Giving Thanks When You Can't

     Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good (note – but only if certain conditions are met) to them who love God (note – the first condition), to them who are the called according to His purpose” (note – this means it’s “His Purpose, and not ours,” which is the second condition; otherwise, all things will not work together for our good).

     With the understanding of conditions laid out in the above verse, look at the startling command of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which bewilders even committed believers at times: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus.”

     How do we give thanks in times of catastrophe? For what are we grateful when disaster strikes?

     As foreign as it may seem, we give thanks to God in all things because His sovereign, loving power is able to weave our grief, sorrow, and pain into the fabric of His eternal plan for our lives. God does not cause evil, and neither is He conquered by it. You may ask HOW? Because of what Jesus did on the cross for mankind.

     Listen: God’s purposes for us cannot be thwarted by our problems. For that, we can give thanks in the midst of our adversity.

     Someone once wrote – “The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are not accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God.”

     All evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. God is the Lord of human history and of the personal history of every member of His redeemed family. The question is “Do you know Him’? You can! Take a look at the beginning of our blog for details then pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins. HE WILL! Amen.

THE ONE – HOUR WATCH (How to Spend one Hour in Prayer)

OPEN THE WORD WHEN YOU PRAY

1. Begin by reading from the Word. Mix with praise and thanksgiving.

Read: Psalms 100:4

2. Spend a period of time in heart searching. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you.

 Read: Psalms 139:23 & Lamentations 3:40-41

PRAY ALONG WITH READING THE WORD

3. Let faith mount in your heart through the Holy Spirit so that each prayer session leaves you assured in faith. Praise, sing, pray, and listen for the Father to speak.

Read: Mark 22-26

4. Be lead by the Holy Spirit in prayer, praise, and the reading of Scripture. Keep your spirit and mind open to Him.

Read Romans 8: 26-27 & Isaiah 40:31

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT OPEN UP THE SCRIPTURE

5. Praise, singing in the Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into prayer for others, nations, missions, etc. Read: 1 Timothy 2:1-2

6. While in His presence, then make your petitions known unto Him. See only His will.

Read: Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 5:15 and Mark 11:23-24

THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD AGREE

7. Meditate and wait on the Holy Spirit to give you an awareness of His Holy presence.

Read Psalms 161 and Psalms 104:34

8. Close with thanksgiving and praise in complete assured faith.

Read: John 15:7 and John 16:24

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

1. Try to set a regular time daily.

Take the Bible with you.

3. Find a good quite place to pray with no cell phones or other distractions.

4. Endeavor to erase from your mind the problems you face that day, settle yourself in quietly, calm your spirit, and begin to worship the Lord. Wait upon God until the Holy Spirit comes to take over. He alone can give you a spirit of prayer.

GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU BEGIN YOUR ONE-HOUR WATCH

Wake Up America

     Every man, woman and child in America is enslaved to the national debt. I believe that now, more than ever, each American must make a choice: we (the church of the Living God) must turn back to serving the Lord Jesus Christ that the shackles that enslave us will be unlocked, or we will lose our freedom in this nation. All of the rhetoric being spewed from our nation’s capitol and the so called elite pundit political leaders and media types, especially those far left social liberals, is becoming downright scary. Although I long for the hasting return of the Lord, which I believe to be very soon, I weep for those who do not know Christ as their personal savior.

     However, if you have not already heard, we learn that the Lake County, Florida local Democratic Party headquarters, has been flying an American Flag — featuring Obama’s face in the blue section where the stars normally go — flying beneath a traditional American flag.

     As a retired U.S Army veteran of more than 20 years I like several other veterans call this “despicable” and a “desecration”. It’s takes a cultist personality to show our presidents face, like a Stalin or Mao on our National Flag.

     I don’t know about you but I for one am tired of the archetypes including socialist liberals like this Democratic Party chairperson in Florida, journalists, smug college professors and the “Mr. Hollywood” types degrading and attacking our country. Enough is enough my Christian brothers and sisters we must take a stand for our Christian beliefs which is the very foundation of this great nation. Let’s get our heads out of the sand.

     Don’t get mad at me, but it’s time to stop all this nonsense of taking pictures of ourselves, playing games and posting every move we make & mood we are in on face book, twitter and the like. It’s time become active in our churches and politically lest our freedom falls.

     I love all that reads this blog but come on let’s WAKE UP AMERICA!