Yet, I wish to see the same strong people posting things that encourage others to take a rightfully needed stand on some days that require it “For Such A Time As This”.  

I totally understand the growing concern not to say;  professionally you think you should not post for loss of wages, life, happiness.  

Being a Bible Believing Christian is not for the weak of heart, mind, or spirit.  Today is a day that we should call to action  prayer for these Supreme Court Judges who will decide a case that will have a reach all over the world and includes a domino effect of other “chip a ways of the Constitution” that none of us are capable of seeing the magnitude of impact.  This isn’t just about marriage today, it is about a people’s desire to be without a guiding hand through our Constitution.  Each time we take something away, we leave a blank spot. Sooner or later, it won’t even exist for nothing will be left to take away. And then what will we do as One Nation Under God,, ohhhh hold that thought,, that will be gone soon too.

God doesn’t call us to our purpose in life to just sit there and hide our talents and purpose. If you read God’s Word, follow His commandments, and claim His Name, then y’all better pray for our Country today and for the rest of your natural days. For we know that if we stand for Him here we reign with Him there. 

I am not a Christian who wears it on her sleeve. In fact, most of the time I am rolling up my sleeves to pitch and do what’s needed to help All without question.   I do not consider myself any better than you, for I wear no halo and will be the first to admit it. Every day I hope and pray that the Good Lord will help me to be a better more helpful person with purpose.  Neither am I the kind of person who wants to sit on the sidelines and watch it go by while I complain about the ones who are sitting on the side lines and watching it go by.

“For Such A Time As This” I implore you to do what God says and Pray for our Nation lest He remove His Blessing as we know them even still today.  He called us all for a reason.  He set each of us on the paths that we use to promulgate to others our talents and skills with our for sale or good feel post on social media. Why would we not also be glad to share on the same platform His message.  

Be encouraged, be mindful and in prayer today that God’s mercy and guidance be with the USA Supreme Court Judges.

Thank you and God bless.  This is a call to action for prayer.

   Heavenly Father, thank you so much for those who you have chosen and placed in roles of authority  to run this country on behalf of “We The People”. Father, I trust that you have your hand of guidance in on every action or transaction that occurs here in America to build and rebuild our future and the future of others who look to America to support them when they are in need.

Lord Jesus; I pray that all who are in some type of authority and leadership on behalf of this country; will reach out to you and pray about their own decisions as they make them on our behalf and in Your Will for this Nation.

God, thank you for all that you have already done to perserve to you a people who would recognize that you and only you are God.  Forgive those whom have forgotten You.

I pray for all lawmakers to have a kind heart when it comes to protecting the Word of God in our land. The Book which our founding fathers and the like to follow, used every time they were to make a new law. Help our leaders of today see the tried and true principles for which God expects a blessed country to live by.

I pray our leaders are not afraid of losing the vote by sacrificing the  truth for popularity.

Let our leaders be encouraged every day with purpose in their mind to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

I pray for their physical and emotional strength so that they may be of sound mind and are able to hear you when you whisper to their hearts and minds the answer they have been waiting on for instructions.

I pray for their protection and for their families too that they be safe when they come in and when they go out to return.

I pray that each of our leaders are blessed and prosperous in their own right to live in their environment without worries of nominal things.

I pray that you give our leaders wisdom and compassion

I pray that you cause our leaders to never get above themselves and especially never above the people.

I thank you Good Lord for hearing my prayer for the leaders of America. In Jesus Name, Amen

John had called Herod out for being married to his sister-in-law who was also, if I understand this foul web correctly, his own niece. Yikes. As a result, John was thrown into jail—where, we are told in Mark 6:20, he would not put the man to death despite his wife/sister-in-law’s/nice’s desire

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Fascinating, really.

Even so, Herodias eventually gets her way after her daughter performs a suggestive dance for her stepfather and is then prompted by her mother to ask for the head of John the Baptist when she is promised anything in the kingdom. (By the way, for the curious, according to Josephus, Salome—the dancer—married  her father’s brother who was, of course, also her mother’s uncle.)

Think about this, though: during the time of Jesus, a man was imprisoned and put to death for calling a man out on the dual sins of adultery and incest. Now, America has slid quite far down the moral cliff, but thank God we’re not yet at the point described in this portion of the Bible. Can you imagine? Reading this, it just struck me as astounding. Just imagine living in THAT world.

Yet those people were told to pray for their leaders.

(*Flippant remark warning* No wonder!)

Let us do the same. We may not like these people, we may fear them and with good reason, we may even despise them—but we are told to pray for them. Disobedience and rebellion never bring good things, Christian. Those prayers will work one way or the other—if not for the intended leader, then by refining and strengthening us. Let’s do it.

