Prophecies Both Ancient and New Are Converging

I don't believe I am the only one who understands the value of considering prophecies. After all, as a Christian, a bedrock of our faith are the promises God has given us through the prophecies in the Bible. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament provide us with guidance as to what to expect as the world advances towards its inevitable end. Many of those promises center on God's forgiveness for our sins and the redeemed life we can live with Him for eternity. But there are also many promises in the form of warnings that point to the consequences of our rejection and rebellion towards Him. And then there are the prophecies that outline the Enemy's plans and hopes to usurp God's authority over the earth and establish his own dominion over mankind. 

I know a lot of people are focused on the arrival of a One-World Leader who becomes the Antichrist; first promising peace, only to usher in a time of destruction and war. The Bible tells us these things must come to pass, but I refuse to become engulfed by fear. So, while I do not obsess about negative and unfulfilled prophecies -- instead, choosing to focus on those I know are certain and guaranteed by God in His Word -- I am not foolish enough to ignore those that the Word also substantiates as part of Satan's strategy to try and defeat God. It would be imprudent of me not to discern the warnings that our Lord gives us to avoid falling into the devil's trap. Here are just a few that are coming into fruition... 

Many of you may recall the prophetic forecast that many modern day "prophets" said would be the signs of the times in 2025. One that stands out to me is the possible fulfillment of 1 Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Not only do we see mainline denominations accepting unbiblical doctines of same-sex marriages, gender fluidity, and supporting abortion "rights", but they also ignore the child sex trade that is exported from our country. 

As we watch our economy struggling to maintain any kind of security, I can't help but see that the momentum for a digital currency sets us up not only to lose control of managing our own money, but makes us subject to increasing surveillance and monitoring. With the supersonic advancement of technology, it isn't too hard to see the beginning of the Beast System that the Bible warns us about. And if that is in play, then the persecution, oppression, and tyranny against Christians is not too far behind. We're already seeing a rise in anti-semitism, and the Middle East is on fire once again, with Israel and Jerusalem in the cross-hairs. [NOTE: It's hard for me to see God's holy Zion in place just yet. My prayers are supporting the growing number of Messianic Jews in Israel who are seeking God's ancient plan for His allotted people and their inheritance as His portion among the peoples of the earth. The political factions running Israel today do not meet that description. I pray for the day they join their Messianic brethren and call upon the Name of Jesus, and thus, be Saved. Then watch what God does to their enemies!

And of course, we can't ignore the ongoing tension centering around Russia, Iran, Turkey and others [including China] who are mentioned by their ancient names in Ezekiel 38. We must not try to discern their significance through the lens of the nightly news and talking heads, nor "lean on our own understanding", but rather, trust in God's sovereign plan for the world, which leads to His ultimate transformation of this planet into the New Heaven and New Earth. 

And now I want to switch to an ancient 16th Century Seer, Healer and Astrologer, Nostradamus, who, whether you believe his prophecies or remain skeptical, has seemed to predict such historical events as the French Revolution, the rise of Adolph Hitler, the nuclear devastation of Hiroshima, and even the September 11th attacks in New York. So what did he forecast for 2025? Among his prognostications are the return of an ancient plague; a possible collision between earth and something from outer space (the remnant of Planet X or the Planet Rahab?); a scientific breakthrough that will revolutionize healthcare; a surge of natural disasters; the collapse of financial stability and a new currency (possibly a new, global digital currency like Bitcoin?).

But the one prophecy that Nostradamus makes that gives me a sense of hope and expectation is that 2025 will begin an era of spiritual awakening. While I am not yet convinced that there will be "a worldwide revival" that many other modern prophets forecast, I can believe that as humankind finds ways to navigate through the wars that are on the horizon, the diseases that are being engineered, the financial collapse and restructuring, and whatever the cosmos and natural disasters have in store for us, we will come out of our addiction to materialism and reawaken to the rewards of spiritual transformation. I long for the day that the Remnant takes its place among the human race and those who have accepted Jesus's invitation will see Him in His crown of glory, clothed in His beauty and might. 

The Bible is full of the promises for God's Remnant. Yes, it also gives us warnings of the things I have mentioned, Nostradamus's predictions, and the forecasts of modern day prophets; some of whom are true, and some that are false. But there seems to be at least an approximation of Biblical truth in them when you apply the axiom of Proverbs 25:2 ... it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out. And since we are to become kings and priests in the Millennial Kingdom, I believe we can engage in discerning whether the ancient and modern prophecies are truly converging. After all, God loves it when we seek to know more about Him -- as long as we don't lose sight of our ultimate victory in Him. This is not a time to fear or get distracted. But it is time to be still and listen for God's encouragement and wisdom as we move into these prophetic times. Keep your eyes on Him and watch what He will show you!

Ezra 9:8   But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within His holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.             

Navigating the Minefield of Immoral Social Issues

Sometimes I feel as though I know what it must have been like to walk in the shoes of the first Century Christians. Once you have been introduced to Jesus and decided you want a deep, abiding relationship with Him, you often find yourself at odds with Society's standards and principles of behavior. I'm not talking about becoming hypocritically religious, which can look like the Pharisees, whom Jesus called "whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men's bones and every kind of impurity". No, I'm talking about how we walk among our fellow citizens, who reject and spurn our God and our decisions to try and live righteous lives.

I'm actually thinking of what it must have been like to live in a society that was steeped in the worship of pagan gods and the rituals of sacrifice to an unholy deity. At every turn these early Christians were met with pagan images, symbols, and icons on personal items, public buildings, temples, over doorposts and even in the response to a sneeze: "Jupiter, bless you!" But are we that different? Americans drink out of Starbucks cups emblazoned with a pagan goddess/seductress (attributed to Lilith, Mélusine, or various Nordic pagan sirens). Less subtle, but nonetheless prolific is the increasingly obvious appearance of Baphomet, the goat-headed man with hermaphrodite features who is prominent in Freemason and Knights Templar lore. [NOTE: In 2014, a statue of this pagan icon was made and suggested by Satanists to be placed at the Oklahoma State Capitol building in opposition to the Ten Commandments statue. Thankfully, the state's Supreme Court overruled this proposition. The same thing happened in Arkansas in 2018]. 

But, still, our society is full of logos and symbols that provide subliminal messages regarding pagan and unbiblical ideology. For example, there is the Apple logo, applauding the temptation of Eve; and the CBS logo depicting the all-seeing eye of Horus, an ancient Egyptian god who is supposed to represent well-being, healing, and protection. We are also inundated nearly everyday with the Disney logo, and its hidden 666 motif. [Note: You might think I'm over-reaching in my statement regarding the beloved Disney franchise, but I invite you to read a couple of my past posts, here and here]. And before I move on, consider the Chrysler logo: which incorporates the winged god Ahura Mazda. "Mazda" means wisdom, while "Ahura" stands for lord in Avestan, an Iranian language. It is also the name of the god of the Iranian religion Zoroastrianism. While, we as Christians, do not legitimize the pagan religious underpinnings of these symbols and logos, they still are exercising hidden and unconscious spiritual influence in our realm. 

