My New Best Friends

"Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."   --- Matthew 10:37, Matthew 19:29

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(Warning: Some of you will click away before you finish. This post is rather like the, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?," verse.)

So some of my old friends are drinking covid-19 (just-do-what-you're-told-and-stay-silent) and BLM kool-aid by the gallon. I try speaking into their lives and they snap at me (or Facebook unfollow) so unless God whispers, "Hang in there," I step away.

Does that hurt? At times, yes, of course. 

But never as much as the crushing blow of grieving the Holy Spirit. I won't risk that for any so-called friend! It's just a thing I believe. So I move on and because He's wonderful, He either revives friendships from long ago or He sends me oodles of new friends.

Except I've not met them yet, well, not in-person. But that's ok: Heaven isn't all that far away. We'll meet there.

In the meantime? I watch them in videos online and hear from their mouths the very words the Holy Spirit told me, usually in wee morning hours in my sweet closet bedroom. My eyes grow wide and I thank the Holy Spirit for all this confirmation via my new friends.

Not for 26 years have I ever felt lonely, well, not for more than a minute at a time (or so). Something huge happened in 1994, but that's another blog post. Let's just say the Holy Spirit became incredibly real to me that year and always I sense His presence. Who could feel lonely with His realness? 

Who's crazy enough to lose that? Hey, not me, anyway.

But the friends He gives me, the old and new ones on 'the same page'-- they are the cherries on top of sundaes, the unexpected pearls in oysters, the gift you received that you thought you never would.

They are blessings on top of the huge undeserved blessing of a wonderful life due to knowing Jesus.

And during these wild, what is happening? days, God uses those friends to help teach and assure and delight any of us who want Him more than mere mortal friendships.

Because He is so very generous to His children. 

Keep Him in that first place spot and everything changes. Absolutely everything.

"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother---- and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."   ---Matthew 12:50, Proverbs 18:24

"Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord." ---2 Corinthians 2:17

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I shared my 'new friend list' with you before, but here you go again, with some added names--

Glenn Beck
Homestead Tessie

Michael Knowles

Lance Wallnau

Dr. Steve Turley

Dennis Prager

Kynan Bridges

Charlie Kirk

Larry Elder

Sid Roth

Eric Metaxes

Liberty

Mario Murillo

Mike Thompson

Rick Joyner

Jeremiah Johnson

Dr. Pam Popper

Dan Bongino

Phil Robertson

Jack Hibbs

Kent Christmas

... and even more!

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Ever heard of the Walker Sisters? Here's a short documentary which many of you will find as fascinating as I did.

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And here's Sean Feucht's preliminary report about what happened while worshippers gathered in Seattle last night. Wow... just wow!

The worshippers in Seattle are the most courageous and bold in America!!!! THEY WIN AFTER TONIGHT!!!

It was absolutely bonkers in so many ways!!

Violent protestors showed up flashing knives! We had an entire satanic cult march through the worshippers the entire time yelling “Hail Satan!”

We had white Antifa yelling & threatening black local pastors!

They yelled obscenities and cursed at my wife and kids all night long!

At one point, I had about 30 stationed body guards around myself and the band (you can see them in this vid) as they kept trying to storm the band and tackle them. They broke drums and guitar pedals!

They killed our generators at one point...yet through it all...SEATTLE NEVER STOPPED SINGING!!!

We saw salvations, healings, miracles and baptisms! It was on another level!

THE CHURCH REFUSED TO BE INTIMIDATED AND GOD KEPT POURING OUT!

Tomorrow you’ll see more proof of this!!!! But we made it out of the lions den of CHOP alive and have story after story of Gods power and might!

I AM SO LIT ON FIRE BY YOUR WORSHIP SEATTLE!! WELL DONE!!!!!! [thank you to the burly bodyguards!]

#LetUsWorship #Seattle

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If We Could Have, But Didn't

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- -and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." --- Proverbs 6:6-11

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Back in 2015 when I became all Polly Prepper, I'd read comments after Christian prepper videos (especially), warning us to get ready for a dicey future.

What types of viewer comments did I often spy below the videos? This kind:

"If something happens, God will provide for my family. He'll make food appear, people will drop it off, we'll supernaturally have enough. This prepping stuff isn't necessary when you believe God."

Yikes. 

Five years and various covid-19 repercussions later, I often wonder how many of these folks recall those videos while standing for hours in food pantry lines, praying there'll be food left for their family.

But mostly I pray they're prepping now, though knowing people as I do, well, my faith lacks a bit there. As Tessie titled an April video, If You Don't Prepare Now, You Probably Never Will.

I must agree. 

Yet let me vehemently add here that, yes! God does provide for His children. He certainly does. But He also expects us to do our part. We have a part, He has a part. 

We err when we dump our responsibilities all in His lap.

