False Prophets in the Church! Sharpen Your Discernment! Do Not Be Deceived!

Many in American Christian circles are reeling from the revelations concerning false prophets in our midst; men who are well-known and respected, and the pain their silence [in the midst of deception] is causing the Body of Christ. This concerns the accusations against Shawn Bolz and the Leadership of Bethel Church. I plan on writing in-depth on this situation in my next post. But I want to take a few days to do my own due diligence and to listen to what the Lord has to say on the matter before I comment. It is important, in the Spirit of Truth, to be righteous about what I express.

But first, I want to approach the subject of receiving our anointing and any prophecies we might be given. It is very important to be discerning at this point in our lives. Far too many of us Christians are not being mindful that false prophets actually exist. We are too easily influenced by our souls -- that part of us that is connected to our own thoughts and desires, our emotions, and our own free wills, rather than what the Lord is imparting to us. As the Bible warns us, these false prophets come disguised as men [and women] who have "a word" for us from God. The Bible says these people can be used by Satan, appearing as a "roaring lion, looking for someone to devour", and "come dressed as sheep, but inwardly, are ravenous wolves". 

How are we to protect ourselves from them? We must learn to use our discernment, and test the spirits so that we might recognize them by their actions and teachings. Matthew 7:16 tells us we will "recognize them by their fruit, which is their contrived [artificial, made-up, phony] doctrine and self-focus" (Amplified version of the Bible). But what is discernment?  The problem is that far too many Christians don't read their Bible, and therefore have no idea what the word means, how God defines it, or how we are to employ it. According to the Hebrew and Greek definitions of discernment, it means (to be able) to understand; to know for certain by experience, and by observing and reflecting; to recognize and be acquainted with.

What stands out to me is the notion that to "be discerning" requires the ability to distinguish between good and evil, truth and lies. And how are we to gain that knowledge? Through a personal relationship with God/Jesus and to perceive and understand His will through our relationship with the Holy Spirit! But if you never study His Word or seek to hear the Holy Spirit's wisdom, counsel, or understanding, how will you ever know what God's will is? Or experience that personal relationship so that you can recognize their voices and God's Truth?

Do you remember Matthew 24:11, in which Jesus warns His disciples about the rise of false prophets as a sign of the End Times? "They will deceive many" is the message given by our Lord. They will be cunning and convincing, leading many astray. They will pretend to speak for God, but instead, uttering their own manufactured truth. That is what we are seeing in today's Church culture, because the Body of Christ has been lacking in discernment -- no knowledge, no experience, no relationship with the One who leads us to all truth ... the Holy Spirit.

And this brings me to the Biblical precepts that I want to discuss before I bring you my next post on this current issue facing the Church. I believe that 1 Corinthians, Chapters 12 and 14 are at the center of this controversy. These are the chapters that have become very difficult and contentious for the family of God. They have caused quite a lot of division and questions among various Christian denominations as Churches all compete for dominance in proclaiming their theological positions. 

These chapters concern the Spiritual Gifts; whether they are for today, and to whom they are meant for. I have spent the last 8 years pursuing God's Truth in the matter, turning off the indoctrination being offered by various teachers and denominational doctrines in order to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, as He teaches my spirit through the depths of God's Word. It is actually a very simple message given in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, which gives us a complete picture of how God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus work together (with us) to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. Here is what those verses say: 

It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different varieties of gifts (Verse 4). The Lord Yahweh is one, and He is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries (Verse 5). The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer's gift and ministry as He energizes and activates them (Verse 6). 

First, it is very important to recognize that these verses establish that the Holy Spirit, plus Jesus (referred to as Lord Yahweh), plus God are One. They are three distinct "personalities" if you will, of the One True God. [NOTE: John 10:30 and John 14:16-20 establishes this as well. They are all One and they will make their home in us and will live inside us.] So, now let's look again at 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (see above paragraph) and see how simply God lays out His plan to work through us to expand His Kingdom. Verse 4 says that God, as the Holy Spirit, distributes the many different varieties of spiritual gifts  (which are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gifts of faith, healing, power to work miracles, prophecy, discernment , speaking different kinds of tongues (languages), and the interpretation of tongues.   

Then verse 5 says that Jesus, as Lord Yahweh (God) allocates certain ministries to certain people [by His grace] and those ministries are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Then verse 6 says that this same God (the same as Holy Spirit and Jesus) distributes different kinds of miracles (or empowerment) that accomplish different results (the results He wants) through our gifts and ministries, as He energizes and activates them. And how does He do that? By the same Holy Spirit that Jesus says lives in us and is in Him! It is a picture of both a symbiotic and beautiful relationship. They interact in a mutually beneficial relationship that both benefits Them and us.

It's really very simple ... It's the Holy Spirit that gives us the spiritual gifts; Jesus assigns the ministries; and then God, the Father, equips those gifts and ministries with His power [miracles] to accomplish His will. That's not my interpretation -- it's the actual Word of God! Instead, men [who, in their own pride and willfulness] decide they are the arbiters of who and how God wants to anoint, assign, and equip His people to serve Him. But have these "prophets" actually heard from the Holy Spirit? Do they have the experience of maturing in their relationship with the Spirit in order to recognize His voice? Or are they hearing the whispered lies of the Enemy that they can gain a following that benefits themselves while pretending they are working for the Kingdom?

And what about the Body of Christ that is willing to listen to them? Are they using God-given discernment produced from their own maturing relationship with God and the Holy Spirit? Are they observing if there is "fruit" from this "prophet"? And are they familiar enough with the Bible to accurately vet the prophecies and test to see if they might be receiving deceiving and lying spirits. Can they even recognize the warning signals the Holy Spirit might be giving them?

I believe we are living in those End Times that Jesus warned would be filled with many false prophets. The culture of the Church has been an invitation for those lying spirits to tempt the people of God; both the Leaders as well as the flock. But I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of the followers of Christ to seek to understand what His Word tells us  ... But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). A lot of hurt and disillusionment from the Church could be avoided if we walked in this commandment, and if we actually took time to read and study the Word. But it is the responsibility of Church leadership to seek and hear from the Holy Spirit on how to equip, nurture, and encourage the Body of Christ to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal their particular calling/ministry, and how to discern that they are hearing correctly. That includes accountability to each other and their flocks.

So, I will have more to say in my next post about how I'm discerning the latest scandal in the Church. But this I know for sure... our God is bigger than any attempt by Satan to disparage YHWH's Word or purpose for His followers. Let us pray that repentance is forthcoming from all involved, so the Church can be restored and renewed with a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, throwing off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles us. We serve a Merciful but Righteous God. His will be done in this situation as we keep the eyes of our hearts and spirits on Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21     Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.    

 

   

             

Shunned For The Sake of Christ!

This is going to be a sensitive subject among the Body of Christ. But it needs to be talked about, and I can speak from experience how the Holy Spirit's guidance can lead to conflict with Church leadership. In fact, I'm pretty sure that what I am going to share will offend some among my fellow Christians. That is not my intent. But I think this topic is important to understand, and I hope it can be received in a spirit of love and truth.

