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Cry Out To the Lord Jehoshaphat was a righteous man, but there was something in his heart that troubled him. This troubling was signaling to him that he was not seeking God first in all matters. He knew that as king, he had to lead with authority on a daily basis. However, he was operating many times under his own influence and not seeking and listening to God’s voice first for instruction and direction. We as Christians tend to do the same thing, especially ministers. If these words are speaking to your heart, don’t run and hide, just change your course. Get to a place where you can open the Bible and say, “God, speak to me plainly. Speak to me about the purpose You have for my life, not my idea of what my life should be. Give me power to get out of this mess I’ve no doubt helped to create by not seeking first the kingdom of God. Obviously, I have weakened my stand. I prayerfully cry out to You today to give me the power to leave things that need to be left and to lay hold of things that I need to lay hold of. I have learned from my mistakes. Please forgive me
and help me to get back on the path that you would have me go. I humbly thank you for your love and conviction, in Jesus’ name, amen. You and I should not be spending all of our time simply fighting our own inner struggles when we are called to fight something much bigger. We are called to lead people into freedom and victory, to bring them out of prisons and places of despair. We are called to reach the hopeless and the homeless, the addicted and the destitute, bringing them into this glorious kingdom of God. You must cry out to the Lord. Although Jehoshaphat suddenly found himself surrounded by enemies, we can still take heart, for the Scriptures tell us, “Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him” (2 Chronicles 18:31). There must have been a cry in Jehoshaphat’s heart: “Oh, God, I have been living in a place of mixture. I’ve been listening to the voice in my head and from others but not Yours. Oh, God, one more time,
please help me to live in obedience to Your will. Will You once again fight against my enemies and get me out of this place of weakness, and take me into a place of victory? Speak through me again to be able to lead your people into righteousness!” God caused Jehoshaphat’s enemies to depart from him. You see, when God speaks, everything in creation has to obey. Everything that has surrounded us, everything that has been tormenting our minds, every lying voice that has been trying to give us a wrong direction and everything that has gained access to us because of not seeking out God first. God can cause all of our enemies to depart when we cry out to Him! I foresee very difficult days ahead of us. But in the midst of that difficulty, I see multitudes of “Jehoshaphats” from all over this country who have been sitting in the wrong place—finally getting up and saying, “I am going back to that place of strength and victory that was won for me on Calvary. I am going to bend my knee to the
Lord, even if it means dropping my own plans and ambitions. I am going back to find the will of the One who died for me.” Come what may, remember that we as the people of God are not destined for defeat. We are not destined to die with others who refuse to heed the voice of God. We are not destined to be overthrown like the smooth-talking false prophets who do not know the heart of God. We are destined to live in victory. We are destined to be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. And so it is time to lay down our plans and cry out to God again for our homes, our families, our businesses, and our community. In these end times, it will not be a popular time to stand for God, but there will be a glorious touch of the Holy Spirit on those who have the sense to call out to God now. He will give us supernatural strength. He will cause our enemies to depart from us, and we will see that all things still remain possible to those who believe! Save the Nation Ministries >
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From The Editor
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Seek His Face Now! It’s time to preach the Apostolic message:, the message of the cross, the message of salvation, the message of sanctification, the message of holiness, the message of dying to sin, the message of repentance, and the message also of entering into the blessing of the Lord, into the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the power of God’s miracles, which are able to be performed when God’s people seek His face. The work of the Spirit is one with the Word. There will be multitudes coming to the Lord in these end times, because it will be the work of the Holy Spirit. The continuing presence of the Holy Spirit is birthed in prayer. It was the same as in the days of the Apostles: it was mighty prayers. Mighty prayers come from a daily prayer life. Whenever the
Apostles gathered, there were prayers. There will be mighty prayers with God speaking, God rebuking and God revealing the secret sins of hearts right in those prayers. Christians need to be walking in the fear of the Lord. And I believe the Lord will say by the Holy Spirit, My children, whoever will believe my voice and obey Me; I will lead you out of bondage. I want to deliver you and save you from great sufferings. In these last days, I believe the Lord will be sending out His prophets to proclaim the Gospel and spread the message of the living God. And the Lord will speak through them, “My children, seek My face and pray and I will direct you." First of all, the Lord will always speak in advance. As you
read the Word of God, first in the Old Testament and then in the New, the Lord always warns God’s people in advance. He will tell them of things to come, because Christ promised, He said, "When I go away I will send you another comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will tell you of things to come. He will also tell you all the things I have taught you." Yes, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Not only to teach us and lead us into all truth, but also, He will tell of things to come. That’s what the Lord was doing in the days of old. Read about the works of the Prophets. How many times did the Lord warn God’s people, kings, and nations about future things to come? And read the book of Acts. There was the time Agabus the prophet, came into the midst of the church and he said by
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inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "There will be a famine in the land.” Everything was fine; food was still plentiful at that time. But God knew what was coming. And the people of God were warned by the prophet through the Holy Spirit in the New Testament age, that there would be a famine. And so the people of God were able to prepare for that and do necessary things, as you read in Acts. The same Holy Spirit warned the Apostle Paul, "Don’t go to Jerusalem because bondage is awaiting you there". Who knew that? Nobody, but the Holy Spirit, God Himself. So then, we see our living God, right in the Bible, speaking,
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3 Ways to De-Clutter Your Life and Heart Charles Stanley
We live in a consumption-based culture, where many equate happiness with "stuff." Never had I realized this more than when we drove away from the airport after landing in the U.S. after two years living as missionaries in France. Suddenly, our latent-consumer kids woke up. "Look, there's Target! Oh, and Mattress Giant. Mommy, it's WalMart!" On and on my children prattled in the backseat. I calculated how much room we'd have in our suitcases or in our small home back in France, for that matter. We are a cluttered people, drowning in stuff, surrounded by advertising telling us that more stuff will make us happy. Eventually, though, our garages reach capacity at the same rate our kitchen counters explode with paper. How can we dare to de-clutter? And what if we feel utterly overwhelmed by the task? Here are three simple ways you can de-clutter today: Fling unnecessary stuff. Take it one drawer at a time. Go through a drawer, perhaps the junk drawer, and get rid of anything you don't absolutely need. Keep anything related to taxes, recent bills, important school notices, etc. Dare to ditch the rest. Shred old banking documents and anything with personal information. Throwing things out can be excruciating, particularly if you're hounded by questions like, "What if I need this someday?" One way you can get over this hurdle is to reason with yourself about an object's necessity. Ask yourself, "Can I get this information or object again if I part with it now?" or "Is this thing really necessary?" or "What's the worst thing that can happen if I part with this?" Clarifying the consequences (or lack thereof) will help
tame your inner pack rat. Find a charitable organization who takes donations and whose mission you're passionate about. Call and ask how to drop off or have items picked up. Set a goal to donate five garbage bags full of items next week. Still, sometimes we worry that if we give random things to a faceless organization, not everything will be used. Consider giving away something your friend could use, or would love, ensures your prized possession will be enjoyed. Plus, your generosity will bless your friend. A good rule of thumb is this: If you can't think of someone to pass an item to in 30 seconds, put it in the donation bag. Just don't go fishing through the bag again! Once you've experienced the contagious freedom of generosity, you'll want to give away more, thus de-cluttering your home and enlarging your heart. Fast from advertising today. Turn off the TV. Listen to CDs instead of the radio. Hide magazines. Block the pop-up ads on your computer.
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The more content you become (by being less bombarded by advertisements and choosing not to buy into their message), the less you will accumulate, the more you'll want to rid yourself of excess clutter. Want to have a less-cluttered home and life? Ask God to help you learn to be truly content as you discipline yourself to make the first steps in simplifying your living space. Jesus wasn't speaking metaphorically when He said, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). A peaceful home and heart stems from a willingness to sacrifice and to live life simply for Jesus. Ochristian >
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I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. —Psalm 9:1
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His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21) George Gallup, of the national polling organization, has said that our nation faces a crisis that is neither political nor economical, but moral and spiritual. God says that faithfulness is the basic, rudimentary, fundamental ingredient of character. You will not know God’s blessing apart from faithfulness. What our nation needs are men who are: Faithful to Family – Remain faithful to your wife. Adultery is the ultimate act of unfaithfulness, but you don't have to commit the physical act of adultery to be unfaithful. Some have love affairs with their work, with sports, and other things. Also, your children need a dad who will be faithful. I've asked my own children this question: "Have I ever made a promise to you that I've failed to keep? If so, I want you to tell me, so I can repent. I want you to believe that your dad is a faithful man." Faithful with Finances - Did you know that God might be withholding a spiritual blessing from you because He's first tried you with money (Luke 16:11)? If you haven't been faithful with the money God has given you, why should He give you the true riches—that's spiritual power, insight into the Word of God, answered prayer, fellowship with Jesus Christ, and joy? Faithful to Friends - If I were to ask you today to sit down and write letters to five people that you know that you could count on or that you consider to be a faithful man; would
anybody write you a letter? Are you known as a faithful man? Faithful to the Fellowship – This means to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we are to be faithful to the fellowship. Friend, I believe we ought to be in the house of God on a regular basis, bringing our prayers, tithes, Bibles, love, and influence. Faithful to the Faith – We must be faithful to the Word of God. I see a generation of young people today with no conviction. They don't know the great truths of the Word of God. They don't stand for the faith. It is your responsibility as a dad to be faithful to the faith and to teach these young people what the Word of God says. Reasons to be Faithful We need to be faithful because Jesus Christ is faithful to us. Which of us has not sinned? Thank God for (1 John 1:9): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." He's never failed to do it. He's been faithful in temptation. Are you tempted? Thank God for (1 Corinthians 10:13) that says: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may able to bear it." He's faithful to keep us from falling. We don't stay saved by holding on to God. We're kept because He holds on to us. He preserves us faithful to the end (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). How to be Faithful • Be faithful in the small things. If you'll be faithful in the small things, the big things will take care of themselves (Luke 16:10). The big things in life are made up of little acts, little words, and little thoughts. Use integrity in the small things. • Be faithful in the secret things. What you are in secret is what you are. I'm talking to many who travel a lot and go into motels, and on the television are R-rated and X-rated films. Nobody's in there but you and Jesus. Be faithful in the secret Uthings. • Be faithful in the sacred things. See FaithfUl Men on Page 10
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Obstetrics & Gynecology Kevin M. Plaisance MD, LLC
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. (Proverbs 14:1) 1. Is there anything about my speech, actions, dress, or attitudes that could defraud the men around me? 2. Am I building up my “house”—home, work place, church,—(vs. tearing it down)? 3. Am I taking in sensual thoughts and desires through books, magazines, TV programs, music, or movies that are not morally pure? 4. Am I investing in the lives of those around me? Am I nurturing the heart of my siblings or others God has called me to bless? 5. Am I looking to any man (pastor, counselor, colleague, etc.) to fill an emotional vacuum in my life? Do I go to a man rather than going to the Lord to meet my emotional needs? 6. Am I cultivating a grateful, joyful spirit? Am I rejoicing in the Lord? 7. Is there any behavior or relationship I am involved in that I am hiding? Am I engaged in anything now that I will not want my husband to know about if I marry in
the future? 8. Am I giving the best of my physical and emotional energy for the Lord? 9. Am I discontent? Am I dwelling on thoughts that make me unable to find fulfillment through serving the Lord and those around me He has called me to serve? 10. Am I cultivating a pleasant, gracious spirit in my words, actions, and attitudes that brings honor and glory to the Lord? 11. Am I critical or judgmental? Do my parents have the freedom to be honest with me? 12. Am I keeping my emotions, attention, and affection from every man to whom I am not engaged or married? Am I protecting the thoughts and feelings of my heart? 13. Is my conversation ever loose, crude, or unbecoming for a woman of God? 14. Am I discreet and restrained in the way I talk with men at work? 15. Am I expressing admiration for a man that should more appropriately come from his wife? • 16. Do I communicate a meek, quiet, and submissive spirit? 17. Does my demeanor tend to be “loud and defiant”? Do I dominate or try to control the men around me? 18. Does my dress help men to keep their thoughts pure and Christcentered? Is my dress feminine and modest? 19. Am I a “door” or a “wall” (Song of Songs 8:9)? Am I a “loose” woman? Do I communicate to the men around me that I am “available”? Does my demeanor invite them to “partake” of intimate parts of my body, soul, or spirit? Do I engage in flirtatious speech, looks, or behavior? See Single Woman on Page 34
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The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015 his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” —Psalm 50:23
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Curing Your Ill Will By Mary Kassian It’s game time. The coach is starting his favorite players. For what seems like the hundredth time this season, your child is warming the bench. You sit in the stands with the other parents and dutifully clap and cheer – but inside, you harbor the malicious hope that your child’s teammates will play poorly, that the team will lose, and that the coach will be humiliated. Let’s face it. Malice – the desire to see another person hurt, distressed, or brought-down – is a vicious attitude we’re all familiar with. It’s known by many names: spite, cattiness, pettiness, rancor, animosity, and enmity. Though we often shrug off this malady as insignificant and even justifiable, the Bible cites it in several “danger lists.” Malice is a poisonous attitude that seriously jeopardizes our spiritual health. Bad blood The word malice derives from the Latin, malus, which simply means “bad.” It’s the word used to translate the New Testament kakia, which is wickedness, evil, ill-will,
trouble and harm. Malice is the “badness” in one person wishing “bad” things upon another. It’s a poison that causes bad blood to run through the veins of our relationships. The Bible is full of examples. King Saul’s envy of David started the malice flowing through his veins. Convinced that David was after the throne, Saul and his army pursued him for years. Joseph’s brothers’ spite started with feelings of hurt. It was obvious their father favored Joseph. And to make matters worse, Joseph had the gall to rub their faces in the pain by suggesting his was a greater destiny. The wound had festered for years when fate dealt them the opportunity to throw him in a pit and sell him to the traders passing by. Herodius harbored ill will towards John the Baptist for calling attention to her adulterous behavior. The Pharisees resented Jesus for not pandering to their egos. Envy, hurt, irritation and
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A Fishy Tale by Steven Wilson Morah sat on the beach throwing pebbles into the sea. She was angry! Her parents were always telling her what to do and she was fed up with it. Determined never to obey them again, she flung her last pebble into the water and turned to leave. No sooner had her pebble splashed down into the sea than the waters began to froth and foam. Huge waves rose and crashed onto the sand. "Crumbs!" she shrieked spinning round. "I didn't throw it that hard!" But it hadn't been her pebble that had caused the water to react so violently. It had been the forty-foot fish that was at that very moment beached right in front of her. Morah froze. She didn't like fish at the best of time and certainly not huge big ones that kept winking at her. She was wondering what she should do, when suddenly the huge fish began to retch. It was about to be sick and Morah was standing in the firing line. She dived for a nearby bush just in time as the fish gave one last heave and was sick all over the sand.
