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Post by Miami on Sept 21, 2014 8:01:20 GMT -5
Good Morning!! Happy Sunday!! I hope everyone has a blessed day today!! May the Lords Peace cover us all today!! Let's put our faith in The Lord who never leaves our side and will never fail us!! Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  Shalom!! |
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Post by GinNJ on Sept 22, 2014 10:25:35 GMT -5
Good morning all!!! Happy Monday! Miami...that is one of my favorite passages in scripture!!  Yay! The Giants won a game! I am so happy. I really thought that JJ Watt was going to put a beatin' on Eli. So, I was 500 on the weekend. Gators lost but Giants won. All...over the past couple of years we have talked about Pastor Seed...the Pastor who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran. This Friday September 26, 2014 marks the 2 year anniversary. "Naghmeh Abedini, Pastor Saeed’s wife, invites you to join her in remembering Pastor Saeed Abedini and others who are persecuted for their faith by participating in prayer vigils across the world on September 26, 2014, the anniversary of Saeed’s imprisonment." There are churches all over the world participating. For those who are interested in joining corporately with other disciples of Jesus Christ to pray for brothers and sisters being persecuted for their faith here is a link with a message from Pastor Saeed's wife and a full list of the participating churches. There are also vigils planned at many state capitals. Now that would be awesome. beheardproject.com/prayer-vigil/saeedPlease consider attending a service and joining in prayer for these warriors for our faith! I pray that everyone has a blessed week. |
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Post by GinNJ on Sept 22, 2014 18:27:32 GMT -5
Good Morning!! Happy Sunday!! I hope everyone has a blessed day today!! May the Lords Peace cover us all today!! Let's put our faith in The Lord who never leaves our side and will never fail us!! Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Shalom!! That image has 'my next locked screen' written all over it! |
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Post by GinNJ on Sept 22, 2014 18:29:28 GMT -5
Speaking of new locked screens...I got the new iPhone and spent the better part of Saturday setting it up. Anyone else have it? I am curious to know what everyone else thinks. I upgraded from the 4S. For the most part I really like the improvements. I am just not sold on the new Camera Roll / Photos.  |
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Post by Miami on Sept 29, 2014 20:23:41 GMT -5
Good Evening!! I hope everyone's well out there. I've been busy busy.. Feeling very blessed tonight. Had a great Sunday at the sea with The Lord. Looking forward to next weekend when it's just God and me. My appointed time thru His word. Yom Kippur starts Sundown Friday!! He said this time with Him was forever. I'll keep the appointment!! God is never far from us. Thru His Son our Lord, He's forever part of us. A temple that can never be destroyed within us, and a higher love we can't even fathom. Move closer to Him and He will move closer to you!!  Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Shalom |
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Post by Miami on Sept 30, 2014 19:14:37 GMT -5
Thought of an interesting question the other day... Did King Saul go to heaven??? Hum...
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Post by GinNJ on Sept 30, 2014 21:08:19 GMT -5
That is an interesting question...I'll have to think on that one.
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 3, 2014 20:14:16 GMT -5
To all those celebrating / commemorating Yom Kipour...I pray that your time with The Lord is blessed!
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 5, 2014 17:13:43 GMT -5
Happy Sunday all! I pray that all who read here have had a blessed weekend and that all is well with everyone who used to contribute here. Yay Giants! Three wins in a row. I hope they can keep it up. If I had any doubts that the NFL has lost it's mind today's story about players not being allowed to use Beats (or any non-Boise) headphones up to 90 minutes after a game has definitely sealed the deal. Wow! You know, some times we can be so hard on ourselves. Maybe God has put a dream in our hearts that we haven't been able to fulfill. Maybe there is a spiritual discipline that we struggle with. Maybe we are just stuck in our walk with The Lord...not advancing as quickly as we think we should. We need to remember two things. First of all Jesus tells us. In Matthew chapter 11... " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We should be resting in Him. If we are struggling in our walk with The Lord it could be for many reasons like unconfessed sin and/or not placing God first in our lives. It may also mean that we are trying to accomplish on our own what only He can accomplish. We need to remember that God is ALWAYS working...at His pace...and He will perfect that which pleases Him and can be used for His glory! "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me" Psalm 138:8 He who has begun will carry on the work which is being wrought within my soul. The LORD is concerned about everything that concerns me. All that is now good, but not perfect, the LORD will watch over, preserve, and carry out to completion. This is a great comfort. I could not perfect the work of grace myself... If the LORD were to leave me, all my past experience would go for nothing, and I should perish from the way. But the LORD will continue to bless me. He will perfect my faith, my love, my character, my lifework. He will do this because He has begun a work in me. He gave me the concern I feel, and, in a measure, He has fulfilled my gracious aspirations, He never leaves a work unfinished; this would not be for His glory, nor would it be like Him. He knows how to accomplish His gracious design, and though my own [flesh] and the world and the devil all conspire to hinder Him, I do not doubt His promise. He will perfect that which concerneth me, and I will praise Him forever. LORD, let Thy gracious work make some advance this day! God bless! Lori Ann "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11 |
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 6, 2014 14:19:44 GMT -5
I just had to share with you today's back cover of one of the local NY papers!!! (Oh my! I didn't even read the front cover! I had to repost after 'erasing' it.)  |
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 14, 2014 12:40:56 GMT -5
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:25-30
I am always amazed that Paul and Silas were singing and praising God while they were chained up and in prison. What faith they had! That faith allowed them to trust God even in the worst imaginable circumstances. That faith led them to act in such a way that they stirred something in the very man who's job it was to ensure they stayed in jail. Their actions made him want to know the God they served and, after sharing God's word with him, he and his whole family were baptized!
