Day 85 Steadfast Love

 

3/26/2026

"My heart is steadfast, O God, 

my heart is steadfast; I will sing 

and give praise. "

Psalm 57:7  

 

This morning when I woke up, I picked up my phone to turn on my music while I read my Bible, and I happened to see an old favorite by Keith Green, Oh Lord You're Beautiful. As I began to listen to Keith talk about writing the song which actually began as a letter to God about the way he was feeling at the time, some struggles he was having, my heart broke. Listening to the heartfelt cry of my brother in Christ triggered a reaction in me that followed me throughout the day. Even this evening as I am writing this post, remembering Keith Green, who passed away in 1982 at the age of 28 years, still brings tears to my eyes and blessed memories. He and his wife, Melody, began Last Days Ministries in 1977, and I was connected to that ministry in a small way, meaning that I wrote letters and received signatures for the sanctity of human life, but the ministry was to provoke love and good works in all areas of life and ministry. Keith wanted to see everyone pursuing God with full passion realizing what Christ has done for us. The sacrifice He made. When Keith accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, his life became one of No Compromise, which is the title of the book written about his life. 

The song stirred me to begin praying for parents and children, especially those whose children have left the faith. I have a prodigal son myself, so I know the heartache and the waiting for that one to return to the Lord. But then there are so many young people flocking to the Lord, as I have written about many times recently. These kids are tired of compromise, and they want to see authenticity. They are purchasing Bibles, especially young men, and going to church to seek answers, to seek truth. They want word by word, line by line, precept by precept, as opposed to a watered down version of the gospel message. It is an exciting time, and the church needs to be ready and on fire!

But just as exciting is the fact that the largest growing underground church is in Iran where the evil regime has made it impossible to convert to Christianity for 47 years. Many have been imprisoned, tortured, and murdered for accepting Christ as Savior and Lord. In this present war, many of the Christians have taken to the streets in open protest, and they have given their lives for the freedom to worship Christ and live a life of dignity. The battle for their freedom, as well as the freedom of those who do not yet know Christ, continues daily. Our prayers continue, and we stand for total freedom and a new life for the Arab and Persian nation.

Tonight in my group Bible study we discussed the message from Sunday by Pastor Greg Laurie entitled Only Jesus. It was based on the scripture in Luke's gospel about the transfiguration of Christ, and it reveals the true appearance of Jesus and His certain identity as the Son of God, God in the flesh, who came to earth to dwell as a man in order to give us eternal salvation, thus saving us from eternal death. He took three of His disciples with Him up the mountain when He went to pray - Peter, John, and James - but they fell asleep while Jesus was praying:

"As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decrease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem."  (Luke 9:29-31)

About that time Peter woke up from sleep, as did the others, and they saw these two men standing with glorified Jesus, Peter just had to say something, as he always did. It was then that God spoke from heaven, and told Peter, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Luke 9:35) This is not the first time Peter had to be silenced for talking without knowing what he was talking about. This was Peter - impulsive. But when Jesus looked at Peter, or any of the disciples, He didn't see him as he was, but only as he would become. This is the love of God. He is patient and abounding in grace. For that I am eternally grateful!

When Jesus appeared in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, He was giving the disciples a preview of coming attractions, as Pastor Greg described it. The Bible says that when Christ returns for His Church in the Rapture, which prophetically could happen at any time, those who are dead in Christ will be caught up first, then we who are alive and ready will be caught up, as in a twinkling of an eye, and we will be like Him. Imagine that! A new, glorified body! I can't even begin to imagine how that will be, but just seeing Him face to face will be enough for me. 

We also spoke about having present day "mountain top" experiences, encountering the Presence of God, that prepare us for the times we are living in the valleys. After all we can't remain on a mountain top every day, can we? Certainly not in this age. But, I must say from my experience that each day I have a taste of glory. I do not mean to sound presumptuous in saying that, but when we see the brilliance of a sunlit morning and smell the flower-scented breeze or even the scent of freshly mowed grass, isn't it a taste of heaven? When we open our eyes and behold the sun, that's the first blessing of the day. Some don't have that ability, but I have also learned that those who are physically blind see much better than many who are sighted. 

