One Solitary Life

Lest we not forget
He is still the reason for the season.
Always will be.

Singing about a Man
Who was a Baby,
Who became a Boy
Who became a Man.

Born in an obscure village.
The Child of a peasant woman.
He actually grew up in another village where He worked 
in a carpenter shop until He was thirty.
And for three years, He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home.
Never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never really had a family of His own.

Never went to college.
Never set foot in a big city.
He never traveled 200 miles from the place He was born.
He never did things that usually accompany greatness.
He had no credentials but Himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular 
opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away.
Even one of His best friends denied Him.
He was turned over to His enemies.
He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.
While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of 
property He had on this earth and that was His coat.

And when he was dead, He was laid in a 
borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone and today He is still the centerpiece of the human race, and leader of the column of progress.
I’m far within the mark when I say that all the armies that were ever marched, all the navy's that were ever built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, all put together, have not affected the lives on this Earth as powerfully, as has that

ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, HE IS ALIVE
& ALL IS WELL.
(adapted from an essay by Dr. James Allan Francis)

Stop Runnin!

In John 3, a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus came to Jesus and asked Him a question. He said, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with Him." Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they be born again.' Then Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can someone be born again when they are old? Surely they cannot enter their mother's womb a second time to be reborn?" (John 3:1-4).

Nicodemus had the misfortune of not understanding what we as Christians so readily understand today. That simply believing in Christ, His life, His death, burial and resurrection, is what makes us "born again." In John 3:16, the most well known verse in the bible, it states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Yeah, it's really that simple. But sometimes living for Christ can be very difficult. Living a Christ centered life is when you not only believe in Christ's redemptive work on the Cross, but you lay your troubles at His Cross (1 Peter 4:7), and do your best to live for Christ. "To live is Christ, to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). This means that we leave behind all those sins that are displeasing to God, repenting of those things and doing what God wants us to do instead of what we want to do. It's a very simple thing, but we tend to over complicate it. Dying is gain, because when you die, your last breath on earth is your first breath in heaven, which as believers, is where we truly belong.

Let me just ask you this: If you were at Niagara Falls and someone was walking a tight rope across one of those falls, would you clap when they asked, "How many of you think I can make it across and back?" You probably would because your life is not in danger, his is. Well, what if he came back pushing a wheelbarrow and again asked that same question, only this time, he thew in the part about the wheelbarrow? Would you clap? Of course you would...right up until he asked, "Can I get a volunteer to get in the wheelbarrow?" 

Well, if Jesus was pushing the wheelbarrow across the tightrope, would you get into it? I would! This is not just belief, this is trust! If you said "Yes" to Jesus in this scenario, you have nothing to be worried about. You will go to heaven because you trusted Jesus' work on the Cross to save you. We obviously cannot save ourselves, because we are all sinners. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). That means that there is nothing we can do of or by ourselves that will be enough. "For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no man may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The bible also tells us that "Faith without works is dead," (James 2:17). You can believe all you want. I did for years, but I had very little works to show for it. I was too selfish, egotistical and confused to know what was right. I didn't read my bible much, I kept talking about my troubles with people at church and discovered, eventually, that "It's not about me." A life led by the Spirit is usually full of selflessness, a desire to do right and then doing it and a repentant heart, even in the most minor of infractions against God and what He expects of us. I was a mess for years, but I eventually broke free from the devil's lies and began to see the truth. It's a hard thing to do, but I work on it everyday lest I go backwards, which is also very easy to do, which I believe is why Paul said, "Forgetting what lies behind and striving towards what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13-14). 

Why not begin again? We can be the "light of the world," but if we lose our "salt and light," what good are we? We go about telling no one of the wonderful gift that God gave us. His Son, Jesus! It's one of the reasons I write this blog. I try to keep it biblical, without politics, etc., however, there are times I write regarding the things that are happening in the world because they describe what I've read in the Old Testament about the end days, and we certainly need to understand that the days are short, so I speak of it a lot. I don't want anyone to miss the boat of Salvation, the Grace of God, and that personal relationship we can have with Him through His son Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6).

Please, if you have slipped and are fallen away, come home? If you have never been offered the gift of redemption, won't you please pray for forgiveness now? Jesus wants to know you! He loves you, He died for every sin you've ever committed or will ever commit. He wants a personal relationship with you and believe me, it will change your life forever! 

Please, stop runnin? Stop building castles in the sand and build your life on the rock! Mercy doesn't care what you've done, you can be forgiven! Jesus is waiting and you can't outrun grace!

Grace Is Amazing!

I was on Twitter earlier today and saw a photo that someone had posted to remind me of a particular scripture. Paul had asked God to remove a "thorn in his side," three times and God responded to his request. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We all go through struggles in life. Sometimes even more so after we are saved. Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. He said that the seeds that fell on the path were those whose belief was snatched away by the devil. The seeds that fell on the rocky path that grew up and were withered by the sun explains those who accept Jesus with joy, but fall away very quickly because they don't have roots dcep enough to get them through the troubles and persecution that comes with their belief. The seeds that fell among the thorns refers to those who believe, but the troubles and worries of this life along with greed and materialism chokes out their beliefs. And the seeds that fell upon the good soil, refers to those who got saved and began their journey, reading the bible and growing stronger in Christ by the minute. These are those who never give in or give out, and keep trusting in Christ, growing in His strength daily, no matter what befalls them.

I was the seed that fell along the rocky path. I lived with abuse, both verbal and physical and due to my parents fighting constantly and never saying, "I love you," my brother and I were very insecure. I was 10 when a neighbor who babysat me after school led me to Jesus Christ. I still remember saying the sinners prayer and feeling like a huge boulder had been lifted off of my 10 year old shoulders. I did fall away, but it was due to confusion. I remember feeling very dejected. I didn't have many friends, and I felt very alone. I was also very emotional, trusting only my feelings and that can be deadly to your faith!

A friend from Jr. High asked me to come to church with her. I stopped after awhile, but then a friend from High School asked me to come back to the same church! I was baptized and went to summer camp at Hume Lake my Sophomore year. I played piano and was caught by the band booked for that week, playing "Desperado" by The Eagles and was asked to play it during our service that evening! What a great time! Later in life, another church went to that same camp, only during the winter. It was a ladies retreat. Boy, did that ever bring back memories! Barbara Johnson, the "Stick a Geranium in your Hat and Be Happy," lady, was our speaker for the retreat and she was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing! 

