This is the Bible Study Page.

If this isn't from the Lord then it may be a collection of interesting stories, and you can trash it. But, if it's from the Lord and if it ministers to you then let Him receive all the glory and the honour and the praise.
Your email comments, suggestions, and corrections are welcome.

#15.
11/30/2005, I Corithians 8:1b says Knowledge puffeth up, but charity (love) edifieth (builds up). There are times where my wife says I act like a know it all. This verse reminded me of it. I have felt like I just want to be a help. My help isn't always helpful. As I examine myself, I have felt that, if I am a helpful person people think well of me. I want people to think well of me. I haven't always felt like people think well of me. You might even call that a bit of insecurity. So, in some cases that has been my motivation. To get people to think I'm important, or wise, or "better" than I feel. I could go into reasons I think I've felt insecure (or people I could blame) but it wouldn't be productive and God has been dealing with those areas and healing me. I need to share some of those as well. Later. When I read I Corinthians 8:1b the other day (you can always get something fresh from the word, no matter how many times you've read a passage before. It's like manna). I saw it as it applies to this area of my life. My "sharing" my knowledge Puffs me up. Or, gives me the momentary impression that I'm more secure. You know, that doesn't last. After a bit the air starts leaking out of my puffed up ego balloon. Then I have to do it more. I'm not even addressing how obvious or at least confusing and distasteful this type of activity is to others that are on the receiving end of this. Even if they don't have discernment, something, just doesn't quite feel right about it. But, if I act in Love (charity) I can build others up (the other way must then make them feel like they're being torn down). And, I'm sure, as I act out of love I am also edified (which is what my real motive was all along) and God gets the glory. I don't want to tear people down or even make them think what a turkey I am. I want to edify and build people up. And, get built up myself in the process.

#14.
6/12/2003, I Had a Dream, The War Was Over.
The war was over and all those who had not fought, for religious reasons, had to be executed, by law. I was in a position of authority and had to do the executions in my area. My brothers and sisters and my children had not fought because they were Christians. I carried out the first execution using a rifle at close range. He was my brother. A second one came and I hesitated and asked my advisor if there wasn’t some way this could be avoided. He reminded me of the law and I realized there was no way out of it and executed him. Then my daughter Naomi called on the phone and told me she just wanted to get it over with and asked if she could be next. I said yes. She was on her way over. I had to go and get more bullets. I was getting upset about having to execute Naomi. As I was getting the bullets I was talking to my brother Paul about it (he was also on the list). I was trying to figure some way to get around having to execute them. I began to cry in desperation when the thought came to my mind that Jesus had already paid the price and had died on their behalf. I wasn’t sure if the government would accept that but I knew I had enough grounds to halt the executions. I stopped crying immediately. But then I remembered the two I had already executed and began to cry and mourn even worse. I was overwhelmed with grief over the two I had killed and could have spared but hadn’t realized it at the time. Then I woke up.
The dream seemed so real that I was still very upset over the two that I had executed in the dream. I began to pray. I had executed them out of duty. I was justified in it but that didn’t make me feel any better. Then I was reminded of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham prepared himself and his son for an execution, a sacrifice. Abraham was faithful. He believed God could raise his son from the dead to fulfill the promise. Faith began to rise up in me to pray and ask God to raise the two I had executed from the dead. As I began to pray the Lord reassured me that they would be raised from the dead. I realized that they would, at the last day, and it wouldn’t be too long. I was immediately comforted by that revelation. I was also reminded how Job was restored ten more children not double like all the rest of his property. The reason was, that he would have all 20 of his children with him for all eternity. God had doubled Job’s children.
I stopped and asked the Lord if there was anything I had missed or that he wanted to add or clarify. I was reminded that He has made the way, He has paid the price for the wages of sin by the death of His son Jesus on my behalf, and that I could continue to trust and believe in Him and I would see the resurrection of the dead. I was reminded of Lazarus’ sister Martha, in John 11:23-26. Jesus said to her, your brother shall rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I Am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. He asked her, do you believe this? Then Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
We can trust him and believe in him. He is still raising the dead.

