Spring Into God’s Word

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  – 2 Timothy 2:15

I’m not one to voice righteous indignation very often.  I do my best to be a peace-loving, joyful child of God.  But sometimes I think silence is not golden, but plain yellow with cowardice.  I must speak to something that has bothered me for some months now.  This is a taping of The View from last February:

I’m livid.  Absolutely livid.  I know the Vice President does not read my humble little blog (yeah, right) – but I want him to know that there are MILLIONS of Christian folk in America and probably around the world praying for him.  Believers support fellow believers and lift them up in prayer, Joy!  Let’s call it a PERK!  It’s actually proved to be a great blessing in my life.

It’s often through the Words of Scripture that God speaks to His children (yes, Joy – God SPEAKS to us and we’re perfectly sane, thank you very much).  I pray that one day Joy, like the Apostle Paul, will see the light!  Literally.  Paul, I’m sure you recall, experienced a very, shall we say – dramatic conversion that left him blinded by the light (Acts 9:1-31).  You’ll also recall that he killed Christians before his conversion.  What a conversion that was, eh?  If God was to convert Joy, can you imagine how great that would be for Christianity?  She could do so much good in this world with God on her side.  Now she’s just making money.  Will she take it with her to eternity?  Um…  I don’t think so.

So, Christians, it’s not a far stretch to conclude that if we do not carve out the time to read the Bible, we will not hear from our Father.  If He’s not speaking to us, how will we hear?  The answer is…  we won’t.  Of course, prayer is the other way the Lord speaks to our hearts, but the combination of Scripture reading and prayer is the winning way to know exactly what God wants you to know.

It’s a faith thing, Joy…  I really pray that one day you’ll “get” it.  It’s very sad that you get paid well to make a mockery of my faith.  If you don’t understand it, the least you can do is RESPECT it and stop putting it down.  Mental illness is a serious accusation – not to be mocked and certainly not to be used in the same sentence with Christianity.  Stop it!  Shame on ABC for letting this continue!  I refuse to watch that network – I’m done with them until they pull “The View”.  

So let’s spring into God’s Word, the Holy Bible.  We rely on our Heavenly Father to direct our paths, and there are so many verses to help us!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  – Proverbs 3:5-6   

Our own understanding of things is often more of a misunderstanding.  If we will trust God, lean on Him and submit to Him, then He will make a way for us to walk that is straight and He will keep us in His peace and protection.  God can be trusted and His promises never fail.  He will never let you down.  If you want to reap a bounty of beauty – this is where to begin!  Our Lord wants us to be discerning and wise in everything.  He wants us to search His Word for ourselves and discover truths, then apply them to our life.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  – James 1:5

Ask God – that means we PRAY to God.  But see, it’s not a one-way conversation.  HE GIVES GENEROUSLY to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you!  Now, that’s not to say that God is a bubblegum machine.  We don’t insert a quarter and get a gumball.  Sometimes the gumball is not the color we may have wanted.  Sometimes it’s not the flavor we hoped for.  Sometimes it feels as though the gumball got stuck in the machine somewhere – but when God doesn’t answer a prayer just the way we think He should, it doesn’t mean that His ways are not the best ways.  It means that I need to trust that His way is better than my way.  Is it easy?  No.  Is it imperative that I learn to do that?  Yes.  He knows which gumball I need and when I need it.  

So, you see, the insane thing to do is talk to God and not stop talking long enough to let Him speak in return!  Who asks a question and just keeps talking, not waiting for the answer?  In faith, we receive answers from God’s precious Holy Spirit.  Faith… it’s better felt than telt.

We ask for wisdom, then trust that God hears our prayer and is working on our behalf the second we get finished praying!  Actually – He already knows what we need help with, and I think He starts the work before we even ask for help, but He still wants us to ask.  No parent wants their child to just assume things will be done for them.  They want to be asked and kept in the loop.  We are God’s children and it’s the same concept.  He wants to be kept in the loop.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  – John 10:27

We need The Bible – not just to keep on the coffee table gathering dust.  Open it every day and see what God has to say through it, to your heart.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

We have a day set aside in the fall to humble ourselves and give thanks for all our blessings – it’s called Thanksgiving.  But as life progresses beyond fall and we begin to shovel snow, we hang on to that feeling through Christmas as we celebrate the reason for our faith.  But winter passes and springtime comes along.  Ah – here comes Easter when we celebrate the last week of our Lord’s life, His death and resurrection.  Then we don’t have a major reminder to be grateful again for a while.  We do have another day that reminds us to be thankful for what God has done in our lives – and it’s also a day to pray for our country, for our government on federal, state and local levels.  The spring observance was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 as the National Day of Prayer.

