Yes, I have been absent from my blog and writing. I am not busy. I have been distracted.
I can’t seem to focus my thoughts clearly here lately. I look at the screen and go blank and stare off into space, don’t know why but that’s just how it has been.
I received the following in an email today. I’m sure I’ve read it before but was again touched by its message and its truth, it seemed like a good substitute for something I’ve written to be something I’ve read.
The email gives credit to Billy Graham as the author, I will assume that this is true and also credit Rev. Graham.
Billy Graham’s Prayer For Our Nation
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called itambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and knowour hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free.
Amen!’
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, ‘The Rest of the Story,’ and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord’s help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called ‘One nation under God.’
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – KJV
For several years now my sisters and I have attended weekly Bible studies, in the past 3 or 4 years those studies were by Beth Moore. I am so grateful to have been able to study God’s word with the help of His servant Beth. She has a sweet southern accent, forgein to us Canadians eh? She also has a gift to write, to teach, and the gift of gab. If you have never “met” Beth, I encourage you to get involved in a Bible study led by her. I’m sure you will enjoy it and learn a great deal about God and yourself.
Here is a word from Beth:
“God taught me a way to pledge my faith to Him every single day through five statements. I taught these in the Bible study Believing God, but I want to share them in this book as well (Voices of the Faithful) because they’ve meant so much to me, I believe that these five statements encompass virtually everything God calls us to believe in His Word:
God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God’s Word is alive and active in me.
I always conclude the five statements by making a verbal commitment “I’m believing God.”
I want to challenge you to give these statements a try. Say them every single day. I can be completely overwhelmed by a challenge, and as I spit these statements out of my mouth, I can feel faith rising up in me. I have never seen God work as blatantly as I have since He challenged me to believe Him instead of just believing in Him. I’ve quit being so safe and sterile about what I ask. The primary question that precedes my request is simply this: Is it biblical? Nothing has had a greater impact on my approach to God and to daily living than raising both my sword of the Spirit (Scripture) and my shield of faith (belief).
God is still working in our generation. Faith is how we join Him.
–Beth Moore
Follow the link below or on the side menu where you see my RSS feeds to get to the Living Proof Ministries blog
“ for he hath said,I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5b (King James Version)
These are hard times. There are people literally giving their house keys to the banks because they just cannot pay the mortgage. They are walking away. People are struggling with debt and loss of income. They bought a home or car based on the income that they had counted on, and are now “laid off” which is a polite way of saying “Hit the road Jack, we don’t need you anymore.” It is happening in Canada and the United States, businesses are going bankrupt or seeking bankruptcy protection and thousands of people are losing their income.
The circumstances are desperate and the people are too. They have no idea what they will do.
People who have deep faith are being put to the test. They are looking up to the heavens and asking, “Lord, what do I do?” they are scared and possibly for the first time in their walk with God, they are learning to fully rely on God. He is there, He does care. He hasn’t walked away and turned His back.
The verse in Hebrews quoted above also quotes a passage in Deuteronomy 31:6 which says: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
God has promised that He will go with you. It is true that we will not always understand why we are going through difficult times nor do we get a “preview” for what the future holds, but we do have His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He has got it covered!
In 1Peter 5:7 we read: “Castallyour anxiety on him because he cares for you.” He cares for you. He will show you that He cares for you and that He will never leave you.
Please watch the video and appreciate the words of this song.
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “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. “
One person alone could not have accomplished what this ministry had set out to do when the idea was in its infancy in 2002 … God has blessed this ministry by providing willing hearts and hands to come together to help bring comfort to orphans throughout the world.
The Jabez Blanket Ministry provides “Backpacks of Hope” for Orphans living in unimaginable poverty in Orphanages around the world.
The Jabez “Backpack of Hope” contains a colorful, hand-crocheted or knitted blanket for warmth, a comforting Teddy Bear “friend” and essential School Supplies for learning.
“If the longing eyes of a tiny, fragile child were to look up into your eyes, and you were able to place a warm blanket in his/her hands and a precious little bear next to his/her heart, who would be the happier? The child or you?”
