Brilliant Minds

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

We went to see the movie Hidden Figures and what an excellent movie it was.

 

In the movie we saw how ‘prejudice’ stands in the way of people with brilliant minds doing great things for the common good. Clearly God has given each baby in the womb the potential of genius and excellence.

 

One thing that stood out to me in the movie was what they used to call people with ‘brilliant minds’ who could mentally calculate numbers and formulas; they called them “computers.” These were the brilliant minds that could figure out how to put a man up in space ‘safely’ so that he returned the way he left. These brilliant minds figured out how to build machines that do what our minds can do, but faster. Today’s brilliant minds are taking “technology” further and further.

 

Note: In the movie we get to see when the first computer was built and used in the space program. They called this new computer system “the beast.” The Bible talks about “the beast that is given words to say and power over people.” Ask yourself if your internet phone/pad tells you anything you want to know; shows you anything you want to see; puts you in contact with anyone you want to talk to. Ask yourself if you could live without it now after depending on it so much.

 

I believe that prejudice comes out of under-developed minds. When the mind isn’t allowed to mature the way God designed it to mature, it becomes resentful towards those they believe have held them down, and eventually they will lash out in one way or another. Suicide is one way. Killing and physical abuse is another. Drug and alcohol addiction are ways of showing what a person truly thinks of himself. When government tries to control what people think, say and do – what is the result? The “result” is what we have been increasingly seeing in America, especially over these last 8 years. Government is designed by God to hold people down from their good purpose in life. Government is supposed to protect us from those who want to overtake us and make us their servants. Government is to protect us from those who want to take from us what we have earned to have for our families to enjoy life with. Government is supposed to protect our God-given rights. Do you know what your God-given rights are? Most people don’t because God’s Word has been outlawed in schools and public places, or our Bibles set on a shelf at home to collect dust.

 

Prejudice of all forms works to block human development for God’s goodwill on earth. Prejudice, a.k.a. deep resentment and hatred towards others different from yourself, has destructive power: shortens and prevents life, stunts growth for mental brilliance and excellence in life, causes shame and fear, and ultimately causes “the abomination that brings desolation on the earth.” Satan resents God’s chosen people. He fuels prejudice and hatred in people. He is fully entertained by all our acts of violence.

 

There are many forms of prejudice: hatred of those God favors and blesses, hatred of hardworking rich successful people, hatred for those in authority upholding law and order, resenting someone for what they have that you don’t, detesting anyone that stands in the way of you taking what you want from someone else, resenting your brother or sister because of the favor they get that you don’t get, despising those who try to warn you about the path you are blindly going that will destroy you.

 

You can be sure that those who scream and cry the loudest about the prejudice of ‘other’ people or people’s groups – are IN FACT the very ones themselves who are prejudice. They never accomplish anything good for themselves or for the society they live in because their minds think this way – all the time. Their prejudice hinders their mental brilliance, and eagerness to do hard work that would prosper them and help others.

 

“God is MIGHTY, but despises no one; God is FIRM in His purpose….but if people are bound in chains and cords of affliction He tells them what they have done…He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve His good will, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. God is not partial or prejudice. BUT if they do not listen, they will suffer the consequence and die without the knowledge they refused.”

 

“The godless in heart harbor resentment (prejudice).” Even when God handcuffs the godless, they do not repent and cry out to God for His help. Therefore God denies them His light; His Brilliant and Excellent Kingdom of the Son He loves. They will stand before God their Maker one day, and give their puny excuses in thinking they can defend themselves. But there is only ONE TRUE DEFENDER we want on that Day: The Son of God.

 

Prejudice warps and handicaps the mind; which in turn works only evil on the earth. Prejudice is one of the devil’s most successful schemes of the devil. Jesus came down to earth not only to forgive us but to show us the right way to think about ourselves and each other, and how to live with each other and work together with all our ‘good’ differences. But it will take the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth for all nations to surrender and live for the good of all mankind; which they will or else eternally suffer God’s verdict.

 

The potential for brilliance and excellence is within ALL of us because God originally made mankind in His own image. We simply need to acknowledge God in all our thoughts and ways. Because of the briliiant mind God gave man – man got arrogant and rebellious towards God, so God had to scatter and separate them by language, skin and boundaries. (Tower of Babel in King Nimrod’s day.) Each developed their own culture of law and lifestyle.

