This is another of those times when my procrastination is finally defeated by a LOUD shout from God! Wherever I look, whatever I read or hear reminds me that God gave me the title of this post and He is waiting for me to do something about it. He truly never gives up until He gets His way in my life. How about you?
I don't need to tell you we are in a presidential election season. And as a Christian who wants to vote according to God's will for our country, I feel like I am in a dryer, being tumbled and twisted and overheated in every way. All this, just to get the wrinkles out?
I believe a mighty prayer movement is just about to break out: a prayer movement that cries out against the moral depravity that is smothering our country and others, the massive corruption in our local and state governments that threatens our constitution and national well-being, and a Holy Spirit awakening in the Church as we cry out for God to make Himself known as the only solution....the only resolution (thank you, Misty Edwards).... to our quaking world.
But there's still this nagging question. How should we vote in less than a month? Crude or corrupt very aptly describes each of the two presidential candidates.
I've read articles that remind us that God has used ungodly rulers a few times in the Old Testament to wake His people up. Cyrus was one of those. He was the Persian ruler that, as a heathen king, still heeded the call of God to release the captive Israelites to go back to Jerusalem and re-build their Temple. Could a man who is crude and even vulgar in speech and attitude possibly be a modern day Cyrus? Last night I heard Jerry Fallwell, Jr, president of Liberty University say that "we need to concentrate on America's future instead of Trump's past".
I've also read many other articles from various Christian sources urging us to NOT take the easy way out. David Kubal, President and CEO of Intercessors for America, wrote in the October 7, 2016 issue of their newsletter, "The fourth option, not voting, seems to be the only moral choice for some, but the action of taking no action by Christians could guarantee governmental leadership whose party platform will not protect life in the womb, will not support religious freedom, and will force you to forsake your traditional Christian values or face legal punishment if you resist. Edmund Burke (1729-1797) is known for his famous saying: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'" Can we ignore all the evidence of deception and corruption in the liberal leadership and in government in general?
The conservative platform pledges to support and protect children before birth and to not support and fund abortion. It pledges to support traditional marriage and family, protection from the policing of tax-exempt organizations who espouse Christian values in the public arena, protection of individuals and businesses for acting on the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and many other social issues important to Christians.
There is also the concern that a future president will put forward Supreme Court judges (a few are expected to retire in the next four years). These judges can either pave the way for more liberal values or for protection of our Judaeo-Christian values and an adherence to the constitution's original intentions for America. They have the final say.....will we?
The only thing I know for sure is that "God has a plan". He is not and will not ignore our prayers. This He has promised those of us who walk humbly before Him and trust His promises. But there is more than that to our responsibilities.
So.......I have carefully looked over the platforms of each candidate. As a Christian there is no ambiguity as to which platform most closely lines up with my views and desires for my government. I urge you to do the same. If you don't know where to go for that information, you can go to the Intercessors For America, www.IFApray.org, and click on "party platforms". They have a great "2016 Presidential Election Voter Prayer Guide" and much more helpful information to help you in this most important decision.
Most importantly, vote! There is no excuse for not prayerfully making a decision, for being fully informed, for voting your choice. Just as important, answer the call to join the dramatic and powerful movement of prayer in the Church. God has blessed us with this country, and it is our responsibility as a Christian to do our part. I'm in....are you?
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
I haven't submitted a new post for awhile. I know that being busy is no excuse.....but it's true. I must be insane to try to run two businesses at the same time, when most people my age are playing golf, traveling, going to lunch with friends, etc.
How did I find myself in this situation ten years past retirement?
Well, the Lord must have seen my inherent lazy nature and decided to sabotage my plans and get on with His project in me. He's certainly not finished with me yet....but this wasn't what I might have imagined a decade ago in South Florida.
As with many of us in our seventies all my plans for income have been vastly changed....mostly due to forces beyond my control (the 2008 debacle in the stock market and then the housing values crash topped it off). One of the many times I begged the Lord, "WHY?", He seemed to assure me that He had me exactly where He wanted me. Dependent on Him.....for the rest of my life....single...aging....no career options....scared spitless.
