The Rapture and Children

 In considering children during the Rapture and their age of accountability, Dr. David Jeremiah addresses this question in his book, The Great Disappearance, chapter 15.

God knows and loves the unborn baby even in the womb (Psalm 139:13-17)

What about children who may have been miscarried, aborted, or died in infancy?  

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; 

for of such is the Kingdom of heaven." (Mt 19:13-14) 

"Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven 

that one of these little ones should perish." (Mt 18:14)

A child is a person from the moment of conception. This truth allows that all preborn babies who perish go straight into the blessed arms of Jesus. For mothers who grieve over their aborted babies, God knows how to pour His healing and forgiveness into your life through the merits of Christ. Abortion is not the unpardonable sin. 

Jesus loves you and He loves every child from conception. In fact, He loves us from before time began. Your child may not be with you here on this earth but one day you will be reunited with your baby in heaven. Take comfort with this knowledge that Christ will keep you as you anticipate your eternal reunion.

ONENESS

 by Danna Shirley ~ 1990     (All scripture references are the NKJV)

What does it mean to be in ONENESS, to be in unity and harmony with yourself and with others? God promises peace to His children, peace verses strife and discord. I often wondered why God’s peace eluded me most of the time, especially when His Word promised it everywhere I looked.

 You will keep him in perfect PEACE . . . (Isaiah 26:3)

Then your PEACE would have been like a river . . . (Isaiah 48:18b)

 Let us pursue the things which make for PEACE . . .  (Romans 14:19)

And the PEACE of God . . . will guard your hearts and minds . . . (Philippians 4:7-9)

And let the PEACE of God rule in your hearts . . . (Colossians 3:15-17)

Of course, I was only focusing on the part of Scripture that I wanted to claim. If you will examine each of the above Scriptures in their entirety, you will find that there is also a condition clause to enter into this PEACE. It is so with every promise in God’s Word if you will search it out. Take any subject, study all the Scripture references on that topic and you will find that you cannot claim God’s promises without fulfilling His condition to that promise.

So, where was this PEACE, this ONENESS, this unity and harmony that I wanted to have within myself, with my family, with my friends and neighbors, with my brethren? There was a Scripture that would always come to my mind whenever anything was going well . . .

[Christ] —from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16)

 It seemed to apply in every good situation, but never in bad situations. I finally looked up the ONE passage (Ephesians 4:1-6) . . .

Walk in Unity ~ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

As a child of God, I committed to walk worthy of this calling. It has taken me years of growth, peaks and valleys, to realize exactly what this meant. Sometimes I grew fast, sometimes not at all, and other times I lost ground; I might feel like a failure, completely unworthy of this calling, and other times I was perfectly at peace in His will.

I began to wonder, “Is there ever a time when a I can get it right and keep it right, all the time?” Being in ONENESS . . . being in unity and harmony within myself, with my fellow man, with the Lord? How does it happen?

The Word has already told us . . . 

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (vs 2-3)

Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?

          I can be humble!

          I can be gentle with others . . . if they’ll just do right!

          I can be patient with others . . . if they’ll just do right!

          I can love my fellow man . . .  if they’ll just do right!

          I can be in unity with everyone . . . if they’ll JUST DO RIGHT!!!

So, humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity depend on how others act first?   NO!

If I am out of harmony with myself and with the Lord, then I am out of harmony with others.

So, do I need to work on myself first?     YES!     HOW?

There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (vs 4-6)

So, why was I not able to achieve this harmony? I wanted to. I tried very hard. That was the problem. I was trying very hard to do it within myself, by myself, without submitting to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit . . . over me, through me, or in me!

As failure after failure, with family, friends, and brethren increased, I realized I could not achieve this harmony under my own steam, or at least not do a very good job of it. I began to turn more areas of my life over to God, one at a time, until I really began to feel that peace, that ONENESS, that harmony which enabled me to live a life worthy of His calling.

