Darkness Before Dawn; Prayer Walk September 26, 2020, Washington, DC

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Tomorrow is Friday, and the day most people look forward to in a week. It signals the end of a work week, the end of school, until Monday, and for some families it is pizza and movie night. But we are not living in ordinary times of late.  Tomorrow will signal more riots and destructive actions by those who are under the influence of the evil one.  Because if they were pursuing real change it would be accomplished in Jesus’ way.

Which brings me to the main focus of my post.  Saturday, September 26, in Washington, DC, Franklin Graham is going to lead a prayer walk, Jesus’ way.  I have yearned to go ever since he made the announcement months ago.  But my disease got in the way.  Oh, I tried to devise a plan where I could attend the walk, and even thought about the space suits from NASA. But my family who loves me, at times tolerates me, and worries about my health stood firm in their decision that I must stay home.

I will watch and pray along Saturday and you can too!  Franklin Graham will stream the walk live on FaceBook.  facebook.com/franklingraham/

I believe this will be the dawn breaking through the darkness which has eclipsed our  country! Please join all of us in prayer on Saturday, because the healing of America affects all countries, and all humans of this world!

This is my prayer from 2 Chronicles 6:21.

Heavenly Father,

Please hear the supplications from your servant and of your people Israel and your people in America when we pray toward this place. Hear from heaven your dwelling place: and when you hear, forgive.  Forgive us for removing You from our country and our homes.  Forgive us for putting self at the center of our world and not you, Father. Forgive us for not spending time with You in meditation and prayer.  Father please forgive your stubborn children and bring us back to You and Your ways! Please restore our country!

In Jesus Name, Amen!

God Bless You!

Watch What You Pray For, College and Professional Football Teams

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

With the arrival of fall, we also usher in a season of college and professional football games. Nothing else could be more wanted at this time than a semblance of normalcy. Since the start of the games, I have noticed that some players, coaches, and teams use their very public platforms to impress upon the public their own beliefs and opinions. And they have the right to do so as an American citizen. But when a coach or a player uses prayer to convey a message of misinformation, I can not be silent.

For me, prayer is sacred, not something to throw around on a whim or to portray the impression that you have God-given supernatural powers because you pray. Prayer is the communication and communion with Yahweh, our Lord, and Savior. It is the most important thing a Christian should be doing every day, all the time. And if prayer is no more than a grandstanding activity with a look at me, I am a super Christian kind of thing, then please don’t pray.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:5 concerning prayer.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on the street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

The after-game prayer upsets me the most when they thank God for their win. These coaches present an illusion that God has chosen one athlete or one team over the other to grace with the abilities to win. Which, in turn, could make someone believe that the winning team must pray better or are better Christians than the other athletes and teams. And that God will not be a part of their lives unless they live some ultra-pure, perfect life. In a world starving for Jesus, we need to be true to His word and show people Jesus is with them, and Jesus is for them! Not a select few.

Come on, people, we are not discussing David and Goliath, the Israelites and the Egyptians, or Daniel and the Romans. We are talking about a game created by man for his enjoyment and the procurement of large sums of money. It is ludicrous to think God would have any part of an event’s playing or outcome.

I have heard the ones praying to use the excuse that they are giving God glory when they thank Him for the win. My suggestion would be to thank God for no one being hurt, thank God for a fair game, thank God for good sportsmanlike conduct, but don’t assume Yahweh gave you a win! And you don’t need to grandstand or call the media in to see and hear you pray. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us what to do when we pray.

Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

The whole situation reminds me of a Prosperity Pastor who boasted concerning his prayer request for a lear jet and that he eventually had a lear jet given to him as an answer to the prayer. Of course, he made significant announcements to his congregation and the media, so everyone knew he was praying for the jet. And, someone finally did pony up and gave him one. But could it have been Satan, who made sure he got the jet and not God? The jet seems more advantageous to Satan to keep the Pastor on track for his and his congregation’s procurement for hell than for God’s kingdom.

