Are you still thinking it was by chance?

I was once asked to write about the importance of Jesus Christ in the world. I pointed out things like the origin of his life that had been announced hundreds of years before: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son and she will call his name Immanuel. (God with us) Isaiah 7.14 And how he grew up in wisdom despite being among the humblest people, but who trusted God. The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2.40) and He became the most extraordinary man whose touch cured many and his teachings fascinated myriads. His being born there made the place a great, invincible and blest nation as it had been promised to Abraham: Indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and the sand on the seashore and your seed shall posses the gate of their enemy. (Genesis 22.17.) Its people are clever and chosen and He became the only redeemer who overcame death to give out life to whoever asks Him. He is as important as to indicate time with his existence (BC & AD). There is not now, there has not been, or ever will be one like Him.

Life is constantly giving us SIGNS on the reality of most important events in any aspect whatsoever, even in politics. God puts and takes away kings. And we can see how the attempt to eliminate Him can only bring destruction and plans frustration, like a prophet once said Whatever you devise against the Lord (or his people) He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice. (Nahum 1.9)

Nothing is “by chance” and God is working His purpose out, like the song says. When king Herod heard of the birth of Jesus, he tried to kill him but his plans were frustrated, because Jesus lived,  died, and resurrected as it was planned, to give us salvation. When later on his followers were persecuted and killed, God used Emperor Constantine to make Christianity official. Every time there is a movement whose plan is to ban Christians out by whatever means, God will frustrate it. Make no mistake, if you take God out of your agenda, you will not win. And Christ is His only begotten son who survived many attempts to prevent him to comply with His purpose, but He did fullfilled it. That’s why people celebrate His birth despite what many groups, even some “godly”ones teach. Life is a battle that has already been won. For God so loved the world, that He gave HIS only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal Life. (John 3.16)

So, let’s celebrate it, as it was prophesied For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. . .The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9.6)

              MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Are some of us too sad to be celebrating anything?

Following the tradition of the colonists at Plymouth, Mass. back in 1621 to give thanks for all the blessings received, this Christian nation chose Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of every November as a holyday since 1863 to celebrate as a family and thank our Lord. No matter how much trouble we might be in, if we take a break to acknowledge God’s blessings which I’m certain are many, (Just the mere fact to be together with our family and/or friends, sharing a moment of peace and joy, is already a great one.), God will be pleased and will pay us back with others, according to His will for us.

God loves us so, just for believing in Him, we know that whatever we might go through in this living journey is part of our “rough cocoon” to transform into a great beautiful being that will give a pleasant smile to anyone. Just for that, it is a must to be thankful.

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Roman 8.28)

And His purpose is the best.

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Who are you going to vote for in this election?

 This is NOT a political blog and I am NOT going to attack anybody in particular here, but God has put something in my heart I want to share with everyone who reads this, to think about before giving someone his approval.

We are going through a very difficult moment in which WE the people have to take a decision of who is going to lead this great nation we live in. Thanks be to God we have the privilege to do it and whoever denies himself that, is being naïve and unwise. Some have said this is the most important election we are having. I think that for one reason or another they all have been “the most important” because directly or indirectly all the elections have brought us to the moment we live now which some consider a disaster and others consider “the best ever.”

I do not know what you, as a voter, take into consideration to give certain candidate something as valuable as your vote, but I would like you to analyze it. I have heard the dirtiest and offensive campaign ever. Is it about important issues? Actually, we are acting like ill-bred, spoiled children who justify their behavior with the “biggest weapon”. That is why I was reluctant to take action but I started to think that if I do not, I might fall in the same disaster I fled from. God created us with a brain to think and examine things that happen and not to repeat vain lies we hear around, even by famous people who only look for their own interest.  There was a saying in the country I left that a lie repeated many times becomes a truth, and that’s why I went to ask God, who according to my belief is up in control of everything, and He put in my heart something Jesus said once:

“But what do you think? ‘A man had two sons and he came to the first and said: Son go work today in the vineyard.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘ I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” (Mathew 21.28-31a)

It is not that vital what we say, but what we finally do, and most importantly, that we do the WILL of the FATHER. He has given us intelligence to use it and we can decide what’s best for us, for our families, children and grandchildren. What kind of world are we leaving them? That is why it is so important that we go and vote so nobody else but us, the live citizens, decide.

