Encouragement

View from the Precipice

7 Comments / January 15, 2021

Doesn’t it feel like we are standing on a precipice  waiting to topple into darkness? Behind us lies our old, comfortable world. Ahead looks frightening and even dangerous and, yet, we have no choice but to move forward. Going back is impossible.

A question from someone yesterday gave me a thought that I’ve been mulling around in my head since then. It encouraged me so I decided to share here this morning, in hopes that you, too, will be encouraged.

First, I want you to think beyond material blessings regarding the world we are leaving. What do you see?

I see a compromised, worldly church. I see materialism and greed and self-absorption. There we find mysticism flourishing, strife of every kind, and very confused Christians. If we take an honest look back, it really isn’t that great from the perspective of a believer.

So we are moving into something different. Something unknown. Something that looks scary.

But as we think about what’s ahead, I am beginning to wonder if we are little like the person who has been fed hamburger their whole life and is getting ready to eat, for the first time ever, a big juicy steak.

As I have been reflecting on the many biographies I’ve read of Christian men and women and also on the personal testimonies I’ve heard, I can’t help but think that, while the road ahead may be difficult for believers, it may also be very rewarding.

Think about some of the possible good things that could very result from our new world–

Fake Christians will fall away. The murky, shallow Christianity that has made up most of America (and perhaps the rest of the western world) will fall away in the face of hatred and persecution. No one is going to stand up for biblical Christianity or have anything to do with it at all unless they are truly saved.

We will be blessed with clarity. The wicked world will reject us like never before and this will give us a much clearer picture of sin and worldliness. Those “gray areas” will diminish and maybe even disappear.

God will show Himself in our need. Let’s face it, we have had very little opportunity to see God at work because we have been over-supplied and have had very few needs. At least here in America. As we start facing harder times, we will be able to see God work in ways previously impossible. We’ve read about these kinds of things but we are getting ready to experience them ourselves!

Our walk with God will grow deeper. As the worldly comforts fall away and we are rejected by the world, we will be forced to turn to God and His Word for strength and comfort. This will, inevitably, lead us to grow deeper roots of faith and sanctify us in ways that were, before, impossible.

Our fellowship with the remnant believers will grow stronger. I’ve noticed this already. The kinship that we have with like-minded believers is stronger now than ever, as we cling to each other in the midst of the unknown and the unpleasant. God has given us each other to strengthen, support, and encourage each other. As we take a look back into our old world, most of us led lives that were far too busy for relationships. We led lives that were full of activity but very lacking in fellowship. I believe this will change as we move forward into this new world.

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And so I hope we all realize that the good things ahead aren’t just eternal. I believe there are some temporal good things that await if we can just turn aside from our fear and dread and trust the Lord. Yes, our ultimate hope is the rapture. But, if the Lord tarries, His grace and strength will be enough. This is a promise!

(I hope that I am encouraging you as I am processing everything that is happening along with you and desire nothing more than to honor the Lord in my response. This can be a real struggle for me as I imagine it also is for some of you.)

 

A REMINDER: At the end of last week, I sent a special email regarding the censorship that may be coming and how to keep in touch with me. If you’d like to continue hearing from me, should I be censored, I am asking you to give me your name and email address if you haven’t already done so. You can do this by simply replying to this email. I am trying to find a censorship-free platform to use for my subscribers and will only add those that really want to hear from me. You can find more details in an email I sent to you entitled “PLEASE READ”. I hope it doesn’t come to this, but I’d rather be prepared than sorry. :)

(I am sharing this here again because someone mentioned that the aforementioned email landed in their spam folder.)

 

A Believer’s Response

8 Comments / January 12, 2021

A few days ago, I experienced the viperous hatred of a woman who thought she knew best about the happenings of the past week and had no grace for an opposing view. She was very clearly brainwashed by media and the education system. It was actually a little scary. What made it even more scary is that this woman did, at least at one time, claim to be a believer.

We are running into these kinds of situations more and more. If you are a Christian who is committed to proclaiming and obeying what the Bible says, you are realizing that there is a type of Christian out there who hates you. They preach love and tolerance for everyone else, but they hate the true Christian.

This has probably been the greatest cause of sorrow for me. You expect to be hated and even persecuted by the lost. But I am beginning to understand that much of this will probably also come from “the church” (little “c” because it is obviously not the Bride of Christ.)

I had hoped to direct your attention away from the happenings of this world and on to scripture today. And so I will. But I wanted to do so in relation to what is happening in the world, because it has pretty much been all-consuming for most of us. As we watch the changes occurring, we are stunned. We see censorship happening that is scaring us. We are starting to realize that we cannot believe anything mainstream media says. (In case you are still watching mainstream media, do a little experiment as one of my daughters did. Switch back and forth between a mainstream news and a news station committed to bringing you the real news, such as news max. She and her husband couldn’t believe the spins and lies that came from the mainstream media. It’s gotten almost comical now–at least it would be comical if so many people weren’t still believing it.)

So, in the midst of all this mess, we are Believers. What does that mean? How does that look? I think there are some very specific things to consider as we navigate these terrifying and unstable days. These things are not conditional. Their application doesn’t suddenly just end when our circumstances change. Or when things go wrong in the world. They don’t change when we are persecuted or maligned or marginalized.

First, as Christians, we must remember our purpose.

It is very easy to get caught up in picking sides of a worldly system that has no good side. It is more important than ever that we remember why we are here on this earth. We are here to glorify God (Psalm 86:12) and to make Him known by sharing the Gospel and then discipling those that would embrace it (Matthew 28:19-20).

Second, we must remember the greatest commands, according to Jesus.

We can find this in Mark 12:30-31:  30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Notice that the greatest commands do not include fixing the world or changing the culture. They are not to bring God’s Kingdom to earth or to get caught up in a movement that is loyal to a human. The greatest commands are to love God and to love others. Let’s not get distracted.

Third, we are to love our enemies.