#13. 2/6/03 I received this message about the Commander of the Shuttle Columbia from Tony Willett?
Take a minute to read this about Rick Husband, the commander of the Columbia shuttle. Number 2 is a particular admonition to me.
Here are a few bits from this last Columbia flight that showed Rick's character.
1) Before leaving, he had put together seventeen videos for each of his two children, one for each day he would be away, so each could have private devotions with Dad while he was in space. Rick was careful to lead his family to Christ and he understood that it was hard for them while he was away. What a legacy he has left them.
2) After the crew donned all their equipment (before take-off) and just before they walked into the press room, he turned around, stopped the crew and prayed for them. Later, a comment was overheard from one of the crew that they had never heard of a Commander praying for his crew before a flight.
3) Rick never lost an opportunity to bring glory to God. While on the pad, Houston said to the shuttle, "It's a perfect day." (or something like that), and Rick replied without hesitation, "God has given us a beautiful day for take off." (or something like that).
4) Rick took some of Steve Green's music on board. Don't know whether it was played privately or not during the flight, but I wouldn't be surprised if he played it for all to hear, considering his character.
5) There was at least one time when the whole crew heard music that glorified God. Rick's wife was allowed to choose music for the wake-up call one day & she chose Steve Green's arrangement of "God of Wonders" by Caedom's Call & Third Day. Afterward, Rick said to Houston something to the effect of, "From up here you can certainly see that He is a God of Wonders."

Steve Green (who was close friends with Rick, Steve's note) knew that at least three of the crew were believers. How many opportunities did the others have to give their lives to Christ? Probably many. 17 days with a man such as Rick is plenty of opportunity and I hope they didn't choose to wait. We do not know God's purpose or plan. We do not know why He allows such tragedy. But we do know that He prepared three heroes for a time such as this. We do know that He feels our pain. He lost His Son in a much more grievous tragedy 2000 years ago. But! That tragedy was our victory and the Resurrection on the 3rd day is the hope we have that we who trust Christ will, though we may die, will live forever. And we will meet Rick Husband and at least two of his crew. Until then, we will miss them.

(Steve’s Response)
I'm very encouraged to know this. Especially in the light of what I heard yesterday (2/5/03). The crew had from 60 to 90 seconds between when they knew something was wrong and when the shuttle exploded. I know what Rick was doing during that 60 seconds. He was leading them in a prayer, Lord Jesus come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, take care of our families...

#12. 1/9/03 Can God be trusted?
Even as believers we sometimes act as if He can't be trusted. We go about our lives as if we know better what we need than God does and we don't trust things into His hands. I rememeber this skit where a person has a broken radio. He keeps whining about it to every passerby. God is sitting there with this sign that says "I Fix Things." Finally the person brings the radio over to God and asks him if he can fix it. God says yes, then takes the radio as the person hands it to Him. The next minute someone else walks by and the person yanks the radio out of God's hands and starts whining about it being broken to the passerby. You get the idea. Many times we hand things over to God then take them back to whine about it some more. Shut up already. Trust God. Leave it wih Him. As I said below, sometimes, maybe, the creator of the universe can come up with a better solution than we can think of. Actually, everytime. Who are we children of anyway? Do we know Him? Smith Wigglesworth said "If you see imperfect faith, full of doubt, a wavering condition, it always comes because of imperfect knowledge." If our faith wavers, we don't know God. That doesn't mean we can tell God what to do because we found it in the Bible. It means that God can handle any situation and work it out in a unique way that proves it was Him if we commit it into His hands. 2 Timothy 1:12 says "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Do we know whom we have believed? Are we persuaded that He is able to keep that which we've committed unto Him? John 6:28-29 says "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Are you concerned about doing the "works" of God?" Believe that He can handle your situation, whatever it is. I suspect he's probably seen something like it before. But more important than that, He sees everything involved in this situation you are facing today, and He has a way do deal with all of it at once. Read Col. 1:9-29 and trust God - today.

