A Breach in the Wall

A Breach in the Wall

(Part One)

“Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, the wagons, and the chariots, when he enters your gates, as men enter a city that has been breached.”   [Ezekiel 26:10]

In the time of Ezekiel, Israel was going through a lot of changes.  The city of Tyre had a king, Hiram who was fierce and no one could get through the walls of the city, but Alexander the Great conquered the city and made a breach in the wall.  Once the wall was compromised and the opening made, nothing could stop them from coming in and taking over.

Once the enemy got inside, Ezekiel tells us that this is what happens.  “With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people by the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground.  They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water.  I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be heard no more. I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,' says the Lord GOD.”   Ezekiel 26:11-14

Today, the president and our government have made a breach in the walls of our country! Those who hate America and want to destroy us have already entered in and have established pockets of Jihadists with camps set up for training grounds.  Michigan is one of those areas.  Refugees come across our borders without proper identification and other necessary documentation and settle across our country. In large cities, people most likely do not even know who their neighbors are. 

The breach in our walls has been widened when the president stated that we were no longer a Christian Nation, but also a Muslim nation.  Christian values continues to drop as anything that has been based on Christianity is being removed across our country; the Ten Commandments, Nativity scenes, symbols, such as the Cross and even Christian songs. 

The Devil, himself, has entered in as the breach becomes wider and wider.  Not that he wasn’t already here, but as fewer Christians take a stand for our beloved country, the more fierce he becomes.  ‘Politically Correct’ is and should be a great offense to the Faithful Christians.  We should believe that we should follow ‘God’s Commands’ in what we do and say. 

We hear our officials end their speeches with ‘God Bless America’.  Do you think God is going to bless this country if we continue to adhere to ‘political correctness’?  If we do not pray for our country and continue to go along with the liberals, God is not going to bless this country.  Do you think that the estimated 974,000 abortions that took place here in the US in 2014 will allow God to bless us?

If I wrote down all the sinful practices and the number of them, I wouldn’t have the room to write them.  I am not talking about what I personally think, but what God Almighty tells us in His Word.  God created us in His image and it was good.  Then He gave us His Word as a guide of what we should and shouldn’t do. The Old Testament was God’s covenant and the New Testament is his fulfillment.  It still held the same guidance as the Old Testament, but God gave us another chance when he sent his Son, Jesus to save us through his death on the Cross!

We are still free to choose how we want to live.  The consequences are still the same as they always were, so choose carefully.  For those who realize they are not living God’s way, you can always change by giving up your sinful life style and repent.  There is no salvation without repentance.  Being politically correct does not save you now or in the future. 

The Breach in the Wall is there and getting bigger every day.  Pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness as we see the ‘strong pillars’ of our once Godly nation being torn down, God’s Word being mocked and challenged, even our country’s flags being disrespected.  We see people being shot down like animals by Muslim Jihadists.  Our country doesn’t even want to call them what they are.  Our children are being taught things in school that do not fit in with Christian values. They are not safe to even go into a bathroom by themselves; in public places and now even in schools.  What is coming next?

Many will not even read this article.  Some may call me a ‘hater’ or a ‘bigot’, but what I write here is backed by the Word of God.  If you take this message to heart, you should be on your knees praying that God will keep you safe.  As a Christian, our darkest days are still ahead of us.  The breach in the wall has happened and makes me think that perhaps our country has gone too far and we are like the city of Tyre where God says, “You shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,' says the Lord GOD.”

I will continue next week with ‘part two’ of “A Breach in the Wall”

What is a Father?

What is a Father?

“Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:
that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:2-3

 Every year when Father’s Day comes around, I think of my father who passed away in 1972.  Although he’s been gone a long time, my memories bring his image to the front of my mind.  He was not the ‘perfect’ father; he had many faults and caused much sadness to my mother, I choose to think of the good times.  He taught me how to swim, showed me how to hunt morel mushrooms, took me fishing in the lake and showed me how to shoot and handle a gun.  I remember the Sunday afternoon drives and picnics at roadside parks.  He was a fur buyer and trapper and he once gave me a pearl-handled jackknife and showed me how to scrape the fat off the inside of a fur pelt.  I was so proud of that job.  I also learned how to sort the furs by size and kinds (muskrat, mink and fox).

