The Enemy!

The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion.Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:2-7 NIV

There are seemingly more enemies surrounding us than friends, but the most despicable enemy are those influenced by deceptive persuasion. Satan–will don the garment of the righteous in order to deceive and when their hearts are not right with God, he is successful and then will things fall apart, they stand in wonder as to how it happened.

Everyone saying, “Lord, Lord” is not a follower of The Most High God and in fact, we are cautioned in The Word that many will stand before Him and He’ll say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Let’s look at what Jesus said:

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:20-27 NIV

So are we building our house on a rock or on the sand?

It would appear that with all the upheaval and chaos emanating from the White House that the 2016 Election created a situation in which the presidency and the credibility of America was built on sand and when the storms continue to rage, it will soon be washed away.

Historically, not many have ever seen such turmoil in the White House or such disdain from other countries because of the leader in it as we see right now. The enemy–those who gain access or entry into situations by deceit and cunning through the auspices of wrong doing and outside interference should never expect peace for there will be none. Whenever a “dictator” sets out to beguile the people using false propaganda and outright lies, they may have persuaded the masses for a moment, but the moment passes as soon as the blinders fall off and people realize they’ve been duped.

Ironically, not once has there been an evil judge or king or dictator who did not fear for his own life, yet they had no qualms about destroying others.

Karma bites and it’s about to take a big bite out of those responsible for the madness resulting from the rigged election.

But it’s not only those who rigged the election who will feel the pain, but all those who pretend to be Christians–the pseudo-christians who because of their own agenda–lied in order to bring about a desired result.  They won–but what did they win? Based upon what I’ve seen posted by various people from across the land, the pseudo-christians have won the disdain of many who now see them as hypocrites and that includes the entire Republican party–that so-called party of family values who have endorsed and embraced the very epitome of ignorance and evil and condones the wrongdoing in the White House.

Anyone who does not do the will of God, “defend the rights of the poor and needy,” and cannot love as God loves–unconditionally, is the enemy. Did not Jesus tell us that there are but two commands by which we must live and will be judged by? “Love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and love one another as we love ourselves.”

Where is the love of a the fake-president residing in the White House? There is a love of greed and power, but those are also covered in The Word–practices of evil. When a confirmed and publicized “white supremacist” is sitting at the table with others because he “tricked” the president into signing the order, but the president won’t rescind it–what does that tell us? Can we see any good fruit in that action?

Do we see good fruit or rotten fruit in those given positions as cabinet members who have ties with Russia and refuse to disclose truth?

Do we see good resulting from evil in establishing people who disdain government in government positions? Is that why those who knew nothing, know nothing, and don’t care, are guarded by others at taxpayer expense?

Every foolish decision has consequences and the cost–from a financial perspective is shouldered by the tax-payers who actually pay taxes and those who circumvent paying taxes keep are rewarded. Something to think about it.

Though Satan is the enemy of mankind, those influenced by him are the enemy of everything right and good. The media is not the enemy of Americans–the clown in the White House is the enemy with his autocratic notions and attempts to establish tyranny.

The Americans who did not drink the shake are not fooled (and there are more of us than those who drank the shake) and we are not standing by idly waiting for the storm to rise; we are establishing our faith on The Rock and He will prevail against all the enemy attempts to do to destroy a nation.

In order to defeat the enemy–we must know the enemy and how the enemy plans to divide and conquer. We do, for we see it on a regular basis and will not cave. We will resist the impulse to give in and we will be victorious over evil.

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What Fruit Do We See?

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:12-20 NIV

The Word of The Lord–Jesus speaking!

The world tells us that, “what goes around, comes around.” Whenever I think about this, I’m reminded of a boomerang that returns to the one who throws it.

When we fling insults and denigrate others simply out of spite, what else can we expect from others?

The press secretary to #45 tells us, when the press indicates (through comparative photos) his crowd size was smaller than Obama’s, it was demoralizing. And the press secretary goes on to tell a fabulous lie about #45’s inaugural crowd being the “largest ever.” Frustrated by having to tell the lie (I’m sure encouraged by #45), he turned red and stuttered, out the lie. “It was the largest crowd. Period.”

