Independence Day: Supporting The Cause of Liberty and Freedom!

Do you feel it?  The electricity in the air is tangible. Nerves are taut and frazzled. Do you see it? It's a wariness and a weariness; most notably in the eyes and voices around you.  There's a readiness and a resolve.

I've heard it said more and more lately ..... "I'm so ready for it all to fall in, so we can start over and build from the ground up. Then maybe we can begin where we started and re-institute small government, and return the power to the people. Until we do, we will continue to lose our personal freedoms until we won't recognize ourselves anymore. And I can't stand this slow torture."

Why would anyone wish for the destruction of our economy, our political system, our way of life? Let me attempt to answer those questions.

Perhaps it's because we still have a modicum of freedom-loving spirit still in our DNA.  Maybe what brought those earliest settlers to Jamestown in 1607 and fueled the fire of liberty in their descendants in 1776, still courses through our veins.

I contend that the American soul recognizes that God intended us to live as free men, and it is inherently against our human nature to surrender our ability to become all we can be. We rejoice in our own accomplishments, instead of degrading our innate talents through entitlements and handouts. 

Another component of the "let it all fall in" mindset is the desire to avoid a slow Argentina-style slide into Depression and destabilization. This coincides with a "just rip off the bandaid and let's start the healing" mentality, instead of prolonging the pain by slowly picking at the edges of the adhesive and lengthening the duration of the suffering.

Now, don't get me wrong --- Americans aren't quitters. We don't give up! But anyone who thinks we can turn this massive ship of debt, corruption and constraint around needs to examine the social, historical and ideological forces at work. This situation didn't just happen overnight, and we instinctively know we're headed in the wrong direction. You see, Americans are innovators, trailblazers and pioneers. We chafe under oppressive limitations; we perform our best (and our country benefits most) when enterprise is allowed to flow; free and unfettered.

We will admit to our own failings; we fell asleep on the job. We didn't protect and preserve what was diligently carved out for us by our Founding Fathers, and was fought for and died for over the last two hundred-plus years. And I think that weighs heavier on our hearts than we want to admit. We've wasted our heritage and our God-given blessings. And we want to make it right!

So that's why there are so many of us who want to take on the mantle of leadership and responsibility that is so desperately needed in these times. We are ready to pick up the pieces and re-establish the precious principles that set this nation apart from any other people or country in history.

We don't relish the hardships and misery that will be a necessary part of pushing that re-set button. But we're ready to quit pretending the economy is in recovery; the culture is healthy; and our leaders have our best interests in mind. The quicker we face the music, the faster we can regain our footing and get back on solid ground.

As James Madison so eloquently expressed in 1787, "Is it not the glory of the people of America that, while they have paid a decent regard to the opinions of former times and other nations, they have not suffered a blind veneration for antiquity, for custom, or for names to overrule the suggestions of their own good sense, the knowledge of their own situation, and the lessons of their own experience? To this manly spirit, posterity will be indebted for the possession, and the world for the example, of the numerous innovations displayed on the American theater in favor of private rights and public happiness .... Happily for America, and happily we trust for the whole human race, the founders of the nation pursued a new and more noble course. They accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society. They reared the fabrics of governments which have no model on the face of the globe. They formed the design of a great confederacy, which it is incumbent on their successors to improve and perpetuate."    

The emphasis in the previous sentence is mine, and it is the very reason I can understand the desire to get on with our reconstruction as a nation. Sometimes the only way to "improve and perpetuate" a great design, (or in modern terms, "to revive and keep alive"), is to let it fail and rebuild it stronger and to a higher standard. We know what that looks like and we're ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Everything you just read was a post I wrote in May of 2012! Can you believe that was eleven years ago? Somehow, by God's Grace, as we celebrate this 4th of July, the nation is still hanging on by a thread. As precarious as it seemed in 2012, we have slid even further down the rabbit hole. We are more deeply divided along the lines of politics, ethics, culture, and morality. The battle between Good and Evil is more pronounced and more evident. God has pulled back the curtain, revealing the wickedness, lawlessness and depravity of the Evil One and his servants upon our nation; forcing us to take a side. 

For the last 11 years, we've pretty much been able to avoid making that choice. We've limped along, hoping and praying that some righteous leader would lead us out of our crippling national debt; heal us from a devastating world pandemic; and restore our individual freedoms that have been increasingly stripped away. But now, we can no longer fool ourselves that our beloved nation is on the verge of collapse, both from within and without. Have we ever seen the future look so despairingly fragile?

I submit to you that 247 years ago, we were facing a similar crisis. Much like today, the inhabitants of the 13 colonies were divided regarding the road the nation was going down. And full support of the Declaration of Independence was not supported by all members of the Continental Congress. A representative of Congress rode horseback 80 miles to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence. In fact, the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by English law, resulted in their deaths. They believed that strongly in their bid for freedom!

Do we have that same spirit, that same commitment to independence today? I love that this year, I am hearing more people say they are celebrating "Independence Day", rather than the "4th of July". I think that is in keeping with the spirit of what this holiday represents. After all, our Founding Fathers wrote a document titled, The Declaration of Independence. This was an important step in the evolution of a nation and of mankind.  The Founders of our nation were declaring that they were ready to live their lives as free men, unencumbered by the heavy hand of an oppressive authority; that they wanted to live their lives according to the "Laws of Nature", which in the 18th century meant certain fundamental principles or moral standards that were apparent to everyone.  This thought was perhaps best expressed by English philosopher John Locke, in his Second Treatise on Government: "The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule."  These laws of nature were understood to be that which the God of the Universe had instituted when He created man in His image.

On this Independence Day, 2023, it is important to know and understand where we came from. Let us renew the hopes of Samuel Adams, upon which this nation was founded: I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue ... The sum of all is [this], if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.

So what shall our destiny be? Can we restore our virtue [our honor, our goodness]; or will this nation just be a footnote in history, known for its violence, corruption, and debauchery? July 4, 1776 was a day of far-reaching consequences; just as these days are.  We are faced with no less a serious choice. Will we continue to labor under repressive directives from a governing body that pays no mind to our concerns? Or will we decide that our liberties are precious and worth standing up for? I contend that there is not much difference between the significance of that July 4th and this one. The only question is, are we as brave and committed as they were? And believe me, the future of our children and nation -- and maybe even their survival -- depends on understanding the significance of July 4th and why it is worth celebrating our independence and freedom. 

In summary, I think it is important to keep our history in focus -- both where we were just 11 years ago, and where we have come since 1776. I want to finish by quoting once again from my favorite Founding Father, Samuel Adams. Mr. Adams was something of a firebrand, and was not afraid to confront his fellow countrymen over their subservient nature. What he had to say to them in 1776 is just as relevant today.  Ponder his words: "If ye love wealth better than liberty, [and] the tranquility of servitude [better] than the animated contest of freedom -- go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!"

That may sound a little harsh, but we are at a time in our nation's history when you must choose your path. Are you willing to crouch down to those that promise to feed you? Or are you willing to stand for something more honorable and noble? Will you depend on the iron fist for your crust of bread, or will you make your own loaf?  Sam Adams was among a unique corps of men who understood that the right to make of themselves what they wished could never be compromised. It was a truth they understood as "self-evident". And they were willing to sacrifice their very lives for it. Are you?

