What Has Stripes?

A friend posted this picture taken from an area elementary school book where I live, which by the way is in the Bible-Belt and not some progressive big-city area.  Her son brought the book home as a reading assignment.

She sent an email to the principal yesterday and her husband went to talk to the principal today.  Do you see why?  They were told the book is an approved book for the District.  The matter was referred to the superintendent.

Look at the picture now if you haven't.  When I am asked about stripes, I immediately think of the "Stars and Stripes", or what we all affectionally call the American flag.  As a believer, when I hear the word "stripes" I think of Jesus and the price he paid for my sin and sickness on his back - by His stripes we are healed.  When I look at the picture above, I immediately see the zebra in plain view and of course, we all know that a zebra has stripes.  Then we quickly begin to scour the picture for more stripes.  They boys shirt, the road, the barbershop pole, the butcher's wall and the rainbow flag.  The rainbow flag?  Why not a rainbow?  If you want a flag, use an American flag.  Why a rainbow flag to bring the discussion of stripes to light?

I showed my children the image for discussion purposes and they said, "American flags have stripes".

I said, "But there is no American flag in the picture."

Then their eyes got HUGE as one said, "Oh, the rainbow flag is a symbol!"  Hmmm - even my children caught the underlying message here.

The parent was told by the principal that rainbows have stripes, but the father responded that there was no rainbow in the picture.  So why did they use the flag?  I think we all know the answer to that.

Please be praying for this situation as the superintendent is being notified of the concern brought by this parent even today.  Our children are being conditioned to embrace things that the Bible clearly calls sin.  This is a problem and it is not just about rainbows!

As Christians, the gay rights issue is becoming bigger and many Christians are backing down or away from it because they personally know many people who they love that are gay.  They see these people as "good people".  "Peaceable," just trying to live life.  I agree!  I too know many people who are gay and I love them!  I also know many people living together outside of marriage, yes, even Christians living together outside of marriage and you know what - I love them BUT whether I love them or not doesn't change what the Word of God says about sin.  WE ALL SIN and fall short of the glory of God but to give sin a pass because it is now politically correct is NOT righteousness!

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  - Isaiah 5:20

We MUST hold to the truth of scriptures, even when we LOVE PEOPLE who choose to do life their own way.  Loving people doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with them.  Do you ALWAYS agree with your mate?  Your children?  Yet we still love them.  We love them and stand for Truth in the process.  We have to KNOW the Truth (Jesus said, I am the way, the Truth and the life - John 14:6) and the Truth will set us free. - John 8:32.

Our children are being "taught" what the world says is true.  WE MUST teach them the scriptures:

My son (that is you and me), keep my (this is God) Words
    and treasure up My commandments with you;
2 keep My commandments and live;
    keep My teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers (like tying a string to your finger so you don't forget something);
    write them on the tablet of your heart (KNOW them and OBEY them in your very heart-of-hearts).
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the forbidden woman,
    from the adulteress with her smooth words.  (Interesting that the word adultery (sexual issues) is what we are being warned to keep away from here.) - Proverbs 7:1-5

Father, may we NOT sin against you while gaining the approval of SOME men.  Teach us Your ways, God and let us walk in your Truth!  - Psalm 86:11.  Give us courage to stand-up; even when we feel like we are the only one.

The Magnitude of the Problem...

It's been about a month now since flight MH370 went missing and loved ones still have no answers; no bodies to bury, no wreckage to confirm disaster, no answers. Nothing. I can't imagine pain and anguish they are dealing with. Today I saw this report and I felt I needed to stop and pray for these families; many of which are not of the Christian faith so they have NO hope.

Think about that. NO HOPE. 

Click on link to see rest...

Even on my lowest of days, the hardest of things, the darkest hours, I still have a God I can cling to; a God who speaks to me, a God who knows my name and responds to me. NO HOPE. 

Father, help these people deal with the size of this disaster and bring them HOPE as ONLY You can. We pray for them to come to the understanding and the knowledge of the saving power of Jesus Christ. May they find HOPE, REST and PEACE in this terrible storm they are living. Father God, help people FIND this aircraft.  Show them where to look.  Lead them to the spot so these families can have closure.  Thank you Father. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, Amen.

To see the rest of this image of the scale of things, click the link and see this awesome comparison to get to the "depth of the problem".

