I remember having a mom who used to grab me by both arms and shake me until my teeth rattled. At that point, no matter what she wanted me to say to be agreeable, I was going to try to appease her. Nowadays, what she did would be considered child abuse, but for me, it was just a part of my growing up because I was rebellious. I didn’t always think before I spoke to my mom so I often found myself on her bad side. These days, I will not be shaken from my belief that God is for me, and nothing is going to happen to me today that God doesn’t know about and is in control of.

Are you one of those people who kind of waffles in your beliefs? One day, you are on fire for God and the next, you mumble that yeah, you just might believe the Bible. I am here to tell you that the way to true dedication to the Lord is to stand up for Him, no matter who may oppose you. There is a whole world of people dying out there without the Lord and you may be the only Christian that they ever see to tell them about Him. About four decades ago, my baby brother called me and told me that he had no car and no way to get to work. He wanted my help–any help my husband and I could offer. At the time, my husband and I had two cars. Neither of them was worth much, but we weren’t using them both because I was a stay-at-home mom at the time. So Jamie came to visit us and picked up the car. We signed over the title and registration, selling it to him for one dollar so that everything would be legal. During his visit, my husband and I sat down and talked to him about our faith. We got to talk to him about salvation and he ended up praying the sinner’s prayer and accepting Jesus as His Savior. He still talks about that night to this day, referring to the time that we gave to him in more ways than one, eternal life being the most important. He is now a fire chief in a town in Florida and continues to go to church and serve the Lord, alongside his wife of several decades. The moral of the story is not just to share the Gospel, it is also to give to others what you have to give. And don’t be afraid to share your faith with family members. I know…no one is usually more difficult to reach than those who knew you before you were saved and those who have seen your life afterwards. Maybe the change wasn’t as radical as they have expected and you have disappointed them in your so-called walk with the Lord. Nevertheless, you should not be shaken in your resolve to share. They may really need you to reach out with the truth of the Gospel so their lives can be changed, too. Don’t be shaken!

God revealed to me 46 years ago the pathway to eternal life. I rejoice in His presence! Moreover, His presence is always present with me. I was sound asleep on that operating table three weeks ago, but God was wide awake and right there with me. I am confident that He made sure that everything went well, and I am healing and feeling better every day. God is with me, through my trials and through my victories. Why would I want to deny this life and this happiness it brings to those I love and with whom I have spent a lot of my life? Answer: I don’t want to deny it, so I have to stand up for my beliefs and declare that I will not be shaken. I will not be deterred from moving forward on this road to salvation, bringing along with me as many as possible. Unlike when my mother shook me and I changed my tune quickly, I’m not changing my tune these days. I will sing it from the rooftops and where ever else God sends me. God is present. God loves you. God sent His Son to die for you and wants you to accept that truth and to live with Him forever. Amen. May it be so in my family and in yours! Blessings for a peaceful evening and one in which you are not shaken!