Hello, Everyone! Here is the daily prayer…

Our Father,

Oh, how we long for peace in this world Lord! The weeks leading up to today, have been disturbing and contentious. People are angry as they discuss politics. Friends are angry with friends because of their differing views. So many are struggling to understand each other… not understanding how they can see things so differently. Everyone is saddened and heartbroken, as we have watched the suffering of those effected by the hurricane last week. Lord, there is just so much anger and pain that surrounds us and it is painfully obvious that the enemy is working to cause as much chaos and discord as he can. So, Lord, we ask in these few quiet moments while we pray for your presence to be real and present with us. May we with each breath we let out, release our stress, anger and anxiety. With each breath that we take in, may we feel your peace, love and contentment filling us to overflowing. We want to let go of the negative things, so we can be filled with your hope and peace.

Lord, we pray for our countries…not just the U.S….but for each one represented here. We pray that they will be led by Godly leaders who have a heart for you and for their people. We pray that you will touch our leaders, so that if they don’t know you, that they will come to know you as Lord and Savior. We pray for the lies and deceptions to stop. We pray for compassion and civility to reign. We pray that people won’t just live selfishly, but will truly learn to love their neighbors as themselves. Though we can’t change the world, we can make a difference in our corner of our world..in our sphere of influence. May our actions, thoughts and words, bring glory to you and point the way to you and your saving grace.

Lord, please help us to be diligent and persistent in our pursuit of you. May our relationship with you be our first priority. May you be our greatest passion before any cause in this world. Help us be a voice of calm and reason and may people be drawn to you as they see you shining forth from us. Lord, we pray as new storms are heading towards the East Coast that you will be the rock for so many that have barely been able to get on their feet from last week. Lord, we just ask for your help and protection for them and we pray for your blessing on all who have sacrificed and shared to help others in their time of need. Thank you for those who help spread hope and your light in the middle of dark times. Lord, we know that you are aware of each need, of every person praying and Father we know that answers, help and healing are on the way even as we are praying…so we thank you in advance for all that you are doing. We ask that you go before us now. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Blessings, hugs and love to you all,
Debbie

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.”

We are going through rough times from an economical, social and political perspective. I have heard people who have always been passionate in their love of their country and conviction that they must ask God to guide her, people of a variety of political views, express despair as we have approached the celebration of our nation’s birth. Yet I know from looking at the past that we have been guided through great calamities, the nature of which seem to dwarf today’s  issues.

Will we weather the current storms? Sure, if it is God’s will. If He specifically wills otherwise, then no. But without knowing the specific desires of God for our nation, we have scripture to fall back on. Recalling that the people of New Testament days were generally oppressed, often savagely, by their “people in high positions,” we can remind ourselves if we wish that it is not required that we agree with our leaders to pray for them.

When we sing the much loved song, God Bless America, we often leave off the opening lines:

“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. “

The song is meant to be a prayer for the country. Not a political statement. A prayer of thanksgiving. A prayer of intercession. Something to think about on July 4.

This is in response to many messages on social media and emails I have received in response to my blogs. If the shoe fits wear it (but there’s no need to tell me you’re wearing it), if not, don’t.

The most effective and strongest elected leaders take the moral and fiscal compasses they inherit and begin immediately to steer the people in the right direction. They do not give scapegoats or precedents more weight than the Constitution, which they take a public oath to uphold (on a Bible at that). They use common sense, morality, business and legislative acumen as well as the voice of the people, to ensure that every American is empowered to pursue life, liberty and happiness as the forefathers envisioned and as natural law makes apparent. If you want to argue that Obama is the best man for the job or that he is the lesser of two evils that’s fine but if you cannot do so apart from blaming Bush, or indulging in mind reading to tell me how I feel, then I submit, that you have not thoroughly studied the platform of the one you support to start with. Therefore, you cannot effectively argue aside from anti-Bush, anti-GOP or anti-Tea Party talking points and rhetoric.

In this election year, the most effective debates are color-blind and strictly seek to critique policy, legislation and actions in light of the constitution, not popularity, race, class or culture. Personally, I have conceded that America is too immature to do this, even after we have been separated by time from the many racial, cultural, gender-based and religious struggles, that so many of those before us gave their lives for, knowing that they would not see or benefit from such freedoms themselves. I urge you all to pray for all of our leaders and one another, that we would grow as a nation and reach the level of maturity and intellectual prowess needed, not merely to stay afloat but to thrive again. As for now we are no better than children squabbling over trinkets in a burning building. God help us. God help us all. God (please) bless America, even though we don’t deserve it.

