Prayer withstands test of time. As things get even worse

 

This prayer was delivered in Feb 2009 the beginning of Barack Obama's first term - how appropriate it is as we begin Biden's presidency,,,,  Oh Well...

Pastor Joe Wright’s Prayer

When Pastor Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual politically correct generalities. But, what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness.

The response was immediate and a number of legislators walked out during the prayer. In six short weeks, the Central Christian Church (USA) had logged more than 5,000 phone calls, with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. Commentator Paul Harvey aired the prayer on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other program he has ever aired. The Central Christian Church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea.

Pastor Joe’s prayer is reprinted here as an encouragement and challenge for each of us to stand for the truth of the Gospel whenever the Lord gives us the opportunity.

The Prayer:

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, ‘Woe on those who call evil good,’ but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

We confess that:

We ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
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 political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
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, O God, and know our hearts today; 

Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. 

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you to govern this great state. 

Grant them the wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. 

I ask it in the name of your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Pastor Joe Wright

Beware of Idols

We had fellowship with our good neighbors Sandy and John.  They shared what John wrote regarding the current world situation from a spiritual perspective.   



The Spiritual and Unseen Truths Behind

the Physical and Observable Realities of 

COVID-19

As we experience this time of great world wide upheaval and uncertainty, it is evident that the global pandemic of Covid-19 has shown us that what societies take for granted can be upended or even destroyed in a matter of days, weeks or months. The fear of death has become a predominant factor in the absence of vaccines, antivirals and others drugs known to treat or cure the disease.  This fear factor seems to drive much of the thinking behind public policy.

As Christians and followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ, what are we to make of all of this?

We know that while God may not have directly caused this, He is sovereign over all things.  When doubt or fear strikes, we run to the Word of God.  I believe that the Bible has some clues as to how we got here, what God’s plan might be in all of this, and what we, as His disciples, must do going forward.

The world is scared, the world has shut down, and the world is a mess! The Bible tells us that this world is currently, albeit temporarily, ruled by the powers of darkness in heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. As a result, it is not surprising that there is so much conflict and moral confusion. Political turmoil exists at all levels of government. What used to be called evil ( abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage and the like ) is now called good and vise versa. (Isaiah 5:20).  Truth is relative and is really now just a moral construct based on one’s opinion.  Basic male and female biology is up for grabs and at the sad expense of some in our younger generation who are lost in gender identity confusion.  And most unfortunately, many main line churches have allowed the culture to shape and bend Biblical doctrine to suit their comfort level with sin. The Bible, once considered the inerrant and unwavering truth of God’s Word, is now subject to intellectual assault in the name of “ higher biblical criticism “.

It is true that the world has been assaulted by a microscopic invader that is highly contagious and can cause illness, suffering, great fear, and in some cases, death. ( Covid-19 fatalities are about 5 to 7 percent, depending on the locale and country).  But we face a much greater and deadlier invisible enemy pandemic that has been around since the Garden of Eden…SIN.  This invader is guaranteed to cause death, 100 percent of the time, to the spirit and soul of mankind.

As good citizens of this world and heirs of the Eternal Kingdom, we are called to love, serve, obey, pray and to do our part to stem this medical pandemic.  The Bible reveals that the physical and observable is preceded by the spiritual and the invisible. So, what is God’s plan for His people in all of this?  What message might He be sending?  What message of hope can we provide to the rest of the unsaved world?

May I suggest we look at one example, among many others, in the Old Testament that is recorded in 2 Chronicles 7: 11-22.  There, we see the covenant God made with Solomon and the warnings He gave his chosen people.  God called them to obedience and purity in their worship and devotion to Him.  They were to have no other gods of any manner, shape, size, type, or the like.  Did they disobey?   Yes, they did.  They raised idols to false gods in high places.  As a result of such disobedience God caused all types of suffering and distress to come upon the land.  Because they sinned and became apostate, they suffered plagues and pestilence, they couldn’t travel ( sound familiar? ). They recovered only when they repented and purged the land of its detestable idols and once again worshiped  and sacrificed to the true God. 2 Chronicles 15: 1-15.

