Devot. The Upcoming 'Blood Moons'

Dear Friends,

I hope you have had an awesome start to your week!
 

I'm sure you have heard about the 'Blood Moons' that are come up at various times this year and next.  One is due to appear on October 8th, one next April and next September 2015.

This devot. is a lengthy article that combines that facts with Scripture.  It explains what this means for us  as Believers in Jesus, for the world and what is going to happen next in our world.   The devot. is really is a combo of Science, Jewish history, the Old Testament and Bible prophecy.

The article is long and detailed so here is what I suggest for all of you:  Read half of the article. 

Stop at the caption- "The Passover Week that Changed the World"  and 'digest it' really good.  Take your time reading it over during the week.   I will re-send it next Tuesday and encourage you to read another half.

If you want to read the whole thing this week, it's fine by me, I just didn't want to give you too much. So the choice is up to you:) 

I would also highly encourage you to read my devot. from 9/16/14-God's Purpose in Troublesome Times.  In it I give several book ideas and a news link that will explain the seriousness of what our world is experiencing, all the turmoil on so many fronts, what it means for the US, the world, and what we can expect next.   All the links are from a Bible and prophecy perspective, and also give the history of what the US and/or God's people (Israel) have gone through in the past and how that affects our future today.  And believe me, it does.

Please feel free to comment with questions or send me an email at the address in the connect tab. 

Pray that the Lord blesses your week with His peace and presence! 

Devot. Article:   http://www.pray4zion.org/TheComingBloodMoons.html

Devot. The Gift of Peace

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a great weekend!  The devot. for today is finding God's peace in the midst of turmoil in life.

How do you gain this peace and then keep it?  Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27,

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  The Lord can give us a peace that the world cannot even begin to offer us.

One of the Lord's titles in Scripture is "The Prince of Peace"  (Isaiah 9:6-a passage you hear frequently at Christmas) and Ephesians 2:14 says 'he is our peace.'  But the only way we can keep this peace is found in Isaiah 26:3,

"Thou (the Lord )wilt (will) keep him (anybody) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

The key to having perfect peace is your mind of Him and Who he is (the Price of Peace).  That peace comes from trusting in Him and is it "perfect" because is comes from Him!

I pray the devot. is a blessing!  I have also included a fav. hymn about peace that I will sing if I'm worried or un-peaceful :)

May the Lord bless, protect and keep healthy you and your family this coming week!  (3 links below)

Devot. http://www.intouch.org/resources/article-archive/content.aspx?topic=The_Gift_of_Peace_Article#.VCCKzhjD_mI 

(Used by Permission)

Listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDffdacBr64

John 7: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+7&version=KJV  (Public Domain)

2 Yr. Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed/Help Iraqi Believers!

Dear Friends,
Below is an update on Pastor Saeed and the situation in Iraq (persecution of believers in Iraq, but some amazing rescue stories!)
Please read carefully and prayerfully consider joining with RUN Ministries to help them as they rescue and provide help to persecuted believers in Iraq.

From the American Center for Law and Justice:

Will you join us in prayer for American Pastor Saeed?

Friday, September 26th, marks the two-year anniversary of Pastor Saeed's illegal imprisonment because of his Christian faith.

Two years apart from his wife. Two years without seeing his two kids.

All across the world, thousands of people are gathering to pray for Pastor Saeed and the persecuted Church.

There are over 500 prayer vigils scheduled in 33 countries around the world, including the kick-off event in front of the White House with Franklin Graham and Pastor Saeed's wife Naghmeh that I will be attending.

Please consider attending a prayer vigil nearest you, and invite your friends.

As we continue fighting globally for his release, it's time to pray for Pastor Saeed. It's time for his freedom.

Learn More and Attend a Prayer Vigil for Pastor Saeed.

Jordan Sekulow
ACLJ Executive Director

                                  =================================

 

From the Desk of:
Mat Staver
Chairman, Liberty Counsel Action

September 25, 2014

I've shared several dramatic testimonies from refugees who have been rescued by RUN Ministries volunteers in northern Iraq. This update is about one of the rescuers: a volunteer named "Abraham." His lifesaving work has been made possible through the support of Liberty Counsel Action friends like you. Please keep reading for a behind-the-scenes look at RUN's ongoing rescue and relief efforts — Mat.

For several weeks now, I've been writing to you about our partnership with RUN Ministries. President Eric Watt's team of volunteers is made up of believers from across the Middle East who are literally risking their lives to rescue Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities from ISIS terrorists.

Due to security concerns, I can't tell you how many RUN leaders have died carrying out this difficult and dangerous work. But lives are being saved today because of their sacrifice.

This morning, I got a powerful and inspiring email update from Eric detailing the amazing story of one RUN rescuer:

Abraham had been working non-stop for more than two days and was completely exhausted. But he knew that he could not rest; he had to go out one more time to look for those hiding in the Sinjar Mountain area of northern Iraq.

