Luke 21:34-36  “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This life is full of heaviness…. and often many seek to lighten the burden through things that only temporarily ease the strain; yet more times than not these very things increase the weight. What is even worse – they dull the spiritual senses, leave a person trapped and distracted.

In the verse above it refers to the heart being weighed down. The word weighed down in the Biblical Greek means overcharged, burdened, grievous and heavy. The term heart means not just the physical heart but the thoughts, feelings, and mind plus being broken hearted.

I can’t help but notice that three things cause a heavy-hearted brokenness in one’s life: dissipation, drunkenness and the cares of this life.

   Dissipation means literally a headache or seizure of pain from debauched( that is to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality and or to lead away from virtue or excellence) surfeiting (that is an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something such as food or drink and or disgust caused by excess) gluttony. 

 Makes one think of having to loosen their belt after a Thanksgiving meal because they ate so much it hurts or a hangover headache from overindulgence of alcohol, caffeine laden drinks or anything over consumed that has a side effect of a headache or pain.

Drunkenness means any intoxicant- and just so happens the Greek word is methē. Makes one think of meth. SO obviously it is more than just beer and booze, it is anything that intoxicates a person from overuse or misuse.

Cares of this life means through the idea of distraction and solicitude (that is the state of being in excessive concern and anxious, eager uneasiness of mind lest some desired thing may not be obtained or some apprehended evil may happen). Makes one think of a person so worried and fearful of something going wrong and bad things coming in the future or not getting something they want and the current rise of anxiety in people today.

These three things all prevent a person from being ready for Jesus’ return…. I think we can even be so worried about the state of the world or so enamored by the world that we become heavy laden and spiritually sleepy.

How about you?

Prayerfully and Lovingly Yours, By Jesus’ Grace,

Pastor Daren Lee Barnett

How many of us are content? Many struggle with this, always looking for the next best thing that we think will make us happy but once we have it or the newness wears off, we are once again discontent.  We need to slow down and realize that being closer to God, being happy with what we have and realizing what is truly important will bring us contentment. When you have a complaint, remember all your blessings!

I read the following and it really hit home.  “Don’t let your prayers become an exercise in worrying on your knees!  Always keep in mind the blessings in your life that God gives you every single day.  Give him thanks for everything he has done for you.  Bring your concerns to God knowing that you will receive peace from Him.  Contentment comes from the strength we receive from Christ.  Learn to be content even when you are facing difficult circumstances by being thankful and grateful and giving your worries over to Christ.

Hebrews 135: tells us that we are to be content with what we have.  Paul went through horrible persecution and suffering, but he was able to face his trials due to his contentment in Christ. In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul said “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Here are some steps to a contented life from the teaching of Paul:

*Give thanks in all things.

*Rest in God’s Word

*Learn to be satisfied with little.

*Learn to live above life’s circumstances.

*Rely on God’s power.

*Become preoccupied with the well-being of others.

With everything happening in the world today it can be difficult to be content but studying God’s word, praying and keeping Jesus front and center in our lives will help us face these trials.  Christ promises strength for today!

By Melissa King

Spiritual Ministry Team Member

I recently read this for my morning devotions and it struck me that too often people miss what God has called them to do…. And a friend of mine sent me this following quote around same time I was reading the devotional below:

“There are two great days in our lives…. The day we are born and they day we know why we were born.”

I would like to actually put right in the middle of these two great days, the greatest day – the day we are born again. I hope the devotional below strikes you deeply at the heart and effects change in your calling from the Lord.

“He called ten of His servants….” (Luke 19:13)

Have you ever been in a place where the phone kept ringing and nobody answered it? In moments like that it seems everybody is busy with something else, assuming that somebody else will answer the call. But nobody does. After awhile it can get to be quite annoying. There is something irritating about an incessant, unanswered call.

Over the years I have noticed a similar thing in the lives of many people — a call that is not being answered. A call from God. Busy with so many other things, and sure that the call is for someone else, many men loose themselves in trivial moments and miss the momentous opportunity to answer the call of God on their lives. Have you answered the call?

Missing out on God’s call for your life would be the worst thing that could happen. Research shows that one of the greatest fears men face is having lived a meaningless life; a life that didn’t matter; a life that made no difference. This dreadful thought haunts even the most accomplished of individuals. Maybe it haunts you even now.

Os Guinness wrote, “Our passion is to know that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are on earth. All other standards of success—wealth, power, position, knowledge, and friendships—all grow tiny and hollow if we do not satisfy this deeper longing.”

Each of us long to know that our lives counted; that we accomplished what we were put on this earth to do. Yet, in an odd contradiction, nothing is more common than unrealized potential. Most of us settle for far less than we are capable of being, and of doing. On the one hand we want our lives to count; on the other hand, we seem far too willing to become marginalized into mediocrity. Our only hope is to answer the call of God upon our lives.

 Now, I took this to heart and came up with some practical things that I have begun to apply to my life that are helping me realize the potential God has called me to:

Less Entertainment and More Learning Engagement. Choose prayer, visiting others, reading, documentaries and podcasts over movies, social media and television programs. Non-fiction is far greater than Fiction.

Pick Productive Hobbies instead of Mundane Activities. Some things are mindless, and others are mind-filling, find ones that produce and promote skill and growth that benefits your life and others lives. Eg: Bible Study

Grow in Your Vocations Skills and Development in Your Calling. Nothing better than a man “working as unto the Lord”…. Christians should be the best, most productive and knowledgeable in the call and work God has put them in.

