“As we begin preparations for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis next year, we call upon pilgrims from all over the world to come and experience Palestine and our Holy Sites,” Mahmoud Abbas said. The pope’s visit “will be a good opportunity for Christians from all over the world to become closer to their sisters and brothers in Palestine.”

It is reported that Abbas said Jesus was a “Palestinian messenger who would become a guiding light for millions.”   Ynetnews

Islamic forces have no problem with Jesus - as long as he is not Jewish.


Will the pope and the Catholic church join forces with Islam?

Time will tell - stay tuned.!!

To millions, Obama presents himself as a Christian, to the Muslim he portrays Islam as the true religion of peace.

Do not be surprised if, in 2014. we see the Jesuit Pope, Pope Francis and Barack Hussein Obama traveling together to Jerusalem to hail a new “peace agreement.”

There they will join Abu Mazen (PLO leader, alias Mammoud Abbas) and Benjamin Netanyahu as they sign an historic “peace agreement” -

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2
Time will tell - stay tuned.

After a decade in which Doura’s Iraqi Christian community has been robbed, kidnapped and murdered by Islamist extremists, it finds itself offering sanctuary to an ever-dwindling flock.

“Doura was once one of the biggest Christian communities in Iraq, with 30,000 families, Now there are only 2,000 left. They feel they are strangers in their own land, and that makes them want to leave. The bleeding from migration is continuous.”

Thanks Mr. Bush, thanks Mr. Blair.

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq as well as those across the world who live with persecution and threat of death for their faith in our LORD.

The more the world throws my way, the more I come to understand my great dependence on my Heavenly Abba Father.  The more life challenges I face, the more of His faithfulness I see.

I can not imagine life without Him - leading, guiding, providing each and every step along this very difficult path we call life.

My prayer for this Christmas season is that many, many more will come to know my Father and His Son, our Saviour -

truly, the ONLY reason for the season.

President Barack Hussein Obama ordered flags to fly at half-staff at the White House and public buildings as the US mourned the death of "close friend" and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.

The Dallas Morning News likened Mandela to Moses and labeled him “the conscience of the world” and Peter Osborne, UK Telegraph’s chief political commentator wrote a piece entitled, “Few human beings can be compared to Jesus Christ. Nelson Mandela was one.”

No man knows the day or the hour but each day we draw closer than the day before.

Pastor Bill Randles made an astute observation - thought it worth sharing:

"Mocking, denying the existence of Hell within  the Christian church. Christian and Muslims worshipping together. Evangelical churches seeking peace and accommodation with Mosques. Christian pastors apologizing for 'judging' homosexuals?

Long before the Mark of the Beast decision is thrust upon us, there are a thousand little decisions to confess or to deny Christ, and they are being made everyday by Christians around the world. Every accommodation to evil in the issues of our day, condition people, and even predispose them to succumb to the ultimate accommodation, and to commit the "Great transgression".

The same reasoning that allows confessing Christians to accept the unacceptable now, will come into play in an ultimate sense in the days of the Mark of the Beast. We must prayerfully understand our times, our unique trials and pray to the Lord daily,

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil!"

The Thanksgiving festivities are behind us. Freaky Friday has come and gone and now we are racing toward Christmas.

Christmas - a time set aside to celebrate the birth of our Saviour has somehow become a time set aside to go into debt, shop until you drop and charge the credit cards to their maximum.

We've come a long way in two thousand years, but sadly we have traveled in the wrong direction.

And man will live forever more because of Christmas Day.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, let us be ever mindful of all that our Abba Father has done for us, all that He has given us, all that He has allowed into our lives, and all that He has protected us from. Remember and rejoice.

Amidst the turkey and dressing, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce, let us pause and with a grateful heart rejoice in our Salvation. Share a word of encouragement, a smile, a silent prayer, praying for those whom the Holy Spirit brings to our mind. But, most importantly for those of us who have been given the gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ, God’ Son, let us share the good news:

He’s alive, He’s alive. He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heaven’s gates are open wide.
He’s Alive.!!!.

"And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ..." Exodus 20

Many read this a breath a little easier - no worry here.!

But wait before you pat yourself on the back and ask yourself a question:

How much time do I spend at my job? How much time do I spend in prayer?  How much time do I spend watching television? How much time do I spend reading The Word?  How much time do I devote to God? How much time do I devote to sports or hobbies.

Idols are not sticks and stones, idols are anything that occupies more of our time, our talents, our emotions, our hearts more than our God - ANYTHING.!. 

I deeply believe that the sin of unbelief is among the most devastating in modern Christianity. Unbelief spiritually puts us to sleep and binds us little by little, inexorably, year after year, until we accept the unacceptable.

The Kingdom of God worldwide is presently experiencing the greatest spiritual revival in the history of mankind. However, during the same period of time, more than 90 percent of evangelical churches throughout North America and Europe have shown no significant growth. They are reduced to recalling their past awakenings, or desperately clinging to the latest fad promising some breathtaking and instantaneous breakthrough. Please understand me. The revivals in Africa, China, Korea, Latin America, and in countries formally behind the Iron Curtain fill us with joy and praise. I thank God for what He has done yesterday—but I am here today! I must repent (change direction) for the dullness in my faith that has caused me to tolerate the intolerable. It is inconceivable to live in such spiritual drought and accept this dreadful routine while new pages of the greatest soul-winning revival in history are being written before our very eyes around the world.

Unbelief is more serious and devastating than we can understand or fathom. Surrounded by a world filled with immorality, decadence, idolatry and demonic religious rituals, Jesus stood firm and stayed strong. But He wept at unbelief; it literally tore Him up. In the gospels, when dealing with Lazarus’ loved ones, Jesus wept because of their hardness of heart and refusal to trust Him (John 11:33-35). He wept as they refused to believe in His promises of power and resurrection—and He weeps over us today as we sit comfortably in spiritual apathy, as we build up rationalizations and embarrassing pseudo-religious “doctrines,” rituals, and sophisticated explanations that allow us to justify our lives so void of true power and supernatural fruit.

