In the book of Acts (in the Bible – chapter 16) teaches Christians to hold the authorities accountable for their injustice. After Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for telling people how to be saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then beaten and severely flogged, God used them in prison.  God uses the persecution of His saints to bring more to Himself.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” I’m sure many of these prisoners began to call on the Lord. God did an amazing thing for Paul and Silas in prison, opening the prison doors, where they could’ve escaped, but chose to stay put. Integrity! The Jailer almost killed himself fearing the authorities over all the prisoners escaping, but Paul and Silas stopped him, “We are all here!” The Jailer and his family were saved by the grace of God through this miracle and the message of the Gospel by Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas’ crime: “These men (Jews with Roman citizenship) are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating CUSTOMS unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”  Their accusers called the TRUTH of the Gospel, an UNLAWFUL custom that should not be accepted or practiced in Rome.

As I read this passage this morning it hit me how here in America the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST has become UNLAWFUL to accept and practice. Why? Because to those who worship other gods – the Gospel of Jesus Christ threatens them; holds them accountable to their Creator God for their sins (but also shows them way of salvation!).  In this particular account in Acts – the threat was how a female slave who foretold the future was being used by her owners to make money.  Hum. Has our government been using our abilities (with outrageous taxation and costly penalties) so they can live in luxury, not really serving the people, but themselves? I’d say yes, for most.

Here we have a pastor right now, of an L.A. church suing L.A. for injustice, and winning by way of our Constitutional rights.

Rev. Franklin Graham, in a Facebook post, celebrated John MacArthur’s victory, saying “Thank you for standing firm. This is a huge victory for religious liberty—it’s a win for all of us! The Constitution has the last word. This situation was an abuse of power by those making the decisions in their county and their state.”

Both the State of Calif. and the L.A. County EACH must hand over to this church $400K, totaling $800K.

My point in bringing up Paul and Silas in the Bible? The authorities (magistrates) told the Jailer to release Paul and Silas from prison, and to leave the city. BUT Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now they want to get rid of us quietly! NO! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”  The officers reported this to the authorities and they came to appease Paul and Silas, and personally and humbly escort them out of the prison. BUT Paul and Silas did not leave just yet, but went to the home of a woman they had led to Jesus, and met with others there that they had led to Jesus to encourage them. “THEN THEY LEFT.”

To me, this teaches us that as American citizens who are Christians – we have every right to hold our government ACCOUNTABLE for what they do that goes against the Constitution of the United States of America! Just as Paul did in Rome as a Roman citizen Christian. The only difference is that Rome never had a Constitution like America that is rooted in the ‘biblical’ principles of governing This is why they regarded the Gospel as a custom not to be accepted nor practiced by LAW.

Rome’s early days: “In the early days of the fledgling settlement, Rome was governed by kings. Similar in many ways to the emperors that came later, these individual men had complete authority over all aspects of the lives of their subjects. A challenge to the king’s authority would almost certainly lead to severe punishment, typically death. As kings and rulers of other countries and civilizations throughout history have found (often paying the price with their life), such totalitarian rule can only last so long. The end of the road came with Rome’s seventh king, Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) who ruled from 534-510 BC. He repealed several earlier constitutional reforms and used violence and murder to hold on to power. His tyrannical rule was despised by the Romans and the final straw was the rape of Lucretia, a patrician Roman, at the hands of Tarquinius’ son Sextius. The Tarquins and the monarchy were cast out of Rome in 510 BC in a revolt led by Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, who would become the first two consuls of a new form of government – the Roman republic.”

We have our American roots in God and His Word. Therefore, every Christian and Church (who preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ) has EVERY RIGHT to hold our government and all officials (mayors, governors, senators, representatives, and even our president and vice-president) ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LAWS OF THE LAND.

To our own shame: We’ve allowed new laws to be made by the legislature that go against righteousness and justice by God’s design. We even see how some Courts think they have the right to make new laws, which is the right of the legislature branch only according to our Constitution.

