Home Archives for media

Christians Should NEVER Validate an Evil Political Platform!

1

I struggled with what to write about the day before an election that could change the trajectory of our nation. How we experience the American way of life. How we practice our Christian faith.

This is not an election about whether you like a candidate’s personality or communication style; it truly is a choice between good and evil.

Many will challenge that statement so let me explain.

Biden has been saying that he will unite the nation, but there is nothing in his platform that Bible-believing, Jesus-following Christians could unite with or validate.

The Bible is clear in The Message translation of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them;
    I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
    leave it for good,” says God.

God could not be more adamant that His people don’t vote for a political party that champions evil and removes God from their platform!

He warned the Israelites when they went into the Promised Land not to partner with pagans, but they didn’t listen to Him and there’s been a battle between people who walk in the light and those on the dark side ever since.

They are corrupt and not his children;
    to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation.
6 Is this the way you repay the Lord,
    you foolish and unwise people?
Is he not your Father, your Creator,[a]
    who made you and formed you? Deut. 32:5-6

Our country was founded on Judeo Christian values that both parties agreed to in the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. God’s principles were central to those two documents that form the basis for our government and laws. At least they should!

But the Democrat party wants to remove God and His moral principles and values from the public square, from their convention platform, and in some cases even the Pledge of Allegiance. While incredulously Biden’s campaign slogan is “a battle for the soul of the nation!”

He’s got that part right, we are in a battle but it’s a spiritual battle and only God, not a godless political party, can put the soul back in America and possibly unite us again!

Here are just a few areas that this election highlights to Christians on how we should use our voting power to vote our values for the Presidency, the Senate, and the Congress, as well as local officials.

Christians can NEVER Unite with a Murder-Driven Platform that Denies the Sanctity of Life!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Ps. 139:13

The most profound moral division between the Democrat and Republican platforms is on abortion— the spilling of innocent blood in murdering, yes murdering, millions upon millions of precious babies created by God in their mother’s womb, who never had a chance at life.

Abortion is cherished by the Democrat Party in the name of arrogance, pride, and moral decay. They are in rebellion against God’s commands that sex is for the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Proponents of abortion encourage sexual promiscuity without responsibility.

The opposite of pro-life is pro-choice of having sex without consequences.

The opposite of pro-life is pro-death when a life is not convenient.

Science, as well as God, tells us that sex results in possible conception of a child.

Democrats promote sex without consequences. Their solution is genocide that allows the ripping apart, poisoning, or burning in the womb of a viable child who feels pain. Even extending this barbaric torture up to and after delivery.

They expect every taxpayer to subsidize this horrific and savage practice of the shedding of innocent blood that has brought a curse upon America. How could it not? Abortion does have consequences.

Planned Parenthood is the primary baby murdering organization and they refuse to compromise with ways to reduce the number of abortions they preform because abortions are their primary business and source of revenue! Democrats will restore funding removed by the Trump Administration to Planned Parenthood, which is why PP is a huge financial donor to the Biden campaign with money made from the destruction of babies!

Biden, who professes himself a “faithful Catholic,” now endorses abortion in his platform. He will repeal the Hyde Amendment and continue to defeat born-alive protection bills! While he touts restoring the soul of America, He has sold his own soul to the evil partyline.

If you’re a Christian considering voting for the Democrats, knowing their stance on taking the life of a baby God created in His image, I challenge you to find justification for the sin of abortion in the Bible.

If you’ve had an abortion, voting for it won’t remove your guilt but Jesus is waiting for you to ask for forgiveness and repentance and He offers you grace and mercy, which brings the peace your heart desires.

Abortion: A Crime of Passion

Babies Lives Are Important, But . . .

Christians can Never Unite with “Gender Fluidity”!

“On his first day in office, Biden will reinstate the Obama-Biden guidance revoked by the Trump-Pence administration, which will restore transgender students’ access to sports, bathrooms and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity. . . . Biden will ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals have full access to all appropriate health care treatments and resources. This includes covering care related to transitioning.”—Biden campaign website

The Democrats who contend we should always “follow the science,” reject the science of biology that God created every human male and female.

Christians can Never Unite with a Political Party that Restricts Religious Liberty!

Democrat run states have kept their churches closed and inflicted penalties and fines on churches allowing their congregants to worship together. President Trump has repeatedly said churches are essential and should open now.

Obama/Biden lit up the White House in gay pride colors and if the Democrats are in power, they could prevent pastors from preaching the sins listed in Acts chapter 1. They have already shown hostility to religious freedom in running your business according to your faith beliefs as in the cases of Christian florists, bakers, and photographers who choose to not serve at gay marriages. Under the Trump Administration, their faith rights have been protected but they were persecuted under Obama/Biden.

Biden promises to make the misleadingly named Equality Act a top priority in his first 100 days. This federal legislation makes sexual orientation and gender identity protected civil rights, with no protections for religious organizations or people of faith who hold orthodox beliefs on sexuality as taught by Judaism and Christianity. It would also gut the landmark Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Equality Act treats churches, businesses, adoption agencies and medical professionals as discriminators if they operate based on their belief that humans are created male and female and sex is between a man and a woman.

Biden plans to reverse all of President Trump’s actions to protect religious freedom.

Christians can NEVER Unite with a Socialist/Communist/Marxist Agenda!

We’ve watched the Democrats, including Biden/Harris, stay silent while ANTIFA and BLM riot in the streets looting, burning, and destroying innocent business owner’s livelihoods! They don’t condemn what they refer to as “peaceful protests” while cities are destroyed.

They talk about the police being the enemy and reimagining the police, whatever that means.

The mainstream media supports the liberal agenda and feeds the people propaganda! Yes, just like in Communist countries. Often the networks all repeat the same identical mantra! That’s Communism!

Big Tech, which I wrote about in last week’s blog, censors conservatives while spreading liberal lies and talking points.

