The "evil one"

Halloween can be, a teachable moment - far more of a blessing to hallow the words of the Lord's prayer, than begging strangers door to door, for candy! 
2Thessalonians 3:3 picks up, as does Matthew 6:24, in the Lord's prayer, something strongly imprinted on Jesus' heart, to protect and warn us. Jesus teaches us to pray: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." 2Thessalonians 3:3 declares: "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." Jesus calls out the "evil one" in His High Priestly prayer of John 17:15: "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." 
Since God is sovereign over all, there is a only measured amount of time for Satan, who will be dispatched right on time, God's timing. Until then, Jesus prays, we recognize, and become aware of Satan's tricks. October is a great time to embolden and broaden our prayer awareness. Bible time, has taught us Satan's many names, such as Accuser, Deceiver and Father of Lies among many other things. He loves darkness, thrives in chaos, and he knows, his time is short. It's good to be reminded, that Satan and his demons know God's word very well. They twist it, to ensnare us and bring us to sin, against God. Knowing God's word, is the quickest way to recognize His voice among all the competing voices for our attention. His word sounds the, "imposter alarm." Remember Satan, (Lucifer) fell from heaven because he wanted to be God! Once God's most beautiful angel, now outcast and pure evil. In his hateful anger, he knows how to abuse and use God's word, out of context, with twisted lies, because he is the Father of Lies. An accomplished imposter, he's able to mimic and fool people into thinking he is wise, beautiful and worthy of following, making himself, a very real threat. 
HALLOWEEN CAN BE A VERY VISUAL, TEACHABLE MOMENT.  
Many feel bad to see Devil Costumes, not because they scare us, but because we are to hallow God and Jesus. The Lord's very own prayer, calls out the "evil one" so we may be on guard for him, NOT FRIENDLY with him!
Heavenly Father, we pray in Jesus name, that we handle our earthly time, in ways that honor you, the cross and resurrection. We ask loving ways to separate ourselves, and others from sin and actions which can bring dishonor to You. We ask for Your understanding, kindness and love, to guide the lost, out of darkness. That you might, by the Holy Spirit, show how Halloween has come to "hallow" death, bloody suffering, fear, sin, and hell. We ask Your kind heart to overflow our own, throughout this season. We thank You for Your kindness, Your presence and how Your word, teaches & reaches, us all. We hallow, Your name. Amen.

Critical Thinking, what it is, and is not!

CRITICAL THINKING, what it is and is not. Firstly, it's NOT criticizing.
It's "CRITICAL" we stop and "THINK" before jumping to conclusions. Thinking is critical to learning and discerning.
Critical Thinking is not Criticizing. It's critical we understand, recognize and avoid owning, any of today's deceptive claims & proclaim all of our freedom, in the one Truth, who rose once, for all, Jesus Christ.
NEVERTHELESS, HEISALWAYSTHEMORE.
Thoughts from my morning Bible time, that I needed to write down. Have a great Today.

God help us all.

Sunday partnering with the Holy Spirit, in ponderances...I don't expect this to be read, but I had to record some thoughts I was noticing....

I'm not sure what would keep a red blooded American, a citizen elected president as his first elected office, with the heart to serve, the country he loves, other than INTEGRITY.
He has been accused of multiple crimes democrats have already committed. He's been labeled horrible things, by those who ARE those things. He's been denied due process, since he started winning, beginning with winning his nomination, then the office, then economic success and freedom for those on welfare, unemployed here and abroad. He's securing our borders and working to secure the Constitutional guarantee of LIFE for all UNBORN.

He frightens his enemies into spinning hoaxes. They blame him for crimes they've committed. They create intricate webs of deception, sold to the public, day and night, by lapdog media. Still he soldiers on, increasing our military might, our standing for world peace and has even been nominated by two foreign leaders for the Nobel Peace Prize. Still our media, refuses to do their job, and report him, accurately.

We owe him thanks for sticking with his promises, and never OVER reacting. Angry? Sure. Self-defensive? Sure. Human? Sure. He's the best of the rest. First Russia and now Ukraine, once again Dems divine, another hoax for bankrupted media to buy and sell. What will they think of next? They're getting repetitive. 

