Tag: faith

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Encouragement for Christians

Posted on by Robin Ulbredtch

The events that have taken place, the evil actions and words we have seen on television and the news media have been difficult for Christians and others to witness. These actions and words of hate, fanaticism, and deprivation have taken many by surprise and have left many people in a state of disillusionment and grief. Though the Bible predicts the increase in evil in the last days, it still can take us by surprise, and leave us in this place of disillusionment, especially if we are new believers in Jesus Christ, and don’t know Him or His word well.

This last week we saw the evil murder of Charlie Kirk as he was sharing God’s message, encouraging people all over the world to debate the issues dividing us in peaceful debate, and encouraging people to believe in Jesus and follow His ways. Charlie put himself in danger and tried to turn people to God and basic moral values, instead of the ways of woke ideals that evil and fanatical people have tried to force on us, and use to destroy our nation and people world wide.

This assassination has left many people frustrated, angry, and disillusioned. Being angry at the sin is a right response for every person, especially those who knew and loved Charlie who was taken at only 31 years of age. But God warns us, that in our anger, we should not sin. Though this death was tragic, God allowed it because He knew what it would bring about.

Now, Charlie’s admirers, friends, family and people worldwide have made a resolve to step out in faith and help advance Turning Point U. S. A. Many are donating gifts, showing up at vigils, talking about the great example of a Godly man and how he touched many youth and others for God, and advanced His kingdom and the voters to help President Trump and the Republican win the election. God was obviously using Charlie in a mighty way.

Now many people have stepped up and inquired about starting up Turning Point groups all across the U, S. and the world. The young people and others are determined to keep the work that Charlie began alive and increasing. This is an incredible work of God, and I applaud Charlie’s wife for her courage and dedication to keeping this alive. I believe God will continue to use Turning Point U. S. A. in a mighty way.

As we deal with anger, disillusionment, frustration, grief, and our emotional responses to this horrific act, we must be careful not to let our emotions get out of control and perpetrate evil on the one who murdered Charlie or those who are speaking boldly, lying about him, mocking, and even celebrating his death. We must ask God to help us process these emotions within us, and leave the consequences in God’s hands. In scripture it says, “‘Vengeance is mine’, says the Lord.” God is better prepared to bring vengeance on this murderer and on anyone who brings harm to His children, whatever form it is.

God will be glorified by those who continue on with Charlies work! He will also be glorified by our not bringing violence upon the perpetrators of this evil. I believe God’s work will spread like wildfire, and Biblical values and principles will be more prominent. The more the world and the U. S. A. spread the Gospel and promote peace, the Christians will become stronger and will be advancing God’s plan. This will bring the rapture of the church closer, and the events of the last days closer as well.

Also, when we look at Bible accounts of the persecution of Christians, it has the same affect. Those who persecute Christians will cause God and His people to become even more passionate about sharing the Gospel and living it out. Those who think they are destroying God’s plan are actually causing it to multiply the number of believers, increase the power of God’s word, and spread it out across the globe further. In the end, God will punish them for the evil they have done!

Make it your goal to know God and make Him known. We learn about God by studying scripture but we learn even more about Him by establishing a one-on-one relationship with Him through obeying His word and seeking Him out in your secret place of prayer. Knowing God comes from repeated encounters with Him and sharing what is in our heart with Him.

God alone can heal our broken hearts and lives and can fill the emptiness within each one of us. We all can get comfort and learn many things the Bible reveals to us about God. Give your heartache to God and ask Him to help heal your heart and life. He will answer because God is faithful and He loves you!

The Holy Bible is God’s message to us. It’s the story of God and His plans and interactions with His creation and His created people. The Bible tells us about the all-powerful God who knows and loves us even when we make horrible mistakes in this life. God forgives, heals, loves, protects, and provides for His people as we walk through our journey on this earth and then as we enter heaven to be with Jesus in God’s heavenly household throughout eternity. God wants us to share our joys, needs, thoughts, and troubles with Him in our personal relationship with Him. God is our ever-present help in trouble.

In the many accounts of recorded history and God’s interaction with people, we can learn many lessons from those who lived before us and interacted with God. The Bible instructs us on how we can live our lives in a way that will bring honor and glory to God. It teaches us how to love God and love others and how to make good choices. The Bible tells us about the two paths we can choose to walk on, and the final destination of each path.

The God of the Bible is invincible. No power on earth or in heaven can thwart His overall plan. He is the only true, miracle-working God, and the only one who can truly take care of us in any situation. But God will not always intervene on our behalf if we purposely choose to reject Him.