There have been many times when I fell away from God. But there have also been mountain peaks. "Peaks and Valley's" as they are called. Just this week, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would keep me honest and remind me of my sins when I commit them so I can stay right with the Lord. Whether it's complaining about being on hold for too long with my RA Doc's office, or my cat getting under my feet, I'm still human, and I will always fail. I can never be perfect, because none of us here on this earth can escape the sin of the Garden of Eden. To think you can, is a death sentence. Not believing that there is a God, and that Jesus died for our sins, leads to permanent separation from God after you die. If you don't believe, you spend eternity in a horrible place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth!" (Luke 13:28). I know where I'm going. Jesus is my rock. I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind, and will never cease to praise Him. My health may be failing, and I have not yet received healing, but I will never stop praising God. I will never stop trusting Him. I will never stop loving Him. He is my everything. I may be pretty alone in what I go through on a day to day basis, but then, I'm never really alone, because Jesus is always with me! 

There have been times when God has reached out and helped me with some of the worst things imaginable. My oldest daughter was diagnosed at 18 months with Wilms Tumor. She was stage three and then she relapsed, making her stage four. She is now 26, and it's just amazing that she is here at all! She graduated from college this year and is now working at a great job and earning a salary higher than I've ever earned! My oldest son went through three tours of duty with the Army. He made it home all three times without injury. Every day that he was in theatre, I prayed for him. God answered faithfully every time! My youngest son is doing very well for himself. He's still working for the same company he started with when he was just 16! They keep giving him more and more responsibility. My youngest daughter works very hard, and keeps moving up the ladder at her 2nd job as well. I am so very proud of all of my kids because they are the best thing I have ever done. They all work, pay their taxes and they are all Christians. They may not walk as closely with God, but they are young. I didn't walk as closely with God at that time in life either, but I have trusted God with them all their lives. I pray for them a lot, but you have to let go and trust God with them at a certain point, and He has not disappointed me. I feel very blessed. God has answered my prayers in the most amazing way and I don't see Him stopping any time soon. Just the other day, I didn't think I was strong enough to make it through the lobby of my doctor's office for a blood test, but I toughed it out and I made it! "For His strength is made perfect in weakness." I lived that scripture just last week! It's really true!!!!!!!

So if I have to suffer a bit on my way down the home stretch, that's okay. I know God is working in my children's lives because I've asked Him to! That is how much I have come to depend on Christ. "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" (Philippians 4:21). I've also come to learn that nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37). I have to face the Giants in my life and lean on Him for strength. I know that God is not done with me yet. He may have a few more miracles up His sleeve for me, but I have to trust, not look back and just keep truckin!

My mom was pretty abusive to us while we were growing up and I worried that if she died, she would not go to heaven. She got ill in May 2009 and went through three rounds of chemo. The third round caused severe infection. I prayed for her almost every day during her last seven months on earth and three days before her death, I got a phone call. I spoke to her and after hanging up, God didn't just give me the day she would go home, He wrapped me up in what I can only describe as a blanket of "peace that surpasses all understanding," and I heard "It's okay. She's mine." That feeling of peace was gone as quickly as it had come. I knew it was Jesus! I knew she had trusted Christ as her savior as a young girl and that a Chaplain was visiting her bedside as she was dying. I know she must've gotten right with God because that peaceful moment that was indescribable came at just the right moment! God's timing? Well, if you know anything about it, you know His timing is ALWAYS PERFECT! 

There are things happening in the world right at this very moment, that line up perfectly with last days prophecy! Jesus could come to get us at any moment! Please, don't miss your chance? Ask forgiveness and start reading the Word or re-dedicate yourself to Him if you've fallen away? If you go back to church, make sure to lean on God to show you if the preacher is a false teacher. Jesus warned we would see many false teachers in the end days. Paul said that there would be a great delusion that would come upon the earth and I can already see the "lawless one" at work! (2 Thessalonians 9-11). If you see people in denial? Well there's the answer! It's one of the reasons people seem completely deluded out there. The bible warns that a delusion would come upon the earth and believe me, it's already happening! More people are putting up walls than they are creating doors. They seem selfish, boorish, arrogant, rude, all the things the bible says love is not! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). No patience, no mercy. Just raw emotion, which can lead you astray! It's the devil's #1 weapon against us! Please, don't be deceived be RELIEVED! Trust in Christ and Christ alone!

God bless you all as we near December 25th, the day that God came to us in human form, walking the earth as a man, who knew no sin, but became sin for us, so that we could become the "righteousness of God in Christ!" (2 Corinthians 12:5).I pray that you will be saved or re-dedicate yourselves to Jesus and start living only for Him! We are about to be raptured off of this planet and be in the clouds with Jesus! Honestly? I can't wait to go home! I even pray daily with hope that it will be the day that I get to shed this worn out mortal tent, receive my incorruptible body and can go home to be with the Lord Jesus! "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!" (Philippians 2:8-11). I'm looking forward to bowing before Him and casting the crown of life I am given, at His feet! (James 1:12). I am learning to endure to the end, so that I will receive that reward! It's all I've ever wanted! This earth IS NOT my home! Heaven is!

His grace IS sufficient for me! His Amazing Grace is so sweet! There must have been something in the water on that day in my Sophomore year. The day I was baptized into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has never let me go and if you trust Him? He will never let go of you either!

Stars In The Sky

I've never studied astronomy. I love looking at the stars of course but I've never undertaken a study of the galaxy, at least, not until very recently.

My interest was piqued when I was watching a movie made by Lionsgate. There was a picture, but it was like a trapezoid picture made by the stars? I know it's highly related to mathematics, which I've never been good at, but one night, my curiosity got the better of me and I read a NASA article regarding pictures made by connecting the dots from one star to another, and as the article mentioned the Big and Little Dippers, God hit me upside the head and I just said WOW!

Here's my quick point: Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. He asked her for a drink and she got all up in his face! She didn't know who Jesus was or what He was about, she only knew that Jews did not associate with Samaritans. But what was so amazing is what Jesus said to her in John 4:14. He said, "But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

As I read that NASA article, where it mentioned the Big and Little Dippers, suddenly, this particular story from the bible just jumped into my head! I suddenly realized that when you draw water from a well, it is usually in a bucket, but one must have a ladle if they intend to drink the water from the well! The Big and Little Dippers, placed in the night sky by God Himself, were supposed to be a reminder of the "living water," Jesus spoke of!

How awesome is our God? Pretty darn AWESOME! I will never forget that moment. It came at a time of pain, illness and frustration and I really needed to see what God wanted me to see. And boy, did I ever!

I will never look at the Big or Little Dippers in the way I used to look at them. It's basically God the father, (The Big Dipper) and Jesus the Son who died to take away the sins of the world! (The Little Dipper). Now there wouldn't be a third dipper would there? The Holy Spirit is never seen! Pretty cool huh?

Next time you are star gazing, please tell God how thankful you are for His promises to bring you through the roughest times, the worst times, pain, illness, etc., because when you really stop to think about it? We're really just pilgrims passing through!