I believe since this is an election year, I will take this opportunity to pray for the process.  It’s been different, to say the least.  It’s been predictable in some ways, yet there have been a few surprises.  If you enjoy following politics, it’s not been business as usual.  I wouldn’t say it’s rigged, but I’d say it’s important to understand rules that have been the same from the beginning.

The most important thing to remember is that no matter who the president is, Jesus Christ is still LORD!

On that note, let’s pray:

Our Father in heaven, we come before You today, acknowledging You as our Creator. You are the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac, the One who established Your chosen people and through whom You gave Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. You established the promised land of Israel and demonstrated time and time again that if Your people sought You, worshipped You, and obeyed You, that You would bless them with guidance, provision, and protection. But that if they turned away, then You would remove Your hand and allow judgment.

Lord, we also acknowledge that just as Israel was dedicated to You at it’s founding, that another country years later would also seek Your blessing and dedicate themselves and their land to You. The first president of these United States of America, on the day of his inauguration sought Your hand, Your guidance, and Your blessing on our new country, and the people prayed and celebrated in agreement.

In the following years, Lord, You did more for us than we deserved. You blessed us with military strength, economic strength, with inventions, medical discoveries, academic achievement and national prosperity. You lifted us up to lead the world as we proclaimed that our blessings came from You and that “In God We Trust”. Our constitution acknowledges You as our Creator and our founding fathers noted that our people should never be led without Your Word.

But as You blessed us, we eventually became prideful in our success, believing that it was also by our own hands that our nation was elevated, and that You owed us blessings and protection. In time a generation rose that became calloused toward You, Oh God, and we chose our own prideful logic above Your truth, abandoning You in our schools and ignoring You in our courts. Yet, You showed patience and mercy, and called out “Return to Me, America. Return to Me.”

But instead we embraced our sin, claiming we were Lord over ourselves. We abandoned You by giving credit to the creation of our world to astronomical chance, and began throwing out Your moral boundaries for our selfish pleasure. We oversaturated our hearts and minds on immoral entertainment until our conscience was seared, and began shedding the innocent blood of our unborn children who were an inconvenience to our lives. Yet You kept calling, “Repent, America. Repent and return to Me!”

But we responded that, “We’ve done no wrong.” And we justified our sin as our right and liberty. We chased money, physical pleasure, and the belief that we are entitled to what we do not deserve. And now we stand on the precipice of redefining what You have already called “sacred” for a definition of our own.

Lord, what You call wicked, we now call good. And we’ve now begun persecuting those that proclaim Your truth. You’ve sent warnings, allowing breaches in our security, and instability in our economy. You’ve allowed drought to begin touching our land, and civil unrest in our cities.

Lord, even the people who claim to still acknowledge You have become apathetic and complacent in our comfort. Our worship has been lukewarm and our prayers passionless. We shake our heads in shame as our nation weakens around us, instead of repenting of our apathy and inaction. Where are the people of God? Where are those that still cry out to You with broken and contrite hearts?

Lord, we deserve judgment. We deserve Your wrath, for we have sinned and sinned greatly. And we know that Your judgment starts in the house of God. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, and our hypocrisy as a cancer in our land. But we cry out to You, Lord! We have nowhere else to look but You! There is no other answer. Man cannot redeem us. Remember Your mercy! Remember Your compassion!  Break our hearts, Oh, God! Help us to love what You love, and to hate what You hate. Give us the courage to call sin what it is, and to define our lives by Your truth. Remind us of Your love for us, and call us to repentance. May every heart that knows You as Lord seek You this day! May we grieve over our sin this day; that You might show us mercy and forgiveness.

