November 4
You who are weary and down-trodden; you who feel like the portals of Heaven are sealed shut and the Holy One cannot hear you when you cry unto Him; you who are in the throes of despair because your prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling and fly mockingly back in your face, please know the God who has promised is with you and He is faithful.
Jesus loves you and HE is there for you. Just as He was with Daniel in the lions' den; (see Daniel 6:16-24) just as He was with Jonah in the belly of the whale; (see Book of Jonah, 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 16:4, Luke 11 29, 30); just as He was with Joseph when he was sold into slavery (Genesis 37); and then thrown unjustly into prison (see Genesis 39); just as He was with the people of Israel when they wandered through the desert for 40 years (see Book of Exodus); just as He was with Meriam Abrahim when she was imprisoned in Sudan and scheduled for execution--just as He has been with countless numbers of His people through the centuries--HE IS THERE WITH YOU. Just as He delivered each of them at His perfect time, so will He deliver you.
Don't allow your life or your expectations to be defined by the people around you who disappoint you or persecute you; don't allow your life to be relegated to a pit of despair where those cruel, godless people would leave you to wallow in hopeless misery. NO! Allow your life to be defined by the WORD of God which promises, "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold," Job 23:10.
Though you weep before Him as the prophet, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, and You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble?” Habakkuk 1:2, 3.
Even then shall He say to you, “But the promise awaits an appointed time; it speaks and will not prove false. Though it tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come,” Habakkuk 2:3
The prophet was weary of the wickedness he saw in the land; He wondered why the God of all the earth would not move against it. He was assured that HE WOULD MOVE IN THE BEHALF OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. He will move in your behalf, too .
Though He tarry, wait for Him, for He (His help) will surely come.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Rescue Your People
November 3
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:2-3.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10.
“I, even I, am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, or of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy And where is the wrath of the oppressor?” Isaiah 51:12,13.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know,” Jeremiah 33:3.
The first of the four passages above identifies a truth—there will be times when we as believers in Christ shall pass through deep waters and there will be times when life’s trials scorch the person of faith to the point that he feels the flames of his dilemma singe upon him mercilessly, but he is assured that whether he goes through the deep waters of adversity or is stung by the scorching flames of trial, the Holy One of Israel, his Savior, will be with him.
The second of the four passages encourages the believer that because the Holy One is with him, the believer should not be dismayed. The believer must recognize that in spite of the swollen waters of oppression or the hissing flames of adversity, he shall be upheld by a mighty hand; the believer shall not fall.
Beyond simply being attended through the challenges of life by the One who has promised, “I will never fail you nor forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5, the Lord also promises to comfort the believer at the time of his affliction. The man of faith is reminded that his oppressor is like “the grass that withers away,” Isaiah 40:8, so his vitriol and his ranting should not be feared. The believer must remember the One who stretched forth the heaven and established the earth, before Whom the wrath of the oppressor must be subdued.
We live at a juncture in time when persecution against our brothers in Christ is on the rise. We see a demonic entity advancing with impunity through areas where people of faith have long maintained their enclaves within hostile lands that were long ago swarmed by the minions of the evil one.
And we have seen our brave brothers abide in the faith, even at the cost of martyrdom. They have had the horrors of hell hurled upon them and they have remained strong, even unto death. In the throes of their pain and seeming defeat, they have stood strong in the Christ who sets them free and their reward is in HIS hand!
But we, people of faith who live in freedom, as we see the merciless assault of a wicked foe upon our brothers, must be before the Throne of the Holy One, beseeching the God of Mercy to intervene in the behalf of His beleaguered people. And how should we come before the God in Whose hand is all power?
He tells us that we may, “come boldly to the Throne of Grace and there find help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16. He tells us that we must plead the blood of Jesus over the people who are being persecuted and over the circumstances that oppress them, for there is great power in the blood that was shed on Calvary.
The Word tells us that we must, “pray without ceasing,” I Thessalonians 5:17; and in Luke 18:1-8 Jesus Himself conveys the importance of persistence in prayer when He relays this encouragement:
“Men ought to pray and not lose heart.” Then He gave this example of the importance of persistence: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And the unjust judge would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, so she will not weary me by her continual coming.’
“Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.’ Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Shall we be wearied by the atrocities we know are being perpetrated against our brothers in Christ or shall we be resolute in our determination to pray through to the victory we know the Lord wants them to have! Our only option is to pray fervently until the Lord moves in the behalf of His people!
And as we pray, may we not forget to fast for we know there are some demonic strongholds that cannot be broken except by prayer and fasting (see Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29).
Lord Jesus, help us to be prayer warriors who will not stop praying, will not stop believing, will not stop fasting until we see Your mighty hand moving in the behalf of Your people. We ask that You rescue Your faithful ones through signs and wonders and the intervention of Your angelic army.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:2-3.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10.
“I, even I, am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, or of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy And where is the wrath of the oppressor?” Isaiah 51:12,13.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know,” Jeremiah 33:3.
The first of the four passages above identifies a truth—there will be times when we as believers in Christ shall pass through deep waters and there will be times when life’s trials scorch the person of faith to the point that he feels the flames of his dilemma singe upon him mercilessly, but he is assured that whether he goes through the deep waters of adversity or is stung by the scorching flames of trial, the Holy One of Israel, his Savior, will be with him.
The second of the four passages encourages the believer that because the Holy One is with him, the believer should not be dismayed. The believer must recognize that in spite of the swollen waters of oppression or the hissing flames of adversity, he shall be upheld by a mighty hand; the believer shall not fall.
Beyond simply being attended through the challenges of life by the One who has promised, “I will never fail you nor forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5, the Lord also promises to comfort the believer at the time of his affliction. The man of faith is reminded that his oppressor is like “the grass that withers away,” Isaiah 40:8, so his vitriol and his ranting should not be feared. The believer must remember the One who stretched forth the heaven and established the earth, before Whom the wrath of the oppressor must be subdued.
We live at a juncture in time when persecution against our brothers in Christ is on the rise. We see a demonic entity advancing with impunity through areas where people of faith have long maintained their enclaves within hostile lands that were long ago swarmed by the minions of the evil one.
And we have seen our brave brothers abide in the faith, even at the cost of martyrdom. They have had the horrors of hell hurled upon them and they have remained strong, even unto death. In the throes of their pain and seeming defeat, they have stood strong in the Christ who sets them free and their reward is in HIS hand!
But we, people of faith who live in freedom, as we see the merciless assault of a wicked foe upon our brothers, must be before the Throne of the Holy One, beseeching the God of Mercy to intervene in the behalf of His beleaguered people. And how should we come before the God in Whose hand is all power?
He tells us that we may, “come boldly to the Throne of Grace and there find help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16. He tells us that we must plead the blood of Jesus over the people who are being persecuted and over the circumstances that oppress them, for there is great power in the blood that was shed on Calvary.
The Word tells us that we must, “pray without ceasing,” I Thessalonians 5:17; and in Luke 18:1-8 Jesus Himself conveys the importance of persistence in prayer when He relays this encouragement:
“Men ought to pray and not lose heart.” Then He gave this example of the importance of persistence: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And the unjust judge would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, so she will not weary me by her continual coming.’
“Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.’ Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Shall we be wearied by the atrocities we know are being perpetrated against our brothers in Christ or shall we be resolute in our determination to pray through to the victory we know the Lord wants them to have! Our only option is to pray fervently until the Lord moves in the behalf of His people!
And as we pray, may we not forget to fast for we know there are some demonic strongholds that cannot be broken except by prayer and fasting (see Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29).
Lord Jesus, help us to be prayer warriors who will not stop praying, will not stop believing, will not stop fasting until we see Your mighty hand moving in the behalf of Your people. We ask that You rescue Your faithful ones through signs and wonders and the intervention of Your angelic army.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Guard against Apathy
November 2
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle bablings, for they will increase to more ungodliness, and their message will spread like an evil disease. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some,” II Timothy 2:15-18.
