FAITH AND FASTING

Friends, it is with the greatest sadness I share this post. I don’t know about you, but the assassination/murder of Charlie Kirk rocked our household. I’ve been crying since I heard the news on September 10.

Charlie was a great person. Gentleman, Christian conservative, evangelical, public thought leader and influencer for Biblical values, husband, father and friend. Cut down in the prime of his life and tragically in the earliest years of his young family. Words cannot express the depth of my sadness.

After hearing the news, within a few hours, an old dream resurfaced and kept coming back to me. One where I had seen a well-known, young, Christian conservative man lose his life for speaking truth to an unwelcoming crowd. I had to dig through my dream journals to find it. Here it is:

June 4, 2021

DREAM: I saw someone who resembled Kirk Cameron being chased round and round by bullies in a maze-like building. Then, I saw him leap off a cliff in the end. People looking down to see his fall had dramatic reactions. I was very upset.

At the time of this dream, I was rocked and afraid of it, but had no idea how to interpret. I actually remember praying for Kirk Cameron, in case it was a more literal dream.

However, after the news hit of Charlie Kirk’s assassination/murder, I slowly began putting the pieces together with this old dream. Both men have “Kirk” in their name! Both are Christian conservatives. Both have/had public platforms of influence for Christ and Christian values. Both loved college kids and spoke on college campuses.

Strikingly in confirmation of this parallel, there was an additional dream I’d had the very same day, and it was before the Kirk dream. That first dream showed me and my husband in retirement. Friends, we retired 6 weeks ago. Just as the dream of death followed the retirement dream, a significant death has quickly followed our literal retirement…

The part of the death dream I struggled with was the intentional leap off a cliff. That is, until the Spirit reminded me of Matthew 7:6.

Do not give that which is holy to dogs, neither throw your pearls to pigs, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and attack you.

Jesus was warning, when you dare to speak truth to an unsaved world, don’t expect to be treated well. There are those who hate and will try to destroy you. In one sense, it is suicide, but then again, it can (and should) only be a willing sacrifice if you do speak your faith and values publicly.

Jesus did. He only hid the truth when necessary to allow his ministry time to come to fulfillment and reach every last person possible while he walked the earth. He is our example and servant-leader. He sacrificed Himself willingly out of love for us, was killed for speaking truth an evil world didn’t want to hear.

It is similar for Charlie Kirk. He knew the risks and had even taken precautions. Some reported he was wearing a bullet-proof vest and we know he had armed security. But he was absolutely willing to risk his life to spread truth to the young and vulnerable generations of America. He loved them that much!

His life will not have been sacrificed in vain. His work moved mountains, increasing the conservative youth vote and surely helping push Donald Trump over the finish line last November. His volume of speeches are all public and will be poured over by millions for years to come, continuing to influence, his voice amplified beyond imagining in death.

Now that we’re talking about older dreams I missed, please be aware in April of 2024, I dreamed Bill O’Reilly was shot “in the war”. My dreams are not often literal, but usually symbolic. So, I cannot presume this is the actual Bill O’Reilly. But think for a moment who he is and his role in America. He is a former Fox News contributor (of many years), a conservative newscaster who still is in an influential role with the White House and online.

I’d like to say maybe this O’Reilly dream was a second prophetic nod to Charlie Kirk so we don’t have to keep worrying about what is next. But, if it is of another to come, we need to be forewarned.

In our coming October 1 post for fasting and praying 24 hours for America, we will include a list of conservative Christian influencers who are targets of radicals. Let’s cover our brothers and sisters in these special, truth-telling roles in America.

Let’s also not forget what/who we are really fighting. It is as old as time and not human:

Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I came from God, not of myself, He sent me. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and dwelt not in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of himself: for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:42

Stay peaceful, dissuade all you influence from violence. That is the enemy’s game, not ours. Let’s pray together today before we close:

Father in Heaven, we praise Your mighty name. You are wonderful, perfect, holy… We surrender now to Your Spirit, looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Thank you for giving up everything for us. May we return Your love and bring glory to Your name.

Jesus, please comfort Charlie Kirk’s family in this terrible season of shock and tragic loss. Please bring around his wife and children extra protection and support all the days of their lives. We pray You protect them from further attack, from cruel bullying, and raise them up to be inspired, encouraged and blessed by the witness and faithfulness of their son, husband and father. May all future relationships in their lives be only those who unselfishly love and cherish them.

Lord, we won’t name all today, but You know those who are Your sons and daughters in public roles in America. The ones speaking of faith and godly values in an often hostile culture. Please give them wisdom and extra protection in these years of unseen war in America. We ask You cover their loved ones and save them everywhere possible from the enemies of our faith and values.

Please, Father, bring the perpetrators of these kinds of evil acts to full justice. Expose every conspirator, every network which thought it could operate under cover of darkness and force its will on the American people. Turn it upside down, expose it in broad daylight and bring all to justice under the law. Have Your will in America as it is in Heaven.

Above all, bring great revival more and more to our land. Harvest souls for Christ. Raise up more generations of faithful servant leaders to Your people and to reach the lost. Let none who die in the Lord and in service to our nation die in vain.

All in the name and for the glory of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Readers, thank you for your faithfulness to the nation and to our brilliant Creator and Savior, Jesus. We love you all and will stand strong together until He returns. Peace.