"I will praise the LORD, who instructs me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will NOT be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will NOT abandon me to the realm of the dead, NOR will You let Your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the PATH OF LIFE; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:7-11
Great Heartache – Big Miracle
During my time in the Word of God, I read a little note I had written in my Bible years ago that is so applicable for today. Jesus just heard that John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas (Roman Emperor). In our Lord's grief, but not wanting to be alone, he feeds 5,000 men not including women and children, which would have been close to 20,000 people. I responded to this and wrote:
“Big miracles come right after great heartaches.”
That is if you are looking to the "God of all miracles." For people who reject God, it probably is not true. For them, great heartaches are followed by deep resentment, or depression, or hopelessness, or not accepting of the need we ALL have to draw close to our Maker and Savior. Great heartaches are normal for us all, but it is in how we see them, and see 'through' them, that makes the difference.
"God performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9
I Will Not Apologize
10 things I will not apologize for:
1. Being a white male, for this is how God made me.
2. Living in America, for this is where God placed me.
3. That the standard for my life is the word of God (the Bible)
4. Knowing the truth about good and evil (sin), for this has set me free.
5. Having parents that were “red necks,” people with red necks because they work hard under the sun all day; parents who lived through WW1, the great depression, WW2, the Korean war, and Vietnam war. For parents who taught me how to work for what I need and want, and not taking advantage of others.
6. For discipling my children as I was disciplined and held accountable for my actions; understanding this truth that “if it doesn’t hurt - it doesn’t work.”
7. For my failures, for they taught me never to give up on my dreams.
8. For my successes, for they allowed me to see my potential and the ability to help others.
9. For not having enough money saved in my old age, still working, because I gave most of it away to those in need.
10. For knowing what is coming by what the Bible says, and being prepared for it.
I think we have too many people in America that want people to apologize for things they should never apologize for. These people feel that if they can make others apologize then they are justified in saying, "It is not my fault but the fault of other's, even God’s fault, for the condition I am in."
The truth is that these people who want us to apologize for whatever, they never took advantage of anything God brought their way for their good future, and soon God will hold them accountable for their choices in life.
A Lament for our Nation
Reading Psalm 5 this morning, looking to the Lord for some encouragement about our nation, I WAS encouraged by King David’s lament to the Lord about his enemies. God calls David, “a man after His own heart.” David was not a perfect man, a sinner for sure, but David always repented and faced the consequences like a man after God’s heart, and God blessed him and the nation of King David because of it. David cries out:
“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to YOU I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and I wait EXPECTANTLY. For You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are NOT welcome. The arrogant can NOT stand in Your presence. You HATE all who do wrong; You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful You, Lord, detest…. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted because their hearts are filled with malice. Their throats are an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies…. Let their intrigues (plans and schemes) be their own downfall. Banish them (from office) for their many sins in their rebellion against You. But let all who take refuge in You be glad! Spread your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You! Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.”
Praying for our nation! Looking to the Lord for His choice of a man to vote for in our upcoming POTUS election.
Watchmen
It’s interesting how the Lord has been speaking to Mike and I about “warnings,” but in different books of the Bible. We were sharing this morning what the Holy Spirit had revealed to each other, where in Jeremiah (where Mike was) the warning was to the prophets and priests (and church pastors).
But for me (studying Ezekiel chapter 33) it was a warning to a “watchman whom the PEOPLE choose,” such as “POTUS” of whom we elect by voting.
I never saw that part before, where God will hold a man (or woman) accountable as our elected watchman (president) over our nation (or even over a state as a governor), who will work to protect and uphold or God-given Constitution/Bill of Rights. A president is to “watch” (recognize and expose) enemies outside our borders and within our borders, being READY and ARMED to condemn and do whatever needed to end their evil agenda and attacks on America.
