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OUR ONLY HOPE!

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                                                              The Tour
“America is at a crossroads, and I believe we should take every opportunity to stand up for the things of God and His Word.” –Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham is traveling to all 50 states in 2016 to hold prayer rallies, to preach the Gospel, and to challenge believers to take a stand and take action. He’ll be urging Christians to vote, to live out their faith in every part of their lives, and to pray for our nation just as Nehemiah cried out to God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore hope to His people.

    *     *     *     *

   I think and pray a lot about what’s in store for our country in 2016. Something captured my thoughts the other day concerning the presidential election in the context of the fiery dart message.

   It seems to me that most of what I hear focuses on getting the person of our choice in the White House as if that would solve America’s problems. However, I see that as a fiery dart attack on the mindset of many Americans.

Why?

   Because the enemy is using this line of thinking to keep us distracted from  the one and only thing that can save America. I have chosen my candidate–one whose platform lines up with what is taught in God’s Word. But unless our country takes to heart the message Franklin Graham will be delivering to the whole of America in 2016 there’s little hope that any candidate can turn the tide for Her.

   I shutter to think what the future holds for America if we fail to heed the warning of 2 Chronicles 7:14,

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

   America must understand that unless we become wise to the enemy’s plan (John 10:10a), forsake it and turn to the plan our Creator has for us, (John 10:10b) then there is little reason to hope for a brighter future.

   But please note to whom 2 Chronicles 7:14 is addressed:

‘my people’

   That’s Christians dear people! First, we must confess our sins, then turn back to the Bible and familiarize ourselves with the Truth that we should be living by. Too many Christians have strayed from prayer and bible study, and as a result we have so compromised our faith that we have become blinded to Truth. We have accepted lies in place of the Truths we once embraced.

   Therefore we must return to the mandates given to us by God, so that we can act accordingly. We must pray, seek a candidate that stands by those mandates from God, and get out and vote. Consider the following numbers from a previous presidential election:

– 10 million evangelical Christians were eligible to vote but were unregistered.
– 9 million evangelical Christians were registered but did not vote.

19 million Christians allowed themselves to be manipulated by the enemy to believe their vote didn’t matter or would make a difference.

That, my dear readers, is a fiery dart that will destroy our nation.

 

 

Christians at the polls; or not! Point No. 5

OR, No Vote; no voice!

OR, No Vote; no voice!

Point No. 5

I can’t get to the polls on election day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

The Fiery Dart of Excuse No. 5

I am confident that many Christians have legitimate reasons for not being able to vote or get to the polls.  These are particularly susceptible to the fiery dart that if you can’t get to the polls then it’s okay not to vote. If we do not possess the conviction that voting is a God-given responsibility, then we are prime targets for this fiery dart.

However,

If you do possess the conviction that voting is a God-given responsibility, then you will find a way to vote!  If you need someone to come pick you up so you can go vote, you will find someone who is willing to give you a ride.  If you are physically impaired, then you will find out how you can vote; perhaps by absentee ballot.  But remember, where there is conviction, there is action and you will find a way to express your voice.

And by the way fellow Christians, get out there and find those people who legitimately can’t get to the polls and offer your assistance. It’s the Christian thing to do! Remember, there are those with ulterior motives who will beat you to the punch if you don’t.

*     *     *     *

The window of opportunity to save this country for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and future generations grows smaller every day.  But I firmly feel, if those 60 million eligible Christian voters would accept their God-given responsibility to vote, (and get registered, if they aren’t already) our beloved America could be saved! No more excuses, you hear me! Just Vote!

 

 

Christians at the polls; or not! Point No. 4

OR, No Vote; no voice!

OR, No Vote; no voice!

 

Point No. 4

My one vote doesn’t matter.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

The Fiery Dart of Excuse No. 4

This fiery dart has been used for so long that you would think people would be wise to it.  Alas, it still finds receptive minds and successfully imbeds its poison into these minds. Satan blinds Christians (those who don’t bear the conviction that voting is a God given responsibility) from seeing that they are 60 million strong!  He isolates them and thus convinces them that they are alone! A dangerous place for anyone to be, much less a Christian.

However,

Here’s the truth that shoots the above excuse clear out of the water!

