Power of Twelve - 2 Years Later (written on July 12, 2020)

In 17 days it will be two years since the Lord decided to start the Power of Twelve group.  It all began with a brain tumor in my head and then a move by the Holy Spirit.  From the beginning each of us that responded to the call knew that the Lord has called us to meet and hear from Him.  Some of us have been here from the beginning and some have been called to join us as we moved ahead month by month.   Each one are chosen by the Lord and each one has answered his call with a "Yes" and "Amen".

Who would ever have guessed we would be here at this moment in time?  Who would ever have guessed we would need to hear the voice of the Lord at such an imperative time in the creation of the world?  We have talked about the word "coincidence" and all of us agree that God moves and always has a plan.  It's definitely no coincidence we are right here, right now, on this day.

He wants each of us to know His love is more powerful and more "Ever" lasting than anything and everything that happens in a day.  He hears.  He knows.  He sees.  He feels.  He cries.  He continues to call out to the lost ones.  He brings hope.  He brings faith. He brings joy. He brings peace.  He brings love to ALL!

He is asking each of us to dig deep into our hearts and show love and kindness no matter how hard it might be.  We are His light in a world that only continues to become darker.  He wants us to stand firm in our faith, even while thee raging storms are around us.  We will bend but we will not break because He holds us up.

Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (MSG)

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Write Again Says the Lord

The days have all melted together for the past 4 month since we were hit with the Coronavirus.  Nothing has been normal and nothing will be normal again since it has gone on this long.  Personally, it has been a very testing time for me.  I have always thought I would get through anything but this one has me sitting on the sidelines looking at the days flash by like never before.  

I have been strong in the Lord for 40 plus years and even this has me questioning my life choices.  There are no questions of the Lord, only myself.  I have been fairly complacent as the days have moved on.  I have not fretted too much or complained excessively.  I have mostly hunkered down waiting for whatever to happen, to happen.  For 4 months nothing much has happened.  Except for 126 passing by and 20 pounds of extra weight on my already extra 30 pounds.  I eat, sleep, and work.  

With all of this said, I had to ask the Lord,

"Why do you want me to write again?  I really don't want to put down my complaints and my negativity.  I just want to quietly sit by and watch as the days move by."

"Many, many, many, are feeling like you. They are exhausted by the days of this terrible ordeal.  The fear for them is overwhelming at times and they have to tell themselves to breathe.  Their hearts hurt. Their minds are spinning out of control.  They can't focus on the good in life. All they hear is the bad.  They need some hope and some assurance that one day they will begin to heal.  They would certainly heal faster if they would come to me and let me carry their burdens.  But their stubbornness and pride prevent them from seeking me."

"Lord, I can't help them with my words.  I am having a hard time too."

"I know Daughter, but you have a way of telling others that things will be alright, even when times are dark.  You have a way to soften the feelings of others with just a simple expression of faith and love.  Your words have been my words for years and you should know that by now.  Just look at what I have accomplished through you with your simple words."

"Alright, Lord.  I will do as you ask and try to speak from your heart, to mine, to them."

So here we are listeners. Here I am writing again.  I really never expected to write about faith and hope during a pandemic.  I really never expected there to be riots, looting, killing, and threats of ending the American dream with socialism, communism, and Marxism rapping on the door of our free, independent nation.  I never expected a brain tumor almost 2 years ago either, but here we are.  Life is different and becoming increasing different each and every day.  There is not one single person who can tell you what tomorrow will bring.  

The point of all of this is that only the Creator of the Universe knows what is happening.  Even if you are not a believer you have to admit that something supernatural is happening on earth today.  We can question every single thing and we will still find we have no answers.  We can cry and scream and throw a tantrum which will change nothing.  There is not one human being who can change what has happened and what is going to happen.  This is the point in life where we finally admit defeat.  We can change nothing.  We can postpone things by running away.  We can hide and hope tomorrow does not find us.  There it is.  The only real answer.  You can run, but you cannot hide.  

There is  a time in every single human life on this planet where there is a question about life and death.  Why are we born?  Why do we die?  All of your friends will give you their opinion of life and you get to decide if you want to find answers for yourself or assume they know what they are talking about and just accept their path.  If you are a follower, you will let them lead you on their path, which will not be your own.  If you are more of a leader, you will listen to your friends, but then make your own choices.  If you are a fence sitter, you will just keep sitting there, hoping to fall off the fence on the right side when the time comes.

As I write this, my only advice would be, decide for yourself.  Don't let others choose your path to faith, truth, hope, and love.  None of us have chosen this path of living in a pandemic, living in a season of terrorism and turmoil, and watching others try to take away the dreams of all who live in America.  I would encourage you to be a leader in your own life, not a follower of someone else or a fence sitter.  At least wake up and search for something.  Search for something good even when it doesn't look so good.  Try to find a positive amongst all of the negative.  Be different. Do something different than what everyone else is doing.  

I'm writing again.  I'm hearing again.  I'm speaking out again.  I want everyone to know that your choices can be what makes all the difference in your world.  Choose wisely.

July - Winter Season

It is pouring down rain, cold and wet today and here it is the first day of July.  It feels and looks like it could be the first of December.  If we did not have calendar you might be able to persuade someone it really was winter!

The weather is just another one of the weird circumstances surrounding this entire year so far.  It seems like we just got done with Christmas and then in January we made it to a basketball game of our grandson's in Washington State.  That was late January, early February.  Around this same time we were hearing of passengers stuck on cruise ships for weeks with some kind of sickness.  Then all American travelers were told to get back into the United States now, as they were going to close the borders.  That was done and then each of the states started shutting down business, school, events, church, everything!

All of the upcoming graduation plans, wedding plans, vacation plans, sporting events, everything, cancelled.   We all stood around our home with the proverbial deer-in-the-headlights look.  What just happened? Life stopped.  What is going to happen now?  Nothing and I do mean nothing.  Many of us went straight to God in prayer for answers.  I did not get an answer except; "Be patient.  Be at peace.  Rest in me."  That was three and one-half months ago.  That was in March.  Now it is July.  

My life feels like a winter.  My heart feels like a winter.  My brain feels like a winter.  Everything is cold and gray.  Nothing is shining.  Nothing feels good.  I keep waiting for God to say something else to me but he is quiet.  I wish I knew what this is all for.  I wish I could find some joy during all of this.  I wish I could find a way out but there is no way out.  

Millions and millions of us across the globe are feeling this way.  We are all uncertain of what tomorrow may bring.  The younger generations have gone out of control as they have nothing to draw from.  There is no God for them to reach out to.  They have never known him or even wanted to know him.  They have focused their 20,30,40 years on themselves and have nothing else to guide them.  They are protesting, rioting, vandalizing, looting, even killing.  They are the lost souls that God wanted to save but never got the chance to meet.  

Could it be that all of this will continue as God finds a way to meet some of these lost souls?  If so, I will try to be more patient as we go through this winter season of life.  He waited for me at one time in my life to come to him so maybe he is waiting for you to call upon him.  At this point in time what do you have to lose?