Defending/Protecting Afghani Children: Petition

Dear Readers,

This petition was sent out by the American Center for Law and Justice in Washington DC, a Christian legal association defending the legal needs of Christians in the US and overseas.  http://aclj.org/

They were the primary folks responsible for having Pastor Saeed Abedini released earlier this year.

 

When you read the post below, it may seem very unreal or untrue.   But remember we live in a world that is filled with evil.   This is sadly not impossible.  

It's painful for me to post, but I want to acknowledge it so that folks are aware and can help.

 

Each of us can stop these horrors happening to the innocent children of this world by taking a stand and helping through action and prayer.

 

Please consider sanding with these children by signing the petition below, calling for acknowledgment of these horrors and demanding that something be done.

Thank you for caring!

 

SIGNATURES 26,142
Children Facing Sexual Torture
Like     f   Like this on Facebook   Grace, Young boys in Afghanistan face rampant and horrific sexual abuse. They are dressed up as women and forced to dance for older men. They are sold as sex slaves and raped multiple times a day. It's called "bacha bazi" - which means "boy play." It's gruesomely evil. What's worse, there are multiple reports that the U.S. Military is ordering our troops to look the other way - even reports it's being allowed to occur on U.S. military bases. The U.S. gives Afghanistan more foreign aid than any other nation, yet we are silent in the face of child rape and torture. It's abominable. We're fighting back, aggressively advocating on Capitol Hill, demanding the Obama Administration address these atrocities. We're submitting critical legal documents and testimony at the United Nations to end the abuse. Children are being sexually tortured. We must defend them. Take action with us. Sign Our NEW Petition: Protect Afghani Kids from Sexual Abuse. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel

 

 

Prayers for a Burn Victim Family

The following link was sent to me by a dear friend who has a burden to pray for this family.
I am posting specifically for prayer. 
Thank you for caring!

https://www.gofundme.com/xnvynbcc

Devot. The Guys Who Saved Easter

Hi Dear Friends,

I hope you had a joyful and meaningful Resurrection Sunday as my family and I did!

I saw this devot. about 2 weeks ago and thought it was neat:)  The title alone caught my attention.
So who saved Resurrection Sunday?  We know that our Saviour played the key role in it, but who else was involved?
 Read and find out:)
Next week we are going to discuss the Resurrection.  How can we prove  that it really happened?   There is a verse in 1 Corinthians (15:14) that says if it wasn't for Christ's resurrection, our faith would be vain (empty, useless).  We will see next week that our faith does have a solid foundation.

Pray the devot. for this week is and encouragement!  Lord bless an keep you and yours. 

Devot.https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/features/the-guys-who-saved-easter  (Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

Devot. Enclosed by Wickedness

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a good week!  Here is another Good Friday devot. to prepare our hearts for this Holy weekend.

 

I've been asking my students this week what Easter is all about.   Several have replied that it is the day God showed His love  for us, which is true!  When I asked one of my teens, 'So if someone asked you, 'What's the big deal about Christ's resurrection?'  he replied, "Because it's awesome!!"   

 

 It was an awesome day.   Christ defeated sin, hell and the grave, proved He was indeed God to those who did not believe Him and made a way for all mankind to get to Heaven through faith in Himself.   That is pretty awesome!

 

Pry this devot. is a reminder of Christ's sacrificial death for you and that you all will celebrate along with my family by being in God's House this Sunday.  Lord bless!

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/enclosed-by-wickedness  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/#)  

 

Song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7asEdmZsSPo

Devot. Why is it a 'Good Friday'?

Dear Friends,

I pray you had a blessed weekend!  I have had a very hard time finding just the right devot., something that will capture the meaning of this week-Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the brutal abuse leading up to His death, and then His death.   I decided that I will include a couple suggestions, and a couple smaller links that I hope will be a good way of walking with Jesus toward Calvary this  week in your heart and a short devot. and song link.

 

1.  If you have a chance this week, go to a Passion Play depicting the events of Holy Week, take the family, invite friends.  I have a link here of a play, The Living Cross, that you an watch for free online.   It is both powerful  in walking with Jesus to Calvary and also professional in production: http://livestream.com/opendoorchurchlive/services (This is their production from Sunday night, they may also download the one that is coming later this week.) 

