Today, we celebrate the National Day of Prayer. Let’s not take for granted that we will always have the freedom to participate, but let us pray that we will. Pray that we as Christians will rest in the Lord and not fret over the short-lived success of evildoers. God tells us in His Word what to do when things like our current events take place. He calls us to be the light of the world, to focus on Him, and watch as He wins the victory on our behalf. When we respond God’s way, we won’t fall into the trap of reacting in a worldly way. (See 2 Chron. 20:3, 12, 15, 22; Psalm 37:7-8; Prov. 3:5-6; Matt. 5:43-48; 10:16-22; and 1 Peter 2:13-20.)
God is speaking all around us and actively at work in our world. Not only that, but He invites us to walk with Him and obey Him when He speaks to us. Are you hearing God’s voice on a regular basis? Would you like to?
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:3-4, ESV).
We must learn to hear the voice of the Lord and walk in confidence that He is directing our path. When we devote ourselves to listening and discerning God's voice, He will open the doors to marvelous and miraculous moments of His divine work in our midst. No doubt the days ahead will grow darker and the struggles around us will increase. But when we follow the leading of the Lord, we will represent truth, hope, and the light of Christ to a lost and fearful world.
Jesus Himself was devoted to saturating Himself in prayer and the truth of the Word. The evidence of this became especially clear just prior to His darkest moment in life. Because He was so intimately connected with His Father, He knew the prophetic events to come in His impending death. He prepared His disciples by telling them how they would respond - that they would scatter in fear and leave Him alone.
Jesus prayed with confidence and assurance as He prepared both Himself and His beloved disciples. In John 17, He prayed that the Father would be glorified through His life. He prayed for the care, protection, and unity of the disciples. He prayed that the love of God would saturate them. And He prayed for us, as those who have also found faith in Him. Jesus' prayers are still being answered in our day!
In the same way, we must prepare ourselves to fulfill God's Kingdom purposes by listening to the Lord and walking in obedience to everything He instructs us to do. To learn to truly hear His voice, we must saturate ourselves with the truths of His Word. We must deepen our intimacy with Him by spending much time alone in fellowship with Him through prayer, as well as corporately in community with other believers in Jesus Christ.
As we walk in communion with God we can know that today would "be a good day to fly."
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Last Night's Handouts
Please discard the article, The Great Falling Away Of Traditional Or Mainstream Christianity, it was printed by mistake. I do not believe the doctrinal positions found in this article. Thanks, FMY
Praying For Our Nation And The World
A US District judge ruled the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional in mid-April, much to the consternation of large numbers of Americans. Since enforcement is suspended until the case goes through the appeals process, however, the National Day of Prayer is still officially on for Thursday, May 6th. President Obama signed a statement on Monday proclaiming May 6th the National Day of Prayer, following the tradition of presidents since 1952. Rather than holding a big prayer gathering in the East Room of the White House the way President Bush used to do, Obama has declined to pray in public, saying he will honor the day in private.
Today, Thursday, May 6, there will be a community prayer service at the Myrtle Beach Race track at 7:00 PM. I hope to see you there if you are in the area. No matter where you are, this would be of upmost importance to be in prayer for our nation at this critical time in our history and the time of our world.
USA Today has a very interesting article, in the Religion section, concerning Franklin Graham that you might be interested in reading.
Click here: Franklin Graham wants Obama to step in on Prayer Day slight - USATODAY.com
Another note of interest comes from Christianity Today; A Christian street preacher in Britain will stand trial for telling a passerby -- in earshot of a policewoman -- that God views homosexuality as a sin. Police arrested Dale McAlpine, a 42-year-old Baptist, under Britain's Public Order Act 1986, which forbids "using threatening, abusive or insulting words ... tending to and causing harassment, alarm or distress."
McAlpine told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that he was arrested after a part-time police officer said she heard him reciting a list of "sins" against God, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same-sex relationships.The preacher denied mentioning homosexuality, but he did concede he had told a passing shopper that it was a sin in the eyes of God.