I have heard Christians say that our only duty is to God in preaching the Gospel and sharing our testimonies of what Jesus means to us; to stay out of politics! You know, “the separation of church and state!” This is not about the church (Christians) not taking government seats of authority, in order to hold to our Constitution, but rather about the government not being allowed to force its citizens to come under any one religion, like it was in Great Britain under the Roman Catholic church, which is why Christians left and asked God to lead them to where they could worship Him freely and live by the principles that bless all peaceful people of any race.  And so America was born.

I thank God for this example of Pastor John McArthur holding Calif. authorities accountable to our Constitution. May we begin to see more of this. LET FREEDOM RING! MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED!

Father God, I ask of You because I believe in You. I know You can do all things and that nothing is impossible for You to do. You are Creator! What is it that You CAN NOT do, or maybe WILL NOT do?

You will not MAKE US love You because of how You created us with free-will. Animals have not been made like us; made in Your image. You made man to rule over them, to use them for our needs and enjoyment. They just do what You made them to do. But we are free to choose ‘whatever,’ as we live out our life on earth in these male and female bodies that You gave us along with all the ways we are made in Your image.

You will not MAKE US choose what to believe or to believe in. BUT! You have NOT left us on our own limited understanding and knowledge; for You have created all things in such a way that Your creation reveals that there IS a Creator. Your Word also tells us this. But atheist scientists who have tried to prove Your Word (the Bible) false, and who didn’t want to believe in a “Creator” such as Yourself (that they are accountable to), have come to believe, after all their ongoing scientific research and discoveries, that You are the Creator of the universe and of all living things; therefore we are all accountable to You. Most have become believers in Your Son! Others do their best to keep trying to prove that You do not exist.

Father God, You could MAKE US obey You, but then that would contradict who You are: You are love. It would go against Your ‘laws’ of love “do not murder, do not cheat or steal, etc. and against Your ‘principles’ of love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

We read this passage about ‘love’ and apply it to how WE should love one another. But since love originated with God, then this passage in 1 Corinthians defines who God Himself IS. “We love because God FIRST LOVED US!”  He has said in His Word that He created us FOR HIS LOVE; to “pour out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit” when we believe in what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross out of His love for us.  God wants children out of love and for no other reason. People have children for so many reasons, other than true love, but God has only one ‘pure and holy’ reason: the wonderful glorious eternal family of God Almighty. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive or imagine – what God has planned and prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

God is patient and kind; that’s what His grace and mercy are simply all about. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) How many of us have cried out (more than once) to God to send His Son and end all this evil on the earth?! “Come Lord Jesus COME!”  But Jesus told us to just put our faith in Him who strengthens us and in His promises that keep us faithful with hope, and to learn from Him how to ‘patiently’ endure the evil day – as His Day approaches – making sure our love (kindness) does not grow cold. We are seeing and experiencing what happens when people live by fear and hatred and a hunger for power.

“God does not envy; what is there for Him to envy when He has it all as Creator and can create anything He wants? God does not boast; He simply gives us the truth when we ask Him for it, seek Him for it. God is not proud: He is not SELF-gratifying; He is not SELF-pleased but rather He is ‘pleased’ with us – His children who love Him by our own choice to do so, day by day. It’s His desire to give us all things good in life to completely sustain us and profit us.

God is not SELF-seeking; He FULLY KNOWS WHO HE IS and that there is no one or thing that He fears! He does not ‘dishonor’ us in this life; we dishonor ourselves and each other. He wants to honor us by rewarding us for our humble faith in Him. God wants us to have all that He has to give!

God is amazingly ‘patient,’ doing all He can to show us the way to His love and Life in His Son.

God ‘keeps no record of wrongs,’ meaning that He has provided us a Savior (His own perfect Sacrificial Lamb to die in our place) so that He can and WILL forgive us of all our wrong-doing. The only records He keeps is the book of all we’ve done with this life, good and bad, but He also has another book called “the Book of Life” that has written in it all the names of those who have CHOSEN Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. This Book does not allow God to keep a ‘record of wrongs’ since the disciples of Christ have all their sins covered by the blood of God’s own beloved Son, Jesus Christ. What God forgives God forgets.

