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”?

Men of Maturity’s Call

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 

 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Ephesians 4:13

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28

Recently I heard about a book titled “The Death of the Grown Up” by Diane West. Remarkable! She noticed a trend in America regarding men not growing up and maturing. It has been an agenda of evil poised to the ravaging male leadership and fatherhood and protection in our society. I have also noticed the way men are portrayed in the media – everything masculine is denounced as toxic and the feminization of the younger males, and they are indoctrinated into lazy states of existence with no purpose but to follow their own hedonistic ends apart from God. And the last alarming thing I have noticed is the lack of male leaders emerging within the American church as a whole. I personally struggle with those who are afraid to pray publicly, to share a message and speak up when they have something to say regarding faith and the Word of God when given the opportunity to express their thoughts and what they know. It is fascinating how willing so many men are to not take up the mantle and leave things to the ladies…. Don’t get me wrong, I am overly grateful for the women stepping out in faith and essentially doing what the “Adams” are supposed to do – remember he never told Eve she shouldn’t eat the fruit and passively let happen what God said not to.

Why? Why can’t men be men? Why can’t men stand up? Why can’t men move past comfort and passivity to prepare the next generation for the difficult times ahead? Why is it like pulling teeth to get men to engage and lead? Is it that they have all become beta boys? Is for lack of discipleship? Are pastors and fellow brothers in Christ not showing good examples? Is it just plain ol’ cowardliness? Is it fear of others and how they may be viewed? The Bible says:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

If we take a closer look at the passages above and the one just presented there are some actions words and characteristics that men ought to have as born again believers.

be watchful = it means to vigilantly keep awake

stand firm = be resolute and persevere

act like men = to show yourselves manly

be strong = to empower and increase in vigor and might

attain… mature manhood = arrive in complete labor and growth mentally and morally

stature = maturity, as big as

proclaim = preach, promulgate, declare, speak of

warning = put in mind, calling attention , to caution, reprove gently, admonish

teaching = to learn and then teach

not of fear = not cowardly, not timidity, not fearful – and always used in a bad sense of cowardice

but of power = rather of force, miraculous dynamite, meaning, night, strength, violence, wonderful work, able, possible

of love = affection, benevolence, embracing the deliberate sense of the will of principle, duty and propriety

of self control = disciplined and sound mind

When you put this al together, these are attributes and abilities God gives men to be men. I pose two questions:

Are you answering God’s call to be a man? Are you living as men of maturity’s call?

Only when men be the men God has called them to be and to act maturely and accordingly will America and the church be what God wants it to be…. So, I am calling all men to embrace manhood, to engage in maturity, to step passed comfort, complacency, insecurity and cowardice – our country, our society, our families, our wives, our children, our congregations, our leadership teams, our fellowship depends on it!

“And They Call Themselves a Christian!”

You shall know them by their fruits-Matthew 7:16

How many times have we or someone else say the phrase, “And they call themselves a Christian”?  I have said it.  I’ve also heard this said from other believers and nonbelievers.  Some have even gone as far to say, “This is why I don’t like going to church.  They’re just a bunch of hypocrites.  How many times have you seen or heard that someone isn’t the same person they used to be?  Maybe they quit the partying scene, or able to be patient instead of flying off the handle, and people will ask them what happened? How did you do it?  This is why Matthew 7:16 is so important.  People are constantly watching our actions to determine are we who we say we are.  If we say we are a Christian, then we should be acting like one all the time…..not just in the pews.  I think a lot of young people and nonbelievers get the hypocrite attitude and get turned away from church when they see our bad behavior constantly.  By obeying God on how we are to act IS another way to lead others to Christ.

So what actions and behaviors does everyone seem to use to see if others are the real deal?  It’s the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We are told not to judge anyone on their clothing, nationality, race, education or rank in society(James 2:1-7, Colossians 3:11), but we are to look at their spiritual fruits to help determine if they truly are a child of God.  For a child of God is to be held at a higher account of obedience to God and they are to treat nonbelievers with love, grace and mercy cause we were once like them.