We have so much to learn, and we have so much that we need to understand about the gifts God has given us. I know times are difficult right now, and more than likely it will become a bit worse. But freedom isn't free, and if we love freedom, we must respect the right of each one to have freedom to exist. Everyone makes a choice in this world, and that is a freedom. We need to choose wisely and live gratefully. For me Jesus is the only way! Even in the darkness He brings light, and it is my prayer that everyone comes to that knowledge while there is yet time. There is true freedom in Christ alone. The hope of glory!

Day 84 All in God's Good Time

 

3/25/2026

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways 

My ways,' saith the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than

the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and

My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

In Isaiah 55 God is giving Israel an invitation to abundant life in Him, reminding them of the covenant He made with David, and everlasting covenant, and God never breaks His covenants. He urges His people to seek Him while He may be found, to return to Him, and He will "abundantly pardon." The same applies to us as believers in Jesus, as we have been grafted into the Vine through our faith in Jesus. As Gentiles, our acceptance into the Beloved is not by birth, but by faith in Jesus Christ. We are blessed when we surrender our lives to Him, desiring the life He has set aside for all who believe. God reminds us in verses 10-11 that just as the rains come down, watering the earth and bringing forth seed to the sower, so His word goes forth, and it accomplishes what He sends it to do. His words and promises are not in vain, and He always accomplishes His purposes. These words should offer considerable reassurance especially when considering the present world situation, and the crisis state all appears to be in, for many reasons. Although many of our human problems are of our own making, God has always prepared a way out, when we are obedient to His word. Why is it that man always wants to do things the hard way, and he always seems to be in a hurry to do it?

I was reading about David's life in 2 Samuel when he finally ascends to the throne after Saul's death. It's important to note that David never forced the issue of his being anointed as King while Saul was still in the role. Although the anointing had been removed from Saul and placed on David, Saul was staying put. David served Saul faithfully knowing that God had anointed him as king. Even when Saul was trying to kill David, and David spent so much time on the run, he never wished Saul ill. On two occasions he could have taken Saul's life, yet he never did. One time David repented for cutting off a piece of Saul's robe when he was in the cave where David and his men were hiding. The story is amazing. David wasn't perfect by any means, and his moral failures were many, yet God called him a man after His own heart, and his covenant with David is everlasting. The lineage of Christ coming from David's line is something to marvel over. I've written many times about the interesting people in the line of Christ. God had all this planned before the foundation of the world. 

David had a dream to build God a tabernacle, a place to dwell, but God did not allow him to fulfill this dream, because David was a man of war. So God used David's son, Solomon, to build Him a house of prayer, a place where He would dwell among them. Even when God refused David, he didn't grumble or complain, because he already knew how blessed he was to have been chosen for the position he served. David couldn't believe that God would choose him as king, much less promise to him an eternal destiny:

"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family that You have given me all this? For all the great things You have already done for me are nothing in comparison to what You have promised to do in the future! For now, O Lord God, You are speaking of future generations of my children being kings too! You speak as though I were someone very great. What else can I say? You know that I am but a dog, yet You have given me these wonderful promises because of Your own great heart. O Lord, there is no one like You - there is no other God. In fact, we have never even heard of another god like You!'" (1 Chronicles 17:16-20 NLT)

With regard to not being allowed to build the tabernacle for the Lord, the commentary put it this way: "Personal ambition yielded to sovereign direction." David recognized God's sovereignty, without question and with gratitude. The commentary also made the point that: "The hardest territory to hand over to God is the heartland of your dreams." 

I have personally faced what appears to be death of a vision I feel the Lord had given to me. Many times God has shown me things, or reminded me of visions/dreams, and I wonder if I am hindering them coming to fruition. I have questioned myself many times, but I cannot get the image or the words from my mind and wonder - "If this is You, Lord, then when? How? Did I miss it? I'm not getting any younger here!" It's not that I am upset or angry with God. I just don't want to blow it! In this recent illness I've been going through, where I have to actually force myself to rest - not easy for me to do - I am listening more attentively, or I certainly hope I am. The thing with obedience is that we learn to take steps and make the effort in faith, but we must leave the timing up to God. In David's case, the temple would not be built until after David's death, so he wouldn't even see it, but David did know that his son, Solomon, a man of peace would have the honor. God has His ways, His plans, and His timing. And He knows best! David obviously realized that and accepted it graciously. Perhaps I need to do the same! 

