A Perfect Christmas Story

A Christmas message from the Family Research Council

In Thy Dark Streets Shineth


Christmas is the time when Heaven and Nature sing. And it's the time for us
to reflect on the greatest gift of all-the gift of new life in Christ. We
often read of the humble stable in which our Savior was born. It was indeed a
rude, unfinished place. We might think it strange for the King of Kings to be
born in a lowly habitation for animals.
But how wise. In those long ago times, princes born in palaces often
succumbed to pneumonia and other childhood diseases. Surrounded by mirrors,
marble, and gold, those splendid palaces were invaded by cold. He who made
the stars and the beasts knew that a stable was warm and sheltering. It was
the perfect place to bring a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The heavenly host of Angels sang Hallelujah and praised Peace on Earth,
Goodwill to Men. That was what brought simple shepherds to the stable. We see
here the lowliest in society having the Good News preached to them before it
is revealed to the high and mighty of the world. These shepherds are the ones
who must labor outside through the cold nights. They are the ones who must
protect their flocks of sheep from ravening wolves. They are tough, almost
hardened men -- and yet they are the ones who most need the message of new
birth that is brought to them from the dark streets of the little town of
Bethlehem.
Soon, the scene changes, to a royal palace. Scripture tells us that Wise Men
come from the East. They have read of the coming of the Messiah. They have
read of the King of the Jews who is to be born of a Virgin. They know that a
Star will lead them. When they arrive in Jerusalem, these great men are
received with all courtesy in the palace of Herod the Great. Surely, they
think, this king who now rules over the Jews will want to join them in
worshipping the Child. Their careful study of Scripture and their searching
the night skies tells them this Child will be the Lord's anointed and
appointed One. King Herod is well practiced in the arts of deception. Surely,
he tells these Magi, he yearns to join them. If they will but locate the
place where the Child lives and come back to his palace, he will join them on
bended knee.
These Wise Men follow the Star and approach the place where the young child
lives, protected by His mother and her husband, Joseph the Carpenter. The
Magi present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Surely the Christ
Child is the only child being raised in a carpenter's cottage, then or now,
who receives such precious gifts. The Magi will not divulge the Child's
whereabouts to Herod the King. They have been warned in a dream of Herod's
treachery. They slip away without notice and return to their own country.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us "Herod was exceeding wroth." And his murderous
wrath was wreaked on the thousands of Innocents, children two and under, who
dwelt in the region. Herod orders them all slaughtered. But it is too late
for Herod's homicidal rage to achieve his cruel design. Alerted by an Angel,
Joseph has taken Mary and the infant Jesus to safety in Egypt.
We see in this timeless story the wickedness of a government that does not
safeguard the smallest and most vulnerable of those who live under its rule.
Instead, Herod uses his great power to search and destroy. We are meant to
recognize this royal mandate as a singularly evil act whose shame is recorded
forever in the Bible story.
The Flight into Egypt, too, has great meaning for us. Our Heavenly Father
might have sent a fiery chariot to spirit the infant Jesus away. He might
have sent a great Fish. He might have parted the waters to let Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus walk to safety, even as He did for Moses and the Children of
Israel. But He did not. He sent instead a mother, her husband -- a married
couple -- and a donkey. It was thus that the Savior of the World was carried
to safety.
The Christmas story is a story for our time and for all time. It tells of the
birth of our Savior. Its timeless elements speak as well of the sanctity of
life, the protective role of marriage, and the vital place of worship in
achieving the heavenly goal of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.
Written by FRC Senior Fellow Bob Morrison

Thanksgiving Love

Reading from the Book of Psalm 13:5-6

⁵ But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ⁶ I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Thankfulness, not only for the good things we still have, but also for the adversity and the troubled times we face ahead. Are you willing to say what David said in Psalm 13 verse 5, and sing a song of thankfulness in verse 6?

The world thinks it's "entitled" to much. As Christians, we know God doesn't owe us anything, quite the opposite in fact. Yet because of His abundant grace, He loves us. And the truth is... that's a lot to be thankful for. In fact, it's everything.

When we go through hard times and find ourselves wandering around in our own personal wilderness, we have an opportunity to pause and give thanks for what God is doing in our lives. If we are struggling, that means God is using us in His grand vision. He has a greater good in mind. And, like the Pilgrims, we should remember that joy is found even in the hard times. During our moments of pain and suffering, our response should be cries of thanksgiving, if for no other reason than because God loves us.

