90 Days: Occupying for Justice and Freedom’s Neighborhood
9/9/09 -- As requested, have removed the information on this post.
Please continue to pray for Mr. S, his family, and all those who are called to be martyrs.
While God loves all His children, there's something special about this calling.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Judy
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Mr. S is a Middle Eastern born Christian who faces a judge tonight, accused of proclaiming Christ.
The court decision will be made tonight (Sunday am ME time).
Please pray and pass this along to those you know who will - thank you.
Acts 12:5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
There is a video on YouTube causing quite a stir (18K+ views in 4 days). Without the normal atmospheric conditions prerequisite, a tornado mysteriously formed and hit the south end of Minneapolis where the national convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America was taking place. The tornado directly hit the Minneapolis convention center and Central Lutheran Church area, causing structural damage before disappearing as mysteriously as it had formed.
The question being raised is if this tornado was sent from God for a specific purpose. Normally, perhaps even with the lack of normal meteorological conditions, such a question wouldn't come up as an issue. However, the ELCA's agenda for Wednesday, August 19...2pm to be exact...included a discussion and vote on whether to make allowance for unrepentant homosexuality in the church. The tornado hit during the discussion, and:
Quoted from an article by the Catholic News Agency:
"Washington Times reporter Julia Duin reported that during the storm ELCA President Mark Hanson read out loud Psalm 121 to calm those in the convention center.
"We trust the weather is not a commentary on our work," said the Rev. Steven Loy, author of the statement on sexuality, Duin reports."
"Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" was passed by ELCA...1,014 voted; 676 yays, 338 nays. If you do the math, the percentage of yay votes is 66.6%. (Numbers from ecla.org -- the yay vote percentage came from a friend on YouTube, but I confirmed the numbers directly at ecla.org and did the math.)
Along with the issue itself, the discussion on this YouTube video (embedded below) should be cause for grave concern. While we know what/how the world thinks, concern and prayer should be for the Body of Christ. Responses/comments...including the way we express our views and treat one another, should represent Christ and His Love. I know each Christian is at a different place in their walk...but that's no excuse for attitude.
At the end of this blog is my response to an atheist's questions regarding the video with respect to signs and wonders. I logged it for my own use, but feel free.
Next is a YouTube video response from a young girl named Amber Drakey.
Amber (who may have a disability of sorts) sticks up for the homosexuals. Please pray for her. Responding in her comment section is a bible teaching man (fundamentalist) named
BroCope. He
needs prayer, too. Here are a couple highlights of BroCope speaking to
Amber:
"It always amazes me that people like this, who have never cracked the Bible in their miserable lives, think themselves qualified to lecture believers on what God should be like...What a bunch of know-nothings. Crack the book before you try to tell anyone about God. Your life depends upon it. And BTW, I am going to be one of the judges. And I won't forget your arrogance."
"You would rather spend eternity in Hell? Okay,you've got it. I will make sure of it."
I hope you will take some time to watch both videos and make this all a priority in your prayers.
God bless you all,
Judy
@ hicamaman
I asked this before but it's been ignored.
If this tornado was a sign/warning, are all tornadoes signs/warnings or are some just 'weather'?
If some are just weather, please explain how you tell the difference.
Did god whisper it in your ear?
Did you find 'Yahweh' scratched into the sidewalk?
Did he show you the flight of the tornado burnt into a piece of toast (along with the plans to the 9/11 attack)?No...but what you will find here is His grace and love reaching out toward you with an answer.
This is about signs (pardon the length).Tell me...out of every phone call one makes, is each one an emergency? When a child calls 911 for a sick parent, how do the operators know whether it's genuine or a prank? Actually, they may have to treat every call as real...I'm not sure...but the point is, they use training, common sense and some intuition.
The answer to how Christians tell the difference is "discernment". When one is established in a relationship with God, they're able to discern the difference between a storm and a warning embedded within the storm.
Should we be ooo-ing and ahh-ing at this sign? No. Christians who know God's "voice" ought be on their knees in prayer with the heart of Jesus' words from the Cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (If they did, they wouldn't have done it.)
Religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to prove himself.
