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Making America Godly Again!

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“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana

President Trump, along with every Christian and man or woman of faith in the Bible, has a sinful past because we’re all born sinners (Romans 3:23). That’s why confession, repentance, forgiveness, and redemption is the Good News of the Gospel. This past Thursday, President Trump spoke at two National Prayer Breakfasts in Washington D.C. If you didn’t hear his remarks, I’m going to share a few comments here and you can watch the entire speech at the US Capitol at this link.

As the Lord would have it, Trump made these remarks the day before he signed an executive order to establish a White House Faith Office and have the Justice Department create a task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate “targeting” of Christians and “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” The office will be housed under the Domestic Policy Council and will consult with experts in the faith community on policy changes to “better align with American values.” Let’s pray those “experts” are biblically sound and let’s praise the Lord! 

Trump said the task force would be directed to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI — terrible — and other agencies.” President Trump assigned Bondi to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.” In addition to the task force, Trump is forming a commission on religious liberty. He criticized the Biden administration for “persecution” of believers and for prosecuting anti-abortion advocates.

At this link, you can read more about the task force and hear President Trump speak at a second National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.  Apparently, they have two prayer breakfasts now, one for government officials and a second larger private event.

President Trump’s Testimony

During the Capitol prayer breakfast, President Trump recalled something I’ve heard him say before. He remembers well his father taking him many times as a young boy to Billy Graham revivals at Yankee Stadium. He said he remembers the revivals more than the games he watched there. Like many of us, God was planting the seed of faith in his heart at an early age. It’s hard to imagine anyone not becoming a believer at those revivals. The first time I went to one as a teenager, it was in Los Angeles and even though I was already a Christian, I found myself going down to the stadium floor just to be prayed over by the Reverend Billy Graham.

But like President Trump, I had my straying backsliding years until another revival in my forties with Pastor Greg Laurie at a Harvest Crusade where I rededicated my life to the Lord. I believe President Trump has been steadily making his way back to the Lord also. Only he and God know when his faith began, but by his own testimony, something changed in his heart and his faith with his miraculous protection from two assassination attempts.

Trump led into his own personal faith testimony at the prayer breakfast by speaking about the tragic airline and helicopter crash in D.C. I tried to write quickly so my quotes may not be exact, but I would encourage you to listen for yourself to the entire speech. Here’s part of it.

“None of us knows when our time on earth will be over. A truth I confronted a few months ago when there was an incident that wasn’t fun. It wasn’t a good thing. My sons who are accomplished riflemen said the chances of me being here was like missing a one-foot golf putt. Don went up in religion. He gained 25% and if you know Don that’s pretty good. Don said there had to be someone who saved you and then he looked up. And I said, ‘Whoa Don, you’ve come a long way.’”

Trump went on to talk about how the bullet missed the target of his head and grazed his ear as he turned towards the now famous immigration chart. “God did that, it had to be! It was God that saved me. That chart is never on my right, it’s always on my left and it’s usually at the end of my speech not at the beginning. . . It changed something in me. I feel, I feel even stronger. I believed in God, but I feel much more strongly about it now. Something happened in me.”

We know what “happened” in him and he’s still trying to put it into words that instead of a ‘religion,’ he now has a relationship. However, in Latin the word religion means Re=again and ligion=connect, unite. We’re estranged from God apart from being connected or united with Christ. Religion in the Greek means piety or level of interest.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Maybe President Trump’s use of the biblical word ‘religion’ is actually more prophetic than he realized, as he continued . . .

“That event, like the airline tragedy last week, reminds us we must make the most of every single day that we have! . . . We have to make religion a much more important factor. It brings people together. . . It’s the thing that makes our nation great and makes other nations great. When you don’t have it, you don’t see great nations. Without God, we are isolated and alone, but with God, the Scripture tells us, all things are possible.”

He went on to say how he could remember also as a kid how Democrats and Republicans would eat lunch or dinner together. In fact, he began his talk at the Capitol looking out at the government officials from both parties and commented on what great things they could do if they would only work together.  “But today,” he said, “It’s shocking. We all know what’s right and what’s wrong. If possible, we have to unify. But it’s hard to have a middle ground.”

He emphasized, “The happiest people in every element are people of religion who are going to be happy again. I really believe you can’t be happy without religion. Without that belief. I really believe it. So, let’s bring religion back. Let’s bring God back into our lives!”

Earlier in his talk he mentioned previous president’s faith, and then he quoted, the “apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” He added, “Look at me. I never gave up or I wouldn’t be here. Never grow weary and always do good.”

What great advice from Paul and President Trump. When God puts a call on our heart to do good, we must not give up even when there’s disappointment and even when it’s hard. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind now that as hard as it was for President Trump and for all of us to live through the last four years, God can make good out of every set back. Trump even mentioned that God will bring good out of the horrific plane and helicopter crash, and He will. It was a call for immediate change. A new aviation system is needed to replace the archaic patched up one we have now, which would probably lead to even more tragedies if it isn’t updated.

In an interview with Pierce Morgan, President Trump’s friend Dana White said he has told Trump so many times to stop. You have such a good life. Why? But then White added, “He believes in God. He believes that to his core. He believes that God has spared his life to be President for the next four years.”

President Trump Is Trying to Give Our Country Back to Us!

We have watched in shock, horror, and yes, anger at the unjust, corrupt, and evil use of our taxpayer dollars by USAID being revealed by DOGE. It’s as if the left was trying to indoctrinate the globe with woke trans and queer ideologies that they couldn’t get enough traction with here in the United States, so they used our money to market this perversity to other countries. You’ve seen the lists, I’m sure. Even sending money that ended up in terrorist’s coffers and contributing to the creation of COVID.

You ask yourself what and who could possibly dream up this absurdity and, of course, it’s Satan. Satan wants to wipeout God’s creation of humans and what better way than to convince people that they can change their sex by castrating them, making them infertile, or having same-sex relations. In fact, 6.3 million of our money was sent to South Africa for “men who have sex with other men!” You can’t make this stuff up. It would actually seem too crazy even in a sci fi novel, yet it is our reality. USAID was the Democrat’s social justice slush fund for years and now it’s being disbanded for investigation of any residual good that can be reassigned to the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Those who are screaming the loudest about this sanitizing of the swamp are the swamp creatures themselves who either are getting kickbacks or are demonically deranged.

Promises Made Promises Kept

On a happier note, I hope you’ve been praising God as I have that something we’ve been interceding for diligently is President Trump’s executive order “No Men in Women’s Sports!!! Following are some of President Trump’s comments when signing this order while surrounded by young girls in their sports uniforms and the women who have fought so long and hard for this. Again, I was writing quickly to capture as much as I could, but here’s a link to watch if you didn’t see it live.

“We won’t allow men to beat up and cheat against women any longer. We’re getting woke lunacy militant transgender ideology out of women’s sports. Men have had 3500 victories and entered into 11,000 women’s competitions. The war on women’s sports is over!

“If a school doesn’t comply, they’ll be investigated and lose federal funding.”

“When the Olympics come to LA in 2028, we will reject trans in sports. My administration won’t stand by and let men badger women in sports. We speak with authority. We will also deny all men trying to get into the US to play in women’s sports. We’ve rescinded taxpayer money from any organization allowing transgenders in women’s sports. We’ve also banned sex changes in children.”