Since its inception in 2002, Jabez Blanket Ministry has shipped Backpacks of Hope to 20 countries around the world! What began as a simple question: ‘what can I do?’ has, with God’s blessing, become an international ministry reaching orphans in some of the poorest nations across the globe.
Catherine Trafford Welk and her sister Sharon Trafford James worked together to create a way to help orphans. Catherine and Sharon did not know how big this ministry would be but they began, led by God, to help in whatever way He wanted, and “God granted ‘them’ what ‘they’ requested.”
Where do the blankets come from?The ladies of Calvary Baptist Church in Killaloe, Ontario helped Catherine get the ball rolling back in 2002 by taking up knitting and crocheting in their homes and since that time the word of this ministry has been shared across Ontario and now even in the United States, many crochet/knit bees have started as a result of this ministry to Orphans. They are largely in church group settings, however other groups to start crocheting/knitting include homeschooling groups, seniors homes, a high school, and college and even a women’s prison in the States.
Where do the blankets go? In February of 2009 the number of blankets and completely filled, “Backpacks of Hope” that were shipped in separate shipments totalled 757. These shipments went out to Haiti, Ukraine and South Africa.
Countries that have received blessings from Jabez Blanket Ministry include the following: Haiti, Zambia, Kenya, Eastern Siberia, Ukraine, Russia, Guatemala, Peru, Columbia, Romania, Nepal, Swaziland, Bengal, Lebannon, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Honduras, Uganda, Sudan and China.
The Jabez Blanket Ministry has had an article published in “Above Rubies” magazine which is sent to 90 different countries which largely brought a response in the hundreds, from the United States and Canada, and several from places like New Zealand and Australia and even Papua New Guinea!
How can you get involved? You can pray for this ministry to orphans around the world. A work such as this can only succeed with God’s blessing and guidance. Pray for Catherine Trafford Welk and her sister Sharon Trafford James who are the administrators and facilitators of this ministry that is very close to their hearts.
For Blanket Instructions, or further Ministry information, or to help with the basic material costs of a Jabez “Backpack of Hope” (tax receiptable), kindly contact:
TheJabez Blanket Ministryis a Canadian Registered Charity, working jointly with established North American Organizations.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV
This was already one of my posts but because this ministry is so important, I want to bring it to the forefront on a fairly regular basis. I have contatcted the founders of the Jabez Blanket Ministry and they will soon give me an update that I can share here to continue to shed light on the importance of this ministry.
Are there ever times in your life where you look around, see thetrue needin this world and think, “Wow this is awful, so many people in this world are suffering, but I am just one person, what canIdo to make a difference?” I know that I have felt that way many times. It is overwhelming when I see the plight of so many around the world and I just don’t know what Icould possibly do to comfort these people or ease their burdens from half a world away.
I suppose if everyone thought that way the needs of those suffering would never be met. There are organizations that help people in various ways in countries all over the world, but they depend upon the individualswho help in whatever way they can.One person, doing what they are able to do, andone person encouraging others to do what they are able to do, and so on. Each of these charitable organizations have started withone person, and with the help of others they have become national and international organizations.
Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, in his book Living Beyond the Limits says that when the shoe box campaign Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 they expected to receive a few thousand boxes, instead over twenty thousand boxes came in and he says“Operation Christmas Child took off like a rocket and spread like wild fire. It kindled passionate generosity in people’s hearts.”One child giving to another. Simple as that. The project is do-able, it is one shoe box filled with school supplies, toiletry items, socks, small toys and candy. That is something anyone can do. If everyone did it or contributed how many boxes would there be, representing how many children? In 2007, Canadians donated 661,530 shoe boxes to the world’s needy children. For more information you can visit the website forSamaritans Purse/Operation Christmas Child.
Okay, Franklin Graham has connections, he had a way to get the message out and make sure people were aware of this incredible opportunity to help children around the world.So do you think to yourself, I can’t do what Franklin Graham did, what Samaritan’s Purse did?
You can. With God’s help you can. If God is in it, He will bless it and make it grow.