Send in the Laborers

I have several friends who have been to Mozambique and served with Heidi Baker with her Iris Ministry for short term missions and in her ministry school. I was just made aware of this devastating situation they are in. I know many Christians today who have become weary with giving, especially to church, but I am asking you to consider sharing this need with people you know who have a heart to help others. This is such a great place to give...to the most needy on the planet who don't have a spirit of entitlement. They are desperate for help and now with these rains, their meager existence has turned bleak. Please pray for them and also consider giving to them financially. 

We have such lavish lifestyles here in America compared with their living conditions and churches here are equipped with everything you can think of and still building more, yet many in Mozambique don't even have a roof over their head now as water is consuming what they call home! God forgive us. God help us help them!
Father, cause us to be givers and care for those who desperately need your help. Father, hold off the rains for a season and let their land dry a bit. Bring consistency to their weather so they can grow crops with adequate rain and then adequate sunshine. Holy Spirit, we need thee to help these suffering in Jesus' Mighty Name.

Please use the link Iris Ministry to see how you can help.

Breaking the Chains...

Praying for you today friend. So many are struggling today with the cold, the cost of heat, food, the lay-offs from jobs, some just from life; it's just a hard season right now.  May the love of the Lord overwhelm you in a tangible way. You are not alone. You are never alone. He is so for you. Don't loose sight of WHO He is and how deep, wide and great His love is for you!

Challenge: when the walls of life feel like they are closing in, that's a good time to give. Giving shatters the chains of the enemy.

Here are some easy ideas that are quick, fun and effective:
- Take a friend out for lunch on your ticket.
- Bring basic groceries to an elderly neighbor who has been shut-in due to the cold.
- Buy a coffee for the car behind you at Starbucks.

- Make some homemade pies and bring them to a young mother who is weary at home with little children.  Take one to a pastor or elderly couple from your church.  I did this.  We had one car at the time and I was shut-in the house with two small babies.  The Lord told me to give and so I had flour to make pie crusts and pie pans (ones I had saved from store bought pies - I saved everything!) and I started baking.  I made 10 pies that day and when my husband came home from work he was like, "What are we going to do with these?"  

I said, "We are taking them to people we know tonight."   

He said, "Who?" 

I said a list of people's names and we just got in the car and started driving; house to house until we had given them all away.  It really works!  I was free from that cloud of depressing that was clutching at me!

- Pump the gas for the elderly person at the gas station across from you so they don't have to be out in the cold.  Maybe even pay for their gas.  Swipe your card first! :-D
- Ask if you can load the groceries in the car for a young mother with babies or at least put her cart away.  (Stand back when asking so you don't overwhelm or scare them.)
- Wait at the end of the check-out isle (10 items or less lane is an easy lane to choose) for an elderly, needy looking person and offer to pay for their 5 items. Just lay the cash down and walk away if necessary. Standing at the end, you will see the total as they do, so you know what you are signing up for, if you know what I mean. You can know who because the total matches the cash in your hand. ASK the Lord WHO you are there to bless. It is so fun!
- DO something for someone else. Acts of service are so great. They bring more joy to me than I think they bring to the person I am blessing. 

Sometimes I do these things for people that I don't even necessarily like. Maybe a boss who is difficult to work with or the employee who takes behind your back. Bring them a coke or a couple donuts to an ornery neighbor mends fences. Whatever! Just start GIVING or start giving more! (Not saying you aren't doing any or all of these things but purpose to find MORE to do!) Ask God for creative ideas! He is amazing at showing you things that matter to others that are easy and that are eternal!

When I have battled loneliness, sorrow, fear and sometimes even isolation or the beginning of depression I have found that GIVING is the accelerator to freedom. It shatters the chains that the enemy has shackled on me. All the enemy has to say are lies of course, but his lies sound real - that's why he is effective.

On this cold day where most are shut in, get OUT and FIND a reason to be a blessing! Bring your pet and go to PetsMart and I am sure you will find someone to minister too!  Take the kids with you and help an elderly man with his cart by putting it away.  Just START BEING A BLESSING!

YOU have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead DWELLING IN YOU if you are a Christian! The same Spirit! The SAME Spirit! He is dwelling IN you! How amazing is our God to give us such great things! WOWZA! YOU are a mighty man (or woman) of God and the mighty men, take the land with force. FORCEFULLY advance the kingdom today! Read Judges 6:12 which says: And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.  How about Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,and the violent take it by force.  We are in a fight!  We have to use the weapons the Lord has given us and GIVING is a weapon!   Praying for heaven to invade your earth today and start GIVING your way to freedom. 

Stay warm too!  It's been a long winter but Spring is just around the Corner!