God does not delight in evil because there is NO EVIL in Him nor in His Kingdom will evil be allowed to enter. Is God evil because He created Hell, eternal torment and separation from all the goodness of God; the place He created for the devil and the angels that followed Satan out of heaven? Why did God’s number one angel (Lucifer he was called then) get kicked out of heaven by God their Creator? “Love does not envy!” Lucifer envied God’s Son, and the honor and authority that the Father gave the Son. Satan tempts us to envy and to take what doesn’t belong to us. God is jealous, but God does not envy.

Jealousy is something altogether different; for it has to do with “relationship” and “vows.” A man becomes jealous when his wife becomes interested in someone else. A wife becomes jealous in the same way. A parent can become jealous of a person their child seeks to replace them with, or a child can become jealous when they feel their mom or dad has made someone else or something else more important than them. Jealousy is about relationships. Envy is about power and covetousness (wanting what others have and even setting out to take what doesn’t belong to you), as Lucifer did in heaven.

God rejoices with the truth; He rejoices over those who seek the truth from Him ‘in His Word’ and when we ask Him for the supreme wisdom of truth; for when we ask, “He will give it generously and without finding any fault in us.” (James 1:4-5)

God always protects; He protects what is good and holy; He protects who His Son, our High Priest, loves and defends. The Father completely trusts the Son; for they are one in all things. Jesus told us to pray to our Father, “…and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” God also protects the earth. People are so afraid of the earth running out of what we need to stay alive and prospering, and of the earth becoming over-populated, but the earth belongs to God. No matter what man thinks and tries to do in order to “save the earth,” HE CAN NOT! That is God’s doing. All man ends up doing is make things far worse on the earth when he rejects God and what God says in His Word about what is still to come, and why.

God always hopes! What does He hope for? God hopes that people will come to know Him by the truth in His Word that He has made available to all; by His Son that He sent to show us Himself and the Kingdom that is to come. God not only hopes, but He has done GREAT THINGS and WONDERFUL THINGS (even beyond our understanding) for all the human race – in order to see HIS PERFECT HOPE REALIZED.

God perseveres. What God started – God will complete. God has His “redemption” plan that can NOT be thwarted, but WILL BE COMPLETED in His own time, and with perfect exactness of His good purpose. God will not change His mind. God Himself never changes or evolves. That’s why the false-belief of the evolution of man from the ape or whatever – is a lie. God made man in HIS IMAGE. God is not an ape or whatever else God has created. God WILL HAVE HIS WAY!

God always trusts.  Does God trust everyone? Yes! He trusts each of us to do what is in our hearts, whether right or wrong, evil or good. And because He trusts in that way – God uses the wicked as well as the righteous to do His will and purpose. Does God trust everyone with His Word? No, but He does allow people to do what they want with His Word,  and believe what they want about His Word, and to say what they want about His Word and Himself. Which takes us back to the beginning of this article that God has given us all FREEWILL. Now if that’s not love, I can’t imagine what is! And, although hard to swallow, the love of God includes how we WILL ALL FACE consequences and His final judgment for our freedom to choose, to do and say, and believe in whatever and whoever.

“The LORD GOD has set before us life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, be wise and good to yourself, choose His life, so that you and your children and grandchildren may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For HE IS YOUR LIFE, and He can even prolong your life in the land.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

How do you know if someone has integrity? If integrity has to do with being truthful and honest, doing what you say you will do, or not doing what you say you will not do – then who really is the judge of anyone’s integrity but their own?

I am the judge of my own integrity, just me and God who sees what I really am inside. But if I don’t believe that there is a God who can hear what I say, see everything I do, who knows my every thought/secret motive/proposed plan, and who will eventually judge me – then I can be tempted to lie and deceive, and very possibly get away with it with others, but not with God (whether I believe in God or not).

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.” James 4:12

Can people have integrity without being a born-again Christian, or without even believing that God is real?  Why would they fight and work so hard to keep their integrity when they don’t believe they will be judged at the end of their life on earth?

Lying, cheating, double standards, being your own judge so that you figure you are right in how YOU see things (that affect you = bias/partial), this has become common place and acceptable, and sadly, even rewarded in our nation.