This all sound like a great dad, but sadly he never attended church or any school functions; never prayed out loud; didn’t care what grades I got in school, or that I was in all kinds of plays and musicals.  He would leave the house when I practiced piano and refused to pay for more than 9 months of lessons.  He didn’t care when I made cheerleader.  He had little interest in what any of our family did.

Regardless of all of this; I loved my father!  I also knew he loved me, although he never was able to say the words.  It was things he did that let me know how much he loved me.  When my husband and I had to move to Texas for my daughter’s health, he drove all the way there with my mother and little sister to visit us.  Years later when we moved back to my home town, he would stop by several times a week to bring me and my children to their house for lunch with him and my mother.  Many times he just stopped by to see if we were okay.   

Most fathers are not like the old TV show, “Father Knows Best”.  They have faults; some more serious than others.  However, you would not be here today except for your father and mother.  Regardless of how accepted ‘same sex couples’ are, they cannot have children together.  It still takes a sperm and an egg to create a human being.  Yet, that is not to say that stepfathers cannot be great examples. 

 When we look in the Bible and read about fathers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see some things in them that don’t make the best fathers.  Read about Joseph and his brothers; Lot and his daughters, or Moses and his relationship with his sons.  It gives you a great deal of thought on what constitutes a ‘Father’.

Abraham sent his first son out of his camp with his Egyptian mother.  Can you imagine how that young boy felt being rejected by his father?  Moses left his boys with their mother and took off for parts unknown.  They really never had a father to raise them as they grew to manhood.  Isaac loved his eldest son, Esau, more than his son Jacob.  Jacob retaliated by robbing his brother of his birthright and his father’s blessing.  Of course he received the consequences of being cheated by his Uncle Laban.  Then Jacob himself had twelve sons, but favored Joseph and the other boys revolted and tried to kill Joseph.  How about Lot who moved into the evil city of Sodom?  God showed him mercy and saved him from death, but his daughters were perverted and had children with their father, who apparently didn’t turn them away. 

These great men of faith certainly weren’t the best of fathers, but God still blessed them and forgave them.  If God can forgive these fathers of the past, why can’t we forgive our fathers at this time of history?

I like to think of the good father whose son left home so he could enjoy the sins of the world.  I have so often marveled that as this young man built up enough courage to come home to ask his father’s forgiveness, his father saw him coming ‘a great way off.’ In my mind, I see the father as a man who loved his son deeply and was so hurt his son left like he did, that he daily stood looking down the road. He obviously longed for his son to return.

I don’t know how old this father was, but it says he was filled with compassion and took off running down the road toward his son. [This is the only time in the Bible that refers to God running to welcome home a lost soul.] Oh, that all parents would react like this father, when their children have been wayward and then come back home.  “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his Father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”  Luke 15:20.”                                                       

When the father reached his son, he threw his arms around him; hugged him and kissed him. What joy there was in the father’s heart.  Father’s, don’t wait to repair a broken relationship with your son or daughter. Be forgiving and compassionate. Remember, you weren’t perfect either.  Sons and daughters, forgive your fathers for any wrong that was done to you in the past. You can’t force a person to change, but with forgiveness and compassion they can and it also eases your own heart.

God never expected you to carry the burden of un-forgiveness.  It can ruin your life and the enemy of our soul uses it to hold you back from your full potential of living life in freedom.  It doesn’t matter if the other person accepts your forgiveness or not.  When you do what God wants you to do, you will be set free. 

Close your eyes a moment and envision a father (or mother) running down a road towards their lost child and think on this scripture in (Ephesians 5:2-4) "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth”. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”

     Forgiveness works both ways, just like love.

Expect The Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

"But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; 

for with God all things are possible."  Mark 10:27

            

With all the things going on in this world, it may make you question what’s coming next.  Latest issue came up about transgender people and bathroom rights.  The big ordeal over who uses whose bathroom is the most disgusting thing I ever heard. I can’t even talk about it without getting upset.  You see I’m one of those people who believe what the Bible says.  God made you to be what you are and if you want to change and become somebody else, then learn to live with the taboos that go with it. It is ungodly!

My husband and I were talking about it the other day and I said, “What will they come up with next?  What he said to me was, “Expect the Unexpected”. That really got my attention.  No matter what is yet to come – be prepared to expect the unexpected.  As things continue to worsen around us be prepared to react to it.  Some will say, “Oh, it’s just the way of the world” and others will say, “We need to stand up for what we believe.”  Don’t get caught off guard; remember the wicked will perish, but with God all things are possible.