1 Peter 2:16     "[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God."

  

As We Move Towards a Cashless Society, It's One More Step Towards the Mark of the Beast

At the beginning of 2013, Bloomberg Businessweek featured the headline, Bill Gates Hates Cash. Here's Why. At the same time, Africa's Mail & Guardian highlighted an article entitled Cashless Society and Fingerprint Payments on the Horizon. The reasons for promoting this new technology are always presented as positive and forward-thinking.  In Bill Gates' case, we all know that his desire comes from his deeply-held humanitarian beliefs, right? You see, he is mainly concerned that those on the low end of the economic spectrum --- the poor and unbanked (get ready to hear that term a lot!) ---- are made to feel ostracized and left out of the system. If we could just create a money system that made everyone feel, well .... equal .... then poor Mr. Gates could sleep at night.

We are now more than 10 years past those predictive headlines, and it's amazing to me just how quickly the young generation is accepting a cashless society. Just last week, my husband and I joined our niece and her boyfriend for dinner at a casual restaurant, and there was a prominently displayed sign that proclaimed this was a "cashless establishment" and no longer accepted cash. My husband and I looked at each other with that knowing glance that said, "Yep, we're staring at the beginning of Revelation 13:16-17, Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name". Other translations actually say, He has forced everyone, small and great... Of course, "He" is the Anti-Christ. 

So, what is the "it" that the Anti-Christ uses to cause this mayhem to come upon the whole world -- the small and great among us; the rich and the poor; the free and the slave? From the perspective of my Biblical worldview, "it" is a pervasive system of control that will rule the world and we are simply being herded towards it like blind sheep. It's described in the Bible as "the Mark of the Beast", in which no one will be able to buy or sell without this "mark".  Secularists will say that this is all nonsense. Mankind is just evolving; we are discovering new and more efficient ways to live our lives, and technology is the means to achieving maximum productivity with a minimum amount of wasted time and effort.

And the younger generations pride themselves on adopting a cashless society and digital currencies, seeing themselves as progressive and socially advanced. This has become their mantra: "I want to have the option to go out without carrying my purse or my wallet, I want to make my life easier, I want to be able to go everywhere without additional weights, all I need is my phone". Checks are becoming obsolete and socially unacceptable. [Just notice the disgusted looks if you write one at the check-out counter]. Even credit cards are becoming passé, with many opting for digital wallets, which are apps that allow you to store funds, make transactions, and track payment histories on devices like your phone or tablet. But these payment methods are only the tip of the iceberg!

We now have terminology like QR code, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, etc. that are used to describe even more methods of buying and selling. But the Beast System is not stopping there! In 2013, Computer Weekly reported that "the new generation of banking customers would rather use biometric security devices than PINs and passwords for authentication, [according to Visa Europe]." It seems that to "Generation Z" it felt like passwords were an unnecessary burden. To them, Biometric authentication using fingerprint recognition or retinal scans offered an ideal solution, combining unique security and ease of use. What's more, more than half of 16 to 24-year-olds thought passwords would no longer be needed or used by the end of 2020, and would be replaced by authentication methods such as facial recognition or fingerprint and retina scanners. We're now 10 years down the road, and their predictions are bearing fruit.

It appears as if the Beast System has slipped in on the heels of technological advancements, and we are seeing the shift from cash to electronic payments across the spectrum of our methods of commerce. We see it in the disbursements of salaries, payments to suppliers, pensions, social welfare stipends, cash-for-work programs, emergency relief payments, and others forms of payments by governments and development communities. But in order to accomplish all these "benefits", we literally pay a price -- we give up all kinds of data that give control over our lives to the system; we give up access to our bank accounts; and, ultimately, we sacrifice our privacy and civil liberties. 

We are being told told that it is all for our own good; it is inclusive, convenient, faster and needed.  Even now we no longer hear each other's voices when we communicate. It almost feels as if the Powers-That-Be have succeeded in molding us into compliant little robots that create their super-wealth. We have forgotten to think for ourselves because a machine does it for us. We have abdicated our responsibilities as consumers and free-thinking citizens to "systems" that know better than we do what is best for us and our families. 

If you are a citizen of the United States, you cannot fail to understand that the value of our currency is on the decline, so a digital currency is already in the wings. Our government [and the governments of the world] are just trying to figure out how to keep us from making it private. They want access and control! As D.D. Nave writes in a January 2023 article on the Elizabeth Star website, "Globalists have been waging a war on cash for years. Globalists have a concerted campaign to shift consumers toward a digital mode of commerce that can be monitored, tracked, tabulated, mined for data, hacked, hijacked and confiscated when convenient". And the author proposes that the QR code, which is already in frequent use, could be the perfect vehicle to accomplish that -- plus it could be a good candidate for the Mark of the Beast. 

There has always been a lot of speculation throughout history as to what the implementation of the Mark will look like. We don't exactly know. But what we do know is that it will be used to control trade and commerce. And the Galion Inquirer sums it up quite succinctly: "When a person controls who can buy, he controls demand. A person controls supply when he controls what is sold. He who controls the purse strings has total control. The Antichrist will rule the world’s economy". And Scripture certainly makes it clear who will be able to buy ... those who have accepted the Mark of the Beast. 

Let's face it ... the technology is here to implement this Mark. All we're lacking is the repressive, dictatorial system to implement it. But make no mistake, the Anti-Christ will do so quickly and efficiently. So, here is what I want us to be cognizant of: Today -- right now! -- we need to take note that there is a prophecy that all men will be required to accept "a mark" to buy or sell.  That means in order to eat, to work, to bank ... to survive ... you will need to comply with "the system". 

So, let me ask you this question: Does it look as though technology is taking us to that moment in prophetic time? I think so. And I am deeply concerned that my fellow human beings are being seduced by the temptations of more convenience, ease of use, and cutting-edge technology. Maybe you don't believe in the Bible or the prophecy, but can you deny that it is getting more difficult to act outside the system? Think about it. And then take a moment to consider this thought: what if there is a possibility that the prophecy is true? Do you want to take that chance? Today's Scripture tells you the grave consequences of complying with the system of the Beast. All of us would do well to view technology with new eyes, a new understanding, and a healthy dose of distrust. There is a better "system" to invest in ... and His Name is Jesus!

Revelation 14:9-11     “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

A Witness For Jesus Christ In Times of Chaos

Is anyone else feeling the urgency to reach the lost and the skeptics in this hour chaos and deception? As I watch the news reports of fading justice in our nation, along with what looks like Russia descending into a "civil war", I recognize that I must rely on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to show me the truth. And what is the truth? As my husband often tells me regarding what the world shows us, "It's all kabuki theatre", meaning what is being presented to us as truth is all about showmanship, rather than any real content. In other words, it's a performance meant to convince us of the presenter's viewpoint, rather than giving us any substantial facts by which to make our own decisions.

