Theme of our culture...withdraw yourself

Theme of our culture:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from truth, and be turned aside to fables."  (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

False teachers beware:

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1)

God does not take lightly the leading astray and deceiving of His own.

Matthew 18:6 - "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

We must wisely, carefully, and with all truth impart the Word of God.  ALL of it is true...or none of it is.  We can't pick and choose what we like to "tickle our itching ears" and make us feel good about our sin.  There are many churches that are more concerned with being "user friendly" than true.  "If anyone teaches otherwise...  From such withdraw yourself."  (1 Tim. 6:3-6)

Pray about the Prop 8 Supreme Court Ruling tomorrow

Hello Pray-ers,

Tomorrow is the very important decision on what kind of "marriage" is Constitutional according to the Supreme Court.

From CWA LAC:

"Make no mistake: YOU will be forced to choose between keeping your religious beliefs or supporting 'gay rights.'  TOMORROW the Supreme Court rules on constitutional marriage.  Please pray for the laws being made in our country.

Please be in fervent prayer today and tonight as this ruling is handed down.
And pray sincerely for marriages all over th world that reflect the marriage of the church to the eternal Bridegroom.  The mystery of marriage is that it is a picture of Christ and the church.
Join me in prayer!

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lam is come, and His wife has made herself ready.  Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...these are the true sayings of God...worship God." (Rev. 19:7-10)

We are a selfish, disobedient, debased people.  Please, God, intervene in our laws and make things right.  Much more - intervene in our hearts and make things right.

God's kingdom will come to earth as it is in Heaven!  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Rescue us from these bodies of death.

"The founders of Harvard got it right when they crafted their 'Rules and Precepts' in the early 1640's: 'Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life...and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.'"

~Zan Tyler, home school pioneer

Really, nothing else in life is nearly as important as securing your eternal destiny. EVERYONE will live forever. Where will you spend it? 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." ~Jesus (John 14:6)

A Man Called Peter

“I suggest to you that America needs a prophet today.  A prophet who will set before the nation the essential choices.  In the words of that great poet and the essayist J. B. Holland: ‘God give us men - men whom the lust of office does not kill, men whom the spoils of office can not buy, men who possess opinions and the will, men who have honor, men who will not lie, men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking.  Tall men...who live above the fog in public duty and in private thinking.’

Millions of people in America live in moral fogs.   They move in a sort of spiritual twilight, modified immorality.  Modified dishonesty is the practice of millions more.  Surely the time has come for us to be honest about it.  If we have thrown away our national heritage... If we no longer believe that this nation was founded under God...  If, contrary to what is stamped upon our coins, our trust is not in God but in Baal...  Let us say so.  Let us, at least, not be hypocrites.  

Yes, like the ancient Hebrew nation, America needs a prophet like an Elijah... a prophet who will have the ear of America and will say to her now, ‘If the Lord be God then follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him, and go to hell!”  

~Dr. Peter Marshall

not really a p.c. sermon.  Preach it, Marshall!  and this was back in 1950-ish.  

The book, "A Man Called Peter" and movie by the same title are something to get your hands on.  The movie is available on Netflix. fyi.

Real Patriots in my heritage!

My recently-retired, darling Aunt Toby is taking on a new hobby: Ancestry research.

Apparently, my sixth great grandfather on my Grandpa McClain's side, John Drury Ledbetter, served in the 6th Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War.

This makes me (and all the women in my family) eligible to be a member of Daughters of the America Revolution.
Not sure that I will pursue that.  I am still researching it.  

Also, this fun find today:

"193 years before the Kori's birth, Colonel Arthur Forbis from Philladelphia, husband of 5th great grandmother Elizabeth Wiley (on the McClain side), was gravely wound during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guilford_Court_HouseHe died on March 15, 1781 [my birthday]
Elizabeth found him on the battleground. Upon his death, she applied for state aid was awarded 25 barrels of corn.She then married Arthur's brother Major John Forbis also a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
So that makes three patriots so far on Dad's side of the family."

Anyway, fun for me.  I feel like a revolutionary princess. :)  Very proud to have had family that served in securing the independence of this great nation.

a gentle tongue breaks a bone

A fellow Christian friend recently exhorted me to take to heart Philippians 4:8.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.”

I took it a bit like a slap in the face.  I don’t know her very well and she certainly doesn’t know me.  As one who takes exhortation seriously, I started to question my life.  Well, not my life, really.  But politics.  Politics may be true, not very often noble, rarely pure, definitely not lovely, of good report? please!, virtuous... a few politicians might be, praiseworthy - well, I’ll lump that in with those few virtuous politicians.

So, am I wrong to walk this path I just spent a good deal of time just last week confirming that God actually does have me on?  Am I bipolar?  Is God?  Does He or doesn’t He want me talking politics and exposing truth?  Am I to be the watchman or not?  Because, seriously, I really don’t want anyone’s blood on my head. (See previous post.)  And how did prophets of old settle this?  Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah?

