Are you dreary or weary? (Part 1)

The last few days, we here in South Carolina have been pummeled with rain from Tropical Storm Bonnie. And we are 2 hours inland from the beach!

So much for needing to add water to the pool.

I’m not complaining but some sunshine would be nice. It’s actually been dreary for about 2 weeks leading up to the holiday weekend when the skies unloaded.

The dreariness adds to the all-around mood of the world at large and especially our nation. Technology is great but add to it the miserable actions going on in the world and you’ve got a recipe for depression and discouragement.

BTW: are you feeling down yet? Have I succeeded in filling your mind with negativity? 

In all of my life with its crisis and attacks I can’t remember when I have ever felt that literally everything seems to be falling apart. From my personal life to stepping outdoors to the nation and its political circus, the atmosphere is full of sadness, hopelessness and fear.

I am in the worst season of loss I’ve ever experienced.  Hey, I know other people have been through much more hardships and difficulties than I’ve ever been through, but it doesn’t lessen the emptiness when it happens to you. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone lives without a closeness to God.

Now that I have established my forgoing miseries, my relationship with God has never been better. How could that be?

Well, he’s the reason I can get out of bed.

He’s the reason I breathe.

He’s the only way I am moving forward because looking back is simply too painful.

Years ago I would never have dreamed that my worst time on earth so far would spring into action by God himself as the forerunner for each moment.  Yes. Each moment is only given to us by God. I now know what it’s like to live crying out to Him to get through the next moment and the next one after that. It’s a process of learning total dependence upon Him.

Believe me, I have not mastered this at all. The more I try and learn the more I know I don’t know. God has to be the author of patience because I am sure I am jerking His around. He has dealt with more of my whining, grumbling and bleating more than I would like to admit. However He does tell us to come with Him with everything so I let loose with a barrage of emotions I can’t even describe myself in the hopes He will.

To be very honest, I am weary of the constant pruning, refining and clipping. A few months ago God showed me this scripture which defined what He’s been doing with me for a very long time.

Isaiah 48:10 “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

Well, God how much longer is this going to last? So much for me learning patience.

If God prunes or refines anything else there won’t be anything left of me. He has stripped me of everything I have leaned on, depended on or felt some sense of safe security. So guess what verse God gives me when I delivered all that to Him?

2 Corinthians 1:9 “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

Yep. He wants me to completely and totally depend on Him.

Paul was announcing to the world that facing death led Him to lean on God.

My question now is, “God how did I get through so many years depending on anything other than you?”

To be continued….

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What does God say about Gender/LGBT? (Part 3)

 

The phrase, “it isn’t hurting anyone else” is a lie.

Proverbs 12:22-23 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Sin hurts everyone and filters to those around us which is why God wants us to seek Him and his goodness. He knows the outcome better than we do.

The homosexual lifestyle is a small number of people in the United States compared to the almost 320 million that live here. That doesn’t stop them from being loud.

Their agenda has reached the White House in a determined effort to rule it over everyone that these people are different. In other words everyone else is to adjust their lifestyle around them. Sorry. It doesn’t work that way.

The fact it has reached a national level wreaks of danger. When a country adopts that which is evil as good, all suffer. Why? Because no one stopped them. No one was louder. No one prevented it from occurring in the first place. Had the church done its job, America wouldn’t be fighting this battle right now.

Prayer changes people. Often it changes our circumstances but the direct connection in prayer with God is what moves Him to intervene. That’s what America must do now to end this revolt.

The devil has many blinded to the truth.

“But we should be tolerant of others.”

“We should allow people to love who they want.”

“Discrimination is wrong.”

This whiny list is getting old.

God created us in His image. He knew the “family” with a mother and father was the Godly likeness we needed to be. That hasn’t changed because God hasn’t changed.

The idea that one day we wake up and decide to be someone else, is a flat out demonic trick. It’s a selfish, all about me scheme to get attention or worse.  And like any other sin it leads to hell unless sincere repentance occurs.

The enemy is forever trying to get us to think about ourselves instead of God and our purpose. The quicker we wake up to this truth the more people will understand how wicked it is.

The church needs to unite against these evils and pray. We must stand in unison to fight the enemy. We must seek God daily and search for his heart. We must change our thinking and that can only be done through a deep, personal relationship with God.

