Our God Reigns!

 

When I was growing up, there was a very popular song played on secular radio called "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands".  When I read this article on Facebook, the song came to mind.  Sometimes I get discouraged when I see the evil, horrible, disgusting things happening in our country. Then I'm tempted to give up. To stop telling people the TRUTH about what's not being reported on the propaganda machine (mainstream news).  To stop contacting my representatives about current agenda items in the House and Senate.  To stop taking a stand for righteousness in my city, country, and state.   But then, God arises!!  Hope comes!  Strength comes! Because I remember the battles Adonai has fought for me personally, and for my beloved country.  Listening to this song energizes me to continue in battle for America:  LET GOD ARISE!

Then, I remember this encouragement from His Word: 

"There is a reason the Books of First and Second Kings disturb modern Christians, and it is the same reason they disturb modern governments. Those books prove beyond argument that God does not merely watch history. He interrupts it. He removes kings. He raises shepherds. He humbles empires. Scripture says plainly, “He removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). That statement is not poetry. It is policy. Every throne on earth exists on borrowed time, and every ruler answers to a higher throne whether he acknowledges it or not.

 

The modern world teaches you that power flows upward from the people. God teaches you that power flows downward from Him. Pharaoh learned it. Nebuchadnezzar learned it. Ahab learned it. When a king defied the Word of God, he did not lose power because of political opposition. He lost power because heaven revoked his permission to sit there. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6–7). Every rise and every fall is a spiritual event before it is ever a political one.

 

This is why the prophets terrified kings more than armies did. Ahab feared Elijah more than he feared Syria. Herod feared John the Baptist more than he feared Rome. Why? Because a prophet carried something no army could carry: the authority of the Word of God. One sentence from heaven outweighed ten thousand soldiers on earth. When Elijah said dogs would lick Ahab’s blood, no military strategy on earth could prevent it, because the outcome was already decided in the courtroom of eternity (1 Kings 21:19).

 

Nothing has changed. The same God who ruled in the days of Kings rules now. Nations still rise. Nations still fall. Leaders still think they are in control, but heaven still holds the leash. The question is not whether God is involved. The question is whether you recognize it. Because the same God who removes kings also saves sinners, and the same authority that topples thrones can rescue a soul. History is not random. History is ruled.”

Anonymous (found on Facebook)

REDEDICATE AMERICA

 

This article is from the website for Liberty Counsel  www.lc.org

President Trump Calls To “Rededicate America” Back to God

Feb 9, 2026

Last week, President Donald Trump announced at the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast that on May 17, 2026, there will be a major prayer event held on the National Mall to “rededicate America as one nation under God.”

The special prayer event is part of America’s 250th birthday celebration titled, “Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving.” The 12-hour sacred dedication event promises that “In speech, song, and storytelling, we will bear witness to the extraordinary story of how God has powerfully and wonderfully shaped the United States of America — remembering the people, sacrifices, and defining moments in which God has powerfully manifested Himself in our history.”

President Trump has invited Americans from across the country to come together on the National Mall on that day to pray, praise, and give thanks. During the announcement, he noted a spiritual renewal and rising church attendance in America. He praised this trend declaring that “to be a great nation…you have to have faith” and “you have to have God.”

While President Trump did not specify the reason May 17 was chosen, the Continental Congress had declared May 17, 1776, a national day of fasting and prayer before the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence.

“Almost 250 years after our Founding Fathers took one of the greatest leaps of faith in human history…it reminds us that prayers strengthen, prayers heal, prayer empowers and prayer saves,” said President Trump. “Quite simply, prayer is America’s superpower.” 

In his hour-long speech, President Trump also made a second announcement that the Department of Education has new guidance intended to protect the right of teachers and students to pray and express their faith in public schools.

“Public schools must permit students to pray privately and quietly by themselves, whether in class, at an athletic event, or before a meal,” reads the guidance. “Students may also pray in a speaking voice on the same terms as any other student might engage in non-religious speech.”

The new guidance also stipulated that students must be allowed to express their religious faith in assignments, and at school events when they are permitted to speak. Also, school employees can pray at work on the same terms as the students, states the guidance.

The Department of Education ultimately directed schools take a “general principle of neutrality toward religion” as not to prefer or discriminate between religious and secular groups, activities, or expression. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We welcome President Trump’s call to national prayer and to rededicate our nation back to God as it approaches its 250th anniversary.  President Trump’s announcements convey the foundational truth that faith and freedom go hand in hand in our nation. Furthermore, every individual—whether teacher, student, or citizen—retains the right to pray, to express their beliefs, and to live out their faith without fear of government censorship.”

