Christmas

Peace on earth and good will towards men. All creation waits for the coming Savior.

silent nights. holy nights. starry skies. heavenly peace.

Shadowy figures in a stable and one brings forth the Messiah. While shepherds worship and angels herald from the heavens, three kings seek the new born king. But are there only three kings of Christmas?

The 5 Kings of Christmas.

King Herod

“13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” … 16 “Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.”  Matthew 2:13, 16-17

One wicked evil king of Christmas.

plotting

scheming

deceiving

The poster child for how not to use your god-given power and influence. Jealous and suspicious.  Everything Jesus isn’t. Herod plots to take the life of the One who came to give His life as a ransom for many. Innocent children slaughtered for an earthly kingdom not kept. How different Herod’s legacy could have been if he had decided to worship God instead of himself.

The Three Kings

Three wise kings from the Orient are.

searching

watching

following

“behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Matt 1b-2

That’s what wise men do—seek Jesus.  They look for signs with eyes and hearts wide open. They spend their lives and fortunes striving, searching, looking. And when they find Him, they worship. Wise men and women still seek the One who came to seek and save the lost.

The King of Kings

Emmanuel; God is with us.

sacrificing

redeeming

restoring

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 9:16

Our King has come! He rescues and redeems. He covers our sins, and heals our wounds. Greater than our darkness, His light shines like the star in the east and beckons all to come. Worship at the manger and find peace at the cross. The King of Kings.

Behold your King:

He rules over our sin.

He shreds our doubts.

He ransoms our debt.

He fulfills our every need.

He is stronger than our deepest fear.

He is greater than our guilt.

He is King over everything.

 

 

Forever and ever ….

and ever

and ever

and ever

Jesus, the King of Kings, the King of Christmas

Merry Christmas.

all rights reserved

copyright 2016

Day 1, The Lord’s Prayer: Pray for God’s Will.

 Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

 

“This, then is how you should pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

 

Prayer Focus: The prayer focus for Day 1 is revival. Revival for our country starts with revival in my own heart. We must each seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Our first priority is to glorify God. When we get our hearts and priorities set by seeking and doing His will, everything else will come into alignment with Jesus. He can then begin working His plan in each one of our lives. Revival will happen when we live by the credo “thy will be done.” To the degree that we relinquish control to God is the degree to which the Holy Spirit can begin to transform our lives. Imagine if we all did that! As our lives transform, so will our nation. Revival happens one soul at a time.

 

Action Steps:

1. Find a quiet place to process with the Lord. Take your Bible and a journal.
2. Pray for revival to start in your own heart. Ask the Lord to show you any habits, actions, thoughts, words, attitudes, etc., that need to change in you so that you are ready for revival.
3. Journal about what you feel God is showing you.
4. Once you feel your own heart is set, move to praying for your community, state, and nation. Choose a scripture that you can pray specifically for our nation and use that throughout the week.

 

Day 2, The Prayer of Nehemiah: Rebuild Some Walls

 

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:5-11, 2:18b

 

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man” … “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

 

Prayer Focus: The prayer focus for Day 2 is unity in our country. In the story of Nehemiah, Israel was in trouble because those who had survived the exile and were back in Jerusalem were facing the extreme situation of a broken-down wall and burned gates. They were defenseless and open to other enemy attacks without the protection of the wall that encircled the city. Rebuilding this wall was top priority if they were going to once again live in safety. They needed the remnant to work together to rebuild the wall.

Today we are facing a divided nation, as are many of our European and African brothers and sisters, as we deal with a caustic society where respect and manners have given away to prejudices and a do-and-say-what-you want mentality. We need to rebuild the walls of unity, respect, and peace in our nations.

 

Action Steps:

1. Take your journal and Bible to a quiet place.
2. Ask God to show you if you have any wrong beliefs/attitudes that need to be corrected.
3. Journal what you feel God is showing you.
4. Prayerfully seek ways you can reach out to others who are different than you. We can’t try to force this, but must ask God to open opportunities and then be watchful for them.
5. Consider serving in a ministry that gives you opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people.
6. Diligently intercede over divisions in your own family, neighborhood, church, and country. Write down any specific requests that the Holy Spirit quickens to your heart in your journal.

 

Day 3, Prayer Daniel: Admit Our Sin and Ask for God’s Intervention.

 

Scripture: Daniel 9:15-19

 

“And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us.

