BLESSED AND JOYFUL

The word "happy" comes from the word "happen." When good things happen, it is assumed you will be happy. I'm not wishing you a "Happy New Year" because my prayer for you is that you will have "the joy of the LORD as your strength" no matter what happens. May GOD'S finest gifts, both temporal and spiritual, overflow to you in 2024 and in all the years ahead, but if your portion includes sorrow or loss or sickness or injury, I pray the joy you have in your heart as a believer in the CHRIST who died for you will be your all-sufficient strength. May you awaken in 2024 to joy, peace, hope, truth, faith, love and every wonderful thing your heart could yearn to hold. May you never doubt how completely JESUS loves you and may your love for HIM wrap all those you love in the wonder of salvation. May 2024 be good to you. Have a RICHLY BLESSED AND ABUNDANTLY JOYFUL NEW YEAR !!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear JESUS, YOU see the state of our world. YOU see the turmoil, the strife, the anger, the wars, the rumors of war. YOU see the hearts of those of us who occupy this sphere. We cry out to YOU, the PRINCE OF PEACE, when our own hearts harbor war. We know that within ourselves is no good thing. We know our lust for power and wealth consumes us. We know we have no greater potential for peace in the year ahead than we have had in the one we leave behind tonight. We know we are so consumed by the things of this world that we give little thought to the ETERNITY YOU have prepared for those who love YOU. So we turn to YOU. We ask YOU to remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts that reflect the heart of GOD. We ask YOU to help us to see the treasure of earth as the refuse that it is. We ask YOU to help us to look beyond the horizon of a new year and let us see YOUR KINGDOM. We ask YOU to help us to see beyond ourselves and see YOU. No matter what the new year brings -- whether peace or war, whether love or more animosity, whether the dreariness of time or the glory of Heaven, let 2024 be a year of REVIVAL. Let 2024 be a year of foolish mankind turning back to the wisdom, the joy, the peace, the love, the hope, the glory of the CHRIST who died to set us free, who holds our true treasure. May our LORD'S finest blessings, both temporal and spiritual, overtake you in the NEW YEAR as you leave the mundanity of earth behind and follow after the glory of ETERNITY. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Remembrance of Death

A Remembrance Of Death by Dr. D. James Kennedy “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?” Psalm 89:48 Tonight we say goodbye to the old year and usher in the new. It’s a special time of reflection and tradition, and perhaps tonight you’ll engage in your own celebration as this year passes into the next. Perhaps you’ll look back on favorite memories of the past year and anticipate some new adventures in the year to come. But many will spend their New Year’s Eve getting drunk. Have you ever wondered why so many people feel the need to do that? Think about it. Is it just a tradition? Or is it something more? Perhaps the Romans of old knew. They had a phrase for it: momento mori, a “remembrance of death.” The old year is frequently pictured in art as a doddering old man staggering his way into oblivion. If you think about it, the picture is quite fitting. The Bible tells us that Satan has held the whole world in bondage through the fear of death. With that truth in mind, I can realize why the unregenerate, who have never been delivered from that fear, who do not have the blessed assurance of eternal life, feel the need to get drunk. If another year’s passing brings them that much closer to death, it’s no wonder they want to obliterate that reality with alcohol. It is really ironic, for the whole world prides itself on its realism and chides Christians for believing in “fairy tales.” Some realists! These people can’t face the greatest reality that every human being must inevitably face: the fact of death. But that doesn’t stop some people from trying. If we go back to 300 B.C., we find the hedonist philosopher, Epicurus, who said that death doesn’t concern us, for as long as we exist, death is not here, and when death comes, we no longer exist. But that isn’t so. We cannot remove death through philosophy, science, or medicine. It is only in Christ that our mortality ceases to be frightening. For only in Him do we know what awaits us after death or, more accurately, Who awaits us after death. Christians can echo the apostle Paul: “To live is Christ; to die is gain.” Tonight, as you say goodbye to an old year and usher in a new one, rejoice that you’re one year closer to meeting our Father in Heaven. Death’s door holds no fear for you; you’re on your way to eternal life united with Christ. Now that’s something to celebrate. “Not what we call death, but what [is] beyond death is … [what] … we fear.” T. S. Eliot

Heavenly or Earthly Minded

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …” — Revelation 21:1 Many years ago I heard a man derisively described as someone who was “so heavenly minded that he was no earthly good.” We may hear that from time to time, but for every one person who fits that description, ten thousand people are so worldly minded that they are no heavenly good at all. Where do your thoughts dwell: on the concerns of this world or in anticipation of eternity spent in Heaven? Once I was in an unfamiliar building. When I was ready to leave, I opened a door, thinking it was an exit, but instead I had stepped into a tiny broom closet. Of course, I stepped out instantly and closed the door. I was probably in there only one or two seconds at the most. Now, wouldn’t you think it extraordinarily odd if I spent the rest of my life thinking about that little closet when I had spent such a short time in it? In the same way, why do we spend all of our time thinking about this “little closet” of earth that is but a fleeting moment in the framework of eternity? Many people spend more time preparing for a twoweek vacation than they do preparing for eternity. The more we dwell on our final destination, the more we’ll be prepared to live eternally in Heaven, thanks to Jesus Christ, who has experienced and conquered Hell on our behalf. And in anticipating our eternal destination, we’ll experience a foretaste of Heaven in this life as we seek to know the Lord more every day. I pray that you and I will live each day with eternity in mind. As you go through your day today, remember that there are eternal consequences to your choices. Dwell on Heaven today, and allow those thoughts to guide your actions. Thanks to Jesus Christ’s free offer of salvation, we can become both heavenly minded and earthly good at the same time.

Prophetic Terrorism Against Christians and Jews

Prophetic Terrorism Against Christians and Jews by Bill Wilson The Judeo-Christian world is repulsed by the brutal, barbaric display of Hamas terrorism against Jews in Israel. On another continent, the Fulani are terrorizing Christians very similarly. Hamas and the Fulani share radical Islamic beliefs that teach it is their religious duty to rid the world of Jews and Christians. Over Christmas, the Fulani massacred some 150 Christian men, women and children as they slept in villages across Nigeria’s Plateau State. The Fulani are a nomadic Islamic tribe that roams across West Africa grabbing land illegally and daring governments to stop them under the threat of terrorism. We have had such experiences in our food and clothing outreach in Ghana, West Africa. It’s what we face. Ministry partner, Pastor William Agbeti reported in July 2021: “Fulani herdsmen residing in and travelling across Ghana, from Nigeria, in search of green pastures for their cattle, remain a major challenge to the nation and people of Ghana. Death, bloody confrontation, destruction of farms and properties, pollution of water bodies, rape, robbery, rampant theft and open disregard for authority, follow their trail wherever they go. In Bosuafise where we have a physical presence of our ministry, the Fulani have set up a permanent camp, from where they launch out into neighboring villages with their cattle, destroying crops and degrading land.” The Islamists have become very bold in rural areas where there is little law enforcement and intimidation replaces rule of law. And it has not improved in two years, despite efforts to stop the Fulani. Pastor Agbeti’s report today is yet another reminder: “The Village and community of Bosuafise remain the only traditional hot spot in our fields of operation, where gangs of Muslims have physically settled and are causing havoc to life and property. A couple of Sundays back on a periodic distribution in the area, I was informed by the leadership of the local church we support that the situation has become much more serious. The leaders reported that Islamic land grabbers have come to encircle them, forcefully raising their own communities in their backyard on seized land. An Elder narrated a blood-chilling experience when he dared to stop the illegal and nefarious activities of the Muslims. He said they retaliated by coming to his house in a group and subjected his whole family, including himself, to severe beatings with iron rods.” We have seen Islamists and Hamas supporters rioting in the streets of New York City during Christmas. They have rioted in England and even Bethlehem (trying to appropriate the blame on Israel). There is an international approach by Islam toward Jews and Christians. As the world approaches the end of times, the prophets of old—who were Jews—prophesy of the nations coming against Israel, and they are Islamic. They persecute supporters of Israel and believers in Christ. Psalm 83 speaks of those who sound much like the Hamas and Fulani terrorists today. Verse 4 says, “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may no more be in remembrance.” Whether Jew or Christian, the times ahead are perilous for the enemies of God come to kill, steal and destroy. Be vigilant. Be strong. Sources: https://helsinkiherald.com/2023/12/terrorists-kill-150-in-christmas-eve-attack-on-sleeping-christian-villages/ https://www2.cbn.com/news/world/very-terrifying-christmas-140-villagers-massacred-christian-area-nigeria https://www.persecution.org/2023/12/26/at-least-96-nigerians-killed-in-christmas-eve-rampage-in-plateau-state/