What a mess! There were seaweed and timbers, and old rags, and...and...and.... Morah rubbed her eyes. She could hardly believe what she saw. There in amongst all the debris was a...man! He was alive. He was covered in goo and bleached as white as a lamb. But he was alive! The man staggered to his feet and the huge fish thrashed back into the sea. The man was small with a tangled beard that was more seaweed than hair. His skin was wrinkled like a prune and he smelled horrible. "What a pong!" thought Morah, as she cupped her hand over her nose and sank lower behind the hedge. "How on earth did he end up inside a fish?" She watched him pull a piece of driftwood from between his toes, clear the mucus from his eyes and ears, and struggle up the beach until he was gone. She heaved a sigh of relief and climbed out from behind her bush to set off for home. Although her thoughts were
taken up by the strange events on the beach, she was still determined to tell her parents that she had decided not to do what they ask ever again. "I've just seen him!" she heard her father's voice tell as she neared the house. "The same man that told us to throw him in the sea because he had angered his God. He said it would stop the storm. And it did!" "Wow!" said Morah's mother as Morah entered the house. "He must have a mighty powerful God to stop the storm like that. Why didn't he drown?" "Well apparently," Morah's father continued, "he's been in the belly of a fish for three days and nights. Now that is a mighty God he follows, if you ask me." Morah froze once more at the mention of the big fish. So that's how the strange man had ended up inside the fish. He'd angered his God. "How did he anger his God?" asked Morah, somewhat surprising her parents who hadn't noticed her come in.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; —Psalm 92:1
"Well," said her father, crouching down to give his daughter a big hug. "Apparently he refused to do what God had asked him to do!" "Really!" gasped Morah remembering the sight of the bedraggled old man who had just spent three days inside the belly of a fish. "Oh dear!" And without another thought, Morah turned to her mother and said, "Is there anything you would like me to do? You only have to ask, you know. I'll be only too willing." And with that, Morah grabbed a broom and frantically began cleaning the house. THINK! Do you think Morah was right, not wanting to help her parents? Why is it important to help other people? What sorts of things can you do that would help God? REMEMBER Sometimes the simplest actions can bring the greatest rewards! See A Fishy Tale on Page 10
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Ill Will Continued from Page 8 pride can all spark malice. Haman harbored ill will towards Mordecai simply because Jews rubbed him the wrong way. In each case, the malicious person felt that object of his or her malice deserved to suffer. The malicious person is intent on inflicting pain on others. But ironically, the damage this person inflicts on himself is even more substantial. It’s like the bee that stings an enemy in vengeance, but in the process of using its stinger, initiates its own demise. Malice toward none – charity for all Near the end of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln admonished the citizens of the fractured nation to have “malice toward none” and “charity for all.” Charity is unmerited kindness and favor. Lincoln’s words mirrored the sentiments of the Apostle Paul, who claimed that the antidote to malice was kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. Paul reasoned that our capacity to respond to opponents in this way is directly linked to our awareness of and gratitude for what we have received from the Father, through Jesus. Instead of malice, the Father extends unmerited grace towards us. Because of this, we can overcome malice and have charity for all. A prescription for ill will –
www.changingtimes.info (Ephesians 4:30-32) So how do you cure your ill will? The Apostle Paul wrote his friends in Ephesus a prescription. Grab a pen and complete this section to take a dose of this medicine. To begin, use Paul’s list of symptoms to check if you have bad blood running through your veins. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any malignancies. For those cases the Lord brings to mind, determine whether the infection is mild, moderate or severe. Jot down names or initials of people you harbor the following toward: bitterness, anger, slanderous words, desire to hurt. Even a mild case of malice grieves the Holy Spirit of God. According to Paul, it’s important to let God “put away” – purge – every little bit of this poison from our systems. We do this by forgiving our adversaries and allowing the kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness of Jesus to flood our veins and become the source of our charity towards them. All of God’s children have received an overabundance of his kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness. Next time you feel malice in your veins, make a conscious choice to ask God to help you give his charity to all. © Revive Our Hearts. Mary Kassian. Used with permission. www.MaryKassian.com www.TrueWoman.com. >
A Fishy Tale Continued from Page 9 A VERSE TO LEARN Jesus said: "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42 - NIV). LET'S PRAY Dear Lord, please help me to know that every time I do something for another person, I am also doing it for You.
Please help me to show Your Love to my friends and family in the things I do for them. In the Name of Jesus. Amen. CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE? Jonah (in the Old Testament), chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4 Copyright © 2015 -The Lorain County Free-Net Chapel North Central Ohio, U.S.A. >
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Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
Faithful men Continued from Page 6 Be faithful to meet with God. Do you know how you have faithfulness? Not by resolution, not by gritting your teeth, but by abiding in Him. Come to Him; be committed to Him; surrender to Him; yield to Him; and God will make you faithful.
God – give us faithful men. I pray that You will give us some dads, husbands, teachers, and pastors who are faithful because, Lord, you have been faithful to us. Copyright 2015 Love Worth Finding Ministries >
Seniors
www.changingtimes.info
Changing Times
Seniors Time Spent With My Great Grandmother Gill by Renee Root My great grandmother on my mother’s side was a very special person. She was probably in her 80’s or 90’s when I was a child. I thought she was really old and that is amazing because when my grandmother was that age – she was still cooking family dinners without anyone helping her. I always called my great grandmother: “Grandma Gill”. She always sat in her chair and smiled or spent her day going through her desk looking at old photos, papers and cards that she had received. She loved her grandkids and great-grandkids and always had butterscotch candy available for us. She just enjoyed watching us play. One Easter I had spent the night and the next morning she enjoyed watching the children playing hide and seek with the Easter candy and eggs. She just sat there and smiled as we colored the eggs. There were no rules – of course we were taught not to destroy things and to clean up messes we made. There was an old pedal organ in one of the back rooms and one of the other favorite ways to pass time was to play the organ. It was probably a blessing she couldn’t hear the music because none of us had any idea how to play the organ – so you can use your imagination to understand how awful it probably sounded. I will always treasure those memories because when things are tough as an adult –childhood memories are blessing from the Lord. Grandma Gill lived during the time before modern appliances. She had arthritis – I believe it was the type that cripples – in her hands and she could barely walk. Her hands were so crippled she could not straighten them – but was still able to use them to pick up things. I never heard her complain about pain or the life she had lived. She just always smiled. She lived with my grandmother for a period of time. My grandmother paid me .75 cents and hour (those were excellent wages for a pre-teen in the 1960’s) to stay with her while she ran errands. I watched TV and grandma Gill sat there smiled and continued with her routine of looking at photo’s, cards and papers. It was amazing because she looked at each item as if it was the first time she had seen it. I think
the lesson I learned from her was no matter what happens in life – don’t let it take your JOY away. I think she was probably living in her own world of happy times of an earlier period in her life. Many times people who are
older are not easy to be around because they are always complaining or finding fault. So, as I grow old I pray I will embrace it as my great grandma Gill did and keep my JOY until the end. >
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! —Psalm 97:12
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Changing Times
Seniors
www.changingtimes.info
Grandfather's Bible and Sam's Old Hairs by Dan Roark My brother, Dennis, and I would sleep on the sofa bed in my grandmother’s den when the family would stay the weekend while my father spent the days in the Air National Guard. I remember with fondness the mug I called my own, refusing to use any other glass or cup. The cookie jar I would rush toward each time we arrived on Friday, wondering what kind of cookie my Grandmother Roark would have that particular time. Wondering if they would be homemade or store bought, though ultimately it did not really matter. But most of all I remember my grandfather’s Bible - it’s soft leather feel, it’s smell, and the well worn pages I could see through if I held them up to the light. I would use my grandfather’s Bible when I went to church with my grandmother. Dennis and I did not always go to church when we were visiting Grandmother Roark, even though we always attended church at home. There were three reasons we would not attend church at grandmother’s house. If grandmother was ill, we wouldn’t go - or mother would stay home with whichever one of us was sick. Due to Grandmother’s receding eyesight and coordination, bad weather would keep us from church. The third reason we would not attend church when we visited Grandmother Roark was if we watched The Children’s Hour on Channel 5 which had a religious bent, which gave us an hour of “modified bible study.” It was also not uncommon for us to watch the church service (one of the few local services which were televised at the time). When I went to church with Grandmother, Sunday school was not an option. This was fine with me since, as a young boy, Sunday school was always more fun than the service. The First Baptist Church of Arlington was larger than the church we attended when we were home - mak12
Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
ing the Sunday school likewise. I would follow Grandmother through the Sunday school halls in search of the correct class, tightly clutching my grandfather’s Bible in my small grasp. That Bible was my known entity in an unknown situation. The Sunday school class inevitably consisted of rows of folding chairs facing a podium usually on wheels to move from class to class as necessary. I always received a visitor’s ribbon which I dutifully pinned to my suit coat. Even though wearing the ribbon made me nervous to be singled out - it also made me feel somewhat special. When you have stuttered all of your life - even at twelve years of age - any chance to feel special is an occasion. Being a stutterer also made me a good listener. Being good at listening led me to be able to think about other things while still listening. I did not want the Sunday school teacher to feel slighted or ignored by reading the materials or looking through the maps at the back of the Bible while he/ she was talking. When my mind wandered, I studied everything on the walls, the design of the floor tiles, and the person’s back in front of me, which brought my eyes to the back of the folding chair. The sticker in the middle of the back of the chair proudly announced that it was made by Samsonite Folding Chairs. During one of the Sunday school visits - after I had gone through the routine of following Grandmother to the correct class and pinning on the ribbon - I took my usual place behind the last filled row. It was rather interesting as I recall. It took longer than usual for my mind to wander. It took it’s usual path around the room then back to the person in front of me. When I looked down for the usual sticker I got a little surprise. Someone who had been considSee Grandfather's Bible on Page 38
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Seniors
Granny's Work Was Done by Julia May She was pale, lifeless and smelled of death as I entered the room. A mere shell of the Granny I had always known and loved. She lay unmoving, in the hospital bed hospice brought to my Mama’s home just a few weeks earlier. Her once strong, hardworking body was ravaged with cancer. Taking ragged breaths ever so often, the nurse said it wouldn’t be long now. For the past two weeks she was unconscious and kept on pain medication. We had known for a couple months that Granny was dying, but that didn’t make it any easier. The end was very near now. My Granny was the purest, most giving, and loving person I had ever known. In all my life, I had never once heard her raise her voice or say anything unkind about anyone. She was one person I could always depend on; for encouragement, love and truth, even when the truth hurt. She had a gentle way of leading me to do the right thing, in every situation. She was truly a blessed, virtuous woman that Proverbs speaks about. She had finally been coaxed into coming to live with my Mother about a month after Granddad passed on, eight years earlier. Only, if Mama agreed that she would help with housework and pay her own way. She wasn’t proud; she just didn’t want to burden anyone. I remember Granddad telling stories about how she would “give folks the shirt off her back” if they needed it. They raised five children during the great depression. They lived in a three room “shotgun” house in the country just a few yards from the railroad track. As a child she and Granddad would take me out on the front porch where we would count the cars every time a train came through. Those were the simple days. We’d have an ice cold glass of sweet tea in a mason jar and a homemade biscuit with some of her canned jelly stuffed inside…..yummy. My Grandparents always had stories to tell. My favorite was about the hobo’s who would come to their door asking for food during the depression years. They rode the rails back in those days looking for work,
