When the Devil Comes to Steal Your Blessing and Testimony

Have you noticed that when things are going good, the devil comes along and tries to steal your blessing? Some may say it is just self-doubt, but I truly believe it is the devil just wispering lies into our minds.  He wants to steal your blessing, your joy, your courage, and your faith.  Do not let him get a way with it!  Claim the promise that God gave you and thow it back at the devil.  God promises he will flee when confronted.  

But He gives greater grace. Therefore it says, 
“God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.” 
So submit to God. 
But resist the devil and he will flee from you. - James 4:6-7 (NET)

Last week, I was blessed with a healing.  This week several times when I was out on my daily walk, I might feel a weakness, tiredness, or small twitch in my shoulder.  Immediately the devil would try to tell me the pain was going to come back and I was not really healed.  So I shut him up quickly by saying "Yes, Jesus healed my shoulder completely.  I feel no pain.  I know He healed me and so do you. So shut up and move along, you are wrong.  I am healed and I know it."  Maybe it does not sound humble, but I would instantly feel better and the nudging to deny my healing would be gone.  We have to keep our faith by claiming the truth.  The devil does not like truth and he will run the other way to avoid it.  

Lift Your Arms - A Healing Testimony of Praise

I am a healthy person, especially good for my age.  Most of you readers do not know this, I have been dealing with right shoulder pain since mid-April.  I am one of those people who often thinks their aches and pains are stressed or pulled muscle and it will go away in a week or so with ice or a heating pad.  Well, this time it did not, instead the pain got worse and the area around my back shoulder blade was noticeably mree swollen than the other side.  After a few more days of ice instead of heat and ibuprofen making no difference in pain and very little with swelling, I called to get into the doctor.  His next open appointment was over two weeks away but they would let me switch that with my spouse, who was scheduled for the next day and he could come on the later date. This was a small blessing.  The doctor recommended more frequent ice sessions, a short regimen of theraphy, and larger doses of ibuprofen to see if it fixed the problem since I still had good range of motion.  I was praying and expecting a quick healing, instead the pain only seemed to get worse!  However the swelling did finally go down.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. - Psalm 30:2 (ESV)

Since therapy did not work, I was sent for an MRI in May, which showed two muscles tears above the shoulder blade and inflammation in the shoulder joint.  I was referred to the Orthopedist that did my shoulder surgery several years before.  It would be almost two months before I could an appointment with the specialist! I made the appointment and asked to be put on a wait-list in case of a cancellation. By now, my spouse had to drive me everywhere because I could barely lift my arm.  I was wondering why God was not giving me a quick solution, which I was continually praying for.  A few days later, the Orthopedist receptionist called me to see if I was willing to go out-of-town for an appointment in mid-June. Another small blessing that we willingly took!  The Orthopdic surgeon said the old surgery still looked good so he gave me shots in the shoulder to relieve that, plus scheduled therapy to start the following week, and a perscription for a few pain pills.  The shots made me dizzy and nauseous.   So after being returned to in a seat in the waiting area and drinking half a can of soda, I was ok enough to walk to car with my son and spouse helping.  I took a nap after each therapy session once I finished an icing session because the pain pills made me sleepy.  Over the next few weeks, the pain got somewhat better and after about two months I could finally drive myself again.  I kept praying to be strong and healthy again.  Thank the Lord, I had the support I needed during this time [unlike poor Job with his friends and family].

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, 

for you are my praise. - Jeremiah 17:14 (ESV)

However, there was still occasional bad pain.  When I went for my yearly physical at the beginning of this month, my doctor asked about the shoulder.  I said it was better, although I still had pain off and on, as well as  limitations in what I could lift.  Since it was no longer excruciating and keeping me from doing most things, I said it was something I could just live with [like Paul's thorn in the flesh].  

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” - Luke 8:48 (ESV)

About seven months after all this started on Sunday (November 10, 2024) at church, we had a movement of God for healing and help with other needs.  While we were praying for people, I got an impression that I should lift my arm as high as I could.  So I relied on God, lifted my right arm to a typically comfortable level, and continued to pray in the spirit as God led me.  As I prayed I could sense my arm going higher.  By the time we finished praying and praising God, I had no pain!  Praise Jesus!  It may seem like a small thing to some, but to me it was a miracle!  I felt like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus garment.  I feel it is a testimony that although we may go through things and not understand why, with God all things are possible and everything that happens has a purpose.  We may not understand the why yet, but someday we will.

When Honestly Judging Others Is Required

One of the most overused and misused King James scripture is Matthew 7:1  "Judge not, that ye be not judged." It is often used by sinners to make Christians feel guilty for saying something about the wrongness of what they may be doing.  (Even though those same sins are listed by God plainly in the Bible, it may be more prudent to pray for them, point them to salvation through Jesus, and to reading scripture rather than  trying to change them with self-righteous, angry, or condescending words.) This is not what Jesus meant.  He was saying we should not hold others to account for something we ourselves would not be willing to be accountable for.  Another way to say it is to apply the golden rule towards everyone first before calling out any preconceptions about right verses wrong.  

There are times when judgement must occur, especially if people have been elected to or appointed to be a judge of the law.  Judges have a grave responsibility to the law and to the people who come before them, both the innocent and the guilty. 

Here are some further sayings of the wise: 

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. 

A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” 

will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations. 

But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; 

rich blessings will be showered on them.- Proverbs 24:23-25 (NLT)

With that judgement responsibility comes accountability to "We the People," the nation's law, and to God. In this world, we will see wise judges and corrupted ones.  Corrupt judges who lie, who take bribes, or provide false information to juries will eventually be punished by either the government  whose laws they broke or by God when eternal judgement comes.  There is no hiding their corruption.  Alterternately, their excellence and commitment to the truth will also be seen, accepted, and rewarded.

