Category Archives: Kingdom of God

January 29, 2017 · 9:38 am

Inside Israel

SHUK

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Greetings to you in The wonderful Name of Yeshua h’meshiach, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.  May HE be blessed and glorified and may you be blessed and edified.

His mercy is so far greater than my understanding of it.  Oh He dunks me under every time!  So often I think, “Just hang on, lightening is about to strike that one,” and instead I see His mercy again extended.  What a God we serve!  His ways are far above mine and I am SO THANKFUL

So as I had lauded the prevailing prayers of the Brits in reclaiming territory from the enemy, I also MUST acknowledge with like admiration the effectual fervent prayers and humble repentance of the many prayer warriors in the US who have also stood in the gap and reclaimed territory.  For those of us who have ever lived in America, I am sure that you will agree with me that I, for one, had never expected to once more see prayer and The Name of Jesus Christ boldly presented in the White House. The same house that had so brazenly and so recently been awash with rainbow lights, not representing the rainbow of the promise given to Noah, but the rainbow of rebellion against God’s order.  You prayed and He answered!  ALL GLORY TO GOD!

And just like our sisters and brothers in England understand well that their battle has just begun, I know that you in the US are sobered by that understanding as well, especially in the face of the protests.  What a challenge to NOT respond in the flesh but again to go to the knees!

So what did it look like here?

Well, our daughter and son-in-law were here for Shabat dinner. Yet my husband wanted to watch the inauguration first, so we did. In my eyes, there was a DRAMATIC change of authority from the spirit of secular humanism to the lifting up of THE LORD.  It was interesting to see my son in law’s reaction to The Name of Jesus proclaimed, and yet also for him to see an Orthodox (although not Haradi) Rabbi in the midst praying along.  Our son in law squirmed and left the room after awhile but said nothing, nor did we to him.  I remember well my days before knowing Him Who set me free, how uncomfortable I was in the presence of The Name of Jesus.

What WILL it all look like?  I have NO IDEA.  Do you?  Yes territory is reclaimed from the enemy, but now our country, Britain and America share the honor of having perhaps the three most hated and attacked (by the liberal media) leaders in the world.  Will God grant to President Trump a change of personality and a grace and wisdom?  We KNOW HE ANSWERS PRAYER…so…I’m sure that we are ALL walking ahead with eyes UP, looking unto HIM for HIS mercy.

I don’t know about you wherever you are, but I have received prophecies(by email, proclaiming everything from Trump being (literally) the messiah, to the devil himself.  Diverse prophecies make me run and hide in The Rock.  I do not know what lies ahead, but I can report to you what I am seeing today.  Israelis are cautiously optimistic in general.  Three areas that concern Israelis greatly are:

(1) Everything about the plan to divide the land that God has promised us and to plant a Palestinian state in its heartland.

(2)The recognition that the eternal capital of Israel IS INDEED JERUSALEM and not divided.

(3) And the right to build homes and live anywhere within our borders.

All three of these points are deeply and undeniably rooted consistently throughout scripture but have become THE “politically correct” issues of the day.  There IS a new excitement among Israelis that just perhaps the page has turned.  At the same time, Israelis are very realistic and there is little doubt that none of these will happen without violence and much pain.  But what is the alternative?

To be BULLIED into a corner of the land, a fraction of the Promise, rather than the full inheritance. “Every place on which your foot shall tread, I have given it to you,” God promised Joshua, but the people were intimidated when they saw the battle and many settled for less and it was accounted as sin to us, for we did not move into the COMMANDED promise and OBEY GOD.

Yes, we are reaping the results still today.  Can I say that on the buses there is a mixture of nervous excitement and restrained hope all rolled into the very odd new idea that someone actually LIKES us and thinks we have a right to exist.

There are some inherent dangers in this new moment of grace of being liked.  Israel is called to be a nation ALONE.  “ALONE” IS A LONELY PLACE and our nature makes us want to form alliances and to be accepted among the nations.  We are praying for discernment, no more and no less than God’s purposes.  Remember Hezekiah?  He was such a good king and did that which was well pleasing in God’s sight.  But when he fell ill and God granted to add years on to his life, his relief and joy caused him to walk without discernment:

“ At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.” And he said, “What have they seen in your house?”So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”  Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord:  ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.  ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” (2 Kings 20:12-16)

THE TEMPTATION TO MAKE ALLIANCES AND HOPE IN MAN BECAUSE WE ARE WEARY IS A SNARE, on personal levels, and also on national levels.  I would be negligent if I didn’t say that there is real tension in the air.  Everything is changing and in a region this volatile, change usually ignites fires. “BUT I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE, TO KEEP THAT WHICH I’VE DELIVERED UNTO HIM UNTIL THAT DAY!”

