Truth or Lie

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To maintain a lie requires two things:  ongoing lies, lie upon lie, and to never forget the first lie!  An example of this is what the liberal left say about a man and women. They say it is not dependent upon how you are born, but rather how you feel. To believe this lie will require changes in how you look and live, and will need more lies to actually live with these changes. 
One lie that is being pushed today is having your biological daughters share a public bathroom or shower-room with biological boys/men, and to have biological males competing in sports against our biological daughters. The result of this lie, if not overturned, will cause our daughters to give up, and have fear in their lives. 
Lies require more lies to stay in control. Lies and deceptions will never bring joy, peace or quality of life. Liars want to remove consequences by making everyone agree with their lies.  They think, "How can God judge me if everyone agrees with me?" But we will NOT be judged by any man. God our Creator and Sustainer is SUPREME JUDGE of all human life. 
Truth requires no worry, or regret, but to simply believe it and live it out; for it always brings peace, joy, and quality life, and no regrets.
Truth is, God created a man and a woman with the purpose to produce children and establish families on the earth. Truth is, God does not make mistakes, for it says in His Word, “He made them male and female.” Truth is, the family unit is the strength of any nation. Truth is, there are consequence for every choice we make. Truth is, lies are formed and told in order to control people, and to remove the truth of God about gender and the family.
Those who love God and His truth, will be at peace with their God, and will see His blessings on them for how they live out His truth, even when being persecuted by liars and deceivers.

The Truth Sets Free

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Reading through the book of Jeremiah the prophet (in God's Word) I'm encouraged by what the LORD GOD says to those who trust in Him: "I WILL SAVE YOU, because you trust in Me." Jeremiah 39:18
As I see all that we are faced with today (under this wicked administration running our nation) and the possibility of America being defeated by her enemies, because we are no longer feared by our enemies as we were, it's comforting to hear from my GOD: "Obey Me, by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared." Jeremiah 38:20
As we see our GOD-GIVEN constitutional rights and freedom being stripped away by this fool-administration, hear what the LORD GOD says to those who disobey Him: "You have NOT obeyed Me; you have NOT proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I NOW PROCLAIM 'freedom' for you, 'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrant to all the kingdoms of the earth." Jeremiah 34:17
Those who love the LORD, will obey the LORD, whether personally or nationally. "They will never turn away ME," says the LORD. "Therefore, I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul...I will give them the prosperity I have promised them....I will restore their fortunes." Jeremiah 32:40-44
There is hope for any nation that trusts in the truth from the LORD GOD. God does NOT change! God's Word remains true and faithful! And as it was for Israel, it is with those today (that are not Israel); all who heed the Word of the Living God: HE who was, and is, and is to come! Come LORD JESUS, KING of kings! Bring Your enduring Kingdom to this earth. "As it is in Heaven, it will be on earth." Jesus said it, therefore I BELIEVE IT and I PRAY for it! 
As for now, we are told to "endure the evil day" as Jesus taught His disciples. He told us, "Evil will rapidly intesify as HIS DAY approaches."JESUS IS THE ONLY HOPE OF THE NATIONS! JESUS keeps HIS arms open to the 'spiritually'hungry and thirsty. Now is the DAY of His salvation! But this DAY will shut soon and it will be too late. 
"'So if you will be MY people, and I will your GOD.' See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until HE accomplishes the purposes of HIS heart. In days to come you will understand this." Jeremiah 30:22-24