Earlier that day, he had gotten word that families may be still be hiding. So he and his teammate set out in the middle of the night. Within a couple of hours, Abraham spotted a family huddled together, eyes closed and trying to hide silently to avoid terrorists or wild animals.

He approached them and quietly announced that he was there to help, offering food, water, and safe passage to a peaceful camp.

Their fears subsided, and then the long journey through the mountains began. Hours later, as the sun began to rise, the "Community of Hope" refugee camp appeared. Abraham had rescued another family and led them to safety.

Eric says Abraham and his team have gone behind enemy lines to rescue more than 1,800 families -- so far! RUN Ministries is committed to continuing this dangerous, difficult, and lifesaving work, but they can't do it without our help.

More than 18,000 Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities are currently under RUN's care and protection. Hundreds more arrive every day! Eric's team just doesn't have enough shelter, food, water, medicine, or clothing to adequately address this continuous influx of new families.

The current military action in Syria and northern Iraq is expected to dramatically intensify this humanitarian crisis. Eric estimates that RUN Ministries will be caring for and protecting 20,000 Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities by this weekend. Even if you have donated to RUN previously, please do what you can to help their team of volunteers continue their difficult, dangerous, and lifesaving work.   http://runministries.org/

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous financial support. God bless you!
 Mat Staver
Chairman, Liberty Counsel Action

 

 

Urgent Prayer Request for Persecuted Christians Overseas!

Sent by a family friend whose brother received this prayer request. Please pray and pass, email, facebook on to all you can. Much thanks! Grace

We recently received these two emails from missionary friends,  one yesterday
and one this morning. I pass it on so that people can pray specifically for our
brothers and sisters.

This is so sad.  A friend from Ohio just got a text message from her brother
asking her to shower him and his parish in prayer.

 

He is part of a mission team and ISIS has taken over the town they are in today. He said ISIS is  systematically going house to house to all the Christians and asking the
children to denounce Jesus. He said so far not one child has. And so far all
have consequently been killed. But not the parents.

 

The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries on their own. They are determined to stick it out for the sake of  the families - even if it means their own deaths. He is very afraid, has no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have had seen their children
martyred. Yet he says he knows God has called him for some reason to be his
voice and hands at this place at this time. Even so, he is begging prayers for
his courage to live out his vocation in such dire circumstances. And like the
children accept martyrdom if he is called to do so.

 

She asked me to ask everyone we know to please pray for them. These brave parents instilled such a fervent faith in their children that they chose martyrdom.

 

Please surround them in their loss with your prayers for hope and perseverance. She was able to talk to her brother briefly by phone. She didn't say it but I believe she believes it will
be their last conversation. Pray for her too. She said he just kept asking her
to help him know what to do and do it. She told him to tell the families we ARE
praying for them and they are not alone or forgotten -- no matter what. Her e
mail broke my heart. Please keep all in your prayers.Thanks

This came this morning...

Just a few minutes ago I received the following text message on my phone from
Sean Malone who leads Crisis Relief International (CRI). We then spoke briefly
on the phone and I assured him that we would share this urgent prayer need with
all of our contacts.

"We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are
beheading children systematically. This is the city we have been smuggling food
too. ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of
where our CRI team is working. Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last
night. The UN evacuated it's staff in Erbil. Our team is unmoved and will stay.
Prayer cover needed!"

Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from
the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass
conversion or death for Christians across this region.

May I plead with you not to ignore this email. Do not forward it before you have
prayed through it. Then send it to as many people as possible.  Send it to
friends and Christians you may know. Send it to your prayer group. Send it to
your pastor and phone him/her to pray on Sunday during the service - making a
special time of prayer for this. We need to stand in the gap for our fellow
Christians.
--
"And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercifully and to walk humbly with your God."   -Micah
6:8

We Pray: Let the One Holy Christian Church cry out to God Almighty this prayer
of the Saints and Martyrs from Revelation 6 "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and
true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
Lord, we find this Word from the Lord to be our strength and our salvation
because it speaks of God's final word over and above all evil, hatred,
suffering, persecution and death.

The killing and murder of innocent Christians, whose blood is spilled for
Christ's sake will not be spilled in vain. O Lord, You will indeed avenge the
blood of those who are martyred for the sake of Your holy name.  And so, indeed
we do pray with the whole Church, come quickly Lord Jesus!


"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."  Psalm 116:15

 

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."  Heb. 13:3

Devot. God's Purpose in Troublesome Times

Dear Friends,

Good afternoon!  I pray you had a good weekend with your families.

The devot. for today is how things can work out for God, according to God's plans, when the situation looks so bad? Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Now this is God speaking.  He is reminding those who have trusted in Him that He thinks about us.  Those thoughts are not how He can bring destruction or evil into or lives, but how to bring peace to it.  He wants to give us an ending chapter to our lives that is one of peace, confidence, good.

In our world right now there are a lot of uncertainties.  It seems that the whole world is out of control.

But to God it is following a plan that is actually prophetic (future events that have been predicted in Scripture).