We can also see the effects of the power of hidden pagan rituals in our culture, whether we are conscious of them or not. Abortion is the perfect example. The sacrifice of children is a ritual thousands of years old. We are all familiar with the horrific sacrifices of children to the pagan god, Molek [or Molech], in the Bible. Leviticus 18:21 specifically says, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane [desecrate, treat with disrespect] the name of your God." But are you familiar with Numbers 5:11-31, where instructions are given for inducing an abortion... it is known as a test for an unfaithful wife [or adultery test], a ritual to be used by priests against women accused by their husbands of unfaithfulness. The ritual involves the drinking of "bitter water", a concoction that will abort any pregnancy that results from "having sexual relations with a man other than their husband".  

So, by now you're probably thinking, what am I supposed to do with this information, or maybe, how do I walk out my faith in a corrupt and sinful world that promulgates and promotes ideology that displeases our holy God and offends me? While we are to necessarily avoid partaking or agreeing in such practices, we are also told to show the love of Christ to others in the hopes of leading them to abandon their sinful ways and accept Jesus's invitation for eternal life.

Although we disagree with these practices and belief systems because of our faith, we also have a part to play in the public life of our society. How are we to walk that tightrope? Let me share the Roman Christian theologian and writer, Tertullian's comments to those whom we are not in agreement with (c. 155 - c. 220): We live in the world with you. We do not forsake forum ... or bath ... or workshop, or inn, or market, or any other place of commerce. We sail with you, fight with you, farm with you ... We do not go to your feasts but we patronize your industries. We do not buy laurel crowns but we buy flowers. We do not buy incense for temples but we do for burial. We do not contribute to the temples but we give more for alms than you do. We improve business in that we do not defraud. 

In other words, we recognize that we are in this world, but are not of this world; we are in a foreign kingdom and not in our true home. We are not to love this world or anything in it; so while we are to love others as Jesus loved them, we are not to compromise our Christian morals or God's Word. And that can certainly mean that we will be hated and ridiculed when confronted with a moral dilemma like that which has arisen around a new reality series, called "Back to the Frontier", and hosted by Christian couple Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of the hit series, "Fixer Upper".

The controversy has arisen because the Gaines's intentionally included a same-sex couple on the show. The show transports three families back to the 1880s where they have to give up modern comforts in exchange for a horse and buggy lifestyle. While I have never seen the show, apparently there has been a strong backlash against the show and its hosts by their largely Christian audience. And the hosts are angry at Believers who do not condone what can be construed as approval for an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family. Gaines has fired back, saying, "It's a sad Sunday when 'non believers' have not been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian... It's too much to ask of our modern American Christian culture to talk, ask questions,listen or maybe even learn... [Instead] we judge first, and understand later ... or never".

Now, here's the response from the same-sex spouses .... "Representation matters deeply -- especially for those who are still finding the courage to live their truth. When families like ours are visible, it opens doors for others to feel safe, loved, and validated. Visibility isn't just about being seen; it's about making sure no one feels alone." Ironically, I'm concerned that Christians are increasingly made to feel alone for their beliefs as we watch our faith belittled and our culture accepting and agreeing with lifestyles that our God does not condone. I find it difficult to find any TV show or movie that does not push the gay lifestyle, to the point of including graphic sex scenes. 

What makes me really sad is that I have come to know many gay people, some whom I consider good friends. But we respect each other and I never feel that they expect me to compromise my beliefs in my faith. At the same time, I know that God loves them and we are all sinners. I pray that He convicts them of their sins, just as I want Him to convict me of mine. I thought it was interesting that the same-sex couple defended those "who are still finding the courage to live their truth". But in doing so, they are blinded to the fact that it is God's truth we are to live. I agree with Franklin Graham, who when commenting on this social firestorm, said,"While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God's Word. His Word is absolute Truth. God love us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself, sin". 

So, our Society and Culture are continuing to ramp up the promotion of sin and rebellion against God's Truth and His ways. But why are we surprised? The Bible tells us it will happen, and that we will be hated, just as our Lord and Savior was. As  Society embraces, more and more, the sins of this world, we will find ourselves trying to navigate those minefields and hazards that threaten to overcome us as we struggle to defend the Faith while loving others. It's time to straighten our backbone and strengthen our resolve to represent Christ in times of perseverance and endurance. We must be prepared to stand in strength of character and firm dedication to Christ, while we correct in Love as we guide others to righteousness with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are about to enter a new paradigm of what it means to be a true Christian. May we have the determination and strength of will that our First Century Brethren embodied. God be with us!

1 John 2:17.     The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever. 

 

   

 

Can AI Replace the Holy Spirit?

 

This is a topic that is deeply concerning to me after hearing a short presentation by Ryan Miller, a Christian Social Media influencer and host of the Jesus People podcast, in which he spoke about a prophetic warning he received in a late-night vision regarding using Artificial Intelligence to help him write his daily devotionals. Initially, he thought AI could be useful to help him be more accurate and intentional in representing God’s Word in his written and published devotionals. But the Lord made it clear with His warning that AI should not be depended upon for spiritual guidance when helping people develop their spiritual relationship with Him.

 

But how many pastors or church leaders do exactly that? With the trials of society today, it is easy to understand why the shepherds of the flock might be tempted to employ AI’s vast data banks of knowledge to make their job easier. After all, we are told that AI continues to learn from Large Language Models (LLMs) to train itself in self-supervised models to amass large amounts of text and fine-tune it for specific tasks, guided by engineering, to be used in chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, or Claude. What better way to use this technology than to apply AI’s expertise to write an impressive or effective sermon?

 

While Ryan Miller was initially tempted, God’s prophetic warning quickly steered him away from that course. But Gloo (a technology platform designed to connect faith communities and enhance outreach efforts by offering AI-powered tools and resources for ministry leaders), and the Barna Group (a Christian polling firm), both report that AI is becoming a factor in the decisions pastors and the Church are making about technology and the pulpit. According to Ministry Watch, an American nonprofit organization who reviews ministries for financial accountability and transparency, “a recent survey conducted by Gloo says a majority of leaders (54%) are uncomfortable with the emergence of AI. Another  study conducted by Barna Group says that three in four U.S. pastors (77%) agree that God can work through AI. However, only one in 10 pastors (12%) are comfortable using AI to write their sermons, while two in five (43%) see its benefits in sermon preparation and research”.