 

If everyone were to look the same, think the same, act the same and have the same things – where could prejudice thrive? But that’s not how it’s supposed to be with all the ‘good’ differences in God’s created things. It’s only as we humble ourselves before God our Creator, and commit ourselves to His Son’s love and unity that we understand how all people with all their ‘good’ differences – can work so well together for the common good; which brings our Father God the honor and glory He deserves to receive from mankind.

 

Prejudice: that which prevents you from reaching your good purpose in life, both for the one who is trying to hold someone down or others down for whatever prejudice they have, and for the one being held down by someone’s prejudice towards them.

 

In the movie Hidden Figures this comes out so clearly – as the brilliant minds of the black women were held back by the prejudice of the white people in the space program, and the space program was held down from its goal because the brilliant minds of these black women, one in particular, was not allowed to work her brilliance where most needed. But at the end of the movie it all changed.

 

Go see it!

America vs. Globalism

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

What we see at work today is America versus Globalism. Globalism is about nations without borders. America the free is still a nation of borders, although we’ve seen this being fought against. Basically, it boils down to those leaders of nations committed to their nation’s sovereignty protecting its borders, or becoming one with globalism removing all borders.

Two things that have happened in the Western World are shaking the ideology of globalism: Brexit (when England pulled out of the European Union) and the election of Donald Trump with his populist views, and one: building a wall and maintaining borders. Even now with Italy’s referendum to remain sovereign that resulted in the Prime minister stepping down.

However, what is important to me is: what does God have to say in the Scriptures? Does God have anything to say about this? Does history repeat itself?

 

Satan is not omnipotent or omniscient like God, and so over a period of time he does repeat himself in trying to keep mankind enslaved.

 

Genesis 11:1-4 “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’”

 

Here we have ‘one people,’ ‘one language’ and one purpose which went against God’s instructions to be scattered over the face of the earth. This is man’s kind of “globalism;” one government for the whole world; no borders and no differences in culture or language or purpose.

 

We often talk about history repeating itself and I think with “globalism” that this is what is taking place. We are coming back to the day of King Nimrod’s thinking where the whole world submits to a “one world government with one man ruling over all the world and who has no accountability to anyone.”

 

With “Babel” (in Genesis) the world had a tyrant named Nimrod who ruled with his elite and today we have “globalism” which has the same thinking, with the same structure of a ruling elite over the rest of the world in progression. Is this what we want? Is this God’s plan? We do know that there will be a man that will come and for a short time bring together a “world government,” under him, but it will not last long.

 

What was God’s response to Nimrod’s thinking and progress? Nimrod was acting in disobedience to his Creator who told mankind to scatter over the face of the earth, and in no other direction, as they were building a great tower up into the heavens to make a name for themselves. God broke it all down and scattered them Himself, even assigning them diverse languages in their set boundaries throughout the world.

 

What was God’s plan? He chose one man “Abraham,” (Genesis 12), and blessed him and made a nation of him: Israel. “I will bless you so that you will be a blessing to others.” Through Israel came our world’s Redeemer: Jesus Christ. Through Him comes salvation to all people of the world. What is so glorious about God’s plan – is how we see people of different nations (cultures, languages) united with His Son and Spirit living in peace despite their diversity. This is what makes God’s plan far greater than man’s plans for the world.

 

Apostle Paul says this: “From one man God made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:26-28

 

So, what wisdom do we get with this passage of Scripture? God made all the different family groups or ethnic groups, resulting in the various nations of the world. He set them all over the earth. I see that God had a plan with America. He was preparing His people in Europe – through persecution – a people that were ready to live in this land, known as the Pilgrims. After Columbus discovered America God kept everyone else out until the “pilgrims” were ready to come and settle in the land. This was all God’s doing, not man’s.

 

Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States were written about by Benjamin Morris in the time of the Civil War. He stated: “The persecutions of the Puritans in England for non-conformity, and the religious agitations and conflicts in Germany by Luther, in Geneva by Calvin, and in Scotland by Knox, were the preparatory ordeals for qualifying Christian men for the work of establishing the civil institutions on the American continent. ‘God sifted,’ in these conflicts, ‘a whole nation, that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness;’ and the blood and persecution of martyrs became the seed of both the church and the state. They were trained in stormy times, in order to prepare them to elaborate and establish the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty and of just systems of civil government.”