We see the “tyrant” governors and mayors in Democrat run states during Covid, but what would it look like if they were in charge of the entire country?! You might be able to leave California or New York now, but where would you go if the long arm of socialism and liberalism could reach you wherever you lived in this country?

We are one nation under God not under a liberal Socialist government!

The attack by socialism and communism on the status quo is a call to our consciences — those of us who consider ourselves Christians. This call warns us more strongly than any sermon that our task is to live in protest against everything that opposes God in this world. So poorly have we Christians filled this role that the question must be asked: Are we Christians at all? (Eberhard Arnold) The Intersection of the Gospel, Culture, and Politics

The Two Candidates

If I haven’t offended you too much and you’ve read this far, you may still have an argument about the character of the candidates so let me briefly discuss that too.

Biden is a corrupt politician. He had to back out of several previous attempts at the presidency because of his blatant lies, fantasized life stories, and plagiarism that were investigated by real journalists who exposed him.

He still tells the same lies and untruths, but as I said earlier, today’s propaganda media covers for him. For example, the recent discovery that he lied about having interaction with his son Hunter’s business dealings with foreign countries, and may have profited from them even while in office as VP, has only appeared on FOX and NEWSMAX. Silence on all the other networks.

The Democrats have vowed to increase the number of justices to pack the Supreme Court with liberal judges if they win the Senate and Presidency. A “liberal” Supreme Court removed prayer from the schools, made Roe v Wade the law of the land, and went against the vote of the people to legalize gay marriage.

President Trump has his character flaws, as has every past and future President. But it’s never mentioned that Trump has asked for forgiveness for his past discretions in his personal life. Christians should grant grace to a man who acknowledges his wrongs.

It’s amazing how many Christians want to continually go back to things he did and said years ago, ignoring the person he has become in the past four years and the good he’s done and the promises he’s fulfilled for our country, and Christians in particular. In his first term, he has put three conservative justices on the Supreme Court and hundreds of federal judges.

President Trump definitely has room to improve. Even his wife doesn’t agree with some of his tweets, but unlike corrupt politicians who just tell you what you want to hear, as his family attests, you always know what he’s thinking.

President Trump made his money before becoming president and walked away from a good life because as a patriot, he saw the downward slide of America. He doesn’t take a salary as President but donates it. Unlike Biden, who has become rich as a politician!

I believe God put it on Trump’s heart to leave the comfortable life he had and step into the lion’s den of Washington where he has been unmercifully spied on, plotted against, resisted, hated, lied about, and even impeached.

God is using this unlikely man to unveil the evil and corruption in our government and the underground world. I pray he has four more years because the work isn’t finished yet.

Many people think that Jesus came to Earth to unite the world, but He actually came as a divider to separate those who would follow Him and His ways at any cost from those who might follow Him in name only or those who chose a secular life. Divide, not unite, those who chose the world over His ways.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matt. 10:34-38

Sadly, many deceived “Christian” leaders have tried to meld Christianity’s truths with secular culture’s fallen mind-set and morals.

Christians are to infiltrate and influence the secular world but never let the world’s ways invade the church or their personal lives.

We don’t unite with evil, we fight evil.

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

God does not compromise or condone evil and neither should we, His people.

If you’re a Christian voting for Biden/Harris, I would ask you to prayerfully consider why you would choose the Democrat’s evil policies and plans that will affect our country for future generations as they vow to eradicate generations that will never get to take their first breath.

If you know a Christian voting for the Democrat platform, please prayerfully send them this article.

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2 ESV

A closing note from Pastor Bill Johnson a fifth-generation pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, author of Born for Significance, and speaker on revival and the Holy Spirit, who wrote an op-ed for The Christian Post on why he voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and will again in 2020. In it he says,

“For me it is worthy of note that I’ve never seen a president who loved prayer as much as Donald Trump — and that includes from those I voted for and those I didn’t, . . . His passion for godly counsel is also legendary. His historic actions for Israel should appeal to believers, as the biblical mandate to pray supportively for Jerusalem is a clear priority in scripture.”

If you haven’t voted already, please pray and let God lead you to vote your faith values for President, Senators, Congress, local candidates, and our country.

God Bless America!

November 2, 2020
Return to top of page

What Does It Mean to Pray for Your Enemies?

0

When I woke up Friday morning to the news that Donald and Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19, like many of you, I immediately started praying.

I heard President Trump in a phone interview with Sean Hannity late Thursday night and I commented to Dave that the President’s voice sounded tired, which is understandable since it was late and he had just spoken at an event. But looming in the interview was the knowledge that senior White House advisor Hope Hicks had been on Airforce One with the President and had just tested positive for COVID.

We prayed that night, “Lord please protect the President and First Lady.” But sadly, they both do have COVID along with some of their staff and Republican senators.

I knew instinctively what was going to happen next after their diagnosis. The vitriol on social media, mainstream media, and many liberals and Democrat politicians would start spewing from the abyss.

City Pages, an alternative weekly covering Minneapolis and St. Paul, published an article Friday headlined, “Let’s laugh at all these very good ‘Trump has COVID’ tweets.” Editor-in-chief Emily Cassel led the piece by writing, “So President Trump and the First Lady have COVID. Man, anyone else just in a really, inexplicably good mood this morning?”

We’re in a cancel, carnal, cruel culture so repulsive that people would wish death to their President and political opponent. Granted there were some politicians from the opposing party, including Biden, who declared a partisan truce and wished well to the president, at least for now.

I don’t know about you, but anticipating the evil attacks on our President and First Lady, I tried to stay off social media and just pray. I knew my friends and followers would be posting about praying, but others might want to post examples of the horrible things said by others. I didn’t want to taint my mind.

I wanted to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Phil. 4:8 NLT

I needed to focus my thoughts on President and Melania Trump having a quick recovery and healing from this terrible plague and not let my mind be filled with the comments of insensitive and hideous people actually celebrating the possible demise of our President to this unseen enemy.

They wanted him to suffer. Die. Joking about a dreaded illness.

What kind of person does that?!