My friends, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and there is no favoritism with our God (see Hebrews 13:8 and Acts 10:34-35). He is immutable (He never changes), omnipotent (there is nothing He cannot do), absolutely just and totally committed and desirous of doing in your life, your city, your church what He is so majestically and so supernaturally doing all over the world. Between us and the limitless greatness of His power stands the gulf of unbelief. That is why we cannot live another day without crying out:

Lord, increase our faith.

WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM
by Claude Houde

We can grin or we can groan.

We can grumble or we can be grateful.

Whichever we choose, and it is always a choice, our choice, we must always remember ~
 
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

We know our true spiritual state by how troubled we become over our slightest sin against our Lord.

Some Christians only grieve over what they consider the “big sins”— adultery, drug abuse, drinking, cursing. But the truly spiritual
person knows that no sin is small in God's sight and so he grieves every time he gossips, tells a dirty joke or has a lingering evil thought. He knows these things spring from his heart, the very center of his being.

You can disobey God in such “small things,” excusing yourself and forgetting all about them. But if you do, you will never mature in Christ. Your righteousness is measured by your unwillingness to accept anything that grieves your blessed Savior.

This is Godly sorrow.

snippets from David Wilkerson

“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner.” 2 Corinthians 7:9

Soldiers attending a pre-deployment briefing at Fort Hood say they were told that evangelical Christians and members of the Tea Party were a threat to the nation and that any soldier donating to those groups would be subjected to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

It is oft times necessary to be reminded that we, the twice-born of God, are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9

and then act accordingly.

hmmmm, most interesting -

Israeli President Shimon Peres, Education Minister Shay Piron and Texas Governor Rick Perry recently signed an agreement to establish a "Peace Campus" in the northern Israel Arab city of Nazareth.

The campus will be a branch of Texas A&M University, one of the top research institutions in the world. It is the first time a leading foreign research university has opened a campus in Israel.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Peres said, "Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel, as well as the birthplace of Jesus. It is a city committed to spiritual values, and so is a fitting location for a major university campus intended for students of all faiths."

Jesus said, "I AM the way the truth and the life," - there is no other way.

“Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27)

 

Halloween has long been claimed as the high, holy day of Satan worship. This is the day when witches and warlocks gather to praise their leader and extend his work on Earth. Festivities are marked by unprecedented evil and blasphemy, with blood sacrifices and hedonistic practices playing prominent parts.

 

To far too great an extent, Christian families participate in the same, with children (and parents, too) dressing up as demons, ghosts, skeletons, wizards, etc. We can only surmise how much pleasure Satan derives from this deception.

 

Satan, we must remember, is the “adversary . . . [who], as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), and many times he disguises himself as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). We are to “resist [him] stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9), for, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

 

Although Satan is acknowledged to be “the prince of this world” (John 14:30), his doom is sure. “The God of peace shall bruise [literally crush] Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). He will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

 

Until the realization of that ultimate victory is gained, our mission on Earth is to “turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18).

 

Accordingly, let us strive to see that his harmful influence is thwarted on this, his special day. The children of each community need protection from the evil influences boldly swarming this night. May we, ourselves, not fall prey to his dark deceptions, and especially in the lives of our children, may we focus their attention on the Light, instead.

ICR
Days of Praise

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” (1 Timothy 2:1)

 

The book of 1 Timothy consists of various charges (1:18-19) to Paul’s disciple Timothy. The first charge (2:1-8) concerns prayer in the church. The fact that Paul mentions it “first of all” (v. 1) indicates that he felt it of primary importance. Note the four types of prayer in our text verse.

 

Supplications, or perhaps petitions, referring to one’s personal needs: We must recognize our continued dependence on God’s provision. “The effectual fervent prayer [same word] of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

 

Prayers: This is a general term with a number of applications, but foremost it indicates reverence for and worship of the one to whom the prayers are offered. “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).

 

Intercessions: This word implies a personal bequest on an intimate basis, as child to father. The only other occurrence of the word regards the eating of food that “is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:5).

 

Giving of thanks: When we give thanks, we recognize that our blessings are undeserved. “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever” (Revelation 7:12).

 

These types of prayers, which should probably be understood as representing all types of prayers, should be made “for all men,” specifically those in authority (v. 2) and for the unsaved (v. 4). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will present our prayers to the Father (v. 5) and insure that He will answer them as He sees best.

Days of Praise
Institute for Creation Research

"..for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

"Our sanctification can't be deterred. The same God who justifies, who wrought justification will bring about sanctification. That is an undeniable inevitability. It is God who is the one at work. The immutable, unchanging glorious sovereign majestic righteous holy gracious merciful God, the God who rules all things and always accomplishes His will is never frustrated, always does what He desires. The God who is never thwarted, He is at work in us.

Our god is a God who loves us with an everlasting love. He who holds toward us an eternal kindness, He alone keeps us with an everlasting covenant based on everlasting promises, He is a god whose gifts and callings are without repentance, a god who says that whom He justifies He glorifies, a god who sees us through to the end. Our creator, God, who unendingly, unswervingly commits Himself to us to supply all our needs in Christ Jesus, that God is the one in us. He is the strength of our life...the God who made the world, the God who upholds the world by the word of His power, the God who is sovereign over everything for all eternity,

He lives in us."

God at Work in You
John MacArthur

What an astounding realization.

As Joel Osteen writes yet one more “best seller” to be read by millions of “Christians” perhaps we should take a hard look at reality.

The reality is that most American church-goers need to grow in a sense of their unworthiness, not their supposed worthiness. They need to see what the old Puritan writers called “the exceeding sinfulness of sin.” Then perhaps we would see how much we need the Savior. Being forgiven much, we would love much.

The mark of biblical love is self-sacrifice, not self-esteem.

Young  born-again American believers are moving away from a biblically-centered worldview, with only one in three affirming that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, according to Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries.