Lord, for those that heed Your words, and repent with open hearts, restore us to You. And unify those that love You. Raise up a generation that seeks You and worships You with their whole heart. Raise up a generation that is not ashamed of the gospel, and that hates to be lukewarm. Grant them faith, love, and courage to live according to Your Word, and to pray with power and to act with conviction.  Raise up leaders, Lord, who will not compromise when under pressure, or abandon You for the approval of men. Raise them up, Lord, that they may call upon Your name, and confess Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Break up the hard soil in our hearts, Lord, that You may take joy in our worship of You, and bless us again. Call us to holiness, that we would once again be the light of the world and draw all men to You. Awaken us, Lord! Rekindle our fire, and stir our hearts. We confess our sins, and we seek Your face.  Forgive us, Lord God, that we can again proclaim, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.

We ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing. We pray against those who reject Your truth. Turn their hearts to You or confound their logic. But don’t let wickedness take our land. Don’t let them succeed. Stand in their way, Lord. For America is Yours! And like Israel, may she remain undivided and in Your care. Keep our bond strong with Israel, Lord, and our leaders loyal. Or remove them from office. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

– Alex Kendrick

May God bless America – and may His people continue to bless Him!  🙂

JUST PRAY NO! WORLDWIDE WEEKEND OF PRAYER

Prayer:  A constant conversation between God and His people through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  We humbly bow with particular needs on our hearts and minds concerning the United States of America.  We ask God to protect the unborn.  According to Hillary Clinton, the unborn have no RIGHTS under the constitution.  Aside from speaking to her moral fiber, or lack thereof, it begs the question, CAN the constitution ever be amended so that the unborn could have RIGHTS in America?  I don’t have the answer to that question.  I’m not a scholar or a constitutional expert by any means – I’m just a simple child of God who knows that murder is sin, and abortion is murder.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving me life.  I know that nothing destroys life more than abortion, yet I continue to rejoice in the fact that You have conquered death by the resurrection of Your Son, Christ Jesus.  I promise to do everything I can to end abortion and commit myself to speak up, write, and never be silent or passive on behalf of the unborn.  I will be active in the pro-life movement and never stop defending life.  Please lead America back to the values it once had, with You in the center of every decision made from the Whitehouse to the local courthouse.  We need to be a country that embraces liberty and justice – especially for our most innocent – the unborn!  May we speak up for them in good conscience because it pleases You.  Lord, through You may America make provision in the constitution that will protect the unborn so they will not be murdered anymore.  We thank You in advance for what You will do.  Help us to hang on to our faith because You perform all sorts of miracles every single day.

We pray this in the matchless name of Christ our Lord, Amen.

We pray for NO MORE HATE.  We pray for peace in our land, in our time.  We pray that God gives us everything we need to STAND UP TO THE WORLD.  While there is so much hate growing all around us, we keep praying and trusting that God will help us.

We know as the time gets closer for our Lord to return to earth for His own, things will get worse.  I know I sound very doom and gloom, and I don’t mean to be a downer.  Here’s the good news…  God’s children have a powerful ally in the Lord.  We have a tool called prayer, and it’s the best thing we can do for ourselves and for each other as we lean on Him to guide us down life’s winding narrow pathway.  🙂

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed this:

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/fast.htm

Could you imagine a President of such moral fiber in the White House today?  How refreshing would it be to have a Commander and Chief with values and backbone instead of one who seems to want as much party as possible with no regard whatsoever for the country he represents and supposedly protects?

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.  – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Hmm…  a day of fasting and humility.  You know – that’s not such a bad idea, fellow believers.  Have you seen the GOP race lately?  Have you seen the horses in that race?  I rest my case.  We need God to help us now more than ever!  This is not a political blog and never will be – but as a Christian who happens to live in America, I naturally have some interest in this election season.

When I saw 19 people running for President, I thought, “no way – this isn’t good!”  We’re still not in a good way with a two-man race and one spoiler.  I’ll let you determine which one is the spoiler – I have my own opinions on that.