Day 83 Valleys

 

3/24/2026

 "If we pray for anything according to the will 

of God, we already have what we pray for the moment 

we ask it. We do not know exactly when it will arrive; but we

have learned to know God through the Spirit of God, and have

learned to leave this in His hands, and to live just as happily 

whether the answer arrives immediately or later." 

O. Hallesby

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they

are yet speaking, I will hear."

Isaiah 65:24

 

I fell asleep peacefully last night listening to the fifth season of The Chosen. As I mentioned, we have been watching the entire five seasons during Lent in preparation for the premiere of Season 6, but much more than that! Walking with Jesus during His three years of ministry, in an abbreviated manner, and getting to know the personalities of His followers, or at least considering their many feelings and struggles as His disciples, makes the Bible more alive. Dallas Jenkins has done a brilliant job in putting this production together, and it gives me comfort being part of a worthwhile project. I have always loved movies, because I could escape into life, dream, discover love, or find support during a difficult time. I have always been very selective in what I watch, because I don't want to watch filth, plus Jesus doesn't want to watch it, and Holy Spirit is right here inside of me, sharing the popcorn and Junior Mints, if that's possible. 

Alex came in for breakfast and decided to stay awhile, finding his spot near my Bible and devotional while I enjoyed a cup of coffee and listened to music. It's really interesting to me how both Mia and Alex enjoy listening to music, sleeping on my bed. Since Mia is taking up his spot on the bed tonight, he wanted to go back outside, even though it's cold. Too bad, because he missed one of his favorite worship singers on Tuesday nights. He will actually come up closely to the computer, and he loves it when I sing along. Mia just enjoys sleeping. Does that mean that Alex has more class than Mia? I better not visit that thought!

Tuesday mornings I tune in to the Kehilat HaCarmel Worship Watch in Israel and join in the prayers for Israel. They have endured repetitive alerts and bombings over the last few days as they are situated near Haifa on the shore, and the nuclear research facility there was a target. Besides that they were being systematically targeted as were Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with rockets from the areas mentioned in my previous post - Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran. Today they did not have to interrupt the watch to dash to the bomb shelter, so it was a wonderful time of worship, prayer, scripture reading and sharing. It's a great way to begin my day, followed an hour later by the global prayer call. Before the first and in between the other, I spend quiet time doing what I do, basically more of the same. I love my life, and I am jealous for my time with Jesus. It seems as if Israel has become more of my church than any I have attended locally here, as it is all consuming. I may not be seen or known, but they are my family, the Messianic family of God.

Josie from the worship watch was sharing the tense times they were enduring, but she looked past any worries or concerns to see the greater picture. She said when they were tested, their faith grew; as their faith grew, they were strengthened spiritually and emotionally. Because they would contact each other as they sat, sometimes for hours, in the shelters, the bonds with each other grew even deeper, and she said they even found things to laugh about and lessen the intensity of the moments of waiting. It has even helped give them empathy for the others nations who are being attacked by Iran, and their love for the resilient people of Israel and love of the land has increased. Contending for the faith increases their ability to remain vigilant and steadfast, stubborn and determined not to give up. The capacity to endure intensified, and they became more aware of the spiritual benefits. She said "Above it all is Jesus!"

It seemed as if everything God gave me to read today reinforced the other thoughts, and the prayer calls each reinforced the other. When we pray it is not simply for Israel, because we know the significance of prophecy and of everything happening at this time in history. Although it may be an intense time, one of uncertainty especially when bombs are dropping everywhere, there is also a peace that indeed transcends all understanding. Karen, who leads worship, said that as she played the piano, the booms and the flashes of lightning and thunder, as this is their rainy season, called Isaiah 30:29-32 to mind:

"You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Mighty One of Israel. The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD Assyria will be beaten down, as He strikes with the rod. And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the LORD lays on him, it will be with tambourines and harps; and in battles of brandishing He will fight with it." 

