Devot. Experiencing God's Peace/Movie/Pastor Andrew Brunson

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week!

Our devot for today is on the Lord's peace.   I'm sure we all need the Lord's peace in our lives.

 

Jesus said 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."

 

Jesus promises to leave and give to those who are His followers His peace.   He says it's a type of peace that the world cannot give to us.

 

In the next verse, verse 28, Jesus says that even though He is going to Heaven to join His Father (Jesus was speaking ahead of His death, burial, resurrection and ascending back to Heaven-Acts 1:9-12), He will come back again.   And according to other parts of Scripture,  He will return for those who have put their faith and trust in Him and God never lies (Numbers 23:19).

 

God's Word promises us again in Philippians 4:7-8, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

 

I can take my worries, cares and concerns to the Lord in prayer, present my requests to Him, with thankfulness knowing that He wants me to come to Him.  And His peace, which passes any understanding, He promises will "keep"  (hold or retain in one's possession) my heart and mind through Jesus Himself.

 

This the verse I remind myself of on the days where peace is very much needed.   God says His peace will "Keep" (word also means to do something as promised) my heart and mind though Jesus Himself.

 

Peace is only found in our Savior, my friends.   No one or nothing else can even begin to give us the same peace.

 

Below is a link to our devot., which I hope, encourages you this week.

 

I also have a update on Pastor Andrew's trial today.   It's not good news right now, so please keep praying, sign the petition, and spread the word along any way you can (recopy the link onto a separate email, get others to pray and sign).  

 

 https://aclj.org/persecuted-church/pastor-andrews-trial-takes-bleak-turn-judge-refuses-release-delays-trial-returns-pastor-to-grim-turkish-prison

 

I have also included one other link.

 

 I know that I have mentioned Voice of the Martyr's a ministry started by a Romanian pastor who was imprisoned for his faith for 14 years.  He started VOW as a ministry to help other persecuted

believers overseas and his work is still going strong today.

 

VOM produced a movie about his imprisonment, courage and faith and it came out in theaters 2 months ago.   It was such a success that it is back in theaters for an encore.  My family and I went to see it and it was powerful!  Encourage you to look into it and see if a theater near you is hosting it.    https://www.onbuzz.com/new-releases/tortured-for-Christ

 

Lord bless you and yours this week!      

 

Devot.

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/experiencing-gods-peace?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBANN20180415SundayDevoExperiencingGodsPeace&utm_term=Most%20Engaged%20List%20Last%2045%20Days%20KEEP  (Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

 

Holocaust Remembrance Day/Corrie Ten Boom/Pastor Andrew Brunson-Trial is Today!

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good weekend!

 

I'm going to do something a bit differently today.   Today's devot is going to be more educational and informative in nature.

 

Thursday, 4/13 was Holocaust Remembrance Day and I wish to shed some light on one special lady who was involved in saving Jewish people.

 

Many people are skeptical that the Jewish Holocaust even happened.     It surprises me because of all the evidence-the concentration camps whose structures still exist as a way of giving credence and remembering to those whose lives were brutally extinguished.  

 

Those who have survived and are  brave enough to continue to tell their stories, lest we forgot that the Holocaust really happened.  

 

These folks still bear the ugly marks on their arms of their time in prison (identification numbers that were tattooed into their arms as they entered the camps).

 

The homes or offices that were used to hide Jewish people still exist and are used as places of remembrance (the attic where Anne Frank's family hide, now the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam; the bedroom in Holland, now a museum, where Corrie Ten Boom's family hide Jewish people).

 

I have been the privileged to meet and speak to a gentleman, Leo Bretholtz, who survived the Holocaust, but his family did not.   

 

One of the heroines in our household is a Christian lady from Holland, Corrie Ten Boom, whose family hid Jewish people in their home,  risked their lives for them and ended up in prison for their courageous actions.   Her father and sister and other family members died in a concentration camp, but Corrie survived.  

 

The film, The Hiding Place was made on her story and based on her books (the movie is true to book form compared to some movies).   It is a powerful film that details the lengths the family went to protect the Jewish people, what they endured in prison, and how in in the midst of their prison time, God worked miracles on their behalf, and used Corrie and her sister Betsy, to share the love of Jesus  to inmates and prison guards alike and how lives were eternally changed because they shared Jesus.

 

In place of a devot. today I have included two clips of her sharing her personal testimony.  One is on forgiving the man who turned her family into the Gestapo (German police).   It is an extremely powerful testimony of forgiveness!!!!  Please listen to it.  

 

The clip also includes pictures of Corrie and her family, and a beautiful song, taken from parts of Scripture, entitled The Hiding Place and real video/photo footage from those in the concentration camps (it's powerful).   But if you don't have time for the whole clip, please esp. listen to her story. 