Border Security

  

With all of the chaos and controversy surrounding immigration, I thought this article would be helpful to my dear Gail-Friends. Please join me in praying for peace . . . and for common sense to prevail in our beloved country.

This article is by House Speaker Mike Johnson.  I saw the news clip yesterday where a reporter used Scripture to frame his question.  Speaker Johnson's response is perfect. 

"In the press gaggle following today's vote, I was asked to defend the Biblical case for border security and immigration enforcement. I did so, and then promised to post a longer explanation that I drafted during the Biden Administration. Here it is, and I hope it's helpful:

 

Despite the insistence of the progressive Left, people of all religious faiths should support a strong national border—and Christians CERTAINLY should. Critics are fond of citing particular Bible verses out of context to claim that Christians and Jews are being “unfaithful” if we oppose their radical open borders agenda. It has become increasingly important for us to set this record straight.

 

Perhaps the verse most often cited by the Left is Leviticus 19:34. Whether they know it or not, that passage happens to be from the instructions Moses delivered to the Israelites when they were on their journey through the wilderness in Sinai, before they reached their own Promised Land. The verse reads as follows: “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (KJV)

 

CONTEXT IS CRITICAL

 

It is, of course, a central premise of Judeo-Christian teaching that strangers should be treated with kindness and hospitality. We are each called to love God first and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:36-40, KJV). However, that “Greatest Commandment” was never directed to the government, but to INDIVIDUAL believers.

 

The Bible teaches that God ordained and created four distinct spheres of authority— (1) the individual, (2) the family, (3) the church, and (4) civil government—and each of these spheres is given different responsibilities. For example, while each INDIVIDUAL is accountable for his or her own behavior (e.g., Exodus 20), the FAMILY is commanded to “bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) and “provide for their relatives” (1 Tim. 5:8). The CHURCH is commanded to make disciples and equip people for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-13), and the CIVIL GOVERNMENT is established to faithfully uphold and enforce the law so that order can be maintained in this fallen world, crime can be kept at bay, and people can live peacefully (Rom. 13, 1 Tim. 2:1-2).

 

To be properly understood, anytime a command is given in Scripture, one must first determine to WHOM that command is directed. For example, when Jesus taught us as His followers to practice mercy and forgiveness and to “turn the other cheek” (Matt. 5:38-40, KJV), He was not giving that command to the government. To the contrary, when government officials ignore crime, they are directly VIOLATING their responsibilities before God.

 

Indeed, the civil authorities are specifically charged to do justice, to ”bear the sword,” and to serve as “the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:1-4, KJV). As the Bible warns: “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.” (Ecc. 8:11, TLB)

 

Read in its context, the passage in Leviticus 19 makes perfect sense. Showing love and kindness to a stranger was not a command given to civil government, but instead to individual believers. That same principle is emphasized in the New Testament. When Jesus spoke of embracing, caring, and providing for “the least of these” (E.g., Matt. 25:31-40), His instruction was given to His disciples, and not the local authorities.

 

The Bible is clear that Christians should practice personal charity—but also insist upon the enforcement of laws (like our federal immigration statutes) so that “every person is subject to the governing authorities” and “those who resist incur judgment” (Rom. 13:1-2).

 

BORDERS ARE BIBLICAL

Many on the Left today, and even some at the highest levels of our government, consider themselves “globalists” who envision a utopian world order where there are no borders between countries at all. Their fantasy will simply never be realized, and their basic premise (that man is inherently good and perfectible on his own) is the opposite of the Biblical truth that man is fallen and in need of redemption that is available only through salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible speaks favorably and consistently about distinct nations of people (see, e.g., Gen. 18:18, Num. 32:17, Psalm 67:2, Matt. 28:19, Rev. 5:9, 7:9, NIV), and about borders and walls that are built to guard and secure people, property, and jurisdictions (see, e.g., Deut. 19:14, 27:17, 32:8, Acts 17:26, NIV). When Nehemiah heroically led the Jewish remnant to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after their enemies had destroyed those walls, he was doing the noble work of God (Neh. 1-6, NIV).

 

Maintaining a secure border is not an offensive measure, but a wise, defensive one to prevent chaos and safeguard innocent life. As Rev. Franklin Graham once summarized, “Why do you lock your doors at night? Not because you hate the people on the outside, but because you love the people on the inside so much.”

