The Broken Ones are Pretty Too!

Earlier today I saw a facebook status a friend wrote about her little girl. She was gathering sea shells and kept picking up broken ones. Her mother told her to put them back in favor of the shells that were whole, complete, and pretty. The little girl looked at her mother and said, "But Mama, the broken ones are pretty too!"

Maybe that's why Jesus wanted us to have the faith of a child, for sometimes they see things more clearly than we do. Her innocent logic speaks so much truth!

How often do we see someone who is disabled, or elderly, or physically unattractive and we inwardly cringe. They don't meet "our standard" of pretty or acceptable. It's almost like that element of "high school" never gets out of our system even as we age. You know, that time of life when everyone wants to be friends with the popular kids and no one wants to be friends with the overweight boy or the girl who stutters? Or how about, "I'm don't want to date them...they're ugly!" I wonder if it's humbling to them when they realize in adulthood that they secretly never moved past those thoughts?

You see, I know that some adults don't grow out of those thought patterns--because I have been the unattractive, physically impaired woman. And I know how it feels to be rudely stared at, or worse! Like when complete strangers feel they have the right to publicly question you. "What's wrong with you?" "What were you diagnosed with?" (Eventually you move past the awkwardness and embarrassment and learn that pointed, stern expressions "help" them learn manners fairly quick.)

What is it about us that makes us think we have a right to decide who is "pretty" or not based on their level of "brokenness?" I suppose the answer is found in human nature, pride, and the desire to be superior to others. After all, growing up all the teachers told me I was bullied because the other person had issues with inferiority. (I think they just had issues plain and simple, but what do I know, right?)

The wonderful thing is, God and His Word are diametrically opposed to that school of thought! His Word tells us to esteem others better than ourselves. He tells us that He uses the weak, unwise, and unlovely to confound the strong.

The Bible says,

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I am SO thankful for that truth! God wants us to glory in HIM! Not in anything else.

There is however, a frightening trend in secular science and higher education to eradicate the human race of the "undesired." Just this week I read that advances in DNA testing during pregnancy are getting closer to telling us if a baby will be disabled or suffer from disease, and even what their physical characteristics may be.

I think that is dangerous and unethical. I firmly believe in the pro-abortion world we live in, this technology will be used to "cure" diseases by aborting children who may have them. Worse yet, the idea that you could genetically engineer a child gives me chills.

Scientists call it a mutation or mistake when children are born disabled, deformed, or with some disease. They of course do not accept the fact that there is a God in Heaven who created in His image and who takes an active role in conception and birth today. They don't understand the sovereignty of a creator God who can teach, grow, help, or encourage a person impacted by or living with some "mutation, genetic disorder, or disease."

You see, it confounds the wise! They don't see that GOD can receive GLORY through those living with physical or mental impairments. It's sad that they can't know the the overwhelming feelings of joy I've experienced after being tightly hugged by a child with Down Syndrome or smiled at by a child with cerebral palsy.

They don't understand how a person like me who lives with daily pain, multiple medications, and limited mobility can have a happy, ABUNDANT, joyful life.

They don't understand what an amazing asset it is to have an elderly, bed ridden person interceding for them daily in prayer.

They can't see beauty in broken things. They are the ones with a vision problem. They are the ones who are truly impaired.

Only knowing God as Creator, Saviour, and Master will change them.

It is our impulse to run FROM the leaper. Jesus touched them, healed them, loved them.

Jesus touched blinded eyes, raised the dead, healed the deaf, cast out demons, and miracle of miracles! He reached down to the lowest depths and pulled out a wretched, filthy sinner (ME!) and set her on a solid rock, established her goings, and put a new song in her mouth.

Jesus sees all the broken, sinful, hopeless throwaways of this world and stretches out His hands saying there is hope!

He can reach the jail cell, the drug house, the hospital bed, and the homeless shelter and take broken lives and make them trophies of grace.

He can take the disabled, sick, poor, unattractive, uneducated ones too and do amazing things that leave great and wise shaking their heads in wonder!

You see my God delights in using those people for His glory!

He took a single, physically unwell, and eventually bedridden woman and used her as a missionary who rescued children from prostitution. You know her as Amy Carmichael.

He took a short, greedy man and turned him into a generous witness for Christ. You know him as Zacchaeus.

He took a man who had next to nothing and used him to smuggle Bibles all over the U.S.S.R. He is known as Brother Andrew.

He used a little girl with an incurable genetic disorder who has suffered all four years of her life to bless my heart. I just learned this week she is in hospice care and is not expected to live many more days. I also learned her baby brother is suspected to also have this disease. They've been heavy on my heart this week.

Don't try to tell me that broken things are useless and hopeless. I agree with my friend's little girl; broken things are pretty too! In fact, I think they are beautiful! They are a testimony to the praise and glory of GOD! And I believe He thinks they're beautiful too!

Breaking, Remaking, Molding, and Fire

Dear Father,

if my life must be spent, let it be spent for You. I am imperfect, unworthy, and many times I am everything I shouldn't be. In the eyes of this world I am far from beautiful, intelligent, or even useful. But because of Your love, mercy, and grace I am Yours. With You, through You, and because of You, I can do anything. So Father, put me through the fire, break me, remake me, mold me into what I SHOULD be and USE me for Your glory until You see fit to call me Home.

John the Baptist said that You must increase, and he must decrease. So it must be with me. So often I want to say what I think, how I feel. In all reality, I must die to myself and respond as YOU would have me respond. It is easy for me to become impatient or even angry with people, circumstances, trials, and heartache. In all these things You have commanded that I bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, and not my own feelings. When I am tempted to speak in anger at those who have done me some disservice I must deal with them in love and mercy. In my strength this is impossible. With God all things are possible.

In honesty Father, I do not like this process of breaking, remaking, molding, and fire. It's uncomfortable, unpleasant, and sometimes it just hurts. Yet how else am I to become less of me, and more like You? How else will I become more heavenly minded than earthly minded? I must learn to see things with eternity in view, but can not if I hold on to the flesh. For truly my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.

Help me to understand that pain, sickness, thoughtless and unkind people, heartache, loneliness, burdens, tears, disappointment, and trials are but tools to cut away and shape me into what I must become. Help me to yield rather than rebel. Help me to yield sweetly rather than begrudgingly.

If the steps of a good man (or woman!) are ordered by the Lord, and they are, then help me not to doubt You or hold back in hesitation when You ask me to step where I can not see. When I can not see Your ways help me to trust and have eyes of faith to continue onward in spite of the darkness.

Help me not to see people, with their faults and failures (as I am prone to see them!) but rather to see them as what they can become with Your grace. Or simply, help me see others as You see me; with patience, mercy, and compassion.

I can never repay You for all You have done for me, and I can offer You nothing but myself. Take me, and what life I have left and use me in Your service. Pour me out, and use me up. Use my hands to minister, my voice to speak truth, grace, and comfort. Let my ears hear the cry of the hurting, and my eyes be attentive to the needs that You can meet through me.

You said that You chose to use the unwise, the base, the foolish. You take the unlovely and the broken and make them trophies of grace. So there is hope for me!

Father, in the few years that I've been Your child, I have done more to displease You than please You. I have remained silent when I should have spoken, and spoken when I should have remained silent. I have failed You and sinned against You. Sometimes I wonder how You could possibly forgive me ONE MORE TIME. I question in my mind how You could have loved me when You knew that I would often be complacent, disagreeable, and unbelieving.

You are loving when I am not. You are faithful when I am not. You are patient when I am not. You are all things that I SHOULD be. So I know there is still work for You to do in me, and I ask that You help me yield to that.

I ask the You remember my prayer of years past: That You would never have to set my vessel on shelf. But instead to continue breaking, remaking, molding, and putting my through the fire until I become what You would have me be.

Father, I love You, but help me love You more.

In Jesus' name I pray these things,

Amen.

Keep Your Eyes on the Skies!

Anyone who pays any attention at all to the news, knows in the past few weeks there have been uprisings all over the Middle East. Now this week two earthquakes and a tsunami in Japan. No one knows the hour Jesus will come, but the Bible warns of "perilous times," "wars and rumors of wars," and while there is much about End Time prophecy I don't understand, I do know Jesus is coming, and if nothing else we are one day closer to that event.

Some say, "Oh I've heard that all my life. He's not really coming. Bad things happen everyday. That doesn't mean anything." Oh but it does! Things are lining up like never before for the rapture.

The one world government, one world currency, one world religion is closer to being a reality today than ever before. (Ever heard of the one world order, United Nations, and world wide failing economy?)

Last year we saw earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China, and massive volcanoes that closed air space over Europe.

There have been riots and protests all over the Middle East, and countries and governments are falling. Iran sent ships into the Suez Canal for the first time in a VERY long time, and Israel rests in a more precarious state than ever. (I wouldn't want to bother Israel if I were them! Israel has a highly trained military and sophisticated weapons, AND the God of Heaven fights for them. Unpleasant odds for the enemy I'd say.)

Right here in America the economy has nose dived in recent years. Unemployment is at an all time high...and so is government spending. They keep telling us it's getting better but with gas prices at $3.50 a gallon, and news reports that food, clothing, and medication is expected to go up 10% in costs this year, I'm slightly inclined to doubt the so called "good news." Even the Bible says when they say peace and safety, look out! Destruction is on the way! (1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they shall say, PEACE AND SAFETY; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.")

