Recently, I was enjoying coffee at my favorite coffee shop in Alabaster, Alabama. I live in Helena, but Alabaster is a short drive. I love to sip coffee and read or study the Bible.

As I finished my time at the coffee shop, I got into my car and headed home. Traffic was very heavy, so I caught a lot of red lights. At one light, I found myself sitting on a bridge over Interstate 65. I had to sit on the bridge for about three minutes. There was traffic beside me, in front of me, and behind me. I would have to spend bridge time because I was surrounded on every side.

There was also super-fast traffic below me. People were flying down Interstate 65 which caused the bridge to shake slightly.

As I sat on the shaky bridge, I began to think how terrible it would be if the shaking caused the bridge to crumble and collapse. Then, I brought my mind into a better place by remembering I was not trusting the shaky bridge, I was trusting the ones who constructed the bridge. The bridge that was holding me up was only as good as the one behind it.

Recently, we have seen a whole lot of shaking going on in the Church, the USA, and the world. I can testify that my husband and I find ourselves in some shaky, unsettling situations right now. Last night was a bit rough. I found myself wide awake with a racing mind about the situations we are facing personally and in the world. The “what ifs” bombarded my mind. (Yes, I am a strong believer and woman of prayer. Even Paul spoke of sleepless night. “We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.” – 2 Corinthains 6:5)

As I sat on that shaky bridge, I remembered that the one who created the bridge made it in such a way that it would hold up during shaky times. These days, I often have to bring this to my remembrance.

I must pause and remember, “I can do (can face, can endure) all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13. I must pause and remember, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29. I must pause and remember, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10. I must pause and remember, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Today, my bridge is feeling a bit shaky, and I would like to get off the bridge to a place where I feel steadier. Friend, today I had to remind myself that when my confidence gets shaky, when my heart grows faint, and I feel like I cannot make it through the shaky place, I have to stop and remember whose strength is holding the bridge. I will be steadfast in Him when times are shaky.

Today, I am prophesying this over myself and challenge you to do the same. “The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” – Isaiah 58:11

Prayer: Lord, help us hold tight to Your truth. You are our steadfastness in shaky times. Amen!

Social media can drive me crazy or get on my last nerve! Who can say, “Amen to that!”

While I love keeping up with family and with friends I have met all over the nation, it is all the other stuff through which I must wade! It takes deep boots to wade through Facebook with the many advertisements and the negative, heated posts between people. (Knock it off if you are doing that!)

One thing I do like about Facebook is the groups of which I am a member. I live in Helena, Alabama, which is a suburb of Birmingham. I follow a group for things happening in Helena, and it keeps me up to date with what is happening or what has happened. I am also a member of a group strictly for residents of my neighborhood. Having nearly fourteen hundred homes in the ‘hood, it is a large community.

Recently, a neighbor posted something that caught my eye immediately. Her husband was missing. “Bill” has Alzheimer’s. Bill went into the backyard which was fenced but went out of the gate and wandered away. The neighborhood resident was in a panic to find Bill.

It was so moving to see the many responses from people as they read the post. Many offered to drop what they were doing and drive or walk around the neighborhood looking for Bill. Others offered to comb the nearby woods and walking trail looking for Bill. Many began praying for Bill to be found. Others were willing to be with the wife or to go with her to look. Within a short time, someone saw Bill walking down the road. They stopped and called his name, and Bill looked at them. About the same time, a policeman came up and Bill was returned. Bill had been lost but now was found.

The priority of the neighborhood was to seek what was lost!

People could easily have said, “I have my own stuff I’m doing right now.” Or “I’m sure someone will find Bill.” Perhaps, people could have thought, “Bill is not my responsibility.”

The priority of God’s Church has been and should always be to seek what is lost. Listen, I love a good church service filled with worship and word. I love chatting with and hugging friends I see when we gather. I attend small groups and have lunch or coffee with fellow Christians. All that is wonderful and needed.

BUT – I think that we now enjoy being with the church, rather than being the Church. It is so easy to forget what Jesus said as He ascended back to His Father.

‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ‘ Matthew 28:18-20.

Friends, Bill is lost. Gloria is lost. Michael is lost. Stella is lost. Brothers and sisters are lost. Co-workers are lost. Uncles and aunts are lost. Hairdressers are lost. Like “Bill” in my neighborhood, many do not even realize they are lost.

Followers of Jesus are called to be part of His “search party”. It is the responsibility of believers to actively seek out those who are lost rather than waiting for them to walk through the church doors. This challenge I give to myself and to you, that we will begin to make finding the lost our priority. That we will open our eyes to seek the lost. Enjoy “church” but be the Church to a generation that desperately needs the Lord. It is every believer’s calling.

“Hello, God. It’s me again. You know, your servant Barbara Benton. I am checking in again because it seems like you are not responding.”

Have you ever felt this way? I have! Recently, I have had heavy things on my mind and in my heart. Heaviness tries to go to bed with me and wake up with me. My “hot line” to God seems barely lukewarm. Yep, here I am, national speaker, counselor to others, and God seems silent. Some days, I have felt like a third sister to Lazarus. Barbara, Mary, and Martha thinking, “Lord, where are you!”

One morning our grandson Joseph was visiting. Joseph is on the autism spectrum, so there are things He does not quite understand yet. But there is one thing Joseph gets very well – singing the praises of God.

My mind was on the heavy things of life, and silently I was crying out to God. Suddenly Joseph began to sing aloud the words of a song. I was not familiar with the song, so I listened carefully and wrote down the words, so I could find the song. “Your Love Never Fails” is the name of the song.

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning.

And when the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
Your love never fails

Joseph sang the song over and over and over. He walked and sang. He sat and sang. He sang! The words began to penetrate my heart. God was singing to me through the words of a child who does not always understand things, but who does understand the joy of praise.

When God says that His ways are not our ways, He is not kidding! (Isaiah 55:8) I love the encounters with God where He breaks into my life with great power, fixes my situation, and waters my garden of faith. I love that experience! Don’t you?

There are times we will also experience a season when life presses in on us, or when life leaves us shattered and darkness descends. We cry out to the God who can change anything, the God who loves us, and He seems silent, even absent.

As I pondered the song and the seeming silence of God, He seemed to break through and say, “Barbara, just wait. I am not finished with the conversation.” 

Are oceans still raging around me? Indeed, they are! While God might seem silent in our pain, joy comes in the morning. God might be silent, but He is not still!

“It is good that a man or woman should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” – Lamentations 3:26

Many things can be said about Gaylon and me, but it cannot be said that we are wealthy! We have been careful with finances especially as we approached our golden years. We have tried to be wise financially, generous in helping others, and trust God with the rest.

As I was shopping in a local grocery store, I inserted my debit card to pay for my groceries. I requested forty dollars cash back. I had not one dollar of cash in my wallet, so I decided I should get a little. The transaction went smoothly, so I headed out the door.

About five minutes down the road to home, I remembered that I did not collect my forty dollars in cash. I quickly turned my car around and headed back to the store. I hurried into the store to check for my cash, but there was no cash at the register.

Three employees were standing right by the register, so I asked if anyone had turned in money. All said, “No!”

After getting in my car and heading home once again, I was a wee bit upset. Forty dollars for us was a lot of money, especially at that time. I was sad, angry, and upset!

When I arrived home, I put away my groceries and sat down. All I could think of was those forty dollars. Finally, I talked to God about it. “Father, it is hard for us to lose forty dollars. God, please let it be in the hands of someone who really needed it. I place that money in Your hands.”

A couple of weeks later, I was in the same shopping area. There are ten or twelve shops in the strip mall. I parked far away, as I often do, to get extra steps of exercise. It was a windy day. As I began to walk towards the mall, a brisk wind suddenly blew. I looked down, and I saw paper blowing towards me and it stopped at my feet. I picked it up. It was a fifty-dollar bill.

