Bernie Lutchman's Family Ministry

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD BONUS - DAY 31

2012-01-31T02:47:00.002-06:00

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH - THE LORD OF HEAVEN'S ARMIES!
The great hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God" has a verse that goes like this:
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
This was written over 500 years ago by the great Reformer Martin Luther and is still sung in churches worldwide! It stands as the battle cry of the Christian who recognizes the God of the universe as the One Who will fight for us...and not just FIGHT, but WIN! Lord or Jehovah-Sabaoth means "The Lord of Hosts". Hosts is a military term which is found 240 times in the Bible! Some bible translations like the New Living, translates the phrase "Lord of Hosts as the Lord of Heaven's Armies!

Then we have the Christmas Carol - "Hark the Herald Angels"....with the line that says "with angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem"! Same thing - hosts means a multitude or organized group of heavenly beings, under the command of the Lord Jesus or...Jehovah Sabaoth!

The Name itself exudes the Fragrance of Dynamic Eternal Power, which cannot be trifled or messed with! The World will see this fearsome sight one day soon, and it will NOT be pretty! At the final return of Christ, to reclaim His Creation and sit on His Throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years, the full force of these hosts - Heaven's armies will descend on planet earth, with a vengeance!

At this point, the Wrath of God will be revealed, as predicted in the book of Revelation. The Lord of Heaven's Armies, which will have warriors like King David in it, will descend from Heaven to fight against the kings and rulers of this world. He will completely destroy them. The church and all believers will have been raptured or taken out, by then.

Before we get to that point though, we as believers should realize that He is fighting for us as well....and it's happening right now! We should realize that no matter what the Trial, Tribulation or family or personal crisis we are experiencing, He has defeated it already! All we have to do is go to Him, pray, ask and receive!

So, Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You, oh Mighty God, my Fortress and my Deliverer, that You, oh God are the Commander in Chief of the Universe. God, there is none like You in Power, Strength and I am in complete and total awe of You!

You fought the battles of Moses in the desert against Amalekites and Sihon and Og the King of Bashan. You led Joshua into Canaan and with Caleb, Your amazing warrior, you gave them the Promised Land. With three hundred men You gave Gideon the victory. You gave David the victory. You gave Hezekiah the victory. You gave the Maccabees the victory when the Lamp burned with oil for 8 days, giving us Hanukkah.

Lord, all of these in the Old covenant had one thing in common – they believed You completely..as they should! Dear Lord, in these days, before the Final Battle when Jesus returns to fight the forces of evil and world leaders, presidents and dictators, You still fight for those who believe in You!

I know it personally, dear heavenly, how much You have fought for me. I know how much You have done for me. I know how much You will still fight for me in days to come. And Lord, not just for me personally, but thank You for fighting for my entire family who live under the Leadership of Christ in our home. Lord You bring aid and assistance to Your children who are suffering under oppression of persecution around the world.

Lord You fight for and free those who are in the prison of sin, self, sex and stress here in the United States, Canada and here in the western world! I thank You for that as well, dear Heavenly Father!

Oh Lord, I also thank you for Your executing judgment against me when I sin, which You do, so that I may live a life worthy of being in Your presence….and that I may live a life worthy of living under the permanent and eternal guidance and protection of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the Lord Jesus, Sabaoth is His Name and it is in His Name I pray, right now, for all the saints who love His Appearing, in Jesus’ Name, amen and amen!

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THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 30

2012-01-30T06:37:00.001-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 30
GOD IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" goes the well known auto insurance commercial! The implications is that no matter what the cost or the consequence, whenever you have an accident or issue which calls for insurance coverage, you can more than depend on the integrity and full faith of State Farm Insurance Company! In fact, you can rely on them being there, no matter what the reason.

Of course, this is only valid if you pay the high premiums regularly. If your teenage kids have a couple fender benders while they are still young, watch how fast some of these auto insurance companies drop you from their roster!

God is not like that (thank God)! First of all, there is no cost to being covered by the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ paid it all on the Cross of Calvary. He is always THERE for us, when we are in pain, trouble or just need a friend.

Unlike the temporary coverage of any type of insurance companies, God's Coverage is forever. He gives Fire Insurance. If you are truly saved and born-again by repenting, believing and accepting His Sacrifice for Sin on the Cross, His Blood is the only True "Insurance" mechanism by which you and I can avoid going into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. The majority of the world does not have that eternal guarantee or protection from the fires of Hell!

This "Fire Insurance" is free, but it should cost US something which we should willing pay....not because God demands it of us, but because we want to KNOW HIM better and desire that closer walk with Him! If someone rescued you from a burning house, should it ever accidentally catch fire, you and I would be forever grateful to the brave fireman or neighbor who pulled us out of the inferno, just before the entire house exploded out of control. So we should be with Almighty God.

Many times, from beginning to end, God says to His people "I will never leave nor forsake you". He said it in Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5. Jesus Himself said it at the end of Matthew 28 "lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the age "(verse 20). There are other Promises from the Holy God, Who cannot lie, and Who made this promise!.

You can count on Him. No matter what trial or tribulation, You can count on Him. No matter what you are facing, you can count on Him. From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, He is there for you. From the moment you are born until the second you leave this earth and cross into eternity, He is there for you.

He is Jehovah Shammah, the God Who is just - THERE! He is everywhere. You can't run from Him and you do not really want to, either! Praise God. Trust Him; fall on Him; fall before Him; surrender to Him and you will never regret it.

Father in the Name of Jesus, I just surrender my entire life into Your capable Hands, not only because You have the free Fire Insurance policy called Salvation, which saved me from eternal separation from You, but because I want to. Lord, I want to know You, the God Who is always There, better. Lord I want to learn Your Ways to love you more and more each day. Lord I want to know Your Word to learn all Your attributes, which are more than just Names, they are the every essence of You, Almighty and eternal Father.

You are my Creator and Sustainer and I come to You to not just know the One True God, but to live my life fully aware of His Presence in my life and my very being as Your Spirit lives in me. I release the Power of Your Spirit in my life and give Him full access to every area of my life so He can wash, cleanse, instruct, guide, convict and then lead me on to the path of full revelation of Who You are and what a complete Joy it is to have been adopted into Your Eternal Kingdom!

Jesus gave us this promise before He left earth the first time and He said “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3 ESV)

Father, I not only believe this Promise, I know in my very being that it is completely True. He said it, I believe it, the Spirit confirms it! Lord, I rest in that knowledge You are always there fore me, from the moment I was created in the womb, until I breathe my last earthly breath - You are there! And I know, because of the Promise from Your Son, Who is my Advocate and Savior, when that last breath comes, I will be there with You forever!

What an amazing thing that is, Father! What peace...what true joy in the inner man...what revelation...what a saving knowledge to know that You, Abba Father, are always there for me. And because of that and because You live forever, I can face today, tomorrow and all through this life with a song in my heart and Your Word on my lips. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus' Holy and Mighty Name, amen!

THANKS FOR PRAYING THE 30 DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE WITH ME!

THERE ARE MORE NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES, AND TOMORROW - A BONUS ONE!

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THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 29

2012-01-29T03:56:00.001-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 29
GOD IS INTERCESSOR

We have all prayed for someone else, at one point or another. That is called Intercession...i.e. pleading their cause before God.

If and when God answers our prayers to the benefit of that person, it is His Will. If He does the opposite, it is still the Will of God! His Will and His Ways are perfect, whether we like it or not. But we press on.

In the Old Testament, believers had to go to the synagogue and have the priests pray for them. Since Christ, we now have direct access to the Throne of Grace and can press into and pray ourselves.

Even so, Romans 8:26-27 says "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Emphasis mine).

Therefore, this is how it works: we immediately know in the Spirit man or woman, if our prayers are meeting with agreement with Holy Spirit! Trust me! We do! If a christian is walking the Spirit-filled life, she or he will be sensitive to Holy Spirit's promptings and, if we are really fortunate, He allows us to have prophetic insight into whether the person you just prayed for will be healed or have a broken heart mended or whatever the issue is!

This is the dynamic power God gave us as He revealed in John 1:12! We pray in the Spirit, Who IS God and then transmits to Father God, in Jesus' Name!

There is a stunning example of Jesus interceding for Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32a "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Emphasis mine)

Here is God the Intercessor, in the Person of Jesus Christ! Notice Jesus did not pray for Satan to leave Peter alone! He prayed that Peter's Faith does not fail! So what happened not too long after that? Well, Peter boasted about his loyalty to Christ...and then denied Him thrice with curses! So, friends, you and I must be careful about the things we do and say when engaging in spiritual warfare....which is what is actually happening, depending on the level of Intercession.

Jesus' High Priestly prayer is the perfect living example of God as our Intercessor...or Prayer Warrior Advocate! I urge you to read John Chapter 17, by clicking here. In this chapter, Jesus first prayed for Himself (verses 1-5). Then He prayed for His disciples (verses 6-19). Jesus then prayed for all believers until the End of Time (verses 20-26).

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You, oh Most Holy and High God, that You are God and seated on the Throne. Father, I love, adore, praise, worship, magnify, glorify and lift up Your Mighty Name above all Names this day, which You have anointed to live fully in the Spirit - man for You...and You alone, in Jesus' Name.

I thank You most Holy Father for sending Your Spirit to live in us - all who believe in Your Son as the Lord of Heaven. I thank You that You gave Holy Spirit instructions to lift up our prayers and intercessions on behalf of others in a such way, that those prayers will be acceptable unto You.

I thank You that Jesus is our Intercessor and Prayer Advocate before the Throne! Lord, with Christ praying that our Faith not fail, how can it?! Lord, when Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He prayed that the glory You have Him, may now be ours! He prayed for unity between us believers and You, Almighty Abba in Heaven! Therefore, Lord I pray, in response, for Your church worldwide to stay on our knees, in one accord, until He comes!

He prayed for that unity to be so dynamic and powerful - that the World will see the Power of the Testimony of You living in and through us and therefore, come to know you and the Wonder of the Most High God. Therefore Lord, make me a living Bible to those with whom I come into contact.

He prayed and still prays that You, Father, continue to love us as You love Him! Lord I receive that Grace and Love! Thank you, Father.