“The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them, but the faithless crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” Proverbs 11:3

How do you know if YOU have integrity?

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him MUST believe that HE EXISTS and that HE REWARDS those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind (when tempted); who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. WHOEVER DOES THESE THINGS WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN.”  Psalm 15:2-5

“Because of my integrity, You Lord, uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.” Psalm 41:12

I keep thinking about my precious sister (in the Lord), in her new body! She passed last Tuesday, and is now part of that “great cloud of witnesses.” She and I used to talk and joke about our “new” bodies when we leave this earth whether in death (or the rapture).

I think about Jesus in His new body after His death on the Cross – when He came back to His first disciples to show Himself to them, just as He promised to do, and then send them the Holy Spirit to replace Himself with them. (Remember that Jesus in body form could only be in one place at one time, but in Spirit Jesus could be will all His disciples at the same time – all over the world.) “The Spirit is the Lord, and the Lord is the Spirit.” He is the HEAD of His world-wide Spirit-filled Body.

I believe that Jesus returned (in bodily form) to ‘visit’ the 500 disciples who gave witness and written testimony of Him returning to them, to confirm His Word to them about His “resurrection” from death to life (first-fruit of it). He returned in His NEW eternal body, which looked like the body they all knew Him in, the voice as well. “My sheep KNOW my voice, and they follow Me.”

At first some of His disciples didn’t recognize Him, but only because of their simple unbelief, and because of His quiet gentle way of showing up to them, not because of how He looked the same. As He spoke to them, they immediately put 1+1 together. Ha! But in the case, 1+1 = ONE!

Jesus died at the age of 33. Why not 90? Why not 50? Why, as they call it, in the “prime” of life, when we look our best, feel our best, can physically do our best, etc.? Every wondered? If you think that after you die – you’re just like the wind without a body, well I read something very different from the Word of God! If you think that after you die and go to Heaven – there’s nothing important to do in eternal life, or that you are just one of the group that hangs out at the THRONE of GOD singing songs and playing instruments, well that’s not what the prophets talk about in God’s Word (the true prophets that God gave visions to and were told write it down).

As I near the end of my life on earth, I ponder, and I talk to the Lord about going to be with Him, and seeing all the others I knew and loved that are with Him in glory. I love thinking and imaging what He meant when He said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” “In My Father’s House are many mansions.” “No longer will there be any curse; for there will be NO MORE DEATH.” “He will wipe away every tear; for there will be NO MORE crying or mourning or pain – because the OLD ORDER of things has passed away. BEHOLD all things have become NEW!”

“Blessed and holy are those who share in the FIRST resurrection… (By death or rapture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18, Isaiah 57:1, Revelation 10:7)… The SECOND death has NO POWER over them,…” (Revelation 20:6)

What say you? Will you be apart of His FIRST resurrection of Spirit-filled disciples of Jesus Christ, those asleep (in the grave) or still living on the earth, very much alive – when the Lord calls us up to be with Him forever?

We can’t even begin to understand what HEAVEN’s GLORY is like. I know that God has allowed a few to have a glimpse, like Apostle Paul who gives his testimony of both his false-belief, his born-again experience, and then later about God taking him up to the “7th heaven” to see what God wanted him to see as God’s witness and writer about it. And, Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation, was shown visions about the future that God had him write down while John was imprisoned before he died. Others since have told their testimonies of coming back to life after seeing something of Heaven, and then writing out their testimonies.

I remember my husband about 13 years ago, who was on his way out from dehydration, telling me how he saw and felt the amber brilliance of Heaven’s outer dimension drawing him, but then hearing me (at his side after he collapsed in my arms) crying out the Name JESUS! JESUS HELP! And back he came! I’ll never forget that. Neither will my beloved husband. We have both heard the Lord’s audible voice speak to us. “My sheep know My Voice!” We have each seen a vision or two as well, from the Lord who is faithful to keep us on HIS PATH and PURPOSE.

