Happy Wednesday

What's In Your Barbecue? By Scott Harrup

A few years ago in early spring, I sat with neighbors John and Mary Foss on their back deck. John is an avid bird-watcher and pointed out to me some of our neighborhood's avian spring rituals.

"See over there," he said, directing my attention to a house across the rain canal from my backyard. "They're building a nest in Jim's barbecue."

Sure enough, a feathered blur emerged from the large grill parked against Jim's wall.

John pointed to another barbecue at a house a couple lots north of mine. "There's another."

I smiled at the thought of my neighbors' surprise whenever they decide to grill a few steaks for the first time this year.

My grilling season began the following week. Hamburgers sounded perfect for Thursday night's supper.

Walking onto my back deck with half a dozen patties, I heard a mad scramble as I pulled the vinyl cover off my grill. I opened my barbecue to release two frantic feathered residents fleeing a motley pile of straw.

I cleaned out the grill, cooked my burgers and closed it up. The next morning the birds were already trying to rebuild their home. I placed a large, stuffed dog on top of the grill to act as a scarecrow. We'll see how long it takes them to figure that out.

When John identified other cast-iron nests in our neighborhood, I never dreamed I was a fellow victim of tiny squatters. I could chuckle at my neighbors' dilemma, completely unaware I shared their predicament.

Sin is like that. Others' offenses appear bigger than life to us, while our own remain conveniently invisible. Jesus pointed out our one-sided view of sin this way:

"How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Luke 6:42, NIV).

I'm on the lookout for any more intruders in my grill. And I'm a little more focused on anything else my neighbors might observe in my life.

-- Scott Harrup is managing editor of the Pentecostal Evangel and blogs at Out There (sharrup.agblogger.org).

Standing On The Promises

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring.
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing
I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail.
By the Living Word of God I shall prevail.
I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God my Savior.
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I'm leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms.
I'm leaning, I'm leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms

[Brief interlude]

Are you washed
in the blood
in the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless,
are the white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Yes, i'm standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God my Savior.
I'm standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God.

Yes, I'm standing, standing...
I'm standing on the promises of God!

Daily Smile:
Q: Why was the math book sad

A: Because it had too many problems

In The News:

Abortion Restrictions Hit Second-Highest Total Ever in 2012
State lawmakers passed the second-highest number of abortion restrictions ever in 2012, with 19 states enacting 43 measures limiting access to abortion services, Christianity Today reports. The record was set in 2011 when 24 states enacted 92 restrictions. According to LifeSiteNews, "While abortion is still legal, it is increasingly difficult to access, thanks to the closing of so many abortion clinics and pro-life laws that help women by giving them additional information and alternatives." Those laws include a recently approved ban on Planned Parenthood funding in Texas and recent Michigan bills that increase regulation requirements for abortion providers.

Al Jazeera Launches American Cable Network Incursion
The Pan-Arab news channel Al Jazeera -- known for its anti-Israel, pro-Islamist propaganda and its long record as the chosen news outlet for al Qaeda and other terrorist cells -- will soon infiltrate the homes of almost 40 million Americans following its Jan. 2 purchase of Al Gore's left-leaning cable channel Current TV, WORLD News Service reports. Gore confirmed the sale, claiming in a statement that Al Jazeera shared Current TV's mission "to give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to provide independent and diverse points of view; and to tell the stories that no one else is telling." Time Warner Cable Inc., the nation's second-largest TV operator, immediately dropped the station after the deal was confirmed. Al Jazeera, owned by the government of Qatar, plans to transform Current TV into a network called Al Jazeera America by hiring more journalists and adding five to 10 new U.S. bureaus, in addition to the five it has now. "This is a pure business deal based on recognized demand," spokesman Stan Collender said. "When people watch Al Jazeera, they tend to like it a great deal." According to Collender, more than half of the content will be U.S. news and its headquarters will be in New York. 

Happy Saturday

THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH
by C. R. Stam

In II Thes. 2:10 St. Paul declares that the apostates of the coming age will "perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they may be saved." This is something worth considering very seriously.

God calls this present dispensation "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph. 3:2). During this dispensation faithful Christians are proclaiming "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). This is the message of God’s grace and love in giving Christ to die for our sins so that we might be saved from its penalty and power.

All, however, do not believe this glorious message or accept God’s grace in Christ. These, the Apostle declares, will be left behind when our Lord comes, at the close of this dispensation, to receive His own to Himself. Because they rejected the truth, and the love it proclaimed, God will give them up "that they might believe a lie," and put their faith in Antichrist, "that they all might be damned who believed not the truth" (II Thes. 2:8-12).