And if “In God we trust” really, we should vote His Agenda and not the devil’s. Ask God and He will let you know who will do His will.

The fool has said in his heart “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice. There is no one who does good. (Psalm 53.1)

Do not fret because evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers, for they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb.

 (Psalm 37.1,2)

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrated the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

 (Psalm 33. 10-12)

GOD SAYS

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven. will forgive their sin and WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.

(II Chronicles7. 13,14)

                 GOD, BLESS AMERICA!!!

Do Black lives really matter?

                          

Of course they matter, but not only Black. Like the song we used to sing says:  “Red and Yellow, Black or White, all are precious in His sight. . .”

        The lyrics that precede the song “Everything is Beautiful” are from a song I used to sing when I was a child on Sunday School:  “Jesus Loves the little children,” and there I was taught that God is Love and He loves everyone the same, no matter what they look like, or the language they speak, or even  what they do (although we know that if we love Him, we would do what He likes of us.) And His love for anyone is so true that when His Son was being crucified by the ones in power He interceded for them: Father, forgive them,for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23.34) and that is real love. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8)

 As part of a minority community I feel discriminated with that particular statement because I feel like I do not matter to whoever thought of it. To me it was purposely implying to make a division where God’s goodness had asked us to love one another. But like a phrase I’ve heard “Divide and you shall conquer,” the spokesman followed the mean advice. And if every one who belongs to a particular community thinks like I do, and if we think that the particular person should apologize for it, he or she must prepare to do a lot of talking. Actually, I do not care whether that person cares for my people or not. The only One I care about is Jesus who is the only One who really LOVES everybody the same.

I used to like it better when the phrase used was “Black is Beautiful” because it didn’t strike me as better, but simply good, and we are all good. God created all of us to his image and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1) He created us different, though so we could identify ourselves and show the world our own trait and talent. God gave us the talent to do good and not bad, to build up and not destroy, to try to teach good morals and not to tag people for their differences. We were good but someone lied and the woman  believed and made us all sinners. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3.23) We do not deserve the kingdom He wants to give us. But if we dare to accept Him and His teachings that are all in the Bible and are good for everyone, we can become part of his family with the shedding of His blood which makes us pure. Someone I once knew said, “Colors are not the skin’s shades, but one’s attitude towards life. If we trust God we’ll have a good one and can be sure of our great destiny. And what is the good attitude?  To be “born again” which means to completely change our bad habits and embrace the goodness for all in ministering the good news to others so they do not have to perish eternally, to love one another by not harming anyone, to give a good name to our communities by backing God, and not evil.

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1. 3-5)

What are we celebrating?

 To celebrate something means to party, with food, music; have a good time . . . but it's not always like that. If we celebrate the victory on a game, for instance, we could do it if “our team” won, but I imagine the ones who lost, would not celebrate it, so they would not have a good time at all. Some may think there are instances we should lose to either find out what it feels like so we could help others when their turn comes. That is when you think that participating on a game is more important than winning and we are having a good time just by playing. Of course, if we win and celebrate it’s much better. Others might think that losing is a way of winning and  whatever we lost would bring an opportunity for something better [even if it’s a job, our health, a friend, our car, our house, whatever] And if something better comes we should celebrate and be thankful for it. I know that it’s not easy, but some of us have that way of thinking because we believe in Someone more powerful. I think that no matter what the outcome might be, it all works for the good of those who love God (Romans 8.28). That, of course, does not mean that we do not suffer or get sad when something “bad” happens. We are human and feel the calamities too, but have faith that something good will come out of it. I learned it the hard way.

 We get sad, though, when our “enemies” celebrate what they believe is their victory on our loss. It comes to my mind what happened on 9/11 and I saw a TV report where it showed the attacker’s children dancing in the streets and celebrating. It was very upsetting and made us ask ourselves “what kind of people would teach their children to hate others like that, knowing they had hit innocent people?” Later on, someone told me that the video was not a reaction of that particular moment. It is awful though how the media manipulates people to their way of thinking. That goes on all the time. There should be a law where the media people should not be allowed to take sides, but only report what really happens banning all false videos that help one side or another. And talking about the media people I am criticizing myself, because I am a fiction writer and somehow I communicate my feelings too. Although some writers have tried to make feel as normal something that many people resent. God asks us to love and tolerate one another, but on account of that we DO NOT have to celebrate something that we know is against God’s will because it is as if we would be like mocking Him and it is disrespectful; if we love Him, we should try to obey Him no matter how hard it might feel. He will help if we ask, but it has become a challenge to violate God’s will. Now days, the celebrations of some minority groups which used to be very uncommon, are legalized; and woe to whoever thinks and acts opposed to it, even by omission, because could be “crucified”. It is as if the majority of people should pay for something they do not care about and a minority imposed it, legally, and you are in disrespect if you do not celebrate it.

