A Sea of Change or a Change of Sea?

 

Peter really walked on water.

It’s one of the incomprehensible Biblical miracles. One of those moments in history we have to let truly, “sink” in at the enormity of it.

Most of us, and if you’re like me hate the storms of life and especially getting stuck in the middle of one. The disciples were in a boat at the 3am hour, (why on earth would anyone want to be fishing at such a time I don’t know) and the storm approached with a vengeance. The winds roared. The waves crashed the boat and the sky lit up with lightning. A death watch.

But then….a man comes out of nowhere walking on the water. Of course they reacted as we would have with total fear of a ghost. Once they realized it was their beloved Jesus, Peter wants to go to him. As Jesus instructed, Peter stepped out on the water and began the walk of his life.

This walk has become famous. The line, “walking on water” has been used as a metaphor, comparison or a figure of speech in many conversations. It probably has been spoken by those who don’t even believe it.

I read today from Rev. Heather Butler these words about Peter’s legendary steps.

 

 

“Are you in the boat, is the storm raging, the Lord calls you to come, the wind and the waves are not an obstacle to you… Jesus didn’t change the molecular structure of the waves to accommodate Peter, rather He changed Peter the man and enabled him to accommodate the Word… The truth of the Word was the stepping stones that paved the wave for Peter to step out upon a pathway that led to Jesus.”

Did you get that?

Jesus didn’t change the storm; he changed Peter. Jesus gave Peter what he needed to do. He gave him what His word said.

He assisted Peter to do the impossible. He told him what to do. He gave Peter a promise that if he would come to Him walking on the water, Jesus would take care of him.

But why didn’t Jesus just respond to Peter’s request with, “Hey Peter, I’ll join you guys in the boat?”

That would’ve been too easy. It wouldn’t have been a life lesson. And what would history be without this story?

Jesus gave Peter a test while his friends watched with bated breath.

A test to keep his eyes fixed on His Lord, or sink.

Does this sound familiar?

It’s been the story of my life especially for the last 5 years.

Instead of God stopping the storms of our lives, he leaves the rage all around us to do what?

For Him to show up.

You can’t have a miracle without a crisis.

You can’t get a fix for that crisis without Jesus.

And the bottom line is none of us, can get through a moment without God.

Peter had to depend on Jesus.

It was either a dependence to keep on walking or that Jesus would catch him if he began to sink.

Peter did both. Just like we do.

When you’re going through hell, keep going.

Just make sure you know who you’re looking at while you’re going through it.

The key is to fix our eyes on Jesus so we won’t sink. Hebrews 12:2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love or Hate?

 

The other day I read an article by by Dr. Danusha V. Goska from American Thinker published in July 2014. It was titled, “Top Ten Reasons I Am No Longer A Leftist.”

http://downtrend.com/robertgehl/american-thinker-top-ten-reasons-i-am-no-lon

My first response was “wow” someone gets it who has lived it.

Key factors in her story focus on the so-called legitimacy of those who believe in causes opposed to those who believe in God. My interpretation was she discovered “causes” are often leaders into vitriol and self-proclaimed promotion.

As was her case, for decades she believed her leftist ideology was true, real and the only one out there that mattered. As I read her descriptions of this philosophy, I felt I was reading a foreign language. Forgive my ignorance, but I wouldn’t be able to be a leftist simply because it’s too hard to comprehend. If I were, they would kick me out for not understanding how it works or how they think.

It was so far out, I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. My summation of it is a sordid communication built upon one explosion of anger after another. Anyone who decides to show up in that arena should be prepared for wicked adjectives, pronounced declarations of vengeance and lists of expletives filtered through each decree. NO wonder so many are depressed, full of sorrow and sad.

Evidently she found this out herself through a major affliction that changed her life some 20 years ago. In her desperate surgeries and the effort to get well, the only person that made a difference in her life was a nun. This nun would check on her and give her money/gift cards to help pay for that which she couldn’t afford anymore since her sickness had caused her to go broke. No one of the left-winged protesting group offered her any hope, much less a hand. But this nun and her loving generosity got Dr. Goska thinking.