Our weather has been dry and we are waiting for more rain as other countries are flooding and violent weather continues to call us all to look up.  Jerusalem is generally colder than many other parts of our tiny country, and this year is no different. It’s cold.  Huddled together on the buses in the morning I am thankful that no one has lately come on fanning themselves and saying ‘Hom’lee’  (meaning, ‘I’M HOT!’) and then pulling open the windows.

I see the same faces year after year and watch them grow older along with me.  I remember how surprised I was when we first arrived in the country, to see how younger people rise (more so among the religious then the secular) to give older, pregnant or otherwise needy people, their seats.  Now that I am of “seat priority age,” I surely appreciate reaping the benefits.  It has taken nearly 23 years, but slowly my surroundings have grown commonplace to me.

I think back to stir my memory to recall how surprised I was at the honest friendliness and helpfulness of total strangers when we first came.  How people were so quick to ask, usually in several languages until they hit upon one that you might know. “Where are you from?  How is it going?”

People still want to hear a positive answer to the question: “Don’t you miss it where you came from?  Don’t you want to go back?”

I have been asked this a great deal and can’t help but notice how strengthened and encouraged people are when I honestly answer, “I do not ALLOW myself to look back and miss what was.  That is dangerous!  I am thankful for the wonderful life that I lived and I am even more thankful for my life now, because I am living in what God has promised.”

They stand up straighter…and yes, are encouraged. That is so important to encourage one another to walk on and to keep walking on.  Life isn’t easy, but it is His gift, both here, and where you are.

God bless you and encourage each of you toward Him.  “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  May we each be found ABIDING IN HIM.

Lovingly,

your sister J

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January 28, 2017 · 8:07 am

Geezer Up (Part 4)

 

If someone would have asked me, “What do you want for your last meal?” It would not have been soggy cornflakes, warm milk, and awful tasting coffee, which I ate for breakfast that morning. Sugar helped me endure the blitzkrieg against my taste buds, but my stomach demanded the calories to halt its rumbling sounds. At the time, it was a dismal meal, but in the days ahead, I looked back on it as a pleasant repast. It’s funny how hunger can distort one’s memories.

Forty-five minutes later, the jailer stood in front of the holding cell with a clipboard in his hand. “Listen up men,” he said, looking down. “Ramos, Soto, Delgado, Valdez, Trujillo, and Matthews − you are in the first group to be taken to the courtroom. Your arraignments will begin at 9 a.m. If you have a lawyer, he will meet you there. If you don’t, a court appointed lawyer will handle your arraignment.”

He spun around and walked away.

I did my best to wash my face and clean up in the sink, but there was no mirror to help me in this task. I looked at the others in the holding cell and figured I looked better than some and worse than others. Oh well, I thought, this is as good as it gets for me today.

 

Two deputies guarded us as we walked over to the courtroom’s small holding cell. I sat down with the five homies on a metal bench and faced the empty courtroom. The clock on the back wall read − 8:34.

“Matthews.”

I looked up and saw a man wearing a dark suit and white shirt standing in front of the cell. He had short black hair and seemed to be of Chinese or Korean heritage. He motioned for me to come near him.

“I’m Artie Chin. Your lawyer, Jacob, referred me to you,” he whispered.

“Thanks,” I replied.

“You are charged with a hate crime for preaching to gays. This is a new law enacted by the San Francisco City Council and went into effect one week ago, just in time for Pride Week. The good news for you is that you are the worst possible test case for the law −”

“Why?”

He blew out a deep breath.

“You’re a retired seventy-three year old man, not an ordained preacher, have no ministry, and have no history of preaching or writing against gays. They’re after bigger fish than you.”

“Okay, what do you think I should do?”

“I’m sure you will be released on personal recognizance. No bail required. You will have to promise to show up in court a couple of weeks from now, but I think I can get the charges dropped altogether. The judge may ask some questions, but probably not. You should be a free man in about sixty minutes.”

His words would have encouraged me if the Holy Spirit had not spoken to me a few hours earlier. So, I prepared myself for bad news.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 5…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

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January 26, 2017 · 12:20 pm

Prayers for America (1/26/2017)

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Right now, the American Church is divided by theology, race, politics, gender, abortion, Jew, Gentile, gay issues, and so forth. How can unity be achieved in the Body of Christ?