Luke 6:27-28 couldn’t be any clearer–

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Jesus doesn’t tell us to just love others but He makes it even more challenging by telling us to love those who hate us. As people who love the Lord, we strive to do everything we can to stay at peace with those around us (Romans 12:18) but, more and more, this is becoming impossible. Simply by believing and following the Bible, we have become objects of extreme hate and anger. It is so very, very important that we don’t hate back! It is tempting. It is natural. But Jesus tells us to love them. This is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, stay in the Word.

Study, memorize, and then study and memorize some more. Scripture is our only anchor in this world gone mad. It is our only source for truth. As bad news and unbelievable, incomprehensible stories swirl around us, we have God’s Word. And we must cling to it.

Fifth, seek the things that are above.

I just love Colossians 3, particularly these verses–

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

So much of our stress and strife and worry and fears are because we aren’t seeking the things above. We are worried about here. We are worried about losing earthly treasures. We are worried about losing temporal freedoms. How important that we keep our eyes focused above.

Sixth, don’t live in fear.

We are expressly told in Philippians 4:6-7 to be anxious for nothing. If you turn to those verses, you will notice that it doesn’t say “Be anxious for nothing, unless…the world is falling apart.” No matter what is going on, we are to be anxious for nothing. We are to make our requests be known to God with thanksgiving and then to rest in His promises. If we do this, we are promised a peace that passes understanding.

And Seventh, and finally, remember God’s Sovereignty and personal care for you.

I’ve written this many times here on the blog throughout this past year of uncertainty and questions. But it’s worth repeating because it is one of our greatest encouragements.

God has a plan. And God loves those that are saved through faith in Christ alone. We are not left in the hands of a wrathful God who desires to make our lives miserable. Every minute of every day is foreknown by the God of the universe who has promised to work all things out for His glory and our good for those that love Him (Romans 8:28).

Think about that promise for a moment and then cling to it. No matter what is ahead for us, this promise remains true. His grace will be sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9) and to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). May we joyfully yield to God’s will for us as we face the unknown days ahead.

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Thank you for joining my search of scripture as I seek how to respond to these current events as Christ would have me to. I hope that this has been as much of an encouragement to you as it has been to me. Oh, friends, let’s pray for each other as we strive to respond as a true Christian should to these unprecedented events around us. I’d like to close with an encouraging passage of scripture that was sent to me as I wrote this post this morning–

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”

(Daniel 3:34-35)

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: At the end of last week, I sent a special email regarding the censorship that may be coming and how to keep in touch with me. If you’d like to continue hearing from me, should I be censored, I am asking you to give me your name and email address if you haven’t already done so. You can do this by simply replying to this email. I am trying to find a censorship-free platform to use for my subscribers and will only add those that really want to hear from me. You can find more details in an email I sent to you entitled “PLEASE READ”. I hope it doesn’t come to this, but I’d rather be prepared than sorry. :)

(I am sharing this here again because someone mentioned that the aforementioned email landed in their spam folder.)

 

What Is Ahead?

6 Comments / January 7, 2021

This post is specifically for those of you who are watching what is happening in America and are filled with unease, anxiety, dread, and even fear, as you consider her future.

I am writing this unscheduled post for you because I am thinking there may be a few of you out there who feel like me. And maybe we just need to know right now that we are not all alone.

I  am being eerily reminded of a scene from the “Left Behind” movie. It is during a meeting and there are 10-15 people sitting around a large round table. Nicolai picks up a g** and does away with the two men who helped him rise in power. After he is finished, he calmly explains that it was a double suicide and gives a detailed explanation of “what happened”. The people leave the meeting believing what they are told, instead of what they have seen with their own eyes.

I am stunned as I watched something very similar happen yesterday. The media is telling us what happened. It belies what we saw with our own eyes. They have removed dissenting voices from media platforms so that there is no other side. The masses just lap it all up as truth without any critical thinking or research at all. (Might I add that with just a little bit of research one can find serious oddities and inconsistencies with the story they are giving about yesterday.)

The academic world has been preparing for this for a long time. This is their crowning moment. They have literally taught two whole generations not to think for themselves. And then to top it off, they have demonized anyone who is willing to speak up or ask questions. I believe we are watching the fruition of something very dark and scary.

We are eroding into a “1984” society right in front of our eyes and most are just going right along and even believing the narrative!

As we have endured the last ten months of lies, deception, censoring, and fear-mongering, it all seemed to come to a head with the election. Do I believe there was that “f” word involved? You bet I do. It doesn’t take too much research to see the inconsistencies and lies and carefully planned destruction of complicit businesses that prove it abounded. But, again, if you only listen to mainstream news, you will be told a completely different story. And, most likely, you will believe it.

I don’t write about politics. And I’m not going to start now. I want to draw our attention to how confusing, chaotic, and overwhelming the world as become. I want to point at how deception can be played out before our very eyes (and we’ve seen that on so many, many levels) and people believe it.

If you are like me, then you will agree that this is probably one of the most frustrating aspects of all of this.

I believe that life as we know it is over. We’ve suspected it was over. We thought it probably was. But today we have to face the fact that it really is. It’s over.

And we wonder what the future will look like? Perhaps it won’t be so bad? Maybe it will be just awful? The new world order and its plan for humanity look tyrannical, controlling, and extremely unpleasant. It’s pretty scary if you think too much on it.

And, of course, will all of this lead to civil war? Will America have another war on its soil? This is the question on so many of our minds.

Unfortunately, we have to face the fact that all of this is outside of our control.

All of it is completely and utterly outside of our control.

As we watch our nation literally implode from the inside, we are helpless. There is nothing we can do. As we see socialism rear its ugly head on the horizon, we are impotent. We have no power to change the outcome that we see coming. As we see a tyrannical globalism stretch its fingers across the entire world, we are powerless. The “Great Reset” will be put into motion with or without our approval.

