Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Yesterday, I was very angry over all that I see taking place in this world. The killing spree of people in France, the coup of Turkey, England’s division. And all the emails, Facebook posts and news media about who matters more in America. I feel angry that the morality of this great nation is rotting away rapidly and that the people running for the office of presidency in America and leadership in California are unqualified.

 

So I took a walk with the Lord yesterday morning to talk to Him about my anger. Now some of you know that last Sunday I could not walk because of my hip, but the next day I could walk without pain. I want to thank again those who rallied to pray for me. When I started my walk yesterday I could not calm down even listening to praise songs. Then just before I got home I heard my Lord speak. He said, “Trust Me, delight yourself in Me, commit everything you do to Me, be still and wait for Me, don’t worry and stop being angry and losing your temper.” (Psalms 37)

 

I have taught my children that life is a choice, so I choose starting today – going forward – that I will write in my posts on Facebook and in my emails – a truthful blessing upon all of my family and friends. Starting today and continuing on each day until I have covered all of my Facebook family and friends, and all of my email family and friends – I will speak the truth over each of them as a blessing. So here is the first One, My best Friend:

 

This Friend on who I am starting with is my very best Friend. Why? I meet with this Friend who is closer than a brother, every single morning for our time together. I wake up between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. to be with Him for hours where we talk, laugh and cry. What makes this person so great to me is that this person does not judge me or condemn me even though He sees everything I do and hears everything I think and say. He defends me. He loves me when no one else can or will. He encourages me when I am down. He prays for me. Who is this person? My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

I asked Him a long time ago why He awakes me up so early in the morning since I need my rest so I can work all day. He answered, “I have been talking to you all day but this is the first time you have been still enough to listen.” Since then I do not care about what I have to do in the day and how much sleep I miss; for this is the best time of the day for me – with my best Friend. Someday I will speak face to face with Him, and will not need to read about Him in the Bible; for I will see the living Word of God face to face.

 

Dearest and closest Friend, thank You for loving me and forgiving all of my sins. Thank You for the great future You have for me. Thank You for saving all my children and grandchildren. Thank You that You are coming back and the things that make me so angry – will be gone and even forgotten – because You will reign on the earth and make all things new.

 

This is the day the Lord has made – it is my choice to rejoice and be glad in it!

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

For the last two weeks I have asked people on Facebook if they have an answer to the problems we are faced with today. Some have said it is not our place, it is up to our leaders and others. I have also heard it said from “black lives matter” people that because their house is on fire that their fire needs to be put out first. The truth is America’s whole house is on fire, and not just a certain group of Americans, and it will take all of us to put out the fire.

 

The arguments of today sound very logical, but the problem is not what people are arguing about. 

 

I am 66 years old and I lived through the 60’s, and America is more divided than ever. Until we realize that we are Americans first, then we are like what is said in the Bible, a divided nation. Matthew 12:25 says, “Any kingdom divided will fall.” Civil wars like we have been having is only weakening and destroying our nation, which is the plan of the devil. We are so divided that we don’t even care to know our neighbors, let alone help our neighbors. America’s families are hardly what they used to be. We’re so used to “dividing” that we can’t see where we are headed as a nation.  

 

As bad as it seems now, if America falls – the problems we now have will seem comparably small. So instead of all our complaining we need to show one another RESPECT: to show consideration.  Respect is simply given and not earned; trust is earned!  

 

I do not believe we will all agree, and we don’t need to all agree on everything; problems between people and groups will always arise, but we need to show respect regardless. This will provide the right atmosphere for solving problems and do what is best for ‘all’ people, not just one group.   

 

Problems will be different in each state, county, and town, but the people must come together and work through the problems respectfully. 

 

If you think it must be your way then you are the problem, not part of the solution. 

 

What will any American gain if America falls?  America is NOT what certain anti-American leaders and media say we are. They do not speak for true Americans! True Americans put America first, not one group over another which is causing more and more divisions.   

 

So my challenge is who will stand up and say “America first” and be willing to meet and talk about our town, county or country and do what we need to do in order to be a strong and blessed nation? The alternate is to get prepared for the complete fall of America with total chaos. There will be no future for our children or grandchildren if we keep going the way we are.