Power of Prayer

Just had to share this link with y'all!  You say you don't believe?  Really.  Well, have you ever prayed?  See, I am FULLY persuaded of who my God is and what He can do, but many around me are not convinced.  Why?  Well, maybe they haven't asked God to show His love to them.

I love how this man was challenged by a friend to "shoot up a prayer" and then, THEN God showed up for him.  That is just how God does us...He shows up WHEN we call out to Him.

Don't misunderstand me, I am not saying someone will come and give you a $100 just because you pray, but ask the Lord to show you how much He loves you.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.  Ask Him.

For those of you who already believe, this is not a time to shrink back from our faith.  We need to continue to be bold in our faith - especially during this Christmas season.  Continually ask the Lord for opportunities to share with others how we find rest, peace and life in our God!  Take a minute and listen to this inspiring story.  God is SO GOOD!

So what's keeping you from "shooting up a prayer" to God? He DOES answer! Go ahead. Pray! Ask Him to reveal His love for you to you! I'm praying you do!

Gratitude

“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

With Thanksgiving behind us for this year, it is easy to become caught up in the madness of the Holidays and totally miss the joy we just celebrated last week.  I have to purpose to take my thoughts captive.  To change my mind on what my flesh feels at times.  A great way to do this is through thankfulness.

Remembering to enjoy ALL the simple things life has to offer and taking time to reflect on this goodness.  Start there. Take a minute and confess ten things you are thankful for and even share your list with someone.  It will melt away any sadness, gloom, pain or sorrow that may be trying to cloud over you during this month of December with all it's activities.

Many people become sad during this season.  Use the gift of gratitude to change your personal world!

O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples! - 1 Chronicles 16: 8

What We Do, Matters!

I read the following article in the Huffington Post and felt I needed to share it with us, the church. I am not saying you are right or wrong in how you handle your money, just think about what you do from the "other" side (the world's view) of the process. If we are to "WIN" people to Christ, I think we need to be "above reproach" when it comes to our giving that they are watching.

I have to agree, that back in the day when I did food service, the pastor's I served were the worst at giving. The more "Free" and "Flamboyant" the church was, the smaller my tip would be. Very sad. I would even talk about the Lord with my patrons and they knew I was a believer and yet still, they left pit-tins for a tip.

One of my kiddos worked in the hotel industry and heard how his fellow employees scoffed at Christians who came in because THEY saw so much hypocrisy! Like Christmas parties from well-known ministry names where staff members were drunk, rude and well, worldly. Yes, this is from Christian Ministries. There were all kinds of negative testimonies from year-after-year events with certain ministries that continually had bad impressions. When my child tried to "witness" to the co-workers, they didn't want to hear it, they had seen too much. Sad.

We have to do better at LOVING people EVERYWHERE we go. IF we miss it, we MUST repent to those who saw us fail. We all will fail and as the church, we have to start doing what James says, "confessing our sins one to another." God help ME recognize when I am failing the truth of the gospel by my selfish, fleshly actions. Father, forgive me!

We think nothing of buying a friend a meal, yet we want to skimp on blessing our "servers". Choose to go into the restaurant KNOWING you will be leaving a good tip and then, IF there is an issue, adjust accordingly.

A quick way to know how much to start your tip price at (for those who are a bit math challenged) is: Take the tax amount (listed on the receipt) and double it. (Most taxes are around 8% give or take a point.) That will put you above the 15% starting point for a reasonable tip. Then go up from there if service was better than average.

Note - this is a secular article talking about Christians. God help us BE the church that reflects YOUR image - generous, kind, blessed, and desirable.

Boundaries, Parenting and ADHD

EXCELLENT article that I read today showing that ADHD is not an issue in the country of France like it is here in the US.  What?  ADHD is not a disorder that we are born with?  In America, we treat ADHD with medication because it is a medical issue but in France, they have a SMALL percentage of people who deal with this disorder. Maybe we need to look at other factors that are the real cause of ADHD like diet and good old fashion manners.

My mother was European and many of these principles discussed here were part of my upbringing. The challenge came when the children were introduced to an outside group where "other kids" got to do things differently.  I have seen this in my own children as well.  We raised our children with many of the same "boundaries" mentioned in the article and having so many different people in our lives over the years, we have experienced MANY people who just didn't have "boundaries" for their children.

Example, as I child, children were rarely allowed to sit on the furniture in the living room, even during a party.  IF we were sitting there, nicely and an adult came into the room, we were expected, WITHOUT QUESTION, to get up and give up our chair.  We were allowed to sit on the floor IF we were to be in the room.  NEVER did I see children running in the house, jumping on the couches, helping themselves to and walking around with food.  This was just not allowed at my house or at my aunts and uncles, or my parent's friend's houses.  It was UNHEARD of in my circles.  Boundaries were in place.