 

Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

 

 

Prayer Focus: For Day 3 our prayer focus is restoration, upcoming elections and leaders. Because we have chosen to walk by sight and not by faith, to follow our own heart and forget the word of God, our nation is in turmoil. God will only bless us when His people follow His word and His will. Thankfully, God constantly calls us to repent, to turn back and start over again with Him. The election of 2016 is critical. We are at a turning point. The “watchman on the wall” is calling. We need strong godly citizens and leaders to help our nation thrive. The battle for our heart, for the heart of our families, cities and nations will be won our knees with the sword of the spirit on our lips. Pray for the hearts of the people to turn back to God so we will elect God’s chosen leaders. Pray for God to surround the leaders who are in power with godly counselors, like Daniel (Never doubt the influence of one godly man or woman placed strategically by God). In Christ, we always have hope.

Action Steps:

 

1. Find a quiet place to process with the Lord. Take your Bible and a journal.
2. Pray for God to reveal sinful attitudes and actions in your own heart and life. Ask Him to show you sins of commission (things you’ve done but shouldn’t have) and sins of omission (things you haven’t done but should have). Confess your sins to God.
3. Journal about what you feel God is showing you. Ask for His healing and restoration.
4. Now pray and ask God to show you sins committed at a local, state and national levels. Stand in the gap and corporately confess to God these sins.
5. Ask for forgiveness and restoration for our cities, states and nation.
6. Throughout the rest of the week, continue to take time to pray and confess on all four levels. Choose scriptures to pray specifically throughout the week.

 

 

Day 4: The Prayer of Hezekiah: God’s Deliverance

 

Scripture: Isaiah 37:15-20

 

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”

 

 

Prayer Focus: Our prayer focus for Day 4 is terrorism. We can no longer shut our eyes and pretend terrorism is a Middle East problem. Five of seven continents have experienced terrorist attacks. Since most of us will not be moving to Antarctica, we must face the problem and act. The most powerful thing we can do is pray. Pray for God to:

1. wreck the plans of terrorists
2. confuse their communications
3. cut off their supply lines
4. use their plans of evil for good
5. raise up mighty men and women of God to oppose their plans with force
6. make us all ready to live courageously in the face of great danger and be willing to lay down our lives if needed
7. infiltrate the hearts and minds of terrorists with the truth of His Holy Word.
8. send in missionaries to witness to all involved in terrorist activities.

By the mighty power of Jesus’ Holy Name we pray, Amen.

Action Points:

1. Get out your prayer journal and read through the scriptures for today again. record in your journal any thoughts you have or actions God is prompting you to take.
2. If you are connected to the Internet, Google search the latest terror attacks throughout the world. Choose the three or four of them, record them in your journal and pray for the victims, their families, the first responders and the leaders of those nations.
3. Access the following link and pray for one or several of the nations listed in the terrorism index: Global Terrorism Index
4. Here comes the hard part. God tells us to pray for our enemies. Let’s do it. Let’s pray for the terrorist cells to be confronted dead on by the life-changing, heart-rending power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for God to pursue them night and day, to speak to them through the testimony of those they kill and their dreams at night. May they have no peace until the meet the Prince of Peace.
5. Look up the names of known terrorists and pray specifically for them to turn to Christ, for God to interrupt their plans and for them to see God moving in the lives of those they are persecuting. 

Day 5 The Fast of Esther for the Persecuted

 

Scripture: Esther 3: 8-9, 4:13-17

 

Esther was a young Jewish woman who had been exiled and lived in Persia with her older cousin Mordecai, about 100 years after the Babylonian captivity. By a series of dramatic events Esther is named Queen of the Persian Empire. Haman, one of the king’s advisors, hated the Jews and devised a scheme to annihilate all of the Jews in Persia.

 

“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

 

And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.”

 

Prayer Focus: Our prayer focus for day 4 is the persecuted church and Christians. Every day around the world people are persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and martyred for their faith. One Christian is killed every 5 minutes (11 each hour, 273 each day, about 100,000 each year). While these people may be strangers they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. When Esther heard about the plight of her people, she chose to act. She called for believers everywhere in Persia to fast and pray for God to act and deliver His people. After three days of fasting and praying, at the risk of her own life, she approached the king and asked for deliverance. We, however, can boldly approach the throne of grace and ask our King for mercy without fearing for our lives. Today, let’s commit to spending a half hour in prayer for the persecuted church and persecuted Christians. Ask God to raise up others to pray. Let’s open our eyes to the need and speak out for those who are suffering and act.