 

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Lord, how much longer can America stand? Your children are calling You for help. The wicked far outnumber Your children. Violence is everywhere! Wherever I look, I see the despair and misery of destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who enjoy arguing and fighting. The law has become paralyzed and there is no justice in the courts; justice has become perverted. Lord are you finished with America?

 

Son, tell the people, “If you believe in the LORD GOD, then follow Him and His Word! But if you believe that America’s strength is in what they have built on their own and what they can do on their own, then follow the leadership of that worthless god!”

 

The leaders and teachers of America have refused to follow and teach what I command and require of them. Therefore I will give them what they deserve! I will measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. I will pay them back for all the evil deeds they have done! I will make them taste and swallow what they have done to My children.

 

I have described in My Book what the end will be and what it will look like, and it will all be fulfilled. It may seem slow in coming, but wait patiently; it will surely take place just as I said. There will be no delay!

 

Don’t concern yourself with these proud people who think they know so much! They foolishly trust in themselves. Their thinking is warped and their lives have become perverted. They build with money gained dishonestly! They believe their wealth will buy them security, so that they are beyond the reach of danger. But they are not out of My reach!

 

Son in the coming days My children must live their lives faithfully to Me, trusting My Word.

 

Lord, I have read in Your Word all about You. I am filled each morning with joy over all of your amazing works. Help me Lord to trust You even if the trees, and the vines, and the fields lay empty and barren; even if the flocks and cattle of the fields die and food becomes scarce – yet will I trust in You the God of my salvation! Help me to rejoice in You, and in this time of America’s great need to trust and serve You again – I will be faithful to pray and speak the truth. I will not be silent.

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 25 – Principle #25

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship with All Nations – Entangling Alliances with None

 

 

Proverbs 15:1, 18 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

 

Proverbs 17:14 “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

 

Principle #25 are the words that Thomas Jefferson gave in his first inaugural address. In the 18th century the United States was becoming more of a power to be reckoned with and the American leaders had a fixed position not to have entangling alliances with any foreign powers unless they were attacked. This was the Founding Fathers’ doctrine of separation.

 

This was not isolationism – which is to be completely detached from other nations. The desire of our Founding Fathers was to develop a healthy relationship with all nations, but to be separated from any sectional quarrels and international disputes. They wanted to keep American markets open to all countries unless certain countries would engage in hostilities towards the United States. To a great degree they followed the example of Switzerland which remained free from any entangling alliances during two world wars and other numerous European quarrels. Switzerland had no hostility towards any other nation unless threatened. However, they were open to all who wanted to come to Switzerland to buy, sell, or bank. This doctrine of separatism was practiced by the early American leaders.

 

George Washington’s description of foreign relations was to “observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.” Washington was aware of the natural tendency to classify nations as friends or enemies. In other words, what he was saying was that in the absence of any political, military or commercial hostility towards the United States every effort should be made to cultivate friendship with all.

 

Washington also warned about becoming too attached to any particular nation because by giving special privilege to any nation could open the United States up to foreign influences that would be detrimental to the security of the United States. In one sentence Washington’s foreign policy would be: to extend commercial relationships with them and with as little political connection as possible. Perhaps one of the dangers that our Founding Fathers saw was to weave the destiny of the United States with any other part of the world.

 

What Washington sensed about entangling the United States with any foreign alliances was the same thing regarding commercial ties and having what is known as ‘favored nations.’

 

One place where the United States did different from Switzerland was that the founders accepted the doctrine of “Manifest Destiny.” What does Manifest Destiny mean? It meant that there was responsibility for the moral and political “emancipation of all mankind.” In other words, freedom, education, and progress was in the thinking of the early American leaders. They saw the United States as a design by Providence for the emancipation of mankind over all the earth. Even today we see how millions are wanting to immigrate to America.

 

The first 125 years America carried on the policy of the separatism and pursuing a manifest destiny to encourage freedom in the rest of the human race. However, here in the United States, especially in financial circles, there have been powerful forces seeking to push America into the thick of things happening worldwide. A very good book to read would be The Creature from Jekyll Island that gives the history of how the Federal Reserve came into existence and with the political and financial powers in back of it, and how the United States was pushed into some of the conflicts of the 20th century. Often what happens in situations like this is that through a crisis, created or real, and through propaganda we are pushed into something that has no real bearing upon the security of the United States.