I read and watch a lot of news, and even mainstream media clearly shows the writing on the wall as to our personal liberties...they have and will continue to become less and less in the coming days. We said what happened in the Soviet Union couldn't happen here. However, barring a miracle, or national revival, I believe those days are just around the corner.

This country, this world is becoming more and more hostile towards true Christianity. (I'm not referring to the "everthing's ok, lets love everybody, lets be politically correct and stick our heads in the sand" Christianity.)

With our world in shambles, (literally...just look at the earthquake/tsunami photos from Japan circulating the internet right now.) we should be sitting on pins and needles biting our fingernails, right?

Wrong! For the true believer we can rest in the knowledge that God is on the throne and absolutely everything that happens is "Father-filtered," that is, nothing happens that He doesn't allow. Whether Obama, or Qadafi, or Castro care to admit it, the heart of the king is in the Lord's hands. (Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.")

As I said, there is a great deal to end time prophecy I do not understand, but I do know nothing is holding back the Lord from returning and it would appear things are lining up. That doesn't frighten me, rather it excites me! To think we are one day closer to seeing the Lord face to face! It excites me to know my generation may be the one to go in the rapture!

However I will say I'm concerned for this nation, but only because it grieves my heart to see the greatest nation on the earth headed on the fast track for ruin. It grieves me because so many of our men and women fought and died for our liberty on and off the battle field so that the very things that seem to be overwhelming our shores would NOT.

In a day when Sharia law seems to be creeping in, (Have you heard about Deerborne, Michigan lately? How about that nice new mosque they plan to build at GROUD ZERO! Or the fact that they close down New York City streets once a MONTH for Muslim prayer! They wouldn't do that for Christians, that's for sure!) we must realize our enemy is no longer in a foreign land...it's taking over from within.

And I do wonder if we Christians may see widespread persecution in the future. I've thought we might for many years, but the climate is sure ripe for it now. Are we still so prideful to think it couldn't happen here? It happened on our shores before the Revolutionary War (just read any volume written by ANY early American Baptist historian. It will bring you to tears!) and it's happened all over the world. God is no respecter of persons. Just because we live in America does not exempt us.

Even that isn't cause to fear. If you've read even small amounts of church history (or the book of Acts for that matter) you know that Christianity only spreads exponentially during times of persecution.

So we shouldn't fear the events falling upon the earth (we should definitely pray for those affected, whether here, or around the world) but rather rest in the knowledge our Father is in control.

So who should fear? Those who are not saved. Some refuse to believe in a God, much less the truth of His Word. Others know the truth but think they have plenty of time to live their lives before surrendering to salvation. Some have even made false professions (Hey, I did! I played church for five years before I admitted I was lost.) but all the lost are in the same boat.

Should the rapture happen today, those left behind have plenty to fear. The Bible tells us after His Holy Spirit endwelled Children are out of here, He's going to dump judgment all over this world like no one has EVER seen. It will make the frightening events going on now look tame in comparison.

So I plead to you who may not know the Lord, do not wait until it's too late! It's still the day of grace. There's still time left. Don't play Russian Roulette with your eternal, never dying soul. You can't afford to gamble with it.

You say, oh you're just a fear-mongerer. You're just trying to scare me.

DING DING DING! You got it. If scaring your socks off is what it takes for you to realize your need for salvation, then praise God. My grandfather read a passage of Scripture for family devotions dealing with the tribulation the night I got saved. It scared me silly...and I got saved...and I've never been the same person, and I'm so thankful!

However I'm not just trying to scare you. The Bible is true. Hell is real, and Jesus is coming and those left behind will suffer His wrath.

But just as that is true, it is also true that Jesus loved you enough to give His life's blood at Calvary. You can be saved and go to Heaven instead. It's up to you, but I wouldn't wait much longer.

Keep your eyes on the skies! Jesus is coming soon!

A Soldier of the Cross

Just because something is difficult doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting for. Just because you face obstacles doesn't mean it isn't the will of God. And sometimes, those obstacles, difficulties, and trials are sent by the Lord to make you stronger.

Sometimes the journey to the goal is just as important as the goal. Our goal in all things should be to glorify Christ; to live the abundant life He gave us for Him; to press on in the steps that He ordered for us. Even when it's difficult It's required that a good soldier endure hardships. When we come to the end of our life, may our Commanding Officer, the Lord Jesus Christ be able to say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

The devil may pursue us with his fiery darts of discouragement, temptation, or fear; but we must put on the armor of God and go forth to battle. We must not give up. Fulfilling the will of God in our lives and the eternal souls of man are at stake, and both are priceless.

It's not enough to start well. It's important to finish well. How many have started out with fire and passion, but later fizzled out, never to be heard of again? No! God requires faithfulness of His children. He promises before we ever start that there will be difficulties; that the world will hate us; that there will be temptations to flee; that there will be dark nights and tempestuous seas.

If we lay down in the battle we bring shame to our Lord. It's alright to be knocked down, but it's never alright to remain there and claim defeat. Not when we are told that we are more than conquerors in Christ. He has never lost a battle. He has never known defeat, and never will He lead us astray. We must follow Him faithfully; for He will lead faithfully.

He may ask us to bare hardships and suffer loss. He may ask us to press on in the dark. He may ask us to do hard things, but we must follow knowing that the Bible is true; these things are for our good and for His glory. He is still on the throne, and He sees all things, even when we can't see the next step.

Nuggets in the Word

Recently I found myself discouraged. I'd been up sick most of the night, so I'd had little sleep (about two hours to be exact). I was dealing with personal struggles, and people who had said hurtful things. Emotionally I was worn thin. Physically I was in a lot of pain, and weak. Spiritually I was hurting and needed help from my Father. I really felt as though every aspect of me as a person was being attacked and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

The Bible talks about women being a weaker vessel, and right then I was feeling the reality of that verse. I felt like a fragile china plate that had been carelessly broken.

Like David cried out in Psalm 22 I wanted to cry, "But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me." That was my prayer.

God, being the wonderful Father that He is, did. I sat down with my Bible and felt impressed to read Song of Solomon. I rarely read there, but what treasures I found that day! I know that literally this is Solomon's song to his bride, and I know it's applied as Christ and His church (bride). Well, I'm part of that bride, and so as I read the following verses they spoke to me in a special way. I hope they will be a blessing to you as well.

There was chapter two, verse 1 which says, "I [am] the rose of Sharon, [and] the lily of the valleys." Oh my! How can you know of the roses and lilies unless you have to walk in the valley? Truly in my valleys He will be my Lily!

Chapter two, 16 says, "My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies." I am His, and HE IS MINE! GLORY TO GOD!!! Whenever I feel as though I belong no where and to no one, I'm reminded that I BELONG TO HIM!

Chapter four, verse 7 says, "Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot in thee." How wonderful to know even though I've failed the Lord many many times, even since my salvation, He still looks on me and says there is no spot in me. He sees me as pure and white as snow. It's enough to make me shout His praises!

Chapter six, verse 9 says, "My dove, my undefiled is [but] one;" It reminded me of the song, "He loves me like I was His only child." Yes, I know, the Lord loves all His children, but His love is so special and so personal that it feels as though I am but one. I know that if you know Him, you feel the same way.

Chapter seven, verse 10 says, "I [am] my beloved's, and his desire [is] toward me." It blesses my heart to know that the Lord loves spending time with me. He wants me to seek Him out. He wants me to talk to Him. He's never too busy or bothered. He'll never push me away.

Chapter eight, verse 6 says, "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame."
This verse almost sounds like a poetic verse. I suppose since it's Solomon's "song" it should, right? But I love the words here. God wants us to love and worship Him. He's a jealous God. "love is strong as death." Well death is unstoppable, therefore His love must be as well!

I'm thankful for a Father who knows our pain, and hears our heart's cry. I'm thankful His Word is alive and able to speak to us in any situation.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is just a week away from tomorrow. It's so hard to believe that yet another year is almost over. I suppose it's normal that around Thanksgiving time, we begin to focus more on thankfulness. In truth, we should focus on this year round.

In the Bible you will find an account where ten lepers came to Jesus. Jesus, in His mercy, healed them all. They went on their way rejoicing, but only one returned to say thank you. Think about that. One out of ten were thankful. Those aren't good odds!

I can't help but feel disgusted at the others. Why, didn't they realize that they had experienced a personal encounter with the Messiah? After all their time exiled from friends, family, and the temple, weren't they just a little bit grateful for their healing? In one moment their despair was turned to rejoicing. They were, in a very literal sense, given their lives back. Yet only one said thank you!

Remember the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness? All they did was murmur and complain. God daily met their needs, but they complained it wasn't good enough. It wasn't enough to have food literally from Heaven...they wanted the flesh and garlics and leeks of Egypt. In the end only two of the original two million made it to the promised land. That first generation died for their unbelief. Even Moses died for disobedience.

It's so easy for us to look at those Biblical accounts and pass judgment on those people. Yet if we really stop to think, many of us are just like them and worse.

Just like those lepers, Jesus touched our lives and healed our souls. We should thank Him every day of our lives that we aren't going to hell for starters, and that's not the tip of the iceburg when it comes to salvation.