I wanted to return the fifty dollars to the rightful owner, but how would I identify the owner? There were several stores, and I was far from the strip mall. I looked around and saw no one appearing to look for lost money. I sat in my car and watched for a while trying to see if someone was looking for the lost money. I put the money in my wallet. After arriving home, I checked all the social media groups in our area trying to see if the money was reported as lost. Nothing about someone losing money was there.

I continued looking at the groups for the next couple of weeks. No one ever posted about losing money.

Is it possible that God replaced my forty dollars and then some? I believe that to be true! I serve a “then some” God.

Through almost fifty-five years of marriage and ministry, Gaylon and I have known lean times and bountiful times. We have known times when we were not sure how we would put gas in the car for me to get to work. Serving God does not mean there will never be financially challenging times. There will be. But as I look back over fifty-five years, I can truly sing:

He’s been faithful, faithful to me
Looking back, His love and mercy I see
Though in my heart I have questioned
Even failed to believe
That He’s been faithful, so faithful to me!

Psalm 37:3 NKJV reminds us of this when the writer says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”

God’s faithfulness will be with us when seasons are good and when seasons are bad. I can declare, without hesitation, God has been faithful to me.

Are you feeling fear right now about what might be ahead? I have found that sitting down and reminiscing about God’s faithfulness changes my fearful heart to a trusting heart. Remember that you serve a God who can send a wind to blow blessings into your life when you least expect it.

Mother’s Day has just passed, and I am always grateful for the privilege of raising three sons and now enjoying nine grandchildren. I was going back in time to read blogs I had written about experiences as a mother. It would do us all well to go back and remember what God has done. This story I wrote quite a few years ago bolstered my faith today. I hope it will do the same for you.

Gone at the age of thirty-six. He was in the prime of his life and about to become a father for the first time but never got to meet his son. The first few months after the death of our son Bryan were brutal. There is no way to accurately describe the emotions and pain.

Like it or not, after a loved one dies, we have to keep moving. I do not mean that we will forget the person or the pain – trust me, you wish you could lose the sickening pain, but we have to keep living. Part of that living is taking care of business. After a death, one has to immediately be concerned about business matters. It is just part of the process. As a mother, while I grieved deeply for my son, my attention was more drawn to his wife and unborn child. We wanted to do everything we possibly could to help them with life, which meant lots of prayer, and assisting any way possible.

Bryan and Sarah had purchased a boat the summer before his home-going, and it needed to be sold. People worked together to clean up the boat and get it ready for sale, and then to list it in several places. I thought, surely because we serve God, it will sell by tomorrow afternoon. Not! So, we waited, and waited, and then guess what, we waited!

Sarah was having a baby shower in Virginia, and Gaylon and I were to attend. As time grew a little closer, my husband realized he had a schedule conflict. Gaylon was to perform a wedding for someone who worked with the company where he is chaplain. There was no way to change the wedding, and no way for Gaylon to accompany me to Virginia. With tears streaming, I asked God, “Can’t you do something about this? Where are you during this pain? Can’t you keep these plans from getting so messed up?”  End of story.

That is the true story … but wait … let’s get the rest of the story.

That spring weekend, I drove to the shower, and Gaylon stayed behind to officiate the wedding. While at the rehearsal, my husband was talking with someone, and they mentioned that they were looking for a boat. Gaylon began to tell them the story of Bryan, and the boat that Sarah needed to sell – a boat that was five-hundred miles away. As they continued talking, the person stated they wanted to buy the boat.

Gaylon called to tell me the good news, and this “faith-filled” woman of God said, “That man is not going to drive to North Carolina to get a boat that he has never laid eyes on. I will believe it when I see it.”  (Just call me doubting Thomasina!)  In less than a month, the boat was sold and on its way from North Carolina to Alabama.

My problem was that I immediately put “THE END” on the story of an unsold boat and messed up plans. I could not see God working in my messed-up plans, but God was positioning us to receive the miraculous selling of a boat. God was still writing the story.

God is the author of “the rest of the story.”  God has the wonderful ability of messing up our plans to position us for a divine answer. Perhaps you are asking, “Where is God?”  I asked the same question. The answer for me was, “I am at a wedding in Alabama working on your behalf.”

