Setting the Stage for a Global Dictator

IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER... 
 

• Featured Article: Setting the Stage for a Global Dictator
• SOMEBODY Must Really Want A War In Ukraine, And We Should Remember That Both Previous World Wars Were Sparked In Eastern Europe 
• Canada's Emergency Act Should Warn Us of What Is Coming In The Next Crisis 
• What Do You Do When Life Gets Rough? 
• Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Calamity Patty 
• Daily Devotion: Hearing and Obeying 

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Setting the Stage for a Global Dictator - Britt Gillette - http://www.end-times-bible-prophecy.com/setting-the-stage-for-a-global-dictator.html
 
Around the world, freedom and liberty are under assault. Tyranny is asserting itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us lockdowns, vaccine passports, vaccine mandates, and even forced vaccinations and quarantine camps. On January 15th, Canada implemented a vaccine requirement for all truckers crossing the Canada-U.S. border. A week later, the U.S. instituted its own vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the Canadian and Mexican borders. The truckers said no.
 
They formed long convoys to protest the mandates. Day after day, the ranks of the protestors grew until the Freedom Convoy occupied the streets of Ottawa and several major roadways at the Canada-U.S. border. More and more Canadians joined the cause, bringing food, water, fuel, and even bounce houses to show their solidarity with the truckers. However, the national leaders of Canada rejected the Freedom Convoy's peaceful demands for an end to the mandates and a return to freedom and liberty.
 
On February 4th, GoFundMe took down the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser page. Claiming the effort "reflects or promotes behavior in support of violence," GoFundMe froze the account. At first, they said donors would only see their donations refunded if they specifically requested that the money be returned. Otherwise, it would be forwarded to another cause of GoFundMe's choice. After an immense backlash, they promised to return all funds to those who donated. That remains to be seen.
 
A few days later, a new fundraising campaign emerged on GiveSendGo. Almost immediately, the government of Ontario ordered GiveSendGo to withhold all donations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act and seized broad powers in an attempt to shut down the protests. Broadening anti-money laundering rules, he accused crowdfunding sites of financing "terrorism" and authorized financial institutions to "cease providing financial services where the institution suspects an account is being used to further the illegal blockades and occupations." Trudeau and his minions then threatened the protestors with massive fines, impoundment of vehicles, revocation of driver's licenses, and seizure of bank accounts.
 
Then today, Canada's Justice Minister, David Lemetti, doubled down on Trudeau's threats. When asked if those who donated to the Freedom Convoy should be worried if banks will freeze their accounts, he responded, "Well, I think if you are a member of a pro-Trump movement who's donating hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions of dollars to this kind of thing, they oughta be worried." He then said, "This is about stopping the financing of these illegal blockades. We are today serving notice if your truck is being used in these illegal blockades your corporate accounts will be frozen." The message is clear - criticize Canada's national leaders, and they'll crush you.
 
Government Demands for Compliance
 
This is the type of reaction we've come to expect from governments like China, Russia, and North Korea. But the Canadian government's response surprised a lot of people. It shouldn't have. Throughout history, the drive toward tyranny has been the natural inclination of government. Freedom and liberty are the exception, not the norm. In recent years, Canada has shown growing hostility toward free speech. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to see them label peaceful protestors "terrorists" for daring to commit the crime of criticizing government leaders and "undermining trust in government institutions."
 
Since early 2020, the same totalitarian instinct has invaded other Western Democratic nations. Australia vilified the unvaccinated and put its people in quarantine detention centers. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Israel, and various cities in the United States rolled out vaccine passports. Austria implemented mandatory vaccination. To various degrees, all these governments trampled on individual liberty, demanding compliance to their draconian measures.
 
The message is clear. Comply or you'll be fined. Comply or you'll lose your job. Comply or you'll lose your benefits. And if you still don't comply, they'll take away your assets and your ability to participate in society.
 
If we don't stand up to this now, we'll lose our freedom and liberty forever. The marriage of Big Government and Big Tech creates an oppressive combination, and we're only in the early stages. The next government power grab will be the last, and it will lead to total enslavement.
 