#11. 1/8/03 The more difficult a situation looks the better God likes it, especially when His children come to Him with it.
Smith Wigglesworth put it this way, "The best time you have is when you are in the most difficult position." Philippians 1:12 says "But I would ye should understand (I want you to know), brethren, that the things which have happened unto me have fallen (turned) out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." And then there's Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Job is our best example of the worst that satan can do to God's children. Through it all Job was strengthened and God was glorified. You might say, well, Job lost his children, how could that be good. If you look carefully you'll see that Job never "lost" his children. Everything else Job lost God doubled afterward. All the camels, all the sheep, all the goats, all the donkeys, everything was doubled. Not the children. Well, really, yes even the children. In Job 1:2 he had seven sons and three daughters. In Job 42:13 he ends up with seven more sons and three more daughters. I believe the reason is that Job's first set of children were with the Lord and would be with Job for all eternity. It's always important to look at things in the light of eternity. What's a few years here (10, 20, 50, 100) compared to all eternity in heaven? It's not worthy to be compared. As far as God was concerned (which is always a good way to determine what we should be concerned about) Job didn't need to have 20 more children to have his children doubled. He only needed 10 more (does anyone need ten more children?). I got off track a little, but it's good. I've found that there is no problem or circumstance that God can't handle or work out. The tougher the better. Maybe that's because when we are at the end of our rope (we've tried everything within our power to handle it ourselves and finally take it to the Lord) then God is able to show himself strong on behalf of His children. And, He gets all the glory, and the honor, and the praise (and, by the way, we go along for the ride). I challenge you, whatever the most difficult situation in your life is, trust God. He's just waiting for the opportunity to show you how he can handle it. And, don't limit the Creator of the universe to your "best solution". It is just possible that maybe the Lord God Almighty has a better idea than you can come up with. Do you think?

#10. 11/11/02 Linear Living vs. Object Oriented Living
Linear and object oriented are computer programming terms, so, first a lesson in computer programming. Linear programming is concerned with what needs to be done. You take what you have to work with and you do some things to it and do some more things to it until you get what you want out of it. Then you’re done. Object oriented programming is concerned about relationships between objects. The objects could be data, or windows, or buttons, or lists, or even disks, or displays, or printers. The programming approach has to do with how the objects relate to each other and the interaction between them. Linear living is concerned about what needs to be done. You take what you have to do today and you lay it out in your mind and go down the list checking things off as you go. You do one thing at a time and when you’re done with it you go on to the next task. Object oriented living has to do with relationships between objects. What objects are we concerned about in Christian living? First we are concerned about God, then our family, then the body of Christ, then the others in the world around us. Where we are and our objective has to do with whom we are relating to at the time. Linear living has to do with doing. Object oriented living has to do with being. As we are being with God our actions are based on relationship with him not with what we have to do for him or what has to be done to earn our salvation or anything else.
The book of Romans puts it this way: Romans 4:1-5
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. If we work for our righteousness (which we could never earn) then God owes it to us but if we receive our righteousness by or through our relationship with God then it is of Grace by faith in God. If we have a relationship with God and let our actions be determined by that, then we will be with God and not always be so concerned about what we have to do for God. Our God is a God of relationship. And, our relationship with God is by faith through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

#9. 9/1/02
Matthew 7:1-5; I can’t persist in judging people because when I want to hold something against someone God always reminds me that I can’t stand up to the same measure. That’s what this Christian walk is all about. The same measure you use will be used against you. It’s also the root of forgiveness, or being able to forgive. And it’s the root of being able to minister to people, or to lift them up and encourage them in Christ. And that’s the root, for us, of being Christ like. The only difference between Jesus and us is that Jesus was the only one who was without sin and He refused to judge people. So how could we who are sinful judge anyone? Is there anyone out there who thinks they are without sin? I'm talking about being without sin compared to Christ or God. The answer is no. Check out 2 Corinthians 10:12. We need to compare ourselves to God not to other people who we think are worse than us. The second we think we are spiritually okay, especially in comparison to other people, that’s when we get ourselves in trouble. Don’t get prideful, self righteous, and religious about it. Humility is the watchword not pride. Some people even get prideful in their humility. Don’t. For many people this religious, self righteous, and prideful relationship, no we can’t call it a relationship. Let’s just say religiosity, That’s all many people have ever seen. They might not even realize what they are discerning about some religious (not Christ like) person. All they know is they can’t stand it. And the problem with that is once they have had that distaste for a religious person, whenever they see someone who looks similar they put them in the same category and automatically judge them to be the same. You don’t have to wait until you are perfect to be the Christian God wants you to be. You can start today. Especially when you consider that the Christian walk is a refining process. And, it will never end until we are with him. We will always be becoming more and more pure, more and more like him. That’s the goal. If you get this today I could say this is the end of Bible studies for you. The way that someone will have a problem with this scripture is if they start out by thinking, I don’t have anything in my eye, but boy oh boy look at that other person, Look how messed up they are. Am I glad I’m not like them. I’m not talking about some area of weakness in your life that the enemy uses to beat you up with all the time (like smoking cigarettes or some private sin that satan uses to keep you from being spiritually effective), I’m talking about the people who think “they” have everything under control in their spiritual walk. Those are the people that need to look out. Check out 1 Corinthians 10:12-14.
Here's a prayer to apply these scriptures. Lord, if I have been prideful, or religious, or self righteous and not Christ like in my relationships with others, show me. Lord, forgive me and lead me in your righteousness and the humility of Christ. So that I may be more like him and so that I might please you.