I think that God placed these stars in the sky, just so, so that we would remember that this world is not our home. Heaven is! 

Come to Jesus!

I was diagnosed earlier this year with Type II Diabetes. Last Wednesday I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. My thyroid has been messed up with nodules since Dec 2011. In addition, I was born with a spinal birth defect which causes tons of spinal pain, and as I've learned from my Chiropractor, the health of the spine has a great deal to do with your overall health. I'm in so much pain on a daily basis that I've now become a shut in. Some days are better than others, but its a battle every day. But God is helping me find humor through the pain. I hadn't left my house in over 3 months and last Wednesday on the way to the doctor's office, I realized as I drove down one particular street, that they had raised the speed limit from 35 t0 40. I said inwardly..."You might know you're a shut in if the next time you actually leave your house, they've changed the speed limit, built new buildings, torn down others, etc., I mean, I could do this one all day!

I'm also a bi-polar, so depression is a part of it, but no matter how bad things get, God always has this way of pulling me up from my "depths of despair" to teach me something wonderful! This last weekend, He did just that! I had suddenly become intrigued that a trapezoid could make a picture of an animal in the stars, so I looked it up. In the NASA article I read they mentioned the Big and Little Dippers. Suddenly, I felt like a brick had hit me in the face! It was one of those WOW moments! (Like WOW I may feel half dead, but I'M STILL LEARNING STUFF! AWESOME)! 

Let me explain it this way: When Jesus met the woman at the well, He asked her for a drink and got a pretty nasty answer. He told her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." Then she asked Jesus, "Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them, will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:10-13).

All of a sudden, I realized the reason God gave us those stars that form ladles in the sky. I believe they are there to remind Christians that Jesus is the living water! Ladles are also used to scoop soup, stew, etc., so they also represent the red meat of the Word of God! It may sound kind of bizarre but science has never been my strong suit, so when I saw the Dippers mentioned, it suddenly hit me that a ladle is needed to lift water out of the bucket from a "well!" WOW! I think my faith grew 3x that night! I was thinking about John Hagee calling the sun, moon and stars, "God's Billboard." When it hit me what the dippers in the sky mean it was a true WOW moment! I mean, how cool is that? I'm sure others have thought of it before, which makes me feel slow, but I've always been a bit slow, especially emotionally due to traumatic events in my childhood, but God has me on HIS clock!

The dippers in the sky go directly with this scripture! We as Christians, will never thirst again! I had never looked at them in that way. No wonder Paul said "Men are without excuse." His glory is all around us, especially in the sky! Even Jesus said there would be signs in the "sun, moon and stars," that would be a sign of his coming! I believe that God put the Dippers in the stars to show us His love and to remind us that we will have a spring of living water bursting from inside of us as He promised we would. A Spring of water welling up to eternal life!

The one most valuable lesson I have learned as a Christian, is that when you put God in the center of your life? Everything else tends to come together, no matter the pain, the hurt or what it is you are going through. He's never left my side just like He'll never yours.

Please Come to Jesus? He is waiting for you! He is knocking on the door of your heart if you are for some miraculous reason reading this post! Tell Him your secrets, your sins and ask for forgiveness every day! I promise you, the only thing that will change is that you'll wind up in heaven instead of hell and Jesus? Well, He'll become your best friend! But watch out for the devil because he will try everything he can to derail the plans God has for you! Jesus loves us and He is trying to protect us, mostly from ourselves. We are the only ones who can choose to believe, or not to believe, so please choose Life?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him, would not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Local Sheriffs Deputies Lost to Evil

On Friday, Deputy Michael David Davis, Jr. of the Placer County Sheriffs Department and Deputy Danny Oliver of the Sacramento Sheriffs Department were both shot and killed by two suspects. Both officers were responding to calls about the suspects when they were shot and killed by the male suspect, who gave his name as Marquez. He had a female companion and she is also in custody. Marquez is an illegal alien who has been deported by the United States twice!!!!!! The name he gave officers "Marquez" isn't even his real name. His fingerprints came up in the Immigration and Custom's Service data base with a completely different name and history. He has a lot of crime in his past and on Friday when someone at the Motel 6 in Sacramento called to report a suspicious vehicle in their parking lot. Deputy Oliver and his partner were sent to the scene, where Marquez fired at Officer Oliver and his partner. Oliver was struck in the face with the blow of a shotgun and later died.

After this, the suspect and his companion, a woman, went on a car jacking spree. First a Mustang, and after dumping that car, they tried to car jack another man who refused to give them his keys. Marquez shot him in the face, but after surgeries yesterday, he is expected to make a full recovery as is one other Deputy who was wounded. Next Marquez and his companion found a man with a red F-150 and asked the driver for a favor. He was also Mexican in descent, so he asked Marquez "What do you need? Do you need money?" Marquez said he needed the truck and even helped the man unhitch the trailer from the truck so that the owner of the truck could continue to work as he told the suspect. Marquez told him "Don't call the cops right away." The man of course, immediately called police. The F-150 was then spotted by Deputy Michael Davis, Jr. and his partner, Deputy Jeff Davis, no relation. 42 year old Deputy Davis was shot and killed by the suspect when they caught up to him in Auburn.  

It's always sad to lose a member of the law enforcement community, but this loss is particularly sad because twenty six years ago to the day, Deputy Michael Davis's father, Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Davis Sr., went down in a helicopter crash while working with a drug enforcement task force. The accident occurred when the helicopter struck a power line and went down. All aboard were killed including Deputy Davis's father. He was just 16 years old. While I'm sure his wife, kids, siblings and his mother never expected this to happen, I'm sure Davis and members of his family were thinking of his dad on Friday. How bizarre is it that he and his dad died on the exact same day of the year 26 years apart? Also, how cruel that he would have been 43 this week? This must be horrific for both families. Deputy Danny Oliver of the Sacramento Sheriffs Department leaves a wife and two children and Deputy Davis leaves a wife and four children.  

Please pray for these Officer's families at this time and please say a prayer for all law enforcement and for all of our military members. Since ISIS pushed it's intifada against law enforcement and our military, more and more incidences of attacks by lone wolf terrorists are occurring as we just saw last week, so please lift them up in your prayers. 

It is said of Davis that he had a "golden heart." The shrines in Sacramento and Placer County are growing out of respect and true grief. Many people who knew Davis and Oliver say they were both wonderful father's, husbands and Deputy's. It is truly sad to hear of this incident and I have been praying for their families since this occurred on Friday. I cannot imagine their heartbreak. I cannot even think about the kind of pain they must be feeling.

There will be no peace on earth until Jesus comes to rule and reign for 1,000 years. I pray that these two Deputies are livin' it up with Jesus right now. The lone processionals of both Deputy's hearses's on the freeway's here yesterday were very somber. Roseville Fire Department gave a lovely tribute to Deputy Davis by way of a ladder truck on an overpass with a huge American flag hanging down as the processional passed.