The Lord's Day

The Lord’s Day by Dr. D. James Kennedy “The Sabbath was made for man …” Mark 2:27 At the end of a given week, do you often find yourself tired and weary from the toils of work? Are you ready to relax and give praise to the Lord? That is exactly what the Sabbath is for. We should reserve it as a day of rest and rejoicing. In fact, do you know why many churches (including the one I pastor) choose not to have kneeling benches? Because in the early church, Christians were forbidden to kneel on Sunday. They instead observed Sunday as a day of rejoicing in God for His mighty deeds. The Sabbath is a blessed day, and so it should be, for even the Lord rested on the Sabbath after creating the universe. On this day of the week, we remember that God made us as special creatures, designed to lift our heads toward God, honoring Him for who He is and for what He has done. The Sabbath is a pledge of that eternal rest which is ours. Not only should we rest on the Sabbath, we should take advantage of it as family time. For those of us with children, we can take that day to spend time with our kids, to model rejoicing for them, and to teach them spiritual truths. But we so often compromise the Sabbath. Amos castigated the ungodly people in Israel who eagerly awaited the end of the Sabbath so that they might sell their crops. In the same spirit as these sinful Israelites, many people today don’t even wait for the Sabbath to end before they engage in work. Some people may have to work on this day, but many without Sunday work obligations choose to work anyway. In doing so, these people demonstrate how far their hearts are from God. They dishonor God by not keeping His day holy. This week, plan to set the Sabbath aside as a day to rest and rejoice in the Lord. Give your responsibilities to God, and allow Him to hold them while you enjoy Him and the day He has made.

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS Christmas is unique. There is no other holiday, no other season of the year that can begin to approach the wonder of this glorious day. Those of us who believe in JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOR and LORD of our lives immerse ourselves in the significance of the day. We remind ourselves that our LORD took upon HIMSELF the weight of the sins we cannot carry and paid the price for them that was far beyond our means. Anyone who has ever been in a non-Christian country knows that at this season, even unbelievers are caught up in the wonder of the day. No, they do not accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR and LORD but they do embrace the celebration of the glorious event that took place in the little town of Bethlehem; they do enjoy the festivity of the believing world. But, what about you? What is Christmas to you? Are you a fervent believer who praises your GOD for sacrificing HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to save you from eternal separation from HIM? Or do you stand on the periphery of faith and simply celebrate the joy that is brought by the candy canes and colored lights? If you are familiar with the Biblical account of the birth of JESUS, you know it was prophecied hundreds of years before HE arrived in Bethlehem. You know HIS birth was announced to shepherds -- the lowliest of men and that HE was sought as a glorious KING by the wisest and wealthiest of mankind. The lowest of the low and the most esteemed of the lofty came to lay their hearts at HIS feet. But, where are you? More important than where you stand today in this season of anticipation and celebration is the question, "Where will you stand on that great day of judgment when all humankind will either bear the penalty of their sins against GOD or be redeemed by the blood of the LAMB?" In the glorious realm of heaven or cast into outer darkness? Where will you spend eternity? May I wish you the Merriest Christmas and a Glorious Eternity.

No More Curse

No More Curse by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… Cursed is the ground for your sake … In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread …” Genesis 3:17, 19 Do you remember the last time you blew it with God? Do you remember what that did inside of you? You’re not alone. People have experienced those feelings since the beginning of time. What happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned? They died spiritually. Their minds were darkened. They stubbornly followed their own wills, their spirits out of tune with God. Through their sin, Adam and Eve allowed sorrow, separation, guilt, fear, and self-centeredness into Paradise—into the lives of all humankind—bringing hatred, crime, violence, war, death, and Hell in their wake. The Curse resulting from Adam and Eve’s sin has not only spiritual implications, but also physical ones. God pronounced the Curse first upon Satan for deceiving and tempting the woman, condemning the Serpent to crawl on its belly and eat dust. Then God cursed the woman, increasing her suffering in childbirth and subjecting her to her husband. For the man, God took the delight from work, relegating the man to a life of labor and toil in the midst of thorns and thistles. All of the animals came under the Curse, and what had been kindly and loving pets became dangerous, wild, and poisonous creatures. Finally, all creatures would eventually succumb to physical death most often preceded by disease, illness, pain, and weakness. Maybe you’d rather not dwell on such depressing issues at this time of year. And, fortunately, you don’t have to. Why? Because Christmas is all about Christ’s coming to take away the effects of this horrible curse. Christ came to earth as a baby to absorb the Curse for us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the Devil’s works and created a way for us to be restored, perfect in God’s sight. God begins that work in you and me when we surrender to Him and become His children, born of the Spirit. That work continues throughout our lives in the process of sanctification. Fully and perfectly, we will be restored when we reach Heaven; Christ will have completed His work in us and eliminated the Curse. In a perfect world and in perfect bodies, we shall dwell forever with Christ. This is the message of Christmas, the reason Jesus came to earth as a babe. As you and I anticipate Christmas this year, let’s rejoice that all curses are reversed in Jesus Christ.

QuoteFollowing the Star

Following The Star by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” — Matthew 2:9-10 Have you ever gazed at the stars in the sky and wondered what Christ’s star—the star of Bethlehem—looked like? What a magnificent star it must have been for the wise men to pack up and take off after it. They left everything to follow that star. Many people have speculated about the exact physical nature of that star, but in the end, all speculations are merely guesses. But we do know that this star heralded Christ’s coming, and as it did so, it communicated His nature to us. The star of Bethlehem was a star of love that pointed to the incarnate yet divine love of Jesus Christ, God’s perfect love that had come to earth in human form. The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ. The star of Bethlehem was a star of joy. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” All true joy comes from Him. From deep within the well of our souls, Christ’s joy bubbles up and overflows. Those who know Jesus the best rejoice the most. The star of Bethlehem was also a star of witness. It witnessed about the one true King and Messiah Who came to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. But most of all, the star of Bethlehem was a star of guidance. The star guided the wise men through the desert and across great distances. It guided them to the Lord Jesus Christ. We also are guided by our Star—God’s Word, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As pilgrims through this barren land, God’s Word guides us to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Today thank God for the love, hope, joy, witness, and guidance we gained when Jesus Christ was born under that star. May the light of His star guide you this day and every day until together we bow down and worship Jesus with the wise men in Heaven.

Censorship and Persecution

Censorship and Persecution by Bill Wilson There has been much documentation of how large corporations worked closely with government agencies to manipulate media messaging and conduct outright censorship. COVID is the poster child for this kind of corporate-government coercion. Indeed, American citizens were experiencing the same during the entire Mueller investigation of President Trump over Russian election interference, the Hunter Biden/Joe Biden/Biden family corruption, the impeachment trials of President Trump, 2020 election integrity, January 6 information, and now, claims of Israeli genocide when we all know it was Hamas that conducted genocide. This manipulation of information is real. Here’s a first-hand account. On Tuesday, December 5, The Daily Jot wrote about how the mainstream news media, gathered together as the Press Coalition, went to court and wrestled away from the DOJ the previously withheld search warrant by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is investigating Trump. Smith obtained the warrant in January against X (formerly Twitter) to seize all content, records, and other interactions between Trump’s Twitter account and other Twitter users. This included any IP addresses, bank and credit card information, email addresses, any third-party websites, and more. It is the gateway that the DOJ is using to collect any information on people who followed Trump. With multiple sources and direct quotes from the search warrant, The Daily Jot underscored how the Democrats used the court system and corporate media to assist the DOJ in building an authoritarian infrastructure. Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell, appointed by President Barak Obama in 2010, “forced” X (formerly Twitter) to give the data to the DOJ. Howell was the “supervising judge” in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and ruling in favor of the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment proceedings against Trump. The result of this type of collaboration is authoritarianism. Twitter, Facebook, and other corporate media, posing as open platforms, have worked with the DOJ to censor free speech and discourage dissent. DOJ seizing twitter data is another step toward tyranny. But then The Daily Jot encountered another form of censorship. The story was blocked to nearly 2,000 subscribers. In checking into it, this was the reason: “The contact’s Internet Service Provider decided not to deliver the email. This is usually due to reputation or content (images, links, text, etc,), or a filter on the recipient’s end.” Point is, Yahoo apparently is censoring what you receive in your emails. Be aware that you may not be receiving truthful information because an internet provider is able to regulate what you read or see. Censorship leads to persecution—look at what is happening with the Hamas atrocities. The media downplays them; politicians downplay them; the government morally equates them AND THEN Jews become the persecuted ones. As Christ said in Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Holocaust Denial