If the race doesn’t narrow more, the convention could be dicey to say the least.  We’re gonna mess around and lose the general altogether – let’s pray in unity that God will smack some wisdom into the GOP candidates, and fast!  OK, maybe smack isn’t the right term.  No, wait…  it may be the perfect term.

But back to Abraham Lincoln and legislation.  A day of prayer and fasting.  The actual day is April 30th, but he signed it into law on March 30th.  It was a time when the morals and values of Christianity were not that far away from the morals and values of Americans.  What happened?  Well, people were given the gift of free will, and chose to separate themselves from Christian values and beliefs.  They began picking up their philosophies and lifestyles from other religions – or no religion at all.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had something to say about little foxes and vineyards filled with tender grapes:

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.  Song of Solomon 2:15

The King James version says “Our grapes are tender”.  It means that little things that seem almost harmless can be the things that trip us up along the way – like the little foxes that get in the vineyard and eat all the tender young grapes.  The little things that seem so minor can lead to the worst mess.

It seemed so innocent when people started doing yoga, didn’t it?  You do a few poses and clear your mind of everything – but if you clear your mind – of everything, even God – that makes room for the enemy to come in.  It’s true.  But what’s the harm in adopting just that one thing – can I do yoga and still be a Christian?  Some say of course – it’s just a little thing.  It’s just one little fox.  And besides, isn’t it God’s will that we have a healthy body?  I don’t argue that, but it’s not His will that you sit still with an empty mind.  He wants your thoughts to be on Him.  He’s a jealous God – He wants to have first place, or no place at all.

Colorado has legalized pot – but it’s not big deal.  Can I be high as a kite and then get behind the wheel to drive?  Sure, why not?  If you hit someone and kill them, you’ll probably just walk away with minor injuries.  You’ll be so out of it you won’t know what hit you.  Chill out – it’s just a little thing. It’s just one little fox.  And besides, there are people suffering who need pot for their pain.  I don’t argue that, but not everyone is in pain.  Those who are should not be allowed to be on the road driving so that other innocent people get hurt or killed.

Unplanned pregnancy?  Bummer – just get rid of it.  Easy come, easy go – no big deal.  Life is cheap – you can always have another baby when you’re ready, right?  Don’t let anybody take away your rights because you’ve got that power to choose – pro-choice – because that fetus…  well it’s just a little thing.  It’s just one little fox.  And besides, it’s not really a human being yet, right?  It’s not really a life yet.  I do argue that – America condones the killing of innocent life and will not receive the blessing of God until that is changed.  I don’t give a flying flip about the mother’s RIGHTS…  if you’re irresponsible enough to have unprotected sex, then guess what?  If you conceive a life – there are other options – and they are less selfish ones.  Adoption is perfect because there are people who would love to raise that child.  Be smarter about how you deal with unplanned pregnancy – sheesh!!!  Put an end to the murder of innocents – it’s barbaric and so beneath us!

Don’t be such a stick in the mud – don’t be such a square – and really, those Bible verses you quote are giving me one ginormous migraine.  And don’t judge me until you’re sure you’re perfect.

Yeah – well hold the phone…  let’s just get that straight here and now.  Nobody’s perfect.  That’s why we all need a Savior.  WHOSOEVER…  it’s you and me and everyone.  Jesus died for every one of us.  Accept it or deny it…  that’s on you.

God wants better for all of us – He can help us overcome the things we’ve tagged as little things – our little foxes – the things that can appear to be chinks in the armor.  We all get chinks once in a while – and through Christ, God can and will forgive those if we ask with a sincere heart.  There’s not one sin that God will not forgive!

But America…  seriously – we need to have a day of fasting and humility.  We need to hit our knees and pray like we’ve never prayed before for our beautiful America.  We are at a crossroads and we need God’s help!  I know we are a proud people – but we need to humble ourselves before the Almighty and turn from our sin and ask Him to heal our land.  ❤

 

 

 

 

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

I’m old enough to remember when the words socialism and communism were regarded as evil in the United states.  The freedoms and capitalism our country was founded on were to be guarded and protected above everything else.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb.  – Benjamin Franklin

Since I don’t have children, I’m not up to speed on what is being taught in the school system, but it’s my suspicion that history lessons are not at the top of the list…  am I right?  A couple of encounters with the youth of Wichita, Kansas has shown me that they are not well-rounded in their knowledge of history.  People, if we don’t know where we came from and learn from past mistakes – we are surely bound to repeat them!

