A Review of Where We've Been and Where We're Going

It's been a few days since I've written because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about things He revealed to me several years ago, and asking me to revisit those posts in light of what He is unveiling today. It actually feels like I've made a complete circle and it's time to reiterate some topics ... Jesus's voice never becomes outdated and we sometimes need to be reminded of what He has said.

It's been nearly 12 years since the Lord asked me to write this blog for Him, with the purpose of speaking to anyone who was becoming aware [and alarmed] over seeing the changes in the inherent character and nature of our country. I was to write of my own thoughts, as well as the truth the Holy Spirit would reveal to me; always pointing the reader back to the Sovereignty of God. There were days that I had no idea what to write, and He clearly led me to His heart. 

So, I've spent these last few days taking a bird's eye view of where I started in this journey and where it looks like we're going; examining how my perspective has changed [if any], and how far down the track this runaway train has traveled. It's been interesting to see that the Lord began by highlighting the political aspects of our changing world, then focused me on "preparing for what's coming", then led me to the knowledge of spiritual warfare and the advancement of the Kingdom of God as our assignment. I'm actually astounded at all in which He has counseled me, and at the rate He has chosen to disseminate information to me. Now, I find that there are some things we need to reassess to see if we are still in alignment with Him.

I look back on the things and ideas and plans that were at the forefront of our changing way of life, and realize that those things are still important and at the center of my everyday existence. In 2008, my husband and I wanted to escape the "expendable" and "throw-away" mindset of our American generation, and return to the sustainable lifestyle of our grandparents.  We wanted to embrace the lost traditions and skills that allowed past generations to perpetuate and preserve things of value.  We didn't want to take anything for granted -- and that included our ability to provide food, shelter, and protection in any storm that threatened our lives. 

And because of the precarious state of our economy and our national security, those ideals seem even more important today. If anything, the storms that threaten our lives have increased in number and intensity! Back then, we were just considering the possibility of economic hardship. In fact, the reality of a worldwide plague, the scarcity of food, the loss of our national stature in the world, and the threat of World War III weren't on anyone's radar. But just as I stated then, I knew to the depths of my soul, that we were about to enter into a spiritual battle that most Christians would be unaware of and unprepared for. 

Their 'Normalcy Bias" kept them believing that not only were we indestructible as Americans, but they believed what a lot of our Churches were teaching: that we would never face the onslaught of Satan's evil because Jesus was going to swoop down and rescue us to take us to Heaven before any "of the bad stuff happened". I have been encouraged in these latter days from seeing Christians becoming more open to the truth that the Bible prophecies the trials and tribulations that are now squarely in front of us. But I find that there are still those who think that this terrifying future will be played out in an organized, structured, and orderly fashion -- in a manner that we will clearly discern and anticipate. But that's not how our Enemy plays the game.

I am thankful my Lord and the Holy Spirit have continued to reveal the truth to me -- no matter how ugly it was to be. My husband and I were shown what was to come years before the actuality was evident: the fundamental changes to our society; the economic decline; the growing threats of foreign enemies; the domestic threats to our peace and tranquility; the slow and stealthy erosion of our Constitution; the plagues and pestilence that were being readied to be unleashed; the consequences of lax security at our borders; the impending death of the American dream for the coming generations; and the rise of chaos, disorder, and lawlessness.

BUT, we were also blessed to be shown the power and hope that the Lord will bring to the Faithful Remnant who refuse to bow down to the Anti-Christ spirit that seeks to pervade the Earth. We feel a greater responsibility and duty to care for those who were not as farsighted as we, and we will ALWAYS take a stand for God's Kingdom. I will be honest ... there have been times it has been overwhelming. There are so many who have been oppressed and tormented by the Enemy to keep them off the spiritual battlefield. And there are not enough of us who have overcome those attacks and stepped into our Divine purpose to set those captives free to help in the advancement of the Kingdom. So we sometimes feel exhausted and tired from our greater responsibilities and duties; we can become mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually weary. But, we declare that we cannot, and will not give up! We will never accept defeat! 