“We need to admit there’s a problem,” Cable said at a session titled “What Do [Young] American Believers Really Believe and How Do We Save Them From Cultural Captivity?” at Southern Evangelical Seminary’s 20th annual Christian Apologetics conference in Charlotte, N.C.

“Don’t go around with your blinders thinking that everything is fine. We have a lot of people that aren’t born again, so there’s a lot of work to do. But then you look at those who claim to be born-agains and see that we have even more work to do.”

source - Christian Post

'...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?'

When God takes us, He breaks us so that we might be conformed to the image of His Son.

Broken pieces of our lives lie scattered among the ashes of our former self. Pride, arrogance, selfishness, defiant attitudes, over time are chiseled away so that we might become more like our Master.

We are broken, but not shattered, bent and oft times bruised but never crushed, and always by the hand of a loving Father and always for our good. His desires are eternal, ours are temporal. He is our Father, our Saviour and our LORD.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

God used the tears of a baby to move the heart of Pharaoh's daughter and ultimately free Israel.  God used a shepherd stick to work mighty miracles in Egypt.  God used a sling and a stone to conquer a whole nation.  God used a little girl to bring the great Naaman to the prophet Elisha.  God used a widow and her little meal to sustain that prophet.  God used a child to teach His disciples lessons on humility.  He used a donkey to speak the truth.  He used a small lunch to feed thousands of people. And He can use us if we will become as clay in the hand of the Potter.

gleaned from John MacArthur' sermon: Divine Sorrow over Spiritual Defection,

In an interview with atheist Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, Pope Francis said:

“Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good . . . Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place.

Church leaders “have often been narcissists” and “clericalism should not have anything to do with Christianity”

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Fidgety, fearful and frustrated. Anxious and even angry. Shamefully, all emotions experienced this past week as I waited upon the LORD.

Wait,??. “I want what I want and I want it NOW. LORD, You don't understand.!!. What about this, what about that.??. But LORD...”

But He does understand. The One who formed the worlds with a Word. The One who numbered the hairs on our head and length of our days understands. The Giver and Sustainer of live understands.

It is when I forget He is the Potter, me the clay that anxieties come. It is when I set agendas and time lines, making my own plans, attempting to take the throne reserved for the King, that pressure builds and my life begins to unravel, wrinkle and curl up on the ends.

Waiting always involves the passing of time. Waiting patiently means we have confidence in God’s person: confidence in His wisdom, love, timing, understanding of our situation and that of the world. It means knowing and trusting in God’s principles, promises, purposes, and power. It means trusting our Father to do what is best for us at all times and in all ways.

There is a time to plow, a time to sow, and a time to reap, but never at the same time.

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Teach me LORD to wait with patient expectation. Please Abba Father, teach me to wait.

Bill Wilson, Daily Jot writes:

The occupant of the Oval Office has picked up the phone and had a friendly chat with one of the foremost state sponsors of terrorism in the world--the so-called "president" of Iran. In doing so, he has broken a longstanding policy dating back to 1979 that no US president in an official or unofficial capacity would negotiate with a terrorist. Now I am not saying that the US president is bringing about the Ezekiel 38 prophecy. But he is assisting it in aligning the nations against Israel. And that does not bode well for the United States or the people living here because there is destruction prophesied for the nations that work against Israel. Under this president, America can be counted among them.

Iran is consistent on its nuclear policy. For over a decade, Iran has publicly stated that there should be no nuclear weapons in the Middle East. It has consistently called on the UN and Israel itself to expose Israel's alleged nuclear arsenal. The Iranian government policy has been to publicly deny any intent to build a nuclear weapon while privately working as fast as possible to develop a nuclear weapon and the delivery system to use it. For this administration, either through Secretary of State John Kerry or the White House, to believe Iran will change its strategic direction on Middle East dominance is folly. For the leader of the free world to negotiate with terrorists endangers the entire world.

Moreover, this administration's favor of Islam--from appointing Muslim Brotherhood Islamists to high positions in the US government to aiding and abetting the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda in overthrowing governments across Northern Africa and the Middle East--points to a very destructive foreign policy that puts the American people in the eye of a prophetic storm. Ezekiel 38 is very specific on the nations that come against Israel in the end times. They include Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Libya and regions in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. This particular White House has been courting both sides of the Sunni and Shiite Islamic political system. All of them are involved in destructive prophetic destiny.

Zechariah 12:9 says, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem."  The White House is on a foreign policy path that will result in destruction. No good can come of it. We know this because God's word is prophetic and true. We are on the wrong side of prophecy. We are also on the wrong side of history in supporting anything Islam. 1 John 2:22 says, "Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist that denies the Father and the Son." Islam vehemently denies that Jesus is the Messiah and that God has a son. Proverbs 29:2 says, "but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Put two and two together.

We need a change.

When sickness, disease, heartache or pain come into our lives we have a choice.

We can choose to praise the LORD, looking to Him for comfort or curse His Name and shake our fist in His face.

This last few days have been filled with pressure, pain, uncertainty and questions as we waited yet again for news of a successful surgery for our first born. Malignant cancer once again invading her body, relentlessly attacking her brain with abandon. We thank God for His provision of skilled surgeons, and praise Him for the knowledge they have. She is resting comfortably tonight in her hospital room, thankful for yet one more day with her family. We no longer question why, but with the faith and the trust a child has for their father, we placed our daughter in our Father' loving arms, knowing He does all things well.

The road from where we were to where we are now was hard and long and filled with potholes of anxiety, desperation, doubt and fear. Tears flowed without warning as we struggled with so many questions, so many ‘what ifs’ - Unable to sleep or eat or think of little else we moved through our days and our nights. But now after five years of surgery, radiation, chemo and more surgeries, the joy of the LORD truly is our strength. We know in Whom we are believing and we are persuaded that He is able to……. Without limits, without question we stand in faith, trusting in the trustworthiness of our loving Abba Father.

We  have chosen to Praise the LORD. 

In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you and me.

 

We have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.!!!.

