Category Archives: Church

February 6, 2018 · 10:05 am

Prayers for California (2/6/2018)

In 2 Samuel 11 & 12, we read:

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba. She became pregnant. Bathsheba’s husband was murdered by David. A baby boy was born to David and Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan arrived at David’s home, pointed out David’s sin, and stated that the baby would die.

David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. (1 Samuel 12:16)

King David continued fasting and praying for seven days, but the baby still died.

Did King David waste his time by fasting and praying for his baby?

No, David’s fasting and praying prepared his heart for the tough days ahead of him when his son Absalom rebelled and took over Israel. The House of David ended up surviving Absalom’s rebellion.

What about fasting and praying for California? Will we be able to turn around all of the problems facing our state?

So King David said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'” (2 Samuel 12: 22)

Like King David, I can’t say for sure California will be turned around and end up surviving, but I can say with certainty that we will be changed and prepared for whatever happens in the future.

My prayer today:

Lord, raise up believers who are willing to fast and pray for California, trusting You to use our efforts for Your purposes and not for our comforts and desires.

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for California.

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Filed under America, California, Christianity, Church, Fasting, George Bush, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

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February 1, 2018 · 9:59 am

Prayers for America (2/1/2018)

Countless numbers of Christians are praying for a new revival from God to awaken America. They feel this is our nation’s answer for all of our problems.

But how many believers realize that almost every revival or awakening in America has been followed by major wars?

The First Great Awakening (1734-1743) was followed by the Revolutionary War. The Businessmen’s Revival (1857-1858) preceded the Civil War. The Azusa Street Revival (1906-1910) preceded World War I and World War II. The Latter Rain or Healing Revival (1948-1954) preceded the Korean War. The Charismatic Revival (1960- 1970) preceded the Vietnam War.

A revival is an inrush of the Holy Spirit to stir believers’ hearts and create new believers for the Kingdom of God. But in America, it has almost always prepared believers for the gloomy days which followed the revival.

My prayer today:

Lord, revive America once again so that we can walk through the troubles of today and those awaiting us in the future. (Based on Psalm 138:7)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Revival, spiritual warfare

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January 23, 2018 · 9:37 am

Prayers for America’s Eyes to be Opened (1/23/2018)

Yesterday marked the 45th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe versus Wade decision. This decision opened the floodgates to the murdering of 60 million babies so far and still counting.

How many of us still hate abortion like we did twenty years ago? Or ten years ago? Or even last year? Or have we grown lethargic and apathetic about this issue?

My prayer today:

Lord, open the eyes of American Christians to our lethargy and apathy about abortion. Stir us up to love Your righteousness and to hate the evil of abortion with a perfect hatred straight from Your heart. (Based on Psalm 45:7, 97:10, and 139:22)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened and our hearts to be changed now.

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Filed under Abortion, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

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January 18, 2018 · 11:35 am

Prayers for America (1/18/2018)

 America has more Christians, more churches, more Christian bookstores, more Christian radio and TV stations, more preachers, teachers, prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, more, more, more than any nation in the history of the world.

But all of this bounty brings a higher degree of accountability for our nation before the throne of God:

And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

Looking at what America has and then looking at these two verses, I fall to my knees and weep.

My prayer today:

Lord, be merciful to America, for we are a nation of sinners before You. (Based on Luke 18:13)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, spiritual warfare

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January 11, 2018 · 10:31 am

Prayers for America (1/11/2018)

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-8 NLT)

My prayer today:

Lord, we cry out to our Father, the Vinedresser, to give America one more chance. Do whatever You must do to change our hearts so we turn to You once again.

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, spiritual warfare

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December 30, 2017 · 11:55 am

Your Choice: God or Government Ice Cream?

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My new weekly column entitled, “Your Choice: God or Government Ice Cream” can be read by clicking here.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can sometimes read it better by using the Chrome browser rather than Safari. Also, you can go to the app store and download a free app called: WND.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Kingdom of God, Prayer, World Net Daily, Writing

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December 12, 2017 · 11:48 am

Prayers for Soon Coming Calamities in America (12/12/2017)

We should do our best to prepare ourselves ahead of time by storing up water, canned goods, and other supplies in anticipation of future calamities. Yet, no matter what we do, we will never have enough.