 

THE CURRENT CATASTROPHE

 

Right now, because of 64 deliberate policy choices and executive orders of the Biden Administration, America is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and national security catastrophe at our open southern border. More than 10 million illegal aliens from around the world have entered the U.S. since Joe Biden became President, the majority of whom are single, military-aged men. Among them are countless violent criminals and more than 300 suspects on the terrorist watchlist. Cartels are making billions trafficking young women and unaccompanied minors, and many are suffering unspeakable abuses along the way. The Fentanyl that China and the cartels have pushed into the U.S. has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.

 

As the peril increases and communities across our country become more and more overwhelmed with the crushing financial burdens of managing the influx of illegals, American citizens (and even a few Democratic governors and mayors) are finally demanding a return to sanity. America has always been a haven for people legitimately seeking asylum from danger in their home country, but we must insist they pursue a course of legal immigration and not simply ignore our laws.

 

Of course, the President of the United States must be the first to uphold our laws. Every citizen should insist that President Biden immediately use the eight broad statutory authorities he has right now to secure our borders and stop incentivizing illegal immigration. Among his most important executive authorities is 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), which empowers a President to “suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate” if he “finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

 

AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

 

Due in large part to our Judeo-Christian foundations and the deep religious heritage we enjoy in this country, America is the most benevolent nation in the world—by far. However, we cannot maintain that strength and generosity if we surrender our own safety and sovereignty. Preserving law and order and securing our borders should not be partisan issues, but matters of common sense. These are certainly responsibilities fully authorized by the Bible—and expected of us by God.

 

Any time liberals attempt to bolster their “open borders” agenda by citing Scripture out of context, they should be kindly corrected with the facts (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Christians are called to love unconditionally, serve selflessly, and defend the defenseless. We are also called to stand for, and work to ensure, just government. Justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive pursuits. To the contrary, God specifically requires His people to practice both (Micah 6:8). Despite the unfounded claims of the Left, supporting a strong national border is a very Christian thing to do. The Bible tells us so."

*article from Speaker Mike Johnson on Facebook

** photo from flikr 

Praying for My Beloved Country

 

Gail-Friends, please join me in prayer for America.  You can add your prayers AND praises in the comments below. It's important to know the truth about what's going on, so please see my posts about alternative news outlets.  We are in a war between good and evil.  There is violence in our streets.  Our leaders and law-makers need our prayers and support - President Trump and his cabinet, the congress, courts, city, county, and state officials. Our peace-keepers need our prayers and our support - police, state troopers, sheriffs, military, national guard, and especially ICE.

We believers are called to fight in this war, too.  Please see my previous posts about our spiritual weapons: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.

Dear Heavenly Father – We praise You and give You all glory, honor, and praise. Even when things look dark and hopeless, we cling to You, our Rock! As we watch the demonic chaos in the streets of Minneapolis and other cities, we REMEMBER to cast down imaginations, and every thought that exalts itself against Your Truth. Blessed are You, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of all and Master of all. You are in control no matter how dark things seem. You hear our prayers, and we know that You have not given us a spirit of fear...but of peace, and love, and power through Your Holy Spirit. HALELUYAH!

We praise and thank You for the good things we’ve seen over the past week:

The truths that are coming out about paid protesters in Minneapolis and other cities, and for the work of independent journalists who are boldly going where the mainstream media will not go. God, we pray for their protection.

For the gift of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump by Venezuala’s Maria Corina Machado for his "unique commitment" to Venezuela's freedom and his actions in support of their cause (following U.S. involvement in the ousting of Nicolás Maduro). HALELUYAH! He is a man of peace, having helped to end eight wars over the past year.

Thank You, Father, that President Trump was able to influence Iran not to kill 800 anti-government protesters. We pray for peace in Iran.

HALELUYAH! America’s economy is improving: gas prices and mortgage rates dropped, and the trade deficit hit a 16-year low, attributed to President Trump’s trade policies.

Thank You, Father, that changes are being made related to children’s vaccines, costs of medicines, and healthy diet /food guidelines. We pray for President’s new health care plan to be favored and passed by the Congress.

We give You glory, Father!

Lord, I pray along with everyone here for accountability for those who have tried to steal, kill, and destroy our beloved country. We pray for these traitors to be prosecuted and brought to justice. It is time, Father, for the TRUTH to be told.