 “If you find yourself rooting for someone’s death—anyone’s death—it’s time to pause and take stock of how your own souls has rotted.”—Tucker Carlson.

 “If you gloat over other people’s afflictions, you are not worthy of being called a human” is another worthy quote I read.

I would not give this human depravity an audience.

My Personal Epiphany

Then the Lord asked me a question I had to address: How would you react if it was Biden who had contracted COVID?

I am praying that he doesn’t win the election. He and his liberal party represent everything I don’t want for our country, much of it I consider evil and ungodly.

So would I pray as earnestly for his recovery as I’m praying for President Trump?

Wow?!

How I respond would show what resides in my heart. Would I show Christian compassion? My husband says I would pray for Biden. I hope he’s right!

How a Christian reacts to other’s misfortune is telling of their spiritual maturity when someone they don’t like is in distress.

Then the Lord brought to mind the verses on loving and praying for our enemies. Those we don’t agree with or even those we fear or have done us wrong.

The Sermon on the Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus first started with the Beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11). Then he taught about being salt and light, (13-16). He taught about the Law (17-20), anger (21-26), adultery (27-30), divorce (31-32), vows (33-37), revenge (38-42), and he ended his sermon with the difficult admonition to love your enemies.

Jesus Teaching about Love and Prayer for Enemies

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NLT

Are you convicted like I am when reading this teaching from Jesus? Even on the cross, He prayed for those who were putting Him, an innocent man, to a cruel death.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Jesus wants us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us when something inside us tells us to not even like them!

It doesn’t mean we accept or agree with their actions, which for purposes of this article we’re talking about those who go against everything we believe spiritually, morally, and politically.

Jesus tells us to be like Him. We must pray for our enemies and be kind to them. I take that to mean we pray for their salvation and what greater “love” could we show for them than to pray they become believers.

Bill O’Reilly commented last week, “If you feel glad that Donald and Melania Trump are ill, then you have a sickness, too. And while most recover from Covid, the disease of enjoying the suffering of others is rarely defeated. That disease is called evil.”

O’Reilly is right that evil is a disease, but there is a cure for it: Jesus Christ.

I think that Matthew 5:45-48 is calling us to pray for those we hear and see vomiting hate and evil. We detest what they’re doing, so we pray that someway, somehow they find salvation in Jesus because He went to the cross for them just like He did for us.

Maybe some of them claim to be believers. Look at their actions and if they’re behaving according to the world or in a hurtful harmful way, we pray that they will return to God and His ways.

What we don’t do is match their behavior in our thoughts, words, or actions because Jesus warns us that then we’re no better than them.

I like this quote from Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family: “I believe strongly in being conservative in my politics–but liberal in my fellowship and in my willingness to pray for others.”

The person I’ve seen in politics who does the best at responding to opposition as a Christian is Vice President Mike Pence. He lets you know when he doesn’t agree with someone, but he does it in a way that is never demeaning or disparaging. He tends to defend his position rather than attack the other person personally. I’m looking forward to his debate with Kamala Harris this week. And I’m praying for him and his health.

Let’s be sure during this very contested political season that our comments and posts reflect the mind and kindness of Christ. That we pray for the hearts and souls of those who persecute us, or persecute the ones we care about, or decry our values.

Pray for those who seem consumed with anger and animosity.

If you remember in last week’s blog, I said the Lord kept giving me a vision of a sudden outpouring of the Holy Spirit over all those who are doing evil in our cities and government. A miracle of mass salvation!

I see all the rioters and haters suddenly dropping their weapons of destruction and their tongues of vileness being stilled. The tyrannical government officials and those trying to tear down our country, having a reawakening about the goodness of God and the greatness of the country He blessed us with—The United States of America!

We have to look for things to praise, even when small, and focus on finding ways to “be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

Let’s keep our minds and hearts positive and loving as we pray for the recovery of our President and his beautiful wife, even if he isn’t your preferred candidate. Remember we haven’t reached perfection either.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

October 5, 2020
Return to top of page

How Is Home Depot More “Essential” Than God’s Home?!

4

Across the top of the Liberty Bell is the inscription, “PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF LEV. XXV X.” [Leviticus 25:10.]

When I walked into our church May 3, I felt a rush of the Holy Spirit. I hadn’t expected it. I didn’t realize how much I had missed the meeting together of my church family.

Like many of you, my husband and I had watched church online for six weeks. Not just our own pastor, but two or three others each Sunday. We couldn’t get our fill, but what we were seeking couldn’t come off the TV or computer screen. We longed to greet fellow attenders, find out how they were doing, hear their prayer requests, look into caring eyes, hear the smiling greetings, and feel the love of our church family.

At first, it was nice, even convenient, having couch church in our PJ’s and streaming the services when we chose. We were able to virtually visit our past home churches and experience others we’d always wanted to visit. We even sang along during worship. But when we turned off the TV and computer, there was an uneasy emptiness.

I compare it to looking at pictures and videos of your family, but not seeing or conversing with them face-to-face. How long could we go without our heart aching to be with them?

Most of us are fortunate to have video chatting, ZOOM, or SKYPE to keep in touch with friends and family, and at least see their faces and hear their voices. We’ve had to rely on these capabilities during this pandemic, but they could never replace being in the presence of our family.

And so it was with me missing the fellowship and camaraderie of our church family.

My friend Carol put it like this, “I miss the face-to-face fellowship with believers. We are seeing them on Zoom and getting teaching. But there’s nothing like hugging your friends.”

My husband and I are fortunate to live in a state and county where Phase 1 of reopening Idaho included churches! Sadly, around the USA there are state and local governments putting undue restrictions on churches to prohibit them from safely reopening.

That should scare us!

We should be alarmed at how fast government took away our religious freedoms and, in many cases, how far their overreach in denying or penalizing pastors and church attenders.

Did you ever think we would live in a country where people are fined, even imprisoned, for going to church?! That only happens in other countries not America. Not any longer. Religious persecution has crossed borders and oceans as some American governors and mayors enforce the same totalitarian measures we see in Communist countries.