What a victory for women and girls!

Some blue states like California and Minnesota plan to continue the war on women and their federal funding must be stopped until they comply with this fair and common sense right of women to only compete with women in sports. Period. No exceptions. Even the NCAA’s Board of Governors after President Trump’s executive order voted to update the association’s policy for transgender student athletes, restricting the women’s category to females only.

“We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement. “To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.” Too bad it took an executive order for them to protect women and girls.
The new policy limits competition in women’s sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth only. The policy permits student-athletes assigned male at birth to practice with women’s teams and receive benefits such as medical care while practicing. 

Personally, I don’t like the term, “assigned at birth” because only God makes that “assignment” at conception, and I don’t understand letting men still practice with women because that can be dangerous too. Hopefully they’ll come around completely, but it’s a great start.

How Can We Help Make America Godly Again?

President Trump has many Christians around him now on his staff and cabinet, so we must be praying for all of them and for the Christians in the Congress and Senate to govern by a biblical worldview.

In our own sphere of influence, we need to ask God how He wants to use us for His glory. We all have different gifts. Yes, every one of us has a spiritual gift that could be used to further God’s kingdom here on earth. When we hear God’s marching orders, we need to be willing to step up and enlist in God’s army. We can’t sit at home and expect President Trump and his team to do all the heavy lifting. I’d love to hear in the comments how you feel God is using you to Make America Godly Again.

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:1-3

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Gal. 6:9 NLT
Watch Live: President Trump Speaks At “National Prayer Breakfast” | Video | RealClearPolitics

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February 10, 2025
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God, NOT The Government, Controls the Climate!

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You can’t turn on the news today without hearing about the “LA Apocalypse” of wind and fire that has destroyed thousands of homes, displaced over 100,000 people, and taken 24 lives as of this writing. The LA sheriff expects the loss of life count will go up when they’re able to search through the ashes for those who have gone missing. Not to mention the wildlife that couldn’t escape. The pictures we see of charred cars, burnt homes and businesses looks like the fictional movies depicting the apocalyptic end of the world.

Certainly, it could seem like the end of their world to those impacted by these horrific fires with the loss of keepsakes, treasures, possessions, clothes, shelter, homes, and maybe even lives. We need to be praying for the first responders, firefighters, and residents—rich or poor—who only escaped with the clothes on their backs and maybe a computer and pets.

What’s Predictable is Preventable

What has infuriated many watching and experiencing this crisis unfold, is California government’s neglect to prepare the residents and take preventive preparation when the National Weather Service had issued numerous red flag warnings of a dangerous situation brewing. Finger pointing, excuses, lying, and blaming instead of taking responsibility and showing leadership is the government response. There’s an apparent lack of sincere compassion and caring by the governor and mayor whose job it is to protect the residents of California. Instead, they seem more concerned about their own political futures or defending their political agenda.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Pr. 29:2

Then there’s the liberal politicians in Washington who immediately start touting the climate change hoax as the cause, which helps no one and is a lie straight from the devil.

Remember back in the Garden of Eden where Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the idea that they could be God. That didn’t work out well for them and it doesn’t for us either. No matter how smart or scientific man thinks he is, God created climate, the weather, and the wind. In the Bible, wind is mentioned 247 times and in 41 Books in the Bible. The first time was right after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit after Satan told them they could be like God (Gen. 5).

 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Gen. 3:8 NLT

Winds became violent in biblical times too. For example, Job 1:19, 23; Jer. 4:11, 13:24; Ex. 14:21, 26. And who can forget Jesus quieting the winds with the disciples in the boat during a storm. These might’ve been 100 mile per hour winds too, maybe worse.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:40-41

Wind isn’t new. Seasonal weather changes aren’t new. Fire isn’t new. Sadly, man thinking He can control what only God controls isn’t new either.

What is new is . . .

  • Dry fire hydrants with no water!
  • The LA water chief admitting her work is guided through an ‘equity lens.’
  • The LA fire chief touted as a “lesbian” whose goal is to make the fire department more DEI staffed.
  • The LA mayor being on a junket to Ghana and cutting the fire department’s budget by $17 million.
  • The governor cutting fire management budget by $100M a few months before the lethal fires!
  • Because of budget cuts, using prisoners and firefighters from Mexico to help battle the blazes.
  • The governor sending rain and snow water out to the ocean and shutting down four dams in the state while nearby reservoirs are empty.
  • And on and on…

Over the years, man’s atheistic attempt to corral and control the weather has been called climate change, climate control, global warming, greenhouse gasses, climate crisis, climate emergency, climate breakdown, polar vortex, and the latest “green new deal,” which climate cult alarmist AOC said in 2019 we’d all be dead in 12 years if not followed. Before AOC, others made similar wild predictions that never materialized.

When AOC and liberals first proposed the green new deal, it was considered a ridiculous joke. Yet today, liberal states like California have used it to create an environment safer for fish than for people! They’ve wasted billions of dollars to satisfy environmentalists while not clearing brush, doing controlled burns, logging, or collecting the rain and snowfall God sends to help put out fires.

Man tries to predict the weather that God sends, but that weather forecast can change minute by minute. In the case of California, high velocity Santa Ana winds were predicted in the LA area and winds often lead to fire from fallen power lines or arsonists, maybe even terrorist, who use the winds to nefariously and satanically start fires.

Before moving to Idaho almost 14 years ago, I lived my entire life in SoCal. I’ve experienced earthquakes, Santa Ana winds which I thought was going to rip off my roof the night before my wedding, fires which caused several evacuations in an area where we had a cabin, and mudslides when the rains come after the fires. So, I understand California weather and I know it’s important to vote in government officials who care more about protecting their constituents and the land then the latest DEI or progressive liberal ideology.

Here’s what I also know about God and weather regardless of the state you live in.

  • God created fire and it’s a significant symbol of divine manifestations in the Bible. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and the pillar of fire led the Israelites by night through the desert, representing the presence and power of God.
  • We see other Demonstrations of God’s power and authority, such as Elijah’s sacrifice and fiery furnace in Daniel, showcase the divine ability to consume and protect through fire.
  • The Holy Spirit descending as tongues of fire at Pentecost signifies spiritual empowerment and the purifying work of God in believers’ lives.
  • The Lake of Fire serves as a cautionary warning for believers and unbelievers, reminding them of the consequences of rejecting God, His Son, and His righteousness.

Everyone Needs the Lord Now More Than Ever! Is God Trying to Get Our Attention?

We’re experiencing weekly, sometimes daily, crises and catastrophes. While many of us remain hopeful that progressive woke, DEI policies, illegal invasion, terrorism, and crime will be contained under a new presidency, only God knows the future. We need to put our trust in Him and not in our government. Government will surely fail us because they often forget they’re NOT God. Listen for the still small voice like Elijah heard after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire.

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-13

The True Meaning of Apocalypse

Tom Gilbreath wrote in “A Message From HalLindsey.com” On January 12, 2025 . . .

The word apocalypse means “reveal” or “revelation.” We associate the word with massive, fiery disasters because of the horrors described in the book of Revelation. But the first five words of that book tell what it’s really about — “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

With the real definition in mind, I hope that Los Angeles and California, along with the rest of America, will view this as a wakeup call. Actor Dennis Quaid, on a local television news report Friday night, said, “I think there’s a spiritual awakening on the other side of this.” May it be so. May there be a real apocalypse — a revelation. May Christ be revealed, and may America see the light.