"Oh Lord, what am I going to do?" was a frequent beginning to my day. And He would just remind me of all the past times (thousands) when I had uttered those words, and somehow He had carried me through. All I needed to do was to trust...trust Him and His promises.
And here we are, not 2006, but 2016 goin' on 17! How has your life changed in the last ten years? Doesn't it seem like our lives are racing down a train track 200 miles an hour, and we're still trying to get our luggage on and put away in the luggage racks?
It could be that you feel like you're left at the station and everyone else got on the train and they keep racing by but not stopping to pick you up. That waiting time is often just as hard as being on the fast track to the unknown.
For Christians, for those who have made Jesus Christ their Savior and Lord, it IS easier. We are to build up our knowledge of Who our faithful Lord is by reading His words to us. And we learn that He really cares....no, passionately, loves us. He has a plan for each of us. With faith as our shield we brush off the doubts and fears and take a little time out each day to lean back in His arms and let Him speak sweet words into our ears. It is these times that we are able to keep going down the path before us.
If this is not happening for you (hearing the sweet words of the Lord spoken to you), try asking God to make it happen. He loves a seeking heart and always responds. But, beware, it will not happen the way you expect.
This whole subject and my own needs are what led me into the writing career and the books I have written out of my own experience. Who would have imagined that? Not me, for sure.
And then part two of God's plan for me AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE also arose out of necessity....income. But instead of a job that I hate, He gave me the opportunities to improve my art skills, the courage to believe the results were good, the strength to display them and teach others the joy of being creative. And I love doing it.
So....two new careers in the "twilight" of my life! And I am overjoyed! I love what I do. I feel totally fulfilled! And they're all centered around the love of Jesus for me...the One who has a plan for me! He is truly fulfilling His promises of peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and the knowledge...the absolute knowledge, that He will never leave me because He is passionately in love with me.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIm shall not die but have eternal life". (John 3:16)
"I have loved you with an everlasting love". (Jeremiah 31:3)
"I belong to Him, and His desire is for me". (Song of Solomon 7:10)
COURAGE, MY DEARS, COURAGE!
How did I find myself in this situation ten years past retirement?
Well, the Lord must have seen my inherent lazy nature and decided to sabotage my plans and get on with His project in me. He's certainly not finished with me yet....but this wasn't what I might have imagined a decade ago in South Florida.
As with many of us in our seventies all my plans for income have been vastly changed....mostly due to forces beyond my control (the 2008 debacle in the stock market and then the housing values crash topped it off). One of the many times I begged the Lord, "WHY?", He seemed to assure me that He had me exactly where He wanted me. Dependent on Him.....for the rest of my life....single...aging....no career options....scared spitless.
"Oh Lord, what am I going to do?" was a frequent beginning to my day. And He would just remind me of all the past times (thousands) when I had uttered those words, and somehow He had carried me through. All I needed to do was to trust...trust Him and His promises.
And here we are, not 2006, but 2016 goin' on 17! How has your life changed in the last ten years? Doesn't it seem like our lives are racing down a train track 200 miles an hour, and we're still trying to get our luggage on and put away in the luggage racks?
It could be that you feel like you're left at the station and everyone else got on the train and they keep racing by but not stopping to pick you up. That waiting time is often just as hard as being on the fast track to the unknown.
For Christians, for those who have made Jesus Christ their Savior and Lord, it IS easier. We are to build up our knowledge of Who our faithful Lord is by reading His words to us. And we learn that He really cares....no, passionately, loves us. He has a plan for each of us. With faith as our shield we brush off the doubts and fears and take a little time out each day to lean back in His arms and let Him speak sweet words into our ears. It is these times that we are able to keep going down the path before us.
If this is not happening for you (hearing the sweet words of the Lord spoken to you), try asking God to make it happen. He loves a seeking heart and always responds. But, beware, it will not happen the way you expect.