It was a tribute fitting for two such brave souls who tried to keep us safe during their 15 year careers. God bless them, their families, their friends and fellow Deputies, and all of law enforcement. Next time you see a cop car, please pray for the men/women inside? And the next time you meet a member of law enforcement or our military, please thank them for their service and pray for them, that God would put a special hedge of protection around all of them and keep them safe. They need our prayers now more than ever. 

May God Bless these Deputies and their families with a peace that surpasses all understanding. May justice be served against this perpetrator and his companion to the fullest extent of the law. May God forgive them for what they have done and may He hold both families close to Himself at this time.

Persecution of the Church: In Texas?

Just last week, the City of Houston, Texas subpoenaed 5 local Pastors and told them to turn over all sermons having to do with homosexuality or gender issues. Why? Because of Houston's Mayor Annise Parker. She is openly gay and is pro gay rights. These five Pastor's have made her life a bit difficult of late and she is using her power to intimidate them in what is basically just one more attack on religious freedom in a Nation founded on Judeo Christian values. 

In June, the Houston City Council passed an ordinance allowing their transgendered population  to walk into any public bathroom in town. If the bathroom is a single use, one at a time type of bathroom, no big deal, but a public restroom, say in a restaurant where a man could walk in, possibly exposing himself in front of women and possibly young girls? THAT, I WOULD HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH! Well, many Houston residents agreed with that train of thought so they did exactly what is called for in a situation like this. They put together a petition to get the ordinance put on the ballot in November so that all the citizen's of Houston could vote on the matter, but because Parker knew she would lose that vote, the certification of the 55,000 signatures collected were decertified. 

Those who had gathered the signatures hired a lawyer and sued. Parker responded by intimidating these Pastors through discovery which is absolutely shameful! Instead of a normal discovery process they asked for all sermons, emails, etc., that had to do with anything about homosexuality or gender issues, proving it was a political move. If you're smart you ask for everything, not just the sermons on homosexuality! I think it's the blatant subtlety of it all that infuriates me. The liberal left has watched our President get away with lawless act after lawless act, which has obviously emboldened them, so it's an "in your face," fight between Parker and the Pastors, but she's going to lose. All they wanted is to have the ordinance voted on by the citizens of Houston but instead Parker is using her power to intimidate these Pastor's and frankly? If I lived in Houston? I would be helping whoever mounted a RECALL campaign against her! Not because she's gay, but because she is using the power of her office to openly and shamelessly intimidate these Pastors! She needs to LOSE HER JOB! 

When it's all said and done, this case will end up in an appeals court, possibly the Texas State Supreme Court and possibly all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States who has a habit of upholding the first amendment, so it was really stupid of Parker to start a fight with Christians on this matter. Even if she loses, which she is very likely going to do, she'll move on and bother someone else. Some people aren't happy unless they're fighting with someone?

Every other religion but Christianity has their rights intact. It's only those of us who believe in Jesus Christ that are persecuted anymore. But Jesus himself said,"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." (John 15:18).

As for the response coming from the Pulpits of America, this particular Pastor really got my attention. Not only did I get a bit of a history lesson on the Baptists and where they come from, but I was very impressed with his entire message. It's making quite the stir out there as well, so if you haven't already seen it, take the time to listen to what he has to say. It's a great message and it needs to make the rounds, far and wide so don't forget to Tweet this post or share it with your FaceBook friends! 

Meet Dr. Randy White, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Katy Texas. Enjoy the message, please take it to heart and then share it with your friends and especially those you love. We need to pray for our leaders, that God touches their hearts and leads them back to the way everlasting. We need to pray for the Pastor's in our country as well, and for the Church and for America. We have eroded into something not even I recognize anymore.

Jesus is coming soon! Even so ~ Maranatha! 

False Teachers Online

I recently came across a few blogs that argue that the Great White Throne Judgment is a chance for those who didn't trust Christ as Lord and Savior while they were alive to hear the Good News, repent and THEN trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. These bloggers seem to believe that we all are going to go to heaven. BUZZ. WRONG, THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!

If I understand Revelation 20:11-14 correctly, those whose name is not in the Lambs book of Life will be sent to the 2nd death, which is the Lake of Fire, prepared for Satan, his demons and all those who did not believe in God's only Son while they were alive. Why is the Lambs book of life mentioned in this scripture? Because if the Rapture occurs and all believers have been taken into heaven with Jesus, there will still be some on the earth who will find Jesus and commit their lives to Him during the seven year tribulation. This means they will be judged "according to their deeds" at the Great White Throne judgment. They will have been resurrected with all the dead including those who were in the sea, death and hades, etc. If indeed their name is found in the Lambs book of Life, then they will be rewarded with eternal life. Those whose names are not found will be sent to the lake of fire to be separated from God for all eternity. 

Paul speaks about the retribution that will come upon unbelievers in that day. "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day and to be marveled at among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed." (2 Thessalonians 6-10)

There was a comment section on one of the blogs and someone asked how "the earth and the heavens fled from His presence and there was no place for them," (Revelation 20:1). There were some pretty interesting,albeit wrong answers to their question. There will be no place for anyone to hide, much less the earth and the heavens so I think the better question would be "why" would they want to hide? The answers they got from others were absolutely mind boggling! One of the scriptures used to prove the point that God will not allow anyone to go to the lake of fire without giving them a second chance to think about it and repent before God at the Great White Throne judgment was 2 Peter 3:9. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The answers to their question were blatantly false and the bible warns that this could be deadly! "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)..

There are so many scriptures that state that redemption of sin is only found in trusting in Christ and by repentance, meaning that we stop doing the things that are offensive to God and which keep us separated from Him. It happens to me every day! I always BLOW IT! I end up separated the minute I commit a sin and I have to ask His forgiveness immediately because there is nothing I hate more than being separated from Him! 

I let my dissent be known in that comment section big time! This person was just going to be more confused than they already were. The scriptures are pretty clear about heaven and hell aren't they?  "But the cowardly, the UNBELIEVING, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars, they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8). This refers to the fact that those who died without asking Christ to forgive them for their sins and living for Him or at least trying to, will be raised, given up by the sea, death/hades, etc., and they will be judged according to their deeds! If they didn't trust Jesus, it's off to the lake of sulfur with Satan, PERIOD! 

It seems that these bloggers do not believe that God will send anyone to the lake of fire, except for Satan and his demons. How can the truth be met with such perverse apostasy? Well, Jesus warned that in the last days, there would be "false teachers," and that we should be careful not to listen to them. Peter also warned, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1). Basically, we all must be careful to not let our ears be tickled by these false teachers, some of whom are preaching lies directly from the pulpit! I know it sounds unbelievable but it's happening! Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 about this, saying that there would be those that would come and not just preach lies, but say that they were Him and that we should be careful to not be deceived! (Matthew 24:4). 