I wrote this blog on July 18, 2022. Only God Decides the End of the World

Victor Davis Hanson lives in California. Victor Davis Hanson: California’s Catastrophic Wildfires Are ‘A DEI, Green New Deal Disaster’

Pastor Jack Hibbs, I wrote about in last week’s blog 2025 A Year of New Beginnings, that I’m praying with him on Facebook live every morning, was fired up in his Sunday morning message on January 12, 2025. He doesn’t hold back. Here’s a clip of who he thinks should run for Governor in California and LA mayor.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations. Is. 61:1-4

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January 13, 2025
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The Lies Satan Uses to Deceive Christians and Churches

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God is in Politics!

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

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

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

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

Political Engagement is An Important Stewardship for Christians!

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

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

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

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

Pastor Jack Hibbs Gets It!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please leave a comment here and I will reply.

August 12, 2024
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5 Ways To Avoid Condoning Sin!

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God hates sin and we should too! He sent his One and only Son, Jesus Christ, to a bloody cross to offer believers forgiveness for their inevitable sins not for a free pass to keep on sinning. Yet today, we see sin glorified, accepted, legitimatized, and even legalized in our culture and sadly, few churches or Christians are horrified by this affront on God or willing to speak out against it. Do you think that might be overstated or not true? How many pastors today are teaching about what the Bible says about condoning sin? Or even what is sin. Some churches and Christians have let the culture normalize sin and have adapted to it themselves.

What Does it Mean to Condone Sin?

Condoning sin means accepting sin. God doesn’t want Christians condoning sin as it leads to pain, destruction, and separation from Him.

The dictionary defines ‘condone’ as to regard or treat something bad or blameworthy as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless. Condoning sin means you accept, allow, and yes approve of that sin in your life and in the lives of others.

 Sin is condoned in today’s culture. Many rationalize allowing sin to invade their own lives and the lives of others. Sins like murdering children through abortion, same-sex marriage, living together, gay or trans lifestyle . . . lying. A government that no longer respects God or His principles legalizes the mutilation, indoctrination, and sexual grooming of young children.

Some Christians are even afraid of speaking out against sin for fear of being called names or accused of “judging.” Recognizing sin for what it is–going against God and the Bible–is what Jesus, Peter, the disciples, and Paul spent their life doing to help people repent from a sinful life. We don’t say they were “judging.” We understand that they were trying to open peoples’ eyes to the truth that sin kills, and repentance saves. Yes, they all suffered for speaking out against sin, but many lives were saved because of their dedication to love people enough to help them change and turn from their wicked ways.

Yes, none are perfect and we all sin in our humanness, but our goal as Christians is to become aware of our sins, ask forgiveness, and as Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus wasn’t judging her when He pointed out every sin she had ever done; He was offering her living water, which was Himself.

Paul wasn’t judging all the churches he wrote to when he pointed out their sins. He loved them enough to say the life you’re leading now is wrong and you must repent. Paul, Peter, the disciples, and Jesus never condoned sin and we as Jesus’ followers shouldn’t either! We take a stand for righteous living ourselves and encourage others to do the same. Their very life both here and in eternity could depend on it.

We don’t condemn, but we never condone sin regardless of how many sinful laws are passed! Christians remain steadfast to the truth in the Bible.

What Does the Bible Say about Condoning Sin?

There will always be sin in the world because Satan is the author of sin and as long as he’s allowed to roam around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, his intent is to entice with sin that opposes God’s ways. That’s exactly what sin is, going against God. You can profess to be a Christian, but if you’re willfully choosing to sin, you’re controlled by Satan not God. Sometimes we can’t see it in our own life, and we need other believers to gently, lovingly, and compassionately use Scripture to point out to us where we’ve slipped into Satan’s grip and bring us back into the fold.

Someone who had been previously married once asked me to condone her having sex with her boyfriend since neither of them were virgins anymore what did it matter? It mattered because God’s Word says sex is between a husband and wife. Again, like Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, the man you’re living with now is not your husband. That’s a sin.

Others want justification to live together for financial reasons. God can’t bless something He condemns for any reasons. Parents want to condone gay or transgender lifestyle because their children have fallen into that sinful trap, but it’s still heartbreaking sin.

The entire Bible addresses not living in or condoning sin but repelling it. Here are a few refresher verses, but there are so many more.

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Pr. 6:16-19

Do you ever feel like God isn’t hearing your prayers? Could it be you’re condoning sin in your own life, the culture, or someone near you?

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Is. 59:2

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

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Acts 3:19-20

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Heb. 10:26-27

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; 6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. Ps. 5:5-6

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 1 John 3:8-9 NLT

Following is where God through Paul clearly spells out His definition of sin and God’s response. God’s wrath against sinful humanity that we see tolerated today is reflected in these verses. Read them carefully.

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Rom. 1:18-32

5 Ways We Can Avoid Condoning Sin

1. Pray for God to Give Us Wisdom to Confront Sin

Many use Matt. 7:1 as an excuse not to confront sin in others because they consider it judging and God will be the final judge. It’s true that God will be the final judge, but we are His hands and feet on earth helping spare others of the final judgement of eternity in hell. We don’t judge by comparing them to ourselves or thinking less of them. We love them enough to want to see them repent, be saved, and live a life pleasing to God.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:1-2

2. It’s Biblical to Confront a Fellow Believer Who Is Sinning.

When we see a fellow Christian sinning, maybe cheating on their spouse or at work, using drugs, swearing, mistreating their family, sleeping around, we’re called on to lovingly confront them, pray with them, and encourage them to repent.

15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ Matt. 18:15-16

3. We Can’t Condone Sin in the Life of Our Family, Friends, or Self.

In Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, I shared that my daughter always felt loved, but I never condoned her living with her boyfriend. I didn’t treat them as a couple. Just because it’s our child who’s choosing a sinful lifestyle, it’s still a sin and an affront to God. We compromise our own faith when we accept or condone wrong behavior . . . especially in our own life. I acknowledged my sins to God and my daughter and asked forgiveness for the times I’d sinned while raising her.

We always extend unconditional love, but never bend in our beliefs. We pray for our family and friends like their life depended on it, because it does.

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

4. Take Action!

It’s easier to look the other way and not get involved, but as we watch sin legalized, even codified, in our country, how can we as concerned Christian citizens condone sin? We must speak out against it. Vote against it. Support candidates who condemn legalizing sin.

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

5. Overcome Fear!

It can be uncomfortable to take action against sin because you’re taking a chance of being called all sorts of unpleasant names or rebuffed. But if you live so that everyone knows you’re a righteous follower of Christ, who cares what they call you? Our goal is to please an audience of One, Jesus Christ, not man.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Pet. 2:1 NLT

Staying Silent is Condoning Sin

With every law passed condoning sin, it not only affects us, but future generations. Avoiding the confrontation of sin isn’t the way of the Holy Spirit. When you encounter sin, you’ll be convicted to say or do something. God will give you the opportunity and the words. It’s up to us to humbly, but boldly, follow the Lord’s leading. He will put words in our mouth. Yes, God is a God of grace, but Paul puts it best.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:23-24

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death [to sin]? Rom. 6:1-3

Why am I talking about sin today? Because we’re watching blatant sin exposed and indulged everywhere and the world is in turmoil. All the signs are here that the rapture could be coming soon. As the opening picture depicts, people get ready, Jesus is coming! Keep looking up!