She began to actually see the difference in love and hate.

Out of the 10 reasons she left the left, was the basis of it is born out of pure hate.

She had known nothing but hate for George Bush. Hate for Conservatives and hate for Christians until this quiet woman of faith showed her, love.

As a very educated, intellect, the idea of “love” as a way to do good, had not been a part of her life. Everything she did was out of hating something or someone because that is what the left does. Somehow, she discovered that was very wrong.

It helped me understand where they start from. It’s easy to hate something you don’t understand. Since you don’t understand it, you can fight it and conjure in your mind you have that right.

She has come a long way from where she began. In the end of her story, she said it was the “hate” of everything the left believes in that was enough to change her course. That “hate” is the discord they use to do whatever they want, whenever they want not caring who they hurt or what they have to do to accomplish their goal. It is a basis of no accountability which I believe is their underlining aim.

“If I don’t have to answer to anyone, then I can do whatever I want.” This is a mindset straight from Hell.

Sorry, but we all have to answer to God whether you believe in Him or not.

God is love which is why they hate him. Or any of us who believe in Him. We are considered the enemy, not an extended arm of love or genuine care.

John 13:34, “Love one another.” This is a command from God, not a “please do this,” but an order.

I say we start today, even one person at a time and watch God change the world.

 

 

 

Oscar Who?

 

You know….

Oscar….friends of Tony, Emmy and Grammy?

I wonder if Oscar knows who he was really honoring Sunday night….

Does he care? What about Tony?

Does Grammy understand the lyrics in the songs he rewards?

Does Emmy approve of the shows she recognizes?

These self-imposed flattery events are just that….filled with Hollywood elites who have lost touch with what is really important.

They are no longer ads for future actor’s roles but platforms to spew hate and vitriol towards anyone who disagrees with them. Fortunately, the ratings have dropped to the lowest in years but it is bothersome that still over 30 million people glue themselves to such a waste of time.

In case you haven’t figured it out I don’t watch them. The only reason I am writing about it is to sign in on the other side.

I use to wonder if Oscar knew how he was being treated…Does he have any idea who filters through the auditorium of red carpet celebrities just to win Oscar, take him home and sit him on shelf to collect dust.

Does Oscar and his many friends have any clue the funneled money of fashion, jewelry, fancy cars and gifts could be used otherwise?

Melt him down and he could aid in what many of these entertainment communities fight so hard for….such as; (that is without using their own personal finances)

Education

Feeding and sheltering the homeless

Abused and battered women

Aids and medical research

Sex trafficking

Philippians 2: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

All these are worthy to be recognized as needing help. However the Hollywood crowd is very political in who they choose to support. While Matt Damon and George Clooney play shoot-em-up-cowboy with guns and rifles they yell and scream at anyone else who uses those weapons as self-defense backing up any politician who agrees with them to pursue gun control.

While stars believe abortion is a right not a life, they promote those who are medically trained in such murder.

While many in the acting/music industry believe anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics is intolerant, they use these platforms to bash our new President and anyone who supports him. HUH?

But what about the other people. You know. The Americans who really deserve awards?

First Responders: Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Rescuers

Missionaries

Hospital workers, Doctors, Nurses

Pastors

Sunday school teachers

Private education

Military/Veterans

My aunt and uncle were missionaries to Mexico many years ago. The major earthquake that hit was not far from where they lived. We didn’t know for weeks if they survived. She later told me how it devastated the already poor country.

My cousin, their daughter was in Banja Luka, Bosnia when it was at war. She hid in a friend’s apartment for weeks just to stay alive. She taught English and Spanish at the University there helping many students grow in education as a missionary who also brought many of them to Christ.