The Next Power Grab
 
The next power grab will rival any ever dreamed about by past rulers and dictators. Across the world, central banks openly discuss their plans to introduce central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). This includes central banks in England, Canada, China, Mexico, the European Union, the United States, and many other nations. This should alarm everyone, because CBDCs are far different from Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is decentralized. No single authority controls it. In contrast, central banks will operate, regulate, and control CBDCs. This simple distinction is the difference between a Libertarian's dream and every citizen's nightmare.
 
The replacement of today's government currencies with CBDCs will give unlimited power to government. Not only will this new system permanently record every financial transaction, but CBDCs will track where you go and what you do. They'll track the websites you visit, the friends you interact with, and the charities you contribute to. While most of this information is already available via tracking of credit and debit cards, mobile phones, and social media profiles, a state-sponsored digital currency will provide unfettered access to this information in one centralized location. It will create a closed, government-controlled economic system where everyone is dependent on CBDCs to participate in society.
 
This gives government the ability to control your behavior, down to the most minute details of daily life. If the government decides they don't like you, they can cut off access to your accounts and freeze you out of the economic system. We're already seeing this take place in Canada. With CBDCs, the government will be able to tell you what you can and can't buy. They'll be able to tell you where you can and can't go. In essence, they'll have complete control over every aspect of your life.
 
Do you see why this will be not just the next power grab, but the power grab. This is it. Once you enter such a system, they've got you. You can never leave. If you criticize the government, or do anything they deem "undesirable," they'll cut off your access to CBDC, and you won’t be able to buy or sell anything.
 
This is the ultimate power grab, and it's coming soon. The current monetary system is broken. It's completely dependent on central bank distortions of the free market and permanent bailouts for big corporations. The central banks can't allow the free market to set interest rates. If they do, the increased interest payments will bankrupt governments around the world. But if they persist in keeping rates artificially low, they'll eventually spark hyperinflation. One way or another, the entire system is set to collapse. When it does, a "great reset" will be necessary. And that's when the CBDCs roll out.
 
CBDC Adoption Will Be Swift
 
CBDCs will be the central feature of this great reset. Think most people will reject them? While I hope so, it's highly unlikely. Governments will make sure adoption is quick and easy. They’ll simply launch a campaign to “claim your digital wallet.” To incentivize you, they’ll offer an initial deposit of $10,000 (or $20,000, $30,000, or whatever amount is necessary to get people to take action). Once everyone is onboard, they’ll eliminate paper currency and other options for payment of goods and services. The result will be a government-controlled economic system based on CBDCs.
 
The Bible Foretold All of This
 
For those who have read the Bible, this is no surprise. Almost two thousand years ago, the Book of Revelation foretold of a global economic system eerily similar to the one taking form today.
 
The Bible says a time will come when a global dictator will require everyone on earth to receive a mark on their right hand or their forehead (Revelation 13:16). Without this mark, people will be unable to buy or sell anything (Revelation 13:17). How will this work? The exact details aren't clear. But the worldwide rush to create central bank digital currencies provides us with a glimpse as to how such a system might work.
 
The Bible says the Antichrist will rule a global government (Revelation 13:7). To control who can buy and who can sell, he'll need a system capable of tracking every transaction on earth. He'll need a way to monopolize all financial transactions and a way to kick people out of the system if they don't do his bidding. CBDCs create such a system. All that's required to bring about this "Great Reset" is a global economic crisis, and one is coming. Hungry people will be more than willing to adopt such a system if it means the difference between eating and not eating.
 
So, what does this mean? It means we're fast approaching a time the prophets long warned us about. We're in the midst of a global pandemic (Luke 21:11). Israel is back in the land (Jeremiah 23:7-8). The Jewish people are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28). And the Gospel is being preached throughout the world (Matthew 24:14). The end times approach. The tribulation, the Antichrist, and global government are on our doorstop. But first, the rapture must take place. So don't despair. While it looks like the world is falling apart, every Christian should have peace. We know how it ends. Jesus is coming (Revelation 22:20), and He's coming soon! 