Now that I have aired my grievances concerning prayer and football, I want you to stop and think about your prayers. We have made so many idols today and incorporate them into our prayer life. And recently, we have seen these idols removed from our lives. The words “have to” and “must-do” integrate our language like a waterfall tumbling down a cliff. While following our desires, we would risk others’ safety and then turn around and pray for money to get our fingernails painted, dine out at a restaurant, or go to a ballgame. How many of your prayers are worthless utterances? How many are authentic communication and communion with Jesus Christ? Is it time for you to change what you pray for and how you pray?

Remember, in Matthew 6:5, when we are told the only reward the hypocrites will receive will be people seeing and hearing them pray. The other reward is the kingdom of heaven and being with Jesus for eternity. Which reward do you want, the one where people acknowledge your prayers or the one God acknowledges?

Just a thought.

God Bless You!

Remember

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Today is a day of remembrance, grief, joy, and gratefulness for America. Tomorrow is the day after, a day of mourning and stories of fantastic survival concerning the events of September 11, 2001. We were hit where it hurts the most, on our own soil. Somehow our invisible protective field was removed, and we were at our most vulnerable. Evil patiently waited in the wings for its opportunity, and America had been setting the stage for decades.

It is not a new story in history but an old one dating back to Adam and Eve. God protects us until He tires of our disobedience, lack of faith, and selfish ways. When things are good, we turn away and ignorantly believe we have made it happen. We foolishly give in to our wants and desires only to believe there is time for repentance later. Greed and moral lacking become the day’s acceptable traits, while we blur the lines between right and wrong until there are no lines.

If that is not enough, we allow our leaders to set the table with our enemies, as President Clinton did when they welcomed Yassar Arafat as an honored guest into the White House. He became a frequent guest throughout Clinton’s Presidential years, and Arafat was also the money man behind funding the terrorists and planning the terror attack on 9-11. Talk about opening the door wide and welcoming evil inside our country, our communities, and our homes. Then we crawl, as we did after 9-11, back to God, begging for forgiveness and promising never to repeat the past, but only for a while until life becomes easy and money flows abundantly once more.

I believe this is our last chance for atonement, and that we are living in the end of times. Have you looked out your window lately? God has not only removed His hand of protection, but He is allowing tragic events to occur within nature and our culture, raining down despair, disease, and discord among us. These are not of His doing but our doing, even COVID and the fires. And still, as a nation, we have not come together to put God in His rightful place at the center of our country, communities, and families. How many times must you be knocked face down and trampled on before you scream, “Enough?” Before you establish a Godly home and community. Before you stand up for what is right and speak against what is wrong?

God has given us a promise, and He will help us, as stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Maybe today can not only be a remembrance but a new start for you and our country!

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, and then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God Bless You!

Prayer Breaks Shackels

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Satan and the world have distorted our vision to the point that we do not recognize the shackles that bind us. We have enslaved ourselves to hatred, political gains, religion, lifestyles, and probably a hundred other vices that give us a wearisome life. And, most people have been circling this rat wheel for so long they don’t know how to get off.

Now I know the next statement has been overused and abused within Christian communities, and I also know that I harp on praying repeatedly. It is so simple, and the world is not could be the issue with most people grasping the reality of it. But here I go again.

True freedom in life is found through a relationship with Jesus, Christ, and prayer! Not church attendance, mission trips, or community outreach, even though these are useful elements of a Christian’s life, but it can not be allowed to replace your relationship with Jesus. Did you know that there are religious leaders in America today who don’t pray or even read their bible except to do a sermon? And it is not a handful but a majority of these leaders who have been lured away by administrative work and a particular lifestyle which is now the forefront of their religion or, more accurately, idol worship.

Do not allow yourself to be caught in the busy work of Christian life, but immerse yourself in Jesus’s prayer work. Because your essential foundation of the Christian life should be reading God’s word and praying daily, everything else in your life must fall in line behind Jesus. If not, you are building a life on sinking sand, and one day it will cave in on you.