I pray for his wife, children, and his own safety and prosperity. Much more so I pray for God to give him great wisdom and strength to handle anything that comes his way as he dedicates his life to serving our Great Country and the most important ones the:

     The first experience I ever had up close and personal with the politics of this societies choosing; was the day I walked onto that hideous pink carpet. Oh but let me tell you what happened next. All of a sudden that pink carpet became the most beautiful ground that I had ever had the privileged of walking upon. My heart started pounding and tears were welling up in my eyes as I realized where I was standing and what was happening right before my eyes. What a wonderful experience it is to succumb  to that emotion and loyalty and the huge sense of pride for your country.

     I am so grateful to have had such honor to see first hand how some of the “good gals & guys” play nice in the sand box at the White House. They do; seriously believe it!  There are still good people in this world who don’t just have intentions to do good, they are doing it! Just like the ones I had the opportunity long ago to meet and serve.

Our leaders need our prayers to help support them and to bless them to find favor and protection during their time of service to America. America’s Leaders Give ALL; praying for them is the least we can do; don’t ya think? E. Michelle Lee, owner of Exceptions-”PR With A Purpose”, says a special prayer for the leaders of America.

My National Day of Prayer May 3, 2012                                        for the Leaders of America:

     Heavenly Father, thank you so much for those who you have chosen and placed in roles of authority  to run this country on behalf of “We The People”. Father, I trust that you have your hand of guidance in on every action or transaction that occurs here in America to build and rebuild our future and the future of others who look to America to support them when they are in need.

Lord Jesus; I pray that all who are in some type of authority and leadership on behalf of this country; will reach out to you and pray about their own decisions as they make them on our behalf and in Your Will for this Nation.

God, thank you for all that you have already done to perserve to you a people who would recognize that you and only you are God.  Forgive those whom have forgotten You.

I pray for all lawmakers to have a kind heart when it comes to protecting the Word of God in our land. The Book which our founding fathers and the like to follow, used every time they were to make a new law. Help our leaders of today see the tried and true pricipals for which God expects a blessed country to live by.

I pray our leaders are not affraid of losing the vote by sacrificing the  truth for popularity.

Let our leaders be encourgaged every day with purpose in their mind to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis.

I pray for their physical and emotional stregth so that they may be of sound mind and are able to hear you when you whisper to their hearts and minds the answer they have been waiting on for instructions.

I pray for their protection and for their families too that they be safe when they come in and when they go out to return.

I pray that each of our leaders are blessed and prosperous in their own right to live in their environment without worries of nominal things.

I pray that you give our leaders wisdom and compassion

I pray that you cause our leaders to never get above themselves and especially never above the people.

I thank you Good Lord for hearing my prayer for the leaders of America. In Jesus Name, Amen

There is nothing more vital to a healthy, mature ministry than prayer.  Without having a strong, vibrant culture of prayer, a ministry cannot become all God has purposed for it to be.  It is through corporate prayer that we can grow as a body together, we touch the heart of God together, we bend the ear of God together, and together we listen to hear God speak back to us.  Before Christ’s life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, common individuals like you and me did not have access to go directly to the throne of grace. At that time the priests – those especially called and ordained because they were born into a chosen bloodline – went before the Lord on behalf of the people. But now because of Christ everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord is of the royal priesthood, and can boldly and confidently go before the throne of grace and find mercy in the time of need.

Corporate prayer service is a time when the royal priesthood (that all of us) prays together. Everyone one of us, whether leading prayer or not, has an active role to play during the prayer service. These roles can include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

Listen to the audio teach for the continuation of this discussion. The discussion includes

• How to perform the role of:  “Prayer Starter”
• How to perform the role of:  “Prayer Team”
• How to perform the role of: “the Congregation”
• How to pray the scriptures

We hope you have been blessed by this lesson. For a copy of the complete lesson handout please send us a message. Please be sure to include your email address.

Meet us in our virtual prayer room at: http://heartstowardheaven.wordpress.com/

Oh how we need to stay close to our God who alone is all our righteousness. Our scripture text is Psalm 89.  With your bible in hand, get to a quiet place and let us pray together. The scripture is also printed below for your convenience.

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

PSALM 89:1-18

1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

12The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18 For the LORD is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

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“If that is true, then what about a country divided?”

Our country is broken! That’s a fact. No country can sustain itself long term with 17 million unemployed and counting and expect to remain the most powerful country in the nation.

America is broken practically at every turn. Let’s take a quick view at what is currently broken:

Jobs – broken
outsourcing – still going strong

Employment – broken
50 openings – 1500+ applicant – still going strong

Banks – broken
Foreclosures – still going strong

Education System – broken
Building More Jails – still going strong

Healthcare System – broken
Benefits for ineligible patients/no benefits for eligible patients
– still going strong

Social Security – broken
Receiving Benefits w/o contributing one cent-still going strong

Housing – broken
Homeless for the first time – still going strong

Fiscal Responsibility – broken
Misappropriation of Funds – still going strong

Capitol Hill – broken
Pay to Play – still going strong

Democracy – broken
Hypocrisy – still going strong

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave – broken
Rich getting Richer / Poor…Well, you know…

New Set of Politicians Up on the Hill -
People praying around the world for God’s Will – still going strong

Only God! Can Turn This Country Around…
Please Pray without ceasing for our Leaders!!!

