Called to Speak up for Jesus....

The body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up of people from different countries in the world, from all races - it matters not what the color of your skin is, male and female, rich and poor, we come with a vast range of gifts and experiences.

 Romans 12: 4-6 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

 What joins us together is Christ Jesus our Savior. With this thought as a background, I question the message of a speaker I heard recently - speaking in my church. I agree with some of what he said but not entirely. He suggested that we should not be one issue Christians. That is completely true and I doubt that any of us really are "one issue Christians" except of course for the fact that Jesus alone saves each of us as individuals. I felt like the speaker was trying to silence those who strongly stand for the truth of the Bible regarding sin issues. In his list of  so called  "one issue" concerns, he listed taking a stand against violence, homosexuality,and immodest dress, etc. as well as the discussions around end times and the coming of our our Lord Jesus.  His list was quite extensive.

I believe that as Christians, God has sent each of us out to be a witness for Him and to seek to win souls for His Kingdom. But I also believe that God has gifted each one of us to use the experiences in our life to speak up for the issues that matter to Him. This includes standing strong against the homosexual agenda, against violence ,against pornography, etc and also to speak up for issues that He lays on our hearts. I believe God lays something on each one of our hearts that becomes our "issue" that we are called upon to stand for and speak up about - and we are NOT to let anyone SILENCE us as we speak up about that which God has called us to speak about. 

In my community the issue of homosexuality is a hot topic right now. The government is pushing it to become an accepted lifestyle, using the public school system to influence our children. This is despicable and many Christian parents in our area and in our church are opposing the homosexual agenda and are taking a stand. Of course this brings divisions and it is even felt in the church. I believe this is why the speaker in my church was using his place of authority and power to try  to silence the opposition that these parents are bringing to meetings etc. This is kind of upsetting.

In my own personal life, I also have some issues that I feel God has called me to take a stand for. This also can be traced back to experiences in my life.God can use what you and I have gone through to help and encourage other who find themselves in similar situations.  The issues that I have been called to include standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves - those with disabilities and and handicaps. I believe God has called me to be a voice for them  so when the opportunity arises, I try to speak up. This is one of my passions because of the fact that I have a daughter who has down syndrome and she cannot express herself verbally very much. If someone mistreats her, she cannot defend herself. There are many other people in this world with disabilities who need someone  to help others understand that they are real people with real feelings and real needs and need to be loved and accepted as they are.

Another issue I take a stand against is abortion. I believe life begins at conception. Due to the premature death of one of my children while still within my womb, I have experienced death through the death of my unborn child. I can honestly say I could feel in my spirit that the spirit of my child had departed from within my womb. This was well before the doctor did any tests. So I take a stand against abortion.

So if the Lord has allowed you to experience a trial or has laid a burden on your heart for a certain issue - please be faithful to the Lord and speak up for Him. Don't let others silence you even if the one trying to silence you is close family or a close friend or even someone in your church!

God bless.

Romans 12: 4- 10⁴ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Who Holds Tomorrow (Newsletter) - Part 2

Recently I wrote a post titled "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" - link to post here http://sharingthefaith-northernsparrow.blogspot.ca/2012/11/i-know-who-holds-tomorrow.html
I shared how the song "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" holds a special place in my heart.
So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this song is also a favorite to the Dr Thomas Wyatt.
I am on the Wings of Healing mailing list so I am blessed to receive their letters regularly. In his most recent letter, Dr Wyatt included a New Year's message which I would like to share with you here:
I will share parts of his letter here below. His letter includes warnings, prophecies, comfort and encouragement. I believe you will be blest by reading Dr Wyatt's insights.

The Newsletter:


Newsletter from Wings of Healing

You can link to his website at -  www.thomasrwyatt.org

He begins by saying:

My faithful friend:
The New Year, traditionally, has been the opportunity to envision what the year ahead and even beyond may have in store.......
Regrettably, just as our Lord prophesied, our world is one of "wars, and rumors of wars, ( meaning wars close by, and wars half a world away), but we are not to be alarmed, for this must happen, but it is not the end... there will be famines, and earthquakes in various places, but all this is but the beginnings of the birthpangs.....and you will be delivered up to tribulation, and put to death, you will be hated by all nations for My name sake... ( Matthew 24)
What our Lord describes is a world of chaos and lawlessness, and He will add, one of falsehood and treachery, which will cause many to fall away. But He affirms "those who endureto the end will be saved, and the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as a testimony to all nations. Then and only then, He declares, the end will come......