I know that prayer is the only way to survive the evils of this life, it is the only way to understand our right paths in life, and it is the only way to be a servant to others. My life before prayer and bible reading and my life after my relationship with Jesus is a light into the darkness revelation. I want the same for you now more than ever before. Because we live in the end of times, and even though we were told we would not know the date, day, and time, we were told that we would see the signs within nature and the happenings on earth. And, I feel the urgent need to keep telling you about having a relationship with Jesus. Matthew chapter 24 is the perfect chapter in the bible to read and understand what Jesus says about His return and that we must be ready! Are you ready, and is your life a reflection of what Christ wants from you?

Break free of your worldly shackles and begin reading your bible, pray every day, and walk in the garden with Jesus. For those of you who complain that you do not have enough time for prayer, how many times do you play games on your phone or computer, or visit social media sites or chat sites? Try stopping or cutting back these menial activities in your life and replace them with prayer. You are the only one who can decide what is essential to your life!

God Bless You!

Love, Peace, Truth – A New Movement

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

We could use a new movement here in America, and it should be called Love, Truth, and Peace. After watching the protests during these long COVID months, I began to see through their violent masquerades and saw them along with their organizers very clearly. Their objective is not to help anyone but to organize protests filled with propaganda, hatred, divisiveness, destruction, and fear to procure money for themselves. Upon my realization of their true motives, I knew we must set America in a new direction! I do wonder if they realize the damning legacy they are building up for their own futures.

In Zechariah 8:19, God tells us, “…Therefore, love truth and peace.” As Christians, we must advance love, truth, and peace to all people. We should love others as Jesus loves us, which was enough to die for our sins. Our truth should come from the reading and knowledge of God’s word, and we are responsible for saying His truth, just as He has told it to us. No cliff notes or addendum which procreate wealth and prestige for us. And then there is the peace that should shine through our words, actions, and project it into the world. It must be a contagious peace bringing all races and cultures together. America and the world could use a movement like Love, Truth, and Peace.

I see our objective as lifting those in poverty out of poverty by providing the means, whether it be education, babysitting, or money. House the homeless, feed the hungry and provide medical care for the sick and elderly. The objective is in direct alignment with a dream I have always had, but never the funds. I want to take abandoned schools and other buildings where people can live, get an education, and have medical and dental care brought to them. Not government-operated, but operated by Christian groups and churches. Where they will learn about financial management while living in a beautifully furnished apartment with the everyday luxuries we take for granted. For some of our occupants, it will only be a stepping stone to a better life; they will be responsible for managing, and for others, our apartments will be a permanent home. I can see greenhouses on the property in my mind’s eye, where gardens grow to provide fresh produce. There is a community-building, a shaded playground, and a daycare too. In the middle is a church, for without God in the middle of it all, there is no success.
Some dream, huh?

When I think about Love, Truth, and Peace, I also think about the massive amounts of donations the other hostile organizations have received to promote their agenda. A smokescreen plan of pretending to care for one race while using them as pawns to pad their pockets with unprecedented wealth. Then I reviewed their list of donors and found big corporations like Nike, democratic officials, actors, actresses, and other wealthy Americans. And I question if they even did due diligence on these groups and their motives before throwing money their way? Or if these donors wanted to be forefront in a movement, any movement?

Of course, I know a million better ways to spend the money for a real and lasting change instead of protests and destruction! Would these same donors see a movement such as Love, Truth, and Peace as a just and authentic way to advance change and contribute to it? Yeah, I hear the crickets chirping too. A little too dull, too much religion and the work isn’t very flashy or even destructive, just the everyday grunge of helping others. And it is grunge because you got to get your hands dirty to accomplish real change.

But, I can only do my part, and it is up to you to do your part. So I will be the pebble in the pond working toward expanding my ripples of Love, Truth, and Peace within what I write and the people I encounter each day. What about you? What can you, your family, or business do? Pray about it.