It was infinite love that brought Christ to Calvary to suffer shame and disgrace for our sins, and this love is being proclaimed in this dispensation of grace. But this dispensation may be brought to a close at any time and bring in the day of God’s wrath. How important then to accept God’s love, and trust His Son without delay!

"Behold, now is the accepted time... Behold now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2).

If you do not trust Christ as your Lord and Savior now and you are caught unawares and lost for all eternity, you will never be able to say, "It was because God did not choose to save me." Whatever all the reasons involved in His electing grace, He does not accept the responsibility for your rejection of Christ. He says that the unsaved will perish "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." Don’t gamble with the future. Receive God’s gift of salvation now through faith in Christ.

Softly and Tenderly
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain

   Come home, come home,
     You who are weary, come home;
     Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
     Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Refrain

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Refrain

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain

Daily Smile:

When I asked my boss for a raise because I was doing the work of three men he said he couldn't increase my pay, but if I told him the names of the three men he'd fire them.

In The News: 

Iran: Pastor Nadarkhani Released, Imprisoned Lawyer's Health Deteriorates
Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who was re-imprisoned on Christmas Day, was released Jan. 7, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. In September 2012, Pastor Nadarkhani was acquitted of apostasy but received a three-year sentence for evangelizing Muslims. Since he had already spent close to three years in Lakan Prison in Rasht, the pastor was released after posting bail. However, in a highly irregular move, he was returned to jail on Christmas Day on the orders of prison authorities, who claimed he had been released too early due to the insistence of his lawyer, Mohammed Ali Dadkhah. Dadkhah, a prominent human rights lawyer, was subsequently jailed for 10 years and disbarred in September 2012 for "actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime" and keeping banned books in his home. He was also banned from practicing or teaching law for 10 years. Dadkhah is currently being held in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, and concerns have been expressed for his well-being following reports that he is suffering from memory loss and is under pressure to make a televised confession of guilt.

Egypt's Morsi Boosts Islamic Presence in Cabinet
Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi appointed Islamists to key cabinet posts over the weekend, bringing new parts of the government under Muslim Brotherhood control, CBN News reports. Morsi swore in 10 new ministers in total, and handed the role of finance minister to an Islamic finance expert. According to Reuters, Morsi is taking steps to attempt to rebuild confidence in Egypt's economy ahead of a visit from the International Monetary Fund. The country's currency value has plunged more than 10 percent since the 2011 uprising brought the Muslim Brotherhood into power, and Egypt is seeking a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF to stop the currency crisis. Meanwhile, Egypt's minority Coptic Christians continue to flee the country as Islamists gain more control and persecution rises.

Happy Tuesday

The Danger of Drifting

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Hebrews 2:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Life is like an ocean…a trackless ocean with winds, currents and waves. We’ll meet ships we never knew were on that ocean and we'll have all kinds of opportunities, heartaches, tears and fears as we sail into a new year on an uncharted sea.

Scholars tell us Hebrews 2:1 refers to the sea—the writer is using a nautical term. He must have spent time at sea, because the phrase “giving more earnest heed” and the word “slip” refer to bringing a ship into the harbor, a difficult and sometimes dangerous task. A ship never just drifts into the harbor. The most skillful part of being a sea pilot is bringing the ship into the harbor. "Let them slip" literally means drift away. You have to be careful when you enter the harbor that you don't end up on the rocks or drift past the harbor.

The worst thing that could happen to us this year is that we just drift through it—live an aimless life—letting this year “happen” to us rather than charting a course and getting into God's appointed harbor. The winds of worldliness, the tides of circumstance, and the currents of the old nature are determined to cause you to drift.

ACTION POINT:
You will drift unless you decide not to drift. You must have an anchor. You need a fixed direction. It’s important, because drifting is one of the easiest things in the world to do.

Lighthouse
There's a Lighthouse on the hillside
That over looks life's sea
When I'm tossed it sends out a light
That I might see
And the light that shines in darkness now
Will safely lead us o'er
If it wasn't for the Lighthouse 
My ship would be no more

Chorus:
    And I thank God for the Lighthouse
    I owe my life to Him
    For Jesus is the Lighthouse
    And from the rocks of sin
    He has shown a light around me
    That I could clearly see
    If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me)
    Where would this ship be?

Everybody that lives about us
Says tear that Lighthouse down
The big ships don't sail this way anymore
There's no use of it standing round
Then my mind goes back to that stormy night
When just in time I saw the light
Yes, the light from that old Lighthouse
That stands up there on the hill

Repeat Chorus (x2)

If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me)
Where would this ship be?

Daily Smile:

Lead us not into temptation:

A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses." 

When he came back he found a parking ticket and this note: "I've circled the block for 20 years, and if I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."

