Tag Archives: Spiritual warfare

September 8, 2015 · 9:16 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (9/8/2015)

http://www.cbsnews.com

The door burst open and Quon stood in the doorway, his face red with anger.

“Next time, you better have a baby boy or I’ll send you back to North Korea. You’ll end up in prison, and this time, you’ll die there,” he screamed with his fists clenched, ready to strike.

Twenty-year old Soo Jin flinched, lifting her arms to protect her face from the expected blows by her elderly Chinese husband. She said nothing, knowing her excuses would only provoke him to greater wrath.

“And don’t even spend time thinking about your baby,” Quon said, “she’s dead.”

“How? Can I see her?” said Soo Jin, looking up at his gray whiskered face, but revealing little response in her vacant eyes.

Quon shook his head.

“I told you if you had a girl baby I’d throw her in the river and I did,” he exclaimed as he turned and partially closed the door. He added, “Tomorrow, you’ll clean the barn. It smells like you. You’re such a loser.”

He slammed the door and locked it.

Soo Jin leaned back against the wall with her knees pulled up near her chest. Her breasts ached from engorgement, but the vaginal discharge from the delivery had ceased. She hoped to wash up in the morning after finishing her chores and then change into clean clothes. Yet, changing clothes presented a problem as Quon would watch on and might be aroused by her nakedness, something she could not bear to think about.

Although exhausted and filled with grief for her dead daughter, Soo Jin braced herself and refused to curl up on the mat. She needed to make decisions, ones she had postponed until after her baby was born. It now was time.

“Oh Jesus, if only You could help me today and not just when I’m dead and in heaven,” she whispered, not waiting for an answer or expecting one.

Fourteen months earlier, a frail woman at the prison camp near Hoeryong, North Korea, just across the Tumen River from China, told Soo Jin about Jesus. The woman quoted John 3:16 and stated that if Soo Jin believed in Jesus she would go to heaven when she died.

It was an easy decision to make because heaven sounded better than any future Soo Jin could ever have dreamt for herself. She asked Jesus into her heart. Peaceful warmth comforted her, but agony and hunger soon dimmed its effects. It was now a distant memory hidden in the recesses of her heart.

A friend convinced Soo Jin to escape the prison camp with her. This was another easy decision. Eating rice husks, having electric cattle prods stuck in every body cavity by guards, and watching mothers boil young children for food had driven her close to the edge of insanity and suicide. Escape seemed to be her only answer.

The two girls’ plan was simple: avoid the guards, cross the Tumen River at night, and live happily ever after in China. Their plan succeeded on two out of three counts.

As soon as they crossed the river, two traffickers captured them. Soo Jin’s thirty-year old friend was sold for 3,000 yuan ($761) to a Chinese prostitution ring. Soo Jin was purchased by the elderly Chinese bachelor, Quon, for 7,000 yuan ($1,066).

Thus began her yearlong ordeal at Quon’s farm. Farm chores. House chores. Constant sexual assaults. Beatings. Verbal abuse because she was a North Korean, a loser in Quon’s eyes. It all blended itself into a living Hell for Soo Jin.

Soo Jin made up her mind. She would no longer be a slave and a sperm depository for Quon. She would escape and take her chances. Maybe, this time, she would make it to South Korea.

“Oh, Jesus, why did You create me to be such a loser?” Soo Jin whispered.

(The above fictional story is an excerpt from Deceived Dead and Delivered by Larry Nevenhoven, Amazon eBook, 2013)

The above fiction was based on the testimonies of thousands of woman who have fled North Korea and crossed into China.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask You to raise up thousands of women who have escaped from North Korea, anoint them with Your power, and send them back into North Korea. Help them, Lord, to overcome the Devil’s plans for North Korea with the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and help them to love not their lives even until death. (Based on Revelation 12:11)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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September 6, 2015 · 6:57 am

Inside Israel

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 …

I am thrilled to greet you, DEAR brothers and sisters, chosen for such a time as this to be knit together into His temple, for the glory of The King of kings and The Lord of lords, Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God. He’s the Hope, Light, and Truth. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be encouraged and blessed.