1John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.  But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God-for God is love.

If you only love those who love you, what good is that? Even the scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even the heathen do that. Matthew 5:46-47.

I think we really need to examine ourselves to see if we put these fruits into action in our daily lives. 

Do we show these fruits at: home, work, school, shopping trips, out with friends, at restaurants, etc?  Please know others are watching, including our youth.  Let them see that we are the real deal and would love for them to ask us, “How did you do that?”  Then we can “speak” the gospel!  I’d like to finish with Colossians 3:2-17 

     Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend time worrying about things down here.  You should have little desire for this world as a dead person does.  Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.  And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.

     Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you;  have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.  God’s terrible anger is upon those who do such things.  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world; but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.

     Don’t tell lies to each other; it was your old life with all its wickedness that did that sort of thing; now it is dead and gone.  You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.  In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing.  Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.

     Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.  Don’t worry about making a good impression on them but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently.

     Be gentle and ready to forgive, never hold grudges.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

     Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony.  Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body.  And always be thankful.

     Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.

I am sure you have heard of the recent happenings at Asbury University in Kentucky. Over 50,000 visitors with more to come have claimed a revival has broken out. Now – I would be happier than a pig in the mud. I pray it is true revival. Nevertheless, I have a bit of skepticism about. With the “He Get’s Me” movement starting up, the nuanced buzzword of calling this an outpouring… well there have been several in recent years like the Bethel movement, Hillsong, the Vineyard, and many like them – all part of the New Apostolic Reformation that have embraced the Kundalini false god awakening.

I voice only a Scriptural and prayerful concern “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

And also like Paul has said as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “but test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Like I said – I am sure some are sincere and others are looking for an experience… my fear is it is leading to the worship experience and on the mountain top without taking any roots. Biblical revival starts with repentance and sorrow for sin against God. If the Holy Spirit is in the revival – conviction and truth, judgment and righteousness will lead more than emotion and experience, ecstasy and peace. Oh, sure enough peace will come after conviction and repentance and trusting in Christ…. However, if peace and love manifest without the afore mentioned, is it a work of the Holy Spirit?

John 16:7-15  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Let me close with the following devotional from Rylisms that caught my attention while I was pondering the Asbury Revival of 2023:

The Church of Yippee Yahoo

“Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere.” (Matthew 24:24, The Message)

There is much talk these days about mighty revivals that are happening here and there, now and then — yet nothing seems to be changing really. In an objective analysis, these heated moments are limited in scope, short-lived in notoriety, and superficial in influence. It’s the difference between a geyser and a river. Geysers are fun and spectacular; but rivers sustain life.

These outpourings come suddenly, and fade quietly away after enough people have handled the wares. The roll call continues to grow — Kansas City, Toronto, Pensacola, Brownsville, and Lakeland (and I add Asbury ’23) . What city will the circus visit next? Where next will the Church of Yippee Yahoo be holding a meeting?

Is this revival? Really?

It looks more like a super-sale where scores line up and wait for the doors to open, and then rush the table to get the deal of a life-time, and then make sure that everybody else knows every detail of how they managed to do so. After a short sensational burst, the sales begins to wane.

Latecomers find the sales tables in a mess, with remnants scattered here and there; odd items of unmatched clothes, and few ties that won’t go with any suit. Soon the whole affair is discarded, as the shoppers scour the ads for the next Big Sale.

Is this the best we can do? Here and there; now and then? What we need is a true and lasting move of God’s Spirit across the land, unsensational and without fanfare; one that turns men’s hearts in repentance and faith, and unleashes a work of grace that repairs the breaches and heals the broken.

And when that happens we really will say, “Yippee Yahoo!”

Know that I truly am praying for revival before the rapture and Jesus’ arrival and I am also truly praying we will be able to discern the difference between a felt moment flash of spirituality verses a long term lasting life change that comes from the Holy Spirit.