Please leave a comment here and I will reply.

There won’t be a blog for the next two weeks, but I’ll close out the month with my newsletter. If you don’t receive my monthly About His Work newsletter you can sign up for free here.

July 8, 2024
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The Great Debate that Begs the Question: Who is the Real Commander in Chief of the United States?

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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

Please leave a comment here and I will reply!

July 1, 2024
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Let’s Make America Godly Again!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Did This Injustice Happen?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calls to Action

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

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

April 22, 2024
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How To Respond When Labeled a “Christian Nationalist”!

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This isn’t the first time I’ve discussed Christian Nationalism. In August 2022, I wrote They Called Jesus and His Followers Names Too! — Woman to Woman Mentoring. The difference now is that when they first began slandering Christians who love God, family, and country, they racialized it with “White Christian Nationalism” in an attempt to link us with their definition of “White Supremacy.” They’ve dropped “white” because people of all colors are rejecting the Marxism infiltrating our country, families, schools, and unfortunately, even some churches.

There’s an adversarial undercurrent of anti-Christian religiophobia bleeding into a country founded on Judeo/Christian values, morals, and principles. Like many other terms liberal progressives originate, they define and vilify “Christian nationalism.” As liberals, progressives, and atheists attempt to change history, the Constitution, and the morals of America, we must restore and protect the threatened rights and values of Christians for the betterment of the Nation.

Christ called the church and every Christian to occupy until He returns. We can’t sit in the bleachers while God is removed from the public square, children indoctrinated and mutilated, and immorality becomes the law of the land. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13 (KJV)

The church cannot remain neutral. We’re way beyond the era of neutrality. The church has the answers to the evils of our time, but their deafening silence implies consent and complacency in the face of blatant attacks on Christianity and Jesus.

God doesn’t require only some of us to be bold and brave (Josh. 1:9). He wants every Christian to take action no matter what names or insults the enemy slings! You don’t have to receive the insults. Hold up your shield of faith to stop and extinguish the fiery darts and arrows of the devil. (Eph. 6:16)

We all have a right and responsibility to vote our biblical convictions to support candidates who share our values. That means Christ-followers need to participate in the political process because everything has become politicized. Politics has invaded the moral arena of the church, and the church must stand its ground and invade politics. That’s constitutional. Our founding fathers didn’t create a solely Christian nation, but they saw the value in a God-inspired nation.

The false narrative hyped by the manufactured term ‘Christian nationalism’ is that Christians are promoting the belief that the United States should exclusively be governed by and for the benefit of Christians. This is a crafty sly attempt of Satan to discourage Christians from becoming involved in politics.

Case in point—POLITICO reporter, Heidi Przybyla, recently went on MSNBC and claimed that Christians who believe our rights are derived from God are “Christian nationalists.” She claimed this didn’t represent all Christians, just the “extremist element.” Here’s her comments that fortunately generated loud and abundant pushback: “The things that unite them as Christian nationalists—not Christians, by the way, because Christian nationalist is very different—is that they believe that our rights as Americans, as all human beings, don’t come from any earthly authority. They don’t come from Congress. They don’t come from the Supreme Court. They come from God.” [Imagine that!]

“The problem” she continued, “is that they, man, men, [as she gleefully smiles to the men she’s talking to] are determining what God is telling them and in the past that so-called natural law is a pillar of Catholicism for instance it’s been used for good in social justice campaigns. Martin Luther King Jr. evoked it in talking about civil rights, but now you have an extremist element of conservative Christians who say that this applies specifically to issues including abortion, gay marriage, and it’s going much further than that.”

She labeled “conservative Christians” as extremists! What Bible-believing Christian isn’t conservative? She exemplified her ignorance of Christianity while attempting to divide Christians. They know if we stay united in the belief that Our God Reigns, we’ll have more power to keep our country on the right moral track. But they’re winning this spiritual battle for good versus evil because sadly, one in three Christians don’t vote! Only 37% of pastors have a biblical worldview. 62% have a hybrid worldview. Let that sink in. That’s exactly why our country is on a fast track away from the plans God had, and has, for our nation.

Heidi Przybyla’s ridiculous commentary depicts how those slinging arrows at Christians not only don’t understand Christianity, they’re ignorant regarding the documents that guide our nation, starting with The Declaration of Independence, which declares:

“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.”

The founding fathers understood that if government grants rights, government could also take them away. But if our fundamental rights are ultimately derived from God, no government could remove them. Our nation’s forefathers knew that freedom wouldn’t work without the underpinning of biblical morality. Today, our nation’s foundation is eroding because we’re a nation moving away from the Bible and God and replacing Him with government.

God is and will always be the head of the government, no matter who sits in the White House. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Is. 9:6

“It’s the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.”—George Washington

God used courageous men who said if we die, we die, to write our nation’s founding documents, largely influenced by their pastor’s sermons! George Washington, our first President, took his oath with one hand on a Bible, raised his right hand, and added to the oath “so help me God.” When the oath was finished, he knelt over and kissed the Bible. Yet, many are allowed to tear down statues of Washington or change the names of schools that bore his name. The undercurrent of Satanism and Marxism.

We should unashamedly embrace being a Christian and an American in this great Nation. Otherwise, the same thing will happen to our country as happens to your body if you ignore a cancer within it.

Dr. David Jeremiah writes in “Turning Points Magazine” February 2024, “We hear the phrase ‘halls of power’ mentioned in political discussions, referring to the domains of government authorities. Within those walls, deals and decisions are made which gives the impression of power—the ability to direct the destinies of people and nations. But true power resides with God not men. As Daniel expressed in Babylon, ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and [power] are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings’ (Daniel 2:20-21).”

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of his might power. Eph. 1:19

If you haven’t seen the documentary “Letter to the American Church, I encourage you to go to www.lettertotheAmericanchurch.com to see if a church in your area is showing it and/or find out how to show it for free in your church or group. On April 12, MyFaithVotes is doing another watch party at 3pm or 9pm ET. Register here.

Dave and I are going to watch it for the second time. You’ll see how closely America today parallels Hitler’s takeover in Europe when only 1/3 of the churches realized what was happening. When the complacent or indifferent 2/3rds finally woke up, it was too late. We’re in a window where we can make a difference, and that’s why we can’t be bothered or worried about the names and labels they try to put on us to slow us down, even though people like “Meathead” shamefully try to compare Christians to Nazi’s. We need to pray for that lost deceived soul.

Today, we’re free. Tomorrow, we might not be if we become fearful, intimidated, or self-censored by those with wicked motives to silence and cancel us. Remember, the purpose behind this smear campaign is to intimidate Christians from sharing their faith, political views, running for office, and voting. We must never let them win this evil hate campaign.

How To Respond to Christian Nationalism Slurs

Often our first reaction, at least mine, is to go on the defensive against attacks on my faith or patriotism. But the best way to respond to any challenge is with questions that either put the slanderer off guard or cause them to think. Don’t be surprised however if they don’t answer your questions, but instead try to divert the conversation to another one of their talking points. Even so, hold your ground and never deny or apologize for your faith or political position.