When you think your plans are messed up, it might be that God messed them up so He could write the last chapter. Just wait … the rest of the story is being written, and it will be a much better “THE END” than the way you would write it.

“Since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” – Isaiah 64:4

My heart was so sad to read of a pastor’s wife who recently took her life. She left behind five children and a husband. By hundreds of accounts, this woman was the picture of joy and helped so many people. Yet, she was hurting terribly inside. I am republishing a blog about Christians and depression.

We moved several times over the course of forty-three years of marriage. Thank God we have not moved in a long time and will soon celebrate fifty-five years together. While living in Florida, we lived temporarily in someone’s vacant, furnished home while our home was being built. This required that most of our belongings stay in storage for several months – several months in a storage shed in sunny, HOT Florida.

Finally, the day arrived to move into our home. As I began unpacking boxes, I got to my couch cushions. They had been pressed up against something and were pushed inward and would not bounce back. The arms on the sofa had huge indentations where heavy items had sat on them. Before that, they were always able to bounce back when pressure was applied. This time the cushions became depressed because of months of unrelenting pressure. As a result, they lost the beauty they had once had.

That is a description of depression. Often in life we bounce back from all kinds of pressures and situations. Then, one day we cannot seem to bounce back, and one day turns into many days. We just cannot seem to bounce back. We can lose that glimmer in our eyes or our contagious laughter.

Sometimes it is hard to confess that we are suffering from the pain of depression. Depression is one of the touchy subjects of the church. Many proclaim it is a spirit or a demon, and the person needs a laying-on-hands deliverance. While that might be true sometimes, often it is not!

I think that depression can be categorized in two basic ways: clinical depression and situational depression. I have asked a friend, who is a Christian counselor, to write a follow-up blog, with some clarification about clinical depression. That will be posted a few months down the line. Clinical depression is a medical condition requiring professional help with a plan of action to wellness, just as illnesses of the body require a doctor.

There is no way one can exhaustively cover this subject in a blog. I shall endeavor to give basic info about situational depression and ways to win the victory.

Some people suffer from situational depression. Situational depression can come from divorce, death, financial problems, abuse, unfaithfulness of a spouse, health issues, infertility, wayward children, or other life circumstances.

I will use the death of a loved one as an example. I personally suffered situational depression after losing our son Bryan. The experience took my breath away at times, caused many sleepless nights and caused me to experience a pall of heaviness that I could not shake. The interesting thing is that I experienced that for a few months after Bryan’s death, and then it strongly revisited as the new year began. Situational depression can come upon us when pain or disappointment is overwhelming.

There I said it! Barbara Benton has suffered bouts of depression. I am still a Spirit-filled, bible-believing, God-loving, and song-singing child of God! That statement will shock some, and cause others to look at me a bit differently. It is okay. I am all about helping people understand that they do not have to be overcome by life but can be an overcomer in life.

What have I learned through these times?

1. God is not mad at a depressed person. He wants to comfort the heart and bring peace.
2. Stay in His Word, not because we must read daily or we are bad Christians, but because much strength comes as the Word of truth penetrates the dark night of the soul. Walk around reading Psalms aloud. Insert your name as you read. For example: The Lord is Barbara Benton’s shepherd. He will cause ME to lie down in green pastures of rest. He will do that because “I” am His child.
3. Press through the “I don’t feel like it” emotion. The Word of God is true, firm, and unchanging.
4. Have faith in God. Trust in the darkness what you have learned in the light. It WILL bring you through. Trust what God says rather than your feelings. Feelings can be deceptive.
5. Talk with a close friend or family member who can be trusted, and who will pray with/for you. The devil would love for you to keep it a secret. I went through a period of not wanting others to know how much I was suffering. Make regular prayer appointments with those people. Prayer is essential, and the power of what it can do is immeasurable.
6. Exercise. Do not hole up in your home. Staying in all by myself was a great temptation.
7. Speak to a Christian counselor, if needed. That person can help to put things in perspective.

It is impossible to cover all that the Bible says about depression, sorrow, and hopelessness, so I will only share a bit.