We will always need God and His provision to help us survive any calamities.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9:13)

The Lord’s prayer shows us how to receive God’s provision in good times or bad. We must walk in love, asking forgiveness from God and others and then forgiving others of their offenses against us.

My prayer today:

Lord, send the Holy Spirit and convict American believers now of any unforgiveness toward others, which might hinder our prayers today or when a calamity hits. (Based on Matthew 6:14-15)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened to future calamities.

4 Comments

Filed under America, Calamities, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

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December 9, 2017 · 10:17 am

Will God ‘Show Up’ in Masterpiece Cakeshop Case?

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My new weekly column entitled, Will God ‘Show Up’ in Masterpiece Cakeshop Case,” can be read by clicking here.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can sometimes read it better by using the Chrome browser rather than Safari. Also, you can go to the app store and download a free app called: WND.

 

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Gay, Homosexual, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, same-sex marriage, spiritual warfare

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December 7, 2017 · 9:15 am

Prayers for America (12/7/2017)

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I was an agnostic without any redeeming virtue in me before Jesus saved me on May 20, 1985. But I had one thing going for me:

The first time I heard the term “religious nut” was in the 1950’s when my mom spit those words out of her mouth. It happened when we shopped at Meiners’ Grocery Store in Forreston, Illinois. Mom picked a few items off the shelves and carried them up to the checkout. Lillian Meiners, the cashier, attempted to talk about the Lord to Mom while totaling the purchases on the cash register. It was a one-sided conversation with Mom saying nothing.

“She’s a religious nut!” Mom proclaimed as we walked to our 1955 Pontiac, parked outside the door.

From that day forward, Lillian Meiners personified a religious nut to me. I would often see her and when I did, Mom’s words popped into my mind. Lillian never knew my true feelings about her. It was one of those inner character assassinations I never spoke aloud to anyone.

Lillian’s name was filed on a forgotten corner shelf of my mind until late 1985. It would still be there covered with layers of dust and cobwebs except for the question I asked the Lord one morning during prayer.

“Jesus, why did you save me?”

A clear voice whispered to my heart.

“Because of Lillian Meiners’ prayers for you.”

His words shocked me, but a few years later, I talked with her pastor, Rev. Orin Graff. He told me Lillian was a diligent prayer warrior for kids who attended Bible Camp.

The first saint I am going to hug upon my arrival in heaven will be Lillian Meiners. I want to thank her for faithfully praying for an agnostic who always thought she was a religious nut. We can have a good laugh about my ignorance and how Jesus set me straight. (Excerpt from my memoir, The Hunt for Larry Who, by Larry Nevenhoven, © 2014, Amazon eBook)

The news is filled with the names of men who are accused of sex scandals. Instead of throwing rocks at them, let’s pray for them. Who knows? Maybe one day, they will thank us in heaven.

My prayer today:

Lord, I ask that You send Your light and truth to each of these accused men. Let Your light and truth lead them to You. (Based on Psalm 43:3)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Forgiveness, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

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December 5, 2017 · 10:15 am

Prayers for Soon Coming Calamities in America (12/5/2017)

Preppers – at least, smart preppers – aren’t preparing for a zombie apocalypse. They’re preparing for life with physical insurance. Take it from me, you don’t appreciate how much you depend on full grocery stores and available utilities until they’re not there.

If the power goes out due to a bad storm, don’t think “God will provide” you with food, water and a heated shelter. It won’t be God; it will be your neighbors or the government – neither of which holds deistic status.

I dare anyone who has lived through a natural disaster to explain to me why they’re glad they had no food, water, or heat for an extended period of time. Come on, let’s hear it.

People, get off your lazy duffs. God provides eternal salvation, but He doesn’t magically fill your empty cupboards each night or keep your house warm during a power outage. That’s up to you. Now get busy. (Why Do People Scoff At Preppers by Patrice Lewis, a weekly columnist at WND and a writer with a great blog, which can be read here.)

I feel the Bible is balanced on the subject of preparing ourselves for future calamities. On the one hand, it tells us to store up what we can and on the other hand, it tells us to trust in the Lord. So, let’s be wise and do both.

My prayer today:

Lord, help us to get off our lazy duffs and do what we can now to prepare us for future calamities in America.

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened to future calamities.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prepping, spiritual warfare

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