Make it the best Thanksgiving ever by remembering just how much you have. Count your blessings and share that spirit with everyone around you. Have a Thanksgiving Love.

Don't Touch That Word!

Reading from the Book of Jude 1:3-7, 2 Timothy 3:16, Revelation 22:18,19

^Jude1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴ For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵ I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.   ⁶ And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  ⁷ Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The book of Jude tells Bible-believing Christians to hold on to God’s Word and not seek to change or “breathe new life” into it: This is a grave spiritual error to do so. It warns believers against false teaching and provides a helpful list of characteristics of false teachers and false teaching.

False teachers are ungodly, they want to use God's grace as an opportunity for disobedience, and they deny Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. They reject authority and look down on what they do not understand. They are like clouds without water and trees without fruit. Futhermore they grumble and complain, allow their emotions and passions to control them, brag about themselves, and flatter people in manipulative ways so they can get what they want and cause division.

But Jude knows that false teachers will not succeed and he urges believers to "contend for the faith" to fight for what we know is true. To do that, we are instructed to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, to make progress, to rise higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit, and to guard and keep ourselves in the love of God. Expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which will bring us unto life eternal.
We must do our part, and then trust God to keep us from stumbling or slipping as He enables us to continue walking in truth.

^{2 Timothy 3:16} All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Bible is God’s Word, not humanity’s. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. The word “inspiration”, theopneustos in Greek, literally means “God breathed.” It is God that breathes His Spirit into the Bible, not any person. Through written by men, all of scripture is divinly inspired and it is our authority and rule for faith and life. The Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that changing the words of the Bible was a sin that would not be taken lightly. This is made clear in the stark warning given at the end of the Book of Revelation.

^{Revelation 22:18} For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Every person, with no exceptions, will one day stand before God and give an account of his life. Jesus will come for us when we least expect it. I want to encourage you to contend for the faith, and "don't touch that Word!"

Dump The Garbage!

Reading from the Book of Colossians 2:6-14

^{Colossians 2:6} So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

Do you know, do you understand, that there is a fullness in God that you can walk in, that you can live in? The world cannot give you this fullness, for it is foreign to the world and the things of the world. It is a fullness of grace, a fullness of mercy, a fullness of power, a fullness of God that can only be found when you die to the world and its influences and live totally in our Lord and Savior.
Religion cannot give you this fullness, for it is foreign to religion and the things of religion. It is found only in union with God, in complete intimacy and union, not at all to be found in religion's rules and regulations, its laws and demands. Fullness is found in a personal relationship with a person, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Christ "within and among" us is the hope of glory. You and I can only realize and experience the glory of God in our lives because Christ is in us. He is our hope of seeing better things.


As the children of God, we have a blood-bought right to experience the best God has planned for us. Satan furiously fights the plan of God in each of our lives, and his primary weapon is deception. When we are decieved, we believe something that is not true. Even tho it is not true, it seems true to us because that is what we believe.

Much of the time we feel defeated as we look at ourselves and our lack of ability. What we need to do is remember that Christ in us is our hope of realizing the glory. He keeps us encouraged enough to press on towards better things. We limit ourselves when we look to ourselves alone and fail to see Jesus.


Isn't it time to take out the garbage? It truly is time to dump the garbage of the world and the garbage of religion. It is your ruin, not your help. When we give ourselves to God and the fullness of Christ, we leave our old life behind. Or, as I like to say, "Dump the Garbage".

A Still, Small Voice

Reading from the Book of 1Samuel 3:1-10

1Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. ² And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; ³ And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; ⁴ That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. ⁵ And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. ⁶ And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. ⁸ And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. ⁹ Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ¹⁰ And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

When God started calling to Samuel, Samuel thought that his master, Eli, was speaking to him. Both times Eli said to Samuel, "I did not call you." After this happened a third time, Eli finally realized God was calling Samuel. God spoke to Samuel in a voice that was familiar to him so that he would not be frightened.

When God speaks to us, He does not usually boom from heaven. Often He speaks to us through what His Word calls "a still, small voice" that comes from our inner man (our conscience). In such situations we may think we are talking to ourselves, but God's words in our spirit are always filled with a wisdom that we could never have on our own.

God speaks to us in many different ways. Many people think they do not hear from God because they are looking for some kind of supernatural manifestation that is not likely to happen. God speaks to our hearts. God also speaks through wisdom and common sense. He does not lead us to do foolish things. He speaks to us through His Word and never tells us to do things that go against His Word. He speaks to us through other people and even our circumstances.