 


 
SOMEBODY Must Really Want A War In Ukraine, And We Should Remember That Both Previous World Wars Were Sparked In Eastern Europe - by Michael Snyder - http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/somebody-must-really-want-a-war-in-ukraine-and-we-should-remember-that-both-previous-world-wars-were-sparked-in-eastern-europe/
 
Well, that sure escalated quickly. Early on Wednesday, it was being reported that Russia was moving forces away from the Ukrainian border and that both sides would try to give diplomatic talks another chance. But somebody out there must not have been too pleased with that, because by Wednesday evening everything had changed. The Ukrainian military and the separatists in eastern Ukraine started shelling one another relentlessly, and according to the latest information that I have been able to find it is still going on as I write this article. In previous articles, I have expressed my opinion that war in Ukraine will not begin this month, but it appears that somebody out there is trying to get it going as soon as possible.
 
I think that this is a good time to remember that both previous world wars were sparked in eastern Europe.
 
The assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 is generally recognized as the event that initiated World War I.
 
And the invasion of Poland in 1939 is generally recognized as the event that initiated World War II.
 
So will a conflict in Ukraine by the event that initiates World War III?
 
As far as I can determine, the widespread shelling in Ukraine began some time on Wednesday evening.
 
On Thursday, photos of a kindergarten class that had been hit by a shell were being widely circulated by western media…
 
A “Kindergarten” junior school in Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine, was struck by shellfire that impacted several villages and towns near the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning. According to the Ukranian government, as of Thursday afternoon, there had been “42 cases of shelling” recorded which had not caused any deaths, but had seen buildings damaged and seen several people injured, including at least four civilians and one soldier.
 
Western news sources are focusing on the shelling that is being done by the separatists, but Russian news sources are claiming that it was actually the Ukrainians that started shelling first…
 
The Russian government provided their own take on events, saying in a release from state media service TASS that the shelling was not by Russian forces but from “forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic” — in other words forces loyal to and equipped by Moscow — and was initiated in response to Ukraine shelling them first.
 
I wish that I could prove to you which side started shooting first.
 
But what we do know is that both sides are now firing at one another.
 
Could all of this shelling be a prelude to something bigger?
 
During a discussion with reporters on Thursday, Joe Biden made some rather startling claims…
 
President Biden on Thursday said the U.S. has reason to believe that Russia is “engaged in a false flag operation,” and said he believes that an invasion into Ukraine “will happen in the next several days.”
 
After all of the false flag operations that the U.S. has been involved in over the years, it is quite ironic that the U.S. is now publicly accusing the Russians of doing the same thing.
 
And we shall see if Biden is correct about “the next several days”.
 
I don’t think that he will be.
 
But I do think that the possibility of a major conflict in the region happening this year has just gone way up.
 
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says that the Russians now have more than 150,000 troops in the region…
 
‘We see them add to the more than 150,000 troops they already have,’ Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin. ‘Even in the last couple days.’
 
‘We see some of those troops edge closer to that border. We see them fly in more combat and support aircraft. We see them sharpen their readiness in the Black Sea. We even see them stocking up their blood supplies,’ Austin said.
 
‘You don’t do these things for no reason. You certainly don’t do them if you’re getting ready to pack up and go home,’ the secretary said.
 
U.S. officials certainly seem to be acting as if they believe that we are on the brink of war.
 
But are they trying to prevent it, or are they actually trying to make it happen?
 
During a meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised tensions by warning that the Russians may be plotting a “false flag” chemical weapons attack…
 
Russia accused Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday of raising tensions in Eastern European after he issued a warning that Moscow’s plans for a ‘false flag operation’ may include a chemical weapons attack to manufacture a pretext for invading Ukraine.
 
Blinken used a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to set out the fullest account yet of what Washington knows about Russia’s plans.
 
Needless to say, the Russians were not pleased by such a wild accusation…
 
In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said Blinken’s scenarios were ‘regrettable.’
 