The video puts it this way, ‘You take one vote, based on biblical values, and multiply it by millions of other votes based on biblical values and what do you get? A landslide! It starts with one vote!’  Our beloved America is in trouble. Christians, we need to remember that we are a formidable force, if we will only band together!

I came across an article that proves and I mean proves the power of one vote. You have just got to read this:

 http://www.adawipartnership.org/Attachments/Voting_OneVote.htm

Wrapping things up next post, Point No. 5

 

Christians at the polls; or not! Point No. 3

OR, No Vote; no voice!

OR, No Vote; no voice!

Point No. 3

Our country is in a big mess. My vote isn’t going to change that.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

The Fiery Dart of Excuse No. 3

Maybe now more than ever our beloved America is indeed in a big mess.  Christians all over the country are throwing up their hands in despair and as much as saying, ‘I quit’, apparently.  The fiery dart that their vote wouldn’t make a difference has been convincing enough to keep half of the 60 million Christians eligible to vote from making their voice heard.  Pretty powerful lie isn’t it!

However, 

Answer this question: How do things get changed in this country? If you said, voting, then you would be right. Read the history books! It’s an account of citizens who saw voting as a responsibility and allowed no one or thought to keep them from fulfilling that responsibility.  

Can you imagine the impact 60 million voters could have on turning things around in our country?

But wait a minute, that leads into my next post! Point No. 4

Christians at the polls; or not! Point No. 2

OR, No Vote; no voice!

OR, No Vote; no voice!

 

Point No. 2

I don’t like any of the candidates. The one I like isn’t even in the running!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

The Fiery Dart of Excuse No. 2

If you don’t like any of the candidates, then don’t vote.

If we don’t feel strongly (it’s a matter of conviction) about fulfilling our responsibility as citizens of this great country of ours by voting, then we can easily be persuaded (or should I so manipulated) to solve our dilemma by simply not voting. If ‘Me’ is the center of our focus, instead of what is good for America, then we will strive to do whatever makes us happy.  If we aren’t happy with the candidates who are running, then not voting appears to be the solution to us.

However,

Replace the above reasoning (fiery dart) with the Truth Thought below:

The video I mentioned reminds us that we should, in cases like this, vote the better choice.  And remember, if Christians get registered and vote, due to our vast numbers, our combined voices will eventually become so loud that the type of candidates we would want to vote for will get into the running. 

Tomorrow? Point No. 3

 

 

Christians at the polls: or not! Point No. 1

OR, No Vote; no voice!
OR, No Vote is No Voice!

Here’s a run down of the 5 most used excuses for not voting

(or should I say  ‘excuses for giving up one’s voice)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

 1. Christians shouldn’t get involved in politics

2. I don’t like any of the candidates. The one I like isn’t even running. 

3. Our country is in a big mess. My vote isn’t going to change that. 

4. My one vote doesn’t matter. 

5. I can’t get to the poles on election day. 

 

The Fiery Darts of Excuse No. 1:

     Because of the spiritual, moral, and financial decline of our country (especially in Her leadership), it is not too difficult a task for Satan to convince us that this is something we should want no part of. 

     Remember, Satan’s aim is to silence our voice, remove our influence. And this is precisely what is behind the planting of  thoughts such as Point No. 1!

     How is it then that such fiery dart thinking has found root in the mind of Christians? This excerpt from my book, Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice, may offer some insight:

By tempting us [that is Christians] to spend little time in God’s Word, our ability to recognize the lies of fiery darts is equally diminished if we give in to that temptation. In the place of God’s Truth, the world’s concept of truth begins to define our thinking. FD, pp. 23-24

THEREFORE,

     As more and more Christians allow the ‘world’s concept of truth to define their thinking’ instead of the unchanging word of God, then our beloved country’s destiny looks bleak indeed.  

 HOWEVER, 

SCRIPTURES ADMONISH US TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO WILL BE LEADERS OVER US:

 Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders. Deuteronomy 1:13 (HCSB)

     The idea is to choose wise, understanding, and respected people who will make choices based on the principles our country was founded upon. If Christians go to the polls often enough and in greater numbers, over time our leadership will begin to reflect those principles. Then, there will be Hope for America!

Next time, Point No. 2

Christians at the polls; Or not?

Are You Registered to Vote?

Do You Vote?

May I share something Dr. James Dobson said about this?