This whole subject and my own needs are what led me into the writing career and the books I have written out of my own experience. Who would have imagined that? Not me, for sure.
And then part two of God's plan for me AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE also arose out of necessity....income. But instead of a job that I hate, He gave me the opportunities to improve my art skills, the courage to believe the results were good, the strength to display them and teach others the joy of being creative. And I love doing it.
So....two new careers in the "twilight" of my life! And I am overjoyed! I love what I do. I feel totally fulfilled! And they're all centered around the love of Jesus for me...the One who has a plan for me! He is truly fulfilling His promises of peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and the knowledge...the absolute knowledge, that He will never leave me because He is passionately in love with me.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIm shall not die but have eternal life". (John 3:16)
"I have loved you with an everlasting love". (Jeremiah 31:3)
"I belong to Him, and His desire is for me". (Song of Solomon 7:10)
COURAGE, MY DEARS, COURAGE!
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
I have a plan......
After many months of ignoring my blog with all sorts of very credible excuses, I felt compeled to share some of my quiet time with the Lord today. Like you, I am very concerned about all the things that are happening in my beloved America. I pray almost daily for her, and believe that God is hearing my prayers along with millions of others who are likewise concerned.
This is not a political opinion piece although it speaks of politics in our country. I am not endorsing any candidate. But my heart is heavy as it was when I sat down to spend my time with my Beloved this morning. Before I barely got started, I knew this was one of those times when I needed to write in my journal, to make note of this conversation with Jesus. Here is what I wrote and what He answered
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're in the midst of an extremely heated and unprecedented Presidential race...an attempt by some (Cruz and Trump) on the establishment (the U.S. governmental and political ruling class with all it's connections, not the true constitutional framework set up by our founders).
When I sat down for my quiet time, the Lord took me directly to Hebrews 8, 9, and 10. Easter was last Sunday and this seemed a perfect passage to speak to me again of what Jesus' resurrection means to us. As I kept on reading about the ending of the "Old Covenant" and the bringing of the "New Covenant" by Jesus' death and resurrection, I began to relate it in some small way to what is happening in America.
Paul (the supposed author) explains that the Temple...the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies....were shadows of the true Holy of Holies in Heaven. Although they didn't know it yet the Old Testament high priests and the blood sacrifices were about to be replaced by the one time blood sacrifice of the willing Son of God, Jesus. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, meant that redemption has been made once and for all for sin!.
When this happened, the whole need for the Temple and all it's functions had ceased. The "establishment" was threatened and sensed a major attack on their existence, their income, their power, their prestige, and their lifestyle. They were not monastic monks living in poverty and humilty, and they reacted with fear when Jesus began to attack their traditions and hypocrisy and overturned the tax takers' tables and animal sellers, etc. He spoke words of stinging truth and conviction. They did not understand what He was saying about the Kingdom of God, but knew it was a threat to them. Thus they had to get rid of Him. It was a matter of life and death for them.
I believe, Lord, You are showing me that in much the same way, the establishment (political), Washington...the whole system of power and money exchangers...senses a serious attack on all they know, deserve and have worked for to benefit themselves. And they believe they must, at all costs, stop Cruz and Trump. I am not comparing Cruz or Trump to the Messiah, by the way.
"Judy, you got it! The attack on America's political and governmental establishment is the same sort of attack as on the Temple system. It is a warning call to the power brokers and financiers and all their cohorts in the halls of government who are dependent on the process.
The reason I showed you this is that the battle for America and the God breathed foundational stones on which it was founded and built is a matter of life and death!