That got me to thinking along so many paths ... with all the cascading events happening in the world, how do I reach those who need to know Jesus? What is my best approach? And how do I avoid all the pitfalls, missed opportunities, and wrong approaches that the evangelistic movement has participated in over the last few decades? How do I reach the lost and skeptics like Jesus did? Because I know, without a doubt, that time is running short.

My husband and I have no lack of testimonies of the times we failed to reach someone for the Lord. Whether it was the time a friend could have been interested in pursuing Jesus if we had had the answer to his question, "Where are dinosaurs in your Bible"?; or our inability [and spiritual immaturity] to authoritatively explain our reasons why we don't believe God controls everything in our lives -- which could have shown a believer that we too often blame God for our wounds, when it is the devil that is the initiator of our pain. Needless to say, these shortfalls only made us more determined to seek better ways to represent Jesus to those who so desperately need Him. And I'm seeing just how desperate people are becoming, and just how much they are going to need His Presence in their lives in the near future. 

When I encounter a non-believer, I now focus on not just knowing the truth of the Bible in the following verse, but doing it: So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:13). I am prepared and alert for those opportunities that present themselves to tell of my faith in Jesus. I'm not afraid or self-conscious -- in fact, I am confident of who I am in Christ, and who He is in me, so that I do not let the Enemy cower me into silence. I know that the Holy Spirit will give me the words I need because this time in history requires that we stand on our faith; and to continue to stand, even in the midst of rebuttal, repudiation, contempt and chaos. There are lost souls that need our witness in this hour!

So, how should we witness? First, I believe we need to recognize the mindsets of those who intentionally reject their need for Christ, whether they identify as atheist, agnostic, or just disinterested. We are now in an age of advanced technology, and our faith can look superstitious, and/or devoid of any connection to science or modern culture. Furthermore, in this era of equity and inclusion, many Christians can appear intolerant, judgmental and bigoted. And need I even mention the label that is most associated with Believers ... hypocritical. Sadly, many atheists can back up their position for non-belief better than Christians can justify theirs for faith. We need to grow up into a mature faith to be effective in modeling the benefits of salvation through faith in Jesus!

And what about those who profess belief, but find themselves doubting in these perilous times? They need our mature and wise witness, too. It can be difficult to counsel a fellow believer when you see them straying from the path of righteousness to which Jesus calls us. We don't want to appear condemning, or holed-than-thou, but again I find that Scripture gives me advice that best suits this situation. And again, our perspective when delivering the message is more important than following any "evangelical code of conduct". Consider the Amplified version of 2 Timothy 4:2: ...  preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. The core of what I heard is this: we should be prepared at all times to speak to our fellow Christians when we see them in doubt or unbelief. We need to be willing to correct, rebuke and encourage, "with great patience and careful instruction". 

You see, Jesus is our model! It was a time of great chaos in the Roman Empire when He appeared on the scene. Religion was in conflict with Roman authority, and then He brings the Kingdom of God into the mix, offending both factions. [Can you see that Christianity is in conflict with the culture and the governing authorities? And, as Kingdom ambassadors, we often find ourselves at odds with both the organized Church/Religion and the powers-that-be?] Rather than trying to convince those He encountered with how wrong they were, Jesus approached them about their attitude. What if we went right to the heart of the matter and testified that we aren't trying to convince them that Christianity solves all the issues of the world [that they are interested in], but rather, we are interested in why they are having trouble in submitting to Jesus as the Son of a God who loved them so much, He was willing to die for them. 

Another issue that skeptics have is their pride in thinking they have all the answers. They will declare that Jesus has nothing to offer them. So when we share that they couldn't come to Him [even if they wanted to on their own] except for the fact that it is the Father who draws them, we can introduce a truth that there is a greater Power in the Universe than man. This life is fleeting, and what does one have to show at the end of it? What hope is there after your last breath? And so many times we are met with the arrogant reasoning of the flesh ... "I think God knows I'm a good person", meaning "So, I know I'm going to Heaven" -- whatever that means to a person who has no relationship with the Savior. But how are they going to answer Jesus when they stand before Him and He asks, "So what did you do for My Kingdom"?

It is so important that we speak in our authority as someone who knows the difference from living in our flesh and living in the Spirit. Our own testimonies of being drawn to Jesus through no desire of our own, and the miraculous ways it has changed our life, can spark a fire in their heart to take that first step.

It's time to face reality ... We find ourselves in an age where man's arrogance has led us to the precipice of destruction. The human race is dangerously close to passing the point of no return, and it is incumbent upon those of us who have been snatched from the edge to witness in our power and authority. It is time to educate, equip, and train others to go and speak into the world that the only way we can turn the tide of this upheaval in the world is to humble ourselves before the One who created us. It is time to surrender our very lives to follow His ways, faithfully teaching and encouraging; in patience and in love. But we also go forth in boldness and courage! Chaos does not scare us, and Evil does not deter us. Christ goes before us, battling with us, and Evil will be defeated, leaving righteousness in His wake. The way we live our lives will be a witness of our obedience to Him; He who is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, and the Prince of Peace! 

Ephesians 6:19-20.   And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should. 

       

God Is Gathering The Millstones!

There have been many times, as a Christian, when I could no longer remain silent about social issues that go against my deeply-held beliefs and the Biblical standards put forth by my God. This is one of those times. I understand that I am wading into controversial waters, and that I am swimming against the proverbial w•o•k•e culture. But nothing hurts my heart or my spirit more than the way the Enemy is coming after the children of the world.

From child-trafficking to child pornography; from the sexualization of children in the entertainment industry; to the flagrant sexual displays during story-time at your local library; and to the gender confusion being sowed within our educational system, it is time to protect all the children – before God decides He’s had enough. 

The other night, I woke from what I knew was a vision I had been shown by the Holy Spirit. Occasionally, I am well aware that my spirit is being taken to places to show me things that the Lord wants me to pray for, be sensitive to, or even personally minister to. This time, I was shown buses upon buses of emaciated children; the number was endless and it was a scene full of chaos and fear. They were frail, with sunken, sad eyes, and the strongest of them cried out to be rescued. I understood deep in my spirit that they had been treated unjustly and misused. The time I was there was short, but it was long enough for my spirit to know that the Enemy has been successful in putting our children in a state of bondage that is fast becoming irreversible.

None is more devastating and disastrous than the seemingly overnight pursuit of transgender surgery that is captivating the nation. Out of nowhere, this agenda is being normalized under the heading of “Gender Dysphoria”, which has become synonymous with a crippling disease or mental disorder [among those pushing this agenda]. Children are being convinced by teachers, internet influencers, and even the medical community that they are suffering from gender dysphoria, a byproduct of puberty, and they can be “cured” by surgical modification.

The word “dysphoria” means a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life. Doesn’t sound quite like the monstrous condition that the medical, psychological, and pharmaceutical complex would like you to believe, does it? Yet they’ve been able to convince a disproportionate amount of children, young adults, and educational professionals that gender is a fluid state – that it is adaptable, changeable, and open to discussion. And lives are being drastically altered; physically, mentally, and psychologically. 

