Posted on Monday, June 5, 2023

Prepare for Persecution

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by MaryAnn

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, June 5, 2023, and this is Episode #23 of Series 2023. This episode is titled “Prepare for Persecution”.

No one likes to talk of persecution, especially those being persecuted. But, as we look around, we cannot help but see that persecution against Christians is on the rise. Why? Because we adhere to absolute Truth, and the world wants no part of truth these days.

Yet, all around us, we are seeing the consequences of straying from the truth and embracing the lie. For example, our culture no longer knows the difference between men and women. Our culture calls good evil and evil good. Our culture promotes harm to children through the lies it is teaching them about transgenderism, authority, and rebellion.

The farther man strays from truth, the more perverse he becomes. Why? Because man was created for truth. But Satan tempted him to renounce truth and to choose the lie.

And, sadly, man did.

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed. He still tempts man to choose the lie over truth. And, tragically, most men fall into Satan’s trap.

The horrendous evil we are witnessing around us today is the result of man’s choosing the lie over the truth. So, what is truth?

Truth is a Person. Truth is Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said this about Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6). Without Jesus, there can be no recognition of truth because Jesus is Truth.

Today’s world has replaced the Truth with the Lie. It has replaced Jesus with Satan. And all we have to do is to look around us to see the consequences of replacing the Truth with the Lie. Of replacing Jesus with Satan.

As the world continues to embrace Satan over Jesus, the world will eventually realize what Satan is really like. He is the essence of evil. He is the Lie itself. The Bible tells us that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. There is no truth in him.

Since Satan is evil personified, all evil comes from him. The bad things that happen in the world are the result of man’s acceptance—and even his exaltation—of the lie. Today the world is exalting sin like never before. It is openly advocating sin. And it is scoffing at truth. But one day, unless those who follow Satan repent, they will reap the consequences of their rebellion. And it won’t be pretty.

Satan has already begun to show his true colors in the insanity that has taken over the world. In the transgender movement, the Satan worship movement, the pedophilia movement, and every other abhorrent movement that mocks God and His Word. We Christians will be increasingly marginalized and persecuted. We will be called “terrorists” and “enemies of the state”. Already we are seeing signs of this. We must be prepared for what is to come.

To that end, I have written a book called The Iron Saint. In this short book, I delve into Biblical principles that we, as the Body of Christ, must adopt and adhere to if we want to remain strong in the day of persecution. Based on the training principles of The Iron Man Triathlon, The Iron Saint is divided into three main sections:

1. Building Spiritual Strength
2. Fueling Spiritual Strength
3. Transitioning from Glory to GLORY.

As we apply these principles to our daily lives, we will grow strong. We will fuel our strength. And we will transition to the victory that we have in Christ.

But we must remain faithful. Faithful to stay close to Jesus our Lord. Faithful to fight the good fight of faith. Faithful to obey Him by living out and proclaiming His Word. Only then will we be able to endure to the end.

If you are listening to this podcast and are not yet a Christ-Follower, I urge you to turn to Jesus now. He loves you and has only good in store for you. He made you on purpose and for a purpose. So, repent of your sin. Turn away from evil, and receive Jesus Christ into your life. He will set you free.

To receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, pray this short prayer after me now:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin, and I ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I acknowledge You as the One Who alone can give me true freedom. I invite You into my life now to be my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank you for setting me free. Amen.

If you have acknowledged that you are a sinner, if you have repented of sinning against the Most High God, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family of God! Write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com and request my free e-booklet titled After You’re Born Again. It will help you get started in your exciting life journey with Jesus.

In closing, I urge you to get yourself a copy of The Iron Saint: Preparing the Church for Persecution. And, while you’re at it, grab a copy for your pastor and for the elders in your church. Also, please tell other Christians about this book. It will help prepare all of us for the persecution that has already begun.

Also, I invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for a wonderful selection of books–both fiction and nonfiction–to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

You can also keep updated on new releases in my writing ministry by subscribing to my monthly author newsletter at the link below.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!
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Featured Book of the Week:

The Church in America is on the verge of a tremendous spiritual awakening, an awakening that will first be fueled by persecution unlike anything we have ever seen before in this land. Indeed, a prophetic word given in my home church during the month of November gave this warning to the Church: “Prepare for the fire of persecution!”But the Church is not ready for this persecution. For the most part, the Church in America has been weak and lukewarm. Flabby and lazy. Consumed with the world and not with the things of God. As a result, the Church has been deceived and has subverted the divine order of things.In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio seeks to help equip the saints for the work of true, integritous, and effective ministry. As a teacher in the Body of Christ, it is her burning desire to help correct this devastating error. In THE IRON SAINT, Dr. Diorio has outlined a plan of action for strengthening the Church through uncompromising obedience to the Word of God. This plan of action is based on her own 50 years of walking with the Lord and being led by His Holy Spirit.If you are a born-again believer and member of the Body of Christ, make this book a top reading priority. Click on one of the links below to purchase.