I AM calling you and all of My people to pray... not so much for one candidate...I have a plan and I have heard your prayers for your land. I AM calling you to pray:
....to stand against the enemy who also has a plan to destroy America
....to pray for Christians to see the TRUTH and to join the battle to pray and vote
....to pray for wisdom and discernment when praying specifically
....to refuse to join emotion-based activities in the election but to wage spiritual warfare, protected by your spiritual armor. (We battle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, ... Eph 6)
....to understand by the help of the Holy Spirit who the real enemy is and take him out by the power of My Name and the TRUTH of My Word
I have a plan! I will not be deterred. Part of that plan is the calling forth of My people to join the battle:
by prayer
by seeking My marching orders
by obeying My orders
by trusting in the power of My Name and your prayers.
Cover yourself in My blood. I will protect and guide you. Write this on your blog. As you do these things you bring me much glory.....you ravish My heart.
Jesus"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So there you have it! He commanded and I obeyed. Will you?
This is not a political opinion piece although it speaks of politics in our country. I am not endorsing any candidate. But my heart is heavy as it was when I sat down to spend my time with my Beloved this morning. Before I barely got started, I knew this was one of those times when I needed to write in my journal, to make note of this conversation with Jesus. Here is what I wrote and what He answered
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're in the midst of an extremely heated and unprecedented Presidential race...an attempt by some (Cruz and Trump) on the establishment (the U.S. governmental and political ruling class with all it's connections, not the true constitutional framework set up by our founders).
When I sat down for my quiet time, the Lord took me directly to Hebrews 8, 9, and 10. Easter was last Sunday and this seemed a perfect passage to speak to me again of what Jesus' resurrection means to us. As I kept on reading about the ending of the "Old Covenant" and the bringing of the "New Covenant" by Jesus' death and resurrection, I began to relate it in some small way to what is happening in America.
Paul (the supposed author) explains that the Temple...the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies....were shadows of the true Holy of Holies in Heaven. Although they didn't know it yet the Old Testament high priests and the blood sacrifices were about to be replaced by the one time blood sacrifice of the willing Son of God, Jesus. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, meant that redemption has been made once and for all for sin!.
When this happened, the whole need for the Temple and all it's functions had ceased. The "establishment" was threatened and sensed a major attack on their existence, their income, their power, their prestige, and their lifestyle. They were not monastic monks living in poverty and humilty, and they reacted with fear when Jesus began to attack their traditions and hypocrisy and overturned the tax takers' tables and animal sellers, etc. He spoke words of stinging truth and conviction. They did not understand what He was saying about the Kingdom of God, but knew it was a threat to them. Thus they had to get rid of Him. It was a matter of life and death for them.
I believe, Lord, You are showing me that in much the same way, the establishment (political), Washington...the whole system of power and money exchangers...senses a serious attack on all they know, deserve and have worked for to benefit themselves. And they believe they must, at all costs, stop Cruz and Trump. I am not comparing Cruz or Trump to the Messiah, by the way.
"Judy, you got it! The attack on America's political and governmental establishment is the same sort of attack as on the Temple system. It is a warning call to the power brokers and financiers and all their cohorts in the halls of government who are dependent on the process.
The reason I showed you this is that the battle for America and the God breathed foundational stones on which it was founded and built is a matter of life and death!
I AM calling you and all of My people to pray... not so much for one candidate...I have a plan and I have heard your prayers for your land. I AM calling you to pray:
....to stand against the enemy who also has a plan to destroy America
....to pray for Christians to see the TRUTH and to join the battle to pray and vote
....to pray for wisdom and discernment when praying specifically
....to refuse to join emotion-based activities in the election but to wage spiritual warfare, protected by your spiritual armor. (We battle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, ... Eph 6)
....to understand by the help of the Holy Spirit who the real enemy is and take him out by the power of My Name and the TRUTH of My Word
I have a plan! I will not be deterred. Part of that plan is the calling forth of My people to join the battle:
by prayer
by seeking My marching orders
by obeying My orders
by trusting in the power of My Name and your prayers.
Cover yourself in My blood. I will protect and guide you. Write this on your blog. As you do these things you bring me much glory.....you ravish My heart.
Jesus"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So there you have it! He commanded and I obeyed. Will you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)