Lord, Jesus used the word love or loved five times in three verses, Lord. He used the word know or known five times in the same three verses. Lord, for Your Glory, I accept that unconditional love You gave Your Son, when He prayed this, and which He passed on to us, because You so freely gave it to Him before the world even began! We now KNOW that Love and respond in complete awe, amazement and submission to Your will, oh God.

Father, I gave Holy Spirit permission to cleanse from within that I may be ready to intercede for someone else as Christ did, for us, in John 17 and still continues to, until He comes in glory, some day soon, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

(image by google images)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 28

2012-01-28T14:58:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 28
GOD IS THE HEAD

The head of anything moved the entire rest of the body...whether it is a physical body; an organization or a family. The tail can't wag the dog. The feet can't say to the hands "I don't need you".

Yet, many in the church act like they don't need the real Head of the Church - Jesus Christ! American culture has made celebrities out of pastors and worship leaders. We have thousands, even tens of thousands following this TV preacher, buying his books/dvds or cds. Supporters of a well known multi-campus church preacher in the south got really mean with me, years ago, because I questioned something his pastor said in a video right here in this blogsite!

I was the Southern Baptist Convention in North Carolina in 2006 and saw another multi-campus Texas preacher with a least three bodyguards, signing books just like any other secular rock star author...and on and on. Some of the worship leaders and christian artists are no different than their secular music counterparts.

Being involved in organizing Christian concerts for many years, I refuse to be involved in anything which brings any more big name artists to our city. I would rather give a boost to local church musicians than the better known names...which I will not name.

What all these people have in common if they forgot one thing - Who the Head of the Church is! It is not Pastor Joe or John or Mike....or worship band leader Mark, or Sean or Jaimie. It is JESUS - the Christ.

This is what the Word of God says about that: "And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all".(Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV)

The church is His. Father God set it up for His Son. He, as the Head, is the Good Shepherd. Any pastor of any church is an UNDER-shepherd and WILL be held accountable to God for every person who EVER sat in his church! He will be held accountable for all who were lost, while we were playing church.

But the Good news is that Jesus is our Mediator....meaning that He has paid the price for the church, at the Cross. 1 Timothy 2:5 says "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time".

As the Head Shepherd or Pastor, Jesus is the High Priest of Heaven! Hebrews 2:17 says "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people".

Colossians 1:18 also proves it "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent".

Therefore, Father, I thank You in the Name of Jesus that You ordained Christ as the High Priest of Heaven Who lives and ministers for the saint, forever before Your Throne!

I thank You that Jesus is our Advocate Who will stand for us before You on Judgment Day.

I thank You that Jesus is our Prayer Warrior, Who constantly prays for us before the Throne of God.

I thank You that Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who has leads us in worship, even when His under-shepherds - or our pastors - fall short. He does this through Holy Spirit Who directs us in the way we should.

I thank You that Jesus is still using many officers - prophets, evangelists and the sent-ones, to reach the lost around the World, so that He can return as He promised.

Father I pray for the church to fulfill the mission given it by Christ.

I pray for all pastors and leaders worldwide, who were called by you, or even if they are self-appointed, I pray they seek Your Face and blessing on their congregations and families always.

I pray for those who minister in hard to reach places. I pray for those who are persecuted in China, Africa and all moslem countries. I pray for those who minister in the inner cities of the western world and in increasingly restricted conditions here in the US and Canada.

Bless the Church oh Lord. I pray for us all who preach and teach the Gospel that it will reach hearts, minds and souls for Christ from here to the ends of the Earth...until He comes, in Jesus' Name, Amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS INTERCESSOR

(image by google images)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 27

2012-01-27T06:49:00.003-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 27
GOD IS ABBA (FATHER)

A childless couple adopts a baby, let us say, around 1960. Then the baby grows up to be a great kid, with straight A's in school and plays shortstop on the Varsity baseball team. His name is Scott.

After graduating, he goes to the local Junior college where he excels both in math, chemistry and still plays baseball for their team. After transferring his credits to the big four year state college, he graduates Magna Cum Laude and decides to accept a job offer with a local bank, whose manager has seen his name in the town weekly, ever since he played High School baseball.

This young man then falls in love and marries the boss' daughter, around say 1985. They have three kids, buy a home in a new subdivision and live happily ever after!

Now, Scott was adopted. The first thing his permanently new parents did was give Scott THEIR last name, because he belongs to them as a member of their family. Scott has all the rights, privileges and yes, responsibilities of being a legitimate member of that family. He is no less loved by Jack and Diane Smith, than if they had their own biological twins.

Scott is no less a member of the Smith family than Kristen, their miracle daughter who was born five years after Scott was adopted. In fact, no one would have ever known Scott was adopted until he himself mentioned it, when he became Mayor of his little town in 2010 and was honoring his dear parents!

Scott is us. His natural born sister, Kristen, is the Jewish people whom God called His chosen people. We are now all the same family in God. When God sent Jesus Christ to be the Jewish Messiah and they rejected Him, the second part of God's plan was revealed - save the rest of the world. Jesus sent one of His disciples biggest persecutors - Saul - to accomplish that job. Christ did that when He knocked him blind, off his horse when Saul was heading to Damascus to kill more Christians.

Saul met the Living Jesus in the Third Heaven, as he said, and promptly became Paul - the greatest evangelist the world has ever seen. Here is what Paul wrote about his OWN adoption (and ours) into God's family, as a result of his Conversion on the Road to Damascus:
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15-17 ESV)

That is correct - we are adopted sons and daughters of God and He is our Abba - our Daddy! The word Abba represents the father side of the equation of the father-child relationship in a family. It literally means just that - Dad! This Spirit of adoption which Paul talks about is the Holy Spirit - the Comforter - Who descends into us. The Spirit does that once we are saved and moved from a child of hell, to being a child of the Real God, sealed with the Blood of Christ, Which washed us clean!

Only the Christian, born-again through the Lord Jesus Christ, can legitimately claim to be an Adopted Daughter or Son of the Living God! Only we have the right to cry out to Him "Abba, Father"...and know He will hear us! Now, aren't you glad you are His?!

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, YOU are my Father in Heaven! You are my Daddy! You are my Creator; Provider; Protector; Nourisher; Healer; Banner...in fact I can go on and on until the end of time and still find amazing names to call You! You, oh God, are my All in All!

My Father in Heaven, hallowed, holy, righteous, pure and GREAT is Your Name! I thank You Lord for calling me out of the darkness which the Power of Sin had me living in, into the Kingdom of Your Marvelous Light.

I thank You, Lord, that You sent that Light, Jesus Christ, to be Savior of the World, because YOU, Oh God, are the Father of Lights Who giveth all good things to all Your people.

I thank You, Lord, that You sent the Spirit of that significant event of my salvation through the Cross. That Spirit is not only purely God, but wholly and Holy You! He not only testifies to the Truth of the Gospel and the Full Counsel of Your Word, He has sealed me until the Day of Redemption, when Jesus my Advocate stands before You as my Kinsman Redeemer and says "this one's Mine"! WOW!! PRAISE YOU, PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME!! WOOHOO!! AMEN!

I thank You, Lord, that this same Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Adoption as well as my Teacher and Guide because He testifies daily that I am truly a member of YOUR family...of YOUR Kingdom...and that I am truly saved by YOUR Son - Jesus, the King!

I thank You, Lord, that because of that Adoption, You have made me a joint Heir with Christ in the Eternal Kingdom where we will live together, learning and rejoicing and worshiping and thanking You forever and ever! Amen!

Thank You, Father, for just being You and loving me, even when I am at my most unlovable as Your adopted son, according to the Love and Works and Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom all perfection and glory resides...and it is in His Name I pray, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS, WELL, EVERYTHING!

(image by google images)

THIRTY DAYS OF PRAYER - DAY 26

2012-01-26T06:27:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 26
GOD IS EL SHADDAI

Whenever you see the word "EL" used as a prefix before another Hebrew word in the Bible, it is there for a reason. Those two letters mean God and come from a root word whose meaning is "power, might and strength"!

God is saying this about His Own Name: "you in the world have all your pagan gods but I AM THE ALL POWERFUL, THE ALL MIGHTY and THE ALMIGHTY GOD....and I can and will do anything I want!" When you read through the Old Testament, this is how the way it was....and still continues today...and will be through eternity!

Some examples of how the letter EL are:
El Echad - THE ONE TRUE GOD
EL Hanne'eman - THE FAITHFUL GOD
El Emet - THE GOD OF TRUTH and so one.

Just briefly, today EL SHADDAI means "The All-Sufficient God ALMIGHTY"! In Genesis 17:1 God says to Abraham " When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty (El SHADDAI); walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly".

The word Shaddai is a combination of "Sha" (who) and "DAI" (enough). In other words, God is saying He, and He along is sufficiently powerful enough set up the system for Abram (Abraham), in the passage above. He is saying "I am all powerful" but I can do just whatever I want...and I am choosing to make this Abrahamic Covenant with you, Abram".

This Almighty God can do the same for you and I today as He did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 4000 years ago! He is still in the business of Salvation, Protection, Provision and Nourishing us - those who believe in Him, through His Son Jesus Christ.

El Shaddai has given us the past 2000 years and until He comes, to get things in order, not just for our souls if we repent, make peace and are saved by Him. But He also gives us our Daily Bread and health and everything we have. We did not get this on our own. We may be the ones who earn the paycheck. But He got us that job. The house we live in, did not get here accident or the safe travel on the highway to and from work. That was all God. So pray with me right now....

Father in the Name of Jesus, what do I have that You, in Your Power and Strength did not give to me? The very clothes that I wear...the very food that I eat...the very car that I drive...the very home I live in...the very job I work at...the very spouse and children in our home... they are ALL from You, Abba Father.

You are the Maker, Provider and Sustainer of all things. You ordain, create and then nourish all things and all people. You gave Grace to the humble, but You also give good things to the entire world and especially those who do not believe in You and may even blaspheme You! In Your Power and Grace, You have mercy on the World, prospering and blessing them with good things, that some may be saved. Lord, they continue to deny Your very existence, but I know You, oh Lord!