I assume this is because things are going to be so bad, that we will be grasping for hope, in any form it comes to us. What I read on these blogs is what people want to hear! As Paul warned us, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3). 

Stay completely surrendered to Christ! Store up treasure where moth and rust cannot destroy! Spread the Good News, no matter how uncomfortable it is to do so and don't let people intimidate you! Trust Christ and He will give you the words! Run to the Cross and be in His word on a daily basis and He will grow you as He is growing me! I'm a nobody, honestly, but God gave me the gift of speech and writing! I'm too ill to leave my home, but I reach out to all of you anyway! It's the only medium I have! I'm completely committed, totally surrendered and I will NEVER QUIT til the whole world hears the truth! That it's by grace that we are saved through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Ephesians 2:8-9).

It won't be hard for people to be deceived. It's already happening. Satan must be laughing, because, seriously? I have met people who don't believe in hell or the Devil! It's a growing movement! Just look around. It's easy to see that people are arrogant, selfish, everything that love isn't! They don't believe in anything anymore, much less the devil! So it's time to get right, read the TRUE Word of God, (John 1:1), and get it together, or you'll find yourself so confused that you'll believe anything!

Religious Persecution in the NFL

It all started with Tim Tebow, but let's start with last Sunday.

In week two of the NFL season, Redskins Quarterback Robert Griffin, III was injured. As he ran towards the sideline trying to pass the ball to a player down field, he took a bad hop and dislocated his ankle. Head Coach Jay Gruden is optimistic about his return, but it's a matter of "wait and see" at this point. Thankfully, their backup quarterback, Kirk Cousins, came in and played very well, taking the Jags to a 41-10 defeat and a 0-2 record. 

Kirk Cousins, out of Michigan State (GO SPARTANS!) is the son of a preacher. His dad is the Sr. Pastor at Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida. RGIII, out of Baylor University, and a Heisman winner, is the son of two US Army Sergeants and is a military brat. Not only are they both quarterbacks, they are both Christians, just like Tebow. 

This past Sunday, however, I think RGIII understood how Tebow must've felt while he was playing in the NFL. Just before giving an interview, he was forced to turn his shirt inside out because it said "Know Jesus, Know Peace" across the front of it. They said he had to be wearing a Nike t-shirt, however fellow Redskin Ryan Kerrigan was wearing a t-shirt that said "Five Four Clothing" on it and they didn't make him flip his shirt inside out, so what's the deal? That's a really stupid lie when you think about it. Peyton, Eli, Tom Brady, Drew Breeze, they all wear suits. No where on their suits does the word NIKE or the Nike "swoosh" appear. I'm sure RGIII didn't like the idea, but they told him to do so, and I'm sure he feels horrible about it, but he had to give the interview, so what was he supposed to do? He's under contract!  

Tebow, who led Florida State to a Championship and then played for Denver, was quickly traded to the Jets after Peyton Manning was released by the Colts and signed by the Bronco's. Tebow is out of the NFL but is now a part of the Good Morning America team and is a co-host for SEC Nation. I saw a greatness in him, that got snuffed out by circumstances that he could not control. In spite of all that, he's making a very good life for himself. His co-hosts say it's like "traveling with a rock star," when they make the rounds covering college football together.

Personally, I believe that Tebow was persecuted, not just because he would take a knee and pray, he was persecuted because he was never supposed to be here in the first place. Tim's mom was pregnant with him when she was diagnosed with cancer, and rather than go through the life saving chemotherapy treatments and having an abortion, which is what her doctors recommended, she decided to have Tim first and then go through chemotherapy. She lived to tell, which says a great deal about her faith. Now this persecution and radical "network Jihad" against Jesus has happened to Robert Griffin, III. I remember watching Ray Lewis after a game on ESPN coming out in a shirt that read "Psalm 91" on it, and he was allowed to sit in with Young, Dilfer and the rest of the guys after the game. No Nike requirement there? So what's the deal? I've watched players from both teams at the end of a game go to the center of the field, take a knee and begin to pray. When that happened on NBC just last season after a Sunday night game, they quickly cut back to an announcer who was upset about a call the refs had made on the field. No, no no, you can't show players actually kneeling and praying! NOT ON NBC! OH NO! LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY! 

Considering the Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Adrian Peterson incidents, is it so awful to allow a player to sit in an interview wearing a shirt that says "Jesus" across the front of it? If you ask me the NFL could use a little more "Jesus" in it! As role models these guys need to play clean, and live cleaner than other folks. The money they make and the clauses in their contracts about personal behavior say so! Rice, Hardy, McDonald and Peterson should be deactivated until further notice. If they get their acts together, maybe they can come back next year. Michael Vick went to jail for 21 months and he was given a second chance, but he had to do his time first! What's happening in this sport right now is really annoying the crud out of me. We allow wife/fiance/girlfriend beaters and child abusers to do their thing, but oh no, you can't wear a "Jesus" shirt! That's not allowed!

What a joke. Why are they so afraid of Jesus? Are they more afraid of offending people than they are of disciplining their own players?

If you ask me, these guys all deserve a switch to their backsides, along with huge NFL fines, and a year on the bench at home, watching the games with the rest of us. Maybe that will teach them a lesson that they won't forget and instead of acting out badly as they have, perhaps they will find redemption and forgiveness through Christ and then begin to act more like Tebow, RGIII and Kirk Cousins and other players who are faithful to Christ, even if the NFL isn't.

As a side note, there is one player, Devon Still who is a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals who's entire family needs our prayers. Devon's little girl Leah just completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor in her stomach known as "neuroblastoma." The Bengals signed Still to their practice squad so he wouldn't lose his benefits, and Leah's treatment will end up costing them over 1 million most likely. Last week, he got to play and the Bengals scored a victory against the Falcons, 24-10! That must've felt wonderful for Devon because it's been a tough road for him and his family. I should know. Our 26 year old daughter, who is one full year and one month older than Devon, went through stage 4 cancer like Devon's daughter Leah is going through now. She is only 4 years old. Our daughter was 18 months old when she was diagnosed. She relapsed, and became a stage 4 like Leah, Devon's daughter and she's now a college grad, 26 years old and lives on a street called "Devon Way." Weird coincidence huh? I've been praying for his little girl and I hope you will all join me in praying for her too. They were supposed to find out today if the tumor had shrank enough for them to remove it via surgery. Please remember Leah and her family in your prayers? Devon is a great role model for kids, not like these other jerks, and I hope that his daughter comes through with flying colors. God Bless the Bengals for keeping him on and taking care of him through this trying time.  