Holocaust Denial Almost Twice As Many Democrats As Republicans Believe The ‘Holocaust Is A Myth,’ New Poll Finds – Daily Caller Democrats are leading the charge when it comes to believing the Holocaust is a myth, a new survey by YouGov showed. Of those who answered the YouGov survey, 10% of Democrats believe the Holocaust is a myth. Conversely, 6% of Republicans also believe the Holocaust is a myth. While the majority of Americans do, in fact, believe the Holocaust was a real event, most who deny it are under the age of 30, according to the poll. Roughly 20% of people from ages 18 to 29 believe the Holocaust is a myth, while 36% in the same age group said Israel “exploits Holocaust victimhood,” YouGov found. Roughly 10% of all men deny the Holocaust took place, while only 4% of women thought the same, according to the poll. More Americans said antisemitism is a major problem in 2023 compared to 2019, although Democrats and Republicans disagreed on if boycotting Israel is antisemitic, according to the poll. Democrats and Republicans also reportedly disagreed over which demographic was most victimized by hate crimes. (Read more) - Precious Lord, the blindness in our country is grieving us daily. From pro-Palestinian protests to people who deny the Holocaust, we cannot comprehend the lack of knowledge. We pray that You will so whatever it takes to show these people the truth and reveal Your heart-changing Spirit. - “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)

Light in the Darkness

Light In Darkness by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2 “Why are there so many lights, Daddy?” Have you ever wondered the same thing at Christmastime, when you see hundreds of houses decked with colorful, twinkling lights? The question about the Christmas lights came on a dark December night from a four-year-old girl. Her father perceptively answered, “Because Jesus is the light of the world.” Before the Light of the World came to earth, the world was very dark. The Golden Age of Greek philosophy had passed, and an intellectual barrenness had covered the landscape of the mind. The faith in the Homeric gods had all but vanished completely, and skepticism had paled the souls of many. The moral structure of society had collapsed everywhere, and humanity had sunk deep into the mire of depravity and vice. When there was nothing but discouragement, disillusion, and despair—when everything was the bleakest and darkest and grimmest—Jesus came. By no mere coincidence does Christmas come in December. Christmas comes after the season when the dead leaves have flown across the ground with every gust of wind. Christ did not arrive in the time of blooming flowers and balmy breezes. Christ did not arrive in the time of fields ripe for harvest. He arrived when frost lay sheeted over the earth. He came in the midst of a bleak and dark December under a glittering star. This reminds us that Christ came for those who feel frostbitten by life. He came for those who are snowed under. He came for those overwhelmed by the cold realities of life. He came to soothe and rock and cradle and kiss and lullaby a cold, hurt, crying world. Christmas makes December beautiful and bright. Christ makes His birthday a time of joy, miracles, and light. Thank Him today for the Light He brought to the world at Christmastime and for the Light He brings daily to your life.

The One to Come

The One To Come by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up …” Matthew 11:4-5 Do you ever wonder whether Jesus is all He claimed to be? Whether He’ll fulfill all the promises He made to us? Well, even John the Baptist, the one sent to prepare Christ’s way, had his moments of doubt. And when we wonder if Jesus is really the One, the answer He gave John should suffice for any of us. John was very familiar with the prophet Isaiah, and he knew the ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah (Isaiah 29:18, 35:4-6). So when Jesus wanted to prove to John His true identity, He told John, in Isaiah’s words, how He had fulfilled prophecies. In the same way, when we have doubts, we can look to how Jesus fulfilled Biblical prophecy, proving that He is the Messiah. According to just a few of the 333 concrete prophecies in the Old Testament, the Messiah would: be Abraham’s descendant; be of the lineage of Judah and of David; be born in Bethlehem; be born of a virgin; come 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem; exercise a benevolent ministry; open the eyes of the blind, heal the lame, and cure the deaf; be betrayed by His friends; be sold for thirty pieces of silver which would be cast down for a potter’s field; give His body as a ransom for others; endure the piercing of His hands and His feet; die amid transgressors; lie in a rich man’s grave; and rise from the dead. And the list goes on. My friends, God has given us enormous evidence of Jesus’ identity as the Christ. We need have no question about the granite foundation upon which our faith rests. We may know that just as these prophecies of the Old Testament came to pass, so will the promises of the New Testament come to pass. We can trust in Jesus, come what may. The next time you find yourself doubting Jesus Christ, remember how He has fulfilled every promise He made. Then dwell on the truth that in the same way He’ll fulfill the promises He has made to you.

Born / Born Again

JESUS was born to die so we might be born again to eternal life.

The Sinless Savior

The Sinless Savior by Dr. D. James Kennedy “[Christ] committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth.” — 1 Peter 2:22 A man able to walk through this life yet never sin—doesn’t that seem an impossibility? Only one human has ever accomplished this feat: Jesus Christ. In our society, we raise up many as heroes, but upon closer inspection, we find they have feet of clay. Yet Jesus could say, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). Holy men and women confess their sins. They keep short accounts with God. As holy people grow closer to God, they recognize their own sinfulness more and more. One of the greatest Christians in the history of the Church, the apostle Paul, called himself “the chief of sinners.” Conversely, people guilty of heinous crimes often claim innocence. (Visit a prison, and you’ll be amazed at how many prisoners claim they’ve been falsely accused.) But Jesus Christ towers above all people, sinners and saints, in the perfection of His character. Through the centuries people have tried and failed to find any blemish in Jesus Christ’s flawless life. One time a Hindu Brahmin, alarmed at the spread of Christianity in India, set out to write a tract to expose Christ’s weaknesses. But the Brahmin abandoned this task because he could find no weak points or sins in Jesus. There aren’t any. Even skeptics have shown their respect for the Savior. Listen to what one of them, Ernest Renan of France, said about Christ: “Whatever may be the surprises of the future, Jesus will never be surpassed.” He is the perfect one. Today praise Jesus Christ for His sinlessness. Thank Him that because He lived a sinless life, you can live for eternity.

Danger of Birch Sugar to Dogs

'ATTENTION! We want everyone to know that xylitol is now being labeled as "Birch Sugar" This is a sweetener used in food. Most common beannt butter and candy. It is VERY toxic to dogs. Keep you your pups safe.'

The Joy of the Father

The Joy Of The Father by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, which was lost.” Luke 15:6 Have you ever had the thrilling experience of participating in something bigger than yourself, bigger than your town, bigger than your world? If you and I attend to it, we can have that privilege every day. How can we participate in such an exciting venture? By finding the Good Shepherd’s lost sheep and returning them to His fold. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who, upon losing one sheep, went out to search for it. The shepherd traveled everywhere looking for that lost sheep. He trudged high and low, far and wide. He peered down precipitous ravines. He traveled into the valleys of darkness where the wild beasts had their dens. Finally the shepherd found the sheep trapped in tangled briars, and after freeing the sheep, he joyfully placed it upon his shoulders and brought it home. When the shepherd returned to his home, he called together his neighbors and said to them, “I have found my sheep that was lost. Rejoice with me. Enter into my joy.” But could his neighbors really do it? Oh, they could come to the party that he provided and enjoy the delicious food he served, but could they rejoice with him? Perhaps they could if they had searched with him on the rain-swept, storm-driven moors. If they had dared to face the dangers of the wild animals and the cold night, if in those circumstances they had found the sheep, then they would have truly rejoiced with him. Christ’s joy is to find His lost sheep. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents and comes to Christ. And we experience that joy when we witness a lost sheep return to the Shepherd. Today, be on God’s search party, and reach out to a lost soul. If you live your life searching for lost sheep, caring for them, and feeding them, then you will one day hear the Good Shepherd say to you, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”

Self Examination

Self Examination by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 Did you like taking tests when you were in school? If you didn’t, you’re in good company. Most of us dreaded tests, unlike the blessed few with natural smarts and good study habits. I hate to say this, but today is test day. Are you ready? In today’s passage, Paul commands us to take a test—an open-book test comparing our lives with God’s Word. We must administer the test to ourselves, for this test is a self-examination, a test for Christ’s presence within us … a test with eternal consequences. When it comes to making moral and spiritual judgments, we’re often prone to examining everyone but ourselves. All of us have something of the critic within us, always willing to point the finger at others. The Corinthians had the same tendency. In fact, they were the hypercritics of the ancient world. They criticized Paul’s apostleship, and in reaction to their criticism, Paul urged them to examine the reality of their own faith. We still have Corinthians with us today. In fact, we so often are the Corinthians. How many of us have left church saying such things as “Well, what did you think of that sermon?” or “How did you like that preacher?” Sounds like Corinth, doesn’t it? But we shouldn’t judge God’s servants. Instead, we need to place ourselves at Christ’s feet and submit ourselves to the judgment of God’s Word. The Word of God explains that one day we shall give account of ourselves before Christ. On that day you won’t criticize your spouse, your parents, your neighbors, your church members, or your pastors. You’ll give an account of your own life. No other statements or input will be allowed. That’s a sobering thought. As hard as it is, take that test today. Use the psalmist’s prayer to aid in this process: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me. And lead me in the everlasting way.” Amen. Make sure your heart is right with God. Let’s get our own act together before we try to direct everyone else’s.