 

In this we see “Acts 17” being carried out in how God planned the times and the exact place where they should be, “so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.”

 

Is this God’s plan today with the mass of immigrants that are flooding the West? God’s plan is STILL “that men would seek Him, reach out for Him and find Him.” God still works through people to make Himself known, no matter where they live or how they speak. We have been told by God to go into all the world and bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of all people and nations.

 

But is it God’s plan to bring them all to the West (America) and win them to Christ here? That is one of the things that we should be doing as the church, but I am not sure if this is God’s ‘perfect’ plan. I say this because this flooding in brings the possibility of our nation of America becoming “balkanized.” This is what we have seen with the former Yugoslavia and even the Middle East when ‘the powers to be,’ after WW 1 and 2, divided the Middle East in ways that were not conducive to the different people’s groups. And now we see the carnage (massacre/bloodshed) that is taking place because of it.

 

This does not mean that we do not accept refugees (we accepted hundreds of thousands from the former Soviet Union), but it does mean that they are to get indoctrinated with ‘our’ value system, Constitution, language, etc. or we too will become balkanized.

 

Eventually we could be broken up into many little countries instead of being the United States of America. Balkanization will do the same thing. It might take a little longer, but if left to progress it will result in the same way.

 

God’s plan has never changed; we, His disciples are told to go and bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.

 

 

 

 

The Mind

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

The mind that God gave us is a powerful thing; it can work for us or against us.

 

Watching the series ALONE I saw one contestant who let his mind work against him, instead of for him. He was quick to think the worse about his situation each day, and quick to become angry when something happened that hurt him; quick to curse with his words. How we feed and nourish our mind determines how we deal with loneliness, adversity and loss. It makes all the difference.

 

This contestant learned how negative he was by all the problems he made for himself by thinking so negatively. All his ‘cursing’ over the situations he was in worked against him. For example: a mouse followed him around chewing his gear so that he decided to change locations, but the mouse followed him wherever he went. He began to realize that it was ‘him’ who needed to change, not his location, and not expecting nature to change. Nature does what nature was created to do.

 

Why does God tell us (in His Word) to think on the things are worthy, good and lovely; those things that nourish and increase the mind’s true purpose from God? Why does God tell us NOT to think on the things that are not true, and that starve and weaken our mind? What power does our mind really have that we are responsible for? How we think is how we act.

 

God created us. Our mind works right when it’s fed right. When it’s fed right – we do right. When we do right – God blesses it. When God blesses it – great things happen all around us. It rubs off on others.

 

God’s Word (the truth) is what we need to feed our mind with. This man suffered so much because his mind was weak and incapable of seeing the value around him with nature. His mind was unable to see how to use things around him that nature provides us. He was not prepared at all. Therefore, nature worked against him and not for him. Therefore, this man became his own worst enemy.

 

People get depressed and have mental breakdowns because of how they think; how they have been raised to think. People commit suicide because of how they think. People hurt people because of how they think.

 

God is good and God is love; therefore, everything in nature works together because God made it to naturally do so; everything except the ‘natural’ man that is when his thoughts are evil rejecting God and God’s Word.

 

God set man apart from all other created things; giving him the right to rule and care for His creation. But when man does not “think” right – man works against creation instead of along with it. When man does not “think” right – man works against himself: inhumanities (cruelty, viciousness, mercilessness, atrocities, sadisms).

 

When we are out of touch with God – our life is so much harder than it needs to be and should be. God intended our life to be fruitful and joyful. God has given us His precious Word to bring us to think right about ‘all’ things pertaining to life, both now and later after death.

 

God has given us His Son in physical human form to show us the way to the “abundant life;” to free us from our fears and from the condemnation of our sinful nature.

 

God will bless us with the gift of His ‘indwelling’ Holy Spirit when we trust in His Son in order to bring us out of mental darkness – to open our vision to reality and raise us to our full potential of all things good and eternal.

 

When you know all this, and not just “know” it but have tested it to be absolutely true in your life, what is there in your mind or in life that works against you anymore? What can happen that you and the LORD can’t overcome, improve and fully enjoy? God’s Word says:

 

“These light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all; so we fix our eyes on what is unseen and not on what is seen; for that which is seen is temporal but that which is unseen is eternal.”