I think most of us are still reeling in shock. We have already been weakened by the divisive lock-downs and orders to social distance. We feel disconnected from our church families. Many of us feel alone and lost without human companionship. Some of you are losing businesses, others of you find yourselves unable to watch over your loved one’s healthcare in nursing homes or hospitals, or still others aren’t allowed to see your kids and grandkids. We are already discouraged, depressed, and weak.

I’ve gotta tell you, the enemy is BRILLIANT. Just brilliant. His plan, which was carefully prepared for years in advance, is being played out and we are but pawns in his deadly game.

Yesterday, I shared something I learned from a book I’ve recently re-read call Green Leaf in Drought. One thing I failed to mention in that post was regarding what is ahead for us.

The missionary family, forced to stay in northwest China for several years after the new communist government came into power, always had the hope of going home. America was full of comforts and conveniences and, maybe most important of all, freedom and security.

As my mom said a few weeks ago, there is going to be no free and safe America to go to anymore. As I read that book, my heart was filled with sorrow. America, that historic symbol of freedom, is changing. Her shores will no longer offer a harbor of freedom and safety.

And then it hit me.

I, too, have the hope of going home!

My home isn’t here. It. Is. Not. Here.

Whatever is ahead, whatever we will all need to face in the days ahead, if we are saved**, we have reason to hope!

Oh, how I keep ending up in that temporal mindset of mourning the country I have loved. Sorrowing over a world that is not my home.

But I am simply a pilgrim traveling through. My future home is still waiting for me. It’s perfect. There will be no crying, no trouble, no sorrow, no heartache there.

Oh, heaven is sounding sweeter and sweeter every day.

So what is ahead?

This temporal life is probably going to get much harder. But what is waiting for us after this world? Well, that’s going to get a whole lot sweeter if we are one of Christ’s own. We have so much to look forward to. We have an eternal Hope that no system of government, no man, no war, no persecution can take from us. And we are going to be okay.

 

 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

(Philippians 1:21)

 

 

**If you are not relying on Christ alone, through faith alone, for your salvation from sins, then what is waiting for you after death is eternal punishment. May I implore you to turn to Christ right now, today, so that you, too, can have eternal life spent with God in heaven? You can find out more here. And, as always, please feel free to email me at leslie {at} growing4life {dot} net if you have any questions. :)

 

 

Leaning Into God’s Will

9 Comments / January 5, 2021

The encouraging posts about God’s love and care for us are in abundance these days. You will find them on blogs, social media, and in many articles. We so desperately want to be reminded that He will see us through whatever lies ahead. And it is so important to be reminded of this. I share this message often myself here on the blog and over at the Growing4Life Facebook page.

But there is something else that we really need to remember.

Many years ago, I read a book called Green Leaf in Drought. I was so impacted by it that you will find it on my Favorite Books page here on the blog. I hadn’t read it for years, so I decided to pick it up again. It seemed like it might be even more relevant the second time around, given the concerns and fears we’ve experienced over the past year.

Yesterday, I finished it. It’s a short little book and I highly recommend it (I’ll add a link below for anyone interested). When communism started to fully infiltrate China, most of the missionaries left immediately. However, a few were unable to leave. This book is about a family that was held there for almost three years before they were released by the government to come home.

The lessons that they learned are important lessons for us all. I am not going to say a whole lot about their story so I don’t give too much away for those who want to read it. But I do want to share one important lesson they learned that is critical for us all. Perhaps especially right now.

When they were about a year and a half into their coerced stay in China, things were really bad. They were almost starving, fuel was hard to come by, and people were punished if they talked to the “Imperialists” (as they were known) which led to extreme loneliness. And then, on top of it all, imagine being a missionary and being told by the foreign government that you are not allowed to talk to anyone or to leave your house? Their whole purpose for being there could not be carried out and they were left in the nondescript corner of a foreign country with few resources and even fewer friends.

At one point the wife, in a state of fretting and restlessness, waited impatiently for the Lord to rescue them. She was frustrated with the Lord’s timing and, though she was submitted to His Will, she was none too happy about what that “will” was. One day, as she spent time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer, something dawned on her. What would happen if she would gladly and joyfully yield to God’s Will for her life instead of begrudgingly agreeing to it? What if she were to act more like a daughter carrying out a loving mission for her Father than a slave that was forced to do the master’s will? She resigned herself to lean into God’s Will and thus began a change of heart.

As she took this step of joyful submission, the peace and joy that had been missing from her Christian life came flooding in. She recognized that living a joyful life dedicated to the Lord in spite of their trials would be a light that the Chinese Christians could see, even if they never said a word. These conclusions were drawn in the midst of horrible circumstances that neither you or I could even imagine and will hopefully never have to endure. A few months later, God helped her husband understand the very same thing.

As they purposed in their hearts to have a good attitude, Satan did his best to discourage them and they were hit with even harder trials than before. But the peace never left them. The peace and joy they experienced was completely unrelated to their circumstances, just as we are promised in scripture.

I believe this is more than a little relevant for us today.

Or shall I say I find it relevant for me?

You see, I find my heart filled with sorrow and even anger when I think of the world we are living in currently. I feel like I am on the set of a movie that just won’t end. The masks, the social distancing, the vaccine, the economy, the dying small businesses, the election, the unbelievable compromise of Christians we trusted, and then there are the strong opinions about all of these things. The realization that whatever world my kids and grandkids grow up in (if the Lord tarries), it’s going to be quite a bit different than mine. The awful uncertainty of what lies ahead, always there like a dark shadow in the back of all of our minds, no matter where we live in this world. All of this makes my heart just ache and I can even grow angry if I am not careful. The world we lived in is no longer. And life as we have known it is over.

But this book convicted me. We—you, me, all of us—are here right now because God has ordained it. We are in His Will for our lives. We are going to be relatively ineffective as believers if we are focused on all that we don’t like about this new world instead of leaning into His will. We are going to be filled with dread, unhappiness, and fear if we are begrudgingly living in this new world. But if we joyfully submit to where God has us right now, we will show a lost world that God is true to His Word and we will be able to encourage and edify struggling fellow believers.

