Jesus the Great Divider

Were you surprised to see the title of this blog? We’re more accustomed to hearing about Jesus as the spiritual Unifier and Prince of Peace. Last week, some people found fault with my discussion of Jesus and politics. I always welcome dissenting points of view, but I do stand by everything I wrote last week in the blog The Lies Satan Uses to Deceive Christians and Churches. I always back my words with Scripture plus my understanding and discerning of both God’s Word and how the Holy Spirit guides me. I don’t come up with these topics on my own. I’m led by the Holy Spirit.

I’m sad and a bit disappointed when I learn that some people are afraid of sharing my blogs for fear of being censored. Fear is an extremely effective tool of the enemy. Unfortunately, many Christians stay silent in the face of adversity and even blasphemy against our Lord. Don’t you think we as Christians should be the ones telling everyone about Luke 12:8-10, which will determine where they spend eternity?

I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Luke 12:8-10

To His followers Jesus assures us . . .

11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:11-12

Back to the subject of today’s blog. How does Jesus divide? Well, for starters, He explains this clearly in Luke 12:49-53 where the heading for this passage in my Bible reads “Not Peace but Division”
49 
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

You might wonder if the division in the family examples mentioned in Luke 12:51-53 happened because some family members were Christians, and some were not. That does happen as we all know who have unbelievers or those with different faith beliefs in our families. It can make for awkward family gatherings when the topic turns to politics or religion. But that kind of spiritual division also occurs in families where all dissenting parties claim to be “Christians.” A perfect example happened last week when a group calling themselves “Evangelicals for Harris” (an oxymoron) ran an ad against President Trump with a clip showing Billy Graham at one of his evangelical crusades.

This group claims that hard-left neo-Socialist, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas Kamala Harris, who supports murdering babies up to and after birth with abortion on demand, mutilating and castrating children, indoctrinating children in school with sexual deviancy and gender lies, invasion of America by illegals, authored the California grab and dash theft law, funded Antifa and violent protestors bailouts, “Better Reflects Christian Values.”

Some so-called evangelical “faith leaders” joined this blasphemous group for Harris, including Billy Graham’s granddaughter, Jerushah Duford, who is the daughter of Virginia “Gigi” Graham Tchividjian, Billy Graham’s oldest daughter. Duford participated in a virtual event sponsored by “Evangelicals for Harris” led by Ekemini Uwan who declares “whiteness is wicked,” police need to be destroyed and rebuilt, and churches should pay global reparations to “People of African descent.”

Billy Graham’s son and Duford’s uncle, true Christian Evangelist Franklin Graham blasted the fake “Evangelicals for Harris” organization for using footage of his late father in an attack ad against former President Trump who he argued if his father were alive, would support Trump.

Franklin tweeted, “The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham’s image,” he wrote in a social media post. “They are trying to mislead people. Maybe they don’t know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President @realDonaldTrump in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father’s views and opinions would not have changed.”

The Evangelicals for Harris account replied, “Praying for you” along with a heart emoji beneath his post and later said in a retweet that Graham has “forsaken the gospel.” They need to look in the mirror!

The Billy Graham extended family is living out the division described in Luke 12:49-53 as perhaps many of you are too. The two sides cannot unify, agree, or have peace over the definition of what it even means to be an evangelical or a Christian, let alone politics. They’re divided.

Common Sense vs Insanity!

Evil has taken off its mask and openly rebelled against the Word and ways of God, especially in this election cycle. Good can never unite with evil.

As voting and professing Christians, we have a choice to limit evil. When a church, pastor, or Christian objects to the obvious evil on display in our culture today, we’re defending and representing Christ in the spiritual battle between good and evil in our world.

One political side rejects the biological and spiritual reality of male and female with irreversible biological differences, which in the beginning God created! So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Gen. 1:27). How could a commonsense Christ-follower reject this biblical reality?

One political side rejects the biological and spiritual reality that God creates at conception a human being with a spirit, soul, and purpose! Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, (Jer. 1:5). How could a commonsense Christ-follower reject this biblical reality?

One political side rejects the biological and spiritual reality that “Pro-choice” is pro-murder. “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13). How could a commonsense Christ-follower reject this biblical reality?

One political side rejects the biological and spiritual reality that God created family! Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them (Ps. 127:3-5). How could a commonsense Christ-follower reject this biblical reality?

At the DNC Convention this week, anti-God, anti-family, genocidal Planned Parenthood is rolling in with a mobile health clinic offering free vasectomies, medication abortion, and “emergency contraception,” aka the morning after pill (EC)! The Democrats support Planned Parenthood, a huge donor.

One political side rejects Israel and champions anti-semantic, pro-Hamas policies. I will bless those who bless you [Israel], and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Gen. 12:3). How could a commonsense Christ-follower reject this biblical reality?

How could a Christ-follower, Bible-believer be okay with the values, policies, and beliefs of the Democrat platform that completely contradict the Bible? Yet, there are those who profess to be “Christian” who would still vote for allowing the tearing apart limb by limb, poisoning by injection, or breaking the neck of God’s babies in the womb, gender and sexual mutilation of children, destroying the family, and abandoning Israel?! What Scriptures are they using to justify this barbaric, anti-God agenda?

Still some leaders in the Christian church tell pastors not to speak about these atrocities or choices. When the political realm comes into our Christian moral lane, is the church really being political if they resist or are they being biblical? As Fr Pavone of Priestsforlife.org says, “For a church to call this out it’s a church defending church.” I would add defending Christ who has already determined the dividing line between good and evil. No compromise.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:6

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14

The Divine Divide

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. Pr. 4:19

The biggest sin isn’t division, it’s what side you choose to take. No one can ride the fence on these issues because Satan is sitting on the fence. Jesus instructs us to pick a side. Every Bible-believing Christian must make the most important “choice” in life as to whom you will follow. We can’t follow a little bit of Jesus and a little bit of the world. We can’t go along to get along.

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. John 12:35

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18

God actually created the concept of division from the beginning of time. In the beginning, God divided the light of day from the dark of night.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  Gen. 1:1-4

Then throughout Scripture, He refers to good as light and evil as dark. The godly who are saved, live by faith in the light spiritually and morally divided from the demonic lost in the dark.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Is. 5:20

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 1 John 1:5

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Eph. 5:8

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Jesus, the Great Divider Between Eternal Life or Eternal Death

Jesus put a line in the sand with the Gospel and finalized it at the Cross. He offers grace and mercy when we ask Him for forgiveness, repent from our sins, and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. But that choice is only offered to the living. There’s a great divide between Heaven and Hell.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Eph. 5:11

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:19-20

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. John 12:46

Sadly, some will still choose darkness or not live fully in the light and that breaks Jesus’ and our hearts. We can’t make the choice for them, but we can present the truth, live the truth, pray for their salvation and willingness to step out of the dark into the fullness of the light. As for each of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, there is no fellowship with the world’s ways as we remember this earth is not our eternal home.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14-16

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Rom. 13:12

“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.” Pr. 4:18-19

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Rom. 13:12

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 1 Thess. 5:5

Please leave a comment here and I will reply on the website blog, so check back for my replies.

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When Did Normal Become Weird?

On June 3, 2024, I wrote a Monday Morning Blog, “Revenge of the Normies.” I’ll try not to repeat myself here, but if you haven’t read that blog, or even if you have, check it out. In that blog, I reviewed what used to be a normal view of life in America, regardless of what political or spiritual side of the aisle you championed.

Borders protected from illegal entry. Marriage was the Bible’s definition between a woman and a man. God respected in a country whose motto on money is “In God We Trust.” People hired and promoted based on ability and merit, not skin color, gender, or woke ideology. Gender determined at birth as male or female and only those with mental derangement issues thought differently. Most people accepted a universal definition of moral ethics, values, laws, and justice. Family admired and cherished. Masculine men worked to provide for their families. Doctors took an oath to heal and not intentionally destroy or harm patients. The Creator was worshipped and NOT His creation. Public lewdness and obscenity was illegal and laws protected children from exposure to it. 

Men wearing women’s clothing trying to imitate or even become women, invading women’s private areas, and competing in women’s sports was “weird” and abnormal.  Flaunting perverse sexual practices in public, not to mention teaching in schools, meant incarceration. Thinking you could change your identity or pronouns by just saying you felt like another gender meant a session with a psychologist, instead of being acceptable and tolerable.  All things woke would’ve been super weird in a once “normal” world!

I could go on, but you get it.

I’ve watched the shift from what sane people consider normal now being deemed weird by political and liberal ideologues. Today, it’s the woke left progressive, liberals who are championing as normal what was once universally thought of as weird and in their typical way, calling weird anyone who doesn’t believe in their craziness. They’re literally calling normal weird and weird normal. Good evil and evil good, as they distance themselves from everything historically normal. Name-calling and cancel culture are their go-to weapons.

Hillary called normal conservatives, “deplorables.” Hochul called normal conservatives “clowns.” Evangelicals are labeled as “Christian Nationalist” and an “existential threat.” Conservative parents called domestic terrorists and an existential threat. Those believing in the Bible’s definition of evil and sin are slandered as haters. Or racists.

