The Troops

 

The troops didn't just hand out candy bars, they brought HOPE!

Pain Is Never Wasted

 

Pain Is Never Wasted by Dr. D. James Kennedy

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Human beings are often in need, in trouble, in pain. People need comfort. We try to find it in various places, from a mother’s hug to a bottle of wine.

We can certainly get comfort from each other. But Christ is the only source of real comfort for us. What is the purpose of His comfort in our lives? Of course, it is to assuage our hearts' needs, to ease our aching spirits, to uplift us, to reanimate us, to encourage us, to help us on the way to continue fighting the battle. Also, it is, as Paul says, “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.”

There is nothing more painful than suffering that seems to be without purpose. Let me tell you, however, there is no such thing. Paul says that we are comforted in all of our tribulation so that we may be able to comfort others in their trouble with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.

God’s comfort works because God can handle our pain and trouble. When it is past, we can look back and see His hand and then reach out and comfort others.

PROVERBS 31

 Proverbs 31 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done virtuously, but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

If the Lord Be God

 

If the Lord Be God by Dr. D. James Kennedy

…If the LORD is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him…      1 Kings 18:21

Examine all history, sacred and profane, and you will find few, if any, contests comparable to the one described in 1 Kings 18 when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. It was a matter of life and death for the people involved, for the nation itself, and through them for the whole world, as Satan made this grand attempt to destroy the faith of Israel.

Elijah asked the Israelites a classic question: “How long will you stay between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). With that, the contest was on.

Baal was the god of the sun, the “giver of life,” the god of fire. So the religion of Baal worship was threatening to crush out the religion of Jehovah, the worship of the true God. Elijah, one of the few prophets of Jehovah left in the world, was the only one who was willing to stand up and confront the overwhelming odds against him—the power of the throne, the power of the false temple of Baal, and all the people who were against him. But God was with Elijah, and God gave him the victory.

The priests of Baal attempted to ignite their sacrifice but it would not burn.  However, when the priests of Jehovah had doused the sacrifice with water, it was consumed in flames.

The CHRIST we serve is the great, eternal, glorious "I AM" and no power of earth or of hell can overcome HIM.  When you put your trust in HIM, you are anchored to the greatest power that exists -- and you are safe.

Pray for Texas

 "If MY people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land."  II Chronicles 7:14

LORD JESUS, we come before you with hearts that anguish at the loss of these sweet, innocent children and their teachers. We also weep for the broken young man who committed this horrific crime.

We ask YOU to put a hedge of protection around our children and grandchildren so no evil can ever touch them. We ask YOU to guard their hearts so they are open to JESUS and so they stay pure before HIM.

There was a time when every school in America began each day with Bible reading and the LORD'S Prayer. We ask YOU to allow there to be a swell of demand for the restoration of our spiritual heritage and a restoration of the peace and love that were our portion then.

We ask for a THIRD GREAT AWAKENING in this land that was placed at YOUR feet at its inception so that this nation will once again be known around the world as a CHRISTIAN nation.

It is in the mighty, matchless name of JESUS we ask. Amen.

HE Was...

 

Isaiah 53:5

The Indestructible Word of God

 

The Indestructible Word of God by                                            Dr. D. James Kennedy

I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

— Psalm 119:16

We are living in a time when Biblical ignorance is widespread. Except for a small proportion of those who faithfully and daily study the Word of God, Americans are a Biblically illiterate people. But the Bible is the greatest of treasures. It is the indestructible Word of God, the unconquerable Word of God. Dr. A. Z. Conrad said this about the indestructible Word of God:

Century follows century—there it stands. Empires rise and fall—there it stands. Dynasty succeeds dynasty—there it stands. Kings are crowned and die—there it stands. Emperors decree its exterminations—there it stands. Despised and torn to pieces—there it stands. Storms of hate swirl about it—there it stands. Atheists rail against it—there it stands. Agnostics smile cynically—there it stands. Profane, prayerless punsters caricaturize it—there it stands. Unbelief abandons it—there it stands. Higher critics deny its inspiration—there it stands. Thunderbolts of wrath smite it—there it stands. An anvil that has broken a million hammers—there it stands.

Not only is the Word of God indestructible, but its vital importance extends to every phase of our lives.