 

In my opinion, all this is reason for concern. In matters of faith, we are to follow our Savior, God, who became man and sacrificed Himself so that we might escape eternal death and separation from our Creator, and enjoy eternal Life with Him in Heaven. We are to become like Jesus, who [as I have repeated so many times] made all His decisions in ministering to His fellow man by listening to what His Father told Him to do, or seeing in the Spirit what the Father was showing Him. And, it should be apparent to everyone who calls himself a man [or woman] of God, that a machine developed by man IS NOT a sanctified guide, counselor, advocate, comforter, empowered spirit, or a foretaste of future glory in our redeemed bodies (Roman 8:23). 

 

I'm not saying that God can't use AI's extensive gathering of data to support, substantiate, and authenticate valid Scriptural resources in order to align with Christian doctrines and teachings. But to assign it equal status with the Holy Spirit, is a means of grieving the Spirit, which Ephesians 4:30 explicitly cautions us against.  It should be clear to all Christians that the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to experience not only the Divine Person of God in our own spirit, but affords us the conscious impact of the power of God that resides in us. AI is incapable of doing that!   

 

The Holy Spirit is an extension, if you will, of God; a part of Him. We can trust that the answers we receive [from Him] to our questions are TRUTH. We know the Source of the knowledge that He shares. We must never forget that the knowledge AI shares is only as good [and true and valid] as what is input by the human who entered the data. What are the biases of that human; their prejudices, their feelings about religion? Can that person, or that machine, be trusted to accurately guide your spiritual life?    

 

I can see the temptation that AI offers those in the faith community. There is so much to know about God; so much information that spans thousands of years. And when we are seeking a closer relationship with the Triune God, it can be tempting to use AI's data banks to try to gain my knowledge about the God we serve. After all, the Bible tells us in the last verse in the Book of John, Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.  That's a lot of knowledge. How are we to ever gain access to all that has been written? AI is definitely a temptation that promises more knowledge than we can accumulate or consume on our own. But again, who was the human that input that knowledge, and did they vet [examine] the veracity against Scripture or seek the guidance of the ultimate screener, the Holy Spirit? 

 

We must resist the temptation to rely or depend on AI as the preferred source of wisdom when it comes to God or our faith. The Bible makes it clear: the fear (reverence and awe) of God is the beginning of wisdom [Proverbs 9:10]. Wisdom does not come from the worship of technology and AI! When we begin relying and trusting on technology/AI more than God ... or going to it first before we approach the throne of God, then I'm afraid we are treading on dangerous ground. Whenever we hold something or someone in more esteem than we do God, the Enemy is given legal authority to draw us deeper into submission to his temptations. Technology and AI, in themselves, are not bad. They only become a stumbling block when we let them get in between us and God.  

 

Here is my final thought... unlike AI, which began as an invention of man, contrived by man's thoughts and goals, and which is designed by its inventor to educate by a human perspective ... the Holy Spirit seeks to fill us with His own spirit and change our perspective to see our lives and this world through God's eyes. Nothing is impossible for God; His wisdom, love, and power is imparted to us by and through the Holy Spirit. There is a richness in that relationship that no piece of machinery can ever hope to match or emulate. The Holy Spirit speaks the promise of God's Glory. If we are not careful, AI will be the harbinger of man's despair.

 

1 Corinthians 2:13        And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual [and guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

Lord, Raise Up a Generation of Godly Men!

A friend sent me a social media posting that proclaimed, "Dear women, there is a new breed of man awakening on this planet and he does not (mess) around. He knows exactly what he wants and he shows up for you emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and sexually. He learned how to treat a woman while transmuting his own emotional pain and heartache into power, then used that power to alchemize his fear into love; [i.e. transform that fear supernaturally into love]. He remembers his position as a man, a protector and a lover for the woman sent to him by God. He treats her like a sacred phenomenon from heaven and wants her by his side as a partner, lover and friend".

Actually, this friend sent it to my husband as well, telling him how blessed I am and what a great role model he is as a Godly man. I couldn't agree more! I pray for this awakening among men because our world, our nation, and our families desperately need Godly men to rise up and lead. Frankly, I am tired of seeing men emasculated by a culture that seeks to weaken them, undermine them, and reduce the identity in which God created them. It's easy to see Satan in this strategy ... he wants to corrupt God's design of man's dominion over the earth. It started in the Garden when he tempted and seduced Eve into usurping Adam's authority in making the decision to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And that sin has crept in, down through the centuries, increasingly attacking men's role and their identity, with the goal to make them weaker or less effective, leaving the door open for Satan to control the world.

[NOTE: At this point, I want to take a quick sidestep, and introduce a topic that involves the Genesis 6:1-4 incursion of Fallen Angels. The Church's teachings on this event is sparse and limited, at best. But Flavius Josephus, a Jewish priest, scholar, and historian has shed some light on the oral histories that were accepted and passed down. I suggest you read his 20-volume Antiquities of the Jews for a historical perspective on this subject. And there are some excellent books by modern authors Gary Wayne (Genesis 6 Conspiracy) and Timothy Alberino (Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion On Planet Earth) that will shatter our tame Biblical narrative [of Genesis 6] that the seminaries have proffered over the last 200 years or so.

The thoughts that I am carefully forming [and studying] center around the theory [and possibility] that Satan encouraged the Fallen Angels, [who were jealous that God had provided Adam with a helpmate and wife] to lust after the daughters of men and to marry them (Genesis 6:2) in order to corrupt the bloodline that was designed to lead to Jesus. Timothy Alberino suggests there's a possibility that the women were willing partners because they also sought the knowledge that their ancestor, Eve, was tempted by -- the divine knowledge that Satan used to deceive Eve, and that the Fallen Angels would have received in Heaven before they rebelled and defected.  

Consider this: Our authority for dominion of the earth comes from Who we have pledged our allegiance to and Who we're in covenant with, namely the Creator of Earth. But those who have pledged their allegiance to Satan owe their authority to him. He gives men (and women), who use their free will to disobey God, the authority and resources to use their dominion to serve his [Satan's] purposes. We see it today, most alarmingly, in the practice of abortion. Men and their desire, or opinions in this situation, are discounted because Satan has convinced women they have exclusive control and rights over their bodies and can do with them [and to them] what they wish. God's structure for the family is being destroyed and eliminated, as man's purpose in establishing dominion on the earth slips away].  

