I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “Transported”

 

Transported

Trees whiz past and the wind ruffles his hair, as the young man flies down the hill and approaches another steep grade in the road. His legs begin to tire as he peddles his bike up the hill. It has been a time of reflection and he isn’t at ease with his thoughts.

He peddles harder.

Finally cresting the hill he stops and gazes out over the beautiful meadow stretched out over what seems to be miles. The grass is a rich green dotted with wild flowers. The few trees reach high into the sky, and a lone bird swoops past.

He takes a deep breath, glances up at the sun, and places his foot back on the bikes peddle.

Pushing off, he coasts down the hill without the effort of having to peddle. The wind rushes through his hair, his eyes water from the force of the wind, and taking his hands off the handle bars he raises them high in the air and loudly shouts out of sheer joy.

The front wheel suddenly twists as it hits a rock in the road and flying through the air the young man hits hard as he lands several feet away from his twisted and mangled bicycle.

He lies unconscious as a Man slowly walks across the meadow toward him. The young man, in his unconscious state is unaware that he has entered another dimension.

The Man is talking to him and telling the young man he needs to get straight with God. “Only my children can enter heaven and the only way to do that is through me,” the Man states.

The boy, in his altered state, looks at the Man standing before him and says, “Everyone says that Jesus isn’t the only way.”

“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” the Man states. “There is no other way. I am the only way to the Father.”

The young man’s eyes begin to flutter slightly and gradually he shakes his head to shake off the fuzziness of his clouded mind. Slowly he sits up and sees his mangled bike.

Then he remembers.

“I am the only way.”

***

John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

***

Television celebrities, some pastors, and people in general have been very misled as to how we get to heaven. Many think that being a “good person” is the key. So many times we hear people proclaim, “I haven’t robbed, stolen, or killed anyone. Of course I’m going to heaven.” And the lie the enemy of God, the devil, uses the most is, “A loving God will not send people to hell.” Television is a media that reaches millions of people worldwide and to hear a known celebrity speak out and proclaim that Jesus is not the only way, is a travesty. How society has been deceived! Throughout scripture Jesus and His disciples make it quite clear that Jesus is the way. Jesus Himself states that He is the only way to the Father. False religions rely on the ignorance of people to God’s Word. If only we would read, believe, and trust what God, through His Son, tells us. There is only one way to enter the kingdom of heaven and that is confessing, and believing, Jesus Christ is Lord. That He is God’s Son and He died and arose for the forgiveness of our sins. Then, and only then, will we spend eternity with Him.  Without Him it is literally hell!

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “The Devil’s Playground”

The Devil’s Playground

The day began bright and sunny and the woman went about her daily chores. She stopped by her office to quickly check her e-mail and suddenly her world seemed to turn upside down. Reading the last of the short e-mail sudden anger boils up within her. The day is now shot as she stomps about office with questions broiling through her mind. In a short time her strong faith has taken a sucker punch to the gut.

By sundown tears continue to flow, not only from the anger within, but from the devastating news and the confusing thoughts screaming through her mind. Sorrow fills her heart but the anger and confusion overrides all feelings of empathy and sorrow. How can God do this!? screams in her mind.

By bed time her tears continue to flow and sleep is non-existent. The news she received pounds through her mind over and over and then other events, past events, intrude. Her anger boils until she feels she will go crazy. By the wee hours she is exhausted yet sleep will not come. Angry thoughts, thoughts of an unloving God, thoughts of how everything she has believed is hog wash intrude her mind.

Without realizing she has dozed off she’s embroiled in a dream. In the dream she is on a tight rope and at the far end of the tight rope a large black panther is creeping toward her. Step by step he comes closer with teeth bared and a riveting intent on killing her.

He gets close enough that she suddenly and viciously kicks the panther as hard as she can. He flies off the tight rope, but returns. Again, he slowly stalks his prey. Hunkered down with piercing eyes focused and teeth gleaming through a low vicious growl, he moves slowly and purposefully.

She cocks her leg once again and when the big cat raises its paw to rip her wide open with his deadly claws, she kicks with all her might and hears a painful yelp from the cat as he falls into the abyss below.

Jerking awake, with heart racing, and jagged breathing, she sees a Man standing at the foot of her bed.

She blinks.

“Now you know where the anger and confusion is coming from,” the Man states and disappears.