‘I would even go so far as to say that they are dangerous because they bring in more tension into the unready tense atmosphere,’ he said, before repeating Moscow’s discredited claims that some troops were already heading home after completing drills.
 
Of course, the Russians are taking actions that are raising tensions too.
 
For example, the second most important U.S. diplomat in Russia was expelled from the country on Thursday…
 
Russia has expelled the second-most senior American diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as tensions between the two countries continue to rise over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said Thursday.
 
“Russia’s action against our [deputy chief of mission] was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response,” a State Department spokesman said after U.S. deputy chief of mission Bart Gorman was ordered to leave the country despite having a valid visa.
 
In the coming days, the U.S. and Russia will trade lots of accusations of blame.
 
I just wish that we could find a way to stop the process that has now begun.
 
As I have stated previously, if Americans truly understood what was at stake the streets of our major cities would be filled with protesters.
 
Because once World War III begins, nothing will ever be the same again.
 
The time to stop it is now, and the window of opportunity is very narrow.
 
Unfortunately, somebody out there really seems to want this war to happen, and I have a feeling that whoever it is will eventually get their wish. 

 

 
Canada's Emergency Act Should Warn Us of What Is Coming In The Next Crisis – Jon Miltimore - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=5217
 
At a "ladies night" fundraiser in Toronto in 2013, an up-and-coming politician was asked which nation's administration he admired most in the world.
 
Wearing a pale blue shirt and a smile, the fresh-faced Liberal Party leader answered Communist China.
 
"There is a level of admiration I actually have for China because their basic dictatorship is allowing them to actually turn their economy around on a dime and say we need to go green, we need to start, you know, investing in solar," Justin Trudeau told the group of women. "There is a flexibility that I know Prime Minister Stephen Harper must dream about: having a dictatorship where you can do whatever you wanted, that I find quite interesting."
 
The comments drew fire, particularly from Canadians who noted China's oppressive regime and documented human rights abuses.
 
"It seems to be that he's not well-informed," a member of a round-table told the CBC.
 
Nevertheless, the comments proved to be little more than a speed bump in Trudeau's political ascent. In November 2015, Trudeau was sworn in as Canada's twenty-third prime minister, succeeding Harper.
 
In 2020, thousands of farmers from all over India traveled to the capital city of Delhi. Protesting agriculture policies they believed threatened their livelihoods, they set up encampments and clashed with police. Responding to the situation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged the authorities to show restraint. ​​"Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest," Trudeau insisted, to the annoyance of the Indian government.
 
Now the shoe is on the other foot. Or should we say the foot is in the mouth, as Trudeau sparked anger on Wednesday when he accused a Jewish MP of 'standing with people who wave swastikas' after she criticized his handling of the Freedom Convoy truckers' anti-vaccine protests.
 
Throwing 'Oil on the Fire'
 
Trudeau's comments deserve scrutiny since he now finds himself in the global spotlight.
 
On Monday, Trudeau announced he was activating rarely used emergency powers in an effort to suppress the Freedom Convoy, a movement originally created to protest vaccination mandates for truckers crossing the US border that has morphed into a broader protest against COVID restrictions.
 
"The blockades are harming our economy and endangering public safety," Trudeau said in a news conference. "We cannot and will not allow illegal and dangerous activities to continue."
 
By invoking Canada's Emergencies Act--which in 1988 replaced the War Measures Act--Trudeau can use federal law enforcement to assist provincial governments and expand its search and seizure of private goods that sustain the protest movement.
 
"We are making these changes because we know that these (crowdfunding) platforms are being used to support illegal blockades and illegal activity which is damaging the Canadian economy," said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who used the word "terrorism" in her comments.
 
Trudeau also said he intends to use federal forces to support provincial forces.
 
"Despite their best efforts, it is now clear that there are serious challenges to law enforcement's ability to effectively enforce the law," he said.
 
The prime minister's actions, however, drew criticism from civil rights groups, who accused the administration of engaging in undemocratic actions.
 
