Able to Understand

MICAH 7:7

“I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer” Micah 7:7

Today in History

Today in History
1936
GONE WITH THE WIND Published

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, one of the best-selling novels of all time and the basis for a blockbuster 1939 movie, was published on this day in 1936.

In 1926, Mitchell was forced to quit her job as a reporter at the Atlanta Journal to recover from a series of physical injuries. With too much time on her hands, Mitchell soon grew restless. Working on a Remington typewriter, a gift from her second husband, John R. Marsh, in their cramped one-bedroom apartment, Mitchell began telling the story of an Atlanta belle named Pansy O’Hara.

In tracing Pansy’s tumultuous life from the antebellum South through the Civil War and into the Reconstruction era, Mitchell drew on the tales she had heard from her parents and other relatives, as well as from Confederate war veterans she had met as a young girl. While she was extremely secretive about her work, Mitchell eventually gave the manuscript to Harold Latham, an editor from New York’s MacMillan Publishing.

Latham encouraged Mitchell to complete the novel, with one important change: the heroine’s name. Mitchell agreed to change it to Scarlett, now one of the most memorable names in the history of literature.

Published in 1936, Gone with the Wind caused a sensation in Atlanta and went on to sell millions of copies in the United States and throughout the world. While the book drew some criticism for its romanticized view of the Old South and its slaveholding elite, its epic tale of war, passion and loss captivated readers far and wide. By the time Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937, a movie project was already in the works. The film was produced by Hollywood giant David O. Selznick, who paid Mitchell a record-high $50,000 for the film rights to her book.

After testing hundreds of unknowns and big-name stars to play Scarlett, Selznick hired British actress Vivien Leigh days after filming began. Clark Gable was also on board as Rhett Butler, Scarlett’s dashing love interest. Plagued with problems on set, Gone with the Wind nonetheless became one of the highest-grossing and most acclaimed movies of all time, breaking box office records and winning nine Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.

Though she didn’t take part in the film adaptation of her book, Mitchell did attend its star-studded premiere in December 1939 in Atlanta. Tragically, she died just 10 years later, after she was struck by a speeding car while crossing Atlanta’s Peachtree Street. Scarlett, a relatively unmemorable sequel to Gone with the Wind written by Alexandra Ripley, was published in 1992.

Stand with the Angels

STAND WITH THE ANGELS!

BE IN PRAYER AGAINST THE THEFT OF A NATION !

Angels Listen for Our Decrees

Angels Listen for Our Decrees

"Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word." Psalm 103:20

Angels from their spheres are fighting principalities and powers according to our decrees. They are orbiting to hearken to God's Word that we decree.

They are hearkening to prophetic words that we decree. They are listening for prayers we pray in alignment with God's will. They are moving with power to bring God's Word to pass.

They are moving with power to give us great victories.

We the remnant church declare what God says. Angels will hear it and together we will fight heaven and win.

ANGEL ARMIES COME AS WE GO FORTH AND CONVERGE IN THE NAME OF JESUS! AMEN

"Angel Armies, Come!"

"Angel Armies, Come!" -- an Introduction

Tonight we are publishing this powerful set of decrees, asking God to unleash His angel armies on our behalf, as we pray for the protection of America's borders and her boundaries.

We thank each one of you for joining us in this powerful decree, which was written by Stephania, the "Shofar Sounder," in the State of California.

The decrees that follow were spoken forth on the land this past week on Tuesday, June 25th, at the border with Tijuana. This site, which ends at Pacific Ocean, is the westernmost portion of our border, where a wall now stands.

Before reading and agreeing with this declaration, we urge you to examine your own hearts in repentance; and then to apply the Blood of the Lamb over yourself and all who are in your household. We also bind all forms of retaliation after reading these words.

In closing, we offer this prayer:
"Father God, for all who are named below, whose acts do not align with Your will and Your Word, we ask You to forgive them, for they know not what they do. We pray salvation for each of these lost souls, even as we thank You for Your angelic protection over us in these evil times. Amen."

. . . and now, we turn our attention to God's Angel Armies. Praise the Lord!

ANGEL ARMIES COME

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels . . . " (Hebrews 12:22)

We declare that the United States of America is YHWH's territory. YHWH rules this geography. We declare the dominion of the Lion of Judah over the border regions of the United States. He ROARS in heaven and on earth!