How fast it happened and how fast we’ve let it happen.

The argument and talking points many liberals, atheists, partisans, and sadly some Christians have used: “Churches are nonessential. They don’t provide life-saving food or necessities.”

We rolled over with little to no outcry and let them decree that Costco, Home Depot, Liquor and Marijuana stores are essential, but churches are not essential. Even on Easter Sunday!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Costco, that’s not the point.

Costco is not our only source of food! While shopping at any big store, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder mingling with hundreds of strangers, albeit wearing a mask! But that’s OK we’re told. It’s worth it to risk your life there to fight over the last roll of toilet paper.

But churches that feed our spiritual souls and employ strict social distancing measures, where we know the people we’re around, are deemed nonessential. Not worth the risk.

Who made that determination? That discrimination?

Who is willing to stand before God and tell Him that His home is not essential but Home Depot or Costco is essential?

Why didn’t more pastors push back in the very beginning of these shutdowns?

Why didn’t they stand up for religious freedoms?

Why did they allow their church to be relegated to “nonessential” in a world that essentially needs Jesus more than ever now?

We quote the Scriptures that man cannot live by bread alone and Jesus is the bread of life, but do we believe it? Do we live it?

I know many will argue that more people were able to experience church online than ever before and thousands made a commitment to Christ. And Christ is in our hearts, not in a building. Absolutely agree, but there’s a reason the Scriptures warn us for exactly the times we’re in right now . . .

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

Many have said, and I agree, that we are feeling the birth pangs proceeding the last days, however far off. People are scared and lonely and believers need to be together with our church families to encourage, support, and love on each other just as those verses in Hebrews 10:24-25 say. They are in the Bible for such a time as this!

God knew this pandemic was going to happen.

Yes, it’s hard to make changes in the way we do church to accommodate safety, but that’s no reason not to do it.

I have to laugh when I hear someone worried about getting sick at church, but they think nothing of piling their carts full in Walmart, Home Depot, and Costco with people they don’t know and could never trace a “community spread.”

Yes, we need food. But let’s put this all in perspective. Don’t swallow lies. Don’t let government extend overreaching unwarranted, sometimes illegal, control and power.

The Virus Came From China But Let’s Not Become Like China!

When the coronavirus first started in China, we saw family members being pulled out of their homes. Soon Americans were being pulled off buses and subways and out of stores for not wearing a mask.

When I first saw pictures of everyone wearing a mask in China, I thought that could never happen here. Now you can’t get into many places, including Costco, without a mask and some states will fine or arrest you! Making and selling masks has become a lucrative business.

When we heard of families being locked into their homes in China, we were aghast. Now we refer to our stay-at-home or shelter in place as lockdown.

I could go on…in some states, beaches and parks are closed. Drones fly over neighborhoods to see if too many people are in their own backyard. Anyone remember the phrase, “Big brother is watching you.” You can’t plant a garden, mow your lawn, or fish from your boat in other states. Pulled over if you’re not wearing a mask alone in your own car. Encouraged to “snitch” on your neighbor. Required to sign in with address and telephone number to attend church so “they” can track you.

Does this sound like America to you? Home of the free?

I’m glad to see brave people using their legal right to protest the loss of our freedoms and rights. We need to resist tyranny or the freedom we hold so dear will be lost forever.

Whatever weapon used against us, we can use our weapon of faith. Remember our battle isn’t against human flesh.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 10:10-12

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10:4-5

I’ve said for so long that Christians need to stand up and speak out for our religious and civil rights. We need to repent of our silence and let the world know that not only is the church essential, a relationship with Christ is the only thing that will save you from eternal death. Could anything be more essential?!

Many evil forces have been waiting to shut down the church. They see their opportunity now to use this virus to create new rules and regulations for how we can operate . . . forever. Don’t let it happen.

In Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As A Woman of Faith, I point out that fear is paralyzing. That’s why the liberal media is trying to immobilize us with fear tactics so that we will acquis and do whatever we’re told without questioning.

Don’t Put Your Trust in the Media

On March 2, before the virus really took hold in America, I wrote a blog: Headlines Are Designed to Generate Fear: God says “Fear Not!”

We need to do our homework. Do not believe what you hear from the media. Their goal is to keep you afraid and misinformed. Yes, this is a contagious virus and not one to take lightly, but we know those who are most susceptible to it and we need to protect them. If you’re over sixty, have underlying health issues, or not feeling well, take precautions and stay home for a few more weeks.

But the rest of you, help your church open soon and when it does, go to church. Never let the world believe that God’s church is not essential. Don’t make the church go underground. This is America land of the free, home of the brave. In God we trust.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG

PS As I’m writing and posting this blog, I just read an article about pastors in California who are taking action to open their churches on Pentecost May 31. They are expressing and confirming what I wrote in this blog.
“Our churches are part of the answer, not part of the problem,” said Danny Carroll, senior pastor at Water of Life Community Church. “We’re an essential part of this whole journey and we’ve been bypassed … kicked to the curb and deemed nonessential.”
I’m proud of these pastors and praying for their success and a blessing on their congregations.

I also just received a text offering free guidelines for making your church covid-safe. I’m not endorsing these, but again, could the timing of this text be just a coincidence when this blog hasn’t even posted yet? I don’t think so, do you?!

May 11, 2020
Return to top of page

Headlines Are Designed to Generate Fear: God Says “Fear Not!”

2
Headlines Are Designed to Generate Fear: Gods says "Fear Not"

Are you fearful right now? The media hopes you are. They’re trying their best to keep you stressed, anxious, and fearful and there’s plenty of material to fuel their fear mongering.

The coronavirus is spreading globally, even though statistics aren’t as bad as the flu virus, but the media wants us to panic.

5 Million Cases Worldwide, 650,000 Deaths Annually: The Seasonal Flu Virus is a “Serious Concern,” But the Wuhan Coronavirus Grabs the Headlines. “The common flu does not grab the headlines. But attach a foreign name to a virus – such as Ebola, Zika and Wuhan – and then the headlines flow.”