What the world and it's princes have done is to excude God for centuries, and of course they have made matters worse. So as we see markets and governments crumble, as it results in carnage in places we have never heard of before, needless, heartache, the deprivation of far too many, and increased uncertainty and unrest, remember it is the consequences of ignoring God. This will result in unimaginable events, not just in some far corner of our globe, but very close at hand. Evil will raise its hand against even the innocent, as we have discovered in a small town in Connecticut.
As I see such evil I remember the old hymn by Ira Spanphill, and yes, find myself singing, "...I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said, and today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand".

We should know Him, and His love, and thus be able to say, regardless of the evil, regardless of what may confronts us, we have " The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive... you know Him, for He dwells with you, and will be in you" ( John 14:17 )......

So as this coming year unfolds, as the frequent chaos persists, as the futility of human and governmental meddling continue, I would have your remember with me just who it is "who holds tomorrow" and that it is He "Who holds ours hands." He has promised to always be there for His people, those who He has called unto Himelf. He will, with His strong arm cover us, undertake for us, and enable us......

 The above are the words from the letter written by Thomas Wyatt.

Peace and Comfort in Trying Times...

Isaiah 48: 17-18 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.  O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
 God has made each of the four season, each one comes with its own distinct gifts and beauty. Fall has arrived now and again we see how  God has made everything beautiful in its time. I took this photo of our small river that runs by our property. It reminds me to be still and reflect on the Lord and his care for us ( His children) in these dark times.

 This past week has brought much turmoil in the world. We see there is no peace in the Arab countries where the Muslims are violently protesting and we ask the question - Where is this all leading to? At just such a time as this we need to be still and remember our Father God Almighty is in control of all things and we need not fear. Psalm 46: 9-11 brings the comfort that we need for today - He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

God is in control, He is the one who will draw the line in the sand ( figuratively speaking) and will only allow the wicked to go so far with their evil schemes. He will raise His arm and put an end to all evil and God will be exalted in all the earth!

Egypt, Muslims and the Movie Innocence of Muslims

2 Corinthians 6: 14-16  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

September 11,2012 was a day that started much turmoil in the world - at least that is what it appears to be. But any of us who have lived for sometime on this earth knows that the things that look like a sudden crisis in our own personal lives or among nations are not sudden at all. In reality it has all been building for a long time. It is the same with this. The idol of tolerance and the rejection of the Bible in our nations has led to the problems we are seeing today. Let me explain my thoughts.

I have not seen the movie that is causing the Muslims to become inflamed but I do not need to because I believe the  movie is only a small part of the problem. Everywhere we go we are told to be tolerant and that we are judgemental when we stand for the teachings of the Bible. It seems that people are trying to destroy the Bible - not only are we told we must tolerate and embrace all other religions but we are also told we must embrace the sin of homosexuality.  For many years now, the idea of "tolerance" has been idolized in our schools, churches, governments etc. President Obama is a big part of this tolerance movement. He has bowed to tolerance in many areas where as the President of the USA (a country that the entire world looks to for leadership) he should have stood firm on the principles of the Bible. President Obama has bowed to the homosexuals, the gay and lesbians and has corrupted the nation by opposing the Biblical stand on marriage. Just as he bows to the homosexuals, he also bows to the Muslims. We have seen over and over again how he bends over backward so to speak in order not to offend the Muslims. The Christian community to a large part is doing the same. However we as Christians are not to live in this way. Christian love tells the truth even when it is not popular or politically correct. We stand firm in our faith in the Lord Jesus and do not give in to the evil in the world. We stand against the sin of homosexuality, against pornography, and we do not embrace and tolerate all faiths. There is no religion or faith like Christianity. If we are accused of being intolerant - so be it. Together with the apostle Peter we say : Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Our Lord Jesus used strong words against his opponents in Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
 We stand for the one and only true God, the LORD God Almighty ( Creator of Heaven and earth) and the only way of salvation is through our Lord Jesus Christ. His death on the cross paid for our sin.
Romans 14: 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Having said that, I understand the movie in question here ridicules Muhammad. As Christians, we do not stand for ridicule in such an important matter as faith. The truth must be told but not with ridicule. We are called upon to tell the truth, Jesus is the only way to salvation. There is no salvation in any other, not in Muhammad and Alah, not in Hinduism or Budhism. The urgency is real - if people die without Christ Jesus then eternal hell awaits them. The Bible says that every knee will bow to Jesus - if you do not bow before Jesus here on earth, you will bow in eterntiy but then the opportunity to be saved is past.
Isaiah 45: 22 - 23 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.  I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

In conclusion, as Christians, our faith has nothing in common with the other religions of the world. All their great men have died and are dead still today. Our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into Heaven. And there He is preparing a home for each of us who put our faith and trust in Him alone. We look forward to Jesus returning to take us home to be with Him for all eternity.
Acts 1: 10-11  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Titus 2: 12-14  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tragedy in Colorado Theater..