I encourage you to begin to ask God to speak to you and then listen to His voice. He has so many good things to say to you. Listen to His still, small voice.

My Friends...

Reading from the Book 1Samuel 18:1-4

1Samuel 18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ² And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. ³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. ⁵ And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

David and Jonathan were truly great friends to one another. Do you have a great friend, someone that you love as much as you love your own life? Thank God for that person today.

Father God, I do not know all the challenges my friends have, but You know everything! I hear silence, You hear their prayers. I see their laughter, You see their tears. I see what they give, You see what has been taken from them. I see their beautiful appearance, You see the scars in their soul. I experience their faith, You know their doubts. My prayer for them God is that you hear every single prayer and meet them at their need. Thank you Father. Amen

The Depths of His Love

Reading from the Book of Zephaniah 3:17

^{Zephaniah 3:17} The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Do you ever wonder how much God really loves you? Zephaniah 3:17 gives me the image that God literally "spins around" and "shouts and sings" over us with joy! God has not only saved us from his wrath through Jesus, but He delights in us! 

The depths of His love for us is more than we can possible imagine.We should thank God for His great love everyday and ask Him to help us understand the depths of His love.

The Stormy Sea

Readiing from the Book of Mark 4: 34-40

^{Mark 4:34} But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. ³⁵ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. ³⁶ And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. ³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. ³⁸ And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ³⁹ And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

It is always exciting when Jesus says to us, "Let's do a new thing" or "Let's go over to the other side." That would be the same as "Promotion is coming", or blessings are on the way", or "Come up higher." but what we don't realize, is the storms we may encounter on the way, as the disciples did. The storm that the disciples experienced was no little April shower or harmless summer squall, but a storm of hurricane proportions. The waves were not gently waving and tossing, they were beating into the boat with such fury that it quickly filled with water. That would be enough to frighten anyone.
There are times when we have great problems and God seems to ignore our prayers, and finally we begin to wonder if He cares about us at all. There is no need to wonder. God cares about the sparrow, and He surely cares about His own dear children. If there is not a clear reason why He fails to answer, then perhaps it is simple as a test of faith. It is in these stormy seasons we refer to as "the midnight hour" or "the dark night of the soul." At times like these, when it looks like the boat is sinking with us in it, we must use our faith. Just to simply believe in Him. Jesus calmed the storm, but He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. We must learn to conquer our fear and press on to the other side. We must learn to have peace and joy, even in the midst of our stormy sea.

Give Them All To Jesus

Reading from the Book of Lamentations 3:21-31

^{Lamentations 3:21} This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²² It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. ²⁴ The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. ²⁵ The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ²⁶ It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. ²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. ²⁸ He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. ²⁹ He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. ³⁰ He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. ³¹ For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

The writer in Lamentations found that positive thoughts about God brought him out of the depressed, miserable state he was in. When we think about our problems, we sink lower and lower, but thoughts about the goodness, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness of God gives us hope. Give them all to Jesus.

My little child, you are so impatient to move forward. But you cannot see what I see from My heights. Trust in Me. When it is time, I will lead you and guide you. I hold you in the palm of My hand. I have your best interests in mind, always. Wait for Me; be still; know that I am God. That is, know that I am a Father who loves you, cares for your details, and makes all things work toward the good when you love Me, trust in Me, and wait for Me to act.Wait for Me. Trust Me. I am right beside you, ready to move when it is the right moment. I have not forgotten you, nor will I ever.

Peace In Your "Home Base"

Reading from the Book of Luke 10:1-11

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. ² Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.³ Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. ⁵ And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house  ⁶ And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. ⁷ And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. ⁸ And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁹ And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹⁰ But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ¹¹ Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

When Jesus sent His followers out two by two to do His Kingdom work, He said to them, basically, "Go and find a house and say, "Peace be unto you." And if your peace settles on that house, then you can stay there. If it does not, shake the dust off your feet and go on."

Jesus was essentially saying, "Once you find a peaceful place, it can be your base of operations, and you can go out and come back, go out and come back. If it is not peaceful, you need to do whatever you can to gain and maintain a peaceful atmosphere because strife and confusion adversely affect the anointing and power of God that rests on your life.

Everyone who lives and works from that peaceful place will do so in God's power and will have success. We need to encourage each other to do all we can to ensure peace in your "home base."