Presently my cousin and his family, their son have moved to Germany and are ministering to many Muslim refugees. It is a dangerous calling; one which he has to keep private.

And then there is our military which really hits home with me. Living near one of the largest Jet Fighter Training bases in the world for almost 10 years has given me a whole new perspective of what sacrifice means.

A Major, told me a few years ago after being deployed to Iraq for 12 months he was, “so glad to get home because he was tired of getting shot at.”

My next door neighbor who has since retired and moved away was a pilot for 20 years. He flew every aircraft available and served in many operations. He would not talk about it.

Our neighbor now is in the new division of Army personnel at this base since President Obama shut one down in Atlanta a few years ago. His job is deciphering intelligence. As I probed him a few weeks ago for any information I thought I could get, all he responded with was, “There is a whole lot going on in the world right now.” He spoke it with a very strong sense of concern.

So again I ask, Oscar who?

As Americans where are our priorities?

Oscar and his friends probably would like to be more useful.

Instead of a superstar’s reflection of their own past achievements in a comfortable, protected environment, maybe we should be celebrating and supporting those who are the real heroes who live and work daily in life or death circumstances.

Then Oscar and his friends can throw out that can of Pledge.

 Isaiah 58:10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

 

 

 

 

 

Divine Connection or Coincidence?

 

Technology is mind boggling and necessary in our modern society but like many advances it comes with its problematic issues.

Never mind the Linksys router we’ve been using for years wasn’t on my radar for radical change; like buying a new one. After a morning of endless paperwork especially taxes on my laptop all of a sudden I had no internet connection. Our daughter confirmed she had none either so through numerous channels of communication discovered the router had finally died.

Net Gear found a new home re-connecting us not only to the internet but giving us a better signal all over the house.

The next day, I continued my journey with our taxes only to realize the printer wasn’t connected wirelessly so I couldn’t print anything. Ugh.

I am by no means a computer whiz, but after 20 years using these devices I have learned one or two things. Remembering how it was connected using my laptop before I began the process.

A few hours later, pulling my hair out as to why it wasn’t working, I sat on the phone twice with Net Gear for 20 minutes each waiting for the free tech support that came with our purchase. No agent ever answered. The next option was a chat online which resulted in the agent telling me this wasn’t a Net Gear problem but a printer problem. So much for free support. I’m sure this agent was well qualified to figure out the problem but chose otherwise making it a service warranty marketing tactic instead. Not buying it.

Frustration began to take over so I quit working on it punishing myself for not being able to do what appeared to be easy. Sitting down for a rest, I prayed.

 

“God, I know you know the printer isn’t connected and I need to use it. Please help or send me someone who knows how to do this. Thank you.”

Honestly, 10 minutes later my doorbell rang.

My next door neighbor who never comes to our door, and is one of my tenants was standing there. He’s an Army man and asked about their lease making sure they could remain in the house until 2018 when he would get his orders to move.

“I will speak to the owner but see no problem with that. Only right now I couldn’t even print you out a lease because my printer isn’t connected to our new router.”

An hour later he diagnosed the problem. The printer needed to rest so he told me to try the next day repeating what he had done. Informing him of how I had beaten myself up over this lack of knowledge he said they have IT people specifically trained at the base that spend their time all day long identifying problems with their computer systems which is how he knew what to do. And for the record it wasn’t anything I had seen before.

After he left, I thanked God.

There is no doubt in my mind God sent him to my door.

There is no doubt God knew this man would answer my need.

There is no doubt this was a Divine Connection God set up.

God wants to be a part of every area in our lives but we have to ask and communicate our needs to Him most of the time before He will answer. There have been times in my life when I didn’t even know I had a need and God supplied it without me having any idea it was coming. He did that because I was so focused on what was so vitally important to begin with that He took care of that which was completely out of my control.

Our relationship with Christ is the key here. When the lines of communication are open 24/7 with God, not only does He supply, surprises become a fringe benefit.  He also protects us from that which we don’t know we need protecting from.

