Courageously Stand Firm in the Truth!

It’s amazing to me what we run across on our walk to glorify God.  Many of you may know that Kim and I loaded up our motorhome and headed towards Kentucky yesterday. The only plan that is for certain, as far as we know, one of our destinations is the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.  We made as far as Aspen, WY yesterday and our initial plan this morning was to stop for the evening in Cheyenne, WY.  However we didn’t make that far but rather we stopped at Green River, WY.  

As the day started out we decided to take the scenic route instead of taking the path most traveled.  We have found out from our previous travels that there are many “gems” to behold on the almost forgotten byways in our country.   That’s the main reason we decided not to have an itinerary or a schedule so we would feel free to stop to smell the roses along the way.  

The first few place we stopped today was at a small town called Afton, WY.   They are known for the largest elk horn arc in the world.  It contains over 3,000 antlers.  As you can see by the picture, it’s impressive.  Especially to a Montana boy who grew up admiring the majesty of a bull elk.  

One of the things Kim wants to do on this trip is visit used book stores because we love books and are always searching for books to add to our library.  When I parked to take pictures of the elk horn arc there just happened to a used book store right beside the motor home so we killed two birds with one stone and visited the book stores at the same time.  Now that I’ve laid the ground work I can get into the meat and potatoes of this article. 

I’ll start with Revelation 12:9-11:  9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

As Kim looked at the books on sales outside the bookstore, I walked in.  My experience with used book stores are in the line of the Alberton, MT used books store. It’s kind of like disorganized chaos with a hint days long forgotten hanging in the air and tan atmosphere that totally inviting.  This used books store was not like that at all.  Think of Barnes and Noble on a much smaller scale with a  quaint yet posh feeling . It was very neat and organized with everything in its place and every stacked book was neatly and squarely on top of the book below it.   I even mentioned to the owner how neat her store was when I walked in.  I saw one corner in the very back of the store with used books that did catch my attention but they were all dictionaries and didn’t keep my attention for long.   As Kim continued shopping indoors I was talking to the owner.  She started telling me about a school bombing in the 80’s that led to 4 of the 5 schools in the valley to be torn down and rebuilt with safety precautions.  Then she went on to mention that we are in the last days and that so many things are amiss.  She definitely had my attention and I didn’t disagree with her comments.  When I mentioned that we only need to look around to see the evidence of how far we have fallen as a society she agreed.  At that point she really grabbed my attention when she said she had been a minister for 40 years.  First thing I thought about was that my mom was ordained as a minister through the internet and a small fee. The ordination was worth about as much as the paper the certificate was printed on. With that in mind I asked her, do you mean you have a church and you give sermons?  I was curious about what kind of minister I was talking to.   She said, “No, that’s not what I do.  I’m a Jehovah Witness and I talk to the community but our church isn’t designed like that.”  So she opened the door that she wanted me to walk through but she didn’t expect what actually came through and was to come. Since she was a JW for at least 40 years she was well versed about spreading the doctrine of the Kingdom Hall and the Watch Tower. From where i stood, I was being sized up to join their. group. Then I mentioned that I had a stroke in October 2019 and she said her husband had also suffered from a stroke and lasted 8 years before he died.   At that point, I was hopeful I was talking to a person that would understand the trials and tribulations of a stroke and would appreciate what Holy Spirit had to speak to her about through me.  I’ve shared my testimony 10,000+ times since the stroke.  And this was the first time a person was literally scared about what I was sharing.  Not only scared but started defending itself from things I didn’t say or accuse or even infer.   Now, of course you realized the change in pronoun from her to itself.  That is because what I riled up in the elderly lady was not of her and it didn’t not want to hear about Jesus and the great things He does.  However, it was quick to let me know that God loves everyone the same, and it could appreciate what I was saying but the  anxiety was overwhelming and I’ve said too much and need to stop.  And, not only stop today, but also realize the negative effects can have on people so I should be very careful who I share with. Hmmm, who do you suppose that came from, because that advice is totally contrary God's Word? Up to that moment, there were 11 instances when I shared my testimony that if looks would kill, I’d be dead.  There has been a very small number that either didn’t believe what I was saying or were mad about something.  There was one guy who continued to take steps backward until he backed into a wall and then hurried away saying, “You don’t have to waste your testimony on me.”  But in this case, this entity was not only scared but stared to defend itself without even being accused.  I had the urge to ask to touch her hand and console her, but I didn’t.  That’s the only thing I regret.  She is one that I’ll pray for and I hope that I left her with an impression that will make her think about what it was about me that she shy’d away from.   Hopefully the seed I planted takes root because anyway you look at it, time is short.  This experience totally reminded me of the parable of the demons in a man and when Jesus approached and the demon saw Him it said with a loud voice,  “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you, do not torment me!”  I want to be clear, I in no way think I am Jesus or even come close to Jesus.   But I know He bought and paid for me, I know He took my sins away, I know I have power and authority over evil through Him.  I know His light shines bright through me.  I know I’ve repented of my sins and I know I’m here to glorify God and help expand His Kingdom.  I know there is no reason to fear because the creator of the Heavens and the Earth is my Father and He always goes before me.  I know He’ll never leave me or forsake me.  I know that He gave me power to step on snakes and scorpions and by no means will evil ever harm me.   I know it!  I believe it!  And I live it everyday of my life.   I know that God created me for a reason, He gave me gifts to be successful in my divine endeavors. He gave me courage to stand firm in His Word.  Everything that I am is of God, I don’t fight for myself, I fight for Him.  And when it’s time, He’ll call me home, but until then, I will stand firm on the TRUTH!  I hope you are with me because this fight is heating up and the results are eternal.