Of course, I am not representing myself as an authority on Church doctrine and "religious rules", but I believe what I have experienced and seen happens more often than the Faith community is aware of, or wants to admit. So, let's just dive in... first of all, what is the definition of shunning? What does it look like, and perhaps even more importantly, what does it feel like and how does it affect your walk with the Lord? 

According to the dictionary, "to shun" is to persistently avoid, ignore, or reject someone through antipathy [a deep-seated feeling of dislike; hostility] or caution. In a simpler explanation, it means "to avoid or keep away from; isolate". Within the institutional Church, it is my opinion that too often, we find that people are being shunned for what they believe. Now, let me be clear ... if your belief system or theology does not align with God's Truth in Scripture, then it is incumbent upon us to avoid agreement with it and attempt to correct it, or at the very least, have an open and loving conversation about our differences, always pointing back to Scripture. But, when the sole purpose of that conversation is to discredit someone [or exclude, ostracize,or make them outcasts] because their understanding of Scripture is different than an established [by men] ritual or doctrine of a particular denomination, then I think we sully the reputation of the Church and cause harm to the Body of Christ.

Could we, for a moment, consider that perhaps God is working through some of these people to bring new understanding to His Word? Or to reveal more of Himself in their experiences? Let's take a quick look at several instances in the Bible where religious ideals were challenged by people who were shunned... yet these outcasts became an integral part of  God revealing His redemptive plan. Think of the Samaritan Woman at the Well and the Woman with the Issue of Blood -- both isolated, spurned, and marginalized because they didn't fit the narrative of what a good Jew looked like. They didn't qualify for the accepted definition of "chosen by God". Yet their stories reflect that no one is disqualified from Jesus's compassion and healing, shattering the social barriers that had kept them isolated. Furthermore, their testimony of Christ's love and acceptance touched lives with His Truth.

The Bible provides more examples of people who are rejected and considered outcasts: the story of the only one of the ten lepers who returns to tell Jesus of his gratitude at his physical healing and the grace of the Lord to accept him, resulting in faith that made him well. Then there is Hagar, through whom God shows us that the world's acceptance of worth does not resemble His; all are cherished in the eyes of God. There are more examples of Biblical characters whom society or the religious communities shunned because they didn't resemble the accepted standards or fit the mold established by "leaders of the faith" ... this describes Leah, Zacchaeus, and the Prodigal Son.

But perhaps there are none more familiar than the Disciples who were shunned and judged by the religious Pharisees because they brought new teachings that came from Christ, Himself. Of course, we know that the religious leaders did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and therefore His revelations were seen as heresy and contrary to orthodox doctrine. Yet those teachings were God's Truth that He wanted revealed to the world. Can you possibly accept that God still works the same through people today? Let me briefly share my experience...

I was exposed to the Church and the Bible at a young age, but was not "raised in the Church", so I did not grow up in a strict religious environment of doctrinal teachings. But in my early thirties, Jesus pursued me and got my attention through a car accident in which He saved my life. I spent the next nearly 30 years, seeking more knowledge of my Lord and Savior, joining a church, and then seeking new churches as my husband and I moved to new locations. As my knowledge of the Bible grew, due to increased personal time studying it with my husband, my spirit became restless, sensing that there was more of God [and Jesus] that He wanted to reveal to me, but I wasn't receiving it from the Church, no matter how hard I tried to find Him there. 

That's when I began to actively pursue my relationship with the Holy Spirit, and responding to His promptings. He made Himself known to me through my intense Bible studying. The result was that the fullness of God (and all the ways He wanted to minister to me and His followers) began to be revealed. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out [Proverbs 25:2]. That was a Biblical Truth that became a stepping stone for my husband and myself, as the Holy Spirit began leading us into more and more of God's Truth and His purpose for our lives. We learned about the power and authority Jesus gave us to do what He commanded: heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers (socially ostracized), raise the dead -- we haven't accomplished that yet, though we have seen Jesus extend the life of individuals [whom Death was trying to claim] when we prayed and laid hands on them; and most importantly we have shared the Good News of salvation through Christ and the inauguration of His Kingdom on earth. We are extremely grateful that God trusts us to be His ambassadors for this time.

BUT, it has also been our experience that organized and institutional religion isn't too fond of those of us who hear differently from God than what has been written in their religious doctrine and Church rules. As the Holy Spirit began to illuminate God's Truth beyond the orthodox teachings of the Church, we began to find ourselves being uncomfortable with the "status quo". We wanted to shout, "People! There is more to God than what we've been taught! He's bigger than the box we have stuffed Him in!" And the experience of becoming shunned was our new reality within the confines of "the building". Whenever we tried to share what the Holy Spirit highlighted in Scripture, our fellow church members looked at us like we had three eyes, and horns were growing out of our head. And it all came to a head one day while I was sitting in a Ladies Bible Study.

I think we were discussing how to deal with feelings of hurt and trauma in our lives, and the Holy Spirit began whispering to me to share a recent, what I would call a "divine revelation", that Jesus had accomplished through a text I had received from a reader of this blog. The short version is that she had suffered sexual trauma in her teens and had been to her pastor, leaders in her women's Bible Study, and other Christian resources to help her with the residual effects of this trauma (depression, suicidal thoughts, and wondering where Jesus was in all of it). But she got no answers to relieve her physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. She said she was telling me her story because I was the last hope for someone to help her, and could I call her? 

At first, I was overwhelmed. We were separated by several states and how could I help her with a phone call? My wise husband asked me, "Do you think Jesus can do that, using you as His instrument of Healing"? I didn't waste a minute and called her. The result was that the Holy Spirit guided me, revealing what Jesus wanted her to hear, and how He wanted to heal her. She had told me [in her text] that she felt like there was a glass wall between her and Jesus. She could see Him, but couldn't hear Him or get to Him. After our session, she told me that she saw that glass wall shatter and she walked into His loving arms and felt His love coursing through her! She wanted the world to know that He was real, and He was alive, and He can heal us! 

Well, that experience had me in tears and thanking Him that He had trusted me to do His bidding. And as I sat there in that Women's Bible Study, listening to women pour out their hearts over the hurts they were struggling to conquer, I wanted them to know He could heal them like He had healed that reader. The Holy Spirit kept whispering, "Tell them". But I fought back out of fear ... "They won't hear me. They won't receive it". Again, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Tell them. The truth will set them free". I finally obeyed and revealed my experience with Jesus and my new friend who now was celebrating her freedom. I was almost immediately discounted and looked at as a heretic, spreading unBiblical deception. One woman went to the Pastor, who renounced my experience and the shunning began.

But my faith had been transformed. I knew the Truth of what the Bible had written about our commission from Jesus. I had followed His commandments (Matthew 10:8) and I had witnessed and experienced His power that comes to disciples willing to trust Him and be guided by the Holy Spirit. My husband and I would refuse to be silenced about the work Jesus still desires to do in the world. We would receive the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us and teach us in our moments of prayer, through the inspiring and revealing words of Scripture, and through all the trials in our lives; helping others to overcome their own trauma and trials. We would commit ourselves to living out our faith with the Holy Spirit's wisdom, counsel, understanding, might, knowledge, and the fear (awesome reverence) of the Lord that He provides.

