We need God and Jesus back into this Nation whether you believe it or not

The final week of 2021!

As we enter the year of 2022, it seems almost unbelievable that we will soon be entering the third year of the Global Pandemic.  It would be great to just move beyond it, but it seems it's still a reality that we must face.

We have often said that we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we DO know who holds tomorrow!  Jesus Christ!

Just look at the headline’s political violence, mass shooting, family member killing, hypocrisy among high-ranking leaders, Critics slam 'hypocrite' Biden for claiming 'no federal solution' to pandemic after vow to 'shut down' COVID.

A quick note.

The shootings never stopped during the coronavirus pandemic, they just became less public, researchers say.

Here is an incomplete list of shootings with multiple victims in 2021. It leaves out many more but offers a small glimpse of the gun violence the country has already suffered this year. People kill people with guns.

Nov. 30: Clayton County, Ga., and Oakland County, Mich.

Four people were killed after a gunman opened fire at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit, Mich., in what became the deadliest shooting on school property in the United States this year.

Hours later, a police officer and two women were shot and killed during a domestic violence episode in the metropolitan Atlanta area, the police said. The shooter was also killed.

Nov. 28: Lancaster, Calif.

A 29-year-old father was accused of fatally shooting his four children — ages 1, 2, 7 and 11 — and his mother-in-law inside the family’s home. He was arrested and charged with five counts of murder and three counts of assault on a child causing death.

Nov. 14: Tucson, Ariz.

Four people — two sets of brothers, related as cousins — were killed when a party ended in gunshots. No one has been charged in the deaths.

Oct. 20: Farwell, Mich.

The police said a woman fatally shot her father, sister and two others inside of a home. The woman’s car contained a journal that included a list of other people she intended to kill, the police said.

Sept. 25: Athens, Tenn.

A man and a woman were charged with killing four people inside of a home. The police said there had been a dispute about parenting a 10-month-old child.

Sept. 12: St. Paul, Minn.

Four people were found dead in an abandoned car in a Dunn County, Wis., cornfield after being shot in St. Paul, Minn., the police said. They did not say how they knew the victims were shot in the city.

Sept. 5: Houston, Tex.

A man shot four people, including a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old, before fatally shooting himself days later. The other victims were the gunman’s mother and stepfather.

Sept. 5: Lakeland, Fla.

A former Marine sharpshooter fatally shot four people, including an infant, in two homes and fired at officers before he was arrested. Investigators did not know what started the rampage.

July 25: Wasco, Calif.

A 41-year-old man armed with an assault rifle and a handgun killed four people, including a police officer, after taking hostages inside a home. The gunman was fatally shot by a police officer.

July 20: Jacksonville, Tex.

Three men were arrested in the fatal shootings of four people in the town about 125 miles southeast of Dallas. The police said they believed it was planned as a robbery, and that one of the men who were arrested had a relationship with one of the victims.

June 15: Chicago

Two gunmen broke into a home in the Englewood neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago and shot eight people, killing five of them. Seven of the people were shot in the head, the police said.

May 26: San Jose, Calif.

People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed.

People gather near a railyard in San Jose, Calif., after eight people were killed.Credit...Noah Berger/Associated Press

Nine people were killed in a shooting at a rail yard in San Jose, Calif., the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said. The gunman, a transit worker, was also dead, said the authorities.

May 9: Colorado Springs

Outside the scene of the shooting in Colorado Springs.

Outside the scene of the shooting in Colorado Springs.Credit...Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette, via Associated Press

A man killed six people before fatally shooting himself at a birthday party at a mobile home park. Friends, family and children were gathered inside when the shooting occurred. The gunman was “a boyfriend of one of the female victims,” the police said.

April 28: Boone, N.C.

Two deputies were killed and three other people, including the gunman, were found dead after a 13-hour standoff in Boone, N.C., on April 28.

Two deputies were killed and three other people, including the gunman, were found dead after a 13-hour standoff in Boone, N.C., on April 28. Credit...WSOC-TV

A 32-year-old man killed his mother, stepfather and two police officers before fatally shooting himself at the end of a 13-hour standoff. Another officer was struck by gunfire but avoided injury because the bullet hit his Kevlar helmet.

April 15: Indianapolis

Public safety officials at the crime scene on Friday after a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis.

Public safety officials at the crime scene on Friday after a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. Credit...A J Mast for The New York Times

At least eight people were killed, not including a gunman who was believed to have taken his own life after opening fire in a FedEx warehouse. Family members said that workers were unable to use their cellphones on the job, leaving them unable to confirm their safety for hours.

