Where is God in America?

I don't usually like to borrow other people's views to publish on the this blog, but I felt like this one deserved publication - again. Enjoy!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events..... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says 'Thou shalt not kill'; 'Thou shalt not steal,' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay. (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide.)

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it . .. no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My best regards, honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Nothing Is Impossible With God!

When it seems the odds are against you;

"Nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37

"All glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20

And as if that wasn't enough to convince us of how big He is:

"God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us." - Hebrews 6:18

Now, no more worrying! He's got it handled - get some much needed rest tonight, friend!

Last Friday I attended the Joyce Meyer conference here in Houston, and was blessed beyond belief! Not because Joyce is awesome, (even though she is!) but because of the power of the Holy Spirit! Only the Holy Spirit can bring unity in the body! Let me explain;
Just a couple of Sundays ago, our Pastor at our local church was speaking on the meaning and value of “feet-washing” and how it was a symbol of humility and a servant-heart. At the end of his sermon, there was a corporate foot washing that took place, ushering in a move of the Holy Spirit as people walked in obedience to Jesus’ example.
The following cell (small group) meeting on Thursday at our house was a follow-up to that teaching, and we discussed further on the principle itself, and what is means to be servants in his kingdom. Then we washed feet in our kitchen, and the move of the Spirit was powerful, bringing healing, restoration, and softening hearts for Him. The Lord began to really speak to me about being a true servant, what it would mean for my life as I know it now, and I began to mull over what all this meant.
That following Sunday, Juan and I flew out to Alabama, on a trip where we were seeking the Lord’s direction in our lives, and in the ministry He is calling us to. While we were there, I visited a Christian bookstore, and came across a sculpture of Jesus washing a disciples’ feet. I broke into tears, realizing that the Lord wasn’t going to let this matter fade from my heart or intentions! I bought the sculpture, and it sits in my office as a daily reminder…
So the week we got home was the Friday at Joyce Meyer’s event. Just guess what she spoke about? That’s right, the principle of being a true servant, of washing other’s feet…
She washed feet right up there in front of us thousands, on her knees, teaching the principle as she acted on it. Guess what I did? Yes, I cried!
I love, love, love the teaching of the Lord!

I Love It When God Shows Off!!!

I love how God is never just concerned about one individual when he shows off. Rather, He is always concerned about performing goodness for all His kids! I have been walking out a struggle with back pain, which has been “diagnosed” as a congenital defect in my lower back. Most of my family has suffered with this issue to some degree, and I have struggled before with the fear of “ending up” like two of my brothers, who both have had numerous surgeries and take strong painkillers to deal with the intense pain that they live with.
So this week in particular, as I have been dealing with the MRI news, and referral to a surgeon in Houston to explore pain relief options, I have battled the fear. My own words that I have spoken over many, “I am healed by His stripes, etc.” kept flooding back into my mind all week. The confessions work, the Word works! The pain, however, was still there.
I have the most wonderful testimony of our amazing God and what He did for me last night at our cell meeting!!! We were discussing the importance of transparency in a cell setting, and reading out of James 5:13-16, just as Pastor has been asking us to do. We were trying to answer the question, “If we as a cell could be more transparent, what would that do for visitors, and each other?”
We broke out into groups of two for prayer at the end, and I gathered myself for prayer with my dear friend and sister, Yolanda R. She was having a difficult time preparing to pray, as public prayer has been somewhat of a struggle for her to overcome. She was self-conscious, hesitating to begin, when I told her “Look, Sis, you’ve got to pray for me, I need a touch from the Lord tonight. You have the same Holy Spirit in you, and you can do this!”
She began to pray somewhat timidly, then grew bolder in her desire for the Lord to hear her and touch me with healing. At some point just a few moments into her prayer, I received full healing of the pain in my back. The radiating discomfort into my left thigh ended as abruptly. I couldn’t believe it right away, so I didn’t speak up. Besides, Yolanda was praying so earnestly at this point, and her purity towards the Lord as she interceded for me was so apparent, I didn’t want to interrupt her!
Right after she prayed that I would “do somersaults the next day because I was healed,” I couldn’t take it anymore! I lifted my head, and told her, “Yolie, there’s no more pain!”
She couldn’t believe it either. We were grinning, and I said, “Isn’t it just like God to show off, and not only heal me, but use you!”
She had been too timid initially to even pray out loud, and God showed her! He wanted her to know that He was in her, and working through her! I just love how He does that. I believe that is what He means about transparency in His body, so that one part of the body can step in and help the other part when they have needs. He has something even greater in store for you. Do you need healing? Agree with just one more believer that you are healed, and pray earnestly to Him for manifestation. I give all praise, honor, and glory to our Heavenly Father, Amen.

Finding our Identity in Christ

Job 1:8 (NIV) says, "Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'"

Our Confession:
My heavenly Father is very proud of me. I am special to Him and he holds me dear to His heart. I am unique among all of His creation. There is none like me in all of the earth.
It pleases Him greatly that I have chosen to trust Him, shun evil, and live blamelessly and upright before Him all the days of my life.

In this modern day world, where we seek to "find ourselves," may we remember that He already knows us, and He created us to be who we are. Through Christ's work at the cross, we are able to live blameless and upright on earth. We just have to choose to accept this truth and walk in it.

Those Fickle Emotions!