Orphans
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV
Here is a fact that should get our attention: according to the UN in 2006 there were 12 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa alone and it was estimated that in only 4 years, that number will have risen to 18.4 million. The number of orphans in the world is increasing dramatically and it isexpected to reach 250 million by 2017.How can one person help?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
In June 2002 a young mother, named Catherine, was studying “The Prayer of Jabez” and she was struck by the idea of expanding her territory, she wondered how she could do that and what could she do?
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV)
It was at that time that the Jabez Blanket Ministry was born. Catherine Trafford Welk and her sister Sharon Trafford James worked together to create a way to help orphans. Catherine and Sharon did not know how big this ministry would be but they began, led by God, to help in whatever way He wanted, and “God granted ‘them’ what ‘they’ requested.”
The Jabez Blanket Ministry provides “Backpacks of Hope” for Orphans living in unimaginable poverty in Orphanages around the world.What began as an idea of ‘what can I do?’ has become a valuable way to help orphans, meeting both physical needs and spiritual needs. The Jabez “Backpack of Hope” contains a colorful, hand-crocheted or knitted blanket for warmth, a comforting Teddy Bear “friend” and essential School Supplies for learning.If the longing eyes of a tiny, fragile child were to look up into your eyes, and you were able to place a warm blanket in his/her hands and a precious little bear next to his/her heart, who would be the happier? The child or you?
Since its inception in 2002, Jabez Blanket Ministry has shipped Backpacks of Hope to 20 countries around the world! What began as a simple question: ‘what can I do?’ has, with God’s blessing, become an international ministry reaching orphans in some of the poorest nations across the globe.
Countries that have received blessings from Jabez Blanket Ministry include the following: Haiti, Zambia, Kenya, Eastern Siberia, Ukraine, Russia, Guatemala, Peru, Columbia, Romania, Nepal, Swaziland, Bengal, Lebannon, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Honduras, Uganda, Sudan and China.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31: 8,9 NIV
There are MILLIONS of Orphans needing your help, in some way, to the extent you are able. Would you consider bringing comfort, hope, and joy to a hurting child who looks to anyone to help?
For Blanket Instructions, or further Ministry information, or to help with the basic material costs of a Jabez “Backpack of Hope” (tax receiptable), kindly contact:
assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something.
one in which confidence is placed.
Proverbs 3:5,6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” NIV
The Message: “Trust in God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
Life is hard, getting harder these days. Rising costs of everything, unemployment, debt, bankruptcy, depression, separations, divorces, custody battles, addictions, are consuming people in every walk of life. There are people who are starting over in their 50’s after downsizing and business failures. How do they do it? Where do they go? These are serious life-changing events that many are facing and wondering what is next…Things we thought we had figured out, plans that we made are falling apart and leave us wondering what do we do now? Please don’t think that I have the answers because I don’t, I’m just “thinking out loud” here.
As a Christian I know, believe, have faith that God is in control but am I trusting Him with ALL my heart or am I trying to figure everything out on my own?
There is no doubt in my mind that if you are reading this, that you don’t face at least one of these challenges that I have mentioned. As we face our giants we try to make a plan, we try to figure things from every angle and try to logically come up with the best way out of or around whatever mess we are in. “Trust in God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” v.5,6 The Message Are these verses the key? Maybe not on their own, but they may actually be part of the answer.
It is easy to have faith and trust when everything is going smoothly, it is when the path is rough and has twists and turns and we cannot see what is coming next that we waiver, but that is when it is actually necessary to have faith and trust. As these verses say, we must listen for God’s voice in everything we do, trusting from the bottom of our hearts that He is with us and that He won’t leave us.
We typically, as Christians, go to the Lord in prayer and bring our laundry list of things that we need His help with and while we are at it, we tell Him how we think it should be handled. If you have ever been to a prayer meeting, I’m sure you have heard this kind of prayer. I know I am guilty of praying that way. I laugh at myself when I think about it, ya…as if God, who spoke the world into being, needs my advice on how to handle the situation! After years of praying this way, it is a hard habit to break, but the Lord knows what we mean and makes intercession on our behalf, “Thank you Lord.”