Do You See? Do You Hear?

Reading from the Book of Habakkuk 1:2-6, 2:1-3

Habukkak 1:2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! ³ Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. ⁴ Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. ⁵ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. ⁶ For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.

When you see evidence of violence and injustice in the world, do you ever wonder why God does not put a stop to such evils? Habakuk asked God such questions, and found that God answered him in unexpected ways. God wants us to bring our questions to Him.We may not always get the answers we expect, but we
can always trust that God's ways are best, even when we do not fully understand them.

Habukkuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. ² And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Habukkuk fully expected that God would respond to his questions, and he waited in a position of watchful expectation.

Do you believe that God will answer you? Learn to wait for God's reply. Ask Him to help you recognize when you are seeing His answer to you. Keeping a journal (or like this blog) of God's responses to your prayers is a wonderful testimony to His faithfulness.

As I have done on this blog, and the many responses/comments I receive, and at times go back to read what I have posted, it has shown me that God listens, and cares, and he will answer your prayers, questions and concerns. It is up to us to open our eyes and ears to hear and see.

Up, Follow!

 Reading from the Book of Genesis 44:4

 

^{Genesis 44:4} And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
 
The United States of America is being destroyed. It is an intentional and strategic plan designed to break the once most powerful nation on earth in order to bring in a World Socialist Government and one world currency. If you have any doubt about this fact, look at the CIA chart which shows the U.S. at the bottom of 191 nations with a negative $561 billion account balance. There is no way that this happens by accident, it is clearly a planned event.

The invisible government or the elite who control this world have decided to kill the dollar and kill the U.S. They planned this over 100 years ago and wrote about it openly. This did not happen overnight, it happened over decades. Rockefeller, the Trilateral Commission and the international bankers behind the Federal Reserve deliberately moved manufacturing out of the U.S. and into Communist China. They planned for China to become the world’s number one economic super power in the next few years.

None of this was hidden from the American people! It was done out in the open. The ramifications about the numbers in the CIA chart are enormous. We have been infiltrated and taken over and the time has come for the Remnant Church to cry out to God and engage in spiritual warfare. Behind these economic figures is an intense spiritual battle that can be won in the heavenlies because all things are possible with God!

Perhaps you were not responsible for what happened in the past. But you are responsible for how you will deal with this crisis in relationship to the living God. Like it or not, this is what has been handed to us. But there is a way out! It is not an easy way, but God in His mercy has given us His supernatural and abundant resources to deal with the problem. In the power of the Holy Spirit we must rise to the challenge and have absolute faith in God’s power to deliver.This is our Goliath! This is our Red Sea!

I will not play church, not now or ever! Nor will I surrender to stupidity and ignorance. I have the call of God upon my life for this hour, and for this hour I was called before the foundation of the world. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.We are responsible for what God has given us. If you are giving and serving in a church that is dining and dancing while the Titanic is sinking, than you have no right to complain as the ship sinks.

God is calling His people. He is calling you. We are going to have to make some radical changes. If you stay in your comfort zone, you and your loved ones are going to perish. Read the statistics in the CIA chart very carefully and make sure you understand its full implications.

There is hope and a promise for all those that respond to the call of God and obey Him when He gives instructions. The situation is not impossible. The time has come to grow up and own our time. A Third Great Awakening, an authentic and Biblical last day’s revival and a massive soul harvest are all on the table. But you are going to have to make some radical changes. If you are playing church and in fellowship with those that do, you are dancing before the Golden Calf and judgment begins in the house of the Lord. If you are listening to false prophets you must forsake them.

Now is the time, and in the power of the Holy Spirit we must seize it. We must rise to our destiny and take back what was stolen from us. Up, follow!

Walk With Jesus When In Trouble

Reading from the Book of Nahum 1:7

^{Nahum 1:7} The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

What will you do in the "day of trouble"? I believe we are wise to make up our minds ahead of time concerning what we will do when trouble comes. We need to be stable before trouble ever comes. Decide to stay in faith and remain thankful for what God is doing in your life. When difficulties arise, keep praising Him, and do not ever give up.

Do not be surprised by trouble. Jesus said that in the world we would have tribulation and trials, but we know that he will also strengthen us and enable us to do whatever we need to do in life. God is our Strength, our Refuge, and our Stronghold in the day of trouble.