I've got to say it. I love football, baseball, NASCAR and hockey. However, this horrible persecution of Christian players in the NFL is starting to really tick me off. It should tick off every Christian all across the country. Maybe we need to get loud and proud and let the NFL know exactly how we feel about it! Maybe it will effect change, because in my humble opinion, Jesus should NEVER be sidelined!

Chris Norman, who played with Kirk Cousins at Michigan State is a guy who instead of getting drafted into the NFL, decided to put God first and go to seminary instead. There are a few guys in the NFL who could learn a thing or two from Chris Norman, his journey and his decision to serve God! Heck, we could all learn from his story, so here it is!

Be Born Again!

If you don't know Jesus, or you've read the bible but don't know what to believe, may I suggest that you just trust Him? He died for your sins so that you wouldn't have to suffer an eternity in the Lake of Fire, meant for all unbelievers and those who did not accept the gift of God's grace, shown through Christ's death burial and resurrection from the dead when they had the chance, so please, reach out to Jesus? He wants to save you! 

No matter what your current situation, no matter how awful, desperate or cruel, Jesus can come into your heart, if you'll ask Him to, and He will give you new life. He can heal the sick, make the blind see and raise the dead. Even if you are ill, and are dying, He will give you eternal life if you'll simply trust Him and believe that He lived, was crucified, taking all of your sins upon Himself, died, was buried and then rose from the dead three days later. The Good News is this: All you have to do is believe!

Jesus told us to "take up your cross and follow Me." This means He wants us to take all of our circumstances, everything that has ever happened, good and bad, and read His word, learn how to be like Him and to teach others what we know! He also wants us to go and confess Him to our friends and loved ones, especially if they don't know Him because He wants our lives to reflect change and when people see the joy we have because of His grace, and His gift of salvation, they will want to know what is different and they'll want what we have!

It's very simple. We are all sinners. The bible says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We can't help it. We were born into it, it's not our fault, but we are still sinners none the less. Even Billy Graham says that he is a wretched sinner who needs God's forgiveness every day! (I know the feeling. Sometimes I feel like I'm living on my knees!). 

Listen to the song I've posted. Say a simple prayer, asking God for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life and to help you live for Him and I promise you, He will!

The days are growing very short. All one must do to understand that is to turn on the news. I don't want anyone left behind when Jesus comes to take us home. He's coming very soon, so please don't wait? Commit your life today, please? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain! Jesus loves you and so do I and I will pray for you and help you in anyway I can as you begin your new life in Christ.

Please join the family of God? After you do, please email me at beabarnabus@gmail.com to tell me about your decision. I will pray for you as you begin to read His word and find a bible believing church to attend. They will receive you with open arms and if they don't, find a different church! Just be careful, because there is a lot of false teaching going on out there these days? Jesus warned us about it, so let me know so I can pray that God will protect you as you search for a church family!

When you trust in Christ, and ask Him to come into your heart, you will feel joy beyond belief when you let go of your sin and lay it at His feet! 

Please trust in Him. He is calling to you to come Home! He is the "way the truth and the life!" And He wants you to have it to the full so don't wait! Take the leap of faith. I promise, you will never regret doing so! 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

TIME TO WAKE UP!

The Times of Israel's headline this morning was "Syrian Rebels said to Control Most of the Border with Israel." That's not good news. The moderate Syrian Rebels were fighting Assad, so why would they turn around and go after Israel? I believe that ISIS may have wiped out the Free Syrian Army and is pretending to be the same so that they can move into Israel and start committing their atrocities there. President Obama wants to send troops, weaponry and arms to train the "Free Syrian Army," or what's left of them, if they haven't all assimilated into ISIS already, in Saudi Arabia which will take too long to do any good. The only winners would be ISIS and Assad. I read another headline today that stated that the CIA has now estimated that ISIS has grown to 31,500 members. Could it be that the Free Syrian Army has joined with ISIS? Could that explain the jump from 10,000 to 31,500?

In addition, it is folly to believe that we could work with deeply Muslim Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey and not get stabbed in the back. The usual allies of the United States are Britain, France, Australia, Canada, and others. I could see it with Egypt, but they don't trust the United States right now, mostly because Obama put two Muslim Brotherhood members in his cabinet and one came out recently saying that the United States is an "Islamic Country." Obama also welcomed Morsi before he was overthrown in Egypt, which is part of the reason John Kerry got wanded by ElSissi's security team when he was there trying to work a truce between Israel and Hamas. However, instead of working with Egypt, Kerry went behind their backs and worked with Qatar and Turkey! That really ticked off the Egyptians! As for this current idea to train the FSA in Saudi Arabia? Oh well we'll see if it blows up in our faces, which I will predict right now, it will, just as these supposed moderate Syrians who have taken a great deal of control of the border between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights will meet stiff resistance from the IDF forces there and as we have already seen, these guys don't mess around. Perhaps this breach of the border could lead to a prophecy in Isaiah being fulfilled. "Damascus shall be as a ruinous heap." (Isaiah 17:1).

While this border region on the Golan Heights has been breached by supposedly the Free Syrian Army, they say their plans are not to attack Israel, at least not at the moment, but there have been skirmishes as of Wednesday between the IDF and these unknown forces that would seem to suggest otherwise. If the true rebels have either been assimilated into ISIS or have been wiped out by ISIS, what would that mean for Israel? Lebanon's border was breached by ISIS a few weeks ago, and the Lebanese Army pushed them back out, at least for now. 

ISIS is dead set on a few things: Destroying Israel, killing every Jew they can find and then killing Americans right here on our home soil and raising their big ugly black flag above our White House. They are better funded than Bin Laden, and they won't use planes. They will most likely use chemical weapons of some sort, anthrax, etc. We need to pray for our own safety in this country as well as for the safety of Christians and others being sought out and killed by ISIS or the "Islamic State," as they are now calling themselves. I thought our President looked like a total dunce saying that ISIS is not a "Muslim" group. What? They have "Islamic" as the first word in their acronym! I honestly think Joe Biden would do a better job with this situation, but alas, he is only our Vice President, but I would take him over this idiot any day!

Things are getting worse, and no matter what President Obama does, he is basically screwed. If he had acted sooner to arm the Free Syrian Army, which he refused to do, then perhaps this wouldn't be happening, but God's timing is always perfect and the one thing I can rest in is this: God is In Control!

Please pray for the Christians and for all those who are caught up in this mess. ISIS is beheading children. CHILDREN! This is absolute evil and ungodly and I have been praying for the missionaries who have asked for prayer. Please join me in thinking of them every day, even if just for a moment and pray for their safety? Pray for miraculous forms of cover, so that the enemy is unable to see or find them? These are our brother's and sisters in Christ! WE HAVE A DUTY TO PRAY FOR THEM! THE BIBLE CALLS ON US TO DO SO! 