The mainstream media, the propaganda venue for the left, follows whatever talking points the White House gives them. The White House sends the media cue cards of what to say and all the liberal news stations dutifully say exactly the same cued word of the day. They called JD Vance “weird” 155 times in one day! It’s almost laughable, if it wasn’t so tragic!

The left’s definition of weird is when a Catholic man was able to achieve the American dream by rising out of poverty in spite of a drug-addict mom, join the Marines, graduate from Yale as a lawyer, become an entrepreneur, marry, father three adorable children, become a US Senator, and then join the Republican Presidential ticket as Vice President nominee. Vance succeeded on merit not DEI. But the best the left and media could come up with to disparage him is “weird.”

Glenn Beck says he knows why the left started calling J.D. Vance weird: “JD Vance is from a red state: weirdness number one. JD Vance grew up in white poverty: weirdness number two. He didn’t have white privilege: weirdness number three. And he never gave up or listened to the naysayers: weirdness number four.”

While those on the left often look for handouts over hard work, Vance is the opposite. “Nobody’s holding you back except you and your choices. That’s one of the biggest things that’s weird about JD Vance because either they totally believe it or they know they’re running an evil scam on people all over the world,” Glenn says. “The reason why this is such an important piece of the ‘JD Vance is weird’ momentum, is because a left-wing government wants you to rely on it. It doesn’t want you to believe the future is in your hands.”

Tucker Carlson thinks the left calls Vance weird because he questions the wars and the left loves America to be involved in wars because their donors make money during wartime. Vance calls them out on this. Tucker says, “Everything they say is the opposite of what it means.” I have to agree with that. They also project onto others what they’re actually doing.

I personally think there’s a deeper spiritual reason. They tried calling Speaker Mike Johnson a white Christian Nationalist when he said right from the beginning that he governs from a biblical worldview. The left was outraged calling him an unapologetic Christian! Like Vance, Johnson didn’t let the verbal stones and arrows affect him, never backing down and standing firm for his Christian faith and beliefs.

How and Why Did the Liberals Go Demonic Woke?

I woke up one morning pondering: When did the left become the champions of an evil demonic platform? Was it subtle? Slow? The word they actually use to identify their own demise is “progressive.” Progressively they moved from championing the middle class to defining them as deplorables, clowns, and domestic terrorists as the Dem’s became the party of the elites who look down on the poor peasants in what they call the fly-over states. The once cherished American dream became detestable to them. Normal became weird.

For example, the left believes . . .

  1. Having children is bad for their mythical worship of climate change. Families and marriage are discouraged. A Massachusetts Parentage Act eliminates terms like father and mother.
  2. So that leads to killing babies in the mother’s womb up to the time of birth and even infanticide after. They deceptively call poisoning and tearing babies apart  “women’s reproductive and constitutional rights” or even worse yet “healthcare” brainwashing generations of women to think their wants and desires are more worthy than their child’s life. Planned Parenthood is a huge donor to the Democrat party. 
  3. Planned Parenthood is also the second largest performer of hormonal and surgical gender mutilation of minors.
  4. Power at any cost to the detriment and danger of America as millions of unvetted illegals flood our country taking jobs from Americans, killing, raping, and murdering women and young girls, burdening social and medical services, because the left plans on giving illegals the right to vote.
  5. Removing and stonewalling support to Israel, our ally and God’s chosen people.
  6. Impoverishing millions of Americans with Obama/Biden/Harris inflation and the insane new green deal scam.
  7. They want a woman president but can’t define a woman.
  8. Sympathize and fund Jew-hating pro-Hamas terrorists and activists.
  9. Praise the satanic Olympics opening ceremonies.
  10. In an embarrassingly “white dudes” campaign zoom call, Pete Buttigieg, who with his male partner adopted two children whose birth-mother chose to give them life, said, “Men are more free when women have access to abortion.” More free to do what?

So I began to wonder what kind of mind thinks such an evil agenda is “normal” and good. Through prayer and petitioning God for an answer, He answered. It all became clear to me. They’re people who don’t know God! At the Democrat Convention in 2012 under Obama, they voted to entirely remove God from their platform and precepts. After loud pushback, they quickly added God back in, but seldom over the years do they acknowledge God for fear of offending their Muslim/Atheist /trans/gay constituents and party members. Satan, who prowls around like roaring lion looking for spirits and souls devoid of God to devour and make his own, eagerly filled the God-void.

Now it all made sense to me. I’m not insinuating all liberals are demonic or evil, but I am saying the party platform is demonic and evil and those who develop and support it are blinded and duped by the evil one. Some in the Republican party are without God too, but for the most part their platform champions a conservative agenda based on godly principles, but whoa to them if they also start distancing themselves from God.

Spiritual Blindness

Spiritual blindness is a grievous condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ, and His Word.

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Rom. 2:8

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thess. 2:9-12

Those who reject Christ are lost and spiritually blinded. They are perishing!

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor. 4:3-4

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Rev. 3:17

The root cause of decent into spiritual blindness is clear in the Scriptures: “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Satan revels in scheming against and trapping unbelievers (2 Corinthians 2:11Ephesians 6:112 Timothy 2:26).

Without God and left to ourselves, we easily succumb to the devil’s schemes. People can become so entrenched in this secular world and its moral darkness that, in the end, God turns them over to spiritual blindness and eternal condemnation. Heartbreaking but true. Romans 1:24-32.

“Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind.” Rom. 1:28

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” John 12:40

There’s no doubt we’re in the midst of a spiritual battle not only for the life of our country, but also for the generations to come behind us. It’s a battle of good versus evil and the political parties have picked their sides. I pray that the Republicans do not soften their stand for good and God. Good cannot compromise or unite with evil. Until we have a universal spiritual revival and awakening, we’ll never be united.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

When I’m so angry that I want to throw something at the TV screen or read an article about another evil deed or speech, I know what God wants me to do. He wants me to pray for those who are lost for eternity. Our life here is but a breath, but the choices we make will affect not only this life, but the afterlife. Those who are lost right now will call that “weird” or naive or hate speech, but refusing to accept evil as normal is the foundation of our faith and we must stand strong and never back down from that truth.

We cannot let ourselves get caught up in the mire or worry about the next word they’ll throw at us. You know when all they can come up with is “weird,” they’re desperate. It’s weird to them because they’re blinded to what is good and acceptable to God. They’re lost. That’s not me calling them names, that’s in the words of Jesus Himself and why He came to earth to give everyone a chance to be found and saved.

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

While the left sees choice in terms of taking a baby’s life, Jesus says the choice truly is between eternal life or death. Let’s pray the liberal party and those blinded by their policies will awake to choosing life for the unborn and eternal life for themselves. That might seem hopeless when you see their horrible evil antics, but it’s the only hope we have for America to be saved physically and spiritually.

Since you and I don’t care what the world calls us, let’s be super weird and pray for the souls of those only God can save and let’s go one step further and pray they actually share their conversion testimony publically and politically!

“Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. When you have an immoral society that has blatantly, proudly, violated all of the commandments of God, there is one last virtue they insist upon: tolerance for their immorality.” D. James Kennedy

Please listen to this short YouTube message from Pastor Greg Laurie regarding the Paris Olympics blasphemous opening ceremony. Then consider Hal Lindsey’s warning about the significance of “the pale horse” seeming to run on water, up the River Seine in that opening as foreshadowing God’s judgment coming to earth in Revelation 6:8. “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

Please leave a comment here and I’ll reply.

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The Millimeter Miracle!

I had planned to take this week off from writing my Monday Morning Blog, but after the attempted assassination of President Trump while we were on vacation last week, and Biden pulling out of the presidential race, I feel I can’t wait another week to share what the Lord’s been revealing to me.

Like so many other history-making events in the past, I’ll never forget where I was when my texts started blowing up with the news of the horrific, satanic, cowardly attempt to take President Trump’s life. Dave and I were enjoying a meet-and-greet party at our son’s house in North Carolina where we were meeting our grandson’s bride-to-be and her family the night before their wedding the next day. We were surrounded by family members and friends we hadn’t seen in years and looking forward to seeing our new six-month-old great-grandbaby and her mommy, neither of which we had met yet. It was a joyful gathering and then the conversation turned to President Trump’s harrowing experience as new details filled all our phones.

There was relief that Trump would be ok, but sadness to learn that a rally attender was murdered while shielding his wife and two daughters from the bullets and two others were critically injured. How did this happen? Why did this happen? As I write this blog, we still don’t have those answers and I wonder if we ever will.

Why have so many Democrats, liberals, media pundits, and progressives, including the Biden Administration, tried to silence and gag Donald J. Trump and his supporters during this presidential campaign? Why are they so afraid of a fair political fight? They’ve tried to intimidate him, falsely impeach him, imprison him, take him off the ballot, and now eliminate him? I think it’s because . . .

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. John 3:20

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

They’re afraid that Trump will uncover and expose the evil, selfish, corrupt deeds they’ve undemocratically imposed on the American people in order to destroy America for personal and political gain, greed, and power. I don’t care who they nominate to replace Biden, the Democrat political platform and agenda is demonic and evil. Those who subscribe to it have been deceived by lies.