In other words—I became fitly joined together with Jesus and He opened my eyes to the harmony I desired, the gentleness I desired, the patience I desired, the love I desired. I finally gave up my control and allowed Him to work over me, through me, and in me.

As I became fitly joined together with Jesus, it became easier to be fitly joined together with others in every situation I encountered . . . at school, baseball league, Bible study, prayer group, inside the church with believers, outside the church with unbelievers. If I let Jesus work over me, through me, and in me with anyone in any situation, then we all became closer to being fitly joined together in love to accomplish our purpose. 

Walking with Jesus can be the longest, straightest, narrowest path we’ll ever walk but the most satisfying, fulfilling, and rewarding experience we’ll ever encounter! However, it must be a solid walk, never wavering, crossing every hurdle thrown on your path, overcoming unforgiveness, anger, judgment, doubt and unbelief, worry and fear, gossip, valley experiences, etc.    

HOW? By being fitly joined together with Jesus, facing every day with Him, resting in His timing, allowing Him to mold and shape us, giving Him thanks for every situation . . .

 . . . that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (vs 14-16)

Now, won’t you be fitly joined together with Jesus?

 *************************************

(Note: When I wrote this in 1990, I was struggling to find that peace. As I have reread it now, I realize I did find that peace and I’ve lived in it for many, many years; even when I lost my husband to pneumonia in 2003. The decision to surrender into God’s hands brought that peace I had been seeking. Oh, I still have those peaks and valleys to navigate, as we all do, but looking back on my life now, I see God’s hand buoying me up above the storm every time.)

                                                            Danna Shirley ~ 2024 (34 years later)

HUMILITY and EGO

by Susan Peabody, Richmond, CA (2023)

“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 11:28-30)

The ego is our sense of self—our consciousness. It is also referred to as self-awareness, or self-will. An inflated ego is too much ego. It is also called self-centeredness or egocentricity. A deflated ego is too little ego. It is also referred to as low self-esteem or a poor sense of self. People who have survived a difficult childhood usually have one or the other—or vacillate between the two.

Humility means two things. For God-conscious people it means that God is everything and we are simply his children—we are perfectly imperfect. In other words, we do not compete with God. In psychological circles humility means that we do not have an inflated or deflated ego. We are not more important than other human beings, nor are we less than. We have found that middle ground.

From humility we have both a sense of God and an appropriate sense of self. It is a gift from God. From our humility we can hear God’s voice and all the guidance we need in life.

Ego can only produce happiness. From humility, we have the opportunity to find joy, peace, and serenity, as well as our God-given creativity.

My personal journey is as follows:
 I suffered and was ashamed.
 I was blind.
 I was lost.
 I found God.
 I found my healthy ego.
 I found humility.
 I found my creativity.
 I found serenity.
 I found peace.
 I found happiness.
 I found joy.
 I found Jesus.
 From Jesus I found salvation and forgiveness.
 From all of these gifts I found strength and guidance.
 I found my life’s purpose.
 I found true love.
 I found my way.
 I found my calling in the Catholic faith.
 What new strength will I find there to benefit others?
 And then after that . . . ?

We are all part human and part divine, although many of us never find our divine part. This is sad because everything worth living for is divine. The ego happiness only lasts a short while. The gifts that come from humility are eternal.

In summary, finding humility is like finding directions to water in a desert. Attaining humility is a miracle and blessing from God. Make this your goal and everything in your life will have meaning beyond belief.

Happy Holidays

Krismasi Njema

Susan Peabody

HISTORY and SIGNIFICANCE of THANKSGIVING

For a reminder of the history and significance of Thanksgiving, I hope you will read this interview with Dr. Stephen McDowell, president of Providence Foundation and prolific author, who reminds us of the true story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.