The time is coming soon, when all this will end, when the world systems will be destroyed under the Power and Might of Your Word and when the Lamb returns to deal with those who have misused Your gifts of life and temporal happiness.

But Lord, I, choose to thank You, knowing where my very existence and provision come from - You...and You did because You could and wanted to. So this day, I bless You, in the Name of Jesus.

May I bless others as well, from my own family and our children and if You allow it, my children's children. I bless them like the blessing of Jacob in Genesis 49. I bless that mightily - "up to the bounties of the everlasting hills" (verse 26) and may that blessing be upon their brow....and may this blessing extend to all who read this and all my extended family.

Lord, I only do this because I have been touched by You, called by You and loved by You to serve and anoint others with Your Goodness. El Shaddai, oh God Most High, I love You, worship and I adore You, now and forever more, in Jesus' Name, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS FATHER (ABBA)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 25

2012-01-25T06:44:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 25
GOD IS COMFORTER

A comforter is a person or thing which provides consolation. A comforter is also an encourager or even, a counselor! A comforter is one who runs to our side and picks us up when we are down.

In this life, you and I may have such a person in our lives - a spouse; a mentor; a brother or sister in the Lord; a sibling and more. You can call that person in the middle of the night, when things are down....when tears are in your eyes...and you need a friend...you can count on them to be your friend, your sounding board, your bridge over troubled waters!

Do you have such a friend? Do you have someone who would fight for you...and advocate, if you will? Every man or woman should have a trusted friend of a mature age, on whom we can count. If you do not, I pray the Lord sends you one!

Jesus is such a friend. When He went back to heaven, Hebrews 7:25b says "He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf (our behalf...we who are saved)" It says Jesus "intercedes" for us. That means He is our Advocate! He stands up for us and pleads our case in Heaven before Father God...even now!

However, He did something more and this is the mystery of our Faith which no other cult or religion can come close to matching...because those other things do not exist! Jesus sent His Personal Representative be His Liaison from us, to Him!

The Holy Spirit - the actual Spirit of God - when He comes to reside in the live and spirit of the Believer, is in us for several reasons...and number one is Comforter.

In John 16:7, Jesus says "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".

Jesus knew His saints, His true saints, will face persecution and hard times all through Christian history. Being God Who became man, He also knew the human condition and our tendency to drift away or say and do stupid things. The Apostle Peter is a prime example! Peter was bombastic and boastful. He walked on water with Jesus....then sank when he took his eyes off him. Peter boasted he will not allow Jesus to go to the Cross. Jesus told him "Get thee behind me Satan". Peter cursed and denied Jesus three times. Yet Jesus chose Peter to be the Rock and the Head of His church!

So we have not been through things which others have not endured before. This is why the Holy Spirit - the Comforter - was sent to us. Jesus called Him our "Helper" because Jesus knew, man, these people are going to need so much help that only God Himself could help them!

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is our Counselor. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke Aramaic and this verse from Jesus in John 14:26 is from the Aramaic Bible itself as it perfectly translate what the Lord actually said....as opposed to our modern English Bibles "But He, The Redeemer of the accursed, The Spirit of Holiness, whom my Father sends in My name, He will teach you all things and He will remind you of everything whatsoever I have told you.”

That is powerful, my friends! When we don't know where to turn - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know what to do - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know whom to trust - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know what His Will is - Holy Spirit does. When we don't know how to pray - Holy Spirit does. He just does...this and more.

You can have His revelation. You can also stifle and quench and shove Him in the background. Because He is a gentleman, He will not force Himself on you. However, if you wish to have the best life possible, free from chains, bondage and confusion, it is my joy to tell you -LET HOLY SPIRIT do it! Let Him have full reign of your life, because He knows you better than you know yourself and He knows what Father God has in mind for you. He knows as Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". Amen

So let us pray:
Father, in the Name of Jesus, I come to You now in all sincerity and truth to express my wonder, amazement and complete gratitude that You, the Eternal God of Heaven, would even consider to allow Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness and Truth, to descend from Heaven after Christ saved me, to live inside of me.

Father, we know all believers have the same Spirit of all Excellence, of all Truth, of all Majesty and of all Holiness.

We know You sent Him to be our Counselor when we doubt. Our Comforter when we are without and our Advocate when useless prayers we spout.

We know we can shove Him aside so we can enjoy, no matter how temporary, the fleeting things of this world.

We know that many of Your people are not taught the true Attributes and Power of the Spirit because modern religion has become another business or means to empower a few.

We know because of that, many cannot access that dunamis, that Dynamic Power which You have given us in all Your Wisdom, Father.

So now, this day, in the Name of Jesus, I ask You activate my Spiritual Heart for Truth! By activating it, my spirit will be lined up with the Person and Power and Presence of Holy Spirit Who lives RIGHT NOW in me! By activating it, I can see the ways and wonders You have in store for me. By activating it, I can grow into the person YOU designed me to be.

Lord and not just activate it, but set my spiritual heart on fire! Set it on fire for You! Let me burn with the Fire of Your Holiness to shine the Light of Christ all around me in a dark and evil world. Set it on fire that many may see and want to know the same God You sent to live in me Who represents You!

I am ready, Lord God. I am ready to be set on fire for You. I am ready to fight the good fight. I am ready to finish the race and bring glory to You, in Jesus' Name amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS EL-SHADDAI

EXPLORATION OF JEREMIAH'S VISION OF CREATION

2012-01-24T18:55:00.001-06:00

Truth is relative to an individual’s maturity level. While God is the Truth, his children are all in a process of learning and growing in Him. Some of God’s children are breastfed while some are milk drinkers, and others have graduated to meat. We are all in a different level of learning so to one person truth may be at the milk level while to another person truth is at a meat level. With that understanding in mind it takes a willingness to love people where they are in this process.

Some people can be quite intolerant but that is not how we are to walk in love. God is calling his people and we are all in a process of learning about Him, therefore we should endeavor, personally, to study, as the word tells us, to show ourselves approved of God as workmen, needing not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We all are required to push ourselves to learn, rather than be spoon fed.

by Lori Clayton

As we explore other scriptures relating to our creation story, we find a section in Jeremiah that is quite interesting. In the context of this section, Jeremiah is prophesying to the Israelites that watchers, or gentiles would come and raise their voices against Israel because they have been rebellious toward God. Jeremiah 4:16-ff. God through Jeremiah says that destruction is coming because they did not know God. Then Jeremiah gives us a vision of the entire earth. What he sees is the destruction that happened in Genesis 1:2. Some might say that this is a future event but there are flaws in that argument which we will see later. After the vision, Jeremiah prophesy’s again that the Lord says the whole land shall be desolate. The first thing we have to take note of is the tense changing.

First Jeremiah prophesy’s in present tense, then tells us a vision in past tense (saw, was, were) then Jeremiah prophecies again in the future tense (shall, will). If we keep our tenses straight we can understand what he is saying. For our purposes we will look at Jeremiah’s past tense vision, which is not a prophecy, just the explanation of a vision. This is an example of understanding scripture in light of the context.

Jer 4:23-31 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.

Remembering Genesis1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.KJV The same Hebrew words for without form and void are used in Jeremiah’s vision.

Jeremiah sees the earth, not a city, not Israel, he sees earth formless and void, without light. There were mountains that moved and hills that moved which speaks of earthquakes. Then he says he sees no man, and birds fled, and the gardens and the ranchlands became a wilderness, and the cities were broken down. This means there were cities, that someone made, but there were no men anymore. The earth became empty, wasteland, and dark because the Lord was angry.

Let’s look at this section of scripture from two other translations

Jeremiah 4:23 I looked at the land - it was unformed and void - and at the sky - it had no light. 24 I looked at the mountains, and they shook - all the hills moved back and forth. 25I looked, and there was no human being; all the birds in the air had fled. 26 I looked, and the fertile fields were a desert, all the land's cities were razed to the ground at the presence of ADONAI, before his burning anger. (Complete Jewish Bible http://www.biblestudytools.com/cjb/)

READ THE REST OF THIS AMAZING ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 24

2012-01-24T04:47:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 24
GOD IS GRACE

I heard about an experience a man had at the local mall several years ago, when he backed his huge car out of a parking spot during the busy Christmas season. The problem was, he said he was not paying attention and promptly backed into the front of another car coming up the aisle! From all accounts, this old piece of Detroit steel, which seniors are known to drive, did little or no damage to the fairly new car he plowed backwards into!

The driver of the other car, got out and proceeded to tell the aging gentleman not worry about it as there was no damage! The man told me, immediately the Holy Spirit spoke these words over and over to him "Great Grace....Great Grace"! This man could have gotten a ticket or worse, even sued by the car owner he backed into...because we live in such a time. But it WAS the Grace of God that nothing happened and both men parted in well, grace and peace!

This is how God is with us. We do stupid things and commit sin knowingly. We commit sins of the flesh and thought and everything imaginable. God could easily wipe us off the face of this map with one word and in the blink of an eye. But He chooses not too, because He is Grace.

The definition of Grace is unmerited favor. We do nothing for it. In fact, if we get our just desserts, we'd be in a world of hurt. But, God....woohoo...but, God - He looked down and had compassion on us and gave Grace. His Name is Grace. His Character is full of Grace. He IS the GOD of GRACE.

Grace has been described as God's Riches At Christ's Expense...and it is! It is THE most expensive gift ever! It cost GOD the SON EVERYTHING! He poured Himself out from heaven to be abused and killed by the scum of the Earth, so that we may have reconciliation with Heaven...because of GRACE. It cost Christ EVERYTHING! It costs us nothing to obtain!

It was Grace, Grace God's Grace, Grace that is greater than ALL my sin which brought me out of darkness into Light...and it all happened at the Cross!

God resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble. Are you humble today? Do you need a touch of His Hand today? Are you even under Grace or under Law? Are you saved by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone...or are you trusting in your own so-called Goodness?

Do you have Saving Grace which rescues us from Judgment?
Do you have Sustaining Grace which lifts you up?
Do you have Sanctifying Grace to grow in Him?
Do you have Serving Grace to help others?
Do you have Sovereign Grace to glorify Him?

