God's Opportunities

"Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied
on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has
escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a
huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you
relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes
of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in
his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not
seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers;
he died in the forty-first year of his reign".
2 Chronicles 16:7-9, 12-13

Have you been robbing God of the opportunity to be glorified in
your life? Much of the frustration we face in life is really our
denying God the opportunity to demonstrate Himself able to handle
the problems that are too great for us. When we place our
confidence in men and turn to others for help, instead of God, we
deny Him the opportunity to be glorified. Our problems are really
open invitations for God's participation in our lives. Everyday,
people suffer unnecessarily because they deny God the opportunity
to get involved in their lives and thereby be glorified.

King Asa made a similar mistake when he placed his confidence in
man, instead of God. God gave King Asa not only victory, but also
unusual peace, despite the fact he was surrounded by hostile
nations. The Bible records because King Asa became sick he and
once again placed his confidence and his life in the hands of men
instead of calling upon God for his healing. As a result, he not
only lost God's blessing over his life, but his life itself.

How often, do we decide to turn from God, who has already proven
Himself faithful, able and willing to see us through our struggles?
It was God who has kept us from being totally destroyed by our
enemies - seen and unseen. He has hid us and not allowed our
adversaries to know when we are weak, nor has he exposed our hidden
faults.

What is it in your life that God is waiting for you to turn over to
Him and give Him the opportunity to show Himself strong? Your
impossibilities are really God's opportunities. When you deprive
Him the opportunity to demonstrate His sovereignty you also deprive
Him of glory that is due Him. When you need help, don't look
around - but look up! David, facing a seemingly impossible
situation, asked himself a question and came to the right
conclusion.

David said, "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who
made heaven and earth" (Psalms 121:1-2,). Remember, the
impossibility you are facing might actually be an opportunity for
God to show Himself strong!

Dr. J.C. Matthews, Senior Pastor of Dunamis Life Ministries and Chancellor of The International Kingdom Institute.

The Non-Power Of Terrorists

One Nation Under God (click to enlarge)

The Non-power of Terrorists

by Shay Villere

I just read the sentencing statements made by the gentleman who tried to ignite his shoe-bomb on a plane a few years ago. Obviously, it contained the usual Muslim stuff, about Allah and jihad and all of it. What was interesting was the judge's comments.

The judge outlined very well how America will never ever give in to people who are simply mass murderers masquerading as soldiers. Terrorists are not really fighting a war, they are just trying to kill people. All of this death and destruction under the guise of religious war is extremely foolish. There is no real hope for a cause like that, where all that happens is random death.

I was especially impressed with how the judge mentioned over and over again how America had been through these situations before, and will happily go through them again. We are the ones who end the wars. We never run from fear. We are not in the business of giving up. We come to the aid of countries that need us. We alone are sometimes the only ones who are able to make a significant difference, and that is actually okay with us.

Other countries are jealous of our freedom. They are jealous of our way of life. They are jealous of how we can do virtually anything we want, wherever we want. We are not hampered by the world. Our individual rights are the best this world has to offer. We are a courageous, determined people and mass murder holds no place in this country or any other.

Where does Jesus fit in to all this? He is the one who INVENTED AMERICA!!! It was His religion that brought about these freedoms. He is the one who inspired the founding fathers. He is the one who guides the decisions of our leaders. If you look at the viewpoints of the last 200 years of America, and beyond really, they are CHRISTIAN VALUES! We are a country that comes to the defense of other countries because Jesus ALWAYS helps people who are impoverished and dominated by villains. Do you know what makes Christians different than other people? THE SACRIFICE!!! We will gladly hand over our happiness, our comfort, our money, to aid those people in the world who are without.

Shay Villere is the creator of Intercessors.com, where Christians from all walks of life can come together for prayer, 24/7

Miracles Abound On Evil Ground

Missionaries from two New Jersey Churches are safe after Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.

The leaders of Allentown's Lifechurch said residents of their Haitian orphanage in Port-au-Prince and a volunteer from Allentown survived. Members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown arrived at JFK in New York this morning. They had gone to Haiti on a yearly mission to bring badly needed medical supplies to the orphanage.

At the time of the quake, the group was with the orphans in an open field, playing ball, said Frank Procaccini. Any other time they would have been in the buildings. The orphanage and the Hotel were destroyed, killing many inside.

I have read about and heard of numerous accounts of rescues in a most impossible situation, with no equipment and supplies available. In almost every occurrence, it is told of prayers being answered.

I wept at the images of Haitians waiting for help on rooftops which could barely hold them following the 2008 hurricanes, back-to-back. I was terribly upset at the delay in reaching them. It seemed then, as it does now, their government just does not care. The only word I've heard from their president was regarding the presidential palace being destroyed.

Wednesday, Well known evangelist Pat Robertson publicly implied the Haitians deserved their fate as they swore a pact with the devil. While his inappropriate context certainly had bad timing, and would not be understood well by many in the global audience he reached, it was not far from truth.

Michael Savage, well known radio show host, has taken the issue to the other extreme, making light of the voodoo situation while denouncing Robertson without mercy, for two days. I respect Savage's political opinions, most of the time, but, he should leave spiritual issues to the experts. He became just as "ridiculous" as Robertson.

The truth of the matter is God will judge evil nations (which I've heard Savage express in the past). God will bring down an evil people. Unfortunately, innocents cannot be excluded from a national tragedy. While I am certainly no expert, as well, I will not exclude the facts for degradation sake. I believe for everything there is a reason. I do not believe in coincidence, 90% of the time.