Our emotions are so fickle. When we allow our emotions to rule our lives, we have entered a trap. When we learn how to rule our emotions, we are no longer trapped by a deceptive enemy, but walking in a freedom that knows no boundaries!
I’ve lived both ways, and I’ll gladly take this life of freedom that I am so blessed to now lead!
I used to listen to my emotions before the truth of the Word, making serious life decisions based on how I “felt.” It was a poisonous mistake, and I paid dearly for that mistake. The truth of God’s Word, when listened to, acted upon, and seen as the ultimate decision maker, will change your life, I guarantee it. God’s Word works EVERY time. Letting our emotions run us, and putting them before God’s Word, WON’T. Let me explain what I mean by this principle.
Several years ago I was struggling with some very personal issues, and one was a fear of submission to my husband. Although we got along, I truly desired a pre-conceived idea of romance between he and I. I constantly asked for “signs” of his love or commitment to me, such as gifts, dates, and words of romance. He, being the strong, and slightly stubborn man that he is, didn’t budge. The point is, that whatever he was doing right in our marriage, like providing well for the kids and I, I held in lesser importance to my “need” for unrealistic attention. My dissatisfaction with him grew, and as my emotions became disgust, I didn’t even realize how deeply my mind had transformed. I had gone from a mostly happy wife of almost ten years, to actually despising him, and seeing only the negative about him. As I fed my disappointed emotions with other’s biased opinions, and no time invested in God’s Word, I gave myself license to see the “D” word as an option.
Long story short, we did end up in a very painful divorce, wreaking havoc on ourselves, our health, and our children. I lost my best friend, my lover, my covering, and my future – and for what? For what?
Funny how reality, in all its cruelty, can give us a new take on life. Things got really, really horrible, really, really quickly and I regretted giving up on our marriage. My ex-husband, however, wasn’t necessarily ready to make up and make out. Now I was experiencing some really ugly emotions as I dealt with rejection, betrayal, and tremendous confusion. And for what? Jewelry that I never received on my birthdays? The flowers I never got? Sure, to be fair, there were more issues than that between us. Enough to split up this family? Issues big enough to cause damage to ourselves, our children and their future? I don’t think so, especially looking back from now.

Hindsight really is twenty-twenty, and I am so grateful to a very BIG God, Who saw fit to redeem this marriage, this family, and this anointing that the enemy did not want in action. Since those years ago, my husband and I are remarried, we are excited about our future, and we live a healthy, prosperous life. Jesus gave us then, and gives us now, the power to do so. We both rule over our emotions for the most part – of course we have our “old man” moments! The reality is now, that the man I had once grown to despise, is once again my best friend, my lover and my partner in parenthood and life, through every event, decision and trial. Through the good times, and the bad. My emotions sometimes spill over with affection and love for the same one that I had once allowed myself to hate.
But it takes more than a big God to turn around a failed marriage, or a failed career, or a delayed life due to disease, addiction or unbelief. It takes us deciding! Deciding to take full responsibility for ourselves, and for our own shortcomings. It takes a decision from us to forgive – to forgive others, and to forgive ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes a complete renewing of our minds, which can only be done through the power of the Word and owning every truth it reveals! It’s a process, and it’s worth every minute, every tear, and every heartbreak. Most of all, it takes us bringing those rogue emotions and flesh thoughts into captivity. Jesus gives us the power to do that. All you have to do is ask Him.

Listening - Oh What an Art!

Most of us have at least one good friend in our lives, some of us more than one. If we’ve been blessed, that person has stood by our side through the years, unconditionally and with the best of intentions. When we think back over the years together, we remember the fun times, the crazy times, and maybe even the hard times. We mull over the conversations we’ve had…how much we have shared with this friend. Wait a minute…how often have we really listened to that friend? When was the last time we dedicated a few moments to hear their heart? Are our memories those of the circumstances surrounding just OUR lives, or our friends’ as well?
It is truly a learned skill to listen, and to listen thoroughly, without an agenda. Most of us have not mastered this skill! Have you ever caught yourself thinking up your response or piece of advice while the person you are “listening to” is still speaking? I do, all the time, and I have to train my mind to slow down, and give that person my truly full attention.
I really want to become a better listener. By becoming better listeners, we would eliminate a large amount of misunderstandings between ourselves and other people. For instance, in Proverbs 18:13 it says, “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and a shame to him.” If we are not hearing that person’s “heart” or true intentions, and we translate what they are saying in our own perspective, we have are again made a “fool” of ourselves!
People are fickle beings, and we must remember that misunderstanding is one of the enemy’s strong hold in the Body of Christ. If we are not genuinely caring of the next person, it shows. If we do not listen with our Spirit, and instead with our impatient, half tuned out flesh, it shows! We need to realize that listening is an important mission for us, as we work to eliminate offense and confusion in the ranks of God’s army! Proverbs 18:19 reminds us that “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.”
Proverbs 17:27-28 says, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” My Grandma Bev, who moved in to heaven in 2008, left the greatest impression on me of how to listen to someone. She was a wonderful listener, as she never had a differing opinion to promote about whatever I was confiding in her. She would listen for lengths of time, nodding as she truly “heard my heart,” never in a hurry for me to finish. We would take long walks in my teen years, and she always had time for my emotional gut-spilling! Her acceptance of me and who I was filled my struggling heart with peace, and I have never forgotten what it feels like to be fully listened to.
What do you think? Who has been a memorable listener in your life? Share it with me!