In The News:

Sandy Hook Students Resume Classes for First Time Since Shooting
Students from Sandy Hook Elementary School returned to class Thursday for the first time since a gunman's massacre killed 20 of their classmates and six adults, CBN News reports. The Newtown, Conn., school is still a crime scene, so officials re-opened a closed middle school in the neighboring town of Monroe, re-naming it Sandy Hook Elementary School. "We want to get back to teaching and learning," superintendent Janet Robinson said. "We will obviously take time out from the academics for any conversations that need to take place, and there will be a lot of support there. All in all, we want the kids to reconnect with their friends and classroom teachers, and I think that's going to be the healthiest thing." Former Sandy Hook principal Donna Page, who retired two years ago, is returning to help in the transition, and local police will patrolling the grounds to provide security.

First Openly Bisexual Member of Congress Takes Office
Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who was elected to the House of Representatives in November by voters in Arizona's 9th Congressional District and sworn into office Jan. 3, is being touted as the first openly bisexual member of Congress, CNSNews.com reports. When asked by ABCNews.com about her sexual orientation, Sinema said: "We've made history, and we're proud of that, but what I am interested in is making history by making things better for the people of Arizona's 9th Congressional District." Sinema's campaign was supported by the Victory Fund, a gay rights group that funds and trains LGBT candidates. "We're thrilled for Kyrsten," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. "She's a dynamic leader and she'll be a strong voice for her community and for all LGBT Americans." National Public Radio reported on Tuesday that Sinema is the "first openly bisexual member of Congress" and that she represents a "changing Arizona."

Happy Monday

A Week Has Pasted And We Have Leaped Into The New Year 2013 Knowing That
One GOD IS ENOUGH!

Not God and…but GOD!  God is enough. God alone.

If I have all else my heart would desire, and have not Him, I have nothing.

If I have Him and nothing more, I have everything.

My heart must be convinced of this. Only then can I live in peace.

Otherwise, there will always be something else I need urgently, desperately.

And this lack, this urgent need of filling this lack, will forever drive me to distraction and destroy my rightful peace and rest, my quietness and confidence in the Lord.

This doesn't mean I don't recognize other things that might be considered needs.

It's only that, while I may see them as good or desirable if within
God's will and purpose for me, I won't see them as ultimate needs,
because God, and God alone, is my only ultimate need.

And what He gives me, in the way and time He gives it, is fine with me.

For He alone is ultimately enough.  Enough for me.

Yes, I have what humans view as responsibilities.

But only those that are God-given are truly mine.

And they are not so much responsibilities as opportunities.

Opportunities to serve and please and give pleasure to the One
who is Himself all I need, and is increasingly, by His grace, all I want.

'The man said when we say, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'  Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear..

I  wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. 

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. 

I wish  you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

Share this with the people you will never forget.

TAKE  TIME TO LIVE..... 
 
To  all my friends and loved ones,

I WISH YOU ENOUGH. 

There Is Power in the Blood

1. Would you be free from the burden of sin?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Would you o’er evil a victory win?
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
   • Refrain:
     There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
     In the blood of the Lamb;
     There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
     In the precious blood of the Lamb.
2. Would you be free from your passion and pride?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
3. Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
4. Would you do service for Jesus your King?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Would you live daily His praises to sing?
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

 
Daily Smile:
Teacher: Why are you late?

Student: Because, of the sign!

Teacher: What sign?

Student: The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."


In The News:
U.N. Estimates 60,000 Killed in Syria
As the civil war in Syria nears its two-year anniversary, the United Nations estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed, with monthly casualty figures steadily increasing, reports Yahoo! News. The death toll, based on reporting by seven different sources, is a third more than the figure of 45,000 given by activists opposed to the regime of President Bashar Assad -- the first time that the U.N.'s estimates are higher. "The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and is truly shocking," said Navi Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Britain: Judge Rules Christians Have No Right to Refuse to Work on Sundays
A new court ruling in Britain says Christians have no right to refuse to work on Sundays because it is not a "core component" of their beliefs, The Telegraph reports. The judgment came on an appeal brought by a Christian woman who said she was forced to resign from the job she loved at a care home because she refused to work on Sundays. Celestina Mba said when she took the position in 2007, her managers initially agreed to accommodate her church commitments, but after a few months they began pressuring her to work on Sundays and threatening her with disciplinary measures even though other workers were willing to take her shifts. The ruling has caused an uproar among Christians who say the decision puts them at a disadvantage to other religions and essentially means the courts are now in a position of deciding what is and what is not a "core" doctrine of Christianity.

Happy Sunday

The Blame Game
"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." - Proverbs 12:19

---

When Mary and Emma's mom saw the chewed up book, she con­fronted her girls.  Mary quickly pointed the finger to her little sis­ter Emma.  Emma immediately replied that her cousin Jacob did it.  Now to appreciate Emma's response you must understand that cousin Jacob lived over 2,200 miles away and was still a baby with­out teeth! As you can imagine, mom had a hard time concealing a smile. 