 

Perhaps a question that we could ask ourselves is: Would the world be better off if the United States had been following a policy of ‘separatism’ as the world’s great peacemaker instead of ‘internationalism’ as the world’s great policeman?

 

One thing that comes to me today is that we live in a world that has changed dramatically. We live in a world where information is exchanged at the speed of light, intercontinental travel can be done in hours and we have the ability to see what is raging not only around us, but on the other side of the world. With all of this in mind and thinking through the principle that our Founding Fathers laid down, what should be our line of action – peacemaker or policeman?

 

We need to keep in mind that although no one wants war, it is a fool who believes that Liberty requires no defense.

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Black men killed by the police, black men shoot and kill policeman, men kill people because of their sexual orientation, people are considered infidels and killed because of men’s religion, babies are killed in the wombs because women have a choice. TRAGEDIES!

 

So what is the answer, can anyone stop this? All I hear and read from people are lots of platitudes (tired expressions) about what is wrong, but no one has the answers.

 

Do our politicians have the answers? How about the leaders of our communities, or the professors in our colleges? If no one has the answer then we have no hope! People with no hope are doomed to do the same thing over again.

 

But, there is “the answer” which is found in the Word of God. Until we are willing to admit that Jesus Christ is the only answer then nothing will change but only get worse.

 

 

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

This morning I read about a very emotional issue in the Word of God. It involved two women both mothers. One child died during the night and his mother secretly exchanged him with the other mother’s living child. No one could solve the problem as to which mother the child belongs to, as both women fought over the child, so it was brought to one of the wisest men ever lived. He directed his guards to cut the child in half, and give a half to each mother. The real mother wanted her child to live so she relented and gave away her right to the other mother. Solomon knew that to resolve an emotional issue requires wisdom, not more emotion.

 

Today we are seeing how little wisdom we use in solving our country’s problems (wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge), instead we reason with more emotion, and the result is confusion and divisions. What is needed more now than ever is to remove emotion out of the problem, and use wisdom, (common sense) to resolve these issues we face as a country.

Just some thoughts

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Unity is Strength!

 

Once there was a Bedouin sheikh who had ten sons. They were always quarreling and thus making the family very vulnerable to attack by enemies. The sheikh called together his ten sons and held up a bundle of sticks saying, “This is a test of strength. Which one of you can snap this bundle in two?” One by one the brothers came forward and tried, but not one of them could break the bundle, however he tried.

 

“Untie the bundle!” ordered the father. Then, handing one stick to each son, he said, “Now break the sticks!” Each son broke his stick with ease. “You see,” said the father, “each of these sticks represents one of you, my sons. When you are bound together in love and harmony no enemy can break you. When you are quarreling, you are easily overcome by the enemy. Strength lies in unity.”

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 24 – Principle #24

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

A Free People Will Not Survive Unless They Stay Strong

 

Proverbs 2:20-22 “Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.”

 

Proverbs 24:5-6 “A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.”

 

In ancient times the way that nations became prosperous was by conquering other nations and taking their wealth. What has made America different was the principles laid down by the Founding Fathers: they learned to create wealth which was something new. They discovered that a free people in a civilized society always tend toward prosperity. It is only when government interferes with the free market economy that prosperity is inhibited.

 

Founding Fathers knew that the wealth being created would always attract predatory nations and so they wanted to remain strong. For the Founding Fathers ‘peace’ was always the goal, but ‘strength’ was the means to maintain that peace. Benjamin Franklin knew the importance of the nation to remain strong and said: “One sword often keeps another in the scabbard.” In other words, to secure peace a nation needs to be prepared for war.

 

According to Scripture one of the main jobs of government is security of its citizens from any foreign entity. However, we see today the government is involved in just about every aspect of our life both public as well as private and security seems to have taken a backseat.

 

Franklin knew that our security would lie in our growing strength in numbers as well as wealth. His thought was, “Create an increasing ability of assisting this nation in its wars, which will make us more respectable, our friendship more respectable, and our enmity feared.” Franklin, as well as the other Founding Fathers had a low opinion of people who would wave the flag but were unwilling to defend or provide the means to defend it.