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. 2 Tim. 1:7-8

Here are some suggested responses that open a door for sharing your faith when you’re called a Christian nationalist.

  • Ask: “Yes, I’m a Christian. What are you?”
  • If they stumble, or even if they say they’re a Christian, then ask: “What does being a Christian mean to you?” That allows you to share the true biblical Gospel if they don’t understand Christianity.
  • After you explain the gospel, ask: “Why would you have a problem with me sharing the life-saving message of Christianity?”

Next, tackle nationalism.

  • “Did you know that God is a nationalist of Heaven with boundaries, entrance requirements, and the government rests upon His shoulders?
  • “Yes, I’m blessed to be a citizen with the freedoms and rights of this great Nation. Aren’t you proud to be an American and live in this country too, or is there somewhere else you’d rather live?”
  • Did you know that America was founded on biblical roots and principles?
  • America has been the light on the hill for other nations. If we don’t succeed by holding strong to our national values, what other country in the world is going to come and rescue us like we rescue so many other nations?
  • Yes, I’m a patriotic Christian like Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, and Martin Luther King Jr. Do you have a problem with them?

The Prayer Heard Around the World

You’ve probably heard by now about California Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, who Speaker of the House Mike Johnson invited to give the invocation prayer to open Congress on January 30, 2024. Speaker Mike Johnson is a Christian who himself opened Congress in prayer when he became Speaker and unequivocally pronounced that he holds a biblical worldview. As the uproar ensued, he never backed down from that statement. I pray for him every day because it’s evident God has him there for a purpose.

In his prayer, Pastor Hibbs called for “Humility and repentance of national sins in a time of great need.” He also closed his prayer in the Name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, which he said several times. You can hear and watch Pastor Hibbs read and discuss the prayer @ The Prayer Heard ‘Round the World (youtube.com).

Twenty-six members of Congress were incensed at Pastor Hibb’s prayer and wrote a letter to Speaker Johnson accusing Hibbs of being “an ill-qualified hate preacher who was pushing a “Christian nationalist agenda.” The opening paragraph read, “Pastor Hibbs is a radical Christian nationalist who helped fuel the January 6th insurrection.” Of course, that wasn’t an insurrection and Pastor Hibbs had nothing to do with January 6th but in their attacks, they hurled slurs and slander as the letter went on to blast his character saying the pastor “has a long record of spewing hateful vitriol toward non-Christians, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community. He should never have been granted the right to deliver the House’s opening prayer on Jan. 30, 2024.”

Who knew prayer could have such a reaction from those who don’t even believe in God and prayer?!

Praise God, Pastor Hibbs hasn’t acquiesced or apologized as so many others do when attacked for sharing the truth. Instead, with his typical good humor, he said in a statement to Fox News, “I’m quite impressed, as I didn’t know I had such power. This is just part of their way of labeling and is void of fact.” 

He also said in California pastor Jack Hibbs answers Democrat critics of his prayer to Congress, “when these progressives speak about ‘radical Christian nationalists,’ they’re using verbiage reminiscent of the rise of the Third Reich under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Hitler, as well as communists, Marxists and socialists, are known to label and vilify those who disagree with their ideologies.”

In the same article, theologian, author and speaker Dr. Alex McFarland, based in North Carolina, said that Christian nationalism is a phrase that the left more or less coined to strike fear in the hearts of liberals to equate it almost as terrorism. Yet McFarland said, “I love God. I love my country. If that makes me a Christian nationalist … I’m proud to be one.”

Hibbs agreed, saying, “The fact is that a Christian nationalist is a Christian who happens to live in a nation … Jeremiah 29:7 says that you should ‘seek the welfare of the city in which I have planted you for the betterment of all.’”

On a “Lighthouse Faith” podcast, Pastor Hibbs reacted to the Democrats’ accusations, saying, “You know, I was honored to pray. And what a lot of people don’t realize is that … two thirds of my prayer was simply lifted, in part, from ancient prayers, so to speak, from 1774.” He was referring to the First Prayer of the Continental Congress given by the Rev. Jacob Duche, rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, on Sept. 7, 1774.

Pastor Hibbs is author of “Daze of Deception: How to Discern Truth from Culture’s Lies,” based on a sermon series he preached in his church. He makes no excuses for being a Christian with orthodox biblical beliefs and love of America. 

Hold the Line and Let Us Worship Leader, Sean Feucht summarizes well, “I refuse to cede defining “Christian Nationalist” to those who weaponize and politicize the dictionary. If you can’t properly define what a woman is, you lose the right to define “Christian Nationalist. . . The insidious use of language by the left goes deeper than that. This is not simply name calling. It’s the left’s attempt at voter suppression. A Believer too discouraged to vote is a victor for the left THAT’s their goal. Power.” Defining “Christian Nationalism”

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Matt. 16:18 NLT

Here’s another article you might enjoy. Let’s Talk About Politics and Religion – The Stream

If you want to know more about becoming a praying Action Prayer Partner with My Faith Votes go to My Faith Votes | Join United. We Pray. Weekly Prayer Calls.

I always appreciate your comments here and will reply.

March 18, 2024
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Is Giving Thanks a Lost Tradition?

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This week is Thanksgiving when many of us will gather with family and friends to eat a big delicious traditional meal. Maybe watch football, play games, fellowship, and hopefully say a prayer thanking God for the many blessings we enjoy in our life. Often, the only time we really focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving is during that prayer before the meal we’re all anxiously awaiting with anticipation and appetites! If you’re looking for some ideas of how to offer a Thanksgiving prayer for various circumstances, I wrote a Crosswalk article on that topic—4 Prayers to Say At the Thanksgiving Table.

Last week, I learned a term that was new to me. As Dave and I were shopping at Trader Joe’s a full week prior to Thanksgiving, the aisles at this store and Costco were jam packed with shoppers. I commented to the Trader Joe’s checker that I was surprised people were shopping so early for the big meal a week away. Both she and the bagger simultaneously said, “Friendsgiving.” I didn’t hear what they said, so they repeated it several times. When I had a questioning look on my face, the checker said many people get together for a meal with their friends the weekend prior to having a family Thanksgiving celebration later in the week.

I love that idea. We’ve done that in the past too, as well as invited friends to the family dinner. But I’d never heard it called “Friendsgiving” before. When I posted about Friendsgiving on Facebook, I received many comments from people, including my daughter, who said it wasn’t a new term. Just new to me, I guess.

Thinking about Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving brought to mind a thought I’ve had for quite a while. Are we raising generations that have forgotten the courtesy of expressing gratitude not only to God, but also to others? Let me explain. I’m a boomer. My generation was born between 1946-1964. As soon as I could print, or even scribble, the expectation was that when I received a gift from someone, especially for birthdays or Christmas, I sent a thank you note to the gift giver whether it was family or friends.

When I was married, part of the shower and wedding preparation was ordering thank you notes to send out for the gifts we received. And when I was pregnant and received shower and baby gifts, as crazy as it was being a new working mom, it was a given I would make the time to send thank you notes.