As often happens, God reveals to me His perspective on such issues, and I am able to see another cosmic chess move between Him and Satan. If you read this blog, you know my position that we have been engaged in a Seed War with the devil since he realized God gave mankind dominion over the earth (see Genesis 1:26-28). There’s been a battle ever since between God and Satan for control over man and the earth. Satan has tried everything he can think of to change the fact that we are made in the image of God. 

Attempts to corrupt our DNA is his favorite method. The Genesis 6 incursion of fallen angels to impregnate earthly women to give birth to hybrids [called Nephilim] didn’t work. God still found a pure bloodline in which to bring about the holy conception of Jesus. Wars and plagues and abortion and pharmaceutical inventions in which millions upon millions of God’s creation have died, has not enabled the devil to conquer the Kingdom of God on earth and take its inhabitants into ultimate demonic captivity. 

So, now we see Satan’s next move … capitalizing on the “dysphoria” of children and mostly young adults. What teenager has not, at one time or another, felt uncomfortable in their body, or as if they didn’t belong? Who can identify with looking or feeling different from “the crowd”? I certainly did. I didn’t fit the mold of the popular girls in school. I was too tall, with naturally curly hair. Every boy was shorter than me and all the girls had long, silky hair. But did I think I would be happier as a male? Quite simply, no. And it was never suggested. 

Yet the current generations measure themselves against popular and successful internet stars and influencers, many of whom are “manufactured”; they do not represent the majority of girls and boys, men and women, who are all different and unique in their own ways. So, can you perceive what a great opportunity it is for Satan to sow into this dissatisfaction? He can achieve his goal to change us from who God made us to be, while also introducing a harmful phalanx of hormones and drugs into still-developing young bodies. As an extra bonus, transitioning into a different gender means reproduction rates of humans goes way down. Satan must think he’s hit the ball out of the park. 

And maybe it's just me, but it sure seems as if another aspect of this is a war against women. There seems to be more young girls transitioning into men, with puberty blockers and harmful hormones insuring their infertility. We cannot forget the prophetic promise of God in Genesis 3:15 ... And I will put enmity (open hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (offspring) and her Seed...". If Satan can prohibit [or at least inhibit] the ability of women to procreate, I think that qualifies as enmity and open hostility toward the female gender.   

Please know that I do not present myself as any kind of expert to comment on the lives of people who find themselves confused about their sexuality. And you need to know that I am not “phobic” about any segment of our society. I try to look upon all people out of the compassionate heart and spirit of Jesus, who came to deliver us all out of captivity and bondage from Satan – no matter what that looks like in your particular life. I will let those who have experienced body and life-altering surgeries tell you their stories, in their own words. You can read their testimonies for yourself here and here and here. All I keep hearing in my head are the lyrics to the popular song, You Say, by Christian artist, Lauren Daigle … 

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe 
What You say of me 
I believe

Satan has managed to convince a generation of people, both young and old not to believe that the way He created them is enough. He whispers that they will never measure up … that they don’t belong … that they can never be sure who they are. That is all deception and lies from the Enemy! Each individual in uniquely created by God and loved for who they are. 

And perhaps the most disturbing thing about the harm being done to the children made in God’s image is that there are men and companies willing to profit off it! Medical transitioning through surgery and pharmaceuticals is Big Business! Billions of dollars are made off of human emotional pain and confusion at puberty, at the expense of those the conglomerates purport to be helping. The absence of a relationship with God in our culture has opened the door for Satan to introduce medical transitioning as the cure for all that ails you!

But God sees it all. He sees children being exploited in all the ways I’ve mentioned. We are all aware of Jesus’s stern warning: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea”. Considering the fact that a millstone in Christ’s time would have weighed 3300 pounds, it is not hard to perceive how serious God intended the punishment to be for harming a child. 

It makes me both sad and angry when I contemplate all the ways that Satan has sought to harm children just in the last 50 years of my life. It hasn’t been enough to kill them in the womb. He has also attacked them through sexual abuse, trafficking, temptation to perversion, and to the diabolical means of changing the very gender they were created to be. So many lives are being irreversibly altered through painful surgeries and harmful drugs. Through some of the testimonies I have read, it can cost $1.3 million per transitioning child. That’s quite a financial incentive for doctors and Big Pharma, wouldn’t you say? 

I pray that each of these precious creations from God will know their value and their worth to Him and to the world. I pray they will be spared all the pain [both physical and emotional] from any of the methods that are being utilized by Satan’s followers to rob them of their innocence. They are precious in His sight! He has created each one to His Divine specifications! And I pray that those who have harmed them will begin to see the danger they are in and repent of their evil ways. And Lord, I pray that You will appear to each child in their hour of despair and let them know that You are there with them; that they will be avenged for the harm done to them; and that You will restore their innocence on the Day of Judgment. Thank you, Lord, that You are our hope in the midst of this darkness!

Ephesians 5:6     Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

An Updated Look At How Far We've Come Towards "The Days of Noah"

Every once in awhile I like to see which of my 2466 posts throughout the life of this blog are drawing attention. I was surprised that within the last week or so, an article I wrote on August 1, 2014 has drawn an inordinate amount of scrutiny. The post was titled How Much Longer? (As It Was In The Days of Noah). I am actually amazed to see how relevant it still is today, and just how much further down the road to Jesus's return we've traveled in the last nine years.

So, I think there is benefit in revisiting the truth that the Holy Spirit counseled me to write that day. And I want to share the new observations that must be added to those previous reflections. As the Bible says in Isaiah 28:9-10, To whom will He teach knowledge, and to whom will He explain the message? ... For it is precept upon precept, line upon line; here a little, there a little. We must be wise and vigilant in listening for the clues He reveals to those willing to trust His voice. Here is what I was discerning in 2014 ... I hope you can recall what we were witnessing then, and begin to discern what I'm saying about our current situation in the addendum to this post....

August 1, 2014. OK, this post should put me squarely in the "crazy camp", but I just have to be honest ... There are days I wake up and wonder, "How much longer can this world survive?"  And, what will our lives be like when everything is torn asunder?  You see, for the last several years, PLW --(stands for Peace-Loving Warrior, the meaning of my husband's name) -- and I have been blessed with the time and the spiritual desire to dissect the Bible and discern its message for us in these times.  The world is groaning and the time is near ...

It's not just the political world with its scandals and corruption; nor the endless wars that seem to reach into every corner of the globe ... they are not simply "rumors of wars" anymore. People are killed and tortured, having their heads cut off; and much of it in the name of religious ideology. Planes full of innocent people are bombed out of the sky, and women and children are used as human shields in an attempt to drive a whole nation of people "into the sea". 

But I'm also aware that the lust for oil is at the heart of many of these conflicts. If you dig deep enough under the propaganda, you will usually find a trail that links you directly to a massive oil reserve.  This includes all the pseudo-scientific data on global warming (or is it cooling these days?); there is always someone, or a group of "someones", who have become millionaires by peddling their brand of "caring for the globe".  In the meantime, nations send thousands of their young men to die -- not really for patriotic and sovereign reasons, but as a strategic move on the chess board of oil consumption.