 

 

What does God say about Gender/LGBT? (Part 2)

 

One might look around and see nothing but evil, wickedness and iniquity. Granted, in the natural it would be difficult to see past that, but that is exactly what we must do.

The importance of getting to know God in a personal manner can’t be expressed enough. It’s the core of life, the focal point of guidance and the answer to every question.

A consistent, faithful follower will read His word, pray and spend time just listening to Him. He wants us to do this because it is in this relationship we find His response to our difficulties and hardships. Personally I have found that God truly does things His way, in His timing.  Most of the replies He has given me to the bombardment of inquiries I have sent His way have never been what I expected or thought. He beats me to the punch every time.

As our nation plunges into the depths of despair and division, God is actually working behind the scenes shaking up that which isn’t of His kingdom. I know, that sounds strange  but once again He does it His way. His purpose is to expose corruption, and anything that goes against His word. Think of it as if you are baking a cake. (Not me because I don’t bake cakes) Flour, salt, maybe cocoa, baking powder must be sifted before placing it in the mixer. Why?
It separates the ingredients.

This is also done as if to strain something. We pour liquid through a strainer to remove anything we don’t want to remain in the liquid.

Now, God hasn’t asked my opinion but I would never think of sifting or straining people, but He does. Often He allows us to suffer adversity to change us; better or bitter.

There’s a grade to see who outlasts the devil. Perseverance, endurance, patience become our forte because giving up shouldn’t be an option.

Frank Sinatra’s, “I did it my way” should be America’s theme song. It’s the road we have traveled that only leads to destruction.

America’s self-sufficiency has caught up with us and it has reared its ugly head through many avenues including the homosexual agenda.  We have announced our pride by wearing it on our sleeves for decades now.

God hates pride. He speaks of it over and over in the Bible. He doesn’t mince words either.

Isaiah 2:12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled.)

I will break down your stubborn pride. Leviticus 26:19

God is breaking down America’s stubborn pride. Not just homosexuality, but envy, jealousy, greed, lust, thievery, deception, violence, crime, sex and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately I don’t believe America has missed any of them. Much of our sin begins with pride.

We have overplayed ourselves, promoting personal self- seeking desires and unloaded it on everyone else. The result is confusion, fighting and backbiting. Division and hate are the backbone of society as we rage against each other in unrealistic demands and playing favorites. God doesn’t play favorites. (Romans 2:11)

In other words God has allowed us to have our own way. But not for long.

To be continued…..

 

What does God say about Gender/LGBT? (Part 1)

 

Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Matthew 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female.”

Leviticus 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”

Romans 1:27 – And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

Deuteronomy 22:5 “Woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.”

That pretty much sums it up.

First let me say I can’t believe we are having these conversations.

Yet the world has become a very wicked place. Psalm 10 speaks of the evil that has covered America.

Why has this happened?

My personal opinion is the church has been teaching what it wants to teach, not what God wants so as not to offend anyone. But doing so now, has become a crime.

Heaven forbid, we would be offended. Get over it.
The enemy is on a roll of turbulence. He is fighting back with every demon he has full of deception, disgust and perversion. He has resorted to whatever gets the job done of keeping people away from God.

Having said that, sin is sin. Right isn’t wrong and wrong isn’t right and no matter how hard one tries to establish this confusion, God’s word still stands as the truth.

Confusion is a demonic tactic of the devil. He is using it now as a weapon of pity, self -absorption and intolerance. If you don’t feel sorry for people who claim to be anything other than male or female you are labeled a bigot, racist or worse. Get over that too. Name calling is part of the game the enemy uses to squelch Christians from speaking up. SPEAK UP!

The President is leading the way of promoting a desired gender/lifestyle or whatever makes you happy by forcing down America’s throats policies he has no authority making or rewriting.  Using fear as a tool to accomplish his goals, many fall down bowing to His incompetent rhetoric as if he is a god. Well, he isn’t and only Congress has the license to  write laws.

America was built on the Constitution which is made up of governing for the people and by the people. Many are trying to destroy this valid legislation for their own personal gain and power.

Are we the people going to allow them to get away with this?

Job 5:13 “He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.”

Do you know what gives God joy?

3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

So how do we change the course of our nation?

To be continued….

