Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries on their own.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

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

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!)
 
 

 

Monday, September 8, 2014

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.
 
 
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/
 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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/
 
 
 

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Update on Pastor Saeed, Video from his children

Dear Friends,
 
Below is an update on Pastor Saeed and a video made by his precious children calling for his release.
Please sign the petition at the link that is given on the video, and please pass this along!
Pastor Saeed is an Iraqi but an  America citizen who was jailed for his faith in Christ almost two years ago next month.  Efforts have been made by the Congress and the Senate calling for his release from prison through Resolutions made by caring, compassionate congressmen and senators. 
 
One way you can help ensure his speedy release is by calling or emailing your congressman, senators and representatives and even the White House Comment line (number can be found online), asking them to take a public stand for Pastor Saeed, calling for his release.  God bless your efforts and keep praying for him and his beautiful, godly  family!
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  James 5:16

Update: http://aclj.org/iran/secretary-kerry-makes-impassioned-plea-for-american-pastor-saeeds-release

Video from his children: http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-saeeds-kids-plea-for-his-freedom

Devot. Knowledge of the Truth

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good, safe week!  The devot. for today is just a continuation of what we learned last time about  being aware of false Doctrine (teachings of man, not God), how the Scriptures contain our Guidebook of Truth and how the Doctrine (teachings) of the Bible are important to know so we can spiritually mature.
I pray this devot. is clear and gives you more spiritual wisdom. Have a Godly weekend! 
 
Scripture Link: Jesus said he was Truth itself! https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+14%3A1-7&version=KJV
 
Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/8135/  (Used by permission)
 
Updates on persecution of Believers in Iraq: http://aclj.org/
 
John 4: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+4&version=KJV  (Keep reading, thinking and applying to your life those 5 verses of Scripture a day!)

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Devot. Know and Walk in Truth

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good, safe weekend!  The devot. for today is knowing The Truth as found in Scripture and then walking in such a way that reflects what you have learned from The Bible.  A lot of churches and preachers today will tell you want you want to hear, what is politically or socially acceptable, even things that are not in the Bible or have been 'tweaked' to be 'theologically correct' according to their human standards, compared to telling you what you need to hear, what the Bible says to be true,  and that will help you know what changes need to be made in order to live in a way that shows Christ has taken up residence in your life. 
 
2 Timothy 4:2-3 states, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove ('to scold or correct usually gently or w/ kindly intent'),  rebuke ('to reprimand, strongly warn, restrain'), exhort (encourage) with all long suffering (patience) and doctrine (means 'teaching').  For the time will come when they (folks in this world) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
(Reprove definition found on Merriam-Webster/dictionary.com/ Rebuke definition found on bibletoools.com)
 

I know the truth can hurt sometimes, but just as an earthly parents has to show 'tough love' to their child by telling them the truth, so our Heavenly Father has to show
us tough love so we can spiritually mature and live in a way that pleases and reflect Him.  Remember that devot. last week on spiritually growing?
 I pray that what I said makes sense. We should base every shred of what we hear or have been told against God's Word and the Truth that has been stated by God Himself in there.
Pray you have a very blessed week!  (3 links below)
 
Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/8132/  (Used with permission)
 
 
 
 
Update on Crisis in Iraq and Israel: http://aclj.org/