With this understanding, let me get back to my purpose for this post. It is so important at this juncture in history, that we see men reclaim their identity; to begin to live as though they truly are the image of God. So, what makes a man, "Godly"? How can we begin to not only identify and encourage such men, but begin to raise up sons who will follow in their father's/Father's footsteps? We all know that Jesus is the perfect model of a Godly man, so let's consider His character traits.

I think one of the leading indicators of a Godly man is one who has cultivated a deep, personal relationship with God. Jesus never did or said anything that wasn't approved by God. He prayed for Divine counsel and never imposed His will on the situation. Godly men have hearts full of compassion for those in need, and have hearts to serve -- not to be served. How many wars could be avoided if leaders sought and listened to God's advice? How many families would feel secure and live in peace and security, if men were willing to sacrifice and give of themselves for the sake of their wives and children and the Glory of God? And how many women would feel deeply loved by a Godly husband, when they realize they are married to a man who makes it his priority to provide for her, protect her, and esteem her, bringing peace to her life?

Godly men are honest and humble. They don't act out of selfish ambition, but for the good of others. They do the right thing, even when it's not pleasant or desirable. They are steady and consistent, bringing discipline and self-control to situations where peace and harmony are needed to battle against the lawlessness of the Enemy. They know how to persevere and endure in times of challenge and testing, showing others what faithfulness and commitment to God and His ways looks like. They seek wisdom and discernment from God, trusting Him in His timing and plans for the future. They talk to God a lot.

There are so many traits and characteristics of Jesus that are the measure of a Godly man. And I am truly blessed to be married to a man that is intent on following in Jesus's footprints. He is not perfect, [and would be embarrassed that I am paying him this tribute]. He did not always walk out his life in Godly ways. But when the Lord called him out of a worldly mindset and made him accountable for the words, actions, and thoughts in his life, he became teachable and moldable, resolving to grow spiritually as he matured, and let God lead him to more and deeper revelations about his purpose. What could he do for God's Kingdom during whatever time he's here?

Naturally bold and courageous, I have watched him stand for Biblical principles even when it wasn't popular by worldly standards. His heart posture, or attitude, is this: he is not afraid to defend his Biblical worldview in a culture that despises anything that competes with their self-gratification. For him, it's all about representing God and His Son, who gave everything to show us the greatest expression of what love is truly all about. And in the midst of such a determined life, he is still human. He still stumbles, but he repents when he sins, and he is careful to ask for forgiveness and offer it when he is sinned against. 

I guess I am most proud to be the wife of this Godly man because he is leading by example, not calling attention to himself, but walking boldly and confidently as a redeemed man; a man who has learned to die to himself so that he can glorify His Lord. Without a doubt, he is bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God, and it is my privilege to walk by his side as we seek God's Kingdom and righteousness, growing together and learning more each day how big and magnanimous and glorious our God is. May He hear our fervent prayers, and faithfully raise up a generation of Godly sons on the earth! Amen!

1 Peter 2:9      But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.     

 

  

The Lord Is Testing Us! May We Come Forth As Refined Gold!

Have you noticed or felt that the world is on shaky ground -- literally and spiritually? Are you experiencing a season of feeling weighed down by the responsibilities of life, and sensing a strong spiritual force coming against you? You're not alone! The planet is literally trembling and shaking at the surface, and spewing forth from its depths. Wildfires, hurricanes, pandemics, famine and food shortages are becoming more frequent and more severe. Is a Polar Shift in our future? All this plus the recent volcanic and earthquake activity are evidence of the "birth pains" that Jesus foretells in Matthew 24. 

He is very deliberate in describing the signs and events that will happen before the end of the age. Like the birth pains before the birth of a baby, many Christians understand these signs to mean that Jesus's return is coming quickly once they start. But they miss the fuller understanding that these signs and events are just the beginning of greater troubles to come. Just as the labor pains [at the birth of a child] increase with intensity, Jesus is telling us that we will experience challenges that will escalate in strength and force as the end approaches. 

These events will be the beginning of sorrows, followed by the worsening of the labor pains [as the world prepares for the fullness of the birth of God's Kingdom on earth]. But we cannot escape the times of tribulation that come before that glorious birth; the times of great catastrophe, anguish, and cataclysm. Are we there yet? I don't know, is my honest answer. But I don't think we can dismiss the deception that Jesus warns us about in Matthew 24:4-5 ; or the wars and global conflicts we are seeing in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iraq and now Taiwan. Hints of Nuclear war are increasing. These wars alone don't mean the end, but when they abound alongside the other signs, they indicate His return is getting closer. 

As I talked about in my preceding post, the moral and spiritual decline, along with the celebration of evil as being right, plus the mocking of Biblical values shows us we are mirroring 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ... People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. We are there, folks!

We can't ignore Israel's role in End-Times prophecies, nor the tensions that are building in the world as every nation is watching the Holy Land. I need you to understand my position on God's chosen people. The land belongs to God and He will restore His holy Zion and her people to their homeland. But there's a difference between the holy Zion of the Bible and the secular, political Zion we see today. But I believe there will be a time of repentance and they will return, fully committed to their God. That is my prayer for them!

And, if you read my blog with any regularity, you will notice that I often write about warnings surrounding Technology and the role it could play in the prophecy of Revelation 13:16-17 .... It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Can you see the system of control that is beginning to creep its way into our lives? -- It's visible in restaurants that no longer accept cash as payment; in digital IDs; in AI surveillance on our phones, in our TVs and appliances; and microchips used as part of the infrastructure for worldwide tracking of every human on earth. 

One clear indicator for me is Jesus's prophecy that the end of the age will come when one last sign is fulfilled ... it will come when "this good news of the gospel of the kingdom is preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations".  Consider how long it has taken during the past centuries to spread this gospel! Now, one click and it is shared worldwide. While Satan will try and use Technology for evil, God is using it to for His good and spreading His Word fast and far!  

So all this is telling us how the Bible says we will recognize the "signs of the times". But how are you dealing with all this personally? Do you recognize that as the prophecies of God's Word are unfolding, that we are also being tested by God as to the level of our faith? In 2015, I wrote of my feelings of anxiety and apprehension as I discerned the civil unrest in our streets, the racial tension among our citizens, homeland terrorism, and the threats of world war. That was ten years ago and everything is escalating! The birth pains are increasing in intensity! 

At the time, I found myself trying to look into the future, plotting and planning ways to endure that scary time. Today, my spirit knows the truth -- my security does not lie in anything I can do -- the world, itself, offers no security. And what the world calls security is false. No amount of money, peace of mind, or stability in my life measures up to the trust I have in the Lord through my faith. [NOTE: I am not naive ... I have skills that will sustain me in times of trouble]. And I will admit, that there are times the Enemy taunts me to return to those sleepless nights full of fear and sows into my active imagination. But I remind myself that my husband and myself are in a covenant with the Most High God. We have put our confidence in the truth that He is who He says He is, and will do what He has promised us: He will be faithful to provide for all our needs, if we would be faithful to put our trust in Him. 