I sent out an email to my bible study prayer group about this urgent prayer request which came via email from a friend in Texas whose friend is a Missionary in Iraq. She said that the Peshmerga was falling back and losing ground and she was truly frightened about what may happen to them there. After two full days now, not one person in my bible study group has responded and that makes me so angry, I just want to scream! I am outraged! I cannot believe that Christians here in the United States are so far away that if it doesn't affect them, they could care less. That is not "Christian," nor is it "Christ Like," and it thoroughly disgusts me that nobody even replied that they would pray. Is it really that hard? They're coming here next if they're not already here! The borders basically don't exist anymore, so while all those children were coming in, who else was jumping the fences when our Border Patrol members were too busy changing diapers to notice?

I will shout it to the roof tops until everyone in the world knows and is praying for these people! Then we need to pray for each other, that our lives would begin to reflect Christ rather than who we have become. Fat, lazy and selfish Christians who could care less about what is going on half way around the world. How can someone call themselves a Christian and be so DAMNED ASLEEP! GET YOUR ALARM CLOCK RUNNING AND LEAVE IT RINGING! WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH AND I DON'T WANT ONE SIN ON MY LIPS, IN MY HEAD OR IN MY HEART BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE RAPTURE!

I refuse to go down without a fight. And my weaponry shall be the "Full armor of God," (Ephesians 6:10-11). For without it, you might as well be naked in the snow. The Word of God+Faith=A Prepared Warrior. We all need to be prepared to cast out demons in the name of Jesus, because those days are upon us! How do you do that? You simply look evil directly in the eye and you say, "Get thee behind me Satan! I cast the demons out of this persons body mind and soul in the name of Jesus Christ." If it doesn't leave, use the Word of God against it, so you must know your bible! "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17). They can throw fire balls at you, but if you stand perfectly still, strong in your faith, nothing they do can hurt you and if you use the name of Jesus, the demons have to flee! "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder, but are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless." (James 2:19).

Dear Lord, I pray that you will draw Your servants back to your heart? Gently wake them? If they are wondering about what is going on in the world right now, help them understand? I owe You my life Lord, so give me the words to speak, here on this blog, and don't let any of our fellow servants continue to slumber? These are the most desperate times on earth that we have ever seen, and even if we don't understand, help us to let go and just trust You and only You! You died so we wouldn't need to understand Lord! Thank you for Jesus, Your one and only Precious Son who bled and died so that we wouldn't need to know, but just trust. Please wake all believers and unbelievers alike to the truth. That You are REAL, that You died for our sins, the spotless lamb of God and that you are coming again VERY SOON to take us home!

May all who read this be awakened and alive again with a revived faith in God and may you receive a blessing directly from the Father as you study His 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).

The time is so short Lord! Please, bless all of your faithful believers with the knowledge we need to see what's coming, and to see your prophecies coming to fruition? Thank you Lord Jesus. You are my life. Thank you for your love and your countless blessings upon all who read this. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Waiting for a Miracle?

I know a lot of people are having a rough time right now, especially those who were affected by the devastating 6.0 quake just over the hill in Napa County. As for physical pain, I am just one of many who are suffering and while I suffer physically, my husband has been out of work for over two months, but I trust God to provide for us. I also trust that I will eventually get in to see a specialist so they can figure out why all my fingers, both wrists and elbows are filling up with fluid which over time has gotten worse and worse and more and more painful. My one hope is that God, no matter what happens will be glorified. It's the only thing that matters to me. For those of you reading this, would you please pray for me? I would greatly appreciate it. I truly feel that I am under demonic attack. I need my hands to type and that is where I am most greatly affected.

We all know there a lot of other people out there suffering much more than we are. I start to get a little grumpy, until I think of the man or woman who has no arms or hands. It's a great attitude adjustment and those of us who suffer need to do it every day. Take a moment and think of others who are suffering way worse than we are. That really helps me to get my mind off of myself, and I usually end up going to the Lord, ashamed, and in tears to ask His forgiveness. 

My Dad once said something to me that I've never forgotten. "There was a man who was upset that he had no shoes, until he saw a man who had no feet." When you stop to think of others who have it worse than you do, that's when humility kicks in every time. Then, when we ask  forgiveness for our thoughts, even when we are just suffering beyond what we think we can handle, God is right there and He is ready to not only forgive us, he will carry us through to the other side! He carries us through our depression, our addictions, our pain, our illnesses, etc., etc.. I could go on and on, but it's hard to type today! = )

I hope those of you who are suffering won't wait until your pain goes away to face the Lord and do what is right. A lot of people who suffer do so with a smile and with faith that could move a mountain. I'm going to try to have that kind of faith and I'm just gonna keep praising Him no matter what. We are to praise Him in all circumstances and rejoice when we are hurting! It will make us feel better, just like Peter who sank under the waves? Jesus saved him, so why wouldn't he save us? 

We are all a miracle to God. He created us and wants us to turn to Him always, especially in our deepest moments of sorrow and anguish. I know what both are like and I'm grateful that I know God because without Him? Well I could see my story ending in a much more tragic way. For some of us, tomorrow may never come so try to think about what you do have and be grateful for it. 

I was a slave to sin, but now, thank God, I'm free! I'm free because of Jesus gift, given to all of us through His cross! We may lose our perspective once in awhile, but the minute we turn to Jesus? Well, He will find a way where there seems to be no way! It's humility that saves us every time. Think of others before yourself and watch for the miracles that God will do in your life! Commit your life to Him daily and you will see Him working in you and around you! You will be amazed! 

This One's For the Girls

I know at times, we can feel a little down because we feel inadequate. Some of us grew up being taunted by other students because we weren't perfect like the cheerleaders or other girls who were popular. I went through it too, so it's nothing new. The only thing that's new is cyber-bullying and texting photos of a not so flattering nature to the entire school! That can be horrifically embarrassing, and some girls have been so tortured by these types of things that they took their own lives. If these things are happening to you, please don't do anything to hurt yourself? Get help! If you are considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 and they will help you. Sometimes, even if you just need to talk and don't feel like there is anyone you can confide in, please go to their website and either call them, or click the "Chat Now" button. They want to help and none of us wants anyone who is going through this type of bullying to harm themselves.