#8. 4/24/02
Every time I had read the Beatitudes before I dismissed them as being for someone else and not for me. I wasn’t poor (I had the money I needed even though maybe I mismanaged it, a little, sometimes). I didn’t consider myself in mourning (even when someone in my family died, my dad, my mom). I didn’t need to meek (who knows what that means anyhow). But, when Brother Dennis Shearer (see the Links Page) spoke I knew that God was using him and I decided to study the Sermon on the Mount. As I did something changed in my attitude. I began to look at those scriptures in a different light. God began to open these words up in my spirit.
Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This happened shortly after Jesus Gathered the disciples together. This was the first discipleship training. First a couple definitions. Poor - The dictionary says - Needy. Poor in spirit - (Living Bible) Humble men. Also see Revelation 3:14
Application: Lord, open my eyes and show me where I am needy and wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Help me to recognize that I need you in every area of my life and there is no area of my life that you are not able to work out as I commit it into your hands. As I recognize that I am needy and cannot meet my own needs and blind and can’t see what needs I have and humble myself before God and trust completely in Him, heaven’s answers, heaven’s comfort, heaven’s confidence, and heaven’s peace shall be mine in every situation and circumstance I face today.

#7. 11/9/01 Ephesians 3:17
I wanted to just touch base on a portion of the second part of Ephesians 3:17, “that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”
I remember thinking of this verse as an assignment or something that I should do. I thought I should do my best to be motivated by love as God gives me the grace or strength to do it. So, I should try real hard to be rooted and grounded in love.
Just the other day I felt like God had given me some revelation on this (you who are spiritual be patient with me on this if you realize you are far beyond this point). I was praying this verse and saying to God “Lord as we are rooted and grounded in our love…” I had to stop right there. It was so obvious. How could I even imagine myself being rooted and grounded in my love. That is, in the love that I could even have or show or generate. I can’t (again, you spiritual ones that this was already obvious to, have patience). That’s because we have to be rooted and grounded in His Love, His great Love wherein He Loved us. While we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. That was me. If we can be rooted and grounded in His Love then all the rest of this book is open to us. Can we be rooted and grounded in His Love? I don’t think God ever asks us to do anything that we can’t do or He can’t help us do. So, your assignment (if you decide to accept it) is to seek the Lord in how you can become rooted and grounded in His Love. Ask Him to show you where you need to implement His Love after you are rooted and grounded in it (specifically whom you need to implement it to). And trust Him for the ability to bring it to pass as you align your will with His. I trust God can even show you spiritual ones where you need to allow God to show Himself strong in your life and help you to minister His Love to someone around you.
Challenge Him to. I dare you.