In this era of the church we have many problems with troubling doctrinal matters similar to those the first century believers had to deal with. The initial quandary that they faced had to do with justification by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
This was a new concept, so God commissioned the apostle Paul to write at length about it. Paul emphasized that it is not by earning justification, but by faith in what God said and what Jesus Christ did that brings any man to salvation. This doctrinal instruction is elaborated upon at great length in Paul’s books to the Romans and the Galatians.
The second doctrinal quandary they faced regarded the law and grace. These two principles are inseparable but Christians often cannot embrace the veracity of both. The apostles had to convince the people that law and grace are not opposed to one another, but work in harmony to complete the process of justification and sanctification. God not only forgives us, but He also gives us the gifts of His Spirit by which we can be sanctified and made holy.
The third thing about which there is much disagreement regards the second coming of Christ. As time passed, the return of Jesus Christ became of paramount importance to believers. The fact that the Lord did not return immediately after His ascent into Heaven led people to believe that they had plenty of time to overcome their proclivity to hold onto the world at the expense of Heavenly things, so they remained adrift. This led to Paul's concern that some believers were neglecting their salvation.
Jesus had also anticipated this problem (see Matthew 24:42), because He understood human nature. He knew that having to face such ponderous points of doctrine would cause believers to become weary with facing them. He understood that many would become apathetic and determine that their concern in the matter is useless.
We need to stir ourselves up! We must recognize that this kind of complacency can happen to us and be diligent that apathy will not rob us of the truth the Holy Spirit has revealed to us!
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle bablings, for they will increase to more ungodliness, and their message will spread like an evil disease. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some,” II Timothy 2:15-18.
In this era of the church we have many problems with troubling doctrinal matters similar to those the first century believers had to deal with. The initial quandary that they faced had to do with justification by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
This was a new concept, so God commissioned the apostle Paul to write at length about it. Paul emphasized that it is not by earning justification, but by faith in what God said and what Jesus Christ did that brings any man to salvation. This doctrinal instruction is elaborated upon at great length in Paul’s books to the Romans and the Galatians.
The second doctrinal quandary they faced regarded the law and grace. These two principles are inseparable but Christians often cannot embrace the veracity of both. The apostles had to convince the people that law and grace are not opposed to one another, but work in harmony to complete the process of justification and sanctification. God not only forgives us, but He also gives us the gifts of His Spirit by which we can be sanctified and made holy.
The third thing about which there is much disagreement regards the second coming of Christ. As time passed, the return of Jesus Christ became of paramount importance to believers. The fact that the Lord did not return immediately after His ascent into Heaven led people to believe that they had plenty of time to overcome their proclivity to hold onto the world at the expense of Heavenly things, so they remained adrift. This led to Paul's concern that some believers were neglecting their salvation.
Jesus had also anticipated this problem (see Matthew 24:42), because He understood human nature. He knew that having to face such ponderous points of doctrine would cause believers to become weary with facing them. He understood that many would become apathetic and determine that their concern in the matter is useless.
We need to stir ourselves up! We must recognize that this kind of complacency can happen to us and be diligent that apathy will not rob us of the truth the Holy Spirit has revealed to us!
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Reflections on the Life of Squanto
Reflections on the Life of Squanto by Bill Federer
"Squanto...was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation." -Governor William Bradford
Of 102 Pilgrims that landed in Massachusetts in November of 1620, only half survived till spring. Then appeared Squanto. In the Spring of 1621, as recorded in Governor Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, Squanto joined the Pilgrims: "About the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English...His name was Samoset.
He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself... Massasoit, who about four or five days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto.
After friendly entertainment and some gifts, they made a peace which has now continued for twenty-four years...Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant corn, where to take fish and other commodities, and guided them to unknown places, and never left them till he died.
Governor Bradford wrote of Squanto: "He was a native of these parts, and had been one of the few survivors of the plague hereabouts. He was carried away with others by one Hunt, a captain of a ship, who intended to sell them for slaves in Spain..."
The story is that Squanto was purchased by Catholic monks in the Spanish city of Malaga, a city notorious for the slave trade which began during its Muslim occupation. The monks introduced Squanto to the Gospel and gave him his freedom. Squanto traveled to England. Unbeknownst to him, during this time a disease, possibly smallpox, wiped out Squanto's tribe back in Massachusetts.