Pastor D.L. Barnett 

Spiritual Ministry Team Letter

By Todd Cory

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.

So much going on in the world today, I just want to take a look at the 2 Bible verses above.  Looking back at the last 36 months and all the things that we have all been though, all promised with Gods word in prophecy.  The rising of the 4 beast in Daniel, brought on by the pandemic.  Many took the medical procedure that did not keep you from getting the pandemic, did not keep you from spreading the pandemic and didn’t last, More medical procedures, 4 or 5 now. I lost count.  But most people people took the procedure for earthly reasons.  Examples, fear, travel, and employment. As I look back if one would have believed in the verses above and let God “show me the way I should go”  the mandates ended and most of the people got their employment back, some with back pay. GOD IS GOOD   Churches reopened, travel is now allowed.

Changes are coming, The world Health Organization is one of the 4 beast in Daniel and I think we are at the end of the space of a 1/2 hr rev 8:1. The Green vaccine passport is coming, and “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.”  Keep your God given DNA not the RNA. We are a lot further along than most know, the confirmation of the peace agreement, Daniel 9:27 is in play, Israels second priority for the new government!! The UFO agenda is also in play, to explain the lost of Christians in the rapture. We (the United States) are now covering Canada’s airspace due to the DNA ( United States, Mexico and Canada) agreement, We shot down the UFO in Canada. Look it up, we are all now one, explains the southern border agenda…read the fine print. I ask my fellow Christians, pray intelligently, that “these things must happen” earthquakes (Turkey death toll 40,642) rumors of war, opening of the chrislam one world religion in Dubai and New York city.  Its all here and you are not going to pray away Gods word in prophecy…  We should feel Blessed that we are all Chosen to be here at this time to see first hand God working in the world.  What 5 are you going to be?

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

                 ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Through the Grays

Matthew 5:37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

In a world full of duplicity and two-footed stances, double-speak and forked tongues – many go gray in matters of utmost importance and necessity. And though society is by choice this way; the Christian is not to straddle the land and sea, attempting each foots planting in opposite and opposing directions.

Oh, the plight of the Gray’s Mr. Nod Yes – N – No

and his wife May-Be-So.

When it was time come or to go

They cannot decide whether to travel to or fro.

It is a dangerous time to not know the Way

For if you don’t – one trod through the grays

Nor then or now at their days end

Will they be standing true, but just in pretend.

The one of fences and canyons decisions

Snare of man, in fear brought on them derision.

For they were not fit for hell nor heaven

And the evil one baked them through with leaven

No black or white, yes or no,

but it was always perhaps or maybe so

So back and forth they travelled for years

Sullen and sorrowful a life of tears

They, never a distance or destination made very far

As the rut they rough shod started in the middle par

From one side returned to the other next

Only a mile with which step mor vexed.

They settled center unchanged and stale

Sitting still in life through gray veil

No difference they made, nor boat they did rock

Moderate and agreeing what each passer by spoke

Dying and fading there through the gray

Never making mark, other than the same trip each day.

Telling everyone what each one want to hear and to say

Through gray veil there grave stone stands to this day.

One day, in a time of past memory, days standing before the Chasm of Compromise, were Yes – N – No and May -Be So’s sons, named Easy Going and his  two brothers Af-firmation and Double Mind. Their friends, Resolved and Unswerving of the family Determination were also standing on the precipice of the divide before them. On the chasm’s one side, known as Confirmation Cliff; and on the other was Tolerance Talus. In the vast span, hovering steeply over the gorge’s swift Abysmal River was a thin but sturdy wooden bridge, comprised of solid true oaken square cornered planks with imbedded jeweled treads, to prevent slipping off to the left or right. It was suspended by pure cordage strengthened by threads of gold and silver. This narrow bridge was named after its builder – Prudence Wisdom’s Crossing.