 

George Washington was known as “first in peace, first in war, first in the hearts of his countrymen.” He basically did risk “his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor,” for the cause of freedom. He fought the Revolutionary war with no navy of any consequence, no real trained professional army and to a great degree no outpouring of genuine support of the very states he was trying to save. He said: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

 

Washington also saw the need of a free people to not only be armed and disciplined, but also to have a plan for any known attack that might occur. He also saw the fallacy of being dependent upon other nations especially in times of war. He was against complacency and knew that vigilance was the price of freedom. One needs to keep in mind that during this time the monarchs of Europe were planning to slice up the United States and to divide it among themselves. At that time the British had troops along the northern border of the US, and Spain had aspirations for the Mississippi heartland.

 

Our Founding Fathers emphasized the moral responsibility to preserve the heritage of freedom and the unalienable rights which the Creator had given them. Samuel Adams felt it was wicked to allow these great truths to languish by neglect or apathy. We see that what the Founding Fathers passed onto posterity was the policy of peace through strength.

 

The questions we must ask ourselves today is: Are we losing our freedom because of neglect, complacency and apathy? Are we losing our prosperity because of government intervention? Are we losing our country because of moral decline? Our Founding Fathers knew that a Republic like ours can only be maintained by moral people.

 

We need to heed the prophet’s words: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

 

What a responsibility lies in the hands of God’s people!

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Never give up on the dreams the Lord has given you. Remember that until the time comes for your dream to be fulfilled, the Lord is testing your character.

 

So live your life filled with love, by following the example of Christ. Since you have the light from the word of God, live as a child of that light! Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil darkness; instead, expose them by the way you live. Don’t live like a fool, but be wise, and understand what the Lord wants you to… do. And remember to always give thanks to Him for everything.

 

Stand your ground for the truth. When you are prepared for what is coming you will be at peace. Be children of faith and use the Word of God to expose the evil in this world. Be fair-minded and just, and always do what is right even if it hurts. Make it your life’s goal to seek the Lord and His strength. Remember everything the Lord has done for you; all of His miracles of provision and protection. Know that the Lord always stands by His word, and will never go back on His promises! You will have great joy when you deal justly with others by doing what is right. Never move ahead without the Lord, but wait for His counsel, then PRAY, PRAY & PRAY.

 

May our Lord bless you and protect you. May our Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May our Lord show you His favor and give you His peace in the days ahead.

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Let’s let history tell us the future of America! All we need to do is look at every nation that started out with God’s truth and then rejected so that we can see what happened and will happen; for God does not change? The wisest man who lived or will ever live, says this about truth:

 

Proverbs 1

Truth says, “I called you, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected my correction. So, I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you. When you cry for help, I will not answer. Though you anxiously search for me, you will not find me. Therefore, eat the bitter fruit of living your own way, choking on your own schemes.

 

Proverbs 2

I, truth, grant common sense to those who seek me. I will be a shield to those who walk with me, and they will understand what is right, just, and fair, and know the right way to go. I will save them from evil people whose words are twisted, from those who take pleasure in doing wrong, and who enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Without me you will reject the steps of the good men of the past.

 

Proverbs 3

Truth says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek the Lord in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom, for you will lose sight of common sense and discernment.”

 

Proverbs 8

Truth shouts, “Listen to me! Everything I say is right, I detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome, and there is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Nothing can compare with me, but those who miss me will injure themselves.”

 

Proverbs 11

A truthful nation will prosper, but when truth is rejected it will fall apart. If you search for truth, you will find it; and if you search for evil, it will find you!

 

Proverbs 14

People who know me, (truth) will understand where they are going. For there is a path before each person that seems right, but without me it ends in death. Only fools believe everything they’re told! Truth understands that godliness makes a nation great.

 

Proverbs 16

With me (truth) you can make plans, and know that the LORD will make your plans succeed.

 

Proverbs 17

Truth says, “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent are detestable, for it perverts the course of justice, and it is wrong to punish the godly for being good and honest.”

 

Proverbs 21

I am pleased when a nation does what is right, and justice is a joy to the godly, but it will terrify evildoers. Understand this, that when a nation strays from common sense it will end up in the company of the dead.

 

Proverbs 24

A nation with no common sense is a nation covered in deception, and its walls of security will be broken down.

 

Proverbs 28

Without truth there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily, and people will not understand justice.

 

Proverbs 29

When truth is in authority, people rejoice. But when people reject truth, sin flourishes. When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.

 

So what is the future of America without truth?