for food, just looking to survive. Granddad said Granny always gave them something to eat and a scripture to take with them as they went on their way. “Doing the Lord’s work” he’d say, while lovingly patting her leg. “Oh Jack, stop that” she admonished humbly, her cheeks turning red. She never had much in worldly possessions but it didn‘t matter to her. If she had only one piece of bread left in the house, she’d give it away to the needy. I just couldn’t imagine going to my Mother’s house now and her not being there anymore. But as much as I hated to see her go now, I knew she was going to heaven to live in eternity with Jesus. There would be no more pain…...no more cancer there. The hospice nurse said she’d been unconscious all day. But when I came in the room I noticed she was starting to get a little restless, like she was trying to wake up. I walked slowly to her bedside and held her soft fragile hand “It’s alright, Granny. Your work here is done. Jesus is waiting for you. You can go home now.” I smoothed a wisp of snow white hair off her forehead. She stirred, opening her eyes slightly, looking right at me. She heard me and tried to smile. Then, her gaze turned upward. She didn’t say anything but I knew from the look in her eyes, she was seeing something I couldn‘t yet see. She was looking at heaven, at her Savior coming to take her home. Suddenly, all the pain etched in her face disappeared and she was radiant again, for one last moment in time. With a tiny squeeze of my hand, she took her last breath....and was gone. It was almost like she was waiting for someone to tell her it was ok to go, that we would be alright when she passed on to glory. And we were, with God’s grace. In that final moment of her death, I felt the sweetest, most overwhelming aura of peace settle in me as I watched my Granny’s soul leave her body. It was indescribable, but very real. Granny’s work was done, but her legacy lives on, in me. FaithWriters.com.
Changing Times
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Seniors
Changing Times
www.changingtimes.info
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Canon Hospice provides quality end of life care to those seeking comfort and dignity while dealing with a life limiting illness. Canon Hospice serves Baton Rouge, the Northshore, Greater New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The caring team at Canon is dedicated to a hospice ministry that helps patients and families accept terminal illness positively and resourcefully. With special expertise in pain management and symptom control, Canon Hospice designs individualized plans of care for each patient based on their unique needs. Home based services provide doctors, nurses, social workers, pastoral care and volunteers who tailor their services according to patients’ diagnoses and home situations. Care can also be provided in the group home settings as well as assisted living and nursing homes. For patients with more intense symptom management needs, Canon has Inpatient Hospice Units located in Jefferson, Louisiana and in Gulfport, Mississippi. These units provide 24-hour care in a home-like environment where patients are permitted to receive visits at any hour. All donations and fundraising activities at Canon Hospice go to support the nonprofit Akula Foundation. The Akula Foundation’s many projects include: indigent patient care, the Canon Hospice Health Hour on WGSO 990 AM every Saturday from Noon to 1pm and Camp Swan, a bereavement camp for children ages 7-12. The Akula Foundation also supports the Grief Resource Center which offers free group counseling and services to anyone who has experienced any kind of loss or grief.
New Orleans 504-818-2723 Northshore 985-626-3051 Mississippi Gulf Coast 228-575-6251 Baton Rouge 225-926-1404 Or call toll free: 1-866-907-7378 www.canonhospice.com www.akulafoundation.com
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Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
Eighty is the new 60 and 60 is the new 40--we feel younger and live longer. Retirement communities have changed. They are no longer just old persons homes. They are mini-factories of activities that seem designed to increase the longevity of seniors. In fact, so many people are still working in retirement communities that we are calling them active adult communities instead. There are medical advancements saving lives but it seems there is more to it than that. Maybe it's because we study longer and harder--now we are getting somewhere. Knowledge is increasing in every area of our lives. Today's active lifestyle and increased accessibility to computers may be more stimulating to our brain cells which has been proven to increase longevity. Other things we do more than ever before: we travel easily to anywhere in the world. We want to walk more and have pools, fitness centers and golf courses everywhere to enjoy. We have endless variety of foods to sample from around the world and we eat healthier because of better knowledge about nutrition. We have free information to access from many sources available on "the web." We go online and we can spend hours there reading and researching anything and everything. Many active adult communities now offer computer training right along with arts and crafts. While at first, many seniors did not feel interested in or were drawn to computers, they are now learning to embrace the adventures available to them online. It is an amazing world a younger generation has used its talents to create. Today's baby boomers are the first senior generation to have all of this. We think man's lifespan is 120 years. If 80 is the new 60 then 120 may be the new 100 and seniors are reaching that age today more than ever. With all the medical advances, the brain stimulating effects of the web, the nutrition information, the physical fitness advice and future discoveries on internet usage, I can begin to envision man reaching 120. What are you going to do with all
those extra years. Along with 4 or 5 careers in a lifetime you may have more free time to just enjoy the wonders and beauty of this world, more time to help preserve them, time to help make a better world utilizing your experience, volunteering, mentoring, giving back and time to improve your health. There is much on the horizon. With longer life also comes new worries. Debilitating diseases of the aged are showing up more than before--Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Considering long-term life insurance has become important. We have to rethink what children will do about caring for their aging parents. How do we stave off osteoporosis. Is longer life an opportunity to grow your wealth or will it dwindle? New questions begging for answers. Are women living longer than men and how do they cope with loss. Loss of husbands (or wives), loss of property, loss of friends and maybe even loss of wealth. Should we stretch our lives or feel limited in time. No one knows how long they will live but it could be longer than we anticipated. What are our roles as grandparents--do you stay home and help out with the grandchildren or go on a vacation for the rest of your lives. These are questions seniors of all ages have and there are many others as well. So many of these life extenders are incorporated at today's retirement communities that active adult retirement communities are becoming like little anti-aging laboratories. Scientists may gather information there to help the next generation to live longer still. Of course, you don't have to live at a retirement community to enjoy these benefits, but with all of the longevity-increasing activities available to boomers there, it seems like a good place to be. You can begin to live at one at usually age 55--the new 35. Wondering where you can find these new communities and what they are all about-you can go to my website http:// www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.com Article Source: http://www.content. onlypunjab.com >
Marriage
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Changing Times
How to Not Divorce Your Spouse by Angie Lewis How not to divorce your spouse is fairly simple when you put your mind to it. All you really have to do is start basing your marriage on tried and true principles rather than how you are feeling. We can choose to love our spouse until death do us part just like we can choose to not divorce our spouse. God gives us free willwe are in control of our destiny. Did you know that the number one reason couples get divorced is because they can't get alongthe courts call it "irreconcilable differences" but what it really should be called is "selfishness". Irreconcilable differences is when both husband and wife control and boss one another, while neither cares about giving in or doing what is right, for if they did they would choose to love with sincerity rather than dissimulation. (Romans 12:9) Loving someone with sincerity does not mean you are going to feel any different than you do now, in fact real love takes conviction, honesty, and selfless action! Sincere love means you will do the right thing according to the Master designer of marriagethat's all it means. Doing what's right is love! Love is a choice. Do you think Christ wanted to suffer and die? Of course notHe did what the Father told Him to doHe sacrificed His life for our life. This godless world is full of silly ideas and beliefs that reinforce contrary, argumentative and lustful behavior for couples to base their marriage upon. If we choose to let the world in, it will easily come aboard, spreading falsehood within our minds and in our hearts. Most couples are choosing what they see and hear in the world to support their marriage on. Ridiculous TV shows and Hollywood movies especially, all depict broken marriages and rebellious teenagers. If you like political correctness and want to be just like the majority than carry on with your
divorce. God has given you free will and you can do whatever you want with your life, at this moment. But if you value your marriage and your heart is convicted to work on healing and restoration of your marriage, then by all means, choose Godly correctness and be an upright example to all those marriages out there who are relying on society to tell them how to behave in their marriage. You don't have to ever step foot in a brick and mortar church to choose Godly correctness for your life because you are the church! Godly correctness is a lifestyle choice because choosing Christ is a choice. God designed and established marriage, so then don't you think His principles work best for marriage? Your marriage belongs to God, why give it to the world? It's your choiceyou are in control. You can be like 90% of the population who give up and give into the world, or you can choose to do what's right by bringing Godly principles into your marriage and save your marriage from divorce. And this is how to NOT divorce your spouse. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the 2.13 tw $13,900 fall of it. (Matthew
7:24-27) My Spouse is Having an Affair: What is God's Will For Me Now? http://youtu.be/VH5c4gtP2As Heaven Ministries ~ http://www.heavenministries.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.comCHRISTIAN WRITERS >
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Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! —Psalm 105:1-2
Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
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Marriage
Changing Times
www.changingtimes.info
3 Ways to Guarantee Your Husband Won’t Cheat on You? Before we get started with this article, let me get something out in the open. We can’t change our husbands and we certainly cannot control his morals and convictions, but we can influence our husbands by using a little bit of common sense and Godly wisdom. So with that said, try these three ways to maybe guarantee your husband never cheats on you. 1) Stay Connected Emotionally and Spiritually With Your Husband Marriage is a relationship that involves two people in such a way that whatever you do, good or bad affects the other. If a wife makes her career, friends, money, hobbies, clothes and other stuff more important than her husband she is disconnecting herself from him emotionally and spiritually. A husband wants to be the most important part of his wife’s life. Don’t separate your life from his. Emotional adultery starts in the heart and when a husband feels emotionally distant from his wife it
is much easier for him to see greener grass on the other side of the fence. It’s no excuse for adultery and it certainly does not make it right, but reality dictates it will most likely happen in marriages where there is no “togetherness”. Nowadays, married couples unknowingly separate themselves from one another by not having their priorities in balance. In many homes friends, hobbies and careers come first and husband and wife never spend any quality, intimate time together. If you never do intimate and fun things together, you will lose the glue that holds the marriage together. 2) Let Your Husband Be the Man in the Marriage Many wives don’t realize they are doing it, but they often reprimand, belittle and boss their husbands around like he is one of the children. Are you his mother or his wife? He wants to feel close and intimate with his feminine wife, not his mother, or worse, a dictator. Make your man feel good about his
role as “man of the house” and “man of the marriage”, because he is the man and you are the woman. Mixed up roles and feministic attitudes cause confusion, which creates crumbling of the “one flesh” of marriage. Wives need to stop micromanaging their husbands and let them direct the show for a change. Do you realize that it is wives that need to change? That’s because women walk into marriage with rose-colored glasses on. They think marriage was created just for them and their happiness! When wives nag, complain, control or try to change their husbands they are essentially saying they are not good enough. What a way to make your man impotent with his wife! If you want a virile man that only has eyes for you, then treat your man like a man! Stop treating him like a little boy! 3) Keep Yourself Healthy and Fit The worse thing a woman can do when married is let herself go. I