1. David was overwhelmed with grief and sadness, his heart was desolate, and his tears fell all night.
2. Jonah, Jeremiah, Job, and Elijah expressed feelings of rejection, loneliness, self-pity, hopelessness, overwhelming grief, and wished they had not been born. They are expressing more than temporary sadness, but symptoms of depression.
3. After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi asked that her name be changed to “Mara” which means bitterness.
4. In Corinthians 2, Paul had symptoms of depression: his flesh had no rest, he was troubled on all sides, he was cast down, he had fears within, and he despaired of life.
5. Hannah had many symptoms of depression, and her spiritual leader instantly, and incorrectly, accused her of having a drinking problem.

God brought each of them through their times of despondency. God saw where each was emotionally. God cared. God brought them through. God wants to do that for you! God does want us to live life abundantly, which is His ordained plan for the believer.

God is our hope in the midst of depression. One of the great truths of the Bible is that God is with us when we are in trouble, including depression. The message is clear. When depression hits, fix your eyes on God, His power, and His love for you. This is what God has declared:

• The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
• The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
• So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
• For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
• And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. (John 14:16)
• Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

What do I want you to take away from this blog? You are not a horrible Christian if you have been through, or you are going through depression. God does not love you any less. I also want you to know that I can testify to this: “He has turned my mourning into dancing. He has put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.”  I want you to know that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”   Though we go through dark times, God will bring us back into a time of rejoicing. Indeed, He will! When you are troubled and depressed, there is hope in God. I can testify to that!

Anything else? Have compassion for believers who are in dark times. Pray for them Check on them. Love them. They are still God’s children.

Normally I write my own blogs. This one written by Francis Frangipane was so encouraging, I chose to share for all of God’s people to read. Read it and be blessed. Do not let the devil or anyone else be your travel agent for a guilt trip.

“I Don’t Remember”
By Francis Frangipane

How little we understand of eternal redemption! How many times will God forgive you? If you have truly set your heart to follow Him, He will cancel your sins as often as you ask. Will He forgive you of the worst sin you can think of? Yes! You may have to live with the consequences of your misdeed, but God can use your repentance and newly found humility to inspire others. As for the sin itself, if you deeply and sincerely repent of it, not only will God forgive you, He will blot it out of His memory.

Let me share an experience. A certain man of God had been gifted with revelatory insight into people’s lives. During an evening service he ministered to a Presbyterian pastor and his wife. By the gift of the Spirit, he revealed the couple’s past, uncovered their present situation, and then disclosed to them what was to come. This work of God greatly impressed the couple, and as the prophecies were fulfilled, one month later the Presbyterian minister brought two other pastors, each with their wives, to another service for personal ministry.

The word of knowledge was exceptionally sure that night, and the second minister and his wife marveled at the accuracy and truth in the prophetic word. The third couple stepped forward for ministry, and again the word of knowledge was present. The prophet spoke to the husband, revealing his past, present, and insight into his future. Then the man of God turned to this third minister’s wife. As he began to speak of her past, suddenly he paused. Then he said, “There was a very serious sin in your past.” The woman, with her worst fear upon her, turned pale and closed her eyes. The congregation hushed and moved to the edge of their seats.

The prophet continued, “And I asked the Lord, ‘What was this sin that she committed?’ And the Lord answered, ‘I do not remember!’”

The Lord had been faithful to His covenant promise: “I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25). Although many times this minister’s wife had asked for cleansing, still she could not believe the depth of God’s forgiveness. Christ had placed her sin in the sea of His forgetfulness. He removed it “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12). From everywhere but the prison of her own mind, her sin had been paid for and removed. And now, in His great mercy, He removed it from there as well!

Oh, what burdens we carry; what guilt and limitations surround us because we do not accept God’s total and perfect forgiveness. In Isaiah we read, “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25).

How great is the God we serve. How wonderful is His love toward us. He is our Redeemer, our Savior! If you are willing to forgive others and will but ask Him to forgive you, He will pardon your debts as often as you contritely turn to Him. He promises He will remember your sins no more.