Too many today teach another gospel.  Too many teach easy beliefism. Too many teach half truths, teaching that believing is enough for salvation. No need to life a godly holy life. If one continues to live in sin, they are still saved because they believe.  They will loose their rewards, but their salvation is secure in Jesus. Only believe.!!.

Hmmmmm - not exactly the way I understand the biblical teaching on salvation, for if one truly believes...

The Hebrew word for believe is from the same Hebrew root as faith. It means to stand sure as a firm pillar.

It is clear from Scripture that to believe is an action word.  To be a pillar and a firm support one must act upon his beliefs, otherwise it is not considered belief. John tells us those who say they know Him, yet do not keep His commandments are liars. They don’t truly know Him or believe in Him.

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him..." 1 John 2

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16

Faith and belief in Jesus brings sanctification. Faith and belief In Jesus purifies us. Faith and belief in Jesus brings righteousness. Faith and belief in Jesus does not leave us unchanged.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

"Will the present recession turn into a deep, long depression? Is this the economic storm so many ministers and economists have been warning of? Or is this merely another short-lived adjustment of the economy?

Frankly, not one human on earth knows. Economists give terribly conflicting forecasts, and so-called "prophets" are sending out all kinds of confusing warnings.

Several years ago hundreds of worried Christians wrote to me about a prophecy that said most of Florida would be inundated by a tidal wave. Many Christians slipped out of Florida on the predicted date for a so-called "vacation"—just in case the prophecy was right. Florida is still with us!

No one knows when, how, or where God will send judgment. The times and seasons are all in His hands. God has dealt with me personally about using dates, names, or places and when I disobey God on this matter, I end up speculating rather than truly prophesying. All true prophecy must offer hope and comfort to God's people who live by faith.

Where do you live? In an earthquake zone, maybe near a fault line? Do you live in a sprawling suburb that seems less secure as the days go by? No food stored up? No gold bars or coins to hedge against inflation? Nothing to fall back on if the economy collapses? Nothing to live on if you lose your job? Do you feel left out when others around you boast about their plans for the future?

Do not panic! You have all you need if you will believe in our Lord's promise of protection. Every child of God has an ironclad contract of survival. The more I read the words of Jesus, the more I believe He is asking for our childlike trust in Him to keep us safe in every situation.

Stay put and quit listening to voices that speak warnings contrary to Scripture."  from the pen of David Wilkerson

"God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." 1 Corinthians 14:33

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Proverbs 3:25-26

Attacks on Christian churches in Egypt are subsiding as stage two of the jihad - profiting from the terror caused by stage one - is setting in.

Reports are emerging that the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters are forcing some 15,000 Christian Copts of Dalga village in south Minya province to pay jizya - the money, or tribute, that conquered non-Muslims historically had to pay to their Islamic overlords “with willing submission and while feeling themselves subdued” to safeguard their existence, as indicated in Koran 9:29.

According to one priest from the area, all Copts in the village, “without exception,” are being forced to pay tribute, just as their forefathers did nearly 1400 years ago when the sword of Islam originally invaded Christian Egypt. In some cases, those not able to pay have been attacked, their wives and children beaten and/or kidnapped.

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Egypt and around the world who need strength, peace and comfort in these troubling times.

“We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 3:25

Michael Stainer, director of the adult institutions division for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, has issued a memo stating that the U.S. Supreme Court' decision that made same-sex marriages legal again in the state in June also applies to prisoners.

God will not be mocked.!!.

Terribly sad for many reasons:

"Pastor Terry Jones was arrested as he drove a pickup truck towing a large barbecue-style grill filled with kerosene-soaked Korans to a park, where the pastor had said he was planning to burn 2,998 of the Muslim holy books - one for every victim of the September 11 terrorist attacks."

Sad, not because this pastor was arrested, sad because a pastor would do such a thing. Scripture is clear; we are to love not hate. We are to pray for the lost. We are to share with and care for those who do not know the truth - those who stumble through life in darkness thinking they have light.

When our behavior is patterned after the world rather than The Word, we bring a reproach upon our Father and the deceived, lost souls among us remain without hope in this lost and dying world.

Whether we be Muslim, Hindu, Jehovah Witness, Mormon, pope, politician, saint or sinner ....we all need to hear the truth.

"The attempt by President Barack Obama and progressives like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to stir up our outrage against Syrian President Bashar Assad for gassing several hundred Syrian children would be more effective if the president and his supporters demonstrated the same compassion for the lives of more than a million children in our country whose lives were ended through abortions last year.

Why is genocide in Syria intolerable while infanticide in our country is not only permissible but considered a constitutional right? By what moral authority do we deny the leader of another nation his “freedom of choice” to exterminate his own people, yet empower our own citizenry to kill their children and even provide hundreds of millions of tax dollars to Planned Parenthood to carry out the executions?

I can hear the liberal howl across North Texas as I type these words. “There is no moral equivalency between Assad’s heinous acts against his own people and the personal, painful choice of a mother to terminate a pregnancy.” But, alas, there is.

Nancy Pelosi recently related to journalists a conversation she had with her 5-year-old grandson about the reason for going to war against Assad. “They have killed hundreds of children,” the former speaker of the House told her grandson. “Were these children in America?” the little boy inquired. “No, but they’re children wherever they are,” Pelosi responded. Exactly.

Both the Assad atrocities and abortion represent attacks against the most vulnerable members of society: children. We are understandably horrified by the pictures of endless rows of Syrian children’s corpses. But if we laid side by side the remains of the millions of children who have been aborted in the last 40 years — many during the second and third trimesters with discernible features — I imagine there would be an even greater outcry from the American people.

Yet, the president is unapologetically the staunchest defender of abortion of any American president in history, priding himself during his first run for the Oval Office on his 100 percent pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood. While an Illinois senator, Obama voted against restricting partial birth abortions — a particularly barbaric act that involves the crushing of a partially born infant’s head and removal of its brain matter through a suction device. Pelosi claimed to reporters that Assad’s actions were “outside of the circle of civilized behavior.” How could anyone believe that the murder of a child inside his mother’s womb would not also fall outside that circle?