I was the ugly duckling, and I was extremely insecure. I didn't feel loved at all, and I didn't know there was a God, my Father, my Abba Daddy, who loved me no matter what. I would try to stick up for myself, which in retrospect was kinda dumb. Had I let it roll off of my back like water on a duck, maybe they would've stopped. My problem was that I always felt like I had to defend myself. It wasn't until later on in life that I learned that if someone says something about you, and you can look inside your heart and honestly say to yourself "that's not true," then there is nothing to defend! Even Jesus spoke not a word when challenged by Pilate and the Chief Priests and Elders just before Pilate washed his hands and delivered Him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:11-25). So, in my situation, I eventually just chalked it up to being a kid. Yeah, the other kids taunted and tortured, teased endlessly, etc., and I let them get away with it. Plus the more I tried to defend myself, the worse the taunting and teasing got. I just thank the Good Lord we didn't have the type of instant media then that we have today or I might not be here!

If you are feeling low because you think you aren't pretty enough, good enough, or even worthy enough, then take this to heart. God created you. He created you special. (Psalm 139). Don't look at your shortcomings, look at the gifts He gave you. There is probably something you are very good at, that others are either jealous of, or don't understand. Some of you may not be as pretty as other girls, but perhaps your smart, get all A's and get called a "geek" or a "nerd." While it is wrong for others to say such things about you, you'll get your laugh some day when you graduate a four year college with honors! Most of them? Well most of them won't even make it to college!

You are so special and unique, there is only ONE you! So stop looking in the mirror and seeing flaws. Stop belittling yourself, thinking you aren't good enough because if you have Christ, you are better than "good enough." You are a child of the King and you are c0-heirs with Christ! No matter what those other kids say, God has your back and if you read your bible and allow His words to sink in, then the devil that rules their lives, will not be able to rule yours! You have to block him out, and rest on the word of God first! "Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee. (James 4:7). Also, "Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all of your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:6-8). I wish I had known these scriptures and understood them better when I was a teenager. I might have had more confidence and it may have made my life a little easier, even though I was tortured so horribly. I should've placed my confidence In Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:4).

So lift up your spirits and walk with your heads held high! Jesus is walking with you and when you get down and feel like you're being pushed around, teased beyond what you can emotionally handle, just remember, Jesus will be carrying you! Another thing you need to understand and never forget is that you cannot trust your emotions, and I mean, NOT EVER! It's through our emotions that the devil gains a foothold in our lives and then destroys any peace of mind, joy, confidence, you name it. He is the destroyer and the "liar from the beginning." (John 8:44). Those kids who taunt and tease you? They need your prayers! They are being run by the devil himself when they tease, torture, expose, etc., and hurt you. Jesus said we should turn the other cheek, but he also said "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44).

You are the "Only One and Only You," and God loves you very much. He wants to watch you blossom in your faith, and He wants you to see and understand what He wants for your life. Not depression and loneliness or a fear that you'll never have good friends. And be careful of those who say they are your friends? They may have ulterior motives? "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24).  And remember this one as well: "Do not be deceived! Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33).

God bless you today and may God guard your heart in Christ Jesus until that day when He will arrive on a very special cloud directly from heaven above to take us all home! Be at peace ladies, for the Lord is definitely with you!

He Knows My Name

I have been watching all the news reports about ISIS in Iraq/Syria and all the awful, murderous things they are doing. I just saw another report from a former Homeland Security advisor, that said they have been collaborating with the Cartels down in Central America and Mexico to bring these terrorists and their weapons of warfare into the United States. With the border so overrun from Texas to California, not to mention the tunnels they have been finding on the southern border, it should make each and every one of us hyper aware of where we are, who is around us and to watch for unclaimed or unguarded bags, backpacks, etc. They found tunnels in Israel/Gaza, which is how they planned to attack the Israeli's. We've found them here too, but I never put two and two together until I saw that interview. These people want to kill Americans just as badly as Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran wants to kill the Israeli's. 

I will not stop writing, speaking out, and screaming WAKE UP AMERICA until everyone is awake and alert and watching not just their backs, but those of their neighbors and friends. It's time to sound the alarm from the Church to the White House! I am grateful that I live in a relatively safe community where our Police Officers are totally alert, on guard and have, so far, been able to keep us all very safe! We are lucky to have them! I live in a community of less than 100,000 in between San Francisco and Sacramento. It's a military town and leans in a very Christian/Conservative way. We have Pastors from every church that meet on a monthly basis to pray for this city, for her people and for our safety. God is watching over us. I worry about two of my kids who live closer to the bay area. One even rides the train from Saratoga/San Jose area to San Francisco each day to get to and from work. There are terrorists from several groups, all hell bent on destroying America and killing her people. Two of these groups are in San Francisco and in San Jose/Santa Clara where the new Levi Stadium has just opened for the 49ers. It is no doubt a huge target. These things frighten me, but I refuse to let fear run my life. The bible says we were "not given a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7).

I hope everyone is aware of this one thing: He knows our names! He knows our circumstances. He knows everything about us, for we are His children! He knows what our motives are when we do good works, and whether we have truly compassionate hearts and whether we are trying to be obedient to Him. I have struggled just looking in the mirror at times because I have been a complete failure in my life. But God hasn't stopped loving me. I have failed so many times, I cannot count them all, but God tells me it's alright. I have failed forward directly into the arms of Jesus, who has completely forgiven me and wants the very best for me! All I have to do is let go and let Him lead me! I have to become more like Him. "Do not conform to this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2).

I work on it everyday. I truly hope that everyone who reads this blog today is trying to do the same thing. I may fall flat on my face trying, but "His mercies are new every morning," (Lamentations 3:23), and I take full advantage of His wonderful forgiveness each and every day, sometimes several times a day! It's the only way to truly change. Being completely dependent on Him and not on ourselves. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Remember to Trust in God! For there are things coming onto the stages of our lives that will bewilder us. But He knows what will happen. He knows every minute, every second of what will happen in our lives today, tomorrow and in the future. So do not fear. If we follow Him and stay true to His leading in our lives, He will protect us and keep us safe from the things that are coming. I pray for our law enforcement officials, for our Homeland Security teams, and for all of our intelligence experts, that they will continue to be able to continue to keep us all safe. 

Remember: God knows your name! He will protect you if you turn your life over to Him. He adores us! He loves us so much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die a horrible death on a Roman cross so that we could have life, and life eternal. It doesn't end with physical death. In fact, if you believe on Jesus, the Lamb who took away the sins of the world, then when your physical body dies, you will be in heaven with God for all eternity! Simply believe! We don't need applause, or approval or people to see us as famous. God already does! We are His children! He loves us and wants the best for us. We simply need to follow His lead. 

Trust Him. He loves you and He chose you! (Ephesians 1:4). God can make something out of nothing! He did that in my life, and He can and will do it in yours! He is ready to make something spectacular out of your life! He will give you beauty for ashes, joy for mourning and He will help you to do above all you could dare to ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20).  He stands behind each of us hoping that we will make the correct choices so He can be glorified! 

Whatever you do? Don't give up, because you are loved!