As I sat in a restaurant today, I was sipping coffee and going over notes for an upcoming conference. Normally, I face away from the door because it is less distracting. Otherwise, I tend to look at every person that enters. I am not sure why, but today I sat right by the door and faced it. I saw every person that walked into the restaurant.

At one point, I looked up to see a woman trying to enter the restaurant. She was having difficulty getting a boy to come inside. The young lad looked to be about ten to twelve years old. He struggled with his mother. (I assume it was his mother.) He had a terror-stricken face. Finally, she had to pick up this boy, so he would come into the restaurant. As they walked through the door, the boy was so frightened, and then he covered both of his ears and kept them covered the whole time while in the restaurant. It became obvious that the boy was either non-verbal or limited verbally. He clung to this woman for dear life.

The woman had a large takeout order, so it took a while to get it ready. She held this child the entire time. As she headed back to her vehicle, this boy was still so frightened, and his mother held him so tightly, while the young man continued to cover both ears.

After observing this woman and her son, it became apparent to me that the boy was autistic. My heart melted for her. I have since prayed for both the mom and son.

My grandson Joseph, who is on the autism spectrum, recently celebrated his fourteenth birthday. Joseph is so loved by his family and by both sides of extended family. We love him deeply. I can testify that this boy has an enormous chunk of my heart. When Joseph’s official diagnosis revealed that he was on the ASD scale, we all cried many tears. Through much prayer, love and therapy, Joseph has made progress, but at times, it is still a challenge.

We personally have learned of several pastoral families, several friends, and acquaintances who have received the same diagnosis. When I speak at conferences and mention Joseph, there are always people in the audience whose lives are touched by autism. ALWAYS.

This is autism awareness month. ASD is not often talked about in Christian circles, yet autism affects so many families. I always cared about children with special needs, but when it touched my family, my caring went to a whole new level. There is a significant difference in day-to-day living in a home affected by this disorder and wearing a blue shirt that mentions autism.

Much can be done to help these children if therapy is started early. Often insurance will not cover all the child needs to improve their lives, and in some cases will cover nothing. While some free therapies are available, they often need more.

I have realized that, as the Church, we must be caring and prayerful for these families. For instance, does your church have any kind of ministry in place for families affected by autism? Does your church offer any kind of ministry to families with children who have special needs? The Church must minister to these families. It is a mission field.

I am thankful that our local church is trying to help these families through small groups where families can gather to support and pray for each other. Our church also has a ministry called The Haven, which is for all children with disabilities. The Haven allows a family to attend a church service. while their child is loved and cared for. Even a teen and adult Haven is offered.

I know of a small church in the Midwest that raised funds to set up a sensory room, utilized workers trained in this area, and used it as outreach. They immediately got new families – families who had never been able to regularly attend a church service.

The Church must step up. Do not close your eyes to this need. Ask other churches for ideas. Search the Internet for ministry ideas for children with special needs. Call that mom and ask her how she is today. Pray with her. Men, reach out to a man who is trying to be a dad to an atypical child.

One of the things we pray for Joseph is that he will have a close personal relationship with the Lord. We ask God to communicate with Joseph and visit him in his dreams. We ask God to let Joseph fulfill the purpose for which he was placed on the earth. God can do all these things and more!

Think about it. Pray about it. Care about it. But please do not ignore it. Why? Because autism matters, children with special needs matter, and families matter.

“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2.

Maybe it is my age. Maybe it is not being able to turn my mind away from all the things I must do before leaving for a conference in Maine. Whatever it is – I hate when it shows up! Insomnia! I commanded my body to sleep. I claimed sleep. I rebuked lack of sleep. In my mind, I even rebuked my husband who dared to sleep!

Often when I cannot sleep, I quietly find my way through the dark to the living room. I will drop in my favorite chair and prop up my feet. Sleep still stays as far away as possible. This happened recently, so I decided to turn on the television to see if it would put me to sleep. (Yes, I know I could pray and read, but there are times I just want to veg out!)

