indicates infection with the delta variant.”

Right now, the Delta variant makes up 98% of COVID-19 cases in the US. “If you’ve gotten COVID recently, you’ve gotten it from the Delta variant,” William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Health.

Why Would God Let Me Get This Plague Twice?

You have to dig to find the information I’m sharing here because you’re not going to hear anyone in the Biden Administration, Dr. Fauchi, FDA, CDC, or Mainstream Media talking about this. Instead, it seems for some nefarious reason, they want to keep it quiet. They want Americans vaccinated whether it helps or not. Why?

“But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.” Jer. 22:17 NLT

When something unusual happens to me, I always ask the Lord how He wants to use it. When I had breast cancer, I asked Him “For what purpose?” He led me to write Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey, which has allowed the Lord and me to bless many of my breast cancer sisters and I’m now a 3x breast cancer survivor.

So with this anomaly of getting Covid then Delta even with antibodies and vaccine, again I asked the Lord what should I do as a “Covid” 2x survivor? What should I say about it? This blog was my answer.

I’m not trying to influence you about getting the vaccine. There should never be vaccine shaming among God’s people. But what I am saying is do not take at face value everything/anything you’re being told about Covid or vaccines. Ask questions. Do research. If you follow me, you know that I believe we should have a choice and the government should not be allowed to desecrate our freedoms, especially medically! That’s socialism at its worst.

8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Ecc. 5:8 NLT

For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. Luke 8:17 NLT

There is nothing Joe Biden has done that I agree with or that is in the best interest of the American people! So why would we let ourselves by subjugated to his tyranny of mandates that are resulting in so many people losing their jobs resulting in a failing economy, inflation, shipping delays, empty shelves, reduced healthcare workers, first responders and police . . .?

Why is the military being purged and debilitated, even dishonorably discharged, if they won’t take the jab? Why is our country’s protection being weakened?

Why isn’t more research and progress being made into treatments? When have you ever gone to the hospital or doctor with a possible deadly illness and been told just go home and come back if you get worse or feel like you’re dying? No prescription? No antidote? Just leave!

Why are they lumping Delta in with original Covid-19 and calling it all “Covid”?

Why are they forcing a vaccine on children that is currently proving not to be effective against the Delta variant, which is what children are getting? My thirteen year-old granddaughter and some of her friends got what was most likely Delta, but they were over it in a week.

Why are we letting the government use “Covid” as the excuse for stealing elections and everything they’re doing to destroy our country?

Why aren’t more doctors and scientists who know the truth speaking up?

Why are questions or opinions posed on social media censored by Big Tech?

Why are we buying into and accepting a lie?

“You can’t comply your way out of tyranny. You must learn to disobey.” Emerald Robinson, Newsmax White House Correspondent

“Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder.” George Washington

“Love of money, power, and control is at the root of forced vaccines.” Pastor George Pearsons, Eagle Mountain International Church

Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? Ps. 94:20 ESV

“A breed of Christian is coming to turn America away from destruction. We are running out of time. They will be bold, creative, compelling, and express the deep love of God like a light in the darkness.” Mario Murillo

“Don’t underestimate the power of the church and prayer. The mountain of faith will uproot the mountain of corruption.” Pastor George Pearsons

The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
    What can the righteous do?”

4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
    the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
    examining every person on earth. Ps. 11:3-4

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

NOTE: Dave and I have recovered and are out of quarantine. We’re still taking all our immunity builders, getting extra sleep, and regaining our energy. Thank you Lord for the amazing healing powers of prayer and the love of friends and family!

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October 18, 2021
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