Beneath every rock and around every corner . . .

I've been praying for just the right subject matter for tonight's blog. Thanks Ellen Kennedy for planting the seed with your FB post today.

It seems more and more --- I suppose because of all the evil things happening with alarming frequency around the world --- our spiritual leaders seem bent on warning us of the evil one. This is the crux of my writing. The very thing I think God has called me to do. To warn the unknowing about the powers of evil and to point them to Christ. God has allowed me to answer this call with Christian fiction. 

I write Christian fiction, because Satan is almost as interested in Christians as he is the unsaved. He may not be able to lure them into his kingdom, but he can make them worthless to God's kingdom.

Christians around the world are called to spread the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Thank you, Lord, for the committed people who devote their time and effort  - sometimes their very lives - to promote You. It is, after all, all about You. We sing a song in our church "It's all about You." We are only the joyful recipients of Your grace. And thank you, Lord, that someone cared enough about me to pray for me until I finally reached out to You.

God has an arch enemy. Satan. He's not strong enough to hurt God . . . but he's certainly strong enough to hurt the ones God loves (that would be us) if we're not prepared. And what prepares us for his attack? It's all in God's word. Gotta love the Scriptures!

The danger: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NAS.

More danger:  "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1st Peter 5:8 NAS.

If you ever find yourself rationalizing a sin, beware! You know the old line we sometimes use . . . "Surely God wouldn't hold it against me if I . . . " Stop right there. If in your heart you know what you're about to do is wrong, you can be assured . . . God does mind. He won't stop loving you, but yes, He minds.

Just as he minded when Eve listened to the words of the serpent: "Surely, you will not die." Evil forces are hiding beneath every rock and around every corner, and Satan will say whatever he needs to say to turn you from God's will.

So, here's the good news: To continue the message in Ephesians 6, Verse 13 says "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Verses 14 through 17 list the armor of God: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, and salvation.

More good news: Simply put in the 4th chapter of James, Verse 7: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

And that's "a wrap." Four easy-to-remember words to keep you safe from the wiles of the devil:

"Submit therefore to God."

Wow!  We make it so complicated. God makes it so simple!

Forty Days of Prayer

Today was the first day of "Forty Days of Prayer."

If you missed the first day, that's alright. Don't throw out the whole idea because you missed one day. Thirty-nine Days of Prayer will work.

Set your clock or phone to remind yourself to pray, if you're not already in the habit of praying for our country every day. Because forty days from today the fate of our great nation will be decided in the voting booth. Will we remain great? Will we turn back to God . . . restore prayer in our schools . . . restore sanctity of life and sanctity of marriage?

Will we be a beacon of hope as we've always been, or join so many other nations in mediocrity?

It's up to us. I saw a little carton the other day of a child praying. She was asking God to re-bless America. She said "There are more of us who love you than those who don't." I believe that. But we have to stand up and be counted. We have to put forth the effort.
 
America is worth our effort! God has blessed her in countless ways. Let's thank Him properly by turning her around and never, never allow anyone to say again that America is not a Christian nation.

A terrible storm is coming.

 

Copyright 2012, Lynne Wells Walding 

            The TV was on low in the next room. Mother was in the kitchen doing household chores, and her many children were outside playing. A shrill siren pierced the air, and Mother ran to the living room to turn up the sound on the TV.

            "To all within hearing range . . . there is a monstrous storm bearing down on us. Winds are beyond our measuring capabilities. It's leaving nothing standing in its path. Take underground cover as quickly as possible. This is an emergency. To all within hearing range . . . there is a monst . . . "

            There was a flash, and  the screen went blank.

            Mother looked out the window at her children, happily at play.

            The wind was picking up.

            She ran to the nursery and snatched up her infant twins. Then out the door, shouting to her children as she ran. "Come quickly. To the storm shelter. There's a terrible storm coming."

            Some of the children ran quickly to her. Others hesitated before reluctantly joining. "But, Mother, we were having fun." 

            By now, the smaller trees were bending over, nearly to the ground.

            "Come, children. Now." she shouted against the wind.

            From high in a large tree. "Not now, Mother. We're having too much fun."

            "You must come down, now. This storm will sweep through and take you with it." She searched the tree tops through tear-drenched eyes. "Please, my children. Come under the ground with me. For just a little while, be buried with me, and I'll keep you safe."

            "We'll be okay, Mother. We don't want to give up our tree fort. It's  so neat. Look, we can see heaven from here."

