Why?

Freedom isn't free.

Citizens of the United States of America are benefiting today from the price our forefathers paid to establish liberty in this land.

However, we find our freedoms being encroached upon by an ever-more-socialistic mindset that seems to be the policy of our leadership and of some of the candidates who are seeking the highest office of the land.

Our people are like the proverbial frog in cold water that is placed over a flame. As the temperature becomes boiling the frog dies without realizing the jeopardy he allowed to gradually encroach upon him. Americans have enjoyed freedom so long that they can't fathom it is being, little-by-little, policy-by-policy, taken away from them.

There is an apparent desire among people in high places to reduce this nation, which was placed at the feet of Jesus at its inception, to the position of nations that restrict liberty--that deny it altogether. One of the first freedoms to be curtailed is that of freedom of conscience as expressed in religious practice.

The news is replete with examples of religious freedoms being challenged--from the prayers in Jesus' name that have been removed from public schools to the raising of a hand in praise to God by a high school quarterback who scored a touchdown, our religious freedom is being assailed.

These are small things compared to the horrific persecution being endured by believers in some parts of the world, but they are disconcerting first steps toward the mindset that denies Christ and jeopardizes those who believe in Him.

We must not allow ourselves to be like the frog who did not recognize his peril! We must reassert our right to live free and to worship Christ freely or we will find we have neither.

And we must not only pray for our brothers who suffer but demand that our government intervene in their behalf! Our leaders are allowing an influx of muslims into our country who are purportedly seeking asylum but include unscreened terrorists;  but the same privilege is not being accorded to Christians.

Will we not stand for those who are in bondage to evil?  Are we not willing to pay the price for freedom?

Why?

Hear Our Cry, O Lord!

2 Chronicles 7:14 
 
“…if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

A Prayer for The United States of America

God, I come to you on behalf of the United States of America. That she would turn from her wickedness and return to her creator. That you would light a fire and passion among this generation for a Holiness reformation that would transcend all generations, all sin, and all corruption.

We cry out for forgiveness for America and speak grace, mercy, and the blood of Jesus Christ over her.

Restore America to her biblical foundations that will cultivate an atmosphere of Godly righteousness among the government, the American people, the economy, and each and every American family.

That America may reach her full potential as a Godly Nation and become a beacon of light to all other Nations.

In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.

Words to Ponder

"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust." Psalm 103:13-14

Quotes of Presidents

"You seem...to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the DESPOTISM of an oligarchy..." Thomas Jefferson

“Christianity has made martyrdom sublime, and sorrow triumphant.” Edwin H. Chapin

Will YOU Pray?

"Lord, do not abandon me to the desire of my foes." Psalm 27:12

Lord Jesus, Let not the enemy of Your purposes have his way in this land that was placed at Your feet by our founding fathers at its inception. Let Your Holy Spirit move mightily through this land, employing the "same power that raised Jesus from the dead and that now dwells in Your people," according to Romans 8:11, to pull down strongholds of evil and to raise up righteousness.

As Your people employ the power that You have given to us, may non-believers be compelled to lay their lives at Your feet! May there be a wash of Christ-likeness throughout the land! May we as a people delight in nothing but You. And may You find joy as You look upon us for we are Yours and You are ours. 

In Your mighty name I ask, Jesus. Amen.

Add "radical islam" to "militant communism," against which our dear brothers prayed thirty years ago and we have a picture of a great need that has exacerbated. 

May we who believe in JESUS CHRIST be on our faces before HIM in prayer that the godly of the world--in America and in every corner of the globe (for all the world is HIS)--will triumph over the onslaught of the enemy!

"America is the hope of every enslaved man, because it is the last bastion of freedom in the world. Only America has the power and spiritual resources to stand as a barrier between militant Communism and the people of the world. It is the last 'dike' holding back the rampaging flood waters of militant Communism. If it crumples, there is no other dike, no other dam; no other line of defense to fall back upon… I have seen fellow-prisoners in Communist prisons beaten, tortured, with 50 pounds of chains on their legs-praying for America... that the dike will not crumple; that it will remain free." Rev. Richard Wurmbrand