The blame game has a long history.  Adam blamed Eve—she was the one who gave him the fruit.  And he even blamed God.  He basically said, "If you wouldn't have put this woman here, this wouldn't have happened!" Eve, of course, blamed the snake.

Do you find yourself often trying to shift blame?  Blaming is easy, but there's honor and redemption when you take responsibility for your faults. 

---

"I praise loudly, I blame softly." - Catherine the Great (1729-1796)

Blame me not (poem)
You call me Master and obey me not.
You call me light and see me not.
You call me the way and walk me not.
You call me life and desire me not.
You call me fair and love me not.
You call me Rich and ask me not.
You call me Eternal and seek me not.
You call me Gracious and trust me not.
You call me Noble and serve me not.
You call me Mighty and honour me not.
You call me just and fear me not.
If I condemn you, then blame me not.
Jesus...



Daily Smile:
At his 103rd birthday party, my grandfather was asked if he planned to be around for his 104th.  "I certainly do," he replied. "Statistics show that very few people die between the ages of 103 and 104."


In The News:
Utah’s new attorney general will tolerate polygamy 
Charlie Butts   (OneNewsNow.com)

Utah's incoming attorney general plans to mimic his predecessor in one respect. John Swallow has announced his intentions on taking action concerning polygamy.

Swallow, who will be sworn into office on Monday, says he will not prosecute consenting adults involved in polygamy but will defend state law that declares the practice a felony. The Salt Lake Tribune quotes the attorney general-elect, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as saying the state does not have the resources to prosecute all those in polygamous relationships or to deal with the ripple-effect consequences.

OneNewsNow turned to Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver for a comment on the attorney general's decision.

Staver, Mat (Liberty Counsel)"This is outrageous that the [incoming] attorney general for the state of Utah would not prosecute a known crime that has deleterious and significant harmful effects not only to those that are in the polygamous relationships but certainly to the community," he says.

"Just because this is happening in Utah in significant numbers does not mean that the attorney general should not prosecute."

Staver notes that when Utah became part of the union, it was required to change its laws permitting polygamy because that was an important issue to government leaders at the time.

"They believed that polygamous relationships would destabilize the family and undermine the very foundation of liberty," he explains.

"[John Swallow] ought to read some of that history and understand the importance of his role in making sure that families are strong, that the foundation is firm and that these polygamous, illegal and harmful acts are ultimately prosecuted according to the law."

Staver says the message it sends otherwise is that it is okay to break the law and it will encourage polygamy.


Pastor's iPad stolen while Bible was being downloaded

COVINGTON, TN (WMC-TV) -

A Tennessee pastor was sitting down to read the word of God on his iPad, when it was yanked from right out of his hands.

"We went in, heard the preacher screaming and tried to figure out what was going on with him," said Covington resident DeVante Hill.

Hill was getting lunch on Saturday when he heard a customer yell out stop, then saw a man running out of the door.

That customer was Baptist minister, Mike Melton.

Melton said the man running had just taken the iPad he'd gotten for Christmas right out of his hands. Pastor Melton said  he'd gone into McDonald's to eat lunch and use their free Wi-Fi to download the Bible onto his new iPad.

Police quickly caught up 21-year-old Sheldon Moore, who they charged with theft.

"Once they recovered it, I helped him download the find my iPad app so if this happens again, he can go back and track it down," Hill added.

Hill said criminals are becoming more brazen.

"It says they don't care about the law, don't care about their image.  They're not hiding it, they're just blatantly breaking the law and something has to be done about it," he continued.

Sheldon Moore is out of jail on bond.

Happy Saturday

Motives
PROVERBS 16:2 NLT 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.
 
Motives are important to God.

God is interested in WHY we do things, not just in WHAT we do.

Why do you do what you do?

Is it to help others? To please God? Or do you live focused totally on yourself?

These questions are important to ask ourselves. As 1 Corinthians 11:31 says, "if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."
However, we must use caution when trying to judge other people. We don't know their motives.PROVERBS 21:2 LB
2 We can justify our every deed, but God looks at our motives.
We often justify ourselves, but judge others harshly. We may judge ourselves based on our good intentions, but we are only capable of judging others by their actions.

So, we must be very cautious about judging others in a condemning way.1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 NIV
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
One main reason we are not qualified to judge others is because we don't know their thoughts, intentions, and motives. Only God does.SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to be aware of my motives.

Turn Your Eyes On JESUS
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

Daily Smile:
An Old Indian was asked what his wife's name was. "Three Horse," he replied.   

"That's an unusual name, Three Horse. What does it mean?"   

"It's an old Indian name. Means Nag, Nag, Nag."

