America's Future - My Comments

I will start out my comments by saying that my standards are Bible based. I believe that the 66 books of the Bible are the inspired word of God without error and for all time. I use it as my final authority to base my decisions in life. "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 12:4) - I got chills just typing that out. ........so here goes.

Regarding the future election and America's destiny/fate:


Daniel 2:20-22

"20 Daniel said, Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.

21 It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.

22 It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him."


I am so thankful that God's wisdom supersedes our inability to really know the future of America's economic status, health care concerns, and moral values based on either candidates promises. I am fearful that we are looking at electing a lesser/greater of two evils. God is sovereign and the outcome of this election will not surprise Him. Both candidates have shaky characters. I am not impressed by either one. In my opinion, it's not about the "Haves or Havenots" as someone I know put it. In America, we (including me) have bought into the concept of "me, myself, and I" and not the concept found in Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

I found a quote that sums up my thoughts pretty clearly:


"Is the United States a Christian nation? Not in its philosophy, or in what it loves, or in what it does. Despite its Christian roots and heritage, the United States today is a nation that follows the god of self, and that is not the heart of Christianity." author unknown


It's only a matter of time before God will draw the line. He is patient but his patience has boundaries (i.e. days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, the fall of Babylon). If America continues in her quest for self- indulgence and self-absorption, we too will see devastation as a result of depending on and exalting self rather than God.

I, too, am a victim of Satan's lie. I really like the way Beth Moore states it..."Satan has pimped Babylon on us"... meaning Satan has used our self-indulgent culture to entice us from our first love ...God.

However, I have resolved to become counter-culture, being aware of my surroundings, and digging myself into the Word of God, and centering my life on Christ as my only goal. Like Paul, I want my ambition to be this:


"I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:12-14)

Once Dead - Now Alive

Part of my reading today was in John 5. I am still doing the 21 day challenge I spoke of in my past post.

Of particular note to me today was verse 25 (Jesus is speaking):

"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." - NASV


Who is He talking about when He says "the dead"? I suppose it to mean those dead in their sins (sons of Adam) meaning ALL. Look at all the supporting verses below.


Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"

Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Ephesians 2:1: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,"

Colossians 2:13: "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

Galtaians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


We are all dead until we come to Christ. When we "hear" His voice, we are spiritually resurrected from the dead. Without Christ we would remain dead! How is it possible for us to be so unmoved by this Truth?

When Jesus said to the pharisees that a time was coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live!! I was so filled up inside..realizing how God's Word is so alive and confirms itself over and over again. Truth revealing itself to me as I read. There is a joy unspeakable when simple but profound Truth hits you between the eyes.

I am ALIVE in Christ. Words will never be able to express my gratitude to Jesus for saving me but I pray that the way I live my life will.

Sharing the Gospel

I have completed day 3 of the 21 day challenge. The link I associated with this post will explain what this challenge is about (click on Sharing the Gospel). I am reading through the book of John and learning practical ways that I can share the Gospel with people. This website guides you through the Scripture, devotionals, and ways to you share the Gospel of John with people you meet. Many lives have been touched by simply being handed a tract.

We have good news and God doesn't want us to keep it to ourselves. "The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few"....that is such a sad verse. That is why I believe that when we abide in Christ (mentioned in my last post), the Holy Spirit empowers us to do things we don't have the strength or courage to do on our own.

I have ordered my Gospel of John testaments and I am praying that God will setup divine appointments for me to share Jesus with those who need a Savior. I pray that at this very moment God will be cultivating their hearts so when the encounter takes place, they will taste the salt and see the Light.

"... open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."- Acts 26:18

Come to Jesus, Abide in Jesus, and Bear much fruit

I have been a Christian for about 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me that I am continually in school, spiritually speaking. Just when you think that your maturity level is about as far as you can go, you realize you have only reached the tip of the iceberg. That is the exciting thing about the Christian life. God is constantly opening doors for you to see how vast and limitless He is.

I am currently reading the book Abide In Christ by Andrew Murray. Through this book, the Holy Spirit is revealing to me the benefits of being grafted into the Vine (Jesus). I love the picture this book presents. Jesus is the Vine, I am the branch, the Holy Spirit teaches me how to abide, and God is the Husbandman (the One who cultivates and prunes). I never imagined that I could have unbroken fellowship with Jesus. Even typing those words gives me the chills and butterflies in my stomach. I didn't know it was possible for someone like me to ever be able to achieve that status. Partly, that is true. It is not "I" but Christ.

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. " - Galatians 2:20.

"I am the Vine. You are the branches and he that abides in Me and I in him. The same brings forth much fruit for without Me, you can do nothing." - John 15:5.

I understand that salvation is not based on works but by the grace and blood of Jesus. However, after salvation occurs, I thought that my good works were what I needed to do to please God. Notice that I said "my" good works. I go to church on Sunday and sing with the worship team and sign for the Deaf. On Thursday, I attend prayer meetings and practice with the worship team. On Fridays, I teach basic sign language for the members of our church. Throughout the year, I volunteer my time to serve God in various outreach events. Surely, the busier I am for God the more pleased He is with me! This is where we fall again and again and again. This revelation brings on a whole new meaning to the verse in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." The "be still" translates to "become weak" or "drop your hands". It is Christ in me. He does the work when we "drop our hands" and yield ourselves to Him. Now with that being said, how about this verse?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11: 28-31.

I don't know about you but it's starting to make sense to me. The difficulty lies in the yielding and the complete surrender. I am not used to that, however, when we do this, He give us the strength that we need to endure. It will take practice and that's what I am currently doing...moment by moment. Christ is my manna for this day.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

Come to Jesus, Abide in Jesus, and Bear much fruit

First Meeting - January 18, 2007 at Grace CMA in Middleburg Hts.

I wanted to take time to share with you a very special event that took place yesterday evening. Thirteen of us met at Grace Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Middleburg Heights. Each of us present are affiliated with Deaf Ministry in our home churches. The purpose of the event was to spend time in prayer asking God to fill us and lead us in reaching out to the Deaf community in Northeast Ohio.

It was really awesome to have 4 counties (Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, and Medina) and 5 churches represented yesterday. We look forward to having more churches and people join us next month.

It was a very Spirit-filled evening as deaf and hearing individuals took time to pray publicly praising God, thanking God, and simply asking God to bless us, use us, and to help us reach out to the Deaf community and raise up more people to minister to the Deaf.

My heart was so touched as beautiful prayers were signed and spoken from the heart and testimonies shared about how each of the church's ministries began. I was especially moved as several individuals prayed for each of the churches listed with ministries to the Deaf. Watching and hearing someone pray for you and your church is so very special. At the end of the prayer event, the group prayed over me and I felt so humbled and so protected. I praise God for using me and for uniting me with my new teammates.

We trust God is at work and He is inviting us to join Him!

Next month, we meet at Fellowship Bible Church in Chagrin Falls on February 15th at 7 pm. I look forward to seeing new and familiar faces.

As I prayed for the group yesterday, so I will say again:


I pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That at the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (based on II Thessalonians 1:11-12). Amen.

Hope to see you next month!! Smile :)