Panic has ensued and that’s negatively affecting the stock market, which can scare anyone who has investments. The more scared we become, the more the market falls and now breaking news headlines tell us Coronavirus reaching pandemic may hurl US economy into recession Fed may cut rates as a ‘way to stem panic’.

As if this wasn’t enough to keep people up at night, here are a few fear-stoking headlines today, Saturday 2/29/2020, as I’m writing this blog:

“U.S. equity markets were shoved into their fastest correction in history this week as fears of the coronavirus becoming a pandemic rattled investors and stoked recession fear.”

“This is Silently Destroying Your DNA Right Now!”

“Christians and Jews Are Now in the Crosshairs”

“Why sea salt is no longer safe to use”

Sometimes these alarming headlines are marketing ploys for us to buy products, but always the headline is designed to get you to read more. The goal is to keep you anxious and fearful as these following articles substantiate.

Headlines & Stories Are Written To Create Fear, Anxiety.

Commentary: Sex Sells But Fear and Anxiety Sells More!

This Is How Your Fear and Outrage Are Being Sold for Profit

How to Write Fear-Fueled Openings Readers Will Be Too Scared to Ignore…

There are actually tutorials on how to write headlines that generate fear.

Headline Writing Guide: How to Write Fear-Based Headlines

Is it any wonder that so many people are afraid and anxious today! Yet, 82 times in the Bible, we’re told to fear not! How do we put those verses into practice to calm our fears?

1. Don’t React to Headlines!

Since you now know, if you didn’t before, that the goal of a headline is to make your heart race in terror or angst, stop reading them and don’t reward the writers by opening their article. I know it’s tempting, but so often you find that the author really has nothing substantive to say on the subject or they’re just writing generalities or maybes. They don’t have facts, just speculation, and yet their headline served its purpose: getting you to open and read their dubious article.

2. Consider the Source

If you’ve never heard of the author of the article, or know them to be a sensationalist, do not take to heart what they write.

3. Take Your Worries to the Lord

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

Recently, daily devotionals I read, instead of reading the news, have put everything into perspective for me. They offer peace instead of panic. For example here is an excerpt from Pastor Greg Laurie’s devotional From Worry to Worship where he reminds us . . .

“If you don’t want to live in anxiety, fear, and worry, then put matters in God’s hands. Don’t give up on this. Seek it above all things. When we listen to God’s Word, it puts everything in perspective. We see God for who He is. And we see life with all of its challenges for what it is. We see everything as we ought to see it. Instead of worrying, put God and His Word first in your life. Seek Him principally above everything else. Give Him priority.”

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Studies show that worry may actually shorten our lives not prolong them.

Sometimes we might think it’s expedient to worry, but worry often paralyzes us from taking preventive or positive actions. If we’re anxious about a new virus, and we definitely should take all the recommended precautions, worrying and fretting could cause other health issues that actually reduce our defenses and immune system. We for sure will be miserable, as will everyone around us.

I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

Another devotional I receive is called Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns. Her message on February 28, 2020 was especially timely:

“Take a break and separate yourself from the things that cause fear or worry. Think about things that bring hope and bolster your faith, says the Lord. In this way, you will access strength and better health. Learn to live in the moment as you stay present with Me. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

We live in a fallen world and that’s what the media preys on to keep us fearfully going from one crisis to the next. But God’s Word, the Bible, is timeless. He knew in advance every world and personal crisis we would face and He has all the answers and antidotes to keep us calm, cool, and collected.

We can’t outrun, outpace, outdo, outsmart, outlive . . . trouble. It has a way of popping up even in the good and prosperous seasons in our world and in our life.

We’ve all had those times when we wake up at night in a panic. Maybe it’s because we listened to the news before we went to bed or we can’t stop thinking about how world events will impact our future or we just heard disturbing personal news. That’s when we need to have John 14:1 memorized, the verse that Jesus said to His disciples to comfort them: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

A Personal “Fear Not” Story

In Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As a Woman of Faith, I admit that I am not naturally a calm person and I explain that: “The only way I calm an anxious heart is to pray about it, and then go about daily activities keeping my mind busy, trying not to dwell on the looming object of my wait.”

Last week, I had to have a dreaded MRI. I’ve had many and each time the technician asks me what kind of music I want to hear in the earphones they’ll put on me. My choice, “Christian Contemporary.” I happen to be claustrophobic so they put a washcloth over my eyes, which blocks out the sight of the tight enclosure, and I tell them to crank up the music.

So as the machine is pounding and clanging, I’m not looking at my fear. But I’m filling my mind and heart with God’s comforting words through song lyrics assuring me that with God’s help, I’m going to make it through this potentially fearful experience. And every time I do! Praise God.

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

PS: You may have noticed that my Monday Morning Blog arrived to you last week on Tuesday morning! That was due to a glitch in MailChimp which sends my blog to your email. Thanks to the help of our wonderful web designer, the problem was corrected. This week, WordPress has completely changed it’s format so bear with me as I adjust to all these changes.

March 2, 2020
Return to top of page

Breaking News: Life Isn’t Always Fair!

2

Breaking News: Life Isn't Always Fair

“I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair,” said [Meghan] Markle. “And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”

“If things are fair, that completely tracks for me if things are fair,” said Markle. “If I do something wrong I’d be the first one to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’ but when people are saying things that are just untrue and they’re being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them, I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel that that’s OK. And that’s different than just scrutiny. That’s, what would you call that? That’s a different beast. It’s really a different beast.” [Meghan Markle admits she ‘never thought’ royal life ‘would be easy, but I thought it would be fair.’]

This week the news is full of stories about Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry leaving the royal life to live as civilians. What struck me the most about their decision was Markle’s comments about fairness.

She also reportedly said in a reply to her British friends telling her before she married Harry that the British tabloids would destroy her life, “And I, very naively — I’m American,” continued Markel. “We don’t have that there . . . .