The socialist candidate makes it all sound so appealing, doesn’t he?  He’s going to GIVE some folks everything at no cost – well, isn’t that special???  Guess what…  A college education will still cost somebody – do they care about that?  Somebody’s taxes will go sky-high through the roof to GIVE others everything for free.  Does that matter?  Raising taxes by as much as 98% which is just crazy…  to GIVE a college education to another.

There is something in the capitalist world that accomplishes the same thing – they’re called SCHOLARSHIPS.  There are scholarships by the truckload that yes, have to be EARNED, but if you want a healthy chunk of your college education paid for – that’s possible in a capitalist nation!  No, nobody is going to give you a free lunch – because as my mother always told me – there’s no such thing as a FREE lunch.  Somebody is going to pay for the lunch – please remember that.

I love America, I love my freedom AND I want to uphold our precious CONSTITUTION.  Never in the history of this country has there been a socialist running for president.  I don’t want to feel the Bern…  our country would soon feel the burn from the Bern.  The insane part is that he’s not even a registered democrat…  huh???  How does that happen???

Look, I’m just asking that you have all the facts about Socialism before you vote.  As always, it’s my prayer that we are less red, less blue – and blend into a united purple as we kneel in prayer before our GOD to seek His face and turn from our wicked ways – only then will our sin-sick nation be supernaturally healed.

Be an informed voter.  Please read about the practice of SOCIALISM in other countries and pray in these last days before the election.  🙂

 

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

https://youtu.be/-eFuPZkNIuQ

Wednesday, September 23rd was the annual event, SEE YOU AT THE POLE.  It’s my understanding that most schools take part, or at least allow Christian young people to gather around the flag pole to pray.  Apparently, for 2 years in a row, one school did not participate or even allow their kids to engage in prayer around the pole.

Would you have had the courage to do what this child did?  I honestly can’t say that I would have when I was nine years old.  Can the staff at school tell a child they cannot pray by the flag pole?

Note to all who want to squash religious liberty in America:  you’ll never EVER have the power to keep us from praying to our God.  You can’t take that away from us!  Religious liberty in America is under attack…  just as sure as radical Islam wants America dead, there are those here on our soil who want to see the freedoms of Christians depleted, i.e. eliminated.  What do you think would happen to the blessings from God that America has enjoyed up to now if that happened?  Do you care?

If you admire this sweet girl for taking a stand against the status quo, please share this poem on your facebook wall, blog, twitter or wherever people will see it.  Even though a school does not “allow” activities for Christians, guess what???  We pray anyway!

They all met together and were constantly UNITED in prayer.   – Acts 1:14

The only way our young people will develop good morals and values is if the parents teach them.  Our schools today have absolutely no interest in having prayer or saying the pledge of allegiance.  Things have sure changed since I was in school.  It used to be that honoring the God of the Bible and pledging the American flag mattered.  What has happened to us?

Then we wonder why kids grow up to be what they grow up to be…  hmm.  We really are a sum total of our experiences in life.  Knowing God from a young age is the greatest experience of all.  Prayer is the greatest privilege we have as a Christian.  Shame on any school that would deny a child of that!

You know, we are so much more tolerant of other religions.  I saw a recent episode of Watter’s World on The O’Reilly Factor – he was interviewing Muslims and asked the question, “Do you think Sharia law should override the American Constitution?”  In my mind I thought, “Surely they realize that here in America the Constitution comes before any religious laws.”  I was shocked when most of them answered yes – they thought Sharia law should be the law of the land – meaning America.

I understand there is a separation between church & state.  It’s not a bad idea – seriously.  There are beliefs from other religions that I do not agree with (Sharia law in particular).  So, more than ever, we as Americans need to cling to the Constitution in order to stay free and united.

Being a Christian, however, means that we can absolutely pray to God anytime – anywhere.  The purpose of SEE YOU AT THE POLE is to provide Christian kids an opportunity to pray together.  It’s tough enough to be a kid at this time in history.  What would it hurt a school to allow their Christian kids to pray together at the flag pole?