The ”watchman” is to “blow the trumpet” that warns the people to be ‘on-guard’ and ready to defend themselves and their families. If people ignore the warning, then what happens to them is on their own head, not the watchman’s. If the watchman sees the enemy coming at us, and he/she does NOT warn us by exposing them, then what happens to our nation (to “we the people”) is on the head of the watchman. (Ezekiel 33:1-6)
America has had some TRUE presidential watchmen that we could trust and fully support. But now we have quite the opposite, clearly trying to remove our first and second amendment rights. Why? What is our ‘worst’ enemy (the devil with his cohorts) up to if not to weaken and destroy us as a nation that started with faith, hope and love for the Lord.
Now the Lord does say here that when the watchman sees the enemy and does NOT warn the people so they can prepare and be ready, and the enemy succeeds with their goal of enslaving and destroying life, “that person’s life will be taken because of THEIR own sin,” but God WILL hold the watchman accountable, just the same, for what happens to the people. What sin would I be guilty of?
“Yet to all who receive Jesus Christ, to those who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 12-13
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, NOT COUNTING PEOPLE’S SINS AGAINST THEM.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
As I look at what we see happening in America under this current administration “in bed” with our enemies, both within and without, it’s clear that our current leaders are helping America’s enemies to succeed against us. Even in most American churches, both priest and pastor and their prophets, are unknowingly and knowingly “in bed” with enemies of the Truth, the Way and the Life of Jesus Christ.
The only real hope we have is in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; for He is the PERFECT WATCHMAN. When we listen to Him, by reading His Word and talking to Him (in prayer), listening to the voice of His Spirit respond and guide – we will know what we need to know, understand, and then bravely do what we need to do.
No matter how bad it gets, and it will get far worse, we can have the ‘promises, peace and power of God’ as His children. So, we walk with Jesus the Holy Spirit, doing His will to the end.
“The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17
As the Lord was showing Mike about MOST of America’s church priests, pastors and prophets, more interested in their own ministries and fame, instead of living for the LORD’s ministry and fame, we have many FALSE watchmen speaking and leading unsuspecting people. God said that people (all people, even pastors, priests and prophets) perish in their own sins because they do not know the Lord; they reject and lack the knowledge of GOD’S TRUTH. (Hosea 4:6-7)
“Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.” Hosea 4:6
The war against the truth, the life and the way of Jesus Christ, WHO IS the only hope and savior of this sin-sick rebellious world, started in the Garden of Eden and won’t end till the return of Jesus Christ, KING of kings, LORD of lords.
I praise Jesus my Savior for taking all my sins upon Himself to that cruel unforgiving cross. For it’s only IN HIM ALONE that my forgiveness came when I repented of my sins, surrendered my life to Him, trusting in His words written to me and to all the human race.
Thank You my KING!
The Battle is Not Ours
In my quiet time I read about King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He had a great army coming against him, and he went to the Lord God about it. The Lord told him to gather his small army and march out against his enemy. The Lord said the following: “The battle is not yours, but you must go out against them, and then stand still and watch.” While they marched, the king instructed the army to start singing to the Lord and praising Him. The Bible says that at the very moment they started to sing and praise God - the enemy started fighting among themselves and destroying each other.
We who are true followers of Jesus Christ must go and stand against these people who are so opposed to what we believe. We must stand by faith with the truths of God in these places of battle with singing and praising God because of all that He has done for us. If we will, the Lord says that He will cause those who are opposed to the truth and life of Jesus Christ - to start fighting amongst themselves, being so confused that they will not be able to do anything to stop us.
What a great God we serve!
Decline of a Nation
Why do nations decline and fall? History has proved, time and again, that a nation's moral condition and character are key to its endurance.
God's moral law applies to nations as well as individuals. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" Galatians 6:7
Individuals and nations that sow immorality, violence and oppression will not long endure. Some nations declined slowly before their demise. Others were destroyed or conquered suddenly. BUT NO NATION OR EMPIRE can endure without moral character and God's blessing.
Will we in America learn the lessons from history, or will it be said, “America learned nothing from history.”