[Tweet “Tabloids lie and try to destroy people’s lives, so does mainstream media. And they don’t care if it’s fair or true as long as it makes headlines!”]

I would say she definitely was naïve but also forgetful because not only do the American tabloids lie and try to destroy people’s lives, so does mainstream media. And they don’t care if it’s fair or true as long as it makes headlines! She’s right, it is a beast . . . The Beast!

The point of this blog is not to discuss Harry and Meghan’s reasons for their decision, but to point out that expecting life in a fallen world to be fair is terribly naïve of anyone.

[Tweet “As long as Satan, the father of lies, is allowed to be the ruler of the earth there will be unfairness, lies, gossip, and people who want to destroy lives for the fun of it or for political and financial gain.”]

Life should be fair. I wish it was. But as long as Satan, the father of lies, is allowed to be the ruler of the earth there will be unfairness, lies, gossip, and people who want to destroy lives for the fun of it or for political and financial gain.

Oppressors intentionally hurt people from their own lack of self-worth. If they can make you look bad in some distorted way, they think they might look better. It’s a twisted way of thinking and acting, but see it for what it is, evil.

[Tweet “How have we become a society that thrives on tearing down people with words and actions?”]

How have we become a society that thrives on tearing down people with words and actions? There’s little to no civility in the way people talk about others in the media, late night talk shows, politics, or entertainment. Kindness is weakness and meanness is strength in our perverse culture.

What can we do as Christians when life isn’t fair?

  1. Live our lives so that no one has a reason to lie about us, and if they do, their deception will eventually be exposed. They will look the fool.

But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:16 NLT

  1. Repay unfairness with kindness.

This will confuse and disarm the aggressor. Don’t match their bad behavior with more bad behavior. Don’t be lured into that trap.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Luke 6:29 NLT

  1. Don’t receive negativity or react to it.

It’s hard to do, but ignore falsehoods or mean words said about you. They sting and hurt but don’t let the person saying them receive the satisfaction of knowing they hit their mark.

This is what the Lord says: “Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Isa. 56:1 NLT

  1. Don’t take unfairness seriously or dwell on it.

Replaying unjustness over and over in your mind like an old movie gives the incident more power and robs your joy. Cast it off and carry on with the Lord as your strength.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Proverbs 2:6-10 (NIV)

  1. Don’t be unfair or unjust to others or participate in gossip or untruths.

This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Jer. 22:3 NLT

  1. Surround yourself with like-minded people who lift you up and don’t tear you down. 

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thess. 5:11 NLT

[Tweet “Prepare your children and grandchildren that life isn’t always fair and they will experience injustice, but God is just and trustworthy.”]

Prepare your children and grandchildren that life isn’t always fair and they will experience injustice, but God is just and trustworthy. Make sure they have a relationship with Jesus and not the world.

It’s a mistake today to teach children that everyone wins. Everyone doesn’t win just ask any competing athlete. To try and keep children in safe spaces where they never learn how to confront opposing views or ideas is not good parenting, but teaching them that Jesus is their protector and provider will help them face the inevitable unjust times in their life.

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:5-6

[Tweet “”He [God] will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.” Psalm 9:8 NLT”]

“He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.” Psalm 9:8 NLT

January 13, 2020
Return to top of page

Who Cares What the Critics Think?

2

Who

If you read the news or listen to it at all, there’s one common theme: negativity.

[Tweet “If you read the news or listen to it at all, there’s one common theme: negativity.”]

It struck me while browsing headlines that so many of them used the word “criticize.” One person criticizes what someone else did or said. Most of the time, you don’t even know the critic nor do you care to know them or what their opinion is: Why should I care what they think? They don’t represent my values, my opinion, or me. Why should it matter to me what they have to say about something or someone?

But for some reason the media thinks posting other people’s criticism will catch our attention. We’ll want to read the critique or criticism from someone who means nothing to us and then they’ll get more readers or viewers?!

Naught! I bet you’re with me: I’ll form my own opinion about what someone did or said and it doesn’t matter to me what some obscure person, or even famous personality, thinks about it.

In the political arena today, you’ll hear or see reports on what one candidate says about another candidate’s words or opinions or choices or life. Or someone else chimes in just to make news.

[Tweet “Form your own opinion about your candidate and don’t get caught up in the political rhetoric and mudslinging.”]

Form your own opinion about your candidate and don’t get caught up in the political rhetoric and mudslinging.

Recently an author friend had a well-known newspaper review her new book. A live media source wanted to interview her before they found out the article was positive, then there was no rush. If it’s not a mean, vengeful, misrepresentation that you have to defend, it’s not newsworthy.

[Tweet “Underneath all the media negativity is an underlying principle: Joyful, happy, good news that builds you up doesn’t sell.”]

Underneath all this negativity is an underlying principle: Joyful, happy, good news that builds you up doesn’t sell. News isn’t relevant unless it’s filled with drama, personal attacks, negative opinions, belittling, and criticism. Otherwise, today’s media doesn’t bother to report it. Or if they even try, there’s always another newspaper, media, or vocal person that’s ready to rip that reporter or person to shreds for being a Pollyanna, too nice, too religious, too respectful, too kind, too positive, too out of touch with reality . . . .

[Tweet “Have we become conditioned to only being interested in bad, traumatic, critical, negative, drama news?”]

And what about us their audience? Have we become conditioned to only being interested in bad, traumatic, critical, negative, drama news? On our social media do we share positive strides in areas that we care about or do we only read and share articles that will get crying, angry face emoji’s?

It’s All About Mind Control

[Tweet “Let’s not let negativity influence or control our minds.”]

My point is let’s not let negativity influence or control our minds. As you know, I’m the first one to be an advocate for speaking out against immoral issues and the wrongs of today, and I will listen to those who are constructively fighting for the same causes and denouncing those who are doing evil. But I’m not interested in the opinion or criticism of someone I don’t respect.