God knows those that trust Him, and He already has a plan for our deliverance before our trouble ever begins. We are more than conquerors through Christ, Who loves us. One way to explain it is to say, "In Christ, we have won the battle before it ever begins." Our walk with Jesus will sustain us.

The Light Of Men-Tribute to 9/11

Reading from the Book of John 1:4,5

^{John 1:4} In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

To those who lost loved ones when the Twin Towers came down, to those families who lost loved ones in the war to defend our freedoms and liberties, I offer my heartfelt condolances. I will never, ever forget!

I pray you find the Light of Men, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

In God We Trust!

Make Labor Day A Holy Day

Reading from the Book of 1 Kings 19:12-13, Mark 6:31, John 3:7-8

^{Mark 19:12} And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Elijah needed to hear from God, and thankfully he had a listening ear toward God even tho his circumstances had frieghtened him. He had experienced tremendous victory but afterward he ran for his life, hid in a cave, and prayed to God to die. Knowing Elijah's need, God taught Elijah a wonderful lesson about what His voice sounds like. As Elijah waited on God, He demostrated His power through wind, earthquake, and fire. But God was not in those things. Instead He spoke to Elijah in a "still, small voice" and gave instruction for Elijah's next mission.

The "still, small voice" by which the Lord spoke to Elijah, tells us that the Lord encourages us to be sensitive enough to feel the gentle breeze by which God makes His presence known.

^{Mark 6:31} And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

On one occasion, Jesus' disciples were so busy that "they had no leisure even to eat."  He said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." We all need to take the time to listen for that still, small voice and feel that gentle breeze.

^{John 3:7} Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Jesus explained that some people do not hear the voice of God because they do not believe Him and do not have His Word living in their hearts. He taught us that we must be born again in order to hear God's voice. When we are born again, we are made alive in our spirits to be sensitive to the voice of God. We hear His whisper even tho we cannot tell where it comes from. Our ears become "tuned in" to hear our Father's voice. He whispers to convict, correct, and direct us by a still, small voice deep within our hearts.

In light of the stress most of us feel, how do we make today's holiday a holy day? We need to accept Jesus' invitation. Set aside some time today for your soul. Get alone with your Father. Read his word. Offer him your praise and thanksgiving and ask His Spirit to speak to your spirit. And know that he wants intimacy with you, for he made you for himself. Our hearts are restless until they rest in him.

I encourage you to make your Labor Day a Holy Day.

Longing To Go Home To Jesus

Reading from the Book of Isaiah 40:31,41:10

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Quietly waiting on God encourages us, does more to restore our bodies, minds, and emotions than anything else we can do. We need to do this regularly. We must insist on quiet time with God. Do not let anyone take those consecrated moments from you. In those times, God will empower you to face everything you need to do with renewed physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength. 

¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

He is with us. He is our Great God. He will harden us to difficulties, help us, and uphold us with His victorious, rightous hand! And may even come to you in a dream. I experienced the Lord in a dream. It is something you will never forget, as you KNOW it was Him.

Wind Through My Soul

Reading from the Book of Psalm 107:23-29

²³ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;²⁴ These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.²⁵ For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.²⁶ They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.²⁸ Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.²⁹ He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

There is a new breeze blowing through my soul. In the darkest of nights these past several months, it has been barely a whisper. But now it is beginning to sail through my soul, lifting my heart toward Heaven in a new way. I sense the love of Jesus. It is a love that conquers. A love that has overcome the world. A love that will overcome all that is coming against us in the times ahead. You who are reading this, Be of courage! Jesus is going to feed and strengthen us! He is going to equip us for the Great Trials that now loom over the world like a woman about to enter hard labour.

I have not stopped watching in these summer months. I have only been able to “ponder these things” in my heart without the grace to write much. But now the wind is filling my sails again, and I am eager to return to my writings.

What can I say to you?....

As I have been warning for several years now, we are nearing major events in the world that will ultimately purify both it and the Church. From the economy, to Fukishima, to major shifts in climate, to social unrest, to Revolution, there is a perfect storm brewing. Yes, this too I hear in the breeze that, although gentle and warm right now, carries within it the tempest of justice. Over and over again it is clear to me that what the world faces is not the wrath of God, but the reaping of man's choices, the harvest of nearly a hundred years of rebellion.

As believers we are God-confident. Having confidence in God that He will work mightily through us. Let His Wind sail through your souls!

DitchThe Fear!