 

When we don’t feed our mind ‘the truth’ about this life that we’re born to live – we remain mere infants always falling down and hurting ourselves, getting angry and throwing tantrums, expecting others to support and comfort us, never coming to the maturity of truth and confidence, strength and perseverance, helpful and joyful.

 

This sad and pitiful man on ALONE (Season 2) eventually ‘broke’ after mentally suffering almost two months in the wilderness. He fell to his knees and cried to God in total desperation (lonely and hungry), and I tend to believe it was the first time he ever completely humbled himself before God.

 

He was the second from the last man (who won), but he went home with a brand new outlook on his life. He didn’t win the $500K, but he gained so much more in those two months in the wilderness. You really come to the truth about your beliefs, your life and who you are – in a lonely wilderness place. It’s my personal belief that everyone who comes to live the “abundant life in Christ” – has spent some time in the wilderness.

 

The true wilderness is a “state of mind.” It is all in how you choose to think.

 

When everything seems against you – God is still for you. He’s waiting for you to realize that. He waits for you to fully believe that HE IS who He says He is; that “He exists and rewards those who eagerly seek Him.”

Why Are You Crying To Me?

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

Moses and the Israelites were being chased by Pharaoh and his army with the intent of bringing them back to Egypt so that the Israelites would be forced to keep serving them. After all the plagues that ruined their land, killed all their livestock and every first born son – Pharaoh’s heart remained stubborn towards God’s will.

 

Most people would’ve surrendered to the will of God after the first or last plague, but the Scriptures say that it was God that hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that the wonders and favor of God would be experienced by His own people who had not SEEN God’s faithfulness to His promise in their lifetime.

 

God does not ‘force’ Himself on people; He ‘offers’ Himself. Evil people force themselves on people because they have nothing good in themselves of offer anyone. God offers Himself to people because God is full of love for people and is able to fulfill His promises of goodness to anyone who will believe He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

 

The Egyptians used and mistreated God’s people, so God used and mistreated the Egyptians. God gets even, but He tells US not to seek revenge on those who personally hurt and mistreat us. Why is that? “REVENGE is MINE,” says the Lord. Why is God’s revenge right and ours wrong? I tend to believe that when we turn over what has been done to us to our Father God – He is FREE to work HIS WONDERS before our eyes. How else can we stand in AWE of Him and commit ourselves fully to the God who loves us with an everlasting love?

 

We ‘naturally’ want to defend the weak and helpless because we are made in God’s image, and this is right to do according to God. This is why God set the man over his family and the government over a nation. What an evil thing it is when a father is the bully or abuser of his family, or a president/king uses his power and position to force people to serve him as slaves.

 

There is a difference between “personal revenge” and “justice.” God will justly deal with those who purposely hurt and use us ‘against our will.’ We are wise to wait for that, just like Joseph did, and David did. They waited and saw the Lord’s good purpose in letting them suffer for a time. Suffering produces the good purposes of God, if we will entrust ourselves to our heavenly Father; a harvest of righteousness will come forth by those who have seen their suffering as character building instead of physical punishment.

 

God expects us to come to the defense of others, but when you seek to take revenge on someone who has hurt you personally, or used you against your will – God tells us to forgive them and wait on God to deal with them and free you HIS WAY and in HIS TIME. We can see how this worked for Jacob’s 11th son Joseph, who remained faithful to God all those years of suffering. At just the right time Joseph was in position to help his father Jacob and the family have food during a great famine. We can see how suffering for a time worked for David, later replacing King Saul of Israel who had disobeyed God.

 

God told Moses to go in His Name and with all of God’s power to rescue the Israelites from their captors.

 

God had absolutely NO mercy or compassion on the Egyptians who had enslaved and oppressed His people all those years. (From the day Jacob and his whole family entered Egypt it was 430 years later when they received their freedom by the MIGHTY HAND of GOD.) God hardened Pharaoh’s heart after each plague (judgment) so that God’s own people would come to know how powerful and faithful His love is for them. He would teach them to trust and obey Him by all that He did to the Egyptians and that He did NOT let happen to them at the same time; revealing to them that God controls everything in nature (His created things) and can use any of it any way He chooses.

