Not Forgetting to Praise

I spoke with a young man yesterday who claimed it wasn't in his personality to praise God. He felt he could not, because of the horror around him. (We were at the local abortuary.)  I tried to make him realize that it is because of the horror that we must.

Most effective pro life witnesses will tell you that with out praise, we're of no use. Praise is what keeps us working. It's what enables us to reach out to the next mother after we've been rejected by so many before her.

If I didn't stay in a state of praise, I'm not sure I'd even get up in the morning. Because I do, I'm able to be onsite almost daily with a smile on my face. I'm sad. Watching mothers take their precious children in to be killed is very painful, but I'm not broken. No, I have peace and joy enough to continue in the work, because I regularly take time to praise Him.

The thing is regardless of what is going on, God always deserves to be praised. He is so incredibly -- wondrously awesome. How can we not praise Him? I say, Look at Him and your heart will be drawn to praise. Draw near to Him and praise will pour out of you. Remember all He has delivered you from, and you'll find yourself praising Him while you weep.

Who He is calls us to praise Him, but it is also a wealth of blessings to our soul. We need to. We must. We can do all the work He has for us, but if we do not praise Him, I fear we run in vain; because praise is the tether that ties our hearts to His. It's like an umbilical cord. We're praising and adoring Him while He nourishes our soul.

Dear Brother, please do not give in to the idea that praise is something you need not do. Praise brings us closer to Him. Praise will bring the Spirit's embrace. You haven't experienced true joy until you've been that close to Him. It's almost too sweet. It is overwhelming. It isn't something you really want to miss.

What We Are Called To

Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice. Provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. -- Exo 23:20-22

One angel to protect all of ancient Israel. One. Let that sink in. They were about to face multiple adversaries, giants, men of renown; but God sends one angel before them. Now the word for angel actually means "messenger", which means that this angel may have been the Lord Himself.

For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me. He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. -- Joh 12:49

So, it may well have been the Lord who protected Israel. Now, if the Lord truly is our Lord and we are faithfully obedient to Him, He truly can deliver us from anything. He will be the enemy of our enemies. But we must be set on obedience. Literally, there is no thing that He cannot deliver us from. Nothing. If we are intent on obeying Him, He will keep us.

We need to realize, though, that Israel had to fight their way into the "promised land". Yes, the Lord helped them, but they had to step out in obedient faith and put their very lives on the line. Some of them did die, but they died in obedience -- taking back the land for God.

These days many professing Christians are afraid of their own shadow. They aren't about to take the fight to the enemy. No, they're too busy trying to keep the lifestyle they have come to love. They aren't going to walk away from the willfully sinful. They aren't going to rebuke the determinedly wicked. No, they're hoping to not 'rock the boat', and they don't want you rocking it, either.

It's really become a thing to not speak or do as the Lord did -- to not offend even the most offensive, and to not actually put out those who refuse to turn from their sin. We want to be "nice". We want to be accepted, friendly, and "kind". We don't really want to be associated with those who insist God is GOD and His word is law. No, they're "too offensive", "troublemakers".

He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. -- Mat 10:37

The love of God stops for most where that love requires us to truly take a stand, to expose ourselves by turning His light on in this darkness. No, we'd rather have the darkness. We'd rather be silent. We expect God to fight all our battles while we cower under the bed.

Then said Yeshua unto His disciples. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." -- Mat 16:24, 25

Modern Christianity lives like this is a figure of speech, like we are supposed to put Him first only where it isn't inconvenient for us. That simply isn't true. We each have a cross-like duty to Him. It requires sacrifice. It requires selflessness.

Here in this nation many professing Christians are hiding in the closet, hoping this turmoil will just pass them by. They aren't going to stand on the corner and preach. No, they might go to jail for that. They aren't going to set themselves apart. No, they might lose their earthly friends and family if they do that. They aren't going to insist God is GOD anywhere, but in the very depths of their hiding place. They don't really want to be counted as His until it's time to go home. Then they expect to be welcomed like children of the King.

The Lord knew what would happen to the Disciples when He called them. He knew James would be put to death by the sword. He knew John would be boiled in oil, that Peter and many others would be crucified. He knew some would die by beating or being thrown from a wall. The point is the Lord knew what would happen to these men for following Him. He knew what would happen to Himself and what would happen to them. Yet, but we expect to live completely free of affliction.

There is a darkness coming over our world. People are so deluded that they are welcoming it. They revel in how wicked they are able to be openly. They are teaching their children to be even more wicked. The race for hell is on and many are those who light the way.

How many are actually standing for God? How many are shining the light of His truth in this darkness? How many actually support those who do?