Jesus Revolution

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We went to see the movie “Jesus Revolution,” a true story based on the book of the same name. The story follows youth minister Greg Laurie and pastor Chuck Smith as they take part in the Jesus movement in California during the late-1960s. The younger generation had lost hope in the government and organized religion. It really makes one think about something very similar happening right now in our nation. And especially with what happened at Asbury University:
“A scheduled hour-long chapel service at Asbury University turned into something much longer and, to many attending, more meaningful. It might be termed a revival. Chapel Wednesday at Asbury didn’t really end. It kind of just turned into hours and then days of worship.”
“Asbury students Caleb Rushing and Lucy Kate Gray were at the first service on February 8. They returned for the final service on Thursday. ‘I have personally rededicated my life to Jesus, my faith has been transformed through this,’ Rushing said. Rushing and Gray consider the revival itself to not be ending because they say you don’t need to be physically at Asbury to experience it. ‘It’s not going to end,’ Rushing said. ‘Everybody who’s seeing this, everybody who’s experiencing it whether it’s here in person, whether it’s over the phone, whether it’s halfway across the world, Jesus is in those places the same way they are seeing him here and so revival can happen anywhere at any time.’ ‘God,’ Gray said, ‘is just starting something new.’”
As it was with the “Jesus Revolution” and the “Asbury Revival," one came forward to openly and publicly repent, and then came a flood of the Holy Spirit’s love and conviction. Might it be God trying to save our nation going to pot? Is God finished with America? Maybe not! 
Watching America spiral down out of control under godless corrupt leaders, it’s clear that a once prosperous and powerful ‘God-fearing America’ has lost her way – falling farther away from the One True God. 
Jesus taught His disciples “to go out” into the world with the Gospel. As believers, have we done the opposite when we invite our ‘unsaved’ friends and family members into our walled-in places reserved for the fellowship of the Lord’s disciples? 
Has FEAR of ‘personally’ sharing Jesus Christ, why we love Him and what He’s done for us, caused our ‘places of so-called worship’ to be infiltrated by those sent by Satan? The Word of God warns about this happening and why.
Would it be to Satan’s advantage to creep in to the ‘fellowship’ of true believers, wherever they are meeting? Would it be to Satan’s advantage to plant wolves in sheep’s clothing in order to work unfaithfulness and unbelief? 
Jesus kept ‘private’ the homes of where He met with His disciples. Why did His Church start to meet ‘outside’ homes in big cathedral-type buildings and under government control with non-profit establishments? If WE ARE the church then our individual homes are important to the Lord just as in the first church’s day. 
Be sure that the day is coming in America when the “non-profit organized churches” will have to choose between their freedom in Christ, or stay accountable to a government with a lot to say in how we preach and conduct ourselves. In fact, this 'persecution' has already started with many churches. 
In the movie “Jesus Revolution” Lonnie, the Jesus-looking hippie who started the movement, challenged Pastor Chuck Smith in his own private home - to basicly leave ‘religion’ (which was not fruitful at all for the Lord) by opening his heart, his private home life and his church-building doors to those passionately searching for the TRUTH. Those who didn’t fit in with ‘religious’ ways and rules. 
When Pastor Chuck Smith saw the truth in what Lonnie was presenting to him, the congregation grew in numbers, mostly of dirty hippies. Including Greg Laurie who is still going strong today. God love them! 
Chuck Smith lost most of his ‘old’ members (donators at that), but “thousands were added daily” just as it was with the first church of Acts. People offering themselves in so many different ways - serving Christ Himself. 
Over the years Mike and I have experienced ‘persecution’ by a few church-leaders for speaking to them in the Name of the Lord, and for doing what the Lord told us to do in the Lord’s church, even in making a loud stir. Jesus is the HEAD of His Body, not the pastor and teachers. 
If a pastor sees the body (congregation) as ‘his’ to rule over, that pastor does not belong to the HEAD. Even if a pastor starts out faithfully walking with the Lord, feeling called to start a church in a needed area, but then later “forsakes the love he first had for Christ,” (Revelation 2:4-5) he better repent and quick. The Lord says he should “consider how far he has fallen and get back to doing the things he did at first.” 
“For if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place,” says the Lord Jesus Christ. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7
Our nation needs TRUE leaders, both IN the churches of Jesus Christ and IN our nation’s White House and state capitols. How can we obey wicked leaders? We must choose whom we will obey, and then live with the consequence, or live for the reward at the end. 
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10
“If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?.... So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:16-17, 19