Matthew 16:2-4 NLT
2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! 4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah."The sign He would give them, simply put, was the symbol of "3 days", representing the parallel between Jonah being in the whale's belly and Jesus being in the belly of the earth.
Here is what happened after Christ died but before taken down off the cross (try to envision):
Matthew 27:51-54 NLT51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. 54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
And truly this was THE greatest sign/wonder given by God to the world...yet how many witnessed and how many listened? Were many minds/hearts changed as a result of the sign? Initially, thousands. Comparably speaking today in proportion to population, few.The genuine presence of Jesus will do one of two things to a person: make them mad or make them glad. There is no neutrality or indifference.
May God bless you and have mercy on us all.
Some of hicamaman's response and subsequent conversation:
This is one of the dumber passages that most christians prefer to ignore.
Tell me...if your best friend whom is trustworthy tells you about something they saw, would you believe them?
That mad or glad thing I mentioned? He chose mad, but am still conversing. Please pray for him.
Are you a birther too? Is Obama a muslim?
May I have some respect please?
From Wiki: A power elite, in political and sociological theory, is a small group of people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, and access to decision-making of global consequence.
We never hear of them nor specifics of what they do...and their decisions affect our daily lives.
Whatever was written down most likely destroyed. What about the Dark Ages?
Colossians 1:16-18 (King James Version)
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
It's been preached umpteen times about Peter looking at the storm instead of keeping his eyes focused on Jesus. We know what the scene looks like: a boat tossed in the fierce wind and waves...Jesus standing on the water with an open invitation to come and be with Him...Peter in his raw boldness, desiring with all his being to answer that heart call. We know how the account ends: Peter gets distracted by the storm...fear enters in and he sinks...Jesus reaches out His hand and brings Peter up. Keep in mind, too...Jesus didn't calm this storm.
There's no need to rehearse all that's been happening in these days...they speak for themselves. And while I feel it important to be informed and even assertively take action at times, isn't it more important to seek balance by remembering Who's ultimately in charge?
Some may view this as preposterous, but can we walk on water with Jesus now? Is Jesus calling us as He did that day in the storm...to go where He is? Are not these evil days as a fierce storm? Do we not get distracted by our steady loss of freedom and other issues that threaten our personal security?
If we keep our heart's eye steadfastly focused on Jesus, we will live as if walking on water...stormy water. And as we do, the world will begin to see Jesus.
Nation's eyes on state after Prop. 8 ruling
Please visit my prayer blog:
http://occupyingforjusticeandfreedom.vox.com/library/post/day-83-it-just-got-bigger.html
I was seeking something to sing to my beautiful new granddaughter...and The Impossible Dream is what came to mind. I haven't thought about that song for a long time.
But wow...it isn't all that old. It was written in 1965 by Mitch Leigh/Joe Darion for the musical Man of LaMancha and was quite a popular song.
The Impossible Dream
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
Rather than double-post, please click below to visit my prayer blog.
2009 Prayer for Our Nation
Father in Heaven,
We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness.
Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us.
We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor.
Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord.
Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from.
Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line.
Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart.
“May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”
In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Amen
Today, Thursday May 7, is the 2009 National Day of Prayer. The theme this year is "Prayer... America's Hope" and is based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states: "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." I attempted to send a video with this email, which briefly explains this year's theme; and at the bottom of this email is the 2009 Prayer for the Nation.
I
do encourage that if you're able to get to a local event, please do.
Many towns hold observances at their city/town hall. These local
observances are imperative to our freedom to assemble.
Here is a link from NDP's official website to "Find an Event" near you.
If you're not able to get out to a local event, then I welcome you to join me live online through Yahoo! Messenger. There will be a conference room open from 1pm through 7pm, where we will pray in agreement for our nation and its leaders. As time allows and the Lord directs in being sober and vigilant, there will also be sermons from David Wilkerson's website, World Challenge Inc., and messages from the recent revival conference in Wales.
For your information, here is a link to an article from 2004 regarding Obama's faith. As you may know, NDP is not being observed at the White House for the first time in (I believe) 8 years; Obama is opting to issue a proclamation and observe privately.