Do we want to be bright lights for Christ in this new world? If the answer is yes, than I am convinced we need to lean into God’s Will instead of resist it.

On a practical level, we will be faced with a variety of small tests and trials each day. How do we show this in the midst of family disagreements over the whimsical “laws” put in place by over-reaching governors? How do we show this in the midst of our disappointment in the way our churches, workplaces, or schools are handling things? How do we show this when someone asks us to wear a mask or move away from them? How do we show this when we hear more bad news? How do we show this when yet another discussion comes along regarding all that’s going on? How do we show this each and every hour of our lives?

I am not sure of the “how” but I am sure of the necessity of this. You see, if we are dragging our feet and have a bad attitude, then this will show in all of our words and actions. (I am talking to myself here as much as to you!) But if we joyfully yield our will to God’s, then this, too, will show in all of our words and actions.

Look, we are all here. Stuck on a ride we can’t get off. Watching the prophecy of scripture come to life in a way we never thought we’d see. But I can say with 100% confidence that this is where God has placed us.

For such a time as this.

No amount of railing, wailing, or flailing is going to change it.

While I am not saying that we don’t work actively to help change what we are given an opportunity to change, it’s pretty fair to say that most of this is completely outside of our control.

But it’s not outside of God’s control and, in His vast knowledge and incomprehensible Sovereignty, He knows exactly where He’s placed us in the history of this world.

So let’s not just resign ourselves to live in this new world but let’s choose to joyfully live in this new world. Let’s show the world that God’s peace and joy is not based on circumstances.

And, on a bright note, living in this time of history may actually mean we are the generation that is raptured! How awesome would that be? It seems more and more likely each day.

So may we all ask God to help us be joyfully submissive as we walk this path we don’t really want to be on. He is sufficient and He will supply our needs. And, eventually, this will all be behind us as we face the prospect of a marvelous eternity together with Him in heaven.

 

 

—If you are interested in being encouraged further by reading the story of Arthur and Wilda Mathews as Isobel Kuhn writes it in Green Leaf in Drought, you can find it here. (This is not an affiliate link and I receive no compensation for you clicking on it. I am merely pointing you to where you can find the book.)

 

 

Good-Bye 2020

3 Comments / December 31, 2020

Can you remember where you were that week everything changed? The winter months had brought vague references to “Coronavirus” in China and then, suddenly, BANG. Life as we knew it was over.

I left the Friday before to visit my daughter and her family in the south and when I got back, my world was a different place. I will never forget that first moment of walking through my local grocery store. I had only ever seen empty store shelves when a blizzard was coming. But this was no blizzard and there were no snow plows coming to the rescue of this.

We were told that millions were going to die. Fear was on every face and death was on the forefront of every mind.

Everything locked down. Stores and restaurants and schools and work places were closed. Zoom became how we did school, had work meetings, and even met with friends.

Soon everyone was walking around with masks on. You’d even see people wearing them while exercising outside or in a car alone. People became very upset with those who chose not to wear one. Somehow the freedom to do what we want with our bodies only applied to killing our babies through abortion.

People kept their distance and would cower in fear if you would get too close. They’d step back so you could pass. They no longer hugged friends and family. Many grandparents weren’t even allowed to see their grandchildren. Some still aren’t. (How sad is that??)

Keep in mind that this was all for a virus with less than a 1% death rate (0% for children).

The narrative kept the public paralyzed in fear. Few were willing to look at the real science behind mask-wearing, lock-downs, and viruses and those that would be brave enough to post anything on social media would be removed. Things were “fact-checked” and the public never went behind the scenes to see who was actually doing the “fact-checking”. Were they legitimate? (the short answer, after just a little research, is NO, they are not.)

Meanwhile, the elderly languished and many died. Some died from the virus but many died from the isolation and loneliness that accompanied the draconian measures. Many of them are still in lock-down. It just breaks my heart to think of them without their families and loved ones to watch over their care and to brighten their days with visits. They are one of the greatest casualties in this whole thing.

Then a few months into this whole thing, the news started being filled with stories about riots. Precious monuments and long-held traditions were torn down and washed away. It was an extremely bizarre time of this extremely bizarre year. To say the least.

As if that wasn’t enough, the news became filled with wildfires and hurricanes. Wildfires that completely wiped out thousands of acres and all of the houses and towns that were in their paths. There were more named hurricanes than ever before. Two of those hurricanes were a direct hit on where my daughter lives with her family. Her town is still recovering from that double hit (six weeks apart) and will be for a long time. It was devastating.

And then there was the election. What can even be said about the election? So much could be said but I’ll leave it at this: Fraud has been clearly proven. It is abundantly clear to any thinking person who is willing to look beyond the narrative. And yet, the mainstream media would have us believe that these claims are “unfounded”.

Most of the year felt like we were living in a movie. An apocalyptic film that we wanted to escape from and couldn’t. Reviewing this year reminds me of how incredibly strange it was. I used the word “insanity” more times this past year than I’ve used it in my entire life.

While we didn’t like it, most of us became used to living in a state of uncertainty. We know change is still coming. And we realize that life as we knew it is over. But we were forced to keep living. What other choice did we have? And, for many of us, our day to day wasn’t drastically changed. If we stayed home, we were even able to forget about it for a few hours.

I did learn a lot this past year. I am guessing you did, too. I thought I’d share a few lessons I’ve learned as we come to the end of this very strange year.

1. If you’ve been reading my blog this past year, then you will remember that I had a real battle with fear for about six weeks. It was awful but I came out of it much stronger and God taught me that if I fear Him, I have nothing else to fear. He taught me that He is my peace and my strength. I can’t explain it, but He really did rescue me from that all-consuming fear. I am not saying I still don’t have moments, but that shadow of agonizing anxiety that never left me is gone. God answered my prayer and taught me that He is enough.