 

Clip #1:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_GUZQ0XuqQ

 

The second short clip is Corrie sharing how she came face to face with one of the guards in the prison camp after her release from prison and the story of how she forgave him.    VERY powerful also!!!!   

 

Clip #2:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cfp51vLZb4

 

In these clips,  Corrie shares how her forgives parallels how Christ has forgiven us.   We hurt the Lord though our sin every day and yet Christ willingly died on the cross to forgive us of our sins and is still daily willing to forgive us.  

 

1 John 1:7-9, 2:1-2,  says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation (an atoning sacrifice for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

 

I would encourage you to try and watch The Hiding Place (can be found on youtube) or find some books that Corrie wrote (there are several).  MUCH can be learned from this hero of the faith through her own journey of faith.

 

We will be re-visiting this topic along some different lines in the future.    I wish to give you some biblical  background on why people would risk their lies lives to save Jewish people and what God has to say about the nation of Israel today.   I will not be getting political, but I will be getting Biblical.    

 

Lastly, you may remember me sharing petitions on behalf of Pastor Andrew Brunson, American citizen and pastor falsely imprisoned in Iran for a year and a half.   He is being placed on trial in Turkey today Monday, 4/16, and  is looks like Turkey is pushing for a life sentence for him.  Please read the following info. below, prayerfully consider signing and passing on the petition for his release and pray for him and his family on Monday.

 

Lord bless you and yours this week!

 

Info. on Pastor Andrew:  https://aclj.org/persecuted-church/16-facts-about-pastor-andrew-brunson

Petition: https://aclj.org/

 

 

RELEASE PASTOR ANDREW BRUNSON!

Hi Folks,
This is an update on Pastor Andrew Brunson.  An American citizen and pastor who has been falsely and wrongly imprisoned in a Turkish prison for over a year.   His health is deteriorating and he is about to go to court in Turkey on April 16th.

Please read his story below, sign the petition and pass the word along in any way you can and via social media.

You can keep up to date on Pastor Andrew's case at the American Center for Law and Justice's Website here:   https://aclj.org/ 

And read "16 Facts About Pastor Andrew" that the ACLJ just published here:  https://aclj.org/persecuted-church/16-facts-about-pastor-andrew-brunson

Thank you!
Grace

Take Action  |   Contribute

Share     f   Share this on Facebook   , American Pastor Andrew Brunson's trial begins in less than 2 weeks, and things look grim. But we are aggressively fighting for his freedom. After more than 17 months imprisoned in Turkey, Pastor Andrew has been charged with "Christianization." Sign the Petition Now The prosecution's 62-page indictment is a rambling assault on Christianity, including hearsay from a "secret witness," an attack on Israel, and a complete and utter mischaracterization of the Christian faith. Yet Pastor Andrew could spend 35 years - essentially the rest of his life - behind bars. He's a North Carolina native, and his home state Senator, Thom Tillis, recently visited him. "Pastor Brunson is strengthened by his love for his family and his faith in God," the Senator said, "but his health has deteriorated." Pastor Andrew's trial begins April 16th. He's suffered too much, and lost so much time with his family. It's our moral imperative to fight to bring him home. We continue working aggressively on his behalf, and we're urging the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to intervene. Be his voice. Sign Our Urgent Petition Before the Trial: Save Pastor Andrew. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel

Devot. The Tomb is Empty, Our Hearts Are Full

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a super week! 

 

Below is a devot. on rejoicing that the tomb is empty and Jesus is risen!

 

1 Corinthians 15  says that if Jesus had not risen, then our faith would be usefulness and vain. 

We would be hopeless and without hope of going to Heaven!  But because Jesus did rise from the dead and is waiting for us in Heaven, we are HOPEFUL of spending an eternity in Haven with Him, because we have put our faith and trust in Him.

 

I pray the devot. below is a boost of encouragement to your weekend.  I have also included a beautiful and powerful song I recently found that should help us to direct our praise to the One who has risen!

 

Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

Devot.

Go to this website:   https://www.dayspring.com/

Scroll down to the bottom

Under More click on Stories

On this page, scroll down and bit and click on Circle 2-Our devot. "The Tomb is Empty, Our Hearts Are Full" is the first on one this page.

 

Song:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV8bv4QuDtM

Devot. When Jesus Said "It Is Finished" He Was Talking About You

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a wonderful, Resurrection weekend!

We are gong to continue with Resurrection devots. for a little while.  I found some neat ones:)

This devot. focuses on the last moment's of Jesus life, His final words, "It is Finished."

Isaiah 53:10 says," Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him;  he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,..."

 

When Jesus said this words moments before His death, what He was saying was that His death paid the price of the sins of mankind and was God's way of paying for our way to Heaven.   

There was nothing else that needed to be done to pay for our way to Heaven. IT IS FINISHED!

 I also have a note in my Bible from an Easter sermon I heard saying that when Jesus cried out the words, "It Is Finished," 'It was a victory cry from the cross.  A message for Satan and his ears.   Satan had lost and his future was doomed.  He must have shuttered when he heard Jesus' cry!'