I believe that we as His people and His Church need to purge any and all idols that may have crept into our lives.  These idols are sinful and, in fact, all sin involves some form of idolatry.  This pandemic has knocked out so much of what competes for our time and attention, such as sports, travel, entertainment, parties, dining out, and even work. Idols perhaps?

We now have a great opportunity to purge any and all idols that might have crept into our lives to distract us from our first love, the love of our Lord God.  We also have a great opportunity to witness to our family, our friends, and all who God may put in our paths.  Share the good news of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, John 3:16 is always a good place to start, but why not try the rich and comforting truths in Psalm 91.  This Psalm is better than any anti-viral, vaccine, or remedy that man can manufacture.

                “ WHOEVER DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH,

                WILL REST IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.  I WILL SAY OF THE LORD

                HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD, IN WHOM I TRUST.”

                Psalm 91: 1-2.

                BECAUSE HE LOVES ME, SAYS THE LORD, I WILL RESCUE HIM; I WILL 

                PROTECT HIM, FOR HE ACKNOWLEDGES MY NAME.  HE WILL CALL

                ON ME, AND I WILL ANSWER HIM; I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE,

                I WILL DELIVER HIM AND HONOR HIM.

           WITH LONG LIFE I WILL SATISFY HIM AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION.” 

           Psalm 91: 14-16.          

  

To 

Small Group Prayer List 10/3119

Hey Small Group,

Here is our small group most current prayer list.

Please remember we will not be meeting next Wednesday 11/6/2019.

Romeo & LaRue

Small Group Prayer List    10/3119

Praise’s

Becky- Good Dr. report.

Requests

LaRue’s family—salvation

LaRue—Rob & family --Salvation

AngeliaComfortMultipleMyelomCancer

Phil Comfort’s daughter in law- salvation & deliverance from evil.

Marcella- Next door neighbor Marylyn for salvation.

Betty- Amos’s son’s problems with addiction and depression.

Bill- Missionary’s Ed Henn family at Clemson University – Campus Outreach Mission.

  Mark- Cousin Beth Ann has Gallbladder cancer. At John Hopkins for trial study. Chemo is not working.

Betty- Youngest daughter Beth with two daughters has moved out of the marital home in Charlotte, NC.

Ginny- Grandson Jonah dealing with depression and anxiety issues and son and daughter-in-law dealing with this stress.

Rob- Jan a friend who has cancer.

Betty- Daughter Beth has melanoma cancer on her leg.

LaRue- Elaine Kitchen has a pulmonary disease and has been given four year to live.

Betty- Granddaughter Brook’s son Parker having severe learning issues and will need special schooling.

  Pray that Brook will continue to be able to handle the situation.

Bob- Daughter having problems with her 6-yr. old son and they are now going to counseling.

Mark- Paul Banta now home for rehab.

John- Horrible treatment of President Trump by the left and the press.

Mary Vett- Prayer for Ed with all his physical health issues.

John- Pray for safety of Israel.

Mark- Cousin Dean Owens has breast cancer. Currently having chemo and radiation treatments.

Betty- Lynn Rhinehart dealing with pancreatic cancer that has returned. Had lobe of one lung removed and possible cancer in one breast. John Rhinehart her husband needs prayer also for peace.

Rob- Friend Duard Walker who is 95 just had a stroke.

LaRue- Bob McCray has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Radiation implants will be inserted in January.

Mark- Gustaine Butler that he will be strong enough to attend the Butler family reunion.

Rob- Mitzi Greens father has pneumonia.

LaRue- Tim Parker for multiple health problems.

Mark- Need more people to come for singing and visiting of the elderly at Lakes of Litchfield this Sunday 2-3 PM.

Becky- Son coming from California and daughter from Asheville, NC to visit. First time to have them at home for many years and very anxious.

Mary M- Friend Mary just had a pet scan to determine the source of her cancer.

Mary M- Friend Susan going to oncologist to check on cancer.