ATTEND CHURCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attend Church! It's not a suggestion in the WORD, it's an admonition. "Forsake not the assemblying of yourselves together." Hebrews 10;25

Beside Still Waters

Beside The Still Waters by Dr. D. James Kennedy “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2 What is the pace of your life these days? Do you feel as if you speed from one event to the next with barely enough time to catch your breath? Or do you regularly allow yourself time to rest and rejuvenate, to ponder life’s mysteries, to reconnect with God? These days, our lives run at almost terrifying speeds. With the advent of the automobile, then the airplane, and later the jet plane—not to mention the telephone, computer, and many other technological discoveries—life races along like a motion picture played at ten times its normal speed. Our mobility has offered us great opportunities, but it has also cost us dearly. One-third of Americans move every year. People change jobs frequently. Because of our pick-up-andmove mentality, we lack the roots our parents and grandparents once had. We pay for our busy ways in our relationships, and we pay for them physically as well. Stress takes a major toll on our bodies. Today, over one million people die each year from stress-related illnesses such as heart attacks, some forms of cancer, and a multitude of other diseases. Did you know that stress destroys the walls of your arteries? Once the walls begin to deteriorate, your body must respond. So what does it do? It lays down plaque inside the arteries. The plaque builds up until it finally blocks the arteries, and once that happens, you’re in for a stroke. All this talk about the effects of stress can add even more stress to our lives. But the Bible has a time-honored solution to all this. God’s Word calls us to stillness. In Psalm 23 David wrote that God leads us “beside the still waters.” In this hectic, frantic, busy, noisy world, we need to find a calm, quiet place to spend time alone with the Lord. Studies have shown that a regular time of prayer or meditation does, perhaps more than anything else, remove stress and its effects. God wants to lead you beside still waters today. Will you let Him take you there? I urge you drop your responsibilities at God’s feet, come away to a quiet place, and just be still and know that He is God.

Christmas, the Holy Day of the Holidays

Christmas, the Holy Day of the Holidays As we enter into Christmastime, I ask you to consider this: The word “holiday” comes from the term “holy day.” We have always recognized that there are certain transcendent things that call for us to set aside days to honor them. But sometimes even Christians can lose sight of the full nature of what happened at Christmas. The secular world competes to convince us that joy and love at Christmas are brought to fruition by just the right gift, or reuniting with loved ones, or the perfect feast on the table. While none of these are bad, let's remember that at Christmas we are celebrating the fact that Jesus took onto himself a fully human nature. He was born of a woman and set in a manger, not to whisk us away from here, but to reclaim, restore, and glorify His creation for us to dwell with Him eternally. Let the CHRIST of Christmas wash you clean from sin in HIS shed blood of Calvary.

Home for Christmas

Home For Christmas by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 Have you ever felt deeply homesick, wishing with all your heart to return to home and family? Well, as Christians, we are far away from our true home—Heaven—and we should feel “homesick” for it, anxiously waiting for the time that Christ will take us there. Advent is upon us, and this time of year is a little bit about feeling homesick for Heaven. At this time of year, we celebrate Christ’s first coming and eagerly anticipate His return to take us to our true home. Advent means “to come,” taken from the Latin “ad venio.” At the first Advent, Christ came with much humility. He laid aside His robes of glory and came to earth in a humble stable, in a manger, as a baby, seen only by a few people: the shepherds, the Magi, and His immediate family. But when Christ comes again, every eye will see Him. We wait fervently for that day when Christ will come in glory with all of His angels and ten thousand times ten thousand of His saints, to receive His own to Himself and to destroy all wickedness and evil forever. For Christians, Christ’s second coming brings the greatest excitement and joy. We lift our heads and pray the final prayer of the Bible: “‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). As Christmas works its annual enchantment around us and the songs of the kingdom float on the airwaves, the Christian longs for even more. “I’ll be home for Christmas” sounds so right. It sounds like belonging and peace. For a child of God, the most wonderful Christmas will not take place on this earth. Our climactic Christmas is the one we shall celebrate anew, home in Heaven … when we will forever be truly home for Christmas. Today dwell on that truth, and pray that the Lord will quickly come.

Aid to Hamas Must Stop

Aid to Hamas Must Stop by Bill Wilson The Democrats and the leftist world were livid when President Donald Trump announced August 24, 2018 that all aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) would be stopped. That meant that some $200 million per year that was stuffing the coffers of terrorists and terrorist sponsors would no longer be coming from the pockets of hard-working, law-abiding, peace-loving American taxpayers. One of the many reasons for cutting the funding was the “slay for pay” program where the PA incentivized martyrdom by paying pensions to families of dead terrorists. Another reason was that the money, while earmarked for humanitarian support, was allowing the purchase of military weapons used for terrorism. On August 24, 2018, the State Department said, “At the direction of President Trump, we have undertaken a review of U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer. As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million ... originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza…This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza’s citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation.” In other words, the funding was ended because the money was supporting terrorism rather than humanitarianism. Then came Biden. Since Biden took office, he has acted decisively to send millions to the “Palestinians” and billions to Iran, which funds all terrorist groups seeking the demise of Israel. On July 14, 2022, the White House announced its intention to support the “Palestinian” people with new contributions totaling $316 million. The announcement said, “This is on top of the more than half a billion dollars the United States has provided to the Palestinian people since the Biden Administration restored much needed funding to the Palestinians.” In March 2021 the Biden Administration gave $15 million to “vulnerable Palestinian communities to help fight COVID-19. A day later, it notified Congress that it will give the Palestinians $75 million for economic support, to be used in part to regain their “trust and goodwill” after the Trump-era cuts.” On September 11, the Biden Administration announced that it was “unfreezing” $6 BILLION to Iran in a deal to free four American prisoners. Less than a month later, Israel is attacked. The State Department says the money had nothing to do with the attacks. There was no such attack when Trump cut their funding. But with an influx of cash, which also signals political support, the terrorists were emboldened to unleash their barbarism. The Biden Administration wants to denounce terrorism and reward terrorism by sending it money in the name of humanitarian aid. Psalm 35:12, “They rewarded me evil for good to the bereavement of my soul.” They take our hard-earned money and give it to evildoers, who kill the innocents, enslave and do harm to their own people, and enrich themselves in the process. Aid paid to Hamas and the PA must stop. Sources: https://apnews.com/united-states-government-3149b034ef4a4b92a6dbb9c4aa1f5ca7 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/14/fact-sheet-the-united-states-palestinian-relationship/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-administration-is-quietly-ramping-up-aid-to-palestinians/ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-strikes-deal-iran-swap-prisoners-release-6-billion-frozen-funds

He's Alive --Music

Dolly Parton - He's Alive YOUTUBE.COM Dolly Parton - He's Alive

Grieving the Holy Spirit

Grieving the Holy Spirit by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a person? The Bible makes it very clear that the Holy Spirit is not just a force, like electricity. Rather, He is a person who knows, loves, speaks, leads, guides, intercedes, teaches, cries, testifies, and approves or disapproves of what we do. And when we love a person very much, we don’t want to do anything that will make him or her sad. In the same way, we need to know that we can grieve the Holy Spirit, just as we can grieve any other person whom we care about. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. When God calls us as Christians, He sends the Spirit to live inside us. This indwelling is called “being sealed” by the Holy Spirit. (John 6:27 tells us that Christ was also sealed by the Holy Spirit: “God the Father has set His seal on Him.”) Being sealed by the Holy Spirit brings us many blessings. It indicates that God has accepted us and that we’re precious in His sight. It testifies to a finished transaction: Jesus has paid for all our sins. It verifies our security: God has sealed our sins in a bag and buried them in the depths of the sea. It attests to ownership: We are His, and He is ours. It indicates authority: Anyone who tries to break the seal will incur God’s wrath. It verifies that we have a personal destiny: Heaven will be our home—the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption. Because the Spirit lives in us and loves us so much, how we live becomes much more than whether we obey certain laws. We must act in ways so as not to grieve Him. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not listen to His voice or seek His guidance, or when, having heard His guidance, we choose to disobey. Do you listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Do you willingly follow His directions? Or have you done something that would grieve Him? The Holy Spirit wants to guide you, to show you the way you should live your life. And He’ll forgive you when you confess going down your own sinful path. Ask Him to show you how you can live to please Him and bring Him joy, not grief, through your life.

H T Greeting

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!!!!!!

REMEMBER!

Remember WHO to thank the most on this wonderful holiday! JESUS loves you and died for you. Don't lose that truth in your turkey and mashed potatoes!

