5/2/2026
"For the Christian, this world is an arena,
not an armchair."
Daily Walk
Popcorn sounds like a good idea to me right about now! Hot air popped to perfection, very little butter, and a lot of salt. I can see faces cringe, but salt is actually very beneficial to me. I lived with migraines for fifty-seven years, and later on in life I learned that salt actually helped me get some relief. A few sips of Dr. Pepper and slowly dissolving Lays Potato Chips in my mouth, availing myself of the salty content. A swig of the doctor and holding a salted chip in my mouth brought a short time of respite, and other times, it calmed the tension right down so I could sleep. I don't like to make a habit of drinking Dr. Pepper with high fructose corn syrup as the main ingredient, but in such times, such dire straights, why not give it a go?! Oddly, my closest friend uses the same trick. What are the chances, because we seem so vastly different in personalities. It has to be our love for others, as she certainly has been here for me whenever I needed her. It's a bit harder now with two thousand miles separating us, but there is always the telephone.
Aside from stuffing myself with popcorn and enjoying Mexican Coke with real sugar, plus a few Junior Mints, I enjoyed another episode of The House of David, now streaming on Prime. Although it deviates from the scriptures a bit, it is quite good, and I recommend it, if you can tolerate bloody battles, very graphic in some details. When Samuel the prophet killed Agag, who just happened to be an Amalekite, whom King Saul did not kill, Samuel hacked him to pieces which the Scripture confirms in 1 Samuel 15:33. God told King Saul not to spare anyone or anything in that battle, but he did not listen. This and another incident following caused him to lose his kingdom. The second season begins after David kills Goliath and enters the service of King Saul, although he has already lost his anointing, and David has been secretively anointed as the next king by Samuel. Life has always been complicated, and if you have never read the Bible, you are missing out on a true adventure, and the story continues today. But, unlike most stories, we know how this one ends! Hallelujah!!
I'm still reading about Ezra's journey back to Jerusalem to restore the temple of God. As always happens, there's someone who opposes what is being done to make things better or bring improvements. The country had been laid waste, the gates and temple destroyed in Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and the people of Judah hauled off in exile, leaving only a few poor people and others transplanted by the Babylonians in the area. Nothing had been restored during this time, as Zerubbabel and his entourage were the first to return to the land of Israel. In all there were seventy years of exile for the people, so the land rested. The commentary states that Zerubbabel knew that they were on divine assignment from God, using King Cyrus of Persia, so any offers from the enemies of the land to help were not accepted. This did not bode well for them, therefore, the work on the temple was delayed for fifteen years as the people in the land opposed them, by writing to the King of Persia. Over time, perseverance in writing the kings of Persia, who checked through the records, plus the encouragement of two prophets of God, helped to clear things up and speed things up. When the enemies were told not to interfered, threatened by the king, and told to back off and to help with the cost out of the Persian coffers, the work was completed quickly, followed by another national celebration.
Sometimes we have to stand up for what is right, and many times, as we've witnessed in our nation, it takes an inordinate amount of time to get things done, wasted time. But it seems as if no one really wants to rock the boat except for a few bold, courageous people who sign briefs and even a few pastors who instruct their flock about what is going on, rather than allowing them to sit comfortably on their pews knowing God is in control, and they are not to worry or be concerned. Well, I'm not one of those people, because I read my Bible, and I know what it says we are to be doing. I align with those few people, but it is getting to be risky to speak out, and that scares people. I never thought I'd live in a country, whose pledge of allegiance is One Nation Under God, and witness that this is not the feeling of the majority. Thankfully our President wants to correct that sentiment, and I am grateful.
The commentator in my study of Ezra asks the reader to make a list of five or more things we considered worth fighting for today. Perhaps off the top of our heads most may say "family, faith, country" as starters. Zerubbabel and his company were faced with a decision, and they were willing to give their lives to defend their freedom. The same thing is happening today as Israel continues to fight for the freedom to exist, a right God gave them, but many critics disagree. If they read their Bible they would know, but then, many pastors and believers do not understand what the Bible teaches when it comes to Israel. They have been deceived into believing that since the Jewish people did not accept Jesus as Messiah that Jesus replaced them with the Church. How absurd a notion when the scripture so clearly states the opposite. This shows how easily people, even leaders, even theologians can be deceived and deceive others. This is happening in our government, and not just about Israel.
I'm only one person, and I know that God has called me to be an intercessor - actually He calls everyone, but few want to do it, because there's a heavy price to pay. He has also called me to write, so this blog for now is my avenue, as well as the letters I write to government leaders, and forms I sign. Facebook is my podium for getting the word out, as well as evangelism and spreading the Good News with messages from pastors I support and music that honors and lifts up the Name of Jesus. I support missions, and I love helping my community. Although I don't really have a local church that I call home - yet, I do attend a local church, plus I attend my online Messianic Jewish-Christian church and others. I'm a Saturday and Sunday follower of Christ. The services I freely share, because the messages and lessons are well-taught. I love Jesus, and I can't think of a better way to spend my time than to talk about Him and sit in His Presence. My sister says I should be an evangelist, and who knows, maybe I am. But I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because He is life!
So, what do you think is worth fighting for? Time is getting short, so it's time to choose! Don't be left behind!
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