So, to anyone who feels they have experienced shunning from The Church or Society, do not let that deter you from doing what the Holy Spirit has shown you is bringing glory to God. Learn to hear what the Lord says to you and about you, rather than man's interpretation. ALWAYS ask the Holy Spirit for discernment, and ask permission to reveal what the Lord and Holy Spirit have revealed to you. Perhaps you are being used by God to challenge others to seek more of God's Truth and Wisdom. 

Shunning is not pleasant, and you will need the strength Jesus can provide to endure it. But once you've been convicted that you are receiving the Truth, you can overcome any doubts the Enemy is whispering. Suddenly, what you've read in the Bible makes perfect sense and comes alive! You see just how big our God is, and you are able to proclaim the Gospel message with humility, faith, and clarity. As your walk with the Lord becomes stronger and closer, you will find yourself equipped for service to Him and His Kingdom. Nothing -- and I do mean Nothing -- is more important in this life. Trust in His calling on your life and be bold in walking it out. Be Blessed!     

 1 Corinthians 2:9-10      But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" -- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of. God.

  

 

 

Why Won't The Church Receive the Fullness of Biblical Prophecy?

Have you ever felt like you identified with the prophets the Lord sent to His people? If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time since I started it in 2011, you will recall that I have often said that my husband, Mark, joins me in feeling the frustration that the prophet Jeremiah must have incurred. Hear me ... I am not claiming that we have any kind of anointing from God as prophets! But, I do know that He has called us to be watchmen on the wall. That means God has given us an assignment to listen and observe; seeing [in the spirit] impending danger, and then warning people of their personal sins [as well as the sins of our nation] and the consequences of ignoring God's warnings for being disobedient.

The Bible is full of examples of God-appointed watchmen. You are most likely familiar with Ezekiel 33, in which the Lord announces He will hold the watchman [who receives the warnings from God] accountable for warning the people of their sins and any forthcoming peril. A watchman who was blind or carelessly negligent in carrying out his/her duties, left the people he was to warn open to danger, hardship, and tribulation [suffering]. Consider the Word in Isaiah 56:19 ... His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 

Some of the prominent watchmen in the Old Testament are very familiar to us, and we recognize their role in carrying the warnings of God to the ancient Israelites: Moses, warning of the consequences of being delivered into the hands of their enemies if they did not keep the Sabbaths of the Lord; Micah, who proclaimed the capture of Israel by Babylon; Jeremiah, who suffered mightily at the hands of his own people for warning of their coming captivity in Babylon if Israel did not return to their God. He was beaten, put in stocks, thrown down a well, put in jail, and brutally ostracized. Yet, he prevailed in obeying the Lord. And, of course, there was Isaiah, who warned that King Hezekiah's conciliatory relationship with messengers from Babylon would be the downfall of Israel and lead to their captivity. But Isaiah's warnings included the prophecies of Daniel's capture and captivity; the release of the Jews by Cyrus the Persian [100 years before Cyrus was even born!]; and the eventual fall of Babylon.

But I often see that the modern Church treats these messengers from God as part of ancient history, with no correlation to modern watchmen. But, who are these modern watchmen? It's not hard to understand that today God calls church leaders, in the form of pastors, ministers, and directors, to be His spiritual watchmen, to keep watch on the souls of the believers. But, we must be cognizant that God calls not just these leaders, but all Christians to be watchmen! Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning ... It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes ... You must also be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Luke 12:35-40).  

The Word makes it very clear, through the writings inspired by God, that the prophecies given by the prophets are in alignment with the Signs alluded to, by Jesus, of His imminent return. I believe He gave us those signs so that we would be aware of His return and be prepared to stand and endure through the Tribulation period that He declares will usher in His return to Earth. He wants us to Wake Up! Be alert! Get Prepared! (Read Romans 13:11, Revelation 3:2, Habakkuk 2:19). 

And that brings me to the central point of my frustration with the Modern Church. I am finding that many of the faithful, obedient Christian men and women whose paths cross mine -- whether it be during our Home Church meetings, our Inner Healing Sessions, or various retreats and Christian events Mark and I have attended -- are uncomfortable when we give them information [in the form of warnings] that the Lord has instructed us to share. Some of these warnings are attached to the increasing intrusion of Artificial Intelligence into our lives and the consequences of its spiritual injury. Other warnings concern corruption of our DNA through ungodly genetic tampering in the health industries. [Think, "as it was in the days of Noah"]. Then there are the warnings from the Lord regarding the impending Beast System that is hinted at through the monetary, religious, and social controls of our lives.

God warns of all these dangers throughout the Old Testament and into the New. And they are warnings given to help us be prepared and to encourage our fellow believers, and to bring new insight to those who have yet to meet Jesus. But I am often dumfounded and frustrated by Christians who say they know their Bible, but do not see these warnings! Even more so, I am saddened at realizing the institutional Church has not educated them. That's part of their calling! Instead, Mark and I find ourselves confronted by [oftentimes] angry Christians who only want us to speak of the Goodness of God. We make a point of stating that this characteristic of God is a given! We are all gathered together precisely because we know of His Goodness, Love, and Mercy! But we cannot remain blind to His Righteousness, Justice, and Judgment! I'm afraid that too many of our Churches only feed their flocks the part of God that "feels good". The messages of tribulations, suffering, and spiritual warfare remain unspoken.

It is neither fun nor easy to be the deliverer of God's messages of warning. People seem to only want to concentrate on the Glory of Jesus's return on the clouds to escort us Home. They don't want us to caution them of the dangers of ignoring what is happening here on Earth to cause Him to return and what happens then -- when Jesus removes the Restrainer's hand and deals with the Evil and corruption. But it is exactly those dark events that will precede His return and usher in our final deliverance. We need to be watching and alert to see them coming, so we can endure, persevere, and stand! 

Let me be declare ... the watchman's warnings do not supersede or override God's blessings and goodness to those He loves. In reality, it is because we are recipients of the experience and knowledge of His goodness that we should be able to hear the WHOLE WORD and receive the FULLNESS  of His message to us in His warnings and prophecies. Being a watchman does not mean I am a Doomsday Prophet. Being a watchman means I take my assignment from God seriously, and am willing to take the slings and arrows of Christians who just might be living in fear that Jesus has provided us with an early warning system to get ready and be prepared for these End Times and the Day of the Lord. 

It is time for the Church and the Body of Christ to wake up to their responsibility of giving Believers what they desperately need in this world that is full of deadly perils -- and it's not more Church programs and Church growth. That's why the true Watchmen are trying to incorporate the full message God wants His people to hear today ... Hang on to your hope that I am coming soon!  Cling to your joyous expectation of meeting Me and returning to Heaven in your immortal bodies. But be aware that there is tribulation approaching and be spiritually prepared for the ways that the Enemy will try to deceive you! But you will not be fooled! You will stand before the Lord, celebrating your victory and reveling in His Glory! Amen!

Luke 21:34-36    But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

     

 

  

Is Our Nation's Covenant with God in Jeopardy?