Lets check how Jesus handled divisions in His day between the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Essenes, Herodians, Hellenistic believers, and others:

 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:34-37)

The Prince of Peace did not show up with a guitar to sing Kumbaya and talk about unity and peace at campfire meetings. He came with a word that was sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit. People then had to make decisions and sometimes most of them walked away and followed Him no more.

So, don’t go thinking the American Church will undergo a great revival and everyone will be changed into a vessel of love. It won’t happen! But what we can expect to see are more shakings and more siftings in the American Church in the months and years ahead.

My prayer today:

Lord, help America believers to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily, and follow You, no matter what it may cost us. (Based on Mark 8:34)

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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January 25, 2017 · 8:49 am

Geezer Up (Part 2)

 Any syrupy ideas I might have had about jail were erased when the door banged shut to my holding cell. The five young men who sat on the bolted down metal benches, which lined both sides of the cell, followed me with their dark eyes as I sat down in the far right corner. A stainless steel toilet without a lid stood next to a small sink in the middle of the back wall. No privacy here, I thought.

“Hey, old white man, what terrible crime have you committed that the police would lock you up with five MS-13 homies charged with murder?” asked a young man covered with tattoos and wearing a white tank top.

My ears perked up with the mention of MS-13, also known as the Mara Salvatrucha. It’s the most violent gang in the United States with its members known for their cruel murders and merciless revenge.

“I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the LGBT parade watchers down in the Castro District. Some became angry and kicked me around like an old football. I was charged with a hate crime.”

“Did you fight back, old man?” asked a short young man with teardrops tattooed under both eyes.

“No, of course, not,” I replied.

The five laughed and slapped each other on the back as if my words were the funniest ones ever spoken.

“Old man, that is hilarious!” said the biggest youth with a large scar on his neck. “You preach the gospel to gays and lesbians. Then they beat and kick the crap out of you, but you don’t fight back. And you’re the one who gets charged with a hate crime. We MS-13 homies understand that type of justice. So, what happened to the gays who did this to you?”

I rubbed my baldhead and shrugged. “I don’t know, but I pray that God won’t hold their actions against them.”

The same youth leaned toward me. “Do you really think God cares about gays and lesbians?”

“Yes, and not only that, He cares and loves you, too.”

“Old white man, now you’ve gone too far.”

The five leaned back and closed their eyes, ignoring my presence.

I sat there, checking myself out. My broken nose hurt. My ribs were sore and all of the other bruises added to my suffering. Blood covered the front of my blue oxford shirt and khaki slacks. Yet, in the midst of my pain and bloody clothing, I wanted to jump and shout and praise God because He counted me worthy to suffer for His name.

“Lord,” I prayed softly, “thanks for giving a seventy-three year old geezer, like me, a second chance to be a part of the action and not allowing me to retire from Your kingdom work. And Lord, use me even more in the days ahead.”

The Lord reminded me of this prayer often in the days following it.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 3…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

 

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January 24, 2017 · 10:18 am

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (1/24/2017)

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The first person I prayed for healing was one of my favorite aunts who was suffering from cancer. I was so positive that the Lord would answer my prayers, but yet she died a few weeks later.

Her death jolted my faith.

At the time, I had been saved for about four months and had been listening to Kenneth Hagin and other Word of Faith teachers. So, I assumed my faith was good enough to move mountains and heal cancer, but it wasn’t!

I ended up driving by myself from Iowa to northern Illinois to attend my aunt’s funeral. On the two-hour trip, the Lord encouraged me to keep on growing, studying, and trusting Him. AND to keep on praying for the sick whenever I had the chance.

This took place almost thirty-one years ago. I still remember the agony I felt in the car, the tears I shed, the failure facing me, and the decision I had to make — whether to keep on praying for healing of the sick or to join the Christian naysayers on the sidelines.

I decided to trust God:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:15-16)

Over the years, I have seen a few miracles and many deaths, but I know this one thing to be true. At some point, heaven will pour out a greater anointing upon believers and death will be forced to let go of its grip on the people we pray for.

My prayer for today:

Lord, help us believers to honor Your word and promises as much as You do. (Based on Psalm 138:2)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

 

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January 23, 2017 · 12:20 pm

Geezer Up (Part 1)

I hated phoning Jane, but there were no other options because she needed to know my situation. The long distance operator took my info in a business-like manner, connecting the call as I sat there with my hands cuffed together. Sweat dripped off my forehead onto the plastic-covered information blotter in front of me. The police officer standing next to me belched, coating the air with his garlic and onion breath.