And God chooses who? (Part 2)

 

If history has anything to do with this election it would be that former Presidents/leaders might not have been what we would have chosen.

A young philanthropist spent most of his life fighting slavery. His political career in the English Parliament led to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. He died 3 days after the act was passed.

Herbert Hoover – Had been Secretary of Commerce, but never held an elected position before the presidency.

Dwight Eisenhower – Eisenhower was active duty military until May 1952, five months before the election.

Sir Winston Churchill rallied the British people during WWII leading the country to victory. While trying to get into the British Royal Military College he failed the entrance exam 3 times. Hardly a resume for a Prime Minister.

Who would believe a research chemist would ever become the longest running Prime Minister of England much less the only female? Margaret Thatcher holds that title.

And then of course the actor who became President was frowned upon for even considering the position. But Ronald Reagan told Gorbachev, “Tear down that wall” and he did.

Throughout history some of the greatest leaders were dubbed the most unlikely.

The Bible is full of them.

Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 

One man was laughed at for building a very large boat. He had the last laugh.

A young boy betrayed and left for dead by his brothers became the 2^nd most powerful man in Egypt saving many from famine.

A Hebrew murderer became the deliverer of the Israelite’s.

A shepherd became a King.

Queen Esther was a Jewish exile who married the King of Persia. Persia was the greatest empire in the world during the late 400’s B.C. She risked her own life to save the Jewish people from annihilation.

A young, unknown Jewish girl became the mother of the Savior of the world. There is no other position in the human race like hers. Her cousin became the mother of the forerunner to the King of Kings.

A demonic woman was cast free of her evil and became one of the closest followers of Jesus.

A fraudulent tax collector became one of the first disciples and has a book in the Bible named after him.

A fisherman started the first church.

An educated, well-off Pharisee who hurt and killed many Christians became the first Missionary. He is also the author of many books in the New Testament.

The Book of Revelations was written by a man who was banished to the Island of Patmos for teaching the Gospel. Written from visionary accounts, the book is considered to be the Apocalypse of the New Testament outlining the future and 2^nd return of Jesus Christ.

So here we are nearing one of the most important elections in the history of America.

Do you think God has had his hand on history?

Proverbs 8:15 “Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just.”

Do you believe God knows what He is doing?

God often chooses those we wouldn’t because He is the author of inventive creations. He takes a willing vessel and molds them to pursue His purposes.

God expects legal citizens of America to vote according to His word. This may arrive by spending much time alone with God seeking His heart for guidance. 

They may not be Presidential.

They may not act Presidential.

They maybe have never held a political position.

They may not be what the present government wants.

They may not be as educated as people want.

They may not be famous.

They may not be….what we want.

But they are who God chooses.

 

And God chooses who? (Part 1)

 

The political season is in full swing.  The election is 6 months away. The media is not worth watching. The mudslinging is more like a mudslide and differing opinions are chaotically being thrown around like tennis balls at the French Open. (Begins May 22)

What does all of this mean?

A changing of the guards?

We are reaching a new milestone?

A new wind is blowing?

Whatever the answer, you can smell it, taste it and feel the atmosphere changing.

Depending on your viewpoint, determines which side or position you follow.

Is the blind leading the blind or is it crystal clear?

Are we a nation of directives or a nation of followers?

What does God think about this election?

Probably everything since he is Sovereign.

Psalm 22:28 “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.”

Since the Bible is true and is God’s word, He has already decided who will be the next President. If God chooses our leaders what does that mean?

It means He is in charge.

But what happens when God appoints a President we don’t like or agree with?

Our leaders are a reflection of how we treat God.

So, if we have ignored God, thrown him out of our schools, homes and government what does that mean?

It means we had better get on our knees and repent, fast.

It means He has taken His hand of protection off of our land and allowed havoc to enter.

It means the only way evil will go away is if we turn back to Him.

I don’t know about you but the state of our nation is definitely in a mess. It’s so obvious we have turned away from God and he let us have our way. However, that doesn’t mean He has given up on America. Quite the contrary.

I believe America is and will be a catalyst for one of the greatest moves of God in history.

I believe we are in that process now because God knows the darkness that surrounds this nation is overwhelming and evil to the core.

I believe we are on the verge of a great change for the Kingdom of God to run over the evil that has tried to take over.

So who will lead us?

To be continued…..