Governor Bradford said of Squanto: "He got away for England, and was received by a merchant in London, and employed in Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought into these parts by a Captain Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinand Gorges...Captain Dermer had been here the same year that the people of the Mayflower arrived, as appears in an account written by him, and given to me by a friend, bearing date, June 30th, 1620...
'I will first begin,' says he, 'with the place from which Squanto (or Tisquantem) was taken away, which in Captain Smith's map is called 'Plymouth'; and I would that Plymouth (England) had the same commodities. I could wish that the first plantation might be situated here, if there came to the number of fifty persons or upward; otherwise at Charlton, because there the savages are less to be feared...
The Pokanokets, who live to the west of Plymouth, bear an inveterate hatred to the English...For this reason Squanto cannot deny but they would have killed me when I was at Namasket, had he not interceded hard for me.'"
Governor William Bradford described the dangerous situation by telling the fate of a French ship which wrecked at Cape Cod in 1617, three years before the Pilgrims landed: "About three years before, a French ship was wrecked at Cape Cod, but the men got ashore and saved their lives and a large part of their provisions. When the Indians heard of it, they surrounded them and never left watching and dogging them until they got the advantage and killed them, all but three or four, whom they kept, and sent from one Sachem to another, making sport with them and using them worse than slaves."
Governor William Bradford wrote of Squanto: "The settlers, as many as were able, then began to plant their corn, in which service Squanto stood them in good stead, showing them how to plant it and cultivate it. He also told them that unless they got fish to manure this exhausted old soil, it would come to nothing, and he showed them that in the middle of April plenty of fish would come up the brook by which they had begun to build, and taught them how to catch it, and where to get other necessary provisions; all of which they found true by experience...
"Another Indian, called Hobbamok came to live with them, a fine strong man, of some account amongst the Indians for his valor and qualities. He remained very faithful to the English till he died. He and Squanto having gone upon business among the Indians, a Sachem called Corbitant...began to quarrel with them, and threatened to stab Hobbamok; but he being a strong man, cleared himself of him, and came running away, all sweating, and told the Governor what had befallen him, and that he feared they had killed Squanto...
…So it was resolved to send the Captain and fourteen men, well-armed... The Captain, giving orders to let none escape, entered to search for him, but Corbitant had gone away that day; so they missed him, but learned that Squanto was alive, and that Corbitant had only threatened to kill him, and made as if to stab him, but did not...
"After this, on the 18th of September, they sent out their shallop (small sailboat) with ten men and Squanto as guide and interpreter to the Massachusetts, to explore the bay and trade with the natives, which they accomplished, and were kindly received...Nor was there a man among them who had ever seen a beaver skin till they came out, and were instructed by Squanto.”
Governor William Bradford wrote the account of Squanto's death in LATE SEPTEMBER 1622: "Captain Standish was appointed to go with them, and Squanto as a guide and interpreter, about the LATTER END OF SEPTEMBER; but the winds drove them in; and putting out again, Captain Standish fell ill with fever, so the Governor (Bradford) went himself. But they could not get round the shoals of Cape Cod, for flats and breakers, and Squanto could not direct them better.
“The Captain of the boat dare not venture any further, so they put into Manamoick Bay, and got what they could there. Here Squanto fell ill of Indian fever, bleeding much at the nose, which the Indians take for a symptom of death, and within a few days he died.
He begged the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in Heaven, and bequeathed several of his things to some of his English friends, as remembrances. His death was a great loss."
"Squanto...was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation." -Governor William Bradford
Of 102 Pilgrims that landed in Massachusetts in November of 1620, only half survived till spring. Then appeared Squanto. In the Spring of 1621, as recorded in Governor Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, Squanto joined the Pilgrims: "About the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English...His name was Samoset.
He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself... Massasoit, who about four or five days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto.
After friendly entertainment and some gifts, they made a peace which has now continued for twenty-four years...Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant corn, where to take fish and other commodities, and guided them to unknown places, and never left them till he died.
Governor Bradford wrote of Squanto: "He was a native of these parts, and had been one of the few survivors of the plague hereabouts. He was carried away with others by one Hunt, a captain of a ship, who intended to sell them for slaves in Spain..."