April 7: Rock Hill, S.C.

A memorial service and prayer vigil for the Lesslie family at Fountain Park in Rock Hill, S.C.

A memorial service and prayer vigil for the Lesslie family at Fountain Park in Rock Hill, S.C.Credit...Sean Rayford/Associated Press

A former N.F.L. player shot and killed a doctor, the doctor’s wife and their two grandchildren inside their house, as well as two air-conditioning technicians who were working outside the home. The gunman later killed himself, the authorities said.

April 3: Allen, Texas

Police officers standing at the scene in Allen, Texas, where six people were found fatally shot in the suburban Dallas home this month.

Police officers standing at the scene in Allen, Texas, where six people were found fatally shot in the suburban Dallas home this month. Credit...Jason Janik/The Dallas Morning News, via Associated Press

The authorities said two brothers killed four family members before killing themselves. The bodies were discovered after the police arrived to a home for a welfare check.

March 31: Orange, Calif.

Police officers on the scene at a shooting in Orange, Calif., in March.

Police officers on the scene at a shooting in Orange, Calif., in March. Credit...Allison Zaucha for The New York Times

A gunman opened fire at a real estate office, killing four people, including a 9-year-old boy. The shooting was most likely related to a “business and personal relationship which existed between the suspect and all of the victims,” the authorities said.

March 28: Essex, Md.

Two people at convenience store were among those killed by a gunman in in Essex, Md.

Two people at convenience store were among those killed by a gunman in in Essex, Md.Credit...Amy Davis/The Baltimore Sun, via Associated Press

A gunman killed his parents, two people at a convenience store and then himself in a shooting spree, the police said.

March 22: Boulder, Colo.

The emergency response to the shooting in Boulder, Colo., in March.

The emergency response to the shooting in Boulder, Colo., in March.Credit...Theo Stroomer for The New York Times

A gunman inside a grocery store killed 10 people, including the first police officer to arrive at the scene. The gunman was injured and taken into custody.

March 16: Atlanta

Jami Webb, the daughter of Xiaojie Tan, a victim in the Atlanta area shooting, outside the site of a spa.

Jami Webb, the daughter of Xiaojie Tan, a victim in the Atlanta area shooting, outside the site of a spa. Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were killed at three spas, at least two of which had been frequented by the gunman. The attack caused particular alarm among many Asian-Americans.

March 13: Indianapolis

A shooting near the city’s east side left four people dead, including a 7-year-old child, and critically wounded a woman, the authorities said. The police said the shooting stemmed from a domestic problem.

Feb. 2: Muskogee, Okla.

The home in Muskogee, Okla., where six people were fatally shot in February.

The home in Muskogee, Okla., where six people were fatally shot in February. Credit...Tulsa World Mike Simons/Tulsa World, via Associated Press

Five children and a man were killed and a woman was seriously injured when they were shot at a home. A brother of one of the victims was arrested at the scene. The police said they believed that the victims were related.

Jan. 24: Indianapolis

Five people, including a pregnant woman, were found dead inside a home after the authorities came in contact with a juvenile male, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. A day after the shooting, he was arrested.

Jan. 9: Evanston, Ill.

Image

The police investigating the scene of a shooting on the Chicago-Evanston border in January.

The police investigating the scene of a shooting on the Chicago-Evanston border in January. Credit...Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune, via Associated Press

At least five people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed in a shooting spree in the Chicago area, the police said. The gunman shot a total of seven people before he was killed by the police.

Why are people putting trust in Fauci¸? We need to put our trust in God, not man. Did you know that Dr. Anthony Fauci's $417,608 Tops All Federal Salaries, but Does Performance Match the Pay? I think not. Should we get more than one Medical Doctor's opinion and not someone working for the government, just asking. What does the Bible say about not putting your trust in man?

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146

The Bible on Trust

The words translated "trust" in the Bible mean "a bold, confident, sure security or action based on that security." Trust is not the same as faith, which is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, trusting is what we do because of the faith we have been given. Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, even in those where the evidence seems to be to the contrary. Hebrews 11 talks about faith, which is accepting and believing the truth that God reveals about Himself, supremely in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the practical consequence of faith in God is trust, which we prove by living out our full acceptance of God's promises day by day. Furthermore, it is by this trust that we are promised peace: "You will keep in peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).