By the way, you can get timely and free blogs from The Stand delivered in your email box each weekday from writers you can trust addressing culture, promoting faith, and defending the family.  https://afa.net/the-stand/the-daily-stand-signup/ 

The Stand: What is the greatest threat today to the truth about the Pilgrims and their history?
McDowell: While some books and educators directly lie about the Pilgrims and their primary Christian motive for starting a new colony in America, the greatest threat to the truth about their story is what is left out when their story is told.
     Revisionist history gives a false picture of these devoted Christians. For example, one elementary public school textbook gives 30 pages to present the story of the Pilgrims without once [making] any reference to religion; thus at the end of [the Pilgrims’] first year, they “wanted to give thanks for all they had.” But there is no mention it was God they were thanking.
     Teaching about the Pilgrims without referencing God causes people to think that Christianity was not important to them. Revisionist history is a primary reason for the secularization of America. People are taught our history without mentioning Christianity, or if it is cited, it is often presented in a negative light, when in reality it is the most important influence in the birth, growth, and development of the nation.

The Stand: Why do some contemporary educators revise U.S. history, particularly the story of Thanksgiving?
McDowell: Most teachers in our schools today are ignorant of the true story of Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims. They never learned it in school and few search out primary source documents so as to get to know the Pilgrims via their own writings.
     William Bradford, governor of the Pilgrims for 33 years, wrote their history -- Of Plimoth Plantation -- which is one of the great historical and literary works of all American history, but few teachers have even heard of it, much less read it. You only need to read a few pages to see the sincere and deep faith of these men and women who served as "stepping stones" for those who would follow. 
     Some educators who know the history yet ignore it, evaluate the Pilgrims through their own secular bias – that is, the Pilgrims may have had a deep faith, but God is a construction of the human mind and consequently is not relevant, so they do not need to mention God when recounting their story. Or they have such a dislike for God that they do not want to give Him any place in history.

The Stand: Why is it important that we remember and pass on the truth about the Pilgrims?
McDowell: The Pilgrims’ story teaches us many lessons. We learn of the great sacrifice they paid to exercise their freedom of religion and to plant the early seeds of our nation. Half of them died the first winter after arriving at Plymouth, and most of the others suffered from sickness and hunger. At one time, only six or seven could get out of bed, but they toiled night and day to assist their brethren.
     In the words of Bradford they “fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed their meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, they did all the homely and necessary offices for them which queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named – and this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least.” Their care for one another reveals their Christian character and practical love, “a rare example and worthy to be remembered.”
     Their motive to spread the gospel is evident from Bradford’s words (which are inscribed on his monument in Plymouth): “A great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world.”
     The Mayflower Compact, a document the Pilgrims drafted and signed before going ashore, shows their ability to reason biblically regarding civil affairs: “Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith … [we] do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.”
     Learning the unique covenant nature of our founding political documents is an important lesson in understanding why America was founded as the freest nation in history.

The Stand: What is the most important aspect of the Thanksgiving story that parents can teach their children?
McDowell: The most important thing parents can teach their children about the Thanksgiving story is the most obvious: We call it Thanksgiving for a reason. Our Pilgrim forefathers, who are reflective of most of the founders of America, were firmly devoted to Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. In recognition of His gracious hand upon them, they set aside regular public days to give thanks and glorify Him.
     This was not done merely once or twice but regularly throughout their entire lifetime. They set an example that was followed by those who came after them, even up until today. Throughout most of our history, Americans understood thanksgiving days were to thank God. The Pilgrims’ love and devotion to God, and their reliance upon Him in abundance and lack, are evidenced not only by their private lives but also by their public days of thanksgiving.
     This Thanksgiving, I hope you will keep the real Thanksgiving story alive in your children and grandchildren. I also hope that you will join me and my family as we follow the example of our Pilgrim forefathers in making it a special day of praise to God.

Breakthroughs

 by Pastor Johnny Byrd, Legacy Church, Bartlett, TN (November 12, 2023)

There are three things to consider to reach your BREAKTHROUGH...

1. ACCEPT the way God intends to do it and not the way you want it to be done.

2. OBEY even if God doesn't move; He knows the outcome even when you don't.

3. FORGIVENESS brings deliverance, freedom, and finally peace in your spirit.

The "hurt, etc." is not more powerful than the God who can heal you of it.