1 Corinthians 15:64-67 shows us that Jesus' death proved He had power and victory over sin, hell and the grave.  The previous verses to the passage below explain that some day, when we get to Heaven, our mortal bodies will be changed to immortal-we will get a new, and perfect body in Heaven!

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

 Our passage below is the one used for the devot. and I have also included a neat song link called Mercy Tree. I have also included simple directions for finding our devot.  Lord bless you and yours this week!

 

John 19:28-30, "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.   When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

Devot.   

Go to this website:   https://www.dayspring.com/

Scroll down to the bottom

Under More click on Stories

On this page, scroll down and bit and click on Circle 2-Our devot, "When Jesus said 'It is Finished' He Was Talking About You" is the first devot. on the page.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07lDxRvaoI4

Devot. Remembering Holy Week

Hi Folks,

 

I hoe you have had a blessed week!  Here we are at Good Friday.  

 

I've had folks wonder at times, "Why do we call this Good Friday?"

 

The day Christ Jesus died was a physically and spiritually horribly painful day for Him as the sins of the world were laid on Him and paid for through HIs death. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:  (Christ-likeness, Godliness) by whose stripes ye were healed."

 

But it was a GOOD DAY for sinful man!  Jesus made a way for each person to inherit Heaven through His death, resurrection ad accepting Him as Savior!

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed(rejected)."   Romans 10:9-13

 

Below is our devot. for this weekend, truly remembering and reflecting on this week, a "Good Friday" song.   

 

I also want to give a parting reminder that while Easter Sunday and April's Fools Day fall on the same day, keep your perspective folks.   The following passage explains that if Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith would be in vain and those who have trusted Christ and died,

would not have the hope of eternity in Heaven either.    Jesus' resurrection is paramount to us spending eternity with Him!  We have assurance that we will be in Heaven with Him, because He rose from the grave and we have personally trusted Him!   Praise Him for that!  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+cor.+15%3A12-22&version=KJV

 

I pray for the Lord's richest blessings on you and your family this Holy Weekend.  

 

Devot.https://www.dayspring.com/articles/remembering-holy-week?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNAEN20180325SundayDevoHolyWeek&utm_term=Most%20Engaged%20List%20Last%2045%20Days%20KEEP

 

Song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKfzrNs4-UU

Devot. The Blood of Eternal Hope

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a great weekend!   

 

This week is Holy Week.  It's a week to set aside, contemplate, remember and reflect on what the Lord Jesus has done for us.   

 

I would really encourage you to  go to a Good Friday Service to a Passion Play (a play that depicts the life, earth and resurrection of Christ).

 

My pastor made an interesting comment during his Sunday's message.    He said that many folks will attend Good Friday or Easter services, but never really know Jesus or have an accurate knowledge of God.    And in my own words I will add that they know Jesus died and rose again, but they do not know that He did that for them personally, that they must  trust Him as their way to go to Heaven in order to get to Heaven.

 

Many churches do not share this last vital piece of advice.   Jesus died and rose again FOR YOU and you must  accept Him what He did for you in order to gain Heaven.

 

With that in mind, I'm going to encourage you to find a good Bible believing church to go to this Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  Below is a link that gives a list of very good churches across America and even overseas.

 

I also have a link for a Passion Play I have found and have enjoyed watching in previous years. 

 

Below is also our devot. The Blood of Eternal Hope which shows that Jesus blood is what gives us access to Heaven through accepting Him as our Saviour.

 

I have an article that shares how to explain Resurrection Week to children.   It saddens me when I talk to children and they have no clue what Easter week is about.   Their eternity rests on them knowing what Jesus did for them and accepting Jesus as their way to get to Heaven!

 

Lastly, I have included a link for free, Resurrection Ecards to send to family and friends:)

 

I pray that this week is a special one for you as you reflect on the time that you put your faith and trust in Jesus and that the Lord will give you opportunities to share Him with others through an invite to church or a Passion Play.   

 

Lord bless you and yours this week!

 

~Churches  http://www.swordofthelord.com/churches.php

 

~Passion Play(Click the video that says Living Cross): https://opendoorchurch.org//media/live-video-

streaming/

 

 ~Resurrection E-Cards: https://www.dayspring.com/ecards

 

Devot.

Click on this Website: https://www.dayspring.com/  

Scroll all the way down to the bottom.

Under MORE Click on the link that says Stories

Click the purple Lent on the top right side of the screen

Scroll down a bit and Click Circle 6

Our devot. is on this screen, 1st devotional-The Blood of Eternal Hope

How to Explain Resurrection Week to Young People:

Click on this Website: https://www.dayspring.com/

Scroll all the way down to the bottom.

Under MORE Click on the link that says Stories

Scroll down a bit and Click Circle 3