It's not just mankind that is in turmoil. The very earth is threatened. We have huge sinkholes appearing all over the globe; the latest in the spotlight is at a place in Siberia called "the end of the world". Then there are the scientists at NASA who are warning about powerful coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun that could potentially destroy earth. And even "Mother Nature" seems to be a little confused; weather events happen out of season, and the violence of storms seems to be mounting. There is a growing concern over the New Madrid fault line in our nation's heartland, as well as the heating up of the earth's core at Yellowstone National Park. And let's not forget that the "Ring of Fire" is showing signs of activity. This an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and could potentially affect the Pacific rim of several continents.

Where am I going with all this doom and gloom?  Let me start by saying that this wasn't the original design for mankind OR the planet.  Everything God created was originally good.  You don't have to be a Believer to comprehend this fact, because those with even the simplest understanding of the Scriptures know that things were perfect here on planet Earth until Satan infiltrated the Garden and set into motion a war for all ages.  I just don't think that Christians fully understand how that war has been waged.

Let me attempt to explain my thoughts ... When Satan tempted Eve to disobey God, the judgment was swift and prophetic by the Creator of the Universe:  "I will put enmity (hostility, friction, hate) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring." That statement has been misunderstood by centuries of Christians and Church leaders.

Satan has known God's plan from the beginning [in the Garden]: to dwell among His creation in personal relationship. And it has been the Devil's desire to disrupt that relationship at all costs. He knew God would eventually have to send His Son to redeem us from the ways that he, Satan, would introduce.  If he could disrupt the genealogy and eventual birth of God's perfect Offspring with his own corrupt line, then the world and its inhabitants would worship him, Satan.  That's where Genesis 6:1-4 comes in. The fallen angels, who followed Satan, came to earth and corrupted the daughters of men, introducing the unholy DNA into the human line.  They are the "giants" (or in the Hebrew, Nephilim) we see in verse 4.  But God protected a line of men from his destruction of mankind (Noah and his descendants), and through their line, He sent His perfect Son to reclaim us.  But Satan has not forsaken his plan, and that's why Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Just as God proclaimed back in Genesis, there has been an all-out war throughout time between God's children and Satan's children.  It is now at the boiling point, and it affects all of God's creation; from mankind, to the ecological and geophysical systems, to the stars in the heavens.  Satan's plan to deceive mankind and infect them with a corrupted gene pool has been known by every civilization throughout history.  Genesis records the Giants in the land of Canaan, while Babylonian, Greek and Roman mythology refer to the "Titans" and the "Olympians", who were "children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth)."

Early petroglyphs show ancient societies bowing down to "star people" or "star men", and the mythologies of our American Indians celebrate long-ago stories of visitations by hybrid entities.  Today, we hear stories of "alien abductions" and unbelievable stories by women of having their eggs removed and harvested.  These kinds of scenarios have become popular in our entertainment culture; think of the movies E.T. and Close Encounters of A Third Kind, and the new TV show, Extant, starring Halle Berry as a woman astronaut who comes back from space impregnated by an alien.

Do you think all of this -- from the Genesis 6 story, to Greek and Roman hybrid gods, to centuries-old drawings on cave walls, to sci-fi entertainment -- is just the product of over-active imaginations?  Do you think they are just myths and legends that have managed to maintain a common theme for thousands of years?  Or could Jesus have been giving us a hint of what was to come, when He said "As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man"?

 It is my humble opinion that secular humanity and lukewarm Christians who reject the theory of the impregnation of human women by fallen angels, are willingly buying into the Satanic deception that is presented on the History Channel's Ancient Aliens.  On this hugely popular show, they actually present the hypothesis that aliens will show up one day, claiming to be our creators. And they will have only our best interests at heart; they will rescue us from the wars and destructions of earthly humans.  All we have to do is become one with them ... Isn't that the same thing that Genesis 6:1-4 tells us?  There was a huge deception of the human race then, and there's another one coming soon, using the same lie that Satan has perpetuated from the beginning.  And God told us as much ... that there would be enmity between man's offspring and Satan's!

You see, there truly is hostility between those of us who are born again into the Spirit of life that is Jesus Christ, and those who fall for Satan's Deception.  The Second Coming of Jesus is Satan's final downfall and defeat.  He is going to do everything he can in the short time he has remaining to convince humanity that we want to become one with him... up to and including taking his Mark. 

I know I have laid out a long and complex theory, but I am so worried that there will be Christians who will be tempted to believe Satan's temptations.  After all, Adam and Eve knew God intimately; they walked in the Garden with Him --- and they still fell for the lies!  Please don't dismiss this theory because you have not heard it in the sanctuary of your mainstream Church.  Satan has managed to control the revelation of Scripture, and the soft-sell Gospel of Prosperity and Grace comes nowhere near warning us of what time it is on the Prophetic clock.  Do your own research!  I do not expect you to take my word for it.  Read the books of Daniel, Revelation, Jude and the Book of Enoch, which is referenced in the Book of Jude, and which was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  There's a reason this book has been revealed for this time!

Finally, I would point you to all the excitement and research in the area of transhumanism.  At the center of this new technology are experiments with genetic manipulation.  Isn't that just another name for what happened in Genesis 6?  The game plan hasn't changed... it's as old as the Creation.  I just want you to be ready to stand against the lies of the Enemy.

June 20, 2023.  It appears to me that very little has changed since 2014. If anything, all that I wrote about then has accelerated to new heights of disquiet and discernment in my spirit. Perhaps others are beginning to see the signs as well, and that is why they are searching the internet on this subject, which turned up my nearly decades-old post. As I re-read it, I clearly heard from the Holy Spirit as He pointed out all the ways the Enemy is advancing his growing deception among mankind.

My first thought is that the political scandals and corruption in the world have not abated; and in fact have accelerated, along with the lies instigated against the world's peoples. Furthermore, the powers that be don't even try to hide their sins. Good has become evil, and Evil has become good. Trust in the media no longer exists, and it's becoming really hard to know what to believe. If you don't have faith in Jesus, I'm not sure how you navigate in this world.

In 2014, WWIII was whispered about. Today, it is loudly predicted and with certainty. In 2014, world governments lusted after oil. They still covet it, but now they've added the appetite for rare earth minerals to their duplicity. Here's what you need to know: Rare earth elements are essential for permanent magnets that are vital for wind turbines and Electronic Vehicle [EV] motors. Electricity networks need a huge amount of copper and aluminum, with copper being a cornerstone for all electricity-related technologies. It appears that the world leaders are hell-bent on moving away from their dependency on oil and gas, and are promoting what they call the "clean energy" of electricity, wind, and solar. It's all about advancing their climate agenda, folks. So, just as oil continues to be a harbinger for foreign wars, we can add the hunger for rare earth minerals to the list of elements that could provoke a global war.   

Just as in 2014, the volcanoes along the Pacific Rim are making themselves known again. And who can deny the weather abnormalities we are currently experiencing? I believe we are coming closer to the manifestation of Romans 8:19, For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.   