I’m finding this thank-you etiquette courtesy is now a lost tradition. Yes, today it might be an email or text instead of a mailed thank you card, but often those aren’t sent either. Somewhere along the generational sequence, one generation didn’t pass down to the next generation the importance of showing gratitude for the gifts they receive. And we wonder why we’re watching generations of entitled children and adults today who expect someone else to pay for college loans they willingly took out and then complain about having to work 9-5 jobs!

Author Carol Roth says Gen Z’s (1997-2012) woes with fulltime work stem from “their parents failing them.” Here’s a quote from her article. “While it’s easy to dunk on these young people, I really blame the parents. This hurts, because Gen Z is being raised in large part by Gen X [1965-1980], which should make the kids awesome and self-sufficient.” She goes on to say that “young people consuming Marxist propaganda online and even in school it’s not surprising they want to do as little works as possible while still expecting food, clothing, shelter, entertainment and more will just fall from the sky for them.” I was happy to see she suggested mentorship as a solution.

But an even sadder consequence of not feeling compelled to be grateful to those who sacrifice their money and time on a gift or providing a college education or offering them a job, is we now also have a generation that has forgotten to say thank you for the sacrifice Jesus made to give them the gift of salvation.

It only takes one generation failing to pass down their faith, traditions, work ethic, or even the courtesy of showing tangible gratitude for a gift, for these things to be forgotten or eliminated from a culture, as we’re watching today with the void of Christian beliefs in government and in families.

Make This Thanksgiving a Wake-up Call in Our Life and Families

Even more important than thanking each other is to give thanks to God who is the provider of every good thing in our life.  I like how Dr. David Jeremiah presents the importance of experiencing continuous daily thanksgiving in his November 18-19, 2023, Turning Points Magazine weekend devotion titled “Thank Goodness!”

“Thanksgiving is understanding that blessings are hiding all around us, and we must find and focus on them. It’s the attitude of knowing we have a God in charge of all. It’s the habit of pausing to whisper, ‘Thank you Lord,’ throughout the day. It’s finding good times even in bad times and rejoicing even in sorrow. It’s noticing the color of flowers, the shape of clouds, the smell of fresh bread, and the comfort of a soft pillow at night.”

“Gratitude leads to ‘glad-itude.’ Counting our blessings is a positive step toward erasing our heartaches. The psychology of thanksgiving comes from the very mind and heart of the God who told us to be vigilant in thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2) and ‘in everything give thanks; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).”

With the birth of Christ, there were no longer Old Testament feast days of thanksgiving. All the ceremonial celebrations of Israel were fulfilled in the Messiah.  Instead, we’re told to give thanks in and for everything—the good and the bad times. As we gather together to celebrate our American holiday of Thanksgiving rooted in the harvest celebration of the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1621, let’s be reminded to give thanks in everything and to everyone—today and every day.

I personally want to thank each of you who take the time to read my weekly blogs and monthly newsletters. I appreciate your comments on the blogs and also for those who share on social media or forward them on email. We really are blessed to live in a time when we can freely communicate with each other across the miles and expand our friendships even to those we’ve never met personally. It’s a blessing I don’t take for granted and a ministry I take very seriously.

As the apostle Paul would say, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Cor. 16:23-24 NLT

Have a blessed and grateful Thanksgiving from Dave and me.

PS There won’t be a Monday Morning Blog on November 27, but I’ll be back December 4. Can you believe it’s almost December?

Please leave a comment here and I will reply.

November 20, 2023
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When Brave Choices Regarding Our Children are Hard!

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When I was writing Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith, I chose “Brave Choices” as the chapter to feature Jochebed, the mother of Moses. We know how terrible our culture is for children today, but when Moses was born, Pharaoh was demanding the murder of all newborn baby boys. Parents and children have been the object of satanic attack since the beginning of time.

Today, we have our government calling parents domestic terrorists for trying to protect their children from Marxist propaganda and perverted sexual grooming in schools. In some cases, those parents have been falsely labeled, targeted, canceled, and even lost their job, as one California mother experienced. Even still she says, “It’s been tremendously stressful, absolutely devastating to my family … Hopefully people will be inspired to just be courageous and strong and supportive of each other. And it’ll inspire parents to stand up for their children and come together as a community to not let cancel culture happen to anyone else.”

Marxists are running the American Library Association and pornographic books are considered curriculum in schools. Emergency room visits by children and youth with mental and behavioral health emergencies in the United States have been increasing over the last decade with an increased prevalence of depression and suicide.

Parents and grandparents can relate to Jochebed when they send their kids out the door to school not knowing what harm might come to them physically or mentally. Imagine Jochebed’s angst when she was making her legendary brave choice. As she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, her heart twisted in turmoil: the joy of a new mother competing with fear for his life. Egyptian Pharaoh, observing the Israelites were multiplying too fast for his comfort, had commanded the killing of every Levite baby boy upon delivery.

Fortunately for Jochebed and Moses, the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, feared God more than Pharaoh and made the brave choice to defy Pharoah’s death command; “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” (Ex. 1:16)  Selective infanticide even back then.

How the midwives must have feared for their own lives when the dreaded Pharaoh summoned them and angrily demanded to know why they were letting the baby boys live. Without wavering or hesitancy, they calmly answered that the Hebrew women were much stronger than Egyptian women were and they delivered before the midwives arrived. These two women risked their own lives to save lives. Discovery of their secret would surely result in punishment or even death. Instead, God blessed their courage and grit, “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.” (Ex. 1:2)

God also caused Pharaoh to believe them so the king decided to take matters into his own hands by sending his soldiers to locate and drown newborn Hebrew males in the Nile River. Jochebed trembled with trepidation hearing the wails and screams of new mothers as soldiers ripped infant boys from their arms and mercilessly drowned the crying babies.

Jochebed and her husband Amram cried out to God to spare their precious son and trusted God to answer. For three months, she nursed and tended to her baby, while trying to muffle his cries and coos and cautioning her two older children, Miriam and Aaron, not to tell anyone about their new baby brother.

When she could no longer hide her baby, Jochebed resolutely wove together a basket to keep him safe from the flowing waters, swaddled him in a blanket, nestled him in the basket, and prayed as she tearfully slipped him into the Nile to float downstream, not knowing his ultimate fate. Would God protect her precious baby? Would the soldiers discover him? A mother’s distraught tears—a heart-wrenching choice.

Living Everyday Brave!

In an article titled, “Living Every Day Brave,” Rachel Linden wrote, “Today I am choosing to be every day brave. What does that mean, you may ask? In essence, every day brave means choosing courage in the face of challenge. Believing that on the other side of fear is something better. It means embracing bravery as a mantra, a habit, a way of life, and embracing it every single day.”

Some choices are easy, but others not so much. While vacillating between options, we’re often weighing the effect of our choice on ourselves or someone else. Sometimes, we have to dig deep to find the courage to make a hard choice . . . a brave choice we may not want to make, especially when it comes to our children.

In Putting the Basket in the Water: Trusting God in the Next Phase of Your Child’s Life, children’s teacher and author Ashlei Woods wrote:

“There comes a time – many times, actually – in the lives of our children where we have to put the basket in the water. We have to let go and trust the plan of the Father. The world is a scary place – a place where we fear our children could drown. But we must remember that we have to let go so that God can draw them from the waters for His great purpose. He has called us to be their parents, but they were His first.