I will accept it if He decides to test me. I am not perfect! And He needs to know He can trust me to do His work when the times get tough -- and we're headed that way! So I praise Him for those times when I discern His testing and the supernatural clarity of the inter-dimensional aspects of this world and the heavenly realms. All the worries and concerns that the Enemy uses to distract me are only momentary and worthless compared to the riches that will be my inheritance in Heaven. I want Him to refine me and purify me so that I can battle the darkness, all while waiting on Him and renewing my strength. So, as the Bible encourages us, let us count it all joy when we meet these trials and tests, because it will help us develop our steadfastness. And when we prove that we can remain resolute and steady in times of trials and tribulation, we are assured the Crown of Life! It is all worth it! Hallelujah!  

Job 23:10     But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].        

     

The Death of a Society's Virtue

Today, I found myself seeking a moment or two of  solitude; just sitting quietly by myself, hoping to quiet my thoughts and get a sense of the heaviness that I was feeling. As soon as I shut down all the distracting noises of the world, I quickly understood that the weight on my spirit came from the realization that this oppression is coming from the accumulative erosion of the virtue in our society.

Before I can continue with this train of consciousness, I need to define my idea of "virtue", and why it's important to me. Virtue is a valuable commodity in my Biblical worldview, and it stands for the goodness, righteousness, integrity, honesty, decency, incorruptibility, moral, and principled manner in which a society operates. It matters to me because those are the standards that I use to measure if the society in which I live is worthy of my respect and adherence. I believe that my God, Jesus Christ, created this world to glorify Him; its peoples to follow His ways; and its laws to mirror His government in Heaven.

That may sound like a naive perspective for the 21st Century, but as I look upon the direction this modern civilization is headed, it is apparent to me [by my standards, which are God's] that, by abandoning this criterion, we are becoming a dying society and culture. And it has been a death by a thousand cuts; so gradual that we didn't even see how we were compromising our covenant with God. Just in my lifetime, I can see where the idea that "God is dead" took root in philosophical circles. That theology is nothing new -- Satan has tried to implement this groupthink since the Garden. Various civilizations throughout the history of man's existence have bought into this lie that we don't need God. But I can trace the rise of this secular idea and the abandonment of traditional beliefs in God [during my lifetime] to the 1960s and the rise of rebellion among American youth.

That defiance and resistance to anything suggesting conformity [especially to Biblical principles] quickly saw prayer, God, and the Bible removed from our schools. This is in such stark contrast to their place in education at the dawn of America. In fact, a classical education in the American colonies emphasized the study of the Bible and Christian principles as foundational to all knowledge and learning. Schools were established to ensure Bible literacy, and the curriculum included theology alongside classical subjects like Latin and Greek.  

Just ponder these quotes by the Founding Fathers, and whether you are a Believer or not, you cannot deny the importance they placed on God and His place in a just and moral society ... "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other" [John Adams]; "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle" [George Washington]; "No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people" [Noah Webster]; "Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion" [John Adams].

It's so easy, if you employ critical thinking, to recognize Satan's tactics: sow into vulnerable minds the temptation to believe that God is unnecessary; therefore the idea of Him is dead, which leads to the conclusion that prayer and the mention of God and the Bible are no longer necessary in our classrooms. And without the guidance of God or His tenets, we become our own god, giving ourselves the freedom to do whatever pleases us [instead of Him]. And so we bought into the lie that drugs, sex, and rock and roll gave us a more enjoyable lifestyle than the dictates of a Biblical lifestyle. Free sex with whomever you desired understandably resulted in unwanted pregnancies. It's not convenient for your self-indulgent lifestyle? Then abortion is the answer. And to keep religion or guilt from "meddling" in your life, well then, we worked to get government to enact laws that gave us the legal right to murder those babies. 

Can you see how easy it was to remove the semblance of virtue from our society? But this progression is nothing new in the history of man. In actuality, there is a demonic presence that Satan has introduced throughout different civilizations to mock and destroy God's ability and authority to create Life. Remember, Satan can't create anything! He can certainly tempt humans to listen to his lies and follow his instructions to worship him [and act in his ways] instead of following the One True God. So, in an effort to mock and oppose God, it was to Satan's benefit to introduce the false god known as Molech [or Moloch or Malek, depending on the different cultures that existed at his introduction to the Canaanite culture and tribes]. 

Men were tempted to build statues of Molech, which resembled a human body with a bull's head. Usually made of bronze, the statue appeared with arms outstretched and a belly that opened to serve as a furnace. In the ancient cultures, families would offer to pass their children "through the fire" [to be burned alive] in order to secure favor and prosperity. Fast forward through the centuries, and we see that even in the 21st Century, the spirit of the false god Molech is still alive and working as a dark, evil mirror of our disintegrating society. Abortion is the law of the land, and it reflects the practice of infant sacrifice, which is part of Molech worship. It doesn't take a genius to see that abortion exalts death, which is what the worship of Satan and Molech exemplify. Whether a woman identifies abortion with Molech worship or not, the act of killing your baby accomplishes the same thing for Satan.

In today's society, Satan tempts women to sacrifice their children in the name of Self ... specifically in the name of access to education, career goals, financial concerns, lack of stable relationships, and inconvenience, among many other emotional reasons. And I want to make it clear that I am not insensitive to the issues of rape or the mother's health. Those are difficult decisions that I hope would be made after much consultation with Jesus, who created the child that the mother carries. But I also believe far too many women choose to sacrifice their babies out of a desire to meet their own needs. That process also ignores the fact that they are destroying what God has created. In that sense, women become their own god, giving themselves the authority to destroy life. With over 65,000,000 babies legally aborted in the U.S. since 1973, I think I can argue that we have created a culture of death in this country -- the exact opposite of God's desire for humanity.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

Each one of us is born with a spark of God's Light in us. And that Light shines in the darkness of Satan's world here on earth, when we are in kinship and unity with the One who created us. When I think about over 65,000,000 Lights extinguished in the last 52 years since Roe v Wade was enacted in 1973, my spirit is overcome with tremendous grief... grief for those innocent babies who felt the pain of being gruesomely destroyed in what was supposed to be a safe place for them, their mother's womb ... grief for the women whom I believe will one day experience the spirits of guilt and shame when they realize that they fell for Satan's lies ... and the grief of Jesus, whom I believe has borne the pain [and shed the tears] of those precious lives He created. 