Many progressives would counter that while they are not “pro-abortion,” they see “choice” as a fundamental human right. But why are they not willing to extend that same freedom of choice to Assad to exterminate the children of his nation? It is true that the Geneva Conventions prohibit the use of chemical weapons, but since Assad obviously does not believe in the Geneva Conventions, on what basis should he be expected to follow a moral code to which he does not subscribe?

Assad’s actions are undoubtedly reprehensible. However, to make a convincing moral argument against genocide, abortion or any other injustice one must appeal to a moral code that transcends time and culture. And such a universal moral code can only come from God. As Yale law professor Arthur Leff asked, “Who among us ought to be able to declare ‘law’ that ought to be obeyed? Either God exists or He does not, but if He does not, nothing and no one can take His place.”

Every American should be praying for Obama’s success in making and executing the right decision regarding our involvement in Syria. However, as our nation grapples with what to do about the genocide in Syria, as well as the escalating and well-publicized acts of violence in our own country, perhaps it is time that we abandon the moral relativism that has infected our culture and reclaim God’s absolute and unchanging moral law that includes the words “Thou shalt not kill.” For, as Dostoyevsky observed, without God “everything is permitted.”

Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.

It seems good to reflect on the goodness of God as one travels through this world of twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and sorrows. The scriptures remind us that in this world we will have trouble. We can relate to Job as we face the grief and sorrow that often accompanies unexpected news of sickness or death, job loss or financial downturns.

We must not hold too tightly to this world. We must not cling to children or parents, husbands or wives, but place them gently in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father, the Giver and Sustainer of Life - both ours and theirs. We must not look to position, wealth or worldly possessions to sustain us, but, through prayer and supplication, with thankful hearts, we must walk in His will leaving our uncertain futures in the hands of our Sovereign God, knowing He does all things well.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you..” Hebrews 13:5

Remember -- "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22   

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22

New Mexico’s Supreme Court tells Christian Photographer she cannot refuse to photograph gay marriage ceremonies. In Colorado, a Christian baker is being sued for declining to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple’s marriage ceremony. The state of Washington is suing a Christian florist for refusing to provide wedding flowers for the wedding ceremony of a gay couple...

and in Oregon, a small family owned bakery has been forced to shut its doors because of the financial and emotional damage done by gay-marriage activists. The Klein', owners and operators of Sweet Cakes by Melissa have faced almost constant harassment and threats to themselves and their children because of their decision to not bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple’s wedding ceremony. Vendors who provided the resources for the Klein' to do business were so threatened and harassed after the lesbian couple filed a complaint with the state accusing the Klein’ of discrimination they have refused to sell to the couple.

Sweet Cakes by Melissa is closing its doors, and Melissa will be doing her baking from home.

"In this world you will have troubles..."

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.…" The Book of John 

'The Federal Government continued its fight against Christians recently as they worked to stop Missouri Christians from baptizing in "public" waters. The National Park Service recently began requiring churches to obtain special use permits in order to baptize converts in public waters. The National Park Service (NPS) also began requiring these churches that wanted to baptize to give the NPS notice of their plans forty-eight hours in advance. To make sure that they churches didn’t try and skirt the rules the NPS even brought in boulders and large rocks to place along the path so that the churches couldn’t drive up their elderly congregants to observe the baptisms. Thankfully, Missouri Congressman Rep. Jason Smith stepped in and provided the necessary support to get the NPS to back down and rescind their policies.  

In Olympia, Washington a church was denied a permit to have their baptisms in Heritage parks. The Attorney General said that partaking in a religious sacrament on public property was a violation of the state constitution.

As Christian congregations are being marginalized, the federal government is teaming up with smaller public entities to accommodate the views and beliefs of American Muslims. Universities across the country have spent thousands of dollars installing foot baths for Muslim student to use before their daily prayers. The University of Michigan spent $25,000 to install these foot baths on their Dearborn, MI campus.

Airports across the nation have provided foot washing basins to Islamic taxi drivers, with one airport even providing prayer rugs! In San Francisco’s International Airport officials used tax dollars to build a place of worship for their Muslim employees.'  Todd Starnes, Fox News

Evidently, separation of church and state applies only to Christians and Christian organizations.

I am a Christian but don’t attend church except Christmas and Easter. Sunday is “family time” - and besides, don’t want to miss kickoff.

I am a Christian but seldom read the bible. What with work, soccer, PTA, boy scouts, football and chores, there is just no time.

I am a Christian but need to unwind after a hard week. A drink with the guys just takes the edge off.

I am a Christian but…….

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.. Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.

If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14

It sounds trite to say I love you.

As I have come to understand just how much God, our Abba Father, our Creator and sustainer of life has done for me, I love Him so much, yet “ I love You” seems so insignificant.

The Word of God speaks of love:

For God so loved the world…. John 3:16

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Over and over The Word tells us how much God loves us; and over and over it tells us how we are to love others:

let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
 
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…Ephesians 4:2

But, how to love God…..

We are to abide in Him. We are to offer sacrifice of praise, we are to be obedient to do what He has told us in His Word. We are told to love the LORD our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength.. Deuteronomy 6:5

Knowing I owe His so much and have so little to offer Him in return for all He has given me brings tears to my eyes.

I am grateful He can see my heart.

There is an appointed time for everything:

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant a time to harvest
A time to laugh, a time to weep…

Timing is everything. Scripture teaches us that God has made everything appropriate in its time.

Matthew Henry’ Commentary reminds us:

“To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle.”

For a child of the King of kings and LORD of lords; nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not loss of job, financial downturns, foreclosure, Middle Eastern wars and rumors of wars or loss of freedoms. Neither sickness, nor disease; not even death, for we are rooted and grounded in Him.

Struggles come and struggles go. We’re up, we’re down. Our faith soars, our faith slips and it slides. But as we conform more and more into the likeness of our Saviour our emotions level, our pulse grows strong and steady. It is only then that we realize...

everything will be alright. We are safe because our Father has ahold of our hand, we have nothing whatsoever to fear.