It is very sad that in the country of liberty we have to put up with the libertinism of a few corrupt minds which have no principles and think they’re right making the majority pay for their poor judgment. How the faithful city has become a harlot. She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers, your silver has become dross. . .your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them (Isaiah 1.21-23)

How great Jesus came to deliver us from all that, and we can celebrate with Him the victory in the near future, if we ask him, no matter how sinful we have been. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is NOT judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3. 17-18)

Are we prepared to meet with God?

I am not saying we’re going to meet Him soon although we might, at any time, if He asks for our soul. That is why we have to be ready. It is obvious, though, we are at the end of times. Many promises of the Bible have been already fulfilled, and everything is upside down like the Holy Scriptures prognosticated: You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. (Matthew 24.6)

Like it says it is not “the end yet” but it is the beginning of it where society, led by the anti Christian governors we are choosing who do not let God’s blessings through are demeaning our ways by exchanging the real values and calling them prejudice. But the Holy Scriptures says Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5.20)  That is why it’s so tricky to be a “judge” on anything because one can make so much damage by condemning or even pardoning someone, especially if you are a “credible entity” because the announcer could fall on account of it, and the Scriptures have also a saying about it: He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. (Proverbs 17.15)

That is why we have to make good choices to be ready at whatever time the Lord wants to call us home so He can tell us: Well done good and faithful servant. . .enter into the joy of your master. (Matthew 25.21)

Being ready also means to study His Word and have wisdom to evaluate things around us under the light of His justice, and to have an open communication with Him where He can tell us what’s best for us.

In these final times I wish we could come to an agreement so we can learn more about the truth.  The Holy Scriptures say:  the truth shall set you free (John 8.32)  But I think it could condemn us too if we are following the “fixed truth” like the one the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden.

That’s why we ask God to save us from liars and meet us soon. He answers

“Yes, I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 22.20)

Are we listening to the right message? Are we playing it right?

From where are we getting the information? Is the source reliable? Is it coming right out from the horse’s mouth?

All of it is very tricky because there are many books, movies, even live testimonies, for instance, that are made to misinform, for a bad purpose, and the people who sell them not only are going to get money out of you but will fool you into believing their lies. That is how “the enemy” works. I know, because I get my information from the Holy Scriptures which is the Word of God and though there are people who do not believe it, many of its promises have already been fulfilled which proves its authenticity. Therefore I believe it, from cover to cover to understand even the political issues that surround us now a day. The Bible clearly states: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6.12) And these forces possess the will of many who are only thinking on themselves and doing wrong things against our Creator like legalizing what is wrong or an abomination to God on account of the people’s weaknesses and certain “liberties” that have been proven to devitalize. That is why our world is falling into pieces, and so is our country if we don’t take care of it. Our country which once was a glorious leader due to our Christian faith is falling apart for letting those powers interfere with God’s commandments, but the Christian community is praying for help. Perhaps we need a Moses to lead us out of the slavery of the wrong doing to have God’s peace like Jesus spoke: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. (John 14.27a)  So let us take it

And let us not question God of the way He chooses to bring His peace (different to the anti-Christ´s); or the “Moses” He has prepared to serve as an instrument. He knows best.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55.8-9)

Listening to other people giving their opinion that might be different from ours, on the radio or any other means of communication, gives us the conviction of how God is in control of everything in spite of what unbelievers may think. He gave us intelligence to choose wisely and to listen to the right message and act accordingly. We must trust in the Lord and do good (Psalm 37.3)

And to those who fear for the “Establishment”, let us not be afraid of what should happen because whatever the outcome, God already overcame, for:

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for his own inheritance.

Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope for his lovingkindness.

(Psalm 33. 10-12, 18)

Is it proper for a Christian to argue on politics?