***

1Timothy 4:1 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

***

When things are going well it’s easy to thank God for all His blessings. We walk and talk our faith and then suddenly something happens that seems to knock the skids right out from under us. When that happens there is a hungry lion ready to pounce on us and rip our faith to shreds. The devil waits for any opportunity to invade our minds for that is where we are the most vulnerable. I like to say, the mind is the devil’s playground, but in reality our mind is his prey and he is deadly serious! If he can invade our minds and feed us deception, and we listen, he will accomplish his purpose. His sole purpose is to turn us away from God. The slightest occurrence that takes place in our life can be a target for the enemy. Maybe the job we wanted didn’t come through. The devil will jump in with, “You aren’t good enough for that job.” He is the master of lies and deception. Standing strong in what God’s Word says is not always easy but to hold onto our faith and holding to God’s promises we must fight the lies of the devil. Today many churches have been invaded by spirits of darkness that leads them to compromise the truth of God’s word. People are being deceived by many who the enemy is using in these last days to deceive the congregations. Beware for the devil prowls about like a lion looking for his next prey, and we all are his targets!

Into The Light Ministry

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “The Clicker”

 

Carrying the clicker in her hand she enters the room. Several people fill the room and a clank, clank, clank is heard. A whispered groan is heard nearby. Placing her purse in the appointed cubby hole, A Man greets her with a smile.

Her nerves are on a bit of an edge for she knows this is going to hurt, at least she thinks it is. She glances in the direction of the clanking sound and groans under her breath. She’s familiar with what’s causing the sound.

The Man gives her directions and within a moment in time she’s grunting and pushing.

Click One – Click two- Click three- Click four – Click five, she presses on until she reaches thirty.

She gives a long sigh of relief and looks up. The Man is standing in front of her smiling and pointing to the next area she’s to go to.

She sucks in a deep breath and as she hobbles to the next station He tells her she’s  done great. She struggles to follow His instructions that will help in her recovery.

Ahhhh yes, recovery. Her damaged knee is hurting and yet she knows she must endure. She looks about the room and feels a bit guilty. Shoulders, knees, hips, feet, and arms are all being worked on. Many worse than what she is enduring.

Click one – Click two – click three – click four.

As the weeks pass she has come to jokingly call this place the “torture chamber.” Her recovery exercises has been increased in intensity and now she wants to sock the Man. He stands beside her as she presses on; encouraging her, laughing with her when she raises a fist toward Him with a threatening look.

She sits on the table as He presses, at times gently, and not so gently at other times, while He messages “goo” on her injured knee. “I am the I Am,” He states, with a twinkle in His eyes, as she threatens to lay Him out flat, “Trust Me and you shall be healed.”

She lowers her fist.

***

Jeremiah 30:17 – “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.”

***

Jehovah Rapha is another name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It means, Lord, my Healer. As we go through the physical pains from injuries or illnesses we can choose to trust not only a Doctor, a physical therapist, or a nurse, but more importantly we are to trust Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. He promises to heal those who trust in Him and that healing can be physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is not always easy and we must do our part in our healing process and allow Him to do His part. We turn our pain over to Him and trust His promises to bring healing. The small counter; “clicker” as I call it, really helps if you like to chat while doing the exercises in physical therapy.

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “Meeting of the Minds”

 

The date has been set. The time has been determined. The place has been chosen. Pulling into the parking lot the woman is astonished at the number of cars already filling the parking lot. She enters the building, places her name on the waiting list, and waits for the others to arrive.

Tables are shoved together and her name is called after a twenty-minute wait and the other women join her at the long table. The meeting will begin once the meals have been ordered.

“Thank you ladies for coming,” the leader of the group states. Meals arrive, the aroma of pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, gravy, and coffee fills the air as they introduce themselves and tell what craft the Lord has blessed them with.

Once the now empty dishes have been cleared away the purpose of the meeting is revealed. “We’ll be using our God-given talents to bless…….” The leader states the name of organization these ladies, and those who could not attend, will be creating personally made items for.

One lady knits, another makes personalized jewelry, another crochets, another does art work and around the table are many talents of various kinds and each is willing to use their God-given gift to bless others.

“I’ll make baby blankets” one lady states. Another excitedly comments, “If I knit squares then maybe she can crochet them together for a large comforter.” “If we can get a picture of Mom with her new baby, I can make her a pendant with the picture in it,” another states. Each lady tells what she would like to make and together they have formed a team of crafter’s on a mission of love and hope for new mothers.