 

As a child and teen, my parents always took us to a Passion Play every year.  It really helped the true meaning of the season to hit home for us and instill in me at an early age what Resurrection Week was all about, a love for Jesus and what He personally did for me.

2.  Go to a Good Friday service at a church that preaches directly from the Bible and is known for that.  One of the most meaningful services in my life is our sister church's Good Friday service. 

 I walk with Jesus as He is in The Garden, beaten, hung on the tree and risen from the dead.   It de-clutters my mind from the business of the week and prepares my heart for Resurrection Sunday.

3. Free Easter booklet from Intouch.org you can get to continue to amazingness of Easter even after it is over:  https://www.intouch.org/  (top banner)

4. How to get the kids involved: https://www.intouch.org/read/blog/6-simple-easter-ideas-for-families

5. Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/8053  and Song Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPL-ZBV_CfA

In closing:  My pastor gave the story behind the hymn, "My Jesus, I Love Thee."  He had us sing it accapella and focus on the words, meaning and then shared that it was written by a boy (12-16 yrs.) upon his receiving Jesus as His Saviour.   My pastor than asked us to focus this week on our love for Jesus, how much do we love Him and what He did for us?  I offer the same challenge to you.

 

I would also suggest reading Ps. 51 which is the Old Testament prophecy of Christ's death about 1,000 years before crucifixion  was even invented and then searching the Gospels for a New Testament account of the events leading to His  resurrection.   

Ps. 51: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps.+51&version=KJV

I pray the Lord uses this week in our lives in a special way to draw us closer to Him, away from sin in our lives and joy as never before in His selfless love for us!  Lord bless you!

Devot. Believers and Palm Branches

Dear Friends,

 

I hope you had a super week!

 

The devot. for today shows how the Palm branches strewn in front of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem  is symbolic of us as believers.  I found this devot. interesting and I hope you do as well!

 

I have included a song link that is brings back memories of a church Easter performance I was apart of for many years.  As Jesus entered Jerusalem (came up on stage), the church orchestra would play this song.

 

It is joyful and vibrant and reminds me of Jesus' triumphal entry!  Pray it brings joy to your

heart as we celebrate that this Sunday. 

 

Lord bless your weekend!

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/believers-palm-trees (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/#)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eDTFRZeHIA

Devot. When Christ is Welcome

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a good week! 

 

The devot. for today is in preparation for Palm Sunday.

Is Christ welcome in our hearts, home and lives?  Can folks tell that we love and serve Jesus and that He is an active part of our lives?  Or is He only noticed on Sunday and then tucked away during the week?

I have included a song that is a special one to me.  Pray it blesses you!

 

Lord bless you this week and we celebrate Palm Sunday!

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/18837 (Used by permission. Taken from http://www.icr.org/) 

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-49Z2TY58h8

 

Devot. The Alabaster Box

Hi Folks,

I hope you had a good week!  Spring is definitely in the air in my neck of the woods!

I was thanking the Lord the other day for manifesting His beautiful creation.

 

The devot. for today gives a bit of background on Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus,

and her selfless act of anointing Jesus (John 12). 

 

The one verse I love in this devot. is how Jesus stated that Mary's selfless act would always be remembered. And to this day we know what she did for our Saviour, don't we? :)

What we do for the Lord or do in His name for someone else, is always remembered by Him:)

 

Have a blessed weekend!   

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/alabaster-box/  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

Devot. The Face of Jesus

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a nice week!  I was so happy and thankful to the Lord for finding this devot.!!

It speaks a bit about Jesus' face.  In Matthew 20:18-19  Jesus told His disciples that they were journeying to Jerusalem. Luke 9 says the same thing about Jesus going to Jerusalem, but puts it this way in verse 51, "he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,"  
Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem, even though He knew that HIs death awaited Him.

This devot talks about the times  that Jesus' face showed something about Him or His task.   I found it interesting and I hope you gain something from it as well.

 Lord bless you and yours this weekend! 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/face-jesus-christ  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)