If you are a Christian, you should comprehend that a covenant made with Jehovah, God of the Universe, is meant to be taken seriously. A covenant is an important and  consequential agreement made between God and His people. Furthermore, when we are in covenant with God, that relationship is sacred and should be kept in the spirit of commitment and trustworthiness. It reflects our integrity, character and faithfulness. And when we break covenant with God, our relationship is affected, and there are oftentimes ruinous consequences that result, leading us away from God's promises and blessings. That's true for us, as individuals, as well as nations.

I guess my first question to you is this: Are you aware that our nation began with a covenant with God? It was called The Mayflower Compact, and was established in 1620 when 102 brave colonists landed in the New World, near Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. The leaders of the group created the Mayflower Compact, knowing that a settlement without laws could prove catastrophic. A functioning and definable social structure was necessary to ensure the success of the colony. The company of citizens was made up of religious separatists [the Pilgrims] seeking freedom from the Church of England, merchants, craftsmen, indentured servants, orphaned children, and other common folk.

In order to quell the rising dissension among the new colonists, Pilgrim leaders sought to create a temporary set of laws for ruling themselves per the majority agreement. That agreement became known as The Mayflower Compact, and this is what it said ... In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread [awesome and revered] Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; do by these present, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another; covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience...

This document was revolutionary ... laying the foundation for the first experiment in self-government, whereby settlers developed orderly governance, declaring themselves accountable to each other and to God. In fact, reverence for God and the importance of Faith, both became the founding principles for governance in the beginning of our country and would influence the framework of the Constitution of the United States nearly 167 years later. That determination to live in faith and unity has withstood our nation for 250 years and established the cornerstone of social contract and our covenant with God. An important aspect that should never be ignored is the taking of an oath in discharging governmental duties. God and Jesus are not exactly fans of our oath-taking, preferring that we rely on their grace to help us accomplish our duties, rather than stating that we "will faithfully execute the duties of the office".   

Now, let me [finally] get to the crux of what I'm trying to articulate in this post. I hope that I've been able to communicate that in the course of fulfilling a citizen's commitment to governance, we have a history of declaring our allegiance to faithfully discharge the duties of the office, impartially and to the best of our abilities, and to uphold the Constitution of the United States, usually ending with "So help me, God" [with a hand on the Bible, to indicate the covenant made with God in this important commitment].

So, how are we to think about Zohran Mamdani taking his oath of office on the Quran? First of all, I'm still trying to wrap my head around Mr. Mamdani taking the oath in a decommissioned subway space underground, beneath New York City Hall at midnight. Why take the oath in a private ceremony, devoid of constituents, political colleagues, or the press? Why the secrecy? Is his loyalty and allegiance to the Constitution and the laws of the United States divided? The problem with the way he chose to take his oath of office is that we cannot know what he pledged. 

Let me be clear .... I am not judging or criticizing his Muslim faith. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof without government interference. Likewise, government officials are not to impose their religion [or its rules] upon individual citizens. But a little bit of research indicates that Muslims, when taking the oaths of office, typically emphasize an acknowledgement of Allah as the supreme being, and they "swear by Allah that I will faithfully execute the duties of my office". 

Here is what I am asking the Holy Spirit to show us: In Deuteronomy 32, God gave the nations their inheritance and allotments of land, separating the peoples and setting their boundaries; each people choosing which god they would worship. As Psalm 82 shows us, God stands in the divine assembly; He judges among the gods (divine beings) -- calling them to account for judging unjustly and showing partiality to the wicked. Whether it is Allah, Vishnu, Buddha, Brahma, or any number of deities worshiped in the world, it matters to the Most High God, Jehovah, how the weak and fatherless, the afflicted and destitute, and the weak and needy are treated on the earth. 

So, now that we have a very outspoken and dedicated politician running New York City, I think it's important we know how his faith and his god will shape his political decisions. I applaud his desire to improve the lives of working-class New Yorkers, and understand a position that welcomes inclusivity and diversity, but his hesitancy to renounce Sharia Law, which does not coincide with the fundamental rights and freedoms that represent American Law, is a concern. According to this article in thenewscasters.com, The Quran repeatedly asserts the supremacy of divine law over human legislation. "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed -- then it is those who are the disbelievers." (Quran 5:44); "So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires." (Quran 5:48). Will the desires of the citizens of New York be considered in how he legislates?

And that brings me back to the conclusion of my thoughts in this post, and the question I ask in the title: Is Our Nation's Covenant with God in Jeopardy?  Does the oath of office, made in the name of another god, break our covenant with the Most High God of our land? Does it matter? What does Jehovah God think? I've already stated that covenants are solemn agreements between God and His people [or between individuals] that carry significant spiritual and moral weight. The Bible Hub website says that the consequences of breaking these covenants are profound and multifaceted, often resulting in divine judgment, loss of blessings, and relational discord. When we, as individuals, or as a nation, break our relational bonds with God and despise the oaths we took to follow in His ways, statutes, and commandments, God makes it clear that we can expect grief, separation from Him, and lost/missed blessings in our lives. 

We made a covenant with Him through the Mayflower Compact and our nation was blessed. But we've broken covenant with Him in my generation alone by agreeing with abortion, trafficking children, being in agreement with "gender-affirming care", pursuing artificial intelligence that seeks to supersede God's authority, and too many moral transgressions to name. He will not tolerate our rebellion and wickedness much longer. His judgment is coming soon if we do not repent and restore this divine and blessed covenant! When we invite the influence of foreign gods into the fabric of the laws of our land, we are tempting God. I fear we have taken one more step towards His divine and righteous judgment. Lord, send a wind of renewal and restoration throughout this land, bringing us back into covenant with You. In Jesus's Name, I pray. Amen.

Ezekiel 16:59.    For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

Christians! Do You Understand What "The Day of the Lord" Means?!

The Holy Spirit has been prompting me of late to come out of the world [even more] and eliminate anything that distracts me from hearing Him. I'm sensing that it's so important that I stay tuned in to what I need to know as one of His Watchmen on the Wall. I take Ezekiel 33 very seriously ... Whenever He gives me a word and instructs me to warn the people of God, I am to share what He has given me -- regardless of whether it is received or not. So, if I don't warn them, and they are harmed, their blood is on my hands. In contrast, if I do give the warning, and it is ignored, that person will die in his sin and iniquity, while I will be delivered, having been obedient to my calling.

These are dangerous times we live in. The world is on the brink of destruction; physically, economically, and spiritually. While my husband, Mark, and I have been blowing the trumpet for over 15 years, we seem to be closing in on a time where there is no turning back. And the consequences will be distressing and devastating. Which is why we brought up the topic of The Day of the Lord with a group of friends that are faithful Christians. We asked the group of around 10 people, "Who has never heard that terminology... and, if you have, do you know what it means"? About half of the group had never heard the phrase. The other half agreed it referred to the day of Jesus's Second Coming. 

While I did not expect that outcome to our survey, I have to say I wasn't surprised. Our Western model [and history] of religion has resulted in a Church that has failed to teach a complete and accurate foundation of God's Truth. In addition, the Church has not encouraged the faithful to study and learn the fullness of God's Word, either through adequate education, or examination [and scrutiny] on their own. Therefore, something as important as The Day of the Lord, goes largely unheeded or misunderstood. 