Reading from the Book of Matthew 5:10,12

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

What is the worst that can befall a Christian? The kingdom of heaven; sounds pretty good to me...why the fear?

How about this one,

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Certainly we are not alone in this. The prophets before us and all those who sleep in Christ have been through the same things we are going through today. Yes, the trials seem greater to us because it's the Devils last hurrah and he has stepped up the intensity of his attacks knowing his time is short, but we, also, have the knowledge of this fact and should be able to stand on the Word of God without the doubt that causes so much anguish. 

Seems to me that the ones who are having so much trouble with the trials and temptations of these times are lacking something. Could that be real heartfelt belief that Jesus is for real and He will redeem us from the curse of sin and death, just as His Word says He will?

Following Jesus Christ will help you through your trails and temptations and you will "ditch the fear!"

Let Love In!

Reading from the Book of 1 John 4:18,  John 14:7

^{1John 4:18} There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

God is the love that drives out all fear. The more I open my heart to Him in childlike faith and “remain in love”, the more He enters, driving out the darkness of fear and giving me a holy confidence, boldness, and peace.

^{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 confidence comes from not  knowing about Him, but knowing Him. The problem is that many of us have not truly opened our hearts to God. We keep Him at arms length for many reasons...from fear that He rejects me, or will not provide for me, or will demand too much of me, etc. But Jesus says that, unless we become trusting like little children, we cannot have the kingdom of God, we cannot have that Love that drives out fear.

Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up. There are no situations which God cannot change. Therefore, the first and foundational key to not being afraid, is to "Let Love In!"

Seek His Kingdom

Reading from the Book of Luke 12:26-32

²⁶ If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? ²⁹ And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. ³⁰ For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. ³¹ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God's children are not to be like the world. The world seeks after things, but we are to seek the Lord and His kingdom. He promises that if we will do that, He will add to us everything else He knows that we need.

Seek His Kingdom.

The Living One!

Reading from the Book of Luke 24:5-8, Revelation 1:18, Hebrews 9:28

^{Luke 24:5} And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷ Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁸ And they remembered his words,

Jesus Christ loves us by shedding His own blood that we might be freed from sin. You are worth something because Jesus loves you and shed His blood for you.

^{Revelation 1:18} I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Do not allow your sense of worth to be based on the opinion or actions of others.
Do not try to find your worth in how you look or what you do.
Do not try to find your worth in how other people treat you.
Let your sense of worth come through in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You are secure in Him. He loves you!

^{Hebrews 9:28} So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

You serve a risen Savior who lives in your life by faith. Take Him at His Word, and joy will fill your innermost being as you celebrate His appearance almost two thousand years ago. Enjoy Jesus, anticipating your Lord’s second return as He is the Living One!

It Is Finished!

Reading from the Book of Mark 15:42-47

⁴² And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
⁴³ Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
⁴⁵ And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.
The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. It is finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus the Pharisee.

⁴⁶ And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus beheld where he was laid.

As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? 
As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? 
Don’t you know they searched for life?
But they didn’t find it.
So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. 
They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. 
For three days, no one gets close to the grave.
But then....Sunday arrives....to be con't.

Look Within The Inner-Self

Reading from the Book of Psalms 51:5,6

^{Psalm 51:5} Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶ Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

Two verses with a powerful message. It says that, though we were born from our mother's with a sinful nature, God desires truth "in the inner most being."  That means that if we want to receive God's blessings, we must be honest with Him about our sins and ourselves. 

We need to not let sin linger in our life. We all sin, and when we do, we need to be quick to repent. Then we can carry on our lives, staying confident at all times, and with a heart that is fixed and steadfast.

Look within the inner-self.

Listen To Him

Reading from the Book of Galatians 1:1-12

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) ² And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: ³ Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: ⁵ To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Have you ever thought that God could not or would not use you because of your past? No one was more likely to feel that way than the apostle Paul, who tried to destroy the early church. However, Paul received God's forgiveness and recognized that it was God who gave him his ministry and authority. No matter what your past, God wants to use you too.

⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. ¹⁰ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. ¹¹ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹² For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Many times we receive a message from God, we confer too much with flesh and blood. We go around looking for someone to assure us that we are doing the right thing. If we want to be popular with people, we cannot be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Needing peoples approval in an unbalanced way can steal our destinies. We cannot always be God-pleasers and people-pleasers at the same time. What we need to do is beleive we have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, within us. But since we have invited the Spirit of Truth to guide us, should we always shun advice from others? No, for "in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14

Like many other things, this is an area where we need balance. We can and should be open to receive advice from those who are wiser and more experienced than we are in an area, but we should not depend so much on what people say that we fail to listen to what God is saying.