#6. 10/27/01 1 Peter 5:6-7
I thought these verses were significant in that they go together. I quote verse seven often and haven’t thought about the connection with verse six much, until recently. At the end of verse six there is a colon. That means the following words are part of the same thought.
When something is bothering me that I can’t do anything about I use this verse and cast that care on the Lord. This isn’t some magic formula, but it’s something you can choose to do. To me that means that I am lining up my will with God’s will. I look at the scriptures and say why would God tell me to do something if I couldn’t do it. That would be pretty silly of him. Even if I don’t have the strength myself, once I choose to do it God will give me the grace or the strength to be able to. I just have to take the first step.
I know people who have a hard time with this scripture. Maybe it’s because a key part of these verses is to humble ourselves before God. To me it’s the same as when God tells me to forgive or he won’t forgive me (see Matt. 6:14-15). God tells me to forgive. That means I can or He’ll give me what I need to do it. There have been times I wasn’t able to forgive myself. If God can forgive me but I don’t see how I can be forgiven (and choose to wallow in it for a while) I make myself bigger than God. It’s as if I know better than God whether I ought to be forgiven or not. How arrogant is that? If that’s not pride I don’t know what is. In that area I had to come to the place where I could humble myself before God and accept his forgiveness for me.
To bring it back to 1 Peter verses six and seven, if I refuse to cast my cares on God (even if I know I can’t handle them myself) I’m acting as if I’m bigger than God. It says to do this because he cares for us. I’m also shunning his care. It reminds me of the verse Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” God wants to take our cares off of us. And we won’t let him? How arrogant is that. Maybe we want to wallow in it for a while. It won’t serve us to do so.
Your assignment is to ask God where you might not be casting your cares on him. When he shows you, humble yourself before God (you might ask forgiveness for your arrogance. Just a thought.) and choose to (line your will up with his) cast those cares on him. Then thank him for taking them. And, don’t try to pick them up again. That would be like when God calls us to be a living sacrifice the problem is as a living sacrifice we often climb back off the altar. Think about it.

#5. 10/11/01
Philippians 3:7-21
In this portion of scripture, even Paul says that he hasn’t arrived. He was an apostle of Christ. He saw Jesus after his resurrection. He started churches across continents. Yet he says in these passages that he doesn’t count himself to have obtained. Was it because he was “backslidden?” I don’t think so. I think he’s showing us here that the Christian walk is an ongoing process. We go from “glory to glory”. We have a victory in one area and then we move on to another. I think we often get hung up here. We think we just can’t make it, or we just can’t overcome in this area (the area of our current test). So we either, give up and accept something less than what we thought our Christian life could be, or we “backslide.” God’s intention, and what I think Paul is talking about here, is to realize that it is a growing process. We are to seek the Lord daily and strive to continue to overcome in each new test area the Lord brings up. Sometimes I have thought that I was just under the attack of satan. Oh poor me. That’s not what’s happening. God is bringing us to each test to overcome and move on. I’ve shared before of a Christian brother I know that has been a very good Christian for many years. One day he decided to ask the Lord if there was anything that he needed to change in his life, any area where he might be missing it. When the Lord got up to number 17 he told God that was enough for now. The Christian walk really is a refining process. The more you heat up the gold, the more garbage comes out. The longer the process goes on, the more pure the gold becomes. But, it’s never 100 percent pure. And, neither will we be 100 percent pure in this life. But, we are still called to strive for holiness
I think it’s a good thing that we don’t “arrive”. Because it makes our walk more exciting (especially once you realize what’s going on). There will always be new challenges, and new victories. I prayed a short while ago that the Lord would stop me from making mistakes that hurt other people’s feelings. I didn’t want to do the stupid things that cause others heartburn. God’s reply was, “If I take that away from you, you won’t have the opportunity to see my ability to get you out of the messes you create.” It didn’t make me feel much better, but I couldn’t argue with him.
God is looking for those who will give him the opportunity to show himself strong on their behalf. Where do I need God most? In the midst of my weaknesses. But that’s okay because his strength is made perfect in my weakness. So let us challenge the Lord to show himself strong on our behalf. Let us have the faith to seek God’s strength and trust him for his strength in our times of weakness. Sometimes all I can do is say “okay Lord, how are you going to get me out of this mess, how can you fix this?” That’s not doubt it’s turning my trust toward him. I’m not perfect in that but I’m headed in that direction. That’s what Paul is saying here. Continue to head in the direction of perfection. Sometimes all I can say is, Lord I believe, help my unbelief. God can work with that. What he can’t work with is when we turn in the other direction and give up. You know what? Satan can’t beat us unless we give up. So let’s go to God when we are facing our biggest challenge and say, Lord, How are you going to fix this. Let’s see what God can do even if it has to be to change us.