Just a little further down Chasm was a much wider bridge, it was not suspended like the other, but had a base of sand with one triangular column placed right in the middle of Abysmal River. Upon the column was a round shale flat stone balanced yet teetering just a bit. Someone years ago tried to sure up where the pinnacle met the platform with green wood sticks that flexed when anyone walked upon it to cross the Chasm of Compromise. The broader bridge was likewise named after its builder – Perfidy Middleton’s Overpass.

The fear of Abysmal river below and the Chasm of Compromise’s sheer sides seemed to thicken the air about them. The size and width of Perfidy Middlestone’s Overpass allured Easy Going, Af-firmation and Double Mind – while at the same time the mere prospect of the slim suspended bridge caused a fright of shiver at the sight of Prudence Wisdom’s Crossing. Yet little did they know that appearances and accommodations wide are treacherous and tippy.

Resolve and Unswerving were made of sterner stuff, and decided to not let these things effect the direction they set out to go. For you see, just across the Chasm Compromise was a place settled, restful and refreshing. It was called Integrity Meadow. A place of all good things – for that those who walk that way will never be kept from.

Sadly, as Easy Going, Af-firmation and Double Mind set out to cross Perfidy Middlestone’s Overpass from Confirmation Cliff, it began to slant down with their weight. So, they hastened to the middle and noticed that the round shale flat stone settled out. They then attempted to move towards Tolerance Talus and down again the shale flat stone tippled about and they ran back to the middle. To this day they have been stuck out there, fearful of Abysmal River, afraid of going towards Confirmation Cliff or Tolerance Talus…. Oh many called out to them, some attempted to remind and persuade them to finish the course and cross in courage – after all they did make it across to the middle, and if the fear did not overcome them, could have steadily and speedily moved on, though with terrible difficulty.

Resolve and Unswerving, face the fear of the Abysmal River and found the sure-footed bridge of Prudence Wisdom’s Crossing a settled and steady traverse to Integrity Meadow. Though the mist of Abysmal River touched their noses and wet their brow, the winds of the waves of Opinions Ocean, the source of the Abysmal River, swept at the bridge…. The golden silver threaded cordage sturdied the jewel laden planks, and the planks laden with jewels steadied Resolve and Unswerving s feet. After the Chasm of Compromise was crossed, Confirmation Cliff and Tolerance Talus were behind them, just up ahead was Integrity Meadow.

Now – you may or may not like an allegorical story that is presenting spiritual truth…. But the lessons contained within this parable of truth and its Biblical realties are hard to miss….

Each one of us have face the challenge of compromise and pleasing others above God. Some fail and end up stuck or in an abysmal place of living without integrity – any everyone around them knows it. Others stay the course, mean what they say, and are listening to the evil one, but rather come to living in a good place, known for honesty and integrity. The passages of Scripture above remind us the need to not be double minded, have double standards, and not to tell everyone what they want to hear…. If more Christians stood this way, and especially in the Truth of God’s Word and what He wants – their reputation and witness would bring many to that same place. Remember the truth is narrow and the narrow gate is the way to God, and Jesus is that gate, and the narrow road is to walk in His truth.

             As I was driving home the other night, I turned the radio on and heard a pastor say we need to “watch our lives closely.” The words wont be exact, but he asked a question along these lines, “Are our eyes, as Christians, opened? Are we paying attention and watching our lives closely or are we walking next to a cliff with our eyes closed?” He said as Christians, we have to be watching our lives closely. I only caught the end of his talk. He was talking about the book of 1 Timothy, but I really didn’t catch anymore than this. It has been something I’ve been pondering since. From this, to Daren’s sermons that are opening our eyes to wordly issues and demonic influences our lives  which is teaching us discernment, to Ronda Coopers talk that hasn’t left my mind about our witness and what that truly is like. Then, studying in Isaiah, ch 30, versus 15-17 really stood out. In context to this before I share the versus, Isaiah at the beginning of ch 30 is talking about Judah and they were to not go down to Egypt for Egypt’s help and the “stubborn children did”. They made an alliance, but not with the Spirit of the Lord. They didn’t ask for the Lords help, but instead they trusted in mans help and Pharaoh’s protection. 30 vs 7 says Egypt’s help is worthless and empty, therefore I have called her “Rahab who sits still.” Then as the chapter moves onto vs 8, It is titled a rebellious people. Ch 30 vs 9 says “for they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; (vs 10) who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to he prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak t o us smooth things, prophesy illusions, (vs 11) leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy one of Israel.” (vs 12) Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth or to dip up water out of the cistern.” 