"The federal government has not met the threshold necessary to invoke the Emergencies Act," the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said. "This law creates a high and clear standard for good reason: the Act allows government to bypass ordinary democratic processes. This standard has not been met."
 
According to Reuters, premiers in Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan also came out against Trudeau's plan.
 
"We really don't need to throw oil on the fire," said Quebec's Premier François Legault.
 
Trudeau's orders, aimed in part at cutting off funds to protesters, also have a wider scope than previously reported - which is "forcing portfolio managers and securities firms to take a harder look at who they are doing business with," according to Bloomberg.
 
The new rules make demands of a broad list of entities -- including banks, investment firms, credit unions, loan companies, securities dealers, fundraising platforms, insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies. They must determine whether they're in "possession or control of property" of a person who's attending an illegal protest or providing supplies to demonstrators, according to orders published by the government late Tuesday night.
 
If they find such a person in their customer list, they must freeze their accounts and report it to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Canada's intelligence service, the regulations say. Any suspicious transactions must also be reported to the country's anti-money-laundering agency, known as Fintrac. -Bloomberg
 
Trudeau's Justice Minister made a startling admission yesterday that on how they will be targeting convoy supporters saying: 'If you are a member of a pro-Trump movement who's donating... you ought to be worried' about your bank account being frozen.
 
Trudeau has also labeled his political opponents as white nationalist extremists despite a large number of minority groups representing the trucker industry. The state-funded Canadian media was only too happy to oblige with this description in it's news reports.
 
Additionally the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has been active in outing those who had given donations to the Freedom Convoy after the donor list of a crowdfunding source was hacked. 
 
Marion Isabeau Ringuette, who was Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones's director of communications, lost her job 10 days after making the donation, according to the Toronto Star.
 
After the donor list to a GiveSendGo campaign supporting the protests was stolen and leaked by hackers this week, Isabeau-Ringuette's identity was apparently deciphered and reported to her employer, although she only used her initials when making the donation.
 
'Ms. Isabeau-Ringuette no longer works for the Ontario government,' Ivana Yelich, Ford's executive director of media relations, told the Star.
 
The CBC also outed a prominent business owner in London, Ontario, as giving the largest single donation to the Freedom Convoy.
 
Holden Rhodes, who owns Killarney Mountain Lodge, donated $25,000.
 
He was just as unapologetic after being outed by the CBC, telling journalists: 'The overreach on the last two years has been astounding, but in the last two weeks in Canada it has been absolutely alarming for anyone believes in a peaceful and free society,' he said.
 
The sharing of donor information even caught the attention of Democratic "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who slammed journalists whose reporting on the data breach of donors to the Canadian Freedom Convoy is leading to the harassment of private citizens.
 
Speaking of overreach, in a crackdown on the protests, an Ontario Provincial Police officer knocked on the door of Nadine Ellis-Maffei's farmhouse last week to hand her a card and a pamphlet after seeing her post to the Freedom Convoy's Facebook group, video of the incident shows.
 
Ellis-Maffei said in the post that she was considering attending the protest in Ottawa. She said she had not been part of any demonstrations at this point. 
 
'Because of the protests happening province wide, yes we have been monitoring the protest. So there's a protest coming up, I'm simply providing information about a peaceful protest,' the officer said in the video taken last Thursday by Ellis-Maffei.
 
'I was flabbergasted,' said the mother of three, who operates a farm in Ontario's Peterborough County.
 
She told the Toronto Sun: 'I still can't believe it.'
 
Ellis-Maffei compared the incident to the 'thought police and Big Brother' from the dystopian novel 1984.
 
And if you though crypto was a secret way to get around donating to such causes - think again. Canadian authorities have sanctioned 34 cryptocurrency wallets connected to the “Freedom Convoy”:
 
Cryptocurrency news site Coindesk reported that the Ontario Provincial Police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police ordered all regulated Canadian financial firms to halt transactions from 34 crypto wallets tied to the Freedom Convoy and other truckers protests around Canada, in accordance with the public emergency declared by Trudeau on Monday. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian news outlet, confirmed that the police agencies ordered several crypto exchanges and financial institutions to "cease facilitating any transactions" with all of the wallets as part of an investigation "in relation to illegal acts falling under the scope of the Emergency Measures Act."
 