If you do...or wish to, let's pray right now:

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You for being God Who gives Grace and offers Grace to the lost and formerly arrogant! I thank You that You have given us of Yourself rather than what we deserve, which is death and destruction!

Lord, You said in Ephesians 1:5-8 that You "predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of YOUR will, to the praise of YOUR glorious GRACE"....for that, I am in awe and throw myself at Your feet in gratitude.

You said in that same passage that You "blessed us in the Beloved (Jesus) and that in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses".... Lord, thank You for Calvary and the Precious Blood of the Lamb, which was shed for all mankind on that day....and the Blood whose Crimson flow comes in like a tide to make us as white as snow!

You said again in those verses that it was "according to the riches of HIS GRACE, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight"...and Father, that wisdom and insight was Yours. YOU came up with that amazing plan to rescue men and women from the pit we were heading to, because of Adam's sin.

Father God, I am eternally grateful and surrender all to you, because Your Saving Grace sustains me daily. Your Sustaining Grace energizes and carries me through difficult times so that your Sanctifying Grace could grow me into the person YOU wish me to be.

Lord, let me serve others with the Sovereign Grace You imparted to me when You called me to be Your son that they may see You, in me, and proceed to Glorify You, my Father in Heaven....to the Power and Majesty of His Name, the Name above all Names, amen and amen!!

TOMORROW: GOD IS COMFORTER

(image by google images)

LORA ROSSI'S WRITINGS - FAMILY, FUN, WELLNESS, RAISING BOYS & MORE

2012-01-23T17:12:00.002-06:00

Many of you have asked for an easy place to access my published work outside of my blog, and since I am a freelance writer & blogger, I wanted to put together a page outlining the magazines, sites and organizations for which I am a Contributing Writer in some way, shape of form.

These links will take you to post(s) that talk about these awesome companies/organizations that noticed my work and have given me much needed exposure - and in some cases, are paying me for my writing!

(I will also continue to do occasional "guest blogger" posts on a number of sites and that will continue, but these will not be listed here. maybe another page is needed for that!)

Much gratitude to the fine folks at the following organizations!

What's Up Magazine (National Family Magazine, both in print and online) - Regular Contributing Freelance Writer

Compassion2One (US-based Charity helping children get out of the horrible sex trafficking trade) - Canadian Awareness Director / Editorial Writer & Blogger - currently working on an important series about the sex trafficking trade in Canada

Vividlife (Huge, Canadian website dedicated to helping people live their best, authentic lives) - Contributing Writer

Wellx (Otherwise known as WellnessX, a US-based hub for wellness professionals) - Regular Contributing Writer

Yummy Mummy Club (One of Canada's largest websites for moms and founded/owned by Canadian celebrity Erica Ehm, this site aims to communicate that moms are also dynamic, vivacious women) - Contributing Writer, Yummy Mummy Member Blogger, Proud Member

Raising Boys World (US-based website aimed at providing resources for parents of boys) - Contributing Writer

Women Business Owners Today (Canadian-based on-line network for women business owners) - Contributing Writer

I will add to and change this list as things happen, but here is a start!

For more information on my freelance writing, please e-mail me at lora.rossi@hotmail.com

Smiles,

Lora

Lora Rossi

Owner/Founder

Writer/Blogger

The Hugging Home

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 23

2012-01-23T05:47:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 23
GOD IS WRATHFUL

Think about this for a second - Holy Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are up in heaven looking down on the unformed mass called planet Earth. Jesus speaks our world into existence and then all Three say "Let Us make man in Our Image".

Adam the perfect man is breathed into existence, given everything and a beautiful woman....except one thing - Do not eat from that Tree! Sure enough, Adam broke covenant with the Maker and all hell has since broken loose! It got so bad around the time of Noah that God Himself regretted publicly that He even made mankind (Read Genesis 6).

There was not just vile and evil acts of men - murder, mayhem, greed, pride, idolatry, devil-worship etc.. - but the fallen angels were committing a no- no! Angels, who were created before man, began having sexual relations with women, because they saw how beautiful women were. This created the Nephillim as well as a breed of giants.

In His Wrath, God destroyed the earth once by the Great Flood, when only Noah and his family were spared.
In His Wrath, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, not just for sexual perversion, but for the sins of pride, greed and idolatry.
In His Wrath, God destroyed the northern Kingdom of Israel, after they abandoned Him and committed the worst acts any human can devise.
In His Wrath, God destroyed Judah and Jerusalem by sending the Babylonians, after they did the same and both ignored prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah.

This is God's Corporate Wrath, where He judges an entire people. But what mortal men and women should be concerned about is His Personal Wrath! For 2000 years, the world has ignored the plain-as-day Message of Reconciliation brought from Heaven by Holy God, in the form of the Lord Jesus. The Ancient of Days, stepped off His Throne, gave up all His Rights to be born a baby in Bethlehem and lived for 33 years as a lowly man.

He showed us the Father in Heaven.
He showed us the Love of God.
He showed us the Salvation of God.
He showed us the Way to God.
He showed us the Grace of God.

He was beaten. He was humiliated. He was persecuted and then killed by religious men. Yet He said not a word except "IT IS FINISHED". For that living Sacrifice of God, Who gave the explicit way back to Him, so that Adam's sin can be paid for, through all time, has been trivialized by evil men and women until today.

The majority will continue to rebel against Him. While they see no judgment coming, they live in perpetual sin and degradation. They mock God. They blaspheme God. They spit in His Eye. They curse Him. They deny Jesus Christ and more. They have no idea they are storing up Wrath for themselves. But a day is coming, declares the Lord. Read the following two distinctive passages from the prophet Nahum and then pray with me:

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD is avenging and wrathful;
the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
(Nahum 1:2-3 ESV)

Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
The LORD is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
(Nahum 1:6-8 ESV)

Father in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You are patient with us. I thank You that You did not destroy us again, after the Great Flood, where You gave Your rainbow as a covenant You will never flood the earth like that again to wipe out evil man and his sin.

I thank You that You gave a way of escape from the coming Wrath and Judgment through the Passover Lamb, Who died on the Cross for my sins. I thank You that You gave us the church age so that we may be saved, before the Day comes when it is no longer available.

Lord, day after day, night after night, many of all ages, including those who call themselves Christians die in their sins because, for their own stupid personal reasons, they refuse to come to You, to seek forgiveness and make their peace with You. Countless billions will spend eternity in Hell and the Lake of Fire, away from You, because they believed the Lie from the Pit.

They believed the Lie that it's okay to believe what they want.
They believed the Lie that they can say what they wish against the Lord Jesus.
They believed the Lie that there are other ways to You and Heaven apart from Jesus.
They believed they Lie that they can live as they wish, with no cost..."because in the end, it will all work out"!
They believed the Lie that a "Loving God won't send me to hell", while rebelling against You all the days of their lives.

While they believe all those Lies, Father, they stored up Wrath for themselves, which they will realize on the moment of their death, means eternal separation from You. Still, while they stored all of that up, You gave them the way of escape through Belief and Forgiveness through the Son, Jesus...and they continue to ignore it. You could wipe all that away, if they would just come to the Cross!!!!

Father, in these last days, I pray many will open their eyes and hearts, before it is too late for them...and I pray many will see the signs of the Times and confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord....and BE SAVED through His Blood and His Name, amen and amen! Oh God, let it be so, in Jesus' Holy and Precious Name, amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS FULL OF GRACE

(image by google images)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 22

2012-01-22T05:41:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 22

GOD IS FAITHFUL

There was once a king, who grew up in the presence of a family who bowed down to both pagan gods and Jehovah God Himself. This king remained faithful. In the midst of the enemies of God, he drew a line and never crossed it.

When the enemy surrounded him, he and his spiritual advisor cried out to God and reassured their people that they should "be strong and courageous, because the Lord our God will go before us and fight their battles"! This occurred during Year 14 of his reign.

This leader, King Hezekiah, prayed a childlike prayer which both you and I should remember. He prayed the following: 2 Kings 19:14-19 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.
“It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”

This leader, King Hezekiah, remained faithful to the Lord. God sent His Angel, who killed 185,000 of the enemy in their tents over that same night. When the enemy's leader, Sennacharib, woke up that morning and saw all his men dead, he retreated to Assyria.

Now here is where it got interesting. Right at that time, Faithful King Hezekiah became deathly ill with what many of us believe to be an extreme form of skin cancer (or the Bible calls is a boil on the skin). God sent His prophet Isaiah to tell King Hezekiah to put his house in order, because he was going to die!

Hezekiah again prayed another child-like prayer in tears and supplication! He prayed this simple prayer: "Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.(Isaiah 38:2-3 ESV)

God proved Himself FAITHFUL to those who are faithful to Him! In the very next two verses of Isaiah 38, Jehovah Rapha - God Who Heals, sent a message to King Hezekiah via Isaiah "Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life". (Isaiah 38:5 ESV)

Scripture and secular history books from both Egypt and Assyrian, confirmed that Hezekiah lived another 15 years after it was well known, the king had a deadly disease, from Judah to Babylon!

God's Name is Faithful!

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, Numbers 23:19 says God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? God You proved that when You fought the battles for King Hezekiah.

You not only fought the battle against Sennacharib and Rabshakah and destroyed evil, but You fought the battle against cancer and delivered Your Faithful servant Hezekiah from it. Because You gave him 15 more years to live, many in the ancient world came to Jerusalem to visit him and saw Your Glory and witness Your Sovereign will and power.

Father, today, that Faithfulness to Your promises to never leave and/or forsake us, no matter what battles in life we face, stands. You are Eternal Father, All Creation worships You. I do. I will. I always will. Even if you never add 15 or 20 or 30 years to my mortal life, I will. Even if you never destroy those who persecute me, I will. Even if You heal the enemy and cause me to fail, I will.

I will adore You. I will glorify You. I will magnify Your Name through all the Earth.

Psalm 145:13 says "The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made". Father God, I believe that. I know You love me, because You sent Your own son to die for me and then called me to His Salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:20 says "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "YES" in Christ. And through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the Glory of God"!