 

http://defendchristians.org/news/the-numbers-dont-lie/

Dr. James Dobson rebuked Christians, “I think it is a disgrace that half the Christians in America aren’t even registered to vote, and of those who are, only half go to the polls… When we withhold our influence and participation, we yield by default to those who promote immoral and destructive policies.”

     Lots of Christians do not vote and some are even registered but do not vote! In trying to explain why a Christian would make any of these two choices, I searched the internet to see if I could find an explanation. The above is a product of that search. (By the way, click on the link provided for more insight into this voting issue.)

     On another search, I came across a video by David Barton of Wall Builders, entitled 5 reasons why Christians don’t vote. I have heard all of these justifications before and they were made by people who I feel are genuine Christians. Obviously they are frustrated, discouraged, and overwhelmed by what they see going on in our beloved country today.  All reasons to throw up your hands and quit, they feel!

    I would like to share these reasons in the next few blog posts, one by one, and draw a conclusion as to the influence of fiery dart thinking that manipulates Christians to stay away from the polls on voting days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGfXr88iYE

1. Christians shouldn’t get involved in politics.

     Why? Well, the obvious reason is because it’s a dirty business, and as Christians we should avoid getting ourselves dirty.  That statement does contain a bit of truth, doesn’t it! But beware! Is it truth (little-t) or Truth (capital-T)?

Satan continues to confuse us as to what is truth and what is a lie. I realized by his taking a bit of truth and wrapping it around a lie, Satan had masterfully manipulated me into considering the corrupted truth and my sensitivity toward the lie lessened with every temptation. p. 20, FD

     So, in my next post, I will delve further into reason No. 1 and hopefully expose it for the fiery dart that I believe it is!

The Fiery Darts of Voting!

Betcha’ never realized there were fiery darts concerning voting.  Maybe you did but just didn’t realize those thoughts could be categorized as fiery darts.  Anyway, here are some thoughts concerning voting that I would definitely categorize as fiery darts.

My one vote doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t make any difference if I vote or not.

I just didn’t get a chance to vote.

I’ve never gotten around to registering.

I’m too disgusted with the way government is doing its job, so I’m not voting.

Things are so corrupt that it does no good to vote.

I don’t care for anyone that’s running for office!

Read over each and every one of these and consider the final outcome of such thinking then you’ll understand why I call them fiery darts.  If any of these fiery darts rules our thinking, then we will begin to devalue the importance of voting.  And if enough good people (especially Christians) stay away from the polls, over a (short) period of time  then evil will begin to prevail and rule!  How do you suppose our country got into such a corrupt state anyway?

What if those in the military who we depend upon to protect and preserve our way of life, considered that responsibility as casually as we consider our responsibility to vote?  If you are thinking these two things are vastly removed from each other then be aware your thinking might be influenced by another fiery dart.  Namely,

Voting and fighting for our country aren’t the same thing.

I agree they aren’t the same thing and therein is the grain of truth that tempts one to embrace such thinking.  If we don’t see voting as crucial to the well being of our country as fighting to protect and preserve our country is, then voting won’t be a priority with us.

And let me address the fiery dart about corruptness.  I am ashamed of our government right now because many of our key leaders have forgotten and forsaken the foundations on which our beloved country was founded.  Praying for them consistently isn’t the whole of my responsibility though!  God has ordained a plan whereby those who are not leading as they should can be removed from office and replaced with those who will lead as they should.  If we (especially Christians) don’t get out there and vote, then things won’t improve and America will be doomed.  And don’t think we can totally blame that on poor leadership!  Isn’t there a phrase that addresses this issue:

Evil prevails when good men keep silent or in this case when good people don’t vote!

Haven’t we had enough of evil prevailing?  Are we yet ready to make some changes?

 We can you know, if we’ll just go vote!

As Christians, let us ponder these words from Scripture.

Romans 13:1-2 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Deuteronomy 1:13 ESV

Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ (I think it’s worth noting here that we are to do the selecting [in our case, the voting] and God does the appointing [assigning the job].  Please notice the qualities we are to look for when we are choosing!)

Found this prayer on the internet and recommend it as we prepare for the upcoming elections.

O God, You are actively involved in every part of Your creation at every moment. Grant to all Americans a willingness to get involved in the upcoming elections, resisting complacency and passivity. Let each one know the value of his or her vote, and let each one exercise their privilege with diligence and faith.
–Amos 6:1   (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1963941/posts)