God Bless You

 

 

Good Bye MLB and the NFL!

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

I thought the media had gone mad, and now I see that the MLB and the NFL have jumped off the deep end into the cool-aid pool too! I commend the Giants baseball player, Sam Coonrod, who would not kneel during the National Anthem’s playing because there is no God before his God. And that is precisely how it should be for all Christians. But now, I am heartbroken over my two favorite sports bending to the will of a terrorist group like blm. There will be no sports viewing at our home this year because I refuse to support any organization, who supports blm, with my money either by watching them or purchasing the products they endorse. Americans must wake up and realize that together we can make our dollars turn into powerful bargaining tools for doing what is right and just in this country!

I am not going to write a lengthy blog explaining why I do not care for blm because I think the facts speak for themselves, and you should always get the facts, not opinions. I am going to post videos of individuals who I wished I had met earlier in life. If anyone could use a wise mentor, they are it for both whites and blacks! And they have far more intellect than I. Always go to the smart people, not the rich Hollywood, news and social media outlets, and political opportunists for they will lure you in their direction for their own selfish motives just as they have done with the MLB and the NFL!

Last statements. MLB and NFL commissioners, owners, and players, please come to your senses before you entirely decimate American sports with your poor political decisions! And if you are going to hold a ribbon in support of one race, you better be holding one for all the races! Because it takes all of us to pay your bills and give you the unbelievable lifestyles that you live!

Dr. Thomas Sowell

blm Information

Interview With Peggy Hubbard

The Mad, Mad, Mad American Media

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

The madness must stop! Today’s news media is running rampant over the facts and turning them into Pinocchio’s distorted deception. And why the fraud? For the almighty dollar, my friend. Money drives them into a shark-like feeding frenzy, and if they can not feed, they lead you into a dark world of angry, frustrated angles and half-truths. If you need a reference for the word evil, check out today’s media outlets.

Now, if you want to know about truth and love, most will point you to Jesus’ death on the cross, but He also left us the Holy Spirit to help His children discern our way in life. Just like any loving parent, He did not leave us alone or unprepared for life when being pursued by these opportunistic networks and individuals.  And that is true love!

This is what Jesus said to His disciples concerning His leaving.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- The Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be with you.” John 14:15-17

Is this where we are today in America? Does our media no longer carry the Spirit of Truth inside them but rather the ravenous hunger for wealth without caring about the consequences of their actions and what they report? Or maybe it is because the media has not kept Jesus’ commands, and do not know the Holy Spirit or refuse to listen to him. Another bible verse that I believe represents America’s media, leaders, politicians, and want to be politicians is John 8:44.

“You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your Father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the Father of lies.”

See the line, “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature.” Excuse me while I loudly clear my throat and repeat, “he speaks from his own nature.” So when the media twists and distorts a story they are doing it to benefit their nature, their plan, and their bank accounts! They are despicable.

If anyone of these individuals, groups, or conglomerate outlets spoke the truth, they would not perpetuate feelings of anger, frustration, and fear. How do you feel after watching or reading the news? Do you want to buy a weapon or wall up the area around your house? Remember putting our trust in God is knowing that He is in control. God is not about fear and manipulating others into divisive groups! He wants us to come together and love one another as we love ourselves. I think the American media is not in line with God, and it is time to stop their madness. Which means stop watching them or buying the products that support them being on air. Everyone has to pull together to make a difference, though.

What should we be doing? Getting credible information is a start. At our home, we get our COVID information from Johns Hopkins and the local health department. Our news outlets are NHK and the BBC, and we check our local newspaper The Charlotte Observer for local news to keep up with crime and general information. If we want to know what President Trump has said that day, we go to YouTube and watch his speech. As a matter of fact, we do that for all of our leaders and politicians. Straight from the horse’s mouth. I do not need someone else’s opinion, I have my own opinions.