We declare that the hosts of heaven are welcome in this earth realm. You are welcome here, you are welcome in this region, you are welcome in this state, you are welcome in our nation, America, where all things are possible to them who believe. We declare that "We believe!"

We speak this forth, "Angels on assignment, angels on assignment, angels of His presence, angel messengers, angels of war, angels of guarding, Welcome!"

ANGEL ARMIES ON PATROL

Angel Armies patrol our borders and our nation.

"He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)

We declare that the angelic hosts of God are being released to us and we shall be strengthened by heaven's arsenal. We shall be strengthened, we shall be reinvigorated, we shall be protected from marauding invaders. We have supernatural strength to resist and turn back the enemy from our nation's borders. We have supernatural strength as heaven's army is being released in this region.

Our ancient boundaries and borders will not be moved by the enemy. Angel armies stand guard at our borders!

The angel movement that moves is now moving!

Angel armies you are commissioned to be present and minister to us and with us. Greater power than has ever been seen in church history is now flowing to us and through us.

We declare there is now an alignment of heaven's Angel Army with the Remnant Warrior army and the War Eagle army of the present and coming generation. They will now synergize together under Holy

Spirit supervision to demonstrate that the Kingdom of God is present, energized, activated and successful.

ANGELIC ASSIGNMENTS

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (I Timothy 2:1,2)

We call them forth to reinforce first responders, strengthen and energize the ICE teams, the US Border Patrol, the National Guard, the US military troops who defend this nation from both foreign and domestic demonic enemy invaders. Holy Spirit "Inspire our Homeland Security with a blueprint strategy" to protect this nation and the innocents caught up in the lies and deceptions of the migrant caravans.

Presidential angels assigned to assist President Trump with a cohesive and just plan for immigration control at our national borders, be activated and go now to his aid. Remove every obstacle and embargo that the enemy has deployed.

Congressional angels assigned to the members of Congress assist every member of Congress to move into a willing position to swiftly enact bi-partisan legislation to solve the crisis at the border. If they are unwilling, escort them from Congress.

Power for mighty deliverance from border chaos be loosed! We loose Angel Armies! We loose the troops of heaven to fight alongside of us. In Jesus name we deploy them!

We declare we will see more angel activity than demon activity. We forbid demon activity in Jesus' name. America has far more righteous angels on our side than demons against us. The natural number is not the Kingdom number

GOD IS WITH US!

The Lord of Angel Armies is with Us!

"For it is written: 'He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully . . ." (Luke 4:10)

YHWH Tsabaoth, the Lord of Angel Armies, is on our side. We will win! Enemy resistance in the natural realms and spiritual realms is being scattered and shattered in Yeshua's name!

Angels are striking the enemies of the King. Angels are ambushing hell's forces as our praise ascends. Our praise decrees are producing victory that looks impossible.

The Kingdom of God is now being extended locally, regionally and throughout the earth.

Bold, passionate, energized, and authoritative angels are assisting us to do the works of Jesus.

The Angel Armies are camped all around us because we respect the Lord and decree His Word. In Jesus name, we loose them now. Work for us. Assist us to turn back the enemy at the borders of this nation.

We declare that angels are circling to protect our borders. Angels are revolving around us to deliver and bring salvation. In the spirit realms and natural realms

ANGELS ARE DELIVERERS

"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them." (Psalm 34:7)

Angels are present-time deliverers here, right now, to deliver us.

Angels are circling our borders to make ugly situations turn to lovely. Be loosed to take hold of bad circumstances and events in migrant caravans and turn them around for good.

We prophesy into the midst of migrant camps and say "Depend on the Lord, not the United States. Your only hope is to turn to Christ."

We loose angels to rescue, strip away bondages, remove obstacles that hinder, and protect us from hell's strategies to destroy this nation.

ANGELS ANSWER OUR PRAYERS

"The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous." (Proverbs 15:29)

We ask You, Lord Jesus, to release Angel Armies to bring answers to our prayers.

Release angels to tip prayer bowls of heaven into the fire on Your altar. We decree heaven's Angel Armies are released into the affairs of Immigration and Homeland Security of America. As a result of our crying out to You, O God! Angel Armies apprehend trafficking and drug cartels and immobilize them.

We cry out, God, give us mercy. Grant us loving kindness. Hear our prayers.

EXECUTING JUDGMENTS

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

We invite, in Jesus name, angels to come execute judgement upon deep-rooted iniquity and satanic perversion in this region and nation.