Marcella- Friend Helen estranged from her daughter and three grandchildren for forty years pray to be reunited.

Romeo- Mary Vett fell yesterday. Damage not yet fully assessed.

Romeo- Ed having serious physical health issues from injures in Vietnam.

Romeo- LaRue for healing of her broken ankle.

Small Group Prayer List  9/14/19

Praise’s

Harold- Granddaughter Hanna is flourishing and lost almost 100 pounds.

             She is now an EMT helping other people.

Harold- Son-in-law Leon who works for Nucor Steel with 27,000 employees was just

             elected CEO of the company.

Mary- Grandson Kyle now has a home and dealing with his mental illness.

Requests

LaRue-                  family'ssalvation            

LaRue—Rob & family --Salvation

 

Phil Comfort’s daughter in law- salvation & deliverance from evil.

Marcella- Next door neighbor Marylyn for salvation.

Betty- Amos’s son’s problems with addiction and depression.

Bill- Missionary’s Ed Henn family at Clemson University – Campus Outreach Mission.

        They are also expecting their second child.

Becky-Cousin Nancy just passed away and the family needs                  prayer.

Bob- Ex-wife now has cancer in her shoulder.

        been the hospital now for almost a month.

Mark- Cousin Beth Ann with cancer.

Betty- Youngest daughter Beth with two daughters has moved out of the marital home in                       Charlotte, NC. Bob- Son-in-law Brian was in bad accident and one person got killed.                   Sentenced to four years in prison and driver’s license revoked for life.

Ginny- Grandson Jonah dealing with depression and anxiety issues and son and daughter-in-law dealing with this stress. issues and food allergy issues.

 LaRue- Paula Poole formally in our small group has Multiple Myeloma                cancer.

Mary Vett- Good friend dealing with very bad depression.

Dave- Prayer for Mark to get his back issue corrected to relieve the pain.

Mary- Good friend Susan is now doing very well with her depression and is on the road to recovery.

Rob- Jan a friend who has cancer.

Betty- Daughter Beth has melanoma cancer on her leg.

Marilyn- Fletcher Avery nephew in Colorado suffering with severe depression and possible suicide.

LaRue- Elaine Kitchen has a pulmonary disease and has been given four year to live.

Betty- Granddaughter Brook’s son Parker having severe learning issues 

            and will need special schooling.

            Pray that Brook will continue to be able to handle the situation.

Bob- Daughter having problems with her 6-yr. old son and they are now going to counseling.

Bob- Friend Aaron was in the hospital for kidney stone operation and he just up

         and left the hospital without doing the operation.

Mark- Paul Banta now coming home for rehab.

John- Horrible treatment of President Trump by the left and the press.

Mary Vett- Prayer for Ed with all his physical health issues.

John- Pray for safety of Israel.

Mark- Cousin Dean Owens has cancer.

Betty- Lynn Rhinehart dealing with pancreatic cancer that has returned. 

           Had lobe of one lung removed and possible cancer in one breast. 

           John Rhinehart her husband needs prayer also for peace.

Share Your Bread

Tuesday, November 27 — Psalm 135:13–21 1 Kings 19; John 19:1–11 Share your bread with the hungry. Isaiah 58:7 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 If I have food today, Lord, remind me of those who do not. If I am among those who hunger for bread as well as righteousness, I ask that you answer my prayer through the faithful action of those who serve you . Amen.

Jesus, A Firm Foundation

Jesus, A Firm Foundation

There is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2

Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Matthew 7:24

Lord, 

you have established a firm foundation for those who trust in your word. 

Ground us today— and every day—in relationship with you and in obedience to your commandments. 

Thus we shall find our footing amid the tempests of life. 

Amen.

________________________________________________

Let the long-expected day begin!

That Long-Expected Day

Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty.
Isaiah 33:17

The more you know about Christ, the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of Him; and the more deeply you study His transactions in the eternal covenant, His engagements on your behalf as the eternal Security, and the fullness of His grace that shines in all His offices, the more truly will you see the King in His beauty. Learn to look at Him this way. Long increasingly to see Jesus.