And I renew my pledge to my Lord that I will continue to share what He shows me; I will not shy away from the revelations of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, I do not revel in being the bearer of bad news, and do not take delight in what I see coming upon the world. And I don't profess to know how the Lord's plans for us will play out, but I do know this ... He is not the Author of evil, nor does He seek to harm those who belong to Him. He endeavors to warn us, so that His good, and perfect, and acceptable will for our lives can be realized. But all people -- Christians and unbelievers alike, must recognize that Evil exists and it is mounting up what may be the final attempt to eradicate who it perceives as its mortal opposition ... the human race. 

So, as a summary, where the world has been is where it's continuing to go; and it's building steam for a cataclysmic conflict between Good and Evil. It cannot be avoided, but how we decide to face it is up to us. We've been given free will to determine our mindset and our path. What I wrote in 2014, still holds true today, nine years later ... "We were chosen for this time because our Maker knew He could count on us; He knew our steps would be sturdy and our pace would be constant. He knows we will be unmovable and unchanged in our purpose, posture, or position. We can handle the load and tackle the task [He has given us]. We will survive and overcome because our strength and perseverance lies in the Lord. And the best part? He's right beside us, sharing the load [and leading us into the battle]. Yes, we've been given a lot to cope with these last few years ... but too tired to go on? Not a chance! We've just been toughened and tempered for what lies ahead ... and we're ready, willing, and able"!  

I pray that your spirit is enlightened and encouraged. Don't be afraid! You have been redeemed by the Lord and summoned by name. You belong to Him!

Psalm 62:5-6    "Yes, my soul,  find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."
 

 

We Will Need The Faith That Moves Mountains

I discern the Holy Spirit telling me it is time for me to be honest. I don't know how anyone, Christian or not, can see and hear what the Enemy is heaping upon our country and not be aware that we are in the fight of our lives; a spiritual war for our way of life, our freedoms, and quite possibly our very survival. I know this might seem dramatic, but if you've been able to let go of your normalcy bias and pay attention to the massive corruption going on at the highest levels of our government; the revelations of foreign spy networks in our country, and the recent cyber warfare against our national defense systems, then you must be aware that we are under demonic attack. 

This blog post is not written to send you diving under the covers or to cause you to tremble in fear. Rather it is to awaken your spirit to the power of your faith. Remember [in the previous post] what Jesus reveals after He curses the fig tree and it dies ... if we have faith, and do not doubt, we will not only be able to do what He did to the fig tree, but we could tell a mountain to be moved and thrown into the sea, and it would happen. I would say that the battles before us form a whole mountain range that we need to move with our faith!

For those of you who have found your security in your job, or your bank account, or even your family, let me suggest that those foundations could easily crumble and fall in the face of what the Enemy has planned for us. But the foundation of faith in Jesus will withstand any storm or onslaught coming from the devil and his evil forces. Sadly, I am concerned that far too many people have built their faith on a foundation of shifting sand. It is important that we remember what Jesus taught in His parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders ... Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Our "house" could be compared to the life we've built; our physical and spiritual existence. If we hear what Jesus reveals about Himself and actually believe it and apply it [without doubting], then we have a solid foundation from which to withstand anything the Enemy uses to come against us. As the Bible says, it's because we built it on "the rock". And Who is the Rock? It is Jesus! 

One of my "go to" Bible passages is Psalm 18:1-3, and this is what it says: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. This passage has calmed my fears in times of doubt and confusion; strengthened my faith when I felt weak; and emboldened me when I needed to take a stand against the forces bombarding me. The Lord strengthens me through His power that is in me. I am bonded to Him in love and all that He is becomes mine! As the Passion Translation renders this passage, Jesus becomes as real to me "as bedrock beneath my feet, like a castle on a cliff, my forever firm fortress, my mountain of hiding, my pathway of escape, and my tower of rescue where none can reach me." My spirit is freed from the deception that the Enemy whispers as he tries to drag me into bondage. No longer do I receive his lies that "the great empire of the United States is doomed to expire, as all the great empires have done when I overcame them". 