So, let me refer you to the Word, itself, to enlighten you to the reason the Holy Spirit has given me this timely prompting. Just as Mark and I did in the discussion with our group of faithful friends, let me refer you to passages and verses in the Bible that makes it clear what God means when He writes of The Day of the Lord -- not just what some seminary or podcast has taught through a popular Christian "voice". I will present the Word in chronological order so you can understand that God's teaching on this important concept has been consistent through time ... it was Truth in the past history of the world; it's the same Truth today; and it will be the same Truth in what I think is the near future. So, let's begin in the Old Testament...

Isaiah 2:12    For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up -- and it shall be brought low;

Isaiah 13:6-8    Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed; pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will be aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.

Ezekiel 13:5    You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.

Ezekiel 30:3    For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Joel 2:11    The LORD utters His voice before His army, for His camp is exceedingly great; He who executes His word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?

Amos 5:15-17    Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts [armies] will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord: "In all the squares there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!' They call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation, and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

Obadiah 15    For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

Zephaniah 1:14    The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.

Zechariah 14:1    Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Malachi 4:5    "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome [terrible] day of the Lord comes".    

Are you able to hear and understand that from the days of the prophets the Lord has warned that a day was drawing near; a day in which the Lord brings His judgment and devastation against people and nations who have been prideful and sinned greatly against Him? And in Malachi, we see the end of the Old Testament, and God announces that He will now bring "Elijah the prophet", who will bring the last warning "before the great and awesome day of the Lord". But here's where we have to dig a little deeper ... Elijah does not magically appear again after being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). 

What Malachi is referring to is the prophecy over John the Baptist, given to his father Zechariah by an angel of the Lord, who told him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.... and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared". 

It would be more than 400 years after Malachi's prophecy until the power and spirit of Elijah appeared in John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus to begin His ministry. The Flood had ostensibly wiped Evil off the face of the earth. Men had the opportunity to repent of their ways and walk righteously before their God, but the verses we've just read tell us that they were once again offending the Lord, whose anger and wrath were being stored up for them if they didn't repent and change their ways.

So God decides to send Himself, in the flesh, to remind mankind that God's patience would not last forever. He sends John the Baptist (with the spirit and power of Elijah) to set the stage for Jesus's appearance. But it became clear within three years that Evil was determined to destroy God's messenger and Kingdom on earth. So the final warnings in this age were given in the New Testament of the Word; which was really the same warnings that He had given throughout the history of mankind....

Acts 2:20    The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD comes [when the Glory of the Lord is revealed].

1 Corinthians 5:5    When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and My spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11    Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2    Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction ... 

NOTE: 1 and 2 Thessalonians are often interpreted as the Rapture, but that's a discussion for another day. Just let me say this before we move on to the final scriptures regarding the day of the Lord... It is true that we know neither the day nor the hour that the Son of Man will appear (Matthew 24:36-44). But we are warned "to watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:13). It is my opinion that Matthew 24 and 25 give us the signs that the Day of the Lord is near and it won't simply be a pleasant day, full of joy. Please read those two chapters and see if you don't agree that everything God warned about it in the Old Testament will be apparent... so let's continue with the remaining verses in the New Testament.

2 Peter 3    I urge you to read this short chapter. It is a great summary of what has come before and accurately represents where I think we are today... "you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through the apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation ... But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.    

Now we come to the final chapters of the Bible that reveal the culmination of all the warnings that have been given mankind regarding the Day of the Lord. Through the centuries of history, God has been patient, giving men the opportunity to repent and abstain from His wrath. But "just as it was in the days of Noah", the Lord will recognize that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord will regret that He has made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. That happened in Genesis 6, but we see the story repeated again in The Book of Revelation when Jesus opens the seals of the scroll which will reveal God's final judgment against the men of earth...

Revelation 6:15-17    [As the sixth of seven seals is opened, we read, "Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great Day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?' " 

Revelation 16:13-15    This chapter of the Bible reveals the Seven Bowls of God's Wrath, including, once again, an admonition that He will come like a thief ... And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. for they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!").  

Here, I am reminded of the Ten Virgins, who went out to meet their Bridegroom. Five of them did not stay equipped with enough oil (the Holy Spirit), and were unable to stay awake (watchful, aware of the times); becoming drowsy and falling asleep. So many people in the Church are like these five unprepared Virgins. They are not awake or equipped. And I fear equally for those who do not know about or understand what "The Day of the Lord" ultimately means for them. Yes, we can see it as the day the Lord will return to earth ... but its significance is much more consequential! 

As these Scriptures that span the Bible disclose [in their unbroken and consistent declarations], there will be a Great Day of the Lord in which His warnings of destruction and devastation against man's bond with Evil will be punished and He will pour out His Wrath upon mankind and the planet. Sadly, man will plead, "Forgive us, Lord, we didn't know what the Day of the Lord meant"!  But, whose fault is that?? As I've shown today, there was ample opportunity to know this important precept, if people would just read their Bible! We all are held responsible for seeking the Lord ... It is the Glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out [Proverbs 25:2]. None of us has an excuse.

Secondly, the Church and the Pastors will also be held accountable. They are to be the caretakers and disseminators of God's Word; Shepherds leading their flocks. But what are we to do when they are ignorant themselves of what the Word says and means? The Enemy has been very successful, down through the centuries and millennia, of sending false prophets and teachers into the midst of Godly people; people who truly love the Lord, but are easily misled and deceived. But how long do you think before God and the Lord say ,"Enough is enough?" It seems to me that the Evil that men have sowed into the world has finally filled God's cup of wrath. When will it begin to overflow?

At this point, I know some may be thinking these verses are taken out of context; they are all about Israel as God's people. But we belong to God, too, and the warnings and commandments and expectations [from God] are the same for us as they were for ancient Israel. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  

This post is not meant to embarrass, offend, or accuse anyone. I am simply bringing the important precept of the Day of the Lord to everyone's attention. It's what a Watchman on the Wall does. I pray that all [especially the Church] takes the time to study it, take it to the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to elucidate all the Scripture. It's not a simple manner of avoiding these warnings by way of a Rapture -- the Scripture doesn't say that. 

What it does say is this... it seems to separate the event at the end of 1 Thessalonians 4 [the coming of the Lord and being caught up together with Him in the air] from the event at the beginning of 1 Thessalonians 5 [the day of the Lord that will come like a thief in the night]. The Bible very distinctly says "While people are saying, 'Peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape". Does this sound like the same event to you? Remember, the Bible often leaves gaps in its testimony and it is His Glory to hide what He hopes we will seek in order to know Him deeper.    

We will all be judged, but are not all appointed to God's wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). In addition, we are told to Study to show ourselves approved by God; to be a workman in His Kingdom, unashamed and rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). That's a huge statement to unpack! So, I will leave you with a lot of information and Scripture to piece together and connect the dots. But know this ... the Holy Spirit is waiting and eager to help you comprehend. It's up to you to take the challenge. Happy New Year! May 2026 be a year of great growth in the Lord!