I commune with God off and on all day long, every day. It’s like a never ending conversation. Little prayers like, “God help me with this,” or “God what is your take on this particular subject” go a long way. And as always, He loves it when our gratitude is also never ending. Being thankful to God is like making deposits in a bank account that just keeps growing.

Knowing God intimately produces love, healing and peace which often leads to answers to crucial questions we may have along the way. Even questions that may seem trivial.

But God likes trivial.

 

 

 

 

Super Bowl what?

 

My team lost.

Before the overtime started we turned the TV off and went to bed.

Waking up Tuesday morning I checked my phone and there it was.

The Patriots had made an historic comeback.

Of course they did! My teams always seem to be the underdog.

However, the Lord stopped me.

In my heart he spoke these words,

“The Patriots comeback is a confirmation of the comeback for America I began on November 8^th, 2016.”

My entire mindset changed.

Thanking God for his goodness and mercy, the Super Bowl took on a whole new meaning. It wasn’t about a game, or a halftime show or who won or lost.

It was about God showing up in one of the most watched TV programs of the year and making a statement about Himself.

It was about how for some reason God likes football???????

It was about how God can use any format to deliver his messages.

But mostly He was telling me to be hopeful about America. He was letting me know He has plans for this country that are for good and not evil, for a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) He heard and listened to our prayers; from those of us who for years have been on our knees crying out for forgiveness to heal our land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

No matter how bad it looks right now with all the protests, vandalism and criminal behavior, God is reforming our nation to be a leader for other nations for His kingdom. He is literally shaking the evil to root it out. The enemy will continue his battles but once again, he has been dealt a huge blow.

That “Trumps” any game loss any day, even the Super Bowl.

 

 

God Intervened

 

Whether you want to believe it or not God showed up in a huge way on November 8^th, 2016.

The tables turned in America to set the stage for worldwide change and restoration.

God intervened and put Donald Trump in the White House. I believe the many praying people like myself for this country hit Heaven and God answered by changing the course of history as He has done before. This in no way means there won’t be many battles, because there will, but evil took a beating. This in no way means that America and the world can be saved through Donald Trump and his administration, but God uses us, people to get His work done. The key here is to continue praying for God’s will to be performed.

In less than a week, this President has done more good for America than all the 8 years of the Obama administration. There is no doubt President Trump means business and not as usual.

The last few years for me have been the worst in my life. However, my relationship with God has never been more solid or real. God does reach us more often in our own darkness only to shed light for us to spread.

Bringing that up, it is in reference to the many past decades of America declining into what seemed like an abyss of deception, lies and wickedness. Maybe, there is a connection.

December 31, 2016 at 3pm in the afternoon, as I was trying to recover from a nasty sinus infection I felt a “shift.” Reading of others who had had “shifts” I had been praying for one myself. All of a sudden the atmosphere seemed to change around me. It was almost tangible as if I knew that me and this country had left the old, unpleasant revolt and moved into an ambiance of Heaven.

I won’t deny the attacks have still been heavy but it’s definite a change has occurred. This may sound silly but watching the inauguration made me feel better about a lot of things. It gave me a sense of hopefulness that we are now on God’s track.

Evil has truly reared its ugly head since November 8^th. I suppose the devil is very unhappy about the outcome of the election; an outcome many didn’t see coming. But I did.

When you get and remain close to God, He unveils and reveals future events, etc. It may not be in an audible tone, or written in the sky, but when you read God given words and pray, He will speak to your heart. It’s that “knowing” which highlights God stepping in and shaking things up.

In this “shift” I see America coming to the forefront of many issues that will be overturned, changed or completely removed. The following are some of those issues that will be affected but only as we keep praying for God to move to do as He sees fit.

Abortion: Planned Parenthood will be shut dow. Exodus 20: You shall not Murder.

