Monthly Archives: October 2008

Voting The Heart Of God….

It is almost time to vote, in fact some people have already sent their ballot in.  However, I received two emails that truly stuck out in my mind this week. 

How do we know the heart of God?  I think we listen to Jesus!  And, voting for ‘life’ as much as possible.  I don’t mean economics, or health insurance, or taxes–as truly important as they are.  Here is something to think about, as I sure did….

One email was from a woman who survived the Holocaust of Hitler.  It was quite long as she described the campaign he waged to get into office.  I don’t think many of our young people know that he was quite popular when he took over in Germany.  He seemed to polarize the country with his charisma and passionate speeches.  They thought he was their savior, as the country was in great need, and he seemed to be the answer.

One of the first things he did (she recounted) was to abort babies they (German Government under Hitler) and dispose of the unwanted–one way or another. 

Her point was to check the moral fiber of a candidate.  I have felt strongly that morality comes from God–from the heart of God.  Preserving life is one of his main concerns.

The second email that impacted me was from a woman in Orissa, a state in India.  A Hindu priest was killed and they blamed the Christians, and horror began.  Hundreds of churchs burned, dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered, just for being Christian.  A computer technician and a Priest were locked up and burned to death in the building.  And, there is so much more….

Should we consider taxes, politics, or economics….or maybe life….and history.  I have said, that if I were an atheist, a Hindu, a Muslim or whatever, I would want Christians in office because they are the most tolerant of worshiping other faiths. 

Who has voted ‘life’ and who has not?  Charming is just not the right answer to God’s heart.  I don’t believe He is against ‘charming’ but as I commented on another blog, the blood of the Saints cry out for this nation to remain one Nation Under God!

We need to pray against the spiritual forces behind propositions and views of the candidates.  We need to forgive and bless those we disagree with, and pray the Holy Spirit draws them to a place of knowing God and the reason Jesus died for us.  Did Jesus not say “The thief comes to kill, rob and destroy”?  More importantly did Jesus not say, “But I came to bring life, and life more abundant.”?   

We must be careful how we vote.  Behind the promises of bigger and better things may be a loss of life and loss of freedom!   

Our Country is in an economic crisis; What do I tell my Grandchildren?

 

My mind tells me I am 50 and my body thinks it is 100, and I have to comprise and accept the truth….soon to be 75. Since I have been seeking and resting on my relationship with the Lord for so many years; and because of my love for my grandchildren they trust me not to judge them, and they look to me for insights to God.

 

So I won’t talk to them about economics, or money or budgets, but where do we stand with God in all of this chaos. Our natural inclination is to think of God as Santa Claus; willing and able to give us everything we want if we are good.

 

God is sovereign, meaning He can do anything. But in His sovereignty He has limited what He will and will not do. His ‘utility packages’ that run the Universe on a pre-set course are only changed when we pray in agreement with the desires of His Heart.

 

Just this once I want to talk about God as our friend. The Old Testament is full of stories of other people’s relationship with God, and two of my favorites are Abraham (a friend of God) and King David (a man after God’s heart). They are two good examples for us in this day of disappointment and loss.

 

Two men (and they could be women) with such great favor with God to be called His friend and a man after His heart, helps us to have some insight into our circumstances now. Both these men committed sins, which cost them while on this earth. Both men had great relationship with God but their lives were sprinkled not only with miracles but with wars, loss, anxiety, family betrayal, tests on their faith and trust in God, and disappointment. Yet, they always turned to God for solace and peace in their hearts. Their emotions went deep, but their spirit, their hearts were sold out to God.

 

Jesus says in John 15:14, 15 that His disciples (His followers) are His friends. To put this in perspective, our free will determines our destiny, and the free will of others will influence our decisions and our destiny. Depending on who is elected President will turn our Nation, and the world. We are each a small part–but an important part to ourselves, our family and friends and most of all to God.

 

As a Friend, God will give us favor (support) in the market place, with relationships, when we ask and depend on Him. As a Friend, there are many personal things God will do for us—spelled out in Scripture—give us peace, joy, victory over enemies, etc.

 

At this time it is more important to know as a Friend, what God will not do. He will not violate free will to give us our way. He will not answer prayer that violates His rules and commandments. The whole Kingdom of God, on earth within our hearts is based on faith, and faith filled prayer—that will move mountains.