I hope that none of the afore-mentioned has caught you by surprise; I hope that you have eyes to see, and ears to hear. But even more, I hope that you have a Biblical worldview that can ascertain that all of this is about an eternal war between God's children and Satan's children. It is essential that we see the Genesis 6 incursion as the continuation of the war Satan started in the Garden of Eden. God declared that He would cause open hostility (enmity) between the seed of Satan and the Seed of mankind because of their disobedience. Satan would stop at nothing to corrupt the DNA in man [which our Creator has given us] in order to defeat the ultimate victory against him that Jesus will deliver on our behalf. 

In the Genesis accounts, Satan was cunning in tempting Eve, and zealous in using fallen angels to set forth his plans to seize Heaven from God's grasp, and claim for Himself the rights to create. In a sense, mankind never saw their fall coming; they were like lambs led to the slaughter. But today, it seems as if men have decidedly chosen to join forces with Satan in the war against God; knowingly embracing Evil to create pandemics [and the subsequent effects of treating them], AI gods, and ways to change the DNA of our children. 

In Genesis 6, Satan hoped to corrupt the gene pool by enticing the fallen angels to help create a race of Nephilim children that no longer were made in the image of God. If he could populate the earth with these hybrid beings, the perfect, Holy son of God could not be born through that bloodline. Today, we see Satan grow his involvement in genetic manipulation far beyond his accomplishments in 2014. As the scientists, and genetic and social engineers pursue transhumanism -- which is the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology -- we can see fruit of those labors in our current issues with Artificial Intelligence. Where is God in this?

We also have doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical companies promoting the gender dysphoria crisis that is corrupting the bodies of our children, so that they no longer resemble what God created ... God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). [NOTE: Be looking for my post called God Is Gathering the Millstones!].

Not much has changed since 2014, and the truth is nothing has changed since the Garden of Eden and man's creation. Satan has managed to always bring deception upon those in the human race who do not choose to belong to God. When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they opened the door for man to know, to understand, and to pursue Evil. It gave Satan the opportunity to whisper his lies and to lead mankind into temptation to sin and disobey their Creator. God did not tolerate the consequences of those sins, and His wrath had great consequences for mankind. Do not think that He will tolerate the depth of depravity that we see today. 

As I stated in 2014, the game plan hasn't changed. My question today, in 2023, is how close are we to the "no turning back" mile marker of history? We must be about doing the Father's work now, more than ever, -- just as Jesus did! Do not be silent in the face of all this Evil! Declare the Goodness of God, but do not forsake declaring His intolerance of Evil. We can still make a difference! Satan fears our power and authority ... join El Shaddai in revealing His Truth! Do not fall for the Enemy's Lies and Deception! 

Romans 2:5    But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Choose Now Whom You Will Serve ... God of the Bible or Your AI god?

Need we remind ourselves of one of the primary and most important commandments of God almighty, El Shaddai? You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God, demanding what is [rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me...

In my last post, I talked about the consequences of the iniquity that results from a lack of trust in God. And that is what can happen to each of us, as individuals, when we lose sight of our Creator. But now, in these last days, I am seeing a threat that could exert ungodly influence on the masses, and potentially result in the extinction of mankind, or at the very least, corrupt the personal relationship with our Heavenly Father; the personal relationship that Jesus died to restore to all mankind. 

Frankly, I am shocked at just how rapidly this threat has risen. I'm talking about the dire warning that technology execs and creators are signaling ... warning that "we are creating a god". Notice that both these execs and the God of the Bible use a "little g" when referring to false dieties. Just read what Mo Gawdat, former chief executive of Google X had to say: he believes "that artificial general intelligence (AGI), the sort of all-powerful, sentient AI seen in science fiction like Skynet from The Terminator, is inevitable — and that once it's here, humanity may very well find itself staring down an apocalypse brought forth by godlike machines". 

In the article, Gawdat shared the revelation he received during tests with AI developers to check the dexterity of robot arms trying to pick up a small ball. After a period of slow progress, Gawdat said that one arm grabbed the ball and seemed to hold it up to the researchers in a gesture that, to him, seemed like it was showing off. "And I suddenly realized this is really scary," Gawdat said. "It completely froze me... The reality is," he added, "we're creating God." Now, I'm fully aware that his use of a "big G" for God, in this instance, is entirely misappropriated. No one can create God! He is I AM; he's always been. If Gawdat had said, "we're trying to replace God", I would probably agree with that.

So, while he among others, like Elon Musk, are warning that the advancements in AI technology are potential threats to the human race, there are others who have avidly and aggressively promoted divine attributes to Artificial Intelligence. In 2021, former Google executive Anthony Levandowski closed his artificial intelligence-focused church, called Way of the Future (WOTF). An article on The Verge, reported that Levandowski was interested in pursuing “the realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), in preparation for the Singularity [and the betterment of society]". Although he closed his "church", it is not too hard to imagine that someone else will pursue that same goal. [NOTE: the Singularity is a hypothetical future where technology growth is out of control and irreversible. These intelligent and powerful technologies will radically and unpredictably transform our reality]. And included in that transformation is the merging of humans and computers; a being with both organic (God-made) and bio-mechatronic (inorganic) body parts.

That brings me to who, in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous men in this technology conversation, senior World Economic Forum (WEF) advisor Yuval Noah Harari. According to an article on Charismamag.com, Harari is "considered by many to be one of the most influential intellectuals in the world today". He is a best-selling author of over 45 million books on the future of science and technology. His opinions are valued by WEF founder and economist, Klaus Schwab, as well as icons like Barack Obama and Bill Gates. But it is his opinions on Creation, the sovereignty of God, and the truth of the Bible that is highly concerning to me. Let me just share a few of his statements:

"We don’t have to wait for Christ’s Second Coming to overcome death. A couple of geeks in the laboratory can do it if you give them enough time and money".

"God seems to be making a comeback, but this is a mirage. God is dead … it just takes awhile to get rid of the body".

"I don’t think life has any meaning. I know many civilizations and philosophies have based the meaning of life on death and what happens after death. But I think these are all fictional stories that people have invented throughout history. They are not the truth".

"You think about the Bible for example. So, in the first book of Genesis, what God does is to create animals and plants and humans. And we now want to gain these abilities ourselves… to manufacture animals and plants and humans. And even go beyond God! Even if you believe in the Bible, the only thing the God of the Bible managed to create is organic beings. He managed to create the cows, and the tomatoes, and the giraffes and the humans – all organic. Now we try to go beyond the God of the Bible and create inorganic life, a thing He never managed to do, according either to the Bible or to biology. For 4 billion years, all life was organic. Now we want to create inorganic life. Divinity is not far enough to describe what we are trying to do"! [NOTE: By "inorganic", he means machines!]

"I think one of the most interesting places today, from a religious perspective, is Silicon Valley. I bet that this is where the new religions of the 21st Century will be created; are being created. And these will be a kind of techno-religions; religions based on technology; religions that make all of the old promises possible of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and so forth. They all promised happiness, and prosperity and justice, and even eternal life.  [We can know those promises] here on earth, with the help of technology; and not after we die, but now with the help of super human beings. And in a way, I would say we have already seen the first techno-religion in history, in previous centuries, and that was Socialism".