[Tweet “The Bible gives us guidelines for what we should take into our mind and it’s good to remember in all our communication.”]

As always, the Word gives us guidelines for what we should take into our mind and it’s good to remember in all our communication.

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

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-7

And here’s a good guideline for how we should respond to those we don’t agree with or to criticism of our opinions:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6 NLT

What are your thoughts on the use of criticism by the media or the reporting of other people’s criticism?

You might also want to read my blog post a year ago, When Did We Become So Uncivil?

How Should We Respond to Verbal Attacks?

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

June 24, 2019
Return to top of page

Love Your Body—Why Are We Still So Angry?

6

Love Your Body Like God Loves It

Here we are again—the last Monday of the month—Love Your Body Like God Loves Your Body Monday! If you’re on social media, or watch any kind of news or talk shows, you’ve probably noticed an undercurrent of anxiety and anger. It’s actually been going on for several years, during the election cycle. Last October, I wrote a post Love Your Body: Why Are We So Angry? where I talked about how to overcome the Election Stress Disorder so many people were experiencing.  We might have expected things to settle down and everyone to get back to normal after the inauguration this past January. But with daily news of protests and riots, newscasters continually stirring up fear and strife 24/7, the great divide between the liberal left and conservative right creating division in friends and family . . . the anger and angst is taking its toll on the American public.

So how are you doing? Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?

  • Insomnia?
  • Indigestion?
  • High blood pressure?
  • Weight gain or loss?
  • Uneasiness or anxiety?
  • Fear?
  • Misplaced Anger?
  • Restlessness?
  • Worry?
  • Depression

I have to admit, I’ve experienced some of these symptoms myself as I’ve been in the heat of the spiritual battle, but the Lord has helped me identify when I’m letting Satan’s “world” invade my space instead of me invading the world for God’s Truth. Christians champion most of the conservative right agenda, but since this world is not our final home, we must remember that our true allegiance is to Jesus Christ.

We’re not on the “right” side or the “left” side; we’re on Christ’s side!

[Tweet “We’re not on the “right” side or the “left” side; we’re on Christ’s side!”]

Look at that list of symptoms above. None are from God! Yes, you can experience anger, but notice I said “misplaced” anger. That means you find yourself easily angered and acting irrationally at your spouse, the kids, the dog, your friend, your social media “friend,” the television, the media . . . yourself when you forget something or make a mistake.

Conservatives should be rejoicing as they watch platform issues they voted for checked off their “wish list.” But instead, many find themselves trying to figure out why they’re not happier.

Last week, I wrote about Fake News Trumps Good News. It’s hard today to turn on the news and hear anything positive. Even those “checked off” items are twisted and turned into bad news so many people don’t feel victory or happiness because they’re still in the defend-and-justify mode. Peace doesn’t even come in victory. Satan wins whether they win or lose.

Hmmm . . . we need to do something about that or our bodies will pay the price. And yes, I’m speaking to myself too because I intend to stay in the spiritual battle, and I hope you will too. Many have thanked me for my bold stand as a “voice in the wilderness.” But as I said in “Taking the Gospel Viral,” the opening article of February’s About His Work Ministries Newsletter, the original voice in the wilderness, John the Baptist, ended up with his head on a platter.

Here are several suggestions that help me stay strong for God in a world that is not God-friendly, while keeping peace in my mind, body, and soul. I hope they will help you too:

  1. Pray the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 every morning.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

[Tweet “We need to be among like-minded people who study God’s Word and pray together for our country and for each other.”]

  1. Join a Bible study group. We need to be among like-minded people who study God’s Word and pray together for our country and for each other. It isn’t enough to just go to church on Sunday or even to have our own time with the Lord. Both are essential, but being a Christian requires—yes I said requires—being around other Christians who can build us up, let us know when we’re off track, pray for us, and remind us that we’re in the world but not of the world. Many people don’t think they need small groups, but they probably suffer from some of the symptoms I listed above. There are many verses to support this kind of fellowship . . .

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

  1. Don’t watch the news, engage in social media, or watch NCIS-type or disturbing graphic murder programs in the evening before bed. If you find your heart racing or angry, don’t watch them anytime.

[Tweet “News and social media is troubling, and graphic pictures and scenes stay in your mind.”]

Troubling news, social media, graphic pictures, and dialogue stay in your mind and can disrupt your sleep. The injustice in some programs haunts me. I’ll give you an example. At the end of last season, we were watching a new program, Designated Survivor with Kiefer Sutherland, about a terrorist attack on Washington killing the President and almost everyone on Capitol Hill. Sutherland, the HUD Director, was the next living person in line to become president. The program is full of deceit, lying, espionage, people and the media trying to take the new president down, and the viewer is privy to all of this . . . much like real life today. When we watched this program, my heart raced and I felt anxious. I finally told my husband I couldn’t take it anymore! In my downtime, I need to do something relaxing and refueling, especially before bed. Not watch something that leaves me anxious, unsettled, upset, and mentally exhausted. I would imagine you do too.

  1. Don’t listen to naysayers and remove yourself from unpleasant situations. We live in a cynical world. In last week’s blog, I posted how Melania Trump introduced President Trump by praying the Lord’s Prayer. Immediately, the liberal media and many on the left criticized her. But she said in advance to her opponents, “I will stay true to myself.” I would add, always stay true to God. And no matter what happens . . . be joyful that you’re pleasing Him . . . even if that angers others. Don’t internalize the anger of others.

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:7-9

Like Mrs. Trump, I’ve also had others criticize, misconstrue, or take out of context something I’ve done or said. Or I’ve been in the middle of a firestorm where I’ve had to say, “Enough! I can’t do this anymore!”

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

  1. We’ve talked a lot about exercise on Love Your Body Mondays. It always gets the endorphins going and clears my mind of negativity. It’s also a great time to pray and talk to God because . . .

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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

February 27, 2017
Return to top of page

Love Your Body—Why Are We So Angry?