Now onto vs 15 – 17 of Isaiah ch 30. “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and , “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. 

My David Jeremiah study bible had a very good “for reflection” piece on vs these versus that I wanted to share with all of you. It is titled, “In quietness and strength.” “Sometimes God lets us run the course of our own self- sufficiency until we have proven not only to ourselves, but to everybody else that we cannot do it on our own. Then He says to us in the soft voice of Isaiah, “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Another translation for quietness and confidence would be “Utter trust”: Quietness + Trust = Strength. It is not the world’s formula; it is God’s. 

Quietness means “cessation from activity.” God wanted His people to regroup,  to come to Him, to seek Him in the solitude of their hearts, and to receive His guidance. Our fatal tendency is to think we become strong by exerting ourselves and striving hard after things. But God says this is not the way to achieve strength. The inward fortitude needed to face life’s difficulties comes only as we open our hearts to Christ in the quiet moment, ceasing from activity and letting Him supply guidance, confidence and direction as we reflect on His word.”

If we continue reading on in ch. 30, Isaiah talks about the Lord being gracious and says how the Lord will have the final judgement on the enemies of the Lord’s people. But, sometimes I wonder (talking to myself here as well) how often do we miss the Lord’s warning and guidance. He told the people “Do not go down to

Egypt!” but to trust and rely on Him….what did the people do, they went to Egypt for help. They rebelled.  Then Isaiah shares that since they rebelled, the Lord was going to let their pursuers purse. And following that, the Lord says “in returning” which also means repentance. He calls us to repent and in repentance and rest and quietness and in trust you shall be saved!!! Everything is listed so clearly. Yet, how often do we do the same thing as the people of Judah? We are threatened by something and we turn to other humans and peoples and things to save us, instead of turning to the Lord. I know we are humans, and we will screw up. Praise the Lord for his grace and mercy so we can repent and turn back to him. But do we always do that? Or do we stay stubborn and rebellious? Are we watching our lives closely and noticing when we screw up? Are we keeping our eyes opened to our witness as a Christian or are we just filling the pews on Sunday morning and calling it good enough? Are we being watchman on the wall as we’re commanded and going out and making disciples as we’re commanded? Or are we walking on the edge of the cliff with our eyes closed?  

That’s where rest, quietness, trust come in. If we are being still in the Lord, studying His word, ceasing from activity and letting Him supply guidance, We will find all these answers to all these questions. The answers to life are in His word and they couldn’t be any more plain as day. 17 verses in Ch 30 of Isaiah give us so much wisdom right there. Plus you have Proverbs, Revelation, James, Jude, Job, Ezekiel etc. All 66 books of the bible are filled with His unending wisdom that He so simply and graciously given us. If we would always and in every situation, in everything look to Him wouldn’t that make so many of our situations that we put ourselves into, that much simpler? No, I’m not saying the Christian walk is “easy or simple.” It is difficult. There are spiritual battles to fight every day. Satan is constantly trying to lead us away from the path of the Lord’s. Satan wants to win.  And the more we profess God’s truth, the more people we lead to the Lord and the more we put God into every situation, the harder Satan is going to fight. BUT,  the more we open our hearts and minds to the Lord, the more we allow God in, the more we learn about God, the more wisdom of His we take in, won’t that ultimately make our fights easier? Or least make our battles more “peaceful?” Won’t it cause us to be less rebellious and stubborn? Won’t it cause us to have more discernment so we don’t make the mistakes like the people of Judah did? Yes and Yes and yes! over and over again. In this hustle and bustle lifestyle we’re in these days, it is so easy to fill our days up and not give the Lord the time of day. I’m guilty of it more often than I care to admit. But, the days I do sit down and dive into God’s word for more than a quick 5 minute daily devotion, those days are the days where I find the Lord working. Those are the days that I ALLOW God to work. Because very often, the Lord wants to work in our hearts and change us, but we’re too stubborn to let that happen. Or we’re too busy to let Him in. 