I am no longer the unsuspecting and over-trusting young girl of my youth, who believed what I saw through the rose-colored glasses I wore and what I was taught about my country's history. I have seen behind the curtain, and I recognize the deception that I was spoon-fed. There are far too many believable conspiracies behind political assassinations; false reasons for wars [that resulted in untold millions of unwarranted deaths and suffering]; and willful duplicity and treachery for personal gain and power. And the deception seems to keep growing. We are not turning away from the path Satan has set before us. And when we become aware of it, and we don't make an effort to turn the ship back towards God, then we are complicit with the system of destruction.

Sadly, I believe the system has become too powerful, and the expanse of society is too comfortable in their deception. Looking forward, I think it is going to be up to each individual to decide whether their personal virtue is worth preserving, or if the battle over it seems too ominous, burdensome, and colossal. I understand. But we also have to decide how we want to appear before Jesus. For me, I want to finish strong in His sight. I want to stand before Him as a Daughter in whom He approves and is proud of. In my flesh, I unapologetically want to try and reclaim some small part of my impression that this country was founded to be representative of God's Goodness and Provision. I don't know if that is even possible anymore. But I promise you this ... I will be true to who God made me to be and to who He is. I will not cooperate with Evil, and I will not compromise with a world who only seeks self-gratification and self-worship. I believe Jesus is coming soon, and I am ready for His rule and reign!   

"Yet even now," declare the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance], with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts [in sorrow and contrition] and not your garments". 

My Pilgrim Journey: Following the Spirit to Jesus

image © theholyspostles.com

 As I get older, I am becoming more aware of the temporary state of my existence, what others call our mortality. I know that this is the same path most humans will eventually travel, but it has particular significance when you are a follower of Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world. And how you choose to walk in this impermanent life will determine if you profit in your life's journey, and whether you've stayed true to who you were created to be.

Unfortunately, it is human nature to waste our youth on selfish motives and desires. I look back on all the years I chose to feed my appetite for temporal rewards -- those worldly, profane, transient, material, mundane, carnal, fleshly, and perishable prizes this world offers for our self-gratification -- and I grieve for those lost opportunities to become more of who I truly am. 

I have discovered that I am a Pilgrim; a person who travels on long journeys in search of the sacred meaning of this life. As I'm writing this, I know it sounds like I'm some kind of fundamentalist and an adherent of religious theology; even a dreamer. But nothing could be further from the truth. I'm about as non-religious as they come. I have simply embraced who I've been throughout my life ... someone who never fit the pattern the world decided was acceptable and normal. And that also defines what the Church has established as the standard of a Christian. I guess I'm the proverbial example of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; an individualist who can't be pigeon-holed into any specific niche in conventional society, yet nevertheless, is able to navigate all the different spheres circling each other.

Then I stumbled on to the history of my maternal heritage. My mother's maiden name was Palmer, which just happens to historically refer to a pilgrim who traveled to the Holy Land and returned with a palm branch as a sign of their spiritual journey. It points to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before His crucifixion and death on the Cross. In the ancient Near East, palm branches were symbols of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life, and their use by the crowds signifies their recognition of Jesus as the anticipated Messiah and King. They were also used during the Feast of Tabernacles, the festival that celebrated God's provision and deliverance. As biblehub.com reveals, in Christian theology, the palm branches of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem foreshadow the ultimate victory of Christ, as depicted in Revelation 7:9, where a great multitude stands before the throne of God, holding palm branches in their hands, signifying eternal victory and peace in the presence of the Lamb.

So, I am humbled that my maternal lineage seems to foretell that I was ordained to be a "palmer"; a pilgrim looking for the modern equivalent of  "the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). I can look back and see two distinct events in my life that God [and Jesus] entered my circumstances, offering me a life-line. The first was in my college years when my stubbornness and false pride urged me to rebel against authority at the university I was attending [and working as part of the dormitory administration], which resulted in me having to withdraw from school, and led to a year of financial struggle as I worked my way back to being able to finish my final year of school and receive my degree. I prayed, and really talked to God for the first time, knowing I wasn't going to make it unless He helped me. It was extremely difficult-- no car (I walked to work, rain, snow, or shine); reduced to food stamps for six months (extremely anemic); and only barely made enough to pay the rent on a small, dreary apartment. But God showed me His Grace and His mercy, delivering me through that dismal period.

The second event was 11 years later, when I was rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver on a major highway through downtown Austin, sending my car end-over-end for five rotations up an embankment. God spared my life as I cried out to Him with each revolution up that embankment. You see, I knew He was real; I knew about Him; but I didn't know Him! I didn't have that personal relationship where I heard Him, or saw the direction He wanted me to go. So, if I was going to ever grab hold of my true identity, I guess He had to get my attention. From that moment on, I began my pilgrimage, a journey that has been winding through hills and valleys, and not without its challenges and tribulations. Yes, I think He tested me along the way. If there truly is a divine purpose to my life to serve Jesus and His Kingdom, He has to know He can trust me to share His Truth, His Way, and His Life with those whom I share the Gospel. My life truly embodies Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace, I have been saved through faith; and that not of myself, it is the gift of God; not as a result of [my] works, so that I may not boast. I have nothing to boast about in my years on this planet, except for His amazing grace, His everlasting faithfulness, and His persistent goodness and mercy. And for all that, I am so very grateful!

I truly believe that part of the reason for my pilgrimage has been to show me that I do not need to model my life [or my faith] on what the world prescribes. I certainly have walked in unconventionality through every season of my considerable years. And that includes my journey with the Church. Because I intentionally seek direction from the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus has given me to clearly hear and see my way forward towards the goal line He has set before me, I am sensitive to anything or any word that doesn't sound like His voice. Yes, that familiar scripture is really true... My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I have heard a lot of voices within the four walls of the church building that proclaim they are sharing God's Word and what it means, but because I have decided to seek that personal, individual relationship with my Savior, I can recognize the false and phony voice.

I wish it weren't so ... I wish that every man or woman inside the Church institution spoke the language of God, which brings love and freedom to follow Him in ways that benefit His Kingdom. He made us all with the purpose of glorifying Him, and there are as many ways to do that as there are distinctive people He has made. But that demands that you are truly in tune with His voice, following Him in His ways; not your own ways which the devil has convinced you are legal. 

I used to have to fight my qualms and insecurities that I was hearing Jesus correctly, especially when it seemed so foreign to what was being taught in the church I happened to be attending at the time. But then the Spirit showed me that the lack of peace and joy I felt when sitting under those teachings was, in reality, Him showing me that this was not where I belonged; that I could trust Jesus to enlighten me through deeper dives in His Word. In fact, the more I decided to follow the path "less traveled", the more depth I found in my relationship with Jesus. It didn't have to mirror anyone else's! And I found a clearer understanding of Scripture, and received more spiritual revelations that connected me to qualified ancient knowledge of the Creator of the Universe -- the knowledge to discern the difference between self-serving propaganda and God's inspired Word; the ability to discern corrupted theology, designed to lead men away from their purpose in this world.