The Second Mile

The Second Mile by Dr. D. James Kennedy “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41 How do you deal with people who “do you dirty?” We all have people in our lives who stab us in the back, say cruel things about us, or do mean things to us. But the Bible has a secret, one we often overlook, for dealing with those who mistreat us. It’s the secret of “the second mile.” To understand it, we need a quick history lesson. The Medes and the Persians, and later the Romans, had a law that stated that a government official could, at any time, force a citizen to carry any burden for one mile. When Jesus told His followers to walk the second mile, he referred to this law. Jesus wanted people to return good for evil—to, out of their free will, go far beyond what others expected of them. Christ’s urging is like a timid flower within the Sermon on the Mount, but the fragrance it gives can transform your whole life and work wonders of reconciliation with those who anger you. People who fail in relationships and in business are often those who, when asked to go a mile, try to make it a half-mile. The mediocre people are those who go the one mile, doing what people expect of them but not an inch more. But when you look at a successful person, you’ll find someone who has gone the second and the third mile a thousand times over. A person who habitually does more than expected, who finds ways to please, will succeed. So how does this work? It’s simple. If someone does you wrong, you do them right. I’ll be the first to agree that this goes against human nature as does much of applied Christianity. But the second mile allows us to transform any slight or injury into a blessing, and it gives us a tool to knock down barriers in school, in business, in our marriages, and in our homes. See today if you can’t find some opportunity to go the second mile for someone in your life.

Many Parallels

Many Parallels by Bill Wilson Over the ages, there have been many parallels drawn between the United States and Israel. Close allies since the declaration of Israel as an independent state in 1948, America and Israel have shared economic, political and spiritual links. One of those commonalities dates back to the original Pilgrims who ventured across the Atlantic to escape persecution and claim a new land in the “Name of God” and “Advancement of the Christian Faith,” as is written in the Mayflower Compact. William Bradford, an author of the Compact and leader of the Pilgrims, alluded to being driven out of England “as the heathen historians asserted of Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt.” Indeed, the allusion to the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land was not lost on the Pilgrims as they prepared and eventually traveled from Leyden, the Netherlands, to the new America and the establishment of the Plymouth Colony in 1620. The parallels between the Israelite’s Exodus and the Pilgrims are significant. Bradford’s history of the Plymouth Colony, carefully written in great detail in his work, “Of Plymouth Plantation,” documents the persecution Separatists endured from both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England under King James. The Separatists were poor and heavy-labored to survive and “submitted to bondage” by not being allowed “to enjoy the ordinances of God in their purity, and the liberty of the gospel.” Thus, Bradford wrote, “they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.” Even so, King James would not grant the Separatists “religious freedom by his public authority, under his seal, [it] was found to be impossible.” They decided to move ahead and “trust to God’s providence for the outcome, as they had done in other things.” Bradford later wrote they “endeavored to establish the right worship of God and the discipline of Christ in the Church according to the simplicity of the gospel and without the mixture of men’s inventions, and to be ruled by the laws of God’s word.” Bradford compared the Pilgrims’ plight to the Israelites’ migration from Egypt to Canaan: “Our fathers were Englishmen who came over the great ocean and were ready to perish in the wilderness, but they cried to the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity….Yes, let them who have been redeemed of the Lord, show how He has delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered forth into the desert-wilderness, out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them (Psalm 107:1-6). Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness, and His wonderful works before the sons of men.” Indeed as Psalm 107:13 states, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.” Moreover, Bradford and his Mayflower colleague William Brewster are credited with bringing the Hebrew language to America. Some 400 books, many in Hebrew were in the hold of the Mayflower. Bradford was a student of Hebrew. Why? In his own words: “Though I am growne aged, yet I have had a longing desire to see with my own eyes, something of that most ancient language, and holy tongue, in which the law and Oracles of God were write; and in which God and angels spake to the holy patriarchs of old time; and what names were given to things from creation…” The Exodus from Europe to a new land; The wilderness of starvation and death; The deliverance by the hand of God; and The Thanksgiving “sukkot feast”—the first Thanksgiving. And the making of a new nation under God—the parallels of the Israelites and the Pilgrims.

Psalm Thirty-five (35)

(A Psalm of David.) Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? 11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26 et them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Sixty Years Ago Today in Dallas

Sixty Years Ago Today in Dallas On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was in the vehicle with his wife, Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally's wife, Nellie, when he was fatally shot from the nearby Texas School Book Depository by former U.S. Marine Lee Harvey Oswald. The motorcade rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the shooting; Connally was also wounded in the attack but recovered. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the presidency upon Kennedy's death. After the assassination, Oswald returned home to retrieve a pistol; he shot and killed lone Dallas policeman J. D. Tippit shortly afterwards. Around 70 minutes after Kennedy and Connally were shot, Oswald was apprehended by the Dallas Police Department and charged under Texas state law with the murders of Kennedy and Tippit. At 11:21 a.m. on November 24, 1963, as live television cameras covered Oswald's being moved through the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters, he was fatally shot by Dallas nightclub operator Jack Ruby. Like Kennedy, Oswald was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he soon died. Ruby was convicted of Oswald's murder, though the decision was overturned on appeal, and Ruby died in prison in 1967 while awaiting a new trial. After a 10-month investigation, the Warren Commission concluded that Oswald assassinated Kennedy, and that there was no evidence that either Oswald or Ruby was part of a conspiracy. Four years later, New Orleans DA Jim Garrison brought the only trial for Kennedy's murder, against businessman Clay Shaw; Shaw was acquitted. Subsequent federal investigations—such as the Rockefeller Commission and Church Committee—agreed with the Warren Commission's general findings. In its 1979 report, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) concluded that Kennedy was likely "assassinated as a result of a conspiracy". The HSCA did not identify possible conspirators, but concluded that there was "a high probability that two gunmen fired at [the] President". The HSCA's conclusions were largely based on a police Dictabelt recording later debunked by the U.S. Justice Department. Kennedy's assassination is still the subject of widespread debate and has spawned many conspiracy theories and alternative scenarios; polls have found that a majority of Americans believe there was a conspiracy. The assassination left a profound impact and was the first of four major assassinations during the 1960s in the United States, coming two years before the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, and five years before the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Kennedy's brother Robert in 1968. Kennedy was the fourth U.S. president to be assassinated and is the most recent to have died in office.

Thanksgiving Includes

Thanksgiving Includes a Love for America by Bill Wilson Thanksgiving is actually critical theme to a spiritual awakening in America. This part of our foundation is specifically Christian, and it is uniquely patriotic. No other nation in the world has a day set aside to give thanks to the God of the Bible for sparing and providing for those early pioneers. Let's make sure we include the reason for there being a Thanksgiving in our celebration. Let's make sure we give thanks not only for our own blessings, but let us give thanks to God for America and its Christian foundation. Too many people are accusing preachers of mixing Christianity and politics or patriotism. Those who understand how this nation was founded are jealous for her godly heritage. There is nothing wrong with a love for nation as long as it is grounded in a love for Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful to God for America, and let us pray that the Word of God may continue to have free course and be glorified in our nation. Let us pray also to be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men who do not have faith. America is still the greatest nation on the face of the earth and I am grateful for the many privileges and blessings of my citizenship. There are many enemies from within who want to take those privileges and blessings away from us. There are many who want to transform this nation into something God never ordained or intended. Thanksgiving is a great time of year to remember our roots and rejoice and give thanks for our nation and the many freedoms and blessings we still enjoy. (Charisma News) Read More - Abba, we lift our hands in PRAISE and THANKFULNESS for the inheritance we have in You through Christ! During this season of Thanksgiving, may we each be grateful for the love of Jesus, the power of Your holy Word and Your faithful covenant-promises to each of us, including Israel and America. Bring Your righteous re-alignment and revival BLESSINGS upon our Nation turning hearts towards You, our Sovereign Father in Heaven, during this time of Thanksgiving and forever! In the powerful and glorious Name of Yeshua-Amen - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" (Psalm 100:4)

Isaiah 42:13

"The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies." (Isaiah 42:13)

Consequences

Consequences by Bill Wilson In his book “Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel,” author and friend Bill Koenig draws the correlation that when the United States takes action to pressure Israel to divide her land major natural, economic or political disaster follows within 24-48 hours. He documents this phenomena over the last 30 years. It is irrefutable. When you consider what has happened in Israel in the Hamas attack and all the subsequent violence here in the US driven by hate for Jews and Israel, the actions of Joe Biden in trying to once again divide the land of Israel by restoring control of Gaza to the terrorist-backed Palestinian Authority may result in disastrous consequences. In an Op-Ed for the Washington Post, Biden renewed the call for a “two-state” solution as the only answer to resolve the issue between Israel and “Palestinians.” He wrote: “As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution.” Then Biden turned the table, pointing out that the US will not stand for violence against “Palestinians” in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) by Israeli settlers. He said, “I have been emphatic with Israel’s leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those committing the violence must be held accountable,” adding the United States will take its own steps against such “extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank.” The statement did not remotely mention that Israeli settlers have the right to defend themselves against the attacks of “Palestinians.” Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, vowing, “In Gaza, after the destruction of Hamas, and for a long time thereafter, there will not be a regime that encourages terror, that teaches terror, that funds terror — that also indoctrinates about the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews — this will not be.” The Palestinian Authority (PA) ran Gaza before Hamas took over. During that time (1994-2007), the PA oversaw ongoing missile attacks and instituted a “pay for slay” incentivizing terrorism against Israelis by providing pensions to terrorists killed in the act of killing Jews. This practice continues today as well as schools that educate children that Jews are pigs and encouraging those children to hate Jews and vow to destroy Israel. God tells Abram in Genesis 12:2-3, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall families of the earth be blessed.” And throughout history those who blessed Israel were blessed and those who cursed Israel were cursed. This promise is one that can be traced throughout not only the texts of the Bible, but also through the texts of historical accounts written by many across the ages. From the empire of Babylon to the Roman Empire to Nazi Germany, those who blessed Israel and its people were blessed and those who cursed them were cursed. There may be tough times ahead as Biden pursues his relentless policies supporting terrorists while giving lip service to Israel and its defense.