Action Steps:

1. Once again, read through the scriptures for today and record your thoughts in your prayer journal.
2. Click a link. We tend to think the oppression and persecution of Christian people belongs to a bygone era. However, more Christians are being persecuted for their faith today than in any other time in history. Please click on the following link for Voice of the Martyrs and learn how you can get involved. Voice of the Martyrs.
3. While at their website sign up for their free Voice of the Martyrs newsletter. Click on the Get Involved link and learn about several significant ways you can impact and encourage persecuted Christians around the world.
4. Throw a party! One of my favorite ways to help persecuted and oppressed women is through Women at Risk. “Women at Risk International is a, nonprofit organization, established to create circles of protection around at-risk women and children … we provide safe places to heal from abuse, trafficking, exploitation, and more. Our passion is to empower survivors to live and work with dignity and hope.” We have manicure parties, make-up parties, and cooking parties so why not host a party to help the persecuted? To watch a short video on how to host a WAR party click on the link: Women at Risk Party. I did it with my 5^th graders and we made over $500 to donate to those at risk!
5. Get a Map. To help you track the countries you are praying for, Every Home for Christ offers free prayer maps, e-books, and prayer guides. Click on the link and order yours today. Every Home for Christ

Final Challenge: Don’t let it end here. God wants you to take what you have learned and use it to teach others. Start your own 5 Days to Fast and Pray group.

Esther called out to other believers and asked them to join her in praying for the deliverance of God’s people. There has never been an easier time in history to start a prayer group than 2016. Technology, social media and e-mail have made it possible for any person to impact the culture at a global level. A few clicks of a mouse and you can set up your own 5 Days to Fast and Pray Facebook group.

If you are willing to answer God’s call, here’s how to set up your own prayer group:

1. Go to your own Face book page.
2. Click on the home tab next to your account picture on the top ribbon.
3. On the left hand pane under Groups, click on Create Group and Facebook will help you set up your own page.
4. After your group is set up, you can add/invite members in the right hand pane where it says add members.
5. You can also go to your own personal wall and create a post advertising your prayer/bible study group!
6. To access a logo and header for your group, please click on the links provided: Facebook Meme Facebook Header

 

Let us know if we can assist you with your group set-up. Jane and I are praying for you!

In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.

Genesis 5:2

 

“How do you identify?” is the hot question of the day.

Everyone is talking about it. It’s trending everywhere. Our nation is embroiled in an identity crisis. Never has identity been more controversial than in the 21st century. Ironically, the question is as old as dirt.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.

God formed man from dirt and breathed life into him. He created them male and female. Men and women. Not men or women. Created things have no choice as to what they were created to be.  The sun is not the moon, oranges aren’t apples, lions are not elephants. Men are not women. Straight up. To the point. No choice. Men and women were created. Not self-made, not man-made, but God-made. And Satan twisted God’s plan.

He attacked Eve’s identity.

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Satan cast doubt on the goodness of man’s identity. He tempted Eve to believe God held out on her and made her less then she could be. B-list creation.

Eve fell for it—and we’ve been falling for it ever since.

Sin entered the world and everything was skewed, even identity; we are left wondering whose we are and who we are. Not knowing our true identity,  we won’t become what we were created to be, or fulfill our calling in Christ. We will only accomplish all that God has planned for us when we are what He created us to be.

Satan also attacked Jesus’ identity.

Read his words:

Where can we learn the truth about our identity?

The world cannot be trusted. Friends often lead us astray. Our heart is deceitful above all things. Our identity is found only in Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life.

1. Children of God. John 1:12
2. Accepted in Christ. Romans 15:7
3. The image of God. Genesis 1:27
4. Known by God. Jeremiah 1:5
5. Chosen by God. 1 Peter 2:9
6. One in Christ. Galatians 3:28
7. A temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19
8. Seated at the right hand of God and our life is hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:1-3
9. Redeemed from our sins. Ephesians 1:7
10. Restored, strengthened and established. 1 Peter 5:10

There is blessing in being who God created us to be. Through Him we learn the truth about our identity so we may walk, live, look, and act like Jesus.

Final Thoughts:

1. We do not create our identity but discover it. Pray and read God’s word. Take special note of any references to who we are in Christ.
2. The more we learn about God, the more we learn about who we were created to be. Since we are created in the image of God, we are to be like Him. we can learn more about God by attending a Bible-based church, by doing Bible studies, and by listening to sound Bible-based podcasts.
3. A picture is worth a thousand words. To see a diagram on how our identity in Christ is formed, click on this link: Identity In Christ

Resources:

If you are struggling with gender identification, there is help and hope! Please click on the link below for  information.