Perhaps the part of my journey that fills my spirit with hope is seeing more and more Christians who recognize that something is not right ... who recognize that the world, our society, our government, and yes, our churches have wandered off the path that leads them to a Godly life. The corruption in the spiritual realms is too obvious to ignore, and their souls and spirits long for the peace that Jesus promises when we walk with Him. But I am going to be honest... it won't be easy! As Jesus told us, following Him comes with trials and tribulations. But when your heart is sick from watching the decay and destruction in the world, you want nothing else than to be yoked with Him! So take the risk! You don't have to be part of anything that makes your heart or soul sick. Your spirit is longing to awaken to the voice of our Savior! Take a chance and become like Isaac and Jacob ... Live by faith as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in temporary tents [which are also our temporal bodies], fellow heirs of the same promise [as the fathers of our faith].  

Don't follow the herd or the tribe! You are here to complete a mission specifically designed for you! Do not miss your opportunity or disappoint yourself! Walk in your own individual truth of who you are in Christ, as whispered by the Holy Spirit, and confirmed by the voice of your Shepherd! You will then live all your days with the certainty and joy of knowing that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work [you do for His Kingdom], and increasing in the knowledge of God. What better way to spend your remaining time on this corrupted earth? Remember ... we are all exiled as strangers and sojourners in this land. We are here for a reason...

1 Peter 1:17.    If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear [and reverence] during the time of your stay on earth. 

 

       

Stay Alert! Consequences of Accepting the Beast System! PART TWO

In Part One of our conversation on the incremental introduction of the Beast System in the End Times, I pointed out that the wheels have already been set in motion for our easy acceptance of a Beast System that is, at its core, deceptive and serves the Enemy's agenda. I believe it could be hidden in the convenience and ease with which Technology has invaded our lives. It's becoming increasingly difficult to avoid technology. For instance, in some of the major cities, restaurants and retailers no longer accept cash for purchases; they demand credit or debit cards. And try to get access to your doctors or customer service by phone -- how many of you get frustrated and just hang up?

Then there is the gap that technology is creating between parents and grandparents [who didn't grow up in the "technology age"] and their children who don't know how to dial a rotary phone, change a tire, operate an answering machine, maintain a physical checkbook, or write a letter [and definitely not in cursive]! The increased presence of technology in our lives is influencing our ability to communicate with our fellow man. The most recent generation(s) don't even like to answer a phone call and speak to someone, let alone have a conversation in person -- they'd rather text. This corruption of our communication skills can be seen as corrupting the image of God in which we are created because God is all about personal relationship and communication! 

I think we Christians have pretty much accepted the easy explanation that the Mark of the Beast's most obvious characteristic is that no one will be able to buy or sell without it. That's part of it, but the most dangerous effect [to me] is that it changes who we are! I believe that those who are of my generation are able to recognize the warning signs of technology and reject it [where we still can], but the younger generations see it as the next step in human evolution. That is where they are being deceived! They have bought the lie that technology can make us better than how God created us.

In fact, I recently ran across an article on IdentityProject.tv that suggested "The Five Lies Technology Tells Us". They are: 1.  "I am the center of my own universe; 2. I deserve to be happy all the time; 3. I must have unlimited choice; 4. I am my own authority; and 5. Information is all I need. And I love the arguments that this article uses to counter this destructive identity .... We are not made to orbit around ourselves. Our identity is rooted in God and we are made to live for something greater than ourselves. Jesus never promised us constant happiness; He promised us abundant life. Choice is a privilege, not a right. Learning to appreciate what we have -- instead of demanding unlimited access to things -- will lead us to true joy and peace. We are not our own authority -- God is. And the final counter-argument is that we are created for deep wisdom, not shallow data. 

Can you see that adoption of these Technology Promises challenges our relationship with God? It dulls our spiritual sensitivity and elevates the selfishness of the soul, which is our mind, emotions, and free will. In other words, when the soul takes priority, we live our lives focusing on the information that our minds/brains have accumulated [all that shallow data], and we just seek what makes us feel good and soothes our emotions, which results in our rejection of anything that is hard, or we have to work for. When that happens, prayer seems more distant and less important or productive. That "dullness" in our spirit will also weaken any conviction we might have about our sin. This is an important warning sign for discerning the path that will lead to the Mark of the Beast System.

You might think that Christians couldn't possible fall for this tech deception, but think about this ... if you find yourself, as a Christian, constantly "plugged in" to technology or unable to manage your life without it, you need to do a check of your spiritual condition. Even ardent and dedicated believers can gradually become spiritually desensitized. Oh, they may still sound religious but their hearts can become hardened when constantly bombarded with worldly distractions like porn [both men and women], YouTube videos, or online gambling. Christians might still quote Scripture and talk about God, but their faith may soon lose its power in their life when they can no longer hear His voice. And its the children that I worry about most. They are being targeted the hardest, and parents who are caught up in their own obsessions with technology are unaware that their kids are being drawn away from the Divine into a false world where they are easily influenced by Satan's proxies. 

I will admit, I don't see the advance and persistence of Technology in our lives slowing down in any sense of the word. I believe we still have time before there's no turning back from this evil System that will institute its Mark to control the world. For those of us who can clearly discern where we're headed and how AI could be used to speed up the implementation of Satan's agenda, there are things we must do before the final Deception is fully launched ... we must strengthen our relationship with God NOW so that we recognize His voice and can tell when the seductive invitation to receive the Mark is not from Him. We must diligently study His Word, and build strong spiritual relationships with other believers, teaching and encouraging others to stay strong in their faith.

I do not accept Satan's fear tactics that those of us who refuse the Mark have no hope. Instead, I believe that those who reject it will be divinely protected and Jehovah Jireh will provide for our needs. We will have inner peace and not be shaken. Our faith will become deep and unwavering; strengthened by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. I'm not saying it will be easy, and many of us will suffer. But we will not be separated from the Light of the Lord, even in the midst of our darkest hour. When you abide in the Lord, there is no system -- man-made or demonic -- that can turn you from your God-ordained path in this world. 