I think you've read enough to get an idea of where this guy is coming from. And as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, what he is saying is offensive and alarming. But none is more controversial than his opinion that the Bible needs to be re-written "to correct" the wrong ideas it has presented for centuries. We know that Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press and printed a copy of the Bible in the 15th Century. But according to Harari, "it [the printing press] had no ideas of its own about the Bible: Is it good? Is it bad? How to interpret this? How to interpret that? AI can create new ideas [from its opinions]; [it] can even write a new Bible,” Harari declares. “Throughout history, religions dreamt about having a book written by a superhuman intelligence, by a non-human entity". Oh, really? Can you provide some evidence of that, please? 

Are you as aggrieved as I am that this pompous proponent of AI dares to compare human's ability to create with the creativity of the God of the Universe? I am strongly discerning that we are on the precipice of what Scripture prophesies... Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness. Now is the time to fortify ourselves for the battle that is coming. We must become clear about what we believe and why, so that we can discern the difference between the delusion God is bringing and the immutable Truth of His Word that we carry in our hearts. 

And again, the Bible tells us that My people perish for lack of knowledge. But it is incumbent upon all us Christians that we make it clear to all within our sphere of influence that the Word is speaking of knowledge as God's Truth, not man's. Mr. Harari is full of knowledge. But his foundation comes from the deception and deceit of the Father of Lies. We must not only stand on the principles of God's Truth, but must be willing to stand against the lies, and correct the false teachings, data, and information that will most assuredly be fomented by artificial intelligence and the humans who unleash AI upon the world. Trust in the Lord to fight for us and protect us as we continue to preach the Word; the unerring, perfect and unimpeachable Word of God to those who love Him and follow His commandments. 

Romans 1:21-23    For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 

My Testimony: "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me"!

If you're of a certain age, you might remember that comedy hour of country songs and humor, called HeeHaw. The title of today's blog comes from one of their theme songs sung by residents of Kornfield Kounty, lamenting the sad state of their lives. "Gloom, Despair, and Agony" was a comedic poke at the imaginary problems of simple country folk. But more and more, it's becoming the theme song for the lives of millions of Americans, as they face an uncertain future filled with fear, anxiety, and worry.

Let me begin by saying that, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I have had to overcome my own struggles with these three spiritual adversaries and the havoc they can cause in pursuing a contented and prosperous life. It didn't matter that I knew all the Scriptures that told me that Jesus had not given me a spirit of fear, or that the Bible tells us we will endure sorrows and sufferings so that we might follow in the steps of our Savior, overcoming as He did. They did not defeat the thoughts that continued to repeat themselves over and over, keeping me in a state of instability and what the Bible calls "an unsound mind".

It wasn't until I was 40 years old, and spending some time caring for my father after his multiple bypass surgery that I understood the "spiritual mechanics" of my inability to find peace and a deeper measure of faith. As I laid in my bed, I could hear my father moaning in anxiety and worry over his health and the absence of my mother, who had passed away a few years before. At a very minimal level, I began to see where my own fears and worry about the future had originated. I was able to see his pattern throughout my childhood, and into adulthood, of worrying about finances and the unforeseen battles of life. I was just like my dad! 

But I also realized that I had accepted Christ as my Savior and Deliverer, while he had not. And I recognized that other members of our family -- aunts, uncles, and cousins -- also struggled with worry and anxiety, brought on by fear. Some were believers, some were not; but I didn't want to be like them! It would be years until I understood the Biblical concept of iniquity. And it was through my pursuit of a more intimate relationship with Jesus that I would hear the voice of my Heavenly Father which changed the course of my life. I can also look back now, and see the narrow path He led me and my husband on; a path He had carefully laid out since the foundations of the world. 

Ever since we made the decision, early in our marriage, that my husband would follow the unconventional path of a professional artist, using the talents we acknowledged came from God, Mark never doubted or worried. Even during the years of "paying his dues" and building his career -- the years of wondering if we could pay our monthly bills -- he always [simply and  resolutely] trusted God for everything. Me, not so much! I was still struggling with the trifecta of my old adversaries: worry, anxiety, and fear. It wasn't until I found myself in what I call my "seven years in the wilderness", that I submitted to God and asked Him to help me trust Him. These were the years where I found myself isolated on 129 acres, about 90 miles west of San Antonio. Without the distractions of our lives in Austin and Houston, I was faced with lots of time for meditation and contemplation. They were the years when our struggles were the most difficult, and the years my fears were the most prominent, yet they were the years that I made the most forward progress in my faith.

As I said, I had had enough of living in the shadow of the spirit of fear, and I knew my constant worrying had to be getting tiresome to my husband, although he always patiently pointed me towards trusting Jesus. Then one day, I had this profound thought. It wasn't the audible voice of the Lord, but what I had begun to recognize as His thoughts that He revealed to my mind. I heard, "If you will be faithful to Me, I will be faithful to you". Wow! What a promise! Did I have enough faith to trust Him to fulfill that vow? Could I finally let go of my earthly father's voice in my head telling me that I had to work hard to control my finances; that it was all up to me?

I'm not going to tell you that it was easy. There were many times in the ensuing years that the Enemy tried to shake my confidence in Jesus and the Father; times of struggle, wondering where the next art sale would come from to pay the looming bills. And you know what? Every time God delivered on His promise! With each divine testimony He gave me, I was learning to trust Him and not succumb to the doubt and unbelief that the devil so desperately wanted me to pick back up. I was building a history of trust with God! Even to this day, the one who got thrown out of Heaven tries to convince me that I can't trust the One who has so faithfully provided all that I need in this life.

And as I trusted God for my earthly essentials, He showed me that my husband and I could be trusted to receive greater revelations of His sovereignty in the world. And He anointed us with a ministry that has allowed us to share how He overcame our own wounds and insecurities. Because we became yoked together in trusting Him to guide us to the purpose for which we were created, we are able to see the ways that the Enemy disrupts the lives of others and builds obstacles to the discovery of their purposes for His Kingdom here on earth. One of the biggest is that iniquity in family lines that I mentioned was so prominent in my own. And I want to give you a quick synopsis on its effects, so you can break it off yourself and your family.

I want to point out both Exodus 20:5-6 and Deuteronomy 5:9-10. [Whenever God confirms His commandments again, we know this is an important precept that He wants us to get!]. They both read: You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those [generations] who love Me and keep My commandments. It is important that the body of Christ understands this spiritual principle. INIQUITY is when a sin [as in my family's case; worry and not trusting God], moves beyond a one-time occurrence, which can be confessed and repented for, and it ends. When that sin then moves into open rebellion [knowing it's a sin, but it is continued to be practiced], and is still not confessed and repented and stopped -- then it becomes embedded in the actual DNA of the family line. 

You can apply any sin to iniquity ... think of families who will say, "we're just a family of alcoholics'. Substitute any sin in that sentence -- adultery, molestation, pornography, pedophilia, lying, greed -- you get the picture. And interestingly enough, it will go three or four generations, until a righteous member of the family declares, "It stops with me"! In my case, I was the third generation, and recognized the sin of worry and stopped it. But I see it in some of my nieces and nephews, the fourth generation, because my siblings are still blinded to the iniquity in our family bloodline. And if it doesn't get stopped, it will continue unimpeded.

