Love and Justice for America

Rabbi Jonathan Cahn revealed in The Harbinger how an ancient prophesy to Israel has shocking parallels to what is happening in America. Don't be deceived! The first time I read Isaiah 9:10, I thought it told about the human spirit. Check this out--"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars." American leaders have repeated these words, the same words used after the Assyrians destroyed Israel, and inspired a patriotic response. Wasn't it good for Americans to rally their support to rebuild bigger and better than before? But what if 911 was a wake up call? What if God saw America's response as defiance? What if He used terrorists to cause us to repent and look to Him for our protection and strength instead of ourselves?

Our forefathers founded America on faith in God, and our constitution is evidence of that. The men who established our government so many years ago made our laws to give us freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. How sad that our country leaders have removed God from our government and prayer from our schools. In their place, they added freedom of choice, the killing of millions of innocent babies, and thrown justice aside.

All this time God did not give up on America.  Many Americans are not aware of God's amazing love, because they depend on themselves and not God. Yet He loved us so much He gave (that's what love does--it gives) His only Son (all He had), so whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (life with Him forever) John 3:16 -- my paraphrase. God made a way for us to live together and with Him in peace and love, but we have turned away.

I could not put The Harbinger down and I recommend it for all Americans. Although I prayed for my country before, I feel a greater urgency after reading this book. You will too.

If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land, 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Thank you, Father God, for America. We are sorry we have trampled your love and gifts. Send your Holy Spirit to convict and humble us. We can't save America on our own. We need you. We have always needed you. Raise leaders who will draw us back to you and your values. Amen.

All Things New

The beginning of each year gives me new hope and energy. How about you? Have you made resolutions or did you choose not to because of the self-condemnation that comes when you fail? I have been there and I have good news!

Realize that discouragement, disappointment and despair come from our enemy. He roams the earth, going back and forth, looking for someone to destroy. Don't let that person be you. When you feel discouraged and depressed, know that those feelings do not come from God but from your enemy. Our God is a faithful Friend and He gave each of us power to overcome. Speak boldly to the devil in the name of Jesus. Tell him where he can go. I have done this and felt God's peace that passes understanding. Praise God!

Instead of beating up on yourself, set your thoughts on things above. Check this out from Isaiah 65:17:

Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Wow! That means that we won't remember the times we missed a goal or deadline. When this happens, we have freedom to go to God and ask Him to help us. And you know what? He will. He loves and cares for us and wants the best for us.

I challenge you to set goals for 2013, and when despair comes, use God's antidote--His word. Jesus did in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan. We can too. Here are a couple encouraging verses:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you. . .Zechariah 9:9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 

While we look to a New Year of possibilities, let us also look to our hope of heaven and be renewed in our faith.

Father God, thank you that you are a God of new beginnings and that nothing is impossible for you. We put our hope and trust in you to carry us through this year and until Your Son returns to take us to the new heavens and new earth. Amen.

From Grumbling to Thanksgiving

When the Egyptians came to the Red Sea to attack Israel, they had weapons. Israel had God, and He defeated Egypt. Do you think Israel trusted God after that? Not really. Moses listened to their whining and complaining, "What will we eat? What will we drink? Where is God? Where's the meat?" Sounds like a bunch of kids doesn't it?

I'm trying to get a picture of this: More than 600,000 people in the desert. No McDonalds, no Starbucks and no Diet Coke. I probably would have complained too. Yet God drew water out of a rock, manna from Heaven and quail flew into Israel's hands. The Israelite's clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

Application
We can be thankful because God really cares about His people. Jesus said, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26 NIV)

Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us and providing for us and protecting us. We could not live a minute or an hour or a day without your love. Amen.

Our Blueprint for Living Holy unto God--The Ten Commndments

God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone to give us hearts of flesh. Do you know all of them? Have you obeyed them?

1. Do not have any other gods before me. I am the one True God.
2. Do not make or worship idols. Don't let anything become more important than God.
3. Do not misuse God's name. Only say His name with reverence.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. God worked six days and rested one day. He wants rest for us too.
5. Honor your father and your mother. Show them respect and appreciation.
6. Do not murder. Do not kill another person out of anger or malice.
7. Do not commit adultery. Husbands and wives should not have close relationships with others of the opposite sex.
8. Do not steal. Do not take what is not yours. The cure for stealing is work. Work so you can give to others.
9. Do not lie. Do not say things that are not true.
10. Do not covet. Be content with what you have.

Can you keep all these? The truth is we cannot. Although we may think we haven't disobeyed God, He looks into our hearts and He has a different value system. Jesus said for a person to be angry at another person was the same as murder. He also said for a man to look with desire at another woman besides his wife is adultery. These are hard standards because they are God's ways. We may think that we are better than someone else, but the only person we should compare ourselves with is Jesus because HE is the only perfect one.

Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments to Two:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

To be close to God, we cannot have sin in our lives. He knew we would choose our ways instead of His, so He made a way for us to have a relationship with Him. He loved us so much He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sin.  When we admit our need of Jesus in our lives, believe that He died to forgive us, and confess our sin and ask Him into our hearts, we will live with Him forever. He promises He will never leave us but will always be with us, through good times and bad.

When you follow Jesus' ABC plan, He will never leave you but always be with you, to encourage, inspire and comfort you. I hope if you haven't, you will. I'm praying for you.

• Admit
• Believe
• Confess

Lord Jesus, I am praying for the ones reading this post. Give them new hearts to love you. Amen.

This Act Triggered His Betrayal-Mark 14:6-9

Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on  my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she as done will also be told, in memory of her," (Mark 14:6-9 NIV).

Judas, the keeper of the disciples' money, became indignant. He considered this woman's act of worship a waste and it's this act that triggered his betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It would have been better for him if he had never been born. Yet what he did led to the fulfillment of Scripture, that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for our sins so we could be forgiven and inherit eternal life.

Today people, like Judas, are indignant at the name of Jesus--the name above all names--the only name by which we are saved from our own sinful natures. Our world is in trouble but God is with us. He looks on the hearts of those who love Him and has promised He would never leave or forsake us. That is good news for our times. Do you believe this? If not, it is not to late to admit that the way you have lived is against God, believe He loves you and ask Him to help you live your life for Him. Then obtain a Bible if you don't have one. Begin reading in the book of Psalms in the Old Testament and the book of John in the New Testament. I am praying for you.

Thank you, Lord, that what we do for you will last forever. Give us courage and strength to be your followers. Amen.

Blessed and Bruised

Do you feel like you can only show your face when everything's going well with you? Me too. Only the Christian sisters with whom I have bonded closely do I feel I can share my emotional frustrations and hurts, my pain and suffering, my fear and failure. It's no wonder people think Christians should be perfect.

Yet the Bible shows how Abraham, Moses, David, Job, Peter and Paul (among many others), made mistakes and experienced despair while following God. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon talks about the seasons of life--"a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven."

Although Jesus called us to be light and salt to the world, we are human. People in the world need to know how we handle suffering--that we don't give up, but keep our focus on God regardless of our situation. We have a comforter and healer. Out of God's love for us, He promised to be with us always, never to leave or forsake us. We are blessed and bruised. May we show this kind of faith to the world we live in.

Lord Jesus, help me show my trust in you no matter what I experience. Amen.