Now, where have we heard that before? When #45 gathered the press together with a supposed “big announcement” which was actually promotion of his new hotel, he stammered out, “President Obama was born in the United States. Period.”And then he walked away without responding to any questions. Press secretary did the same thing after his first press conference–walked away without answering any questions. Why? For at least six years, #45 told everyone he could find, President Obama was not born in the United States–attempting to de-legitimize his presidency, and now–he’s overly concerned about people seeing him as the illegitimate president because he lost the popular vote by almost three million votes. Doesn’t sound like a legitimate win to me–especially with the Russian hacking and false propaganda promoted about Hillary.

Do we see a pattern here?

Then, during another interview–the counselor to #45 told Chuck Todd, they had not lied about the crowd size, they merely presented, “alternative facts.” They lied. But then again, their boss lies–and lies, and lies and lies. But his enablers brush off the lies by saying, “you just didn’t understand what he was saying.” Are we all having a problem misunderstanding or is he incapable of making himself understood?

His lack of understanding–about the important things–is obvious. He signs executive orders for the drama and then when attempting to read some part of what he signed, stumbles over the words. So, it was not exactly a revelation when it was exposed that Bannon was the architect in drafting the executive orders. Most of us knew #45 didn’t draft them because the vocabulary used was beyond his ability to comprehend.

Bannon–late last week told the press,”You need to shut up.” There was more, but this will have to suffice to make the point. Who is he to tell the press to shut up? Good question! As it turns out, he is the power behind #45, the one making all the decisions and appointing himself to the National Security Council–under the guise that #45 made the decision. The wolves are circling and getting ready for the kill.

I have said–repeatedly–that #45 has demonstrated a cognitive disability and now–when revelations are made every day, my thoughts have been confirmed. But the enablers–try to keep up the ruse by blaming everyone else for the ineptness we see in the WH.

Now, what was that #45 often said about President Obama? “He’s the worst president ever!” Really? It would appear–than in just 10 days, the worst president ever has been immortalized for all the world to see and we know by the fruit he’s produced–it’s all bad.

• Signing executive order to repeal the ACA without a replacement plan with no thought about all it affects. Many people are expressing regrets for voting for him because they didn’t realize that, “Obamacare” which they despised because of the name, was actually–the Affordable Care Act–which they now realize–they need.
• Signing the executive order to ban Muslims and then saying, it wasn’t a “Muslim ban.” However, Giuliani said in a televised interview, that #45 had called him and asked him how he could, “legally ban Muslims.” But then, Giuliani–true to form–lied and said he didn’t really mean it.
• He has signed so many executive orders–“more than President Obama” in such a short span of time, that he thinks that makes him a great president and his enablers are praising him for it–feeding his ego, fearful of telling him the truth. He cannot handle truth!

When lying and guilt weigh a person down, their demeanor changes and the evil residing inside, shows up on the outside and we can see it is taking its toll on both the counselor and press secretary. Even #45 is looking drained.

What fruit do we see? The growth from seeds of evil and greed for power to the extent that many are wondering, who is the president? Is it Bannon, Putin or #45?

With each day that passes, without someone checking what’s going on in the WH, we all should be watchful for the civil insurrection that is bound to occur with all of the lack of knowledge and wisdom, in making decisions in the WH.

God knows–He sees and hears everything–and He will expose all that is done in darkness by bringing it into the marvelous light–so all will know truth!

Being Fruitful!

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4 NLT)

Sometimes, The Word–all by itself–convicts us to the very core of our being. This entire chapter tells us everything we need to know about how our relationship with God works.

It is not enough to come to the cross and allow the blood of Jesus to wash us cleaner than snow; we have to remain there, soaking it up, always remembering the sacrifice He made. When we remain–staying put–in the arc of safety He provides, then we will be able to produce good fruit–help develop other believers by what they hear us say.

Whenever we get off track–attempting to promote our own version of the Gospel–God then prunes us, cuts off the dead leaves and branches that are no longer productive, so that the healthy part of us can thrive and we can bring others into the glorious light of Jesus Christ.

