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download (1)This week, hundred of missionaries and faith leaders from all over the world descended on Fort Worth, TX to pray over each other, learn from each other, and support each other. I have met amazing men who minister to persecuted Christians in a predominately Muslim environment – unfortunately, I can’t say who they are over cyber space  or show their pictures because they and their families live under the threat of execution.

I can tell you what I gleaned from their talks:

1. People are being converted to Christianity at alarming rates – the persecutions have drawn others to the faith. God does bring good out of evil. (Romans 12:21 –Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. )  Rejoice in this.

2. The best thing we can do is PRAY – pray for holy leaders to spring forth to guide the newly converted. Jesus is coming to thousands in  dreams, but they don’t understand who the “man in glowing white” is. (Romans 10:20 –And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

3. Befriend Muslims here in our countries because they are curious about our faiths and freedoms, but fear us because of the prejudice we have due to the terrorist sects. They are humans looking for peace and salvation and because secularism is foreign to their mindset, are easier to convert. Many do not realize Jesus is proclaimed as the Son of God in the Koran because they have never been allowed to study it!  (Colossians 1:25  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—)

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I found God moving in places in the world where hatred, persecution and strife are part of a daily existence. But out of that cesspool springs of hope are gurgling up, and the stream of Living Water cannot be dammed.  Their testimonies brought tears to my eyes and a new fervor in my heart.

Please join me in doing these three simple things.

 

The minister of the church where I work read a statistic a while back. If you want people to “get the message” you have to present it to them in at least three to four ways. We inform the congregation of upcoming events by email, Facebook, pew bulletins and verbal announcements. By doing so, we reach out to most of the people. However, inevitably someone will complain that they “never heard about it.”

I began to wonder. How many ways is God trying to tap me on the shoulder and I am just not getting the message. We humans can be pretty dense headed, right? God sent prophets hundred of years before Jesus was born of Mary to proclaim his coming. Then He sent angels to shepherds and a star in the sky. He spurred three wise travelers to make the trek from their foreign lands.

While Jesus walked on earth, he tried numerous ways to tell his disciples who He was, the purpose of His coming and why He had to die. They just didn’t get thequestion message. Are we any different?

We have the Bible, nature, and the Holy Spirit to relay the message. Perhaps even an angel or two. And yet…

Lord, no wonder we miss so much of what You are trying to tell us. Don’t give up. Keep trying. Help me to find You in my day, every day. Teach me Your ways and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

 

My son, James, and I belong to Toastmasters. Each meeting offers a chance to think on our feet as one member asks impromptu questions and calls on others to answer. We call it Table Topics. Last night, he told us flags are battle signs. They mark where the soldiers are and designate the battle line, i.e. the land they have conquered up to that point. That is why there is so much emotional response to a flag, even during times of peace. He asked what symbol would we be willing to die for.

Of course the Cross, and the Stars and Stripes immediately zipped through my brain. I heard the hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.” I also heard the hymn, “God bless America… stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.”

God Bless America

I believe the United States is in a dark time. So are other countries in the world. Battle lines have been drawn, and we are at war…with those who would desire to take away our freedom to worship and with those who call us, the ones who pray to a redemptive God of forgiveness and love, hypocritical haters because we will not bend to the winds of current social trends. Over two millenia ago, Paul encouraged us to put on the full armor of God. We need to dress appropriately before we can fight against the principalities which threaten to undo our faith.

The cross goes before us. It symbolizes one who was willing to die in order to save us.

Will you pray to Him  and ask Him to save your country before it dies? Then, pray for those who are being persecuted, and even executed just like the Savior, for their steadfast faith as they battle prejudice and evil in this earthly life. Because there but for the grace of God go you and I.

Today, God is asking each of us an impromptu question. What will be your answer?

Onward, Christian soldier.

Illuminated

I saw an advertisement for glow-in-the-dark paint which you can apply to a stone path. AHA! Reminds me of the Word of God.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

The ad says the chemicals absorb the stepping stonessunlight, so when it becomes dark, they release a glow. That way,  people can see the way to travel and not stumble. This miracle paint is for sale at most of the national hardware chain stores.

While my life is sunny and things are going great, I should be storing up passages from God’s Word and memorizing them. Let them ooze into my heart and soul just as the glow-in-the-dark paint seeps into the porous stone.