Some American parents need some classes to learn parenting skills.  I am stunned when I go to malls, theme parks, fairs, movies and see how children and youth act.  It's because they haven't had parents who did their parenting.  Sometimes children just need to learn self-control and parents are the teachers.

Junk food was also something that was RARE in my home growing up.  I remember 3 times having sodas in the home before the age of 16.  Hot dogs we had maybe once a year.  Chips were for the top of casseroles, not for snacking and as for snacking, we had fruit as a choice.  I don't ever remember my mother buying sugared cereals as we had hot cereal to choose from and possibly some corn flakes or bran cereal.  Again, parents need to parent and not just feed children whatever they want.

Bedtime was another "rule" I grew up with.  I am amazed with how many young parents today let their children stay up until they crash on the floor or where ever for that matter.  Children need to sleep but parents have to require bedtimes.  On rare occasions I get it, but every night?  Kiddos are on social media sites well after midnight on school nights.  UNHEARD of to be up messing around at that time of night in my childhood.  There were boundaries.

There are some kids who are hyper, I get it, it's called being a kid. They may need more love, an extra hug and some structure.  It is tiring to teach children 24 hours a day but the rewards are worth it as they grow up.  Invest in your children when they are young.  Take the time to parent and see what boundaries accomplish.

Angels Unaware

Take a minute and listen to this miraculous clip. It will build your faith and get you stirred up with how BIG our God really is!

God has NEED of us to DO the will of the Father. That's right...he NEEDS us to activate His Word. He searches over thousands looking for one! He is alert and active and watches over HIS Word to perform it. He wants to hear US declaring HIS verdict, His plan, His purposes. How many times do we just "watch" when we should pray, declare, intercede, command, request, petition, well, you get the idea.

Totally blessed by this testimony of what our God can do. In light of our nation and it's ills, maybe we ALL should begin to take our "place on the wall" and PRAY for heaven to meet earth and change our world.

Blessings warriors! Be encouraged and LIFT UP YOUR EYES, for our help comes from the Lord!

Billy Graham Sounding an Alarm!

A friend posted this and I wanted to share it here as well! THESE ARE THE DAYS THE PROPHETS HAVE LONGED FOR! We have been chosen to be alive in these INCREDIBLE TIMES! MARANATHA!

BILLY GRAHAM SOUNDS ALARM FOR 2ND COMING
Famed evangelist sees signs 'converging now for the 1st time'. Just as Noah did in ancient times, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham is sounding the alarm that the Second Coming is “near” and signs of the end of the age are converging now for the first time since Jesus told of these events in Matthew 24.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly “biblical prophecies are being realized.”

When you see up is down and right is wrong, when this is happening, we were told this: that these days would be as the days of Noah.

In an exclusive email interview with WND, Graham, 94, who is giving what may be his last message to the world as part of the My Hope America with Billy Graham evangelistic outreach in early November, said the world is “coming toward the end of the age.”

“There’s a great deal to say in the Bible about the signs we’re to watch for and when these signs all converge at one place we can be sure that we’re close to the end of the age,” Graham wrote. “And those signs, in my judgment, are converging now for the first time since Jesus said these things in Matthew 24.

Graham said he now has a burden for “sounding the alarm for humanity to repent and turn from their sin … just as Noah did in ancient days.”

“God keeps his promises, and this is why we can be sure that the return of Christ is near,” Graham said. “Scripture tells us that there will be signs pointing toward the return of the Lord. I believe all these signs are evident today.”

The evangelistic outreach and book come as a number of major evangelists – Graham, his son Franklin Graham, Reinhard Bonnke, Greg Laurie, Luis Palau, Banning Liebscher and others – are turning their attention toward America in the hope of helping ignite what Graham calls an end-times “great spiritual awakening.”

In what the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association describes as the largest outreach in its six-decade history, Graham will give a dynamic and poignant pre-recorded message the week of Nov. 7, his 95th birthday. The My Hope programs will be available for viewing online and on YouTube. The Cross, the primary program in the My Hope series, will be broadcast on the Fox News channel, TBN, Christian networks and local television stations in a number of cities.

The event follows an open letter Graham released in the summer of 2012 titled “My Heart Aches for America.”

In the letter, Graham wondered what his late wife, Ruth, would think of a nation in which “self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.”

Graham compared America to the ancient city of Nineveh, the lone superpower of its time. When the prophet Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s warning, the people repented and escaped judgment, Graham wrote, adding he believes the same thing could happen today.