The Waiter has overheard their conversation and leans between two of the ladies. “What are you all doing?” He asks one of the ladies. One lady smiles up at Him and tells Him, “We’re going to make various items for a Pregnancy Center and donate them.” She then points to various ladies and tells Him about their talents.

The Man straightens back up, holding the hot coffee pot He smiles brightly and nods His head with pleasure.”That’s wonderful,” He states and then leaves to refill His pot.

***

Romans 12:6 – “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…”

***

God isn’t referring to just the gifts of the Holy Spirit when He hands out gifts and talents. “She really has a gift for singing,” someone might state at listening to a beautiful song being song. We are all given some gift or talent and each is to be used for the edification and glorification of God. What gift has He given you? Don’t waste it. Use it to glorify God and His blessings will be poured out to you and others.

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Liberals Furious! Johns Hopkins Chief Psychiatrist: Transgender Is A ‘Mental Disorder’

Liberals Furious! Johns Hopkins Chief Psychiatrist: Transgender Is A ‘Mental Disorder’

A prominent psychiatrist, at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Paul R McHugh, claims that transgender individuals suffer from a form of mental illness and that Gender Reassignment is “biologically impossible.”

On the heels of the American College of Pediatrics Reaching the Decision that Transgenderism of Children is Child Abuse (click and read!), people are melting downeverywhere!

To be clear – people should be treated very seriously when attempting to rectify their feelings with surgery or dangerous hormone treatments because they do need help and fast. Can people reasonably disagree about a cure?

Can people also agree that children should not be making these choices?

Dr, McHugh also states that people who endorse gender reassignment are in fact supporting a mental disorder.

According to CNS News:

Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, said that transgenderism is a “mental disorder” that merits treatment, that sex change is “biologically impossible,” and that people who promote sexual reassignment surgery are collaborating with and promoting a mental disorder.

Dr. McHugh, the author of six books and at least 125 peer-reviewed medical articles, made his remarks in a recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal, where he explained that transgender surgery is not the solution for people who suffer a “disorder of ‘assumption’” – the notion that their maleness or femaleness is different than what nature assigned to them biologically.

He also reported on a new study showing that the suicide rate among transgendered people who had reassignment surgery is 20 times higher than the suicide rate among non-transgender people. Dr. McHugh further noted studies from Vanderbilt University and London’s Portman Clinic of children who had expressed transgender feelings but for whom, over time, 70%-80% “spontaneously lost those feelings.”

Dr. McHugh concludes his piece claiming that those who support gender reassignment support a mental disorder:

At the heart of the problem is confusion over the nature of the transgendered. “Sex change” is biologically impossible. People who undergo sex-reassignment surgery do not change from men to women or vice versa. Rather, they become feminized men or masculinized women. Claiming that this is civil-rights matter and encouraging surgical intervention is in reality to collaborate with and promote a mental disorder.

Sure to infuriate identity politics-pushers even more, he believes that if you enter prison as a male, you should have to wait until out to have gender reassignment!

There are subgroups of the transgendered, and for none does “reassignment” seem apt. One group includes male prisoners like Pvt. Bradley Manning, the convicted national-security leaker who now wishes to be called Chelsea. Facing long sentences and the rigors of a men’s prison, they have an obvious motive for wanting to change their sex and hence their prison. Given that they committed their crimes as males, they should be punished as such; after serving their time, they will be free to reconsider their gender.

Ass one might expect, some have reacted swiftly with claws fully extended.

Think Progress described the American College of Pediatricians as a “hate group masquerading as pediatricians.”

The Huffington Post said,

“Once again, Paul McHugh has used the ever more tarnished name of Johns Hopkins to distort science and spread transphobic misinformation.”

The American College of Pediatricians issued a statement condemning gender reclassification in children by stating that transgenderism in children amounts to child abuse.

The stories have been rampant of parents treating their little boys as girls because they “thought they identified” that way.

Can anyone with a clear mind think this is good for a child?

I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “Suspense at the River”

 

SUSPENSE AT THE RIVER

Having left his family behind, the man runs along the river and needs to stop to catch his breath. Breathing deeply he looks about while listening to the chirping of the birds. The breeze rustles his hair.

Stroking his beard he walks to the edge of the water. It’s late afternoon and while leaning forward and breathing deeply he listens to the sounds of nature as he thinks, I better get moving. It will be dark soon.