As in many places, today is the first day of school here. I watched from my merepesset (balcony) as tiny boys with worried eyes grasped their parents hands while bubbly girls bounced and giggled and sang their ways down the street. I have always been stunned by a basic difference between boys and girls, despite all of the variables. One thing they all have in common here though, no matter what age or gender is the telltale Israeli backpack. The tiny preschoolers (gan is the word for pre-school in Hebrew) seem smaller than their backpacks, but this is the trademark Israeli essential uniform: the loaded backpack.

Education is free here, but also expensive at the same time. When we arrived with a 12-year old in 1994, it took me by surprise. Besides the various high school fees, we received a long list of books and supplies that were required as the schools don’t supply the books. They supply a modest building, tables, and chairs and teachers. Coming from the USA where even my HOMESCHOOL supplies had been mailed to us by the state free of charge, we were surprised. It was very insignificant though, compared to the long list of cultural differences we were scrambling to adjust to.

Today, however, as I traveled home with the now returning kids, I smiled for two reasons: (1) there were no terror attacks on this first day of school (although there was a rocket shot in the direction of Ashkelon that fell short and landed back into Gaza that jiggled the nerves of families in that region) (2) and that Israel somehow succeeds so well in instilling a team or family atmosphere right from the beginning. It was fun watching the kids of all ages in their different groups.

When I was young I was always a loner, afraid of groups. But because of the need to live together and sadly, fight together, a warm team and family spirit is planted deep in our society. It was really evident today.

I thought of that last week as I witnessed a poignant street scene on Jaffa Road. There are many street musicians, but one in particular always stands out to me. He is a religious (Jewish) man who sings religious worship and plays a portable piano. His music and voice are beautiful, and often people gather around him to sit and play along or sing. He encourages all to worship with his joyful smile.

This day, he was alone, except for a young woman in a motorized wheel chair. They were deep in song together and she looked at him so peacefully. Their eye contact was striking, considering that it’s forbidden for religious men. I kept walking as I watched and just some short distance beyond I noticed a third party; a beggar who lies in a pile of blankets on this busy street. He was propped up on one hand watching them with a huge smile of joy. I thought about this odd scene, a scene that could have been from an old silent Charlie Chaplain film.

I long to share with you the heart that beats, so often in small places in Israel.

Surely things are hot, and not just the weather.

Israel is extremely concerned about the deal with Iran and the rapid embrace being given to it by western nations fawning over it. Many other issues are also extremely alarming that really have not been seen since WW2. The violent wars and turmoil in the region and the very rapid advance of Islamic extremism is hard to keep up with. Most Western nations are at a loss as to how to interpret what they see and hear. So they look at it through western filters and come up with inaccurate answers.

I KNOW that many, if not most of you grieve deeply over your leaders and so many are truly seeking The Lord. We are ALL watching what swirls around us, knowing that very hard things stand at the threshold, awaiting opportunities. But, OH THANK YOU LORD, WE HAVE THE ANSWER in YESHUA. THE LORD. THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT WHO KNOWS THE BEGINNING FROM THE END. And His is the beginning and the end.

So we must, in the midst of the pressure, whether here or there, wherever you are, turn our heads and hearts and feet to Him. There just is no other way.

Here, we are rapidly approaching the Jewish New Year although not biblically. And for the life of me I have sought the reason and have never gotten a good answer, even though The Lord told us that we were to start the New Year from Pesach (Passover). I am confident that He will set it right some day, but meanwhile I am tickled that more and more people have ALSO begun to say, “Shannah tovah” (happy new year, or literally “year good” at Passover as well.

Rosh Hashanah is the first of the 3 fall feasts or holidays or holy days. They are all commanded in scripture. I began hearing the shofarim (rams horns) being blown on the first day of Elul, leading up to the month of Tishrai, which begins on Rosh Hashanah. Not much is said about this holiday except that it is for the blowing of rams’ horns.

