God’s People

New Year. New opportunities for shining our bright lights! As relentless as I am to be optimistic, I know there will be plenty of opportunities to go rogue and get caught up in the whirlwinds of negativity that this year could bring.

It is the presidential election year, and already the rancor and negativity is mounting. 2024 will not be for the faint of heart when it comes to politics and the election.

That’s why we’re all-in to make a difference as Carl and I will serve at the election polls again (where we first met). We’ve already shifted our mindsets and our thinking from falling prey to any darkness.

Our true colors will be revealed this year. We’re going to witness just how Christian we really are. How kind. How compassionate. How courageous. How committed. How fervent we are in prayer and absolute certainty that God is in control.

The real questions is “What kind of representatives of Christ will we be?” “How deep is our faith?” “How different is our voice from others?”

The key is UNLOCKING the MORE in 2024 of God’s grace and the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.. It is letting our lights shine much brighter than the darkness.

The darker things get, the more clearly our light MUST shine. God has always had a people who represent Him as His non-compromising followers. It’s going to be a time when God’s people rise up with wisdom, insight and courage, and live above the political fray.

When I was writing this blog and typed the title words “God’s People”, I remembered that was a line in the song, “The Church Triumphant” written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. I googled it. They define WHOSE we are and WHO we are.

“God has always had a people. Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had driven the Church of Jesus Christ out of sight, that he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life, but God has always had a people.

There are charlatans, who like Simon the magician sought to barter on the open market this power which cannot be bought or sold but God has always had a people; men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase. God has always had a people.

There have been times of affluence and prosperity where the Church’s message has been nearly diluted into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, re-organized and financially profitable. It’s been gold plated, draped in purple, and encrusted in jewels. It’s been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded, and scorned.

These followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated as sacred leaders and martyred as heretics. Yet through it all, there marches on this powerful army. God’s chosen people who cannot be bought, flattered, murdered, or stilled. On through the ages they march. This church, God’s church is ALIVE and WELL.”

And, yes, my friends and fellow believers in the church and the Cross of Jesus Christ, let us STAND tall, knowing that we are on the LIGHT side – the Church Triumphant side — and we know, based on the end of the book – WE WIN!

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.” Joel 2:26-27