We sever demonic traffickers from the false deity of the demonic blood soaked aztec altars in Mexico and all copycat deities at our southern borders and upon our land.

Your power is broken, be dismantled in Jesus name! We take authority in Jesus name and sever all demonic ley lines binding the occult sexual perversions, prostitution and blood sacrifices of the Aztecs between the nations of the United States and the Americas.

Holy Spirit pour Your anointing on our nation to cleanse us of all iniquity. WE REPENT OF OUR SINS. Angel Armies engage in combat against sin and perversion. Engage with us and fight doctrines of devils. Angels who cut off enemy attacks be loosed in Jesus's name.

Angels who bring us supernatural strength to finish our assignments- be released in Jesus' name. Release the angels of strength.

Release on our borders and in our nation, angels who attack Jezebels, Absalom, and Arab spirits. Loose them to free our assignments. Loose them to give us great victory, loose them to protect property from being stolen and destroyed by the enemy.

The years that the locusts, the Palmer worms, and the canker worms have eaten will now be restored to this nation America.

SHIFTING ALIGNMENTS

"Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

We decree angels who assist kingdoms of America, of Canada, of Mexico to shift their regions into alignment with God's will - be loosed. Angels who help apostles shift their regions- be loosed now in Jesus' name!

We decree confinement of humans being trafficked "Be broken and great liberty be restored to you." We decree alcohol, opioid and narcotic addictions be broken in Jesus name. Supply sources of drug cartels and independent smugglers be dissolved and dried up. Financial funding of migrant caravans be impoverished in Jesus name.

We decree a shift from being owned to owning - be loosed! Power for new beginnings - be loosed!

We decree a shift in this nation to move from complacency to discipleship in Christ. From intimidation to valor. From hopelessness to confidence. From selfish Christianity to servant Christianity. From consumer Christianity to discipleship. From lost harvest to ingathering.

MAKING DECREES

"You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways." (Job 22:28)

Waves of Holy Spirit enablement are now gathering Angel Armies to partner with the church to battle for the throne of this region and nation.

We rise now to occupy the throne of this region and nation. King Jesus gives us authority to overrule hell's government. We make this ruling today and Angel Armies are now assisting us.

We rise to make ruling decrees backed by Father God, King Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of Heaven and Angel Armies.

In Jesus name, we cleanse the heavens over our region of principalities and powers of darkness. We cast down and displace demon princes from iniquitous thrones. Be removed in Jesus name!

WE DECLARE: YOUR RIGHTS TO THIS TERRITORY ARE BROKEN BY SUPERIOR POWER AND AUTHORITY. IT WAS BROKEN BY THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS. THIS LAND WAS PLACED AT HIS FEET AT ITS INCEPTION AND WE PROCLAIM AGAIN THAT THE UNITED STATES IS A CHRISTIAN LAND! NO DEMONIC FORCE MAY ENTER ILLEGALLY.  THE FORCES OF EVIL ARE NOT WELCOME HERE AND THEY CANNOT ENTER FROM ANY SOURCE--EVER!!

Thoughts on Ephesians 2:1-3

Thoughts on Ephesians 2:1-3 by John W. Ritenbaugh

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

From the time we were born, Satan began to inject us with his mind, thoughts, ways, attitudes, and purposes, so by the time that God gets to us—but in God's good time He calls us and begins to convert us—we are in union with Satan. All our lives, he has been broadcasting, and we are in agreement with him. This is what has to be overcome.

Satan dogs our heels always, but we have to understand that nobody can take away our right of choice of whom we want to be in union with. When God begins to convert us, He makes us well aware that we have a choice and that we can resist and determine who we want to be united with—God or Satan—just as we can determine in our own lives who we want to be friends with.

We can choose our friends. We can choose, then, the kind of relationships we have with them. We can walk away from them, if they are pulling us down—away from union with God.

Unfortunately, that has to be done sometimes so that we be in union, at one with, the Father. We hope that does not happen very often. Parents know that at times they have tell their children, "We don't want you to hang out with that friend."

Why?

Because they know that that individual will pull their children down; for that reason, they do not want them in union with him. It is a simple principle.

God has put us into the position where we have the opportunity to use our time and energy to make the choice of whether we will be in union with Him. He leaves the choice to us. It is a tremendous thing that He does this because it produces wonderful effects.