Military: Our armed forces will be shifted into fighting mode because we have to ward off ISIS and other terrorists organizations. Reinstatements of funds and necessary tactical equipment will be renewed and enforced. Presently the Air Force is looking at 4 bases, one of which is Shaw AFB near me that will produce over 400 pilots to man the “Reaper” aircraft. It is a remotely piloted aircraft with the ability to perform missions, tasks, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike and numerous other offensive needs to ward off the enemy. Psalm 144:1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Tax Relief which is already being addressed will aid in restoring finances to people who
will use it wisely.
Luke 3:11: “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Reinstatement of our police and first responders. Crime will not pay. 1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

Our veterans will be given the honor and care they so deserve. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 

Public Education will be overhauled because it cannot sustain itself as it is. God will be brought back into the schools. Proverbs 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Oil and energy production in America and Israel will be discovered so that both countries will be independent of foreign producers. In fact I believe God will produce energy in Israel as a means of protection. Job 24:11 “Within the walls they produce oil.

Medical breakthroughs. Pharmaceutical companies will  beheld accountable and 
must allow life saving medicines in America. Isaiah 53:5 “By Jesus stripes we are healed.”

America will once again be a God given ally to Israel restoring the relationship in a greater capacity than it has been in years. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 

Immigration. We are not obligated to take everyone in to America. We must enforce a process to check those who wish to live here. If a person is unquestionably criminal they should not be allowed to step foot on our soil. A young man in his 20’s is much more of a risk than someone in their 80’s. Children can be brought in for adoption depending on individual situations. Romans 13:1–7 makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to obey the laws of the government. The only exception to this is when a law of the government forces us to disobey a command of God (Acts 5:29). Illegal immigration is the breaking of a government’s law. There is nothing in Scripture that contradicts the idea of a sovereign nation having immigration laws. Therefore, it is rebellion against God to unlawfully enter another country. Illegal immigration is a sin.

 Along the line of immigration is Gun control. Simply put, we have the right by the          Constitution and the Bible to protect ourselves.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 

God is on the move. YES!

Listen: The Grass is Greener where?

 

Our sight is often short.

Many times what we see in front of us is the grass that appears to be a plush green. What’s on the other side is the greener hill we have ignored out of our own choosing. Why?

Because we would have to change. Admit we were wrong. Humble ourselves. Knock down our own pedestals. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to eat my own words.

Smokescreens pop up everywhere; a fog like mask specifically designed to hide something.

The key is to know how to determine the difference between the smokescreens and the truth.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Aldous Huxley said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad.” He may have a point here; at least in some cases.

Jesus made the Pharisees mad over and over.

Jesus made the retailers mad for turning over their tables.

Jesus made his own people, the Jews mad because he claimed to be God.

Why is this so?

The truth isn’t what people want to hear. And they don’t want to hear it especially from people who are prophetic, or know God differently they than do.

A prime example of this is King David and the Prophet Nathan.

In II Samuel 12, God sent the Prophet Nathan to David. The story goes that the two argued quite loudly. David didn’t like what Nathan was saying and Nathan let him know in no uncertain terms he had deeply sinned against God. As a result of David’s sin of adultery and murder his household was wounded, scarred and a heartbreaking mess. Does anyone hear this? Can anyone relate?

You may ask, “Who is this guy Nathan and what could he possibly know?”

Well, he knew God. He was appointed by God as a Prophet to one of the most valuable characters of the Bible; one who would carry the bloodline of the Messiah.

David was young and stupid. Stubborn. Willful. Arrogant. These negative, obstinate characteristics blinded him from God’s truth and what he knew was God’s will. Why?

Because he wanted what wasn’t his.

He lied to cover up the original lie so he could keep what wasn’t his.

He allowed his Kingly appointment to believe he could get away with whatever he wanted.

WRONG!

No position will ever allow any of us to get whatever we think we want. What “appears” to be a season of achieving our greedy desires is only a smokescreen for the truth and will eventually end. That ending usually follows with unbearable consequences.

