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Pulling back the curtain…

Sep9
Hand pulling back red curtain to reveal papers labeled LIES, FAKE NEWS, and MANIPULATION

As I watch a bit of news, I am aware of the push for Socialism and Communism to be accepted by the American people. Consider the clause, ‘endowed by their Creator’, from the Declaration of Independence. The two ideologies I mentioned previously, stand in stark contrast to such a pronouncement.

Nevertheless, the push is still on. It is believed by some that behind this push are wealthy individuals bent on advancing their agenda. Now, whether they are or are not, is not the purpose of this blog. My intention is to pull back the curtain and expose who is the unseen force behind these two ideologies (and for those pushing it). For in their framework, inherent rights are dished out by the government, not God.

Our inherent rights as human beings created in the image of God are endowed by our Creator/God! Guess who that makes angry? Yep, Satan! As Christians who understand the unholy war Satan has declared against God, we know that he would do anything to undermine God’s plan to redeem mankind. He will take every avenue available. One of those is to convince American individuals that our rights DO NOT come from God. Did you know that there are some political leaders who believe our rights come from the government? (Wonder when was the last time they read the Declaration of Independence!) Satan is making some headway, isn’t he.

His method, in this case, is to saturate the news reports with lies (that would be fiery darts that sound like truth to anyone ignorant of what God’s word or our founding documents say). By creating a void of Truth, he can manipulate us using human reasoning and false assumptions. For without God’s Scriptural truths, we have no basis on which to expose Satan’s cleverly designed lies.

Yet, when we do use the power of God’s word to pull back the curtain, Satan’s lies are exposed. Then we will be empowered to counter those lies with God’s truth. And remember, the more we know of God’s truth, our skill to recognize Satan’s lies increase.

The Dangers of Allowing Feelings to be Our Authority Instead of God’s Word

Sep2
Woman beside a signpost reading “Feelings/Emotions” and “God’s Word Scripture”

In a recent blog, I wrote about the casual attitude Christians sometimes have about their faith. In this particular blog, I would like to share something that fosters such an attitude. There is a prevailing way of thinking that says “feelings” are our ultimate authority So, if that is true where does that leave God? Because as any Christian knows, God guides us to do something sometimes that is uncomfortable. But in the end it turns out to bring more blessings into our lives than we could imagine. Let me give you an example.

When I found out that I was pregnant with my 4th child, I was not ‘feeling’ happy about it. I thought my family was complete with 3 daughters. My husband was in seminary and our lives were in preparation of a serious lifetime commitment to ministry. My youngest daughter was 4, and I was 34. I wasn’t ready to start all over with the baby thing.

But as a Christian, I knew of the preciousness of life. Therefore, abortion was never, and I mean never considered. Instead, I trusted God to work this out for my good and the good of our family and His glory. . Because that’s what His word says to do when faced with difficult situations. And guess what, eventually, my feelings changed as a result of trusting God and being guided by His word. And the blessing of our 4th child, a son? Well, there just isn’t enough words in the English language to describe the joy and the fulfillment I’ve known since giving birth to him.

If we are casual regarding spending time in God’s word, we will lack the wisdom and understanding we could access there. So when this sounding good attitude about ‘letting your feelings guide you’ comes around it sort of makes sense. As a result, the authority of God’s word is subtly replaced, and our feelings rise in influence. Consequently, we are driven to find solutions to our problems that will make us feel better. And when these solutions contradict God’s word, we are often unaware.

For Scriptures tells us it is the problems we have in life, when taken to God, that makes us over comers and victorious in life. But when we allow our feelings to dictate our actions, we play right into the hands of the enemy. All the blessings of having victory over trials and suffering are denied us. Consider the Truths of the following Words:

2 Corinthians 10 :3-4, NLT, We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (These weapons are the Truths within Scripture)

Col. 2:8 NLT, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

Lamentations 3:22-24, 26 …my take

Aug26

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

The book of Lamentations, attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, was written following the destruction of of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. They were feeling the consequences of their disobedience. The city is in ruins, the people are in mourning, and the atmosphere is heavy with despair. (BTW, the word portion means inheritance)

The above verses remind us that our God is faithful. Even when our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us. However, God’s word reveals to us that with the dawn of every morning, we can begin anew. We just need to be reminded of these verses in Lamentations. Hope can be restored and with faith we can wait quietly for our God’s deliverance. Just seek Him and be at peace. The fiery darts of doubt, worry, fear, etc., can be thwarted.