Trump doesn’t even need to reveal their lies and demonic platform. God is doing it for him. For example, all Trump had to do was show up at the debate, and Biden showed the world the great four-year cover up that he is not capable of leading America. Someone else is obviously running the White House and every person and media pundit who swore he was capable, was lying. Most of us who are paying attention already knew that. Now, with the dark deceit and deception exposed to the light, it can’t be denied. Just as when light hits cockroaches, they’re all scrambling for cover and cover up.

Speaking To The ‘Never-Trumpers’

I’m sure some in my broad mailing list don’t like President Trump. You are still talking about the mean tweets, even though he hasn’t been on Twitter, now X, for four years. It’s hard for you to admit that life was so much better during his administration because you don’t like him personally. I don’t know all your issues, but here are some that I’ve heard from Never Trumpers:

  • Trump’s been divorced and married three times. Well Reagan was divorced and married twice. Did you hold that against him? I’ve been divorced and married twice too. Do you hold that against me? I know God hates divorce, but He also gave us free will and some of us, or our spouses, made poor choices in our earlier years. I was unequally yoked because I didn’t have wise mentoring as a young college grad. I’ve asked God for forgiveness and received God’s grace to marry my husband of thirty-two years, Dave, and become a Christian author, speaker, and director of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries
  • Things Trump’s said and done in the past. When I looked at a list of things Never-Trumpers claimed he said or did, most of them have been debunked, even though the media and Democrats continue to tout the misquotes and lies. King David actually raped another man’s wife and when he impregnated her, he had her husband killed. Yet, God called David a man after his own heart and used David in the lineage of Jesus Christ. David had consequences like the loss of the son he and Bathsheba conceived, but then God gave them Solomon. Many of us find solace in reading King David’s Psalms, which are a favorite part of our beloved Bible. God can turn our past into purpose, and I do believe that’s what he’s going to do with President Trump.
  • Trump’s Language. I’ll admit I cringe a lot too, or at least I did. But in his 90-minute Republican National Convention (RNC) speech, he didn’t say one cuss word!! He mentioned that a few months ago Franklin Graham had asked him to not use foul language and he said, “the last four or five times I’ve been good.” So, he knows and he’s trying! Trump also said, “I humbly ask for your vote.” He used the word humble at least twice and when he gave tribute to the fireman who was killed by one of the assassin’s bullets, Trump quoted, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

I say to every “never-Trumper,” he who has never sinned, go ahead and throw the first verbal barb. But oh yeah, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We’re voting for a platform, not a personality!

A Changed Man Still in the Fight

Near-death experiences change you forever. When I had my first diagnosis of breast cancer, I wasn’t sure if I would live or die. But I experienced a serenity of either being with the Lord for eternity, or if God spared me, knowing He had a purpose for my life that I had not yet tapped into. Obviously, I lived and actually lived through two more breast cancer scares. It changes you. In the Introduction to my book Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer, I wrote: “I continuously seek a new term to describe the ordeal because I’m more than just a “survivor”; I’m also a “winner”! You see, there is a spiritual battle going on around us—a battle for our souls, our hearts, and our mindsand God does not want us merely to survive this battle. He assures us that with His help we will be victorious. Wounded but not defeated. Not just surviving, implying we barely make it, but energized by running the race, staying the course, and fighting the good fight. Somehow, some way, we will be better women because of this experience.

I don’t feel I just survived’ rather, I believe God had a purpose and a plan in my breast cancer. He wanted my heart to break for every woman going through this. He intended for me to write this book and speak freely so others also might find purpose in their breast cancer.”

If you heard President Trump’s RNC speech, you heard him describe in detail the events of his near assassination. He said that might be the last time we hear him talk about it because it’s just too painful to recall. I wrote exactly that in Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: “It took me months to write the first words of this book. I wanted so badly for you to have it in your hands, but every time I thought about putting my journey into words, it seemed too painful. Finally, I cried out to God to release what was holding me back and discovered that freeing power came when I wrote through the pain and despite the pain.”

Many of us have prayed for President Trump for years, and yes, we always pray that he will grow closer in his relationship with God. Escaping a near death experience will do that for you.

In President Trump’s case, the bullet missed blowing off the side of his face by ¼ inch, even closer than a millimeter, as he tilted his head to look at a graphic on the screen. His son, Eric, said his father’s Guardian Angel protected him. He usually shows that graphic towards the end of his speech, but in Buttler, Pennsylvania, he went off script and asked to show it just before the bullets started flying. When he showed the graphic at the RNC, he mentioned he never got to see it in Buttler, but it providentially saved his life turning to look at it. A Millimeter Miracle!

 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50:20

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. Phil. 1:12

Following are some direct quotes from President Trump the week following the attempted assassination.

  • On Truth Social, Trump acknowledged it was divine providence that spared him and an act of God: “Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts thememory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”
  • “It was God who helped me!”
  • “It changes your attitude, your viewpoint on life. Honestly, you appreciate God even more!”
  • “I’m not supposed to be here tonight, and yet, I stand here before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God who had other plans!”
  • Referring to when he dropped down after sensing something flying by his right ear and bringing his hand down full of blood knowing it was a bullet: “The amazing thing is I felt safe. I felt serene because I had God on my side.”
  • “None of us knows God’s plan for us. If I learned anything from last Saturday (July 13th), every moment we have on earth is a gift from God.”

To that, I, Janet, say Amen.

Pray for Former President and Republican Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump’s Spiritual Transformation, Growth, and Reliance on God!

“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)

Twice in the last week, I’ve heard President Trump mention how his father took him to Yankee Stadium to hear Reverend Billy Graham. He’s remembering his spiritual roots. We must keep praying for President Trump because he can’t help but experience some PTSD from such a traumatic experience. Since he knows and acknowledges that it was God who saved him for such a time as this, our prayers can help him overcome any negative feelings as we celebrate with him a victory over an evil attempt to take him down.

I don’t know why God chose to use adulterer and murderer King David, or secular King Cyrus (Chr. 36-22-23, Ezra 1:1-2), and I don’t know why God’s using Donald J. Trump to make America great again. But I do believe God has called him and will protect him and use him to save America physically, globally, economically, and spiritually. When you consider the many evil attempts to discredit and destroy Trump, yet he still prevails, I think we need to agree with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was President Trump’s Press Secretary and now the youngest governor in the United States and the first female governor of Arkansas, when she said at the RNC:

President Trump’s immediate reaction to the assassination attempt was captured in the iconic picture of him standing amongst Secret Service agents under the American flag with his fist in the air and blood streaming down his face, telling us to not give up or give in but to “Fight, Fight, Fight!”

We too must not lose heart, give up, or give in! However God leads you in the next four months to fight the spiritual and political battle, we can turn this all into good. We can help bring back civility, love for fellow man, and most importantly our dependence on, respect for, and love of God our Great Creator, Provider, and Ruler!

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil. 2:13

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28

Join the Fight for this Election Write Now! Join the My Faith Votes 2024 Presidential Election Letter Writing Campaign to encourage registered Christian voters in swing states to vote on November 5. We’re on a mission to motivate and equip Christians to Pray Think Vote in every election.

I’m sure you have some thoughts about this blog. Please leave a comment here and I’ll reply.

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The Great Debate that Begs the Question: Who is the Real Commander in Chief of the United States?

This week, we cautiously and with trepidation anticipate the celebration of July 4th in remembrance of our great country winning independence from under the rule of England. So why do I use the descriptive words “cautiously” and “trepidation” when this is typically a day of joyous celebratory parties and BBQs in backyards, parks, and beaches commencing in nighttime fireworks displays? Because most Americans are asking and concerned about, “Whose rule are we under now?”

During the June 27th presidential debate between former President Trump and current President Biden, the world could no longer deny that Biden is president in title only. It doesn’t matter your political or religious persuasion, nationality, or ideology . . . it’s evident to the world that someone else, or a cabal, is running our country and probably has been since January 22, 2021. Americans aren’t truly free or independent right now. An unelected person or people are making decisions and executive actions destroying our free republic. We’re entitled to know who ‘they’ are. Instead of pondering and speculating, Congress should be demanding and investigating answers!

Hal Lindsey put it best in his blog of June 30, 2024:

“If you watched the US Presidential debate on June 27th, you don’t need me to tell you what you saw. If you are a Democrat, the debate probably left you at least somewhat troubled. If you are a Republican, you probably feel that your guy won. Still, I don’t see Republicans dancing in the street. (Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Republicans dancing in the street.) You might expect exuberance from Republicans at so large a perceived victory. Instead, I see Americans of all political persuasions held in the grip of a deep sense of unease.”

Did you ever think we would be living in a time when love of country, respect for the American Flag, and standing for the National Anthem would become controversial? Who is deeming patriotism as racist, toxic, and deplorable?  

The federal government is attempting to divide Americans into identity groups and pit them against each other. Children are taught in school to judge each other by skin color and question their own biological gender! Young children are castrated with their bodies surgically mutilated while a “Biden” trans official pressures the woke organization “The World Professional Association of Transgender Health” (WPATH) to eliminate limits on sex-change procedures for minors?! (Did you even know there was an association like that?)

A radial climate hoax is ruining our economy while millions of unvetted illegals from all countries, including our enemies, storm our open borders. Men invade women’s sports and private areas. DEI replaces Dependable, Expert, Intelligent, and even Skilled.  College students protest in favor of terrorists . . . and the list goes on and on and on . . .