So be courageous and continue on the path God has set before you. We need to fight the good fight of faith until the end and God takes us home to be with Him. We all want to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We all need to know Charlie is with Jesus, and if we are faithful we will see him again in heaven at our appointed time.

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Discipline Brings Forth Delight

Posted on by Robin Ulbredtch

Disciplining students, especially children and youth, continues to challenge parents regardless of their beliefs. Most youth simply don’t want to listen and obey, and many parents don’t want to put in the effort to consistently discipline and train up their youngsters because of a variety of reasons. Some parents don’t want to put forth the effort because consistent discipline requires work. Some would rather not have to be home to manage their family because they have to deny themselves time out in the community with their friends seeking entertainment or other types of personal satisfaction. Some parents choose not to discipline because they don’t want to be the example for their children and have to change their own behaviors. Some parents are afraid of disciplining (not abusing) their children because worldly laws threaten to have them arrested if they do. Children are taught in the public schools and social service locations to report their parents if they are denied anything. Saying “no” and sticking to it is inviting child support services to come knocking on your door.

Because of laws in our nation (the U. S. A.) parents, teachers, and others in charge of children can no longer discipline or spank children for bad behavior without fear of being hauled into court on child abuse charges and having their children taken away and put in care of the state. Parents are being taken to court for simply trying to discipline their own unruly, strong-willed child. Parents who have divorced use the law as a weapon to take custody away from their ex spouse because of anger from their past relationship. By penalizing parents for simply trying to discipline (not abuse) their unruly child, our government is encouraging bad behavior. They also do this by giving criminals little or no penalty instead of making the penalty equal to the crime and demanding restoration whenever possible. There is no accountability. Our nation has turned the legal system upside down and chaos reigns in many places. Our court system does not discourage lawlessness anymore; it usually protects the criminal and causes even more pain to the victim who was already hurt by illegal and violent behavior. Our court system is overloaded with cases that should never have been brought to court and often chooses the side of the criminal over the victim. What an injustice!

Parents, teachers, and others can no longer discipline an unruly child with a method that will be strong enough to deter or discourage bad behavior. The child can be given a verbal warning, or a timeout but these methods are frequently ineffective with a strong-willed child who is determined to have their own way. Soon the child and the one trying to correct them end up in a battle of the wills. The child continually tries to push his own way forward and manipulate the parents into giving up and/or giving the child their own way. At this point, a stronger means of discipline is needed to get the child to realize the parent is serious and back down. Administering strong discipline is “tough love” and sometimes its also tough on the parent who has to stick to their discipline to steer the child away from the bad path.

After disciplining the child and seeing the child repent and do the correct behavior, the parents need to reassure the youngster of their love and explain that they are training them to help them live a better life as an adult instead of going into a life of crime and spending their life in a jail or other correctional facility. Discipline deters bad behavior which reaps bad consequences! Discipline does not hinder a child, rather it enhances the life and future of the child.

As the single mother of two sons, I spanked my children only as a last resort, only when other methods would not work. Though it was tough for me to do it, I knew it was necessary to get my sons to obey and avoid bad situations.

I do not condone abusing children. Swatting or hitting a child anywhere other than on their bottom is abuse. Spanking should be used only when other methods fail. Spanking with anything other than your hand or a lightweight spanking stick is what I consider abuse. Spanking or disciplining out of anger is not good. It can lead to abuse. An angry parent needs to cool off and come up with a method of discipline that equals the seriousness of the bad behavior. Restoration should be made whenever possible.

Abuse, whatever form it takes, comes from a heart full of rage. It is not seeking to train up and better the child; rather, it is seeking self satisfaction instead of the betterment of the child. Abuse is not love because it doesn’t seek to build up the child but it causes great destruction. The child who is disciplined always needs to know the reason for the correction and how and why they are expected to change their behavior.

Undisciplined children also need to know that there are times when it’s necessary for them to sit still, be quiet, and listen, such as in a church service, or class at school. They need to be taught when to obey instructions and when to flee from harmful people. They need to learn that discipline is needful at times to train them up to be a responsible adult who benefits society–not a person who spreads destruction. There are many references in the Bible to discipline and even spanking children to turn their hearts from evil and save their souls! Some scriptures on discipline include Proverbs 3:12-14, 13:24, 15:10, 22:15, 23:13. So when needed, administer some tough love and set your child on the right path.

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”

–Proverbs 29:17 KJV

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Media’s Influence: Good or Bad?