So we are juxtaposed between, on the one hand, God, and on the other hand, Satan. But we are free from Satan because we have the choice of whom we want to be in union with.

The Ongoing Story

The Ongoing Story by Julius Medenblik

Scripture Reading: Acts 28:17-31

"He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!"
Acts 28:31

There are family stories that are worth repeating. They anchor us and bind us together. They help us to know where we came from and where we are going.

This devotional series concludes a two-month journey through Acts (May 2018 and June 2019) that you can retrace by going to the website todaydevotional.com. At the end of the book of Acts, we see Paul again meeting with local Jewish people to explain who Jesus is from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

Some of his listeners believe, and others do not. And again Paul notes that God’s salvation is not limited to one group of people but is available to people of all nations.

At the end of this chapter, we see Paul under house arrest. To the eyes of people on the street, Paul is limited in what he can do. But to the eyes of faith, Paul continues to reach out as he boldly preaches the kingdom of God and the good news of Jesus—even to us today!

I am part of the family of God formed by faith. This family is not to be segregated or separated. This family is to welcome strangers and be willing to take down walls of custom and tradition that can burden the newcomer.

The ongoing story is about the Father’s love, the Son’s sacrifice, and the Spirit’s testimony that still moves among people to create a new community. And the Lord calls this community his church!

Lord God, thank you for guiding your people, the church, all the way to the present day. Continue to build us up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thoughts on Today's Verse

"He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace." Micah 5:4-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware
When Jesus proclaims that he is the ''Good Shepherd," he means that he will lay down his life for us! For us, however, it means all that Micah promised — strength, majesty, security and peace.

My Prayer...
Loving and eternal God, thank you so very much for sending Jesus to be my sacrificial Shepherd. In a world gone crazy, his strength sustains me, his majesty overwhelms me, and in him I find my security and peace as I face the future. In the name of Jesus I thank you. Amen.

Quote from Mother Teresa

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing." Mother Teresa

Ahab Went to the Wrong Place to Choose a Wife

Ahab Went to the Wrong Place to Choose a Wife by Dr. D. James Kennedy

“The sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat were seen as minor for him to walk in, for he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, as his wife and went and served Baal and worshipped him.” 1 Kings 16:31

Ahab, king of the Israelites, chose a wicked bride, Jezebel, a Syro-Phoenician princess. She was bad and her father was bad. Her children were bad. And her husband was bad. And her grandchildren were bad. She produced calamity in whatever she did, and everything she touched was poisoned by her false belief.

She was part of a very prosperous and highly sophisticated people. The Phoenicians are the ones that gave us the alphabet. The Tyrians and Sidonians had great navies, since they had access to the Mediterranean, and they accomplished many things, like establishing Carthage, and sailing to Spain and Britain.

But they were molded according to their religion and therefore they were a very bold and cruel people. It was into this nest of the Priest King of Sidon that the weak and wicked king of Israel, Ahab looked for his mate. This was a gross mistake.

It may very well have looked to be politically a very attractive move. But, it was a violation of the law of God, which had forbidden the Israelites to take wives of the Canaanites or the other unbelievers. That has always been God’s law; we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. A sin like this can have a negative impact on everyone, and in Ahab’s case, on the nation.

Lord, forgive us for serious compromise on major issues.

Forgive us for allowing ourselves to be allied with the world in the wrong way.

Give us strength for today that we might glorify You in all our relationships…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN STAY FAITHFUL TO
CHRIST, INCLUDING IN OUR KEY RELATIONSHIPS.

God Will Take Care of You

God Will Take Care of You by Julius Medenblik

Scripture Reading: Acts 28:1-16

"When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. " Acts 28:9

When a viper attacks Paul, the local islanders think he will die. But Paul shakes the snake off, and no harm comes to him.

When Paul does not die, the people think he is a god. But no, Paul is not a god. He does represent God, however.

Paul is almost all the way to Rome, but the witness of God through him continues every step of the way. Paul is on Malta because of a storm and a shipwreck. And God continues to take care of him in different ways. God also takes care of the people of Malta.

The chief official of the island opens his home to welcome the shipwrecked visitors. During this time, God heals the official’s sick father through Paul. A moment of hospitality becomes the setting to see God’s healing power, and many others are healed also.