Can America Be Saved?

It’s alarming what’s happening in our federal and some state governments, but what’s even more alarming is that many people think merely electing someone else will solve all our problems. It will certainly help, but since the current administration’s agenda is demonic, the only real way to fight Satan is with a populace who understands and appreciates the power of God and persistent prayer while voting their values and beliefs! America must repent and turn to God not government to save our country.

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Hal Lindsey continues . . .

“We have good reason for concern. As a nation, we are not embracing the self-discipline needed to maintain liberty. We are not repentant over our national sins. The nation tends to put its hope in men and technology — not in God. . . Maybe your side’s winning in the presidential race this year, or maybe — for the moment at least — it’s not. Either way, this is a time for humility and repentance. We are in trouble as a nation, and the answer is to turn to God our Father.” 

I love the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, and I sing along with him, especially the lines, “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.” But I’m even prouder to be a Christian American!  A follower of Jesus Christ.

The current administrative cabal and the Democrat party are not loyal to America or proud to be American. They continually denounce us as a racist country and claim half the population, at least those who are conservative, Christian, white, drive pickups, and wave American flags, are a threat to our country?!

Instead, they’re attempting to see how far to the extreme Socialist, Communist, Marxist, tribal, racist, liberal, progressive left they can take America. They’re turning America into a country our forefathers wouldn’t recognize. A country where men and women of all colors gave, and continue to give, their lives to defend.

If you’re saying don’t make the 4th of July political—Independence Day marked the initiation of politics!

A Pop 4th of July Quiz

Have you watched a man-on-the-street interview asking people if they know facts about our country’s history? It’s embarrassing. I wonder how many could answer questions about the 4th of July and why it’s a national holiday?

“What does July 4th stand for?”

  • From what country did America fight to win their freedom?
  • Why is July 4th Independence Day?
  • What year was the Declaration of Independence signed and adopted?
  • What is the significance of 13 stripes and 50 stars?
  • Why are our patriotic colors red, white, and blue?
  • What does a national flag represent?
  • Why are caskets of fallen soldiers wrapped in the American flag?
  • Why do we have fireworks on the 4th of July?

How about asking these questions and offering a prize to the one who knows the most answers at your 4th of July gathering. Here’s a website with a succinct overview: History of the Fourth of July – Brief History & Early Celebrations – HISTORY

So much of our history is lost in a culture that is trying to rewrite it and has forgotten our Christian roots. Liberal left progressive politicians want to erase our heritage as if it never happened and turn a republic of freedoms into a country of government socialistic control. They make it sound like the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness isn’t as valuable as the carrots they dangle of free healthcare, free college, free immigration free… free…which the naïve lap up without realizing nothing is free. Americans will pay the price with the loss of sovereignty and personal freedoms that so many brave soldiers gave their life to grant each of us. It will cost us dearly in taxes, independence, and quality of life.

Since the Biden cabal and “sanctuary states” want to give illegals free health insurance, they’ll need to put more than a 70% increase on our taxes to pay for it. How good do you think that healthcare is going to be when stretched to the limits with no money to back it and millions of extra people getting it for “free?” That’s why whoever is running the White House hasn’t given specifics of how they would achieve this.

Some politicians have said we’re the only major country without socialized healthcare. What Americans need to remember is the entire point of July 4th is we didn’t want to be like other nations. Other nations come to America for medical treatment. People are not migrating to other countries or invading other country’s borders; they come to America because we aren’t like other nations. The White House cabal has put out the welcome mat at the expense and threat to American citizens who are being murdered, raped, and robbed.

We Must Return to Our Roots!

For those who try to say we weren’t founded on Judeo Christian values, how do you explain our currency’s motto, “In God We Trust” NOT “In the government we trust”? While the liberal progressive socialist left tries moving our country away from God, Christians must stand in the gap and keep America a blessed nation under God.

The 4th of July celebrates the fight for freedom to be different from other countries. A republic of the people, by the people, and for the people. Where the government works for us NOT controls us.

As you plan your festivities—parades, BBQs, fireworks, pool parties, trips to the beach—how about starting those events with the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the National Anthem, and a prayer to God who has allowed us to live in this great country.

Remind children at the gatherings why you’re celebrating this holiday. Our generation must pass down to the next generation our country’s history and why we don’t want to repeat past mistakes. God has allowed each American to live in the greatest nation in the world, so far. Have you ever opened your eyes in the morning and said thank you God I’m an American? If we take God, freedom, and patriotism out of America, we won’t be able to say that anymore.

Let’s take a stand for what the majority of American people really want and deserve— A country that honors God and His Word first and foremost! Honors our flag and those who went before us to secure our freedoms. A fair justice system that adheres to the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States of America!

May God bless America and may America be worthy of His blessing!

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. Zech. 14:9

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Revenge of the ‘Normies’!

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

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

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

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

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

A friend shared a meme with me that reads:

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

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

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

What Does Revenge of the Normies Look Like?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Don’t Lose HOPE for America

Sometimes we just need to hear some good news amongst the evil that fills the news cycle today. It’s almost as if God is creating a spiritual revival on some college campuses while others are full of destructive hate and violence. No greater evidence of the spiritual war we’re living through now is that while Israel fights for its survival, America retracts support as we experience a steady decline under the current administration.

Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, And whoever curses Israel will be cursed. Numbers 24:9

“I will bless those who bless you, But I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations.” Gen. 12:3 GNT

What’s Happening to College Students Today?!

In last week’s blog, I wrote about the urgent need to protect women’s rights from Biden’s proposed unconstitutional changes to Title IX that would replace biological sex with gender identity allowing men to invade women’s sports. Some have asked, “Where are the feminists who are supposed to be protecting women’s rights? Why aren’t they objecting?”

One icon of feminism in the past, Phyllis Chesler, answered that question in an opinion article subtitled, Feminism is no longer interested in women’s rights, it focuses on identity rights where she wrote:

“Young American women are in precipitous free fall. When they are not agreeing to be “choked” during sex, opting for “lazy girl jobs” on TikTok, becoming stay-at-home girlfriends, raving about a Barbie doll movie, or dressing like Taylor Swift, they are out marching or sitting in for everything except women’s rights. 

“It is a sorry sight to behold: college-age American women committing civil disobedience on behalf of savagely misogynistic terrorist organizations; hypnotically joining in Muslim prayers on campus and happily donning hijab – even as Muslim women in Iran and Afghanistan are being jailed and even murdered for refusing to do so. There they are, these faux-feminists, speaking on panels and demonstrating for prison reform and against the police.

“Like the Democrat Party, they too are no longer interested in a sex-based Equal Rights amendment but in an amendment geared to Identity Rights. In their view, it is only “fair” that transwomen, (aka men), be allowed to compete with “cisgender” women (aka real women), in sports, occupy women-only jails, share locker rooms, showers and bathrooms with those who menstruate, get pregnant, give birth, breast-feed, experience menopause, etc.”  

Sadly, Chesler just described the indoctrinated and radicalized pro-terrorist female, and male, students on many college campuses today, ignorantly and complicitly manipulated by evil. We lament that they represent the future that could destroy our country if they don’t come to their senses soon.

Revival Is Congruently Taking Place!

At the same time these social atrocities are happening on some college campuses, revival is also happening on other college campuses. Hundreds responded to the gospel, gave their life to Christ, and were baptized this past March at the University of Alabama where thousands of students gathered. The spiritual awakening that we first saw last year at Asbury College shows no signs of slowing down.

Hundreds were also baptized at Auburn University last fall and Florida State University in February. Just two weeks ago, 8,000 students gathered on the campus of the University of Tennessee at a Unite US event geared toward GenZers that presents the Gospel message to students at different college campuses. At Unite US latest event in Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, 5000 students gathered with hundreds dedicating their lives to Christ and baptizing over 120 students outside the arena.

One church in Tampa recently baptized almost 1,000 people at the beach and The Church of Eleven22 baptized more than 1600 people on the shores of Hanna Park Beach in Jacksonville, Fl. last week. Praise God! “It doesn’t get much better than that,” said Pastor Joby Martin, founder and lead pastor of The Church of Eleven22, in a statement. “The church is alive and well, the Spirit of God is on the move, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is still changing lives as it has for thousands of years.”

On May 8, the 79th anniversary of the Nazis surrendering to the allies, Sean Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” ministry hosted an inter-faith “United for Israel Rally” at the University of Southern California (USC), one of the many universities plagued with anti-Israeli protestors calling for “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” Instead of those hate-filled chants, Christian worship music filled the streets of Los Angeles as Christians, Jews, and Muslims chanted a different message: “Never Again!” and “Jewish Hate Must Go!”

This was a follow-up to a similar march and rally by Feucht in April at Columbia University in New York City, drawing 4500 attendees! Feucht told CBN News he believes the “United for Israel” rally can change “the entire environment” of what is taking place in the nation. “They come with darkness, violence, and hate. We come with unity, hope, and joy!”

“More than anything I feel like this gives hope to America,” Feucht said. “There are people that are going to rise up with courage and boldness, that are going to say, ‘Enough. We’re going to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters; we’re going to respond to the command in Genesis 12 that says, ‘I’ll bless those who bless you. I’ll curse those that curse you.'”