 

When Moses and the Israelites were camped at the Red Sea and with the Egyptians on their tails to take them back, the people and Moses cried out to God in fear. But the Lord said to Moses (not the Israelites), “WHY ARE YOU CRYING OUT TO ME? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” And so they did. And we know what happened to their enemies. God drowned them all except a few who lived to tell about it.

 

When you are suffering for whatever reason – do you cry about it? As one of God’s leaders of His people – do you cry to God about what is happening to them; waiting for HIM to do something about it? God has given us His Word and His Name, the Spirit’s power and authority over the enemy, and He expects us to USE IT ALL with confidence expecting God to do what He says that only He can do for us, as we come to that place and time. We can do more than we think we can do, but there are things that only God can do that God wants us to experience and worship Him for.

 

God’s anointing on anyone He calls to His purpose – is that HE WILL DO what He has said He will do which is impossible for man to do, as we faithfully go forward obeying His instructions all along the way – to the end.

 

“As Moses obeyed the LORD…..all that night THE LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind that kept the land dry beneath their feet as they walked through.” Exodus 14:21

 

Is God the same God as He was then? If we will trust and obey His Word – God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

 

“Your path led us through deep waters; even though your footsteps were not seen. You led us on a path we did not know; a path we did not see.” Psalms 77:19
 

Weekly Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

To people of the world, they will never understand why Jerusalem is so important and never at peace with the world. God said in His Word, “I have chosen Jerusalem as My home.” (Psalms 132:13) This is the place our Savior returns to; to live and rule. No wonder the Muslims desperately fight for it. They think that if they can take control of Jerusalem then Jesus cannot rule the world from there when He returns.

 

If you want peace for Israel we must wait for Jesus to rule in Jerusalem, and soon He will come to reign on the earth just as God has said throughout His Holy Word. Everything that has been and will be played out in the Middle East is written about in the Bible. Wars and even more wars are coming with multitudes of people dying. Revelation chapters 6-10 tells us that one-half of the world’s population will die with all that is coming.

 

This truth is not to be feared, but made ready for. How can you be ready? Get right with Jesus Christ, listen to Him as He tells us what to do now and for our family to be prepared, and REJOICE over what He will do in this world when He returns! Our Savior is coming again, and with Him comes everlasting peace and joy for those who love Him. Those who trust in their Savior Jesus Christ – will rule with Him. Make ready a people prepared for the Lord! Start with your own children and grandchildren.

 

So if you are fearful about what is happening, then you have not met Jesus Christ nor have you sat under His perfect teaching. Jesus Christ is the truth, the way and the life. Please allow Him to touch your life today.

 

 

The Wise Man – Part 13 – Power of Words

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

The definition of ‘word’ is ‘verbal signal.’ Words are not only verbal signals, but they also trigger what some call a ‘biochemical response’ and can be used by powers to be, to modify behavior.

 

Because of this a wise man will use words wisely. His words will be calm and rational, not emotional. He/she will be a person who thinks before speaking.

 

Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”

Proverbs 17:27 “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

 

How often we have spoken out of an emotional trauma, hurt, quarrel and we later wish that we had used instead words that were gentle and peaceful.

 

Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

 

Opinion makers in our society (these are people who use words to make a living: news broadcaster, lawyers, judges, politicians, teachers, etc.) have used words to persuade people in a certain way. A wise man will also use words to persuade a person but towards godly thoughts and ways.

 

Proverbs 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

 

We live in a world filled with hate, pain and suffering but the “God of all comfort” wants to use us to bring comfort through our words knowing that a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)

 

Jesus told us that “out of the abundance of the heart we speak” so we know that the source of our words will come from who we are; from our character. We are born with a personality, but not with a character. Character is formed as we respond to what comes our way daily. Proverbs tells us to keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

 

Jesus said that “a good tree will produce good fruit, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” (Matthew 13:33)

Jesus went on to say “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks,” and so Proverbs tells us that the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:11)

 

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14

 

Instead of finding the positive aspect of a mouth speaking words that bring life, we find pride that “only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (Proverbs 13:10)

 

We often hear about “hate speech” not realizing that this hate speech comes from “a malicious man disguising himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.” (Proverbs 26:24)

 

I personally have appreciated this Proverbs study on the use of words and many times it has brought me under conviction for how careless I have been with words. How often I have given advice when not asked and seen it fall on deaf ears. One thing that this study on ‘words’ has done is to make me think more before responding, pray more instead of talking, listen more and speak less. Perhaps this should be our New Year resolution.

