Do you believe the time has come to rise up and take a stand for Christian values? How many times have you thought, ‘I wish we could all live in harmony with God first – bad news is everywhere! Just wishing and hoping and thinking won’t get Jesus in some people’s hearts! We gotta’ show those who defy God’s way that we care by rising up together in prayer and believing God will change hearts, bring sin to light, and restore Christian principles in our land. We can’t change things or people, but God can! When we don’t know what to do or how to help fix the mess we’re in…we can pray.

Having faith the size of a tiny mustard seed enables God’s children to stand their ground for what is right according to God’s Word and be heard when voices join together in unison. America has long been a land flowing with milk and honey, with God’s hand of protection and blessings upon us. Strong, Christian leadership helped lay a firm foundation for a land proud to be one nation under God. Our first president, George Washington, faced trials and tribulations that threatened to keep us from becoming a nation. When he tasted defeat on all sides, the great general knew where to turn for support and victory. He knelt in the snow with his small but faithful army watching, and he prayed to God for guidance. Abraham Lincoln faced adversity at every turn, but always prayed and put God first when making decisions to preserve freedom and protect equality in America, the nation whose foundation was laid with God as our cornerstone. Prayer and putting things in God’s Hands has kept the American dream alive for 237 years. Is our dream becoming a nightmare? Letters to the churches in Revelation warn people of things that are happening today. We must return to our first love and give Him honor and praise. God must be sad with our state of affairs. Why is there so much turmoil and trouble everywhere in the world?

Surely, it’s not end times! The Bible says no one knows the time Jesus will return (not even His Son), that a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. We should not be fearful but faithful in times like these. Believers in tune with God bring harmony and help to others when they are willing to rise up and reach out.

How can people not believe, love, and serve God, the Father who sent His Son so that we might be free from sin and have everlasting life in heaven, and the Holy Ghost He sent as our helper? Many do believe in Him (even Satan and demons believe in God) but do not live by His Word. God will have the final word and victory will be in Jesus. We need not worry for God reminds us He will care for us as He does the tiny robins. Yet, He instructs us to stay connected to the Vine (to Him), to forgive, to cleanse our hearts, to rise up and be ready to meet Him any day, to prepare ourselves for end times, and to look for Him to return one day as a thief in the night. Let us heed God’s warning, signs of Bible prophecy, wonders that can’t be explained, and miracles that are brushed off as coincidence.

Now is the time to rise up, get right with the Lord and loved ones, forgive, and reach out to share the good news of a loving Father who wants to be honored and obeyed by His children. In Isaiah we are told to “Arise and shine”. It is pleasing to God when we rise up and let our lights shine for Him.

On Feb. 9, Tim’s Gift Inc. is sponsoring an all day Christian event at the Sampson County Expo Center. The name of this year’s conference is RISE UP – REACH OUT. There is no admission charge. We are grateful to our community for support and sponsoring Rise UP Reach Out. The doors open at 9am with a variety of vendors for great shopping and a food court with breakfast, lunch, and snack foods throughout the day. There will be praise and worship, preaching, testimonies, a prayer room, health care booths, and great singing throughout the day. The shopping and vendor court will be open all day also. You can come for awhile or stay all day.

It’s amazing how God has brought together local people from our churches and communities who are gifted and eager to share God’s word, sing His songs, and share messages so relevant for the times in which we live. This all day free event is planned in faith to glorify God. Please pray as we believe this can be a life changing event where people will be inspired to Rise UP and Reach Out.