The Church

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I have said before that the church (those who are born-again by the blood, Word and Spirit of Jesus) are to 'go out' to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are NOT to invite the unsaved into the 'fellowship of believers.'  We are to protect our family unity in Christ Jesus. The Lord, in the book of Jude, tells us why: 
"Some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches. These people scoff at things they do not understand, and do whatever their instincts tell them. They deceive people for money, and only care for themselves. They bear no spiritual fruit, and are grumblers and complainers; living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and flatter others to get what they want. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. Why? Because, they follow their natural instincts, and do not have God's Spirit in them." 
So ask yourself if your church challenges you to go to your neighbors and invite them into your home, or maybe to coffee or lunch, so you can show them and tell them about the love of Jesus? Are you challenged to get involved in your school board, or take on a government official job? Are you challenged to be the light 'out' in the world? Or, are you hearing that you should invite the unsaved into your places of worship, hoping they will get saved there by the pastor? 
As a believer, we are all called to "go out" like Jesus did with His disciples. Jesus met privately with His disciples to teach them about the things to come, and to encourage them on in their faith, hope and love of God.  
Is your church influencing the world, or being influenced by the world?

FAITH’S REWARD

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As I see it, from reading the Word of God, and by my own personal journey of faith, “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” Faith that is applied to anything else than what God tells me, will not have the outcome that rewards me at the end of my life.

People say all the time, “I have faith in myself.” “I have faith in you.” “I have faith in what I’m doing.” “I have faith that it will get better.” Etc. But that is not real faith at all; that’s wishful thinking that rests on personal desire.

We have a ‘conscience’ from God that is to govern our behavior for doing that which is right, and turning away from doing that which is wrong, according to God’s definition of right and wrong. Our conscience can become seared or hardened (the Word of God says) and not be of any good use to us when we continually go against our good conscience and no longer care about what God says.

No wonder people who don’t want to change – hate to hear what the Bible says. They don’t want to HEAR from God. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to ‘cleanse us from a guilty conscience’ and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)

Doing that which is right, instead of wrong, is a ‘moral’ sense of duty we have as human beings. Anyone can be a moral person, knowing right from wrong, having common sense, because we ALL come from God. But not everyone has ‘faith’ in God. Faith involves hearing from God and waiting on God.

Abraham heard directly what God’s will for him was, and how it would happen, but Abraham needed to wait on God to do what God said HE would do. God audibly told Abraham that he and Sarai would have a son together in their old age. It seemed such an impractical ‘word’ to them that Sarai laughed, she mocked what God told Abraham.

They waited to be pregnant and when they got tired of waiting on God to give them a son, Abraham accepted Sarai’s offer of her maidservant Hagar through which to have a son. But Ishmael was not the son of God’s Word (promise), and so to this day Israel remains at war with the “slave-woman’s son,” thousands of generations later.

When WE attempt to make it happen in our own strength, it will NEVER have a good outcome. It will never earn the right of FAITH’S REWARD. When Abraham and Sarai became pregnant with their second son Isaac (his name meaning “laughter”), they repented and continued on their journey of faith in the rest of what God had said to them about Abraham’s generations and the Promised Land.

Noah, another man of faith, heard from God directly as well in a day of great depravity in the world. God was going to destroy the world (people on the earth) because they all had refused to repent and humble themselves before their Maker.

God called Noah the only blameless man left. (Genesis 7:1) What made Noah righteous in God’s sight? Noah never allowed his conscience to be seared or hardened by the world around him. Noah was not a sinless man (no one is) but Noah remained a humble God-fearing man as the world around him grew more and more depraved.

When God spoke to Noah about building the Ark, Noah questioned God about it, and God answered him. Noah followed through with the work ‘of faith’ in what God had given him to do in ‘his day.’ As believers in God, living in a particular time in the history of man, God has His plan and purpose for each of us who will apply the faith He has given us to do the work of the LORD, with the LORD. What God gives each of us to do – can not be done on our own. We need His presence and power to do what seems impossible or impractical.

Our mustard-seed faith is first applied to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross that provided salvation to all that believe. The Word of God says that we become a “new creation” then, the old has passed away and new has come; like changing our clothes from soiled ones to brand new ones.

As we read God’s Word, the Bible, our minds are transformed, heart humbled, conscience cleansed. “In view of God’s mercy (the Cross), offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Being “transformed” prepares us for what God has in mind for us to do with Him; that “perfect and pleasing will” of God. It’s not about what we want to do for God, but rather what God wants to do with us.