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: // 2:2 for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. // 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; // 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. // 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, // 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times; // 2:7 to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (WEB)

The liturgical churches have retained this tradition of specifically mentioning leaders in their intercessory prayers. Paul commanded the readers to pray for their leaders. Praying for leadership in the context of a service does not imply endorsement of the leader’s policies. Nor should it be used in a way where leaders that the worship leader approves of are prayed for, but not others. Prayer can help bring about change in the life of someone who’s being prayed for, and anyone who has to make crucial decisions needs prayers for guidance. After all, all leaders are falliable human beings. They need God as much as the rest of us do.

//

We hear this language a lot, but what does it mean that these things are “inalienable” and why did these men believe that such rights were guaranteed by their creator? To begin with, the word inalienable (also written as “unalienable” at times, these are just two spellings of the same word) means that these things can neither be taken away nor can they be given away. In other words, our forefathers understood that these three rights were part of our very makeup as human beings and there is nothing one could do to remove or sacrifice these rights. I can no more give up these rights than I can change my species.

So what makes these rights inalienable? The immediate answer, which comes right from the text of the Declaration of Independence, is that such rights come from and are guaranteed by God, our creator.  But why? In Genesis 1:26, God says: “Let us make man in our image and after our model.” This verse is the basis for what is known as the doctrine of the “Imago Dei,” or that mankind is made after the image of God. In other words, what is being taught is that human beings have some of the same attributes that God has. Certainly there are some attributes that belong to God alone: his infinity, his omniscience, etc…, but many traits we share. Thus, when we talk of God having intelligence, will, and a freedom to pursue his pleasure, we recognize that, as image bearers, the same language applies to us as well. Thus, the reason that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights is because God has these rights in his very being.  For us to be human and in the image of God means then, that we too have these rights.  In turn, if a government or an institution seeks to usurp those rights or treats us as if we do not have those rights, they are no longer treating the people as if they are human.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July this year, it is worth remembering that the reason we have dignity and certain inalienable rights is because we are image bearers of God, yet what happens when a government rejects the very notion of God as foundational? What happens when a society is no longer taught the doctrines that undergird some of these ideas? Friends, while many of our founding fathers were not what we would define as evangelical Christians, all of them had a clear understanding that Biblical principles were an essential part of the foundation of a free society and if you lose those principles you will lose the society that the principles protect. Currently, the government, the ACLU, the teachers unions, and many other secular groups are working hard to eliminate God’s word from our classrooms and from our government.  What happens if a generation grows up thinking that either there is no God or that if there is a God, he has no relevance to life in society? As such takes place, we will lose those freedoms that our founding Fathers understood to be inalienable and grounded in the fact that we bear God’s image in our persons.

Pray for our nation. Pray that God will convert our political leaders who are not born-again Christians. But just as importantly, pray that those in influence will once again realize that if we are going to preserve freedom in America, we need to preserve the Biblical foundation for the rights that our founding fathers understood to be inalienable.  My fear is that people no longer desire to be “human” by God’s definition, but want to be human by their own definition—Man made in man’s own image.  If that is true, we will cease to be “human” and will lose the freedoms that we have.  As Christians, we have the knowledge of the truth—it is a shame that so many in the church keep silent about that truth.  Let us be bold and outspoken and let us call for reform to our very wicked government lest we be in a situation where Abraham must stand before God once again and say, “if I can find just 10 in America…”

As we welcome in another President, and say our farewells to the old one, it is fitting that today’s theme be Prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

We need to pray for WISDOM and POWER:

Ephesians 1:18-20 says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength.”

Strength and knowledge of God’s love:

Ephesians 3:16-19 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Discernment:

Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

I did not vote for our current president. Barak Obama was not checked on my ballot, however, it will not stop me from praying for him. I do believe he needs to be lifted in prayers for WISDOM and POWER, STRENGTH and KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S LOVE, and DISCERNMENT. I pray safety for him AND his lovely wife and daughters. I do not wish ill for any of them. I pray blessings, and peace, and knowledge over all of them.

And specifically, I have used these very verses above to pray over our church sanctuary over the weekend, walking around the entire room and praying these verses outloud.

There is POWER in prayer! We have the opportunity DAILY to talk to the Creator of the Universe and we need to take advantage of it. Prayer does change things.

Thank you, Lori, for filling in for Iris while she is away! If you click on the Thankful Thursday photo above, it will take you to her site! Happy Thankful Thursday!