E-BOOK

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Copyright 2000-2023 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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Posted on Monday, May 29, 2023

Fear: The Thief of Freedom

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by MaryAnn

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 29, 2023, and this is Episode #22 of Series 2023. This episode is titled “Fear: The Thief of Freedom.”

The past few years have exposed an alarming truth: Fear will motivate people to give up their freedom.

Now, before you balk at my statement, let me ask you a few questions:

During the pandemic . . .

Did you wear a mask?
Did you stay locked down in your home?
Did you give fist bumps instead of handshakes?

If you’re like most people, you did all three.

But have you ever asked yourself why? Most likely, the reason you did all three is that you were afraid.

Afraid of what?

Afraid of getting sick. Why? Because you were afraid of dying.

1. You wore a mask because you were afraid of getting sick and dying.
2. You stayed in lockdown for the same reason. You were afraid of possibly exposing yourself to sick people, getting sick yourself, and dying.
3. You gave fist bumps instead of handshakes because you were afraid of getting sick and dying.

In each case, you gave up some of your freedom in exchange for safety and protection from dying.

Studies have shown that the root of all fear is the fear of physical death. A person will give up anything, even his freedom, in order to be relieved of the fear of death. In order to be safe and protected from death.

During the pandemic, did you ever ask yourself if the mask was really protecting you? If the lockdown was really keeping you safe? If the fist bump really warded off sickness and death?

Most likely, you did not. Most likely, your fear was so great that you didn’t stop to think. Or challenge. Most likely, you just went along with the crowd. You just believed everything the government told you. You did exactly what the government said to do. You never questioned the government’s advice nor its motives. You just followed along in lockstep with the rest of the world.

All because you were afraid.

Today, nearly a full four years later, we are paying the price for our fear. We are facing an increasingly controlling government–both national and global–who has used and continues to use fear to implement its ulterior motive of subjugating us. And, frankly, they’ve done a good job.

The pandemic did not happen by chance. It was planned. And fear was the catalyst to getting the results we are witnessing today: the rise of a one-world government that will control every aspect of your life and rob you of your freedom.

All of this was prophesied in the Bible, especially in the Books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation. A world that has rejected Truth will live in fear. And fear is the thief of freedom.

Yet, God has given us the antidote to fear. His Name is Jesus Christ. But the world refuses to believe in Him.

It amazes me that people will sooner believe the government than believe God. Yet, that is what we have done. We have trusted a government that does not have the best interests of the people at heart. We have trusted a government that has its own agenda called the New World Order. We have trusted a government that is being used as a tool to set up the antiChrist system.

Underneath it all lies a fundamental question: Why do most people fear death? Most people fear death because we were not created to die. God created us to live and to live forever. But our sin brought death. Romans 6: 33 says that “the wages of sin is death.” This means both physical death and spiritual death.

It also amazes me that people fear physical death but give no heed to the implications of spiritual death. Jesus said this: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10: 28).

But what is, perhaps, most amazing to me is that Jesus Christ came to give us true freedom in every way: Freedom from eternal damnation, freedom from sickness and disease, and freedom from fear. Yet, few people want the freedom Jesus offers us. Why?

Because people want to be their own god. And what has that gotten us? It has resulted in the loss of freedom and the rise of slavery. The world is fast moving into a new world order in which the globalists will implement their evil agenda at the expense of our freedom.

And we have allowed it by rejecting true freedom in Christ.

To choose fear is to give up freedom. To choose Christ is to gain true freedom.

I urge you to accept Him now. Unless you do, you will be increasingly suppressed under the thumb of the AntiChrist system that is soon to take over the world. And you will spend your eternity in bondage in hell.

So, please repeat this short prayer after me now:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I acknowledge You as the One Who alone can give me true freedom. I invite You into my life now to be my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank you for setting me free. Amen.

If you have acknowledged that you are a sinner, if you have repented of sinning against the Most High God, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family! Write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com and request my free e-booklet titled After You’re Born Again. It will help you get started in your exciting life journey with Jesus.

