Day 309 Livings Stones

 

11/5/2026

"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you

with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

 

Growing up my sister adored kittens, but I preferred dogs, the bigger the better. Of course children always want pets, but they seldom enjoy cleaning up after them. Dogs are much easier than cats, but then mama and daddy didn't want pets in the home, and even outdoors cats are more discreet than dogs. I can't remember what happened when I brought my collie puppy home, but I do remember the panic I felt when he chewed up the corner of the casing around the bottom of mama's new sofa. That may have been when Rusty became banished to the basement. I must be getting pay-back now, because this little kitten is ferocious when she plays. She jumps and pounces, and she loves to claw. Tonight she smacked me and made a one inch little gash in my finger. She was chewing my grammy's quilt, so I was trying to move her away from it. Bad timing on my part. Eventually she scooted off happily, after showing her my bandaged finger, and showing no remorse! Those claws are razor sharp! So once more she's closed off from my room, at least for tonight.

This morning I awakened with singing, the same melody playing over and over. The same one that has carried me daily. My quiet time in the mornings has been peaceful and reflective the last few days, in spite of current upheavals and increasing uncertainty. I prayed, repented, fasted, and now I continue to stand. My life remains the same - focused on one thing! I love my mornings with Jesus.

Today I had a luncheon date with some of my high school friends, and I'm always eager to see familiar faces, even though they have become a little wrinkled around the edges. Our sixtieth high school reunion will be coming up in 2028, so we need to start planning how we want to celebrate. So many of our dear friends have passed on, so we want to keep up the tradition of meeting every three months for lunch and on special occasions. Perhaps this is another reason God brought me back to Virginia, although attending funerals has never been something I enjoy. But, that's part of life, but we have the hope that we will be united again in our eternal home, forever with the LORD.

Reading through my devotionals, preparing for my Bible study group tonight, I was reminded of the following verses in 1 Peter 2:4-5: 

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

We've been studying the spiritual gifts and the working of Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Peter was writing to the believers who were struggling in the midst of persecution of the church. The forward to the section exhorted us to remember that "persecution can cause either growth or bitterness in the Christian life," thus making our response vital as ambassadors of Christ. We are called to imitate Christ Jesus who is our living hope for those who feel helpless and hopeless in this spiritually dry and dying nation and world. Peter encouraged the saints that their suffering, although grievous, would prove the genuineness of their faith, "being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:7-9).  

Peter further reminds us that as believers in Christ we have been purified, made holy, reborn of incorruptible seed through the Word of God that abides within us. As such we are to obey His commands to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love our neighbors. We are to walk the forgiveness that God gave us towards our enemies, those who are not serving our risen Lord Jesus. We once were distant from God until we accepted His free gift of salvation, so we are to offer this gift to all men who walk in opposition to our belief. 

We have been given a greater challenge in America in these days to come, as the enemy has come out of hiding and is threatening more openly. We have been praying for the church to awaken, but many have not taken Christ's mandate to heart, and they have twisted the scriptures concerning the definition of Christ-like love. As followers of Christ we have been built up in Him who is the cornerstone to be living stones, vibrant and actively engaged in the work Christ gave us to do until He returns. We are not made of brick and mortar that can be crumpled and blown away, but we are incorruptible through Christ, alive and active in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples for His glory alone:

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again  not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because: 'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever'"  (1 Peter 1:22-25).

We must be busy, because the hour is late and the fields are ripe for harvest:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' Your watchmen shall lift up their voices,with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the LORD brings back Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has made His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isaiah 52:7-10).  

Allow Him to sing over you and give you peace that truly transcends understanding! Then respond in true love through prayer that moves mountains, if we only believe.

Day 308 - The Morning After - Rest

 

11/4/2026

"Let us therefore be diligent to

enter that rest,..."

Hebrews 4:11a

 

Adonai, Your name is to be hallowed.... 

Another early morning after a peaceful night's sleep. The sun is peeping over the trees, skies are clear, and the cats aren't fighting. My mind is sharp and clear as I begin my new day. "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

We prayed, Lord, and You answered. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. My face is towards You, and I put my faith, my hope, and my trust in You alone. I have a mandate, so I continue to do what You have required of me. I remember that morning several years ago when I was in my home office, digging through the files for paperwork, getting ready for home visits. I heard Your voice so clearly saying "Do you trust Me?" I remember my first reaction, a weak, feeble "Yes, Lord," wondering "Okay, now what?!" That's not the last time I've heard that question asked of me, but my response is less questioning now, as regardless of what may come, Abba, I do trust You. 

