"A hurt of the heart is as indescribable as verbally painting a picture of a sunset for a person who has never seen color." ~The McKade Saga

When I wrote that statement for a book I published years ago, I didn't understand it nearly as much as I do now. C.S. Lewis said, "Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn."

Sometimes in the classroom of life, we think we have a handle on the lesson material. We study and try to make sure we're ready. Then the big test comes and we realize that we aren't as prepared as we thought. Sometimes it isn't the questions we've prepared for that stump  us, but the additional curveball bonus ones that we never saw coming. Those are the ones that trip us up, and they are the ones that affect our final grade the most. It's a good thing God's lesson plans include a grace period with a guaranteed do-over. 

Pain of the heart really is brutal, but I take comfort in the promise that it won't be forever. The Lord holds each life in the palm of His hand, and no heartache is too big for Him to carry, no hurt too brutal for Him to heal. One way or another, the hurting does end, and if we keep our attention fixed on the Teacher and do our best, we won't fail.

This is my hope and my prayer, for each and every one of us.

It's on Us

 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;" ~2 Timothy 3: 1-4

In one way or another, every human life on this earth has been touched by CV-19.

However, there are many plagues/epidemics existing today that are far more dangerous, doing far more damage than we can even grasp. And no country is immune to these ever-growing sicknesses. The list of some of the plagues/epidemics that have spread - and continue to spread - over the earth today are:

*The plague of pride

*The plague of hatred

*The plague of willful ignorance

*Contentious hearts

*Deceit

*Apathy

*Discriminating ideals

*Blind obedience

*Lack of common sense

*Belief that our individual opinion is the only one that counts

*Putting ourselves above others

*Dark hearts

*Unrighteous use of agency

*Unrighteous judgement

*Unrighteous dominion over others

*Selfishness

*Idol worship (This mean making idols of things and people).

*Leaning on the arm of flesh

*Fearing man more than God

*Placing other gods before "The God" (Money, power, prestige, material possessions, etc.).

*Acceptance of sin (Not naming a particular sin because sin is sin).

*Placing our own will ahead of the Lord's

And many more . . .

If we give it some serious thought, we will come to understand that every plague listed above has been brought about by one of two things: fear and unbelief. And it is fear and unbelief that morph these plagues into full-blown pandemics.

True faith in God crowds out fear and shifts our focus. Concentrating on the Lord and His power diminishes Satan's power, because we will no longer be giving him that power over us.

The Lord is our protection and our strength, and only He can truly heal us and help us through whatever will come.

May we all be continually prayerful, that we may no longer take part in any of the plagues assailing the children of God.

Happy Sabbath!

Living by Faith

 "Living by faith isn't living with certainty, It's trusting God in spite of unanswered questions and
unresolved doubts." ~Rick Warren

Like all of you, I have days and weeks of trials and struggles. This has been one of those many weeks when I have been stretched emotionally. Because of this, I have been clinging for dear life to the truths and promises of the Lord, and His comfort helps me make it through one day at a time. I understand even more that that's how we are meant to handle trials - one day at a time. It's the only way any of us will get through the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

I continue to relearn that the times when I give my heart fully to my Savior, there is no doubt or despair in me. Yes, there is pain, but there is also gratitude for His help through the rough times and I'm always thankful for the lessons. When I allow Christ to have full claim on me, He is able to do amazing things. Then my faith and hope in Him is strengthened, and I rejoice in God's eternal plan for me.

God is real. His Son is really our Savior and our Lord. And His plan for each of us is real.

May we all strive to align our will with God's, that we may fulfill the His plan for each of us.

Happy Sabbath!

A Blessed Journey!

"My prayer was, ‘Give me a miracle. Solve this problem,’ and it took a while to finally come to the point
of saying, ‘I’m content to get a daily help’ and let it take what time it takes knowing that I can rely upon God. It’s been a blessing to me ever since to have that rather harrowing experience. Because of what it meant for my relationship with him. Maybe the greater blessing for us is to have to walk through it with him.” ~D. Todd Christofferson

I've pondered this quote deeply and asked myself, "Could I honestly do that? Could I be content with walking my own life's roads with the Savior?" And the answer is a big, "Yes!" Because I'm already doing that with every trial that comes! We all are. But the most important part of learning how to walk with Him is being grateful for the walk, and accepting the lessons that have come from that walk with Him.

This past year has taught me so much about myself.

Things I have learned or re-learned:

1. If the Lords commands me to do something, I can accomplish it, no matter how hard or impossible it may seem.

2. To never lean on the arm of flesh. His is the only sure arm, one that will never weaken or let me fall.

3. To never fear man more than God.

4. That when it comes to the gospel of Christ, I am SUPPOSED to go deeper, because as I do, He will in turn deepen my understanding.