Faith is the only thing that pleases God, so the Bible tells us. God will reward genuine faith. “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Not all Christians have heard directly and even audibly from God for how HE WANTS to use us and apply our faith because not all believers are ready for Him. We learn alot from reading and meditating on the letters the LORD wrote to HIS seven churches. Five out of seven He rebukes for what they need to repent of that go against His perfect will. Two of the seven He does not rebuke, but encourages on and tells them how He will reward their faith and persecution. (Revelation 2 and 3)

Prayer is a matter of our faith too. Most the time we pray according to what WE want to have happen, or not happen. We naturally want what WE think is best for ourselves or for our loved ones. But our understanding is limited and immature. This is where we learn about the grace of God, when WE don’t get what we ask for in prayer. Sometimes God allows us to suffer some (or even a lot) so we mature in our faith. Faith is what God is after. In fact, He states in the Word, “When the Son of Man comes will He find any faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

None of us is perfect and we all have a sin nature that we wrestle with daily. So ‘faith’ is not turning from sin, doing that which is right and not what is wrong anymore, nor being just or getting justice, that’s obedience. Faith is about walking and working with the LORD. Earthly righteousness and justice is horizontal, man to man. Faith is vertical, God to man.

People don’t have to be born-again to be ‘just and right’ in how they treat others or govern. People come from God the Creator of all life, we’re made in His image. So, we are all born with a good conscience as a guard for our decisions and behavior that always affect others, not just ourselves.

Obeying ‘the law’ is not about faith, but rather about living rightly with our fellow man. Jesus told His 12 disciples that they did not choose Him, but He choose them to walk and work with Him. When Jesus came to each one, with a form of “follow Me,” they acted in faith on the ‘living’ Word of God. (John 1:1)

Not all 12 acted in faith though. Jesus knew the heart of Judas, and is why He chose Judas who would betray Him when the appointed time came; the time appointed by God His Father; the time for Jesus to be arrested and taken to the cross to die in our place.

“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.” John 3:16

As we act on what God says in a timely way (waiting on God’s timing and further instruction), we will get opposition from Satan and his cohorts. The devil uses people to do his evil works just as God uses people to do His good will. Who will be fully satisfied and pleased at the end? With opposition our flesh will want to give up and shrink back with cowardice. We will be tempted to make excuses like: “Maybe I didn’t hear God right.” “If this was God’s will then why so uncomfortable?” “Why would God allow bad things to happen?” So I tell people, “When you read a novel, do you stop in the middle for whatever reason and never finish reading the book? Or do you finish the book to see how it ends, how all that confused you or displeased you – now makes sense?” Our lives are the same way. We start out with the LORD, and when it gets difficult or self-sacrificing we are tempted to turn back and not go any further with Him. But if we will ‘keep the faith,’ in the end we will understand and receive the reward of our faith.

Blandina – France 172 AD

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This a true story: The tormentors had been taking turns torturing the Christian women in every way from morning till evening. At last, these tormentors collapsed in exhaustion. “We have tried everything on this one,” said the older of the two. “I can’t think of anything else do do to her! How can she still be alive?! Any one of the tortures we have used today should have been enough to kill her. Yet we used everything, and she still lives!”

Blandina, like many martyrs, had been tormented by the thought that she might not be able to endure the pain and then deny Jesus Christ as they demanded of her. But she was so steadfast in all her sufferings, she was filled with so much power, that even those who tortured her in relays all day long were faint and weary. Every time she repeated her confessions: “I am a Christian,” her heart was strengthened, so she was able to endure the pain.

After all this torture, she was returned to prison to wait for the next holiday, when she and other Christians would appear before the crowds in the stadium. There, she was beaten and roasted upon a red-hot metal plate. Then she was wound up in a net and thrown before bulls, which tossed her many times high up with their horns, and then let her fall down again. Even with all this, she was still ALIVE!

Finally, the judge commanded that she be killed with the sword. (End of story)

Makes me think about the things I complain about! Why complain when I have a God so POWERFUL who loves me and promises to give me the strength and provision I need whenever I come to Him faithfully ‘asking and believing.’ May I always long for that life that is TRULY LIFE that only Jesus has to offer anyone by faith.