2 Peter 3:17-18.    Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.    

 

             

 
   

Lord Jesus ... Forgive Us Our Trespasses!

As mankind recovers from the overindulgence of the Christmas season, I wonder how many who profess faith in the true meaning of Christ's birth are honestly assessing if we are honoring Him and why He came to live among us. Maybe it's my advancing years that has me carefully looking at my life [and the world], but I find myself sensing the magnitude of how much we've failed Him.

I am not given to gloom and doom, or a sense of defeat. In fact, I am exceedingly mindful that He loves us and all that He's created; that He forgives us when we ask in repentance, expecting us to forgive others who've hurt us. And I praise His Name and work in my life. But, still, I often feel a heaviness that blankets my soul. And my spirit cries out, Forgive me, Jesus, for putting my needs and feelings before those of others! I haven't followed Your example of being a humble, sacrificing servant. I truly mean it when I ask You to cleanse me of everything that is not of You; I want to be worthy to invite you to sit on the throne of my heart!

The joy of the hope of Christmas is true and encouraging. So, the world has no excuse for the state it's in. God made His presence known to Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, telling them what He expected from mankind and bidding them to share His precepts, statutes, and guidelines for pleasing Him. Actually, ancient civilizations [such as the Sumerians] that predate the father of our faith, had creation and flood stories that mimic what we've been given in our Bible. Modern man is the recipient of a collection of texts considered to be the authoritative and inspired Word of God, determined in the 3rd-4th centuries by various councils [including Councils of Nicaea, Rome, and Carthage]. It wasn't until the Fifteenth Century [1455, to be exact,] that the masses had access to the printed Word, available in the Gutenberg Bible.

But my point is this: Since the creation of the world, God and Jesus have made themselves known. We've had thousands of years to get it right. Paul explicitly tells us in Romans 1:20, Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. So, here I sit, the day after Christmas, a day we ostensibly profess that we are celebrating the birth of our God and declaring our faithfulness as His followers -- yet the world doesn't reflect what we proclaim. 

It is obvious we need a Savior. And, yes, He came as an innocent, helpless baby. But if that's the only Jesus that people relate to, then I guess I can understand [a little], why so many people aren't convicted of their sins or His divine authority. I can understand why they don't have the "fear of God' [the reverence and recognition of His full identity]. And that's where I often find my active faith wanting. The world is a reflection of how we reflect Him in our lives! We are pretty good at sharing His attributes of Love, Grace, and Mercy. But the full picture of our Savior includes His character as a warrior king, a righteous judge, and the commander of Heaven's armies -- waging war against the dark kingdom of Satan's forces; forces who have found a world too eager to give in to its temptations of power, wealth, and fame. That's a powerful motivation to skip studying God's revelation about Himself, and seek what pleases ourselves. 

So, most of the world is left with images of Jesus as a newborn baby, or a physical man whose message is defeated as he dies, nailed to a wooden cross. Sadly, even Christians don't take the time to seek the fullness of who He is from the inspired Scriptures. It's there, if you have the desire to know "the whole story".  Within that holy Book, you will see Him with eyes blazing; hair as white as snow; feet like fine brass [as if refined in a furnace]; with a sharp, two-edged sword coming forth from His mouth; His countenance like the sun shining in its strength; a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes [the seven Spirits of God]; who will rule all nations with a rod of iron; clothed in a robe dipped in blood; riding a white horse, judging and waging war in righteousness... and all because of our sin.

It's easy to get caught up in the sentimentality and emotionalism of Christmas. And it does remind us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The love of God is most assuredly part of the Christmas spirit. But as we come out of the romanticism and nostalgia of the Christmas season, we are met with the truth of what the world really looks like. And that finds me repenting, asking my Lord for the forgiveness of my part in its failing Him. 

So join me in reviewing what Jesus has commanded us to do -- live both a compassionate, loving life and a moral, righteous one. Let us take a good look at ourselves and commit to repent; believe in Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls; and put others before ourselves, serving selflessly, just as He did. When we pursue an intimate relationship with Him; praise and worship Him; care for others less fortunate or in need; and turn from our sins of greed, materialism, and selfishness, He will respond and lead us on paths of His righteousness. And that will lead to us reflecting His moral justice system, such as defending the unborn; and fighting human trafficking, religious persecution and oppression.

So, today, I commend my spirit to renew my commitment to furthering the Kingdom of God. I ask Jesus to help me fulfill the Great Commission to which He has called me ... to share the Hope I have in Him and His promises, and to make Him known among all peoples. I have repented because I know His expectations are high, but I also know that the Holy Spirit resides in me and will empower me to reflect the Glory of my Savior as I take a stand for His Kingdom. This broken world will be conquered by the love of Christ, and I want to be a part of seeing that promise come to fruition. Bless you all as we move forward into 2026, the year of our Lord!

Philippians 1:27    Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose] with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.    

  

    

 

 

Christians: Know the Whole Truth of the Christmas Story

I want to begin by saying it is not my intention or the purpose of this post to offend anyone or cause strife in the midst of the Christian community. But I would just like to share some thoughts and insights I have in the hopes that we can worship our God in the fullness of His sovereignty, recognizing Truth. So, I approach you in love, and ask that you read these words I've written, taking them to the Lord and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.

Once again, we in the Twenty-first Century think our perspective on the world is the only true one; that we have the ultimate authority in determining what the truth is [and has been]  about anything. Take Christmas, for instance. We decorate our trees, sing our Christmas carols, and exchange gifts ... declaring that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior. The exchanging of gifts honors the tradition of the Wise Men bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The 25th of December is the day to acknowledge that the baby Jesus was born in a manger, in Bethlehem of Judah, and we honor our religious tradition by setting up nativity scenes in our homes and churches. It is a season of Good Tidings and Joy!

But there is so much more to the story. Yes, our Savior was born in a manger in Bethlehem -- God came in the flesh! -- to save, first, the lost sheep of Israel, (Matthew 15:24), whom He had chosen for this task, according to Old Testament prophecy. And then through the Jews, salvation would come to the Gentiles, so that all who believe in Him will be saved and delivered into the Kingdom of God (John 10:16).  "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold (Israel). I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd". 

BUT, there's a crucial component of our Christmas celebration missing from this narrative. Nowhere in the Bible does it confirm December 25th as Jesus's birth date. In fact, there is some evidence that there was a lack of consensus among early Christian groups as to his date of birth. (See this article). And then there are others that promote the idea that this date coincides with Emperor Constantine's worship of the Sun god Ra, and Ra's birthday on December 25th. One thing I know for sure, no one has been able to prove any verifiable evidence of either of these conjectures. 

Maybe that's not important to you, and you desire to just celebrate the truth of the holiday -- that Jesus came to save us. That's fine and I totally understand the simplicity and truth of that belief. But I have long been bothered with the commercialization of Christmas, concerned that it leads into a tempting sentimentalism that obscures [and ignores] the harsh truth of the state of the world when God decided to send His Son -- a state that was anything but nostalgic and warm and fuzzy.