There is little that I care to watch, but recently a few friends talked about a new show. They said, “You must watch this.” It is soooo good!” I have also seen many friends praise this program on their social media posts. After turning on the television, I saw that the program was offered as a choice, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. After three minutes of watching the program, I was …   Let me speak in the Amplified Version: I was shocked, appalled, disturbed, astonished, and stunned!

The language in the first three minutes was shocking to me. I turned it off, and that program will never be played in my home again.

I remember a time in the USA that this kind of language was unacceptable in the open. Now, presidents, senators, congress members, and even believers find no problem with filthy language.  As a nation, we slowly walked to the edge, and now it seems we are in full-blown free fall in accepting the unacceptable.

Am I here to bash the USA? NEVER! I love this country. I lead a prayer group of almost four hundred people, and our sole purpose is to pray for the United States of America. I still get tears in my eyes when I see Olympians from the USA win a medal and stand on a podium while The Star-Spangled Banner is playing. I cry when I see vets come home to reunite with their loved ones. It is not unusual for me to cry when I hear Lee Greenwood sing “God Bless the USA.” I love this country.

It is also true that, as a nation, we have gone in directions that God never intended, and we are paying the price. Some blame it on liberals and others blame it on conservatives. There is plenty of blame to go around. What is the answer?

God’s people are the answer.

When Our Lord, Jesus Christ, came to this earth, He did not start a club. He started the Church. Oh, I know, it technically was birthed on the day of Pentecost, but without Jesus, there would be no Church. Jesus began changing people, who began changing their world.

Jesus said it this way, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus declared that He was building a Church, strong enough to have victory over all the power of hell.

If you have accepted Christ as Savior, you are part of the Church, the called-out ones. Jesus said, “I am going to change the lives of people and build my Church (the called out) with them, and they will be called out and different from the culture. It will be a Church that can stand against all that hell represents.”

What if the Church became the Church that Jesus described? What if I became the Christian Jesus described? If we stopped blending in with the culture, and become those Christians, what difference would it make in the Church? And, if the Church began to walk closely with God, what difference would it make in the city … the state … the nation?

God said this is how a nation is healed: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

Notice that God said, “My people called by my Name.” He says nothing about the secular world. If we want to see our land healed, God said that it starts with His people. That is you, and that is me. This verse teaches us that God responds to a repentant, humble heart. I want to have a heart like that.

The hope for America is God, and God works through His Church.

When my husband was a pastor in South Carolina, he was asked to visit a woman in jail. “Sally” had killed her husband. She had lived in an abusive marriage for many years. After one particularly brutal night between Sally and her husband, he went to bed. While he was sleeping, she shot him. The judge said that his death was understandable but not justifiable.

Gaylon went to visit Sally and became a spiritual counselor to her. With the permission of the authorities, Sally was escorted to our church for church services. Sally accepted Jesus and was baptized at our church. I am sure there was rejoicing in Heaven.

While Heaven rejoiced, not all of earth joined in the celebration. There were those who objected to Sally being allowed to attend church or to be baptized. Sally was evil and did not deserve this kind of treatment. It was just jailhouse religion.

Sally was no longer allowed to be escorted to church services, but her name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and no one could erase that! Jesus died for Sally, just like He did for me. Sally deserved to hear the Good News.

Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel. Jesus died for all, not just for the ones we like or the ones of which we approve. Jesus died for all, not just for the ones that we like their personalities or the way they dress or smell. Jesus died for all.

Oswald Smith said, “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice until everyone has had an opportunity to hear it at least once.” Every person on earth deserves to hear the truth about what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

We live in a bad news world. Each morning, we wake up and see it in the headlines. In the evening, we see bad news again on the local news. And we probably heard plenty of bad news in between those times. The daily reports are relentless and overwhelmingly negative.

All around us are people facing temptation, regret, pain, suffering, failure, and disappointment. The bad news is truly bad, but there is good news in the face of it all. The good news has a name, and it is Jesus. He is still saving people and offering them eternal life in Heaven. This message about Jesus is worth sharing every day.

Let’s give people some good news today.

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!