I’m so thankful to our heavenly Father and to His Beloved Son for all we have to look forward to – eternally with HIM, and with the GREAT ETERNAL FAMILY of ALMIGHTY GOD, our EVERLASTING FATHER.

I am so very thankful for the Word of God, so that we can KNOW the history of mankind from the beginning and even throughout Christ’s second coming to the earth, for His thousand year reign on earth. But from then on (eternity) we can’t fathom. Thus, the Bible ends with telling us: “He who testifies of these things (ALL biblical prophecies) says, ‘YES, I AM COMING SOON.'”

I’m so VERY thankful for the TRUTH that ‘sets us free’ from all the false-beliefs (lies of Satan – the Lord’s #1 adversary); free from all the false-gods (man-made); free from our fears about dying, suffering, and what comes next after death; and free from ‘wasting’ this life – haven been given every opportunity from God’s Word and His Spirit – to know the Truth, the Way and the Life: Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, KING ETERNAL.

Death is part of life, right now, until God lifts His curse of death on mankind. Imagine what God our Father intended for Adam and Eve before they rebelled in the Garden of Eden against God’s AUDIBLE words to them, so that death then entered the world, where man was to live without any death. Because of the fall of Adam: “ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”

And yet, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life….Whoever believes in HIM is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son…. The Father loves the Son and HAS PLACED EVERYTHING IN HIS HANDS. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life with God, for God’s WRATH remains on them.” John 3:16-18, 35-36

Says Jesus of Himself with ALL authority and power: “I AM the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in ME will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in ME will never die. Do you believe this?”

Where is God going with all that He is allowing to happen in America, and to His own people? What does God see of His people? I keep talking to Him about this, personally, and as one living in a nation that God established with MATURE Christians, not perfect, but sacrificially responsible and accountable to God for what HE had in mind for this Land we call America. Holy Spirit, help me PRAY the will of God! Thank You Lord for the souls being saved! Thank You for believers getting right with You and nearer to You!

I am reminded of what the Lord taught me: If WE expect the Lord to ‘walk with us’ on our path, when the Lord has invited us to WALK WITH HIM on HIS path, WE remain infants, crying out for what WE want from Him, instead of growing up in our holy obedient faith in Him and His Word, to do those things that keep God blessing our nation – because of His obedient people doing what He requires.

It’s been hard for me to learn and accept that “my life is not my own any longer” since the day I asked Jesus my Savior to come live in me. Do I take that lightly, that HE LIVES IN ME? I have. But then I’m always reminded by the indwelling Holy Spirit as to what the Lord Jesus did for me/us. He grew up from a baby to holy maturity (as God’s own Son) – to finish what was HIS to do on the earth for His Father, the Father of us all, who loves us like no one else can.

As we begin our ‘new life’ with Jesus our Savior – we DO sense Him by our side as WE keep on OUR path. I did. He WILL walk with us – but only for a while – because we are still legitimate infants in the Lord. What parent would ever expect their newborn to walk and do what their newborn is not capable of? But the day of maturity must come when we realize that it’s HIS plans and purpose, not mine any longer. John the Baptist said it this way: “He must increase; I must decrease.” John 3:30

We have the writer of Hebrews writing for our benefit: “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, you need someone to teach you the ‘elementary’ truths of God ALL OVER AGAIN. (Why?) You require milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant (held back – undeveloped), is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity….and God permitting, we will do so” (for the infants). But, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age, (expected to mature in Christ) but have fallen away (not being responsible with it all), to be brought back to repentance. To their LOSS they are crucifying the Son of God ALL OVER AGAIN and subjecting Him to PUBLIC disgrace.” (God is mocked when we fall away from walking with the Lord.) Hebrews 6:1-6

“We are convinced of BETTER things for you – the things that have to do with salvation (the good results of His life lived through me/us). God is not unjust….we do not want you to become lazy/complacent/cold-hearted, but to imitate those who through faith’s obedience and godly patience – inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:9-12

And we know, as believers in Jesus Christ, that this world is not our HOME! We are called to do God’s will – that people come to know Jesus Christ as their own Savior and Lord, and to care for the family of God – while we patiently and prayerfully endure all the intensifying evil and judgments – till the Lord takes us HOME!