There is a verse in the Bible that says it's possible to forget we were ever saved. If it weren't in the Bible, I wouldn't believe it. What a shame that there are Christians that walk away from God, who is so good to them, and live life their own way to the point they forget they are Christians.

We are also so like those Children of Israel. God daily meets our needs. I know I can testify that I don't always know where my next meal is coming from or how my bills will be paid, but never once have I gone without. God is always, always on time.

Yet I know many times I don't thank Him as promptly as I should. And at times, I'm tempted to murmur and complain about circumstances that don't please me, when really I should rest in my Lord and His wisdom.

There is so much we take for granted. I was thinking this afternoon about how I am able to go to church tonight. No one will be there to drag me to prison. No one will torture or kill me for going. We can meet publicly, and openly, rather than in secret. My dilemma isn't IF I have a Bible to take with me, but WHICH one I choose to bring.

There was a time in America when my Baptist forefathers couldn't worship freely. They were imprisoned, fined, and in some instances whipped. There are times in England's history that Baptists or Protestants were imprisoned, or burned. The same could be said of many European countries. Many of them also have a history of religious persecution.

China even today suffers. Many believers must meet secretly, fearing repercussion from their government. North Korean Christians fear death. Just the other morning I heard of a Pakistani woman who received a life sentence for telling other Muslim women they needed to know Christ. And there are other countries, other places where this is so. That's not the 1700's, or 1600's. That's not the early church era under Rome. That's not the true church seeking freedom from midevil Catholcism. That's 2010 in our world. Dear friends, we are blessed.

If we have food and raiment the Bible said for us to be content. That's more than much of the world's population has. But I would say, most reading this have a home to live in (it may not be a mansion, but it's a roof over your head.) and a car to drive (it may smoke, cough and sputter worse than a chain smoker, but it gets you were you need to go.) food to eat (so it's beans and taters? Sounds good!) and clothes to wear (maybe they did come from Goodwill...those are my favorite kind! They don't cost much!).

My point is, there is so much to be thankful for. We have spiritual blessings (salvation, religious liberty, the Word of God, a good church home, the Holy Spirit to lead us, a home in Heaven, knowing God personally) physical blessings (a home, clothes, food, transportation, and I'm sure a whole lot of extras) and the blessings of family or friends. Even someone with no family or friends left can claim Jesus if they are saved!

How blessed we are! I can't even begin to count them all! God has truly been far better to any of us than we deserve! Let's take time to thank Him!

Train up a Child...

The Bible says: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I've been reading though the book of Jeremiah, and the other evening I read an interesting account that I know I've read before, but I suppose on this occasion I saw it in a different light.

Chapter thirty-five of Jeremiah gives an account of the Rechabites, the son of Jonadab. Their father commanded them that they abstain from wine and dwell in tents. Jeremiah brought them to the house of God and set wine before them and told them to drink. They refused.

Jeremiah didn't ask them to drink wine so they would sin (he knew they would refuse), rather to make a point to the rebellious nation that God was about to punish for their disobedience.

The end of the chapter shows God blessing them, promising them that even though judgment would come to the rebellious, God would bless them and their future generations for their obedience.

What a blessing this passage is in that respect! The Rehabites obeyed and stayed true to what was right, even publicly. They refused to sin against their father, and ultimately their God. Because of this, God blessed them and promised their protection.

Oh that we would follow their example, and obey our Heavenly Father; even when it may not seem to be the popular thing to do. Even if the rest of the nation around us refuses.

It is also a blessing to see the respect they had for their earthly father, who obviously instructed in them what was right. Jonadab must have been a Godly man, who shared that heritage with his children. It should encourage us to do likewise.

And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. Jeremiah 35:18, 19

Be of Good Cheer

My pastor is going through the book of Mark in Sunday School, and last week he taught on the portion of Scripture where Jesus sends His disciples into a boat and tells them to cross to the other side. A storm comes and they are fearful. In those verses you will find the little phrase spoken by Jesus before He calms the storm, "be of good cheer." So I started thinking on that little phrase...

It's used another time in Acts, when Paul is being transported on a boat as prisoner. Paul told them it wasn't a good idea to go the direction they were going, but they did anyhow. They faced a horrible storm. They were shipwrecked. Paul told them, "Be of good cheer" because the Lord told him everyone would survive.

I think that phrase is interesting in both of those situations. It's found other times in the Bible (I did a search with Bible software) but these two times it is mentioned in connection to sailing in the midst of a storm.

I thought of how in life we will face storms. Sometimes God allows them (as in the first case, when He commanded them to go over) and sometimes we create them (like the men whom Paul warned to not go) but in each instance, there is a command to be of good cheer.

In the first instance, it is given by Jesus, Himself. In the second, it is given by a man of God who'd received answers from God while praying.

This tells me something very important: when we face storms in our lives, no matter the circumstance, our attitude is important. We are commanded to "be of good cheer." Nowhere does it say, "be of good cheer...if you want to. If you feel like it. If things are going well." It just says to be of good cheer.

The Bible also tells us to "rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice." Notice it didn't say "rejoice in the Lord when you are blessed financially, when someone is healed, when God gives a blessing, when you get a good doctor's report...whatever." It doesn't say rejoice when things are going well. It says rejoice alway! That means the good and the bad.

You don't have to rejoice necessarily because something bad happens, but you should rejoice in it.

For example, when my Papa died, I was not glad he died. I was grieving and hurting. BUT I could rejoice in the storm because I knew the Lord's will was sovereign, and because he was saved.

When I have received bad reports on doctor visits, I'm not glad I'm unwell, or there's no cure, or a test came back with odd results, but I'm rejoicing in that my Father holds my life in His hands and His will is perfect.

A few years ago I heard a veteran missionary tell of when he and his wife where in Bible college. They had no money to buy their baby milk. Instead of being angry that God had allowed them to be in that situation, they got on their knees and humbly asked God to provide. A few minutes later (this is a true story) a woman knocked on their door with milk for them, saying she was driving home from the grocery store and felt God wanted her to stop and give them the milk. What if their attitude had been wrong? What if they gripped and complained? Perhaps they would have missed a blessing, or perhaps they would have received it anyway, but saddened they had missed an opportunity to trust God.

All these thoughts spoke to my heart. I am quick to worry. I always fear the worst. Over and over I am reminded that without faith, I can not please God; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

God allows me to go through things...some He has allowed in my life because it was His plan. Some...well...sadly I bring on myself. Yet always, I am to be of good cheer. Even if I don't feel like it.

Feelings...oh boy! They come, they go...and some people change feelings more than they change clothes. They're up, they're down...they're all around. Many want to tag those individuals with a "mental disorder" and excuse them. That being said, I am aware there are some people with legitimate mental issues who need pastoral counseling and maybe even medication to correct an imbalance . However, I think a lot of it is just a failure to have some self control and trust the Lord.

David faced times in the Bible where he was deeply discouraged/distressed/depressed, however the Bible also records him as going to the house of the Lord and gaining understanding, and in another place it says he encouraged himself in the Lord. He says he hoped in the Lord, or that the Lord was his strength. Yes, David got knocked down, but he didn't stay there on and on and on and on...he got up.

Feelings are not an excuse for disobedience. How many times has a parent told their child to do something and the child responded, "I don't feel like it." Um, I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, not only did I still have to do what I was told, but I got in trouble for complaining instead of obeying.

How much more so should we obey our Heavenly Father? He said be of good cheer. "But God, I don't feel like it." I can complain all I want, but that does not make my storm go away. Sometimes it makes it worse.

It's important for me to realize, my feelings may come and go. Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm sad. Sometimes I'm laughing and sometimes I'm crying. My feelings come and go, but God's Word forever stands.

Another thing to notice, and this really encourages me; in the storm God allowed, and in the storm they chose, not only were they given the command to be of good cheer, but they made it to the other side.

You know, in our lives we face storms for many reasons. Sometimes God allows them to teach us or strengthen us. Sometimes they are to teach others watching us. Sometimes they are because of our disobedience; but no matter what the reason, we as Christians WILL make it to the other side! We are Heaven bound. Nothing can change that. No circumstance, no feelings, and no storm. Nothing can take away from the fact that we WILL make it to the other side!

Sometimes we face a storm, for whatever reason, and we are, well, to put it mildly, not of good cheer. (I don't know about you, but I fail a lot in that area) but even then, we will make it over to Heaven's shore. Now I do think, that sometimes because my attitude wasn't right, I may have missed God's blessings in that storm (remember, when the men disobeyed Paul in Acts, they were shipwrecked), but never do I doubt that I will make to the other side.

If we are saved, we will make it over to the other side, and that...that is a great reason why we should be of good cheer.

Exceeding Grace

Saturday night I heard a powerful message on Exceeding Grace. The Preacher used the text about the woman at the well, and sin is like that. Sin is a well we have to dig deeper and deeper into and always leaves a thirst, and we always have to come back for more.

Then he talked about the Living Water Jesus offered; how those who drink of it will never thirst again. He talked about where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. I'm so thankful for that.

As I listened to the message my mind went back to who I had been before salvation, and even, who I have been since salvation. When I think of how God's grace supersedes it all, it blesses my heart and makes me want to shout God's praises.