2. I also learned to take predictions with a grain of salt. Early on, I read a prediction about this fall that had me thinking many in my family would be dead by Christmas. I lost a whole night of sleep over this report. Needless to say, it didn’t happen. And I learned not to read most of the negative predictions. All they do is scare you and, many times, they don’t even happen. While I do appreciate fact-based data and articles, I learned that predictions are simply conjectures about what might take place in the future. No use getting all worked up about “mights”. Matthew 6:34 states this principle pretty clearly: Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

3. This year brought very strong opinions that were not related to biblical issues. People became divided over things like masks, social distancing, and politics. Questions about whether or not to hold church or gather together as families and friends brought quarrels and arguments. People were very intense and many did not allow for differing opinions. Even Christians would grow agitated if someone shared an opinion that didn’t match theirs. I learned through watching this unexpected turn of events that it was so important to show grace for people, even if we didn’t agree. I always want to live out Romans 8:18 (If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.) And this year brought the perfect opportunity.

4. I like puzzles by nature. I am a very curious person and am fascinated by how things work. This led me to do  some digging that most people do not do. I have been doing this for years, so I brought to the 2020 puzzle many facts that the average person is unaware of. And here is the conclusion that I came to (well this isn’t new to me but was just confirmed in 2020): Don’t trust anyone. Only God can be fully trusted. I am shocked at the amount of people who trust that the government has our best interest in mind. I am flabbergasted at the amount of Christians who believe Trump to be the “savior” of our normal. I am stunned at how many believe the vaccine to be a cure-all, despite that no one knows of its side effects, it’s untested, and it’s put out by companies that have been released of all liability. Please, don’t be deceived. I know you may not be like me. You may not care for puzzles. But approach everything you hear with a healthy dose of skepticism. No matter where it comes from. Satan, the master of lies and deception, is actively playing out His plan and there is no “good” side to stand with in this world. Please keep that in mind as you watch things unfold. Choose to stand with God alone, looking to His Word for truth. Yes, you will be lonely, but I can assure you it’s the safest place to stand.

5. And, finally, I have been learning (and continue to learn) to take one day at a time, focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal. This is a constant struggle for me but I continue to work at it. Being thankful helps me to do this (I Thessalonians 5:18). Controlling my thoughts helps me to do this (2 Corinthians 10:5). Thinking about and remembering what really matters helps me to do this (Colossians 3:1-3). Life on earth will seem as just a small blip in the timeline of our lives. There is so much more than what we are experiencing here. We have so much to look forward to!

 

So it’s good-bye to 2020. It’s been interesting, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like things are going back to normal anytime soon. So let’s keep growing and looking more like Christ. Let’s shine so brightly that those who are searching can spot us in their darkness. And let’s offer encouragement and strength to the saints that is sourced from the Word of Life alone.

 

The Park is Closing

4 Comments / December 8, 2020

Do you remember that moment that you were at Disneyland (or any really enjoyable place that you love) and they announced it was time to close? You had had a pretty amazing day. Sure, there were some crowds to deal with and that kid on the roller coaster was annoying but, overall, it had been a wonderful break from reality. But the sun had set and the day was done. It was time to make your way to the gates.

You knew the end of the day was coming when the sun had started to sink in the west and the lights had, one by one, flickered to life. The signs were there. And, yet, when that final call came to make your way to the gates, it was disappointing. You were tired and you were a bit over-indulged, but leaving signified the end of a really lovely day that wouldn’t come around again for a long time–and maybe never, depending upon where you were for the day.

I feel a little like that right now.

I was having a conversation with someone and we were talking about Christians in America. They mentioned that living here as a Christian has been like living in Disneyland. And it isn’t real. And, I might add, it isn’t normal.

Think with me, if you will, of Christians both past and present, outside of America. Difficulties, persecutions, trials, and troubles mark their lives. Yes, we have these things in America but we generally aren’t worrying about if we will eat. And we most certainly aren’t worrying about whether we will be thrown in jail for our faith.

But we’ve seen signs of that coming, have we not? For a good ten years or more, we’ve seen the sun sinking in the west. It’s getting darker and darker and there are very few lights coming on to shine in all that blackness.

And, now, it seems that it is time to leave that America. The events of this past year have exponentially increased the likelihood of never returning to what we thought she was.

It saddens me greatly to say that it is increasingly looking like my kids and grandkids will not live in the America I lived in.

And yet…

Maybe I shouldn’t be sad?

Maybe this is actually a good thing.

Nominal, worldly Christianity flourishes in a world full of materialism and tolerance. When it doesn’t cost to be a Christian everyone claims to be one, greatly muddying the waters of true faith. Opportunities are few to trust God for necessities or to put our faith into action as we boldly proclaim the truth.

All of this has weakened us considerably. Until we almost can’t tell the wheat from the tares anymore. Persecution and hard times would clear up that line that has become extremely fuzzy over the years. When being a Christian costs, we will quickly find out who is serious.

And this isn’t a bad thing, is it?

While we are bemoaning our exit from what has been the wonderful experience of living in this great country, perhaps we should instead turn our eyes to the opportunities we are going to be afforded to live for God in a whole new way.

Yes, I think we can be pretty sure by now that whatever is ahead is going to look very different than what we’ve experienced heretofore. And I know our flesh can quiver at the thought of this–especially as believers. But once we can get past the quivering, we have much to be excited about.

We are literally watching the world be set up for a Revelation 13 scenario. I would never make any predictions on how long that will take–could be a year or twenty or fifty– but it IS being set up for that. What an incredible confirmation of scripture! It’s awe-inspiring, is it not?

We could be raptured (there are no words to express how amazing it would be to be part of the generation that is raptured!) but we also need to realize that we may not be raptured. The really important thing to remember is that–no matter what lies ahead for this country or for us personally–God will provide.

I remember reading many accounts of believers that tell of God’s great provision in extremely dire times. I remember reading of martyrs who were singing while burning at the stake. If we are a redeemed child of God’s, He will give us the strength and grace needed for whatever lies ahead. We can count on that!