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.” (Leveticus 23:24-25)

There is much to be said about the meanings for the blowing of the rams horn, which is commanding and hauntingly beautiful. I hope to write that before Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown on the 13th of Sept. Meanwhile, people are scurrying around preparing.

Traditionally, this is a time of giving of gifts, of setting a beautiful table of worship and celebration and blessing others. Apples and honey and their variations are the traditional foods that includes pomegranates which are ripening right now. Also date honey, nuts of all sorts, particularly almonds are also considered a blessing. Indeed we ARE blessed as I look at the display of fall fruits: figs and dates, grapes of all shapes and colors, pomegranates and melons, we are truly blessed.

A small oasis in the midst of pain and turmoil. May we always look up. May the body be LOOKING UP and truly preparing His temple according to His plan.

I was reading one of the exhortations in Matthew the other day and I stopped to weep and thought, “Oh Lord, don’t let me talk about weighty issues when I can’t even obey Your smallest command. Let me see as You do and learn to walk with You. And as we learn to really BE His obedient children, may it make those around us hungry and be used of Him to open the flood gates for surly the time is short.

God BLESS you,

Your sis J

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September 4, 2015 · 8:48 am

Do We Still Cast Out Demons? (Part 8)

Early one morning, Smith Wigglesworth was awakened in his Yorkshire, England, home by a rustling sound in his bedroom. He rolled over and saw someone sitting in the chair at the foot of his bed. He squinted his near-sighted eyes and then recognized who it was.

“Oh, it’s just you, Satan,” said Wigglesworth as he rolled over and went back to sleep.

Wigglesworth told this story at one of his meetings, but what do you think?

(An excerpt from Storming the Kingdom by Larry Nevenhoven, 2014, an Amazon eBook.)

It’s easy for us modern skeptics to look at Wigglesworth (1859 – 1947) and consider him, his ministry, and his visions to be nothing more than ridiculous Pentecostal fantasies from the past. But the nation of Sweden and its king, Gustaf V, did not think of Wiggleworth as a tongue-talking charlatan. They took him seriously.

In 1921, Smith Wigglesworth held healing meetings throughout Scandinavia. Thousands were healed and saved. His success prompted Swedish doctors to convince authorities that Wigglesworth practiced medicine without a license when he laid hands on the sick. Thus, the authorities notified Wigglesworth that he was not allowed to lay his hands on the sick when he visited Stockholm. If he refused to obey the law, he would be arrested and sent to jail.

King Gustaf heard about the new law and wrote Wiggleswoth a note asking him to find a way around the city ordinance so that the evangelist could minister healing to the Swedish people.

What did Smith Wigglesworth do?

Wigglesworth arrived on schedule and preached a faith message from the Bible. When he finished preaching, he asked the sick people to lay their own hands on themselves. He prayed a short healing prayer for everyone. As soon as he finished, miracles happened throughout the auditorium. The people who were healed jumped up and shouted with joy, which stirred up the faith of others to believe for their own healing.

The Sweden healing crusade turned out to be one of Wigglesworth most successful ones.

There’s no doubt that Smith Wigglesworth was a unique man, but he never considered his ministry unique. He believed that every Christian could do the same things he did, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons.

Okay, how could Wigglesworth think this way? And what was his secret?

(Continued in Part 9…if you’re interested, the full series to date can be seen here.)

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September 3, 2015 · 9:28 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (9/3/2015)

How many of us think it’s a cosmic coincidence that the top two movies in America right now – War Room and Straight Outta Compton – are stories about African-Americans and mainly acted by African-Americans?

The main plot in War Room revolves around an African-American women named Miss Clara who teaches Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla C. Shirer) how to handle her anger and marital problems through prayer. The whole emphasis is focused on trusting God and His redeeming grace to change the husband, Tony Jordan (T. C. Stallings), and their hopeless family situations.