I am not what I should be, but I am eternally thankful I'm not who I was. I'm so glad that the sin I once carried is GONE! As far as the east is from west, cast into the sea of forgetfulness, put behind God's back, blotted from the book, justified as if I'd never sinned....did I mention they were gone?!

You can trade your guilt for grace, your vices for victory, your hurt to hope, your bitterness for blessing, you sin for salvation! I'm glad He washes white as snow and that His grace exceeds it all!

Trust in the Lord...

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Recently I have been under several burdens. Sometimes it seems difficult situations, or stress, or whatever it may be, come in groups! When I find myself feeling overwhelmed I cry out to my Father.

I suppose the first verses I think of are Proverbs 3. Have you ever wondered why God said NOT to lean on our understanding? Because He knew we would. (And you thought I was going to say something profound!)

When faced with difficult circumstances, the first thing a child of God should do is pray. However, that is often the last thing! (Been there, done that, have the tee-shirt collection!)

The first thoughts that enter most people's mind are: What can I do to fix this? How can I make this work? Maybe it would be better if I...

It reminds me of a little boy wanting to help his dad put something together. The father knows what he is building--the child does not. The father knows how the pieces fit--the child does not. The father knows the end result--the child does not. But often the child with cry and beg, "Please let me try! Let me fix it! I know how!"

Perhaps that father might even let them try their hand in it. What usually happens is the child makes a worse mess than there was before. Then the father has to undo what has been done, and continue the process.

We are so like that. I am so like that. "Oh Father! I know how you could fix this! Lord if you would only do it this way! Please, can't I have it my way?"

The Bible says God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Why does the Bible tell us not to lean unto our own understanding? Because our understanding is flawed. No matter how intelligent or well learned we are...we are still human.

God is omnipotent (all powerful) and omnipresent (space and time are not issues for Him!) He knows the beginning and the end, because He IS the Alpha, and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He sees the "whole puzzle" together and finished. We just see the jumbled pieces. If we try to put them together, we just make the situation worse. If we let Him put the pieces together, there is a beautiful picture.

Someone said a good definition for stupid is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I'd have to agree, that logic is flawed. So why do we still do it in our lives?

I mean, how many times do I really have to learn the hard way that God is able to handle my problems, my needs, my fears, my dreams, my hopes, my everything?

One preacher said one time that we are funny Christians...we trust God to keep our eternal souls, but not to solve our mortal problems. We think that we, the finite, can solve problems better than God, the infinite.

God gave us a beautiful picture in the book of Job. Poor Job. I don't think anyone alive could have possibly suffered worse than he. In one day he lost ten children. He lost all his wealth, and his health...and his wife wasn't exactly encouraging! (to be fair though, she was suffering too.) If that wasn't bad enough, his friends came, stared at him for days, and then accused him of living in sin. I don't know about you, but by that point, all thoughts of wisdom and civility would be lost on my part!

Eventually Job cried out to God, begging for answers, feeling forsaken, unable to understand. God answered him though, and asked Job where had he been during creation, and who had been God's counselor? In other words, No one needed to tell God how to do things.

Job didn't know the end result of his trial, but God did. Job had no way of knowing that God would give him back everything he lost and then some. Job's trial proved to satan and Job's friends that Job was a faithful man. Job's trial has served as a help and encouragement to others who read his story in the Bible. It was for his good, and for God's glory.

Those verses from Proverbs also say, "in ALL thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." I can't pick and choose what I let God handle and what I tackle myself. Well...I can, but I'll mess it up every time!

I must give every burden, every situation, and every part of myself to God. I must yield myself entirely to His will. Only then will I find peace and rest.

Only in surrender to God will I find freedom. Freedom from sin, fear, worry, you name it, only in giving it wholly to God and allowing Him to work, will I find freedom.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain

And He Made the Stars Also

When I was a little girl I lived in the country with my grandparents. Sometimes in the summer time, on a really clear night they would take me outside to look at the stars and moon. My Papa had a set of binoculars, I remember how excited I would get to look through them and see everything so close and clear. Many times I would sing the children's song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

I've been privileged to look through a telescope on occasion, and I'm amazed at what I see! Everything is so vast, so gargantuan, so humbling. Really, who am I compared to such amazing things?

When you consider the first few chapters of Genesis, you get to know our great Creator God. In six literal days (Yes, I believe it wholeheartedly) He created everything! In Genesis one I read of God doing, and speaking, and making all the things we take for granted. The things scientists study and hope to learn secrets of. The things that have confounded the wisest of the wise. In the middle of that chapter in verse 16 you'll find a phrase, "he made the stars also."

I love it! I love my King James Bible! I can't be certain, but I almost imagine it being said offhandedly....kind of like, "Oh by the way, while He was at it, He made the stars too. Just because He could." I know He spoke creation into existence, but I kind of like to imagine Him just slinging out some stars and they going exactly where He wanted them to go.

I live in a larger city now, and while I am happy where I am, I sometimes miss the country. Just being able to look up and see miles and miles of everything. And even now, sometimes on a very clear night I look up and see the stars. I can usually pick out the big and little dipper, and Orien. Every time I see them, the innumerable testaments to our Creator, I think of that simple phrase, "He made the stars also." It makes me smile.

Yes, I still feel tiny and insignificant in compare to all God created. When I think of how He holds the world in place (by the way, if the earth varied in it's position we would either burn up or freeze to death.), how He keeps the times and seasons going, how He orders the affairs of this world (whether people wish to acknowledge it or not), and how He guides daily affairs, well, I'm amazed and feel pretty small in comparison.

But then I remember God took such care in making Adam and Eve. God was so merciful to them when they plunged mankind into sin. He knew they would. It was His plan all along to redeem man. God may be the Creator of the universe but He also is the Father of His children. And He cares about our burdens and He wants to hear from us no matter how insignificant we think it is. He said, "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you."

He cares about me! He loves me! He wants to have a personal relationship with ME! And yet...He made the stars also!

Here is my newest poem. I hope it's a blessing.

The God of All

God made the Earth
in outer-space,
hung the stars
in perfect place.

He scooped up mountains
with His hand.
He numbered the stars
and the grains of sand.

He created the birds
that soar and fly.
He hung fluffy clouds
in a bright blue sky.

He made the seasons,
Spring, summer, winter, fall.
He made the animals
and the bugs that crawl.

He made the fishes
and the bright, blue sea.
But wonder of wonders
He created me!

Though by Him
all things Consist
He's never to busy
His child to assist.

He loves us and watches us
with tender care,
and He's never too busy
to answer a prayer.

~ALA

The Power of Words

Have you ever imagined the power that words have? Words are wonderful things. As babies, our parents coach us and coax us hoping to hear our first words. I find it humorous that parents spend the first few years of a child's life teaching them how to speak, and then the next several years of the child's life trying to get them to be quiet!

Then there's the joy of seeing a child finally grasp the concept of reading. I can still remember the frustration I felt as a five and six year old girl, sitting with my grandmother sounding out the words to the simple readers assigned to me. Then one day the confusion of letters and sounds made sense, and I began to read words, and sentences, and then paragraphs and books!

Books opened a world to me I'd never before known, and the spoken word was no different for me. My family could testify I was seldom caught without SOMETHING to say! Then there came the day that I realized not only could I read what others had written, but I could write for others to read!

My love for words began when I was young, but it has never diminished. When I think of the power that words can have I'm amazed.

Think of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution! Pieces of paper with words...but what powerful words! Words that have shaped the country we live in the freedoms we hold dear.

When I think of the power of words I think of all the classics of literature that have survived for hundreds of years.

I think of the power words have when put to music. Handel's Messiah comes to mind, as do many great old hymns.

Words can be fun, such as jokes, riddles, and rhyming words. I love to play with words and find those that sound alike. (I write poetry, of course I like rhyming words!)

Words can have a bad power too. Just as the words of the Constitution give us words of liberty, words can also bring about bondage.

Just as the beautiful words of some works of literature can inspire, works by the likes of Adolf Hitler can corrupt.

Words of great classical music and hymns of the church can bring joy and worship for God while the words from rock and pop encourage demonic activities and glorify the singer.

Just as words can be fun, they can be hurtful. Children, if not taught differently, can tease mercilessly those who are different than they.

Parents can encourage their children with words, and teach them truth through words, or they can criticize and harm with words.

How many times have I heard it said that communication is important to a good marriage. Lack of communication and words of criticism or sarcasm can ruin one.

Words of love and kindness, and at times, needed rebuke can build a friendship. Words of gossip and lying can destroy it.

Politicians, storytellers, writers, journalists, teachers, and preachers will find that the words they use have power behind them.

I've read many books and articles about many different things. I've known some great teachers, and wonderful preachers. I keep a journal, write on this blog, write poems, and I have even published two books, and continue to write, but if I spent the rest of my life writing and talking I could never, ever even began to capture the love of God or all that He is.

Frederic Lehman said it best in his hymn, "The Love of God." It is said that the third stanza was written on the wall of an insane asylum by one of the patients.

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky."

It seems to me that the person who wrote that had more sense than the average person today.

Words bring to life knowledge, and there can be no greater knowledge than that of God's love. And God Himself.