 

Relationship with Jesus should not be built on what He can do for us, any more than we would make friends with someone just for what they could do for us. The ironic part of this is that Jesus wants us dependent upon Him and even goes so far as to say, “You can do nothing without Me.” Loving Him comes first, dependence then is easier.

 

The most important thing now or at any time is to have that friendship, that relationship, that dependence upon God so that we have a place to go, a place to turn, when we cannot control the circumstances. He is our friend, our eternal love, our first and last resort to all things, even when we don’t like or understand the circumstances.

 

We need Him as our friend when we are having fun, when things are going well, when we are enjoying sports, entertainment or whatever. God enjoys fun, He made us didn’t He? Jesus is the one who said, “I came to give life, and life abundantly.” Faith in God has made this country the most abundant in the world. Evil, greed and sin (things contrary to the goodness of God) are changing all of that.

 

While fighting a depilating disease, with pain and discomfort I learned a wonderful truth:

I could have peace and joy in my spirit when my body was ‘screaming’. Even though I felt abandon I was not. The Holy Spirit did not come and go as I felt good or bad, just my own emotions and physical being struggled.

 

I encourage all to fight, stand, and vote for what they believe. Pray—talk to God—pray, pray, pray!!! Most of all continue to build your relationship, your friendship with Jesus…the Holy Spirit….and our Heavenly Father. That is the only thing in this economy, in this world that is constant. He can give us peace in the middle of chaos, and courage in the middle of disaster. Life may be disappointing, but our spiritual life can always be victorious.

 

 

Damn The Devil; Where Is The Church?

From Genesis to Revelation there is reference to, information about and result of the devil’s activities in the world.  Yet, it is though the devil has been able to throw a new veil over the minds of men (since the veil that kept men from God was ‘rent’ –torn– asunder when Jesus died), that we not only do not confront the demonic world, we don’t even talk about it.

There are THOUSANDS OF TESTIMONIES of people being set free from evil spiritual influence, and yet our world is full of ‘good’ people working against the Kingdom of Heaven with anger, sex, perversion, lust, greed, judgment and independence, and there is an unholy silence about the evil influence in or on their lives.

It is easy to get any addiction we want to replace our hurts and needs, we can have anything we want, even Christians (people who have chosen Jesus Christ as their Savior). And, more evil than the sins (lack of trust in God) is this MASSIVE MOVE TO JUSTIFY OUR POSITION (what ever that is) and still hang on to Jesus!

And before we jump to any self-righteous conclusions—”that is not me”—if we are not praying and standing against the evil (for people and against the evil working on or in them) we are just as guilty or even more so.

If, in the thousands of people I reach with my newsletter, I had a request for deliverance, where would I send them?  Are there churches doing personal deliverance?  Are there loving people who will hate the sin and truly love the sinner?  Is deliverance widely known even though not widely accepted?  Jesus did it, the disciples did it!  What are we thinking?

WHY DO I EVEN ASK THE QUESTION?

Because I don’t hear about ‘what the devil is doing’ only what is going on in the world of flesh and blood.

I am not talking about committees, classes on marriage, raising children, praise and worship or all the many good and necessary things the church does.  And I am certainly not talking about crying out to God to do what Jesus directed and gave us authority to do.

I am talking about confronting…..saying NO to the devil and his activities.  Declaring the truth and demanding the change. 

When people pray, when Pastors ban together and take authority over their cities, states, etc; awesome things happen.  Abortion is stopped without laws, storms are diverted and dissipated, corruption is revealed, wars are won, and elections are won,  on and on, ….in the Name of Jesus. 

We can’t fight a war we don’t know we have.  Jesus said the thief comes to steal, rob and destroy…. what is there in that we don’t understand?  Pray the Lord will open minds and hearts to the Truth and God’s Will and Ways!

P S   SEEK GOD FIRST; ALWAYS PRAY SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER YOU, FAMILY, AND PROPERTY BEFORE DOING WARFARE (binding or saying ‘no’ to the demonic realm). 

AND, Personal ‘warfare’ should be personal.  Corporate warfare against principalities and powers should be done corporately in prayer groups, etc. 

Matt 16 and 18; Luke 10:19; Eph 6; Acts 10:38; James 4:7; Luke 18:1-10 and more!