The story is that Squanto was purchased by Catholic monks in the Spanish city of Malaga, a city notorious for the slave trade which began during its Muslim occupation. The monks introduced Squanto to the Gospel and gave him his freedom. Squanto traveled to England. Unbeknownst to him, during this time a disease, possibly smallpox, wiped out Squanto's tribe back in Massachusetts.
Governor Bradford said of Squanto: "He got away for England, and was received by a merchant in London, and employed in Newfoundland and other parts, and lastly brought into these parts by a Captain Dermer, a gentleman employed by Sir Ferdinand Gorges...Captain Dermer had been here the same year that the people of the Mayflower arrived, as appears in an account written by him, and given to me by a friend, bearing date, June 30th, 1620...
'I will first begin,' says he, 'with the place from which Squanto (or Tisquantem) was taken away, which in Captain Smith's map is called 'Plymouth'; and I would that Plymouth (England) had the same commodities. I could wish that the first plantation might be situated here, if there came to the number of fifty persons or upward; otherwise at Charlton, because there the savages are less to be feared...
The Pokanokets, who live to the west of Plymouth, bear an inveterate hatred to the English...For this reason Squanto cannot deny but they would have killed me when I was at Namasket, had he not interceded hard for me.'"
Governor William Bradford described the dangerous situation by telling the fate of a French ship which wrecked at Cape Cod in 1617, three years before the Pilgrims landed: "About three years before, a French ship was wrecked at Cape Cod, but the men got ashore and saved their lives and a large part of their provisions. When the Indians heard of it, they surrounded them and never left watching and dogging them until they got the advantage and killed them, all but three or four, whom they kept, and sent from one Sachem to another, making sport with them and using them worse than slaves."
Governor William Bradford wrote of Squanto: "The settlers, as many as were able, then began to plant their corn, in which service Squanto stood them in good stead, showing them how to plant it and cultivate it. He also told them that unless they got fish to manure this exhausted old soil, it would come to nothing, and he showed them that in the middle of April plenty of fish would come up the brook by which they had begun to build, and taught them how to catch it, and where to get other necessary provisions; all of which they found true by experience...
"Another Indian, called Hobbamok came to live with them, a fine strong man, of some account amongst the Indians for his valor and qualities. He remained very faithful to the English till he died. He and Squanto having gone upon business among the Indians, a Sachem called Corbitant...began to quarrel with them, and threatened to stab Hobbamok; but he being a strong man, cleared himself of him, and came running away, all sweating, and told the Governor what had befallen him, and that he feared they had killed Squanto...
…So it was resolved to send the Captain and fourteen men, well-armed... The Captain, giving orders to let none escape, entered to search for him, but Corbitant had gone away that day; so they missed him, but learned that Squanto was alive, and that Corbitant had only threatened to kill him, and made as if to stab him, but did not...
"After this, on the 18th of September, they sent out their shallop (small sailboat) with ten men and Squanto as guide and interpreter to the Massachusetts, to explore the bay and trade with the natives, which they accomplished, and were kindly received...Nor was there a man among them who had ever seen a beaver skin till they came out, and were instructed by Squanto.”
Governor William Bradford wrote the account of Squanto's death in LATE SEPTEMBER 1622: "Captain Standish was appointed to go with them, and Squanto as a guide and interpreter, about the LATTER END OF SEPTEMBER; but the winds drove them in; and putting out again, Captain Standish fell ill with fever, so the Governor (Bradford) went himself. But they could not get round the shoals of Cape Cod, for flats and breakers, and Squanto could not direct them better.
“The Captain of the boat dare not venture any further, so they put into Manamoick Bay, and got what they could there. Here Squanto fell ill of Indian fever, bleeding much at the nose, which the Indians take for a symptom of death, and within a few days he died.
He begged the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in Heaven, and bequeathed several of his things to some of his English friends, as remembrances. His death was a great loss."
Friday, October 31, 2014
Please Pray for Your Persecuted Brothers in Christ
October 31
We associate Halloween with the fun of children dressing up like ghosts and monsters and their favorite storybook characters as they go around the neighborhood seeking treats from kindly neighbors who don’t want to be tricked by the little goblins.