The greatest book ever written is the Bible. It is after all, the Word of God. What greater word could there be than that which comes from our Creator? That blessed Book tells me how we go here, and what our purpose is.

That Book teaches me how to treat others, and it teaches me about freedom in Christ.

The most important thing is that it teaches me about Jesus Christ, who was virgin born, lived sinlessly, and who was God in the flesh. It teaches me that He died on Calvary so that I might live and live abundantly and eternally! It teaches me that God hates sin, but that God loved me enough to die for me so that I could escape hell and join Him in Heaven.

It teaches me to pray and to love and to serve. It teaches me the very foundations for living.

Words have power, but the most powerful words are those that are inspired of God...the Bible.

"Wonderful words in the Bible I read, but this is the dearest: That Jesus loves me."

What words do you read? Do they teach you truth in Christ?
What words do you speak? Do they glorify God?
What words do you write? Do they point to the Saviour?
What words do you hear? Do they encourage Godliness?

Peace, peace, wonderful peace!

If Christ can speak and the storms cease, I should have faith to believe that He will speak peace to my soul! He does not always choose to calm the storm, but He will calm His child.

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

That's been on my heart today. Sometimes we go through things that we do not understand, but God is always there to give that peace that passeth all understanding.

His ways and my ways

I wanted to share something with everyone that blessed my heart the other day! I was listening to Dr. Ron Gatlin preach a message on the will of God. The main verse he used was Psalm 18:30, which says, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."

He spoke about how sometimes God's will isn't easily understood, but that it's always perfect. He referenced Romans 12 and said that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect.

As I was sitting there, I looked down into the following verses, and though I've read the Psalm many times before I noticed something new. (I love how God's Word is this way!)

The verses directly to follow say, "For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." Did you see that?! Earlier he said the Lord's way was perfect. Now he is saying the Lord "maketh my way perfect." That "eth" implies continuous action! My God's way is perfect. I would NEVER doubt that; but not only that, if I allow Him to direct me, He will make my way perfect!

That is such a comfort to my heart! As one song writer said, "This changing world alarms me." Well it alarms me as well. So many things are uncertain, but God's Word and His promises are the one thing I can always rest with trust in! If He says it, it is so!

For in the very next chapter, verse seven says "The law of the LORD is perfect..." He is perfect and so is His Word. I can trust Him, though I may not understand. Though I may cry out in fear, though I may may be tempted to worry, HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS AND HIS WAY IS PERFECT!!!

His ways are perfect, full of lovingkindness, tender mercies, and grace unspeakable! I'm so glad that I belong to Him, and that He will make my ways perfect!

Christians a threat to the US?

The following is an article by Chuck Baldwin. I felt that it was important enough that I included the entire article below. Please take time to read this. I feel that because many of you who visit my blog are Christians, you need to know about this if you don't already.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Army Report Says Christians Threaten US Foreign Policy
By Chuck Baldwin
April 14, 2010


This column is temporarily archived at:
http://newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin582.htm


Last Friday, I told readers of this column that I had come across a very
disturbing government report and that I would be exposing that report during
my Sunday address this past Sunday morning. I did exactly that, and anyone
wishing to see an archived video of that address can do so by using this
link (the video should be uploaded by this weekend):

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/sermonvideo.php

The report's header reads, "Strategic Implications of American
Millennialism, A Monograph by MAJOR Brian L. Stuckert, U.S. Army. This
monograph was defended by the degree candidate on 01 May 2008 and approved
by the monograph director and reader named below. Approved by: Timothy
Challans, Ph.D., Monograph Director; Robert Taylor, COL, MI, Monograph
Reader; Stefan J. Banach, COL, IN, Director, School of Advanced Military
Studies; Robert F. Baumann, Ph.D., Director, Graduate Degree Programs." The
School of Advanced Military Studies, United States Army Command and General
Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, produced the report.

Here is the TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Why Millennialism Matters
The Role of Civil Religion and Culture
Millennial Theologies in America
Post-Millennialism and the Founding of America
Civil War, World War and the Rise of Pre-Millennialism
Israel, Nuclear War and the Last Days
Contemporary Pre-Millennialism in the American Electorate
Contemporary Pre-Millennialism and American Culture
The Holy Land and Armageddon: U.S. Policy in the Middle East
Anti-Christ, Gog, Magog, and Armies From the East
Conclusions and Recommendations
Bibliography

Remember, this is not a Christian university report or even a secular
university's religion department report, but rather a report written by an
active duty Army major (who is now stationed in Afghanistan, I am told) for
one of America's war colleges. Before analyzing this report, here are some
questions to ponder. Whose brainchild was this report? Did the major select
the topic himself or did a superior assign it to him? To whom exactly was
the report distributed? How was the report used? What are the
interconnections between this report and the MIAC and Department of Homeland
Security reports that draw similar conclusions? And perhaps the biggest
question is, What does this report portend for government action in the
future?

When Major Stuckert speaks of millennialism, he is referring to the Biblical
doctrine of Eschatology--specifically, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to
the earth to institute a 1,000-year (millennial) reign. He recognizes some
of the nuances of this doctrine in his study, most notably
post-millennialism and pre-millennialism. His report is heavily focused on
pre-millennialism, however.

At this point, I feel it is necessary to make this observation: whether one
is a post-millennialist or a pre-millennialist, the fact that we Christians
believe in the literal return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His
Kingdom puts us in the same boat, as far as the ramifications of Major
Stuckert's report--and similar reports--are concerned. We Christians need to
recognize that, as far as the Stuckerts of this world are concerned, because
we believe the Bible and we believe in the literal return of Christ, we are
considered an enemy. We can disagree with one another all we want to about
whether there is a Rapture (and if there is one, when it will occur),
whether Christ will return before or after a millennial kingdom takes place,
and scores of other theological differences, but none of that is important
to the events at hand: there is a growing sense among many governmental and
military leaders in America that Bible-believing Christians are an enemy
that must be marginalized, warned about, watched, and even controlled. And
it does not matter to a tinker's dam to these Machiavellians whether one is
a post-millennialist or a pre-millennialist. If we believe the Bible and
believe that Jesus is coming again, they consider us "dangerous." And we
Christians better wake up to this stark reality, stop fighting each other,
and focus on working together to preserve our liberties!

And one more early observation: there is an eerie and uncanny connection
between the verbiage and spirit of Stuckert's report and the now-infamous
MIAC and Homeland Security reports. The timing, too, is significant. The
MIAC and Homeland Security reports were produced shortly after Major
Stuckert's report was produced. A coincidence? Not on your life!

Here are some excerpts from Stuckert's report:

"Millennialism has great explanatory value, significant policy implications,
and creates potential vulnerabilities that adversaries may exploit."
(Abstract, page iii.)

"These factors [results of millennial belief] can be problematic for any
military leader or planner attempting to achieve U.S. Government policy
objectives through strategy, operations and programs." (Abstract, page iv.)

Notice that from the very outset of this report, Stuckert asserts that
Christians who believe in the Second Coming create circumstances or
conditions that might be "problematic" for America's military leaders. We
Christians also create "potential vulnerabilities" that America's enemies
may "exploit," according to Stuckert. Furthermore, Stuckert laments that we
Christians may even interfere with "U.S. Government policy objectives."

Pray tell, exactly what are those "U.S. Government policy objectives" that
Christians might prove to be "problematic" for? And is Major Stuckert
suggesting that those Christian military officers currently serving in the
US armed forces are somehow "problematic" to "U.S. Government policy
objectives"? And do these same Christian officers make America "vulnerable"
to our enemies? Is he suggesting that military officers in the US armed
forces who believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ be expunged from
military service, because of their beliefs?

As one will observe when reading the 61-page treatise, Major Stuckert, with
a broad brush, paints millennialist Christians as being serious problems for
America's foreign policy and for "U.S. Government policy objectives," and
that we must be dealt with; but he offers no details on what, exactly,
should be done. Or if he did, that part of his treatise is not a matter of
public record.

More quotes:

"The impact of American millennial religious ideas on U.S. Government policy
will add to strategic hubris, compel increasingly reckless international
action, and continue to over-commit the military in ways the Nation cannot
afford." (Page 1)

Again, notice that Christians who believe in Christ's return add to pride,
recklessness, and war. Good grief! I suppose that we Christians are also
responsible for the escalating price of gas and oil too--and maybe even
global warming!

Stuckert continues:

"First, millennial thought and its policy implications may create strategic
transparency that affords adversaries an advantage in decision-making.
Second, an understanding of American millennial thinking may provide
adversaries with the means to manipulate American policy and subsequent
action. Third, the enemy may exploit American millennialism to increase the
fragility of and even disrupt coalitions. Fourth, adversaries may exploit
American millennialism to demoralize or TERRORIZE joint forces and the
American people. By recognizing these potential vulnerabilities, military
leaders and planners may TAKE ACTION NOW to mitigate the effects." (Page 2.
Emphasis added.)

Dear reader, is the hair standing up on the back of your neck yet? If not,
it should be!

According to Major Stuckert, the belief in Christ's Second Coming makes us
vulnerable to America's adversaries. In fact, these adversaries (are they
foreign or domestic? He doesn't specify) might even exploit this belief to
"TERRORIZE . . . the American people." (Emphasis added.)