"Who would have thought that the very moment the Egyptian people woke up and started cleansing themselves and their country of oppression, the West would take sides against us, allying itself with the wolves of tyranny?"

Coptic scholar Kamal Ghobrial

Pray for Egypt, and for the Christians of the Middle East, in Syria, Iraq and otherwise. Unfortunately our radical secular humanistic leaders have led the West into ignoring Christian suffering and siding all too often with the worst of Islam. It should be obvious that the Egyptian army in this case is a force for good, and for stability, but it is being undermined by the US and by the EU.

May God help us all!

As America swirls the bowl of immorality and degradation, pulling with it many family and friends are we burdened, broken or bored.?.  As we see evidence of deceit and corruption not only in the government but also within the church do we faint and grow weary or does it force us to face the reality of our own sin and self-serving lives. Living a life of ease, content in our personal comfort zones; do we recognize our own part in this idolatrous, disobedient world of Christianity.?.

Have we been faithful or foolish, tolerant or truthful, lukewarm or long suffering.?.

Where are the Daniels who lived a life of holiness.?. Where are the Isaiah' or Ezekiel' who dared to speak the truth.?. Where are the Jeremiahs who wept over their land and its people.?.

"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,  we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances... Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame... because we have sinned against You..." Daniel 9

We have rebelled against our LORD. We have disobeyed the voice of the Lord our God. We have not walked in His teachings nor followed His commands.

We must be complicit no longer.!. We must, with resolute determination, stand and fight the good fight of faith.  Will others join us; maybe, maybe not. Will we be ridiculed or laughed at; maybe, maybe not. Will the church welcome our endeavors, or demand silence; maybe, maybe not. 

But, will God our Abba Father be pleased,.?.

ABSOLUTELY.!!.

Pastor Bill Randles reminds us:

The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.  And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. (Isaiah 19:1-2)

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.(Matthew 24:6-7)

Egypt, the largest Arab nation in the world, is currently erupting into a bloody civil war. The factions are the Egyptian military, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and the embattled Egyptian people. In the crossfire are the suffering remnant of Coptic christians, whose rights had been somewhat protected under Mubarak, but who have been openly persecuted under the MB.

The transformation of Egypt has long been regarded as one of the centerpieces of the foreign policy of the Obama administration. Egypt's recent upheaval began with the unprecedented Obama speech at Al Azhar University* in Cairo in 2009. At the time, the Muslim Brotherhood was a suppressed dissident group in Egypt, but Obama insisted that the MB be brought into the event, over the protestations of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Events which have since ensued in Egypt; the Islamist inspired "Arab Spring" , the toppling of our longtime ally and peace Partner with Israel, Mubarak, the Egyptian election of US backed Islamist, Mohammed Morsi, the open persecution of the Egyptian Copts by the MB, the over run of our Egyptian US Embassy, and burning of the American flag on 9-11, and recently the ouster of Morsi by the Egyptian Army.

As of now, Egypt has descended into a bloody civil war, as outraged MB mobs assemble to face down the Egyptian army in order to violently re-install Morsi, the MB candidate. Yesterday, 623 MB supporters were killed in confrontations with the Egyptian army, and thousands were injured in the clashes.

The MB has been avenging itself in a typical cowardly fashion, by the wholesale killing of indigenous christians, (Copts), the rape of Coptic and Catholic nuns, the kidnapping of christian children (pre-teen girls, for marriage and 'conversion')and the burning of christian churches. Egypt is descending into a nightmare scenario.

The Word of God has much to say about this supremely influential Arab nation in the last days. The prognosis for Egypt is both terrifying and bright. Egypt is slated to suffer a harsh night of tribulation before the breaking of the dawn, according to Isaiah and Ezekiel.

We can see by comparing our opening scriptures, that ss a judgment from God, a terrible civil war will break out in Egypt, with much violence and destruction. Jesus was quoting Isaiah 19, the vision of Egypt, in the sermon on the last days, on the Mount of Olives, in Matthew 24. The difference is that Jesus applies the description of the Civil War in Egypt, to the situation throughout the whole world.

 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.(Isaiah 19:16-17)

Egypt has been seized by a mortal fear, particularly of the Jews, and God himself is in that fear. Keep in mind that Egypt was point man for the Arab world in four major modern wars with the state of Israel. The Arab coalition enjoyed the advantage of superior numbers, firepower, transport and supplies, yet in each war were soundly defeated. Of course Israel alone didn’t defeat Egypt and the others, the God of Israel did!

The lead hijacker of the 9-11 plot was an Egyptian, Mohammed Atta. An Egyptian pediatrician, Ayman Al Zawahiri is the late Osama Bin Ladin’s right hand man. The Muslim world has in the modern world been radicalized by the writings of  Egyptians Sayyid Qutb, and Hassan Al Banna. In short, the Egyptian people are very influential in the current terrorization of the world in the name of Allah.

Egypt has a time of reckoning coming before she can be healed. But Egypt will eventually be healed,

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.(Ezekiel 29:8-10)

Radical, violent, anti west, anti christian, Anti Jewish Islam is going to rule over the largest Arab population in the world. Already the newly liberated from Mubarek Egyptian population met in the streets of Cairo by the hundreds of thousands, to hail the once exiled fundamentalist preacher Qadrawi, who called for a march on Jerusalem.

Something soon is going to happen in Egypt that is so awful, Egyptians will have to flee their own land and live as refugees . The land will be rendered uninhabitable for forty years!

No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.(Ezekiel 29:11-12)

But Prophecy asserts that Egypt will in the end turn to the living God, and drop Islam once and for all. God says He will make himself known to the Egyptians, and that they will turn to Him in a time of great distress. In mercy God will reveal himself to them.

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.(Isaiah 19:21-22)

Consequently the Egyptians will  make peace with Israel, and after some time, (probably during the millennium), return en mass to their own land.They will be trading partners and brothers, the Egyptians, Israel, and Iraqis.