The end-times warnings by Graham, and others come amid a series of events in recent years that have prompted many to ask whether the countdown to Armageddon has begun.

The events include the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the global recession and more recently what some view as an increase in purported end-times signs, including super-earthquakes, mega-tsunamis and gargantuan storms and tornadoes.

“We’re looking at things like the possibility of another global economic meltdown,” said McGuire, an author of 22 prophecy books, including “The Day the Dollar Died” and the upcoming “A Prophecy of the Future of America.”

“Consider the earthquake warnings, the potential volcanic eruption of Yellowstone, the Japanese tsunamis and the radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster traveling across the ocean and contaminating the food supply here on the West Coast, along with massive tornadoes the size of which we’ve never seen in human history,” he said.

McGuire said government and scientific experts are also expressing concerns about the potential of a massive West Coast tsunami, increased solar flare activity and severe climate change.

“The dramatic and unprecedented planetary climate change is something on the level of the apocalyptic predictions of the Bible,” McGuire said. “We’re on the verge right now, because of climate change, of massive food and water shortages, which could affect tens of millions of people worldwide because of the droughts that have occurred. The intense heat and water shortages have dried up the crops, and we are going to see that play out in the near future because of all the freak weather.

Against this apocalyptic backdrop, prominent faith leaders such as Graham, Greg Laurie, Cahn and John Hagee say they are witnessing an unparalleled acceleration in last-days signs that suggest the Second Coming is fast approaching.

Hagee, pastor of Cornerstone Church and author of the newly-released book “Four Blood Moons,” told his 22,000-member congregation recently that the appearance of four blood moons on Jewish holy days between April 2014 and October 2015 points to a “world-shaking event” that could signify the beginning of events leading up to the seven-year Great Tribulation.

God is using the heavens to announce things to come, says Pastor John Hagee.

“I believe that the heavens are God’s billboard – that he has been sending signals to planet Earth and we just haven’t been picking them up,” Hagee told his San Antonio, Texas, congregation. “Today, with the help of God’s word and some very astute scientists, I’m going to walk you through 500 years (of four blood moons on Jewish feast days) and show you how God is literally screaming at the world: ‘I am coming soon.’”

The phenomenon, a rare combination of lunar and solar eclipses, has only occurred a few times in the last 500 years – 1492, 1948 and 1967. It will happen again in 2014-15.

The previous dates correspond with the Jews’ expulsion from Spain and Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America (a sanctuary for the Jewish people), the creation of Israel, the Six-Day War and what Hagee and other Bible prophecy scholars
believe could be the Middle East “War of Gog and Magog” predicted by the prophet Ezekiel 2,700 years ago. This war, according to Bible prophecy scholars, involves an attack on Israel by a coalition of nations led by Russia and Iran.

“The Bible speaks of signs in the heavens that have been discovered and recorded by NASA that you yourself can find on Google on the Internet,” Hagee told his church. “The coming four blood moons point to a world-shaking event that will happen between April 2014 and October 2015. What does it mean? What is the prophetic significance? Is this the end of the age?

Today, Franklin Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said there is an urgency and sense “that the Lord Jesus could be returning soon.”

“The Bible gives us warning signs,” he said. “Jesus told his disciples the things people should be looking for, and I believe all the prophecies that have to take place for Jesus to return have been fulfilled.”

One of the big prophecies was the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948.

It’s a time, Billy Graham wrote in “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation,” to take the news of the day in one hand and the Bible in the other and watch the unfolding of the great drama of the ages come together.

“This is an exciting and thrilling time to be alive,” wrote Graham, a man who has preached to more people – 2.2 billion – than any Protestant in history and who has appeared on Gallup’s list of the most admired men in the world 56 times since 1955, more than any other individual in the world.

“I would not want to live in any other period,” he said.

“The Apocalypse (the unveiling of the end times) speaks powerfully of trouble ahead with storm warnings that carrying a booming jolt of truth. The warning is clear: prepare to meet thy God – followed by the voice of the gentle Shepherd – ‘Come.’”

A new world is coming, Graham wrote. The paradise that humanity lost in the Garden of Eden will be regained. Christ is coming to conquer evil and establish his perfect rule over all creation

“But until then God wants to give everyone an opportunity to know Christ through repentance and faith,” Graham wrote. “Regardless of what society says, we can’t go on much longer in the sea of immorality without judgment coming. We are at a crossroads, and there are profound moral issues at stake. It is time to return to biblical truth.”