MELISSA—Recently on a Sunday morning I was getting ready for church and asked the Lord what I needed to pray over the service that day and I clearly heard, “Prepare us for the onslaught.” I instantly had a sense that there are challenges coming to those of us that have been in the church for a while, challenges that will try to knock us off of our foundation in Christ. I literally heard the question being asked, “Is what I have believed my whole life even true?” I shared this with those in my Pastor’s office before service. During worship Pastor asked me to share this and then he followed up with having the congregation take hands all across the room. He proceeded to say, “Hold. Hold. Hold,” and then he said,“This is the stance we have to take in the days ahead.” This could not have been more accurate instruction. Within the following weeks lives began to erupt like a volcano. There was a moment in the midst of it all I was reminded of what I’d heard and realized I’d thought it was going to come from outside, but it started from the inside first. My Pastor’s words started ringing in my head, “HOLD.” This instruction brought peace and stability. (MELISSA will be ministering at Kingdom Congress 2024 Mar.6-8 at Grace Church Willis. NO FEE. Go to martygabler.com/kc2024/
The priorities we give ourselves to now are already having an impact upon our future. I have heard regrets expressed like, “If only we would have saved ‘X’ amount of money each month instead of buying that timeshare, we would have enough for this major home repair we have had to borrow money for.” “If we would have spent more time with our son while he was growing up, maybe he wouldn’t have ended up in so much trouble.” Each of us can picture those scenarios in our minds and just what they might entail and the “if” in each example rings significantly. Stewardship of our person and of the present and future events of our lives, community and nation will not only have a resulting impact upon us but also upon many others, including family. A great deal of confusing events are going on in our nation presently and they are impacting our lives and loudly screaming for our attention and energy and finance. And yet… stewardship matters. A King has stewards so He will have someone to act through for the needs of those in His domain and the advancement of that domain (Lk.12:42-48). The King’s stewards consider present actions for future benefit of the King and His Kingdom as well as the efficient present function of that Kingdom. 1Pe.1:13, TPT — “So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.” Lk.12:35-36, TPT — “Be prepared for action at a moment’s notice. 36 Be like the servants who anticipate their master’s return from a wedding celebration. They are ready to unlock and open the door for him at a moment’s notice.” Voting is a privilege of citizenship and a basic act of Christian stewardship. You make the choice: do you want America or non-America? After November 3, 2020 it will be one or the other.
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