Cynthia Heald says: “There is no room for bargaining for what I think is best–only implicit confidence and patience in His plan. The Scriptures do not guarantee that “all will be well” according to our human perspective. They do, however, promise that God will work all things for our good. As we learn to trust Him “no matter what,” He develops within us a deeply rooted confidence in Him. This confidence enables us to lean on His understanding and His ways of working in our lives.”
As we each have challenges and obstacles that seem overwhelming and situations that seem impossible, and we are looking for answers, maybe one of those answers can be found in trusting God unconditionally to work all things for our good.
“A GOOD name is better than precious perfume,” — Ecclesiastes 7:1a Amplified
“A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor than silver and gold.” -Prov. 22:1
The names of God are vast, as are His attributes. He is from everlasting to everlasting, He has no beginning and no end.
“Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.”– – Psalm 90:2 Amplified
What do we call Him? Moses asked God that question when he met God on the mountain.
“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” –Exodus 3:13
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’ This is My name forever, this is My memorial name to all generations.” –Exodus 3:14,15
I AM – He Who Was, Who Is, and Who Will Be Always
El: “strong one”
Elohim: God’s sovereignity and His mighty work for Israel
El Shaddai: God Almighty (Genesis 17:1, Psalm 91:1,2)
El Elyon: The Most High God (Psalm 9:2)
El Olam: The Everlasting God (Jeremiah 10:10)
Yahweh Jireh: The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14)
Yahweh Shalom: The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24)
Yahweh Sabbaoth: The Lord of Hosts (1Samuel 17:45)
Yahweh Ro’i: The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Yahweh Elohim Israel: The Lord God of Israel (Judges 5:3)
Adonai: God as master, authority, provider (Genesis 18:2, 1Samuel 1:15)
These are only some of the names of God used throughout the Bible.
What do we call Him? I feel privleged to call Him Father. To be able to call on Him at all is amazing to me. The One who created the Heavens and Earth, all that exists…He created man in His image, for His purpose and to glorify Him. He desires to have a relationship with me! He wants to fellowship with me! O, Lord How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth!
“Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.”– Psalm 25:14 (NLT)
“The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” — Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, GOD feels for those who fear him.”
Psalm 103:8-13 –The Message
God is merciful!
“We learn to trust God because God treats us in a loving, accepting, trusting way before we were lovable, acceptable or trustworthy.” (paraphrase-Eugene Peterson)
The King James version says it this way:
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”
God’s mercy is vast, boundless and immeasurable…“as high as heaven is over the earth,” “so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” God wants to pour out His love and mercy on His children, “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him.”
Mercy: blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor
When we repent and turn from our sins and turn to Christ, believing that He is the only one who can truly save us, God’s only Son, God’s perfect sacrifice for our sins —we are forgiven. When we are forgiven that doesn’t only mean that it’s all okay, it means that the slate has been wiped clean! God takes that sin and removes it and separates you from it. ” And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.”
The Creator of the universe, the Almighty God, so desires a relationship with us that He provided a way for us to have fellowship with Him, by faith in Christ. How awesome it is to know that He mercifully forgives our sins and then removes them from us…as far as the east is from the west!
It’s December 24th and weeks and weeks have been spent preparing for the big day…Christmas! We plan and we make lists and we decorate and we send cards and we bake and have parties and in all of that planning and spending we can easily lose the meaning of Christmas. We can easily get swept up in all of the fesitivities and celebrations and forget what it is all about. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. The day that the Savior was born. Immanuel, God With Us…the Son of God came down from Heaven’s Glory…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
As we celebrate with family and friends and give and receive gifts, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas…the greatest Gift of All…Christ the Lord. Let us take the time to remember Him and re-read the story of His miraculous birth over 2000 years ago!
The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-40
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Jesus Presented in the Temple
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
I pray that as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ we accept and appreciate the greatest Gift ever given!
This was already one of my posts but because this ministry is so important, I want to bring it to the forefront on a fairly regular basis. I have contatcted the founders of the Jabez Blanket Ministry and they will soon give me an update that I can share here to continue to shed light on the importance of this ministry.
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