Wow, Father! Thank you for that Precious Precious Word.

You, oh God are Faithful! Your mercy endureth forever, oh God! Because Your promises are Yes and Amen, I can rest secure in my Faith in Christ and my faithfulness to You, just as Your servant Abraham! Father, I count on Your promises because when You say it, I believe it.

Lord, I believe that, right now, in the Name of Jesus, there is someone reading this who is going through a major health or relationship issue. Father, I pray right now...right now, that they will turn to You in tears and supplication and pray this same prayer King Hezekiah prayed “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.”

Father, may they pray that prayer, with all submission of a heart committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and may they believe, in His Name, that You will never leave or forsake them in their marriage, their health, their parenting (if a parent) or their relationship with peers (in school, business or community).

God Your Name is Faithful. When the Lord Jesus returns on His Great white horse of Heaven, Revelation 19:11 says "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True"...Faithful and True! And it is in this Only One True Faithful and Wonderful Son of God I believe, pray and obey, Jesus Christ NOW AND FOREVER.....Jesus Christ - YES AND AMEN, amen and amen!!!!

TOMORROW: GOD IS WRATHFUL

(image by google images)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 21

2012-01-21T03:21:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 21

GOD IS WISE

The Bible says that God has chosen the foolish things of this world, to confound the “wise”. The prophet Isaiah recorded the fall of the Lucifer, the most beautiful angel ever created and how he tried to elevate himself above the Creator. The full account can be read HERE. As a result, Man in his arrogance has assumed the position of knowing more than Almighty God Who created him!

This happened long before God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1. Therefore, when Satan the serpent, approached Eve in Genesis 3 and tricked her into eating the Forbidden Fruit from the Tree, from which God has warned then to partake, there was already trouble in paradise. God had already sworn that He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and frustrate the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Corinthians 1: 18-19)!

What God has ordained, said and preached in Heaven, Jesus confirmed – it will NEVER be broken. God is not a man and cannot lie. His Word is established in the Heavens. He has already said that “His Ways are not our ways”.

God is Wise. His Wisdom cannot be fathomed. If we wish to be in on what He is doing, in these last days, there is a simple requirement – THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS BEGINNING OF WISDOM. We shall discuss more on the Fear of the Lord on a different day.

The Wisdom of God is far superior to all the riches and intelligence of man. All the Harvards, Princetons and MITs of this world could come close to an inkling of the Imagination and the Infinite Wisdom of the One True God. All the books; movies; theories; educators; politicians and scientists of this world have a fraction of true wisdom, compared to the amazing Mind Who created, for example, the Human Body or the life support system we have all around us.

We take it all for granted. We talk endlessly about our accomplishments. We boast about our "power". We even oppressed fellow citizens to hold on to that power. But the Lord has a Word for all of this, from His Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

“As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:1-6 ESV)

He proves by His Eternal and Unbroken Word that He is watching, He is wise and He will judge. He will judge those who are not of the King, Jesus. But He also gives even evil rulers and subjects another chance at eternal Life, if we will just obey and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. From the same Psalm 2, God says:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,

for His wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him....(Psalm 2:10-12 ESV)

Two things to notice about our Only Wise God:

1. He wants us to have the wisdom of Heaven.

2. He wants us...and all mankind...to be on the alert, that if we do not "Kiss the Son", fear and seek salvation from Him, the Wrath of God will be the result and all these geniuses and elites from Academia, Media and politics will be cast straight into hell!

Note, when God says "Kiss the Son" in Psalm 2:12 above, the actual Hebrew word "nashaq" means to "fasten" or "attach" oneself to the Son - the Lord Jesus!

Father in the Name of the Son, I thank You that You made the offer here in Psalm 2:12, in Your everlasting and eternal Wisdom and Grace, for all mankind to Kiss the Son. You made that offer when You sent the Lord Jesus to die on the Cross outside Jerusalem in 33 AD for all the sins of mankind, for all time.

Lord, in Your Infinite Wisdom, You looked down the road at our helpless estate, from the fall of Adam and Eve, felt pity on us and then provided the Way, in Truth, back to Life in You!

Father God, right now, I attach myself, I fasten myself to the Son, the Lord Jesus. Lord, nothing in this world I bring, only to Thy Cross I cling. I love You and worship and praise and adore and magnify Your Name above all the earth.

You have taken the foolish things of this world to confound the "wise".
You see the entire forest and not the trees or the busy body things which perishing and lost souls chase after in their folly.

You see the beginning to the end, and observe the evil plots and designs of mortal men.

You scoff at them in Your True Wisdom.

Lord, I bow down before You. I seek to be like You. I seek to have as close to the Mind of Christ as I can as any mortal man can and live, because I wish to see with His Eyes.

I wish to love with His Heart.

I wish to act as He does.

I can only do that, Father, if I completely committed and sold out to the Person and the Lordship of the Son, to Whom I belong.

Thank You, that in my sin and lost state, You looked down from Heaven and pulled me out of the quicksand and gave me Your Spirit, that I may discern and begin on the Road to the Authentic Wisdom of Heaven. I thank You and sing Glory to You forever more, in the Name of the Son and King of Heaven - the Lord Jesus Christ Who is coming to rule one day from Mt. Zion. Amen and amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS FAITHFUL

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 20

2012-01-20T02:20:00.002-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 20

GOD IS JEHOVAH-NISSI (THE LORD IS MY BANNER)

The practice of going into battle with a banner or a standard before you, is as old as the Bible - literally!

The book of Exodus, Chapter 17:8-16 records the famous battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. It is famous because it contains the account of Moses high up from the battle. Whenever Moses held his hand up, the Israelites would be winning the war. When his arms grew tired and fell to his side, the Israelites started losing and would be beaten back!

Finally Moses' brother Aaron and Hur, came up to Moses and both men held up Moses' hands so he won't get tired. Aaron and Hur did that until sundown and the great Joshua, God's General, had completely beaten the evil Amalekites!

The Lord told Moses to write down this account in a book (now called Exodus). Moses built an altar to the Lord and called it "THE LORD IS MY BANNER" or Jehovah-Nissi! He declared "He is my Banner, a Hand upon the Throne of the Lord!! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation"!

Amen.

As a side note, God did war against Amalek again in the Bible. There was a man in the book of Esther named Haman who tried to destroy the Jews again, just like his ancestors - the Amalekites. This was when God chose both Mordecai and Esther to save his people. God's woman - Esther- became the Queen of Persia!

THE LORD IS MY BANNER (or Standard).

His Standard goes before us today. You and I, who are saved, follow the Blood-stained banner of the Cross of Christ. The Cross is our Standard. Our spiritual hearts are the altars. Our bodies, the Temple (of the Holy Spirit). We sacrifice ourselves at this altar daily to our one True God.

Father in the Name of Jesus, I thank You, oh God Most High, that You have given us the Victory against our own Amalekites - the modern day demons of sin, lust, greed and the flesh.

God, my Father, You are the Standard, the Plumbline of Truth, the Banner of Truth, Who goes before me and fights all my battles and wins them, just as You did for Your great general Joshua, who took Your people into Canaan, the Promised Land.

Lord, Moses held up his hands and Your Servant Joshua won the Battle. But, Lord, he needed help, because his hands got tired! Today, of Father in Heaven, we who wait upon You will never get tired, if we follow You as You said. We will run and never get tired. We will soar like the eagles.

Today, oh Lord, we fly under the Blood-stained banner of the Lord Jesus Christ...my Lord and Savior. Jesus set the standard when He gave all at the Cross, that we might be saved and grafted into the Kingdom. I accept that Standard for my life.

Jesus told me take up my own Cross daily and follow Him. That banner of the Cross goes before me as a symbol of my undying surrender to Him and my perpetual dying to the deeds of my flesh.

Jesus told me His Word is Truth and the Scripture cannot be broken. That banner of the Word of God is embedded on my heart and mind and goes before me as the Living Bible and Word in action, as I seek to walk in Christ's Light daily.

Jesus told me the Counselor, the Helper will come to lead me unto all Truth. That banner of the Holy Spirit has firm hold of my eternal soul and access to the very core of my being, in order that all 9 Fruits of the Spirit will shine through me, as a banner of Christ's Love and Salvation living within me.

I thank You God for that privilege.
I thank You God for that honor.
I thank You God for that Truth.
I thank You God for that free gift from You!

I lift up my hands in Praise as Moses did.
I will never tire of worshiping You in everything.
I will lift up my heart in Praise.
I will lift and exalt Your Holy Name daily, for it is Good and I will seek to inspire many to come to Faith and Trust in You, in the Mighty Name of Christ Jesus, the King, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS WISE

(image by bing images)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 19

2012-01-19T04:39:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 19

GOD IS SOVEREIGN

One of the many definitions of Sovereign is "An almighty monarch or ruler....who possesses the ultimate or supreme power" (basically, to do as he wills). Many kings of the earth (and some queens) have exercised that, to the detriment of their subjects. History records one of the most brutal monarchs was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Known as Bloody Mary, she brutalized and killed many who did not agree with her state run church at the time. Most of her victims were Christians. However, one in particular scared the daylights out of her. His name was John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church.

Knox was well known as a prayer warrior who specialized in Imprecatory prayer (which is prayer, as King David did in Psalm 35, asking God to deal harshly with one's enemies). Knox was a like a thorn in the side of Bloody Mary. She is known to have said "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than ALL the assembled armies of Europe"!

Here is the absolute monarch of Britain, afraid of one man praying to a God! While imprecatory prayers are not to be trifled and played around with, Prayer in General to the Supreme Monarch of the Universe is not just highly recommended but mandatory for the believer!

Think about the Royalty in Heaven: Father God - Abba - is Sovereign. I mean, He sits on His Throne RIGHT NOW-RIGHT NOW, and myriads of angels attend Him in His Court! Then Jesus...oh my Jesus! How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds, in a believer's ears!

Jesus is called the King of Kings three times in the New Testament and if you click here, a new window will pop up with one page carrying ALL three verses!
In 1 Timothy 6:15, He shows He is the King of Kings.
In Revelation 17:14, the stupid rulers of this world will line up one day soon to fight the Lamb - Jesus, Whom they will never defeated, because He is the King of Kings.
In Revelation 19:16. He returns on His white horse and on His robe is written "King of Kings"!