We pray for our Supreme Court judges as they hear oral arguments related to transgender athlete bans - to make a wise, common sense, scientific, and Biblical decision. And I pray for every judge that makes any decisions that are against Your Word, Will, and Ways to be removed – from the highest to the lowest court.

We pray about the elections coming in the months ahead… for godly, righteous  men and women to run and be elected to office.

We pray for all election fraud to be revealed and prosecuted.

Father as I watch the news, I ponder how many people there are who fight against what President Trump is doing to save our country. You spoke this to my heart :

They cannot see or hear spiritually. They never will see and hear what you see and understand – UNLESS AND UNTIL they (like the prodigal son) come to their senses. They see through the eyes of pride – wanting and doing their own will and ways...just as you once did...until you were humbled. Just like the prodigal son when he woke up in a pig pen and covered with their waste. He came to his senses and said to himself, I will go to my fathers house. You did the same.

Yes, Father, thank You for Your patience with me and for You bringing me to my senses. So I pray for blinded eyes, deaf ears, and foolish or evil hearts to be humbled – for them to come to their senses, repent (turn to Your Laws, Will, and Ways), and to recognize Yeshua as our only payment for turning our backs on you. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life – and I pray for a burning fire in myself and everyone here to share this truth. Give us divine appointments to share the Torah and Yeshua.

I pray this blessing over my Gail-Friends:

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Pray for America

 

God laid this prayer on my heart last week as I watched the insanity in Minnesota**:

 

No matter how dark the day, GOD'S light shines through. He encourages us to see from a heavenly perspective, with HOPE.

 

Father, we call for Your warring angels to come between the violent demonic forces and our ICE agents to protect and defend them.

 

We pray for the demonic mission to steal, kill, and destroy to be defeated in every state.

 

We pray for the eyes of the blind to SEE - our beloved America is turning away from "lawlessness" to "lawfulness" - not only civil law, but Your holy, righteous law.

 

May Your Word, Your Will, and Your Ways reign in America, and may the Golden Era be the bright and and shining way of holiness.

 

Today, I read of  a national call to prayer from Franklin Graham:

If you think our nation is in trouble now, just wait… As our streets boil over with hate, anger, crime, drugs, and just sheer hopelessness, is there something we can do? You bet there is.

 

I would like to call for a time of prayer and repentance this Wednesday, January 14, at 12:00 noon.

As a nation, our sins are so great. We have increasingly turned our backs on God and His commands, embracing godless secularism. We need to ask His forgiveness and seek His face.

 

Pray for our leaders, and pray that God would bring calm to our streets.

 

There are many who would like to stir things up—there are even those who would like to destroy this great country. Pray that these efforts would be thwarted and their plans would be brought into confusion.

 

Ask God to use His Church to be His instruments of peace in this time of great uncertainty.

 

Remember, this Wednesday at noon, please stop and pray. Millions of people remembering our sins and asking for forgiveness, repenting, and seeking His face will make a difference.

 

Let’s humble ourselves. Let’s give God the glory for this great nation and thank Him for His hand of blessing, protection, and mercy.

