For the past few days I’ve been talking with a young friend who is going through a difficult challenge facing rejection, persecution…and really just plain ugliness…even though this young friend has tried to reach out with kindness.

I’ve shared with my young friend that…the person who is speaking hurtful, ugly, unnecessary words is really just reflecting what’s in their heart.  It really has nothing to do with my young friend…she’s just the person who’s in the way of the venomous arrows of verbal infliction.

You know…the arrows the enemy places on people’s tongues that try to kill the heart, emotions…destiny of an individual.  These are the arrows that have been garnered usually one by one through hurt, disappointment, abuse…unforgiveness, suppressed anger, bitterness.  They spew out of mouths with point words that pierce or like those suction toy arrows that are hard to pull off.

It’s the Blood of Jesus and the Power of His Word that pulls the arrows off…and deflects them from even landing on us.

So…my friend is in a “teaching time”.  Choosing to learn to be unshakable.  Learning for the days ahead as persecution and darkness increases.  Praying, standing, confronting…sometimes hurting…forgiving…and then learning to speak blessings…life words that deflect and cancel…and love unconditionally the hurting and the lost…even the one who is try to oppress.

The person who offends is hurting and with each hurtful word the heart is being exposed.  The Light of Jesus in us…the Power of the Holy Spirit as we walk into a room…convicts.  But…as we stand in the, unshakable Love of Jesus, the knowledge of our Identity in Christ, His Love, His Care, His Acceptance, His Presence always with us…we will remain…unshakable.

In the days ahead, this generation will be prepared…more and more to remain…unshakable.  Piercing forward with the unshakable knowledge of who they/we are “in Christ”.  Even though defamed, accused unjustly, mocked, slandered, rejected, scorned, betrayed…persecuted…the remnant of this generation will remain…unshakable.

I have come to know this is what the Lord is doing in my own life…preparing through trials…and even testings through “shakable situations”.   Thankful when I see my response is “peace”…even when the situation or circumstance reflects no change…and even “seems” to worsen.

Not tested in all…but thankful that in recent days I’ve experienced the “unshakable in the knowledge of my Identity in Christ”…that fills my heart with His peace and love…in the midst.  I know that I continue to be in our Master’s School…preparing for the “tests” of the days ahead.

If you are going through a shakable trial…even today…allow the Lord to turn the arrows around and use His Mighty Hand to write the unshakable knowledge of your Identity in Christ…His unfailing Love for you…His Word…upon your heart.

Remain unshakable, friend, in these shakable times…one step at a time…strengthened, in the knowledge of the Power and Love of Jesus…Who will never leave you are abandon you…Who calls you more than an overcomer…Who sings over you…Who has come to save you…and Who is coming again.

Unshakable Truth when you are a Christian:

“You are Accepted”

You are a friend of Jesus                    John 15:15

You are adopted as God’s child         Ephesians 1:5   and   Psalm 27:10

You have been forgiven of all sins     Colossians 1:14 and I John 1:9

“You are Secure”

You are free from condemnation      Romans 8:1,2

You are a citizen of Heaven                 Philippians 3:20

You cannot be separated from God’s Love       Romans 8:35,39

“You are Significant”

You have been chosen             John 15:16

You can approach God with freedom      Ephesians 3:12

You can do all things through Jesus Christ     Philippians 4:13

Side Note: Remembering the story of Betsy and Corrie ten Boom.  Corrie, who survived months of imprisonment in concentrations camps during World War II because, as a Christian, she and her Dutch family provided refuge to Jews who were taken to be killed at the camps…often spoke of the “unshakable” knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ she saw reflected in the life of her sister, Betsy.

The “ten Boom” family did not have to “provide refuge” during this great time of injustice…but they knew the Lord had called Christians to this purpose.  How could they live, if they do not follow His Word.   Papa ten Boom, Betsy…and other family members died in the camps.

While Betsy died just days before Corrie’s release…Corrie tells the story of how she, Corrie, could not forgive…her heart was heavy for the injustice of the oppressor.  In the years after Corrie’s release…she did forgive…through the Love of Jesus.

Corrie tells the story of her sister, Betsy, who continued to forgive and to lean upon her “identity in Christ”…upon “her Master”…and was able to walk out her final days upon this earth…”behind barb wires, oppressed, mocked, persecuted, at the point of death… but free in Christ”.

Corrie said that when Betsy died…there was a glow about her while she laid in the room in the concentration camp…as the Glory of the Lord seemed to be around her…she even regained her youthful appearance…even in death.

A reflection of her identity in Christ and His…Unshakable Love.

So…there we were, my daughter Sarah and I getting into the car after a visit to the office supply store.  It’s in front of Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Not to give any store a plug but what happened next will explain the “beyond” part:)

As I was walking over to open my car door, a woman came around the side of her car and began singing, “you don’t see what I see…you don’t see what I see…”  I thought…okay Lord…I just feel in my heart to tell her how You see her…that You see her as one who is greatly loved by You…”

So…I did.  And yes…my children, family, friends, and spiritual children are used to me doing things like this:)  People need hope and encouragement, in the Lord, in these days.  In fact, a few of you are probably shaking your heads and smiling right now:)

Well…as I was walking up to the woman, I noticed that she was holding the hand of her daughter.  They were smiling.  So…I said, “We often don’t see ourselves as Jesus sees us but He surely loves you and sees you as His own…so greatly loved!”  She looked at me, smiling, and said…”Do you know what my daughter just said?”   I said , “No…what did she say?”

Now…this  was a mom who had been riding with her daughter after just picking her up from school.  Her daughter was about 10 years old and was wearing her school shirt.

Back to the conversation.

So…the woman answered, “Ever since I picked her up from school, she’s been saying,”Mom, Jesus is coming back soon…look up…can’t you see…Jesus is coming back soon…Mom, you don’t see what I see.”  The woman said, “She says I don’t see what she sees…my Pastor says that she will prophesy greater than I will…but I don’t know…”

So…I realized this was a “Divine appointment”.  I had not met this mom and daughter before…but the Lord knew we would meet in the parking lot….the “beyond” part:)  This was a time to encourage both a mom and daughter in the destiny of this coming generation. I said, “Yes ma’am, I believe your daughter.  Jesus is coming back soon.”

The young girl then looked at me and said, “Look up…can’t you see that He’s coming back soon…”  It’s as though she was focused only on the Lord and obedience to Him.  Wanting to honor her mother and show me respect…but totally focused on obedience to the Lord.  This will be needed in the coming days, for this chosen generation…as the day grow darker but their light shines brighter.

I turned to them both and said, “I believe the Lord is speaking to and through this generation. He is pouring out His Spirit on this generation in a powerful way.  That’s what His Word says.  The Lord says this generation…our children…will do greater works in His Name.”   Her response, “That’s what my Pastor said about my daughter…so now I’m hearing it again and that Jesus is coming soon…so I guess the Lord is speaking to me and I better listen…”

As parents, we must raise our children…of all ages… with purpose for the days to come…for the Lord is building His army, in them.   If you feel you haven’t…then start by giving “life words” to this generation now.  It’s not too late.

I encouraged the young girl by saying, “The Lord has given you a powerful gift…you’re an encourager for your generation to know the Lord is coming…”   She said, “I know…but no one will listen…”

Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

Joel 2:28-32

The Day of the LORD

²⁸ “And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

²⁹ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

³⁰ I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.

³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

³² And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.