This morning during the global prayer call I heard someone pray that "unity blesses You," speaking of our Lord in response to Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" We had been praying for God's plans for Israel in forming a new coalition and Knesset, then again in prayers for America. That certainly would be an answer to my prayer, as anger and disrespect is never the answer for peace. Nor is willful, stubborn pride.

When I teach or lead a Bible study I know that I must sound like a broken record, stuck on the same message, but the truth is that people may hear our spoken words, but they respond to how we act out what we say. Children are a great example of this truth. They're like little sponges of what they see and hear, so we really have to be careful. But sometimes regardless of what we say or do, there are times when things don't go as we hoped or dreamed for our children. Somehow there's a disconnect. But, if we have been faithful in training our children up in the things of God, I am confident that they will find their way back home to Jesus. As we wait, as we pray. God is faithful, and He hears our prayers.

So what am I thinking today? My hope and faith are in God. I will continue to pray for the souls of the lost, those who desperately need to know the Good News that I have to share. Jesus gave us that command, and I want to be found faithful. So really, nothing has happened to change my focus or what I do daily. My heart remains steadfast.  

Day 307 All is Silence

 

11/3/2026

"You raise me up so I can stand on mountains,

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas,

I am strong when I am on Your shoulders,

You raise me up to more than I can be."

You Raise Me Up

by Josh Groban

 

When He called me this morning, I answered! Last night I asked Abba to give me another chance. He's been trying to wake me up early again, but I've been in so much extra pain, struggling to get up some mornings after forcing myself to stretch my muscles at night, but I'm an intercessor, and we stand the watch. No time to waste. I didn't even have to set my alarm this morning. Settling down in my rocker, heating pad warming my muscles, I heard His voice, and my heart settled in perfect peace, His shalom, that's carried me throughout this entire day. 

Adonai...singing the words:

"Aaaaaaa aa Adonai,

Aaaaaaa aa Adonai, 

From rising of the sun, til the setting of the same,

Your Name is to be hallowed, Adonai."  

 

Have you ever awakened to the sound of melodies playing in your head, the symphony of heaven? Worship is the only response, and it continues on for what seems like endless worship carried on the wings of praise. Sitting in His presence, listening for His voice, it changes you. 

I'm reading the book of Acts - yesterday was the story of the martyrdom of Stephen, and today was the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul, Apostle of Jesus, on the road to Damascus. Paul later called himself a Pharisee of the Pharisees, so pious, and a religious persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ, complicit with the murder of Stephen, a devout follower of Jesus. He was transformed in a moment by the appearance of the One he was persecuting - Jesus, the ascended Messiah. So often in my prayers for Iran and others I pray for experiences such as this for the hard core haters of Jews and Christians. I have become so compassionate towards those whose eyes have been blinded by the enemy's evil agenda. The spiritual warfare has become so much more turbulent. I've seen it in the skies, although I have not been given the gift to see beyond a certain point. I still feel it, and I sense the extreme battle for the souls of so many. Still today, even though I remember, there is silence, there is His peace.

I return to my Bible study..."God does not ask about our ability or our inability but our availability." 

Kehilat worship watch comes on, and the first song I hear, playing softly in the background is "From the rising of the sun, til the setting of the same, Your name is to be hallowed, Adonai." Do you think He's talking to me about the day? Israel waiting, in limbo regarding their election, and today our mid-term elections that will determine the fate of our nation, although many remain in the dark about what truly is at stake. "As in the days of Noah...." 

Prayer changes to my country, repentance from the Israeli-Americans who have not voted in years, grieving over their neglect. Knowing a great bit about the political process of Israel, which is quite complex, I began to think about the new coalition that must be formed - a new government. And then I began to think of our process of forming a new government.  Two allies, with much at stake, the world holding its collective breath. All is silence and perfect peace.

And then I remember the vision....!