This passage speaks of the Lord bringing judgment on Assyria of which Iran is a huge part, along with other Middle Eastern countries that made up Biblical Assyria. As I have mentioned many times God has plans to restore Assyria and Egypt with Israel in end time prophecy. Scripture reveals amazing truths, and when we look at the words of the Lord spoken to His chosen people we can understand that this is a righteous war, and the one waging the war is not Israel, it is the Lord God Himself. We have to understand that the Bible was written by the Jewish people, for the Jewish people. The Church has not replaced Israel, the covenant belongs to them; however, when we receive the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus by faith, we share in their covenant, not by birth, but by faith. We need to remember that. We are grafted in, and I am so grateful. Once this truth becomes alive in our hearts, the love for God's chosen people and the desire to see them receive Christ as Savior and Lord, as Messiah, becomes our great desire. 

All the promises of God are yes and amen, but the timing of these are in His eternal plan. We are obedient, surrendered to His will, trusting that His plan is better than ours. In our society today everyone wants a quick fix. In the Christian life we journey across the desert, through the valleys, before we can climb up the mountain to the top. It has been my experience that once God brings me to the top of the mountain, I am only allowed a brief respite, because after the joy, there always comes another step I must take, and that can only happen in the valleys of life where we learn to persevere, grow in His grace, and grow spiritually. I am much older now, but I find that each day is an adventure, and I am forever grateful that He is with me, leading me, guiding me, so that I can in turn share with others, fulfilling His great commission to "Go...!"

Day 82 Purify Our Hearts

 

3/23/2026

"You are my hiding place; You shall 

preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs

of deliverance."

Psalm 32:7

 

As I write, Iran continues to pummel Israel with rockets, ballistic missiles, and drones in heavily populated areas where citizens reside. They are strategically aiming at innocent citizens, exactly as Israel has erroneously been accused of doing. It doesn't seem to matter how many true reports and prior warnings Israel has given to protect civilians, the media and those who trust it as gospel, do not hear or see the truth. The family members of the fallen American soldiers, who willingly laid down their lives to protect others in Iran, Israel, and from future attacks on American soil. asked one thing of President Trump - "Finish this!"  They shared these words not vindictively, but to ensure the death of the soldiers who proudly served our nation and the nation of Israel in this battle did not do so in vain. 

My morning began with a quiet encounter with the Lord, and once again I had to ask forgiveness for not diligently pursuing Him in the night watches. I am very hard on myself, especially when I lack the stamina to continue on when my flesh is being tortured. Even now I find it difficult to focus, because I know my friends in Israel are under continuous warnings with alerts and actual hits. Last night and yesterday were difficult days for my friends, but God's hand is always upon Israel, and He will keep His people safe and victorious. The Lord likewise will save the Arabian and Persians people, and the Isaiah 19 highway prophecy will be fulfilled in God's appointed time.

I picked back up my little study companion by John Eckhardt entitled Daily Declarations for Spiritual Warfare" to reinforce my prayer, and I was not surprised that God was once more telling me to "Focus!" The first lines of the devotional said, "You will be sober and vigilant against your adversary." I admit that I had to chuckle to myself, as I am struggling so badly against this allergic reaction, and it is like having a tormenting demon in my skin. That's when something clicked inside my brain, and I began to see the battle spiritually. "My child, remember that you are not living in darkness, but I have made you aware of the evil schemes of the devil. Stay awake and watchful, for you should not be surprised by anything the enemy may try to do." No truer words could have been spoken to me than those words, as my health has been under attack for a few months. And I am not surprised at anything that the enemy of our soul does - it's as if a switch goes off in my brain, and I can "see." As King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes in 1:9: "That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."

The truth is that I am not surprised, as I know that people cannot make deals with the devil, or as I put it "dance with the devil!" He cannot be trusted, but people fall prey quite often, and admittedly, I became ensnared in his cunning once upon a time, but thankfully, not for long. He is cunning, but we must always remember, he has been defeated. Jesus has won the victory with His blood! He has provided us the spiritual armor and with the Word of God to protect us as we stand.