In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.(Isaiah 19:23-25)

Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered.(Ezekiel 29:13)

In the millennium, Egypt is directly addressed  by the Lord Himself. He warns her to make sure she is in attendance at the Feast of Tabernacles, lest he withhold rain from her. Thus, there is a glorious future for Egypt, after the long night.

Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.  If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.  If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain..”(Zechariah 14).

* The Harvard,Yale,and Cambridge of international Islamic terrorism,providing the intellectual and philosophical credibility for the Jihad

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,  has a wondrous attraction for me;  for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,  a wondrous beauty I see,  for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;  its shame and reproach gladly bear;  then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I’ll share...

And I will stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean, or will I be able to stand at all.?.

I can only imagine.

What am I missing.?.

My list of concerns for our congregation and its leadership seem to be continually expanding, ever growing heart breaking burdens.!. Am I being too narrow, too critical, too judgmental too “picky.”

Many things  within the congregation have troubled me in recent months. The latest a prayer request sent out to the membership. No problem there. At the end of each prayer request the sender includes quotes from various authors, seldom using scripture. Red flags began billowing gently in the breeze as I read past prayer request with questionable quotes from questionable secular authors while excluding The Word of God.

Today however… well, you be the judge:

“Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes

and

“...there is a God, there always has been. I see him here, in the eyes of the people in this [hospital] corridor of desperation. This is the real house of God, this is where those who have lost God will find Him... there is a God, there has to be, and now I will pray, I will pray that He will forgive that I have neglected Him all of these years, forgive that I have betrayed, lied, and sinned with impunity only to turn to Him now in my hour of need. I pray that He is as merciful, benevolent, and gracious as His book says He is.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

On the surface, these quotes sound good, until one realizes that Gordon B, Hinckley is a past president of the Mormon church and Khaled Hosseini is a Muslim.

Paul urges the church to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might … but with subtle quotes like these coming from church leadership the church will quickly become a herd of goats devouring any and everything that' placed before them, the blind leading the blind; if it hasn’t already.

What am I missing .?. 

Time marches on, it leaves a trail of tears, the bitter the sweet, the proud the shamed, all come to the feet of Jesus to cry for mercy. Sooner or later we all must acknowledge that our God is an all consuming fire. Will we all stand before Him as saints or sinners; the forgiven or the condemned.?. 

Have we received the sweet with thanksgiving and rejected the bitter with weeping and wails? Have we sang praises for our mountains and bemoaned our valleys? As pilgrims in a foreign land, we all too often seek the good while ignoring the better and the best, not realizing;

Trials not treats teach man to trust.

May God open our eyes to see His glory and His light that we might shine as jewels in His crown.

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Oh for grace to trust Him more.!.

Keep standing on the promises of God;

"Stand therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for  the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.  Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert..." Ephesians 6

 

And when having done all, STAND.!!. 

  

"If our doctrine does not lead to devotion, then something is seriously wrong. We have not finished with our task until head, heart and hand all agree. Such sanctified integration of our personalities will not be perfectly attained until we see our Lord face to face. But we must strive to that end here and now. Having received the evangel, we must be engaged in evangelism. And the more clearly we have grasped the former, the more passionately we should give ourselves to the latter."

From: A Lesson on Evangelism by Charles H. Spurgeon

Every Christian is either a missionary, a soul winner or an impostor.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never against that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages let men and angels sing.

Then onward Christian soldiers - and with His Word prevail

Keep buried deep within your heart; with Him WE CANNOT FAIL.!!!.

We want to be in charge, commanding, demanding. Do we have authority over evil or do we submit as unto the LORD.???.  A question so many ask, with so many varied answers.  When trouble, sickness and pain come at us again and again and...what do we do.??. 

 

It is soooooo hard to rest, to be still and know that He is God. He is God, not me. It is hard to allow Him to pick up the pieces of our brokenness, allowing Him to heal, deliver and restore. It is hard to grasp that He is in the midst of our circumstances, "with God, all things are possible," that He will never leave us or forsake us and to hold on to and trust in His words: "all things work together for good...." We want to fix it, make it better, make it go away DO SOMETHING - ANYTHING  but rest.!??!

 

But rest we must, for it is God' desire that we conform to the image of His Son. He loves us too much to allow us to remain in our fallen, faithless, faltering condition; taking charge, charging ahead, rushing in where angels fear to tread.

 

And God said to Moses: "Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter." Deuteronomy 3:26

 

It was time for the old man, Moses, to die so the new man, Joshua, might live to serve the Living God. If we are born again, it is time....

 

I will attempt to walk out in my life what I know in my heart - one day at a time. 

"Catholics and Jews are brothers and sisters deeply bound by their fervent belief in the one Creator of heaven and earth"  Written by Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn and Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin,  published in the Jerusalem Post.

"The reconciliation of the RCC with the Jewish people is one of God’s great blessings, one that inspires all people around the world. If the Church and the Jewish people can make peace with each other after nearly 2,000 of enmity, then peace is possible between any two peoples anywhere."

If Jews and Catholics are joining as brothers and sisters in this common bond should we not include Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witness and all other religions that believe in the one Creator of heaven and earth?

Unity, tolerance, acceptance of our differences, diversification, everything but Jesus is not based on truth.

Jesus said, "I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Outside of faith in Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, The Son of the Living God all religions are founded on a lie. Outside of His blood cleansing us from our sins, we are hopeless and stand condemned, our good works as filthy rags. Outside of accepting His gift of Salvation we will be judged by The Law instead of being accepted as His child, covered by His mercy and His grace.

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth..."  1 Timothy 4:1-3

Outside of His sacrificial death in our place, we will face the wrath of God.  

Revival without repentance is like a clanging bell or a noisy cymbal -

The Toronto Blessing, Brownsville, Pensacola, Lakeland all man made ‘revivals’ - Rodney Howard Brown, Todd Bentley, John Wimber… sound but no substance.

Tim Keller explains: “revivals are “seasons in which the ordinary operations of the Holy Spirit are intensified.” No repentance there.