don’t care if you are 20, 40 or 65 years old, a woman can still make herself beautiful. Beauty is relative, meaning, so what if you are getting older, use it to your advantage to make yourself fit and good-looking no matter what your age. Many women, after they get married or reach a certain age stop taking care of their health and weight and allow themselves to become frumpy and unhealthy. I know of beautiful women, who are nice and slim, who are between the ages of 50 and 70 and they look great! They walk every day, eat right and take care of themselves. And so can you! There is nothing wrong with getting older, what makes it wrong is not taking care of your appearance and health. Being healthy should be a priority in your life. We absolutely need to care about our health because frankly folks, if we don’t have our health, nothing else matters in life because we won’t enjoy it. Copyright 2015 Heaven Ministries Marriage Healing Ministry >
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Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
Education
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Changing Times
Education Redeeming Time by Writing Truth by John Piper
The clock never stops ticking. Nothing but God is more persistent than the passing of time. You can't stop it or slow it. It is sovereign over all human resistance. It will not be hindered or altered or made
to cease. It is utterly oblivious to young and old, pain and pleasure, crying and laughing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, makes a difference to the unstoppable, unchangeable tick, tick, ticking of time. Anna Akhmatova the Russian poet, said that war and plague pass, but no one can cope with "the terror that is named the flight of time." I have an unusual habit when I go to bed. After Noel and I pray, I crawl into bed and situate myself on my left side, facing the red glow of the radio-alarm-clock numbers on the bedside table. I pull my hands up in front of me at about face level and wait for a few minutes in stillness, usually praying silently with gratitude for the wife who lies behind me, and for my children, and for the ministry God
has given me. Then I take my right hand and curl my fingers around my left wrist and find my pulse. I watch the red minute number until it changes, and then I begin counting. One . . . two . . . three . . . When the number changes, and one minute has passed, I stop. I began this peculiar habit out of the vain notion that, if my heart rate were very slow, from good exercise (or genes), it may mean that my heart is healthy and I will live long. Such is the silliness of human thought. The effect has been otherwise. Now, as I count the beats, it is not the rate that fixes my attention, but the succession. One beat, then another, then another, on through the night, about 21,000 times while I sleep. The effect of this little exercise is that I fall asleep most nights,
lulled by the steady rhythm of my heart, and with a sober sense of my very fragile existence. Any one of those beats could be my last. I cannot will to make my heart beat one more time. If it stops, it stops. I and my time on earth are over. "If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Time is precious. We are fragile. Life is short. Eternity is long. I enter my month-long writing leave with a sense that every minute counts. O, to be a faithful steward of the breath God has given me. Three texts resound in my ears: 1) "Redeem the time" (Ephesians 5:16); 2) "It is required of stewards that See Redemming Time on Page 18
St. Mary’s
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6
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Changing Times
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Education
Why Read a Good Book? 54296 Hwy. 445 • Loranger, LA 70446 • 985-748-6634 www.solomoncenter.org
by Jim Elliff
As an old man Paul directed Timothy to “bring the books, but especially the Come and enjoy the beauty and serenity of one of the premier conference and retreat centers in parchments” on his return trip. Luther, the U.S. Located 12 mi. north of Exit 47 (HWY 445 / Robert Exit) Interstate 12; Amenities include: who wrote a book or large tract every Spacious and well equipped meeting space to fit different group sizes; Excellent home-style food; Chapel; Well maintained hiking/biking/running trails; Pool and Pavilion with picnic tables and voltwo weeks from 1519 until the end of leyball / basketball; 12 acre lake (fishing permitted); Campfire pits; Large playing field for sports and his life, said “Printing is the highest and recreation; Free Wi-Fi and much more! ultimate gift of God.” And d’Aubigné, The ideal Visit our the Reformation historian, expressed setting for website his appreciation for books this way: for more finding These epistles, these books, all these pictures, renewal, flying sheets were the means of regeninformation rejuvenation, erating the age. While dissipation came and our and peace. forth from the throne, and darkness semi-annual from the altar, these unobserved writnewsletter. ings sent over the French nation rays of light and seeds of holiness. Call for brochure or mention code “renew” for Richard Baxter the Puritan pastor in a complimentary lunch Kidderminster, England, had a relish with your scheduled tour. for books. He was converted at age 14 985-748-6634 through reading Sibbes’ Bruised Reed purchased by his father from a pedlar, and “a little piece of Perkins’ Works” which was owned by one of the servants. He gives us the following rationale for the use of sound books: The writings of divines are Gift Cards Available nothing else but a preaching of choose from: Chinese • BBQ • Mexican • Italian Thai • Greek/Mediterranean • Japanese the gospel to the eye, as the Seafood • Steaks • Po-boys • Pizza voice preaches it to the ear. Salads • Desserts • Local Specialties Vocal preaching has the preHome-style Cooking RestauRant DeliveRy seRvice, llc eminence in moving the affecFine Dining at a Moment’s Notice! Delivery Area Includes — Slidell, Pearl River, tions, and being diversified Lacombe, Mandeville, Madisonville, Covington Call 985-875-7700 & Abita Springs all MajoR cReDit caRDs accepteD according to the state of the Order online @ www.menuexpressdelivery.com congregation which attend it. In this way the milk comes warmest from the breast. But Books have the advantage in many Serving the Northshore Since 1983 other respects.’ Authorized Dealer for Baxter lists seven benefits of “Everyday Low Prices - All Brand Names Available” books over preached sermons: 1806 N. Causeway Blvd. • Mandeville, LA 70471 • 985-626-8538 • You may read an able www.tireworldccc.com preacher when you have but a mean one to hear. • Every congregation can-
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not hear the most judicious or powerful preachers, but every single person may read the books of the most powerful and judicious. • Preachers may be silenced or banished, when books may be at hand. • Books may be kept at a smaller charge than preachers. • We may choose books which treat that very subject which we desire to hear, but we cannot choose what subject the preacher shall treat. • Books may be at hand every day and hour, when we cannot have sermons but seldom, and at set times. • If sermons are forgotten, they are gone, but a book we may read over and over till we remember it; and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our leisure, or at our pleasure. When buying books remember the following: 1. Buy only the best books since you will only read a few hundred in your lifetime. When possible seek a recommendation first. 2. Don’t excessively fret over the price, since the cost of a book is always small if it impacts your life for good. 3. Buy to preserve the truth for your family or some deserving friends or institution in the future, for they will inherit your library when you die. 4. Never let the reading of books replace the reading of the Bible. Instead of one or the other, do both. 5. Let a good book humble you and not make you proud, by seeking God in what you read. *With appreciation to Geoffrey Thomas’ "The Importance of Literature in the Spread of the Reformation Teaching," Banner of Truth Magazine, date unknown. Copyright © 2015 Jim Elliff >
Redeeming Time Continued from Page 17 one be found trustworthy" (1 Corinthians 4:2); 3) "His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). Surely God means for our minutes on earth to count for something significant. Paul said, "In the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain" (Philippians 2:16). In the same way, I have good hope from the Lord that my "labor is not 18
Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Would you pray for me while I write? God will show you what to pray. I will be working as hard as I can to complete "Book Two" of A Godward Life. That is the main goal. If I finish that, I have two other projects I would pursue. The Elders have commissioned me to pursue this writing as part of our mission, and my responsibility, to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples. Counting on your prayers, as always, Pastor John ©2015 Desiring God Foundation.>
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Education Spotlight
Changing Times
International High School of New Orleans: Developing Values in a Public High School In 2009, Voices of International Business and Education, Inc. opened International High School of New Orleans (IHSNO), a public charter school focused on strong traditional values, international and intercultural appreciation, and high academic expectations. IHSNO enrolls students in grades 9 through 12 from across the state, although the majority of students live in Orleans Parish. Located in the heart of downtown New Orleans, IHSNO, through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, provides students with a rigorous, interdisciplinary academic curriculum. The mission of IHSNO is to educate and nurture a diverse learning community through the IB Programme, world languages, and intercultural appreciation to succeed in a global economy. IHSNO students study English, mathematics, science, social science, economics, and art; English as a second language support for English language learners and foreign-born students is provided. All courses place a high value on critical thinking while integrating international and intercultural perspectives. IHSNO students have foreign language options that include Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese. IHSNO is the only high school in New Orleans offering students an opportunity to participate in the IB Programme, which is recognized worldwide. The IB Programme is reputed to offer the most comprehensive college preparation available yet affords an overall holistic experience designed to educate the whole child.
Teaching Values
The aim of the IB Programme is to “develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship, help to create a better and more peaceful world.” The teaching method at IHSNO places strong emphasis on values and creates a common sense of shared ideals among staff and students alike. Students at IHSNO exemplify the IB Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, risk-takers, balanced, reflective, and caring. Each month IHSNO students hone their ability to embody those characteristics. The month of October is focused on caring. Always, but especially during October, students and staff are attentive to their capacity to show empathy, compassion, and respect. They will reaffirm their commitment to service and act to make a positive difference in the lives of others. “IHSNO symbolizes the ability people can have to communicate with foreign and domestic parties in a cultural, economic, or political language. I would call it the ‘United Nations’ of
high schools. You can expect a school that expose students to new cultures and languages that reflect the multicultural city they already live in” Jamal Freeman a 12th grade student reflects on his experience at IHSNO. Teachers at IHSNO stress the role of values in making a strong community and try to interlace these into their teaching. Teachers are enthused by the idea that their students will help build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. That enthusiasm is contagious and drives IHSNO students to exemplify the values of the IB Programme. Students strive to become active and compassionate lifelong learners. “As an IHSNO student ambassador, it is programmed in my mind to think of leaders from different cultures and different backgrounds coming together to globalize and help others. IHSNO means more than just a high school located in New Orleans. It means taking a position when it comes to representing different cultures; all in one union with no difficulties” says Terreill Ballom an 11th grade student. Changing Lives Through the IB Programme, IHSNO is changing lives. In addition to instilling traditional values and respect, IHSNO is providing students with an excellent education and opening doors to amazing post-secondary opportunities. For example IHSNO students from the Class of 2015 gained admission to 71 colleges across the country, including some of the most prestigious universities. Students at IHSNO follow Louisiana’s Core 4 Diploma Path. Students that enroll in the IB Programme at IHSNO take an intensive and rigorous two-year course of study during their junior and senior years. In addition to the core subjects, the curriculum includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). The curriculum compels students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research, and create a project that often involves community service. At IHSNO, students learn from a diverse staff. While the majority of teachers were born in the United States, IHSNO students have the opportunity to learn from teachers from China, Vietnam, India, Ireland, Jordan, Morocco, and Latin America; IHSNO students develop a deep respect for culture and recognizing that, despite their differences, each individual plays a unique and important role in making the world a better place. Maria Arguedas an 11th grade student expresses the following about her passport to success “IHSNO means a lot to me. It is the place where I have grown up to be more knowing of the world and met friends from different cultures and where I have been given the opportunity to travel the world” >
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"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day" - Psalm 89:15, 16.