At a magistrates court hearing in Workington, England, on Friday, McAlpine pleaded not guilty to the public order offense charge but was arraigned for trial at an unspecified date."My freedom was taken away on the hearsay evidence of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply," he said.
The newspaper report said McAlpine was fingerprinted, given a DNA swab and retina scan, and was locked in a police cell for seven hours on April 20."I am not homophobic," he insisted, "but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator."McAlpine's arrest comes days after a top British judge was criticized for ruling that Christian beliefs are not entitled to special protection under the laws of the nation.
Are we coming to a time where calling sin, sin will put us behind bars for telling what we as Christians believe. One important sign of the End Times is the freedoms we enjoy being taken away from us. especially our religious freedoms!
Truly, we are living in the most wonderful time that we could ever be in. It certainly would be a "good day to fly." Will you be going with me?
Today, Thursday, May 6, there will be a community prayer service at the Myrtle Beach Race track at 7:00 PM. I hope to see you there if you are in the area. No matter where you are, this would be of upmost importance to be in prayer for our nation at this critical time in our history and the time of our world.
USA Today has a very interesting article, in the Religion section, concerning Franklin Graham that you might be interested in reading.
Click here: Franklin Graham wants Obama to step in on Prayer Day slight - USATODAY.com
Another note of interest comes from Christianity Today; A Christian street preacher in Britain will stand trial for telling a passerby -- in earshot of a policewoman -- that God views homosexuality as a sin. Police arrested Dale McAlpine, a 42-year-old Baptist, under Britain's Public Order Act 1986, which forbids "using threatening, abusive or insulting words ... tending to and causing harassment, alarm or distress."
McAlpine told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that he was arrested after a part-time police officer said she heard him reciting a list of "sins" against God, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same-sex relationships.The preacher denied mentioning homosexuality, but he did concede he had told a passing shopper that it was a sin in the eyes of God.
At a magistrates court hearing in Workington, England, on Friday, McAlpine pleaded not guilty to the public order offense charge but was arraigned for trial at an unspecified date."My freedom was taken away on the hearsay evidence of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply," he said.
The newspaper report said McAlpine was fingerprinted, given a DNA swab and retina scan, and was locked in a police cell for seven hours on April 20."I am not homophobic," he insisted, "but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator."McAlpine's arrest comes days after a top British judge was criticized for ruling that Christian beliefs are not entitled to special protection under the laws of the nation.
Are we coming to a time where calling sin, sin will put us behind bars for telling what we as Christians believe. One important sign of the End Times is the freedoms we enjoy being taken away from us. especially our religious freedoms!
Truly, we are living in the most wonderful time that we could ever be in. It certainly would be a "good day to fly." Will you be going with me?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Prayer Of Trouble And Sorrow
It is very rewarding when you read through the Book of Psalms. There are so many gems in the verses. and this is true with Psalm 102. Encased in these verses is the truth that in the time of national disaster and distress, faith drives the soul to communion with God. And in the time we are living, there is nothing any better than to be held in the strong arms of our Heavenly Father.
Psalm 102 is a messianic psalm that pictures the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane. The writer of this psalm is not mentioned, but if I were guessing, it would be David. This psalm pictures the affliction and humiliation of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.
What a glorious and wonderful psalm this is! We see the deepest woe and agony that man can have: “Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me” [Ps. 102:8].
As I was reading this verse, I was thinking of what was happening yesterday when Iran's President Ahmadinejad's addressed the United Nations. In his speech, Ahmadinejad accused the United States of committing "acts of terror" and once again targeted Israel -- the very country he has threatened to "wipe off the map" -- as the obstacle to peace.
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down [Ps. 102:10]. The words indignation and wrath are the strongest terms you can use in the Hebrew language. The Lord endured this. Why? He did it ". . . for the joy that was set before him . . .'' (Heb. 12:2).