I was walking down a long, dusty road, and there were lines of people moving down the road, heading in the same direction as I. The crowd was orderly, but the line seemed endless - lost, weary, bedraggled, despairing, hopelessly and quietly walking, dusty and tired. They were on the left side of the road, and I was walking beside them, someone walking silently beside me on my right. I later entered a room where there were cauldrons of what appeared to be a thick tomato soup. I was standing in an elevator carrying a long, heavy tray laden with bowls of this liquid, when the right side began to fall, and the very tall man, who'd been walking with me, reached down and steadied the tray, saying "Keep your eyes on the Captain of the Armies of Heaven!" Then I woke up! The next night I can't remember if I dreamed or not, but I suddenly was awakened, hearing a voice clearly speak the words, "Cut off the head of the snake!" 

Since that time I've had other dreams and visions, but these two continue to under-gird me with strength and determination to stay the course and stand the ground as a watchman, engaged in spiritual warfare.

Over the weeks and months we have prayed, fasted, repented, as we understand the times and seasons, the lateness of the hour, but today, all is silence for me, as I continue to stand the watch. 

Day 306 Lessons in Faith

 

11/2/2026

"Prayer in its highest form and grandest success assumes the attitude

of a wrestler with God. It is the contest, trial, and victory of faith; a victory not 

secured from an enemy, but from Him who tries our faith that He may

enlarge it: that tests our strength to make us stronger. Few things

give such quickened and permanent vigor to the soul as a

long exhaustive season of importunate prayer."

E. M. Bounds  

 

The enemy never stops trying to steal our joy, but don't let him! I have allowed the liar and father of lies to steal way too many years from me, but God promises that He will restore the years the locusts have eaten away. He is constantly reminding me of the promises He's made, and He never goes back on a promise. When things look bleak and the atmosphere is dark, I am learning to smile and keep going. There are times when I may not know what to do, but the answer always comes in one form or another. I'm still putting the needs of others before my own, but I believe that's the way it's meant to be when we are told to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus made it very clear who our neighbor is. The Pharisees didn't like the answer very much, but then they were always looking for ways to trap Jesus in His words. In the end they had to resort to trickery, as it is the only way they could look as if they had won. We know that they didn't, even though they refuse to see the truth today. Jesus always did what He heard the Father say. That settles that misconception.

I neglected to mention the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church was observed yesterday along with All Saints Day. I have a daily prayer calendar and emails to keep me advised of news in the countries suffering the most persecution. I keep a bulletin board of photos to remember. Who could ever forget the horror these dear ones endure just for saying "Yes" to Jesus. Voice of the Martyrs has phone and Zoom calls regularly with speakers who have suffered for their faith. I love hearing the stories of their courage and faith. I only pray that should I have to endure this sort of excessive persecution that my faith will stand the test.

Yesterday at the Baptist church I attended they celebrated All Saints Day by remembering the church members or friends who had passed away during the year. It is always good to remember. We must never forget those who touched our lives in special ways. Their memories should be blessed ones as we honor their lives. Not a day goes by that I don't remember someone who influenced my life, and I don't ever think I'll stop missing my parents and grandparents. There are so many things I wished we'd talked about during their lifetimes. My mama and grammy were big on missionary service. I only wish they had understood that my heart's desire was to serve on the mission field, although mama did know I traveled to Belize one summer for ten days with a team to teach Vacation Bible School for the Mayan Indians. I believe God has His way of making things happen only not as we hoped. He allowed me to serve the seniors and disabled in New Mexico, so I imagine that was His way of answering my prayer. I certainly miss the fine people I served, but many have passed away sadly. Many looked forward to our visits together, but Covid had a way of shutting the door on personal home visits or nursing home visits. Many died during that time, probably from sadness and loneliness.

Tomorrow is election day. I have tried so hard to encourage people to vote, as this is a critical election,  the most important one in our history of America. I've written about it, talked about it, and cried many tears about the depravity of men's souls. People should know what a person stands for before casting a blind vote. It's never an intelligent decision to listen to a television commercial or anything in the local news or social media. There are so many lies, coverups, sheer hatred, and there are no apologies. It is sickening and heartless to think that people's minds are being twisted. I've spoken about the truth of such things before, so I won't waste my time on it, or cause myself to lose sleep thinking about the evil afoot. My eyes are fixed on my God, on the Captain of the Armies of Heaven. He's got my vote, wholeheartedly, and I will not consider anything other than victory for our country.