In The News:

Maryland Ushers in New Year With Same-Sex Ceremonies
As the clock hit midnight on the East Coast and many celebrated the new year, homosexuals observed the occasion by hosting same-sex ceremonies in Baltimore's City Hall, the Christian News Network reports. Maryland's gay "marriage" law took effect Jan. 1 -- the last of three states to make the legislation official after approving the practice on Election Day -- and approximately 14 people arrived at City Hall at midnight to mark the occasion. Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiated some of the ceremonies, as well as designee Jason Caton, and at the end of each ceremony, individuals were pronounced as "lawfully married" instead of "husband and wife." Homosexuals were able to obtain licenses beginning Dec. 6, though the law recognizing the relationships did not go into effect until Jan. 1. Maine officially began issuing licenses Dec. 29, and approximately 28 people turned out at midnight to be among the first. Washington state had already begun issuing licenses several weeks after Election Day.

Nigeria Leader: Islamists Won't Stop Christians From Worshiping
Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan told Christians gathered at a church in Nigeria's capital on Sunday that "the church is one of the main targets" of terrorist attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram, but "if the idea of Boko Haram is to stop Nigerians from worshiping God, they will not succeed." Boko Haram carried out several attacks over Christmas, including Christmas Eve attacks on two churches and the slaughter of 15 Christians in the village of Musari, but Nigerian security agencies suppressed other planned attacks on Christmas Day and during the Christmas holiday, Jonathan said. He added that the government would do everything possible to curtail the activities of Boko Haram in the new year. "With your persistent prayer we shall defeat them," he said. The Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans has been urging the U.S. to label Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization, a move that could hurt its funding and support.

Happy Friday

The Foundation For Your Identity

The one the Lord loves rests  between His shoulders. _Deuteronomy  33:12_ NIV

If you struggle with feelings of unworthiness; praying longer, working harder and vowing to do better won't change your feelings! Like remodeling an old house with a cracked foundation, you can redecorate every  room but the floors and ceilings will just keep sagging until eventually it  collapses. You've got to address the foundation. That means seeing yourself as  God sees you! Only then will you experience the stability, fulfillment and the  peace He wants you to enjoy. "How does God see me?" you ask. He sees you as: Lovable. His Word to you is:  "You are precious... and I love you" _Isaiah  43:4_ NLT. "Who loves you?" God! Listen again: "The one the Lord  loves rests between His shoulders." Sounds like a pretty secure position  to be in, don't you think?

Valuable. If you grew up  feeling ignored or unwanted, you got the wrong message. You're so valuable to  God that, "He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son" _Ephesians  1:7_ NLT. How's that for value? God loves you "Calvary worth" and that'll never change!

Capable. Without a  supportive environment to grow up in, you can end up with a diminished  sense of ability. It's why so many of us try to compensate by  overachieving. God knows you're capable, because He's "given... you...  special abilities" ( 1 Peter 4:10 TLB).

Furthermore, He's "set us  down in... company with Jesus" _Ephesians  2:6

So stay in your seat and don't let anybody tell you  your life doesn't matter. It does, because "God says so"!


At Calvary
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.
Refrain
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.
Refrain
Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!
Refrain
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!
Refrain

Daily Smile:
Did you hear about the scientist who crossed a carrier pigeon with a woodpecker?

He got a bird that not only delivers messages to their destination, but knocks on the door when it gets there.

In The News:

Syria Rebels Behead Christian, Feed Him to Dogs as Fears Grow Over Islamist Atrocities
Syrian rebels beheaded a Christian man and fed his body to dogs, according to a nun who says the West is ignoring atrocities committed by Islamic extremists, ASSIST News Service reports. According to Britain's Daily Mail, Sister Agnes-Miriam de la Croix said taxi driver Andrei Arbashe, 38, was kidnapped after his brother was heard complaining that fighters against the ruling regime behaved like bandits. She said his headless corpse was found by the side of the road, surrounded by hungry dogs. He had recently married and was soon to be a father. "His only crime was his brother criticized the rebels, accusing them of acting like bandits, which is what they are," Sister Agnes-Miriam said. According to the Daily Mail, there have been a growing number of accounts of atrocities carried out by rogue elements of the Syrian Free Army, which opposes Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and is recognized by the West as the legitimate leadership. "The free and democratic world is supporting extremists," Sister Agnes-Miriam said. "They want to impose sharia law and create an Islamic state in Syria. ... The uprising has been hijacked by Islamist mercenaries who are more interested in fighting a holy war than in changing the government. It has turned into a sectarian conflict -- one in which Christians are paying a high price." An estimated 300,000 Syrian Christians have been displaced in the conflict, with 80,000 forced out of the Homs area alone. Many have fled abroad, raising fears that Syria's Christian community may vanish like others across the Middle East. Since the uprising against the Assad regime began in March 2011, some 60,000 have been killed.