The classic verse regarding trust is Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." This verse sums up the Bible's teaching on trust. First, it is the Lord in whom we are to trust, not ourselves or our plans, and indeed not the world's wisdom and devices. We trust in the Lord because He and He alone is truly trustworthy. His Word is trustworthy (Psalm 93:5; 111:7; Titus 1:9), His nature is faithful and true (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 25:10; 145:13; 146:6), and His plans for us are perfect and purposeful (Isaiah 46:10; Jeremiah 29:11).

Further, because of God's nature, we are to trust Him with all our hearts, committing every aspect of our lives to Him in complete confidence. Finally, we are not to trust in ourselves because our understanding is temporal, finite, and tainted by our sinful natures. Trusting in ourselves is like walking confidently across a rotten wooden bridge over a yawning chasm thousands of feet deep. Disaster inevitably follows.

Trust in God is a feature of many of the psalms of David. There are 39 references to trust in the Psalms alone, whether referring to trusting in God and His Word or not trusting in riches or the things of this world. Based on this trust, David finds deliverance from all the evil he encounters. Many of David's psalms describe situations when he was pursued by Saul and his army, as well as his other enemies, and always did the Lord come to his aid. One thing that can be noted about biblical trust is that it always engenders further confidence in our God. The man of God never stops trusting in God altogether. His faith may be knocked, He may stumble, or He may fall into the foulest of sins, but "though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand" (Psalm 37:24). The man of God knows that, though trials will beset in this life, his trust will not waiver because that trust is based on faith in the promises of God: the promise of eternal joy with the Lord and the guarantee of an inheritance that "can never perish, spoil and fade" (1 Peter 1:4).

The Bible on Violence

So what does the Bible say about violence? Violence is defined as "physical force exerted to violate, damage, or abuse," and sadly, violence is a part of everyday life. It's in our movies and television shows, and we live in a world where power is often established through violence. But for Christians, the way of the world is always trumped by the truth of the Word.

First of all, violence in mind is just as hurtful as violence by the hands. Leviticus 19:17 says, "Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt." When we know someone is in sin, is it more loving to keep it quiet and build up hate and resentment towards them? God says that we should speak frankly, and Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:21-22 that murderous anger can lead the angry man to judgment from God as quickly as a physical blow. The violence he exhibits toward someone else can be brought back upon himself by God.

What about violence in war? Exodus 20:13 had been incorrectly translated as "do not kill," but it literally means "do not murder." God has allowed for just wars throughout the history of His people. From Abraham to Deborah to David, God's people have fought as instruments of judgment from a righteous and holy God. Romans 13:1-4 tells us to submit ourselves to government authorities and that nations have the right to bear the sword against evildoers, both foreign and domestic.

Violence occurs, but we must recognize the difference between holy judgment on sin and our own personal vendettas against those we dislike, which is the inevitable outcome of pride (Psalm 73:6). While men are more prone to accept violence (especially as cultures depict real men as those who never cry, always have a plan, and carry a gun), the wisest man of all time wrote, "Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways" (Proverbs 3:31). Prayer and patience beats violence and anger on any day.

In my Closing

As we embark upon a New Year, once again, we find that we are still dealing with this Pandemic in America . But, as you know, the entire world is going through much of the same.

I don't know about you, but perhaps there was a sense of hope last year at this time that as we turned the page on 2020, this would all be behind us within a few months. But that's not the case despite man's best efforts of masks, vaccines, and mandates!

While humanity can only do what we can in our strength, I want to remind you today that God is still on the Throne regardless of where we have been or where we are going! Believers and non-believers alike

There is a wonderful verse of scripture which serves as a reminder of who God is found in Revelation 22:13 (NKJV) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

While we cannot possibly know what the future holds, we know who holds the future! We are not even gifted enough to know what tomorrow will bring to us, but as Christians, we need to rest assured that God does!

When I understand just a bit of how much God loves me, it puts my mind at ease about His plans and purposes.

This New Year will unfold as God has planned it to happen. Not one thing will take place that does not first sift through the loving hands of an almighty God.

There are many times I don't understand the ways of God, but that's not something we should concern ourselves with. We must only trust Him!

Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

Moving forward into this New Year, I want to encourage you to live your life to the glory of God. We can live in confidence and not timidity! We can live our lives in boldness and assurance because God is on the Throne!

There's a beautiful song written by Bill Gaither many years ago, and the lyrics are as powerful today (maybe more so) as when they were written:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know, yes I know, He holds the future.

This life is worth the living, just because He lives!

Keep God first in this New Year, and you will be amazed at the things God will do in you, through you, and for you!