Taking another quick deep breath he begins to run. Suddenly he hears footsteps behind him alerting him to a possible danger and he glances back but sees no one. He continues to run and has to stop again to catch his breath. He has no idea how far he has run but feels an urgency to accomplish his mission. He kneels down and takes a long drink of the cool clear water. He splashes a little on his face, and then continues to run.

Running farther along the shore he slows his pace as he glances back again. The sun has lowered in the sky. Shadows begin to appear along his route and chills skitter down his spine. The footsteps behind become louder, closer, more threatening, yet he isn’t afraid.

Glancing back he suddenly stumbles over a branch lying on the ground and falls into the river, just at the edge, not the deep water. Someone grabs him. He fights, he struggles, and  he lashes out. His strength is giving out but he continues to fight the stranger and has decided he will fight to the end. He feels his life depends on it.

Water blurs his vision, his hair strings across his face, his beard is soaked feeling heavy on his face, his muscles are weakening but he won’t give up.

No words are spoken and the night melts into the dawn. He’s weak but still determined. The fighting, the wrestling, has continued all through the night. It’s taken its toll on his body. He feels a sudden jab to his hip and groans loudly but continues to wrestle the stranger.

With one last determined spurt of energy he swings at the stranger and grabbing him by his sleeve he wrestles him toward the sandy shore. The silence is suddenly broken as the stranger begs for him to let him go. He won’t let go! He grunts and breathing heavily he grabs the stranger by the shoulders. Shaking him he looks directly into the stranger’s eyes and yells, “I won’t let you go unless you bless me!”

***

Gen. 32:26 – “And he said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless You bless me!”

***

So many times we are going through life and everything seems to be going great and then something happens that really rattles our faith. It could be a death of a child or a loved one that is so unexpected it throws us into a tailspin. It could be a sudden job loss or business that seems to suddenly go sour and we don’t have a clue as to why it happened. We reach out to God and there seems to be no answers coming. We wrestle with the “whys” and “how come this happened?” and then we begin wrestling with God. We want answers! We want Him to explain and to help us understand. We want Him to at least give us some guidance or comfort or peace. We want something, anything to stop the mental wrestling going on in our minds. Finally we are so  exhausted from the mental wrestling match that we grab hold of Him and scream, “Bless me O’ Lord, I need You.”

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Escaping ‘Trans La La Land’: Dozens of Transgender Regretters ‘Come Out’ to Tell the Truth

Escaping ‘Trans La La Land’: Dozens of Transgender Regretters ‘Come Out’ to Tell the Truth

01-08-2019
Transgender logo

As the transgender movement becomes all the rage in popular culture, those who once lived that lifestyle – and are now plagued with regret – are coming forward to share their stories.

Author Walt Heyer chronicles their various journeys in his new book, Trans Life Survivors.

Trans Life Survivors showcases emails from 30 or so people, selected from among hundreds who have written me, concerning what many call ‘the biggest mistake’ of their lives,” Heyer writes in the book’s introduction.

Heyer is hardly an outsider regarding this controversial issue. To the contrary, Heyer himself endured a life-long struggle with gender confusion leading him to have a sex-change operation and live as a woman for nearly a decade.

He later discovered, however, that he was suffering from a mental condition known as “dissociative identity disorder,” or DID. In a further epiphany, he realized his disorder was the result of an early childhood trauma – and that the surgery had fixed nothing.

“It was becoming very clear that the surgery they call sex change or gender reassignment is not a sex or gender change at all, but a means to living out a masquerade through the destruction of perfectly good sexual organs,” said Heyer, who detransitioned back to a male 25 years ago.

In a Jan. 3 op-ed for The Federalist, Stella Morabito cites Heyers personal struggles as the reason those coming out of the lifestyle trusted him to tell their stories.

“They specifically sought out Walt to get some much-needed support,” she writes. “They’ve shared their lonely, surreal experiences falling down the trans rabbit hole, hoping to escape as he did.”

Explaining why he wrote the book, Heyer writes, “I present this representative group of gut-wrenching personal testimonies to put the transgender advocates on notice: we survivors know there is deep trouble in Trans La La Land.”

For instance, Heyer notes that while the transgender lobby pushes gender transition as the perfect solution for those struggling with gender dysphoria, the truth is that for many, the novelty of the transition eventually wears off. For those who discover that and then seek to de-transition, the backlash can be brutal.

“I’m trying to come out as a regretter,” writes Eric. “And I’m finding the community backlash to be difficult and the lack of medical support to be troubling.”