My final word is this ... Technology still offers advantages in our lives; just stay alert to any temptation or seduction that replaces your live-giving and personal relationship with God, who created you. Technology promises rewards and success in this world if you engage with it. No Mark of the Beast System can deliver you what God promises ... His rewards and victories in the next life that will be eternal as you walk in His spiritual Truth. And know this: There is an eternal fate waiting for those who willingly accept the Mark ... and it will seal them to a covenant of eternal agony as they experience everlasting separation from God, the Father; the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King of the Universe. May we all have divine discernment and always encourage each other to stay strong in our faith journey and trust God's promises in all our ways. Amen!

Hebrews 10:39    But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.       

Where was God in the Midst of the Rising Flood Waters?

I have consistently watched the media coverage of the tragic Kerrville Flood for the last week. I have read everything I could find on the precious children lost in the raging waters and the heroic rescues of those that somehow found a way to survive this nightmare. I have prayed for the search and rescue teams, the clean-up crews, and the coordinators who have what seems like an impossible job to bring closure and restoration to our beautiful Hill Country. 

My husband and I have listened to the Holy Spirit to hear how we can best serve our fellow Texans in the aftermath, but this post is not about shining a light on our efforts. God knows. I try to get sleep at night, but the images and the stories won't let my spirit or my brain rest. I see the questions posed by the Doubters and those who look to Politics and the World for explanations about how something this horrendous could be allowed to happen. And then the finger-pointing begins... someone should have done something to avoid this tragedy! 

Those whose faith in a Sovereign God is weak or non-existent will look to government officials for the answers to society's ills. And I've read posts that stoop to make this disaster about "white privilege" and politics, pointing out that "Camp Mystic is a sacred name in Texas elite circles. Girls of Governors, oil families, and even former First Ladies have attended", citing the cost to attend and the 3 million dollar yield at the end of each summer as financial benefits for the owners, who have owned the Camp for generations ... and who, by way, perished in the Flood trying to get girls to higher ground.   

In the first 24 hours, people who don't live in Texas or understand our history, our hearts for our fellow Texans, nor our pride in taking care of each other -- no matter our ethnicity, social status, or financial level -- were quick to pass judgment. They accused us of failing the kids, failing the families in the RV camps, failing the elderly, and failing the First Responders. Within the first 24 hours they declared that the brave responders "didn't have the resources" they needed. They tried to say that the two brave Mexican counselors who had their wits about them to write the childrens' names on their arms "gave everything, but wouldn't get the headlines". Nothing has been further from the Truth.

Texans across the state came together and poured their hard-earned money into the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a Flood Relief Fund to support, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort nonprofit organizations, first responder agencies, and local governments, in response to the 500-year flood event. We didn't wait for FEMA and the Federal Government to come to our aid. We stepped up and went to work immediately. And if a crew needed chain saws, or chain saw oil, or replacement chains, they got them. Someone stepped up to fill the need. So, I am deeply offended by the callous remarks that "we've heard the "polished" grief for Camp Mystic. We've seen the prayers, the ribbons, the televised tears. And that grief is real. But so is the silence around everyone else who died in the same flood -- in the same night -- just without the privilege". 

How dare you! How could you make that kind of judgment in the first hours, when no one yet had knowledge of the breadth and depth of the losses? How dare you try to make this a political statement about the millions of illegal people who crossed our borders -- an unimaginable number who are young children trafficked for the sex trade! You say we chose to "ignore Science" and had no real evacuation plan. I suggest you do a little more research before you give your uneducated opinion. Have you made the effort to follow this story? Have you seen the thousands of people who showed up to help in anyway they could -- spending hours in the blazing sun clearing brush and looking for bodies in the hopes that they can bring everyone home to their families? Or were you just looking for ways to slander people whose hearts you may never understand? Remember! This was a 500-year flood event! This country is only 249 years old ... can you wrap your head around that?!?!?

Our Faith is what gets us through these unimaginable events. And I'm going to tell you, we here in Texas take our faith seriously. And it is that faith that will not quit until every possible person can be reunited with their loved ones. We don't look at the color of skin when a tragedy like this befalls our state. We lean on God. And I've seen the remarks on TV and social media that question Him and how He could let this happen? 

I want to be clear ... I am NOT judging anyone who asks the question I have posed in the title ... WHERE WAS GOD IN THE FLOOD? It's our human flesh that asks the natural questions -- Could God have stopped the Flood? Could He have saved everyone's life? Did He have the power to send angels , divert the waters, or awaken every camper before the Flood came? The answer to each of those questions is a definite YES! But He didn't.

So, how do we wrestle with our Faith over this conundrum? We didn't see the results or the hope that we prayed for. But we know God's heart for each of those precious children and every person that was lost in this devastating Flood. What is He trying to show us? So much suffering, and we need to see God's purpose in it. Can you imagine how each of the Disciples and Jesus's followers felt when He was crucified? They were probably asking the same questions ... If Jesus is the Son of God, why isn't God rescuing Him from the Cross? He's the same God today, so we know He could have, right? But He didn't. What was His reason? 

None of us know, for sure, God's mind on this subject. However, I believe Jesus experienced suffering in this world, so He could show us that there's a greater purpose in the suffering. Like Him, we need to know that we can go through the pain, the fear, the chaos of this fallen world because we know He will never abandon us nor leave us. Even within the horror of those early morning hours, He was present in the rising waters. And He showed us that miracles still happen, when a person was found alive. He comforts us in the enormous loss so many experienced. The love that we see among the community, and the stories of the relationships forged in calamity will be the heritage of Camp Mystic. 

My final thoughts remind me that God is Sovereign and I know His heart is broken over the loss of so many people. But I also am forced to acknowledge that we live in a Fallen world that has been corrupted by Satan. Man has become morally corrupted by Sin; nature has been corrupted; and even the weather has been corrupted from God's original design. Satan delights in seeing the pain that tornadoes, floods, volcanoes, and hurricanes cause God's children, whom he despises. 

Yes, God could have stopped the flood, but He also could have stopped Jesus's death on the Cross, but Jesus chose to sacrifice His life in exchange for our eternal life. And, no, none of those children or people chose to die in that horrific flood, but we get to choose how we respond to this tragedy. We can blame God, let our faith suffer, and remain miserable for the rest of our lives, OR we can choose to praise Him for the love strangers are showing each other in the clean-up and recovery; for the selfless acts of charity; and the heart-breaking and back-breaking work to help bring closure for those God did save from the raging waters. 

Satan will not defeat those who love Christ. Satan will not defeat Texan's spirits. And he will not, in the end, have a victory over God. God will [and is] bringing good out of this evil. We continue to go forward in faith, knowing Jesus understands our suffering because He suffered. It's OK that we question and get mad. God understands and forgives us when we humbly approach Him, expressing our sorrow. Let us lift up His Holy Name and declare His Sovereignty and Dominion over all things! Amen!

Isaiah 43:2    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.