This account is so encouraging to me. It shows me that no matter what my circumstances I can choose to trust God and sing his praises! I can also be used by Him to draw others to Christ during my darkest times. Others are watching how I respond to what life throws at me...do I make them want what I have in Christ? I have to admit the answer isn't always 'yes'! I am so thankful though for God's patience and mercy. When we mess up the devil would love for us to give up and stop trying but, if we have repented and trusted Christ alone for our salvation, scripture tells us that we are more than conquerors through Christ!! He is right there to pick us up and continue the work that He has begun in us.
For all who are going through a rough time right now be encouraged...our circumstances may not be good but God ALWAYS is! And He never changes but circumstances do. Let's praise Him for Who He is and trust that He will work out our current sufferings for good as well if we are seeking to please Him and discern His will!
His love for us is immeasurable...He is never far away...He always has a plan! Paul and Silas trusted that and God used their persecution to bring an entire family into the Kingdom. He wants to do something with our sufferings as well. I pray that we can praise Him in our storms!
Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 14, 2014 13:14:00 GMT -5
Thought of an interesting question the other day... Did King Saul go to heaven??? Hum... Well...I keep coming back to Saul's faith. All through scripture salvation has always been determined by faith. In the OT the heros of the faith were those who believed, by faith, in what God promised was to come. Those that died in faith would have went to Abraham's bosom...awaiting the promised Messiah. In fact, Jesus went to them and freed them after His death and, now that forgiveness of sins had been provided, allowed them to enter Heaven. In 2 Samuel 7 God tells David that His mercy will not depart from him and his seed as He took it from Saul. That makes me think the answer is 'no'. In Hebrews 11 Saul is not mentioned in the 'hall of faith' along with Abel, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, Rahab, David, Samson, Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and 'the prophets'. There is no mention of Saul whatsoever in this company. That also makes me think the answer is 'no'. So...based on the fact that God says that He took His mercy from Saul combined with Saul's omission from the Hall of Faith in Hebrews I am going with 'no'. Good question. |
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 14, 2014 16:13:54 GMT -5
Wow! I think that most Christians saw this day coming but the shock is still so strong! All...please pray for these pastors. Yes this mayor's actions are illegal but, in case you haven't noticed, the courts are no longer interested in applying the law of the land but using their power however it suits them and their agendas. Just look at how this mayor is abusing her power. These men, their families and congregations are on the front lines of the most dangerous war there is...the battle for the basic liberties that this country was founded to protect. God help us!
City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons
By Todd Starnes
Published October 14, 2014 | FoxNews.com
The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court.
“The city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented,” Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement. “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions.”
ADF, a nationally-known law firm specializing in religious liberty cases, is representing five Houston pastors. They filed a motion in Harris County court to stop the subpoenas arguing they are “overbroad, unduly burdensome, harassing, and vexatious.”
“Political and social commentary is not a crime,” Holcomb said. “It is protected by the First Amendment.”
The subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the Houston’s new non-discrimination ordinance. The law, among other things, would allow men to use the ladies room and vice versa. The city council approved the law in June.
The Houston Chronicle reported opponents of the ordinance launched a petition drive that generated more than 50,000 signatures – far more than the 17,269 needed to put a referendum on the ballot.
