While I like this time of year above others, there is always times that I would prefer Fall wasn’t so Fall.  The fresh brisk air is great, but the cold wet temperatures I could do without.  However, it is still a good time of year.

Trees are turning color and the harvest is pretty much done.  God has provided a warm house to live in and a window view of His majestic works, so I have little to complain about. 

I was supposed to see a doctor in Portland today, but we had to cancel.  We rescheduled for another time.  I will be taking it easy today. 

Isaiah 59:1-4  Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

² But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

³ For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

⁴ None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

The bloodcurdling thing about reading Isaiah is that it is so applicable for America today.  Everywhere we look we can see Isaiah preaching against us.

The Muslims call America the Great Satan.  Many Muslim nations forbid America’s movies, dress, and other things they believe is an abomination to Allah.  AND we call them unenlightened.

No, I am not for a minute saying I accept their doctrine and, despite what so many enlightened folk like to proclaim, it is a religion of violence.  It denies the deity of Christ and the God they serve is not our God.  Nor His teachings their teachings.

But we can see their point.  America is giving itself over to the religions of satan.  God is being decried as a defiler of the American way – we have become so focused on calling sin an acceptable and preferable way of life which allows everyone to live in freedom, that we do not see the blinding of the eyes and the binding of our spirit.

We are so proud that we are an ‘enlightened’ country.

In the past few years we have embraced homosexuality, not as the sin it is proclaimed in the Bible, but as a lifestyle that is perfectly fitting.  We have accepted Gay marriage as not contrary to Biblical precepts.

Being tempted by sin is not sinning; it is only when we yield to those temptations that we sin.  Yet, that distinction is lost on those that promote sin as acceptable behavior.

In this country we embrace violence.  We embrace promiscuity.  We embrace lust; Greed; Pride.  We decree that anyone that speaks out against these things is subject to persecution and prosecution for ‘hate speech.’ 

Christians cannot have an intelligent discussion pointing out what we believe, because we are hate mongers and the Bible has no relevance in today’s America.

Many Christian churches are modifying their stand, moving away from Biblical principles, ‘to keep up with social changes’ so they can be more ‘relevant.’  God is portrayed as so loving that He would never cast us down as He did the Israelites. 

God IS a God of love and we should remember that.  None of us are free from sin.  But in America there appears to be no shame for sin anymore.  Even where sin is a crime and everybody agrees as such, there are many that look to excuse the criminal and give credence to phony reasoning.

In Ferguson a man was killed by a police officer.  People used that as an excuse to break into businesses and steal.  To destroy property of their neighbors and use violence against each other – and instead of condemning that behavior, the media and many people treated it as a natural occurrence, treating it as understandable because these people were frustrated and upset.  That mentality is becoming more and more prevalent in our society.

A young man, intoxicated, drives and ends up killing four people, but since his parents never held him accountable, the state didn’t either and virtually slapped his wrist.

Federal and state authorities are prosecuting Christians that refuse to deny their stands on the Bible.  Ministers are coming under fire for preaching what the government says is hate speech.  The First Amendment only applies when our current government says it does and not as it has been applied for over 200 years.

As you know I visit the doc more frequently now, one of the questions I was told had to be asked by my primary care provider was “are you depressed?”  They must document that they ask that question at least once a year.  If the patient says, ‘yes,’ then they have a form that they have to fill out.  It wasn’t until I left the office the other day that I thought about asking to see the form.

My answer is no, I am not depressed.  Although the state this country – and this world - is in is discouraging, I know that God is on His throne.  I don’t know if He looks at America and is now hiding His face from us, but if enough of us seek Him in prayer on behalf of America I don’t think it is too late.

But even if it is, God still wants to deliver His children into the hands of Christ.  We can still impact individuals even though our nation is spiraling down. 

People are searching for the truth.  One of the reasons satan has such a hold on America right now is the realization of so many that they need something to feed that inner spirit.  Satan is providing an abundance of things, but many keep searching for something because they know what he is offering is not satisfying them.  They need the truth.

We have that truth and while the government and satan’s minions would have us to shut up, we still have the opportunity to proclaim God’s Word and lead others to Him. 

While satan is using lies and violence to promote his agenda, we do not need that kind of action.   We serve a God of truth and His Will should be ours.  His Holy Spirit should be seen in our actions and our words. 

WE may suffer, as many Christians in other countries are suffering right now, as Christians – and indeed Christ Himself – suffered through the centuries, but He will eventually take the action necessary to bring the world – America included - back to Him.

Psalm 20:6-8  Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

⁸ They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

May we always stand upright for God.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again