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Health
Changing Times
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Health What’s More Important When it Comes to Weight Loss: Diet or Exercise? by Dr. Don Colbert
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It might surprise you, but the answer is diet. Diet and exercise are both important for optimal health, but your diet contributes to approximately 80% of the health benefits associated with a healthy lifestyle, like a lean body and a strong immune system. Many people think, “As long as I exercise, I can eat whatever I want, and I won’t gain weight.” Or they think, “As long as I exercise, I will lose weight without having to change my diet.” Both thought processes are simply not true. If you are trying to lose weight, your diet must be primary. Important Characteristics of a Diet Equipped for Weight Loss • It is absent of refined sugar. Is sugar your biggest enemy? Refined sugar is a man-made product and is highly addictive. If you want to lose weight, a good place to start is by eliminating sugar from your diet. If you are addicted to sugar, this might be a very difficult step for you to take. Remember, sugar not only makes you fat, it weakens your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to viruses and infections. Sugar actually feeds cancer cells. It is also
linked to behavioral disorders, osteoporosis, heart disease, depression, yeast problems, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, accelerated aging and much more. To help curb your sweet tooth, use a natural sweetener like Stevia in moderation. Also, commitment contracts like this one can help you reach your goals and defeat bad habits. • Whole grains are the only grains present, and they are limited. For men, I recommend two servings of low-glycemic starches for breakfast and lunch, and none for dinner. For women, I recommend one serving of low-glycemic starch for breakfast and lunch, and none for dinner. The low-glycemic starch can be a whole grain option or a starchy fruit or vegetable. For a complete list of low-glycemic foods, go to www.thecandodiet. com. A ranking of 55 or lower is considered low-glycemic. Some whole grain options include AllBran cereal and brown rice. Remember, if the ingredients label has refined flour or flour listed, it is not a whole grain. Some manufacturers place a small amount of whole grain into bread so they can advertise it as ‘whole grain.’ It’s not, so be sure to read the label carefully. • It is full of fresh vegetables. You can eat as many non-starchy vegetables as you want. Green beans, broccoli, asparagus and green leafy vegetables like lettuce, kale and collards are good examples. Many people have grown so accustomed to the Standard American Diet (SAD) full of processed, “dead” foods, they no longer enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables. If you are one of these people, you can develop a taste for vegetables again and really enjoy them. Removing See Diet or Exercise on Page 23
Health
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Disciplined Eating
GERALYN Z. SUHOR, CPA
By Elyse Fitzpatrick How can we be self-controlled in our eating? Does that mean that we should eat only a certain number of calories; avoid sugar, eliminate foods with fat, or perhaps a combination of all three? The easiest thing in the world for me to do would be to tell you exactly what you should eat. But that’s a rather simplistic approach that doesn’t take into consideration a variety of factors. Besides, chances are you have been on diets like that before, and you and I both know how they usually end. I’m not saying that it is wrong to follow a preplanned diet, as long as it is not a fad diet. But even if you are following a preplanned diet perfectly, that doesn’t mean that your eating is pleasing to the Lord. I can lust over a cup of nonfat frozen yogurt in exactly the same way that I can over a chocolate shake. I can also become enamored with my appearance and worry that I might gain weight, which wouldn’t please God. No, there are other criteria for you and me to consider as we develop our personal plan for disciplined eating.
I have listed 12 questions you can ask yourself in order to determine whether your eating is sinful or not. To help you remember these points, I’ve developed the acrostic “D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E-D Eating.” As you consider the following, some of the answers will be obvious. Others will take some time and careful thought. Stop now and prayerfully ask God to help you as you think about how to make your eating habits more pleasing to Him. Doubt: Do I doubt (for whatever reason) that I can eat this food without sinning? Idolatry: Does eating this particular food demonstrate a heart either of independence—“I can do whatever I want”—or a heart longing for pleasure—“I know that I don’t need this for my sustenance, but I love the feeling of the sweet coldness”? Stumble: If I eat this, will it cause a weaker Christian to stumble? Coveting: Am I eating this just because I saw someone else with it and I’m coveting it? Inroad: If I eat this, will it create
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an inroad for sin? Praise: Can I eat this food with Business • Individual thanks and gratitude? Is my heart overflowing with songs of praise to (985) 626-6160 God? (504) 722-6148 Life: Would eating this food Mandeville harm my health in any way? 4890A Hwy. 22 Illustrate: Am I modeling good Chalmette eating habits for others and encour1019 W. Judge Perez Dr # C aging them to be self-disciplined, or do I encourage others to selfsuhorcpa@bellsouth.net indulge? www.suhorcpa.com No: Am I able to say no to this even if I know that I can eat it without sin? Emotions: Does the desire to eat this flow out of a heart of anger, fear, frustration, or depression? Distract: Will preparing or eating this food distract me from something Let the real you encounter the real God better that God has for me to do? SERVICE TIMES Enslaved: Does it bring me Sat. 6:00pm | Sun. 10:00am under any kind of bondage? (King’s Café opens 1 hour before each service) All of this, of course, can be 2020 Elsie Ave., Slidell, LA 70458 summed up by one question: In my (Off of I-10 & Fremaux Ave.) eating and drinking, am I glorifying Listen to Life Songs - 89.1 FM God? (1 Corinthians 10:31). (Monday-Friday 12:30pm) Celebrate Recovery - Thurs. @ 7:00pm © Harvest House Publishers. Used (Biblical solutions for life’s most pressing problems) with permission. Love to Eat, Hate Facebook: Crossfire Church of Slidell to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick. www.crossfirechurch.net www.ReviveOurHearts.com >
It is that time of the year when we could really use your help. Can We Count on Your Faithful Support? ❏ Yes, I will pledge my support for Changing Times by donating $ ________________. Make check payable to Save the Nations Ministries, Inc. [A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization]. ❏ I prefer to pay by credit card. ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard ❏ American Express Number __________________________ Exp. Date ___________ Name ______________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City _________________________ State _______ Zip _______
Mail your donations to: Phone ( ) ________________________________________ Save The Nations Ministries, Inc. E-mail ______________________________________________ P. O. Box 1095 Covington, LA 70434 ❏ Prayer request enclosed. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" Psalm 97:11.
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Girlfriend's Money Problems Dear Dave, I’m fairly responsible with finances, but my girlfriend is in a terrible financial situation with a lot of credit card debt, an expensive car payment, and a big, fancy apartment. Plus, she just quit her job because she didn’t like it anymore. Now, she’s thinking about filing bankruptcy and thinks us moving in together will help solve her problems. If she can’t handle her finances on her own, what’s going to happen if we get together? Can you help? —Dino Dear Dino, This is someone to keep dating, not marry right now or move in with, and see if she changes her spending habits. You’d have a very tough life being married to this woman, unless she makes some real attitude adjustments where her money is concerned. I can’t say if she’s technically bankrupt, but she definitely needs to move into a cheaper apartment and sell the car for starters. Still, bankruptcy’s not going to solve anything if she’s got a heart problem. By this, I mean if she buys stuff to try and make her happy and
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Changing Times
lives beyond her means in the process. Lots of people have the idea that they are what drive, or they are where they live. Those are heart problems, and that’s the way I was many years ago until I had some sense knocked into me by going broke. Then, I realized I had to stop and make some changes. This doesn’t mean that she isn’t worthy of your love or she’s a terrible person, but it does mean that the girl has got some growing up to do. Money matters aside, you don’t quit your job without a plan unless you’re being sexually harassed or abused, or there’s some matter of principle at stake. Leaving one job for another is okay. But the idea of deciding you just don’t like something, and walking away from it when you’ve got a bunch of bills, is just plain irresponsible. She’s probably not bankrupt, but there are some definite character issues that need to be addressed. Hopefully, you two can work through this together. —Dave So, he know how to manage money? Dear Dave,
Dave Says Financial Straight-Talk by Dave Ramsey www.davesays.com
My husband likes to borrow money on fix-up projects around the house. He says he knows how to manage money, and will pay the loans back quickly. The other day, he came to me for money to make the payment on the latest loan he took out. Then, he started fussing at me when I didn’t have the money to make the payment. It’s not the first time this sort of thing has happened. How can I make it stop? — Crystal Dear Crystal, This guy needs a swift kick in his rear end! He says he knows how to manage money, but he doesn’t know how to save up to re-wire the garage? It sounds to me like you’ve got am overgrown teenager on your hands instead of a husband. It’s bad enough that he can’t take care of his own responsibilities, but then he
turns around and fusses when you won’t do it for him. That’s ridiculous! Marriage is all about unity. Once the rings go on those fingers it’s a we thing, not a me thing. Husbands and wives should work together to form a game plan that will help them win in life, and that includes finances. I think you should take the money he’s asking for and use it to see a good marriage counselor. There are some real issues here that need attention. You guys need to deal with them, and create a real marriage, before this situation gets any worse! —Dave * For more information on how you can see Dave live, please visit http://www.daveramsey.com/category/events/. >
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Financial
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The big deal about budgeting by Rachel Cruze If I told you that you could get a raise without earning more income, would you take it? Of course you would! Many people who budget for the first time feel like they got a raise. That’s because they’re discovering money they didn’t realize they had. They’re usually stunned by how much they’re actually spending at restaurants, on movies, or on gym memberships they only use once a month. For a lot of people, a budget is the wake-up call they need to fix their money situation. So how does it work? Despite what you might have heard, budgeting is really simple, and it’s even easier when you use a good budgeting tool. Simply list your income at the top, then list all your monthly expenses. Every dollar should have a name. In other words, every dollar should be categorized to either give, save or spend. When you subtract your expenses from your income, you should have zero. That’s a zerobased budget. So what’s the big deal about a budget? A budget is just a plan. And if you want to win with money, you have to plan. You have to sit down before the month begins and make your budget for that upcoming month. As John Maxwell says, “A budget tells your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” Sometimes, the budget gets a bad reputation because people think it means you have to be cheap or that you can’t have a life. But that’s not the case.
You can have a life while you’re on a budge t— you just have to plan for it. That way, you won’t spend $200 at Target before realizing you overdrafted your bank account. Now, if you’re still in debt, I want you to be extremely serious about the budget. Cut back on your lifestyle, get intense about paying off your debts, and remember this is only temporary. Once you’re out of debt, you can pull back on the intensity a little bit, but I still want you to continue budgeting, planning, and making sure you’re doing everything you can to build a financial foundation for your future. So if you’re struggling with money, now’s the time to start budgeting. When you manage your money correctly, you’ll be shocked at how much money you actually have — instead of letting it slip through the cracks every month. To get you started, I highly recommend EveryDollar — a brandnew app and online-based budgeting tool that will help you create a zero-based budget that works for you. Check it out at EveryDollar. com. *Rachel Cruze is a seasoned communicator and presenter, helping Americans learn the proper ways to handle money and stay out of debt. Her new book Smart Money Smart Kids, co-authored with her dad Dave Ramsey, released April 2014 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times best-sellers list. You can follow Rachel on Twitter at @RachelCruze and online at http://www. rachelcruze.com or facebook.com/ rachelramseycruze. >
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Diet or Exercise Continued from Page 20 processed foods from your diet and eating only whole, natural foods is the first step toward regaining a taste for the food God intended us to eat. Remember organic and locally grown is preferred. You’ll find these options taste the best, are safer and packed with more nutrients. • Good fats make an appearance. Did you know there are fats that actually promote weight loss? Good fats include omega-3 fats such as fish oils and flaxseed oils as well as monounsaturated fats such
as extra-virgin olive oil, avocados, almonds, flaxseeds, walnuts and other nuts and seeds. • Water is the beverage of choice. Most Americans are drinking themselves fat. Sugary drinks like fruit juices, sweet tea, lattes and sodas are a major culprit when it comes to weight gain. Diet sodas lead to greater weight gain than regular soda! The best beverage for weight loss and overall health is filtered water. Copyright © 2015 Divine Health Wellness > "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" John 8:12.