There's that "T" word again! Do you now see the connection to the MIAC and
Homeland Security reports? Is it all starting to make sense now? Because we
believe in the literal return of Christ to the earth, do people such as
Major Stuckert consider us to be potential terrorists?

And just what does Stuckert mean by the statement, "Military leaders and
planners may take action now to mitigate the effects"? Does he propose that
we Christians be rounded up and put in all these FEMA camps (that don't
exist)? Just how does he plan for the US military to "mitigate" the effects
of us Christians? This statement is downright chilling!

In this report, Major Stuckert specifically mentions the holiness and
Pentecostal churches; as well as the Assemblies of God; non-denominational
churches; and Independent and Southern Baptists. Again, anyone who believes
in the Second Coming of Christ is targeted in this report. According to
Stuckert, "Millennialism actually refers to any system of belief or
interpretation that employs a literal thousand years, or chiliad, in reading
and applying Revelation 20:1-7." (Page 9)

Stuckert even went so far as to say that Christian "mission work, especially
overseas, [has] significant implications for U.S. foreign policy." (Page 27)

I bet that when you folks make that financial donation to your church's
foreign missions program you have no idea that you are causing significant
(negative) implications for US foreign policy. Well, Stuckert thinks you
are.

Stuckert also berates Millennialists for "[driving] the U.S. further from
the U.N. in the near future since many pre-millennialists have to come to
view that body as a platform for the Anti-Christ." He went on to say,
"American pre-millennialists will also feel increasingly threatened by the
E.U. in coming years." And, "Pre-millennial interpretations of biblical
prophecy that predict the emergence of a one-world government led by an
anti-Christ causes distrust and even antagonism toward organizations like
the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the European Union, NAFTA
and OPEC." (Page 52)

In other words, folks, Stuckert is greatly chagrined that we Christians do
not, and will not, accept the push toward global government being
orchestrated by institutions such as the UN, the EU, et al. He feels that
because we oppose NAFTA, GATT, the WTO, the FTAA, and the overall NEW WORLD
ORDER agenda, we are "problematic" and must be "mitigated."

Stuckert goes on to blame Christians for "problems for relations between the
U.S. and Russia" (Page 53), problems in the Middle East and China (Page 56),
as well as coming "global disaster." (Page 55)

Major Stuckert then makes an incredible admission on page 58. He said, "War
is primarily about politics. While geography and technology play a role, in
order to be successful military leaders must be able to see the political
goals as clearly as possible. Because of the influence of pre-millennialism,
it can be difficult for military leaders to see themselves and their
government accurately and state policy goals objectively."

What did he say? "War is primarily about politics"? I thought war was about
defending the people and territory of the United States. I thought war was
about protecting freedom and liberty. War is about politics? So that's why
our young men are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan? It's all about
politics? If so, whose politics? Major Stuckert's? Barack Obama's? George W.
Bush's? The CFR's? The UN's? Exactly whose politics is sending our sons and
daughters to fight and die? The good major doesn't say.

But did you catch that last sentence? "Because of the influence of
pre-millennialism [and he could just as easily have said
post-millennialism], it can be difficult for military leaders to see
themselves and their government accurately and state policy goals
objectively."

Holy cow! Belief in the Second Coming blinds military leaders? They cannot
see themselves or their government accurately? What the heck does this mean?
Is Stuckert saying that because a military officer believes the
Bible--believes in the return of Christ to the earth--he or she cannot see
themselves and cannot "see" their government properly? Exactly what is it
about his or her government that cannot be accurately seen? Maybe Stuckert
means that because a Christian military officer believes in God, he or she
cannot recognize government to be his or her god. Is that it, Major
Stuckert? You want us all to see the US federal government as god?

On page 59, Stuckert accuses belief in millennialism of producing "pessimism
and paranoia." On the same page, he accuses people who believe in
millennialism of causing a "predisposition toward pessimism in world affairs
and a general worsening of international relations."

Yeah! That's right, Major! You devote 61 pages (and untold hours producing
them) accusing Christians of bringing "global disaster" to the world, but we
are the ones who are paranoid? If that isn't the pot calling the kettle
black, I don't know what is.

On page 60, Stuckert blames Christians for having a "proclivity for clear
differentiations between good, evil, right, and wrong [which] do not always
serve us well in foreign relations or security policy." Oh! Really?

Is Stuckert saying that there is no right and wrong in regard to America's
policies with foreign nations? Is he saying that there is no such thing as
right and wrong in regard to security policies? Is Stuckert saying the US
government should be able to do whatever it likes, regardless of right and
wrong? Is he saying that anything done in the name of "security" is right,
regardless of what it is? Is it right to lie to the American people, Mr.
Stuckert? Is it right to violate the US Constitution? Is it right to murder?
If there is no such thing as right and wrong, moral and immoral, in regard
to the waging of war and other security matters, pray tell, what were those
Nuremberg trials all about?

In researching this column, I found a World Net Daily report written by Bob
Unruh on December 19, 2009. In his report, Unruh said that an Army spokesman
"could not say whether any other writings ever had attacked a religious
belief as Stuckert's work." That's a good point. Where is the Army report
that singles out people who embrace Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, or liberal
Protestantism as being "problematic" to America's foreign policy? Why is it
that only people who embrace conservative Christianity, or
fundamentalism/millennialism were singled out?

Unruh's report also notes that "no study or article refuting" Stuckert's
report has been discovered. Therefore, absent a counterpoint, it might be
accurate to conclude that Stuckert's report has become de facto US
government policy. It certainly does appear that the particulars of
Stuckert's report made their way to both the MIAC and DHS reports.

See Bob Unruh's report at:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=119315

See Major Stuckert's report at:

http://tinyurl.com/am-millennialism-pdf

My Sunday address exposing Major Stuckert's report will be uploaded to my
web site later this week. When it is posted, it will be available to
download and distribute. It will be titled, "Seeds of Christian Persecution
Growing in the US." Watch for it at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/sermonvideo.php

2010 or 1984???

Please click the title of this entry and visit Chuck Baldwin's website for important articles about our nation's security.

If we do not learn from history, we are DOOMED to repeat it!!!

I do wish that our government would understand that George Orwell's book, "1984" is not a "how-to" manual!!!

Thank the Lord for those willing to gather and archive this important information. May we share it with others.

Ignorance is not always bliss!

Cherish the Moments

As this year ends I'm reminded of how precious time is. The older I get (and I'm not old!) I wonder if it is me that slows down, or time that speeds up. Or maybe both?

We all have bad days. We all have moments of pain and weakness. We sometimes suffer seasons of heartache and loss. There are times when it is easy to wish time away. I say this knowing personal loss, and watching dear people I love suffer as well.

I think it was Jack Hyles that once said, "Be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a hard time." Isn't that the truth?

In the midst of trials, physical pain, or sorrow, there have been times I thought to myself, "I can't wait for this to end. I just want it to be over."

But I'd like to share about a special lady I met that has helped me see that every moment, every day is precious, and gift from our Father. Even if it isn't what we hoped or dreamed it would be.

A few weeks ago I had to be at the radiology department of the hospital early in the morning. I was having yet another scan done. I signed in and spoke with the receptionist, who now knows me on sight, by name. She asked how things were going, and I told her, and thanked her for her kindness. I went and found a seat and started to pick up a magazine, when a little black woman with an adorable knitted hat approached and asked if she could sit by me.

I told her she could, and as she sat down she said, "I am so excited today!"
"Oh really? Why's that?" I asked, thinking it took a special person to be excited about anything THAT early in the morning!
"Today is my last chemo treatment!" she responded.
"Oh, congratulations! So, if you don't mind me asking, does this mean your cancer is in remission?" I asked.
"Oh no. I don't know for certain until I go back to my doctor, but I know this is the last treatment." She said.
"Oh wow. Well I think it's great you can be so positive, even when you don't know the outcome yet." I replied.
"Well I don't, but my Father does." she said.
"So you're a Christian?" I asked excitedly.
"Oh yes ma'am! And He has been so good to me! I've been keeping a journal since I got cancer, writing down all the ways that God has blessed me. He has been so good."
At this point I almost started crying.

We talked some more, and I learned not only was she a Christian, but she attended a local Independent Baptist church that I had heard of. She talked about her children who had graduated from a local Bible college. We got to talking about how the Lord was soon coming, and we started crying and rejoicing in our Heavenly Father.

Soon a nurse came to take me back to begin, and I turned to the woman and thanked her for her encouragement. She replied, "Oh don't thank me. I think our Father wanted two of His daughters to meet this morning."

It's been several weeks since I saw her, and I may never again see her until I get to Heaven, but I still think about her. I hope and pray her cancer is in remission. But from what she shared, I believe she's rejoicing in the Lord, no matter what the outcome.

I know this year has been hard on many people. I know people have lost jobs, or have taken reduced wages. Many of us felt fear and despair with the election time and economic instability. I know many dear precious saints have gone to Heaven this year and the families left behind are hurting; especially at this time of year. I know there are some who have experienced discouragement, pain, or sorrow that they never saw coming this time last year. I know I have.

