Beware!

Sandra DiNello

2 mins ·

Today in History

Today in History
1945
Adolf Hitler Commits Suicide

On this day in 1945, holed up in a bunker under his headquarters in Berlin, Adolf Hitler committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head.

Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler’s dreams of a “1,000-year” Reich.

Since at least 1943, it was becoming increasingly clear that Germany would fold under the pressure of the Allied forces. In February of that year, the German 6th Army, lured deep into the Soviet Union, was annihilated at the Battle of Stalingrad, and German hopes for a sustained offensive on both fronts evaporated.

Then, in June 1944, the Western Allied armies landed at Normandy, France, and began systematically to push the Germans back toward Berlin.

By July 1944, several German military commanders acknowledged their imminent defeat and plotted to remove Hitler from power so as to negotiate a more favorable peace. Their attempts to assassinate Hitler failed, however, and in his reprisals, Hitler executed over 4,000 fellow countrymen.

In January 1945, facing a siege of Berlin by the Soviets, Hitler withdrew to his bunker to live out his final days. Located 55 feet under the chancellery, the shelter contained 18 rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply.

Though he was growing increasingly mad, Hitler continued to give orders and meet with such close subordinates as Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler and Josef Goebbels. He also married his long-time mistress Eva Braun just two days before his suicide.

In his last will and testament, Hitler appointed Admiral Karl Donitz as head of state and Goebbels as chancellor. He then retired to his private quarters with Braun, where he and Braun poisoned themselves and their dogs, before Hitler then also shot himself with his service pistol.

Hitler and Braun’s bodies were hastily cremated in the chancellery garden, as Soviet forces closed in on the building. When the Soviets reached the chancellery, they removed Hitler’s ashes, continually changing their location so as to prevent Hitler devotees from creating a memorial at his final resting place. Only eight days later, on May 8, 1945, the German forces issued an unconditional surrender, leaving Germany to be carved up by the four Allied powers.

The Ultimate Performance Review

The Ultimate Performance Review
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman
April 30, 2019

"If what he has built endures, he will receive his reward" (1 Corinthians 3:14).

Have you ever had a job performance review? If you are in the workplace, you will likely have had at least one. Employers want to see if you have done what was expected of you and whether you have done it in the prescribed way that has produced results. If you do well, you will be affirmed and may even get a pay raise. If you fail to live up to expectations, you could even be fired.

The Bible has its own performance review. It is called the Judgment Seat, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The generation that came out of Egypt with Moses is going to have a bad day at the Judgment Seat because we already know God's view on the matter. "That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways'" (Hebrews 3:10).

The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is death (Proverbs 14:12). There is a way that God wants you and me to operate on the earth. He has given us His Word - our instruction manual - in order to know His way of doing things.

How well do you know the instruction manual?

Have you read only a few parts here and there?

Are you well versed on the intricacies of His ways so that you will be able to have a glorious "performance review" when the time comes?

Take time every day to get your instructions for His ways of living your life. Your reward will be great.

DOES IT MATTER?

DOES IT MATTER?

About this website

msn.com

Does It Really Matter What Kind Of Eggs You Buy?

Short version: It does. Here's why.

Prayer for Truth, Unity, Protection

Prayer for Truth, Unity, Protection

“Father, my prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus prayed this prayer to his Father, interceding for his disciples and for all believers. This prayer is filled with compassion, revealing Christ’s mission for himself and his followers.

Does he ask that we may never face hardships? No, he asks that we may persevere. It’s a prayer for unity among believers so that others will believe. It’s a prayer of deep love, asking that all people may grow to believe in him.

Reflecting on this prayer of Jesus, we can see that as believers we have a mission—and we will accomplish it only by remaining in him who is the vine (John 15:5).

The Bible’s message is designed to draw us into relationship with our Creator, who has revealed himself in his Son, Jesus Christ, and by his Holy Spirit.

It is appropriate that we close this thought with the following prayer: “May God’s Son Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God and gives gifts to humanity, sanctify us in the truth, lead to the truth those who err, silence the mouths of those who lay false accusations against sound teaching, and equip faithful ministers of God’s Word with a spirit of wisdom and discretion, that all they say may be to the glory of God and the building up of their hearers. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.”

Following Jesus’ example, let’s be faithful in prayer.
May we love as God loves.
May we share his good news everywhere.

May the true and living God guide us in truth so that we may walk with him now and forever. Amen.

Not a Good Idea

Eric Millians

Thoughts on Today's Verse

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:19

Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware

Paul gives the Philippians this promise only after he has emphasized to them that he had found the Lord's grace sufficient in good times and tough times, in times of plenty and in times of lack. The key to this promise is not just God's provision, but also our trust upon him to satisfy what we most need in Christ Jesus. When our hearts yearn to be full of him, to be pleasing to him, to be blessed by his presence, to be given the assurance of life beyond death, surely we can rely on his supplying everything we truly need!