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Changing Times
Feature Articles
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Get Ready to Be Shaken! One of the most heartbreaking of all Scrip- tion has obtained it, and the rest were blindtures in the Bible is this: "Israel has not ed" (Romans 11:7). Think of it! An entire race of people spent obtained that which he seeks for; but the electheir lives looking for satisfaction, rest, and fullness; and they never did find it. Even to this day, only small remnants of Jews have found the grace and glory of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Lord Jesus Christ. The rest of them are a global commitment to public health blinded! Louisiana Osteoporosis Study (LOS) "For the Lord has poured out upon you Department of Biostatistics is conducting a research project on the Spirit of deep sleep, and has closed osteoporosis. If you are eligible to participate you would receive a your eyes: the prophets and your leaders, Free Bone Health Assessment which includes a bone density test and a fat mass and lean mass measurement the seers has He covered. And the vision of Call today to make an appointment! all is become unto you as the words of a 504-988-1016 book that is sealed" (Isaiah 29:10-11). Most Jews are under the grip of the spirit of slumber! A deep sleep from the Compensation for your time and travel is provided for the one-time, 2 hour visit. Contact Lord has fallen upon them, and they simply our study coordinator for more information. cannot understand anything that is said or preached about the Lord Jesus Christ! Eligible subjects must meet the following criteria: • Be at least 18 years of age. Did God cast them away? Did God arbi• Female has at least one intact ovary. trarily cut them off His vine just to save • No severe uncontrolled chronic diseases. • Be willing to attend the scheduled exam and to have Gentiles? Were they predestinated to such a small amount of blood drawn. horrible blindness? Absolutely not! Paul • Body weight less than 300 lb. makes that very clear! "Because of unbelief they were broken off" (Romans 11:20). Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112 "But to Israel he says, all day long I have Office Phone: (504) 988-1016 stretched forth My hands unto a disobediE-mail: bonestudyneworleans@tulane.edu Free Parking: LaSalle Parking Garage ent and stubborn people" (Romans 10:21). (on LaSalle St. in between Cleveland & Tulane They were the natural branches; they Avenues) were those who should have obtained what they were looking for. They should have accepted Christ. They should be the presentday preachers of the gospel. They should be the ones going as missionaries to the world, preaching the message of Christ! They should have found what we Gen-
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tiles found! Jerusalem should have become the Christian capital of the world. But they stubbornly held to their unbelief! They refused to yield to His lordship! They said, "This man shall not reign over us!" They hardened their hearts and provoked the Holy One of Israel. They tempted God, proved Him, and saw His mighty works, yet they maintained an "evil heart of unbelief." What they heard was not mixed with faith. They would not hold on to a confidence in the Lord. They were so deceived by their sins, they purposely hardened their hearts. They preferred Moses above Christ! None of them could enter into rest. None could find or obtain what they were seeking, and God grieved over them. Paul wrote, "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19). What a tragedy--millions of spiritually hungry, searching, seeking Jews; and they cannot find what they are looking for. The Messiah came--He lives today--and they can't see Him! They can't hear Him! They are in the dark about Him! They are in a spiritual coma! But Paul is writing all this to Gentiles-Christians! His message really is: "Don't say, Poor blind, slumbering Jews! No! But rather say, Poor blind, slumbering saints!" It is clear he is warning those who are in the faith. He said, "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou stands by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee" (Romans 1:20, 21). Paul goes further and warns those in the faith of the severity of God. "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: See SHAKEN on Page 42
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I am a soldier in God's Army I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the Rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me into this
army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win! My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me. For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I'm marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me? Guess what? If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior you're already enlisted! Question is, which part of the service are you in: 1. Active Duty: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7? 2. Reserve status: Serving only when called upon or twice a year, Christmas and Easter? 3. Guard status: Backing up the Active Duty group? or 4. AWOL! Absent without the Lord? THINK ABOUT IT!!! Pastor Coates M.Div . >
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Walk through any Christian bookstore today, and you'll find an array of books and products offering to help you be successful in every dimension and season of life. We have more tools and resources for our questions and hurts and needs today than any time in the history of the church. Why, then, do so many Christians live frustrated, defeated, empty, barren lives? Deep down, many of us long to experience a greater reality of God's presence and power in our lives. Our hearts need to be revived. But so few voices today are pointing us to the truth that will revive our hearts and set us free. The Scripture is clear about the kind of heart God revives: “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15). According to this passage, God has two “addresses.” The first one comes as no surprise. We are told that the high and exalted God of the universe lives in "eternity, in the high and holy place." Yet, the Scripture says, God has another “address,” and I find this one astounding. He lives with those who have a humble and contrite spirit. He is attracted to those who have a broken, contrite spirit. (Psalm 51) is the heartfelt, penitent prayer written by King David after he committed his great sin with Bathsheba. He realized that there was absolutely nothing he
could do to earn his way back into God's favor (verse 16). Have you ever noticed how many people feel they need to jump through some sort of spiritual hoops to earn God's favor? David understood that God wasn't looking for religious acts or devout behavior. The only offering God really wanted was a humble, contrite heart. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Jesus began the first recorded sermon of His earthly ministry on this same theme: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Jesus was talking about how to experience true joy—how to be happy. He explained, by being poor. Now in today's world, if we were asked to suggest ways to be blessed, I'm not sure we would have started in that particular place. But Jesus came to introduce a whole new economy—a radically different way of thinking about life. In the Greek language in which the New Testament was originally written, there are two words Jesus could have chosen to speak of someone being "poor." The first word suggests someone who lives just below the poverty line, someone who is always having to scrimp and scrape to survive, someone who makes it, but barely. That is not the word Jesus chose. He used another word that means a beggar—a person who is utterly, absolutely destitute. This beggar has no hope of surviving unless somebody reaches out a hand and pulls him up. What is Jesus saying? Blessed are the beggars—those who recognize that they are spiritually destitute and bankrupt. They know that they have no chance of survival apart from God's intervening mercy and grace. Our culture is obsessed with being whole and feeling good. That drive even affects the way we view the Christian life. We want a “painless Pentecost.” We want a “laughing” revival. We want gain without pain; we want the resurrection without going through the grave; we want life without experiencing death; we want a crown without going by way of the cross. But in God's economy, the way up is down. See The Way Up on Page 40
A/SS/1/4 Revival Personal
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PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD CAREFULLY FOR SPELLING & GRAMMAR, AS By Bill Bright WELL AS ACCURACY OF ADDRESSES, NUMBERS with all of your & heart, soul, and 1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any uncon- 10. Love GodPHONE VITAL22:37). INFORMATION. mindOTHER (Matthew fessed sin in your life. Your ad run fullness and conthewill continual 2. Seek forgiveness from all whom you have 11. Appropriate AS-IS unless changes offended, and forgive all who have hurt you. trol of the Holy Spirit by faith on the basis of are made and God's command (Ephesians 5:18) and promMake restitution where God leads. approved with your 5:14, 15). 3. Examine your motives in every word and ise (1 John Account Executive by deed. Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your 12. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God's holy, inspired, inerrant Word daily heart daily. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your walk (Colossians 3:16). NOON 13. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians against complacency and mediocrity. 7/8 5. Praise and give thanks to God continually in 5:17). all ways on all days, regardless of your circum- 14. Fast and pray one 24-hour period each After this deadline, week. stances. the only changes to share daily as a way of life. 6. Refuse to obey your carnal (worldly) nature 15. Seek that mayChrist be made (Galatians 5:16,17). 16. Determine a holy, godly life of obeare to to live correct faith. 7. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ as your dience and PUBLISHER’S ERRORS. Savior and Lord. Develop utter dependence on 17. Start or isjoin a home or church Bible study This a low-resolution Him with total submission and humility. group thatPDF emphasizes revival and a holy life. proof of your advertisement 8. Study the attributes of God. ©1994-2015 Campus Crusade for Christ (may not be true to actual size). 9. Hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mat- International. > It is property of thew 5:6). Renaissance Publishing (or the original creator) and be days before his coming, wisdom, thatcannot in the last Seek His Face reproduced, the Church would be slumbering and asleep. Continued from Page 4 duplicated or used in any "Leave everything and follow me." Now, isn’t other format. that Christ requires of Christians teaching, rebuking, and calling to repentance, that the price Copyright 2009, "If anyone does not forsake all that but as well, He will tell you of things to come, even today? Renaissance Publishing. He will warn the people of God of the future he has, he cannot be my disciple." Would not things. He always wanted to save, and lead, and that commandment APPROVAL apply to us all in this protect the people of God. And He’s still alive and well in America, if modern twenty-first ____________________ generation? anybody’s willing to believe and willing to century believe the word of God and have that living This scripture often mind. faith. Because Christ said, "Have the faith of weighs on my DATE Read about Israel in God." In thinking about the last days, Christ ____________________ said, with kind of a sad note, "...but when the the Bible. Were they Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the not commanded to obey the Lord? Were earth?" God knew what the condition of the churches they not commanded would be, in general, in the last days, all over the to follow the Lord’s world before His coming, and that is the condi- commandments and be tion He gave. There will be many churches, a holy nation, an obe• Roofing there will be many believers, but will there be • Siding much living faith in the land? That’s the ques- See sEEK hIS fACE • Renovations tion. And Christ had foreseen, by His divine on Page 37
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The Christian Journey
Changing Times
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Responding to His Call
Discipline Yourself By Donald S. Whitney
Tomorrow morning, I don't have Word and spend time in prayer to discipline long-rooted in my mornto decide if I'm going to read God's Him. Meeting with the Lord is a ing routines, and my commitment to it simplifies my spirituality. It's one less decision I have to make, one more spiritual priority well woven into the fabric of my daily life. D D S LLC The apostle Paul instructs us, Steven E. Pfingsten D.D.S. "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7, Family Dentistry for All Ages NASB). The practical ways of fleshing out obedience to this comRestoRative, CRown & BRidge, dentuRes, PaRtials & whitening mand are called the Christian spiriCaring Christian Atmosphere • New Patients Welcome tual disciplines, the God-given means by which we are to bring Saturday Appointments Available ourselves before the Lord. And as We Accept Medicaid & Most Insurances we enjoy a growing relationship with Him through them, He chang985-892-3250 es us "for the purpose of godliness," 71623 Hickory Street, Abita Springs, LA 70420 that is, He makes us more like (on the St. Tammany Trace in Historic Abita Springs) Jesus. And so, as we practice these disciplines, our lives conform more to biblical—and simpler—rhythms and patterns. In one way, when you enjoy a simpler spiritual life than you have now, it will still be—and should be—busy. If you obediently pursue both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus (see Mark 12:28-31; 28:18-20), as well as "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness," you won't grow
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idle. But even though the personal and congregational spiritual disciplines lead to a full life, they can also simplify it. For example, the Christian spiritual disciplines help us focus on the right things, including the most important of all: knowing and glorifying God. Conversely, practicing the disciplines also helps prevent some bad habits, such as spending time in non-productive, unwise, or even sinful ways. Personally, I have the clearest vision, both of what I should bring into and carve from my life, while engaged in spiritual disciplines like meditating on Scripture, praying through Scripture, or worshiping the Lord with His people. The disciplines simplify our spiritual lives further by simplifying our communion with God. He hasn't left us to find our own ways to Him. We don't have to wonder how to meet with the Lord and experience Him. God Himself established paths—such as Bible intake, prayer, worship, service, evangelism, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and fellowship—which make our spiritual walk with Him simpler and more satisfying. No one coasts into Christ likeness. Any progress in godliness requires Spiritfilled effort and purpose. But the Christian spiritual disciplines, rightly practiced, can bring some simplicity and order to the December 4th, 5th, & 6th process of becoming more like Jesus. Where do you need to "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness"?