I was thinking about how I (all people) should never make a promise because no human being can ever FULLY keep their promise. God is the only One who can make a promise and keep it FULLY. We say our vows on our wedding day, or make promises to our children or to whoever, but we are not able to keep all the vows or promises we make. BUT, when God makes a vow or promise, He keeps it.
I’m reminded of the account in the Bible about God and Abraham when God called Abraham into a covenant with Him. (Genesis 15) God knew Abraham was just a man, and therefore, God fulfilled both sides of the covenant showing us that although we make vows or promises to God with the right ‘intent,’ God will fulfill OUR promise or vow, as well as His own. Abraham was called by God to a purpose that would affect the whole world. And God, knowing that Abraham was just a man, a sinner like us all, a person unable to keep a promise fully, fulfilled both required sides of the covenant God was making with Abraham. Abraham finished what God gave him to do with his life on earth because God was with him all the way. Therefore,
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going….And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:8-12
God sees our heart, the desire of our heart, and as long as our desire is Him, He turns our lack of measuring up to our commitment/vow/promise – to us experiencing who He is and how He works “all things for our good.” The reason why God is ALL IN for us is that we are ALL IN HIS SON and His Son is IN us by His Spirit – when we first made our commitment to Jesus our Savior. Just like God did with Abraham in bringing him all the way to God’s promise, He will do with us.
Jesus told His first disciples that only because of His word to them can they remain CLEAN before the Father. (John 15:3) He went on to tell them that the only way they (we) can bear ‘good’ fruit is by HIS life in us. We can do things that appear good and feel good, but without His life in us – none of it will stand up to the fire when all our works are put to the test as the end.
I’m thankful that all the LORD is after is my sincere love for Him. If I keep Jesus Christ first, there is nothing God won’t do for me that would help me keep my vow to my Savior. Jesus said to His disciples: “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now REMAIN IN MY LOVE. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” John 15:9-10
He even gives us a promise: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” John 15:7-8
So again, I see that it’s all about Jesus my God and Savior. Nothing good lives in me apart from HIM!
Jesus was praying to His Father:
“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as WE are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.” John 17:21-23
Imagine that! The Creator, our heavenly Father, will lavish His love on us with just as much favor as He has for His own Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of His Father defending those who are IN HIM by faith, faith in who HE IS according to the Scriptures. Jesus stands at the right hand of the Father as our HIGH PRIEST, with His own shed-blood covering us so we are as white as snow in the Father’s eyes. It’s ALL HIM!
We love because HE FIRST loved us. (1 John 4:19)
“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
It gives me peace and joy to know that Jesus will NEVER leave me nor forsake me, for HE SAID SO, and HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES. I also KNOW, that even though all my sins are forgiven, that my disobedience will have earthly consequences.
Father God says to me:
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all….No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it PRODUCES a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7-8,11) I have felt His discipline a few times, and I pray I’ll never give Him another reason!
So, God is fulfilling what He started in me (us) because of Jesus Christ, who is also called the “author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
All VICTORY is in Jesus!
Sex-Trafficking
Carol and I saw the movie, “Sound of freedom.” How it sickens me that little children have been and still are being rob of their innocence. I have to admit I did not come out of the movie feeling entertained nor fearful, but rather full of righteous anger.
I personally think that these predators when caught should suffer daily, and never be allowed freedom but the death penalty.
These words came up at the end of the movie, “Human trafficking is a $150 billion a year industry. The US is one of the top destinations for human trafficking and is one of the top consumers for child sex. There are more humans trapped today in slavery than at any point in human history, including when slavery was legal. Millions of these slaves are children.”
What a sick society America has become to allow and even defend these actions of these predators. This movie could not be released when it was first made. Why? Could it be that the money made on child-sex-slave’s is more important than the lives of children?
Have we in America become so callous that we forget the number one responsibility of being a parent is to defend our children. We allow drag queens and their actions to be displayed in front of our children. We give the right to mutilate children who are just learning about life. We destroy the only protection these children have by destroying what God calls “family.” We have become so calloused that we can kill a baby right after it is born and call it “our right.”