The story line for Straight Outta Compton deals with the rise and fall of the hip hop group N.W.A (Niggaz Wit Attitudes), which includes the gangsta rappers Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Easy-E, DJ Yella, and MC Ren. The group’s music reflects the youths’ anger and frustration through its X-rated lyrics, which glorified drugs and crime, put down women, and revealed a deep hatred of police.

Only the Lord could schedule two such contrasting movies to appear on the movie scene right now in America.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask that You move in the inner cities of America so that people’s minds are no longer controlled by their sinful natures, which leads to death, but are controlled by Your Spirit, which brings life and peace. (Based on Romans 8:6 NLT)

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

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

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September 1, 2015 · 2:38 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (9/1/2015)

The above video is taken from a commuter train as it travels through the Mankhurd & Govandi belt in Mumbai India. These areas are slums, which are now larger than the Dharavi slum where the Academy Award winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire, was filmed.

You only have to watch two minutes or so of the video to realize how hopeless and overwhelming the prospects are for these slum dwellers. Although the Indian government has promised solutions, let’s get realistic, okay? These slum dwellers will most likely never see changes in their lifetimes. Maybe their children or grandchildren or great grandchildren will, but even that hinges on politicians keeping their promises.

Today I prayed:

Lord, give prophetic visions to believers with solutions for the slums of Mumbai. Let these visions be like burning fires in the believers’ hearts so that they can do nothing except trust You to fulfill these visions, no matter what obstacles may be in the way. Attract people, resources, and creativity to these visions to propel them to their completions. And Lord, I pray millions of people come to know You because of these visions.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 28, 2015 · 9:01 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/28/2015)

BASECO Slum in Manila
markpedder.wordpress.com

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners began about four and a half years ago just after I had read Hope Flinchbaugh’s novel, I’ll Cross the River, which depicts the incredible human tragedy occurring today inside North Korea.

Flinchbaugh’s novel stirred me up, but it was the Lord who broke my heart one morning with a vision during my prayer time. In it, I saw a young girl in a prison cell in North Korea. She had been raped, beaten, her teeth chattered from the cold, and she was starving to death. Her clothing consisted of a thin, washed-out dress. She had no blanket or bedding to protect her from the frigid temperatures of North Korea.

As I looked on, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: “Would you trade places with her?”

Time stood still as I considered my answer.

Now, keep in mind, that the vision seemed so real to me that it actually felt like I was there in the cell with the young girl. I felt the cold and her fear.

Did I really want to change places with her? Absolutely not!

But I also had memorized the following verse:

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also.” (Hebrews 13:3)

What went through my mind in those seconds of indecision were thoughts of never seeing my wife, children, grandchildren again and being forgotten in that prison cell forever, but I looked at her face once more. She had no hope and didn’t know Jesus.

I finally decided that if this was the Lord’s plan for my life, He would then give me the grace to embrace it.

So, I broke down and said, “Yes, Lord, I will trade places with her because I trust You.”

The vision ended, but I didn’t jump up and rejoice, realizing that the Lord had spared me from an agonizing death. You see, the vision chained me to that girl, to North Korea, China, India, Vietnam, Philippines, and all of Asia.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, help us American believers to hear the cries of the poor and the prisoners of the kingdom of darkness in Asia, so that when we ourselves cry, You hear our cries. (Based on Proverbs 21:13)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 27, 2015 · 10:50 am

Do We Still Cast Out Demons? (Part 7)

We Evangelicals major on talking about “being born again,” but do you know how many times our Lord spoke on this issue? Just one time. Period.

Yet, there are more than thirty instances in the four Gospels where Jesus cast out demons, gave power to His disciples to cast out demons, or taught about casting out demons.

Now, how is it that we Evangelicals can talk for hours about the importance of being “born again,” but yet, we draw blanks when it comes to casting out demons?