Expand Your Vocations. It has been said “I am a jack of all trades and master of none”…. I attempt to become master of many trades, as to be not only help but a better leader. Take for instance a man named Kevin Swanson. He is a full-time pastor plus a daily radio program host, home school curriculum writer and teacher.

Understand the Definition of Laziness and Don’t Be a Slacker. Not doing what your supposed to do when your supposed to do it… because then you can’t do what you want to do when you want to do it. Rather we should do what we are supposed to do when we are supposed to do it… then we can do what we want to do when we want  to do it. I would like to add do not miss the mark and equate godly rest as an excuse just so you can do less… this is the biblical definition of what it means to be a sluggard. Yes we need a day of rest and times away “on the mountain”; however many use this as a way out of godly work and service.

Set a Scheduled Routine for Bedtime and Get out of Bed time. I know, we all like a day now and then to sleep in… and it is good on occasion, yet we are given only a set number of days and hours in our lives so oversleeping does what Proverbs 20:13 says “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” Right and regular rest coupled with intentionality with our time will not only keep us full of energy – it makes our time more productive and useful. Besides, we all know what happens when kids do not have a schedule – guess what, adults are the same…. We just don’t like to admit it.

Keep Your Appointments with God. Do not skip prayer time and devotions time. Any relationship that is skipping over communication and interaction cools and drifts apart. Same goes for our time with the Lord – if you consistently miss it there is no way we will stay spiritually consistent in our relationship with God.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (Timothy 1:7)

In a World full of challenges, trials, and uncertainty this passage is one that we should remind ourselves of often.  Every day when you turn on the news there seems to be a few more things that we could fall prey to fearing if we allow ourselves to.  AI wants to “rewrite” the Bible, our government is busy trying to take away our freedoms, the elites are busy finding ways to combine man and machine, and our children and family unit are under attack like never before.  There is certainly no end of things that bring us great fear in this life.  But this passage is a reminder to us that God has given us the power not only to face those challenges, but to have victory over them.  As followers of Christ, we are blessed to be able to claim the promises of God that are found throughout His Holy Word.

Feeling confused and overwhelmed?  Proverbs 3:5-6 says – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.  Anxious about what’s going on in the world today?  Philippians 4:6-7 says –  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Afraid of the possible coming of religious persecution?  Isaiah 51:7 says –  Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law.  Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. 

There are so many wonderful promises in the Word of God that we are able to claim when we belong to Him!  We can take great comfort in knowing as Deuteronomy 31:6 says –  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.  No matter how frightening this become in these end times, we are never alone, God is in control, and the battle has already been won!

By Darlene Holdgrafer, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

I write with great grief this month…. In the state in which we reside, Minnesota, the current governing leaders have taken us down a very satanic road in passing three recent laws dubbed the trans refuge bill HF146, the conversion therapy ban HF16, and reproductive freedom bill HF259.

Ironically, he said “Freedom is on the march in Minnesota. Decency is on the march on in Minnesota. Compassion is on the march in Minnesota. Hate and bigotry too are on the march. But we make very clear that march of bigotry and hate stops at Minnesota’s borders.”

All three laws have little to do with true freedom, rather they are legislating people into the bondage of their sins. It is a rare thing to have new bills introduced and passed that benefit and truly protect “the least of these” – no they protect murder of children, mutilation of children and molestation of children; all of which have direct spiritual consequences of eternal proportions.

A fourth bill is being introduced and considered that I call the pedophile act HF447. It slips in the term “sexual orientation” under the civil rights law section of the bill. For those who do not know – sexual orientation is broad terminology that includes all LGBTQIA+ and “minor attracted persons” under its definition. In Article 3 Section 5  ‘”Sexual orientation” does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.’ Was stricken from the bill. This means they removed it as something wrong and placed it as something to be protected as a right. That’s sick and exceedingly sinful and makes Sodom and Gomorrah like societies look like a paradise. Jesus said “better a millstone be hung around the neck of one who causes little ones to sin” and let’s not forget that the Bible does address catamites. This is the historical term for a pedophile. Check out 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (malakos: soft, that is, fine clothing, catamite – a boy kept by a pederast) , nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomite), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ”

These new bills are nothing new, the Bible tells us the roots of these ideas and ideologies are demonic and connected to the gods of child sacrifice, satanic self-worship and are demonstrative of those who willfully ignore God. Take the time to read Romans 1, 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Peter 2.

These are not the only diabolical and destructive bills recently plaguing Minnesota. There are several educational bills that will and are going to force many believers that are teachers or educational employees to make some decisions that will be difficult. Not to mention, these bills may even cause termination of employment if you do not “go along to get along”.

Some of the bills that you should know about and pay attention to are as follows:

HF2497 / SF 2684 Education Budget Omnibus Bill – this included studies in CRT, sexual preferences, gender and religion

HF358 Sexual Education Bill – this includes teaching sexual orientation and gender identities with explicit content

HF 1502 Ethnic Studies and Critical Social Justice

HF 320 Teachers of Color and Critical Social Justice

These are just some of the issues facing our state today. What does this tell us about our future here in Minnesota? We are spiraling into legislated sin and godlessness. What you do and say plus what you do not do and do not say will have an impact and reveal the truth of where you stand as a Christian citizen and where your convictions are derived from. What might God be calling you to “in such a time as this”?