It’s really getting crazy.  Just last Thursday a Jersey City school board meeting voted on whether they should close for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.  It would have extended the school year by another day.  There’s video of some very upset Muslims that maybe you’ve seen.

Here’s the deal.  This is America and our Christian children are practicing a faith that this great country was founded on!  To show special favor to any other faith than the Christian faith is just wrong.  Yes, America is a melting pot – we all know it is.  I remember being taught that in history class, don’t you?  It’s fine to make allowances for other folks – but let’s protect our American Christian youth.  They are precious to God – and to us.  🙂

This just in…  the school has decided to have SEE YOU AT THE POLE at a later date.  This blogger has to wonder if they would have done this if not for the brave girl who honored her God before her school?  I pray God’s richest blessings on her.  🙂

PROVERBS 9:1 ON 9/1

Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.  – Proverbs 9:1

The wisdom of God is in the person of Christ Jesus.  He has prepared a church with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, pastors and teachers.  Have you ever heard the phrase “A pillar of the community” – ?  In the Southern Baptist church there are deacons.  In the Nazarene church there is a church board.  Every denomination has some degree of organization – they have to.  It’s definitely a good idea and based on biblical principles.

The church is built on Christ.  Christ Jesus is God’s wisdom.  If we claim Christ as our personal Savior, we have access to wisdom through the Holy Spirit of God.  Where is wisdom for decision-making found?  On our knees.  It’s that simple.

So much of the non-stop drama and less than enviable circumstances in life are self-inflicted.  How insane is that?  We just keep making the same bad decisions while expecting a better outcome!  When are we going to humble ourselves before God and seek His wisdom in decision-making?  What is it going to take?

Today I want to encourage you to pray about the upcoming 2016 election.  So many Republicans are angry and see one candidate as the one who will make all the frustration disappear.  But my Christian brothers and sisters, please temper all that frustration you feel with wisdom from God’s Holy Spirit.  I believe what we are hearing from this frontrunner is some ear tickling with little substance or common sense.

Don’t we want a president who will seek wisdom from God the Father regarding all of the decisions that must be made on behalf of our country?  I do not want a president who is so self-sufficient that he can or will not seek godly counsel or pray to the Father for direction.

There are many godly men running for office, some of them are not career politicians either.  I guess it’s not secret, I’m hoping and praying for a Cruz/Carson or Carson/Cruz ticket.  I believe they would take our country in the right direction.

I hear people say they won’t even think about the 2016 race until the choices get narrowed down.  I have an idea for us, though.  I think we should be praying about it now.  Who’s with me?

You know a little prayer for God’s wisdom never hurt.  🙂

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

Every right-wing, conservative, Christian in America is praying for hope and change in 2016.  No, not the fundamental transformation of the United States, but a return to the laws already in place that have not been enforced.  What a difference it would make if they would be.

There are a cast of thousands with their respective hats in the ring.  I’m not here to tell anyone who to vote for (like you’d listen if I tried), but I’m going to try to point one blatantly obvious fact out for you, just in case you missed it.

I hope Trump will continue to run under the Republican ticket.  If he runs under a 3rd party it will divide Republicans – split the party wide open!  This not only makes me nervous going forward, but it assures that we will lose the 2016 election.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Split the Republican party?  Yep – and it would leave the Democrats laughing at us…  saying, “divide and conquer!”  It’d be awful if the Republicans were divided.  We need to remain united.  I pray we do.

In a prideful and arrogant tone, he says he does not pray to God for guidance.  He speaks with great candor which is refreshing, however, he lacks any sort of filter (certainly not a Holy Ghost brand of filter), and that concerns me greatly.

Why does it matter?  It matters because no man should consider himself more intelligent than his maker.  If he does not seek advice from a higher power, then he obviously thinks he IS the higher power and knows all.

He’s mistaken.  I’m not trying to be ugly.  Actually I’m being just as tactful as I can be…  but the fact is, he is mistaken.  We need God in America again…  and in order to get God and His principles back in America, it would make perfect sense in my brain that a Christian should hold the office of president.  Ya think???