Friends, this is the REAL Monarch and Supreme Commander of all things! There is no other! Therefore, read this passage and pray with me:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
(1 Chronicles 29:11-13 ESV)

Father, in the Name of Jesus, Majesty, Ruler of the Universe, Almighty and Most Sovereign Lord, I come to You now, on bended knee, in all humility, praising You for Who You are!

Lord there is none like You. No one else can make the stars shine, the seas to roar and the wind to sing. No one else can cause the mountain to break open yet deliver and delicate snowflake, of which, no two are alike! No one else can send a fish to swallow Jonah, yet use two fish and some loaves of barley to feed thousands with many baskets of leftovers.

My God and My King, You rise above the Heavens where You have been seated from time eternal to infinity. My puny mind cannot grasp the true Regal Nature of Your Glory in the Heavens or the power worship right now, before You, in the Throne Room! It just floors me, Abba Father!

You give Grace to the Humble, Judgment to the evil.
You give Riches untold, some of them material and temporal things.
You give Good things to those who blaspheme and curse You, because You are good and generous....and with the hope that many will be saved regardless.
You give Strength, health and true joy every morning to those who walk in Your Anointing and seek You out daily!

Great is Your faithfulness, Lord unto me and everyone whom You have called by name to be a daughter or son of the Living God.

O Sovereign God, Who maketh and knoweth all, I worship You in the Fullness of Your Glory and bask in Your Holy Presence this wonderful day that You have made! Thank You, my master! I remain, ready to do Your Perfect Will, in the Name of Jesus,
Amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS JEHOVAH-NISSI

(image by google images)

THE PILGRIMS OF DISPERSION

2012-01-18T19:03:00.000-06:00

by RICK AND DANA STASSI

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1 (KJV)

We are a stranger in this land. We are on a new path and as we walk, one-by-one, we are joined by others who are strangers too. We strangers are pilgrims on a sojourn through our time and place here to seek, to listen, and to emanate the truth of the Lord. We are in God’s image He had foreknowledge of. He sees before, during, and after. We are in awe of the Lord and walk upon this earth sojourning in reverence of Him. We rest in our reverence. It is the beginning of our wisdom.

The Lord authored our separation, the core of why we are strangers. We are set apart from this world as God does a work on us. We left our homes and our old selves, to walk where He guide us with hands of strength, a voice of wisdom, and a heart of love. Work on us! Mold our hearts! We know where we came from and dream of where we go for eternity, but what must we do now? God will show us. We are sanctified by our submission to Jesus, therefore, the Spirit is within.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

We hold captive this message, Lord, we embrace the Spirit in us. He guides us in our sanctifying process. He does a good work each day. We rest in our sanctity. AMEN.

We are saved by the blood of the unblemished Lamb. Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega. We are cradled in time by the eternal endpoints of the Lord and we are safe. We rest in Him. We need not have angst over thing to come or things of the past, we must just be pilgrims sojourning in the Light.

The sprinkled blood of Jesus, the Light, is salvation. It heals, protects, and fortifies. I plead it over us pilgrims now! We are His flock, both the Shepard and the unblemished Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Jesus is hope. He died and resurrected. There is rebirth and restoration in that. We are dispersed from Calvary in our many directions to show this image, to emanate Light, to be joyful in our hope of the Resurrection. We rest in the Resurrection.

…and through His blood, we are incorruptible. We cannot be defiled for what force shall overtake He who is infallible, omnipotent, and omniscient? We are pilgrims dispersed: equipped in His very nature and He nor His nature shall abandon us. We rest in His peace.

In the Lord, we shall not fade away but be a powerful presence and witness to Him. Our sojourn is not in vain, but with purpose. We await our inheritance reserved in heaven. We skip no steps in our journey. God sees and places us on our continuous path for His purpose, for our good.

All will see one day as true salvation is revealed and Jesus triumphs in His return. We are at rest in His arms, in His hope, and walking from Calvary to our place of Dispersion, the path God sets for each of us, and we are strangers in this land for the world is confounded. God thank You that the Light, Jesus, will penetrate confusion and bring Your children home .

VISIT RICK'S BLOG: EMANATING JOY

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 18

2012-01-18T02:49:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 18
GOD IS MERCIFUL

A definition of Mercy I have seen describes it as "Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm"!

This perfectly describes our Holy God! The great and wonderful favorite prophet of mine - Jeremiah wept over the destruction of Jerusalem when God sent the Babylonians to accomplish His Will at the time. For the first two and a half chapters, Jeremiah "lamented" the ruins and devastation which Judah's idolatry and paganism had wrought, but then he said these famous words:
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV)

Over 2000 years later, these words led to the great hymn of the Faith "Great is Thy Faithfulness"!

Merciful is His Name! Almighty God is the God of Mercy!

Look again at the definition of Mercy .."compassion ..toward someone..." whom it is within One's power to punish! God is going to punish sin and whether we admit it or not, we are ALL sinners. Sin will either be punished or it can be paid for, and the penalty removed.

For the majority of the world, which lives in rebellion, they WILL be punished. That includes weak or fake Christians!

But if the Lord is YOUR portion. If He is YOUR Savior, the penalty will be removed. This penalty will be pardoned. In this life, the consequences of sin may linger, but God's Grace and Love will get you through it.

ACTION POINT TODAY, READ & PRAY THIS SHORT PASSAGE:
But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
(Deuteronomy 4:29-31 ESV)

CLAIM THIS PORTION OF THE PASSAGE:
For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME:
Father, in the Name of Jesus and most Merciful and Gracious God, thank You for Your love for sinners such as I. Lord, You saw us in our weakened estate, lost and drifting into oblivion as we are, yet You reached down through Christ and pulled us out of the muck and mire and put a new song in our heart, a hymn of Praise to our God - YOU, Abba Father!

You had every right to punish and destroy Jerusalem as Your servant Jeremiah saw and to send disasters all around us today, but still oh God, You have withheld Your Mighty Hand of Judgment against us, until that day, so that many will be saved and come to know You as God, as the One True God of Heaven!

Father, from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord is greatly to be praised and I praise Your Mercy. I praise Your Kindness. I praise Your Goodness. I praise Your Holiness. I praise Your Worthiness.

You, oh God are worthy to be praised! Your mercy endureth forever!

You, oh God are worthy of worship! Your Majesty shines over all the earth!
You, oh God are worthy of wonder! Your Rule over the universe is Sovereign!
You, oh God are worthy of fear! Your Justice will prevail in days to come!

You, oh God are worthy of respect! Your Truth is embedded through eternity!
You, oh God are worthy of surrender! Your Presence will make every knee bow!
You, oh God are worthy of ALL, Your mercy endureth forever!

Lord, You are my Portion in the Land of the Living, an oasis in a dry and thirsty land and I love only You and thank You, with all my heart and soul and mind, in the Name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, amen and amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS SOVEREIGN!

(IMAGE BY BING IMAGES)

2012-01-17T19:19:00.000-06:00

MINISTRIES OF MEN

by Crystal Banks Tait(Bankie)

CRYSTAL BANKS TAIT

2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

That verse came to me when I saw a new ministry within a local church. Do not involve yourself in ministries of men. Stay with the ministries of God which please HIM. That is how I knew I shouldn't be involved in that ministry. It got me to thinking though.

I have quite a few things on the go. My first blog is this blog, Love4AMAZED. I meant for it to be a parenting and family oriented blog because I have a big passion for families, including my own :) If what we go through can encourage and help others I really want to be able to do that. I started blogging on MSN Live Spaces and carried the blog over when Spaces closed down. Love4AMAZED is likely the only thing I do that wasn't "Inspired".... directly anyhow.

I then started God's Word for 365 in the summer to blog about and read God's Word Daily and be held accountable via blog. I just started blogging that on my Love4AMAZED blog to keep things simple. But I found that intertwining the two was difficult because I had family and child revelations that I wanted to share that didn't really fit in with my GW4365 that day or what have you.

Most recently I have started Eating4God, a record of my journey in eating as a way for honouring and worshipping God, feeding our spirit instead of feeding our flesh. A vision started this blog as well... my first vision in a dream.

BUT. My FIRST BIG passion is ACTION.. :) I didn't know it at the time but ACTION. was my first vision. That explains why it all seemed to real... it's kind of funny to me know that I know what it is that I jumped so quickly on it. ACTION 2.5 years after the vision isn't even really on the table. But I still have a phone line, fax line and web domain for ACTION.! lol The vision was so real to me that I know it's going to come to pass, I'm just waiting for God's timing :)

That is alot of things on the go isn't it? Some people might think it's too much on the go if you add in our 6+1 children to the mix :) I would agree with those people likely... but since I am the one that have started all of them and now I sit wondering how to juggle all of them, I have to disagree :)

I have tried with all of these mini ministries to gain "friend" support or family support to no avail. I mean obviously I have a few family members that support me but when I have over 100 family members on facebook and the ones that have spend the most time with me don't support my mini ministries it's difficult. I have tried to get my church peeps support or church support to no avail. There is really nothing that I have tried to start that has gone any where... and yet here I sit continuing to "start" things. Some people would wonder why I bother since clearly nobody I know is intending on supporting me in my efforts. And THIS blog is the answer.

Every single thing that I have started, every facebook fan page, blog, flyer, handout, plan that I have started was given to me by way of a vision from God. Do you know what that means? It means that I didn't really start it at all.... it means that God did. Now the revelation to this is that since all of these things are NOT mine and I am simply doing what I have been asked to do with them, I am not as disheartened when people reject them. I see it for what it is, people rejecting God. Which makes me sad on some other levels and yes I have to fight the devil about not getting any personal support but at the end of the day, ACTION., GW4365, Eating4God is all God's.

In the spring of 2011 I had a vision for a children's ministry outline. Wow was I on fire for that. I thought maybe God gave it to me to write curriculum or maybe God's intention was to send me down that path! I was so excited for it! I was laying in my bed trying to sleep and these thoughts and word flooded my brain and I knew what it was right away! A vision for the kids ministry program! I was so thankful I couldn't stop thanking God for the gift! I can't remember the name that came to me for it now ... I still have the notes but I won't bother to go search them out now.