#4. 10/4/01

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, Not about your job, Not about your boss, Not about your family, Not about air travel, Not about terrorists, Not about war. This is an excellent opportunity for God to show himself strong on your behalf and on behalf of your family and friends. Pray and submit your will to Him. He knows everything. The safest place for you to be is in His will where ever you are. The peace of God, that passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind. Ask God how he wants to show himself strong in your situation. Then follow the leading of His Spirit. Have you been praying for the salvation of your family or friends? Are you going to wait for a better opportunity to show them that God has everything under control? Get together with some believers who can pray with you and touch and agree that not only will God handle this situation but that He will clearly speak to your heart and show you what your part is. Don't let the enemy tell you you've messed up too bad and you have too much sin. You had too much sin to begin with that's why God had to send His Son to die on the cross in your place. While we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. Ask God if He's capable of working in your situation. Ask Him if He can show Himself strong in and through you and your family and your friends in spite of your sin and theirs. Ask Him if he can still love you after you've sinned when you knew better. Ask Him and see what His answer is. I'll tell you already because I've been to the same place hundreds of times. His answer is yes. Some times it's stand still and watch the salvation of the Lord. At any rate get some people to pray with you. Repent if you have to and then go on in Christ. Receive the Peace of God. Let His Peace rule and reign in your mortal body. Let Him minister peace to your parents your family and your friends through you. Let Him show Himself strong on your behalf. Don't let God's only limitation in your life and in your family be yourself and your will. Tell Him you choose to align your will with His. Watch what He will do.

#3. 10/2/01 Submitted to me by Joseph Bruno (see the links page)

WHERE WAS GOD IN ALL OF THIS?
First of all, God was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there was only 266 aboard. God was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on one of the high-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights God was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the highjackers. God was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays? God was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. It was so amazing that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted. God was in the rescue workers who were running into the buildings as most people were running out. God was in the flight attendant who called her husband as her plane was being hijacked to tell him that she loved him. God was in the two men who carried a wheelchair-bound woman down 70 flights of stairs to safety. God was in the people who stood bleeding, in line to give blood. God was in the strangers in cars, picking up strangers stranded in the city and taking them home to their families. God is in the people who are begging to volunteer, to do anything to help. God is in the thousands, if not millions who are flooding blood banks thousands of miles away to help people they have never met. God is in the people who are comforting someone even when they don't know what to say. God is in the people who watched and cried for people who may remain anonymous in name, but never in their sacrifice. God is in my neighborhood where I see flags waving from every home. God is in the men and women, looking at 110 stories of rubble, and seeing only the opportunity to find survivors. God is with the heroes, most of whom will never be on the news, whose stories will only be told to their closest friends and family; but who saved someone's mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin, lover, colleague, acquaintance, teacher, mentor or friend with a single act of kindness, compassion and bravery. God was not in the hearts of the people that caused these inhumane events. However, God was indeed there, where he was needed the most.
-- Author Unknown

National Call to Prayer for our Nation and the World

#2. September 11, 2001
In the light of the Commandeering (the planes were taken over and flown by someone other than the pilot, they were not just highjacked) of the commercial airlines today and the ensuing loss of life and property, I'm calling all Christians who view this site to join together in a prayer of agreement for wisdom for our President and other national leaders, and the Peace of God which passes all understanding first for the injured and the families of those who were killed then for the rest of our Nation and its leaders. Pray that God will use this situation for His Glory and that many will repent and be drawn toward him.
The purpose of terrorism is to cause terror. Our God gives us Peace and not terror. Now is when we need Him the most. Now is when He's here. Call on Him. He is there. I've already heard stories of God's intervention today. Someone I know has a relative that works in the World Trade Center. She tried to call his house and he answered the phone and said he didn't feel like going to work today. Praise God. Something else I noticed, the size of the airplanes involved and the number of passengers. They weren't even close to full. Praise God for all the people that could have been on those planes and weren't. I'll update this page as I can over the next few days. Look for the praise reports. And, Praise Him!