Also for your
information are two links, both covering the history of NDP:
The History of National Day of Prayer - from NDP official website
History of the NDP - from ReligiousTolerance.org (this is more extensive)
Please feel free to join me on Yahoo! Messenger anytime between 1-7pm. IM me for an invite; my Yahoo! ID is "angeljoymom". Following the observance at 8pm, you are welcome to join us for fellowship and prayer at Church of the Living God (small plugin required, user name = your first name, password = VIRTUE).
God bless you!
Mark 14:25
The Lord is showing me how it may appear that Days 57-58 were specifically focused on Uganda. That was not the intention.
Uganda is distant to us. True famine is distant to most of us...it's not in our backyard. Not only that, but we can see in Old Testament days that famine was something sent by God for a purpose...and it was temporary...seen to have relief.
The intention of Days 57-58 was to get in touch with God's heart through prayer...to let go of our worldview...get past ourselves, our worries and concerns so that we can, through prayer, see some of what God sees. Then I asked the Lord, "OK...my heart is burdened now...what can I do?"
Granted, the majority of us don't live near Uganda, Kenya, Africa, India, or anyplace where famine is a way of life. Granted, the Lord appoints some to be leaders...some servants...some of us are richer, some poorer. Some of us are born into affluent countries and others into impoverished; but how does that fact absolve us? Does God have His own caste system? Or are we to take our abundance and give it to those impoverished?
In Mark 14:7, Jesus said, "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good:
but me ye have not always." And in John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
In the Greek, John 10:10's "life" is life/lifetime; and "abundantly" is beyond, superabundant (in quantity) or superior
(in quality). Why does the combination of these two verses add up to a
prosperity doctrine? In the midst of a trial or suffering, how often
do we say "I don't know what I'd do without Jesus; how does the world
make it without turning to Him?" Doesn't the mere presence of Jesus
automatically make our lives superabundant or superior? a little easier
to live?
While famines in the Old Testament were temporary, how long now have we been seeing famines in our lifetime? I'm thinking of a song called "If We Are the Body"...why aren't these arms reaching? The atheist looks at the impoverished and says "If one exists, where is their God?" Then the atheist looks at us Christians crying "Bless me, Lord!" and laughs while we try to be a witness and testimony of the One True God and Father of All Creation. I don't like thinking this way, but do they witness hypocrisy? Do they have grounds with which to question?
So...what can we do?
1) We can start by taking our eyes (and hearts) off of everything and everyone except Christ and what/who He approves.
2) We can put off the old man and, praying Proverbs 30:8, trade our
heart for one renewed with what God loves. Proverbs 30:8 says "Remove
far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed
me with food convenient for me."
3) We can take a stand against doctrine that promotes prosperity at the
expense of poverty. Does 'poor' have to be equivalent to
'impoverished'? Let's ask God to help us become sober and vigilant.
When Peter was in jail and in chains, people prayed for
hours...FERVENTLY...for his release. No one went to the jail. Can we
pray for hours on end...fervently...asking God to bring an end to
the famines (on earth as it is in heaven) or even provide the means and
mobilize us to relieve those who are suffering?
Soberness and vigilance...perhaps Jesus isn't necessarily having a party while He prepares our place in heaven...but is "fasting". Mark 14:25 says "Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Below is from a beautiful site called Reflections Online.
Link: http://www.reflections-online.net/en/bible_verses_reflections_10.php
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Reflections on Bible verses
Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Choice
The sky is still black. The world is still asleep.
The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive.
It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun.
The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.
The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.
The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made
and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands.
It is now that I must make a choice.
Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.
And so I choose.
I choose love ...
No occasion justifies hatred;
No injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy ...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
I will refuse to see any problems anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace ...
I will live forgiven.
I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience ...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.
Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness ...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness ...
I will go without before I take dishonest gain.
I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse.
I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness ...
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust.
My associates will not question my word.
My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that father will not come home.
I choose gentleness ...
Nothing is won by force.
I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control ...
I am a spiritual being.
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.
I choose self-control.
I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek His grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
Max Lucado
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