The Word of God should illuminate my faith so when the dark times come, and they will, I will have them stored up inside of me. One by one, the faith-stones will light my way along the path, even though I cannot see where it  leads. Then, instead of crouching and crying out in fear, afraid I may stumble, I can walk upright, assured that God’s light will guide me through.

Are you storing up His Light in you?  You can get it at any local book store, or as a free app on your smart phone. It is called the Bible.  Illuminating, right?

IMAG0266An older woman I know excitedly told how she got a part-time job stuffing envelopes. Her eyes danced as if she was a teenager once again. Her nephew questioned what the big deal was. It didn’t sound very exciting to him.

She smiled. “Oh, it’s not the envelopes. It is what goes inside. A very important letter that will help thousands of people. I am so glad to be a part of that effort.”

Her words hit me. It’s what goes inside. The image describes the purpose of being a Christian. We are the vehicle for delivering God’s message of redemption and love to the world. In other words, we are the envelopes.

It is what is going on inside of us, i.e., the transformation by the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus into our hearts, that is the important stuff. As others peer inside the window to our soul, they can see a difference. Something important is happening. The Light of Christ is flickering, glowing, then shining. The message revealed is one of forgiveness and salvation, of something more wonderful waiting for us beyond the pain of this world.

 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17

Lord, the times when I think I am not much on the outside, remind me it is what’s inside that is important – You working in me. You have placed your stamp of delivery on me, and I am simply to carry the message. Let me be more thankful, like my elderly friend, to be a part of that effort. Amen.

Hunger Pains

I was in the zone…typing away, editing as I went, the plot moving along. In the background the washer swished and the dryer tumbled. I’d break to feed a mewing cat, or refill my tumbler with water, and then scoot my chair back to the keyboard.

After a while, a slight wooziness waved over me. I blinked to refocus, only to be interrupted by a deep gurgle in the pit of my torso. Like Seymour the man eating plant, my stomach growled, “Feed me.”  I sighed, pushed back my chair and opened the fridge. Door opened with the frigid air blanketing my face, indecision clouded my brain. I knew not to grab anything junky.  I snatched a carton of fat-free Greek yogurt. Quick, easy to down, no cooking or mess to clean. I spooned it past my lips as I typed. That staved off the hunger for a while, but the sensation returned within a few hours.

Isn’t this often true of our spiritual lives? We are in such a rush, our concentration focuses on the “doing” mode. We forget that, like our bodies, our souls need regular nourishment in order to function.  A deep hunger for God niggles us. At first we ignore it, but it doesn’t  go away. We know a snack such as a faith based show won’t satisfy us. Not even a few Facebook scrolls from Christian friends.

ID-10087293But what to feed it? We flip through a few highlighted verses in our Bibles, scan our bookshelves filled with devotionals and inspirational guides, even stare at the Biblical saying plaques on our walls. We turn on Christian music. Still, the deep aching isn’t quite satisfied.  We need real God-time. And Sunday is days away.

But any time can be stop and pray time. Regular moments with our Father in Heaven can fulfill us and sustain us as we move through our day. From the half hour spent with hands folded, we receive enough strengthening to carry us through whatever we need to accomplish. Our gas tank refills, so to speak.

Reading our Bibles is wonderful. Christian music is great.  But in order to fully digest what we see and hear, we need to take it to the Father and let His Spirit help us absorb it in order to feed our faith in the way we need the most, just as our bodies assimilate the food we swallow.

Spend quality time with God today. Don’t snack now and the as you keep on “doing.” Instead, sit down, relax and devour the full-plated goodness God wishes to provide.That’s the full meal deal. Talk about soul food!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

for tips, trials and triumph consider getting Squeeze More God-Time Into Your Day.Squeeze cover

A blogger, Steve from England, found God in a racing game…even though legally blind, read below what he was made to see.

Steve's avatariChristian

As a blind gamer, i was excited to be recommended(by my brother) a brand new racing game called “Project Cars” for the PS4. I’m able to attempt to play a few racing games, If they include Grand Prix tracks, i can often remember each corner from my sighted gaming days, playing F1 97 etc. 