In my prayer time, praying for our nation, I heard that these failing “policies” of the current party in power (and the new one’s they’re hoping to push through) are “ungodly altars of worship” meant to have us all ‘bow down to.’

These radical policies that clearly go against our Constitution, Bill of Rights and Independence UNDER GOD alone – are wicked and unacceptable to God and to those who fear God and support our ‘biblical’ American Foundation.

Certainly, we have seen over the many decades how our government has been slowly veering off our foundational path/course whenever the ‘ungodly’ get any power and control. The only ‘altar’ we are to worship at is the one in our heart that worships the One True Living God, FIRST and FOREMOST!

“The EARTH is the LORD’s, and EVERYTHING in it, the world, and all who live in it; for HE FOUNDED it on the seas and ESTABLISHED it on the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2) “In the beginning GOD CREATED the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the SPIRIT OF GOD was hovering over the waters. And GOD SAID, ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was GOOD, and HE separated the light from the darkness….. And God said, ‘Let dry ground appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry ground ‘land,’ and the gathered waters He called ‘seas.’ (Genesis 1: 1,2,3,9) And on it goes with His creation of all we see and don’t see, ending with His creation of man and woman (male and female gender) for pro-creation (the eternal family by His design).

We are watching the ungodly trying to take control over all that God created, to their own self-shame and destruction of good things intended for God-fearing people of all races and nations. How do these proud and ignorant people (completely lost from the truth) think they can get away with their political policy ALTAR building – that WE THE PEOPLE are supposed to bow to and sacrifice to? They will get away with it if “we the people,” who know the truth and fear God, say nothing, do nothing, and just go along with it all.

Ever altar requires sacrifice. What does the altar of “abortion” require? What does the altar of “open borders” require? What does the altar of “critical race theory” require? What does the altar of “homosexuality and homosexual marriage” require? What does the altar of “new green deal” require? What does the altar of “reconstructing the family” require as a sacrifice? What does the altar of “religion” require? What does the altar of “Satanism” require as sacrifices?

How long will THE CREATOR and JUDGE allow the arrogant ungodly to mock Him, rebel against His principles and laws, and persecute those who REFUSE to worship at their ‘unholy altars’ of governmental power? Well, from what I know from reading the Word of God, as long as God is still using the presence of His Holy Spirit, His Word, and His servants on the earth to draw people to Himself through the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if you love the LORD, you will need to endure these evils, and prepare for what is coming.

“And this Gospel of His Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to ALL NATIONS, and then the end (of evil and rebellion to God) will come.” Matthew 24:14

“To those who believe in His Name (Jesus Christ SAVIOR of the world), God gives the right to become children of God – children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but BORN OF GOD (by His Spirit/Name/Word).” John 1:12-13

Things are heating up with ALL the nations on the earth in opposition to God. America’s light is going out with the wicked in power who are determined to run our lives, without any challenge. Now is the time of salvation! The window of opportunity is closing. The door to God’s eternal Kingdom – will one day SHUT!

Jesus said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door (by faith in JESUS CHRIST only), because many, I tell you, will try to enter (by their own human merit and self-deception) and will not be able to. Once the Owner of the House….closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading to come in. But the Owner will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from Me, all you evildoers!’” Luke 13:24-27

“The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of HIS HEART through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose GOD IS THE LORD!” Psalm 33:10-12

This morning I was praying to my Father God and confessing my lack of patience and understanding. I’m dealing with someone right now that I believe the Lord is using in my life, so I can become more like Jesus. At the same time, I am seeing how this person, who believes she is a Christian, does not spend time in God’s Word. (She gives me excuses.) As a result, she adds on one fear after another, is hopeless and miserable, and spiteful.