The Christian's Magic Wand

The Christian’s Magic Wand by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving …” Psalm 95:2 Have you ever wished for a magic wand that could change all the unpleasantness of life into something good? Wouldn’t you love a way to instantly sweep away all the trivial things that accumulate until they drag you down? I believe the Lord has offered us something similar to a magic wand. It can change our outlook on the circumstances surrounding us. What is it? Gratitude. When we feel grateful, our perspectives toward things change. We see our circumstances in a new, more positive light. And when we have grateful hearts, we want to express our gratitude outwardly through thanksgiving. This can work in reverse, too. If we give thanks even when we don’t feel very grateful, we often feel our attitudes change in a more grateful direction, just as if we passed a magic wand over ourselves. Thanksgiving transforms the secular or commonplace into the sacred. When we give thanks to God, suddenly we see God everywhere. We find ourselves living in an enchanted land, a land in the presence of our great Creator and Redeemer. With our spiritual eyes open, we can see that it is God who gives us everything, from our daily bread to the money we need. Our faith grows stronger as we express gratitude. All things become suffused with the divine presence. And as we recognize God’s blessings, our thankfulness gives us victory over temptation and sin. How can we commit adultery when we are grateful for our spouses? How can we steal when we are grateful for and content with what we have? How can we envy others’ talents and abilities when we feel thankful for the way God has made us? How can we grumble or complain when we’re thankful for God’s blessings? We should thank God, and we should also show gratitude for the ways others have blessed our lives. Everyone needs the kind of lift that gratitude brings. What are you grateful for today? Thank God for all the blessings He has given you, and see how it changes your perspective on life. And don’t forget to express thanks to someone who has enhanced your life. I hope that in your thanksgiving you’ll experience joy.

The Memory of the Heart

The Memory Of The Heart by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” Psalm 107:1 Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, and it’s the perfect time for evaluating how often we offer thanks to God. Thanksgiving is “the memory of the heart,” the way we show God that we know Who takes care of us every day of the year. How are you doing in the gratitude department? Have you counted your blessings lately and thanked God for each one? In Luke 17, we read of ten lepers whom Jesus healed. Despite this tremendous miracle in their lives, only one leper returned to thank Jesus. This story shows how even the most spiritual people often forget to thank God. We can see from the story that the lepers were praying men. They cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They asked the Lord to help them. The ten lepers were also obedient men. When Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest to prove that they were clean, they didn’t say, “We can’t go. Look at us. We have no fingers or toes. We need to talk about this.” Instead, they went immediately. Also they were believing men, otherwise they wouldn’t have obeyed Jesus’ command. Jesus hadn’t healed them yet, but they believed in Him enough to do whatever He said, knowing He would come through for them. Yet despite their obvious spirituality, only one of them returned to thank the Lord. Jesus was shocked by their ingratitude. When the one leper thanked Him, He didn’t say, “It was nothing. Forget it. You don’t have to thank me.” Instead, He said, “Where are the other nine? Were not ten lepers cleansed?” The lepers were praying men, obeying men, and believing men—but they weren’t thankful men. Their faith was incomplete because they didn’t praise God. Jesus healed them, but they didn’t receive the full blessing which the tenth leper received. After all, Jesus told him, “Your faith has made you whole.” There once was a man who praised God so much that people called him “Hallelujah Smith.” We should all strive to earn that same first name. The Bible says God works all things for our good. Therefore, in every situation, let us give thanks, especially on Thanksgiving. Today, think of something you haven’t thanked God for yet, then lift up a prayer of thanksgiving. And this year, make Thanksgiving a real “memory of the heart.”

Jeremiah 33:3

Call to ME and I will answer you and show you amazing things that you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV) 1 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2 “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 nor 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 fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments. 3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 6 “You shall not murder. 7 “You shall not commit adultery. 8 “You shall not steal. 9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

The Ten Commandments for Today

The Ten Commandments for Today by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law … Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” — Romans 3:28, 31 Have you noticed that the Ten Commandments seem to have fallen on hard times lately? This growing rejection of the Commandments comes from anti-Christian groups who want to remove them from public view and even from the churches that falsely teach that the Commandments don’t apply to us today because “we’re under grace.” But consider this. The Creator of the universe descended upon Mount Sinai and gave to us a reflection of His own nature, a revelation of His will: the Ten Commandments. The more I’ve studied them over the years, the more I’ve come to realize that they cover all things pertaining to the conduct of a person’s life and his or her relationships with others and with God. Contrary to what some churches and some cults teach, Christ did not render the Ten Commandments null and void when He died. No one could possibly void them. Jesus said that the one who loves Him keeps His commandments, not to gain Heaven but to show love for Him. The Law brings us death and damnation because we can never fulfill it except through Christ’s death on the cross. Only when we see our sinfulness, do we realize our need for forgiveness, and only then can we find salvation. After we’re cleansed by Christ’s blood, then the Law of God becomes a guide for the Christian’s life. Martin Luther gave us three pictures of the role of the Law in a Christian’s life: a hammer that smashes our self-righteousness, a mirror that shows us our uncleanness and guilt, and a whip that drives us to the Cross of Christ for redemption. Even though we’ve been saved, we still need the Law as a tool for our sanctification, to draw us nearer to Christ while we are still on this earth. Have you allowed the Ten Commandments their appropriate place in your life? Ask God to use them to draw you nearer to Him each day.

Grace

Grace by Dr. D. James Kennedy “… that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace …” Ephesians 2:7 The more I reflect upon it, the more convinced I am that we can encapsulate the whole essence of the Christian gospel in one single word—grace. What is this “amazing grace”? I have asked many people, and I have yet to meet an unconverted person who understands the concept. Only those who have experienced God’s grace know what it is, and yet many still don’t have words to describe it. Grace is beyond comprehension; it is, I am sure, the greatest thing in all the world. So, what is grace? Grace is not justice, because it is above fair. Grace is infinitely higher, more exalted, and more noble than fairness could ever be. Grace isn’t the same as love. Even though grace has love within it, not all love has grace in it. Is grace not the same as mercy? Now, we’re getting closer to the target. But grace still goes beyond extending love to someone who does not deserve it. Grace is totally unmerited favor given to those who deserve disfavor. Grace is receiving everything good when we deserve everything bad. We will never appreciate grace until we see our need for it … when we see ourselves as rebels against God, as breakers of His laws, as capable of all manner of evil … when we know that our hearts hold depravity … when we see ourselves as sinners in the deepest, darkest parts of our being. Then we will begin to appreciate the meaning of grace. When the God of all grace freely and willingly forgives and accepts us on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done, then we experience grace. And after experiencing it, we want to share it freely with others. If you were a beggar and found an endless supply of bread, wouldn’t you share it with your fellow beggars? That picture gives us just a small glimpse of what it’s like when we share God’s amazing grace with others. Can you share God’s grace with someone today?

The Sparkle iof the Soul

The Sparkle of the Soul “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous spirit.” — Psalm 51:12 Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to maintain eye contact with someone, especially someone you don’t know? Perhaps we find this so difficult because it feels so intimate. Some have said that the eye is the window of the soul, so perhaps when someone gazes into our eyes, we feel vulnerable, as if that person can see all our deepest secrets. And perhaps that’s why, when we fall into sin, we can’t maintain eye contact with others, fearing they can see the sin in our eyes. Sin clouds our souls, and we lose our inner sparkle. Now consider King David when he had been derelict in his duty. He had failed to go with his army into battle. In his idleness, he walked atop his palace and happened across Bathsheba as she was bathing. Enticed by her beauty, he lured her to the palace and committed adultery with her. In an attempt to cover his sin, he compounded it by having her husband murdered. David had now committed two grievous sins for which the Old Testament provided no forgiveness. The king was crushed by his sinfulness. For one year, all of the joy went out of him. All of the light left him. All of the sparkle disappeared from his soul and his eyes. The sweet singer of Israel sang nothing but doleful laments. He felt as though the very bones of his body were crushed under the weight of his guilt. No doubt about it, David was great in his sinning. But he was also great in his repenting, and for that reason Scripture calls him “a man after God’s own heart.” When God convicted David of his transgressions, David said, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” David wouldn’t let sinfulness keep him away from his Lord any longer. Are you a great repenter? Do you truly sorrow for your sins and turn from them as David did? I encourage you to confess and repent of anything that comes between you and God so that He may restore the sparkle to your soul and grant you the joy of your salvation.