Modern Myth # 2

October 31

Modern Myths: People Are Basically Good by Dr. D. James Kennedy

As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’—Romans 3:10 Most people in America today believe that people are basically good. This belief astonishes me because it flies in the face of biblical teaching and contradicts much of human history. Today we hesitate to mention the word “sin.” We don’t talk about “right and wrong”; we talk about “right and stupid.” A person doesn’t admit to sinning but instead says, “I did something dumb. I acted stupid. I should have been more careful.” We no longer label violent criminals as “evil.” Instead, we say they are “victims of illness.” But the Bible expounds on humankind’s basically evil nature. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Jesus also believed in humanity’s evilness. He said that we are all sinners; children of Satan; hypocrites; filled with evil thoughts—murder, adultery, fornication, and theft; we are vipers; fools; and blind. History confirms humanity’s evil nature. Historians tell us that one-third of all human beings who have lived on this planet have died at the hands of their fellow human beings. We’re all sinners. God knows our base, evil nature. He knows that none of us could ever be good enough to have a relationship with Him. So He made a way for us to spend eternity in heaven by placing all our sinfulness on Christ and having Him die in our place. Praise God that He hasn’t left us to our own devices but instead has forgiven us and imputed to us Christ’s righteousness. By God’s good grace, we have Christ’s basic goodness resident within us. The greatest saints, down through the centuries, have all acknowledged themselves to be the greatest of sinners.

What Will You Do?

As thousands of 'immigrants' pour into Europe, some of whom are truly seeking assylum but many of whom are plotting the overthrow of the continent and its incorporation into the islamic caliphate, people in those countries that are being engulfed by a foreign religion and foreign culture must heed these words that have been written to Christians of the United States.

We are all in 'the same boat.'  The muslim hordes desire to subjugate everyone to the world view of muhammad.  We will rise up against it, or be trampled by it.

What will YOU do?

Are You a Prophetic or Political Christian? by Bill Wilson

For probably more obvious reasons that I would like to count, the Lord has had me focused recently on the condition of this nation. My heart tells me to write about the Middle East and Israel, my spirit is saying there is unfinished business with the United States.

The sense that I am getting in my prayer time and study is that there is great confusion among Christian Americans about their loyalties and how they should be working out their salvation here on earth, and in particular as citizens of both God's kingdom and of the United States. There are those who say that America is not worth the trouble, that we should be focused on the Kingdom of God. I do not see these two issues as mutually exclusive.

My ancestors came to this land because of religious persecution. They entered into covenant with God--not the other way around. They dedicated this land to God. As it grew into a nation, the struggle ensued as to how this nation would be formed and who was going to do it.

Yes, there were bad men, men who were not Christians, men who were of secret societies, deists, whatever. But there were also strong Christians who shaped and molded this nation and its form of government. They wanted a nation where each man is recognized as equal in the sight of God and under the laws. They wanted laws that protected the rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as granted by God.

In this atmosphere of freedom of speech, religion and economics, Christians thrived. They not only became the most blessed, wealthiest, freest nation on earth, they also were part and parcel to evangelizing the rest of the world with the gospel of Christ.

But over the years, humanists have sought to take away the benefits of a Constitutional Republic and replace it with a socialist democracy where the rule of law is subject to the ever changing desires of the people. Humanism is of satan and it is not only an enemy of the republic, but also of God.

In short, this country is what we make it. For this time in history it has fallen into the hands of darkness. The only thing that overcomes darkness is light. That's where we come in.

You can be a great citizen of the kingdom of God as well as a great citizen of the United States--a prophetic Christian. For me, I am first and foremost a citizen of the kingdom of God. As a citizen of this kingdom, I am also by grace and by birth a citizen of the United States--still a prophetic Christian.

I take both citizenships very seriously, but one is an extension of the other. Philippians 2:12 instructs us to "work out our faith with fear and trembling." And so we must.

Romans 12:21 tells us to "overcome evil with good." Christ told us to be salt and light. You see, in reality, it is not about nationalism. It is about our prophetic civic duty to the kingdom of God.

If we are doing what the Lord commanded us to do, our nation will not be on the precipice of evil and darkness.

I Believe!

"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I do not feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent."

Scratched in the wall of a cell in the Bastille during the French Revolution

The Cross

The Cross

"The cross of Jesus is to those who perish, foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God." I Corinthians 1:18

Where Will You Look?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Where can one find safety in a world that appears to be rapidly moving toward the concluding days of time?

How can one have inner peace when conflict reigns within the hearts of men and conflagration exacerbates between them?

The place where the anxious may turn for comfort and assurance in a world filled with hatred and its resultant turmoil is to the same source where comfort and assurance have ever been found--in the HOLY WORD of our HOLY GOD.