Reading God’s word, praying, and spending time in His presence is the essential action you can do each day. Take a whole thirty minutes from your morning to read a devotion and then talk to God. One of my favorite songs to listen to during my time with God is Joey and Rory’s “In the Garden.” As Joey sings, “He walks with me, and He talks with me and tells me I am His own.” I feel the truth of the words from the very depths of my soul. I know who I belong to, and it gives me the confidence to face each day.

Why not try for 40 days to stop the media influx into your home, obtain reliable information, and spend your mornings with God. Who knows where the Holy Spirit will lead you, your family, and our nation!

God Bless You!

Dream Jobs

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

If you had the brains, physical attributes, degrees, money, or whatever else will be required to obtain your dream job, what would it be? Have you ever thought about it? Sometimes I love to dive into my imagination, sit back, and ponder about my two dream jobs.

I know some of you will look toward fame and fortune, while others will take the humanitarian route, some will remember a childhood desire, and then there will be those who will head toward the scholarly. Will it be a job from the past, present, or future? I have been harping lately concerning the fact that now is the time for entrepreneurial ideas. When the usual way of life is in the throes of chaos, it is time to brainstorm new ways to engage in work and play. Old habits can melt into exciting avenues of never explored options if we open our minds and hearts.

Since I am a dreamer and already know my dream jobs, I will share them with you. One is a real job, and one position must be created and then developed. Both are fun, at the entirely opposite spectrums of life, and neither one a very lucrative venture. But the joy, oh the joy derived from them will be worth it to me!

The first job is the conductor for the Houston Astros Minute Maid train. My qualifications are that I come from a baseball family, and as soon as I could walk, my dad gave me a glove and put me out in the field while coaching my brother’s little league team. And I played fast-pitch softball along with slow pitch too, third base and catcher. My keen eye can see a play coming down the line at the crack of the bat, and my instincts of what to do are instant. I know and love the game!

I can see myself now, dressed in overalls with an orange and white checked shirt, Astros baseball cap, my Astros tennis shoes, and orange rag in the back pocket standing out by the train. The crowd will be my orchestra and me, its symphony leader. They will rock, sway, and chant to my direction. Of course, I will talk a little junk to the opposing team when they are in the field and cheer on my Astros to victory each game! I know the position is taken, but he has to retire sometime, right?

Astros organization, I want to let you know that I am ready when needed. Call Me!

My second choice is a position that must be created and then developed. I will be the Pioneer leader for the new career located in Washington, DC, and it is called Head, Head Thumper. It will require attendance to all speeches starting at the White House moving over to the Hill, marching to the Pentagon, subsequently wherever the media is present. As you can see, this will have to be a multiple person job.

A Head Thumpers’ job is to keep the rhetoric, lies, accusations, and any other derogatory remarks that are not truthful or backed by documented facts down to a minimum. Depending on the severity of the comment will depend on the type of head thump, and it is a split-second decision administered, the very moment the sewage is spilled.

Now, there are three types of head thumps. One is a simple finger flick to the back of the head for minor infractions. The second is an open-handed wack to the back of the head for a more complex offense, and the third, which is delivered to the front of the head, is called the “Southern Baptist You Are Healed” head thump for the most severe of infractions. The Southern Baptist head thump will be the one which will pave the way until our politicians learn to choose their words carefully and truthfully. Another position, which will be someone who travels with the Head Thumpers is a fact-checker. So, some thumps may be a few minutes delayed. We would hate to administer an unnecessary Head Thump to anyone who did not deserve it, too.

Mr. President, Senate, House, and Pentagon, I am ready to serve my country! Call Me!

As you can see, I have thought long and hard about my dream jobs. What about you? Why not have some fun today and slip into a pleasant old fashioned daydream? What is your dream job? You may be surprised to discover what your subconscious reveals to you!