Psalm Thirty-four (34)

Psalm Thirty-four (34) I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20 the protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Hamas Propaganda Arm

Associated Press (AP) was among the first to report that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken wants Israel to halt military operations against Hamas because “Far too many Palestinians have been killed.” AP was also among the first to send pictures of the Hamas-conducted holocaust against Israeli Jews on October 7. AP keeps repeating Hamas Health Ministry estimates that over 11,000 people in Gaza have been killed while over 1400 Israelis were killed on October 7, “mainly in the initial Hamas attack.” AP didn’t reveal that its reporters were with Hamas in that attack, nor does it report that the Health Ministry is a propaganda arm of Hamas. And its comparison of death tolls is not subtle. But it is outrageous. Here’s why. Honest Reporting, a media watchdog, blew the whistle on AP and Reuters for having embedded journalists with Hamas on October 7. Honest Reporting said, “On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel. Some of their atrocities were captured by Gaza-based photojournalists working for the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies whose early morning presence at the breached border area raises serious ethical questions.” It sure does as these so-called “journalists” were in plain clothes without outward press identification. They had to know in advance, but didn’t warn authorities of the attack. This means that these news organizations could well have supported, aided and abetted the atrocities of October 7. But it is much deeper. It’s long been the terrorists’ strategy to interweave their operations among civilian organizations and the news media so that when retaliation for their attacks commences, innocents are harmed or killed. Then, instead of terrorists being blamed, there is international outrage about how the poor “Palestinians” are being murdered by evil Israelis. The evil actions of the terrorists are then essentially justified. The media is complicit. On May 12, 2021, Israel flattened the building that housed AP, al Jazeera and other news reporting organizations in Gaza. On cue, the media started shaping the narrative that the terrible Israelis bombed the building causing journalists to run for their lives. AP’s story claimed total innocence of any knowledge that the building was used as a headquarters for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Journalists covering these terrorists cannot reasonably claim they didn’t know the terrorists plans—they are headquartered in the same building! That the media were sharing quarters with Hamas explains the anti-Israel news bias emanating from these news outlets. These terrorists are evil. They use children, women, journalists, whoever, to hide behind while they do their evil deeds. And when someone gets hurt, there is an international outcry while the terrorists get little criticism from the media. And when the media are caught, they say, “I didn’t know that.” Yes, they did. There is blood on their hands. These media should be blackballed and their credentials revoked. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” That includes the media, politicians who are complicit with them, and those demonstrating in the streets for Hamas.

Take Heed

Take Heed “And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness …’” — Luke 12:15 Have you ever wanted something so badly that you put yourself in too much debt? Or have you ever fudged a little on your taxes so you could squirrel away some money to buy something for yourself? Think for a moment: What desire fuels these actions? Could it be covetousness? Jesus says, “Beware of covetousness,” which is defined as an “inordinate desire to have something.” It’s an easy sin to hide, but it’s sin just the same. The Pharisees put on an outward show of righteousness, yet Christ saw their hearts when he called them “whited sepulchers [graves].” Though outwardly respectable, they were inwardly full of dead men’s bones because of their covetousness. God requires a total transformation of what, to the fallen world, seems so natural that it never even comes under question. Thousands of books will tell you how you can obtain the things of this world. But the authors and readers of these books set their affections on things, and never question whether their lives are misdirected. At this point you may be wondering, “If God commands us not to covet things, can I not desire anything or have any ambition?” Let me give you a word picture that might help you answer that question. Abraham Kuyper compares our lives to a magnificent sailing vessel. He says a ship may have beautiful masts and billowing sails filled with ocean breezes. Its banners may flutter in the wind, and its hull may be loaded with all manner of wonderful cargo. Yet the entire destiny of that ship rests on something tiny and unseen: the rudder. That small rudder, beneath the surface of the ocean, determines whether that great ship ends up resting peacefully in the harbor or lying scattered among rocks on some barren shore. The same is true of our lives. We may have tremendous ambitions and the power to make them realities. Our lives may be laden with treasures, talents, and successes. Yet the final destination of our lives, whether in the glorious harbor of Heaven or scattered among the rocks of Hell, is determined by an unseen rudder—our motives—that turns us toward ourselves or toward God. When we do everything solely for God’s glory, it does not matter how rich or accomplished we are. We can be fulfilled and obedient with much or with little. Today, assess the direction of your rudder. Are your aspirations pointing you toward the harbor or toward the rocks? Remember Christ’s admonishment—“Beware of covetousness”— and pursue possessions and ambitions only when they draw you in His direction.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

“Wars and rumors of wars” Thousands of residents in Iceland have been urged to evacuate as authorities anticipate the imminent eruption of a volcano on its southwestern peninsula. Roads have already been damaged as a result of around nine hundred earthquakes in the area; toxic fumes are a threat as well. Meanwhile, the United Nations now estimates that the global drug problem affects approximately 275 million people. Here’s one frightening dimension: the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a rapidly growing practice it calls “polysubstance use.” Over the last three years, studies of people addicted to opioids have consistently shown that 70 to 80 percent also take other illicit substances. “It’s no longer an opioid epidemic,” according to one health expert. “This is an addiction crisis.” Then there’s Ukraine, whose counteroffensive against Russia is going so poorly that authorities are considering dismissing three commanders of the armed forces. And China: Xi Jinping is meeting with President Biden today amidst rising tensions between the world’s two superpowers over Iran, Israel, Taiwan, export controls, and economic challenges. A recent study concluded that the number, intensity, and length of conflicts worldwide is at its highest level since before the end of the Cold War. Remembering Jesus’ reference to “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), it’s not hard to wonder how much longer the world can continue like this.

The Height of Stupidity

The Height of Stupidity by Bill Wilson On November 8, the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists shot down a $30 million MQ-9 Reaper US drone over international waters, the third such drone that the Houthi terrorists have downed since 2019. The Houthis, also known as “Ansarallah,” came to power in Yemen during the Obama-supported Arab Spring uprisings that destabilized much of the Middle East in favor of terrorist-supporting governments. The Houthi slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory for Islam. Under the Trump Administration, the Houthis were designated as a terrorist organization. One of Joe Biden’s first acts was to revoke the terrorist designation and redesignate the Houthis as a humanitarian organization. Biden’s Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in February 2021 that the decision “is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen,” and “The revocations are intended to ensure that relevant U.S. policies do not impede assistance to those already suffering what has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” Blinken also stated: “The United States remains clear-eyed about Ansarallah’s malign actions, and aggression, including taking control of large areas of Yemen by force, attacking U.S. partners in the Gulf, kidnapping and torturing citizens of the United States and many of our allies, diverting humanitarian aid, brutally repressing Yemenis in areas they control, and the deadly attack on December 30, 2020 in Aden against the cabinet of the legitimate government of Yemen.” Even so, Biden sent money to the Houthi, believing it to reach the needy. The Houthi are not Samaritan’s Purse or the Red Cross. The terrorist Houthi oversee the famine, starvation and disease faced by over 80 percent of Yemen’s population. The Houthi are known for taking humanitarian aid and diverting it to salaries of their terrorist minions and the supplying of terrorist activities that the Secretary of State admits is “brutally repressing Yemenis in areas they control.” What? In other words, America and the United Nations funnel money through the Houthi hoping they will use it to feed and clothe people all the while knowing that the Houthi are going to enrich themselves while they continue their rape, torture, and pillage of the poor people in Yemen. Human Rights Watch, in a September 2020 statement, said the Houthis have a "particularly egregious record of obstructing aid agencies from reaching civilians in need.” Sounds a lot like Hamas, right? Saying you are against terrorists and all their despicable acts on one hand, and clearing the way for them to receive billions of dollars in humanitarian aid on the other hand is worse than hypocritical. The Biden Administration, along with much of the rest of the world, wants to denounce terrorism when it first commits its atrocities, demand no defense against it, and then reward terrorism by sending it money in the name of humanitarian aid. It’s kind of like Psalm 35:12, “They rewarded me evil for good to the bereavement of my soul.” They take our hard-earned money and give it to evildoers, who kill the innocents, enslave and do harm to their own people, and enrich themselves in the process. Trying to characterize terrorists like the Houthi, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and other Iran-backed groups as humanitarians is, say it with me, "The height of stupidity."