At first glance, we see Paul shipwrecked on an island, delayed for three months on his journey to Rome. But soon we can see that God has brought Paul and the others there to bring healing and the good news of Jesus.

In addition, we see God taking care of Paul and the others by bringing them to Malta. But then we also see that God takes care of Malta by bringing Paul and the others there. And as they travel on to Rome, they meet other people and are welcomed and encouraged.

May we be people who look again and again to see the God who is always at work taking care of us and others.

Dear God, thank you for always taking care of us. May we have eyes to see this every day. Amen.

Thoughts on 1 John 5:7-8

Thoughts on 1 John 5:7-8

"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. (8) And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one."

We worship a Triune God. He is ONE. He is not three Gods as some accuse, but He is ONE GOD whose personality has three distinct attributes.

We envision our Father God doing the work of creation, yet we are told that "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the deep." (Genesis 1:2) The Word also tells us that "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

It is the Second Person of the Trinity, JESUS CHRIST, who came to earth as a Man, to bear our sin to the cross and be our Savior, yet it is GOD who is referred to as, "GOD OUR SAVIOR." (Titus 3:13, 4:4-7, Jude 1:25 -- just three of many examples)

And the fulfillment of the work of the cross, the resurrection, was accomplished by the Holy Spirit, of which we are reminded in Romans 8:11 which says, "The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you."

To deny the triune nature of God is to diminish the nature of who He is. Ro recognize Him in the fullness of His power and glory (with our limited ability to understand the fullness of His power and glory) is to afford ourselves the better ability to understand what it is that we have the potential to become as we yield our body, mind, and spirit to the ONE who desires that we be whole.

Thoughts on Today's Verse

"Correct me, LORD, but only with justice — not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing." Jeremiah 10:24

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware

God is love! God is also holy and righteous! If he did not lovingly and tenderly correct us, none of us could survive before his awesome perfection. Yet our God has chosen to give us his undeserved mercy and kindness as he corrects us and molds us to be more like him.

My Prayer...

Holy and righteous Father, I truly do want to become more like you in my daily character; but please, dear Father, humble and correct me gently for you know how small I am compared to you. In the name of my Savior, your Son Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Isaiah 40:29

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:29.

Quote from Helen Keller

"Self pity is the worst enemy, so I thank God for my trials, because through them I have found my strength, myself, and my Lord." Helen Keller

Big Tech Truth Squads

Big Tech Truth Squads by Bill Wilson

The First Amendment to the US Constitution reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

This means that the US government cannot abridge the freedoms of speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and to petition the government for redress. But I repeat myself. It is important. Especially when big tech companies have become such large platforms that their censure of free speech. religion and political ideology has a similar affect as if the government were doing the censuring.

In a blatant private enterprise attempt to censure free speech, Twitter announced it will attach a notice to tweets that it considers offensive, but "may be in the public's interest for the tweet to remain available."

Twitter says, "A cross-functional team including Trust and Safety, Legal, Public Policy and regional teams will determine if the Tweets are a matter of public interest based on the criteria listed above the following considerations..."

Twitter listed five criteria its truth squads will use including the severity of the "rule violation"; whether preserving the Tweet will hold public officials or candidates accountable; whether sources of information are available for the public to stay informed; if removal would hide context or prevent people from understanding the issue; and if the Tweet will provide unique context for a broader discussion.

Then Twitter reveals the true story about their free speech truth squads: "In instances where a Tweet violates our rules and our review doesn't find that it would be in the public interest to leave it up, we will require the account owner to remove the Tweet.
Either way, this notice will make our decision-making clearer."

Twitter's policy applies to candidates, public office holders, and government officials with over 100,000 followers. In other words, as a matter of policy Twitter is going to allow a special appointed committee to determine whether to allow a public official's free speech to live or die on its platform, which has become the major vehicle of direct communication to the people.

Twitter (and probably the other tech giants will follow suit if they haven't already-can anyone say Facebook?) will attempt to influence the next election by censuring public officials.

Who is the public official who uses Twitter most effectively to talk to Americans?

President Donald Trump.

Twitter is saying if Trump doesn't meet their truth squad's criteria, he will be censured. This is the problem when privately-owned free speech platforms become so large that they can be weaponized for political purposes and impose their own ideology.

As Christ said in John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Big tech is attempting to suppress the truth to hold you captive to political intolerance and ideological bigotry, and that includes your Christian values.

17 Years

17 Years

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