This is why we must speak God’s Truth and not our own.

This has never been made clearer to me than when I moved into a new house. There was a rose bush that had been tended by the previous owner, but it was being neglected. Since I am not overly fond of gardening, I simply cut back all the dead branches, thinking that would be the end of it. Within a few weeks, green growth sprouted and rosebuds appeared. Every time I cut off the old, spotted leaves, new ones grew. And even though, I keep thinking that bush is going to die, whenever it is pruned, it thrives.

I thank God for His constant pruning  in my life–cutting away all the dead stuff that does not work or bring Him glory–and keeping me from receiving new insight from Him, giving me more to share with others that they, too can walk in the light and receive His many blessings.

Whenever new people start following my blog, I give thanks. I don’t always know why they are following me, but I do know that I will keep promoting The Gospel and sharing what God gives to me. So, the fruit that is being developed–is the act of someone deciding to follow me on social media and hopefully, they are developing a relationship with God and allowing Him to prune them, so they will also grow and be fruitful.

Lord Jesus, I thank You daily for speaking to my heart and allowing me to share what You give me. Bless all those who follow me as I follow You and create in them a heart to want to be pruned, so we may thrive to Your glory, producing more and more fruit!

We Can Have What We Ask!

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”(John 15:16).

Before the foundation of the earth was laid,

God, in His infinite wisdom, fulfilled plans made,

Choosing us, ordaining us to do His will

So we could ask, whatever we will,

In the name of Jesus and receive,

God’s promises to those who believe.

He knew, Him, we would not choose,

But loved us enough so we would not lose,

Opportunity to having a right relationship,

With Him, who created all things, for us to enjoy

Knowing without Him, Satan, would have our souls to whip,

Influencing our minds, treating us like unwanted toys,

Bruised and broken and ready to throw away,

But Jesus died on the cross, thwarting all Satan’s plans

Fulfilling God’s plans to make sure salvation for man

Became a reality and not just a plan. Now choosing is on us;

Will you receive Him, as your Savior, today

And come into His knowledge of mercy that is just?

The decision to choose to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, is not always an easy one for many people and the reason is–their unwillingness to give up those things that keep them from living right before God. Some make excuses, some attempt to justify, but I am here today; I just want to testify of God’s goodness for all He has chosen and ordained to bring forth fruit–in His name–telling everyone, everywhere I go–that Jesus is Lord and I know for myself that His promises are true; what He has done for me, He will also do for you because He is not a respecter of persons. What He does for one, He’ll do for others.

Try Him. Shake off the attitude of unbelief and believe in His goodness and know that He chose you from the beginning–to give you life abundantly without reservation and all you need to do is repent, receive, and believe that Jesus is and always will be, with you and you’ll never be alone. He loved you enough to die for you as part of the Father’s plan, will you love Him enough to live for Him–starting right now?

Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask for hearts to be touched and souls to be won to the Kingdom for Your glory. We pray for them to find bible-based-teaching churches where their thirst for knowledge can be filled and ignited and fueled to share what they know with others, producing good fruit. We thank You for Your Word we can use as our guide for doing all things well at Your direction so others will know and receive You this day. Amen!

In the Garden (segment three)

“Look.  I’ve known the big guy for a long time.  He was just trying to make sure that you don’t become as wise as He is.  He knows that the minute you taste of that tree, you’ll be like a god, smart as He is and just as clever. Come on, taste it.  You’ll see,” said the serpent as he circled the tree enticingly.

“Adam, what do you think?” asked the woman.

“Huh, what are you talking about?” asked her husband, dazed, as if coming out a trance.

“Never mind,” said the woman archly.

She stared at the tree for some time noting the luscious color of the fruit, its firm roundness and stood closer to get a better whiff of its fragrance.  It did indeed look good and it had a wonderfully intoxicating aroma.  She decided that maybe she had misunderstood God.  So she picked some of the fruit from the lower branches and groaned aloud in delight.

“Adam, you must taste this.  This is the most heavenly fruit, I’ve ever tasted.”