            "It's not heaven, little ones, it's an illusion. You'll see heaven after you've weathered the storm in my arms."

            The wind was blowing so hard now that Mother could barely move against it toward the shelter. The twins clutched her neck, and the other children clung to her skirt, crying. With great effort she herded them to the entrance of the shelter. Then turned . . .

            "Please, please, my children," she cried. "Please come to me before it's too late."

            "Pretty soon, Mother. Just a few more minutes of fun . . . "

            The storm hit just as Mother let the heavy cellar door slam shut overhead, her obedient children at her feet. Thin lines of light from above forced their way through the tiny cracks between the boards. She sat down on the lone bench and held out her arms. They gathered around her and she comforted them, while the storm raged above them.

            But her heart was breaking for her disobedient children.

            Lost to her forever  . . . so they could have a few more minutes of fun.

It's not your mother's wheat!

I read a startling article the other day. Then saw the same info on TV, which makes me believe there may be some truth to it. Two sources are usually better than one. Not always . . .

It seems that over the years, scientists have changed the molecular structure of wheat in order to increase productivity. Unfortunately, the changes have made the wheat (literally) poison to some of us. The possible long term effects of eating today's wheat are: Crohn's disease, IBS, Diabetes, and even arthritis, to name a few.

How can it be that changes are made to our most basic needs without our permission or knowledge?

The TV anchor asked the doctor being interviewed if it was possible to go back to our "old" wheat, or if it had been lost in the process. The doctor stated that it would be possible, but unlikely, since any farmer going back to the old "stuff" would lose about one-third of his profits.

The doctor went on to say that elimination of all wheat products in their diet is ridding a lot of people of the above named diseases. But, for obvious reasons, this fact is not being made public.

Isn't that special? Farmers are producing wheat that is not good for our overall health. Possibly not even aware that they're doing so. Yet in spite of increased productivity, the price keeps going up. The medical profession is telling us it's an essential part of our nutrition, And a lot of people are getting sick because of it. But the trend cannot be reversed . . . because of greed.

Friends, we are in trouble.

There are a few whistle blowers our there who are willing to put their reputations on the line to make stories like this known. But the sad part is, of the few that listen, most don't believe - and the rest soon forget. I, for one, have cut most wheat from my diet. (I have a love affair with corn tortillas going on . . . until I find out corn, too is effected.) However, the doctor did say wheat was the only grain effected to date - to his knowledge.

I listened to the advice of another whistle-blower - a pharmacist - about six months ago whose advice went against all common knowledge in the field of gastrointestinal expertise. I figured I couldn't do any worse than I was doing under a doctor's care. Guess what! His advice was right on. 

Scientific "discoveries" are taking place right under our noses, without our knowledge. I read a book some twenty years ago, written by a man who was at one time a high muckledy-muck with a major producer of breakfast cereals. It was his job to see if the minute changes in the manufacture of the cereal were noticable to the public. Each subtle change was not. But over a period of fifteen years or so, the product had been changed so much it couldn't be recognized as the same product by those in the know. And with the gradual elimination of nature's pure products, in favor of man-made money-saving products, the health benefits of the cereal were GONE.

Greed. One of Satan's finest inventions. And one of mankind's most easily acquired tastes.

What is the solution to the question of the mutated wheat? The doctor suggested avoiding wheat, and eating REAL foods. Avocado (no argument from me there.), eggs, chicken, lean beef, fruits, and lots of veggies. Substitute other grains (as I have corn), and enjoy wholesome dairy.

He even suggested "full-fat" cheese. In moderation, of course.

Moderation. Some of God's finest advice. And one of mankind's most most easily ignored suggestions.

MPCs

Here I go, using a friend's material again. Same friend, too. Pastor Gary Lanier.

This blog is named after the title of one of his finest songs (he's a song-writer, among other really serious talents). Now I'm going to quote one of his favorite expressions:

MPCs - Minor personal convictions.

Definition: All those pesky little doctrinal beliefs that separate Christians, and divide God's church into Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Assembly of God, Pentecostals, etc., etc. When all that really matters is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If we've taken care of that, all the rest is just MPCs.

I Stand Corrected - A Bonus Post

It's not Sunday, yet, but this is important enough that I must insert a "Friday Post" this week.

In Wednesday's post I said, "Some Christians are pro-choice. DOES NOT COMPUTE."

Then I was reminded via a FaceBook post by a dear friend in the ministry that once we have given our hearts to Jesus, short of turning our backs on Him and renouncing our faith, we are His.