Time to close my eyes and sleep. Tomorrow will be here momentarily. 

Day 305 Election Day Sermons

 

11/1/2026 

"To whom much is given, much is required."

Luke 12:48

 

As the clocks rolled back a new day dawned, and another full day began! It seems as if every day this week has challenged me to rise and shine, ready for whatever laid ahead of me, planned or otherwise, as there always seems to be one more surprise meeting or tidying up from the previous day. I must admit I had been anxiously looking forward to today, for several reasons, but I think the main one was that my son agreed to go with me to the morning church service. Every now and then he surprises me with his attendance, but today was a special day, and the message rightly timed. I love it when the pastor preaches the uncompromising Word of the Lord that not only steps on our toes but punches us in the gut! While that may not sound pleasant to others, I need truth, and I want to examine myself each day. I want to do all for the glory of God. That's the challenge, isn't it?  Didn't Paul admonish the church in Philippians 2:12-13 by saying, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

Today, being the Sunday before mid-term elections, Pastor Jack Hibbs donned his black clergy robe reminiscent of the Black Robe Regiment to deliver "An Election Day Sermon - A historical message on the Great Awakening and its effect upon the inhabitants of thirteen English colonies in the North America, and the rise of the Black Robe Regiment." He entitled his message "Once Upon A Time There Was A Revolution." Using historical facts and quotations and speeches of our great American patriots and reformation pastors and evangelists, he led us through the history of our great nation beginning with the Magna Carta and the Mayflower Compact, two important first documents. Although he did not have enough time to go into great detail in his message, he did spark a desire in me to brush back up on my knowledge of American history. Raised in Virginia, one of the original thirteen colonies, I received an extensive education on the history of my State and America. Back then we were taken on field trips to important locations to relive the events in history. When my own children were in school they also learned about the history of our State, but when we moved to New Mexico they lost much of the heritage of the land in which they were born, but they did learn the culture of their dad's family. History is an important subject in life, especially when our nation was birthed on Biblical values, and our education included the Bible as a primary textbook. Today's educational system is missing out as are the children from removing God's Word from the curriculum.

In the afternoon I went back to church to enjoy a "One Family Worship" event for our Dinwiddie County Faith Community, consisting of praise, prayer, and testimonies. It was hosted by several local churches, and it was a wonderful afternoon that I hope will become a community tradition. I saw friends I'd not seen for quite awhile, and I met a friend who graduated with my brother. The theme was loving our neighbor, not just those we know, but loving everyone we meet, following in the footsteps of Jesus, especially at this dark time in our history when there's so much unrest and upheaval. We need each other, and there are many people who need a helping hand who are not part of a local church. I was pleased to note that on the back of our program there was an article about the Dinwiddie County Faith-Based Initiative. It read:  

"The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors and Dinwiddie County School Board recognize that the health and vitality of our community extends beyond the scope of government and schools. 

In 2018, the County and School leaders came together with leaders of the faith community to identify opportunities for collaboration and better meet the needs of our citizens. Churches have a unique perspective and an influence that is unmatched. This partnership will result in strategies that lead to a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant community. 

To date, the Dinwiddie County Faith-Based Initiative has worked to provide opportunities to bring citizens and local businesses together to explore cooperative ventures to enhance and serve our community. Every church and house of worship in the County has a seat at the table, alongside representatives of the Board of Supervisors and School Board."

Just reading about this joint effort to enjoy a real community, the essence of meaning of what the word means, thrilled me, as I have been seeking a place to belong. It reminds me of when I was a young girl growing up in the county, when everyone knew everyone and cared about the important matters of life. School teachers were Sunday School teachers, and school principals were deacons in the church. Our school lessons were reinforced by our Sunday School lessons, and everyone played a part in our upbringing. In today's world that is not the case, unless one is blessed to have a church that involves itself in the local community. Such churches do exist, I am happy to say. But the information about my county gave me hope for a brighter tomorrow, especially for our children.

Now the hour is late, but the day is far from done. Still tomorrow comes early, so it's time to say goodnight. Remember, revival comes to the individual first, and then it transforms and the spark once lit cannot be extinguished. We are called to be lights in the darkness of the world. Let your light so shine! 

