Category: People of God

Destroying Faith |New Zealand Massacre

I read the news this morning about a horrific massacre in New Zealand where gunman went into a mosque and killed 49 people. This act shows how depraved human beings can be to one another. All the Social Media outlets and news organizations are airing or posting about this.

I believe that all lives matter, no matter the ethnicity or faith of a person. I am praying for all those who have lost loved ones through this atrocious act of violence.

  • Having said this, I also believe that there is an unfair balance of reporting. This tragedy and all like it, should never be swept under the carpet.
  • Yet, had it been a Christian church, would we have the same world-wide coverage?

— Everyday, muslim extremists in the Mid-East and Africa, burn down churches and kill Christians just because they will not submit to their religion.

— I have not heard from most of the big news organizations or even local news or social media outlets making any effort to report these horrendous acts against Christians. Only a few big News outlets have ventured into reporting this atrocities.

— Radicals in India are doing the same thing to Christians in their country.

— Atheist governments like China and N. Korea are destroying churches and are vowing to rid their countries of Christian and Western influences once and for all.

— The big news organizations and social media outlets are for the most part silent in their reporting.

  • One mosque is hit with awful violence, and the reports are all over the place.
  • Why is the ongoing extermination of one faith less important than another faith?
  • Why do the media outlets who should be reporting on all tragedies, keep quiet about what is happening to Christians in the Mid-east, Africa, India and China?
  • Thousands of Christians have been killed all over the world?
  • Nigerian Christians have been killed regularly by Muslim  extremist and yet, the news and social media outlets are mute!

I feel for all loss of life. I detest violence and hate hearing tragic news like the New Zealand mosque massacre.

  • But what I can’t stand even more than this is the silent apathetic mental disorder our media shows when it comes to reporting truth.

— Truth is, more Christians have died all over the world at the hands of extremists, than another group of people. Yet the media outlets are silent.

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— An extremists goes into one mosque, commits a heinous act against a group who is worshipping their god, and every news outlet reports on the tragedy.

  • I applaud the media outlets for reporting this.
  • I only wish they did their job correctly and report the truth of what’s happening to Christians, with the same commitment and fervor of reporting which they showed for the LBGT bar and Mosque shootings.
  • All shootings are tragic and evil. This is why it’s important for the world to know the truth on what’s happening to Christians….but because they are Christians, the media outlets are silent…Just remember what happened in the 1940s…when all the world stood silent and left the Jewish people to die in agonizing and horrific ways…
  • Once the world is rid of Christians, who will they go after next? Apathy leads to death….shame on you major news and media outlets….

 

References:

PICTURE – https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/

Christian Persecution by Country— https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/01/11/top-10-worst-countries-christian-persecution

One of the few who has reported Christian Persecution is Fox News— https://www.foxnews.com/world/christian-group-warns-of-sharply-rising-persecution-in-these-countries-in-2019

 

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This Week’s Prayer |Pray Always—Always Pray

A Call to Prayer:

“1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men 2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.”—1 Timothy 2:1-5 Berean Study Bible

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Modern Day Martyrs in Syria & Iraq Part I |Persecuted Christians Series

Persecuted Church Series Part I

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This subject has been weighing heavy on my heart for a few years now. As I see the Christian faith being ripped into chaos, I can’t help but wonder if this is prophecy being fulfilled or do we as Christians have to wait for the Lord a bit longer.
The persecution of Judeo-Christian values is increasing. We hear from our brethren in Syria and Iraq who have been at the forefront of Christian persecution for the sake of their faith. The atrocities being done in the name of a peaceful religion who doesn’t accept other religious points of views would be quite ridiculous if it weren’t happening right before our modern eyes.
Since I have spoken before about our Iraqi and Syrian brothers and sisters in Christ, this is where the Lord led me to begin asking all who read this to start praying with me for the increasing persecution of the Christian church in different parts of the world. I also want to encourage our brethren in Syria and Iraq to stand firm in the faith...

—To the persecuted brethren in Iraq and Syria,

May God’s grace shown through our Lord and Savior Jesus be upon you. There is no other grace and peace in any other name. They may tell you to renounce Jesus the Savior of the world, but you will not shame Him in this way. Because you know that only Jesus can give you this graceful peace and comfort to withstand the enemies fiery darts.

—The Lord Jesus loves you, and we here in America love you too.

Some of us have been praying for all of you. I can’t fathom what you have gone through and don’t wish this upon anyone else. What I do know, is that all of you have been an inspiration and an example of what true faith is. Your faith has stood above reproach. You have made God’s name known to the most vicious of people.

Just like Paul and the saints of old, you have preached Jesus and of His only way. Because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life in this world.
May the Lord bless all of you. May the Lord keep you in His comfort. May the Lord shine His face of glory upon you. May God strengthen you to withstand the deceptions of the enemy whom you in Iraq and Syria have threatened in such a way, that the enemy has sent his demonic drones to try to shut your mouths, no matter the costs.
I pray that you stand firm in the faith. That you look to your Author and Finisher, the Perfecter of our faith. Stand strong in Christ! Do not look to the right or to your left. But focus your gaze on Jesus who will take you out of the fiery trials. Some of you have paid an awful price. You have lost loved ones. But they are not lost! They have been found. Found in the arms of our Savior. He has taken away their pains and wiped away all their tears. They are now resting. They are now waiting. Waiting for you, their loved ones to join them one day.

