December 1, 2016

Greetings My Friend, "For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered your refuge;" Throughout history we see where once powerful nations fall because they forgot the gods they worshiped.When countries begin to fall away from the moral standards they once held dear and are then taken over. I see where even Israel fell and started taking up with the gods that the true God told them not to worship. Israel felt they could worship God and the gods of the nations they overtook as God led them into the promised land. I have to admit that today we are facing much of the same situations, children today are not even taught that the pilgrims came to worship the one true God, they celebrated the first year with the Indians because God had provided for them. From the beginning children learned to read from the Bible, were taught from the Bible and today this piece of history is being written out in the name of "separation of church and state". This nation was founded on Christian principals and has observed these principals up until the last 50 years or so. I grew up with a daily prayer said in the class room, the pledge said each morning and today it is not practiced because it may offend. I was speaking to a gentleman who is around 10 years younger than I am and was surprised he never had prayer in school. He was sure it was never done since he never had it and the sad thing is he thought this was the best. I would wager to guess he does not know what made Israel fall, Rome fall and many other nations throughout history, again it was when they walked away from their standards of morals as a nation, when they allowed homosexuality, adultery, a need to please other nations more than themselves. The reason Sodom and Gomorrah fell is because they had become a nation who preferred homosexuality instead of man and woman relationships. We know this because the angels told Abraham they were on the way to destroy these cities and when they got to the town Lot invited them in for the evening (not knowing they were angels). The men of the town came banging on the door wanting the men to be sent out to them to have their way with them. The only ones that were saved were Lot's family. At this point people think that believers of Jesus hate homosexuals only, which is not so, most of us would not harm them, would be willing engage in friendly conversations with them but because of a few radical people we are not believed or trusted. I have befriended a transgender person, talked with them, I let a woman who had a crush on me know I was not interested but I am regarded as homophobic. I believe God when He says He does not like these things including adultery, false weights and measures, scarficing of children and coveting your neighbors wife. I attempt to let others know that all sins can be forgiven if you repent, agree with God and believe in His Son. I want to invite all people into God's Kingdom and do my best to love all people because frankly no one wants to meet Jesus if they are cursed and treated wrong. I also know that Jesus made His point with the religious leaders very strongly so I am not called to be a yes person just to please others. I also know that some people will not accept this gift no matter what and I can only reach out so much and then the Holy Spirit will convict the hearts of those willing to hear the Good News. I believe our country has been in a wrong direction for a long time, with the election of President Elect Donald Trump I have hope that we are once again going back to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I will continue to do as Jesus told us to do, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age." May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet