Living in the Last Hour

“Fear not, for I am with you” says my God.

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Irm

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Who are these men of “faith” spewing out doom and gloom for God’s people should a democrat, liberal, or progressive get elected as President of the United States? Have they forgotten the omnipotence of the God they serve? And, out of curiosity, I wonder how Christians rationalize unleashing hate and violence, bullying, on a people that Jesus came to save and on fellow believers that disagree with their politics? I wonder when the issue of abortion “trumped” the message of salvation. If God was a one issue God – I would guess His priority message would be salvation.

Let me tell you “men” of faith. I do not know the heart of “any man” but my God surely does. So, I can’t say that you are not children of God. But, what I can say is this. I need not fear any man that threatens my physical life, much less my way of life – because my God is with me – right here – in this land of milk and honey and pharisees and an ever so sinful people. And even if I lost my worldly freedoms I would not bow to another God. As a believer in God, the Creator of all things, the God who sent His Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the sins of all man, I would not jump on any train, or join any caravan flying the flag of any man, much less one that purports to be the savior of Christianity. If God was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction for “10” – “10” righteous people – what would He not do for a people whose heart turns back to Him?

How dare you spread the fear of man. My God is clearly so much greater than yours; omnipotent – sovereign – is He, that no mere human could take anything that my God has promised to me in this world or the next. Have you forgotten that everything in this world is temporary? Tell me, because I know that you know, “Who can compete against the God who gives and takes away, who appoints kings and rulers and religious leaders for His purpose – be it for blessings or discipline?”

My God has prophesied a final destiny for His people. The journey is set, and God alone has the date, time and place of every move. We were left with clues that are open to interpretation. And to date many a man, in his own wisdom, attempts to decipher the Scriptures. It is the Spirit of God that reveals the Scriptures to us. And what Scripture tells me in Isaiah 41:10 is,

“Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

Isaiah 41:10

And in Matthew the Word tells me

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28

This message is repeated quite often in Scripture. And if the Scriptures are God’s truth, and I believe they are, then tell me whom should I fear, of whom should I be afraid?

Jesus, Himself showed us this truth. When faced with death by crucifixion, Jesus would not defend himself. Pilate tells Jesus he could save him. But Jesus, secure in the knowledge of God’s masterplan and His role in God’s plan answered,

“You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

John 19:11

I have to say that when Trump ran in 2016, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I couldn’t believe evangelicals were flocking to his side. I spoke to a few people about my observations regarding this movement of evangelicals – “a most ominous phenomenon” I said. It was easy to understand why gun owners would flock to him; he was also singing their tune. Clearly, race, social class and education didn’t factor in with these two issues. A few of the people I spoke to didn’t believe Trump could actually get elected. I disagreed. I saw a boastful, arrogant man tapping into the emotions of people. And for Christians that was a sign – a real move of the spirit.

I knew then, that this man had a good chance of stealing the election. Not for any reason, other than he was saying all the right words to a people of God obsessed with their own desires, their own political power. He yanked them by their wicked hearts and whispered the magic word – abortion. Their god had answered their prayer. He had sent them a man, a warrior to battle against the brutal slaying of innocent unborn lives. They are so misguided by their pious traditions, these Christians. They can’t even grasp, or maybe they just refuse to acknowledge that life and death is always in the hands of the living and powerful, yet loving God. Forget the pharisaical politics. We can search the Scriptures to find where it is written,

“‘Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.” Deuteronomy 32:39

Because of Jesus Christ, everyone is offered the gift of salvation. And believing in Christ is only the beginning of a life-long journey designed to transform us into the image of God. Believing doesn’t turn us into saintly people. But at some point in our journey we become fully convinced that God is who He says He is?

The year has felt as if all hell was unleashed on America. With the pandemic only the start of it. Even so, the hand of God was evident. We witnessed a rebellious church refuse to comply with social mandates to keep Americans safe. We witness a crop of weeds infiltrate the ranks of those that keep watch over our communities, to unleash their own torment on fellow citizens. We witnessed the leader of the greatest nation incite all sorts of division and dissension on an unsuspecting people. As Americans, our candidate may not always win any particular election. We may not agree with the politics of the candidates that get elected, but we do trust that they will hold to the honor and integrity of the office to which he or she is entrusted.

Matthew 24, as it is written will surely come to pass. I pray God will guard the hearts and minds of His true children. I pray they will seek God while He may be found.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 55:6-7

They have no ears to hear

Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.”

Be blessed.

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Hello,

I’m Irma

Welcome to my little corner of the blog world. Here, I share my thoughts on Christianity, the things of God, and the ways He has shaped and guided my path through life. My journey with the Lord has been long and transformative, marked by moments of peace and joy and periods of uncertainty. I write, first and foremost, for myself—to process what the Lord so graciously reveals to me in Scripture. Sharing some of these truths has become a mission of sorts, via blogging. His word urges us to bear witness and encourage one another.

As I reflect on my own transformation, I can say that the church itself has transformed over the years and not necessarily for the good. I speak about my own experiences with the church. One lesson the Lord impressed upon me this year is that “truth is not always truth.” What do I mean by that? There have been times when I’ve shared a biblical insight, only to realize that other faithful believers interpret the same passage differently. In that instance, I find that the Lord reveals according to our understanding. When I share the need for a Damascus experience understandings diverged sharply. Believers that have been raised in the church do not feel that such an extreme experience is necessary for spiritual maturity. Our faith is truly shaped by our backgrounds. Spiritual journeys are not for everyone. This taught me that early socialization deeply colors our grasp of faith; what’s true for me may not resonate in the same way for someone else.

Similarly, lately I considered how “ignorance of Scripture was its own blessing,” I remembered my early walk with Christ. I had a blind faith. I knew little of doctrine or debate. I trusted the pastor. In those days, my faith and trust in the church and church leaders was simple—I accepted what was taught from the pulpit without questioning. I did not have the knowledge needed to question any teaching. There was a peace in not knowing all the controversies or complexities. As I grew and studied the scriptures, and did some additional research, as the Lord gave understanding, I found myself questioning everything I had been taught. I did not question my faith, or the existence of God. That ignorance, while limiting, protected me from confusion and doubt, allowing me to rest in childlike faith.

The church itself has seen many changes over the decades. Self-proclaimed prophets have introduced new doctrines, some bordering on heresy, while believers wrestle with their flesh and what it means to follow Christ in a society with so many freedoms. I remember a time, more than thirty years ago, when I trusted every word spoken in church. Now, I understand how easy it is to accept teachings that stray from biblical truth. The Scriptures warned us this would happen in the last days.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV) “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Current events—like the 2024 Election—have exposed deep flaws in American Christianity. Yet, through it all, Scripture assures me that God is sovereign. No wall built by human hands can withstand His judgment; no scheme crafted in darkness escapes His light. These lessons have become more real to me as I look back over my journals, filled with stories of God’s faithfulness during trials, tribulations and abundant grace. By sharing I hope those the Lord leads here will desire to seek God wholeheartedly, to find comfort knowing that He is always at work in our lives—often in ways we never considered.

Check out my books on Amazon for the Kindle App or in print.

Check out my latest title: Where are my Sheep? Available in Print & Kindle

The Diary of A Christian Woman

A Father Takes All: Four Generations of Growing up in Single Mother Homes – Grace Abounds

I Will Not Be Afraid: Living in the last Hour – Reflections of a Christian Woman

The Journey Endured: The Path to Meet God

Praise the God of the heavens!