My featured book for this month is The Captain and Mrs. Vye, is my latest novel. It is the story of a 19th-century, middled-aged widow who discovers that her late husband has left her destitute. You can purchase the book at the links below.

Also, I invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for a wonderful selection of books–both fiction and nonfiction–to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

You can also keep updated on new releases in my writing ministry by subscribing to my monthly author newsletter at the link below.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER

A middle-aged, 19th-century widow discovers that her late husband has left her destitute.

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EBOOK:

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Posted on Monday, May 22, 2023

The Lie of A.I.

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by MaryAnn

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 22, 2023, and this is Episode #21 of Series 2023. This episode is titled “The Lie of A.I.”

The topic of Artificial Intelligence, aka AI, has headlined the news lately and has raised a lot of serious questions. What is AI and how is it fulfilling Bible prophecy? Yes, in case you have any doubts, it is fulfilling Bible prophecy.

According to Britannica.com, AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. The term is frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.”

Generally speaking, psychology characterizes human intelligence as the combination of many abilities, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and the ability to speak and use language. AI seeks to imitate these abilities and even to surpass them. In fact, trans-humanists are using AI to create—or to attempt to create—a species of superhuman whom they call Homo Sapiens, Version 2.0.

AI is permeating every aspect of our lives and is closely linked to Bible prophecy.

How so?

Well-known Bible teacher and prophecy expert, Pastor Billy Crone, describes AI as follows: “AI is in the process of taking over every aspect of society. Self-driving cars, robotic surgery, lightning-fast communication, … it all sounds so good. But the Bible tells us how these seemingly helpful benefits to society will be used to usher in the dark agenda of the Antichrist in the future.”

AI has already made extensive inroads into such areas as health, education, transportation, the economy, and the military. For example, doctors are doing surgery using robots run by Artificial Intelligence. The military is using AI in its operations both at home and abroad. Consider Project Maven, the Pentagon’s flagship Artificial Intelligence effort that has been used to conduct military operations in all branches of the service. Through the use of unmanned drones, military robots, and equipment such as exploding dragonflies, the way the military conducts warfare has drastically changed.

AI is being called “the new electricity”. Just as the invention of electricity transformed society and the way we lived at that time, so is AI transforming society and the way we live now. AI has already infiltrated homes, businesses, cities, shopping, education, even law enforcement through the concept of “predictive policing”.

So, what’s the problem, you may ask? AI is doing a lot of good things. For one thing, it’s making our lives easier. And who doesn’t want that? It’s doing things for us so that we don’t have to do them for ourselves.

While all this sounds good, there is great danger inherent in AI.

The danger in AI is that it is catering to a selfish, pleasure-loving society that wants convenience at all costs. A society that loves pleasure more than God. A society that wants to be served and not to serve.

AI will take over everything for you. It will manage your life for you. AI will give you a self-driving car so that you can sit back, texting to your heart’s content. AI will vacuum your house through a robot vacuum cleaner. It will do your grocery-shopping for you and even deliver your food to your house.

AI will even rid you of your job. Now, how’s that for convenience? The job you do today may be done by a robot tomorrow. But, wait a minute? How will you earn a living?

Not so good.

AI will provide a means of controlling everything in every aspect of life. AI will control the world through global surveillance techniques that will track your every move. AI will control transportation through driverless vehicles. In case you were not aware, we already have driverless cars and trucks on our highways. Once the global digital currency system is in place, AI will have total control over your money. Those who try to beat the system will be severely punished, possibly even imprisoned and put to death.

The AntiChrist will eventually use AI to control the entire planet during the soon-to-come, seven-year Tribulation. At the push of a button, he will be able to force every person on earth to comply with his demands. If they do not, they will be killed.

I call AI the “Frankenstein of the 21st Century.” Man has created a monster that will eventually result in his destruction. At the root of AI is a desire to be like God. Indeed, to be God. Where did we hear that before?

Satan keeps repeating the same old lie. He uses the same trick with us that he used with Adam and Eve. And many are still falling for it.

Don’t you be one of them. Learn the truth about AI. Learn the truth about what is soon to come upon the earth. Learn the truth about Heaven and Hell and how to be saved, not only from the evil clutches of AI but also from eternal damnation and separation from God in Hell.

How?

By accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. He will lead you into all truth, not only about AI but also about His purpose for your life.

Pray this simple prayer with me now:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I invite You into my life now to be my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make of me the person You created me to be. Amen.

If you have acknowledged that you are a sinner, if you have repented of sinning against the Most High God, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family! Write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com and request my free e-booklet titled After You’re Born Again. It will help you get started in your exciting life journey with Jesus.