“Dylan, what’s wrong?” Jane shouted into her cellphone.

“Well, I have a little situation here in San Francisco, but don’t worry —”

“Don’t worry! Are you kidding? Where are you right now? And where’s your cellphone?”

“I’m at County Jail Number Four, on Bryant Street in San Francisco —”

“Is this one of your jokes? If it is, it’s not funny!”

“Honey, it’s not a joke. I’m being charged with a hate crime and will be arraigned tomorrow morning. You need to call our attorney, Jacob, and have him refer me to a criminal lawyer here in San Francisco. Tell him I’m in County Jail Number Four.”

A gasp could be heard through the receiver, followed by a few sniffles.

“Hate crime? What’d you do?”

“It’s really no big deal. I just preached a short message to the gays in the Castro District. That’s all…no big deal. So don’t worry, please.”

“Gunsmoke, no big deal! It’s Pride Week there, right? Did they rough you up?”

“There was a little fighting, maybe even a small riot. I have a few bruises, but my nose should be okay once a doctor checks me out and sets it in place.”

BEEP!

“Sweetheart, don’t talk. That beep means we have thirty seconds left before we’re disconnected. Call Jacob and tell him I’m at County Jail Number Four.”

“Honey, I love you and —”

The officer tapped me on the shoulder as soon as my call finished. I stood up and he pointed toward the door, leading back to lockup. My glasses steamed up as we moved from a cooler room into the warmer cellblock.

Yikes, I thought as I walked through the door, Jane’s really upset because she called me by my college nickname –Gunsmoke – which she hates. Not only that, she’s probably wondering how my arrest will affect our forty-eighth wedding anniversary plans to travel to Tahoe for this upcoming weekend. What a jam you’re in, Dylan Matthews! I’d better geezer up and prepare my seventy-three year old body for what awaits me in the days ahead.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 2…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

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January 22, 2017 · 8:39 am

Inside Israel

SHUK

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Greetings dear brothers and sisters,

May The Lord, The One True God, The Creator of heaven and earth, and His only begotten Son, Messiah Yeshua, Jesus Christ Who IS God, be blessed and glorified and may you be edified and blessed in Him by the power of His Holy Spirit.

God surely answers prayer!  WONDERFULLY He glorifies His Name:  He will not be mocked And it never grows old, seeing His Hand move in such evident, direct answers to prayer!

I am able to write right now because I CAN’T be at the IFI prayer conference except for the mornings that I don’t work, and I am LONGING to write because I was BLESSED to be able to attend yesterday morning.  The morning sessions at the conference are WORK and my favorite part.  They are given to active, directed prayer.  Once again, hats off to you British prayer warriors.  Not only did you see your answers in the Brexit move, but to the surprise of the participants in the peace gathering at Paris France, Britain boldly stood up and refused to sign the statement presented to the 72 nations participating.  Wow!  The Balkan states followed her lead.  It was dramatic…unexpected and prayed for. There is no doubt that God is on the move amongst the nations. Also my American praying friends and a number of you from other countries are seeing some history turning answers to prayer.  Is this like Nineveh?  A repentance that was acceptable?

Mid morning yesterday we heard a fine-tuned and impassioned plea for prayer concerning E.U. elections that were to take place throughout the day with a clear explanation of the background.  The plea was for the life of the nations – with a heart much like Jeremiah’s – we were called to pray for the fear of God that the nations would not be cursed through the voting in of governments that would curse Israel.  Fine-tuned and sharpened would be how I would describe the calls.  I was honored to be there and to pray among polished prayers.  I wish I could attend all week.

After a fashion, YOU CAN BE. 

We were told that from the website  – Intercessors for Israel –  you can listen to the evening presentations (background and preparation for prayer)  for free and that they can be downloaded, also for free.  PLEASE AVAIL YOURSELF OF THIS BLESSING IF YOU ARE CALLED TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL.  I checked it out and it works.

 

At the same time, as God is at work at this conference, He is also at work in the streets around us.  Before Britain’s bold move to remove the sting of the Paris talks, our streets were quite tense with anticipation.  The same chord was sounded wherever I listened.   As I waited for the train at the shuk, an older lady had her packages strewn across the bench while she slowly brushed her hair out and wrapped it into a thick, neat roll piled onto her head.

Another older woman wanted to sit and motioned her to move her packages, which she did.  Still brushing, she shook her head. “With all that is going on in Syria, in Iraq, with the Kurds, with the Turks, with the Sudanese, all the 72 nations can think about is condemning is us!”