2

Love Your Body Like God Loves It

Love Your Body Like God Loves It

As if we didn’t have enough diseases to try to avoid, the current election has created a new one—Political Anxiety Disorder or Election Stress Disorder—hospitalizing many people across the nation. They’re so upset about the outcome of the election affecting their lives, that they’re having panic attacks and all the physical symptoms of anxiety:

  • Pounding heart, sweating.
  • Headaches, stomach upset, or dizziness.
  • Frequent urination or diarrhea.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Muscle tension, tremors, and twitches.
  • Fatigue or insomnia.

[Tweet “The current election has created—Political Anxiety Disorder—hospitalizing many people across the nation. “]

“Anxiety weighs down the heart.” —Proverbs 12:25a

“So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body.”—Ecclesiastes 11:10a

Anxiety Can Lead to Anger

If you receive my monthly About His Work Ministries email newsletter,* the opening article this month was “When Things Are Out of Control.” I received more comments on that article then I have from any article I’ve written all year. When things happen that we don’t like or don’t want to experience, but can’t change, it makes us anxious and we can become angry. Anger is a legitimate feeling and reaction, but what we do with that anger can damage our health, our body, and our relationships.

[Tweet “Unbridled anger results in bitterness, hardening of the heart, and often an offensive attitude that expresses itself in vile words and/or aggressive behavior. “]

Unbridled anger results in bitterness, hardening of the heart, and often an offensive attitude that expresses itself in vile words and/or aggressive behavior. While there may be a quick release of angry emotion, if the root cause of the anger continues it eats away at mind, body, and soul, and others become victims of the residual fallout.

As the election progresses, I’ve had the most angry, vulgar, mean, vicious lashing out comments I’ve ever experienced on my blog posts and Facebook posts. It’s alarming that people live with such angry, bitter thoughts in their minds and hearts and use hurtful, X-rated words in their daily lives. I’m sure when the election is over, they’ll find something else to be angry about and their health, both physical and mental, will suffer.

[Tweet “Today it’s almost impossible to have a debate without it turning into a disagreement.”]

Today it’s almost impossible to have a debate without it turning into a disagreement.

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

Where is the Anger Originating?

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.”—Ephesians 4:26 NLT

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

[Tweet “Do you know the media outlets design the news to raise your blood pressure, anxiety level, and anger meter? “]

Do you know the media outlets design the news to raise your blood pressure, anxiety level, and anger meter? They purposely create headlines to generate a negative response. The media wants you to engage angrily with either the person or situation their reporting on—they want you mad. Occasionally, they’ll throw in a feel good story, but usually it’s SENSATIONAL “BREAKING NEWS” not substantiated or factual . . . just hearsay, opinions, or “maybes” . . . and you walk away worried . . . angry.

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

I write articles for an online Christian magazine, and they’ve discovered that the more negative the title, the more people read the article. Christians are being conditioned right along with everyone else.

Physical Signs of Anger

[Tweet “What does anger do to you physically?”]

What does anger do to you physically? Some symptoms are . . .

  • clenching your jaws or grinding your teeth.
  • headache/migraines.
  • stomach ache.
  • increased and rapid heart rate.
  • sweating, especially your palms.
  • feeling hot in the neck/face.
  • shaking or trembling.
  • dizziness.
  • stress which can cause anxiety.
  • increased blood pressure leading to heart disease.
  • eating disorders.

You could pick from the above list, or add to it how you feel when you’re angry or someone around you is angry. Next time, take note of how your body reacts. Or better yet, learn to control your anger and remove yourself from an angry environment or situation.

What Can We Do About Anger to Help Our Bodies?

[Tweet “When you feel a sense of hope and purpose . . . your anger subsides.”]

  1. Our anger may stem from feeling out of control. We don’t think we can make a difference or change our circumstances, but we can. When you’re doing something about a situation and you feel a sense of hope and purpose . . . your anger subsides. I’m going to refer you to a post I wrote for Crosswalk for how to make a difference one person at a time: You Don’t Have to Get Elected or Make Movies to Change Culture.
  2. In my Bible study Face-to-Face with Euodia and Syntyche: From Conflict to Community, I discuss the damage anger can do to our bodies if we don’t learn how to deal with it:EuodiaSyntycheCover72dpi1-200x300

Anger is an emotion felt in the moment that requires quick resolution. Many horrific acts occur and hateful words hurl in a “fit of anger.” You cannot retrieve actions or words.

            Uncontrolled raging anger makes us, and everyone around us, miserable. Pastor Doug Fields, likes to describe anger in terms of “outies” and “inies.” An “outie” is someone who spews out anger and doesn’t hold anything back. You know exactly how mad outies are and they want you to know. Often outies are over their anger once they have their “verbal vomit,” as Pastor Doug calls it, and they’re ready to move on. The problem with outies is the potential for people to be hurt, and even maimed, during the verbal, and maybe even, physical outburst.

            Inies on the other hand are the ones that profess they aren’t mad. “Everything’s fine.” they say, maintaining a thin smile while stewing and brewing inside. They may stuff down their anger for a long time while it burns, churns, and turns to bitterness. Inies find quiet, sly, unexpected ways to express their anger, or some never let go—the anger eats away at them physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of their lives. Other inies only can hold their anger inside so long until the pressure builds into a sudden and violent explosion—the fallout being lethal to themselves and anyone in the vicinity.

            So how do you have healthy anger? Here’s the “ABCD” steps to take:

Acknowledge—that you’re angry.

Breathe—take a time out and step away from the source of anger.

Call on God—He knows what you should do regarding the source of your anger—ask Him.

Defuse—release your anger to God.*

*Excerpt from Face-to-Face with Euodia and Syntyche: From Conflict to Community

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

stay-calm

*If you don’t receive my online newsletter, contact me or sign up on the website.

If you receive this post by email, please comment here.

October 31, 2016
Return to top of page
« Previous Page
Return to top of page · Copyright © 2026 Crown Laid Down Designs All Rights Reserved · Our Privacy Policy