And who can forget the opening picture of this blog where a dozen University of North Carolina frat brothers encountering protesters pelting them with insults and flying water bottles, stood their ground around the American flag and didn’t allow it to be taken down or touch the ground.

“These people wanted to tear down the flag, and we were there to protect it,” Pi Kappa Phi member Brendan Rosenblum said. “Me and my friends did not allow that to happen.”

The standoff began when pro-Palestinian protestors raised the Palestinian flag on the pole. UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, accompanied by police officers, took it down and re-hung the U.S. flag, which was flying at half-staff in honor of the law enforcement officers killed in Charlotte.

When Roberts left and protesters tried again to take down the American flag, Rosenblum, some of his fraternity brothers, and other students stepped in. They surrounded the flagpole and kept the big flag from touching the ground. Rosenblum also held an Israeli flag.

“All of us felt that America, and the American flag — and for me, the Israeli flag — represent what we believe in,” he said.” And we weren’t going to let anyone stop us from keeping those two things up.”

Country music star John Rich commented: “When I saw the guys at UNC holding that flag up, making sure it did not hit the ground, it told me a lot about them.” Rich said it’s easy to watch TV the last few weeks and believe that every college student hates America, but the UNC fraternity brothers give him hope. “I hope that these guys inspire … young patriots across the country to do the exact same thing,” he said. 

At LSU and Ole Miss, Pro-America students outnumbered those calling for the death of Jews. I’ve also been encouraged, and yes hopeful, as I’ve heard some interviews of well-spoken college students who lament what’s happening on their campuses where non-protesting and Jewish students can’t even get to classes or the campus is closed entirely. Their disgust with the protesting students gives me hope that there are still good, smart, intelligent, moral, patriotic kids coming out of these colleges.

Sadly, many of the same students who missed high school graduation in 2020 because of school closers during COVID are going to miss their cherished college graduation canceled because of the violence that might take place from the students siding with ANTIFA, terrorists, and jihadists. It’s definitely not fair or right that all students should suffer because of a few misguided bad actors, but then isn’t that the reality of life. I hope that they’ll be stronger for it and want to make sure their generation doesn’t let it happen again.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hopeAnd hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) encourages us and gives hope that, “Against the backdrop of anti-Israel protests, violence, and death chants among colleges and universities recently, some GenZers are choosing instead to uplift Jesus Christ.”

This is what revival looks like.

In last week’s blog, For the Sake of the Girls, Stop the Craziness, I mentioned there was a collision of light and darkness and we’re watching this collision on college campuses today.

Don’t Lose Hope! God is Moving!

Even as anarchy takes place on some college campuses, there’s a spiritual awakening on other college campuses and even in some churches that God alone can take credit for, as we continue to intercede for the next generation and our nation.

Only God! Only Jesus!

We must do our part and leave the results to God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

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A Child Is Not a Problem to be Solved, But a Person to be Loved!

There once was a young boy whose mother had seven husbands. In a one-night-stand between husbands, she got pregnant. She chose to have her baby and a future husband chose to adopt her son and give him his last name. Do you know who that was? If you saw the movie Jesus Revolution, it was Pastor Greg Laurie!

In last week’s blog, No More Recreational Christianity, I talked about Pastor Jack Hibbs’ testimony of being a survivor of his mother’s botched attempt at aborting him with a coat hanger.

Steve Jobs, Apple founder, was adopted shortly after birth. Jobs’ biological parents weren’t married. He said, “I wanted to meet my biological mother mostly to see if she was OK and to thank her, because I’m glad I didn’t end up as an abortion.”

Some of you know the testimony my daughter and I share in my book Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?  It’s the story of my amazing grandson Brandon’s 15-year-old birth mother choosing to give him life so that my daughter and her husband could adopt him at two-weeks, and we could become his forever loving family. This teenage girl actually hid her pregnancy until the 7th month so she could keep her baby even though he was her second child! Somehow at her young age, she understood the value of life and didn’t impose her poor sexual choices on denying life to the children she conceived.

Many of you might have similar stories in your family. Our testimonies are powerful, and God can use each one to encourage mothers to choose life for their babies.

If you’ve had an abortion, you can ask Jesus for forgiveness and seek Christian counseling to help you with any regrets. You’re also a perfect person to encourage other women to avoid making the same choice. God can use all our experiences for His glory if we let Him.

March for Life 2024!

January is Sanctity of Life month. The 51st March for Life at the National Mall in Washington DC was on January 19 this year and the snow and cold temperatures didn’t deter thousands from marching for life. I’m not sure how they originally determined January to be the month to honor human life, but maybe it was to start the New Year with everyone remembering how important the gift of life is from God our Creator. A perfect segue from Christmas.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! (Genesis 1:1, 26, 31 NLT).

Why then are so many choosing to destroy this amazing gift of life and how has it become so political? Sadly, many things have become political rather than moral. For example, two moral bills supporting pregnancy centers and pregnant college students passed on January 18 by a Republican majority Congress, while every Democrat present voted immorally against them.

How could anyone with a conscience or heart vote against helping pregnant women and innocent babies? But Democrats vote in unison against the sanctity of life consistently. Could it be because one of their largest donors is Planned Parenthood, the biggest industry dedicated to murdering babies?!

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act passed by Congress ensures that universities and colleges must provide information to pregnant students about rights, accommodations, and resources available. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA), who authored the bill, said, “It’s unacceptable that pregnant women on college campuses are often pressured to have an abortion. My bill ensures young women are empowered to choose life and create the best future for themselves and their child.”

“Pregnant college students should never feel like abortion is their only option,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). “The Republican-led House took a huge step in empowering women to choose life by passing this legislation. I encourage my Senate colleagues to follow suit and work to ensure young women are aware of all the resources available to them and their babies while pursuing their education.”

“This vote should have been an easy one for every politician who claims to care about women’s rights, and those in the Democratic Party who voted to keep women in the dark about their legal rights should be ashamed,” said Students for Life Action (SFLAction) President Kristan Hawkins. “Still, this is a great day for the Pro-Life Generation as years of campus advocacy has led to this historic moment – the first SFLAction-inspired federal bill passing the House,” she added.

The Parenting Women and Families Act prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a Biden Administration proposed change in regulations that would essentially cut funding for pregnancy centers.

“We applaud House pro-life leaders for their work in ensuring resources and funding are made available for women, children, and families in need,” stated Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “In a post-Roe America, it is vitally important that resources are made available to support mothers and their babies both before and after birth.”  

Tobias continued, “In longstanding narrow-mindedness, every Democrat present voted wrong and failed to support these reasonable measures because the bills do not promote abortion. Once again, leaders in the Democratic Party have shown their allegiance to the abortion industry and its extremism.”

I wanted to watch the National March for Life on TV, but the only channel Dave found it on was a Catholic channel. CBN carried it too, but he found the Catholic channel first and as I listened to their discussion after the march, it was so encouraging to hear the commentators and guests, even young children and college students, talk about what they’re doing on their school campuses to promote life for every baby.

Biden who professes to be a “good Catholic,” is the most pro-death President in my lifetime. So why would a Catholic President fight against every attempt to protect the unborn, even trying to pass bills that remove the tax status and funding from Pregnancy Care Centers? Pro-Abortion Biden has weaponized the legislature to try to codify abortion up to birth. Barbarianism. What Catholic or Christian even thinks of such an atrocity? Only someone who has sold their soul to the devil for power and money. The abortion industry, aka killing babies, is lucrative to everyone involved.

Herod in Matthew 2:13-18 had all the boys two-years-old or younger slaughtered trying to kill the newborn king he had heard was born. Baby Jesus’ life was spared.

Pharaoh thought the Egyptians were multiplying too fast and he might lose power, so he had all the baby boys murdered at birth. When that wasn’t working, he had the babies drowned in the Nile, but baby Moses survived that genocide attempt and was adopted.  

Also, in the Old Testament pagan child sacrifices were made to Molek.  “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.” Lev. 18:21

We falsely think we’re such a civilized culture today that we would never let something like the above scenarios happen. Yet millions of baby sacrifices have occurred in their mother’s womb as the babies are horrifically poisoned, chemically burned, crushed, suctioned, injected, or impaled, and often pulled out piece by piece. Even with the end of Roe v Wade, some states like New Jersey allow the infanticide sacrifice of babies through all nine months. Barbarism in the 21st century.

The next major battle is the abortion pill as the Supreme Court reviews a case involving access to mifepristone, which the FDA has approved. Justices are set to review a ruling by a federal appeals court to allow distribution of this abortion pill indiscriminately by mail, essentially performing home abortions. Many say the abortion pill is four times more dangerous than surgical abortion and girls and women end up in emergency rooms. The drug blocks nutrients and starves the baby to death.

Our secular culture and ruling government continue to spread the lie that babies are expendable if they’re inconvenient or unwanted. Kamala Harris is visiting school campuses touting the lie that abortion is a woman’s Constitutional right. She shows her ignorance of the Constitution.

After telling his own abortion-sparing life story when his unmarried parents chose to give him life for which he thanked them, House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed out in his March for Life speech that the Constitution and Bill of Rights says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Johnson continued, “All men are created equal, not born equal.” Equality originates in the womb, not at birth. Then he affirmed, “Our rights come from God, not the government. Your value is given to you by your Creator.”