I would not bring up the separation of religion and politics deal because that’s not the issue, but the fact of discussing political matters like in the church, for instance. I think politics is an everyday issue like any other confronted by the human being and we should be prepared to face it under a different perspective and view of our doctrine. Some pastors do not like the idea, I imagine, because they are not politicians and bringing it up to the pulpit would be siding with one party or another which is not the purpose of their career. I myself do not like to mention names of people in these writings because of the same reason. When some church leaders are afraid to “sin,” by overdoing it, others would perhaps by showing their true color. As in regards to myself, I’d say that this project is not mine, but God’s and I would like to talk about Him only, although He has put it in my heart to talk about it, as I know He did in the Christian people’s I  heard on TV who have taught and inspired me. I would like to pray for a special blessing of wisdom for anyone who actually reads this SOS.

When Jesus came into this world, the people were expecting a political hero that could end their suffering against the dictators of their time. They were fed up with the crucifixions and the “flattering” of their religious leaders with them, but He did not play the political human game because he came to accomplish a more important project which was to pay the price to forgive humanity so we could enjoy what was meant for us and we lost in the Garden of Eden by inheritance: The kingdom of Heaven or Eternity.  YET, in the meanwhile we are in this earth and have to deal with the every day issues that do concern and affect us and should be dealt with, and educated about. God blessed us with intelligence in spite of our human disabilities and though this subject is a little delicate we should deal with it because it could destroy us. As a Christian, I know that is what the devil wants in order to have lots of servants to do his will right here on earth and that is why he lied to Eve saying that if she disobeyed God, she would not die and she believed him and what happened? They got thrown out of Paradise and though they did not die right away, they did, eventually, and brought malediction upon all of us: for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3.23)  I know that the non believers are going to say 1 “Oh, but that’s fiction!” because they do not believe the Bible to be the Word of God, but what’s really painful is that if they do not start looking into it now they will be sorry for the Word of God says clearly: “Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” (Romans 14.11) I hope is not too late then. I suffer when I remember Noah’s Ark incident where many mocked him about it and later wanted to be saved in it. Please start searching and reading about it and you shall learn that everything that is happening in today’s world is a product of sin and has its roots in the Bible; in the wrong choices made by the people who did not take God’s promises seriously. Do you think that if Sarai (later Sarah) the wife of Abram (later Abraham) would have waited on God’s promise of having a child (Isaac) she would have made her slave Hagar get pregnant of her husband to have a child of her own? Of course not, but because she made the wrong choice she had to get rid of the mother of the today’s Arabs who rightfully claim the primogeniture or first born status of Abram in Ishmael. And do you know what God told his mother Hagar of him? “He will be a donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand will be against him.”(Genesis 16.12) Hasn’t that been true?  And that is no fiction.  Although, I have Arab friends from a Christian school, whom I love, because in Christ we’re all a great family.

The United States of America was once a great nation backed by its determination of being Christian, that is why my family decided to come here, and for its freedom of choice. But little by little, the people the devil has prepared to convince many with his lies are taking over important positions from where they can manipulate masses like it’s happening now. This once flourishing country is now in decadence because we are turning our backs to what made us shine: GOD. Like it or not Christ is the ONLY ONE to keep us out of drowning in the mud we have gotten ourselves into by supporting anti Christian policies and making some  so called organizations to also sin to not be “Politically incorrect.”  Because now, the new “rules” (just like in Communism that changes all of them) benefit only those who do what is an abomination to God, and everyone MUST accept it no matter what the eternal consequences will be. I cry just as the prophet Jeremiah did: My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. (Jer. 2.11).   If the rulers of a nation make an offer that will not cost you your sweating or sacrificing, for sure it will cost you your tears, pain, suffering and blood, but mostly, your home and later, your life.

Our home nation is confronting a great problem but so far we have the freedom to help it by voting smart. Do not let the devil blind you with frivolities that do not profit. Use your senses and ask God’s help because He says:

 If. . .My people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their  wicked  ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(2nd Chronicles 7.14)

Are some of us idolaters? What should our reaction be when confronting them?

 

Idolatry is on of the deeds of the flesh which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

(Galatians 5.19-21)

According to the Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary an idolater is not only the one who worships idols, but a person that admires intensely, and often blindly one that is not usually a subject of worship.  I could add that if you attack one, passionately, or laugh at him/her with mockery, you are idolizing his opponent, and you make the follower of the one you attack feel attacked too.