Whereas the mandate I received was to remain sober and vigilant, alert in mind, even though I may have to suffer a little. I had been asking God to purify my heart earlier, and as I waited, I sang the words of this song and made it our prayer: 

"Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

 

Refiner's fire,
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

 

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within

 

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will"

 

Together we stand committed to live for Jesus and bring glory to His Name. Lord, purify our hearts and make us truly Yours. 

 

Day 81 Sunday Thoughts

 

3/22/2026

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,

so my soul pants for Thee."

Psalm 42:1  

 

It's Sunday evening, but I am not quite ready for bed. I just finished listening to a message on waiting on God's timing, not mine. I must admit that I sometimes struggle with feelings of my life being close to the end and having nothing to show for it. There have been many times that I've compared my life with others, even their financial position over my small, meager savings. Because I am divorced I feel that I have nothing of value to offer anyone who needs support in their marriage or in life in general. I am grateful and share the joy of couples who have been married for many years, and I silently wish that I could have experienced that life. I still wonder what I did wrong. And round and round we go, stuck in the tornado funnel, spiraling down the rabbit hole...again! I kick myself, because I thought those days were over, and that I'd finally stop blaming myself for the problems that have been heaped upon me. The merry-go-round goes round and round, and I want to scream STOP! I WANT TO GET OFF!!

I think one reason that I am slipping a bit here in even entertaining that garbage is because I have been sick for almost two weeks dealing with this skin rash. Not knowing what caused this allergic reaction causing my skin to whelp and itch and feel like I'm sleeping on a bed of nails is only half the problem. The other half is that my doctor doesn't even know what caused such a violent reaction. I'm not used to taking medications for any ailment, only natural supplements, so that has been different and a bit scary. What if I react to what my doctor prescribed due to my super sensitivities! I always think about stuff when I don't feel well. So I need to stop entertaining this demon that is plaguing my life and move on. That's what the message was saying, focus on the race I'm running, and stop wondering about things I cannot change. Again the Lord says, "Focus on Me!" Time to count my blessings!  

Mia, my son's calico cat, is sleeping on my bed. She hadn't been sleeping in here until recently, although when Alex favors us with a visit, she will slink in to check to see if he's going to stick around for a while. But the other night I was awakened by the sound of my squeaky rocker, and sure enough Mia was back reclaiming her old territory. Alex only visits for his meal, then he's asking to go out again to play with the other cats in the area who stalk at all hours. Now that the weather is getting warmer I probably won't see him unless it rains. That's Alex, very self-absorbed. But then cats aren't as congenial as dogs.

Not being able to really go anywhere or do anything because of constant itching, I thought I had missed Palm Sunday. It wasn't until later that it finally dawned on me. When my life is thrown out of kilter I seems to get confused, and I guess I've been thinking about Resurrection Sunday being right around the corner. Every day I think about that day and all that led up to the grand celebration, and I certainly don't want to miss it. I had wanted to invite someone over for a meal, as I've not entertained since I've been home. Not that I've done it in many years. When I was married, living here in Virginia before our untimely move to New Mexico, we had so many friends, and we'd open our home for a block party. Each guest would bring some meat and a side dish, and we'd make a day of it. The children were still young, so all the kids from the block would come along with those from the church families we'd invited. There was so much food, hamburgers, chicken, and hot dogs on the grill, and homemade ice cream. It was nice as people flowed in and out all day and well into the night. No raucous noise or behavior. Everyone played nicely, even the adults. I miss those days, and again, I begin to wonder...what if?!

I guess this is a day of self-reflection, as my health heals, and as I try to take it easy today. The message Pastor Greg presented today was based on Luke 9:28-36 where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the mountain to pray. As usual they fall asleep - the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - but they wake up to discover Jesus praying with the appearance of His face altered and His clothes radiant with light. He was talking to Moses and Elijah about His death in Jerusalem. Impulsive Peter blurts out a statement, and God admonishes him by saying "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" He'd already been scolded by Jesus for trying to change the course of events to come. I know if I heard God's voice I'd pay heed! Peter had that sort of character, but then Jesus had nicknamed John and James "sons of thunder." Quite an interesting trio this inner circle, but Jesus saw not who they were, but who they would become. That's the good thing about God. He loves us so much that He's patient in putting up with our ridiculous outbursts or behavior. I can well imagine that He shakes His head at some stuff I say or do. I'm so glad He does, especially when I have days like this one.