Day 304 Reformation Day

 

10/31/2026

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."

Psalm 33:12

 

Today marks the celebration of Reformation Day when in 1517 Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saint's Church in Wittenberg, Germany marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a call to true repentance in the church, godly sorrow for sins that Luther found lacking in the established church. Something that is much-needed in our present age. As we pray for revival, another Jesus Revolution, we realize that before revival can happen, we must first have a transformation of our hearts that leads to repentance for the sin in our lives and on behalf of our nation and humbly beseech God's mercy. With mid-term elections very close we stand on the precipice of change, and we need to seek Him while there is still time. 

For the past 52 days beginning on September 10 many ministry leaders, governmental leaders, business owners, intercessors, and private citizens have committed ourselves to prayer, repentance, and fasting on behalf of our nation's turning back to God. We are also praying for the church to return to their first love. I have spoken about the current situation that is now facing our national security and threatening our Constitutional rights. We must cry out to God, because He is the only One who can heal our land. Right now Israel stands in need of a miracle for their election as well. Iran still poses an existential threat not only to Israel but to our nation as well. The regime in Iran has been very vocal about their intentions towards our nation, so it is of extreme importance that our people are protected. It is also important that we continue to stand in support of Israel. The prophetic time clock is ticking, as  the world holds its breath watching what will happen next and how it will affect the world. This is why it is so important that we as the Body of Christ rally around Israel with our support, and why we need to wake up and pay attention to the imminent threat within our own country. These things do not happen overnight. What has been happening in France and other European nations are examples years of planning.

Today the Nehemiah Alliance 52 days of prayer ended with a celebration in the National Mall in Washington DC. It was an exciting event as representatives for each of the 50 states and Washington DC repented before God on behalf of their States, nations, lives, and families desperately seeking the mercy of God. It was an amazing time, but although the 52 days have been competed, we still need to be diligently involved in prayer and fasting for the elections. Not only is our national security at stake, we must stand for the restoration of the nuclear family, and pray for the church to arise and continue the good fight of faith, as Paul the Apostle exhorted us to do:

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of witnesses" (2 Timothy 6:12).

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

"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. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3-4).

It is indeed a great honor and blessing to stand with so many humble men and women who want nothing more than to see our nation restored to One Nation Under God. We are united members of the Body of Christ, seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus who has given us authority over the evil of this age. He has endued us with His power by sending Holy Spirit to dwell within us to teach us, guide us, and strengthen us as we stand against the spiritual warfare advancing in this world. As we stand on the wall, taking our positions in Christ, just like Nehemiah restoring the walls of Jerusalem against great odds, we stand victorious knowing that "This is the word of the Lord...'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says  the Lord of hosts"  (Zechariah 4:6).

Day 303 The Vultures are Circling

 

10/30/2026

 "Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain."

Psalm 127:1

 

For the past two or three weeks I've been outside attempting to get the yard cleaned and the new shed painted. I love to paint, but this shed has been a nightmare in so many ways. I'm not a painter, but I have painted my house, and even the outside many years ago when I wasn't timid about climbing high. Still at the risk of falling off the ladder, we did enlist the support of a friend who was a house painter, among his other talents. So since then I've limited my painting to walls and my art work. I always paint trim first before tackling the main job, which may be counter to what a true painter would do, but as an artist, I am able to draw a straight line, and I can do fine work near the edges where the two colors blend quite easily. With this job, however, the edges are rough and sanding is impossible, so that's makes it much harder not to slop paint all over the place. My son thought we should paint the shed first before the trim - wrong, but I allowed him to have his way. Now I'm cleaning up the mess. I'm also the one on the ladder, as my son has medical issues and a fear of heights, so being the acrobat in the household, I inherited the task.

For several days while painting I noticed that vultures were circling overhead. At first I thought my cat Alex was on the menu, but they soon disappeared, and Alex showed up to eat. But this went on for days. Finally, I looked up to the sky and asked the vultures if they knew something I didn't. After all I'd been to the doctor for blood work, and my doctor had shown concern over my recent CT scan. So I laughed, but I became curious about the habits of these scavengers and decided to research their habits. I found that vultures ride the rising columns of warm air that allows them to remain in flight without expending energy while they scout for food. Birds are amazing creatures anyway, but I wouldn't think that a vulture had delicate, thin wings, but they do. God is a master creator! When I went back outside the next day, the little rascals were circling, so I greeted them cordially, but I reminded them that I was living, so I would not be on their menu. Soon they lost interest and flew away. I imagine if the neighbors heard me laughing, talking to vultures they were wondering about my sanity. I already give them plenty to think about as it is.