I had SUCH a fire and an excitement and I was SO excited to share this vision with my church's kids ministry to implement! I knew that THIS was God's vision for this church. I shared my vision and my passion for this vision, I had a meeting and poured out all my ideas, inspirations, experience from Home & School volunteer time and at the end of the day I was politely told that after sharing this vision given to me and after the ministry was going to implement almost all of my ideas, that I was to longer have part in it. Obviously the story is bigger than that but that is the condensed version. Not that any of those details mattered then or now. God showed me so much through that situation and it took me a long time.. okay like almost a year to see this for what it was.

The kids ministry program and outlines and ideas were a vision that God GAVE to me. Most of it was implemented and I see the fruits of that vision today. I'm not involved in it but God's will is being done. At the end of the day that's all that matters. I am very very happy that I was able to be used by God to help bring about some change that He wanted to show us. It just took me awhile to appreciate the situation for what it was. God using me. WOW :) I like it :) None of it was of me, it was ALL of Christ. I was just the messenger being taught some lessons along the way.

ACTION. or GW4365 or Eating4God... are all visions that God GAVE ME. As long as I am faithful in doing what he has shown me and asked me to do, THAT is all that matters. I don't know how these visions will be used but I MUST be faithful in what God has asked me to do with them. And I know it's going to be awesome! Tomorrow I'm going to delve into some plans I have been inspired by for GW4365. The reason I love GW4365 so much is because it has honestly changed my life.

Reading the Bible now for almost six months everyday has completely and utterly changed my life. I know why God lead me to this... it's His heart for US to be close to Him! Everything becomes clearer, I know who I am in Christ ten-fold what I did before I started on my GW4365 journey. Now I'm going to ramp it up! & hopefully I'm going to share that with you tomorrow!

Until then God Bless you! Be BOLD in the things that God has given you! Even if you do it alone, DO IT. If God is for you who can be against you?

2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

THAT is my main goal. & THAT is why I do what I do and why I create blogs and record different journeys.... and throw ideas out to who I am told to throw ideas out to... I want to please MY Commanding Officer :) The love of my life, Jesus Christ.

If you haven't had the pleasure of knowing Jesus Christ in an intimate relationship I urge you to Accept Jesus as your Saviour now, say that you believe He died on the cross for your sins and confess that you are a sinner in need of the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ :) & start your journey in being a disciple of Christ :)

As always if you would like me to pray for you just let me know. I don't need to know details. God is a BIG God and the Holy Spirit will guide me in prayer. :) Just say "Yes! Crystal please pray for me!" :) & I will :)

All My Love in Christ!

DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! :)

Remain faithful :) He remains faithful to YOU!

Crystal

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 17

2012-01-17T06:37:00.001-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 17

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

Image this scenario.....this man was called to, well, a Prophet. He was full of the Holy Spirit and worked diligently for the Lord, because he really loved his own people. One day, God told him to go and talk to people from another race, so they too, can be saved.

This really bothered the Prophet because, these people were not just the nation next door, but a brutal race of people who had terrorized Prophet and his folks for decades. They were hated and just plain evil. Prophet knew he had to do something...so instead of going northeast towards this country on his missions trip, he bolted the other way, jumped on a fast boat headed southwest....and the rest of history.

This Prophet is Jonah, the disobedient man of God, who even though he ended up going to Nineveh, preaching repentance and bringing an entire city to the Lord, tried to run from it and paid the price.

So will we, if we say we want to serve Christ and yet disobey His commands. We will be saved and all that, just like Jonah was, but will lose our covering, our blessing and our rewards in Heaven. Jonah did not know what King David, before him, knew - THAT YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. David wrote here:

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

(Psalm 139:7-12 ESV)

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, I humble myself before Your Mighty Throne this day, which You and You alone have made. I thank you for first of all creating me in YOUR image, for saving me from myself and then for placing the Spirit of the Living God within me.

By this, oh God, I know I am Yours and You are mine. Therefore, because You have called me Yours and brought me in YOUR Kingdom, because You have bought me with Your Blood and selected me for a specific calling, Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I report for duty this morning.

Lord, we all have the spirit of disobedience and even the potential to do evil things, even as we are saved, just as King David did with Bathsheba, but Lord take away the propensity to sin sexually, morally, ethically and spiritually!

Yes Father, we too, struggle with a spiritual pride and even racism, like Jonah, where we think we are not only better than others, but that we have arrived! Lord, You know we have only boarded that ship and are still on that lifelong lovely Journey with Jesus, and Lord You know that when we have been with You 10,000 years from now, we will still not know everything there is to know about Jesus and You!

So Father, let us remember that and also, God, gives us an unction to function with humility, mercy, compassion and love....yet never losing sight of the Truth as we come to you now, knowing that You not only know EVERYTHING about us - Your Creation - but You know where everything is on this planet, this galaxy and this universe and how it got there!

Thank You, Lord...because I have nothing to fear with Your Presence in EVERY part of Life in the Universe and my own life! It is a joy and security and comfort to me, to know that YOU are Here, There and Everywhere at all times! Thank You, my Father in Heaven, in the Name of Jesus, amen and AMEN!!!!

TOMORROW: GOD IS MERCIFUL

(image by google images)

TWINS SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

2012-01-17T05:26:00.000-06:00

Carried side by side in the womb, Sergeant Simone Mercedes and Corporal Sonny Powers, were born in Houma, Louisiana, but raised in the Metro Atlanta area. Today, they proudly, serve in the USMC. Mercedes and Powers are the youngest of five. The family faced and overcame many challenges in their young lives. Both are Christian, with a love for God, family, and country.

WRITTEN BY DIANE M. LANDRY

Each had decided early on, that he/she wanted to do something positive with his/her life. They seemed to challenge each other to do his/her best. The Bible says, "iron sharpens iron," which is something they have done for each other.

Their brothers, Stephen and Shawn reside in the Metro Atlanta area, as well as their sister, Stacie, along with nieces and nephews. Stepbrother Damioin and stepsister, Destani reside in South Georgia.

Sgt. Mercedes just celebrated five years of service in the United States Marine Corps, where she served two tours, one in Iraq, another in Afghanistan, and is currently stationed in Japan. She will be returning to the Metro Atlanta area, for some rest and relaxation with family and friends, before returning to Japan to complete her two years, with her new husband.

On April 4, she became the wife of Staff Sergeant Julio Mercedes, who she met while serving. He joined the Marine Corps in response to 9/11, giving up a successful career to serve. They hope to have the big wedding she’s always dreamed of, once they return stateside, which they were unable to do as a result of their current orders.

Cpl. Sonny Powers, on the other hand joined the Marine Corps, just over two years. Stationed in Twenty-Nine Palms, he is currently on a tour of four countries aboard a Navy Ship.

He had begun his college career to become a teacher and wrestling coach. The decision to do so came after he enjoyed a successful high school wrestling career, with his twin, Mercedes, serving as a manager for the team. His career path changed, as he answered the call to serve in the United States Marine Corps, instead.

She was the inspiration for the poem, “My Child, My Marine!.” The poem can be found by following the link below:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6156530/my_child_my_marine.html?cat=10

The poem Cpl. Powers inspired can be found by following the link below, as well:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8100191/the_heart_of_a_us_marines_mom.html?cat=7

VISIT DIANE LANDRY'S WEBSITE HERE

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 16

2012-01-16T06:32:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 16

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
(Psalm 139:1-6 ESV)

God is not your know-it-all friend from high school, or the guy down the hall at work. The Creator Who founded the moons, stars and the heavens and then SPOKE the Earth into Existence, knows all, sees all and is IN all!

The word Omniscient literally means to have TOTAL knowledge of a subject. He Who has made us knows exactly how many hairs we have on our heads and every cell in our body.

Think about this for a second: The Human Body has between 50 and 75 TRILLION cells! Let me say that again - fifty to seventy TRILLION cells (Sources: Asimov, Isaac. The Human Body, New rev. ed., p. 79; New Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. 6, p. 134; Van Amerogen, C. The Way Things Work Book of the Body, p. 13.).

The body has that many cells, yet God knows every one of them in every human being who has ever lived!

He knows our every thought, action, desire and intention. King David lived under the Power of the Holy Spirit constantly and he wrote the portion of Psalm 139 above under that same inspiration. Read those words above (in red) and pray them back to the Lord, this day, as well worship Him in Spirit and in the Truth and Knowledge of His all-knowing Presence!

Father in the Name of Jesus, I stand in awe of You, Your Majesty, Your Power and Your Glory! Our brother David said above that You know us, Father. You know every fiber of our being, every cell in our body and every inch of our personality.

Lord, let me ever be mindful of that fact so that my thoughts be Your thoughts, that my words be Your Words and my actions be guided by You. Lord, I acknowledge that I, at times, can't walk in that righteousness and Holiness 100% of the time, as a mere mortal man under Your Authority....but let me always be aware that You know every thought which I actively pursue....that you know every word I am about to or have already said...that You see every thing I do from the time I rise up in the morning to the time I go to bed....let me be completely aware of this Reality, so that my thoughts, speech and actions may reflect the New Nature of Christ Which lives within me.

Let there be no doubt, from any part of my conduct, that You, Oh Heavenly Father, are my Rock and Salvation and that I am truly Your Ambassador. Let me not be charged with the accusation of Hypocrite for having the Label of Christ, but then acting like the world!

Father, the human mind is too puny and insignificant, no matter what those in scientific community, who put earthly knowledge over You, say. I can never fathom the depths of Your Wonderful Mind or the Heights to which it can reach. Father, I would not want to, because I love being totally and completely dependent on You for my very existence and even what I will eat tomorrow! I thank You, Oh God that Your Ways are not my ways and that Your Thoughts are not my thoughts. Because Your Way is Holy Holy Holy and Right and we live in such a corrupt, dying world, that it would be scary if You were not there!

Thank you for knowing me so well, You had provided for me, for our family and our extended family, daily provisions and shelter and a way of Life to sustain us, while we do Your work and spread the Gospel...sometimes using words.