The Test of Power
 
Trudeau's actions are indeed dangerous. Yet as American history shows, the line between a peaceful protest and criminal activity is not always clear.
 
The Boston Tea Party is fondly remembered as a patriotic action in US history, but I had a professor in college who suggested it was an act of "domestic terrorism," a view not as uncommon as many would believe. The events of 2020 also showed how peaceful protests can sometimes spiral into something unpeaceful very quickly (or "mostly peaceful," a euphemism for violent).
 
For many, unfortunately, whether a protest is legitimate depends less on which methods are being used and more on which cause is being championed.
 
I imagine many of Trudeau's current defenders were among those outraged at the idea the US military should be deployed on American soil to put down civilian protests, unrest, and violence.
 
What's particularly troubling about Trudeau's escalation of the crisis is that the protests in Canada have been peaceful. Now, whether intentionally "snarling" traffic is a legitimate form of protest is a fair question, since impeding traffic does infringe on the rights of others. But it's a stretch to suggest it meets the definition of violence, and it can be resolved by local authorities without declaring a national emergency.
 
The events in Canada represent something much bigger than the truckers and Canada's economy. As Martin Luther King Jr. saw, non-violent protest is one of the few tools people without power have to resist the injustices of those who have it. To respond to peaceful protests with more power is to completely miss King's important lessons on non-violence.
 
But in Trudeau's case, perhaps it should not surprise us.
 
In 1989, the Chinese government faced its own "blockade" as student-led demonstrations in Beijing attempted to impede the Chinese military's advance into Tiananmen Square. Even though the demonstrations were peaceful, the Chinese Communist Party declared martial law and sent in the People's Liberation Army--equipped with rifles, automatic weapons, and tanks.
 
Nobody knows for sure how many died in the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The Chinese government said 200. A source for the United Kingdom estimated 10,000. Fatalities aside, what most people remember is the image of a young man staring down a Chinese tank, whose driver refused to crush the brave protester before him.
 
Justin Trudeau, however, remembers something else. For him, China's regime represented a dream: "a dictatorship where you can do whatever you wanted."
 
Trudeau's 2013 remarks do not mean he will crush civilians with tanks, of course. But they do indicate he has failed the test of power--and for politicians, there's no bigger test. 

 


 
What Do You Do When Life Gets Rough? - Nathele Grahams - [email protected]
 
King David was a man who loved God. He was anointed King of Israel and ruled as a fair and just king. He loved the Lord. He still lived in a fallen world where things go wrong. David had a large family, and his son, Absalom, was very rebellious. He certainly didn’t honor God, nor did he honor his father; he set about taking the kingdom from David. David was chosen to be king by God, so when Absalom came against David, but he also came against God. Absalom put on quite a show, the majority of David’s body guard turned against him and followed Absalom. There were only 600 faithful servants who stood by David. It was dangerous to stay in Jerusalem, so David decided to flee to flee. “And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee, for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.” 2 Samuel 15:14. It’s nothing new for evil men to usurp political power. David was the rightful king anointed by God, yet Absalom, who was full of pride and hatred, temporarily took control of the kingdom. Not only was David disheartened by his countrymen turning against him, but he must have been especially hurt that his son could be so cruel. Even at the worst of times, David’s heart was turned to the Lord. Psalm 63 was written during this time of living in the wilderness.
 
“ O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” Psalm 63:1-2. David faced his trials and challenges by seeking God. First, he wasn’t ashamed to declare that he loved God, even in bad times. He assured himself and anybody who reads this psalm, that God was his God. David didn’t just give lip service to God. He actively sought after the Lord. His love for God wasn’t superficial for a show, but David earnestly sought to please God. The wilderness he traveled through wasn’t filled with running water or any other comfort, but that dry and thirsty land was a picture of David’s need for God. God’s power and glory can manifest anywhere, and David longed to see that power. Today, the entire world is going through trying times. Evil governments, wars, and plagues make us feel as if we are running through the wilderness like David. Do we lament over our plight or do we seek God? If Christians would quit bellyaching, and seek God and obey His words, we just might feel strengthened and actually sing God’s praise.
 