But in our world today, there is a growing entity of evil that, if they could, would terrorize all mankind into bowing before their god. They allow no latitude in their belief system. Anyone who does not subscribe to it is ruthlessly expedited to their eternal reward.
I received the following information from a friend who is a nun. She just got a message from her brother who is a priest, asking her to shower him and his mission team to Iraq in prayer. ISIS has taken over the town where they have been ministering and their presence there is bringing fear and death to the populace.
He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and requiring the children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has, and so far all have consequently been killed. But their parents have not been killed.
The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families they are supporting, even if it means their own deaths.
He has no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have seen their children martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called him for some reason to be His voice and His hands in this place at this time. Even so, he is begging prayers for courage to live out his vocation in such dire circumstances, and as the children have done, to accept martyrdom if he is called to do so.
My friend was able to talk to her brother briefly by phone. She didn't say it but I believe she thinks it will be their last conversation. Pray for her, too. She said he just kept asking her to help him know what to do and to be brave enough to do it. She told him to tell the families we ARE praying for them and they are not alone or forgotten—no matter what happens.
The following message is from a man who leads Crisis Relief International:
"We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food too. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working.
“Thousands fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN has evacuated its staff from Erbil. Our team will stay. Prayer cover needed!"
Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region.
May I plead with you to be among those who stand in the gap for our fellow Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Christ and for others who are suffering because they do not subscribe to the ISIS philosophy.
We are oblivious to the suffering some have endured because of their faith in Christ. May He forgive us for our proclivity to focus on the nothingness of our comfortable little lives and help us to cry out for our brothers and sisters in the faith who are giving their all for the Christ who died to set us free from sin.
We associate Halloween with the fun of children dressing up like ghosts and monsters and their favorite storybook characters as they go around the neighborhood seeking treats from kindly neighbors who don’t want to be tricked by the little goblins.
But in our world today, there is a growing entity of evil that, if they could, would terrorize all mankind into bowing before their god. They allow no latitude in their belief system. Anyone who does not subscribe to it is ruthlessly expedited to their eternal reward.
I received the following information from a friend who is a nun. She just got a message from her brother who is a priest, asking her to shower him and his mission team to Iraq in prayer. ISIS has taken over the town where they have been ministering and their presence there is bringing fear and death to the populace.
He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and requiring the children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has, and so far all have consequently been killed. But their parents have not been killed.
The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families they are supporting, even if it means their own deaths.
He has no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have seen their children martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called him for some reason to be His voice and His hands in this place at this time. Even so, he is begging prayers for courage to live out his vocation in such dire circumstances, and as the children have done, to accept martyrdom if he is called to do so.
My friend was able to talk to her brother briefly by phone. She didn't say it but I believe she thinks it will be their last conversation. Pray for her, too. She said he just kept asking her to help him know what to do and to be brave enough to do it. She told him to tell the families we ARE praying for them and they are not alone or forgotten—no matter what happens.
The following message is from a man who leads Crisis Relief International:
"We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food too. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working.
“Thousands fled into the city of Erbil last night. The UN has evacuated its staff from Erbil. Our team will stay. Prayer cover needed!"
Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region.
May I plead with you to be among those who stand in the gap for our fellow Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Christ and for others who are suffering because they do not subscribe to the ISIS philosophy.
We are oblivious to the suffering some have endured because of their faith in Christ. May He forgive us for our proclivity to focus on the nothingness of our comfortable little lives and help us to cry out for our brothers and sisters in the faith who are giving their all for the Christ who died to set us free from sin.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Samuel Adams
October 30
"The Roman Empire must have sunk...because Roman virtue was sunk." Sam Adams
Crying "No taxation without representation," he instigated the Stamp Act riots and the Boston Tea Party. After the "Boston Massacre," he spread Revolutionary sentiment with his network of Committees of Correspondence. Known as "The Father of the American Revolution," his name was Samuel Adams, born SEPTEMBER 27, 1722.