15 Christians Have Throats Slit by Boko Haram Extremists in Northern Nigeria 
At least 15 Christians were killed by suspected Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria on Dec. 28 when the militants snuck into Musari, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Maiduguri, early in the morning and slit the throats of the Christians in their own homes, International Christian Concern reports. Nigerian military officials -- who often under-report the casualties in Boko Haram attacks -- put the death toll at five, but residents of Musari and other relief organizations put the number at 15. According to a resident, the militants were specifically targeting Christians because they broke into only Christian homes in an area of Musari that is predominantly Christian. A relief official added that the victims "were selected because they were all Christians, some of whom had moved into the neighborhood from other parts of [Maiduguri] hit by Boko Haram attacks." Since beginning its armed insurgency in 2009 in a campaign to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria's north, Boko Haram has killed more than 3,000 people in Nigeria. Christians in the region continue to live in a constant state of fear amid an increasing number of bombings, shootings and violent attacks.

Happy Thursday

How Great Is Your Goodness
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. --Psalm 31:19
 
Allen Gardiner was a faithful missionary and martyr during the 19th century. He joined the Naval College in England at a young age and accepted Christ during his career in the Navy. Soon after, Gardiner accepted God's call to take the Good News of Jesus to tribes in Africa and South America.

In 1850, Gardiner and six other men attempted to trek through southern Argentina in hopes of reaching the Yagan Indians. Despite the many physical difficulties and hardships he faced throughout his journey, he said, "While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me."

However, in 1851 at the age of 57, Gardiner died tragically of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. His body was later found along with his diary that contained accounts of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness.

In his last journal entry, illustrated by shaken handwriting, he wrote: "I am not hungry or thirsty in spite of five days without eating. ...I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God."

In the apostle Paul's time of hardship, the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). When you are experiencing difficulties in this life, rest in God's goodness and rejoice in your trials, so that you may fully experience His power in your life.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Praise God for His goodness in both good and bad times. Thank Him for being sufficient in your weakness and in control of your circumstances.

How Great Is Our GOD
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God 

Daily Smile:
Did you hear about the scientist who crossed a carrier pigeon with a woodpecker? 
 
He got a bird that not only delivers messages to their destination, but knocks on the door when it gets there. 

In The News:
Christianity 'Close to Extinction' in the Middle East
According to a new study by the think tank Civitas, Christianity faces being wiped out in the "biblical heartlands" in the Middle East because of mounting persecution of Christians -- with militant Islam the primary reason for the oppression, The Telegraph reports. The report, entitled "Christianophobia," warns that Christians suffer greater hostility around the world than any other religious group, and asserts that politicians have been "blind" to the extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It also claims that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as "racism." Study author Rupert Shortt, a journalist and visiting fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, wrote: "Exposing and combating the problem ought in my view to be political priorities across large areas of the world. That this is not the case tells us much about a questionable hierarchy of victimhood. The blind spot displayed by governments and other influential players is causing them to squander a broader opportunity. Religious freedom is the canary in the mine for human rights generally."

Plight of Syrian Christians Intensifies
The condition of the church in Syria is becoming more and more desperate as Christians, their property and their churches continue to be the targets of violent attacks, ASSIST News Service reports. A senior church leader reported that Christians in Syria face "inflation, poverty, growing of sectarian enmity, shortages of supplies of food and fuel, cold weather, revenge, kidnapping for big amount of ransom, risks of traveling, frequent Internet cut-off and [more]." While the Christian population of the city of Homs was once between 50,000 and 60,000, just 80 Christians remained in a Christian neighborhood of the old city as of December 2012. They are being held hostage by rebels and prevented from leaving, and are dying one by one as a result of serious hardships and lack of medication. According to Barnabas Aid, the Christians are being kept there as "human shields" by Salafist rebel groups to deter government forces from attacking the Christian area, which is now occupied by rebels. But despite the dangers they face, and the fact that many Syrian Christians have fled their homeland, church leaders have refused to leave their people. "It is our vocation to give our testimony," one senior Christian leader said. "We had a lot of persecution in the past and we have to find a way to continue." As observers predict the collapse of the Assad regime, under which Christians in Syria had been well-treated, the future for Christians looks bleak. "Pray that all Christians in Syria will know the Lord's peace in these desperate times, and that He will make a way for them to live in safety in their own country," Barnabas Aid said.