 

~~~~~~

** Please watch this news from independent journalist Nick Shirley on YouTube:  

 This is a much bigger scandal than Watergate, and it's being brushed under the rug by the news media. I believe the protests against ICE are paid for by evil people who are intent on destroying our country. Also, I believe they are to deflect attention from the scandal exposed by the Nick Shirley video.  That scandal is only the tip of the iceberg of fraud and abuse in other states, which is in the billions of dollars.  

 

 If you don't follow the national news, or if you only watch the alphabet news outlets (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN) you won't see what's really happening.  I recommend FOX, Right Side Broadcasting, and other conservative outlets on "X" (formerly Twitter).   Please read this post about alternative outlets

Golden Cottage Update

 

Today is January 11, and December is a blur, Gail-Friends.  I hope your holidays were happy, peace-full, and blessed.  Ours were "different" . . .  busy, but blessed.  Jem was sick for about two weeks, and our daughter's family was sick for over three weeks - coughs, sneezing, fevers, chills - all the things that go along with flu season.  They are all well now, Praise the Lord!  And I praise the Lord that I never came down with any of it.

But, let's back up, y'all.  Here are a few pics from the months of November and December that show what's been happening at Golden Cottage:

In November, our daughter Amanda was part of an musical variety show called a Brown Bag Concert.  She joined the ten-piece Bucket List Band in an amazing concert.  The venue was very nice - at a local Elks Lodge.  It was called "brown bag" because everybody brought their own dinner meal.  Many brought homemade food while others brought pizza, subs, and other restaurant meals.   

Amanda is the singer on the left.  She, and all of them, put on a fantastic show.  The songs were an entertaining mixture of oldies through current popular songs.  The venue has a nice dance floor, so Jem and I enjoyed both the music and dancing together.  Places / venues like this are rare in this area, so we thoroughly enjoyed the evening out and hope there will be more events like this.  

During November and December, we have what we call "Florida snow" in our area.  It's so beautiful, y'all, and we dearly love it. 

Oh, before I forget, Gail-Friends, I have to tell you about a wonderful restaurant we visited - it's Palm Shores Bistro in Melbourne, Florida.  We like to lunch there when we visit the Base Commissary and Mama Jo's Herbals in Indian Harbor Beach (I'll have to do a separate post about that wonderful place later).  The bistro is on the river, with a beautiful river view, and the food is ALL good.  But I had to show you the desserts.  We didn't indulge, but they are so beautiful, I had to take pictures for you:

 The cinnamon buns are HUGE and smell so good!  And the six-layer carrot cakes and red velvet cakes are gorgeous works of art.  

So tempting, but thankfully, I was able to resist all of that. (except the stollen and jingle-jangle - but more about that later, LOL). I'm still focused on more healthy sweet treats. 

This is a homemade sugar-free keto tiramisu that is really good.

 

and some pretty and satisfying pumpkin muffins I made.

We did get to go to our oldest grandson's music concert before all of the sickness hit.  He attends a musical arts school and we enjoyed his chorus presentation, but didn't make it for the band concert.  He is a part of the percussion section and was invited to be a part of a local college concert during the holidays.  My photos of the concerts didn't turn out, so that's sad.  He's a very talented musician and singer, and a member of a local STEM program.  We're thankful that his parents home school him and his brother.  He gets his scientific/engineering smarts from his father, and his musical abilities from his mother.  What a delightful blend, right? (oh that box he's holding has a funny story with it - but later, Gail-Friends.

 

We had a good "after the holidays" visit with them last week.  Thankfully, they were all well and able to be around us old folks.  Our youngest grandson is a busy little boy and we didn't get our usual family picture.  He was way too busy and excited about his new toys - and Gigi's apples.  He loves to play with them and I have to do a search after they leave to find where he's hidden them.  (JOY!)  I'm really falling down in taking pictures lately.  I just get absorbed in the moment - enjoying being with my loves, right?

Our Hanukkah celebration was lonely but good due to the sickness.   I did some decorating in the house and we did the nightly prayers and candle-lighting.  There's a song I love to sing each year at this time, even though it's not really a Hanukkah song.  It speaks of how Adonai has brought us to this season again.  Here's the link:  It begins with Hebrew, so hang in there - and pay close attention to the provided lyrics.   Shehekiyanu by Ted Pierce.

It is always good to pause during Hanukkah and think back to the past year - about how He has blessed us, guided us, protected us, and provided for us.  I can tell you, Gail-Friends, 2025 was a blessed year for us, and we praise Him whole-heartedly for all He's done and we rededicate our lives to our mission:  to take the Torah and Yeshua to those around us.

 

Here are a few shots of Golden Cottage during the holidays:

I decorated the back porch table with a lighted JOY sign. (more about that later) .  Jem and I made latkes and fried donuts. The pretty pillow was a gift from my friend, Betty, my son-in-love's mother.  

 

For Christmas, we enjoyed meet-ups with dear friends and a party at the air museum where Jem volunteers.  We watched some beautiful worship-full Christmas music concerts on tv AND our favorite holiday movies: A Christmas Story and White Christmas.  I played Christmas music videos on Pandora and YouTube for weeks and sang all of the Christmas songs that I never tire of singing - the hymns/songs about Jesus, y'all.  How wonderful that His name is lifted up and that our country pauses to REMEMBER. May it always be so in America.

 

We did a ride-through of a nearby neighborhood to look at holiday lights. No photos, though, because the traffic was very heavy and we had to pay attention to cars and people walking around.  The neighborhood also does luminaries, which I love so much, and we enjoyed seeing the neighbors sitting around fire pits in their driveways.  There were some awesome digital displays this year, too. 

 

 Jem and I enjoy giving food gifts to our neighbors every year, so we made homemade peanut butter cookies and went door to door delivering them.  FUN! 

  

Well, Gail-Friends, this is getting long, so I'll share more in my next post.  Blessings and love to you all, from me and my Jem.