Oh, trust me, it won’t be easy. It may take awhile to regain our footing after difficult circumstances. The fiery darts of the enemy can come in like a flood. Especially, in our weakened moment. That’s why God has given us the ammunition of the above truth thought to resist the enemy’s weapons. Every morning we rise and turn our focus towards Jeremiah’s words to the suffering. Then we put one foot in front of the other. We remind ourselves of who God is. That He is bigger than our disappointments, our fears, our sufferings, our trials, etc. No matter what the enemy throws at us to bring us down, he cannot defeat God. (In 1 John 4:4 the word them refers to false prophets and those spreading deceptive spiritual ideas against Christ)

Remember, even if we have to refresh our faith every morning with these verses, we must keep at it. The enemy doesn’t give up easily. But be reminded that he is a defeated foe and eventually, we can claim the victory for our God fights the enemy and wins.

The Bible and the Truths therein, are our most powerful weapon against the enemy. But if we don’t go to God’s Word, we won’t know that! Will we?

Thanks for the memories…

Jun10
Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

As I drove past the spot (we referred to it as the halfway point) where I often met my 2 daughters to transfer my grandchildren, my thoughts were inundated with memories. For that was a church parking lot located about half way between my house and theirs. So it was a convenient arrangement time wise to pick up or drop off my grans. You can make lots of memories sitting in the car waiting for Mom or Dad after arriving at the parking lot. Fun, sweet, and often humorous ones.

I have such a store of delightful memories at that dear spot. But inevitably I spoil the sweetness by seasoning it with sadness. For I no longer get to make such memories. My cute little funny grans are all grown up now. Driving themselves when they come to visit Nammy & Grandaddy. And even two of them moved to another state while they were still in that cute little funny stage.

Had it not been for an earlier conversation I had had with God that day, my longing for those memories that just don’t happen as much anymore would have intensified. Preparing the ground for seeds of sadness. Instead, God countered them with the following question:

“What about thanking Me for those precious memories, instead of feeling sad because you don’t have them anymore?”

It’s not so easy doing that, you know. For the evil one would have me regret that those days are passed. That would result, as you probably have experienced yourself, in a burden that would grow heavier with every revisited memory. I don’t want to do that, and I’m sure you don’t either.

The reality that I was just feeling sorry for myself became glaringly obvious. So, I decided to put into practice God’s remedy for my pity party. I was motivated to do so because the enemy uses this as a weapon against me way too often. So I purposed then and there that I would resist the temptation of self pity. I would counter Satan’s weapon to feel sorry for myself with God’s mighty weapon of Thankfulness.

So when any sweet memory surfaces about those tender days, I will thank God for those memories. For I have an abundance of memories with my grans and instead of feeling sad that they are declining, I’m going to focus on how grateful I am that I have sooooo many.

Add Distraction to the List

Mar25
Fix our eyes upon Jesus. Look neither to the right or left. Shut out the distractions. based on Hebrews 12:2

Think about it. What keeps us from spending time with God in prayer and His word? Most of the time, I daresay, it’s distractions. Often I have referred to the manipulation and deception of the fiery darts of the enemy. But in the last year, I have come to realize that loosing my focus can happen as a result of the fiery dart of distractions.

Lately, I am being made aware of how the enemy once again is using distractions to manipulate my focus. Our four children are scattered here and there, as well as their children (our grans). Two years ago, my best friend of twenty plus years passed away. Four years earlier my beloved mother transitioned to heaven, joining my father. Needless to say, the temptation to focus on my lack of contact with them is ever present.

Add to that at 77 years of age, I wonder just how much longer I have on this earth. That consumes a lot of my thoughts. Running out of time to make memories with those that I love. Running out of time to resolve conflicts. And quietness and an unbusy life is the fodder for self-pity. And I read the headlines and fear, coupled with the lack of interaction with my family, is a menu for despair. Oh I could go on and on!

The most effective weapon against such is the Bible. Yep, all that truth compressed within the pages of Scripture could and can tear down the walls of human reasoning and destroy false assumptions. By distracting us from spending time with God in His word and in prayer, we just aren’t informed. We aren’t aware of our weapons or how to use them.