Shop by Brand: Blue Bayou Hemp

Rewrite! Rainbows and Our Colorful World

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

This article is a rewrite from one I did last week. Sometimes while living with GPA and all that comes with it, I forget how it affects my thought processes. After I have my treatments and steroids and other medications, I then go back and read some of what I have written. Within my Charlie Brown moment of realization, I slap my forehead and yell, “Good Grief!” Besides the articles being disjointed, several thought processes are running within one section. Next is what I meant to say.

When I was a small child, my favorite things to draw were rainbows and trees. Early on, I realized I was not an artist, but for us, amateurs, rainbows, and trees are pretty easy to draw, paint, and color. And no one has to figure out what your picture is about with the guessing game.

Early on, I loved the freedom when drawing rainbows because you could use so many different colors. Mine usually has red as the primary color because red is my favorite, but if you add another color to red, you can create a pink or a purple depending on which way you venture on the color scale. Your rainbow can be substantial, using all the colors on the color wheel or small with only a couple of the primary colors. I enjoyed smearing them together or inventing new colors.

Color is a wondrous and exciting element to life, which is a blessing from God. Rainbows are God’s way to remind us of His promise to Noah and His promises to us. They are mysterious, exciting, and known throughout history as signs. Rainbows hold within them hope, signs, promises, and love from our Heavenly Father that we can see in our physical world.

When someone states that they do not see color to prove they are not racist, it is very discouraging to me. God made us different colors concerning our skin, hair, and eyes, and He gave us an amazingly beautiful colorful world to live. So why do we take something so beautiful and try to destroy or turn it all into a vanilla palette? Boring mush! I see color. I see trees of green and red roses too. (Love me some Louis Armstrong.) I see black, white, chocolate, yellow, red ( especially if you have been out on a sunny day), green ( the color of my eyes) blue for birthmarks, bruises, and veins running beneath our skin. Yep, I see color, and I feel blessed and joyful that God allows me to see color! Revelation 4:3, tells us, “And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.” Can you imagine the power within that rainbow!

I want to share with you what color has brought to my life. I have a sister from Nigeria, and I love the darkness of her skin, eyes, and hair. I still have not figured out why she has no gray in her hair as I do. But that is for another day. God brought her to America and me to the same area from North Carolina for us to meet. She is David to my Jonathan, and I believe God knitted our souls together while we were still in heaven with Him. My favorite verse concerning their friendship and ours is, “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1

If you do not know about David and Jonathan’s friendship, read 1 Samuel in the old testament of the bible. And no, I am not going to point out a section or two for you to read and understand. Read all of 1 Samuel, because maybe it will pique your interest at reading the bible every day!

She has taught me so much about worshipping God, prayer, friendship, and the importance of blessing our family, friends, and others we may meet. My walk with God is more significant because of her. I also have learned about Nigerian customs and culture. Children after high school may attend college, but they are not thrown out into the world to fend for themselves. Parents want them to live with them until they marry. Think of the benefits for the family and the children by living this way. They can save their money while working and being home and assist their parents, while the young adults stay anchored in God and do what is right. Did you know that they don’t have mortgages? When you have enough money, you buy the land and then as you have more money, you begin to build your home. Maybe one or two rooms at first, but over the years, a home takes form—an extremely stable way to start life.

If I had whitewashed my world and heart all these years, I would have missed out on a very vibrant rainbow in my life with lessons and laughter deeply embedded within my heart. And a sister I have always wanted. As a matter of fact, I am miffed at the COVID virus because we plan to take a trip in the fall, just us two girls, and if things keep up with the virus, we will have to cancel. Please wear a mask and wash your hands!

God gave us color full of His holy power and brought diversity into the world and meant it for our good. And if you don’t believe me, check out the research on color when used as a stimulate, mood enhancer, and a soul soother. They even sell adult coloring books as tension relievers and brain boosters! As usual, man can take something so splendid and muck it up.

Keep seeing color in America, and America will come back with skies full of rainbows! And if these are “end of times” events, get your life committed to Jesus Christ and then look to the sky for He is coming back! Stay strong, stay safe, persevere, and pray! And love everyone as you love yourself!
God Bless You!