I have an immense  burden to let you all know why things are happening as they are around the world, even this very week.  What does this mean to us who are Christians, to the world, what does the Bible have to say about this and what can we expect?

It is difficult for me to share everything that I know, have learned and studying about future events as talked about in Scripture.

It's hard to condense so much info. into a devot. every week, so I am going to offer some resources that I am going to HIGHLY ENCOURAGE/BEG YOU you to look at through the week on lunch breaks, at home etc.... IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY OUR WORLD IS GOING CRAZY, please take the time to do some listening and a bit of reading.

 A news link that gives a Bible perspective and Scripture to thoroughly back it up is http://www.hallindsey.com/.  The gentleman who hosts this 1/2 news program is extremely knowledgeable about world events and how it ties into the Bible.  His shows are riveting and not boring or like the typical news shows.   You can watch current and past shows and read articles about world events on this site as well.

My mom tries to watch him every week because she is able to gain a EYE OPENING  perspective that is Bible based on what is really going on in the world and behind the scenes.  Please trust me when I say he is 150% accurate, Biblical and is telling the truth. He is not a 'fanatic', but is one who is humbly, but urgently 'sounding the alarm' on our world events and how they line up PERCISELY WITH SCRIPTURE. 

Books: Hal Lindsey also wrote a book entitled "The Late Great Planet Earth."   It is for the average reader and is not deep, but it describes future events as based on Scripture.

 Rabbi Jonathan Cahn is a Jewish person who believes in Jesus as his Saviour.  His book "The Harbinger" describes what is going on in the US financially, spiritually, terrorist  and things that are to come.  The facts stand for themselves, but he relates it to Scripture and trust me, it isn't difficult to so because the reason for our problems is in all there!   It was No. 1 on the New York best seller list.  His other book  is brand new and is No. 6 on the NY Best Seller List and it is the "Mystery of the Shemitah."It is not complicated or complex, it's for the average reader.   Here is a short article on the book: http://www.charismanews.com/culture/45377-why-jonathan-cahn-s-prophetic-mystery-of-shemitah-is-flying-off-the-shelves

I would suggest that you read the Harbinger before trying this one, would fill in some gaps, but it can be read even without previous background.   (I know you can find his books on cbd.com for a great price, or abebooks.com).

You can also find short video clips of Rabbi Cahn speaking on youtube as well.

 Friends, if you seriously want to make sense of things right now, PLEASE check into these things.  May the Lord grant you and your loved ones a blessed and safe week!
Devot. http://www.intouch.org/resources/article-archive/content.aspx?topic=1016#.VBht4BjD_mI    Scripture Link:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+6&version=KJV (Keep up with those 5 verses a day!)

 

 

 

Devot. Given by Inspiration

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a blessed weekend!  Remember the question I shared from my Sunday School teacher last week?

"Why is sound doctrine (teaching) important?  I said it was important because it effects how we live, think, view the Bible, what we believe the Bible says in relation to our lives. 

The devot. below shares how some in the world view the Bible and how we should view it in order that we learn 'sound doctrine' (sound teachings) that agrees with the Word of God.  It's thought provoking, so read it carefully:)

Lord bless and protect you and your loved ones this week (Num. 6:24-26) and may He be an active part of your life.

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/21372/

 

 

RUN Ministries:  A ministry that is actively helping the displaced, and persecuted folks in Iraq in the way of refuge camps, food, water etc.  They desperately need help right now b/c of the volume of people!  Please check out their ministry and consider helping or pass along to your church, youth group, ladies meeting etc... http://runministries.org/

 

Devot. Sound Doctrine

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a Christ centered week!

The devot. for today is a continuation of our topic from last week-the importance of Doctrine (teachings) specifically as given in Scripture.

We were talking about this in Sunday School last week and my teacher asked the class, "Why is sound doctrine so important?" 

I responded that it effects how we think about everything (Ex.  "Is it right to tell a white lie or is it still lying?") and our very lives.  Our teacher said that was a good response, but that knowing the difference between 'sound doctrine' and a teaching that comes from man's viewpoint also effects how we view The Bible, our Guidebook for life.   If we don't have know what God's Word  says on a subject matter, how are we to know if it is right or not?

We won't if we aren't learning and ingraining in our minds 'sound teachings' as started in God's Word.  I pray this devot. is another reminder to base what you have been taught or have heard against God's Word, your Absolute Truth.  May the Lord bless and keep you and your families this weekend! (Numbers 6:24-26) (Devot. below)

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/21062/ (Used by Permission)

John 4: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+4&version=KJV  (Used by Permission) Keeping carefully reading, thinking, applying what you have learned from those 5 verses a day!

RUN Ministries:  A ministry that is actively helping the displaced, and persecuted folks in Iraq in the way of refuge camps, food, water etc.  They desperately need help right now b/c of the volume of people coming to them!  Many of the folks in RUN who are on the ground in Iraq are in danger and risking their lives to help these folks. Please check out their ministry and consider helping or pass along to your church, youth group, ladies meeting etc... http://runministries.org/