Wait, it doesn’t say “think about this stuff only and never think of anything else”, it says “...MEDITATE on these things.” (emphasis mine.) 

Oh!  Well, that I can do!

It did cause me to rethink this thing that can often take over my life.  I get so wrapped up in the drama and injustices of this world that it quickly evolves into meditating.  Well, my exhorter would be right.  I ought not to dwell on the ugly, but instead the true, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy things.  Which is probably why every once in a while I have to seriously detox from politics.  I haven’t quite figured out how to not begin to drown in the horrid stuff.

One particular day in the not-so-distant-past, I had been especially vocal about the woes of American politics (I mean, really, have you ever seen so much darn corruption in this nation?  Ever?!) and I was just wiped out.  I felt like I had been assaulting all of Facebook.  And the Lord just quieted my heart and said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.”  Ok.  yes.  Time to pause.  Then, I click over to Sally Clarkson’s blog which basically cut my heart out. (http://www.itakejoy.com/standard-of-christian-conduct-for-facebook/)

After getting these not-so-gentle little messages, I spent a day in silence.  Here’s something about me.  When I am criticized (and please don’t take this as an invitation to do so), I actually take it to heart.  I grieve over it.  Whether it is a correct or incorrect criticism.  I go through some serious introspection...because more than anything in life, I want to be in the very center of God’s will.  Am I that way? Is it right to be that way?  How come I’m that way?  Everybody hates me and I want everyone to love me.  I’m a failure and I suck!  O Lord, I give up.  It’s just too hard.  Ok, I don’t give up because I can’t.  But God I love people and I want them to love me.  Why can’t everyone just love me and I can live that fluffy life everyone prefers?  Oh, that’s right.  I’m to please you and not men.  I want to please you and not men.  Help me to please you and not men.  And why am I such a freak?  (Really, you so don’t want to be me!!  There’s something wrong in the head here.)

About the same day as I was wondering why in the world I’m commanded to think only of fluffy things and yet am clearly called to expose the yuck (and the occasional, very rare happy story), I spoke with a precious sister who genuinely knows my heart.  She said, “Oh you just have to read the May 25th entry of Jesus Calling.”  So, on my ponderous, silent day, I did.

I’m quiet.  I’m reflective.  I’m sad that I can’t figure out how to pursue this calling correctly...it seems.  So, I pull out Jesus Calling, turn to May 25, and read:

“The world is too much with you, My child.  Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots.  When you think like that, you leave Me out of your worldview and your mind becomes darkened.  Though, I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom.  I stand silently in the background of your mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with you.

When you turn from your problems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens together.  Your compulsion to ‘fix’ everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day brings.”

And for good measure, since this was on June 5th, I went ahead an peeked at that entry of Jesus Calling also:

“Remember that you live in a fallen world: an abnormal world tainted by sin.  Much frustrations and failure result from your seeking perfection in this life.  There is nothing perfect in this world except Me...

I have planted longing for perfection in every human heart.  This is a good desire which I alone can fulfill...”

I quickly texted my friend:

“Just read May 25 of Jesus Calling like you recommended.  Soooo good!  Exactly how I feel... And today’s - about the longing for perfection in our hearts.  So apt.  I want God’s perfect kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  Such a drive of my heart.  Just wanted to thank you for sharing, for praying, for being gentle with me.  Love you!”

So, here I’m noticing that there’s a theme, right?

I went back through Facebook posts and I don’t see any overt harshness or unloving-ness.   I am driven by love --- in obedience to my Savior and for my precious children who have a very grim future ahead of them.

But, I realize (as if this were some new revelation) that whether or not it sounds loving, I need it to actually BE loving...to a lost and hopelessly deceived world.  In reality, deep in my heart...90% of the time - I’m just frustrated with willful ignorance, irritated that people just keep on with the status quo, ticked off that we are being so audaciously abused by our own government, and fed up that so many just want someone else to do something about it while they sit on their patooties assuming everything is going to come up roses without lifting a finger to ensure it.   As true as all these things may be, the approach is everything and the heart behind it is what God is concerned with.  

“By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone.” (Pr. 25:16)

“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly.” (Pr. 15:2a)

And, not coincidentally, my Bible study happened to be in 1 Samuel 25 about the patient forbearance, wisdom, tact and couth of Abigail.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, an without hypocrisy.” (Jas. 3:17)

I want to and will apply this, and change, and do this right...even if it’s noticed only within my own heart’s attitude.  I want to use knowledge rightly.  I want to have patient forbearance and a gentle tongue...even when the truth is not in any way gentle.  I think unpleasantness is no reason to shy away from truth, but I hope to deliver it in a way that pleases the Lord.