So Adam took the fruit from her and he too ate of it and groaned in delight.  By the time they had finished their first mouthful, they knew something had changed.  They looked at each other and suddenly knew that their nakedness, a condition to which they were so accustomed, was no longer appropriate.  They dropped the fruit in an attempt to hide themselves and shamefacedly backed into the deeper foliage near fig trees and took leaves from the fig tree to fashion coverings for themselves.  When they finished sewing their leaves, they came back into the open and stared at each other as if seeing one another for the very first time.

“What happened?” asked the woman shakily.

“I don’t know,” said the man nervously, but I don’t think it was a good idea to eat from that tree.”

“We’ve done it now,” said the woman beginning to weep.  “What are we going to tell Him?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll have to think of something.  Let’s go get the children and tell them what happened and warn them to stay away from that tree,” said the man looking around him.

Suddenly some of their children came running into the clearing screaming their heads off.  Adam and the woman jumped at this unfamiliar sound and wondered what had happened.

“Mommy, daddy, the animals are going crazy.  They won’t play right and one of them tried to bite us,” cried the children.

“What!” said both of them in unison.  “The animals wouldn’t bite you.  They know we have dominion over them.”

“Something happened a little while ago,” they explained.  We were playing like we usually do, riding around on their backs, telling them where to take us, when suddenly, they stopped in their tracks and shook us off.  They nearly trampled over us as we were trying to run away. Why didn’t they listen to us?”

Adam and his wife stared at each other in horror.  They realized that the animals had reacted at about the same time they had eaten the forbidden fruit from the tree.  They quickly explained things to the children and admonished them to be extra careful until they could round up the others.  After they gathered all the children together, they sent them with the eldest to go live with their other brothers and sisters.  Adam and the woman knew they were in trouble, but they didn’t want their children to suffer for their mistakes.

Just about dusk, when God usually took a walk around the garden and chatted with His creations, Adam and the woman heard the voice of God and hid themselves in the thickets.

“Adam, where are you and the woman, I want to talk to you,” said God.

“We heard your voice and hid ourselves because we are not presentable,” said Adam.

“What do you mean, you’re not presentable?” asked God.

“We are naked,” said Adam.

“And who told you that you were naked?” God thundered.  “Did you eat the fruit of the tree that I had forbidden you to touch?”

Adam cringed and said, “The woman that you gave me, gave me some of the fruit and I did eat it.”

“Woman, do you know what you have done?” asked God furiously.  “Everything is in chaos, the animals are fighting each other and dark clouds have caused the sky to darken early.”

“The serpent tricked me into believing that it would be okay,” said the woman, crying and hiding behind her husband.

“Because you have caused chaos in my paradise,” said God to the serpent, “no longer shall you walk upright, but shall slither along the ground like the snake that you are and every beast of the field shall trample you in their passing.  I will cause such hatred between you, your descendants, and the woman’s that their only thought of you will be to kill you upon sight.”

Turning to the woman He continued His pronouncements.  “Until now, you have had an easy life.  You brought children into the world without pain or worry.  Now, I will greatly multiply your sorrows in conception and you shall have unbearable pain when you deliver them into the world.  You shall also no longer be equal to your husband, but your desire will be to please him and honor him as your head.”

Looking disgustedly at Adam, He continued.   “I had such great hopes for you, but you have disappointed me.   You have given your wife’s desire priority over me; therefore, no longer shall you eat from the abundance of what I have provided. You have caused the very ground from which I made provision for you to be cursed.   Thorns and briers shall be put in your way, and you shall have to uproot them in order to plant anything else to grow.”

“You will have to till the land yourself, working from sun-up to sun-down, providing your own bread with sweat pouring from your brows until you are returned to the ground.  For from the dust of the earth I created you and to the dust you shall return.  Now, it’s time you gave the woman a name.”

So Adam called his wife Eve, since she was the mother of all that was living.  After awhile when His fury was spent, God took the skins from some of the less fortunate animals and made clothes for them.  Knowing now, that their curiosity would always overrule their better judgment, and that they might try to taste the fruit from the tree of life and live forever, he banished them from the garden and placed a sentry of eternally flaming swords around the entrances to inhibit their return to taste even more of the forbidden fruit.