Regardless of his economic status, perhaps he does not realize the true scope of the problem.  No one should go around putting down their competition, boasting about how much better they are.  The last time I saw that kind of campaign, I was in elementary school.  I was running for a seat on safety patrol and my competitor told everyone that I stole Twinkies from the coat room from other lunch boxes during lunch hour.

That was totally bogus…  my mom always packed a great lunch with my own Twinkie!  It was immature, but we were kids, so…  And yeah – I lost.  LOL.  I survived.

If he really cared about the Republican party, he’d back off and cool it.  Will he run under a new ticket?  If that happens – we’re sunk.  Honestly, our party needs to get its collective act together.  I’m both mad and sad…

I have no other candidate to endorse at this point, but…  there are some fine Christian Republican candidates running…  ones who would lean on God for guidance.

As you contemplate the candidates, always remember that this is all God’s perfect timing, not ours.  In His time all things will be made known.  In His time we will be taken to heaven.  Remember to always keep Christ before you.

I want to encourage you not to choose a candidate to back with feelings of frustration alone.    Please pray about who you will vote for – I mean really pray about it.  Our country is at a crossroads – we need to get this RIGHT!  May God help each one of us as we do our part to regain what dignity for America we can.  🙂

 

REVELATION 4:11 ON 4/11

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.  – Revelation 4:11

Today let’s celebrate our religious freedom and sing WORTHY IS OUR LORD AND GOD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER!

There is so much symbolism in the book of Revelation, I don’t pretend to understand all of it.  This is one of the few passages that seem to be fairly straight forward and easily understood.  Sometimes we get so busy making a living – or let’s face it – just living, that we overlook the need to praise God.

I know many folks put on a praise and worship CD in their car for the drive to work.  That’s a good idea – and I used to do the same thing.  This is a post to give us just one more opportunity to look up and thank God for all His blessings to us – His benefits.

Let God’s promises shine on your problems.  – Corrie Ten Boom

No matter who runs for the office of president in 2016, Jesus Christ will be LORD.  He is our Savior, our provider, our sword and shield in life.  He died for our sins and was raised by God the Father.  He sits at the right hand of God and the Holy Spirit of God lives in our hearts.

Yes – He is WORTHY of praise!

I’m going to find the most high place I can and stand at the tippy top of it.  Then I’m going to raise my hands to the sky and praise the Lord.  I may even sing.  God won’t howl like some people do – it’s a beautiful sound to Him.

The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him.  – William McGill

Since I live in Kansas, I’m not sure how HIGH the place will be – LOL…  I mean, let’s face it, it’s not like Colorado where there are mountains!  Maybe I’ll drive to Coronado Heights today.  There’s just something about being outdoors on a mountain (or even a hill) – singing praises to God.  He inclines His ear to us when we make that extra effort I believe.  He hears us anyway, but it’s just more special somehow.  🙂

 

 

 

GUY FAWKES DAY

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta    

King James I was king of England in 1603.  He was an avid Protestant and began persecuting Catholics.  He forbid them from practicing their religion and punished them if they did not convert to the Protestant church.

A radical group of Catholics decided to take action against the king.  They became known as The Gunpowder Conspirators.  They devised a plan to blow up the British Houses of Parliament and planned to do so when the king and his supporters were in the buildings.

The plot was foiled on November 5, 1605 when thirty-six barrels of gunpowder were found in Parliament’s basement.  Guy Fawkes, the leader of the conspiracy, was arrested and tortured until he confessed.  He was arrested just as he was about to ignite the gunpowder!

People in England celebrate GUNPOWDER DAY with fireworks and bonfires.

Why do we celebrate this day?  Is it because we applaud Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators for trying to end religious persecution?  Maybe we appreciate the government’s successful discovery of the plot, which ultimately saved many lives.  I choose to celebrate the end of all religious persecution!  May we all worship in the way we choose!

Wow – I’m glad things went the way they did, aren’t you?  That would have been one big BOOM for sure!  So celebrate religious freedom today with fireworks and bonfires.  Celebrate all things that make us independent and happy!  😀