God is always speaking to us; through His word, nature, people and most importantly the Holy Spirit. God speaks in more ways than are countable because He is a creative God.

Maybe if we started listening we would know when, what and how He is speaking.

Ask God to speak to you. Read the Bible. Pray. Open your heart and ears to His voice and allow Him to share Himself with you.

The air will clear.

The mask will begin to peel off your face.

The fog will lift.

And then…… just Listen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What would Jesus do? (Part 2)

 

Maybe the question should be, “What did Jesus do?”

The phrase, “God is rarely early, but never late” sums up the election results Tuesday night.

So what did Jesus do in America?

He showed up. He made an historic entrance. He shocked the world.

He invoked His presence and sent a clear message of hope.

He agitated evil. He thwarted the enemy’s attacks. He stopped many in their tracks who are now wondering, “What just happened here?”

Psalm 33:10-11 “The LORD frustrates the decisions of the nations; he nullifies the plans of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

He forged a “bulldozer” through the middle of satan’s traps to lead this nation back to the Cross of Christ.

He boldly made known that God is still very much on the throne and involved with our everyday lives.

In a nutshell, God intervened with a miracle and changed the course of history.

God laid it on my heart months ago Donald Trump would become President. I knew it had to be God because he was the last person I would have chosen to be the leader of the free world.

As the election results started pouring in, the devil tried to tell me I had not really heard God correctly. But I didn’t budge. I didn’t allow those thoughts to take hold even though it appeared early on numbers revealed differently.

Overnight, God performed an appointed moment.

He declared Himself King once again.

He let the world know He is in charge and the gates of Hell will not prevail.

Donald Trump is just a man, but God has anointed him to guide us back to Him. There is no other way President Trump would be President Trump now. I use that in the present tense because it is already in motion.

Many Christians still can’t believe God could, much less would use a man like Donald Trump to do His work, but God is God and he can do whatever He pleases. All you have to do is read the Bible. God explains Himself quite well.

Jennifer LeClaire, Senior Editor for Charisma Magazine posted on Facebook that Tuesday morning she awoke to God speaking to her. He told her, “A kingdom will be toppled today.” And so it was that a kingdom of darkness that has been hovering over America for decades fell in one clean sweep of God’s hand.

So where do we go from here?

After the shock wears off for many of you, go to God in prayer and He will show you. He has had this plan in the works since who knows when; He has the answers.

We must continue to pray for our nation and especially the leaders that are now in place. Pray for God’s protection, guidance, direction and that His will be done in all matters.

We must remain close to God for signs and wonders of what and how to respond to the evil that will rear its ugly head and try to fight back.

We need to pray for those who are lost in this battle of blindness and deception that God will speak to their hearts and they will heed His call.

We need to pray the church will wake up and begin to teach, and preach God’s word; not what people want to hear.

We should open our hearts to His goodness and thank Him repeatedly for His great mercy and grace in this awesome move He has made on our behalf as His children.

And most important, we must continue to repent.

We have been in the Year of Jubilee; a time when God restores, heals and gives back what the devil tried to steal which he has been doing for almost 40 years.

A new day has dawned. The atmosphere has shifted. Light has overcome the darkness.

God loves America and is not finished with us.

God wants to bless America so He can use us to bless others.

But more than anything, God wants our hearts to line up with His in a personal and intimate relationship with Him.

God is good all the time!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 e forged a “bulldozer” through the middle of Satan’s traps to lead this nation back to the Cross of

 

 

 

How would Jesus respond? (Part 1)

I hope you read the post from Matt Walsh.

It changes the perspective of Jesus’s responses to people.

It revealed to me how we, as Christians over the last 4 decades went silent.