Fathers Vanish in U.S. as Single Motherhood Continues to Rise
In every U.S. state, the portion of families where children have two parents, rather than one, has dropped significantly over the past decade, the Washington Times reports. Even as the country added 160,000 families with children, the number of two-parent households decreased by 1.2 million. Fifteen million U.S. children, or one in three, currently live without a father -- compared to 1960, when just 11 percent of American children lived in homes without fathers. And in an America awash in crime, poverty, drugs and other problems, Vincent DiCaro of the National Fatherhood Institute ultimately points to absent fathers: "[People] look at a child in need, in poverty or failing in school, and ask, 'What can we do to help?' But what we do is ask, 'Why does that child need help in the first place?' And the answer is often because [the child lacks] a responsible and involved father."
  

Happy Wednesday

DO NOT JUDGE!

By Dominic and Marie-Helene Bradshaw

     We human beings usually are so quick to point the finger at someone, judge him or her according to our standards of good behaviour and when we judge them we in a way condemn them.

     However, before we make a judgment, we should read in the Gospels what Jesus had to say and how He behaved in His private intimate relationship with His Father and His dealings with people. See Luke 6:36-38

     First of all Jesus made it very clear, He said, "do not judge so as not to be judged" (Matt 7:1). People tend to judge by what they see but usually they overlook the fact that nine times out of ten, they don't have the whole facts at their disposal, so they judge according to their own values and according to appearances. That is very dangerous! Let us instead refrain from doing so, and instead be merciful as Jesus is merciful towards sinners.

     We all need a Doctor "Jesus". We all need to be cleansed and purified. As Jesus says if anyone says he has not sinned, he is a liar. If we look at our lives, none of us can even pick up a stone let alone consider throwing it at a sinner even though that person may be a murderer or adulterer.

     As Jesus says quite clearly in this text "If there is one of you who has not sinned let him be the first to throw a stone at her"  (John 7:7). When we read that verse and think about it deeply and meditate on what it implies, we should realize that we have to be careful not to fall into the devil's trap of being the world's judge, but instead we should pray, pray unceasingly for sinners to be covered, to repent of their ways and turn back to God and live for Him and Him only by serving and loving Him completely and helping His people.
     Jesus has then to become Lord and master of our lives in all ways. We need to pray that we are more and more merciful in our dealings with people. Jesus is love and mercy shown in total perfection - in other words model our lives on Jesus.
     If we have failed to do so in the past, let us pray and repent of our sins, sometimes our very many sins and ask God for His love, mercy and forgiveness and ask Him to heal us and cleanse and purify us of all decay and if we can, try to ask forgiveness of those we have hurt as well.
     Let us pray to God to act in our lives and lead us away from evil, as it says in the Lord's Prayer, "...lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil"  (Matt 6:13) . So instead of "stone, kill, destroy that person who has done wrong", urging us to judge, kill and condemn, let us instead pray to God for mercy on that person and to be healed from that attitude towards that person.
     James 5:11 says "The Lord is kind and compassionate as it says in the Bible that He is slow to anger and rich in mercy," and pray unceasingly to God for a change of attitude towards people for He is the Lord and Saviour of your life and only He can change you by His Holy Spirit, for He is the creator and the potter. We are the clay, and He can mould us into the people he wants us to be, holy and spotless without the stain of sin in our lives and that we can truly love Him with all our hearts, souls and spirits and love our neighbour as Jesus loves us. We should treat others as we would like them to treat us, as seen in Luke 6:30.

Help me not to judge prayer:
     Sweet Jesus, Please help me to be always kind and compassionate. Help me never to judge, but help me to be truly merciful and loving as you are love and mercy itself. Help me to love you completely and serve and worship you. Help me to live my life as a prayer of adoration for you serving your people, with love and respect to give you glory and honor, in Jesus name. Amen.

One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus

I'm only human, I'm just a woman.
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway, I have to climb.
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
Chorus:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
Do you remember, when you walked among men?
Well Jesus you know if you're looking below
It's worse now, than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.
(Chorus) 

Daily Smile:
Bob: "So, you say that you won the conversion with your wife yesterday."
Joe: "Yes, she came crawling on her hands and knees."
Bob: "Really? What did she say?"
Joe: "Come out from under the bed, you coward

In The News:
CNN's Piers Morgan: Amend the Bible to Embrace Homosexuality
CNN host Piers Morgan, who is already facing angry deportation calls from thousands of Americans over his attacks on the Second Amendment, is calling for a gay marriage amendment to the Bible, Townhall.com reports. During a discussion on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" on Christmas Eve with megachurch pastor Rick Warren, Morgan argued that there needs to be an "amendment to the Bible" for same-sex marriage. "Both the Bible and the Constitution were well-intentioned but they are basically inherently flawed," Morgan told Warren. "Hence the need to amend it." Warren replied: "Uh, no. Not a chance. What I believe is flawed is human opinion, because it constantly changes."