There's so much that needs to be done, and for some reason, I cannot seem to awaken my creative spirit. My dreams seem to be slipping away, and even though I remember the words God has spoken to me, I wonder if He still feels the same way about me. Have I wasted too much time? Has someone finished what I was supposed to do? I don't really know, so I'll think about what I do know. I know that God has a plan for my life, for each person's life. He decides these things before He even knits us together in our mother's wombs according to Psalm 139. I know that although my life may not have turned out as I would have liked, I know that I have been gifted with an amazing journey. Although I miss my old life in New Mexico, and I miss the land that I love, I know that wherever I am is home, because God is here. Holy Spirit living in me gives me perfect peace, even when my skin is crawling and itching never gives me a moment's peace. But then, that's temporary, or at least I certainly pray it is so. I'm content here, living with my younger son, even living with the cats, but I realize that there is more to come. So I wait, sometimes impatiently, eager to discover all the things He's planned for me, for my family. It's time they turned the page on some things in their lives too, but that is best left at the foot of the cross. I trust in God to finish that work. 

I think it's time to rest for the night, put my thoughts aside and dream of things to be.  

Day 80 Live Life Well

 

3/21/2026

 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our 

common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you 

exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once 

for all delivered to the saints.” 

Jude 3

 

Yesterday morning after a time of refreshment with the Lord, while checking my mail for prayer and news updates pertaining to the ministry, I happened upon the news that Chuck Norris, age 86, died 3/19/2026 after a sudden hospitalization from a medical emergency. The family did not elaborate and asked for privacy.When a celebrity passes away I am always interested in their spiritual condition, but with this man, I already knew about his legacy of faith. I knew that at the moment he passed into eternity all of heaven was applauding his homecoming. It's a victory for a child of God to pass into the eternal arms of Our Father, and although the family realize he's living his best and eternal life now, a life without sickness or pain, and without having to endure any of the chaos in this world as it intensifies before the imminent return of our Savior, they grieve his loss. His wife, Gena, especially grieves the passing of a life partner, one who shared every living, breathing moment for so many long years. What a legacy!

Over the past few months, almost daily I'd see a commercial pop up on my screen with Chuck talking about the new health regimen he and Gena were following that added so much energy and new vitality to his life. He was still practicing karate and exercising daily and living life enthusiastically and gratefully, so it was surprising to learn of his sudden decline and death. The important thing is that he lived life, and he loved life, and he shared that love with everyone. Greg Laurie posted a brief description of his time spent with Chuck, as did Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Donald J. Trump. It is significant to me that he was such a great supporter of Israel, and this is because he understood covenant and was acquainted with the whole counsel of the Word of God. In 1990 he started a program for kids called Kickstart Kids, his own Education Karate Program recognized by the Texas Education Agency, "a physical education program that teaches character through karate." Personally, I will remember him in his great movie Delta Force and the television series, Walker, Texas Ranger. Besides being a karate champion, he was also a veteran having served in the United States Air Force. He also was named an honorary Marine for his support of the military. He will be missed, but one day, we who wait will see him again.

Today's news reported that Nicholas Brenden, age 54, who starred as Xander in Buffy, Vampire Slayer series, passed away of natural causes in his sleep. According to the news report, Brenden had problems with substance abuse and mental health issues, and a history of a heart attack, a congenital heart defect, and a diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome. His family posted the following:

 “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was. While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

I did discover that he had exposure to Christian and Mormon beliefs, and that he had a tattoo of a cross on his shoulder. An article also said that he no longer attended church. Sadly that is becoming the norm. I was looking at Brenden's artwork posted on his website, and it mostly consists of photographs he has taken, generally with one person walking down the street or people alone. It's almost as if he understood the loneliness felt by those who feel alone in this world. It's always sad to hear of the passing of someone who is passionate about the gifts that God has given us to share with others. His family shared that "his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was." My prayer is that He met the living God who loved him enough to die for him so he could have eternal life. Only God sees the heart of another and knows their deepest and truest selves. I pray that this young man met Jesus face to face today, because without Jesus life has no true meaning: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Luke 9:25) 

Day 79 Tarry...until!