I felt like that this past weekend when I went to visit an attraction, a very peculiar festival, which name I will not publish for they are not at fault of what one of their actors is doing by discriminating people on account of their political belief. Actually, I am used to it. That is very common at the country I come from, where if you belong to the “wrong minority” who happens to think different than the “circus owners”, they make your life so irritable until you make a mistake and probably end up badly. That is why when that actor did not get the response he wanted, instead of saying:  What’s the matter, are you sleeping? He said: Are you ______ (and said the party name)? He kept on putting down the party people not caring if there were any of them in the audience.

At first I felt angry knowing that the ones he backs have atheist preferences, but I calmed down immediately and simply left.  No use to suffer. They are the ones who are really wrong, I thought. If those he and the ones like him idolize are Godless, their voters are also like them, and would harass their opponents. Immediately I remembered when Jesus spoke and said: Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (Mathew 5.11)

And, am I acting badly by saying they are the ones who are wrong for being Godless? Well, perhaps they would also feel offended to that because they might think it is their right to think the way they want to and in their opinion they are not wrong. All right I can accept that. But one is right and the other one is not. I have the experience and I know when one is lied to as far as political beliefs is concerned. And as far as Christian beliefs I also know that my Redeemer lives and gives me strength to go on in this world influenced by the evil powers. God, once, became one of us in Jesus and was humiliated too and killed for political reasons because the people wanted someone to deliver them from an iniquitous (wicked) tyranny, but Jesus came to fulfill God’s agenda to deliver us from the evil that separates us from God. He said: My kingdom is NOT of this world (John18.36a) but, this is the world many people are idolaters of. And Paul said: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6.12)

So instead of insulting one another, we should love one another like Jesus asked us to overcome death together with Him. It is sad, though, that many will still argue there is no God, yet,  for this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.  (Ephesians 5.5-7)

I ask the ones who blindly idolize people to really study and scrutinize their agenda before hurting others who might belong to the family of God who is the only one worth worshiping for having overwhelmingly conquered to give us life eternal.

                       Happy Easter!

What should influence us to make a good choice?

That is a very tricky question, especially now that we are in an election time for a leader, and that every candidate is looking to please enough people to have the majority of votes, or should I say it the other way around:  that the people are looking for the best candidate that can lead this nation.

It is hard to say because, according to what I have heard on the radio and on TV, people make choices due to different type of influences. Some go by the looks, others by the economic solvency, by the age, by the sex, by the influential people they know, by the personalities who back them up, by what they believe in, or say they believe in, by the way they act or talk; so many different reasons that might say or not how that candidate will behave in the future when elected, if it will still please the one who voted for him/her.

Should we listen to other people’s experiences?  As a victim of an evil system, I should say yes, but I know those evil systems fabricate their own “victims” to get into the people’s good will, in order to win. After all, they are themselves the “great” invention of the father of lies to destroy the good things that God created. So how can we make a good choice? I, myself was having doubts and felt bad about my indecision, because even though they are both qualified, there are other motivations, so I prayed about it because God is the only one who knows the heart and can reveal who would be best. I have had the experience that God hears my cry and solves my problem whatever it might be because God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8.28) And so I went to the wisdom source, the Holy Scriptures, and read about the experiences of Daniel who was a man who lived according to God’s will and learned of the many times God saved him from perishing by the hand of his enemies and even convinced them they were wrong. I also read that I should not give up in my good intentions and gave me a name.

If you have any uncertainty in your life, ask God. He’s the ONLY ONE who could really show you the best thing to do. We should not let any frivolous influence block our understanding, because it will. That is its purpose. We are not living a fiction where the fixed hero always wins, but a real world where the people of good will have the choice of making great history if led by God Almighty. And we, the ones who trust on Him will  overcome, whatever the situation, like the prophet Isaiah wrote: Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40.31)

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

(James 5.16c)

Why are we not taking advantage of our best weapon?

This past Christmas my family and I went to visit some relatives up state, and in making some smart conversation, due to being in an election year, we ended in the political theme. My “cousin in law”, an American and devoted citizen in his fifties/sixties, made a comment about how negligent is our US society becoming that is giving more importance to the “hot” but frivolous issues of the moment exposed on modern TV, instead of focusing on how bad our country is doing so we could make a good choice. He criticized the young people who would vote for anyone without realizing what a bad performance of some candidates in their debate speeches, where they talk and talk and say “nothing”.  “Voters do not listen nor do they realize what would become of this country if it falls into those advantage taking, empty headed.”