These distractions divert our focus thus turning it inward. It takes a greater discipline to redirect our focus toward Christ and not ourselves. But we know that if we want to please God, then we had better learn how to reject the enemy’s device of distraction. Every time our focus turns inward, try quoting, “May this weapon formed against me not prevail.” That shifts our thought processes. We can now direct our focus to ponder Truth thoughts like, “All things work together for the good. For those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

If my attention is manipulated by the enemy’s distractions then I will be blinded. What I will fail to see is that my husband and I have more time together. I have more time to spend quiet moments daily with God. His Word reminds me that He is in control and I need not fear. Yet, the enemy’s distractions will blind me to these Truths.

Can You Defend Your Faith?

Feb25

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,…1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Can we do that? Give a reason for the hope we have in Christ? The Bible tells us we should and to do it gently and with respect. Life giving advice any Christian would agree to. But, while many of us could speak about what we believe, I wonder if we could speak of the why?

The fallout of not being able to speak about why we believe as we do is disturbing. I’ve read where 70% of young people leave the Church after going off to college. Could it be because there wasn’t enough focus on the why’s of their belief? Could it be because their beliefs weren’t challenged while learning the Bible narratives. While the environment of their learning wasn’t hostile to their faith. Where they could ask questions and search for truth under the guidance of solid biblical teaching. In other words, get grounded in their faith and be able to go out into the world confident in why they believed God’s truths.

Learning the what and why’s of our faith is a requirement if we want to be able to recognize the lies of the enemy. Stands to reason being grounded in the Truth, is our best defense in facing down the enemy’s lies. No soldier would go out to battle without proper armor or weapons. But isn’t that what we are expecting our young people to do? Will they be able to stand against the liberal ideology of unbelieving professors? Are we equipped ourselves to defend our faith?

The world is in combat for our hearts and minds. Not just for our young people but for adults as well. As Christians we must wake up to the challenges we face in the world today. If we aren’t prepared, then let’s get prepared. There’s plenty of resources for us to call upon. Click on this link for a list of resources.

Deep dive

Finding Hope: God’s Protection Amidst Turmoil

Jan28

With all the disruption taking place in our country these days, we need something to cling to that will inspire hope. Something that will strengthen our grasp on the assurance that evil will not prevail. So where are we to turn? Many turn to the wisdom of man, the power of worldly weapons, the strength of government, or financial wealth. Only to find these fall short to offer the protection we need. We may try religions that promote a variety of methods but fails to direct our focus towards the Triune God of Christianity.

In such trying times, we must be alert to the deception and manipulation of the enemy, aka Satan. Lies are his foremost fiery darts. The weapons he exploits to manipulate and deceive. Especially, those who without a relationship with God through Christ, become his pawns. And if we as Christians fail to search the Scriptures for answers, we will face the temptation of despair, confusion, and doubt.

Nevertheless, if we open our Bibles, that is where we will find the hope and assurance we need in these threatening days. In particular Psalm 91. Psalm 91 is primarily a Messianic Psalm but presents a clear message to individual believers found in verses 1-2

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

And it is by having this mindset that we access peace and assurance, no matter the assault from the enemy. The enemy just can’t compete with this Divine protection of Psalm 91. For this psalm reassures us of God’s faithful presence during our storms. We know that because of God’s protection the weapons formed against us will not prevail. We will ride out the storm. We will persevere. We will rise above and become the stronger for it.

My Discovery? …Choosing My Weapons

Dec16
Ephesians 6:16

I mentioned in my previous post that I discovered in mid-life something transformational regarding prayer. This discovery involves connecting the point of our petition with something concerning that prayer from God’s word, the Bible.

Please allow me to give you a personal example. I’m 77 years of age. My husband and I have been empty nesters for some years. Our children now live in distance places. And as life progresses and the grans get older, coming home for Christmas isn’t as doable as it once was. Honestly readers, as a result, Christmas has lost some of its glitter for me. Not in the message, of course, but in accumulation of family memories.

As the scenes have changed, I have learned to draw upon God’s comforting words to dispel the fiery dart of loneliness. There’s a verse I learned as a child, This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NKJV. This verse came to my mind as a weapon in combating the enemy’s attacks. I pondered this verse and it shaped my prayer. “Dear LORD, This day, this time, although not what I would choose for myself, is the day you have made for me. And since You have made it, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Framing my Christmas with this truth helped me maintain a more positive perspective. Therefore, EVERY TIME the sadness approaches I head it off with this verse. And the fiery dart is extinguished. The enemy’s weapon does not prevail. Instead, I defeat the temptation to think self-centered thoughts and began a nose dive into depression. I am at peace with what God planned for me. I am open to enjoying the Christmas God has prepared for me.