There really are only two ways to work. Either you're doing it yourself or you're supporting someone who is. Standing by watching doesn't count. Neither does just speaking your approval. Sorry, but you haven't actually seen to their needs by just approving. You may have encouraged them, but you haven't actually supplied their needs. (Jam) 2:14-17 It cost you nothing. There is no sacrifice is giving one's approval. So, it isn't really service -- not by God's standards, anyway.

The point is that all to often we think of Christianity as requiring a bystander like commitment, and it just isn't so. No, Christianity requires that we act on our faith. We aren't supposed to be waiting for someone else to do the work. No! We're supposed to be doing it ourselves or actively assisting those who do. That's the only two options we have. There are no fence-sitting or pew-warming positions in Christianity. No, that's an illusion created by those who are more interested in promoting themselves or their group than the Lord.

We are being counted. An eternal tally is being set down. "This one is risking his/her life here, but this one is silent. This one assists many, but this one helps no one nor does he/she work." Think about it. What you are doing or fail to do is being recorded. I don't urge you to work for myself. No, this is very much about you and what it will cost you to be inactive. It matters. On an eternal scale it truly matters.

Take up your cross today. Get into the fight, or truly support someone who is fighting. Do not let it be said that you were a bystander only. That's really not going to end well.

Standing Like Daniel

When Daniel continued to seek the Holy God of Heaven after the decree had been established, he put his life in real danger. In fact, it was so real that even though the king himself wanted to deliver Daniel, he could not. It was law, therefore, Daniel had to go into the lion's den. (Dan 6)

Yet, God delivered him.

When Shaddrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image, they knew they were risking their very lives. It was a foregone conclusion that they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. (Dan 3)

Yet, God delivered them.

God delivered these men because they trusted Him enough to follow Him, regardless. They stood their ground. In the face of life and death danger, they chose God. The pressures of their day were even worse than the ones we face today. They had seen their neighbors, their friends, and their relatives killed. They had been carted off in captivity to a foreign land. Still, they stood their ground. Under the threat of losing their very lives, they stood for God.

People wonder why there's no real revival in this nation. One reason is because we're not willing to take this hard stance. No, and there are actually many professing "Christians" abusing those who do hold the line. They want us to let go for the "good of everyone". They want us to stand down.

This is why this nation will fall: because we love what we want to be true; rather than, what is. We don't want Daniels rocking the boat. We don't God purifying us with fire. We don't believe He can keep us. So, we don't want to give in to His leadership, not really.

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; -- Jer 29:5

God instructed Jeremiah to tell the people to deal with the judgment dealt them. They had earned it, and He would see to it they got it, regardless. Am I saying we should get comfortable? No, I'm saying, we cannot fight God. He intends to punish us. At this point, I see no way around that. But I do know that it will be better for us, by far, to go into judgment with Daniels than without them.

How Deluded is Our World?

Do you know that people take credit for supporting me without actually doing so? They do. Some go on like they are my best supporter, and cover me all the way.

What do they actually do? They talk a lot -- to others. They speak to others about me, kind of applauding me behind my back. Our conversations are not so, but people think they are. So, they go along thinking they need not care for this ministry, either.

What's sad is that these same people can get ugly when I ask for pennies to help a mother in need. They don't give into this ministry. So, it isn't that they've already helped. No, they don't give, and they resent being asked to, but they support me?

Take it a step further and you've got the whole picture. They do expect me to give to them. Seriously. I should supply them as they see fit -- at my expense. Whatever I have -- pamphlets, pictures, books, t-shirts, and whatever they decide I should be doing -- all should be free for them.

What pastor works in the pulpit for free? What evangelist goes visits a church without expecting to be paid? I can't think of any. 

The backbone of the pro life effort works for free. We are the least of today's ministries, but the hope of the nation lies in our hands. We are maligned, and rejected; but we continue to plead for the truth of God's word. And many are just like me, our "supporters" honestly believe we can work this way forever without any assistance -- and we should do so without complaining or begging for help -- even when children's lives literally hang in the balance.

I'm just saying, we live in a greatly deluded world.

I Trust in God

I trust in GOD -- the holy, completely Supreme "I AM" of the Bible. I know He is able for He has delivered me countless times. The devil has roared at me with all that he has, but God has kept me through it all. I've been told many times that others would have just given up, because the road has been long and very hard. But I knew God would come through, so I just continued on. I trusted in Him.

I do not trust in a term -- like Abolitionist, pro life, Republican, or Democrat. They are all just terms, dependent on the person who shoulders them.

I do not trust in man -- like Trump, Cruz, or Hillary. They are just people. Any value they have would come from God Himself. If they do not follow Him, following them can only lead to trouble.

I do not trust in groups -- like Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, OSA, or OR. They are only led by men. If those leaders are evil, then trouble will follow.

I do not trust in myself. I am small and weak. I know not the way without His Spirit. If He does not lead me, trouble will find me. 