Focus on the Family: Transgenderism Series

For further Bible study information, please click on any of the following links:

To Do-ers List: Study

To Do-ers List: Word in Me

Walking With God

 

Life is sweet!

All rights reserved

Copyright 2016

 

i pray

short podcasts to bring the sacred into your everyday

Do you only have a few minutes for prayer today? You’re in the right place! Try one of our new i pray podcasts. A few minutes is all you need to pray God’s word into any situation by interceding for friends, family, and yourself. 

Show Notes

Today we are praying about trust. Perhaps like me, you may sometimes have a problem fully trusting God because of current or past hurts and troubles. You’re afraid of being hurt again. And, when we’re honest, we wonder why God allowed these things to happen in the first place.

This world is a beautiful, messed up place, and both beauty and evil spill over into our lives. Let’s use scripture to help us pray through our brokenness and healing — and our place in God’s plan to redeem the world.

Today we’re going to pray through two scriptures:

• Psalm 9:8-10
• John 16:33

To pray with us, just click on the arrow below. Feel free to leave a comment or your own prayer as you process the issue of trusting God.

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead …”  Romans 4:20-24

Righteousness. I had none.

It was credited to him as righteousness.

Words of righteousness.

Action Points

1. Receive God’s gift of righteousness.
2. How should a righteous person live, act and walk?
3. Now that you no longer have to strive for righteousness, what can you do instead?
4. What can you do differently now that you know you are accepted and redeemed by God?
5. Pray for God to help you realize the depths of your righteousness because of Christ.

Life is sweet.

all rights reserved

copyright 2015

To Do-ers List: Back to School, Pack a Lunch

When my sisters and I were little girls, my mom taught us how to pack our lunch for school. With four daughters, a husband, and a full-time job, she needed to take a few tasks off of her to-do list! So every day I had to pack a lunch.  A honey-loaf sandwich, fruit, and a cookie went into my lunch box. Monday through Friday, the same thing. When lunch time would roll around, I’d look wistfully at the Fritos and Twinkies the other kids were snacking on and try to “trade up,” but I didn’t have much ammo to trade with!

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” Isaiah 55:1

Spiritual Nibbles or a Fortified Feast

As I was thinking about my uninspired lunch, it reminded me of the spiritual food I used to exist on. For years, I nourished myself with honey-loaf bites of the word of God. Day in and day out, I quickly nibbled on a verse or two as I rushed out the door for work. I dutifully drank my spiritual baby milk while God waited for me to “trade up” my milky sustenance for a meatier, stick-to-your ribs meal.

The wonderful thing about God is that I don’t have to beg Him for a treat. I don’t have to buy it. It is there for my taking. What I do have to do is decide that I am going to put in the time that it takes for me to eat a richer meal. Actually, God calls it a feast.

No wonder I was stuck in sin patterns in my life. I didn’t give God the time that the Holy Spirit needed to take my life and transform it into something beautiful. I was stuck in fear, in doubt, basically in a rut, living off leftovers. When I got serious about wanting to change, He began to move in my life. He didn’t force me. The Holy Spirit never does. It’s up to us to follow through.

For Today:

Resolve that you are ready to expand your spiritual diet. If you are a new Jesus-follower, then by all means, start at the beginning and get grounded in the basics of the faith. But if you have been a believer for a while and are still subsisting on baby food, move up to solid food.

What will that look like for you?

It may mean you sign up for a Bible study. Perhaps you’ve thought about taking a Bible class for credit  or personal study through a ministry or university (see the resource section below — several free classes!). God has His eye on someone whom He wants to start teaching a class. Perhaps you should be mentored or are ready to mentor someone else. Maybe studying a book about developing your prayer life is on your to do-ers list.

With unlimited possibilities before you, pray about it and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what your next step is. Write this down on your app or in your notes and tell someone else what you’re thinking. Accountability never hurts! If you’d like to, feel free to share in the comment section what your spiritual feast might look like. And post on Twitter if you’d like about what you’re doing using the hashtag #ToDoers.

School is in session. Remember to pack your lunch!

Previous Sessions of To Do-ers List, Back to School:

Day 1: New Clothes

Day 2: The Book