If you had told me this time last year that I would have a tumor on my liver, or be on more medications that I ever have been, or that I would spend more time visiting the hospital than I ever have (and that's saying something!) I would have not believed you. If you had told me my grandmother would need brain surgery or that my uncle would spend nearly a month in the hospital and almost die, I would not have believed you. If you had told me that some of the people that I knew were going to die I would not have believed you. But all of that came to pass this year, and you know what? The Bible still tells me to rejoice in the Lord always.

We don't get exempted from that command just because we are hurting or have suffered loss. Please don't think I'm being unsympathetic, because I'm not. I've cried in brokeness in the past year, not understanding what His purpose or plan were. And I still don't understand what He's doing in my own life, or the lives of those I love so much.

But I know that if He can hold the universe in place, then He can hold my life together. If He can speak the world into existence, He can speak peace to my soul. Glory to God, if He's the Master of the seas, then He can calm my storm! And He can calm yours. The Bible says He is the God of all grace and the God of all comfort.

We will face trials and heartaches and burdens down here. He never promised the Christian life would be painless, but He did promise to never leave or forsake us. That makes life worth living.

HE is what makes life precious and worth cherishing. He is the reason we can rejoice when everything crumbles around us. He is the Captain of our Salvation, the Author of our lives, we are His workmanship; His trophies of grace. He didn't say we would always understand, but He did tell us to rejoice.

I want to be like that dear sister, who thanked God during her battle with cancer. Who rejoiced even when she wasn't sure if she was in remission. Like the verse I read this morning, I want to rejoice in the land of the living.

I know this is long, but please pardon me while I take a moment to list a few of my blessings this year...

My salvation that can never be lost.
My beloved King James Bible that ministers to my heart.
My precious church family and a pastor who preaches God's Word.
My dear family, who loves me.
The health that I do still have.
The ability to voice my thoughts, to sing praises to God, to write for His glory...
Fresh air, a good home, plenty to eat, wonderful Christian friends...
an eternal home in Heaven...a relationship with my Heavenly Father. The knowledge that I'll never go to hell. Living in America. Living in the South. Freedom to praise my God.

My blessing are so numerous, how can I count them? God has been so good, no matter what!

Stolen Birthright

Many of us know the story of Essau and Jacob. Essau, in a moment of exaggerated desperation sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. This was no small thing. With the birthright came the promise of the Messiah, a double portion of the inheritance, and the Priesthood of the family. To give it away for something so insignificant was a wicked thing. God said He hated Essau because he was profane man.

Now I know God intended all along for Jacob to have the birthright. In fact, Jacob himself would reverse the order of his grandchildrens' birthrights as well.

So what am talking about when I refer to a stolen birthright? I mean America's birthright.

God birthed this country from pangs of religious persecution. The Puritans came here because the Anglicans and Catholics persecuted them. They in turn persecuted the Baptists here, but God used the Baptists to shape the very constitution of the United States. (Another topic all together, but read about it. It will bless your heart.)

This country seemed destined for greatness. It was a haven for all people downtrodden. The Jews were granted rest and freedom here. We had a Constitution of freedom. Religious and personal liberty was guaranteed protected.

God sent revivals and the people responded during the Great Awakenings. Souls were sensitive to the working of the Spirit. People were of strong moral fiber and had a solid work ethic.

God blessed the country economically as well. God fought our wars for us. God blessed us over and over again. God had great things for America.

But America had an enemy named Satan. Satan slipped in, sending Jesuits, Communists, Socialists, Secret Societies, Muslims and others with various names with one purpose: destroy the great nation God raised up.

Satan slipped into positions of government, banking, universities and public schools. He did the most damage by finally slipping into pulpits and homes.

Satan told men and women that humanism, feminism, and socialism was the answer, and that there was no God.

He sowed seeds of pride and rebellion that eventually came to fruition. Now those of us who love America and remember her as a great nation stand by and wonder what has happened.

We wonder how it could be lawful to kill babies, kill disabled people, and kill elderly people. We wonder how men with men and women with women is acceptable.

We cry out in frustration at a government that continuously puts the economy in precarious danger by borrowing from Communist countries like China, and giving bailouts that do not work.

We do not understand how the government could possibly desire to take away our weapons so that we can no longer defend what is ours.

We feel betrayed by a government that allowed a man with Muslim and terrorist ties, who will not produce a birth certificate to prove his citizenship to become the Commander and Chief of our great nation.

We wonder why we are on the fast track repeating the mistakes of Hitler, and why people who are true enemies of America are in leadership positions.

We know that the America we grew up in will not be the America our children will come to know, and that is heartbreaking.

We as a nation have sold our birthright, not to Jacob, but to Satan.

Should it be any surprise now that school children murder one another? In the average public school a child can get drugs, alcohol, and other forms of filth before first period.

Muslim "soldiers" perpetrate acts of violence on our soldiers and men are too cowardly to call it terrorism.

Women murder their babies and it's considered socially acceptable.

Homosexuals push for their marital rights...and are granted them!

Everyone wants a free government handout from an economy that is already strained to the nth degree.

And scientists tell us we've evolved to a higher standard? Anyone with half a brain knows how foolish that statement is.

Yes, sadly, it's true. America sold her birthright to the enemy and now we are being overtaken with what appears to be no hope in sight.

However, I have good news. Good news, you say? DO tell!

God is still on the throne. He is still in charge. He is coming back one day, and don't think for a minute the church is leaving this world defeated. We may leave persecuted, and we may leave hated, but NEVER defeated! The gates of hell shall NEVER prevail! Satan may try. He thinks he's one a few victories. But God is keeping score and He's already won the war! He won at Calvary, and one day He will rule this world in power and majesty and the scoffers will be banished eternally. And that's enough to keep us shouting till the rapture takes place! Rejoice, brothers and sisters. He is on the throne!

Keeping your heart...

I've been thinking for awhile about this subject. Then I began to hear others talk about it. A few weeks ago, a dear sister in Christ was here with her husband and as we were talking she mentioned that her new book she is writing is about keeping our hearts. She floored me, because I had not heard many people who believed this.
Then just last night, a dear brother mentioned the verse that I've been pondering in my heart for months. "Keep thy heart with all diligence."

I believe that is strong language. He mentioned how "keep" meant to "guard" and that was a military term. And we know that if we diligently do something, we are putting our all into it.

For now, there are three areas I want to talk about guarding our heart in.

The first is friends. Who you are friends with says a lot about you. Have you ever heard a mother defend a wayward child by saying, "He's a good boy, he just got in with the wrong crowd." Well the longer we allow ourselves to "fellowship" with the wrong crowd, the more like them we become. Pretty soon, we are that wrong crowd.

We should guard our heart against the wrong kind of friends. We should choose them carefully. I agree we should show kindness to all men, but that doesn't mean we have to allow them to become close to us. Remember the Bible says, "Evil communications corrupt good manners."

Secondly, we should guard our hearts from ungodly influences. Every day we are bombarded with things. We must make the choice of what we will allow in our life, and what we will cast out.

For me, music is a hard one. Sometimes in the grocery store I will hear a song I listened to before I was saved, and POW! All the words instantly come back into my mind. What must I do? Put it out! Even if that means leaving the store.

Some people don't struggle with music, but they struggle in other areas. It may be with their eyes. The Bible has verses for that. Job said he made a covenant with his eyes. The Bible also says, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eye."
Magazines, books, TV, billboards...even immodesty in public. There is much to guard our eyes from!

Maybe it's places. For those who were into drugs and alcohol before they were saved, it would not be wise to visit the liquor store or drug house...even if it is to pass out tracts.

Maybe it's gossip. There are those who just love to be the first to share something juicy. RUN from them! Avoid it, nip it in the bud. If you hear it, you will be tempted to spread it.

Maybe it's a heart issue; pride, jealousy, anger, bitterness. I've struggled with those before. We have to root them out though, because if not, they will gain a strong hold in our lives that will be harder to deal with later.

It could be other things. We all fight our own individual battles. We need the Lord to help us guard our heart from things that would influence us in an ungodly way.

How about relationships? This is the third one. This is a big one with teenagers and young people. Girls want their prince charming...guys want that perfect girl. So what do they do? They resort to the world's philosophy for finding a mate, and date. Now, I am not even getting into why I am against dating. The fact that it is a practice of the world should suffice here.

The point is, instead of guarding their heart, keeping their heart, and giving their heart to God so that He can send the right person at the right time, they run ahead, and many times give pieces of their hearts away. This is wrong. Not only does it cause them "heartbreak" in the present, but when they do find themselves married, it is unfair to their mate because they have given parts of their heart to other people in the past.

I speak from some experience, because even though I have never dated, I have given my heart. I look back with regret. I know I am forgiven by my Saviour, but should I one day marry, I will regret having given my heart to someone else other than my husband.

There are many other areas that we should guard our hearts in, but suffice it to say, if we give our hearts to God and ask Him to keep watch on it, we can save ourselves a lot of "heartache."

It isn't easy, but I firmly believe had I guarded my heart more closely when I was a child and teenager, I would not have as many regrets today. Yes, forgiveness is granted because of Jesus' shed blood, but I live with the consequences. Separation is still in the Bible, and it should still be in the life of the believer.

May God help me and others to keep our hearts with all diligence. God bless!

Broken Pieces

Brother Lamar sent me a message today saying he's still looking for my poems on Facebook. Guess I got behind! I hope this will be a blessing.