#1. 8/26/01

II Timothy 2:3-4.

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I had two dreams. In the first one I was visiting a military school. At dusk all the recruits marched to the parade grounds to assemble for dismissal for the evening. They were all held up by some sort of official training activity. As a result they were assembling later than usual. They were not marching in perfect order and discipline. They were half running and a little out of order trying to get into their positions on the parade grounds as quickly as possible. When they were all finally in position their Commander began to address them. You couldn’t see where he was. He was visible on a sort of large TV screen on one side of the field, calmly walking through the nearby trees and bushes. As he addressed them he first asked about their disorder and confusion in getting into position. One of the recruits spoke as a leader for them all. He said that they were late and in a hurry to get into position. I had the impression that they were anxious to get there and get this over with so they could do something else afterward (maybe go to bed or watch a movie, something they were looking forward to). They had also been a little anxious to be done with the previous "extra duty" so they could hurry up and get this part over with to have the rest of the time free that evening. Their Commander began to address this by talking about the character of God as an example for them.

I believe this is God’s interpretation of the dream.

This dream is about the church in this country. They are my army. They are all like recruits. They all have their own goals and objectives that they try to fit in and squeeze in to their military life. It distracts them. They aren’t able to discipline themselves and thrust me, their Commander to be able to deal with things like that or to even trust me with the things they would like to do. Things like getting to bed early, or sleeping late, or some recreation of theirs. I can be trusted even with your recreation. If you commit all things into my hands I will work out the details. Then, when you do get to do what you want it will be with my blessing, protection, and anointing (I’m thinking of diving here). You will also be able to accomplish my purpose in your life and in the lives of those you interact with. Haven’t I been able to do that in the past? Yes Lord.

So I said, then the answer is to trust you completely and commit all things into your hands. He said, Yes. I said is there anything else? He said, I love you with and everlasting love. I would not have you in bondage even to distractions or your own recreation. I want you to be free in all areas. That’s what I offer to those who discipline themselves to serve me, freedom. My way is not bondage. My way is the way of freedom. Anything else is bondage and will not serve you even though it promises to. I said, Help us Lord. He said, I AM.

In the second dream I was in the military. I had been here on the East Coast for quite a while, apparently on leave. It was time to go back to my duty station. I had been here so long that I didn’t remember where I resided on the West Coast. I didn’t remember what house I lived in, the address, what the furnishings looked like, nothing. I tried to play this down and suggested that I could just look up my address on the web. I was hoping something would jar my memory before I needed to be there. It was very disconcerting to think that I couldn’t remember something as simple as where I was supposed to be living.

The interpretation of this dream is related to the first. I believe this is from the Lord. Many in My church have been on leave. They’ve been doing their own thing for so long they forget where they came from. Duty calls them back but many don’t even remember where they reside or even where they need to report. What’s the answer? Focus on Me and My Word. Trust in Me even on leave. I want to be able to call you to duty at a moments notice from wherever you are even if I gave you leave to be there. You need to be ever watchful and waiting for My call. You need to always have the discipline in the back of your mind that you are My soldier. You need to allow Me the right to call you to duty at any time. To command and order you even if it interferes with your own activity or recreation (I’m thinking of diving again here). I will give you everything you need. I will equip you to perform what I call you to do. Trust me with everything. I am well able to keep that which you commit to Me. Trust in Me.

Questions for you. Are there any areas in my life (recreation, hobbies, etc.) that cause me to relax my spiritual discipline? Is there any area I haven't been willing to trust Him completely with or release to His discipline?

Where or when am I "on leave" from You and my duty as a Christian?

Responses. Lord, as I choose to commit these areas to you I trust you to show me that I can appreciate the best of everything I do in You. And, if you're not involved or I don't feel I can share some part of my life with you, I can't be living in the fullness that you've intended and I'm missing out.

Lord, I choose to make myself available to you and to be instant in season and out of season. Show me how to be ever mindful of You, and Your care and concern for me and the people I interact with.

 

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Since 9/14/2001