But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come [Ps. 102:12-13].
He will have mercy upon Zion! And so it was ". . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame . . .'' (Heb. 12:2). He died, you see, for the nation Israel. John 11:50-51 mentions that it was necessary for one to die for the nation. And Christ did die for that nation. And He is going to build Zion again when He appears in His glory -- which will be at His second coming. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory [Ps. 02:16].
Our Lord knew that through His sacrificial death Zion would ultimately be redeemed. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end [Ps. 102:25-27].
The Holy Spirit quotes this passage in Hebrews 1:10-12, and we would not have known that Psalm 102 was a messianic psalm if it hadn't pleased the Author of the Bible, the Spirit of God, to reveal the meaning of this section in the first chapter of Hebrews. Psalm 102 applies to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His prayer of trouble and sorrow. This is the King in Gethsemane.
We are living in difficult days. If we are not careful, our vision will be lead away by the circumstances around us. May we keep focused on Him who is able to make a way through the desert, and into the very presence of God.
Even with the clouds outside right now, this would be "a good day to fly."
Psalm 102 is a messianic psalm that pictures the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane. The writer of this psalm is not mentioned, but if I were guessing, it would be David. This psalm pictures the affliction and humiliation of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.
What a glorious and wonderful psalm this is! We see the deepest woe and agony that man can have: “Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me” [Ps. 102:8].
As I was reading this verse, I was thinking of what was happening yesterday when Iran's President Ahmadinejad's addressed the United Nations. In his speech, Ahmadinejad accused the United States of committing "acts of terror" and once again targeted Israel -- the very country he has threatened to "wipe off the map" -- as the obstacle to peace.
Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down [Ps. 102:10]. The words indignation and wrath are the strongest terms you can use in the Hebrew language. The Lord endured this. Why? He did it ". . . for the joy that was set before him . . .'' (Heb. 12:2).
But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come [Ps. 102:12-13].
He will have mercy upon Zion! And so it was ". . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame . . .'' (Heb. 12:2). He died, you see, for the nation Israel. John 11:50-51 mentions that it was necessary for one to die for the nation. And Christ did die for that nation. And He is going to build Zion again when He appears in His glory -- which will be at His second coming. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory [Ps. 02:16].
Our Lord knew that through His sacrificial death Zion would ultimately be redeemed. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end [Ps. 102:25-27].
The Holy Spirit quotes this passage in Hebrews 1:10-12, and we would not have known that Psalm 102 was a messianic psalm if it hadn't pleased the Author of the Bible, the Spirit of God, to reveal the meaning of this section in the first chapter of Hebrews. Psalm 102 applies to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His prayer of trouble and sorrow. This is the King in Gethsemane.
We are living in difficult days. If we are not careful, our vision will be lead away by the circumstances around us. May we keep focused on Him who is able to make a way through the desert, and into the very presence of God.
Even with the clouds outside right now, this would be "a good day to fly."
Monday, May 3, 2010
We Could Fly Today
I was just spending some time catching up on the main headlines this morning. Take a look:
Authorities searching for drug smugglers who shot and wounded an Arizona sheriff's deputy in the desert south of Phoenix said they captured 17 suspected illegal immigrants Saturday.
Republicans are on offense in scores of House and Senate races as persistent economic woes and lukewarm support for President Barack Obama continue to weaken Democrats' hold on Congress.
A Christian attorney is reminding his fellow Californians that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against a Michigan judge who was accused of violating a woman's right to practice her religion when he told her to remove her Muslim headscarf.
Police found an "amateurish" but potentially powerful bomb that apparently began to detonate but did not explode in a smoking sport utility vehicle in Times Square, authorities said Sunday.
Heavy thunderstorms lashed parts of western Tennessee with almost a foot of rain, leading to the deaths of five people and flooded neighborhoods, roads and waterways.