My friend, whatever water you may be getting ready to put your basket into – remember that you have to put them in the water for God to draw them out and place them into His perfect plan. Though you might not be physically present with your child as much during the next phase of life, you can always petition the heart of the Father on their behalf.”

Susan Reinhardt commented on Facebook about Ashlei’s quote above, “I need this message again and again, reminder after reminder. The “water” grows much more tumultuous every day and can be terrifying, especially since I now have grandchildren to pray for as the world’s agenda is to own their souls. Praying, praying, praying!”

Susan has the answer for all of us with children or grandchildren heading off to school this year as the schoolroom turns into a political and spiritual battleground. As I was writing this blog, I came across an Op-ed by Jeannie Cunnion, “I’m a mom who left it all on the field raising my sons and I can’t stop smiling and crying.” The subtitle is “God was our coach and our leader, but now it’s time for my son to move on to college.” As the Lord led me to read this article about a mom sending her firstborn off to college, putting the basket in the water if you will, Cunnion shared why like Moses’ mother she could let the basket go with confidence. Here’s what she said:

“I know this: What I get right and what I get wrong does not determine who my child becomes. Yes, I play a vital role in his life. My words and actions matter greatly. But God’s sovereignty over my son’s life supersedes my significance in his life. What I’ve done is significant. But what God can do is supreme. And His wild grace covers us both!  

But more than anything, God was our coach. He’s our leader and He held us together. And for all the things I got wrong, this is one thing I got right – I left it all on the field and I entrusted the outcome of our effort to God. I trusted God with the son He entrusted to me. God knows what my son needs in this next season. He loves my son in ways I can’t comprehend.  He has a plan for my son that is better and bigger than what I often felt pressure to orchestrate for him.” 

Our Children and Grandchildren Need to be Prepared to Make Brave Choices

God lets us all make our own choices, yes even our children and grandchildren. They have free will, but we as parents and grandparents can make the decision to ask God that they would follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. S. Hawkins writes in his devotional The Believer’s Code, “An amazing aspect of God’s love for us is the fact that He gives us choices. We are not His puppets . . . . He loves you so much that He allows you to make choices in life. While most of the choices are small, some have the potential to be life-altering.” It’s those life-altering choices that keep us on our knees for our children and grandchildren.

They are His creation, made in His image, but he will not force then to remember that or to make choices according to His will or His commandments. That’s the hardest part in letting go. Some choices could change the trajectory of their life and that’s what scares us, but Janet Denison wrote in an article in Christian Parenting, Push the Basket from the Shore, the following wise advice for every parent and grandparent: “Put the basket in the water—then push!”

“Congratulations to all of you who had to put your babies in a basket for the first time and especially for that last time. Pray that they will row in God’s directions instead of anyone else’s—even yours. Pray that they will serve God and become who he has called them to be. Look forward to watching them achieve their [Jeremiah] 29:11 life.”

“How did Moses’ mom ever place her baby in that basket and shove it in the direction of Pharaoh’s house? It was impossibly difficult, but she wanted her boy to live. 

You will bless your kids if you follow her example. And, chances are, they will bless you in return. The baby Moses grew to become the man God used to save the children of Israel from slavery.  Weave the baskets, put them in the water, and equip them for their journey. Then give them your blessing as they shove off from the shore. It’s not easy, but it’s the right thing—actually, the ‘God-thing—to do.” 

I would add though that we as parents and grandparents must continue the battle to bring God back into our schools and actively do our part in preventing Satan from using public schools to indoctrinate our children. I read a great meme “It’s not about who is right and who is wrong. It’s about what is right!” We should all be fighting for God’s definition of right to prevail against opposition from those who are trying to turn our culture into Sodom and Gomorrah. It didn’t turn out well then and it won’t now either.

Please leave a comment here. I appreciate your thoughts and always reply.

*Portions of this blog were excerpts from Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith.

Who Me Everyday Brave?

August 21, 2023
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Truth Tellers Become Stronger; Liars Become Weaker!

10

If you follow my blogs, you know I’m a diligent proponent of truth, especially Christians sharing biblical Truth, to combat the manipulative lies coming from a government trying to control and dominate us by vilifying God and Christian values. It’s tragic watching so many good people mesmerized by lies they never question because they’ve heard them repeated so often. That’s the strategy of liars. That’s the strategy of Satan. Sadly, it’s working!

For example, you hear from mainstream media, and even the President and Vice President, that police officers were killed on January 6. That’s a lie. Not one police officer was killed that day! However, a Capitol police officer murdered one petite unarmed MAGA woman, Ashlie Babbitt. There was a hurried behind doors investigation, and the officer who shot her was praised instead of fired.

I could go on, but hopefully most of you are seeking discernment and praying for God to show you truth amongst the tsunami of lies. Do your own research. Seldom will you hear the truth from the liberal-leaning mainstream media.

Tucker Carlson is a Conservative populist news anchor my husband and I had come to trust to investigate and boldly report the truth substantiated by facts. If he reported something incorrectly, he humbly apologized and often injected humor with a characteristic laugh. Last Monday, to the shock of his followers and glee of left-leaning news outlets, liberals, and socialists, FOX News with no warning “parted ways with Tucker Carlson,” their #1 commentator and reigning cable TV news program not only on FOX, but across all media outlets!

Maybe you never watched Tucker Carlson Tonight or even care what happens to him, and that’s all right too. But as a Christian Conservative Patriot, I care about what’s happening to America and the nation we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren. I feel called to speak truth to lies as God reveals them to me. I hope you do too!

I enjoyed Tucker and learned from him because he was unafraid to push the envelope by tackling topics other journalists avoided. Most recently, I commented to my husband that Tucker was talking a lot about God and depicting the culture as “trying to become their own gods.” He didn’t talk about Republicans vs Democrats, or red vs blue, he characterized cultural events as good versus evil! I often shared his monologues on my social media because he was saying truth that every American needed to hear.

He also championed citizens abused by government policies or inaction and gave many of them an opportunity on his program to tell their stories. He knew that some would be attacked just for being on his show and he commended them for their bravery offering, “God’s speed.”

There was a reason why Speaker McCarthy gave the January 6 complete videos to Tucker because he knew Tucker wouldn’t be afraid to expose truths hidden from the public and that’s exactly what he did. Or tried to do. On the first night, he showed Jacob Chansley being escorted around by the Capitol police, a video which had never been shown to even his lawyers! Chansley was quickly exonerated from his 4-year jail sentence and has just filed a motion to vacate his conviction stating that “Due process rights were clearly violated.” Why was that vindicating video hidden during his trial?

Tucker showed another man moving guardrails and encouraging people to go into the Capitol, who was never jailed and didn’t appear in the congressional committee’s choreographed videos, unlike so many others who are languishing in prison without trials.

But the second night when Tucker was supposed to reveal more of the videos, I sent a note to him that I was disappointed he didn’t show anything new like he had promised. I wondered if he was constrained by higher ups at FOX listening to Chuck Shumer on the Senate floor telling them to fire Carlson. Why shouldn’t we the people be able to see all the videos? What truths were they hiding that go against their “insurrection” narrative?

Then several weeks ago, Jason Whitlock was a guest on Tucker’s show and began quoting Scripture. Suddenly, just as Tucker asked him another question, they cut to a commercial before Whitlock could answer. I started to have my suspicions that something was amiss at the once conservative FOX News.