 

May this New Year 2017 be a year of great advancement in the things of God and the extension of His Kingdom!

 

 

 

 

 

God Has Seen Our Misery

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

We are shown and taught in the book of Exodus that God chose a man to deliver His people from their misery. This man was not easily accepted by God’s miserable people. They needed to ‘see’ God’s anointing on the man before they would believe and follow his leadership. God gave the man the power to do amazing things. God chose a man that grew up in the ways of the world, prospering and successful by the world’s standard. God chose and anointed this man to challenge the rulers in the land oppressing God’s people. God used this unlikely man to humble the ruler and break the pride and power of the oppressors of God’s people.

 

But first: God’s people needed to ‘believe’ that the LORD had seen their misery, and had called this particular man to Himself to work through and prepare the way – that they prosper, worship and prepare for their departure.

 

This is what our God did for His people then; will He not do this for us now in America?

 

If we do not believe that God “has seen our misery” and heard our “crying out to Him,” then we will not understand who Donald Trump/Michael Pence are. If we believe that God’s judgment on us remains, without recognizing the time of God’s coming to us, we will be looking for something else; we will remain in bondage even though we don’t see we’re bound.

 

If you believe that God’s judgment is still on His people here in America – then you will live under oppression and the fleecing you’ve been under, even though God has sent you a deliverer. If you don’t see the truth – you won’t live in the benefits of the truth. There are Christians that see this elected man for America’s next president as God’s judgment on His people and not God’s grace for His people. If we fail to see this time of God’s grace and favor on His ‘humbled’ people – then we will continue doing what we’ve always done and forfeit the grace that could’ve been ours in this time.

 

“If My people who are called My Name, will seek My Face, humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear their prayers and heal their land.”

 

Is our God the same God He was back then when He chose Moses? Have Christians in America been seeing the RAPID ‘progression of oppression’ upon God’s people over this last 8 years? Have we been painfully disciplined under this lawless ruler of the past 8 years? Did God overturn this election against our enemy who had more evil planned for God’s people?

 

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.”

 

These last 8 years have been VERY unpleasant and painful for God’s holy people. “And without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 

Those in Christ who have been righteously trained these last 8 years will “produce a harvest,” if they do not give up walking with the Lord to the end of what God has given His people to do.

 

Have you been trained? Who has trained you in what you now believe? Have you come out of worldly ways and from depending on worldly systems; simply trusting in the Word of God? Are you still trusting in the government to be your friend or guardian? Are you walking with Lord seeing the need to prepare for the days ahead, and to store provision for those loved ones you will leave behind? What harvest are you hoping? What do you hope to reap from what you’ve been sowing?

 

“Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” (Hebrews 12: 5-6)

 

“In fact, though by this time you should be teachers of truth and righteousness, but instead you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who continues to live on milk, being still an infant, 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.”

 

When God’s people remain infants on milk: sucking on the elementary teachings ‘about’ Christ and comforted in the ‘knowledge’ of our coming salvation, but never ‘maturing’ in God’s wisdom for the ‘right’ thinking and activity for ‘the time’ they live in – they will become the helpless instead of being Christ’s helpers prepared and ready for Him. Don’t think that just because you see the good you do for others that you are actually doing the work of the Lord. Self-righteousness is not the righteousness of Christ.

 

Little children would rather argue than submit. Little children don’t see the danger ahead; neither will know how to ward it off or prepare for it. Children don’t think ahead because they are thinking of themselves all the time. They trust others for what they need and want. Children believe anything they are told and taught. Children are easily deceived. Children enjoy fantasies.

 

Little children trust those that are NOT to be trusted. Children don’t see who has been working against their good and future fulfillment. They foolishly resist the leadership of true righteousness because it doesn’t meet their current selfish wants, and because they are required to grow up and be self-disciplined and helpful to the Lord.

 

Children are whom the devil is after to use for his evil works in the world and against the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom.