Meditation and contemplation are often like windows of gold and gates of silver through which we behold the Redeemer. Meditation puts the telescope to the eye and enables us to see Jesus in a better fashion than we could have seen Him if we had lived in the days of His earthly sojourn. Our conversation ought to be more in heaven, and we should be more taken up with the person, the work, the beauty of our incarnate Lord. More meditation, and the beauty of the King would flash upon us with more splendor.

Beloved, it is very probable that we will have such a sight of our glorious King as we never had before when we come to die. Many saints in dying have looked up from amidst the stormy waters and have seen Jesus walking on the waves of the sea and heard Him say, "It is I—do not be afraid." Yes, when the building begins to shake, and the mortar falls away, we will see Christ through the studs, and between the rafters the sunlight of heaven will come streaming in. But if we want to see the King face to face in all His beauty, we must go to heaven for the sight or the King must come here in person.

If only He would come on the wings of the wind! He is our Husband, and we are widowed by His absence; He is our fair and faithful Brother, and we are lonely without Him. Thick veils and clouds hang between our souls and their true life: 

When will the day break and the shadows run away? 

Nov Prayer Concerns

Nov Prayer Concerns

Our Countries Leaders
Protection for President Trump.

John- Sale of NC property 
John- Pray for Israel. 


Marcella-   Next door neighbor Marylyn for salvation.

Marcela- Tammy Query- Cancer. Not a good report after extensive tests in Texas. Prayers for the spirit of the family. Now in the hospital with a serious colon blockage.

Marcella-   Sister Peggy had to move from her brothers’ home to new place that she is very unfamiliar.

Marcella-   Joe Blacks four grown children are dealing with his wishes after his death.

Phil Comfort- son John’s broken leg, John’s wife cancer.


Mark- Cousin Beth Ann with cancer.
Mark- Betty Clayton dealing with poor health.
Mark- Nelson Edwards needs a job and a car.
Mark- Sharon Rosenberg’s husband just died.


Betty- Youngest daughter Beth with two daughters has moved out of the marital home in Charlotte, NC.

Bob- Son-in-law Brian was in bad accident and one person got killed. Possible prison time.

Bob- Charlie Dean killed in his race car.

Bob- Ex-wife still dealing with cancer and now with heart issues.

Marcella- Joe Blacks four grown children are dealing with his wishes after his death.


Bill- Rick Amos in need of $1850.00 for a particular mission project

Ginny- Grandson Jonah dealing with depression and anxiety issues and son and daughter-in-law dealing with this stress.

Christ's Example

Daily Devotional November 12, 2018 Christ's Example In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. Luke 6:12 If ever a man might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect Lord, and yet no one ever prayed as much as He! His love for His Father was such that He loved to be in communion with Him. His love for His people was such that He desired to be regularly interceding for them. The fact that Jesus placed such importance on prayer is a lesson for us—He has given us an example that we may follow in His steps. The time He chose was admirable—it was the hour of silence when the crowd would not disturb Him, the time of inaction when everyone else had stopped work, and the season when sleep made men forget their difficulties and stop applying to Him for relief. While others found rest in sleep, He refreshed Himself with prayer. The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: And so He was free from Pharisaic ostentation and vulgar interruption. Those dark and silent hills provided a suitable prayer chapel for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of His pleadings is remarkable: The passing hours were not too long; the cold wind did not chill His devotions; the grim darkness did not cloud His faith or loneliness prevent His persistence. We fail to watch with Him for one hour, but He never fails to watch for us night and day. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after His enemies had been enraged. Prayer was His refuge and solace; it was before He dispatched the twelve apostles. Prayer was the gate of His enterprise, the herald of His new work. Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial or considering new ventures for the Master's glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. One-Year Bible Reading Plan 2 Kings 25 Hebrews 7 Amos 1 Psalm 144 Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission.     Today’s Program by Alistair Begg Lessons From the Dungeon (Part 4 of 4) Featured Resource If you shop on Amazon, support Truth For Life through the AmazonSmile program.