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When Heaven Is Silent by Bernard Capello
At once, suddenly, it happened. I was out of town and had just finished sending my Bride of 38 years a good morning message. I had just counseled someone the day before regarding salvation. I completed breakfast, changed into clothes suitable for the day and was ready to go. As I approached the counter at the hotel lobby I grabbed my phone to call a colleague. Suddenly, my body would no longer participate. I shortly thereafter found myself in an ambulance, hospital bound. “I feel fine now, I can go”, “oh no”, the reply came, “we
simply cannot let you go”. “Your blood pressure is 233/169”. I thought “is this it, what could be wrong”? Tests, tests, more test and blood work. Two months later, with still no answers, I found myself rapidly losing weight and continuing to become increasingly ill. Over many years I have taken care of this temple. Not only was my spiritual health important but the physical as well. A combination of interval fitness, strength training and a clean diet assured the results would remain as long as I continued in such. I would witness, preach, teach, write and study to continue in His work and keep the spiritual health fit. Heaven Was Silent Over two months of searching for answers and I found myself looking to heaven to a greater degree and much more often each day with no response. Blood tests were normal, doctors were perplexed or simply guessing and there were no direct answers. Words of knowledge and words of wisdom that so often would flow to others as we ministered did not come. Each day seemed to be a continuation of the previous. I prayed,
claimed, pleaded the blood and believed and yet it was as though Heaven was silent. Yet, I continued to push, to ask, to seek. The living God I have trusted for so many years, taught about, preached about, stood face to firearms to proclaim, was spit upon and mocked for serving, was now seemingly silent. I cannot deny what I have seen through the years. I know firsthand His wonder working power. He could indeed heal me completely in less than a second. I know this as He has allowed me to see impossible situations made clearly victorious through the power of this One True Living God. Through His Servant A friend had led us to a doctor that I had seen years before. I knew he was a believer. I had written a summary of how I felt and symptoms for him to overview prior to my visit. It was almost immediately that he said “I know what is wrong, I know what this is”. He welcomed us, we spoke and he grabbed both my wife and my hand and prayed for guidance and wisdom. While I must admit I was not easily convinced, I was indeed encouraged by the prayer and the
request of God’s guidance. When the tests he engaged showed positive, I knew Heaven was no longer silent. I asked him how he knew and he replied “I went through the exact same thing”. God had directed us and used this man. Sometimes God appoints others. Sometimes it takes others to tear the roof off and lower you into a place where Jesus is. I know God can instantly heal and deliver as I have seen it. This time it was a progression. Through this time God has miraculously placed in our path individuals that would guide and lead to the next steps of healing, line by line. It has now been seven months and we are still walking through this process. He is still guiding. Power of Silence Psalm 51 – “Cast me not away from Your Presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.” At times when Heaven is silent, we find ourselves making this plea. I found myself often with this thought and prayer during this time. This plea should show us the power found even See heaven is silent on Page 40
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Do not seek joy--in that case you will not find it, because you are seeking feeling. But seek Jesus, follow Jesus, believe in Jesus, and joy will be given to you. "Ye see him not, yet believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (I Peter 1:8).
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Look Forward – See What God Has Promised You David Jeremiah A biblical promise is a tightlywrapped, powerpacked, portable capsule of Scripture, written by God and designed to meet a specific need in your life at a specific time and in a way that corresponds perfectly to His allsufficient grace. The promises of God are His guarantees amid life’s uncertainties. They’re the basis of all our life of faith, and there are specific promises in the Bible to meet every condition and contingency in our lives. Without God’s infallible promises, we have no assurance about anything, no hope, no security, no safety, no encouragement, and no comfort. His promises provide all those things in an endless supply of grace-points for us each moment of every day. For a thrilling little Bible study, just look up these references and read the verses in their contexts and in prayer. • The Promise of God’s Presence in Every Situation: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor will the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). • The Promise of God’s Strength for Every Challenge: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:25-27). • The Promise of God’s Grace for Every Trial: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). • The Promise of God’s Answer to Every Prayer: Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15). God’s promises mark the parameters of His grace. Spoken with the authority of His Word, they define His goodness, for He does for us that which He has promised, and no less. “Your promises have been thoroughly tested,” says Psalm 119:140 (NIV), “and your servant loves them.” To claim the promises of God for ourselves, first we have to read them. Search them out, and find some of the richest verses in the entire Bible. Second, rest in whatever promise God lays on your heart at any particular time. Turn it into a prayer. Third, rely on that promise. Take it with you into the day. Let it shape your thoughts and renew your mind. Focus on God’s promises instead of on your problems; for as you concentrate on God’s Word, you’re fixing your thoughts on Him, which leads to perfect peace. Finally, relay them to others. Here’s an idea. Using a set of index cards, write down some of the great promises of Scripture. Search them out, using cross-references and perhaps a concordance. Then categorize them: The Promise of God’s ________ ____for Every ______________. Further examples might be: God’s Provision for Every Need… God’s Wisdom for Every DeciSee Look Forward on Page 39
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How To Grow Into Christ-Like Maturity Servant of God – The Story of Paul Paul was a true servant of God. The last recorded letter of Paul, the er his life for Christ was worth all he had lost, all he had sacrificed, and second letter to Timothy, was written from a Roman prison cell. The time all he had suffered, that question was answered at that moment. What betof Paul's execution was close at hand and Paul was encouraging Timothy ter reward than to hear our Lord say, "Well done!" to carry on the work of the ministry with all faith and diligence. He wrote: Servant of God – Well Done! "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living Are you a true servant of God? Am I? In a day soon to come we all will and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you stand before Jesus. For some of us it may be immediate; for others it may this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; be several years. But that day is coming. When you reflect on your life as correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruc- that day approaches, can you repeat the words of Paul? When you stand tion. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doc- before Jesus, will you hear Him say, "Well done!"? trine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a The choices you and I make today will determine the outcome. What is great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. it that keeps us from being free to serve God? What principles do we need They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. to apply in our lives so that we might have freedom to serve Him? On But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work what are we placing more value than Jesus? Indeed, the greatest freedom of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy a person can have is to be a servant of God! 4:1-5). allaboutgod.com > Servant of God – The Challenge to Timothy After these words of instruction and challenge to Timothy, Paul records his final thoughts -- reflections on his life's work as a servant of God. These words stand as a lighthouse for every Believer. They shine in a dark world to guide each of us safely home. They are words that every child of God should be willing to pay any price to say. "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-7). To me, the saddest thing that could ever happen would be to reach the end of my life, look back, and say, "If only!" If only I had made better choices. If only I had lived a better life. How sad would it be to know I could never change the choices I had made, and the choices I made were not the ones with eternal value? Servant of God – Fighting the Good Fight When Paul reflected on his life as a servant of God, he was able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…" A short time after these words were written, Paul's earthly life ended. Immediately he stood in the presence of the Lord, for he had already told us that to be absent from the 3010 lausat street, metairie, la 70001 body was to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). There is no doubt that when he saw Jesus, he • Cold Web Press fell at His feet. I can see Jesus • Prepress Service reaching down to take him by the arm, lifting him up and pulling him close, and with a smile on His face saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21). roberson@robersonadvertising.com If ever there was any doubt in the heart and mind of Paul as to wheth-
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"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto them, they have no wine." (John 2:1-3) The first recorded miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding. The wine had run out, and the Lord Jesus Christ, at the request of His mother, moved in to take care of the embarrassing situation. He told the servants to fill six available water pots with water. Then, He turned the water into wine — but not ordinary wine, the very best. But this was not just a miracle. It was a miracle with a message. You see, Jesus was the Messiah of Israel, but they didn't recognize Him. In (John 1:26) John the Baptist said about Jesus, "... There standeth One among you, whom ye know not." They should have known Him, could have known Him, and ought to have known Him: but they didn't. And because they didn't know Him, they didn't understand this miracle. We'll look at three lessons from this first miracle. The Prophetic Lesson I believe there is as prophetic message dealing with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It looks forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb when He Himself is the heavenly Bridegroom and we are the bride, and we eat the marriage feast. This earthly wedding is but a fore gleam of what He will do for His saints throughout all the ages. The Practical Lesson There is also a practical lesson in this miracle. In (John 2:5), Jesus' mother wisely instructs the servants, "...Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." Are you a servant of Jesus? Let me give you the same advice: do what He tells you." There is a practical lesson concerning service. There are three reasons to serve God: Serve the Lord for your good. When the ruler of the feast had
tasted the new wine, he didn't know where it came from (verse 9). But the servants knew. Obeying the Lord brings intimacy with Him. Those servants knew things that the big shots at the head table didn't know. Even the bride and the groom didn't know what the servants knew. It's amazing what you can learn if you're willing to be a servant. God reveals His secrets to His servants (see Amos 3:7). What a blessing! Serve the Lord for their gladness. The party was getting dull. The refreshments had worn out. But when the servants began to obey the Lord, everyone was blessed. When I obey God, I'll be a blessing to you. When you obey God, you'll be a blessing to me. You cannot obey God without your obedience spilling out in a blessing to all those around you. Serve the Lord for His glory. According to verse eleven, He "manifested forth His glory." When people obey the Lord Jesus Christ — when they do what Jesus tells them to do, He is glorified. When you obey Him, then He works in your heart and life, and the result is glory to God. The Personal Lesson Finally, there's a personal lesson concerning salvation in this miracle. I believe the Bible gives us a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ transforming and saving lives. And just as Jesus turned worthless water into sparkling wine, the Lord Jesus Christ can transform and change your life and save you today. Notice the symbolism. There were six water pots of stone (verse 6). Six is the number of a man. Stone could be more aptly translated clay. These clay pots symbolize man made of the dust of the earth. They were dry, hard, brittle, and empty. These old, hard, empty vessels were filled with water. Water is used as a symbol of the Word of God and the Spirit of God throughout the Old Testament. And when the vessels were filled and then touched by the omnipotent finger of God, a transforming miracle took place. This miracle points to a greater one — the miracle of salvation! Jesus turned water into wine See Power of Christ on Page 41
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The Triumphant Christian
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The Christian's Guide To Living a Victorious Life Getting Past Your Past – Part 4 Overcoming Failures By Pastor Eddie Swan of New Beginning Church Today I want to ask you a question. How many of you have ever failed at something in life? Yea, you best all raise your hand. We’ve all failed at things in our life. Or we’ve all felt like failures at one time or another of things that we’ve done or not done. But we’ve all done things that we’re not proud of. We’ve all probably fallen into that category. We’ve done things we’re not very proud of, right? I know. I’ve made a fool of myself, more
than once. Things that might have labeled you as failures, maybe these are some, and I may be stepping on your little sinful toes, please excuse me. Sexual promiscuity might have been in your past. You were a little loose with the sex and you regret it and you carry the guilt with that, maybe even a label there. You have some recurring sin in your life and you just can’t seem to shake it. You want to do good but you still fail just like the apostle Paul said, “And the things I want to do, I don’t do and the things I don’t want to do I find myself doing”. I don’t understand why am I like that? We’ve probably all been there a time or two. You said something you shouldn’t have said. You regret it, you can’t take it back. Once it’s out there, it’s out there. You’ve made bad decisions; those