I can’t speak for Mr. Walsh, but I don’t believe he was intentionally leaving out how Jesus promoted peace. He is peace. But we live in a very fallen, evil world that isn’t peaceful.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 “A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

In a recent conversation I was told I was a bigot, a homophobic, racist, hateful, and full of intolerance, hypocritical and a “white privileged American.” Never mind these people didn’t know I existed before this conversation yet they labeled me to be what they wanted me to be since we disagreed.

Add to the few angry cohorts who were obviously following this person’s lead, I was in a nutshell, what is wrong with America.

Why?

For telling the truth.

I could care less what people think of me.

Let’s throw everyone who thinks or tries to live a Godly life in a bucket and persecute them until they shut up. Or at least that’s what many who claim to be walking with the Lord are doing, but must be reading from a different Bible than I do.

The timing of my reading what Matt Walsh wrote and this connection to those who think I am their enemy, couldn’t have been coincidental.

I read it before this occurred.

Years ago I remember how my quiet, shy mother began to speak boldly about God. She had no problems reprimanding us as kids even to our grown up ages, but she was noticeably quiet about her love for Christ and all He had done for her. It all changed after God healed her. She began opening up about her faith. She spoke and quoted verses without hesitation. She began an exhibiting an authority in her words about her walk with God.

Once there was a conversation at a dinner table with some Christian friends of hers she had been to college with. The only man in the room was a strong believer who had been a high school football coach and a high school principal for many years. He was very intelligent, handsome (a Yule Brenner look alike) and headstrong. Mom didn’t agree with something he said and she let him know. She had never done that with him. His wife, me and my daughter sat in silence observing this seemingly calm interchange become a demand from his standpoint that he didn’t approve of her new found faith and should keep her mouth shut.

She didn’t.

His male ego was shattered as she continued to speak the truth of God’s word because he was an upstanding man of God and she couldn’t possibly know something he didn’t.

We all had dessert and went on our way. They remained friends for many years after that until he passed away.

Isn’t that what Jesus did?

He spoke the truth even if it provoked people.

He walked in a spirit of authority that was noticeable but also offensive to some.

He was solid in His convictions and remained that way no matter how others responded.

Many in America today, including Christians are blinded from the truth. In their hearts is a rebellion against doing it “God’s way”. Instead they speak unwisely slamming that which they don’t understand because;

• Their personal relationship to Christ is limited

• It’s easy to dismiss what they don’t understand

• They would have to admit they’ve been wrong and change

• Reading and studying the Bible isn’t a priority

As I have grown in my walk with the Lord, I have noticed a boldness to speak about God that I never had before.

It wasn’t taught in the churches I attended.

Men were the head and we women were told to keep quiet, teach Sunday school and cook church dinners. Have I told you I didn’t inherit the ability to boil water?

The culture squashed speaking God’s word as evil has spread.

We allowed the enemy to tell Christians that we had to be “nice” as Matt Walsh wrote and remain doormats, therefore giving God very little voice.

And look where it got us?

Now having a conversation about the truth is considered unacceptable, narrow minded and repulsive. One woman told me I was exhausting her. Hhhhmmmm…I told her she didn’t have to read what I wrote. But she had no problem reading the very, lonnnnnnnnnngggggg comments from those who agreed with her.

There is a point to walk away as Jesus did, often. Say what He says and there is no need for defense because He doesn’t lie.

In this time we live in speaking out about Christ is needed more than ever.

But in order for it to be effective we have to do it “His way” and be Jesus to those listening.

To be continued…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Recopied post from Matt Walsh

This is so good I had to re-post it here on WordPress.

FROM MATT WALSH BLG:

Jesus deliberately did …and said things that He knew would upset people. He stirred up division and controversy. He provoked. He didn’t have to break from established customs, but He did. He didn’t have to heal that man’s hand on the Sabbath, knowing how it would disturb others and cause them immense irritation, but He did, and He did so with ‘anger’ [Mark 3:5]. He could have gone with the flow a little bit. He could have chilled out and let bygones be bygones, but He didn’t. He could have been diplomatic, but He wasn’t.