Christians Must Change a Culture of Murder to a Culture of Life

One of the March for Life speakers said, “Abortion is like hiring a hitman. It’s murder of a human life. There’s no other way to consider it.”

Speaker Johnson reminded us of others before us, like President Lincoln and Susan B Anthony, who changed public opinion and encouraged us that we can do the same.

Abortion is the only weapon the Democrats have in the 2024 election because they don’t have any accomplishments to brag about since they’ve done nothing in the past three years except try to turn our free country into a Marxist dictatorship.

Pro-lifers, conservatives, Republicans, Christians need to change our approach in discussing abortion because what we’re doing right now isn’t reaching the majority of people, especially women. We’re characterized as not caring about women’s “rights.” I think the March for Life has realized that as their theme this year is “With Every Woman, for Every Child.”

Pastor Greg Laurie shared his testimony and gave the closing prayer at the March for Life before the marchers took off walking. He also wrote an article Why Pro-Life Is the Only Biblical Position. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it now. He speaks with conviction as a Bible-preaching pastor and a life spared for a purpose. He said it took a while to realize his life was planned by God, as is every life, even those who were not given a chance to breathe.

In the article, Pastor Laurie said, “Our culture tries to dehumanize these babies with rewordings and euphemisms. They call murder ‘terminating a pregnancy’ and they label unborn babies as ‘fetuses,’ ’embryos,’ ‘globs of cells,’ ‘uterine contents,’ or ‘products of conception.’ But the reality is that they are innocent children, made in the image of God, and they have every right to live. If you don’t agree with that then, frankly, you disagree with the Bible.”

Sadly, many churches are moving away from the Bible and that never ends well.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. —Psalm 139:13–16 NLT

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. —Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

Pastor Greg points out God says, “I formed you in your mother’s womb.” God doesn’t say, ‘I waited until you were born to have a plan for you, because you were not yet really a human, but only a mass of tissue.’”

God has a plan for every child, even before birth, but He lets us make our own choices. Sadly, many people today are choosing pro-death instead of pro-life. This isn’t helping women who most certainly will be emotionally, mentally, or physically damaged from taking the life of their child. Silently enabling this choice instead of sharing the truth with love and grace is not biblical.

We as a church must never stop encouraging people to choose God because God changes everything in a person’s life. Before that, they’re not going to listen to Scripture because they either don’t believe in God or don’t care what the Bible says. They’re going to live life their own way. That’s really the root cause of abortion and all evil.

Churches Must Get Involved to Save Human Lives

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a sermon on the sanctity of life. January 21, 2024, Sanctity of Life Sunday, would’ve been a perfect day to give one. But here’s what we can do . . .

  • We can use our vote. Pastor Laurie writes, “To refrain from voting is irresponsible and bad stewardship. Scripture tells us, ‘To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin’ (James 4:17 NKJV). We should vote for the candidates and policies that best reflect the values we find in Scripture, and that includes voting pro-life.”
  • MyFaithVotes.org provides voter guides for how to vote as Christians biblically in upcoming elections.
  • The church was always supposed to be the place where those in need could go to get help and praise God there are Christian operated pregnancy resource centers across the United States that help the mother and child before and after birth for free. We can find one and offer to volunteer or donate.
  • Start pro-life prayer groups at your church.
  • Attend local prayer rallies for life.
  • If you have a testimony, share it.
  • In my book Mentoring for All Seasons, I have chapters on how to mentor young women considering abortion and those who have had abortions.
  • Don’t apologize for being Pro-Life. Remind everyone you’re in a discussion with on this topic that they were given life. Ask if they’re glad their mother chose life? No one has the right to deny another person the same opportunity.

This truly is our generation’s human rights movement. We’re making progress with Roe v Wade being overturned, but the battle isn’t over in the states. The battle won’t end until abortion, the killing of unborn babies, is unthinkable. A civilization is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable.

“Let’s all pray and ask God to send a spiritual awakening to our nation—we really need it.”—Pastor Greg Laurie

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No More Recreational Christianity!

You might be thinking, “Well I’m a Christian and I enjoy recreation!” I do too. I’m not talking about squelching fun in fact I encourage it. In the context of this blog, I’m using recreational as light, undemanding, even entertaining, Christianity.

Christian living encompasses an obligation beyond what feels good or is easy and comfortable. God isn’t expecting us to be the smartest person in heaven. He’s going to be more interested in how we used the gifts and talents He gave us to further His kingdom here on earth to overcome pervasive evil.

Yes, being a Christian goes beyond fellowshipping and enjoying the company of like-minded believers, even beyond our personal spiritual maturity, although these are all important elements of our Christian life. But even more important is our willingness to go where Christ calls us to go and do what He says to do. I’m not suggesting going on the mission field, unless that’s where you feel God calling you. When we look around us with discernment, we see a huge mission field of evil engulfing our world from the government to the schools.

It’s easy to think there’s nothing we can do about it. Or, who are we to get involved? I would answer, “We’re Christians. That’s who we are and that’s why we do get involved. If not us, than who? If not now, then when?”

The Bible tells every Christian, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” Pr. 31:8 NLT

Right now, our children and grandchildren are being crushed by evil in a secular culture that sees them as innocent prey. In schools. Libraries. Entertainment. The medical profession. Satan puts a bullseye on children he can’t murder in the womb.

Abortion is a sacrament of Satan. It’s demonic. Satan knows he can’t kill God, so he breaks God’s heart by killing or deceiving God’s creation using demonic industries like Planned Parenthood that performs the majority of abortions and is one of the top producers of gender alternation medications. Assaults on children by Planned Parenthood, the medical profession, and the Democrat transgender agenda are evil golden cash cows.

I found myself yelling at the television when Democrat Congressman Jerry Nadler told Congress we need more illegal immigrants because Americans are having less babies and our population is diminishing. He admitted the Dems do have a plan to replace American citizens with illegals. I wanted someone to tell him, “The population is decreasing because the Democrats support the murder of babies, transgenderism, and castrating, mutilating, and chemically sterilizing young children!” That’s not a political statemen; it’s factual.

You might think we won the battle of abortion when Roe v Wade was overturned. While that was an amazing accomplishment, the battle is far from over as each state now sets its own abortion laws and Biden is trying to codify abortion as the law of the land. Every time a red state passes strict abortion regulations, the Biden Administration sues that state! The Federal government has also approved abortion pills mailed into states that prohibit the sale of them, like Idaho where I live. That’s why abortion will be a central part of the Presidential campaign. Sadly, many pro-life politicians have been defeated. There are a number of pro-abortion Republicans in both the Senate and Congress who have either bought the “healthcare” lie or aren’t willing to tell the truth about abortion. They compromise to win.

I was happy to see our Idaho legislature changing the terminology for our state to reflect the true sanctity of life. Fetus and stillborn fetus are now replaced with preborn child and stillborn child.

I know you’ve seen an infant recently in your family, church, or community. What a blessing that child is but we weep for all the precious lives ended before they could begin. Only those deceived by Satan would champion indiscriminate sex over a precious conceived life. If you study this issue, you quickly learn that Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, first called Planned Parenthood the American Birth Control League. She’s credited with originating the term birth control. Research shows that her intent was that women could have sexual pleasure without the responsibility of pregnancy. It also involved eugenics, as she wanted to eliminate blacks and any child with potential birth defects. Straight from Satan’s playbook.

I challenge you to find anywhere in the Bible where God, the Creator of life, uses the term birth control, or espouses the concept of humans, instead of God, controlling birth. Just the opposite. Man also thinks he can control the weather. Again, trying to usurp God.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Gen. 1:28

An atheistic mind that believes there is no God, concludes there’s no need or respect for human life. It’s a false humanism religion denying that we are both body and soul. Exactly where our secular culture is today and yet so often the church is afraid to talk about this or expose the satanic repercussions. We’d rather talk about things that make us feel good—recreational entertaining Christianity instead of righteously effective Christianity.

Planned Parenthood is also behind pornography and “Sex Ed for Social Change” in schools, school libraries, and public libraries. If they can corrupt innocent minds with sex and sexual deviations, they control them for life. Those who are paying attention can clearly see this is all a prelude to normalizing sex with children, pedophilia. It’s already happening as we saw in the movie Sound of Freedom. Child sex trafficking rings are prevalent, especially with the border invasion. Horrible stories appear in the news like videotaping toddlers being sexually abused while perverts attempt to lower the age of sexual consent for children!

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matt. 18:6

Does that seem too extreme to be true? Many of us can remember when sex outside of marriage was taboo. Virginity was cherished. Living together before marriage was unacceptable, and if a couple got pregnant, they got married. Sex, nudity, couples in bed together, multiple lovers, and promiscuity weren’t allowed on television. Now it’s all been normalized and somehow Christians let it happen.

Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery. Heb. 213:4

Every Christian must defend morality! One day, we’re all going to stand before God and He’s going to ask what did you do, or not do, about the evil corruption in your culture.