One website ask:

“What will happen if one individual or one small congregation had a hunger for revival with a great harvest of souls and a hunger to see God do the miraculous? What would happen if God's people tarried and prayed like they did in the Book of Acts where they stayed on their faces before God until the breakthrough came? In Acts 1 and 2 they "all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. They were all with one accord in one place." What a prayer meeting! What a revival! No repentance there either.

False converts, the “it’s all about me generation” fill the pews and parking lots of mega churches across America every Sunday -

Lakewood Church/Joel Osteen 43,500+
North Point Ministries/Andy Stanley 30,982+
Willow Creek Community Church/Bill Hybles 24,200+
Saddleback Church/Rick Warren 18,884+++

From Tim Keller’ endorsement of Contemplative Spirituality, to Joel Osteen’ best life now books and sermons, to Rick Warren’ stand with Islam, it’s hard to tell the sheep from the goats whether they sit in pews or stand at pulpits. All lead the undiscerning, disobedient parishioner down the wide path to his death and destruction by their unbiblical teaching and preaching.

Revival without repentance is not possible, but then perhaps one need ask “what is meant by revival and what exactly is one attempting to revive?”

The world is dying, the grave is filling, hell is boasting; it will soon be over.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls..." Matthew 11

'Means that our Saviour has invited all that labor and are heavy-laden, to come unto him. Worldly men burden themselves with fruitless cares for wealth and honor,laboring for happiness and sensual pursuit of pleasures. Those who labor to establish their own righteousness labor in vain. The convinced sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labors and burdens. Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls.' Matthew Henry Commentary

What it does not mean is that we are to have no burden for the lost. It does not mean we are to cast our cares upon Him and walk away content and joyfully secure in our own salvation. It does not mean we should find rest for our souls as thousands die daily to be eternally separated from God.

“Every true Christian should be exceedingly earnest in prayer concerning the souls of the ungodly, and when they are so, how abundantly God blesses them, and how much the church prospers. But beloved, souls may be damned, yet how few of you care about them! Sinners may sink into perdition, yet how few tears are shed over them! The whole world may be swept away by a torrent down the precipice of woe, yet how few really cry to God on its behalf. How few men say, ‘Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!’ We do not lament before God the loss of men’s souls, as it well becomes Christians to do.” Charles H. Spurgeon

  
Obviously Europe learned nothing.

God will NOT be mocked.!.

The European Union has decreed that contracts between EU member states and Israel must include a clause stating that east Jerusalem and the West Bank are not part of the State of Israel and therefore not part of the contract.

The decree, which will go into effect Friday, will forbid any cooperation, awarding of grants, prizes or funding for any Israeli entity in the specified areas.

Judea and Samaria are not ‘occupied territory.’ They are a part of the homeland of the Nation of Israel.

“This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” Zechariah 14:12

Pray for peace, prepare for war.!!.

I am not a babe in Christ.

I consider myself a student of scripture, a follower of the LORD, a disciple of Christ. Perhaps more feeble minded and dense than most for upon reading the following I was greatly impacted by the Truth of these Words:

“…Ye cannot serve the LORD, for He is an holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” Joshua 24:19

We cannot serve the LORD because He is holy and we are not. God will not, NO He cannot forgive our transgressions or our sins because He is holy and we as sin filled transgressors are not.

Sin is unforgivable - sin demands payment and payment must be made.

But God is love, and jealous for His creation. Not as man understands jealousy, but jealous in that He longs for affection, love and fellowship with His creation.

And so God Himself came and became the payment for the sins of all who will accept His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His mercy and His love.

Payment has been made. Paid in Full...
                   Tetelestai - It is Finished.

For weeks I have been burdened with the reality of the lost state of so many family and friends. I pray without ceasing night and day - awakening throughout the night, I pray, closing my eyes at night I pray and awaken in the morning in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving for their salvation. Prayers have been offered on my behalf that this burden be lifted, but I cry "May it never be LORD, may it never be.' 

If I do not pray for them - "Who will.?."

I read:

"The true convert holds the Cup of Salvation in his trembling hands.

If you love God, your heart will go out to the millions who are in the “valley of decision.

Oswald Chambers wrote:   So long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to serve him until he does." 

Charles Spurgeon said:   "If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Hell should be so real to us that its flames burn away apathy and motivate us to warn the lost. Do we see the unsaved as hell's future fuel? Do we understand that sinful humanity is the anvil of the justice of God? Have we ever been horrified or wept because we fear their fate? The depth of our evangelistic zeal will be in direct proportion to the love we have for the lost and dying." Ray Comfort - A Burden for the Lost

LORD, lay lost souls upon my heart, and love that soul through me.  And may I nobly do my part, to win that soul for Thee.

"As I observe our nation and our churches, I am called to Ezekiel Chapter 8 where the Lord has Ezekiel dig into the wall of the Temple and instructs him to enter it: "So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel...Then said he unto me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his idols? for they say, The LORD sees us not; the LORD has forsaken the land. He said also unto me, Turn you yet again, and you shall see greater abominations that they do."

After showing Ezekiel how the elders worshipped the pagan gods, the Lord asks in verses 17-18, " Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: my eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them." We as a people must repent, call our nation to repentance, and begin to speak and act boldly that as Paul says in Ephesians 6:19, "to make known the mystery of the gospel." Otherwise, it is by God's natural law that we will suffer the consequences of our leaders, both individually and as a nation."
Bill Wilson/Daily Jot 

"... How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation..." Hebrews 2:3

The Anchor Holds...

As the homosexual community rejoices over the recent SCOTUS decision, as late term abortion becomes an acceptable choice, as Islam and Christianity converge into Chrislam, as Christians across the world are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, as we see once godly men compromise their faith and the gospel, let us never forget:

The anchor holds, though the ship is battered, the anchor holds though the sails are torn. When we fall upon our knees as we face the raging seas

let us never forget -  The anchor holds in spite of the storm.

"...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; …" 2 Corinthians 4

Because - the Anchor holds.!!.