So, as the rambling here comes to a close. I hope this encourages you to want to spend a little more quiet time each and every day with the Lord. I pray we can give him more than 5 minutes. There will always be something else to do, but we won’t get any time back. And if we’re “too busy” in this life that the Lord has so graciously allowed us to have, to spend time with Him, then can we truly expect Him to “have time for us.” We tend to make life more difficult for ourselves than necessary and if we gave the Lord the time of day, how different could situations and our lives as a whole really be? So, let’s make sure we are watching our lives, witness, discernment very closely and if you’re going through a point in time where don’t feel very close to the Lord, ask Him to put the fire for Him back in your heart and with asking him that, diving into His word and talking with Him in the quiet and stillness, I know that fire can be re lit. 

In the Lords precious name. 

~Makayla Nepp

    Food For Thought by Jeanette Cory

      I just want to share some pages out of my daily devotional, God Is Faithful by David Wilkerson.  These are just a couple that spoke to me that I like to reread from time to time.  I hope they bring you a blessing in some way.

The Lord’s Mercies Never Fail

     The Bible Tells us that the Lord is no respecter of persons. Because He does not show favoritism –because His promises never change from generation to generation—we can ask Him to show us the same mercies He has shown His people throughout history.

     The Lord’s mercies never fail, and every believer has examples of His past mercies.  So, when you fear you may have sinned too often against the Lord’s mercy-when you think you have crossed a line and God has given up on you; when you are discouraged, cast down by failure; when you wonder if God is putting you on a shelf or withholding His love from you because of past sins-lay hold of this truth with a truly repentant heart: God changes not.

     Bind God to His Word.  Write down every remembrance you have of what He has done for you in past years.  Then go to Scripture and find other instances of His “mercy precedents” with His people.  Bring these lists before the Lord and remind Him: “God, you cannot deny Your own Word.  You are the same yesterday, today and forever.

     Often we rush into God’s presence unprepared, making our requests passionately, but we wilt because we approach Him with only emotion.  We must be prepared with our grasp of His Word to us.  We know the Son, so we can stand before the Judge and bind Him to His own arguments: “Father, I have nothing to bring You but Your own Word.  You promised that I would be complete in Christ, that You would keep me from falling and that Jesus would be my intercessor.  Oh, Lord, have mercy and grace on me now, in my hour of need. Amen!”

     I truly believe that God is wonderfully blessed when we approach His throne with this kind of boldness, binding Him to His own Word.  It is as if He is saying to us, “Finally, you got it.  You see what I want you to have.  You bless Me!”

A Pleasing Walk

     The apostle Paul taught the Colossian church: “Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”(Colossians 1:10).

     What is required for a pleasing walk?  Paul says: “Put on therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, whoever has a complaint against another; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you”(3:12-13, my paraphrase).

     Paul is telling us:  “Here is my word to you in these critical times.  In light of the hard times you know are coming, you are to measure you walk with the Lord.”

     We must therefore ask ourselves: “Am I becoming more like Christ?  Am I growing more patient, or quick-tempered?  Kinder and gentler, or meaner and more argumentative?  More tender and forgiving or less, holding on to grudges?  Do I put up with the weaknesses and faults of those near to me, or do I always have to be right?  Do I criticize or offer encouragement?”