When i sat down to play for 15 minutes last night, i was surprised to be taught a lesson on being over zealous, while lacking wisdom! 🙂

A close up photo of the amazing Ford Capri Touring Car

⇧ Screenshot of my 1980 Capri (Group 5 – Team Zakspeed) ⇧ 

I chose the rather extreme Capri to drive and chose a familiar track. After leaving the pits i span off on nearly every corner as my tyres were cold and not up to race temperatures. An influx of thoughts filled my mind,….

Over Zealous…

It reminded me of when i first became a Christian and first had…

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Wednesday evening I stumbled trying to carry a package to my car. Down threeIMAG0241-1 steps, wretching my right foot and ankle in the process. In the ER clinic the nurse dampened a felt covered strip filled with fiberglass and molded it around my foot and calf. Within minutes it had taken a perfect shape, protecting and providing support and strength to my injured extremity. It now fit only me, no one else. Next, he secured it with two bandages wrapped around and around.

Reminds me of my Savior. He is the same for all of us, yet His Spirit molds to me individually, knowing my soul’s shape, weaknesses and strengths. He forms a protective shell, guarding my thoughts and shielding me from the evils of this fallen world. All the while He is healing my weaknesses and strengthening me. He guards me from further injury.

Then His grace and mercy intertwine to further support me, secured by His love. He wraps Himself tightly around my soul when I need it to protect me from further harm.

Since I fell, and my foot and ankle became injured, the doctor told me to not put weight on it for several days, but instead to use crutches. God’s Word and blessings are my crutches whenever I fall out of His will. He picks me up, often through the prayers of others, and sets me right.

Now, with this soft cast on my right leg,  I’ve grasped a new meaning of 1Peter 5:7– “casting my cares on Him.”

Lord, may I rely on you in my weakness as You strengthen me, and lean on You for support as I heal whenever I tumble from Your grace. Thank You for this valuable lesson, even though painful. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carried

…. I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4b

shepherd- dayspring really wooly

courtesy of Day Spring Really Wooly collection http://dayspring.com/

A young woman in our congregation hobbled to receive communion with a scraped knee and Velcro laced cast-boot. When I asked her how she was doing and if she needed assistance, she said this recent injury reminded her of a time as a little girl when she broke her leg and was in a cast for weeks on end. Her father carried her to the altar during church to receive a blessing of healing.

“I pictured later that’s what our Heavenly Father does when we are broken. He lovingly carries us to His altar to receive healing in our soul. As I hobbled through the day now, that image sticks in my mind and I am comforted.”

She found God in her injury.

http://ecards.dayspring.com/ecards/subcat.asp?CategoryID=6&SubCategoryID=47&CardID=401952&Widescreen=False&CurPage=1There are times we need to be carried. Perhaps we’ve hit abump in the road of life and taken a tumble. Our soul has been scraped. We ache and throb, and when we try to get up, we wobble unsteadily. We need the Good Shepherd’s staff to lean on for a while.

ID-100108485Other times, we just need Daddy to cuddle us. Like a toddler we stretch out our arms and whimper, “Up,please.”  We need His warm strength, or maybe just to see the world from a new perspective–on His shoulders.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

In their classic song Flood, Jars of Clay sing for God to lift them up because they are weak, to lift them up so high they cannot fall. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, be it from a friend, a parent, or your Heavenly Father. Sometimes, you just need to be uplifted so you can carry on, or be carried so you can be lifted up in spirit.

Jesus carried his cross so He could now carry us…

  • to be with Him,
  • to rest for a while,
  • to renew our strength,
  • to be comforted.

Lord, lift me up…

This fellow blogger found Gods message in a field of flowers too soon gone…worth the read.

dianegates's avatarMOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES

“…we ought to do now!” An old saying I grew up with and was never more clearly illustrated to me than this week.

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If you’ve visited my Face Book page you saw and hopefully enjoyed the beautiful yellow flowers and farmland pastures I posted last week. I had returned from Longview, Texas, with a tight schedule and enjoyed the yellow-petal-path along I20 from Longview, through Tyler, until I reached the Edom/Van exit. Then this field called me—Stop. Take my picture.

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The voice in my head argued—Those flowers will be here next week. You can photograph them then. You don’t have time today. And they proceeded to march soldier cadence through my mind—all the commitments, chores, and chaos waiting for me at home.

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But thank goodness, I turned the chatter volume down and granted myself the privilege of pausing, turning off the freeway, and spending thirty or so minutes…

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