I would encourage you to listen to this YouTube conversation with Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and Seth Gruger who has a Pro Life Ministry, A White Rose. I learned that Pastor Hibbs is an abortion survivor. In his teens, he overheard his mother telling someone that a neighbor discovered his mother mutilating herself by trying to abort him with a coat hanger. After three weeks in the hospital, Pastor Hibbs’ life was saved. He didn’t understand the complete impact of his rescue until he later became a Christian. How many future pastors, presidents, inventors, physicians, missionaries, parents, musicians, athletes . . . God’s children . . . weren’t rescued and saved? If you’ve ever heard Pastor Hibbs preach or speak, you know he’s living out his purpose.

We were all saved and called to a purpose that promotes God’s kingdom here on earth. We must discover that purpose and fulfill it for the Lord’s glory!

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

Update on Our Local Library

Some of you have been following my unexpected and unplanned role spearheading the removal of obscene and pornographic books targeted for children in our local library. You can read the history in my blogs Jesus Reveals the Opposing Fathers of Truth and Lies and Be Alert for Where and When the Lord Wants You to Get Involved!

As an update, a friend and I accepted an invitation to meet with the librarian who at first was determined that we were censors. But after talking with us, she agreed to amend the board minutes referring to us as “people in favor of censorship” and suggested I send a letter to the library board asking them to review the books according to Idaho’s definition of pornography.

In God’s perfect timing, our Idaho Legislature’s House State Affairs Committee has introduced a new bill for libraries to either remove or move to a designated “Adults Only” section of the library “harmful materials” directed to minors, or materials that include “nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse.” Under the Legislatures definition of “sexual conduct this includes any act of homosexuality. With this new legislation, students, parents and legal guardians could fill out a written notice to libraries asking to relocate a library item that they deem “harmful” to the adult section. A library that doesn’t comply would be fined.

There was a similar law last year that made its way to Governor Little’s desk and he vetoed it. One Republican vote prevented overriding the veto. They’ve revised the bill according to the changes the governor asked for and are hoping to get this one passed. I’m happy to see Republicans didn’t give up, as I haven’t given up.

I’m not telling you this story for pats on the back or an at-a-girl. I’m sharing it to make the point that we never know where God is going to “call” us to get involved for a just cause. I would’ve never predicted I would be enmeshed, let alone the spokeswoman, for this issue in our little town, but God knew. Therefore, I can’t be deterred or dissuaded. Instead, I ask for prayer and go where He leads and change is happening for the good. I want to encourage each one of you to do the same.

When Hobby Lobby won the case in the Supreme Court to not be required to offer abortion in their employee’s insurance plans, California sent a letter to churches that California wasn’t going to abide by the ruling and churches would be required to offer abortion to their employees. Pastor Hibbs went to battle against it and eight years later, won!

We know God’s truth and we must stand our ground for it wherever God has planted us!

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:13-16

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 2 Cor. 10:4-6

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How to Let God Become Greater as We Become Lesser in Today’s Competitive Culture

Most people, including media, hadn’t heard of our new House Speaker, Mike Johnson. Yet, he received a unanimous vote on the first ballot from the Republican side of Congress! So obviously his colleagues knew him and more importantly trusted him to be their next leader.

In accepting the new role, Johnson didn’t tout how great he was or list his own accomplishments. He made it clear that as a Christian, Jesus is his Lord and Savior and influences the way he leads and lives. He reminded everyone that our country’s motto is “In God we trust.” We don’t put our trust in the government or one man. Speaker Johnson was less important. God and the Bible are greater and for that declaration his Republican colleagues applauded.

Maybe even some on the other side of the aisle admire him for his commitment to the Judeo-Christian values our once great country was founded upon. It’s a false claim that religion should stay out of government. In fact, the original writers/signers of the Constitution and Bill of Rights wanted the government to stay out of the church, while basing the United States Statutes on biblical godly principles.

However, Speaker Johnson made waves when he led the House in prayer before his acceptance speech, and made it clear from the onset that he is a “Bible-believing Christian” and “the Bible shapes my worldview.” No apologies, even when he came under immediate slander and attacks from liberal media and Democrats. He never backed down, but with grace, he didn’t retaliate.  He responded with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—the fruit of the Spirit.

It’s been amusing to watch attacks backfire from people like Matt Fuller, Washington bureau chief of the Daily Beast, as they try to criticize Johnson for being someone Americans can identify with instead of an elitist who has become rich while serving in government.

“Mike Johnson doesn’t have any retirement savings, own a single stock, or have any assets at all. He has less than $5,000 in his bank account. He’s got a 250-500K mortgage, a home equity loan, and a personal loan. So what’s his retirement plan? To lobby?” Fuller suggestively wrote.

Here’s one response, like many others, that boomeranged on Fuller: “The fact that Johnson did not, like countless other Congressmen, suddenly tap into new streams of wealth after he won office in 2016 is a mark in FAVOR of his character. Apparently he’s not availing himself of the insider advantages others are quick to exploit,” reporter Megan Basham pointed out.

Blaze Media concluded: “It turns out that people aren’t angry the new House speaker is, at least financially speaking, like a sizable percentage of Americans: not rich and scraping by on what he does have to provide for his family.”

I hope Mike Johnson is praying the armor of God every morning so those fiery darts he’s experiencing will bounce off his Breastplate of Righteousness (Eph. 6:14) and boomerang or be quenched by his shield of faith. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph. 6:16

Many can call themselves Christians, but it’s refreshing to see someone in governmental authority actually live out his beliefs and faith with conviction and grace. I wouldn’t characterize Speaker Johnson as simply bold and brave; I would say he’s authentic and real. Personifying the following two Scriptures.  

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Rom. 1:16 NLT

He [God] must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30 NLT

What is the Context of John 3:30?

John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less” was spoken by John the Baptist, who God designated to pave the way for Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist, a miracle baby born to aging parents, developed a ministry foretelling the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John was always comfortable with that subservient role and seemed to understand his God-given assignment.

During the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Luke 3:2-4

Many watched John baptizing and wondered if he was the long-awaited Messiah. When the Pharisees questioned his right to baptize if he wasn’t the Messiah, John denounced this misconception: 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

Then John met Jesus face-to-face confirming that He was indeed the Messiah sent from God. The one John had faithfully served without apparently ever knowing Him personally, even though they were distant relatives.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:29-34

John’s own disciples became jealous that Jesus had started His ministry and was also baptizing nearby. John was quick to set the record straight as he exalted Jesus without bitterness or envy.

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:22-30

I’ve always marveled that John the Baptist was never envious of why Jesus was the Messiah and he, John, wasn’t. Instead, John understood the importance of his own role and was gracious that God chose him for such a worthy position.

Isn’t it the same in life today? That’s the concept of teamwork. While there’s only one CEO, President, House Speaker, leader, or boss, they aren’t successful without surrounding themselves with dedicated support people working toward the same goal.

Jesus needed John the Baptist to prepare people’s hearts for His coming. Our role in God’s plan is to prepare others and ourselves for the return of Jesus. He chose believers to be His representative hands and feet as long as we have breath. God accomplishes His work through flawed humble people who give Him the glory!

God Is Great!

Where Dave and I live, the sun rises over the mountain peaks as the lingering darkness of the early morning fades. The sun’s magnificent glow of gorgeous hews lights up the sky announcing that a new day has begun. The sunrise is so significant to daily life that weather reporters track and forecast the exact time to expect it. Likewise, they predict the time of sunset when the sun slips down past the horizon proclaiming that day is done and soon stars will be blanketing the sky. But have you ever stopped to think that even before the sun is fully visible in the morning, the nighttime stars disappear. It’s this amazing exchange every day that humans don’t orchestrate or control. God, the Creator of the world, planned it all in the beginning.

15 Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. 16 God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18 to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Gen. 1:15-18 NLT

I close my morning prayer time with a personalized version of John 3:30: “Lord, I want You to become greater in my life like a sunrise and I want to decrease like stars disappearing.”

Metaphorically, I’m praying that Jesus would shine brightly in my life as I arise each morning, and that I would shed the remnants of self-centered ego, pride, and “me focus.” From what I’ve seen so far of Speaker Johnson, we have a man who isn’t prideful of his new position and success, but respectful and grateful to the God who chose him for such a time as this. Praise God! Let’s pray for our new House Speaker and his family.

As Speaker Johnson has humbly and unashamedly revealed to the world his dependence on God and the Bible, we need to also realize and revel in our dependence on the Lord. Not try to manage our lives on our own or be embarrassed to let others know that we too are Bible-believing Christians. To remember that everything we have we owe to God and to give Him the credit for all He has done in our lives as a witness and testimony to others.

When we become Christians, we exchange our ways for God’s ways. It’s a progression of decreasing and dying to our old self and becoming more like Christ as He increases in our thoughts, words, actions, and ego. Jesus will become greater and greater in every aspect of our life as our old nature becomes less and less. It’s a process. Sometimes we regress, but our goal is to continuously move forward surrendering our will to God’s will.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17 NLT

Five Ways to Make God Greater in Your Life

1. Seek God’s direction before making decisions and respond accordingly. Pray and ask for God’s wisdom, “Lord, what would you have me do?” His answer comes through reading His Word, listening to a sermon, or asking wise council from a mentor or trusted advisor.

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Pr. 16:1-3

2. Consider the well-being and comfort of others before thinking about yourself. It’s natural to want our best outcome, but God wants us to think about others’ interests first. To be a reflection of His heart by serving the needs of others before considering our own needs.