5. I can do without so many things that I once put importance on, but I can NEVER do without my Savior.

6. That there will always be voices of deceit, but as long as I stay close to Him, He will help me discern what is real and what isn't.

7. That His warrior angels are present, watching over me 24/7 because I am constantly praying for assistance. The Lord knows I need His strength and He provides it, especially during those moments when my soul is so weighed down by adversity.

8. That no matter what, His plan for me is still in force, pointing me in directions I would never have thought to go.

9. That no matter what is going on in the world around me, He is God, and when I allow Him to, He will lead me exactly where He wants me.

10. And finally, to always be grateful. The importance of our gratitude to God is beyond description.

The Lord overcame the world, and because of Him, so can we. That is definitely an act worth our never-ending gratitude.

Happy Easter!

Eyes to See

 These words were spoken in 1987, and here we are 34 years later witnessing this prophetic statement.
Satan still thinks he can win . . .

But he is in for a very, very rude awakening.

I pray that we can all get our spiritual houses in order and prepare every needful thing.

Happy Sabbath!

What Are We Doing???

Boy, have we ever been busy!

Banning classic books because of offense.

Banning classic movies because of offense.

Banning and changing the names of popular, long-time products because of offense.

Taking offense at spoken pronouns that you may not agree with.

Slamming someone for being a Christian.

Slamming someone for being a Muslim.

Slamming someone for being an atheist.

Discriminating against others for their political views.

Discriminating against those who choose not to vaccinate.

Discriminating against those who choose to vaccinate.

Discriminating against those who advocate wearing masks.

Discriminating against those who advocate not wearing masks.

Verbal or physical attacks and retaliation for all these opposing views and more.

And all because of an unnecessary verb.

It seems we have an old/new king reigning now, and his name is OFFENSE.

Satan has hijacked our moral ideals and is taking us all for a ride in a shiny new Cadillac down a slippery slope, watching with glee as we free-fall down the path of no return. And we are not only allowing this taking of our agency, we are GIVING it away, all because of the loud cries of a small few who have stealthily lulled the misguided to join in. Those few voices are now a massive choir, and their concerts are touring worldwide, beginning here in every city and state. The music they are singing is a tune I’ve never cared for, and it’s turning many everyday Americans into stage-hogging divas with megaphones, spouting lyrics that tickle the ears of some, and rupture the eardrums of others.

Just as no one can make any of us feel inferior without our consent, no one can offend us without our consent.

There is only one person who ever had the right to be offended:

He was disregarded, ridiculed, beaten, and spat upon.

He taught truth that most did not want to hear.

He performed miracles that many disregarded even after seeing with their own eyes.

He suffered in the Garden for a people who would betray Him.

He gave His life on the cross for a people who would reject Him.

With all this, He could have easily taken offense.

But did He?

NO.

Instead, He prayed for us, then willingly ransomed us, paying a price that we could never pay.

And why did He do this?

Because of love – His perfect love for us.

He allowed every single offense imaginable to be heaped upon Him, shouldering those burdens so we wouldn’t have to.

I’ve been using the term “asinine” quite a bit these days, because these truly are days of asinine thinking, asinine points of view, and asinine mindsets. We are now living in a time when so many of the elect are allowing the world to do their thinking for them – and I’m not just speaking of the group the world terms as millennials, because everyone living on the earth today fits into that category. Many of us spout what the world has taught us, no matter our culture, never fully realizing that the half-truths and outright lies have branded themselves on our hearts, hardening them, and becoming almost impossible to erase without some serious reprogramming and rewiring of our brains. And trust me, when it comes to mind control, Satan has been militant in his efforts to keep us twisting in the wind to the point that we cannot discern what is real. We misread the signs pointing to the dangers ahead. And in misreading, most of us find ourselves riding the current down a river we never intended, divested of sail, ores, and a lifejacket, and careening toward our spiritual death over the unseen waterfall just ahead.

Satan truly is the god of this world and he will be until the Lord returns and takes power back from him. Until then, we must break through the fog of perpetual lies, step off the chessboard and stop allowing ourselves to be pawns in the lifelong game of the elites. They are strategic in every move they make because Satan is their team captain.

The quote, “Most people don’t really want the truth, they just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth,” is truer than any other quote floating out there. And until we stop letting the world dictate our beliefs and mold our morals, that quote will continue to be the motto of the land. Then God will indeed leave this land because we chose to kick Him out of it, electing to follow the supposed “world leaders” instead of our “Heavenly Leader.”

May we all – with firm determination - choose the latter.

 Coming March 15, 2021

Mary Magdalene- Beloved of the Bridegroom

Available for Pre-order at Amazon