My featured book for this month,—for both men and women—,The Captain and Mrs. Vye, is my latest novel and is the story of a 19th-century, middled-aged widow who discovers that her late husband has left her destitute. You can purchase the book at the links below.

Also, I invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for a wonderful selection of books–both fiction and nonfiction–to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

You can also keep updated on new releases in my writing ministry by subscribing to my monthly author newsletter at the link below.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!

Sources cited:
__”Artificial Intelligence”
https://www.britannica.com/technology/artificial-intelligence

__”The A.I. Invasion” by Billy Crone
https://prophecywatchers.com/videos/billy-crone-the-a-i-invasion/

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Featured Book of the Week:

A middle-aged, 19th-century widow discovers that her late husband has left her destitute.

PRINT:

EBOOK:

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Posted on Monday, May 15, 2023

Have You Lost All Hope?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by MaryAnn

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 15, 2023, and this is Episode #20 of Series 2023. This episode is titled “Have You Lost All Hope?”

Many people are answering that question in the affirmative today. They look around them and see things getting worse: rising inflation, increasing job lay-offs, collapsing economy, expanding violence, frightening loss of freedom, clueless leaders, etc., etc., etc. It’s enough to make one wonder where is it all going to end?

Yet, despite all these depressing scenarios, we can have hope in the midst of the storm. Why? Because we Christ-followers know where it’s going to end, and the end for us is glorious!

But meanwhile, how do we contend with the world in which we still live?

Here are a few proven tips taken straight from the Bible:

1. Think on pleasant things.
Philippians 4: 4-8 says this: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

What we choose to think about will affect the way we feel. Feelings are the results of thoughts. And if we continually think bad thoughts, we will end up with bad feelings.

Our actions follow our feelings. So if we live with continual negative feelings, we will express those negative feelings in negative actions, like murmuring, complaining, criticizing, impatience, and so on.

So make it a habit to think good thoughts, thoughts that align with hope, joy, and peace. Thoughts that align with the Holy Word of God. You will be a lot happier. You will also be able to encourage others when they need encouragement.

2. Keep your eyes on heavenly things, not earthly things.
Colossians 3: 2 says this: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

There are so many demands on our daily lives that it is difficult to keep our eyes on things other than this life. Yet, doing so is the key to having hope. This world is not our permanent home. We are simply passing through. Should we not, therefore, be focusing on preparing for our permanent home instead of living as though we will be here forever?

But, how do we keep our eyes on heavenly things?

It is a matter of putting God first. Jesus said this in Matthew 6: 33 NLT: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Jesus is telling us that if we focus on God first, God will take care of everything we need. It’s that simple.

How do we focus on God first? Here are a few tips:

1. Start your day with God. Read and study a Bible passage. Pray. Listen to His instructions for you for that day.
2. Talk with God throughout the day. Ask His advice. Tell Him your concerns.
3. Thank Him for His many blessings. Develop a grateful heart.

Now we move on to the third way to contend with our current world, and that is to . . .

3. Trust in the Lord.
Proverbs 3: 5 says this: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Too often we tend to try to figure things out on our own without consulting God first. This will always end in disaster. Our minds are limited. Therefore, our judgment is limited. We do not see the whole picture as God does. So trusting in Him means to seek His advice before taking action, before making a decision, before heading down a certain path. When we trust God, we can make every decision the right decision.

I believe there was a reason that Jesus commanded us to look up when we see all these frightening things happening around us. The reason is that He knew we would get depressed if we looked around.

So keep looking up for the return of our Lord and Savior. And while you’re looking up, think on pleasant things, keep your eyes on heavenly things, and trust in the Lord.

I cannot end this message without asking you if you have been born again. To be born again means to repent of your sin and to receive Jesus Christ as the only One Who can save you from your sin. So, if you have not yet received Jesus, pray with me now:

If you have acknowledged that you are a sinner, if you have repented of sinning against the Most High God, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family! Write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com and request my free e-booklet titled After You’re Born Again. It will help you get started in your exciting life journey with Jesus.

Also, you I invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for a wonderful selection of books–both fiction and nonfiction–to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

You can also keep updated on new releases in my writing ministry by subscribing to my monthly author newsletter at the link below.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!

__________________________________________________________________
Featured Book of the Week:

A middle-aged, 19th-century widow discovers that her late husband has left her destitute.

PRINT:

EBOOK:

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Posted on Monday, May 8, 2023

America: Land of Compliant Cowards?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

by MaryAnn

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

An invitation for you:

To subscribe to this blog, click here.
To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post.