So, yes, I do believe we are leaving Disneyland. Reminders are everywhere. Empty churches. Quiet restaurants. Bankrupt stores. Going Out of Business sales. As we were driving around looking at Christmas lights last night, the lack of traffic and activity was a sad reminder that things are so…not normal.

But we will be fine. God is with us wherever we go. And that includes when we make our way out of the wonderful world we’ve lived in and into the world where most Christians live.

 

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 139:7-12

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

 

Please note: To my international readers, I am guessing that you are probably having some of these same questions and fears so I hope this has been an encouragement to you, as well!

And also please note: The 2021 Bible Reading Challenge is up! I will send a post about this sometime in the upcoming weeks, but if you wanted to take a sneak peek, you can find it here.

 

Escape Is Promised

5 Comments / November 17, 2020

The other day I watched an octopus trying to capture a sea snake. Okay, let me fill you in on why I was watching that before I explain what I learned from watching it.

We were keeping our grandsons for the evening and we were at the point where we were all tired. The baby was sleeping in Grandpa’s arms and the two year old and four year old were sitting with me on the loveseat. For whatever reason (this isn’t something we normally do) we turned to YouTube to watch animal videos. The four year old was very interested in octopusses (octopuses? octopusi?) for some reason so I put “octopus” in the search box to see what came up.

He pointed to a video whose cover showed an octopus and a sea snake. I clicked on it to see if it was worthwhile watching. (There is so much not worthwhile and even downright bad on YouTube. I recommend that no child in your care ever be left on their own to scroll through without you to guard their precious eyes.)

What we saw upon clicking on the video was a scuba diver taking a home video of the ocean floor, where he had just happened to catch an octopus trying to capture a sea snake.

It was most fascinating to watch! The octopus used all eight arms in his battle with the sea snake. He would wrap them around his prey and pull him close to himself but then the sea snake would twist and turn and almost get away. Just when he thought he was free, the octopus would reach yet another arm out to grab him and pull him back. This went on for some minutes until finally the sea snake was able to escape the deadly tentacles and he swam away in glorious freedom. He would live to see another day.

I found this video so interesting on several levels. First–who knew there was so much drama on the ocean floor? Of course, I knew it, I had just never really thought about it before. Oh, how wonderful it will be to live on a new earth that has no predator and prey. Have you ever thought about that?

But I also thought of two spiritual analogies that go along with this video. I was trying to decide which one to write about and I’ve decided to just write about both.

First, I think Satan is a little like that octopus. He will try a multi-pronged attack to render us ineffective for Christ. He may tempt us with the sins of self-pity or lying, which we may wallow in for awhile and then just as we escape that sin we are tempted by another one that keeps us wrapped up and imprisoned for a time. As believers, we never stop fighting our enemy. We keep at it until the day we die, knowing that he has no power over us. We will always escape. Sometimes we may receive a short respite and be able to catch our breath, but it never lasts too long, does it? The war with our enemy and with our flesh requires constant attention. There is always another sin or worldly temptation that distracts from and taints a healthy walk with Christ. The “arms” of Satan are limitless and we can only experience victory by never giving up the fight.

But I’d like to spend a bit more time on the second analogy. As I watched that video, I looked at my husband and said I feel a little like that sea snake as I think about the year of 2020. In the midst of whatever game the powers-that-be are playing right now, we are fighting for our sanity and our peace.

It all started with the Coronavirus, one arm of a movement that would try to wrap itself around and suffocate our hope, our peace, and our joy. This arm tried to squelch us with its message of fear and control. Don’t leave your homes. Wear a mask. Close everything. Cancel everything.

Next came the arm of BLM, bringing with it riots, destruction, cancel culture and, with it, more fear.

And, finally, the arm of the election brought with it confusion, disgust, discouragement, and…even more fear.

Now we hear words like “dark winter” and “increasing lockdowns” and yet another arm of the giant octopus is trying to squelch our peace and joy and make us question our sanity.

But this world’s many-armed approach of breaking the spirit of the people can’t work on believers. Not if they are fervently praying and studying their Bibles. There is amazing (and supernatural) strength to be drawn from the pages of scripture. We are immune to even the biggest octopus (spiritually-speaking) if we are walking with God. He is our strength (Psalm 37:39). He is our fortress (Psalm 18:2). He is our Protector (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Nothing can defeat us, nothing can steal our peace and joy, nothing can remove us from the care of the Good Shepherd and the Father’s love.

Oh, we do have to fight. God has made that clear in His Word (see Ephesians 6:11-13 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). But we will win. We will escape.

We must keep in mind that this does not mean physically. We may suffer terrible losses in this battle with the giant one-world octopus. We may even have to die. We really don’t know what is ahead. But we will be gloriously victorious in the end. Nothing–not even all the events of the year 2020–has the capability of defeating us, as believers, unless we forfeit by taking our eyes off Jesus and putting them on this world.

I admit it’s been a fight and it can be exhausting (as I’ve shared before). I imagine that sea snake, too, was exhausted, as he fought for his life. As we fight for our peace, joy, and–yes–even our sanity in a world full of bad news, violence, fraud, lies, and propaganda, remember that we will escape with all of these things intact, if we but choose to anchor ourselves in God’s Word.

I just cannot believe how I am watching the pages of scripture come to life right now. It is so confirming of the verity of the Bible. So don’t be discouraged. We saw all this coming. Yes, we are in a dreadful fight against evil but God will make a way of escape. And I honestly believe that may very well be soon now!

So keep on fighting. Don’t give up. I know it feels like we are at a disadvantage. And so we are, from the world’s perspective. But they are discounting the fact that God is all-powerful and that there are no sticky tentacles, or number of arms, or any power on this earth that cast us into a prison of fear and torment when God is on our side.

 

(Here’s the link to the octopus and sea snake video if you want to watch it yourself. It says it is 13 minutes long but we just watched the first four minutes).