So that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Paul wrote the above verse in reference to a man who had committed sexual immorality with his father’s wife. The apostle recommended that the man be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the man’s flesh. Then, the man repented and Paul recommended the man should be accepted back into the fellowship.

But the important point is this: Satan has schemes and plans to destroy the effectiveness of us believers.

Okay, who benefits the most by us believers not being able to cast out demons? The Kingdom of God? Or the kingdom of darkness?

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)

It’s obvious that if we believers do not understand how to cast out demons, the kingdom of darkness rejoices at our ignorance. Why? Because our power and authority in Jesus’ name bows impotent before the god of this world: Satan.

Oh dear! What should we do?

(Continued in Part 8…if you’re interested, the full series to date can be seen here.)

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July 26, 2015 · 6:20 am

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Greetings, dearest sisters and brothers! I greet you because we are His. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed and edified.

As I walk through the streets, the air is hot and still. It reflects well the sense that I’m getting from the Israelis around me right now. Tisha b’av, or the ninth of the month of Av, is again approaching with fasting from the end of Shabat on this Saturday until sundown Sunday.

On Wednesday the air raid sirens were tested. The siren, when sounded for war or danger is a rising and lowering (undulating) sound, rather then the steady wail of the memorial blast that calls us to a minute or two of silence.

Both are eerie. Both signify something way bigger then we are.

The test that occurred on Wednesday was announced ahead of time, but not widely, so it took many by surprise. Although the signing of the pact with Iran and the resulting strained relations that we now have with the USA is giving the far left in Israel reason to complain about our government’s handling of the problem, their protests are weak. Most Israelis know that this is way bigger then we are and that no matter WHAT they think of our Prime Minister, they really can’t accuse him of having been too quiet.

And as the snow ball effect grabs hold of the incredible world shifts, and events move at an ever increasing speed, my sense of it is that most of the country is drawing together as one, knowing that we can not be divided.

With this backdrop, Tisha b’av approaches.

Judaism has a number of “fast days,” but I believe that the main ones are Yom Kippur in the fall of the year, (the day of atonement – a time for personal soul searching and repentance) and Tisha b’av, which I feel is more of a day of collective repentance.

I was given the opportunity on Wednesday to speak up at my work right after the siren test ended. Everyone began talking about our situation and the restructuring of our defense forces, which is called “the Gideon Plan.”

“I was just reading in Judges this morning about Gideon,” I announced to them.

“You read the scriptures just to read them?” a rabbi’s wife asked.

“Yep. And I’m thrilled with the new name of the Gideon Plan because God told Gideon that if there were too many men going to battle with him, Israel would take the credit for the victory instead of giving the glory to God. That made me think about our pride and why it is that the rabbis say that it is sinat chinam (baseless hatred) that brought about the judgments upon us when it is so MANY sins that we have committed?”

All heads shook up and down and turned toward me, so I kept going. “What about pride and…”

The list got long, but everyone was in agreement.

But let me back up a bit. Hopefully, if you have been reading my letters for a while, you remember that Tisha b’av commemorates the destruction of BOTH the first and second temples, the dispersion (the judgment upon Israel according to the blessings and curses written in Deuteronomy and throughout the Prophets) and the uncanny coincidental disasters befalling the Jews on the same date throughout history. However as I was thinking about how to write this letter today I realized that the SIGNIFICANCE of the temple and its destruction to the Jews might be illusive to many of you. I’m not sure that I can explain it, but I am asking The Lord to help me to try:

Remember when The Lord God Almighty FILLED the temple, both first and second one? His Presence…His Shekinah glory FILLED the temple, even though He said to David in 2Samuel 7 − “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?” and yet He humbled Himself to dwell amongst the people in the temple that He granted Solomon to build.

Then again in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. THIS was “God with us…Emanuel” to His people.

WE who believe, have entered into the understanding of Heb. 10:5 − “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.’” (see also Ps. 40:7)

To the Jews: GOD dwelling in a body seems impossible. Indeed the entire book of Hebrews sometimes seems to me to be written to transition the understanding that the temple is no longer needed. (It is an AMAZING book to read when you look at it as almost a revelation of transition from His Presence in the temple to His Presence with us −The Living Lord.)

