Fake News

This week there has been a lot of fake news about me! The other day I got a text from one of my mentors and previous ministers, Margaret, saying, "...as I was looking online for your blog I came across your book Bridge to Blessings book on Amazon. I had no idea your books were so valuable. The price was $615.61. Girl, you have ARRIVED!!!!!..."

We had a good time laughing about that. First of all it was news to me that it is on Amazon. They were in some Christian bookstores and I sell them myself. We laughed and I told her I would give her 50% off and any she sold she could get a 50% commission. She said a friend had just borrowed Bridge to Blessings and she was going to call her and "tell her to guard it with her life! And send it back in an armored truck!"

Then yesterday afternoon my phone started ringing, text coming in, emails coming in and are continuing this morning. Apparently people are getting an email from my old email address saying, "Can I ask you a favor?" Someone sent me a screenshot of what the email said. You know the one....I am visiting my cousin in Istanbul and need money! You can wire it to me.

Several people put in their message to me...you know I will do whatever you need. That is really sweet and I do know that. Because most of these people know me they knew I would not send an email like that. That is as bazaar as selling a $15 book for $615.61! But because these people know me they know it is fake news.

Isn't that what we have to watch for with scripture? Blogs and devotionals are great and I do daily devotionals also. But we also need to be in the Bible ourselves. We cannot trust everyone's interpretations. Some ministers/churches have their own agendas. We have to KNOW the living Word to know when there is fake news. If I have a questions about a scripture I look for Billy Graham's take on it. To me, he did not water it down and I trust his opinion. But again, it is my responsibility to go to the Living Word.

2 Timothy 3: 16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Going to the Bible and reading the Living Word is the perfect part. The only perfect part of this blog is the scripture.

Hebrews 4: 12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Knowing Scripture discerns our thoughts. It discerns our intentions. It is powerful both to the one who speaks it and the one who hears it.

The Bible is perfect, alive, powerful and God-inspired. As scripture tells us it brings success and prosperity. When we store it up we can have it when we need it like a weapon to defend against spiritual attacks.