It is there that we find His words, "May the Lord bless you and keep you; may His face shine upon you and may He be gracious to you and show you His favor and give you peace." Numbers 6:25
It is in the Bible that we find the words, "Yes, I may walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but I will fear no evil because YOU, O Lord, are with me." Psalm 23:4

It is in the Bible that we find the truth, "In the world you may have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33

It is in the Book of all books that we see the assurance, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

It is an incomprehensible truth to the unbelieving world but to people of faith, we know the promise is true, indeed, "The joy of the Lord IS our strength." Nehemiah 8:10

So shall we look for comfort and peace to men and their machinations of hatred and war, or shall we look to JESUS and HIS WORD THAT CANNOT FAIL AND CANNOT LIE?

Where will YOU look today for comfort in a world fraught with evil?

Modern Myths

October 30

Modern Myths: There Are No Absolutes by Dr. D. James Kennedy

‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’—John 8:32 Let's look at some modern myths—assertions by our society that contradict biblical truth. The first and perhaps most prevalent is “There are no absolutes; all truth is relative.” Have you perceived this attitude recently? You can hear it in statements such as “'Things change, and what we believed ten years ago no longer fits,' or, another one, 'That may be true for you, but it’s not true for me”; or, 'That concept works in America, but it would never work in China.'” The statement “There are no absolutes; all truth is relative” contradicts itself because it’s an absolute statement. When people assert that no absolutes exist, they really claim that God doesn’t exist because God is the ultimate absolute. “No absolutes” means no inspired Word of God. It means no Jesus Christ. But absolutes do exist. The Bible constantly deals with absolutes: life and death, obedience and disobedience, righteousness and sin, saved and lost, light and darkness, good and evil, faith and unbelief, heaven and hell, God and Satan. Not only do absolutes exist, but we can know and understand them. The Bible says, “These things I have written to you…that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God,” 1 John 5:13. We can know that we must receive Christ as our Lord and Savior; that no one can mock God; that all have sinned; that one day we shall all give an account of ourselves; that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; and that Christ prepares a place for us in heaven. When we know the absolute truth, it sets us free to realize God’s will in our lives. Don’t let cultural relativism fool you into thinking that each person can determine his or her own “truth.” We all may perceive minor aspects of truth differently, but that doesn’t support the idea of relative truth. Truth is eternal and unchangeable. Do you want to know the absolute truth? Then look into God’s Word today. Search the Scriptures for God’s truth, and let it set you free according to John 8:32.

Words to Ponder

From the Bible:

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8

Quotes of Presidents:

“I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.” Abraham Lincoln

Thoughts of the Wise:

“We win." Brief Summary of the Book of Revelation by an Anonymous Bible Professor

Food for Thought

Guns

There are conflicting points of view on the matter of gun control, on the matter of a U.S. citizen's Second Amendment right to bear arms. As can be seen by the quotes below, today's leadership is in conflict with the opinion of the founding fathers as expressed by our First President George Washington regarding the right to own guns.

How should we think and feel about gun ownership as citizens today? What position should we support? Should we ally ourselves with those who demand that guns be confiscated? Should we stand strong for Second Amendment rights?

Of course, our hearts are broken every time there is a mass shooting and innocent victims are mowed down by someone with a gun. But our hearts are also broken when someone wielding a knife attacks an innocent bystander.

We are devastated when the operator of a motor vehicle uses said vehicle to strike down unsuspecting victims.

And, what about those who throw rocks to kill the object of their wrath?

Perhaps most heart-wrenching of all is the destruction of human life within the womb --by the scalpel of a skilled surgeon, a physician who was trained to heal, who has taken the Hippocratic Oath whereby he promised to save life, to do no harm, with an instrument that was designed to perform healing surgery, not murder.

Shall we ban all knives? Shall we cease to drive motorized vehicles? Shall we rid the world of rocks? Should we demand that surgeons forego the use of scalpels?

Or should we see that murder is a sin of the human heart? That the human heart is "wicked above all things"? (See Jeremiah 17:9) That until a man is washed clean of the sin within himself he will use anything at his disposal from guns to rocks to scalpels to do his wicked deed!

Should we see that murder, like all sin, must be under the blood of Jesus, and until it is, a man subjected to the one who "comes to steal, kill and destroy," John 10:10, will do just that--steal, kill, and destroy--with whatever means are at his disposal!

What should America do about her guns? Perhaps the same thing she should do about all the sin into which she's fallen.

Perhaps those among her citizenry who believe in Jesus should be upon their faces in prayer that the He will visit us again with another great revival--for a nation on her knees before God will not bow to the dictates of any man, nor will she bow before the enemy of the soul of man to do his evil bidding!