Broken Pieces

Lord, can you hear me?
I've come to You in prayer.
You see Lord, I have failed You
and I thought that you might care.

God, I've really done it.
I've made a mess of it all.
I thought I had it covered,
but then I took that fall.

Where once I was Your vessel
there are pieces broken and sharp.
Lord, my sin has hurt me
right to the depths of my heart.

So now I guess You're finished.
I suppose with me You are done.
I had my sin for a season,
and the pleasure I thought was fun.

Now I'm reaping what I've sown.
It's time to pay the price.
I never knew that with my sin
I would make such sacrifice.

Oh Lord, I feel so useless
and empty down within.
I know You can not use me now
so I guess I'll say, "amen."

But then words came from Heaven
precious and so clear,
from the Holy Spirit who said
"Child, I am right here."

"Yes I know you've failed Me,
and yes, it's true you've sinned;
but don't you know I can clean you up
and make you whole again?

There is no sin you could commit
that my blood can not make clean.
I loved you when I died for you
and this doesn't change a thing.

You see, to Me you are precious;
I purchased you with My life.
And I'll love you if you're good or bad.
I'll love you if you're wrong or right.

Sins that seem so hopeless,
well those are My specialty.
When you find you've fallen,
just come back to Me.

I'll never leave or forsake you
and for your life I have a plan.
Just stay close to Me and serve Me
for I'm holding to your hand.

A Precious Piece of Paper

How many times do I take for granted simple things? I live in an area where "everyone" is a "Christian." But do you realize not everyone knows Him? I mean truly knows Him. I realize it, but I'm afraid I don't think on it as much as I should. Saturday I learned an important lesson, and I'd like to share it with you.

I went back to the town where I grew up. Someone I knew had died, and my grandmother and I attended the funeral. Afterward, she wanted to take me to lunch before I headed back to Greenville. She and I both enjoy Chinese, so we went to a local restaurant.

Before I got out of the car, I reached over into my dash and grabbed a Chinese tract. I don't see a lot of Chinese people, so I rarely get to give them out, but I knew the people who owned this restaurant could probably read it.

We went inside and had our meal. As we were preparing to leave, I pulled the tract out of my pocket book and started to put a tip inside. A waitress across the room saw me and came over to our table quickly.

She was smiling, and asked in broken English, "I see, please?"
"Of course," I responded, and handed it to her.
She stood there and read the ENTIRE thing, and smiled even bigger.
She said, "It in Chinese!"
I responded that, yes, it was in Chinese.
Then she looked at me seriously and asked, "Can I keep?"
I already knew I was going to cry, and I responded that it was for her.
She looked so surprised. "It...for me?" she asked.
All I could do now was nod.
She thanked me and went away.

I've been thinking about that conversation all week. You see, I've been raised in a good Independent Baptist Church of some kind all my life. For as long as I can remember I've been in church and under sound preaching. I know all the songs, I know all about the gospel. It's kind of like the air I breathe...it's there. How many times do I take it for granted?

How many times do I just forget to thank God for how good He is to me? He allowed me to be born in America. Not just that, He allowed me to be born in the South, where everyone knows "something" about God.

I could have been born in China, where the gospel isn't freely spoken.

I could have came to America as a foreigner, not speaking the language, and as a result, most likely not being reached with the gospel.

I have tons of tracts. English, Spanish, and yes, Chinese. I have easy access to them.

I have six Bibles (although 4 years ago, I only had 1); two of which are bilingual English/Spanish Bibles.

I live within walking distance of my church, and where I used to live, I was less than a five minute drive away.

I can worship freely and publicly pass out tracts and witness. I can be open about my faith. I am so blessed, and I take things like a "simple" gospel tract for granted, when to that dear woman, it was PRECIOUS!

And she is right. It is precious! My Saviour is Precious, and so is His gospel. It is also powerful. So powerful that it changed me from a wicked sinner to a child of God. So powerful that it can reach a Chinese woman living in America.

So I pray for her. Since Saturday, I've prayed each morning that God would not allow His Word to return void, that she would accept the gospel and be saved. I may never know this side of Heaven, but I pray she comes to know the PERSON that the PAPER told her about.

May God forgive me for not being as reverent as I should have been toward His gospel, and may this encourage you as well to thank Him for His saving power that reached you.

God bless!

Continuing the poem theme for FB...

Ok, here's another one for those who requested them.

I heard a man of God say one time, "Hope my shouting doesn't bother you. I'm just practicing for Heaven." I love that! The Bible says let the redeemed of the Lord say so, so why are we afraid to praise Him publicly and privately? Why does old time, Holy Ghost worship scare or bother some people?

I've heard a lot of arguments. Some say it's all emotionalism. I have two responses to that. Number one, what is wrong with getting emotional about being saved, going to Heaven, never going to hell, and Having the Holy Spirit dwell with in us? That's enough for me to shout, cry, and praise God all the way to Heaven for. I'd say those emotions are good.

Number two, if the Spirit of God leads you to worship and praise Him, you should obey, or you will quench the Spirit, and the Bible commands us NOT to do that.

I've also heard people say, "Others might think ya'll are charismatic for all that shouting, crying, and running."

My response to that is, are you really going to let the charismaniacs steal your shout? Don't you know Baptists were around way before them? I've read that the wife of Shubal Stearns (who's church birthed most of the Baptist Churches in the south) prayed and testified publicly. That was in the 1700's, way before Pentecostalism.

I will say, I am not, and never have been for those who "worship" to call attention to themselves, or those who do things without the Spirit's leading. That is out of order, and will quench the Spirit as quickly as someone who won't worship when lead to.

I understand that some people are more emotional than others. Some people are introverted. Some are shy. I understand that we don't all worship in the same way. I've seen people shout, run, cry, laugh, bow their head, wave their hand, stand, or nod their head. I've seen them smile, I've seen women wave handkerchiefs. Some people do nothing on the outside, but inside they are praising and glorifying God. It's all good, and in order. The Bible says let everything be done decently and in order, and worshiping God is always in order. Publicly, and privately.

That's what this poem is about. It's entitled, Heavenly Language, and my purpose for writing it is to share my heart concerning worship. Worship is commanded, and I believe in Heaven we'll lose all the dignity, fear, formality, and may I just say, pride. I believe when we see the One who bled and died for us, we will fall down before Him and praise Him. I believe we'll cry "Holy," and "Worthy is the Lamb!" I believe we'll cry and praise Him for not letting us go to Hell. I think we'll worship Him for who He is and adore Him eternally. So if you feel lead of God to worship Him down here, just remember you're "just practicing for when you get to Heaven."

How can we do any less for the One who has been so good to us?
~~~~~~~~~~~

Heavenly Language

There is a language
I'm thankful to learn.
It's one I picked up on
when from my old life I turned.

It started with "Glory to God!"
Then a "Hallelujah" slipped on in.
Pretty soon I even found myself
shouting out "Amen!"

"That's right, Preacher!
Tell it like it is!
I'm glad to learn a language
to which there is no quiz!

This language is spoken
with shouting, running, or tears.
It's a language I'm still learning
though I've been saved for years.

If you hear folks shouting
or see raising of hands,
we're only practicing for Heaven
and hope you'll understand.

Charismatic tongue flapping
will never pass the test.
Those of Old Time Religion
know the Heavenly Language is best.

Poems

Ok, in response to some friends on Facebook, I will be posting some poems from my book here and linking this page to FB occasionally.

I'd like to share this one today, and also give the background behind it. Dr. Dan Truax was my missions teacher in Bible college. I had heard stories about him when I was younger, and was so excited to meet him in person. At the time he was my teacher, he was up in years, and his wife, Mary came to class with him.

I spent many Saturday afternoons in their home looking at pictures he had sketched and painted, and listening to them talk about their time as missionaries. Dr. Truax was born in China. His parents were missionaries there. He and his wife served in the Sahara desert until health reasons sent them back to the states.

His stories often made me cry. I could see, even though he was no longer able to go to Africa, he longed for the people. It was through he and his wife that I gained a burden for missionary/ministry work. Though I don't know where the Lord will lead me, I long to serve Him, whether it's here in South Carolina, or the uttermost parts of the earth. One of his most popular sayings was, "What part of 'go ye' don't you understand?" I wrote this in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Truax. I pray it will be a blessing.

What Part of "GO YE" Don't YOU understand?

"Dear Lord, I want to serve You."
a soul cried out one day.
"But please don't ask for sacrifice
for that simply is not my way."

"Don't ask me to go to foreign fields,
or leave my family dear;
and Lord, it would be nice
to have all my comforts near."

"I just couldn't bare cold or heat,
or live in heathen land.
I would hate to have to learn
a language I don't understand."

"Don't ask of me the hard task
of prayer or winning souls,
for living out my life in ease
has been my highest goal."

The soul, now finished with it's prayer
sat back with peace, content.
Until an answer came from Heaven and said,
"To a foreign lang you have been sent."

"For it was in My purpose
and all along My plan.
Now I ask you this one question:
What part of GO YE don't you understand?"

We may stand back and wonder
who would pray to God that prayer.
But looking in our church pews
we'll find our answers there.

Now you've read my poem,
the words are simple from my hand.
Yet I ask you this one question:
What part of GO YE don't YOU understand?