Selecting the Right Leaders

We need to pray for our leaders.  Leaders in church, in the community, in the states, in the nation, and everywhere in between.  It is much easier to install a good leader than it is to remove a bad one.  Sometimes a person may look good on paper but they are not really that person.  It is important to know their history and how they reacted or voted in the past to understand how they may act in the future.  It also makes sense to check who or where they get their backing from to understand biases and obstacles to achieving necessary goals and working towards God's plan.

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; 

the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, 

and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

- 1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NIV) 

It is not always easy to see what needs to be known about someone or to ignore any faslehoods that may be presented by others.  This interference in decision making may come from the person being considered for leadership or the people trying to prevent the right person being a chosen leader through propaganda and lies.  Leaders need strength, problem-solving skills, righteousness, and compassion when justified.  Jealousy and humility are opposites, but there is no way to know which is taking control of a person or a group that must make the right decisions.  That is why it is so important to review everything and pray for the best person to lead.  

There Is a Hole in the Heart of America that Only God Can Heal

The first time I heard the song "There’s A Hole In The Heart," I could not tell it they were saying "heal" or "fill".  Either word seems to fit the message of the song.  In the video below, we find actual word used is "fill" since there is a lot of "empty" in that hole that only God can fill. Things, politics, money, or human relationships cannot fill it up, although being nicer to our fellow man might decrease the hole size a little bit.  The thruth is only God can fill it up with healing and close the wound this world is inflicting upon everyone. Keep praying for revival, God's will, and the survival of America.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

- Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV) 

Listen to the music video below and watch the scenes behind the lyrics.  The old-time gospel group The Nelons did a great job presenting the feelings of our nation and the world right now with this song.  Christians are being persecuting in a time when the message and comfort of Christ is really needed for humanity's emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.  USA need to learn to have faith and trust in God again! 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 

Do Not Be Lukewarm Anymore!

Jesus tells Christians they should NOT be lukewarm.  Instead it is better to be hot (seasoned believer fervantly working for Christ) or cold (potentially useful if wanting to grow in Christ).  So what is meant by lukewarm?  Lukewarms are wishy-washy people who straddle the fence between stagnant faith and desiring wordly things.  Some churches may define this as a moderate person or a modern believer, however Jesus would not agree.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  

- Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

How do you know if you have become lukewarm?  Would you answer YES to these questions?  

• Do you just attend church as part of your religion and listen without really hearing the message?
• Do you feel it is okay to indulge in "little" sins as long as you are not hurting anyone else?

How do you move from being lukewarm to an acceptable temperature?  

• Spend more time with God each day by praying and reading your Bible.
• Socialize with fellow Christians that will help you to grow in your faith.
• Get involved with your Church and learn how to share God with others.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: 

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

- Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV)

Stop straddling the fence between what Jesus wants for you and your own sinful desires.  Do not be lukewarm anymore, instead grow and develop into what Christ wants you to be so that you may gain everlasting life.  While your at it, try to take some others with you to Heaven.

Wisdom of a Rght Heart for Making Decisions

Hopefully, this post will not offend anyone and that every reader has the patience to read it through  before leaving this blog.  The biggest decision in the United States is which way to vote, based on what is current policy and past performance, not who is the personality or party.  Did you know 40 million Christians do not vote in Presidential elections?  Shouldn't Christians vote for national, state, and local leaders who most exemplify the faith, values, and morals of Christians?  How can Christinas do that?  Check the actual policy on the canidates website and what they say when speaking to decide how it aligns with your belfiefs.  Do not rely on celebraties, the news media, or others to tell you the truth about a candidates or party position - do your own research.  Compare what you learn about policy to Biblical truths to help you make the righteous decisions, judge properly, and then caste your vote well,

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, 

but the heart of the fool to the left. - Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV) 

The Bible equates RIGHT as correct wisdom, which comes from reading and following God's Word.  The Bible also points to the LEFT path as wrong, foolish, or sinful.  So why do politicians, protestors, and press  representatives refer to the opposing party as far-right or far-left?  By God's standard, aren't they implying the right/conserative-side are even a smarter choice than themselves?  Or is the other side saying the  left-leaning/liberal party are more sinful?  Check for yourself to find policy explanations for future planning to see where their mind is and review the political party's past to see actual actions to know their  true heart. Do they follow the Ten Commandmants for the betterment of America or do they fight dirty, ignore citizen rights, and break laws for the devil's delight? There is no true CENTER/moderate in politics! Therefore,  Christians must vote with God as their center and for what is most like the core of His righteousness!

The world will try to make Christian believers doubt what is good verses evil, even to the point of changing the basic understanding and traditional meanings of words in the English language.  In addition to the words left and right being directional or referencing hand use, dictionaries define them other ways too.  Right also means: conforming to justice, law, or morality - in accordane with fact, reason, or proof - fitting, proper, or appropriate - straight, genuine, or real. The other definitions for left is "past tense of leave" or reference to political leaning. So instead, check out the definition for politically liberal, which shows bad and good examples.    

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked 
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, 
and who meditates on his law day and night. - Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV) 

For a nation to  prosper and for its' people to experience success, the spiritual community must respect and follow God's Word.  Please vote your faith based on what you believe God wants you to do from what you have learned in His Word, the Holy Bible. To have a blessed nation, Christians must lead the way to victory in elections as well as be a part of leadership.  Imagine the difference Christians can make in the USA if you #RegisterToVote and #VoteYourFaith!  Please encourgae others to do the same.  This is the time for Christians to stand up, be counted, and get heard by government once again.