Obama tells Palestinians that Israel is to blame.
Obama preparing to force Israel's hand.
France joins US in blaming Israel for lack of peace.
Do you think that the first six have anything to do with the last three.
There is no doubt, we are living in the last days. As you read the words of our Lord in Matthew 24, there can be no doubt. One can also read from Micah 7:1-8, and Ezekiel 29:5-7. Be not deceived. Several things are happening at this moment. There is the alignment of the nations against Israel.
In 1979, Israel and Egypt signed their famous peace treaty under U. S. President Jimmy Carter, between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat. Thought strained, this agreement has stood for three decades. But with recent shift in U .S. support from Israel to Egypt, it appears about to go under. One day, I believe soon, it will break like a fine reed and Israel will struggle to remain standing.
Israel has depended upon a series of frail treaties that could stand only with the backing of a major power like the United States.
As we read our Scriptures, we realize that all these "peace processes" are doomed to fail. Prophecy says so. And we are watching it happen before our very eyes.
It sure would be a "good day to flly."
Authorities searching for drug smugglers who shot and wounded an Arizona sheriff's deputy in the desert south of Phoenix said they captured 17 suspected illegal immigrants Saturday.
Republicans are on offense in scores of House and Senate races as persistent economic woes and lukewarm support for President Barack Obama continue to weaken Democrats' hold on Congress.
A Christian attorney is reminding his fellow Californians that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against a Michigan judge who was accused of violating a woman's right to practice her religion when he told her to remove her Muslim headscarf.
Police found an "amateurish" but potentially powerful bomb that apparently began to detonate but did not explode in a smoking sport utility vehicle in Times Square, authorities said Sunday.
Heavy thunderstorms lashed parts of western Tennessee with almost a foot of rain, leading to the deaths of five people and flooded neighborhoods, roads and waterways.
Obama tells Palestinians that Israel is to blame.
Obama preparing to force Israel's hand.
France joins US in blaming Israel for lack of peace.
Do you think that the first six have anything to do with the last three.
There is no doubt, we are living in the last days. As you read the words of our Lord in Matthew 24, there can be no doubt. One can also read from Micah 7:1-8, and Ezekiel 29:5-7. Be not deceived. Several things are happening at this moment. There is the alignment of the nations against Israel.
In 1979, Israel and Egypt signed their famous peace treaty under U. S. President Jimmy Carter, between Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat. Thought strained, this agreement has stood for three decades. But with recent shift in U .S. support from Israel to Egypt, it appears about to go under. One day, I believe soon, it will break like a fine reed and Israel will struggle to remain standing.
Israel has depended upon a series of frail treaties that could stand only with the backing of a major power like the United States.
As we read our Scriptures, we realize that all these "peace processes" are doomed to fail. Prophecy says so. And we are watching it happen before our very eyes.
It sure would be a "good day to flly."
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Obama Preparing To Force Israel's Hand
The headlines continue to grow everyday about how our country is trying to force Israel to give away land that was given to them by God, beginning with Abraham.
Israeli officials told Ha'aretz on Thursday that US President Barack Obama recently assured European leaders that if the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is not moving forward by September or October, he will convene an international peace summit.
The purpose of convening an international peace summit could only be to impose a peace settlement on the two sides, and if Obama's policies of late are anything to judge by, that peace settlement would greatly favor the Arabs by incorporating nearly all their demands.
Palestinian officials this week also said they had received assurances from US Middle East envoy George Mitchell that if Israel did not start complying with US-backed Arab demands soon, Obama would act to force Jerusalem's hand.
The Palestinians are also threatening to unilaterally declare independence by October if Israel does not start meeting their demands. Israeli officials fear the UN would recognize such a declaration, and that the Obama Administration would do little or nothing to block it.
Recent history has demonstrated that such reports, which are often leaked as a pressure tactic against Israel, actually further delay peace negotiations as the Palestinians are all too happy to remain defiant and wait on the international community to strong-arm Israel.