My Prayer...

Give me eyes to see, O God, all the many wonderful ways you are providing for me and graciously providing the abundance you have poured into my life. I confess that my vision is shortsighted and narrow. I need to see the panoramic view of your graciousness. Yet the "little" part of your blessings that I am able to recognize is lavish, gracious, and fulfilling. I know you have blessed me with many more things that I do not see. Thank you for being so generous! In Jesus' name! Amen.

Good Morning, Friends

We awake every morning to the glory of our precious, holy Savior and God. May we not become blinded to the beauty, the wonder He has placed before us by our complacency, our inability to see the beauty in the common-place.

Each step we take, each breath we breathe, each sight we behold is a testament to HIS goodness, to the majesty HE has given us as our daily portion.

Rejoice in HIM, for the "JOY of the LORD is your strength."
Trust in HIM, for "HIS PEACE passes understanding."
Believe in HIM, for "FAITH moves mountains."
Love HIM, for HIS "LOVE NEVER FAILS."

God bless you as you look with fresh eyes upon the wonders of HIS handiwork.

Enemies of the People

Enemies of the People by Bill Wilson

The White House Correspondents Dinner is usually an upscale roast of the president in tongue-in-cheek manner. This year's dinner was different. The White House Correspondents Association President Oliver Knox (Sirius XM) told a story about how his son asked him if Donald Trump was going to put him in prison. He was using his son to illustrate his point that during the Trump Administration, journalists are under threat of personal harm. Knox said that he has had death threats and decried that fake news and being called enemies of the people are not punch lines, but rather assaults on the "men and women whose hard work makes it possible to hold the powerful to account." Once again, these guys are leaving out details.

Those covering the White House are still sore about Trump tweeting on March 26, "The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE. For two years they pushed the Russian Collusion Delusion when they always knew there was No Collusion. They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!" The media may be really angry with Trump over the tweet, but the truth of the matter reflects that the mainstream media actually did foment a false narrative about the President colluding with the Russians. They continue to do so. There were so many false stories over the last two years that it is difficult to count them. This is not counting other falsehoods.

For example, the coverage of the Charlottesville, VA, riots in 2017 is still rearing its ugly head as Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is using a false quote from CNN to condemn the president as a neo-Nazi supporter. CNN's Chris Cuomo deceptively edited Trump's remarks to give the impression that the President said there were "very fine people on both sides" of the protest in support of the white supremacists. Trump actually condemned the neo-Nazis and in explaining that many people were present to protest the taking down of Robert E Lee's statue and renaming the park, he said, "You had some very bad people in that group (neo-Nazis). But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides." CNN finally admitted Friday that Trump didn't refer to neo-Nazis as very fine people, but the damage has been ongoing for nearly two years.

There are countless examples of how the media has twisted facts or lied in their efforts to hammer Trump. Yet the president of the White House Correspondents Association is crying about assaults on the people who are "holding the powerful to account." This type of accountability is nothing less than coup-making propaganda. The media is not the victim, but the perpetrator. They are the thugs of deception because they not only deceive with their false news, but they also bully people who disagree with them. They are like the scribes that Christ referred to in Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness."

Quote from Beth Moore

"JESUS WILL ONLY PROVE THE SURER AS OUR IDOLS FAIL US." Beth Moore

Friendship with God

Friendship with God by Rick Warren

“Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises” (Psalm 25:14).

If you want to build a deep relationship with God, you have to slow down and be quiet.

Friendship with God is like any other friendship—you have to make time for it. If you don’t make time for your human friends, they’re not your friends. You make time for your friends. And if God is going to be your best friend, you’ve got to give your best time to him.

The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

You need to have a daily quiet time with God. You have to be still so that you can know him better.

Psalm 25:14 says, “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises."
.
Many people don’t know God. They haven’t experienced God’s love. They don’t know why he does what he does. Yet, the Bible says that friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him—in other words, those who slow down and spend time with him.

What would a friendship be if you never invested your time in it? Friendships need attention. You will never know God intimately if all you do is come to church services. You’ve got to read God’s Word and ask him, “God, is there anything you want to say to me?” You don’t have to use any fancy phrases or words. Just talk to him authentically. And then listen!

The Bible says it like this in Matthew 6:5-6: “When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production . . . Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace” (Matthew 6:5-6).

Think about the following as you contemplate spending time with God:

What are the distractions that keep you from being still before God?

How can you limit those distractions?

Why is it sometimes easier or more enjoyable to spend time with our friends than with God?