 

The Benefits of Living in the Fog

6 Comments / November 5, 2020

This morning, as I came downstairs and looked out the window, I saw a lovey mist covering the land. It was almost ethereal in its beauty so I grabbed my phone and took the photo above.

Fog may look pretty on a fall morning, but it is always a bit dangerous. It limits our view as it encompasses us all about with its gloomy, gray shroud.

Of course, some fog is thicker than others. And, unfortunately, the fog we are currently living in and which surrounds us on all sides is neither ethereal or lovely. It’s murky. It’s uncomfortable. It’s disconcerting. It’s frustrating. And it’s getting old.

Are you–like me– so so weary of all of the conflict, the division, the lies, the censoring, the chaos, the injustice, the uncertainty?

We have been telling ourselves to “trust the Lord; God’s got this; don’t complain; remember it could be so much worse” all year long.

And all of that is true. And extremely important.

But sometimes it’s just discouraging, isn’t it?

No matter where you live in the world, your world has been changed. This fog is not limited to America and its unsettled, corrupt election. As countries start to lock down again, riots continue across all the world, and governments enforce more and more tyrannical laws, we are all facing what seem to be insurmountable issues and never-ending chaos.

This week I was reminded that, while we may be discouraged and overwhelmed by all that is happening, all of this uncertainty and confusion can be used for good in the lives of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).

Notice I didn’t say it would be comfortable or pain-free. But I do think it will yield good results, if we but just turn our eyes to God and His Word. If we but keep an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one.

How can this dark fog that surrounds us change us for the better? How is it already changing us?

First, this has given us opportunity to examine ourselves. Just how strong is my faith? Do I really believe what I have said I believe? Why am I responding with anger, sadness, anxiety?

Second, it gives us opportunity to trust God like never before. Most of us have been pretty self-sufficient. We aren’t used to unsolvable problems that influence many aspects of our lives and have no end in sight. We have no choice but to yield our will to God’s. We are forced to admit that we can’t see and to trust that God will walk with us through the thick fog.

Third, we actually get to experience God walking with us through the fog. I am currently reading the biography of a missionary who was in China during the communist takeover and I am delighted and amazed at the way God filled them with peace and protected them in times much scarier than what we are facing currently. These testimonies are encouraging and remind us that God will walk with us, no matter what lies ahead. It doesn’t mean that we won’t face hard and difficult times nor that we will be spared deep pain. But God will be with us, no matter how dark this world gets.

Fourth, this has been a good lesson in remembering what’s important. I have talked to so many who have reorganized their priorities this year. I’ve done it myself. Suddenly, the things that were gobbling up so much of our time just don’t seem near as important as before.

Fifth, this is teaching us to redeem our time. Many of us find ourselves wondering how long we will have certain privileges and opportunities. The chief of which is going to church and sharing the Gospel. As we see the censorship of both mainstream and social media, we recognize that, without a miracle, our time for openly sharing our faith is probably drawing to a close. As we contemplate this, it should be compelling us to courageously share our faith with the lost around us.

______________________________________

And so the fog isn’t all bad, is it? Sure, it’s not much fun but God is going to use it in the lives of His children to grow them. He’s going to grow us in faith, in courage, and in holiness. And, for that, we can be forever grateful.

 

Encouragement for the Fainthearted

8 Comments / October 27, 2020

A few weeks ago, we realized that we were going to have to say good-bye to our dog. She was growing thinner by the day and it was obvious something was really wrong with her. When I called the vet they asked me if we would stay with her during her final hour or just give her to them.

Oh, how my whole being wanted to just leave her, so I wouldn’t have to face the “hard”. So much easier to drop her off and walk away.

But it wasn’t that simple…

I have had two dogs in my life that have meant more to me than any others, and she was one of them. I just couldn’t leave her to die all alone.

The next few days dragged by as we spent our final moments with the treasured pet that had been with our family for fifteen years.

And then came the day when my 21 year old daughter and I got into the car with Belle for one last time. We drove to the vet, hearts heavy, and were taken to a little room. There, we said our final goodbye and Belle breathed her last. I still tear up, even as I am writing this.

Several times over the course of the week before, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Surely, it would be okay to just leave her? After all, she was just a dog. But as I left that room, even as I was dealing with the grief of losing this beloved pet, I was very much at peace that I had chosen the harder path.

She is just a dog. A dog without soul and without eternal significance. This is minor in light of many choices we face.

And yet, this incident reminded me of how, so often, the harder choice is the better choice.

We love easy roads. We all do. How much easier to traverse a smooth, wide road than a rocky, narrow path. And so often I make the choice that is easier. At least at the time.

I feel like I’ve come awake these past few months to how often I’ve chosen the easy path. I’ve been spoiled. I always knew this, but it has taken on even more significance recently. Most of us have been tremendously blessed materially and have rarely had to make choices that would bring negative consequences on ourselves or our families.

And I wonder: Do I even have what it takes to face the hard? Do I have the courage and strength and boldness I am going to need for whatever lies ahead?

This can make me feel downright fainthearted.

That’s when I am reminded of three very, very important principles from God’s Word (Don’t skip over the verses! They are amazingly relevant and oh, so comforting!)–

1. My strength comes from the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2. God will supply all of my needs.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

3. God’s grace will be sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

When we have doubts we must remember these three things! Whatever lies ahead, we have the Lord on our side. These words from scripture are not empty promises. They have been proven over and over again by those who have gone on before us. They are being proven every day by those who are already walking the difficult path of persecution in other lands.

We will not be left alone, as those without a Shepherd. We will not be left hopeless, as those without a Savior. We will not be left weak and powerless, as those without Almighty God on their side.

No matter what lies ahead, we must choose the righteous and holy path. No matter how arduous the trail ahead, we must take that first step. And when we do this, we can be assured that God will provide all we need to travel this hard road. He is walking with us. We are not alone!