SOMEDAY SOON GOD WILL BRING JUDGEMENT ON AMERICA, AND THEN TRY TO TELL HIM WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE!
Mark 9:42 “If you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.”
Help us Lord to truly know You, and do Your perfect and acceptable will.
Ezekiel Speaks to America
I really don’t like reading the books of the prophets in the Holy Bible (God’s Word) because of how those warnings and condemnation speaks so loudly today to America! God’s prophets were sent to Israel (Judah and Jerusalem) but I see so much similarity with America today. Both nations began by God calling a man/men to His purpose ‘for His people’ who were living under forced slavery with oppression/persecution. (Slavery/oppression came to them by their own fault.)
After 400 years, God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. And over 2 centuries ago God called the Pilgrims out of Great Britain to this land we call America, where they would live UNDER GOD and not under the GB king’s religious tyranny. America, the land of the free and home of the brave, where God would show His people how to live with His blessings of protection and prosperity, and to end forced slavery of all kinds.
When God leads and helps men with HIS purpose, it’s critical to have that purpose carried on by each generation after. Otherwise, there will be a progression of national defilement and ruin of the land God gave His people. If fathers (and mothers) do not continue in the faith, hope and love of God (the true God: Jesus Christ) then what we see happening today in America is the result of it; our ruin from the inside out.
As I have been reading and meditating on the words of God given to Ezekiel His prophet for Israel, there is so much that we (America) have allowed to happen here that has stirred up God’s wrath on our nation: *open rebellion to God’s laws and principles for God-given rights
*false narratives spoken by liars and wicked visionaries
*publicly whitewashing the evil deeds of men in power for political gain
*shedding the blood of the innocent (abortion – sacrificing children – sex-trafficking)
*idolatry – worshipping created things
*priests and pastors defiling God’s laws and holy things and committing lewd acts
*taking people’s treasures and precious things
*all kinds of shameful and detestable violations and activities, robberies and lawlessness
*accepting bribes to shed blood and ruin livelihoods
*exacting interest, unfair taxing to make a profit
*force unjust gain, extortion
*denying true justice in the land; tearing down righteous justice/justices
*removing boundaries and not protecting the walls of the land (borders)
*lying and killing to remain in power over an unsuspecting people
*YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, SAYS THE LORD GOD. (Ezekiel 22:12)
“I will surely strike My Hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst. Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with YOU? I WILL DO IT! I will put an end to your uncleanness. When you have been defiled in the EYES OF THE NATIONS, you will KNOW that I AM THE LORD.”
To Israel’s leaders at the time of scattering the Jews to other lands, God commanded: “Remove your crown! It will not be as it was. I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until HE to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to HIM I will give it.” Ezekiel 21:26-27
And who is “HE?” The KING of kings and LORD of lords: JESUS CHRIST, the only “Faithful and True.” “With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His Head are many crowns. His Name is written on Him: The Word of God. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. The armies of heaven follow Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of HIS mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will RULE them with an iron scepter.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:27
As it was in Israel’s day, it shall be for this whole world when all the ‘nations’ have FORGOTTEN THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, when no nation’s government upholds God’s Word with His laws and justice system any longer. Will America continue to have any LIGHT of the LORD left? Will His Gospel be regarded as a violation against society?
With all these investigations of people in America’s high seats of authority, even the seat of POTUS, having used their power to promote themselves, personal financial gain and ungodly policies and ideologies, I guess we will see. We’ll see who America votes in these next elections, which will either give us more time to stand as the greatest nation on earth because of God’s blessings… or fall to the enemies of God.
“ANY nation who refuses to obey Me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken.” Jeremiah 12:17
And yet God’s amazing GRACE still stands through the Gospel of His Beloved Son, the only hope of the nations and people personally.
“For a child was born to us, God’s own Son was given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man (or any nation) stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders (of nations) rejected, which has become the CHIEF cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12
Praying for our nation! Preparing for the LORD’s return to do all He said He’d do. Halellujah!