The two heads shook in unison.  “What will happen now?” the second woman said.

“Oh, we will keep on but it will be harder.  America’s new President, what’s his name?  Trumpet?  He seems to like us, but will it last?” she trailed off.

They shook their heads again.  That was the body language seen all over – the shaking of the head.  “How can it be that there is this much hatred toward us and that no one seems to understand what is happening or even CARES about the TRUTH?”

Oh how much lighter the air was the following morning!  Eyebrows raised, people wondered at Britain coming up to the bat for us.  “Maybe their new leader WILL prove to be straight and strong?” people wondered out loud.

Maybe some of you remember Mali,  one of the secretaries that I work with, whom I love, and whom I have shared my love for Him. Many of you have prayed for her.  Today as I read about the ‘shocking upset in the E.U. elections yesterday – how TOTALLY unexpected the defeat of the left wing social democrat was and how upset everyone is with the win by the conservative candidate and how the polls were all wrong, I burst out laughing.

“I can barely believe it, but here it is. Look Mali.  God answers prayer!”

I explained to her a bit about the IFI conference.  “It only meets once a year?  Why doesn’t it meet every day?” she nearly yelled.

“Oh Mali, we meet several times a week but the people come from the nations to pray once a year,” I explained.

She is amazed to find out that people PAY THEIR OWN WAYS WITH MONEY to come here to pray for us.  She became full of questions as I shared about the answers to prayer and the urgency to pray for the nations at this moment in history.

“They KNOW that God (she says ‘h’shem – or ‘The Name’ and I say ‘Elohim’ or God Almighty and it doesn’t offend her) promised to Avraham that He would bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us.  Do you see the way that the storms hit them EVERY TIME they do these terrible things?” I told her.

Her turn to shake her head. “I can’t understand that,” she said. “How can someone not believe GOD?”

We have to get back to work but I see that she HEARD me and she is wondering.  Because her Rabbi told her not to listen to me, I have had to be very careful to not say anything without His leading. but He Who knows the heart is also The One Who makes the key to each heart.

It was a different response when I took a taxi to the conference.  I don’t often take taxis, but I have had some strong leg pains and the walk up to the hotel from the train seemed like a foolish move.  My taxi driver was an Arab man and we exchanged a few pleasantries, asking about one another’s families, health, the weather.

“What are you going to do at the hotel?” he asked me.

That was an unusual question.  ‘I’m visiting some friends and we are meeting together to pray.”

His eyes turned hard and immediately the atmosphere turned icy and then silent.  I realized that he must have known that it was a prayer for Israel conference.  Most people here know that God hears and answers prayer, but not everyone is happy with that.

Our son in law is also being touched by a new view on the reality of God.  It is such a blessing having them here and we have had ample opportunity to sow into their lives.  Thank you for praying for my son in law to be able to make ends meet with his work as a locksmith.  It is a challenge to establish a new business and he does not yet grasp the necessity of constantly working at advertising his services.

The other night he shocked us by giving up and saying that he wants to move back to America.  Yes, it was probably frustration speaking, but I continue to ask for prayer for them to be established and rooted in the land.  Even though he was born and lived most of his life here and our daughter has also been here for nearly 2/3 of her life, it is not easy here, and comparing it to America, where they just spent the past 4 years. The enemy loves to throw everyone discouraging lines if it leads away from God’s will.

Many of you pray regularly for aliyah, and you know that one of the main prayers is that those who come will also be rooted and blessed in the land.  Thank you for continuing to pray for them to be established here.  I have given Yitzhak’s card to many people whom I meet at work and several have called him for work, but he needs a steady stream of callers.  Mostly, they need to come to HIM, to find HIM Who is our Peace and our Wisdom in EVERY situation.  Thank you for praying.

Finally, before I fall into bed, one of the side blessings of the Prayer conference is once again getting to hug and have my heart stirred by old friends, and meeting and making new ones.  There is never enough TIME, because GOD must be the center and purpose, but oh what a joy to be with such a body.  I am overwhelmed by the love – the reflection of Himself – shown in each of His sheep.

 

Thank you for your prayers for this nation and people and for our family.  God bless you.  Your sister here,

J

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January 20, 2017 · 6:53 am

Shouldn’t you download “Common Sense 2017” today? It’s Free!

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Today is the beginning of a new presidency for America, which is drastically different than our last one. Have you scratched your head and wondered how America arrived at this point in history where a businessman has now become the Chief Executive, taking over for a history making politician? If so, maybe you should download my new book,  Common Sense 2017, which is free on Amazon today through Sunday.