But before we get to that, I'd like to touch on just how our modern ideas of Christmas were marketed and came to be. As I noted in a 2015 blog post, in our early history as a nation, Christmas was celebrated in a far less extravagant manner than it is today. It was an understated family affair, and people chose to go to a church service, where the emphasis was on Luke 1 and 2, and the story of Jesus's conception and birth. Piles of gifts under a Christmas tree didn't come until later after the poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore for his family's entertainment, sparked the interest of canny entrepreneurs and businessmen to begin creating specific holiday traditions.

Popularity of the holiday grew after the Civil War when magazines like Harper's Weekly and Godey's Lady's Book published images and engravings of a family gathered around a small tree set atop a table, and the Christmas tree market soared. It wasn't long before F.W. Woolworth, a successful retail mogul, exploited this romantic sentimentalism about Santa Claus and the Christmas holiday, and saw the commercial possibilities of selling Christmas lights, Christmas cards, and an unlimited supply of creative Christmas decorations... none of which are Biblical, but enhanced the idea of "the spirit of Christmas". Sadly, too often the real spirit of Christmas has been secularized, or if Christ's birth is mentioned or celebrated, it is considered a right-wing holiday. 

I will say that I am happy to see that the "War on Christmas" of a few years back -- when you couldn't even say "Merry Christmas", or display a nativity scene in the town square -- has subsided. But I fear the average American (let alone the average Christian) doesn't see that our desire for the nostalgic memories of Christmases past has distracted us from the truth which that momentous night in the stable represented ... As Russell Moore, Editor-at-Large at Christianity Today, wrote in a blog post, titled The Antichrist Hides in Plain Sight at Christmas: "Evil is in the backdrop of your Nativity set... the hope and fears of all the years are met in that manger [feeding trough] in Bethlehem. It's beast versus baby".    

You see, I think when we ignore the efforts of the Enemy of God to distract us with the warm, fuzzy emotions about this holiday, we are in danger of missing the truth that the Bible does give us about what Christmas is really all about. We like to picture that scene of Christ's birth with a little drummer boy, docile animals gazing upon the Christ child, and Angels and the host of Heaven singing of the Glory of God. In reality, Roman soldiers and a violent, sadistic King Herod sought to have the Holy Child killed. We tend to think of the Bethlehem of the Bible as a safe little oasis, a sleepy, peaceful little town separated from the brutal conditions of living under Roman rule. 

That scene comforts us during the Christmas season, when we are all trying to escape from what we think of the Bethlehem of today -- we see war, terrorism, threats of genocide, and pure hate. We think that our nostalgic idea of the Biblical Bethlehem, the scene of Jesus's birth, seems far more preferable to what we see on our TV screens. But nothing could be further from the truth! 

The Bethlehem, at Jesus's birth, is under the thumb of tyrannical Roman power. It is governed by King Herod, a pretender to the Jewish throne of David in Judah, and a vassal of Rome; his power is contingent on paying tribute and allegiance to his Roman overlord. With Jesus's birth, Bethlehem became the center of an epic battle between God and the AntiChrist spirit in the world. Our nostalgic version of the The Christmas Story doesn't reveal the whole truth.

No one loves the comfort, peace, and love of that Christmas Story, as much as I do. Luke 2 focuses on the joy of that version -- our Savior has come into the world, bringing the hope and promises of ancient prophecies: peace on earth, and good will towards men. But Matthew 2 also adds to the Christmas Story by revealing that King Herod knew of the prophet Micah's prediction that from Bethlehem of Judea, would come "a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel". Herod was unaware that an angel of the Lord had appeared to some shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night, and proclaimed that Christ the Lord (the Messiah) had been born that night.

When the wise men (Magi) from the East appear in Jerusalem looking for the Christ child, whose star they had seen, Herod becomes frantic to keep his fraudulent power. He orders his soldiers to " put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that area who were two years old and under, according to the date which he had learned from the Magi". In response to this atrocity, God sends an angel of the Lord to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him" (Matthew 2:13).

Both Luke 2 and Matthew 2 give us this skeleton of the Christmas Story. But the Apostle John is given another version [by Jesus, Himself] in Revelation 12, where we get a picture of a woman who cries out in labor pains while giving birth to a baby who would rule the nations; and a dragon who sought to devour that child and chased Mary, Joseph, and the infant baby into the wilderness of Egypt. Immediately in 13, Jesus tells John that the dragon (Satan) appears on the scene bringing forth a "beast" to whom Satan gives his power and authority, along with another "beast" who "makes the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast". 

These three passages [Luke 2, Matthew 2, Revelation 12-13] should expand our understanding of the Christmas Story. It is the fullness of what happens on that glorious night of Jesus's birth - the disclosure of God's plan to redeem the world through the birth of His Son - and the response by Satan to lock down the dominion Adam and Eve had conveyed to him in the Garden. God sent the King of the Universe, who is also Ruler of this world; and Satan established the beast(s) who were to become the authoritarian political power and the religious power  -- both to be worshiped by the masses. 

Can you see that part of Satan's plan to rule the world has been to introduce a softer version of the Christmas Story; a warm and fuzzy account, centered around a vulnerable baby, lying in a manger? And then, he adds distraction from the truth by introducing jolly old St. Nick; presents piled high; and glittery, shiny ornaments and decorations -- all with the plan to take our focus off the darker picture of slaughtered babies and beasts. These systems and powers have been working since Jesus's birth to thwart God's plans.  

But, if we're honest with ourselves, we know we can't ignore the truth; that Satan has been lurking in the shadows of Christmas since the beginning. The reality of that night in Bethlehem when the Savior of the world was born, was not warm and fuzzy. It would lead to violence, death, and centuries of a spiritual war that is building to a crescendo. The Christmas Story is one of flesh and blood; God comes to us in the flesh and He pays the price for our salvation with His blood. Satan spills the blood of those precious infants in Bethlehem and in untold numbers through wars, murder, and fratricide through the centuries. 

When you take a good, long look at the world, nothing has changed since that first Christmas Story ... while we see Satan's Evil towards the child in the manger and towards His followers today, we can also see the good tidings that the Light of the World is shining in the midst of our Enemy's darkness! Yes, there is darkness in the midst of the Christmas Story, but we must establish in our hearts the words of the Angel who spoke to the shepherds: Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah". 

You see, it doesn't matter to me the exact date of Jesus's birth. I will continue to praise my God for coming in the flesh to save me. I will honor His sacrifice and His victory over the evil forces of Satan -- the forces and power who have come against that vulnerable baby in the feeding trough, and yet have not been able to snuff out Christ's Light or His Love. The violent battle rages on, yet we have a reminder every year that we have been promised victory. I choose to embrace that victory and the nostalgia of Christmas -- past, present, and future.

But I'm also going to be vigilant to guard my Faith against the beasts that come to deceive and destroy. I praise You, Lord Jesus. I kneel before the manger in honor of your commitment to come save us and to establish Your Kingdom on earth. And I stand in obedience and allegiance to Your Throne in the earth, as it is in Heaven. So, I will delight in the warmth of the Christmas season, knowing that there is more beyond the superficial benefits marketed to the masses. And I acknowledge the hidden darkness in the history of its celebration, just as I express my gratitude for the knowledge that a precious baby will rule victorious over the beasts of hell. Rejoice and celebrate Christmas! The hope and fears of the generations are about to be met!