______________________________________

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

________________________________________

Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 8, 2023, and this is Episode #19 of Series 2023. This episode is titled “America: The Land of Compliant Cowards?”

Eighteenth-century Anglo-Irish statesman, economist, and philosopher, Edmund Burke, is purportedly to have said that “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Whether Burke actually said this or not, the truth of the statement remains. Evil flourishes when good men do nothing to stop it.

Such is the condition of our country today. And of most countries in the world. We have a global situation in which very few of the good people remaining are doing anything to stop the evil. Why is this?

I believe there are several reasons, among which are the following:

1) An erroneous belief that we are so far gone that no protest will matter because we can’t stop the decline.
2) A weariness at trying over and over to push back the tide of evil, but without seeing any results.
3) A despair that one person can still make a difference.

But one person can still make a difference! Even if there is no turning back of evil, there is still the turning back of one individual person at a time from evil to good.

There are still people out there who are truly searching for truth. But they don’t know where to find it.
That is where you and I who are Christ-Followers come in. We must go out into the harvest fields and reap the harvest.

The Bible says in Luke 10: 2 that “the harvest is great but the laborers are few.” Will you be one of those laborers?

You might ask how have we come to this? Well, I have an opinion, and it has to do with the men of America. I believe that we have a shortage of men in America. I’m not talking about numbers; I’m talking about character.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post titled “Are You Suffering from a Father Wound?”. A father wound represents the hurt inflicted on a child by the man who sired him or her. The response to that post was stunning. It told me that the number of people suffering from a father wound is astronomical.

So, what does this mean?

It has long been my contention, based on my observations and experience as a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Biblical Counselor, that America has millions of males but very few men.

You might be asking, “What’s the difference?”

Here, in my humble opinion, is the difference between men and males. And it is huge.

1__A male is out for his own gratification, usually in the areas of sexual lust, greed, and power. A male thinks only of meeting his own needs and doesn’t care for the effect of his actions on others. A male will bail out on his responsibilities to the women he has used, or the wife he has married, and the children he has sired. And he will bail out without compunction and without looking back. A male will not stand up for what is right but will pursue the path of least resistance. The path that aligns with his own selfish motives.

2__A man, on the other hand, puts aside his own needs for the needs of those he loves. A man will not use a woman—or any other person—for his own sexual gratification, nor for greed or power. A man will humble himself under the authority of God and obey His commandments with the utmost reverence and respect. A man will assume the responsibility of providing for, protecting, and caring for his wife and children–physically, financially, and, especially, spiritually. He will teach His children to obey the Word of God.

So, based on these criteria, I don’t see too many men in America.

It has been said that the family is the foundation of society. I would like to go one step farther and posit that the man is the foundation of the family. God created the man first, from the dust of the earth. God created the woman out of man, not out of the dust of the earth. The man is the ground on which the family is built. If the man does not provide a strong foundation, the marriage and the family–and, by extension, society—will crumble.

And this is precisely what we are seeing today. The collapse of a nation. A nation that was once great because it was led by men and not males.

Oftentimes, women are blamed for the collapse of a society. But women step in only where men step out. The feminist movement is proof that men have stepped out of their family leadership roles, leaving the women to assume them. And why have women assumed those family leadership roles? Because women fiercely love their children and will do whatever it takes to protect them.

So, I call on you, America. Are there any men left in your midst? If so, I challenge you to step up to the plate and take your rightful place as Godly defender, protector, provider, husband, and father of your family. Stop being a male and become a man!

How?

It all starts with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have one, start one now by praying this simple prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, I repent of being a male and not a man. I admit that I have sinned in fulfilling the role for which You have created me. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I invite You now into my life to be my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Make of me the man that You created me to be. Amen.

If you have acknowledged that you are a sinner, if you have repented of sinning against the Most High God, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family! Write to me at info@maryanndiorio.com and request my free e-booklet titled After You’re Born Again. It will help you get started in your exciting life journey with Jesus.

My featured book for this month,—for both men and women—The Captain and Mrs. Vye, is my latest novel and is the story of a 19th-century, middled-aged widow who discovers that her late husband has left her destitute. You can purchase the book at the links below.

Also, you I invite you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table for a wonderful selection of books–both fiction and nonfiction–to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

You can also keep updated on new releases in my writing ministry by subscribing to my monthly author newsletter at the link below.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word!

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Featured Book of the Week:

A middle-aged, 19th-century widow discovers that her late husband has left her destitute.

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EBOOK:

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