Did George Washington have something to say about the possibility of a Clinton Presidency?

Three Important Things

October 29

Three Important Things by Roy Lessin

There are three important things that set Jesus Christ apart from anyone who has ever lived on earth. First is who He is. The second is what He did. The third is what He said.

Who He is:

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word who became flesh...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14.  He is God who became a man.  He is not a man who became God.  Jesus did not come from the earth, He came to the earth from heaven.

No one else can make this claim.

What He did:

Jesus did so many miraculous things while He lived upon the earth that the apostle John tells us, “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25.

What is even more amazing is that Jesus was the creator of the earth that He walked upon…”For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16.

"And without Him was not anything made that was made."  John 1:3

No one else can make this claim.

What God said:

In Mark 9:7 God speaks these words, “…This is my beloved Son: hear Him.”  Today, many voices want to be heard—they speak through social media, film, books, podiums, public squares, the halls of government, and the chambers of justice.

Daily we hear the cries of culture demanding change and conformity to its will.  But there is another voice, a greater voice, a true voice, a righteous voice, a wise voice, a voice of light, a voice of love, a voice life.  Jesus Christ is the voice above all other voices, and He is the name above all other names.

No one else can make this claim.

There Is No Other

There is no hope in any name but JESUS.
There is no peace in any name but JESUS.
There is no joy in any name but JESUS.
There is no truth in any name but JESUS.
There is no life beyond this Vale of Tears in any name but JESUS.

Let JESUS be all to you that He is in the integrity of Himself, so you may have hope, so you may have peace, so you may have joy, so you may have truth...and above all, so you may have life eternal in the glorious mansion that HE has prepared for you.

Refuge Under the Cross

The CROSS.

The cross is the most recognized symbol in the world.

It is loved and honored and embraced by millions as the symbol of a Savior who died to set men free.

It is loathed by millions.

While to people of faith in Jesus it speaks of His sacrifice that brought them from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from death to eternal life, to those who do not believe it is a cause for wrath.
Christians who travel in certain parts of the world are admonished against wearing a prominently displayed cross on their person, for it will be yanked from their neck and trampled underfoot...such is the vehemence of some who hate the cross and its message.

Christians who live in certain parts of the world are relegated to the status of second class citizens whose rights are negligible and whose lives are in constant danger from not only their government but also from their neighbors who disdain them because they have placed their faith in the God who loves.

We live in a world that is evidencing a growing animus toward people of faith in Christ and their hatred of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is being openly displayed and largely unchallenged by a watching world.

In America, a country established by Christians, subtle attacks against followers of the Lord Jesus are becoming increasingly evident--prayers at sporting events which were once done all the time have been challenged, carrying a Bible to a public school classroom has been disallowed, displaying a nativity scene at Christmas has been replaced by secular decorations...and the list goes on.

What are believers to do in the face of the challenge to our First Amendment right? It seems evident that we must stand up for the CROSS; we must stand up for PEOPLE OF FAITH wherever they are challenged, for if we don't, our freedom to do so will one day no longer exist.

The Bible prophesies a day when the antichrist shall reign. That one who embodies evil will have anyone who professes Jesus slain. That antichrist religion appears to be on the ascendancy even now. Are we in that day when believers shall be beheaded for their faith? When anyone who does not accept the religion of the antichrist shall be brutally executed?

What we see in the news, what is happening in a far-flung corner of the earth today may be happening at our doorstep tomorrow.

It is time for all who would live free to take refuge under the CROSS.

Changing Our Paradigm

October 28

Changing Our Paradigm
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman

"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Acts 10:19-20 

Peter had never preached to the Gentiles.  In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles.  God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. 

The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them.  He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter. 

Sometimes we are so bent on our particular belief that the Holy Spirit must do something miraculous to change our paradigm. 

I was once asked to attend a conference overseas.  At the time, finances were such that the very idea was ridiculous to me.  The very next day a man I had met only once before informed me of this event and asked if I would come if my expenses were covered.  I was dumbfounded! The Lord had sent a messenger to change my paradigm because He knew I didn't have the faith to think of the possibility.  He knew I needed help. 

Do you need a paradigm shift in some area of belief?  The Lord still intervenes in the lives of His people every day.  Don't be surprised when God begins to change your paradigm by giving you a vision or sending you a messenger of His choosing.

WAKE UP!

The United States of America is a nation that was founded by Christians, for Christians.

In the ensuing years since its founding, this nation has opened its arms to refugees from many countries, all of whom settled here with the intention of becoming citizens because they cherished the freedoms and the opportunities afforded to them by this great, free land.