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil. 2:3-4

3. Live counter-culture. Care more about what God thinks about you than what people think about you. Don’t go with the flow. Go with God!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12:2

4. Get in the habit of thanking God throughout the day for the little things and for sure the big things!

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Ps. 68:19 NLT

5. Ask God to help you see things through His eyes, to hurt where He hurts and love how He loves. Get ready—you’re on your way to decreasing as you increase in Christ!

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul. 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? Mark 8:34-37 NLT

Note: I’m now posting my free monthly newsletter on the last Monday of the month in place of the usual Monday Morning Blog. If you don’t receive the newsletter, go to my website and sign up there. It’s super easy. Here’s the link to the October newsletter. The opening newsletter article is “When the Church Loses Its Voice, The World Loses Its Mind!”

There won’t be a Monday Morning Blog next Monday, November 13th.

As we approach Thanksgiving, you might enjoy my Crosswalk article 4 Prayers to Say At the Thanksgiving Table.

Please leave a comment here. I reply to every comment on the website blog. When you leave a comment, there’s a box to check if you want to receive future comments on the blog and it will notify you by email when I reply. The email will come from [email protected].

Portions of this blog appeared in my Crosswalk article What Does the Bible Mean When it Says ‘He must Become Greater and I must Become Less?’ 3/1/2021

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4 Prayers for When You’re Hurting, Mad, or Sad!

It’s hard listening to the lies, corruption, and political injustice coming out of Washington D.C. without feeling angry, betrayed, or maybe even hopeless about the fate of our beautiful country. We’re watching the destruction of moral values and biblical principles our country was founded on and that helped us flourish as the world leader now seemingly being destroyed by our Marxist tyrannical government. It reinforces how important Christian and Conservatives’ votes are because if we didn’t have a majority in Congress all the corruption and lies would’ve never been exposed.

If you’ve seen the movie Sound of Freedom, you know our country has the highest rate in the world of child trafficking with cartels controlling our borders. You feel sick, sad, mad, helpless, and depressed wondering as we all said when we walked out of the theater, “What can we do to stop this?” We beg God to please help these children who our government is turning a blind eye to as they allow illegals and bad people to flood our borders using the “back door” instead of the “front door” into our country.

The President and Democrats show no compassion for children as they try to indoctrinate them into perverse sexual practices in the classroom, codify killing babies in the womb, and ignore child trafficking. I can say with certainty people condoning this evil will never see heaven but will spend eternity in hell.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17

Jesus said, Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matt. 18:4-6

If you’ve read 1st and 2nd Kings, which I referred to in last week’s blog, Loving God and America is “Dangerous” in 2023, there was always a bad king, then a good king, then a bad king who undid and overturned all the good of the previous king, which in some cases was his father.

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? 21 The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them. Ps. 94:20-23

Sin motivates depravity motivated by power, money, pride, self-indulgence, disregard for others, convenience, acquisition, greed . . . me, myself, and I doing what feels good. Men and women wanting to be their own gods just like we saw in the tower of Babel.  Do you feel sometimes like you just want to give up?

Well Habakkuk felt like that too, but I encourage you to read Chapter 2 in the Book of Habakkuk. Here’s the link to The Message translation where God so clearly describes a world like we’re living in today. Habakkuk prayed,What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint.” (2:1)

Praise God, Habakkuk didn’t give up and as long as the Lord gives us breath, we can’t give up either. We pray and wait as Habakkuk did. For me, I pray for God to use my writings and life for His glory, but you don’t have to be a writer to share God’s truths in our current depraved culture. You can pray and live a righteous life for others to emulate until the Lord returns!

And then God answered: “Write this.
    Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
    so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
    pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
    And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
    It’s on its way. It will come right on time.
(Hab. 2:2-3)

Many of you experience hurts beyond world events, or maybe brought on by current events and our detestable culture. Your own private world might seem under attack. I want to use the rest of this blog to pray for and with you. I hope you’ll feel comfort and inspiration from the Lord as you wait, pray, and listen.

4 Prayers for Difficult Times

In Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer and Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents, I encourage the reader to personalize Scripture as if God wrote it just for them. We can do the same when we pray for someone hurting or for ourselves. We don’t always need to come up with the perfect words because God already has. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. (Ps. 10:17)

 People don’t need us to fix things. When they’re hurting, they want a shoulder to cry on, an arm around their shoulder, and company in the darkness of their soul. There might be a time later when we can sit down over a cup of coffee and help them work through details of their situation, but for the moment, they just need to feel God’s closeness and comfort in and through us.

Here are 4 prayers to help guide you in praying with people for specific situations, or if you’re in this situation, please personalize and pray for yourself.

Prayer for Those Grieving

Father, we pray for those suffering the loss of a loved one or someone close to their heart or even a beloved animal. The hurt runs so deep and grief so all encompassing, their mourning is palpable. They’re inconsolable: “You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.” (Ps. 88:18 NLT)

While they celebrate a life that’s hopefully now in Your loving arms, they’re left alone wondering how their life can go on without this precious person. Only You Lord can bring light back into their life and wipe away the tears. “You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.” (Ps. 18:28 NLT)

You promise someday mourning will turn to dancing and we’ll dance together before Your thrown. Lord, only You can fill the void left in a broken heart. Only You understand the depth of grief and pain. Only You can help the grieving ever smile again. Father, please flood their mind and heart with sweet memories when thoughts wander into hopelessness and the pain seems overwhelming, especially on birthdays and holidays.

Remind the grief-stricken that Psalm 116:15 (NLT) assures, “The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.” You, Lord, care deeply when we’re sad. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle You have recorded each one in your book.” (Ps. 56:8 NLT)

Help those with immeasurable sorrow to hold onto the truth that after a little while, those who know You as Savior will be united again. Until then, hold each one close in Your loving arms. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Ps. 116:15) Amen

Prayer for When Disaster Hits

Heavenly Father, You promise “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Ps. 9:9) You know the trouble that surrounds anyone experiencing a disaster when everything seems bleak. Help them trust that You will show a way out of this dark hole when there seems to be no visible way. Guide the many decisions, show the paths to take in moving forward when they just want to sit down in despair and cry.

You knew hard times would come and You will use this disaster to accomplish Your perfect will in their life. Give them courage not to fear the future with You by their side. Help them remember, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (Ps. 46:1-3 NLT)

Bring those to their side to help by showing Your love in tangible ways that express, “My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.” (Hosea 11:8 NLT) Amen

Prayer for Health or Mental Illness

Dear Lord, let our hearts hurt and cringe with those who have received a harsh diagnosis or are in the throes of a painful illness. Remove platitudes and trite comments from our mouth and give us an ear to hear and feel their pain. Father, even if we’ve had a similar illness, we can’t fully understand their experience. Give us a kind, caring, and loving presence to let them pour out their heart.

Father, You promise in Joshua 1:5 that You will never leave or forsake us, so we pray Your presence surrounds anyone with an illness whether in the doctor’s office, the hospital, or the sick bed at home. Provide friends or family to hear their cries of pain and soothe their trembling body from fear or symptoms.

We pray Lord for the physicians and medical professionals they encounter in their journey who are a healing balm for this time of sorrow and pain. We thank You in advance for providing the human comfort and the Holy Spirit’s constant soothing for physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. You, Lord, are the Great Healer, the Great Jehovah Rapha. Only You can ease pain. Healing comes from Your power working through doctors, treatments, and medication, but we pray You won’t give anyone more than they can bear.

Provide those who are suffering with constant comfort and peace knowing, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Is. 41:10 NLT) Amen

Prayer for Loss of a Job or Provision

Lord, it’s devastating not being able to provide financially for family or loves ones. Fear of the unknown of what to do next to find a new job is overwhelming. Many are in this position today. It’s paralyzing and depressing.

Father, we pray for doors to open. This loss might be a time to pursue new opportunities. Please provide wisdom, direction, courage, and humbleness to reach out for help in the interim and let others be responsive. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17)

You tell us to be aware of those in need, that the body of Christ is benevolent and ready to help our fellow brother and sisters, so please surround those in economic loss with others who have extra to share. “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (Pr. 19:17 NLT)

Guide everyone in this situation to seek help. It’s humbling, but You love when we’re humble. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:10 NLT) Provide employment, replace lost possessions, and help families pull together not be pulled apart. “Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.” (Ps. 10:17 NLT)

Please Heal Our Country!

The promises of God are far more powerful than the sins of people. So, Lord, we humbly claim Your promises and pray in unison as Your people that we would do our part to heal our land. 14 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. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:14-15) Amen

We all need prayers, and when we see those prayers answered, God wants us to reach back and help others who are going through something similar. Today, we pray for those who are hurting and someday we hope that others will pray for us. It’s God’s way and plan for His people.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Cor. 1:3-4 NLT)

We never know if God is going to heal our hurts and problems here or in our heavenly home, but He does promise for all who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior that . . .

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev. 21:3-4

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8 NLT

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Ps. 34:18 NLT

“But oh! God is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!” Habakkuk 2:20 The Message

Portions of the above prayers appeared in my Crosswalk article 4 Comforting Sympathy Prayers for Those Who Are Hurting, May 13, 2021

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