This is something I am in the trenches about: this is a hill I will die on. Stay Alive with the Passion to love, understand, follow, obey and speak of Jesus.

I am also in-training to be graceful with those who are idle - ah, as I was for so many years of my life. It is something as I watch the world unfold, as clearly as I can see and then connect the dots of what the truths are. It was not always that way. I was not always so aware and so open.

So - it is a dual strategy for me: To stay alive in passion and fire... focus on Jesus only.
And love people where they are, and just be a light (how we are to be set apart) and be more like Jesus. It is getting easier, day by day - because I want to be more Jesus and less Lisa and moving in this way brings me a true peace. Staying in the Word instead of the World. Continually using my own mind in application, action, to The Word. Right? The Main Business of my Life.

KNOWLEDGE: Having the facts

UNDERSTANDING: Knowing what these facts mean and how they fit together into a larger picture

WISDOM: Knowing how to apply your wisdom and your understanding

So when I share some of the tidbits of the world news as it really is, as it is really unfolding, to friends I do so with love, not with despair. I do so as a part of having the facts. I was working for Satan so unaware for so long through just about every avenue of my life and my identity.

I can speak from that.

I had a friend recently applaud the young teens who identify as transgender and get surgery, at 15 - because of their boldness. To her great credit, and as a testament to our decades long true friendship, we discussed why I did not agree. We discussed why as a young lesbian I was busy "for the cause" because it seemed like civil rights. And of course, Satan is so clever, running his themes so close to the edge of truth - that DOES sound righteous. Now as I point out the baby blue stripe is for Man-Boy-Love in the rainbow.... because Love is Love.... how perverted it has become. How innocents who argue this point for Civil Rights, and Love is Love - how Satan is so pleased with his work and his agenda. Now I see boldness so differently, not tempered by culture but by God. 

I can speak from that.

So LORD I make a double promise to You here, boldly in public: I promise to stay with my eyes on You, my interest and time on Your Word. And, I promise to better myself every day to be graceful towards the lost sinners, as I was once, who do not know You and do not choose You. I promise to stand here in that gap.

My friend Rick (who was so instrumental in getting me home to Jesus) is texting me right now in real time. I asked if I could share what he just wrote - and he said if I thought this would benefit any readers. Well, I do.

BY THE WAY:

These are the kinds of conversations you have when you walk with the LORD, together.

I’ve shared all this today because 1) I want you to remember that God is gracious and lovely to the lost, to the deceived, and because 2) we need to be reminded of that. 

It’s easy for us to become frightened and upset at how these people behave and the destruction they participate in. Then, we encourage one another to sin against sinners, forgetting that we were once such as they. We needed rescue not anger and a spirit of revenge. So do they.

Because of what Jesus did at the cross for mankind, the Father‘s wrath has been fully satisfied. I know that’s hard to believe except that is scriptural. That is true. Consequently, He was not harsh with us; He was not judgmental toward us; and He was not impatient with us, for one reason:  Jesus on the Cross.

So, the first thing to come to mind this morning when I awoke was that morning back in Jan. 2020 (or maybe 2019), when the Lord told me to give you Galatians 6:8-9. That same morning — via an angel perhaps — He gave you, without you knowing, Galatians 6:7. (“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.”).  Give Galatians 6:7-9 a read, I guess. Holy Spirit will lead you.

Anyway I think that He brought that to mind first thing this morning for your sake, as a reminder, for today. 🙏

I do not recall as he does that day, that morning, that sharing: But here is the verse. It all fits so beautifully:

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

God does not NEED me to fight His Battles. I cannot help but think He is delighted that I now see it for what it is though. And, to stare down and be against Evil in all its forms.

Life is so beautiful when walk with the LORD. Life is so rich when the payment is knowledge, understanding and wisdom from the LORD. I will never be complacent. I will continue to people my life with others that are aching for Jesus, and discovering over and over:

JESUS - It's just not what you think.