     According to Paul, in light of the coming hard days it does not matter what works you accomplish or what charitable deeds you do.  No matter how generous you are to strangers, no matter how many souls you bring to Christ, this question remains:  Are you becoming more loving, patient, forgiving, forbearing?

     Examining your walk with Christ means looking not so much at what you are doing, as at who you are becoming.  Such a walk will not come about by self-determination, merely saying, “I am going to become that kind of believer.”  Rather, it happens by the work of the Holy Spirit-through faith in His Word.

Tested By Falls And Failings

    When I speak of tests and failings, I’m not talking about Christians who fall back into old sins and turn back to the world.  Those aren’t tested believers-they are believers who face a shipwreck of faith. 

     Peter warned, “Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked”(2 Peter 3:17).  Peter is warning believers who are set on following the Lord and are growing in holiness.

     Maybe you have fallen in spite of all the progress you have made with the Lord.  If I asked what caused your fall, you might answer, “I was provoked by my own family and I blew up.  I can’t understand it.  I thought I was becoming sweeter, a little more like Jesus.  But somebody just pushed the wrong button and I lost it.”  If I asked why, you might try to explain, “I’m only human.  How much am I supposed to take?”

     It does not matter that you were provoked or even that you were in the right.  The provoking simply proved you need deliverance.  Scripture says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor [fighting}, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice [grudges]” (Ephesians 4:31).

     God is going to keep testing you until you say, “I have a spirit that has to go.”  You will see no growth in Christ, no peace at home or on the job, until you can say, “You’re right, Lord-take it out!”

     If you are being tested in this area, or any other area, you may also be feeling unworthy, thinking, “How much ground have I lost?  Does the Lord still love me?””

     Dearly beloved, if you have truly repented, you have not lost any ground whatsoever.  God puts His loving arms around you and says, “I allowed that to happen so you would see what is in your heart.  You are making progress- and that pleases Me.”

The Ultimate Test of Faith

     There comes a time in the life of every believer-as well as in the Church-when God puts us to the ultimate test of faith.  It is the same test Israel faced on the wilderness side of the Jordan.

     This test is to look at all the dangers ahead-the giant issues facing us, the high walls of affliction, the principalities and powers that seek to destroy us-and cast ourselves totally on God’s promises.  The test is to commit ourselves to a lifetime of trust and confidence in His Word.  It is a commitment to believe that God is bigger than all our problems and enemies.

     Our heavenly Father is not looking for a faith that deals with one problem at a time.  He is looking for a lifetime faith, a lifelong commitment to believe Him for the impossible.  This kind of faith brings a calm and rest to our soul, no matter what our situation.

     Our Lord is loving and long-suffering, but He will not allow His people to dwell in unbelief.  You may have been tested time after time, but now the time has come for you to make a decision.  God wants faith that endures the ultimate test, a faith that will not allow anything to shake you from trust and confidence in His faithfulness.

     We simply cannot conjure up faith.  We cannot create it by repeating, “I believe, I really believe.” No, faith is a commitment we make to obey God.

     As Israel faced Jericho, the people were told not to say a word but simply to march.  In short, God asked one thing of the: to obey His Word and go forward.  They did not whisper, “Help me to believe, Lord.”  Instead, they simply obeyed.

     That is faith.  It means setting your heart to obey all that is written in God’s Word, without questioning it or taking it lightly.

     Satan is displaying great power, and hell is unleashing all its fury on this generation.  The enemy’s strongholds are much more fortified, powerful and entrenched than in past generation.  Without a doubt, Satan is becoming better known, less feared and more accepted.

     A basic Bible school knowledge of Christ will not be enough in this final war.  Knowing about Him is not enough-we need to seek for a greater revelation of Him from the Holy Spirit.  That requires one to spend much time at His table sitting in His presence, hearing His voice, waiting on Him for divine wisdom.