So Father, now, I worship You, I thank You in all humility and gratitude, that I can come to You now and always, on bended knee, to thank You for knowing me and choosing me and saving me, then growing me into the person You would want me to be, as a Disciple of Your Dear and Wonderful Counselor Son Jesus and it is in His Name I pray, amen

TOMORROW: GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 15

2012-01-15T04:44:00.001-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 15

GOD IS SELF-SUFFICIENT

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us....
(Acts 17:24-27 ESV)

Issue 1:
For thousands of years, ancient peoples of every race, from the Greeks to the Babylonians to the Far Easterners, have built temples for their millions of pagan gods. Today - none of them are standing! They are empty ruins for two reasons: one, their gods do not exist and two, the Real God of Heaven, does not live in some building made by corrupt men and women! His laws are written on our hearts, but we have used our heads to rule Him unconstitutional in our lives!

Issue 2:
Which one of us can give God something which He does not already have or which He originally created and gave to us in the first place! God owns all the cattle on the hills of Montana, to the rice fields of China. Men may temporarily be in charge of all of that, but one day soon, it will all be reclaimed by the Creator! Mankind in its arrogance and corruption think they can sacrifice small portions from their puny material holdings, when all God is looking for is total obedience, love and commitment from us!

Issue 3:
Look at the Heavens...do you think the Creator of all of this needs anything?!!! We need Him! We, who are called by His Name, will know the answers to all Life's questions when we live with Him forever in the new Heavens and the New Earth. Until then, without question, I urge you, my friends, to please read and reread the Bible passage above. This will really bring home to us the Nature, Name and Attribute of the Awesome God of Eternity

And Father in the Name of Jesus, not only am I nothing without You, but I know I only live and breathe because of the Power of Your Word! Father, nothing in this world I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling...the same Cross which You, the Self-Sufficient God of the Universe gave to mankind as the Greatest Gift of All.

Nothing in this world I can give to You, can compare to the Gift and Sacrifice of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Nothing, Heavenly Father! Anything I can give You pales in comparison to that Fact, when You Yourself state in John 4:23 that You, Almighty God, are looking for those who will worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

The truth is that all You require from us is total surrender to Your Will, total submission to the Wonder of You and total commitment in response to Your calling on our lives.

You do not live in those pagan temples which other religions and some misinformed Christians create for You, but You dwell in the very souls and hearts of men who have surrendered to the Lordship of the Jesus Christ and are therefore servants of the Most High God.

For this reality alone, I surrender all for the Glory of You, I surrender all for Gospel to be spread wherever I go; I surrender all for the Goodness You have shown not just me, but my family as well.

Every good thing cometh down from the Father of Lights. God of Heaven and Earth, thank you for daily provision and for the home You have created for us all who are committed to You. Oh, Mighty King, Who sits on the Throne attended by thousands and thousands of Holy Angels, Holy and Righteous is Your Name. You need nothing from me, but I gladly, humbly and willingly give You ALL....FATHER...ALL my Praise, Worship and Adoration. I give You all my love, devotion, Honor and Glory....to the Praise and Glory of Your Name....in the Name above all Names - Jesus Christ...AMEN!!!!

TOMORROW: GOD IS OMNISCIENT

MY CHILD, MY MARINE!

2012-01-14T19:42:00.003-06:00

A POEM TO HER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS DAUGHTER

DIANE M. LANDRY

This poem poured out of me after prayer. One of my daughters, is a US Marine.

She was serving a tour in Afghanistan. We had IM-ed each other the previous night.

I learned that she was at work, and would be there for extremely long hours. I could not escape the thought of how we, here at home, in the states, when we are tired, are generally able, at will to go to bed.

Our military is not afforded that luxury. They work long hours, going without sleep, to keep us safe, and fight for our freedoms. The next morning, after prayer, I got up, and ran quickly to my computer to type the poem, "My Child, My Marine." The final lines say, "How could I know, you would choose to do for strangers, What I did for you, My Child, My Marine!

There you stand

So straight, so tall,

One of the few,

One of the proud,

A United States Marine!

So proud, yet so humble too!

Serving our country,

Giving no thought to you!

Going without sleep,

Watching all through the night,

Willing to make the ultimate sacrifice,

If duty so calls,

That countless others may be free.

Though some would dare

To spit in your face!

Yet you proudly say,

"It's what we do,

It's who we are!"

In this life you've chosen,

Sweet child of mine,

A life of service,

A life of honor,

Putting God first,

Country second,

And yourself last!

All the sacrifices you make,

You make to keep us safe!

As a child, I kept you safe,

Watching all through the night,

Going without sleep, So you could be safe!

How could I know, You would choose a life,

That demanded you do for strangers,

What I did for you,

My child, My Marine!

VISIT DIANE LANDRY'S WEBSITE HERE!

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 14

2012-01-14T06:18:00.000-06:00

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 14

GOD IS JEHOVAH-RAPHA, THE GOD WHO HEALS!

Great miracles of God's amazing Healing Hand are not just found in the Sacred pages of the Bible!I can personally testify to His Great Physician's Touch in my own life and those of my family.

God has promised, since Exodus 15:26 that “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” (or JEHOVAH-RAPHA)

He gave us one of His many names right here! Notice, that proclamation of His Name as the God Who heals is in the present tense (I am)! After that, the millions of Israelites lived 40 years in the desert without getting sick or their shoes wearing out! Later in, during the time of the Prophet Isaiah, God healed King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-11).

After being told by God that he should put his house in order as he was going to die, the good King wept and cried out to the Lord and asked the Lord to remember how faithful he, Hezekiah was to God. God told Isaiah to tell the king that God heard the king's prayer and that his life would be extended by 15 years!

The Lord Jesus not only healed the sick, lame and cast out demons, but He raised Lazarus from the dead, in order to show the Power of God! The book of John said that if all the miracles and acts of the Lord Jesus were written down, there would not be enough books in the world to contain it!

Today, because of the Power and Authority of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has transferred His power to heal the sick and some have even come back from death in the Emergency and other rooms in a hospital! We all know people who have been touched by His Healing Power. James 5:14 says "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord".

Today, not just the elders of the church, but any believer, who has a close walk with the Lord, can do that. That is - YOU AND I! In my life, one of the ministries the Lord has blessed me with is a prayer ministry. For years now, I have both entreated the Lord in intercession for many a person, friend or foe and occasionally, would anoint and lay hands on. Right now, I pray for people in other countries whom I have not even met except through Facebook and Twitter...yet the Lord knows them and has healed...because He wants to. I have no power at all. All I am and have is the ability to plug into the Source of all Goodness, Mercy and Compassion.

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You gave us the privilege of approaching the Throne of Grace in the hour of our deepest need. I thank You that we need no mortal intermediary to come before You, on bended knee, to seek Your counsel, Grace and Favor on behalf of others, and at times, our own selves.

We thank You Lord for embedding Your Holy Spirit within us Who gives us the power and authority to call upon Your Name in these circumstances for cry out for the healing of disease; the healing of hearts and yes Father, even at times, the complete healing of body, mind and soul, in the Name of Jesus.

This is not a gift we take lightly, Lord, but one of wonder, amazement and one that require our total humility and purity as we approach You for Your Hands of Healing on those whom we pray for.

We thank You, oh most Merciful Father and Creator of our Lives, Who knows every cell in our body, Who knows our every hurt and pain and Who has also set the very hour of our death in Your books....We...who are called by Your Name, are just so grateful You have chosen us to be the object of Your compassion and the delegation of Your Authority in this regard and we promise to use it for the Glory of Your Most Holy and Majestic Name, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen and amen!!

TOMORROW: GOD IS SELF-SUFFICIENT

JUDGMENT - CORRUPTING LOVE!

2012-01-13T19:53:00.002-06:00

By Rick and Dana Stassi

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5

There is a time that God has appointed that will be utilized for judgment upon our hearts. It is in this appointed time that it is reserved for the Lord, and I surmise, in a personal place with Him.

This is the time the Lord will make and He only knows. So, we place our corruptible thoughts outside – burned and ashes blown away. We have a purpose of conveyors of truth and light, and love. Not in unscrupulous judgement at the folly of corruption. Judgment corrupts our love. It corrupts our yearning to give grace to those in our midst-place before us just so we can test our trust and act in God’s will.

We have a problem. In our nature, we lower our guard and the enemy will steal our desire to do God’s work. We replace conveying grace with thoughts of disdain toward another. Many times it is only outward appearance that forms our opinion. Resist this ploy of the enemy.

Jesus will return, He will expose their hearts fully, and it will be God that praises and says “Well done, good and faithful servant”. Our goal. Do not confuse judgment with discernment. If we discern through the Lord’s tugging at our heart, that someone is of questionable character. Seek refuge as it may affect our well-being.

This is judging a situation not the inner character of a person. Your deeper relationship with God will lend clarity to these time. You will have compassion, but you will not blindly walk into danger.

The counsels of our heart is “purpose” as translated from Greek or “guarded thoughts” as defined in the dictionary. Both ways describe an intent in our heart. Much our intentions and thoughts are hidden deep in the darkness of our heart.

We seek the light of God to expose these places, but we understand it is a lifelong journey with God molding our character and perfecting our heart.

Therefore, understand the role we have and God’s role. We are commissioned to love, we are bound in grace and give grace to others.

Scripture says:

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,..” Phi 1:9,10

God will praise each of us according to the counsels or intentions in our heart. We shall not intervene in His plan by judging first and foremost. It is because we cannot see a person’s heart. We cannot, at various levels, see our own. So, we can’t pretend to know another’s.

We do know we have God’s grace and therefore can give freely that which we have in abundance: grace and love. The next time you see someone, first discern danger but do not judge a heart being saved for God to expose personally and out of our earshot and sight of all.

That is His way and we busy ourselves in His commanded purpose for us of loving and being compassionate. This we know.

Let God expose our hearts. We in turn, shall lift hearts to Him in compassion and love that we covet. We pray we will not corrupt it with judgment.

VISIT RICK STASSI'S BLOG HERE.