Listen to Him.

His Plans & His Way!

Reading from the Book of Psalm 24:1-4, 25:12-15

24 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. ² For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. ³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.

We can take comfort that God will lead us in the path of righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with Him. God leads  each of us in the path that is right for us, a path that restores us in every way to the good places God has for us. God has a path predestined for your restoration, if you will allow Him to do so. He will guide you by His Holy Spirit along the unique way that leads to restoration and to being able to fulfill the great purpose He has in your life.

¹² Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. ¹³ His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land. ¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. ¹⁵ My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will^]pluck my feet out of the net.

Are you tired of being uncomfortable and being in places that do not fit God's call on your life? Are you tired of being spiritually uncomfortable, insecure, or anxious all the time? I have good news for you! Psalm 25: 12-15 tells us that we can be at ease if we fear God, worship Him, and do only the things He has planned for us without trying to force our own agendas or striving to do what we want to do. God Loves you and He has awesome plans for your life. Surrender to His plans and His ways!

The Rain Is Going To Fall

Reading from the Book of I Kings 18:41-46

^{1 Kings 18:41} And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
⁴³ And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
⁴⁴ And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
⁴⁵ And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezebel.
⁴⁶ And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezebel.

God had brought drought and famine on Israel to show His power to Ahab. God was letting Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, know that they needed to change their wicked ways, and if they did not, the circumstances were not going to be good.
After announcing to Ahab what was going to happen--rain was coming--Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel. There he got down on his knees with his forehead on the ground. Worship strengthens our faith. Doubt could have caused Elijah to give up, but his worship kept him strong. When you worship God, He will send the rain of His Spirit upon you, and it will down all the 'Ahabs' and all other resistances in your life. Take your position and praise the Lord.
________________________________________________________

My holy people; the time of Ahab is passing, just as the time of Elijah is beginning. Ahab has no idea how to function in an outpouring, while Elijah knows exactly. The difference? My Living Word directs those that are Kingdom minded. Witchcraft and the thinking of the world directs those that are not.

You will find yourself in situations; over and over again, where Ahab is trying to lead and direct, instead of following. It is man's place to follow Me. It is Mine to speak and direct.

I am setting things in motion to turn the tables over on Ahab, upsetting the set order of religion. In it's place I will establish a new order: true following. Where the heart, not the opinions of men, will matter; Where the counsel of God, instead of the councils of men will determine what is done. The heart of Elijah was to establish My counsel above everything that was at that time set in place. His declaration, why even his very name depicts it: The Lord He is God!

When I came to earth to minister, I took upon Myself the state of a servant, humbling Myself to follow. I followed exactly what I saw Father doing. Although religion attempted to divert Me from that path, I determined to follow and did so exactly to Father's glory and fame.

In the days and weeks ahead there will be an unusual outpouring of My Spirit: A downpour, a heavy rain that will cause a shift in the minds and the programs of the church. This downpour will be similar to what is seen here by Elijah, for I am truly sending the spirit of Elijah at this time. The hearts of the fathers will turn to the children and the hearts of the children will turn to the fathers. See wholesale renewal and revival of relationships and of respect and honor to be the hallmarks. Even Ahab will listen to Elijah and follow. Elijah will only be looking one place - not to how things have been done, not to how the church board wants to do things, not to what seems orderly and reasonable, not according to the latest book or the latest teaching - no Elijah will only be looking one place - at My Face, to Me, to face to face communion and counsel with Me. 

Follow Me. Watch and hear Me as the rain is going to fall.

His Hand Of Rightousness!

Reading from the Book of Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10

²⁸ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. ²⁹ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: ³¹ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Quietly waiting on God, spending time alone with Him in prayer, worship, or Bible reading, encourages us, does more to restore our bodies, minds and emotions than anything else we can do. We need to do this regulatory. Insist on quiet time with God. Do not let anyone take those consecrated moments from you. In those times, God empowers you to face everything you need to do with renewed physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength.

¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.


If there is something we are supposed to be doing, the Lord will give us the ability to do it. He will not lead us into a situation and then leave us there to face it alone in our own weak, human power. No, He is with us. He is our great God. He will harden us to difficulties, help us, and uphold us with His hand of righteousness!