I am pretty sure, that we the people must decide to re-elect a PROVEN LEADER, accused of every DISPROVEN crime, desperate minds can conjure, or we will elect a MARXIST/SOCIALIST and USA will no longer exist. There will be no chance at unification, no UNITED states because FREEDOM would be dead, and buried. President Trump will give everything he has to retain the gains, our FREE AMERICA has made, since he took office.
He's prioritized, life, freedom & faith, proving himself faithful to God and country, in deed and hopefully heart.

Am pretty sure, much of America is already praying lots of these "we musts!" We have much to pray and do, daily!
We must pray our President's faith is strengthening, growing more solid, and heart pure, having received, by grace, the saving forgiveness of Christ.
We must pray the hearts of media people, are set free in truth, by grace, meeting and accepting the Person of Christ, our sacrificial, forgiving, ever-present, Jesus.
We must pray the powerlusters bow to Creator God, Author of ALL Authority.
We must pray political partisans put God & country, FIRST.

We must give thanks for the courage, everyday patriots display on the battlefields of our streets, schools, churches, businesses, hospitals, homes and government. We are Americans and it's in God we trust, entrusting America and this President, to Him. May his faith grow exponentially, readying him for all attacks yet to come and may faith in God, be his response to all. May we be reminded to pray for our President, pastors, teachers, leaders and neighbors, media and foreigners among us, that all would personally know and receive the saving love of Christ. There is no other Way to true Peace. May we BE MADE AWARE OF people who need THE touch of prayer, with spreading the very inviting gospel of salvation, on our own hearts. May we not miss opportunities to pray with our doctors and nurses, teachers and coaches, husbands and pastors, friends and family. May we be made open and ready to pray with and for strangers.

Without God sovereignly protecting freedom to worship, etc., socialism, marxism and would mostly likely rise, or worse. Possibly anarchy, suffering, death and destruction would follow. God won't always strive with us, but will never leave or forsake us. God is no part of evil.

God's will is being done. May our will, melt into His, and may we be found busy about our Father's business, faithful, loving, kind, discerning, strong and PRAYER AWARE, PRAYER ALERT, interceding, interrupting PEOPLE'S strongholds and interceding into the CONSTANCY of prayer, our Jesus offers, advocating for all of us, always, to the Father. WE HOLDFAST IN HIM, HIS WORD. We are NOT alone. We do all this with our HELPER, the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself! In Jesus matchless name, Amen.

I know You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. Job 42:2. 

Job knew God. You and I also know Him. We're enabled to walk Saved, readied, watching, serving and depending on the Holy Spirit's leadings, as we follow only Him, listening only to His whispers, voice and urgings while yearning to hear His songs, over us! The battle belongs to the LORD and so do we. 

God help America. God help our President and Pastors. Strengthen us where we are weak, gentle us where were judgmental and may the forgiveness we receive drive us to pray for those who have yet to forgive. Amen.

I'm hearing lots of sirens, ambulances right now.... So Father we pray and we give thanks, for these first responders and for Your presence, omnipresence and healing touches of faith, healing and love.
Amen

What's Wrong with the Me Too Club?

What's wrong with Me Too Club?

Everything, starting with the name. Randomly, accusing men & boys, of sexual crimes 4 decades later, totally, disregards DUE PROCESS. I break sex crimes into 3 clubs, The Starlusters Club, The Other Woman Club and The Innocent Victim Club. ABUSE is always, one hurting another.

1) The "Starlusters Club" are ambitious, compromising, young women who want to be Stars, placing themselves on the casting couches. The goal for her was the contract. Then she ruins him decades later. Was it a crime or was it a shake down by her? Today it's called the Me Too Club.

2) The "Other Woman Club" are females, just as ambitious as the Starlusters. These are money hungry, young women who disregarded marriage & headed after married, powerful, wealthy men. 40 years later they decide to go public about sexual abuse and sue them. He said, she said, she ruins him.

Today it's called the Me Too Club.

3) "The Innocent Victims" Club is the most private club of all. They privately suffer, most often from shame but most of them reported their attack, to someone, instantly. It takes courage to be honest, ask for help, and accept advice, especially about something as private as sex crimes.