—Your loved ones are the saints who have been given the honor of standing before our Lord in His throne room. They have been given the white robes and are singing to the Lamb of God, who has given all martyrs restful peace.

Brothers and sisters, you also have this blessed hope. The hope of one day being with Jesus our Savior. Keep running the race that has been set for all of you. Run with faith knowing that He is there with you.

—Preach your faith Knowing that Jesus will give you the words to say. Don’t be afraid! Let me repeat this, don’t be frightened. God is with you, who can be against you!

May the Lord bring His Mighty Spirit to change your countries. May He do the same work and a more excellent work in your countries, so that all those lost in an empty religion which brings doubts, anger, and chaos, will finally see The Light, Jesus Christ who can bring His saving grace and peace to all who ask.
We have not forgotten you, and we will continue praying for your strength.
In Jesus’ mighty Name, I send this! Amen!

***** If you would come along side of us and pray for our Christian brothers and sisters, here are a few links to help you:

Voice of the Martyrs

Open Doors

Billy Graham Ministries

Release International

 

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Christmas Comfort & Peace |Christmas Series 2018

Christmas Series Part IV

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Psalm 56:8

As all of us are trying to make this Christmas Season special and joyous for loved ones, may we not forget those that are hurting during this time of the year. Some people will be spending Christmas alone. Some may be going through some tough financial times. Others may have bad memories of this season. Some may have lost a loved one too close to this Holy day period.

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Jesus in the gospel of John 14

Whatever the reason, may we be sensitive to the needs of others.

  • May we first pray for those that need comfort.
  • May we then extend a hand to them and bring them closer to Christ.
  • May we add to their joy instead of bringing them more sorrow.
  • May we love them so that they see Jesus in us.
  • Especially those that choose to hate this Holy day season on purpose. Those that have decided not to believe in anything.

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  • May the God of comfort bring all who are hurting in silence, peace and joy of knowing that one day, Jesus will wipe all their tears away and then and only then, will each of us see how much God cared.
  • Enough to know the exact number of tears we shed during our times of sorrows. Enough for those that may think no one cares to finally find out how much a little child born in Bethlehem cared. So much so, that He came to earth to bring goodness and joy by one day dying on a cross. Taking the sins of all who call upon Him, even though He was innocent of any wrongdoing.
  • This season, if you are one of those that are hurting, whether you have lost a precious person, or are going through something traumatic, I invite you to feel joy this Christmas, like those that heard the greatest of news about two thousand years ago.

That a Child was born in a manger, to bring mankind back to a lasting relationship with their Creator. His name is Jesus, the Savior of the world.
He is here to comfort all who need comforting.
He is here to counsel anyone who asks for His wisdom because He is called A Wonderful Counselor.

  • He has come to bring peace because He is the Prince of peace.

The baby in the manger is Jesus, who is all this and more. He is the Eternal, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. 
He will bring you comfort and joy if only you should ask Him. Go ahead ask Jesus to heal those wounds you have. I promise that He will take all the burdens you have and make them lighter…

Need God?

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

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Are You Still Drinking From Milk?! |Quote the Word Not Commentaries!

When I was a kid, I remember wanting to be like such and such soccer player or dribbling like that basketball player, hitting the game winning run like that famous baseball player… Life was good and I, along with the rest of the neighborhood kids would imagine ourselves in big games with thousands of fans cheering for us while we saved that specific sports universe we were playing in. It was fun and it brought discipline to what we were doing in every sport we played.

As I got older, I didn’t want to be like this athlete or that athlete. I wanted to make my own game. I started realizing that I would watch the best athletes competing in their sport and learn their movements. But when I played, I wasn’t playing exactly like specific people. I was taking what I had seen and watched on TV and making it my own.

  • Sadly, I find that a large number of people who have been Christians a long time, still have the ‘neighborhood kid playing’ mentality.

What is the ‘neighborhood kid playing‘ mentality? It is when a Christian who has been a Christian longer than others in the church, is still quoting pastors he listens to, book commentaries he or she reads, or quotes from social media constantly; and yet, this same person never quotes directly from scripture.

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DISCLAIMER ***** Don’t get me wrong, I still quote all the above but it is not where I end. I usually say, “This pastor wrote this about this, this other pastor wrote this about this subject, here’s what the Word of God says and what I got from it, for application.” **********

  • So it’s not that I don’t ever quote anyone, it’s that I have found out, the Bible is all I need.

The Word of God is and was from the beginning. Jesus is the Word(See John 1) He has spoken His Word into our lives and into His Word, the Bible which makes one wise, disciplines by showing us our true nature and then instructing us to grab on to Christ and not let go(see Hebrews 4:12-13).

How do we become people who can be discipled and disciple others? We must be teachable, learners of the word(See Proverbs 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) ,and be able to pass it on.

Jesus tells us to do one thing. To go into all nations, and make disciples of all nations. We are to be teachable and then go out and teach others(See Matthew 28:19).

  • Now here is where I do become that neighborhood kid playing, when I start imitating Jesus and Jesus alone.
  • May I be able to be Christlike always.
  • May I be able to quote scripture just like Jesus did when being tempted by the enemy(See Matthew chapter 4).
  • May I be able to withstand everything that comes against me like Jesus did, because I was able to quote His Word, which gives me strength(See Philippians 4:13)…

Want to know more about Jesus?

Steps to Peace With God

How Can I know God

Know God

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