So, I want to summarize my testimony and speak my heart ... Don't let "Gloom, Despair, and Agony" become your theme song. Yes, the world is exhibiting lots of reasons to give in to these corresponding spirits of worry, anxiety, and fear. But if nothing else, I hope you heard how I overcame them with the help of the Lord. If, like me, you have become tired of living in a constant state of instability and not trusting the Lord, submit to Him; surrender and tell Him you are ready to be faithful to Him, choosing to believe [even in the midst of your doubt and unbelief] that He will be faithful to you. 

Take it from me, you CAN TRUST HIM! Never forget that Jesus tells us, "In Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world". And that word tribulation encompasses all your trials; all your struggles, all the injustices perpetrated against you; anything that you worry about or are tempted by. And you "may" have the peace you long for -- it's up to you. But will you trust Him to be faithful to you? Start building that trust today, as you take the first step in being faithful to Him. It will change your life and set you on the path you are destined for!

2 Chronicles 16:9    For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His...

 

   

Perilous Times Call For Plain-Spoken Truth and Persistent Perseverance

 It has become unquestionably clear to me that Evil has pervaded our culture in every sphere of our existence. What does that look like? It can be encapsulated in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 ... "But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. 6 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, 7 always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith". 

I hope you didn't skip over this familiar and important passage of the Bible. Paul knows he is facing his impending death, and he writes to Timothy, a "baby Christian" to encourage him to stand strong in his faith; to endure in the face of everything the Enemy will throw at him to confound and confute his faith. Paul goes on to describe all the characteristics of people who are lovers of self, rather than lovers of God. And make no mistake ... within that vast group of sinners, the Church is not found innocent. Now read that passage again with intention. Increasingly, we can see that "difficult days that will be hard to bear" are upon us. We see the arrogance and greed extend from our government at the highest levels to the corporate titans to the scammers who take advantage of the vulnerable on the internet. We see the actions of those who are "devoid of natural human affection" as the numbers of innocent people who are killed or injured in our cities rises to alarming statistics. We see immorality intensify to obscene, blasphemous, and debased levels -- children sold for sexual pleasure; the government [through our education system] seeking to claim our children for themselves and lead them into a debauched culture of men claiming to be women, and women denying their role in creation; thereby stealing and corrupting the innocence of childhood.

But, lest there any of us who claim security in our faith, we need to understand that Paul doesn't hold the Church guiltless either. And I want to make myself clear -- I do not disparage all members of the Church! I understand that it is the institution of the Church that has not lived up to the commission Jesus called His followers to. I am fully aware that individual followers are committed to being devout and obedient servants of His Kingdom here on earth. It is not up to me [or anyone else] to judge their hearts or measure the worth of their faith. That, Jesus will do at the Judgment Seat. But each of us can judge the fruit of the institution, and those who walk in religion, seeking to control and dictate belief systems through misleading and false teachings, or deceptive, man-made doctrine. Following Jesus is easy; we have His Word to guide us, and it is the Holy Spirit who counsels and reveals God's will for the faithful. The institutionalized Church, if not careful, can switch the focus of Jesus's teachings from His truth to their own interpretation, resulting in people losing sight of Him as they seek to please the leadership and themselves.     

A man I greatly admire, Victor Marx, recently posted a meme that stated, "Too many Christians want a seat at the table that Jesus would have flipped over". "The table" he is talking about is the seat of power and reputation/recognition that the Church has become for far too many who claim their faith in Jesus. The Lord flipped the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple because they were profiting off the poor; requiring inflated payment for the poor to have access to the sacrificial animals and entry into the House of His Father. The Temple was to be open and available to all; it is the Father's will that all have access to His love and to His Presence.

But is it really any different today? I have personally seen the 10 Ways the Enemy Has Infiltrated the Church, from a powerful article written by Evangelist Chuck Lawless. I have seen 1) Rivalry in the Church, 2) Immaturity among believers, 3) Tolerating sin in the congregation, 4) Believers turning on believers, 5) Sexual immorality in the church, 6) Misuse of Christian liberty [to condemn others], 7) Idolatry in the church, 8) Competition over spiritual gifts, 9) Unwillingness to forgive a repentant believer, and 10) False teaching in the church. I do not point these out from a superior attitude -- it is always my heart for God to purify anything He finds unholy in my heart. My intention is to call ourselves to account for the ways we might be limiting access to God for anyone seeking Him. 

I mean, are we really glorifying our Lord if we are fighting over ministry turf; allowing internal strife between members; tolerating sexual sin; promoting someone or a ministry above our holy God [worshiping the gods of our heart]; competing over whose spiritual gift is greater; being unwilling to forgive a repentant brother or sister in Christ; or being unable to discern a false teaching from the grace of Jesus to allow for a difference of opinion that doesn't contradict the Gospel and the Father's will? 

For instance, does it really matter if we baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit -- or we simply baptize in the Name of Jesus? Isn't that make Baptism into a religious ritual rather than a pronouncement of our allegiance to Heaven? Didn't Jesus say He and the Father are One, and if we've seen Him, we've seen the Father? Isn't the purpose of declaring a name is that you know who you are declaring your spiritual allegiance to -- the Light or the dark side? Jesus allowed His followers to eat from the wheat fields on the Sabbath, breaking a strict religious rule. When He declared that “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”, He is proclaiming that He exercises authority over the Sabbath. He also exercises authority over baptism, and if we choose to be baptized, He knows the condition of our heart, and that we understand the significance of this action. He never desired that our faith be difficult, once we choose to believe. Why do we make it so?

Finally, I think there can be no disagreement that we are seeing the brutality of mankind on the earth. And when the Rule of Law is no longer operating, then the message the masses receive is that there are no rules; or the rules are made to be broken; or it's ok to make your own rules and just do what makes you feel good about yourself -- none of which were ever taught by the Creator and Redeemer of all mankind. Therefore those men [and women] will come to despise the One who made the rules to guide us all to a peaceful and harmonious life. And they will deny His power and authority to guide their lives because it comes in conflict with their own self-interests. 

It is evident from the threats of war, famine, disease/plagues, and persecution from those who love power and those who hate God, that we are indeed in perilous times. Is the glorious return of our Lord imminent, or will He give us a reprieve by some miracle of His mercy and grace? No one can say for sure, but this I do know ... it is time to receive HIS TRUTH, not the truth of the world, and most certainly time to discern if you are hearing the truth in your place of worship. It is not time "to tolerate unsound doctrine and inaccurate instruction [that does not challenge them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold." It is perilous enough that you need to know what you believe and why! Don't rely on another's faith -- own your own. And remember what Jesus said to His disciples in those ancient times ... Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So go and find out what HE said because His words "will not pass away". For it is most assuredly the time to determine that we will stand in persistent perseverance. And He will stand with us! Praise Him, above all Names, for He is worthy to be praised! 

Luke 21:28    Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”