Today horrible things happened at a theater in Colorado. We ask why such evil things must take place and when will such violence end? We need to be in prayer for those who are hurt and suffering and have lost loved ones.
But we wonder where such violence has its roots. One answer would be that we have all been born with a fallen sin nature and without the love of Christ we can only act on that sinful nature. But I think there is more to the answer than that. It is plain to see that as nations in general, God is being pushed out of our lives, out of schools and government. People want to live their lives separate from God and the principles taught in the Bible. Many people would rather live the way of the world. I believe that when we saturate our minds or the minds of our children with the garbage that is on television, in the movies and magazines etc, this garbage grows within a person and becomes the natural way for a person to behave. It is the sowing and reaping principle on which I posted an article on this blog. You can find it on my blog titled " My Vegetable Garden - Sowing and Reaping".

What ever a person puts in his or her mind is a tool that has been given to satan that he will then use against us. It might involve entertainment - watching a violent or sexual arousing movie, pornography, unwholesome language, lust, listening to secular music that stirs up the flesh, living beyond one's financial means, desires for things that are not ours. Whatever evil we put in our minds will work its way into action eventually. You plant the seed and it will grow.


We can see that the seed the entertainment business has been sowing now for the last twenty - thirty years now with our culture has produced its fruit. The fruit is ripe now. We see it in the violence, the homosexual movement, the way women are dressing very immodestly even in the Christian community - showing their breasts, skin, etc with no shame at all. These are grievous evils in the sight of our Father in Heaven and people and nations will face the consequences of their actions. God will not be mocked in this way. He has given us his Word , the Bible where it teaches us to live in a pure and undefiled way.

Galatians 6:7-8
⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Bullying - In the news, an elderly lady

I think by now, most of us who watch the news will have heard the awful story of the elderly lady who got verbally and physically abused on a school bus. This is an utterly disgusting story, but I might add that it seems to be a sign of the times - that we are living in what the Bible calls the last days. 2 Timothy 3: 1-3 pretty much describes those kids on that bus . It says -But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.

The question that I have is - How much of this sort of stuff is going on?? We should be thankful that a fellow student was able to capture the whole ordeal on his cellphone. Without that - would these children be facing any disciplinary actions at all?? Perhaps the bus driver could have somehow shown his support for this bus monitor lady and together they could have contronted those kids right there on the bus. I like the line the lady used when she said to the kids that if they don't have anything nice to say then to not say anything at all. That was how I was brought up also and what I have tried to teach my own children. Those placed in authority must speak up and take action.

We may wonder where such violence and bullying has its roots. One answer would be that we have all been born with a fallen sin nature and without the love of Christ we can only act on that sinful nature. But I think there is more to the answer than that. It is plain to see that as nations in general, God is being pushed out of our lives,  out of schools and government. People want to live their lives separate from God and the principles taught in the Bible. Many people would rather live the way of the world.  I believe that when we saturate our minds or the minds of our children with the garbage that is on television, in the movies and magazines etc,  this garbage grows within a person and becomes the natural way for a person to behave. It is the sowing and reaping principle on which I posted an article on this blog. You can find it on my blog titled " My Vegetable Garden - Sowing and Reaping".

What ever a person puts in his or her mind is a tool that has been given to satan that he will then  use against us. It might involve entertainment - watching a violent or sexual arousing movie, pornography, unwholesome language, lust, listening to secular music that stirs up the flesh, living beyond one's financial means, desires for things that are not ours. Whatever evil we put in our minds will work its way into action eventually. You plant the seed and it will grow.

Of course if we fill our minds with the things of the Lord and dwell on Him, this too is a seed that will produce fruit. Good fruit that the Lord is able to reward. Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We can see that the seed the entertainment business has been sowing now  for the last twenty - thirty years now with our culture has produced its fruit. The fruit is ripe now. We see it in the violence, the homosexual movement, the way women are dressing very immodestly even in the Christian community - showing their breasts, skin, etc with no shame at all. These are grievous evils in the sight of our Father in Heaven and people and nations will face the consequences of their actions. God will not be mocked in this way. He has given us his Word , the Bible where it teaches us to live in a pure and undefiled way.

Galatians 6:7-8
⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.