Samuel Adams called for the first Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence, stating: "We have explored the temple of royalty, and found that the idol we have bowed down to, has eyes which see not, ears that hear not our prayers, and a heart like the nether millstone. We have this day restored the Sovereign, to whom alone all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven..."
Samuel Adams continued: "There are instances of, I would say, an almost astonishing Providence in our favor; our success has staggered our enemies, and almost given faith to infidels; so that we may truly say it is not our own arm which has saved us. The hand of Heaven appears to have led us on to be, perhaps, humble instruments and means in the great Providential dispensation which is completing..."
"We have fled from the political Sodom; let us not look back...We may, with humility of soul, cry out, 'Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy Name be the praise'...Providence is yet gracious unto Zion, that it will turn away the captivity of Jacob."
A cousin of the Second President John Adams, Samuel Adams wrote in The Rights of Colonists, 1772: "Among the natural rights of Colonists are: FIRST, a right to life; SECONDLY, to liberty; THIRDLY, to property; together with the right to defend them...The supreme power cannot justly take from any man any part of his property without his consent."
In The Rights of the Colonists, section "The Rights of the Colonist as Subjects," Samuel Adams wrote: "Government has no right to absolute, arbitrary power over the lives and fortunes of the people; nor can mortals assume a prerogative...reserved for the exercise of the Deity alone."
In The Rights of the Colonists, section "The Rights of the Colonist as Men," Samuel Adams wrote: "In regards to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced...It is now generally agreed among Christians that this spirit of toleration, in the fullest extent consistent with the being of civil society, is the chief mark of the church."
"The Roman Empire must have sunk...because Roman virtue was sunk." Sam Adams
Crying "No taxation without representation," he instigated the Stamp Act riots and the Boston Tea Party. After the "Boston Massacre," he spread Revolutionary sentiment with his network of Committees of Correspondence. Known as "The Father of the American Revolution," his name was Samuel Adams, born SEPTEMBER 27, 1722.
Samuel Adams called for the first Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence, stating: "We have explored the temple of royalty, and found that the idol we have bowed down to, has eyes which see not, ears that hear not our prayers, and a heart like the nether millstone. We have this day restored the Sovereign, to whom alone all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven..."
Samuel Adams continued: "There are instances of, I would say, an almost astonishing Providence in our favor; our success has staggered our enemies, and almost given faith to infidels; so that we may truly say it is not our own arm which has saved us. The hand of Heaven appears to have led us on to be, perhaps, humble instruments and means in the great Providential dispensation which is completing..."
"We have fled from the political Sodom; let us not look back...We may, with humility of soul, cry out, 'Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy Name be the praise'...Providence is yet gracious unto Zion, that it will turn away the captivity of Jacob."
A cousin of the Second President John Adams, Samuel Adams wrote in The Rights of Colonists, 1772: "Among the natural rights of Colonists are: FIRST, a right to life; SECONDLY, to liberty; THIRDLY, to property; together with the right to defend them...The supreme power cannot justly take from any man any part of his property without his consent."
In The Rights of the Colonists, section "The Rights of the Colonist as Subjects," Samuel Adams wrote: "Government has no right to absolute, arbitrary power over the lives and fortunes of the people; nor can mortals assume a prerogative...reserved for the exercise of the Deity alone."
In The Rights of the Colonists, section "The Rights of the Colonist as Men," Samuel Adams wrote: "In regards to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced...It is now generally agreed among Christians that this spirit of toleration, in the fullest extent consistent with the being of civil society, is the chief mark of the church."
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Barbie and Ken
October 29
Barbie and Ken dolls depict Mary and the crucified Christ by Dr. Jim Denison
Barbie has been an astronaut, flight attendant, and even president. But two Argentine artists have given the doll a new role: the Virgin Mary. They have also created a Ken doll as the crucified Christ along with other saints and figures from world religions. However, they chose not to create a Ken doll as the Prophet Muhammad. Catholic bishops in Italy are denouncing the depictions.
These are challenging days for Jews and Christians. The Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashanah was marked Wednesday by Israelis pessimistic about peace, with an economy struggling to recover from the latest war with Hamas. Global anti-Semitism continues to escalate: a rabbi in Jackson, Mississippi reports that he was recently thrown out of a local restaurant because he is Jewish.