However, the city threw out the petition in August over alleged irregularities.
After opponents of the bathroom bill filed a lawsuit the city’s attorneys responded by issuing the subpoenas against the pastors.
The pastors were not part of the lawsuit. However, they were part of a coalition of some 400 Houston-area churches that opposed the ordinance. The churches represent a number of faith groups – from Southern Baptist to non-denominational.
“City council members are supposed to be public servants, not ‘Big Brother’ overlords who will tolerate no dissent or challenge,” said ADF attorney Erik Stanley. “This is designed to intimidate pastors.”
Mayor Parker will not explain why she wants to inspect the sermons. I contacted City Hall for a comment and received a terse reply from the mayor’s director of communications.
“We don’t comment on litigation,” said Janice Evans.
However, ADF attorney Stanley suspects the mayor wants to publicly shame the ministers. He said he anticipates they will hold up their sermons for public scrutiny. In other words – the city is rummaging for evidence to “out” the pastors as anti-gay bigots.
Among those slapped with a subpoena is Steve Riggle, the senior pastor of Grace Community Church. He was ordered him to produce all speeches and sermons related to Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality and gender identity.
The mega-church pastor was also ordered to hand over “all communications with members of your congregation” regarding the non-discrimination law.
“This is an attempt to chill pastors from speaking to the cultural issues of the day,” Riggle told me. “The mayor would like to silence our voice. She’s a bully.”
David Welch, pastor of Bear Creek Church and director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, also received a subpoena. He said he will not be intimidated by the mayor.
“We’re not afraid of this bully,” he said. “We’re not intimidated at all.”
He accused the city of violating the law with the subpoenas and vowed to stand firm in the faith.
“We are not going to yield our First Amendment rights,” Welch told me. ‘This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.”
Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, said pastors around the nation should rally around the Houston ministers.
“The state is breaching the wall of separation between church and state,” Perkins told me. ‘Pastors need to step forward and challenge this across the country. I’d like to see literally thousands of pastors after they read this story begin to challenge government authorities – to dare them to come into their churches and demand their sermons.”
Perkins called the actions by Houston’s mayor “obscene” and said they “should not be tolerated.”
“This is a shot across the bow of the church,” he said.
This is the moment I wrote about in my book, “God Less America.” I predicted that the government would one day try to silence American pastors. I warned that under the guise of “tolerance and diversity” elected officials would attempt to deconstruct religious liberty.
Sadly, that day arrived sooner than even I expected.
Tony Perkins is absolutely right. Now is the time for pastors and people of faith to take a stand. We must rise up and reject this despicable strong-arm attack on religious liberty. We cannot allow ministers to be intimidated by government thugs.
The pastors I spoke to tell me they will not comply with the subpoena – putting them at risk for a “fine or confinement, or both.”
Heaven forbid that should happen. But if it does, Christians across America should be willing to descend en masse upon Houston and join these brave men of God behind bars.
Pastor Welch compared the culture war skirmish to the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto, fought in present-day Harris County, Texas. It was a decisive battle of the Texas Revolution.
“This is the San Jacinto moment for traditional family,” Welch told me. “This is the place where we stop the LGBT assault on the freedom to practice our faith.”
We can no longer remain silent. We must stand together - because one day – the government might come for your pastor.
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 20, 2014 20:45:52 GMT -5
From Every Sin
He shall save His people from their sins
Matthew 1:21
LORD, save me from my sins. By the name of Jesus I am encouraged thus to pray. Save me from my past sins, that the habit of them may not hold me captive. [Save me from the sin which doth so easily beset me, that I may not become a reproach to Thy Holy Name. Save me from an undue familiarity with sin and sinning, that I may not lose my horror of them.] Save me from sudden and surprising sins: let me not be carried off my feet by a rush of temptation. Save me, LORD, from every sin. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Thou alone canst do this. I cannot snap my own chains or slay my own enemies. Thou knowest temptation, for Thou wast tempted. Thou knowest sin, for Thou didst bear the weight of it. Thou knowest how to succor me in my hour of conflict; Thou canst save me from sinning and save me when I have sinned. It is promised in Thy very name that Thou wilt do this, and I pray Thee let me this day verify the prophecy. Let me not give way to temper, or pride, or despondency, or any form of evil; but do Thou save me unto holiness of life, that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me abundantly.
C. H. Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook 10/20
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Post by GinNJ on Oct 26, 2014 18:26:18 GMT -5
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