Jesus mends our broken pieces.

The lion (enemy) goes after the easy target that is isolated so attach (surround) yourself to a body of believers.

Illustration: Unforgiveness is like a rubber band. The Holy Spirit works on you and draws you closer and closer to that point of forgiveness. You're getting stronger and stronger as you stretch, stretch, stretch that rubber band...you're almost to that wall of breakthrough...you can almost reach out and push it open...and that rubber band will snap you back into that dark abyss of unforgiveness.

The Breakthrough comes when you break the rubber band that the enemy is holding onto keeping you like a yo-yo. How much longer will you let the enemy play with your strings like a marionette?

We never know what we say or do that the Holy Spirit will use for somebody else's breakthrough. Hallelujah!

GOD'S DREAMS ARE "YES" AND "AMEN"

 by Danna Shirley

A few days ago (Oct 3rd) God gave me an intense dream. Although dreams are barely remembered the next morning, this one replayed through my mind like a newsreel.

It was daytime and I was in an area of town that was light and bright, safe and clean...a very pleasant atmosphere. I was driving a very snazzy, red BMW with all the bells and whistles; definitely not my lifestyle. 

As I approached my city limits and crossed over into the next city, it became very dark and foreboding. The sky changed from daylight to night. I was very concerned to travel in this city in my snazzy BMW. All the news reports of crime and murders filled my mind with fear. Why was I even in this place? 

Gangs milled around on the side of the street that was dark as night. On the other side of the street it was dusk. Every turn I made I sensed the atmosphere of threatening evil on one side and fear and hiding on the other side. 

Next, I was not in my car but I was walking, walking, walking on the dusk side. I saw little children cowering and hiding as they stared across the street in fear and trembling. I hid them in closets and told them to stay there, they would be safe there. All the time I was facing the dusk side and protecting the children with the darkness and evil at my back.

When I awoke, my first thought was, "Lord, what are you telling me to do?" Then, of course, I rationalized...Lord, I'm 75 years old. I can't go downtown and rescue children.

God has been calling me to intercessory prayer. My feet may not be able to walk those dark streets but my prayers can cover a multitude of people and places. There is no boundary we can’t cross through God.

Lord, please show me how to follow after You as You lead me into this new direction of prayer. Help me bring Your Light into the dark places in this city, for this dream was a Yes (sure) and Amen (firm) that we are living through desperate times in 2023.

How Do I Get Through Loss

I, Danna, received the following email from a relative that had lost her husband six months earlier. Since I could relate to her grief having lost my own husband, Ron, twenty years ago, she thought I would have some words of wisdom to help her get through this tremendous loss. 

She asked several questions that I tried to answer according to my own process and how God helped me. I have written her question first and then my answer. I will not use their real names for privacy reasons; I will call them John and Mary.

My reply to her email:

I’ve been praying how to answer everything you mentioned. Maybe you’ve come to me because I’ve lived through what you’re going through now. Maybe you think I have some answers to help you get through this…but Honey, everyone deals with it differently. I can only point you to the Lord and to the Holy Spirit’s comfort.

If we can revisit every one of your thoughts, you might see clearly that satan has laid a guilt trip on you so you will never find peace about this. He has stirred up in your thinking all kinds of anguish, regret, blame, and torment to keep your focus off of God and His healing power and on everything you think YOU COULD HAVE DONE. The answer is there is NOTHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE!

We are all appointed a number of days in this life. God is in control. I know you’re suffering but if you will think of John, he is in heaven with his Savior…no more pain, no more injections, no more concern or worry about diabetes, NO MORE SUFFERING! And you will be with him some day because you made the most wonderful decision of your life years ago…Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.

If we compare my losing Ron to you losing John, I would have much worse regrets than you because you did everything right and I did nothing right.

Mary: If I would have asked God more or harder, He may have given John back to me?