Persecution of Christians is intensifying as well. In North Korea, a quarter of the nation's Christians now live in forced labor camps. Earlier this year in Orissa, India, 500 Christians were hacked to death by Hindu radicals and 50,000 were made homeless. ISIS radicals are forcing parents to watch as they behead their children for being Christians. Egypt has seen its worst anti-Christian violence in seven centuries.
The Pew Research Center documents discrimination against Christians in 139 countries, nearly three-fourths of the world's nations. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that 100,000 Christians die every year for their faith—11 every hour.
Yet we can experience joy in the midst of pain, no matter the source or circumstances of our suffering. Today I was struck by Psalm 97:11: "Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart." "Righteous" (saddiq in the Hebrew) denotes one who is godly and devout; "upright" (yisre) refers to those who are correct and just with others. When we are right with God and just with people, we will have God's light and joy.
Is this because God likes the righteous and upright better than others? Not at all. Rather, being righteous and upright positions us to receive what our Father's grace wants to give. Joy is one of the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22), the result of the Spirit's work in our lives. It is a product, not an achievement.
Ezekiel 20:13 is a commentary on this fact: Israel "did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live." The rules are available to everyone, but those who obey them experience the good they are intended to produce.
The same principle applies in other areas of life. Jonas Salk perfected a vaccine for polio, but it is effective only for those who are inoculated by it. I think the Mexican restaurant down the street from our office has the best fajitas in Dallas, but you'd have to eat there to verify my opinion.
Do you need more of the Spirit's joy today? Then choose to be right with God and just with others. And your joyful heart will prove the reality of your faith to a skeptical culture.
The world can take our freedom, but it cannot take our joy.
Barbie and Ken dolls depict Mary and the crucified Christ by Dr. Jim Denison
Barbie has been an astronaut, flight attendant, and even president. But two Argentine artists have given the doll a new role: the Virgin Mary. They have also created a Ken doll as the crucified Christ along with other saints and figures from world religions. However, they chose not to create a Ken doll as the Prophet Muhammad. Catholic bishops in Italy are denouncing the depictions.
These are challenging days for Jews and Christians. The Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashanah was marked Wednesday by Israelis pessimistic about peace, with an economy struggling to recover from the latest war with Hamas. Global anti-Semitism continues to escalate: a rabbi in Jackson, Mississippi reports that he was recently thrown out of a local restaurant because he is Jewish.
Persecution of Christians is intensifying as well. In North Korea, a quarter of the nation's Christians now live in forced labor camps. Earlier this year in Orissa, India, 500 Christians were hacked to death by Hindu radicals and 50,000 were made homeless. ISIS radicals are forcing parents to watch as they behead their children for being Christians. Egypt has seen its worst anti-Christian violence in seven centuries.
The Pew Research Center documents discrimination against Christians in 139 countries, nearly three-fourths of the world's nations. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that 100,000 Christians die every year for their faith—11 every hour.
Yet we can experience joy in the midst of pain, no matter the source or circumstances of our suffering. Today I was struck by Psalm 97:11: "Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart." "Righteous" (saddiq in the Hebrew) denotes one who is godly and devout; "upright" (yisre) refers to those who are correct and just with others. When we are right with God and just with people, we will have God's light and joy.
Is this because God likes the righteous and upright better than others? Not at all. Rather, being righteous and upright positions us to receive what our Father's grace wants to give. Joy is one of the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22), the result of the Spirit's work in our lives. It is a product, not an achievement.
Ezekiel 20:13 is a commentary on this fact: Israel "did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live." The rules are available to everyone, but those who obey them experience the good they are intended to produce.
The same principle applies in other areas of life. Jonas Salk perfected a vaccine for polio, but it is effective only for those who are inoculated by it. I think the Mexican restaurant down the street from our office has the best fajitas in Dallas, but you'd have to eat there to verify my opinion.
Do you need more of the Spirit's joy today? Then choose to be right with God and just with others. And your joyful heart will prove the reality of your faith to a skeptical culture.
The world can take our freedom, but it cannot take our joy.
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