The US and Europe remain mum on the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he is ready to immediately restart direct bilateral negotiations, while the Palestinians refuse to sit with the Israelis and discuss anything.
One wonders if the disasters of the past few weeks have and are coming upon us because we are turning our backs on Israel, and in essence turning our backs on God.
It is looking more like a "good day to fly."
Israeli officials told Ha'aretz on Thursday that US President Barack Obama recently assured European leaders that if the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is not moving forward by September or October, he will convene an international peace summit.
The purpose of convening an international peace summit could only be to impose a peace settlement on the two sides, and if Obama's policies of late are anything to judge by, that peace settlement would greatly favor the Arabs by incorporating nearly all their demands.
Palestinian officials this week also said they had received assurances from US Middle East envoy George Mitchell that if Israel did not start complying with US-backed Arab demands soon, Obama would act to force Jerusalem's hand.
The Palestinians are also threatening to unilaterally declare independence by October if Israel does not start meeting their demands. Israeli officials fear the UN would recognize such a declaration, and that the Obama Administration would do little or nothing to block it.
Recent history has demonstrated that such reports, which are often leaked as a pressure tactic against Israel, actually further delay peace negotiations as the Palestinians are all too happy to remain defiant and wait on the international community to strong-arm Israel.
The US and Europe remain mum on the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he is ready to immediately restart direct bilateral negotiations, while the Palestinians refuse to sit with the Israelis and discuss anything.
One wonders if the disasters of the past few weeks have and are coming upon us because we are turning our backs on Israel, and in essence turning our backs on God.
It is looking more like a "good day to fly."
Saturday, May 1, 2010
For the Lord, Not Men
There is an important difference between doing something for people and doing something for God. God always deserves our best effort. People will disappoint us, betray us, neglect us, and mistreat us. Some will constantly ask for what we can give while offering nothing in return. From our human perspective, these people deserve our minimal effort at best.
What then should motivate us to serve people, except our love for God? God deserves our love, and He demands that we love others in the same way He does. We are to love our spouses, not as they deserve, but as God commands (Eph. 5:22–33). We are to treat our friends, not as they treat us, but as Christ loves us (John 13:14). We are to labor at our jobs, not in proportion to the way our employer treats us, but according to the way God treats us. God is the One we serve (Eph. 6:5).
Mediocrity and laziness have no place in the Christian's life. Christians must maintain integrity at home and in the workplace. Working for God, as opposed to working for other people, changes our perspective as we view our endeavors in light of what He has done for us. Our toil then becomes an offering to God.
We not only worship God at church on Sunday, but our labor throughout the week is an offering of worship and thanksgiving to the One who has given us everything we have. When people do not measure up to our expectations and we feel our efforts are being wasted, we must keep in mind that we are toiling for holy God. He is worthy of our best effort.
After we have done our best for Him, then we can say, "it is a good day to fly."
What then should motivate us to serve people, except our love for God? God deserves our love, and He demands that we love others in the same way He does. We are to love our spouses, not as they deserve, but as God commands (Eph. 5:22–33). We are to treat our friends, not as they treat us, but as Christ loves us (John 13:14). We are to labor at our jobs, not in proportion to the way our employer treats us, but according to the way God treats us. God is the One we serve (Eph. 6:5).
Mediocrity and laziness have no place in the Christian's life. Christians must maintain integrity at home and in the workplace. Working for God, as opposed to working for other people, changes our perspective as we view our endeavors in light of what He has done for us. Our toil then becomes an offering to God.
We not only worship God at church on Sunday, but our labor throughout the week is an offering of worship and thanksgiving to the One who has given us everything we have. When people do not measure up to our expectations and we feel our efforts are being wasted, we must keep in mind that we are toiling for holy God. He is worthy of our best effort.
After we have done our best for Him, then we can say, "it is a good day to fly."
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