Meanwhile, Morabito reports that Heyer cites numerous studies showing that gender dysphoria often co-exists with other mental conditions, such as DID, bipolar disorder, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

“If those other conditions were first treated through cognitive therapy, there’s no telling how much that would alleviate gender dysphoria without any need for invasive surgeries and hormonal treatments,” Morabito writes. “But this seems to be a well-guarded secret by political and media activists with a stake in promoting identity politics in general, and gender ideology in particular.”

Heyer is hoping his book will shine a light on the problem and help provide much-needed support for those seeking to de-transition.

“Regretters going back need people around them to lend strength for the journey – people willing to listen with love, speak healing words, provide emotional, legal and financial assistance and cheer them on to their homecoming,” he said.

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “True Freedom”

 

True Freedom

The roar of helicopters fills the air over the jungles as soldiers stomp through the marshes. Their lives are at stake and yet they continue to move forward protecting those within their country. The sacrifice, they say, is well worth it, as they crawl among the trees and brush. Bullets whiz past and they return fire. So far none in their squadron has been hit this morning. They lift up silent prayers that they achieve what others are unwilling to do.

Back home their families make do on the little the government gives them. Mom’s hold the household together and pray fervently that their loved one will come home safe while others are screaming, cussing, and protesting.

The battle field is treacherous and as one soldier dives towards his fox hole a bullet rips through his body and he falls, bleeding in the dirt and mud. “Dear God, oh Jesus, come and help me,” he whispers as his life blood stains the dirt.

A Man steps down into the fox hole and kneels beside the soldier. The soldier looks at Him through the sweat, blood, and dirt on his face, “Who are you?” The soldier whispers.

“I am the I Am”

The soldier whispers, “You came. I give you my soul,” and slowly closes his eyes. The darkness turns to a brilliant light engulfing him in a peaceful dimension of pure love. The Man holds his hand and looks up to heaven.

***

Psalm 31:5- “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

***

When we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are assured through His promise that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven. True freedom comes in knowing that whatever happens we are in His care. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “Risking it All”

 

The moon is partly hidden in the dark sky. The crew is sound asleep after a hard day’s work. Snores fill the fire fighters rooms and dreams flicker through their minds.

The blare of the fire alarm brings all snapping to attention and jumping from their bunks they don their gear quickly and with much practice. While slamming a helmet on their heads they race to the big red fire truck.

Kevin jumps behind the wheel and the Man slides in beside him. He flips a switch and the air is filled with the scream of the siren as Kevin maneuvers the big rig out onto the street. They scream through the silent dark streets and arrive at a house engulfed in flames. The crew rush to pull the hoses out of their compartments, others hook them to nearby fire hydrants and truck tanks. Commands are shouted and men go about their task of saving a home as best they can like busy ants on an important mission.

People have come to stand on their porches clad in night gowns and pajamas. Someone shouts, “There’s a baby inside,” as the mother screams and tries to get to the inflamed door of her home. The heat pushes her back and she falls to her knees sobbing.

Kevin sucks in a breath and shouts, “I’m going in!” The Man grabs his arm and states, “I’m going with you!” Kevin nods and the two of them rush into the burning inferno.

The cry of a child can barely be heard over the roar of the fire. Visibility is almost nil and the Man shouts, “I’ve got your back. The baby is over there.” Kevin crawls through the dense smoke toward where the Man pointed and finds the child. Together they rush through the room and down the stairs just as the roof caves in inches behind them.

The crowd cheers as the mother screams and runs full speed toward Kevin and the Man as they exit the blazing house. She grabs her coughing, crying baby as the E.M.T. places an oxygen mask over the baby’s face.

“Thank you Jesus,” she cries while placing her baby on the ambulance gurney.

The Man looks at her and smiles, “Your welcome,” He states and gives Kevin a high-five.

***

Philippines 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

***

“I don’t need God!” “I can do this myself!” These are a couple of common statements that many make without thinking. We as humans do not realize that we can do nothing without God. Every breath we take is because He has ordained it and can take it away at any second of any day. We may not be fire fighters that risk their lives rushing in to save someone in a burning building, or a police officer that stands in the line of fire every time he or she steps out of their vehicle, or an Emergency Medical Technician that can contract who knows what from treating someone on the side of the road. We all need Christ by our side helping us through the decisions and tasks of everyday living. If you haven’t asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, do so now. Your next breath may be your last.

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