Amazon Book Description:

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.” (Thomas Paine,  Common Sense, 1775)

Is it common sense to suggest God was involved in the 2016 Presidential election? If He were involved, couldn’t He have chosen a better man than Donald Trump to be the 45th President of the United States?

Is it common sense to think God will overlook the eight years of ill-treatment by President Obama and his administration against His chosen nation − Israel?

Is it common sense to expect good economic times during President Trump’s term in the Whitehouse?

Is it common sense to believe President Obama will sit quietly on the sidelines for four years?

Is it common sense for us to just sit back and take it easy over the next four years?

The common sense answers to all these questions are contained in Common Sense 2017.

Common Sense 2017 is a common sense approach to what is presently happening in America, looking at our yesterdays through the lens of the Bible and then forward to our tomorrows through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. Common Sense 2017 forces us to take off our rose-colored glasses and accurately discern our times.

The author of Common Sense 2017 is Larry Nevenhoven, who has authored and published thirteen other Amazon eBooks, including Common Sense 2016. It is Nevenhoven’s most urgent call for action for today’s Christians.

Fifty percent of the royalties earned for this book will be donated to help the poor and helpless.

64 pages    Author: Larry Nevenhoven    Publisher: LarryWho

Kindle eBook: $2.99

Available on Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Apps.

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January 19, 2017 · 5:29 am

Prayers for America (1/19/2017)

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Only believers can make a difference with our nation’s sin, in accordance with −

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

This familiar verse is quoted over and over again, especially after a tragedy, but let’s be honest with each other, okay? We must be doing something wrong because it’s not working very well.

Over the years, we have memorized the words and mouthed lip service to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but have paid little attention to the context of why the Lord spoke His words. If we look at verse 12, we will learn that verse 14 was an answer to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:14-42.

In his prayer, King Solomon prayed about the possibilities of Israel being defeated by enemies, overcome by droughts, famines, pestilences, plagues, and sicknesses and asked the Lord to hear. To hear what? Prayers and supplications.

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3 NKJ)

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was He heard because of His reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)

Supplications are desperate, passionate, earnest prayers from the deepest part of our hearts, crying out to God for Him to intervene on our behalves. It usually includes weeping, crying, and fasting − that’s really what the verb “humble” denotes in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

(Excerpt from Common Sense 2017 by Larry Nevenhoven, © 2017, Amazon eBook)

My prayer today:

Lord, help American believers to return to You with all of our hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. (Based on Joel 2:12)

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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January 17, 2017 · 2:58 pm

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (1/17/2017)

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Three or four days ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Pool of Bethesda.”

I’ve read these verses many times and felt I knew them well, but just to make sure I checked some commentaries. After studying for a time, I still didn’t feel like I knew what the Holy Spirit was trying to get across to me.

So, I entered Pool of Bethesda on the search line at Google and came up with 744,000 results. A few too many to quickly search in my lifetime, I thought.

I added the word history to lessen the number of results. This time a Jewish studies site – Israel Institute of Biblical Studies – appeared on the first page with an article entitled, “The Pool of Bethesda as a Healing Center of Asclepius.”

The following verses were mentioned in the article:

In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. (John 5:3-4 NKJ and/or KJ)

The article stated the original text did not include verses 3b and 4 (the red words above). It stated a Christian copyist added the extra words many decades later, attempting to add clarification to the writing. Most modern Bibles do not contain these words or have them in brackets with a footnote, stating that they are excluded in the original text.

Even though the word Bethesda means “House of Mercy” in the Hebrew, the article states the Pool of Bethesda was most likely a healing center dedicated to the Greco-Roman god of well-being and health – Asclepius. There were more than four hundred of these healing centers throughout the Roman Empire and were a part of the Hellenistic Jewish traditions.

As for the stirring of the waters, this most likely happened when the Greek priests of Asclepius opened the connecting pipes from the upper portion of the pool of Bethesda to the lower portion.

Now, this would completely change our thinking about John 5.

Instead of our present teachings, it would mean that Jesus, Son of God, walked into a pagan abode to heal a son of Abraham. Then, two later verses would make more sense:

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (John 5:14-15)

Jesus was telling the man not to depend on the pagan Greek ways anymore, but on God. Then the man let everyone know it was not the Pool of Bethesda that healed him, but a man named Jesus.

My prayer today:

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth so it will set us free from bad teachings on healing and deliverance. (Based on John 8:32)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

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