Posted on by Robin Ulbredtch

As the levels of knowledge and technology in the world increase, we need to continually be watching what we allow in our Christian homes, churches, and daily lives. Many devices, including our computers, game machines, and cell phones allow us to bring in information from all over the world and to communicate to others across the globe. We are bombarded with all kinds of alluring advertisements that try to convince us we need to purchase some new product or join some new cause, even if it kills us. These alluring ads can stir up powerful desires in us that convince us to drop everything, run to the store, and purchase the product.

Some media teach us self-centeredness and self-reliance instead of giving, loving God and others, and depending on God instead of ourselves. Some media encourage, promote, and teach about unnatural relationships, pornography, alcoholism, drug abuse, greed, materialism, and the worship of man-made gods, false spiritual ideologies, and even the worship of man and/or women. Some also promote disrespect to elderly and family members, racial conflict, rebellion, illicit sex, and violence. They elevate and glamorize every kind of evil.

Many media sources lie to us, promoting false ideas to purposely destroy people and families. They present the lie that we have to be beautiful/handsome, skinny, and wealthy or we are worthless. Or they promote the idea that the pasture is always greener in every other place, rather than being at home with our family. They lure married couples to stray from their marriages and have affairs and they lure people into living together rather than getting married and doing life in a way that God will bless you.

Some media also promote the “keep up with the Jones'” mentality that implies that if you don’t have the biggest, most-expensive car, clothing, home, or toy you are in a lower class of people and have less value. This deception lures people into serious debt that they cannot repay, even if they work their whole lifetime trying to do so. This debt robs people of their enjoyment in life, leaving them depressed, hopeless, and stressed out–sometimes to the point of destroying their health or even committing suicide.

When people are so depressed with life that they commit suicide, Satan glories in his ability to rob, kill, and destroy. God’s word warns us about Satan and his goal of destroying God’s people and God’s plan. In John 10:10-11 KJV Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

The “keep up with the Jones'” attitude promotes labeling, and classes of society, and classes of individuals. Our society labels low-income families as poor, impoverished, disadvantaged, and less than acceptable, instead of helping them learn how to live a productive life and improve their situation. Though their are some people who refuse to work and improve their lifestyle, many would appreciate some coaching or help so they know how to manage their resources better or get a job. The fact that a person is disadvantaged, handicapped, or poor does not make them less valuable.

God’s word tells us that Jesus died for us, making us priceless and worth more than any other created thing. It tells us that no one can ever pay enough money for a human soul. Jesus purchased us with his blood.

People of all ages are burdened with woke ideology and perversion. Division and hate are being spread like wildfire and violent rhetoric is stirring up many people with mental illness and criminal behavior, who join together in violent mobs, to destroy anything or anyone who opposes their opinions. As a result more people are being killed.

Also, false religions, cults, terrorist groups, and others are acting out and inciting others to persecute people of faith in the God of the Bible. Selfishness and radical ideology rage against true believers who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Many of our government and even church leaders are being corrupted by the evil around them and are lying, cheating, and even murdering those who don’t go along with their beliefs. They seek power and wealth, but care nothing about the people who they are to lead by example.

Many of our media, news programs, television shows, computer and video games, and other sources of information try to bombard us with evil. New technology is created to steal our identity, personal finances and resources, and even this new A. I. is invading our privacy and trying to replicate robots that steal our jobs and track and spy on us.

Our own government leaders, many scammers, greedy business people, criminals from all over the world and sometimes even our own families try to steal from us. Many people do not have enough training in computers or technology to protect their families, homes, and privacy from evil people stealing everything they work so hard to attain. Many of these evils come at us through the use of new technology, especially cell phones, computers, and television. We need to be careful of what we allow in our homes, schools, and work places. Is the new technology influencing us in a manner that is good or bad?

In this world, Satan and the forces of darkness use these electronic devices to lure us into evil and to promote the agenda of darkness and the world agenda. Powerful radio and television programing, computer and game machine programs, and many communication applications are designed to gaslight or program us with worldly thinking patterns instead of living a Godly life with Godly thinking patterns.

As Christians, we need to truly monitor what we put into our minds. We need to check out our electronic and technical gadgetry to make sure we are not feeding our minds, or allowing our children and youth, to fill their minds with the garbage that’s put out to lead us down the wrong path. We need to focus on our relationship with God and think on things above. We need to be careful to not let this alluring advertising and colorful programming to such us in to an evil trap.

As Christians, we are not to think on these worldly life and thinking patterns which lead to destruction and spiritual death. In Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV) God’s word tell us, “(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Romans 12:2 KJV tells us, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”