Taking the Fear Out of Death

Taking the Fear Out of Death by Dr. D. James Kennedy “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 Have you ever considered the great contrast between how the unbeliever faces death and how the Christian does? Read these last words of several unbelievers, and contrast them with those of Christians. Mirabeau, unbeliever: “Give me laudanum [a narcotic painkiller used in past centuries] that I may not think of eternity.” David Brainerd, missionary: “I am going into eternity, and it is sweet to me to think of eternity.” Voltaire, caustic unbeliever: “I am abandoned by God and man! I shall go to hell!” William Pitt, British statesman and Christian: “I throw myself on the mercy of God through the merits of Jesus Christ.” William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate: “Death is not to be discussed in my presence.” (Though he could forbid the discussion, he could not forbid the reality.) Michelangelo, Christian artist: “I die in the faith of Jesus Christ, and in the firm hope of a better life.” Talleyrand, leader during the French Revolution: “I am suffering the pangs of the damned.” Dwight L. Moody, evangelist: “Earth is receding, and heaven is opening, and this is my coronation day.” Why does the Christian not fear death? Because Jesus says that we who believe in Him should live, even though we die. Through Him, we can have the assurance that we shall join Him forever in Paradise after we leave this earth. He tasted death for us so that we don’t have to. Will you pray with me today for the world to know Jesus Christ? Will you do your part to share the Good News with those around you? No one need fear death. Let’s spread the wealth of truth that is eternal life in Heaven.

Psalm Thirty-three (33)

Psalm Thirty-three (33) Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a]; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Possessing the Covenant and Your Faith

Possessing the Covenant and Your Faith by Bill Wilson It is an appalling scene these days witnessing the atrocities against Israeli Jews and the reaction of demonstrations, killings and hostilities acted out against Jews around the world. From Turkey to Iran to Saudi Arabia and all their vassal states, the message is of “Free Palestine” where the Jewish people will be eliminated from the earth and a Palestinian state will be established with Jerusalem as its capitol. How can people fall in line with such unthinkable evils? As Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We are tested of justice and faith. The feud over the land has its roots in the schism between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. And it will be decided once and for all upon the return of Christ. Abraham had received two promises from God, both mentioned five times—the first being the covenant of the land, God told Abraham that all the land of Canaan would be his in Genesis 12:7; 13:14-17;15:7; 15:18-21; 17:7-8. The second promise was that his descendants would be numerous, also stated five times in Genesis 12:2; 13:16; 15:5 17:4-5; 23:17. These promises were given to Abraham and his descendants as an “everlasting possession.” However, Abraham owned no land until he buys the cave at Makhpelah upon Sarah’s death, and has only one son, Isaac (Ishmael not being the bearer of the covenant). These two events are significant in that Abraham has to undergo an intense bargaining process to buy a small piece of land (the haggling is still going on to this day). Yet, Abraham is persistent in wanting to own the land outright. It is the only part of the Promised Land that He would possess in his lifetime, yet he trusted God, “For he was looking forward to a city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).” Abraham is the consummate example of faith— “Trusting/faith is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).” By the time Moses led the Israelites to the promised land, Canaan, the land God covenanted to the descendants of Abraham, was occupied, at least in part, by the descendants of Noah’s son Ham as well as Ishmael and Esau. Point is, the God-given land to the Israelites had to be possessed, something that didn’t happen in Abraham’s lifetime. Abraham, however, had faith that God was true to his word. Fast forward to today. The land’s possession is under constant challenge. It is so because the Israelites historically have been unable to keep the precepts of God in order to maintain possession of the land in its fullness (Deuteronomy 28). The world and faith are warring factions. The covenant land and faith. In our lives, we also have the covenant of Christ’s promise of salvation justified by faith. Let us put aside the hindrances of the world that may prevent the full possession of the promise!

House Committee Subponeas Biden's Brother, Son, etc.

House Committee Subpoenas Joe Biden's Brother, Son - PJ Media In a move that was once unthinkable but is now par for the course in the banana republic formerly known as the United States, the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to President Joe Biden's immediate family members. "House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued subpoenas to President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, brother, James Biden, and Biden family associate, Rob Walker, to appear for depositions," the committee announced in a press release on Wednesday. "Chairman Comer also requested additional members of the Biden family and their associates appear for transcribed interviews. Chairman Comer plans to send additional subpoenas and transcribed interview requests later this week." According to the Oversight Committee's Twitter/X account, those additional subpoenas will go to: Sara Jones Biden (wife of Joe Biden's brother, James) Hallie Biden (widow of Joe Biden's deceased son, Beau, and erstwhile slam-piece of Hunter Biden) Elizabeth Secundy (Hallie Biden's older sister, also erstwhile slam-piece of Hunter Biden) Melissa Cohen (wife and current slam-piece of Hunter Biden) Tony Bobulinski (Hunter Biden's former business partner) Recognizing the Historic! nature of the move, the committee commemorated the occasion by posting video online of Comer signing the subpoenas. I am embedding it here so you can enjoy it as much as I did: “The House Oversight Committee has followed the money and built a record of evidence revealing how Joe Biden knew, was involved, and benefited from his family’s influence peddling schemes," Comer is quoted as saying in the press release. "Now, the House Oversight Committee is going to bring in members of the Biden family and their associates to question them on this record of evidence. Unlike the many lies Joe Biden told the American people about his family’s business schemes, bank records don’t lie. These records reveal how the Bidens sold Joe Biden around to the world to benefit the Biden family, including Joe Biden himself, to the detriment of U.S. interests. The House Oversight Committee, along with the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, will continue to follow the facts and deliver the transparency and accountability that the American people demand and deserve.” The statement alleges that the crooked clan covered up over $24 million through its convoluted network of shell companies over a period of five years, "including millions of dollars from China, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Kazakhstan." - We pray justice will be done for all the corruption perpetrated by the Biden family. - "I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” (Ecclesiastes 3.17)

Fentenyl in Voter Envelopes

Fentanyl in Voter Envelopes Election Offices Across U.S. Receive ‘White Powder’ in Voter Envelopes from ANTIFA that Tests Positive for Fentanyl Election offices across the United States, including a key battleground state, have been targeted with suspicious letters containing white powder, some of which have tested positive for fentanyl. The incidents have led to the evacuation of several election offices, causing delays in ballot counting. The letters, which have been sent to election offices in Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington, have been reportedly “intercepted” in some instances before reaching their destinations. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service have confirmed that four of these letters contained fentanyl. Four county election offices in Washington State were evacuated on Tuesday after workers received envelopes containing a mysterious white powder, the Seattle Times reported. Alarmingly, tests revealed that the substance in two of these offices was fentanyl. The incident occurred as election workers were processing ballots. The affected counties include King, Skagit, Spokane, and Pierce. The Pierce County auditor’s office in Tacoma, Washington, was one of the first to report receiving such an envelope postmarked in Portland, Oregon. The letter accompanying the powder carried a disturbing message: “End elections now. Stop giving power to the right that they don’t have. We are in charge now and there is no more need for them.” The letter added, “Also be aware your ballot drops are very susceptible to noxious chemicals like am/bl, they are unsafe to the public just saying.” The letters have featured symbols associated with ANTIFA, a progress pride flag, and a pentagram. (Gateway Pundit) Read more here. - In the name of Jesus, we bind any efforts to try to harm or seriously injure, any government official and we break its powers, now, in the mighty name of Jesus. We plead the blood of Jesus over our election offices, and this coming up election in 2024, that no harm or evil can have its way in Jesus name amen. - “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

Iranian President Calls to Eliminate Jewish State

Iranian president calls to eliminate the Jewish state Ebrahim Raisi called for Israel to be replaced by a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called on Saturday for the creation of a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea,” a genocidal rallying cry necessitating the destruction of Israel. The Jewish state is bordered by the Jordan River to the East and the Mediterranean Sea to the West. Raisi made the threat in Saudi Arabia at a joint meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss Israel’s war with the Hamas terror group. “The only solution for this conflict is the resistance continuing against the Israeli oppression until the establishment of the Palestinian state from the river to the sea,” said the Iranian leader. Raisi also called for the West to sanction and boycott the Jewish state, for charges to be leveled against Israel and the United States at the International Criminal Court and for inspections of the Jewish state’s nuclear facilities. Raisi then met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who said his kingdom “holds the occupation [Israeli] authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people. “We are certain that the only way to guarantee security, peace and stability in the region is to end the occupation, siege and the settlements,” added Prince Mohammed. - Father God, we continue to come against any plans of any enemy to destroy the nation of Israel. We trust Your Word to be true, and we thank You that You do promise to rescue Your people and to destroy their enemies. In Your Name, amen. - "All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." (Psalm 119:160)