Anyway, I believe good times will return to our Country. I do! If Christians wake up, cease hiding, pray, speak up, unite and vote biblical values. 

But before better times return? Well, oh dear. I believe we've some rough months ahead, at least six. Yet if we prepare, get our house in order now? Spend time with God and obey His specific, wise plans for us now?

We'll be ready for anything ahead.

And not just prepared and calm, but overflowing in joy, love and wisdom, plenty enough to splash all over others who fainted along the way.

One way God provides? By sending us teachers who share vital information and who warn us.

"But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”   ---Luke 21:36

Love warns.

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So have you felt convicted to store some groceries, but are unsure if you've room enough? Well, join the club. Living in this 860 sq. foot house could challenge any serious prepper.

But here are a couple ideas using Sam The Old Cat's crazy-expensive cat food boxes. Probably I've repurposed 40 of these.

These, below, are in my office/guest room, kinda hidden in plain sight storage. I spray-painted then labeled them and they hold small items like:

Bottles of onion and garlic powder.

Jars of hot sauce.

Envelopes of taco seasoning

Tea, Jello

Sardines, pepper, paprika

Cough drop packages

Protein bars, etc.

Down in Tom's office I use those boxes for canned food. Tho' not a fan of storing cans on their sides, this is more my current-use supply. I don't have an official pantry, alas, so these free up space in other areas for more long term storage.

I have 4 more of these boxes on the shelf, below.

Also upstairs here I have two more sets of shelves where I've stored lots of canned and packaged food, but I've placed an off-white canvas curtain over each to make them look neater.

Did I have to get rid of trinkets, books, etc. so to create room upon these shelves? Yes. Yes, I did. There comes a time when, no matter how large or small our home, we must decide to keep what's most important and then release the rest.

Always, where there's a will, there's a way.

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Okay, this was rather fascinating, fun and bittersweet. Four sisters (the video says friends) began taking a yearly photo of themselves in 1975 and in this video you'll see 40 years worth of changes. (What a wonderful project!)

Oh! And I made a half-batch of Aunt April's Refrigerator Pickles from the recipe I gave you here. They came out wonderfully. Yum.

And lastly, as I wrote at Facebook today:

Reason #26 why I'm anticipating Heaven: Everybody will use wisdom and common sense there. Woo hoo!

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Some Readers Will Jump Off This Crazy Train Blog, But Oh Well!

"The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." ---Proverbs 28:1

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Years ago I told you that around age 23, I felt God say, "Always live ready to raise the dead."

Rather unforgettable, right? Then months later He added, "And always stay ready to use the name of Jesus." 

You'll smile, but I actually recall a couple dreams where a man stepped forward to attack me, but I boldly spoke, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, leave me alone!" Both times the mens' eyes went all swirly like in old-time cartoons. Their legs buckled, then they turned and crawled away. ツ

Well, I'll tell ya. I recalled those dreams last week.

Did you watch that terrible video of a woman in a supermarket shouting at a mom's two tiny daughters for not wearing masks? As the little girls look upward, she yells, "You're going to kill me and my husband! I hope you all die! I hope you all die!"

Oh. My. Goodness.

If that mom had been me and if Naomi had been 4 (instead of 40)? I would have boldly pointed and said, "No! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you will shut your mouth! You will not speak to my daughter that way."

And then stood and watched what God would do. 

Yes, seriously. These days in which we live? These are times for boldness and certainly not, as Christians, for being trembling wimps, letting satan do whatever.

But here's my very important disclaimer--

"Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."...  One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor."   --- from Acts 19

For decades God has readied me for such a time as this. Those ugly spirits out there? We've done battle: they won't be asking who I am.

And now, don't write yourself off, ok? Most likely, they remember you for all the times-- 

You stood up to those sent to intimidate you.

You did not quit while sorely tempted.

You reacted in love rather than hate.

You forgave.

You lost friends when you spoke truth.

You stepped out in obedience, though uncertain.

You read your Bible when you didn't feel like it.

You pushed past laziness and procrastination.

You spent hours and hours with Jesus, you came when He called, and you grew in your love for Him.

And more--

Probably you are more prepared for these Wild Days than you believe.

But if not? Please accept all the invitations Jesus sends you now to grow in Him. All of them, wholeheartedly. Listen to the people He sends you, learn, practice, do whatever God asks.

He's waiting to ready you for anything crouching in the road ahead and He'll even provide the joy, the strength, to face it all.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth..."   --- Philippians 2:10

You hem me in behind and before,

    and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain."   ---Psalm 139:5,6

The joy of the Lord is my strength."   --- Nehemiah 8:10

I watch all of Heidi St. John's video posts, but this one, oh my! She was on fire (the good kind). (You may need a Facebook account. Not sure. I'm still learning my way around the new Blogger dashboard and couldn't figure out how to add the video here. Alas.)

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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15