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance having been trained properly, for the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

 

Yes – I certainly believe that God has seen the misery of His people in America, and has heard our humble prayers, and is now giving us a time to prosper and prepare as we should for what is coming that Jesus said we should be ready and prepared for.

 

“Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

To people of the world, they will never understand why Jerusalem is so important and never at peace with the world. God said in His Word, “I have chosen Jerusalem as My home.” (Psalms 132:13) This is the place our Savior returns to; to live and rule. No wonder the Muslims desperately fight for it. They think that if they can take control of Jerusalem then Jesus cannot rule the world from there when He returns.

 

If you want peace for Israel we must wait for Jesus to rule in Jerusalem, and soon He will come to reign on the earth just as God has said throughout His Holy Word. Everything that has been and will be played out in the Middle East is written about in the Bible. Wars and even more wars are coming with multitudes of people dying. Revelation chapters 6-10 tells us that one-half of the world’s population will die with all that is coming.

 

This truth is not to be feared, but made ready for. How can you be ready? Get right with Jesus Christ, listen to Him as He tells us what to do now and for our family to be prepared, and REJOICE over what He will do in this world when He returns! Our Savior is coming again, and with Him comes everlasting peace and joy for those who love Him. Those who trust in their Savior Jesus Christ – will rule with Him. Make ready a people prepared for the Lord! Start with your own children and grandchildren.

 

So if you are fearful about what is happening, then you have not met Jesus Christ nor have you sat under His perfect teaching. Jesus Christ is the truth, the way and the life. Please allow Him to touch your life today.

 

 

 

The Wise Man – Part 12 – Power of Words

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

 

Unknown writer said: “But it is requisite that members of the common herd be imprisoned in abject ignorance, never doubting that they are ‘free and self-sovereign individuals’ who are in full control of their lives and families, and who can speak freely on any subject they choose, and worship whatever God their consciences dictate.”

 

When I was taking meetings in Denmark how a Danish fellow who had lived in Canada for many years immigrated back to his home country and what he saw scared him because he saw how he and the rest were being manipulated in what to think, to buy, etc.

 

One of the definitions of ‘word’ is “verbal signal.” It is a fallacy to think that words are just words from whoever speaks them. Words are not only verbal signals, but they also trigger what some call a “biochemical response” and can be used by powers to modify behavior. We see this in advertisements as well as propaganda that comes out from the government. (Testimony of the Danish man)

 

I remember growing up hearing an advertisement for Marlboro cigarettes: “So round, so firm, so fully packed.” Very simple, but very powerful. What this did was to appeal to the sucking sense that we are born with. Every day we have an avalanche of information bombarding us that has a mind-numbing effect upon us. This avalanche of information bombarding us is part of the spiritual warfare that we are in. It is to get us to conform to a herd mentality, not question its authority or its morality, but to accept its authority. So often we find that if we do question authority it is as if we have defiled a holy place and we are met with hostility from friends and neighbors. Once we begin to see through this maze of propaganda and begin to understand – we also see how different we are from people or from those we once knew.

 

We have today what we call “code words,” often used by those in places of authority. Today we are hearing more and more the code word ‘fake news.’ This basically means any news that is not coming from established politicians and mainstream media is to be considered as fake news. In other words, the only source of ‘truth’ or ‘real news’ is from the mainstream media. However, Denzel Washington had it right when he said “If we do not read the newspapers we are uninformed, but if we read them we are misinformed.”

 

There are other code words being used today that are beginning to shape opinions. Words like ‘loophole’ that lead to greater government regulation, ‘white nationalism or white supremacy,’ or ‘uneducated white voters’ referring to those who live in what is called “flyover country;” people who believe in a strong family, in God and the Bible, and with love for their country.

 

Moving closer to the end times we will find deception increasing and it is through this avalanche of propaganda we are seeing it and many are being deceived by it. These “code words” do not come about by accident, but are devised by those in power and when repeated over and over have a dumbing down effect upon us.

 

Satan uses a philosophy called “DIA-PRAX.” Dia means to dialogue to resolve conflicts. Prax means to practice. So, the two together means to practice dialogue to come to a certain reasoning or outcome. In this philosophy, there are three elements: Thesis, Anti-thesis and Synthesis or result.

