Faithful friend reading: Now is the time to wake up; Now is the time to Stand for what is right; Now is the time to work; to work for change.

For weeks, my hope, and my prayer was to ensure that every single God-ordained word written on these pages had such immense encouragement—encouragement so you don’t feel alone in this life.

Today, I want to encourage you to “Not be afraid.” I have messages I’ve already written for not only the current blog post but ones for weeks to come; however, my request to God is always that He use this platform allowing my readers—my friends—to understand HIS messages to them, to you!

“I” might have had messages with subjects I “thought” were meant to be given a certain week but loved one, God knows. He knows what we need and when we need it, so much better than I do, and part of my testimony is to seek out His guidance to ensure it is His message you are reading. Please take so much comfort and confidence in that honest and humble confession. Ultimately, I am just God’s vessel. He is the potter, and I am the clay.

How Can We Consider It Pure Joy to Be Persecuted?

We cling to His word, and we walk in the same way Jesus walked, fully aware that very clearly, “it is written”:

Words of Jesus

• Matthew 5:10-12 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• John 15:18-20 – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
• Luke 6:22-23 – “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven…”

Acts and the Early Church

• Acts 5:41 – “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
• Acts 14:22 – “…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Letters from Paul and Others

• 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
• Romans 8:35-37 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
• 1 Peter 4:12-14 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you… But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings…”
• Philippians 1:29 – “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

Faith and Courage in the Midst of Tragedy

My faith and belief tell me that through the tragedy we all witnessed in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, time is of the essence.

Are we to stress or be anxious? NO. We are certainly not (Philippians 4:6-7).

But what we are to do is awake each day, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), asking Him to strengthen us for His purpose.

If I can speak to those who feel as though you don’t have a voice as a Christian man or a Christian woman because you aren’t worthy, loved one, go back and read my blogs about imperfections.

Do not allow the enemy to hold you in that space of the past where you will forever be afraid to speak out about TRUTH. This is the task of satan – to hold you there, to keep reminding you, “you are not worthy, look what you’ve done, no one is going to believe you because you are so imperfect” (John 8:44 & John 10:10).

Every witness for Christ, every pastor, every evangelist who speaks, who proclaims the TRUTH has a past.

Someone needs to read these words and rejoice in this truth, and move forward without staring into the rearview mirror, and instead, look ahead to eternity. Make a decision to do that now, to do it TODAY!

The enemy hates my words here, he despises my advice, and I say, “you are a liar and a thief, satan. My confidence in Jesus will keep my voice being heard to whomever will listen; whomever is led to read and share, to which I kindly ask my followers to do!”

The world needs these messages—not only to find hope, but to find courage for faith in Christ and pay it forward.

A Call to Action

I am here for you, friends. I am your sister in Christ, as I stated in a video I shared on Facebook, Charlie Kirk was not known to me in any personal capacity; but was a true brother to me in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We are the body, together, making up the whole-ness of what Christ is—goodness, grace, peace, joy, love, truth, selflessness, kindness, compassion, strength, and the segway to our eternal home, Heaven.

Whatever we are to do, let’s do it in the mighty name of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Lastly, I boldly ask you to share these messages. Don’t be afraid, don’t allow the enemy to stop you from SPREADING what this is all about – encouragement to STAND UP and to grow the community of BELIEVERS in the multitudes.

I have so much FAITH, friends. To you who have been with me consistently, THANK YOU!

There is no desire for money in this, no ulterior motive – just me being obedient to the One True God. That’s all.

God bless you today, tomorrow and always! Amen and Amen!

Enjoy the additional encouragement in song. Click the link to hear the song pertaining to this week’s message of hope: Come, Now is the Time to Worship by Hillsong