Now, our 'leaders' have opened our borders to an influx of illegal aliens who are coming to tap the resources of our nation without contributing anything to them. Our 'leaders' have also invited muslims into our country whose intent is not to assimilate into our culture and to become law-abiding Americans, but to transform our nation into a part of the 'one world islamic caliphate' to which they aspire. 

If we do not open our eyes and demand that our borders be closed to those whose intent is to rob us of our heritage of freedom, we will have only a memory of that freedom, we will have only a memory of the rights we once enjoyed as a free nation "under God."

AMERICA, WAKE UP!

EUROPE, WAKE UP!
 

Dom the Conservative

If I went to a Muslim country governed by Islamic law, I'd be forced to wear hijab. In non-Muslim countries, Muslims demand we conform to meet their demands. Islam is a religion of intolerance, not peace.

His Power in YOU--TODAY!

A man who has spent his career working with the military has said that in all the meetings he has ever attended in the presence of high-ranking officers, when the officer wanted to emphasize power, he never referred to the arsenals of war of men, but always to the matchless power of the Almighty.

We, you, me--small, insignificant person that I may be--have at my disposal that unfathomable resource! The power of the Holy One, the power that spoke the worlds into existence, the power by which all things consist, the power that raised JESUS from the dead--THAT POWER--dwells in me!

IT DWELLS IN YOU, BELIEVER!  (See Romans 8:11)

NEVER GIVE UP--THE MIGHT OF HEAVEN IS UPON YOUR TONGUE!

It's Tuesday!

"O, Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His mercy endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Praise God our Savior because He has given us the full SALVATION PACKAGE!

Because of JESUS, we have the opportunity to be born again. No matter the depth of our depravity, the magnitude of our sin, His shed blood can wash us clean, can make us new...if we will but bow before Him, confess our sin, and ask Him to forgive us and make us clean. His righteousness becomes ours, for He took our sin upon Himself at the cross.

It's Tuesday, but whatever the day may be, His Holy Word says, "Now is the accepted time; behold, TODAY is the day of salvation." II Corinthians 6:2

Nobody has a promise of tomorrow.

Let today be the day you lay your life at His feet and allow Him to cleanse you of all sin. Let TODAY be the day you are able to say, "Thank You, Jesus. You woke me up, and I am Yours for time and eternity."

Victory through Surrender

The Christian life is one of victory through surrender.

For example, we experience God’s unparalleled strength when we stop trusting in our own strength.

We experience His joy, when we take our eyes off ourselves and serve others.

As you worship the Lord today, rejoice in the God who is stronger than any obstacle or challenge you may be facing. Declare His victory over all that frightens you, and surrender to the leading of His Spirit today.

Once you have given your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit of the Living God dwells in you! Romans 8:11 declares, "The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you." That is a great and precious promise!

Lay hold of it!
Employ it at the point of every need you face!
Commune with Him--and expect Him to guide you at every juncture of your way.

Remember that "He is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to His POWER at work within you." Ephesians 3:20

Never Quit!

October 27

Never Quit!  by Dr. D. James Kennedy

‘…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’—Revelation 2:10 "Never!  Never!  Never!  Never give up!"  Winston Churchill  What is one goal you’ve reached that you feel particularly proud of? Is it graduating from school? running a marathon? teaching your children good morals? bringing a friend or family member to Christ? Now, what did it take for you to reach that goal? Columbus set the goal of sailing around the world. Every day of his voyage, he penned these words in his diary: “And this day we sailed on.” Columbus achieved incredible results because he continued the pursuit of his goal day after day. In the same way, if we want to reach any goal, we need perseverance and faithfulness. How well we start doesn’t really matter. In any goal we set out to achieve, we need to persevere until the end. Would you like to know a couple of secrets about living successfully? Then read with me a verse from Genesis which contains two great secrets of success in any sphere of life: “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” Do you see in these words the two great principles of success in life?  “And they went forth to go into the land of Canaan.”  The first secret to succeeding in life is this: We must set out to achieve noble goals, goals worthy of our effort as people who will dwell eternally in Jesus Christ’s presence. Second, we must keep going.  Abram and his family made it to Canaan because they persevered.  They traveled toward Canaan day in and day out until they arrived. If we expect to lead successful lives, we can’t give up after we’ve set out to achieve a goal. Instead, we must everlastingly keep on keeping on. If you haven’t already determined some goals for yourself, choose a goal today, a goal worthy of your time and effort. Then set out to meet that goal, persevering today and in the days to come.