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” Psalm 63:3-4. Life is temporary, but God is eternal. His love far exceeds anything this world has to offer. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14. God’s lovingkindness is without bounds. Even when life seems to be too difficult? Even when heartache and fear plague our minds, hearts, and souls? Especially in those times. We can’t see God’s full plan but we need to trust Him and praise Him. He has given us everything, and Christians are the only people who have hope. Our hope is in Christ. No matter what we face, salvation is ours. That salvation is only found through the shed blood of Christ on the cross, and His resurrection. He gave everything to save us from an eternity of separation from Him, now that’s worth remembering in times of trouble. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. While we live in this life, we should lift up our hands in the name of Jesus Christ and praise Him.
 
“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalm 63:5-6. David was king and had the best food possible. In the wilderness he wasn’t served with the finest meat. Instead of prime rib cooked to perfection, he ate jerky! This fact didn’t discourage David. He was in a place where there were no comforts at all, but by setting his thoughts upon the Lord, he allowed himself to feel the satisfaction of knowing comforts of the Lord. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4: 11-13. Too many people today think they need the best of everything in order to praise God. What if those comforts are suddenly taken away? Do you blame God? There is much evil in this world, and as each day passes, we draw closer to the Rapture. What a glorious event that will be for Christians! The people who have rejected Christ won’t be so blessed. Things will be worse than can be imagined. Worse than the wilderness in which David travelled. There will be a few people who will realize that they should have placed their faith in Jesus and will turn to Him. They are known as the “tribulation saints”. It will be difficult to raise their hands in praise and sing His praises. Their faith will bring death. It’s challenging today to praise God and not be mocked, or find censorship. Don’t be discouraged, but keep singing His praises and standing upon His truth in spite of the world trying to silence our praise. Satan is behind all the evil we see around us, but God is with His faithful.
 
“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.” Psalm 63:7. God was David’s help, and He is our help today. David sought after the Lord with all his heart. Even though he sometimes failed in his walk with the Lord, he earnestly repented and started again. David lived long before Jesus died on the cross, but he still looked forward to the coming Messiah. He saw all the ways God had blessed him and helped him, and was able to rejoice in the Lord because he knew God wouldn’t let him down. Today we can look back and see the sacrifice of Jesus, and know that our eternity is safe. We can be certain that whatever wilderness we travel through, God is with us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Like David, we should rejoice.
 
“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right had upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.”. Psalm 63. 8-10. David didn’t just give God an hour a week of praise and worship. He gave his all to seeking after the Lord. Even in the wilderness David knew that his strength was found in the Lord, and he didn’t doubt God’s protection. His enemies, even his own son, would die and be food for the wild things. Absalom was filled with pride. One of the things he took pride in was his hair. His pride would bring his death “And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.” 2 Samuel 18:9. Pride will always destroy a person, but the Christian who seeks the Lord diligently will find strength and the courage to face the world in humbleness. God will be our strength in all situations. Praise God!
 
“But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.” Psalm 63:11. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a king, president, prime minister, or other government leader who would rejoice in the one true God? What a different world it would be. Today world leaders are full of lies, deceit, and bow before the evil power of Satan. One day all liars will be silenced. One day everybody will bow before God. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11. That is quoted from Isaiah 45:23. Until that day, let’s just keep singing praises to God. He deserves our praise.
 
When life gets rough, we have two choices. We can sit around having a pity party, or we can lift our hands and voices in praise of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. I choose to praise Him.
 
God bless you all,
Nathele Grahams
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com                                                   
www.prophecyupdate.com                                                   
www.raptureforums.com
 
All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.
 