He could have told everyone to relax, but instead He made them uncomfortable. He could have put them at ease, but He chose to put them on edge.

He convinced the mob not to stone the adulterer [John 8], and you’ll notice that He then turned to her and told her to stop sinning. Indeed, never once did He encounter sin and corruption and say: “Hey, do your thang, homies. Just have fun. YOLO!”

The followers of Nice Jesus love to quote the ‘throw the first stone’ verse — and for good reason, it’s a beautiful and compelling story — but you rarely hear mention of the exchange that occurs just a few sentences later, in that very same chapter. In John 8:44, Jesus rebukes unbelieving Jews and calls them ‘sons of the Devil.’ Wow.

That wasn’t nice, Jesus.

Didn’t anyone ever tell you that you can catch more flies with honey, Jesus?

Of course, you’d catch even more flies with a mound of garbage, so maybe ‘catching flies’ isn’t the point.

While we’re often reminded that Jesus said, ‘live by the sword, die by the sword,’ we seem to ignore his other sword references. Like when he told his disciples to sell their cloaks and buy a sword [Luke 22], or when He said that He ‘didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword’ [Matthew 10].

Now, It’s true that He is God and we are not. Jesus can say whatever He wants to say. But we are called to be like Christ, which begs the question: what is Christ like?

Well, He is, among other things, uncompromising. He is intolerant of evil. He is disruptive. He is sometimes harsh. He is sometimes impolite. He is sometimes angry.

He is always loving.

Christ was not and is not a cosmic guidance counselor, and He is not mankind’s best friend, nor did He call us to be. He made dogs for that role — our destiny is more substantial, and our path to it is far more challenging and dangerous.

And nice? Where does nice factor into this?

Nice: affable, peachy, swell.

Nice has nothing to do with Christianity. I’ve got nothing against nice — nice is nice — but even serial killers can be nice to people. They generally are exceptionally affable, except when they’re murdering. That means they’re nice to, like, 97 or 98 percent of everyone they meet.

I guess they’re following Christ almost all of the time, right?

And tolerance?

Tolerance is easy. Any coward can learn to tolerate something. Tolerance is inaction; intolerance is action. We are called to refuse to tolerate evil. We are called to get angry at it and actively work to destroy it.

Who’d have guess it — anger is far more godly than tolerance ever could be.

Obviously I’m not suggesting that anger is automatically, or even usually, justified. Christ exhibited righteous anger; righteous anger is the sort of anger that naturally fills our soul when we confront the depths of depravity and sin. It is wrong to seethe with rage because someone cut us off in traffic or gossips about us behind our back, but it is also wrong to feel no anger when babies are murdered and the institution of the family is undermined and attacked. Anger is good when it is directed at things that offend not us, but God. Just as Christ’s intolerance, like the intolerance we’re commanded to have, stems from a desire to save souls and defend Truth.

Even when we have righteous anger, we do not have carte blanche to act on it in anyway we please. But, according to the Bible, there are times to use strong language, there are times to cause a scene, there are times to hurt people’s feelings, and there are times when we might need to use physical force.

Jesus told us to turn the other cheek when we are personally attacked; He never told us to turn our backs entirely and let lies spread and evil grow.

So, enough with the niceties.

Christians in this country sound too similar to the the Golden Girls song, and not enough like the Battle Hymn of the Republic. There’s too much ‘thank you for being a friend,’ and not enough ‘lightening from His terrible swift sword.’

We’re all hugging and singing Kumbaya, when we should be marching and shouting Hallelujah.

We’re nice Christians with our nice Jesus, and we are trampled on without protest.

Enough, already.

I think it’s time that Christianity regain its fighting spirit; the spirit of Christ.

I think it’s time we ask that question: ‘What would Jesus do?’

And I think it’s time we answer it truthfully: Jesus would flip tables and yell.

Maybe we ought to follow suit.