Doesn’t the Bible tell us about who God is so we can believe in Him and overcome our fears and hopelessness, our selfishness and hatefulness?  The Word of God teaches us every truth we need – to be free and fulfilled! The Bible teaches us where we come from, about creation and His wisdom behind it, about heaven and hell, about Satan and how the devil tempts us and holds us captive. The Bible teaches us about God’s angels, about God’s Throne in heaven, about His beloved Son, His forgiveness, His indwelling Holy Spirit, His Name that is above all names, His trust, His unconditional love, His supreme power, His plans, His ways, His laws, His commands, His choices, His rejections, His conviction, His condemnation, His supreme justice, His enduring patience, His mercy and grace, His directly calling to people, His voice, His guidance, His faithfulness, His protection, His provision, His understanding, His return to earth, His purpose in all He does, His coming kingdom, His perfection, His good-will towards men, His hatred of evil and rebellion, His judgment, His beloved children, His defense, His deliverance, His rest, His omnipotence, His foreknowledge, His vision, His sight into our hearts, His peace, His joy, His fellowship, His miracles, His riches, His gifts, His blessings, His true family, His eternal life for those in Christ Jesus.

What good is it to have a Bible at home on the shelf and hardly, if ever, sit down to read the only Book that truly matters in life; the only Book that will NEVER go out of circulation until God has completed and fulfilled every word in it?

I’m reminded of the first believers who were WITH Jesus every day, walking and working along with Him in physical form, enjoying the Lord’s favor and presence with them. The Holy Spirit is the Lord, and the Lord is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in me, will give me a serious hunger to know God’s Word, and a strong thirst for the Lord’s closeness (fellowship) in my daily life. If I don’t get up every morning thinking about the Lord and wanting to fellowship with Him in His Word and in prayer, but instead I get on with what my day holds, with my job, with Facebook or whatever media, with people/family, with my plans ahead, etc., then what does that reveal to God? How can I expect my day to go, as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Our Father God knows how much we are willing to do for Him, how much we are physically capable of as well. He knows our individual bents with sin, our weaknesses and ignorance. But I do believe that God DOES expect and so desires a whole-heart towards Him, to give ourselves to having a GENUINE relationship with Him day to day, no matter what.

We have a different definition of ‘belief’ than God has. To most people, “belief” is simply head-knowledge. God’s definition of “belief” is about both head (knowing the truth) and heart (a whole-hearted devotion to the Lord).

Many think that ‘going’ to church on Sundays to hear praise songs about the Lord, and to hear a biblical message from the pastor and to visit with friends – is “fellowship with Jesus Christ.”  It’s not. Now don’t get me wrong. Going to church has a place in our lives, as long as the church is commendable by the Lord (Revelation 2 and 3), but Jesus NEVER meant for church-going to take HIS PLACE in our hearts and lives. In fact, Jesus said that we ARE the church, His Body, and He is the HEAD. And to be a part of His Body doesn’t mean to be a part of a religion. Jesus came to give us a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

We can read man’s devotionals about what THEY HAVE personally experienced of the Word of God, but someone’s devotional book can NEVER take the place of God’s own living Word (the Holy Bible) between me and Him each day. And yes, it takes discipline to be faithful; faithful with a morning quiet time, faithful at what the Lord asks of us, faithful to the end of our lives on earth. With just as much desire God has – to save us from hell, He desires all the more – to reward our faithfulness! Jesus taught about the Sower and the Seed whereas, only one of four actually went on to be faithful, producing for the Kingdom of God.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him MUST believe that HE EXISTS and the HE REWARDS those EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.” Hebrews 11:6

Interesting how we can be ‘disciplined’ in our job that produces an income (necessary for sure) or disciplined for the things of our own personal interests, desires, and pleasures. But when it comes to doing what the Lord has asked of us, well that is a different matter for sure, at least for most of us.

I’m writing out the biography of my brother-in-law Frank Dietz, who passed recently. Here is a man who (from the day he committed himself to the Lord) worked to truthfully know God from in God’s Word each morning, in continual repentance and prayer throughout his day, at ‘dying to himself,’ learning to be disciplined about the things of God first and foremost. We aren’t rewarded for perfection, just for our faithfulness. Jesus is the PERFECT ONE!  What a godly man and good example of true Christianity Frank was.  Frank, was a disciplined disciple of Jesus Christ, meeting with the Lord each morning to, as Frank would say, “get my marching (work) orders for the day.” Now Frank is with his Lord, rewarded for his faithfulness “to the end.”