(Pr. 15:1; Gal. 1:10)

I'm blowing the trumpet

“Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself.  But he who takes warning will save his life.  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” ~Ezekiel 33:1-6 

I see the sword coming and I WILL blow the trumpet.  I will blow it loud and long.


I read this passage to my husband this morning and he said, “Not everyone is a watchman, but for those that are, they must not be silent.”  yes.

You can either heed or not, but I will not let the willful ignorance of others be upon my head.  I warned, I shouted, I frustrated, I annoyed, I irritated.  Will anyone heed?

Some are down on me because I do not live a fluffy, cotton candy, ice cream cone life.  I have a calling.  It is mine.  It is not everyone’s, and that is fine.  But I will not veer from what the Lord has called me to.  I may be many things, but I am obedient and hope I will ever be, no matter the discomfort. And I will do my best not to rob others of the blessing of fulfilling their own calling.

"But you be watchful in all things, 

endure afflictions, 

do the work of an evangelist, 

fulfill your ministry."

~2 Timothy 4:5

(emphasis mine)

Wisdom calls out in to the streets.  But few listen.  Few heed.
We call the truth ‘fables.’  We tickle our itching ears.  We ignore reality.  We proclaim that the emperor has glorious robes, when we can plainly see he is naked.

I’m sorry if my message isn’t liked.  I would rather tell you cotton candy, fluffy, ice cream cone things because they are pleasant and positive.  That is actually more my personality.  I would rather dance through life with a happy face and no worries.  It would be easier to hide my head in the sand and pretend everything is honky dory.  I would rather people like me than scare them half to death with the truth.  But, I have to do what I have to do.  I do it because Something drives me to and I must.  I do it because I love this country.  I love the freedom God created for us.  We were born to be free!  Stand up and claim your freedom.  Fight for it!  Don’t let oppression come knocking at your door and mine because it was just too hard or unpleasant to stand for something.  

I do understand that we are free even if we are slaves in this world.  I get it.  But I will choose to be free in Christ AND a free American...as much as it depends on me.  And I will choose freedom for my children and their children and their children...and YOUR children.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” ~Reagan

So, please, heed for God’s sake. 

I spoke with CWA field director the other day and one of her statements was: “We are here to preach to the choir.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 calls HIS PEOPLE - not the unbelieving world - to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, turn from their wicked ways.  Church, please do what is right in the Lord and not according to your own opinion/preference and wild interpretations of the clear truths of scripture.  I beg you to walk straight.  I beg you to immerse yourself in His perfect Word, and know it extremely well.  I beg you to seek His face and pray.  I beg you to purge all ugliness and sin from your life.  It is up to us, the church.  And if we fail, then the land fails. This nation fails.  And yes, God is ever sovereign.  Israel was warned time and time again to turn to God to save their nation.  And when they did, the nation was spared.  But when they refused, it was awful...terrible.  The people of Israel turned to cannibalism for their stubbornness to obey God.  Please!  Don’t bring a horrible fate upon this nation.  

Oh, I am not anywhere near perfect.  I never, never see myself as such.  Every time I am criticized by one of you, it tears me apart and I have to search, search, search my heart and I always, always find deceit and wickedness in me.  I am worse than you know!  My heart is deceitfully wicked!  But you must know that, though, I often am frustrated at the willful ignorance of people who have the truth at their fingertips, and though I often am outraged at what I see going on around us; my heart is ever driven toward righteousness.  My heart is for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  My heart is for protecting my children!  I know I often sound unloving...and honestly, sometimes I AM unloving.  There is NOTHING good in me except Jesus.  Anything good, everything good comes from Him.
I often say I am like a Mack truck with information and truth, and I slap a bumper sticker on the back that says, “love ya!”       Know me.  Know my heart to please God above all.  To please Him more than men.  And know that I want to know how to truly speak the truth in love.  I want to truly love - not just obediently but emotionally too.  ...with the fluffies, cotton candy, and ice cream cones.  I don’t very often. But please know it is my prayer nearly every day to truly love from the heart and not just be assaulting people with truth and information.  If you want to pray for me... Pray that I will truly, deeply love - the kind of love that Jesus has for the lost.  A kind, compassionate, merciful, warm love.  Pray I will balance well this love of country with a deep and uncompromising love of God.  For I truly want to do both and I know there must be a way to settle the two together.  I don’t want to separate “church and state” in my heart.  They must live there together and co-exist because I am called to love both; though, clearly one takes severe precedence over the other.

Thank you for caring for me.  I don’t have any idea why you do.  Because I am not always pleasant and gentle.  I just am so thankful for those of you who truly know my heart - and love me, freakiness and all.  

Have a truly blessed and great week.  May we forever be free in God AND country.




Proverbs 8:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:2-5