 

3/20/2026

"In the midst of all our zeal in the work of the Church,

of all our faithfulness in preaching and conversation with

the people, we lack that ceaseless prayer which has attached to it

the sure promise of the Spirit and the power from on high."

Andrew Murray

"Tarry...until ye be endued with power from on high."

Luke 24:49   

 

The morning began quite energetically, listening to wonderful worship music while enjoying a quiet moment before the busyness of the day. I woke up feeling much better, my skin feeling less itchy, so hopefully the medication and Epsom salt baths are helping. It would be nice to know what exactly caused this fiasco resulting in this excessive rash, but there are still weeds to cut and grass to be cut, so I have very little choice but to cover up every inch of skin and finish the job, unless I can find someone who actually wants to do yard work. In spite of this recent attack, I generally enjoy being outdoors, working in the yard, cutting the grass, burning the branches and grass. I've always enjoyed nature, as I find it very relaxing, unless of course bad things, like the attack of the thorn monster occurs. Still, it's about the only time I get to visit with my neighbor, who is younger than I, so she is still working. I remember when I worked long hours that the last thing I wanted to do was visit, but then I traveled, and I always had computer work to complete. The main thing was that I lived alone, so I didn't have to schedule meals or do anything unless I wanted to do it. I've enjoyed having my son around, and I am becoming used to his cat Mia who is a house cat, and even the visits from Alex, who is becoming quite fond of sacking out on my bed all afternoon after prowling all night. Cats are indeed very self-centered.

The world condition appears to be rapidly imploding, and it seems as if people are turning against each other, so many things are at a standstill. I am not referring only to the political arena or the geopolitical one. I am very grieved by the silence of the Church, that seems to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to speaking out on matters that go against the Word of God. Very little is being said from the pulpit about Israel or even about challenging matters in our own State government. Whenever I come into the room when the television is one I hear ads attacking our sitting President, twisting his words, and deceiving the public into believing what they are saying is true and for the welfare of our State or country. For four years we had Christian leaders in our State government, but now the opposite is true. Even things that were promised, were immediately changed the moment they were put into office, and in an extreme way. I felt as if I needed to ask God for forgiveness, repenting of my lack of prayer for my State government leaders, because I was too busy in prayer meetings for the federal government and Israel, and I didn't pray each day for the Christian leaders in our State at the time. Of course I prayed, but many times I am so involved with what is going on in Israel that other matters take a back seat. As intercessors we need to ensure that we have sufficient time alone with God asking Him to set our pace for the day, not just hurriedly taking calls. I feel confident that being a watchman for Israel is my call as an intercessor, but I also know that praying for all in leadership is just as important, especially in these last days. We are in a time in history where it is becoming increasingly obvious to those who have not bothered to concern themselves with daily happenings, that we are in a huge battle. To clarify matters we are engaged in a spiritual battle between good and evil, and unless the Church wakes up and uses the authority Jesus gave to her, and unless pastors educate their sheep on what is happening in the world and how we as Christians need to respond according to God's word, then matters concerning the welfare of our nation will continue to decline.

Although I have deep feelings about the outcome of the 2020 elections, it is actually a blessing in disguise, as God knew what the future would hold. God strategically gave President Trump four years to prepare for his current position as our Commander in Chief, and the time has allowed him to become closer to the Lord. It has also allowed time for the truth to be uncovered, and hopefully justice will eventually prevail. His current administration has also been strategically groomed and placed in their positions, but sadly, the process of approving the right man or woman for the position has been seriously hindered by the opposing party. It seems such a sad turn of events when a nation is unable to get along, especially with the current situations in our world. 

With regard to the war in Israel, what is happening is prophetic, and God is the One who puts men into positions and takes them out. God's hand is on everything that happens, and we need to draw closer to God in our quiet times so that we are clearly able to discern the voice of God. The Lord commands us to pray for our leaders in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." Regardless of who is sitting in positions in leadership, we are told to pray for all leaders. God does not want any man to perish, but He wants all to come to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Our prayers are important, and although God does not need anyone's help in accomplishing His will on earth, He desire a relationship with us and our obedience. Prayer is powerful, and it can change the course of a nation.