Okay, do you get a taste of the idea?

Here I go teaching again, and please forgive me, I am NOT a teacher, but Tisha b’av would mean so little if you thought that it was a building that we fast for and mourn about or if you thought that the temple mount that is the center of the world’s conflict were a piece of property and the western wall as a shrine. But to understand that this is a people mourning and anguishing for The Shekinah Glory − the Presence of The Living God. EVEN if not yet with the revelation of knowing Who He Is, at least it is the MEMORY tucked away that GOD WAS WITH US, even though our sin had separated us.

To me, this is the POTENTIAL of Tisha b’av.

If you are challenged to grasp it, then you might want to read the book of Hebrews along with other portions concerning the building of and FILLING of the temple. Isn’t this what we ALL long for: EMANUEL? GOD WITH US?

And so, I continue to walk the streets of Jerusalem daily, riding the bus, the train, walking through the shuk and working in the doctor’s office, trying to find a way to glorify Him in the midst. The people ARE more tense.

It is not a nervous fear, more of a resolve. Around us ISIS battles the Iranian backed militant terror groups for who will lead the way into Jerusalem − Shiite or Sunni. That is all that it is.

We don’t see one as moderate and one as extreme. They BOTH want the prize and that is Israel. They speak it openly, making it very clear. ISIS has been challenging Hamas in the Gaza Strip (yes, there is a mini terror war there that you likely don’t hear about) saying that Hamas is too friendly to Israel and ISIS will take over and conquer us. They are trying. It’s time to look up and everyone here knows it. Sadly they just are not sure HOW!

It has been a beautiful cool summer until now, but it has turned hot since the day that the pact was signed. As I walk the two short, lovely blocks from the main street to the street where I work, the grapes and the pomegranates are quickly ripening in such a majestic way that it catches my breath. When I see the grapes and the pomegranates swelling I remember that Sukkot (feast of tabernacles) is approaching, and that reminds me that His cycles continue.

The summer fruits and vegetables fill the shuk (at double the price for some reason) and the Arab and Jewish vendors continue to get along with no problem. We walk through our days, only with slightly more vigilance and slightly raised eyebrows. What a season we live in and how quickly it is all moving, at least from my perspective.

And then I remember that some of you do live in lovely and peaceful places. That makes me happy. Because I also know that His Spirit lives within you and allows you and I to join into one temple before Him for His purposes and to worship Him in His glory. Wow! What a privilege!

Well, I’m sorry that this isn’t my usual sharing but it is almost Tisha b’av. Thanks so much for being my friends. Thank you for your prayers for us and for this nation. I send love.

Your sis in Jerusalem,

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July 23, 2015 · 2:31 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (7/23/2015)

“Why are our feet so leaden in moving to the rescue of those who move relentlessly by us to the edge of eternity, and whose one step into it will seal their doom? Why is there at present amongst us this criminal indifference to the lostness of men? And criminal it is!

Have we nothing to communicate? Is our living so inconsistent with our telling? Are we pitiably unsure of the truth of the Bible concerning the lost? Are we so stony-hearted that neither God’s promises not God’s threats disturb us? What octopus has us in its grip? Where will our spiritual polio, our slovenly attention to divine truth land us–and others? (Excerpt from Sodom Had No Bible by Leonard Ravehill)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I pray that You blow Your trumpet in America, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, and assemble the elders. Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD.” (Based on Joel 2:15-17)

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

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

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

Tagged as Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Spiritual warfare

July 21, 2015 · 1:17 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/21/2015)

BASECO Slum in Manila
markpedder.wordpress.com

Today, I prayed:

Lord, open the ears of American believers to hear the cry of the poor children in the slums of Asia. Let the cries so reverberate within us that we will act and give financial offerings so that we fulfill the words of 2 Corinthians 9:9.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)