I got to thinking and realized that it’s the same thing I think when people let themselves get lied to by Satan who is the “father of lies”. Thank God we have no voters to modify that, although we do have free will to choose whom to obey. When Jesus came to this world, He told the people the truth but they would not listen and He told them: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8.44)

Every time I hear someone vouch for a liar, not giving credibility to history (denying witnessing facts) or  not trusting the divine teachings (for not studying them), I can not help but to weep in my heart to learn of how that ignorance would subdue him. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4.6)

Jesus said: “If you continue in My word then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8.31-32)

The truth is that Satan is behind everything that perishes and everyone who believes in his lies is lying to him/herself and anyone around, who will suffer the same consequences. What he wants is that God’s world falls apart. Do you really want to know the truth? Do not listen to the oppressor but to the oppressed ones. Do not hear the loudspeaker of dictators. Learn the testimonies of their victims and learn who makes friends with the bad people who will attack you at the end because they are influenced by Satan.

Nevertheless, when things seem to be bad, all the ones who are really free have the best weapon to attack Satan and his power. His power is winning at convincing people of his and his fan’s lies and if we can hit those people with our weapon, Satan will not have anyone to do his job for him. That weapon, if used correctly, is the most powerful there is. It’s called prayer. If we pray for the people we dislike, for the weak ones, for the ones we think are wrong, for our enemies, we can win the battle. If Satan does not have an army, he can not win, we will. The power of Prayer is enormous and if the just ask constantly, we will see miracles. I have experienced many. Jesus said:  Ask and it will be given to you . . . for every one who asks, receives . . . What a man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? . . .  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7.7a, 8a, 9, 11)

Designate a few minutes daily to be alone in communication with God and tell others to do the same. You’ll see the difference!

Do we think we have it bad now? Evil is not done with us yet.

Once I was in a church group reunion to play some games. In one of them, the leaders told us the group was too large for the same and they had to choose the right number of people by giving out a test to prove who followed directions the best. They gave everyone a piece of paper with about thirty instructions and said to turn it in as soon as finished. The first direction, of course, was “to read them all before doing anything” and the second was to write your name on the right top corner. Then I decided there were too many to read them and then go back to work on them so I would read them as I followed the directions. So I started to read the most unusual orders like “stand up and scream your name” or “bleat like a sheep” or “count from 1 to 10”. A lot of people were doing them while others turned in their papers fast. I guessed there were so many directions, they got tired to follow them, or perhaps they felt stupid and simply retired from the game. The person beside me and I, as good direction followers, did them all to find out at the last one that we were only to do the first two and skip from 3 to 29. The only one person who knew that trick laughed every time he heard someone bark or say something silly. I do not know if the ones who turned in their paper simply read the last direction first or also knew the “game” which made me feel so stupid, wanting to finish fast to realize I should have followed and done the first one.

Many people, and I’m one of them, do not like reading instructions like, for instance, a “user manual” for the electronic device we buy or perhaps even a furniture assembling sheet. We think we are smarter than to follow simple directions, and most of the times we will have a screw or other pieces left over at the end, making the artifact fail because only its creator knows why they were there.

Our Creator came to this world in a form of a baby and grew up like one of us. He was 100 % human and 100% divine. By this I mean He hurt, suffered, and understood our problems. He helped some, and knew how to deal with them so we could learn to resist until He comes back for us. He taught the people and left us directions to follow. Do we follow them?

Many people blame God for the bad things that happen in this world. They do not realize those are due to our wrong choices because of our laziness and our rebellion; our sin, which He did away with at the Calvary cross, out of love. And that was the main reason of his first coming, to pay for us thus eliminating eternal death. He did it so we would not have to, but some of us have chosen not to believe Him, to pay eternally. That is what the evil one wants.

So why not follow the first instruction? And that is the short version of the Ten Commandments as Jesus said on Mathew 22, also on Luke 12, of Deuteronomy 6:

“You shall love the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and foremost commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

(Matthew 22.37-39)

So, if we follow these directions we have nothing to fear, for the Lord will be with us. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said:

These things I have spoken to you so that in ME you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16.33)