Let Our Words Be Few

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We do not understand all of the evil that is in our hearts until we hear the words that come from it, whether inwardly with thought, or outwardly with words.   
King David of the Bible asked: "How can I know all the sin lurking in my heart?" Then he said to the LORD: "Don't let them control me!" 
The key to overcoming the evil in our hearts is meditation upon God's Word; to think before we speak, and even pray about every word we want to speak that might or might not cause trouble. This will help us to not speak so quickly. 
Some things just don't need to said. Then there are some that must be said no matter what it results in. We need WISDOM from God either way. 
"Our words have the power of life and death," says the LORD.

Less of Me – More Room for God (by Dori Mckinnon)

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No amount of self-love practices or self-help products will ever replace the true fulfillment of God in someone's life. 
The self-help industry makes millions off people and yet people are still miserable, lost, and searching. People buy into the products that claim to help them achieve this goal or that goal. We make a list of our to-do's to succeed & better ourselves, but then don't follow through. We make a budget list, but continue to find ourselves in debt. We are determined to quit that bad behavior, but find ourselves sitting comfortably back in it. We make great goals, but don't stick with the hard work long enough to achieve those goals because everyone wants a quick fix. 
The point is this: the problem with every human being is within. It's me. Self-love is toxic. We will always love & care for ourselves and we don't have to be told to do so. The problem is that we love ourselves so much that we forget the One who Created us because of His everlasting love. God is the only one who knows what we need before we ever speak a word of it. He is the only one who can supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Heaven. He is the one who can heal and revive and restore every part of us - because He is our Creator Father. 
Our eyes can become so focused on self that it becomes sickening. The more we strive for self-love and self-help, the longer we remain in complete and constant lack. But the more we recognize the love of God, and strive to love God first and foremost, the less empty we feel and the more content we become. With less of me - there is more room for God.

PRAYER UP!

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When I am certain that God hears me, I am drawn to eagerly persevere in prayer.  I am strong to believe and stand on whatever answer God gives me; remembering that HIS thoughts are higher than mine, and HIS ways are far more productive and sucessful than mine. 
If only all of God's servants today would get a vision of their Father God waiting to grant their requests. If we could all see just how eager HE is to pour out on us all HIS heavenly gifts of HIS HOLY SPIRIT that we are so very much in NEED of. Then might we set aside 'everything' and make time to sit with HIM each morning, and make room for HIS out-poured power that blesses our 'prayer of faith' with HIS heavenly blessings.
When I say with genuine belief, "GOD WILL HEAR ME! HIS EAR I HAVE!" nothing can keep me from  constant prayer; living before HIM day and night; acknowledging HIM in all my ways. Then I KNOW that what I CAN NOT do on earth CAN AND WILL be done for me FROM HEAVEN! 
So, I choose to COME before Him each morning in quiet stillness. And then, I wait on Him to reveal Himself as the PRAYER-HEARING GOD.

What Did 2022 Bring? by Dori McKinnon

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Year 2022 has been a very beautiful year for me; a year of restoration and peace. I have no doubt 2023 will be another beautiful year because I have learned to trust Jesus with every part of my life and even when I have times of doubt. His sweet Spirit reminds me of where my HOPE comes from. Oh how I love His Word and Promises.  
I have lived in the goodness of God. He has been so good to me; all my life HE has been faithful, even when I wasn’t faithful to Him. He has led me through the fire. He's walked me into His joy and peace. To Jesus Christ alone may my spirit yield. God alone is my strength and my shield. I've known Him as Father and I've known Him as closest friend. He is the desire of my heart and I long to one day worship Him in His full presence. But for now, I will worship Him with my life, with my prayers, with my thoughts, with my words, with my marriage, with my everything.
To God be the glory in everything in my life because it is He who brings beauty of the ashes. It is He who restored the broken parts of my life. It is He who washes clean my filth. It is He who humbles the pride in me. It is He who comforts me in my seasons of pain. It is He who arms me with strength. I look at the years I've lived, and I thank God for them all. The good ones, the bad ones, the ugly ones.
Here's to 2023, my friends and family. May you take time to reflect on the goodness of God in your life. And if you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, may this be your year of knowing Jesus personally and joyfully. Happy New Year!