The innocents, had no choice & according to me, are the true victims of sexual crimes. Men who would not take "no" for an answer, deserve prison, according to me, that is, after due process. God alone is just. He delivers judgments, offers healing, forgiveness, repentance and restoration. God is the judge of all, sees all, knows hearts and motivations, and is before and after all.

Am personally, grateful the Bible instructs us how to follow God's laws, abide lawfully, respecting others, respond to crimes and to regard the body, as belonging to Him, as well as our souls.

See-KING, Look-KING for Jesus in Waiting Rooms, our circum-STANDER and our under-STANDER.

"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." Psalm 37:34

I love this. I can wait more ACTIVELY now, after reading the definition of the word "wait" as it is used here. The Hebrew word used here is quran, "binding together" of strings to make a cord, also used to "collect" water and dry land into separate places during creation. We are to wait on the Lord, without concluding or ASSUMING something. We’re to put all our Faith in God, who He is and what He does as described in, Colossians 1:17. FAITH SEES, so we must LOOK to see what He's doing in the "wait." The results are His and His alone!

"Faith sees past circumstances to the ONE encircling the circumstances...our circum-STANDER, our
under-STANDER, Jesus." cpapajohn from "caught thoughts"

"LooKING for Jesus, eyes on Him, us in Him, (Jes-us) we can see Jesus, looKING over us! When our eyes of faith, actively are, seeKing the King, we actually, SEE-KING, Jesus our King, in everything. He never hides from us! He's Emmanuel. God with us." cpapajohn from "caught thoughts"

Wisdom is WITH US, WORKING in the waiting, for those of us, who are His Romans 8:28 kids! Timing is all His, as He’s the Author of time. Sometimes He answers prayer before we can say, Amen. Sovereignty is huge, bringing al things together, holding them together and being in all things, which is mind blowing, and a snap for Him! He's King God!

Other times His answers are gradual, like “light” SLOWLY, but surely, dawns. DAWN IS FULL OF SO MUCH SCIENCE, ENERGY and POWER! There is so much going into every single MORNING! First light is like like a heavenly symphony that starts softly and explodes into day, having overtaken the mysteries of the dark. 

There’s a lot that happens in waiting. Let's increase our LOOKING for His doings, during the wait times, and try not to miss out, on what, all powerful, all mighty God is doing! These thoughts give us so much to do, in the “waiting rooms” of life!

Faith sees past circumstances to the ONE encircling the circumstances...our circum--STANDER & our under-STANDER, JESUS.

My brief history of slavery

I like to start my history lessons, in my Bible, asking God to light up, significant patterns of humanity, and human history recorded there. 

Today there is much talk about slavery and reparations in America, a great time to build knowledge and expand views. I believe, God alone, can turn our corrupt, sinful natures into forgiven, mercy driven, unconditional, impartial, overcoming love for all culminating in a Christian sacrificial love, that puts others first, and even to lay down life, for the life of others.

We've all experienced Hollywood, novels and media which often sell demonized, distorted and overblown aspects of most issues. It's good to remember that media is a business, built on greed, designed for profit and to sometimes entertain. Media is people, some corrupt, some not. Media is not known to be "altruistic" nor is it their intention to draw you closer, to our Savior! That said, history happened, accuracy can be discovered and we won't confuse Hollywood stories, with history scholars.

"Text without context is only, pretext."
Bob Morris, Hadavar School of Ministry

1830 Census starts me off with overview of American slavery.
"There were approximately 319,599 free blacks in the United States in 1830. Approximately 13.7 per cent of the total black population was free. A significant number of these free blacks were the owners of slaves. The census of 1830 lists 3,775 free Negroes who owned a total of 12,760 slaves." 

American slavery begins with black African slavers, which was black on black, often barbaric and spiritually darkened with witchcraft. They kidnapped and sold one another to foreign often white,traders. Many survived, and reached England, America and other countries. Traders were most often seeking affordable servants. The American Civil War ended slavery. Northern whites, and blacks fought shoulder to shoulder against the South, defeating the South and ending the practice and business of American slave trading.

