In I Samuel 17:29 David asked the question, “Is there not a cause?”

YES- there is a cause!

All too often we seek to do our will – not God’s. Where has that gotten us? Our economical status is in dire straits. Our lack of morality is evident each time the television is turned on.

We don’t have far to go to witness the problems this country is experiencing. Our society is NOT what it was 30 years ago, when our children could go to school in safety. Now they can’t walk down the street to a friend’s house to play without being at risk of danger from predators or of drug dealers.

What has happened to our country to have allowed this to be a way of life for our young generation? What can we do as a community to rectify the situation?

A change needs to be made in our country to get back to God — to be a godly country once again. We can make that change start in our community!

II Chronicles 7:14 states “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

There are far too many empty pews in our churches — far too many people missing out on all the blessings God wants to bestow upon us — far too many Bibles sitting around gathering dust.

We have to do our part, HUMBLE ourselves, PRAY, SEEK God’s face, and REPENT. In turn God will HEAR, FORGIVE, and HEAL! Our country was founded on a biblical foundation and little by little we, as a nation, have strayed from God’s design. God has promised to hear, forgive and heal our land be we must first do our part.

How many times have we bypassed someone in need without a second thought? Have we become so self-focused that we have forgotten all God has done for us? And He wants to do more but we are standing in His way. We can do nothing good and constructive without God’s guidance. The good deeds that we do are of God’s design – not ours!

We must also remember that we live in satan’s playground and he is here to kill, steal and destroy as stated in John 10:10.

What has happened to the “golden rule”? You can find that in Matthew 7:12. I’m sure if some of the younger people were asked, they would say they have never heard of the golden rule. That is sad and very scary!

Galatians 6:7-8 states, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth of his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

God will not reward good for evil! GOD IS JUST!

We must turn from our wicked thoughts, actions and words. I’m sure I speak for many others when I say I’m tired of satan having heyday in our community, in the lives of our young people and working his evil deeds.

It’s time for God’s people, His church, to stand up and voice our beliefs – God’s beliefs. We must put aside personal and denominational teachings and stand together as a Bible Believing United Body of Christ. The time is NOW!!! What is wrong in God’s eyes should be wrong in our eyes. There is no middle ground. It is either God’s way or sin!!

I am nor  political person but I do believe in God’s Word. What God says — I believe — there is no compromise. From the first “In” in Genesis to the last “Amen” in Revelation is God’s inspired Word. It is Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.

The change has got to start somewhere — what better place than Panola County?

There is time to “turn the other cheek,” but there is also a time to stand up for what is right. We have turned the other cheek far too often — now it’s time for us to stand up, stop speaking in whispers and start shouting! We have to stand for something. What better than God’s Holy Word?

Panola County is a great place to live but there is always room for improvement. Let’s let Panola County be a positive example to the surrounding counties and start a Christian movement which will overtake the entire state. It’s not too late to turn back to God!.

“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

“In God We Trust!” That is our nation’s motto. Let’s begin again; it’s not too late to turn back to Christ. We can do it! Together we can make a difference!

May God richly bless you,

Faith O’Conner

Batesville