 

So, when we apply this to Eve in the Garden of Eden – what do we have?

 

First, we have the thesis. This is what God says: “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”  (Genesis 3:3)

 

Secondly, we have the anti-thesis, the dialogue with serpent:  “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) Showing the benefit of eating it that you shall be like God knowing good and evil.

 

Thirdly, we now know the synthesis or outcome: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:6-7)

 

Apply this philosophy to homosexuality and what do we come up with?

 

First, we have the thesis of what God says: homosexuality is sin. We find this both in the Old and New Testament.

 

Secondly, in this dialogue we see the anti-thesis or reasoning coming out that Jesus loves everybody and so should we, and if call what they do a sin then we do not show that we love people. Therefore, we are those with ‘hate speech.’ So, the outcome or synthesis is that we accept homosexuality and the consequences.

 

When Jesus was in the wilderness we see the same philosophy being used on Jesus, but Jesus answered with the Word of God.

 

In this period of deception that is upon us all Paul tells us in Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

 

The only truth is the Word of God.

 

 

 

I hear the cry of My people!

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

“I have indeed seen the misery of My people in America.” “I have heard them crying out to Me because of the government’s oppression, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of their oppressors and to bring them out from under the further plans of their oppressors. Their cry has reached Me and I have seen the way they are treated.” (personalizing Exodus 3:7-9)

 

If God did this for His people in Egypt, and as God did for Lot in Sodom, will He do it for His people in America in such a time as this?

 

If God delivered His people from Haman’s secret agenda against the livelihood of God’s people – deceitfully trying to kill them off one by one – will God expose our enemies in high places of power and turn their evil plans back on them as He did with Haman being hung on the very gallows he had built for the Jews?

 

We don’t always see what happens in a progressive way until we feel the results personally and then corporately. By then we’re to a point of great complexity over what to do about it and we can only CRY out to God; repenting of our disobedience to God’s Word in our personal lives.

 

When there is a breakdown in God’s family order and purpose in the land the whole nation suffers. God’s people are to be the light and salt which preserves God’s favor and good in the land. There are instructions from the Lord that if we follow through in every generation – will prevent evil from progressively overcoming us.

 

When God hears enough crying out to Him by His ‘humbled’ people – will He answer; will He “come down to rescue His people?” In His “coming down” what does this look like?

 

Jesus said that if we’ve seen Him – then we’ve seen the Father. But the Lord has come down to rescue His people – working through various kinds of imperfect vessels such as Moses and Aaron, and Christ’s apostles.

 

How does it honor God or further His plan of saving people when His own people are fleeced in every way possible? Politicians and governments are not our shepherd; Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. His sheep know His Voice and they follow Him.

 

If God used a very worldly man named Moses, a wealthy man raised from infancy in Pharaoh’s house and a man who didn’t speak well; can He use a man like Donald Trump? Does a man’s worldliness, wealth and weakness discourage God or thwart His plans?

 

If God gave Moses an assistant, his priestly brother Aaron, to help Moses deliver His people, could God unite Michael Pence and Donald Trump as brothers in delivering God’s people?

 

As in any time of when God delivered His people, His people will need to get right with God in their hearts and homes and take advantage of God’s specific time for them to get-a-head. (As my husband would put it: “be a head and not a tail any longer.”)

 

The Old Testament is full of accounts of how God uses whomever He wants, and it has always been questioned and attacked. We see how our president-elect has been rejected and attacked by those trying to remake America by silencing and enslaving God’s people. God’s covenant was with godly men not wicked men; those faithful men who founded this nation and formed our good Constitution.

 

The next president after Donald Trump will not be as favorable towards God’s people in America. Each American leader after Trump/Pence will be more and more hostile towards God’s people. We know this to be true by the word of God. He tells us the things to come – to make us wise and ready for anything, so that we are not caught unaware but prepared.

 

Jesus our Savior and coming King warns us: “Therefore keep watch…so that your house does not get broken into…be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the Master has put in charge of the servants in His Household to give them their food at the proper time? (Food is both physically and spiritually strengthening.) It will be good for that servant whose Master finds him doing so when He returns. Truly I tell you, He will put him in charge of all His possessions.” (Matthew 24:42-47)

 

Might we use this time wisely that our God has given us. Jesus is coming back sooner than we think!