Me: I was sleeping in the other room when God and Ron were having their last moments on this earth together. I had no chance to ask God anything. Ron had been gone for hours before I found him. However, in a split second you jumped into action. No one could have been any faster. 

Mary: I feel I did something wrong.

Me: I shoulda, coulda, woulda…if I’d only known what was happening in his body but I was clueless because Ron never shared the extent of his pain. Even the doctor knew he had pneumonia but couldn’t convince him to go in the hospital.

Mary: Should I have called 911 faster?

Me: I got up, showered, dressed, walked by our bed several times thinking Ron was sleeping so I didn’t want to disturb him. I was ready to walk out the door and go to work when GOD had to get my attention to check on him. Then I called 911.

Mary: Should I have pushed harder during CPR?

Me: The 911 operator told me to get Ron out of bed and lie him flat on the floor. I can’t remember anything after that. I had a CPR lesson at the Fire Dept but Ron was already cold to the touch. The paramedics arrived.

Mary: If I had pleaded to the Lord more?

Me: Ron was gone. I was numb. I called my pastor and just sat in the living room and waited for him to arrive and then more ladies from the church arrived. I had no thoughts of what to do next. I let everyone else just carry me along.

Mary: I should have gone to the doctor with John!

Me: Ron had been sick for weeks before he finally went to the doctor the day before he died. He would have never let me go with him. I didn’t know the doctor wanted to put him in the hospital until he came to the funeral and told me. If only Ron would have told me how much he was hurting; breathing was difficult and painful. So why didn’t he go to the doctor sooner. Why didn't he go to the hospital? Why didn’t I question him more. But I couldn’t ask God “why” because there was no answer that would satisfy. I had to give it to God and let it go.

Mary: Is it my fault John's doctor didn’t catch his blockage earlier?

Me: How can you blame yourself for what the doctor didn’t do? She’s the one that was supposed to be knowledgeable about John's health.

I guess I could have blamed Ron’s doctor but Ron made these decisions himself. If I had forced myself on him to go to the doctor or made him go to the ER later that night, our last moments together would have been a fight because he was a stubborn man, like all stubborn men. I would only have that memory as our last time together. You have good memories and I hang on to my good memories, too.

Mary: I could have just texted the doctor before John showed up.

Me: The doctor already knew Ron had pneumonia and should be hospitalized. MAYBE if he had said, “You’ll die if I don’t put you in the hospital,” it might have made Ron realize he was on the verge of death…MAYBE the doctor did tell him that. I don’t know. Ron refused to go. He had a tremendous work ethic and fully intended to be better in a day or so and go back to work.

Mary: What am I supposed to do?

Me:  I would focus on the good years you had with John, the blessings of a good marriage and the grandchildren he gave you. I don’t want to just spout obvious scriptures but there is comfort in the Word of God.

*  Mary, you’re mentally under attack from the enemy telling you lies. Rebuke him in Jesus’ name. Get thee behind me satan!

*  Mary, put the armor of the breastplate over your heart so the fiery darts of the enemy’s lies will fall to the ground ineffective. 

*  Mary, think on these things: the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and excellence of a godly husband, John, and be thankful.

So, what would God have you to do now, Mary? 

Is there a purpose for you now, Mary? 

Yes, find it and walk in it.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts Mary in all her troubles, so that Mary can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort Mary herself has received from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also Mary 's comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Cor 1:3-5 NIV)

I hope this helps, Honey. I'm always here when you want to talk. Love you...

Mary's reply to my email:

Thank you for all of your answers. I had been asking God daily to heal my heart and let me get thru this day. The last week or so I have been so busy with yard work here and have forgotten to ask God to help me. I think that’s when the doubt really started creeping in (Satan). I will get back to a daily talk with the Lord. He has given me signs and I have seen them with my own eyes. He is watching me, I just need to let Him lead me. It is so hard to think that John is never going to walk through that door again, it just crushes me. 

Love you so much...