What do we misunderstand about God when we feel this way?

We sometimes over-complicate our quiet time with God.

What kind of things can you do to slow down, be quiet, and spend time with God simply and honestly?

Slow down today, focus on God, and listen as he speaks to you.

“When Time Permits”

“When Time Permits” by Dr. D. James Kennedy

“After several days, when Felix arrived…he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ…Felix was afraid and answered, ‘For now, leave! When time permits, I will send for you.’” Acts 24:24-25

How true it is that has been said, “Of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: "It might have been.” We all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. But why? Because of procrastination. Procrastination is what keeps good intentions from materializing into good works.

If procrastination is harmful in the exercise of our responsibilities of this life, it is most deadly and fatal when it comes to our eternal salvation. We see a spiritual procrastinator in the example of Felix, a Roman leader.

Now Felix was a despicable character, far lower than the average Roman governor. He was indeed, the Roman historian Tacitus tells us, “a man of lust and cruelty;” who “exercised the office of a king with the spirit of a slave.”

In Acts 24, this man, who did not hesitate to get involved in the most immoral kinds of activities, was now listening to Paul preach. As he talked about these things, Felix began to tremble because his sins were crying out against him and his conscience was calling for relief. At this point, he should have repented, but he was a procrastinator who perhaps was reluctant to give up the 'pleasure' of his sins. 

So he said, “For now, leave! When time permits, I will send for you” (Acts 24:25). 

He would take care of it another day. To our knowledge he never did. How tragic.

He provides a great example of what not to do.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our spiritual procrastination. Give us strength for today to share the Gospel with those You have put in our path. Help us not to be like Felix or anyone else who would postpone such important news.

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE WILL HEED HIS VOICE TODAY.

Can a City Be Transformed?

Can a City Be Transformed?
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman
April 29, 2019

"All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord," (Acts 9:35).

Can an entire city be transformed for Jesus Christ?

The book of Acts reveals that at least one city was. There are four key ingredients required among its Christian leaders to see a city transformed. These include prayer, humility, unity, and knowledge of God's ways.

Prayer
In every city in which transformation has taken place, believers have come together to pray for their city. Prayer changes the spiritual climate of a city. Some of the main areas of influence that must be the focus of our prayers include churches and businesses; the legal, political, educational and medical fields; and the media/entertainment industry. Leaders in the workplace, the marketplace, the home, and the church must be strategically aligned with intercessors to impact their city.

Humility
God uses men and women who recognize that they need each other and who do not seek glory for their work. "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way" (Psalm 25:9). The leaders that God can use today care little about being in the limelight.

Unity
Jesus said, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, but our independence, pride and egos often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ. May He help us to overcome this proclivity so we can be effectively used by Him to accomplish His purposes in our cities and in our nation.

Knowledge of God's Ways
Sometimes leaders can move in presumption instead of in a faith that is rooted in knowledge of God's ways. Such was the case of David, who wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem. He was zealous for God and celebrated as he brought the Ark into the city. However, the ark was being carried into the city on a cart instead of by priests on poles, as God required. When a man named Uzzah reached out to catch the Ark when the oxen stumbled, he was immediately struck dead by God. David was devastated. He lacked a knowledge of God's ways. We must know God before we can serve God effectively.

Do you want to see your city transformed? Do you want to see your nation transformed? Make sure the ingredients of prayer, humility, unity and knowledge of God's ways exist in you and in those with whom you unite in prayer.

Today in History

Today in History
2004
World War II Monument Opens in Washington, D.C.

On April 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial opened in Washington, D.C., to thousands of visitors, providing overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in the war.

The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west.

The granite and bronze monument features fountains between arches symbolizing hostilities in Europe and the Far East. The arches are flanked by semicircles of pillars, one each for the states, territories and the District of Columbia. Beyond the pool is a curved wall of 4,000 gold stars, one for every 100 Americans killed in the war.

An Announcement Stone proclaims that the memorial honors those “Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.”

Though the federal government donated $16 million to the memorial fund, it took more than $164 million in private donations to get it built. Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in the war, and actor Tom Hanks were among its most vocal supporters.

Only a fraction of the 16 million Americans who served in the war would ever see it. Four million World War II veterans were living at the time, with more than 1,100 dying every day, according to government records.

The memorial was inspired by Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, who served under Gen. George S. Patton. At a fish fry near Toledo in February 1987, he asked U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur why there was no memorial on the Mall to honor World War II veterans.

Rep. Kaptur soon introduced legislation to build one, starting a process that would stumble through 17 years of legislative, legal and artistic entanglements. Durbin died of pancreatic cancer in 2000.

The monument was formally dedicated May 29, 2004, by U.S. President George W. Bush. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It received some 4.4 million visitors in 2005.