I trust in God. He is my LORD. I follow Him. He knows the way. He sees my weakness and gives me His strength. He sees my fear and gives me His courage. He sees my tears and gives me His joy.

This is not my home. I am a stranger here. The natives love darkness. I am meant for the light. I tarry here while He prepares me a place. One day I will go home: no more to fear, no more to weep, no more of this darkness. 

Until then, I will serve Him with all that I am. I will not give in to the darkness. I will not give in to the fear. I will not let my tears make me grow silent or ineffective.

No, I will tell you the truth. I will shout it to the world. I will repeat it in the darkness. I will stand amidst the storm. God meant for us to be His light in this darkness, not partner with it. So, I will shine His light, and I will not compromise His truth. You may not like it. You may not agree with me, but I will not surrender. I will not go silently.

God is still GOD. The truth is still true. Good does not partner with evil. Light cannot accept darkness without becoming darkness itself. The hardest part of any battle is right before things turn. When it seems impossible, when it looks like all is lost; that is when we show who we really belong to. Either we will cling to Him or we will flee into the darkness. Many are running scared. Some have fallen on their swords. Others have just given up. 

The devil says we must take him or risk everything, and many believe him. It isn't true, but many just don't believe God is still in control. So, they will partner with darkness, deliberately. Like so many accepted abortion as a "necessary evil", people will choose what they know to be evil, because they do not truly believe God able. They will abuse those who do not join with them. The crowd will be with them, and they will think they have won, but the devil is a liar. Great trouble will follow.

God is able. He has not changed. He has not weakened. All giants fall before Him. Only what He wills is certain. 

As a nation we would have not Him. So, He has given us nothing but evil leaders. We partner with them to our destruction. We will not escape God. It isn't possible. Therefore, though in the natural world it looks like all is lost by standing with God, it is by God we must stand. That is the ONLY victorious choice we have. All others will lead to even more trouble. That is all they can lead to.

Be Ye Separate!

We need to be separating ourselves from those who practice a false Christianity. Why? Well, for one thing it confuses the lost. If the pseudo is a liar, thief, bigot -- whatever, they think we all are. Another is because it makes people think God is alright with sin. I'm not saying we should abandon erring spouses or family members -- though in extreme cases, even that may be necessary. No, I'm saying we should be careful who we fellowship with and appear to approve of. It is our job to reflect the truth of God to the world, not cover for those who love their sin.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and BE YE SEPARATE," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty. -- 2 Cor 6:14-18

(caps for emphases)

Brothers and Sisters, we are called to be separate for a reason. Partnering with pseudo-Christians enables them. We need to draw the line and hold fast to it. We serve a HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God. He deserves to be honored diligently. We are not called to be endlessly patient with those who will not leave their sin. Look back at the early church. They put these charlatans out.

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Yeshua the Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. -- 1 Cor 5:3 - 7

On the surface this deals with fornication, but it would be true of all such sins where the participant is neither ashamed nor honestly attempts to abandon their sin. Habitual liars, adulterers, thieves, those who use God's word to profit themselves -- these all fall into this category, and we should seriously separate ourselves from them.

In our humility, we must not humiliate God. No! That is not what we are called to. No! We are called to glorify Him, and we don't do that by honoring the determined sinful.

So many times folks says, "Oh, be patient. Be long-suffering!" And, surely, we are, but there is a line, Brothers and Sisters. There is a point where we must give them over. When it becomes apparent that they love their sin -- after we have given them the truth -- after we have pled with them to turn -- if they insist on continuing in their wicked ways, we must walk away.

I tell you the truth. In serving God, I see it. I see that line where it becomes not patience, but approval. It is a line we must not cross. If we are called to preach and teach, it is a line we dare not cross. To do so is to dishonor God.

Did you notice that Paul JUDGED the guilty party? Believe it or not, like it or not, that is part of the job. We are to look at those who claim to be His and discern whether they truly are in Christ or not. God gives us that ability and responsibility for a reason -- to protect the flock.

Do not be deceived. Serving God is not about the pretense of being His. No, it is about being so intimately aware of His will that we exercise the authority He has given us in obedience -- not that we enjoy it or do so to lord it over others, but because it is necessary to keep that division clear to honor Him. It is Him we love and are bound to by all that we are, therefore, we will cut away those who prove out their love of the evil one by their actions.

IF you love Me, keep My commandments. -- Joh 14:15

Separate yourselves, therefore, from those who continue in their sin as though God approves. Be separate. Be holy. Be courageous. We are not called to be timid when we stand for Him. No, we are called to stand as though the God we serve is EXACTLY who He says He is.

Eye Infection

Sorry, Folks, I've been nursing an eye infection. It makes being online a "no-no". I'm seeking healing and getting better, but posting is not something I can do right now.


Blessings,

Betty