Luke 2:14    Glory to God in the highest [Heaven], and on earth, peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.

  

     

Jesus Created You to Have an Effect on the World! Now is the Time!

This is a timely and somewhat personal post. I have been invited to speak to a group of girls and young women at a fun event combining food, games, creative projects, and worship; a time dedicated to lifting up the Lord in our lives. As always, I seek Jesus and Holy Spirit as to what They desire me to share. I know it is important to be encouraging in these uncertain -- and let's face it -- dark days. I want these young girls and young adults, along with their mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers, to leave the event with their identity in Christ at the forefront, and with a firm grasp of why Jesus created them. I want their spirits to be awakened to joy, action, and purpose.

Now, for the personal side of this post. I am able to draw on my own experiences and relationship with Jesus to encourage the women who will be coming to this event. When you are able to discover (and then act on) your unique and individual passion [in righteousness, of course], then it gives meaning to your life, and you please the desire of the Lord's heart for you. In my case, I loved to read and loved how I was able to use my imagination to begin writing historical fiction, even at the young age of 12. I continued to engage with my love of writing through high school (writing articles for my small local newspaper), getting a Journalism degree in college, and following that up with free-lance articles from interviews of the up-and-coming music scene in Austin, TX. And then I stopped writing. 

The world came calling, and being single, I had bills to pay. Then I got married and when my husband announced that he wanted to pursue his God-given talent and become a professional artist, I knew he was ready to chase his dreams and I didn't want him to be 70 years old and say, "I wish I had gone for it". I continued to work my job and pay the bills, while he paid his dues in the art business. The next 12 years saw success come his way and I became his business manager, web designer, scheduler, accountant, and all-things administrative. It was an exciting lifestyle, but I began to want to pursue my own creative passion. The problem was that I kept that to myself. My husband had no idea that I had ever had a love of writing. The time for that was long gone by the day I met him.

But then God intervened. In 2007, I had a chance meeting (or so I thought) with a man God sent as His messenger. We were in Montana at a wedding in which my husband was a groomsman, and another of the groomsmen had a gift of prophecy. On the last day before we were to return home, it was arranged for me to meet and talk to him because he had "something I needed to hear". And what he told me literally changed my life. He said that God had come to him in a dream with a message for me. That message changed my direction and focus. This modern day prophet wrote something on a piece of paper and shoved it across the table to me. "Does this have any meaning to you?", he asked. Written in a bold scrawl was Be the Pen -- not the blank piece of paper.

I stared at it for a full minute. I knew what it meant ... don't squander my passion and gift for writing. I had abandoned it for too long, leaving blank pages unwritten upon. I was to pick up my pen and start writing again. I finally looked at this man who had hit the target that was placed on my heart, and asked, "How did you know? No one -- not even my husband -- has known my love of writing". I'll never forget his response ... "God made you to write, and He desires to see you do what He made you to do. It pleases Him. Don't write to be a #1 best selling author; don't write for the money. Simply write because it pleases Him." I can't tell you what that did for my soul and spirit.

We drove home to Texas and I spent the next two years writing a fiction novel. Every day, my husband made me stop whatever I was doing for his art business and take the next two or three hours writing that novel; developing and fleshing out characters, and letting the Holy Spirit pour the storyline into me. I swear, when I would go back over my progress the next day, I would not remember writing the words on the page. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had in my life -- creativity just poured out of me! At the completion of that two-year exercise, it was like God said, "OK, I can trust that you will listen and seek My will, so I have another assignment. I want you to begin a blog, speaking to both men and women about the journey I'm going to take you and your husband on; about your seeking more knowledge of Me, and how it relates to what's happening in the world." And what a journey it's been! It's tested my faith; it's challenged my theology; and it's opened the Bible up to me in ways that continue to astound me. 

And I'm amazed that it's been 18 years since that encounter with God in Montana and I'm still learning how to write all that He's revealed in our time together. And one of the most interesting concepts is one that I've learned from a series of historical fiction by another author, Ginny Dye. Her books, The Bregdan Chronicles, have introduced a principle that I plan on sharing this weekend with the young women and their family members at the event I'm attending. It fits so nicely with some of God's principles, and I want to share it with each of you. 

The word Bregdan comes from the Gaelic language and is a term for weaving: Braiding. As the author explained, "Every life that has been lived until today is a part of the woven braid of life. It takes every person's story to create history. My life [and your life] will help determine the course of history. You may think you don't have much of an impact. You do. Every action you take will reflect in someone else's life ... someone else's decisions ... someone else's future. Both good and bad. That is the Bregdan Principle".

Think about it. God has created each of us to have an effect on the world! And, of course, He desires that we affect others and the world according to His will. It's easy to have an effect when we act according to our will, and oftentimes our decisions are made solely for our benefit instead of others or God. But it is important that we come to realize -- and acknowledge -- God's power within us to actually change the world! And when you recognize the passion that comes from God, and that He desires you use it to reflect Him to the world, then that passion becomes a powerful and joyful tool to effect someone's life, and to change the world. I have seen strangers look upon a piece of my husband's art and begin to cry; their soul touched by the reflection of God he shares in his painting. And just when I think maybe I've done all I am meant to do in affecting someone's life through my writing in this blog, I will receive a comment that says, "I was about to give up and then I stumbled upon your blog. This is exactly what I needed to hear today". 

Just like when God first told me that His gift of writing is not about me making a million bucks off an award-winning book, He has often whispered, "If you reach just one person today for Me [with your words], then I have more for you to do with your gift".  I want these women to know that each of them was created by Jesus with a purpose; to use whatever gift He has given them to affect the world for God's Kingdom here on earth. I want them to be on the spiritual lookout for signs that He's trying to communicate with them; to pay attention to those thoughts that come unbidden, or those "coincidences" that speak to their heart.

As I've contemplated what I will be speaking about this weekend, I kept hearing "Colossians" in my mind. So, this morning I sat down with my Bible and opened it up to the Book of Colossians. There, highlighted in yellow, with my hand-written notes in the margin, I saw the summary of what I want each of these precious girls and women to receive ... And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God: being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:9-14).  

There it is! This is what it means to be pleasing to the Lord: Bear fruit (discover what you're passionate about and do it unto the Lord!; increase in the knowledge of God; walk in His power and authority; be patient and endure with joy! Thank our Father for moving us into the Kingdom, and thank Jesus for redeeming us and forgiving us! 

And that's the way you have an effect on others and the world! You won't escape pain in this life, but you can outlast it by choosing joy in the midst of it, and giving thanks and credit to the Lord who has been there every step of the way. The world appears pretty dark these days, but we can be fully pleasing to the Lord, when we seek Him and are willing to pursue His path for which we were created, and then walking in our authority to fulfill that purpose. The world needs the light of God that we will reflect. Take a chance, trust Him, pursue Him, and see just how much effect you can have!

Ephesians 3:20-21.     Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work in us, to Him be glory in the Ekklesia and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.