My research also revealed that there are spiritual meanings given to seeing vultures circling. Traditionally it "symbolizes transformation, patience, spiritual renewal, and the natural cycle of life and death." Alternative views suggest that in folklore this action can be a warning or call to watch out for possible harm or malicious intent. There are other suggestions leaning towards interpretation of dreams and other mystical interpretations. The imagination can take us to places we dare not go. 

While natural predators do exist in our natural world as part of creation, they serve a God-created design and plan just as all creatures and birds of the air and fish and critters of the seas and oceans. God's creation blows my mind and a deeper respect for our Giver of Life. But there are human predators and those who are within our nation who are posing as wolves in sheep's clothing and predators in the pulpit. David Wilkerson of blessed memory wrote a book about deception creeping into our churches, and Jesus warns that many will come in His name, but they are false prophets, teachers, and pastors. He warns of things to come before His return for the church. He calls us to be busy for the Kingdom but conscious of the snares of the enemy.  

"And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying "I am the Christ," and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.'" (Matthew 24:1-14) 

Anyone who reads what Jesus told the disciples will note that these things are happening today, increasing daily. As we approach the mid-term elections, the behind the scenes work of opposing parties and factions have been secretly engaged in unthinkable, intensely evil strategies intended to destroy our government system and our nation as we know it. They want to rewrite our Constitution, get rid of our Senate, as well as an entire list of plans that have been in the works for years, and all of it is public information. My heart is broken to think that we have elected leaders in office who want to destroy America and have a socialist/communist government. That is not what America is. These people say all the right things for the trusting people who think these leaders mean what they say, the ones who are not alert to hear what is truly being said or bothering to check out the truth. And that is truly disheartening. I have always been a trusting person, hoping people mean what they say, but I have learned that this simply is not so, even in the church. There are pastors running for office who are compromising the Word of God. How can that be? Truly these are the last days, as the days are darker each day. 

This reminds me of an episode of the Star Trek series, Into the Darkness, where an evil man and his followers, threatened civilization based on revenge and a lust for power. It's never really for the good of all, only for the benefit of the few. Captain Kirk was making a speech to christen the new starship, and he gave the following speech:   

"There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them we risk awakening the same evil within ourselves. Our first instinct is to seek revenge when those we love are taken from us. But that's not who we are. We are here today to rechristen the USS Enterprise, and to honor those who lost their lives nearly one year ago. When Christopher Pike first gave me his ship, he had me repeat the Captain's Oath, words I didn't appreciate at the time. Now I see them as a call for us to remember who we once were, and who we must be again. And those words: Space the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her five year mission: to explore the strange new world, to seek out life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before." 

The Captain spoke from a heart of integrity and a longing to live a moral life, fulfilling the purpose given to those who were entrusted with preserving a civilization and the hope of including other civilizations for the common good. There was no malice or evil intention, just good will and freedom, a world where men lived in unity and shared a common dream. Where neighbors helped each other. Perhaps I'm adding to the text here, but this is how I feel when I think of how our lives should be lived. But we can never live a moral life, one of integrity and concern for others, until we know the God of creation, the one who created us in His image and who desires to have fellowship with us. The one who said the greatest  commandment was to love our neighbor as ourselves and to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Our nation was established on His principles, and they are the best ones. Our leaders took oaths based on the words of the Constitution. But there are those who have infiltrated our nation and who have influenced the weak minded into believing the government is illegitimate, failing, broken, when there are wicked people undermining every action taken, setting traps and deceiving people. What is happening in France and other nations was not caused by school children. It was carefully planned years in advance, people brought in, their plan of action to destroy a country set in motion. It foreshadows what has been put into motion in our nation. We need to wake up. 

I read a quote that said "Human institutions never work. God's work lasts forever." We can do nothing without God's influence in our lives. May we wake up before it's too late. The vultures are circling.