I see how the words ‘disciple’ and ‘discipline’ are connected. Our ‘active’ desire for a true relationship with Jesus Christ is what gives us our undeniable priorities, virtues, and purpose in life – as one of His children. Is it any wonder that Satan works day and night to keep us from TRUE fellowship with Jesus Christ?

The “law of Christ” is for us to help carry the burdens of those God puts in our lives – that HE want to reach and help along. This is what the people of God have been given to do in HIS NAME, and for HIS KINGDOM.

This has become a weakness of the ‘American’ church (the body of Christ), and we know it has because of how the government has been allowed, over time, more and more, to do; that which the Lord requires of His own faithful body, His own people IN AMERICA.

Jesus was our PERFECT example, and oh how difficult it is at times to serve the Lord (personally speaking) when dealing with a miserable resentful ungrateful and controlling person. AND, with the daily battle of the devil’s attempts to keep the Lords’ people from serving the good will of God, in the way God would have it.

It’s easier to serve someone when the person is thankful and humble and pleasant to be around. Right? So, I always have to keep before me how my Savior carried the heavy load of all my life’s wickedness to the Cross – and took my place of guilty shame and God’s condemnation of wickedness and rebellion.

I can’t begin to imagine how that felt for the only PERFECT SINLESS BLAMELESS man (the Son of God) to take on ALL the sin of the WORLD (past present future), so that ANYONE could come to Him – the FAITHFUL ONE who stands at the right hand of GOD to defend those who have asked Him to forgive them and to live in them as they finish what is theirs to do for the glory of God.

As I read over and over, the 4 Gospels about the life of Christ on the earth (those 33 years from birth to death) and all that He did for people so that they could live fulfilled (physically and spiritually) I feel ashamed of how self-centered I am when I get angry and resentful with someone I’m supposed to help (in serving the Lord), just because they are so hard to love and serve. I have also learned that not all who want help from me, are those God expects me to help. There is a time for everything: a time to help and a time to pass it by. When I’m walking with Jesus, as I’m supposed to do, then when I “pass it by” I have peace and joy, no guilt in doing so. This was hard to learn, but I did. (My book “Just Walk With Me” talks all about how I learned, still learning, to just walk with Jesus.)

We show how self-centered and unfaithful we are (personally speaking) when we expect others (the government too) to do what God has required from each of us. Lord forgive ME! Forgive Your Church! Do what it takes to purify us so we will finish the race marked out for each of us.

No wonder the government has morphed like it has, from what it is SUPPOSE to do – to what it has NO right to do, according to God.

I believe God is giving His people in America great opportunities of ‘many kinds’ in our time of disorder, threat, disasters, chaos and loss.

I just want to be faithful and let Jesus (the Holy Spirit in me) live out His wonderful purpose through me. And, because it’s hard, (when I’m in the way) I continue to meet with my Father God in the morning before my day starts, just like Jesus did, to acknowledge my Father God for WHO HE IS, praise Him for what He’s done for me through His Son, recall His words of life and promise – that I read in the Holy Bible, and desperately ask Him for strength/patience/wisdom and OPEN DOORS of OPPORTUNITIES so that I can take part in furthering His Kingdom.

When I come to the end of my life – that will be all that matters: What I did WITH JESUS; what I allowed HIM to do through me, even as I grew old. I only care what my Father God says of me: “Well done Carol, my good and faithful servant. Come and share the KINGDOM with ME!” And this I pray for my children and grandchildren, my friends, and those God puts in my life to reach for HIM.

I am finding that even with an old failing body (almost 70 years old now) when it comes time to doing what the Lord requires of me – I have all the strength I need to do it, all the resources, all the JOY too – as long as I keep the Lord’s purpose in mind in doing His will.

I love the way my Lord doesn’t expect too much from me, and what I mean by that is: “He remembers US in our times of weakness/humiliation/lowliness/troubles/afflictions; for HIS loving kindness/mercy/loyalty/faithfulness – is eternal, enduring forever.” Psalm 136:23