 

 

Six Things to Consider Regarding the Upcoming Election

3 Comments / October 20, 2020

It has been a strange whirlwind of a year and it is culminating with perhaps the single most important election in American history. It seems as if the whole world is watching and waiting to see the outcome and what will happen afterwards. We who live in America know that change is brewing and we feel unsettled. We realize that we are probably never going back to the way things were, no matter who wins this election.

Most posts you read regarding the upcoming election express concern about the issues facing the culture and then encourage you to be sure and vote. I am actually not going to focus on that, as I am sure you have read plenty regarding these things. I do encourage you to search the scriptures before you cast your vote. Do not do so lightly or without prayer.

But let’s talk about the election beyond the obvious. Beyond the aspect of voting. Let’s consider some things that are even more important–

1. God’s plan may be (and, in fact, probably is) different than our plan.

Have you said the following words yet this year: “I just want my old life back” or “When will things just go back to normal?”

Oh, how many of us yearn to go back to the old America. She’s been going a very wrong direction for a long, long time now but, still, she was comfortable. She felt safe. She felt secure.

That has been swept away and we’d like nothing more than to just get all of that back again. But God may have a totally different plan for this country. Remember, His plan always supersedes our own plans. While there is nothing wrong with participation in human government whether it’s through voting or actually serving in government, we must remember that God’s plan is what is most important.

As Christians, our priority is not saving America. It is glorifying God and submitting to His will.

Not only is God’s plan different, but it’s also actually greater than our plan.

I am sure many Christians throughout history have wondered what in the world God was doing? Many were sent to gulags and concentration camps; they were imprisoned; they were displaced; they were separated from their families; they became sick and died; And many were even martyred for their faith. These things are not just from history. They are actually still happening all over the world today. Christians go through terrible trials.

This would not be our plan.

And yet, we are told in scripture that God’s ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30). This means that His plans are better and higher than our plans.

 

2. We aren’t here to fix the culture.

One of the things that has disturbed me about much of the talk that is going on in Christian circles today is this push to fix the culture. We are told by certain (trusted) men that our job as Christians is to make the world a better place. Many are saying that we are here to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. This idea seems to take on more and more steam almost every day.

But I challenge you to find that idea in scripture.

Oh, you may find a verse or two that could be stretched to fit if they are ripped out of context. But if you study God’s Kingdom from Genesis to Revelation using a consistent hermeneutic, you will find that there is no possible way this could be true. I hope to write more about this some day. It’s a pretty big deal.

For now, let’s just be clear: The Bible teaches that upon our salvation, our focus is taken off this world and turned to things above (Colossians 3:2). Rather than working to bring perfection here to earth, we are much more concerned with sharing the Gospel so that others can join us in heaven someday (Matthew 28:19-20). Nowhere does it say or even imply that Christians are here on this earth to fix the culture.

 

3. There is nothing new under the sun.

No matter what happens, we know that people have experienced something similar before us. Countries have been taken over by the likes of Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot. Communism has destroyed freedom all over the world. Real people like you and like me have lived under these regimes. They have struggled and they have suffered.

And, yet, somehow, Christians from the past and, even in these countries today, experience peace and joy. They were (and are) given the grace they need when they need it. And, so, we, too, will be given the grace to go through whatever is ahead (2 Corinthians 12:9). Another thing to remember is that, as the world grows darker, the light of Jesus Christ shines brighter. What abundant opportunities may lie ahead for us to share the Good News!

 

4. Don’t believe everything you hear.

I think it is clear that– whether we are discussing a virus, the riots, or the election– that there is a narrative that the world-at-large is determined we will believe. Those bringing us the news, the tech companies controlling social media, and the government would like nothing better than that you just eat what they feed you.

It is important that we have a healthy dose of skepticism regarding any story we hear. We must carefully think through and do some investigation before just swallowing–or, even worse yet, passing along–a story we’ve heard (no matter what side of the political fence it happens to be on).

We need to run all through the grid of scripture and test to see if these things are true, rather than simply believe what we are told. Why do I include this here? Because it is so important that we don’t let the power of the narrative to cause us to stop thinking. We have been given a brain to think and to reason. Don’t stop using it simply because the crowd has stopped using theirs.

Just because the majority believes something doesn’t make it true.

 

5.   Remember that we know how this ends.

We do not have a specific timeline of end time events. But we can see the signs.

And what we do know, according to Revelation 13, is that someday there will be a one-world government, one-world economy, and a one-world religion. Now think with me for a moment regarding what will have to take place before this scenario can happen?

We can make some fairly certain assumptions–

America will submit to a global government.

The world will be cashless.

The false Christianity of this age will join with the rest of the world in its worship of the antichrist.

As we watch and wait, we can see how these things are forming. Again, as I’ve said so often before, we can’t know a timeline. But we do know what’s coming and what is happening is certainly setting the stage for these things. We are living in very exciting times!

 

6. We can only control our actions and reactions.

We can’t control who our friend or family member votes for. We can’t control the outcome of the election. We can’t control what happens after the election. We can’t even control if our vote counts.

But we can control how we treat others who do not agree with us. We can control our words. Our behavior. Our attitudes.

And so that is what we must do.

This means showing the lost and dying world that we are transformed because of Christ. This means not complaining if things don’t go as we desire. It means not heatedly arguing with people who don’t agree with us. It means trusting God and showing the world the peace and joy that He gives, despite our fears for the future. It means loving our enemies.

And, in responding in these humanly unnatural ways, we will point people to Christ and give Him the honor and glory. For it is He who has changed us and made these responses possible.

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So pray and then vote. But let us not feel defeated if the outcome doesn’t go our way–nor feel too victorious if it does. The bottom line is that the nations are in the hands of the Lord (Psalm 47:8) and He’s controlling the world’s stage.

God is our refuge and strength. He’s a stronghold in time of trouble. And he’s not going to let us go now. We are His. So hang on to the anchor of His Word and be strong and courageous.

 

 

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