For generations Haiti has been known as the Voodoo Capitol of the world. Carried over from the African slave trades, those of whom ended up on the tropical Island, which at the time was called Saint Domingo, have evolved traditional rituals into a serious and threatening religion involving murder and torture.

The difference in the background of the slaves has helped integrating beliefs, rites, songs and dances of different tribes to create a syncretic religion.
From the beginning the authorities already suspected that the meetings organized by the slaves, even the ones connected to the dancing meeting were related to religious (actually, witchcraft) practices.

Along the way, Voodoo was even integrated with Catholic beliefs, hence the depictions above by Haitian artists. Other satanic religions, such as Santeria, have also stemmed from these same basic evils. It is rampant and responsible for many violent incidents globally and here in the U.S.

So, while it is a great tragedy, and I have encouraged all within the sound of my voice (or network) to help in any way possible, let us not preclude the reality of Haiti's nature. I call for fervent prayer, for those still alive but not yet reached by rescuers, for the families of the victims, and for the spiritual enlightenment of the survivors- that they would be led away from the dominant evil in that country, and brought to salvation, in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen!

PLEASE HELP THE HAITIAN RED CROSS EFFORTS BY DONATING JUST $10 BY TEXTING "HAITI" TO 90999
it will be billed to your phone bill

Denial (Ya Say Ya Wanna Resolution)

Denial is a strange beast. We all have exercised it to some degree. Many live by it. It consumes them and dictates their life. In that case, they seldom find happiness and when they do it is short lived. Denial is an illusion, oftentimes serving as a drug, in order to rationalize an escape from a particular reality in our life.

In any event, denial is a destructive presence hindering our dealing with the truth. We are often so convinced of the legitimacy of our denial, we accept it as truth. We dissuade ourselves from taking the proper course which would derive a healthy outcome of an issue or an event.

Usually, if we think we need not deal with something ( perhaps an occurrence from the past), that is exactly what we need to deal with. We are unable to see it, for our denial. Perspective is everything. With the proper (or true) perspective there is almost no limit to what we humans can accomplish.

By that same token, a bad or incorrect perspective can cripple us to no end. A wrong perspective produced from deceiving ourselves can and will ruin our lives from what God intended for us.

I had just written an article regarding sin, and Mat 7:21. Almost immediately after posting it I received a comment from a woman demanding, “Enough already with the doom and gloom, we get the point.” At first, I thought why would she think I wrote the article for her, or, how did I get in her way? Then, I realized - she is probably one of the people I wrote it for.

I have always been troubled by those of whom are seemingly strong Christians, but troubled by the Word of God, in any aspect. If I see the same scripture over and over, it seems to me I needed to see it. In a different perspective a scripture we have heard many times may take on a whole new meaning.

God is very gentle with us. When we are faithful He will direct us and give us information He feels we need, or can handle. Our perception of what we need is seldom in line with what He sees that we truly need to enhance our lives. Proverbs 3: 5-6, Trust in Him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

In troubled times I have struggled to stick to that principle, and I promise you it pays off, so to speak.

I have always used my own type of prose in my writing. I discovered early on that while they are very expressive and knowledgeable, Theologians and Scholars tend to ramble on with words by which the common lay person or even some English teachers are unable to understand. Since most people will not refer to a dictionary to get through each sentence, many an important issue goes unnoticed.

I am intent on reaching those individuals who may be looking for answers or a hint from someone that may have experienced what they are going through. I only do this as I was led kicking and screaming by the Lord. I figure if anybody doesn’t like what I have to say, no one is holding a gun to their head; kind of like changing channels if ya don’t like the program.

I have found that all too often, those individuals which attack with the most venom are the ones who need the message the most. Take the lady the other day, who told me it seems I had a very good point to make, that it was a shame my grammar was so bad. She went on to state she tried, but, was just unable to read what I had to say. By the way, she spoke fluent English if you were wondering.

There is no rhyme or reason for many things we do. Often we seem silly, or petty, and recognize it, but, always rationalizing it to the point of eliminating any conviction of ourselves. Typically, this leads to self righteousness stemming from defending our self. It is the practice, not the rule, self righteousness and denial go hand in hand.

The atheist will hold out to deny reason or logic to the point-of-no-return silliness in his argument. He will always have that opportunity to accept the truth of the Gospel and the proof in the prophesies and be saved. The professed Christian in all their self righteousness and denial will more than likely carry their ignorance to the grave. As they presume to tell everyone else they are not sufficient Christians, where they will spend eternity is only known to the Lord.

The Lord has knowledge of where we are at in our conscious awareness and the contents of our heart. We cannot begin to conceive of His omnipotence, timing, and compassion. When we least expect it, He is there (all along) and just a word in our heart at the right time can change our life. In our stubbornness and fear of truly grasping the unknown (or unseen) by faith in the Son of God, we miss out completely what He had in store for us.

Consequently, we continue to travel around the wilderness longer than necessary. Any happiness we think we experience without God in our life is just empty illusion. I can tell you, not only by the inerrant Word of God, but, by my own experience…

If you lean not on your own understanding, but, trust in Him with all your heart, and in all your ways acknowledge Him - HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH!!!

Some will have no idea what I'm saying, while someone else will understand completely and needed to hear it. There is a purpose for everything.

If you are looking for a New Year’s resolution, why not commit yourself to telling someone of the goodness the Lord has brought you and the relief of knowing your destination after this world. They may ask questions and you just might save a life.

Iniquity keeps us from experiencing a complete relationship with Jesus, and receiving all He intends for our lives. CLICK ON THE MAN IN BONDAGE AND SET HIM FREE