My spirit knows the truth that "the Name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous runs into it and is safe".  And we must believe to the depths of our souls that this tower is one of rescue "where none can reach me". My spirit has found refuge in Him as I enter a strong tower with 6 foot thick walls of stone, where He awaits me next to a warm, blazing fire and I sit at His feet, receiving comfort and strength for the battles I will face. Outside, the forces of the Enemy storm as they rage in violent, uncontrollable anger that I am protected and safe. In those times, Jesus is my mountain that rises far above the forces of evil, and where I am able to escape and hear His strategies for victory in my life.

I write this post today because I discern that we are facing battles that we've never encountered in our lifetimes. Whether God has determined to deliver this nation or to discipline it, each one of us is still precious to Him and we have been given our free will to seek a personal relationship with Him that is separate and autonomous from the fate of the United States. That word autonomous means self-governing, self-determining, independent, and free. Now is the time to embrace the Scripture that says even though we may be walking in the valley of the shadow of death of our nation, we do not have to fear Evil. The rod and the staff that the Father has given Jesus can comfort us. We can know that the rod is His power and authority; it not only produced water from a rock, and caused the Red Sea to part, but it can become an iron rod that breaks the power of the Enemy from before us.  His staff guides us, corrects us to stay on the path, aids in defending us against predators, and helps us to stay balanced in Him.  

I also write this post because it is time that we face our reality. We are about to enter a new year, and we may not return to what "normal" used to look like. As this fact begins to dawn on people, I am seeing fear and panic rising up in my Christian community. I see them becoming paralyzed and incapable of movement. But that is the exact strategy of the Enemy: to bring not only our nation, but our very lives to a standstill by causing disruption and chaos and fear. We must stand up in our true identities! At our core, we are spirit beings, made in the image of our Creator! If we say we have faith, then we must believe that we have His power and His authority embedded in us! We must believe, without a doubt, that we can move those mountains of fear and panic, and they will be thrown into the sea. Then we can join the Heavenly Host in fighting in the spiritual realms for our nation and for our families -- for our very lives.

Do we, as a nation, and as individuals, deserve God's rod of discipline? Who can deny that? But His rod gives us wisdom (Psalm 29:15), and we need it to lift ourselves and others up out of this quagmire we find ourselves in; to be the beacon of hope and courage and strength that we find in Jesus Christ to overcome our Enemy. Although it may appear that we are facing inevitable chaos, this is a glorious opportunity to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom of God -- to share the Good News that Jesus is mankind's Savior and Deliverer, and to invite people to enter His Kingdom's government on earth and help Him rule the nations. We can demonstrate His power and authority in us to move mountains and show them what it is like to sit down to a meal where we dine on His peace and joy and comfort, even as we are sit in the midst of our enemies. We all need to have the faith to believe that those words He spoke were real and true. Our families and our communities are going to need to see our faith on display. And even if that faith is as small as a mustard seed, I believe Jesus will sustain it and grow it and strengthen it to become a resilient tree; a place of refuge for those seeking shelter.  

So, I am writing this post today to encourage you ... ask the Lord to help you face whatever may come, and you will find that He has been waiting to share His power and authority with you. He wants to equip you with the strength to endure; the wisdom to guide others; the knowledge of His winning strategies; the power to defeat the Enemy at every turn; and the ability to love others into their own glorious relationship with Him. He has known you as His created spirit being since He formed the foundations of the world, and He chose to send you to the earth for this time and in this place. We all have an assignment to complete. Will you represent Him well? Will you show the evil forces in this present darkness that our true freedom lies in who we are in Christ? Yes, in the coming days [and years] we will need the faith that moves mountains. But if we abide in the One who created the mountains, we have access to everything we need to tell those mountains to move, and they will tremble at our voices! Praise Him for He is worthy to be praised, and we will be saved from our enemies!

Revelation 2:26-27   The one who conquers and who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from My Father.