And the benefits or blessings by praying this prayer, is that my heart is open to the blessings available to me. Time not crowded with preparations for a big family gathering opens up new possibilities. Thus I am reading an Advent devotional which is powerful in fixing my focus on the true meaning of Christmas. As I focus more on the Christ child and less on myself, the sadness that stands in the wings is depleted.

So by lifting my shield of faith, God supplies me with just the right weapon to defeat the enemy’s attacks. Just when I need them, I’m reminded of Truths such as Psalm 118:24 & Ephesians 6:16. These words are the weapons that will undo and thwart the enemy’s plans. By spending time with God daily and His word, I am informed as to the particular weapon I need to choose.

Is giving God a portion of each day, by spending it with Him in prayer and His word, lacking? If so, imagine a warrior going into the battle without their weapons! Defeat is certain isn’t it! Which will be the outcome for anyone entering the battle fray without the proper weapons.

More about prayer…

Dec9

There have been volumes written about prayer. So, I really don’t have anything new to add to the subject. What I have to share will be a reminder to many. Yet for some it might just be a new discovery! I write that because it wasn’t until the middle half of my life that I made such a discovery regarding prayer.

I’l preface this by sharing that my prayer life has undergone various transformations over the years. As I grew spiritually that growth inspired alterations in how I prayed. For instance, as a young Christian, my prayers focused mostly on what I wanted from God. But as the years passed, and I learned more about God, my prayers focused more on what He wanted for me. Yet, it was an up and down journey which was directly impacted by my growth or lack thereof.

However, there was something missing. A failed connection. I use to remind my children and my students that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. That reason was that He wanted us to listen twice as much as we spoke. It took awhile for that to sink in and apply it to my spiritual life. For you see, I had failed to realize that while prayer was my talking to God, reading and meditating on His words was how God talked to me. What I discovered, well into my adult life, was that I was over focused on making sure God knew what I wanted. Yet, I wasn’t giving Him the opportunity to tell me what He wanted!

There’s a verse that showed me it was in recognizing God’s mighty weapons (His Word, His Truth) that resulted in my hearing God’s voice. It was what God said to me in Ephesians 6:16, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one,” that I began to make the connection between lies and fiery darts. From that verse God referred other verses which led me to be able to recognize the fiery darts, reject them, and to replace them with His Truth. Truth thoughts that countered the lies from the enemy.

The key to communicating with God is to become familiar with His word. Leave the Bible reading out and we will only be talking to God. We won’t know what He has to say about our petitions, if we do all the talking.

Pray with an Attitude of Thanksgiving…

Nov25

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7

Now in keeping with the subject of prayer and the season of Thanksgiving, let’s examine the above verse.

In today’s climate of problems, an attitude of thankfulness seems impossible. For many don’t even have a chance to enjoy the abundance of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. And with homes dealing with all varieties of trauma, celebrating Thanksgiving just isn’t desirable for many people.

So why would God tell us that in spite of all these problems we are not to worry? Then follows that up with the directive to take on an attitude of thankfulness. Whatever the situation! And we ask, “What?” Is this even possible? There is an answer to this question, and it is to be found in the Bible. For within the pages of Scripture, God reveals how to achieve this seemingly impossible feat.

In approaching God with our prayers and petitions, we need to focus on who it is we are presenting our prayers and petitions to. God, our Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe, who knows everything about us and what is best for us. Who will never abandon us. Who is trustworthy. Meaning in light of all this, we can be thankful for who God is and thankful that He will work all this out for our good.

When we focus on all that we have to be thankful for, the things we are tempted to worry about begin to fade. Scripture also teaches us gratitude redirects our thoughts. The negatives are clouded out. The Light shines down upon us, highlighting endless possibilities of thankfulness. We will move from anxiety to thankfulness. And as the resulting peace permeates our thoughts we experience something beyond our understanding.

Therefore, when we are tempted to worry about the problems we are facing, personalize the verse in Philippines and turn it into a prayer:

Dear God, help me not to be anxious about my situation. In an attitude of thankfulness, I offer my petitions and requests to You. I come to You with thanksgiving, because You have always provided for my needs, You have always worked things out for my good and Your glory, You have never abandoned me. Knowing how much I have to be thankful for, I know a peace that is beyond my understanding. A peace that will put my heart and mind at ease.