The history of American slavery is perhaps the most quantifiable, given our access to ships logs, census taking and business ledgers, from 1619 forward. Such documentation tells us that by 1830, there were thousands of American slave owners who were black. Not all blacks were abused, used or tortured. Many became as family members to the owners, nursing babies, were paid, educated and many became dear Christians. Others wrote their spirituals from great pain, which haunt us, and stir our hearts. Their spirituals explained pain while exalting the holiness and nearness, of our Heavenly Father. The sang for deliverance, escape, as in "Swing low, sweet chariot, coming to carry me home!"
The Battle Hymn of the Republic reminds us of painful struggle, our capacity for barbarism and selfless courage to overcome evil and defend freedom for all.

We see history of slavery is universal, started for profit, power or political gain. common to every people group and continent. It is an undeniable human tragedy and sin.

Ancient Egyptian enslavement of Hebrews comprises, at least a 400 year history of oppression, kidnapping, abuse, killings, imprisonments and abominations until ultimately, God led Moses to win their freedom. 

Babylonian slavers kidnapped the brightest, most educated men in Israel, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abendigo. These men exemplified a political power play, with world conquest and Babylonian Supremacy, the goal. Ancient slavers, ultimately expanded nations and mixed the multitudes. God oversaw and led it all. He made us one blood, every nation. Acts 17:26.

Much of the Middle East continues to fight for freedom. With God's help,Israel has succeeded to maintain and defend their freedom, thanks to God!

Serfdom typified the Dark and Middle Ages, where cultural control and profit were the goals of the kingdoms. Greed caused great famine, disease and uprisings, all fighting for and ultimately achieving forms of freedom.

Slavery is a reality of human history to this very day. Women and children are trafficked all over the globe. The fight for freedom is always, won and done, ultimately by God who provides everlasting life, in Jesus, and heavenly citizenship for all who trust in Him. John 3:16

WHAT'S AN ELITIST, ACCORDING TO GOD'S TERMS?

STRIVING TO BECOME "ELITE", IS NOT TETHERED TO BEING HUMBLY SURRENDERED, TO SOVEREIGN GOD

---my personal understandings and thoughts after Bible time today 8-20-19

Wanted to research "elite" a little today. Media tosses words without context or proper meanings attached so often, that I need to find out, true meanings for myself. The Bible, Bible dictionaries, Strong's and Webster Dictionaries are great places to start searching for meanings. The older I get, the more I ask God to define things for me. His terms are the only terms, that really matter, right? Of course right!

Examples of "elite" in a Sentence - Merriam Webster
Noun
"the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools"
"the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth"
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
"How can a movie in which villainous white elites hunt Trump’s white supporters be racist?"
— Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Donald Trump’s Guide to Racism," 13 Aug. 2019

We can clearly see why the term "elite" is extra-biblical.
I believe it's based in sin's superiority complex, which caused the most gifted & beautiful angel, Lucifer, to fall from heaven. Being an "elite" is self determined and assumed to be universally, feared and revered. It's a man measured, self-driven and self-imposed term; often, accompanied by a loss of humanity and common decency, voluntarily shoved aside to gain a targeted "superiority." Elites are primarily concerned with money, personal status and power. Personal character development is rarely observed. Elitism is a modern, subjective, humanist, materialist category and goal of those who are not adopted, sons and daughters of the KING.

GOD is NOT ELITIST. HE IS IMPARTIAL and UNCONDITIONAL. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS SUPREMELY SOVEREIGN. THERE IS NO ONE LIKE HIM, NONE HIGHER, NO NOT ONE. HE IS JUST.

Royalty is another subject, a family category invented by God. Royalty is scriptural, foundational to leadership, nation building, ancestry and bloodlines. The most superior DNA flowed from the cross, saving the world from sin and death. John 3:16.

When President Trump often says, "they're not the elites, we are!" I believe he's talking about Christians because he and we believers know, who's our Heavenly Father and KING! No doubt our God reigns, and is bringing all things to pass. Nothing is falling apart. God is shining His cleansing light on corruption. Furthermore, God is bringing all things together and putting all things into place, for today and eternity.

As we often see EVIL and DECEPTION FLOODING REASON, the most powerful response is INTERRUPTNG AND INTERVENING BY INTERCEDING. May our King, form and inform our prayers, that we pray explosive strongholds fall away, that those who will be saved, are free to be forgiven all their sins, as we've been forgiven. Truly He wants none to perish, no not one. I like to imagine, He saw us all, all who would become His, from the cross. His eyes are upon us still....oh, what a friend we have in Jesus.