Maryland Business Owner Ends Wedding Services Over Same-Sex Marriage
A well-known Maryland tour company famous for its old-fashioned trolley rides will no longer be offering its wedding services starting in January because its owner opposes same-sex marriage and fears he might face discrimination claims for turning away gay couples, the Christian Post reports. "We're a Christian-owned company, and we just can't support gay marriages," said Matt Grubbs, owner of Discover Annapolis Tours. "We're not trying to make a statement. We're not trying to make a point. We're just trying to be faithful Christians," Grubbs said, adding that his attorney advised him to shut down wedding services to avoid discrimination lawsuits. According to the Baltimore Sun, Grubbs' decision means walking away from $50,000 in revenue in 2013, when new same-sex marriage legalization comes into effect in the state. 

Dead Sea Scroll Digital Library Opens

A new digital library stored on Google servers and containing fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls was launched Dec. 18 by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Google Israel, reports Travelujah. The current library contains 4,000 high resolution scans of infrared photographs that were taken after being discovered in the 1950s. An additional 1,000 new scans were specially constructed by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The actual Dead Sea Scrolls are on display inside the Shrine of the Book exhibit at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The scrolls were discovered in the 1950s in caves situated in the Judean Desert at the site of Qumran. To learn more about the new Dead Sea Scroll library, visit this link: www.deadseascrolls.org.il/.

Happy Tuesday - Happy New Year

What sort of New Years Resolution should a Christian make?

The practice of making a New Year's Resolution goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of a New Year's Resolution. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year's Resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year's Resolutions are: to quit smoking, to quit drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year's Resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." The vast majority of New Year's Resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year's Resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, to attend church more regularly, etc., etc. These are fantastic goals! However, these New Year's Resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions. Why? Because there is no power in a New Year's Resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." John 15:5 declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." If God is the center of your New Year's Resolution, it has chance for success – depending on your commitment to it. If it is God's will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God's Word – we will not receive God's help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year's Resolution should a Christian make? (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God's strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don't become discouraged with occasional failures, instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don't become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-
6, "Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." Amen

Take Time To Be Holy
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

Daily Smile:
Pulling into the crowded parking lot at the shopping center rolled down the car windows to make sure my puppy had fresh air. She was stretched full out on the back seat and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the curb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically, "Now you stay. Do you hear me? "Stay! Stay!"

The driver of a nearby car, a pretty young lady, gave me a strange look and said, "Why don't you just put it in park?"

In The News:

Hobby Lobby Won't Violate Faith Over Abortion Drugs
The Christian owners of Hobby Lobby say they must remain true to their faith despite the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to block the Obamacare contraception mandate, CBN News reports. Hobby Lobby's attorney, Kyle Duncan, said the company would not provide the morning-after and week-after pills in its employee insurance plan when the health care mandate takes effect Jan. 1. "The company will continue to provide health insurance to all qualified employees," Duncan said in a statement. "To remain true to their faith, it is not their intention, as a company, to pay for abortion-inducing drugs." Hobby Lobby faces a fine of $1.3 million per day for ignoring the Obamacare mandate; the company is still fighting the law in court.

Islamist Constitution Spells Trouble for Egypt's Christians
Egypt has approved a new, pro-Islamist constitution, and Christians and other minorities foresee bleak and repressive days ahead, Patheos.com reports. Voter turnout in the two-stage nationwide referendum was reportedly limited, and Christians were particularly underrepresented -- as low as 7 percent in some areas. Intimidation from Islamists kept many away from the polls, and in one instance, an estimated 50,000 pro-constitution Egyptians marched through Christian areas of the city of Assiut before the election. Men on horseback with swords led the way -- evoking the seventh-century Muslim conquest -- as marchers chanted that Egypt would be "Islamic, Islamic, despite the Christians." Under the new charter, the rights of Christians and other religious minorities are "undermined beyond salvage," says Hudson Institute scholar Samuel Tadros. According to Arizona congressman Trent Franks, who co-chairs the bipartisan International Religious Freedom Caucus, "The first few constitutional articles -- the foundation of Egypt's new legal framework -- are especially frightening once the implications are assessed and the articles are viewed in context o one another."

Putin Signs Bill Banning Americans From Adopting Russian Orphans
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill on Friday banning American families from adopting Russian orphans, apparently in retaliation for U.S. criticism of his nation's human rights record, Fox News reports. The law will block dozens of Russian children expected to be adopted by American families from leaving the country and cut off one of the main international routes for Russian children to leave orphanages. Russia is the single biggest source of adopted children in the U.S., with more than 60,000 Russian children being taken in by Americans over the past two decades. According to UNICEF estimates, there are more than 700,000 Russian orphans but only 18,000 Russians waiting to adopt a child. The U.S. State Department previously expressed deep concern about the Russian measure. "The welfare of children is simply too important to be linked to political aspects of our relationship," said spokesman Patrick Ventrell.