We will reign forever with Him in glory. To paraphrase her statement, "There are consequences here on earth to the sins we commit after accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, but they do not prevent us from being in His presence for eternity."

I do stand in my belief that the Bible confirms abortion to be a sin.

However, we all commit sins on a daily basis. Some minute . . . some huge. God still loves us unconditionally. It breaks His heart when a Christian sins . . . but He does not disown us. Anymore than you would disown your child who is sinning. If a mortal parent's love is unconditional. Think how much more the Heavenly Father's love is unconditional.

Let me change my statement to say - I don't understand how a Christian could be pro-choice, given what God has to say about the unborn in the Bible. But some are . . . and it's our duty to pray their eyes will be opened to the truth.

Because we know who it is that wants to hide the truth from them, don't we?

Has Our Prophet Been Aborted?

Some Christians are pro-choice!

Let that sink in.

Now, all together, say it with me . . . DOES NOT COMPUTE!

I'm sure you've heard the pro-life mantra, "Abortion stops a beating heart." That knowledge in itself should be a deterent to taking an unborn baby's life. And I'm sure for some, it is. Praise God for those who realize in time.

But there is an even stronger saying I'd like to hear used: "Would you knowlingly thwart the plans of an Almighty God?"

Would you willingly kill the next Billy Graham? The next Abraham Lincoln? The next Mother Teresa?

Jeremiah 1:5 states: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. And before you were born, I consecrated you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (NAS)

God doesn't have a problem with the question of when life begins. He said before I formed you in the womb. Yet mankind wants to challenge His word and debate the true beginning of life. The true beginning of life is when you exist in the mind of God.

How many great men and women of God have been aborted? How many souls will perish for lack of someone to lead them to Christ, because that someone was aborted in the womb? And how do we know if the person God designated to lead our nation out of  this mire is alive . . . or aborted?

John Hagee has called on Christians to pray for 40 days beginning September 28. That's the 40 days preceeding the election. Our way of life depends on defeating the pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, anti-Jewish party and taking our country back.

If God is so kind as to answer this prayer, then we must hit the ground running and abolish all laws that are displeasing to Him. It won't be easy. It won't be quick. But it must be our goal. We dare not fall back into complacency. Because if we do . . . He will eventually give us up to our wicked ways.

I got a FaceBook "feel good" today. A beautiful picture with the words, "He loves you, He forgives you." across it. I hate to burst anyone's bubble . . . but that's the trouble with our times. Everyone claims forgiveness . . . without having to ask.

Yes, He does love all of us. Every last, flithy, sinning one of us. And He does forgive us . . . when we repent. People can't go on living like heathens and assume they will be forgiven, just because He loves them. There are consequences for selfish, stubborn disobedience to His word.

President, Congressman, Doctor and Mother-to-be, before you make a decision for abortion, ask yourself, "Would you knowlingly thwart the plans of an Almighty God?"

What a Difference Sixty Years Make

My husband was going through his book collection the other day and discovered an old Dallas High School study course, Circa 1952.

Sixty years ago. What a difference sixty years make. The study course? Old Testament!

Now our teachers aren't allowed to mention God or Christ in our public schools. I guess it wouldn't do for me to be a teacher, because I'd stay awake nights trying to figure out ways to sneak His Holy name into discussions. I'd probably spend more time in the principal's office than the meanest kid in class. (And be looking for a job at McDonald's by the second week.)

Though long since out of high school, I've been studying the book. Pretty interesting stuff. Maybe a little dry compared to what I experience every week in my church, because our pastor obviously spends a great deal of time in the word. As does my husband. (There's nothing that makes a man more manly, or more desirable as a mate, than spending time in the word.) If any of my readers are single ladies . . . I hope you'll take that advice to heart. As I recently read: "Single women should hold God so close to their hearts that a man has to go through Him to get to her."

But to get back to the study course, if I may qutoe: "The book of Job is generally considered one of the great literary masterpieces of the world. Tennyson pronounced it 'the greatest poem whether of ancient or modern time.' Carlyle said of it, 'There is nothing written in the Bible or out of it of equal literary merit.'"

I'd never looked at Job through such eyes. Perhaps it's time I go back to read the book again. Join me, and see if you agree with these literary greats. We'll talk about Job more later.

Until then, take this piece of advice from Brother Lee. Fall asleep at night with Jesus on your mind, and you'll wake up in the morning singing to Him. I can vouch for that!