As Christians we don’t have to take the back seat to anyone.  We have the Holy Spirit and the power of God on our side. When are Christians going to stand up to the liberals?  First of all we are Christians, secondly we are Americans and thirdly, we have rights. 

I’m like the preacher who was giving a message in church.  Suddenly he stopped and said, “I just feel like I’m going to start preaching.”  He didn’t realize that’s what he was already doing.  So I’m going to give it to you like this.  “Are you a ‘born again’ Christian?  Then quit acting like you don’t even know who God is.  Step out and stand up; get on your soap box and start telling the people around you what you think of this milk toast Christianity that some preachers are trying to feed you.

Put ‘politically correct’ to death.  If you are a Muslim – you are not a Christian.  If you worship Mohammed, you do not worship God almighty.  Jesus Christ is not just a prophet – He is the Son of the Living God!  If a man has sex with another man or a woman has sex with another woman – it is called an ‘Abomination’. (Read Leviticus 20:13).  When people have sex out of marriage – it’s called ‘fornication’, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.” [1 Corinthians 6:18]  When you are married and sleep with someone other than your husband or wife, its called adultery. [Exodus 20:14]  All of these things are promoted in the media so people believe that it’s okay to do them. 

I know as I write this, none of it is politically correct, but these are not my words, they are God’s words. If reading this convicts you, it’s a good time to repent and ask God’s forgiveness.  The Bible tells us that you can’t serve two masters, Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other.”

If you believe you can do the things I’ve written about and still be a Christian, you are sadly mistaken my friend.  Jesus died on the cross for your sins so when you throw the filth of the world in his face by thinking it’s okay, wait until you die and see where you are going. 

We don’t know what is coming next, but expect the unexpected. Persecution of Christianity has already begun.  Scriptures have been removed from the walls of countless schools; many places will no longer even sing Christmas carols; many places will not allow having a display of the birth of our Savior.  You may not see a lot around here yet, but other states and cities strive to remove anything Christian. 

I must be honest, I did not expect to ever have to allow men or women in each other bathrooms.  It was totally unexpected that our President would make this ruling that put our children in harm’s way by going to the bathroom.  I have decided that if I’m in a woman’s bathroom and a man walks in, I will do everything I can possibly do to drive him out.  If I’m arrested, so be it, for my conscience would not allow me to stand by and do nothing.

We don’t know what is coming next, but turn to God for help and protection.  I may be a voice crying in the wilderness, but you are free to join me.  I pray that you do.  Don’t give up your faith which our ancestors worked so hard to protect.  Let God Almighty reign over the United States of America and trample down the enemy who wants to destroy it!

Graduation Day

Graduation Day

 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

June is ‘Graduation Month’ and brings about celebrations and family get-to-gathers. Most seniors are so glad it’s finally over and they can really go on with their lives.  Those of us who are older kind of chuckle to ourselves and think, “This is just the beginning.”  Everything in life takes a little planning; even if you are the type that just floats by from day to day.

God, himself designed plans to take care of his people and lead them in the way they should go.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” [Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NLT)]  God has given us a future and gives us hope.  This is what Graduation Day is all about.

Now that you have graduated and your life is before you, you can live your life your way and you won’t know how it will turn out, or you can live it God’s way and be assured it will turn out good.   Most of us wish we could be at that threshold again and start over, but that time has passed.  However, with God’s grace you do have another chance.  Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) tells us that “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

This means that no matter your age or circumstances, God see you anew every morning.  You may have messed up yesterday, but our heavenly Father already forgot it and is ready to give you a new start.  Of course we need to repent when we know we sin. He is ready to forgive you and wants you to continue toward the goal of the ‘big’ Graduation Day.

If God didn’t have your life in his hands, you would never make it; you would be a ‘dropout.’ There is a day coming when God will call each and every one of us home to a Graduation Day that is out of this world.  If you have chosen to live life ‘your way’, you may not attend that great party, but if you have lived life trying to be all you can for HIM, he will say, “Come on in my child!” 

Today, we congratulate all the student who have strived toward the goal of graduation and have been awarded their diploma.  Good job, Graduates.  Continue as it says in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As for myself, I’m working on reaching the prize at the end of my life.  I fail most days, but each morning I get up and continue on for I know without a shadow of doubt that God’s mercies in my life are new every morning.  I might be getting older, but my future is bright and I want to take advantage of all of it. 

Look at today as the beginning and not the end and I promise you have a great future ahead of you.