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Daily Jot: The Farm Chronicles: Calamity Patty - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com
 
You may or may not remember the name Martha Jane Cannary. Now Martha Cannary was quite a colorful character. She was known in her time as a tobacco-spitting, foul-mouthed, hard drinking woman who held jobs as a dishwasher, cook, waitress, dance hall girl, prostitute, nurse, ox team driver and even a scout. Her wild ways are noted as part of the legend of the old West with tales of stagecoach rescues from marauding Indians to liaisons with Wild Bill Hickock and appearances in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. She became known to America through dime store novels and a curious reputation as Calamity Jane. But in Northeastern Ohio, we had our own version. Calamity Patty.
 
Calamity Patty lived on a worn farmette in rural Portage County. Not in poverty. But a little rough around the edges. Patty was loud and you knew where you stood with her. While the rest of us had a disciplined approach to training our horses, Patty was more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-jeans kind of girl. She had a black thoroughbred horse that was about as wild as her. Undisciplined. Running here, running there. Little concern for safety. I can remember seeing Patty on top of that horse, yanking on its mouth, head popping in the air as she spurred him around. Her hat looked as if it had been smacked by a tree limb and she had kind of a wild look in her eyes as she challenged any and all to try to beat her in any event. Sadly, I don’t recall her ever winning much at all.
 
One day, Dad and I were at a horse show. It just so happened that Patty was there, and she found me. She wanted me to ride with her in the pick up race. The pick up race is a timed event where one person stands at the end of the arena. The other person rides their horse as fast as they can and picks up the one standing, and they ride double across the finish line. I didn’t want to do it. She bugged me all day, saying she knew we could win. So, finally, I asked if her horse rode double. She paused for a second and said, “he sure does!” Against my better judgment, I agreed. It was time for the event. I walked down to the end of the arena. It was a big indoor arena, maybe 50 yards, and waited behind the barrel. Out comes Patty, horse rearing, coming at me full speed. She didn’t even slow down in the turn.
 
Somehow, I grabbed the saddle horn and the momentum of her turn slung me onto the horse. Then I learned what I feared all along–the horse did not ride double. He bucked at a full gallop all the way across the arena. Just as we crossed the finish line, I flew about 10 feet in the air, landing on my head, lights out. The next thing I remember is Dad holding me up asking me if I was all right. Wobbly, my eyes trying to focus and my ears vibrating, I could hear Patty in the background, shouting “We won! We Won!” That’s all she really cared about. Calamity Jane got her nickname by preventing a wounded soldier from falling off his horse during battle. Calamity Patty found fame when a foolish boy fell hard on his head. Proverbs 13:20 says “the companion of fools will suffer harm.” I know from experience it’s true. 

 


 
Daily Devotion: Hearing and Obeying - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org
 
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge Harvest. —Luke 8:15
 
https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/hearing-and-obeying/ - Listen
 
We all know that it’s possible to hear something and yet not hear it at all. For instance, a mother might tell her teenage son, “Remember to make your bed and take out the trash and do your homework.”
 
Meanwhile, he hears, “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” He’s hearing audibly, but he’s not really listening.
 
People can do the same when they listen to a message from God’s Word. We need to pay attention. We need to listen to what God’s Word has to say.
 
In the parable of the sower, we see the phrase “hears the word” repeated for every category of person. The problem is they didn’t receive it. They didn’t hear it in the right way.
 
Success or failure in the Christian life depends on how you hear the Word of God. If you listen to podcasts or great biblical teaching on the radio, if you’re in a small group, then God bless you. But it’s important that once you hear God’s Word, you obey it.
 
It’s actually a dangerous thing to hear the Word of God and not apply it in your life. The golden key of spiritual growth is hearing, receiving, and obeying the Word of God.
 
In Luke’s version of the parable of the sower, Jesus said, “And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest” (8:15 NLT).
 
So how do we produce a harvest, or spiritual fruit? Jesus gave the answer in John 15: “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (verse 5 NKJV). Fruit is evidence that you’re a true follower of Jesus.
 
To abide in Christ means to walk with Him and cultivate your relationship with Him every day. Are you abiding in Christ? 


 


 
FROM THE HEART
    
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