How to Know the Truth? Those Who Censor and Suppress are Lying!

Often, Tucker and other FOX hosts said they weren’t censored by the network and could say whatever they wanted. I could see that changing on other FOX programs, but Tucker wasn’t acquiescing to censors or critics. He was becoming even bolder about exposing truth and calling out lies. He even talked about the cultural spiritual warfare we’re encountering and depicted atrocities in terms of evil versus good.

The Friday night prior to his Monday departure from FOX, Tucker keynoted at the Heritage Foundation and his speech was prophetic. I encourage you to listen to it in full here, but I’ll give you just a couple insightful quotes.

“The herd instinct is maybe the strongest instinct. It may be stronger than the hunger and sex instincts, actually. The instinct, which again is inherent, to be like everybody else and not to be cast out of the group, not to be shunned — that’s a very strong impulse in all of us from birth. And it takes over, unfortunately, in moments like this, and it’s harnessed, in fact, by bad people in moments like this to produce uniformity.”

When he used the term “this,” he was referring to what’s happening in our culture and country today. He continued.

“There is a countervailing force at work always. There is a counterbalance to the badness. It’s called goodness. And you see it in people. So for every ten people who are putting ‘he and him’ in their electronic JPMorgan email signatures, there’s one person who’s like, ‘No, I’m not doing that. Sorry, I don’t want to fight but I’m not, like, doing that. That’s a betrayal of what I think is true. It’s a betrayal of my conscience, of my faith, of my sense of myself, of my dignity as a human being, of my autonomy – I am not a slave, I am a free citizen, and I’m not doing that. And there’s nothing that you can do to me to make me do it. And I hope it won’t come to that, but if it does come to that, here I am. Here I am. It’s Paul on trial. Here I am.’”

He could only be referring here to the Apostle Paul who refused to back down when the authorities told him to stop sharing the Gospel. “19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

Tucker then talked about the power of truth vs the weakness of lies.

“The truth is contagious. And the second you decide to tell the truth about something, you are filled with this – I don’t want to get supernatural on you – but you are filled with this power from somewhere else. Try it. Tell the truth about something. … The more you tell the truth, the stronger you become.”

“The more you lie, the weaker and more terrified you become.”

He called out evil.

“There is no way to assess, say, the transgenderist movement with that mindset. Policy papers don’t account for it at all. If you have people who are saying, ‘I have an idea: Let’s castrate the next generation. Let’s sexually mutilate children.’ I’m sorry, that’s not a political debate … but the weight of the government [and] a lot of corporate interests are behind that.”

“None of this makes sense in conventional political terms. When people or crowds of people … decide that the goal is to destroy things, destruction for its own sake – hey, let’s tear it down – what you’re watching is not a political movement; it’s evil.”

“I’m merely calling for an acknowledgment of what we’re watching.”

Carlson stressed that abortion zealotry, like the transgenderist movement, is a theological phenomenon. He has said before that it’s becoming its own religion, a cult.

“If you’re telling me that abortion is a positive good, what are you saying? Well, you’re arguing for child sacrifice, obviously. … When the treasury secretary stands up and says, ‘You know what you can do to help the economy? Get an abortion.’ Well, that’s like an Aztec principle, actually.”

There’s much more to his speech. Again, I hope you’ll listen and understand better why Tucker was where Dave and I turned to get accurate news that others wouldn’t touch because these were the same truths that he was sharing on his news show. He wasn’t afraid of not being politically or socially correct. You’ve heard me say many times that Christians cannot just bury our heads in our churches on Sunday morning and literally let the world go to hell around us. That’s not what God wants us to do.

Tucker ended his Heritage Foundation speech by imploring his audience to pray: “Maybe we should all take just like ten minutes a day to say a prayer about it … and I hope you will.”

During his speech, Tucker said that he didn’t know why more people didn’t tell the truth. Maybe they were afraid of being fired he suggested. Ironically, or maybe prophetically, he was fired three days after giving this speech. We don’t know the details yet. Maybe he quit. Although it seemed he was preparing his Monday night program when he got the call it was over with no explanation.

“@TuckerCarlson has been engaging in the best journalism on TV uncovering and exposing the truth. This is a huge loss to Fox News” texted Senator Ron Johnson.

Let’s take ten minutes to pray that God will find a better place for Tucker Carlson to expose the truth and also to grow his faith as we’ve recently seen with another “celebrity” Kirk Cameron. Like Tucker, Kirk isn’t afraid to go against the culture to speak the truth to evil as he’s been on a tour to libraries sharing his new children’s book As You Grow about the Fruit of the Spirit. He wrote an opinion piece “Here’s what my tour around America taught me about the weird, woke, and wicked!” I encourage you to read it also. Here are a couple of quotes from Kirk.

“Our forefathers and foremothers would offer this culture-preserving advice from the Bible: ‘Train up your children in the way they should go. Husbands, love your wives. Wives, honor your husbands. Love God and one another sincerely, from the heart. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Honor one another above yourselves. Don’t be lazy, but work hard. Rejoice in hope . . . be patient in trouble . . . and keep on praying. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.’ (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 5: 25,33; Romans 12:9-21)”

“If you’re a parent, if you long for a return to wholesome, God-honoring values . . . if you want to salvage this country and its biblical values for your children . . . stop complaining about the culture. Instead, be brave and start creating the culture you want for your children. Lead by example. Show your kids and grandkids what genuine faith and moral integrity look like. Steel your God-given backbone.” 

“Let your love for your children conquer your fears. Use your own home as a safe place to lovingly uproot the power of evil in your neighborhood. . . . Plant seeds of truth, beauty, and goodness.” 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25 ESV

So we have a journalist and an actor telling us what every pastor should be preaching to his congregation and every Christian should be espousing and living. Truth combats evil; lies foster evil.  Going along with evil as a Christian is counterintuitive and living a lie. Ignoring evil is cowardly. Doing the right thing is good and courageous. God is truth and hates lying.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 ESV

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. Proverbs 12:17 ESV

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19 ESV

Abby Johnson is a pro-life advocate who spent years working at Planned Parenthood believing Satan’s lies that a baby in the womb was not a life worth saving before the Lord opened her eyes to the horrific killing of unborn babies by abortion. Now Abby shares the truth with other deceived nurses and doctors to free them from those evil lies. She says, “I am willing to offend you into heaven, but I will not love you into hell.”

 In a video tweet two days after his firing, Tucker Carlson said, “When honest people say what’s true calmly and without embarrassment, they become powerful. At the same time, the liars who’ve been trying to silence them shrink. They become weaker. That’s the iron law of the universe: True things prevail. Where can you still find Americans saying true things? There aren’t many places left, but there are some and that’s enough. As long as you can hear the words, there is hope. See you soon.”

When asked after his speech at the Heritage Foundation what’s the first thing you should do every morning, Tucker quickly replied, “Tell the people around you ‘I love you!'”

Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked. 20 For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. Proverbs 24:19 NLT

We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT

If you received this blog by email, please go to the link here and leave a comment on the website. I read and reply to every comment. I want to hear from you, and you don’t have to agree with me.

If you didn’t see my About His Work Ministries newsletter for April, here’s the link.

Opening picture courtesy of “Prayers of a Ragamuffin Prayer Warrior.”

May 1, 2023
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