decisions have caught up with you from time to time. And then the biggest fear now is someone else might find out about my past and then what will they think of me or say about me? Maybe you have filed bankruptcy and you feel like a financial failure. Or maybe you’re flirting with the idea and you really haven’t trusted God in this area and if I go through with it, I’m going to be a failure or labeled as a failure. Maybe you’ve committed adultery. You can’t get over it. It’s like a vicious cycle. Maybe you’re divorced and now you’re thinking, I should have tried a little harder in my marriage. I wouldn’t have been divorced. See getting past on Page 41
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The Triumphant Christian
HOW TO OVERCOME By Andrew Strom This morning I felt the Lord telling me to re-write (Psalm 91)... I hope it may inspire you all to continue to trust in His grace and mercy,for a time such as this. Those who live in the shelter of the Lord Jesus Christ Will find rest, even in His shadow This I declare of the Lord He alone is my refuge, my shelter and place of safety He is my God, and I am trusting Him For He will rescue me from every trap And protect me from every fatal accident He will shield me with His arms His faithful promises are my weapons and protection Don't be afraid of any threats of the night Nor fear any dangers during the day Nor dread the plagues that stalk in darkness Nor any disaster that might try to strike you during the day Though many fall at your side Though thousands are perishing all around you
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These evils will not touch you But you will see with your own eyes How the wicked are punished If you make the Lord your refuge If you make the Most High your shelter No evil will conquer you No plague will come near your house For He orders His angels To protect you wherever you go They will support you with their hands To keep you from even striking your foot on a stone You will trample down crooks and criminals under your feet The Lord says "I will rescue those who love Me I will protect those who trust in My Name When they call on Me I will answer I will be with them in trouble I will rescue them and even honor them I will satisfy them with long life And give them my eternal salvation" Amen http://www.revivalschool.com >
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Single Woman Continued from Page 7 20. Have I purposed in my heart to be morally pure? 21. Am I currently in a situation that is (or could become) compromising? 22. Do I reserve intimate communication, looks, words, and touch for my future husband (if I marry)? 23. Have I become a “refuge” for a man who may be struggling in his marriage? 24. Have I surrendered my sexual desires in honor of the Lord, my future husband, and the marriages or future marriages of those around me? Am I walking in holiness and honor? 25. Do I esteem and value any man more than the Lord? Do I love any man more than I love the Lord? Who comes first in my estimation? 26. Would those who know me best say that I am a woman of moral virtue and purity? 27. Am I in a situation that could appear to others to be compromising? 28. Am I making myself accountable to another godly woman for
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my walk with God and others? 29. Do I treat men with respect by keeping a proper distance from them, emotionally and physically? 30. Have I erected (and am I maintaining) adequate “hedges” in my relationships with men? Have I defined what those hedges are? • “Lord, I acknowledge and renounce my sinful involvement in _______________ and pray in the name and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that you would break this stronghold in my life. I realize, Lord, this sin has been a detrimental influence in my life [and marriage]. Lord, I humbly ask that You would forgive me and wash me in the blood of Christ, cleansing me from this sin. I ask you, Lord Jesus to take back the ground given to the enemy through my involvement and I yield that ground to Your control. I purpose to honor You in my heart, practicing purity and discretion in all of my relationships.” © Revive Our Hearts. Adapted from “Becoming a Woman of Discretion” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used by Permission. >
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How Audacious Is Your Faith? By Cathy Deaton
(2Ki 3:16) And he (Elisha) said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. (2Ki 3:17) For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. (2Ki 3:18) And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he
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will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. (2Ki 3:20) And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. (2Ki 3:21) And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. (2Ki 3:22) And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: (2Ki 3:23) And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. (2Ki 3:24) And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. To try their faith and obedience, Elisha bids them make the valley
full of pits to receive water. Those who expect God’s blessings, must dig pools for the rain to fill, as in the valley of Baca, and thus make even that a well, (Psalm 84:6). We need not inquire whence the water came. God is not tied to second causes. They that sincerely seek for the dew of God’s grace, shall have it, and by it be made more than conquerors. –from Matthew Henry’s Concise CommentaryWhat we think of as being extremely hard is very easy for God. The people were in a huge bind. They might have been mighty warriors, but no matter how strong they were, they were brought to a screeching halt because there was no water to drink. So many times we think we can take care of ourselves and do it on our own, but just like in this passage, we can be brought to a complete halt because of one large or even tiny circumstance that is beyond our control. Things can change very quickly for the worse and many times we can do nothing about it.
But God already knows how he will handle every problem and He has a blueprint for you to follow that will always result in His Best for your life. That is why it is so important for you to read the Bible, pray, and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to know and understand His plan, and in what direction you should go to follow it. God does things totally different than we do when it comes to problem solving. He told the people that it would not rain, but the ditches would be filled, and He kept His Word. When you have read the Bible enough to start to know and understand how God works, you will begin to have a much bolder faith; you know He will always keep His word if He has told you He will do something. If you cling to that Word, when Satan tries to tell you that what you are believing God for will never happen, you can tell him very boldly to “go away and leave you alone See Audacious on Page 39
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www.changingtimes.info Seek His Face Continued from Page 27 dient nation? And the Lord said, "If you will not, then my blessing will be taken away from you." Following the Lord is not a bed of roses. If you read the Bible sincerely, just check how the men of old lived. Like Elijah, or Isaiah or Micah or other prophets. How did they live? What luxuries did they have? How about any of the prophets of old? What about the Apostles? These people were seeking the face of the Lord. The secret to Apostolic success, as I read in my Bible, was that the Apostles were in the Word and prayer daily. So, why has some churches gone to sleep today? Because, the spirit of prayer departed from them. These people of God are too busy with anything and everything, man-made programs, church functions, but not prayer. And then the spirit of prayer is lost and therefore, you will find that God’s Holy Spirit cannot work because the Lord’s hand is moved through prayer. In the days of old, when they prayed, they prayed in one accord, like in chapter four of Acts. They raised their voice in one accord. I believe in these last-days, we will see the Holy Spirit talking to Christians, who seek the face of the Lord. Miracles will take place in those prayer times because God loves the praises of His people and their prayers. And even with this turning away from the Lord, the Lord is merciful. He sends His prophets to His wayward children and the prophets preach repentance. They also preach the searching of Scriptures and turning to the narrow way. You will find out that the Christian life is not just a life of going to church and dropping money in the basket. It will involve all of your life, inside and out. It will involve your wallet, it will involve everything. It will involve your insides and your pride. It will touch your tongue, it will touch your tastes in life, it will touch your likings, and it will touch your habits, the whole inner life it will touch. The Lord told me also that it has to touch the outside. It’s a commandment of the Lord in the New Testament. The Lord has told me by revelations also that it is His will, that we better change the outside. So we have to clean our house of many things, of worldly things. I
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find in the word of God that yes, we are saved by grace that is true. But we are saved by grace for the holy works, for the holy deeds, for the holy life, for a life of righteousness, a life of separation from this world and the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. The Church must wake up and get ready to meet the Bridegroom because He is coming and the Church is not ready. She’s asleep and she has to wake up. Churches today need cleansing by the Holy Spirit, cleansing by the Word. Christians need a holy, dedicated life for the Lord. And that’s the message Changing Times will continue to share with you for the rest of these years. The Lord has turned us to Himself and we will continue to narrow our way. And as soon as you turn, you will begin to walk differently and talk differently, and your companions, and your relationships will change, your taste in conversation will also change. The Lord showed us and spared us only by His grace and mercy. If the Apostle Paul is the chiefest of sinners, then I am too. But the Lord has shown me, it is His will for us to be sanctified by the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a living epistle known and read of all men. And so therefore, as Changing Times goes around to different churches, ministering this message of Personal Revival which includes genuine repentance, absolute surrender, holiness, fervent prayer, searching the scriptures, discipleship and establishing a personal relationship with Jesus, of separation, of dying to the world, of the Church waking up, we will probably find out that it’s not a very popular message and not all will receive it. Yes, but there are some people who receive, and they will accept it, and they will start to think about it, and they will start on their prayer life, and they will start reading the word of God, and they will start to check their homes and they will start to check their lives. So even for the sake of the few, it’s worth it, to share the message of the last days. Wherever the Lord tells us to go and minister, then we should go and share the Word. Wherever the door is open, denominations See sEEK hIS fACE on Page 43 Autumn/Thanksgiving 2015
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Grandfather's bible Continued from Page 12 erably more fidgety than I was had taken the time to scratch out just a few strategic letters. What my eyes saw when they reached the sticker was “Sam’s old hairs.” I do not recall if I laughed out loud or not - knowing my dread of embarrassment, I
don’t think so - but I’m sure I at least snickered quietly. While the memory of the teachers, the lesson, and the classroom has dimmed over the years, I will never forget that chair. To this day, I choose Samsonite when it is a choice. I’m glad I have the memories of my grandfather’s Bible on those Sunday mornings. I feel rather embarrassed for myself - knowing that one of my biggest memories was a defaced sticker on the back of a church chair. I remember thinking at the time “that’s pretty funny, but in CHURCH?!” On Christmas several years later - I was in high school - I opened my present from Grandmother Roark. It was my grandfather’s Bible with the cover redone in leather and my name in the bottom right corner. Not to slight anyone who has ever given me a gift, but that is arguably the best gift I’ve ever gotten - certainly from my grandmother. I had bothered her for years to get the Bible. “But if you leave it here, you’ll always have a Bible to use when you visit,” I can hear her saying. Grandmother Roark was a practical woman and never gave things lightly - especially religious or family heirloom items. When I picked the Bible up and held it in my hand, I knew that somehow I was now worthy of it. I held a place in her heart that led her to do this for me. It didn’t occur to me at the time that there was also another reason why I received the Bible that Christmas. Grandmother Roark never saw another Christmas. She had wanted to give me the Bible herself and see my face when I opened it. Her death was the result of an accident so I don’t think she
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www.changingtimes.info had thought she would go that soon. But I know she felt she didn’t have anytime to waste on the important things. I have that Bible on the shelf with the others I use now. I do not use it much to keep it in good condition. It also has some of the smallest print I’ve ever seen in a full sized Bible. But I pull it out ever so often and flip through the worn pages, reading his notes and looking at the maps in the back. The inscription on the flyleaf to me was in my grandmother’s handwriting below the inscription to my grandfather when he was given the Bible. I didn’t put it together until years later, but the Bible was given to my grandfather by one of his classes at Dallas Tech High the year my father was born. Once again the Bible brought mist to my eyes. That’s the story of grandfather’s Bible and Sam’s old hairs. I cannot attend Sunday school without thinking of my grandfather’s Bible when we read the verses for the lesson. Using folding chairs just makes me smile - even though they are not Samsonite. And using most of the letters - and only one letter twice - what I got out of Samsonite Folding Chairs was “God’s Son cares if I fail.” And the weekends at grandmother’s house are some of the fondest memories I have of both my grandmother and Dennis, who never saw the age of thirty. May my grandfather, grandmother, and Dennis all rest in peace in the Lord’s presence. FaithWriters.com. >
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Look Forward Continued from Page 30 sion… God’s Power for Every Task… God’s Fruitfulness for Every Ministry…. Out of this personal, spiritual exercise will come endless ideas and outlines for Bible studies, Sunday school lessons, or church newsletter articles. It would reacquaint you with His “exceedingly great and precious promises” by which we become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). As you become reacquainted with God’s promises, you’ll undoubtedly have many occasions to impart them to others,
for there are times when nothing will do except an immutable promise from the everlasting God. So as you look forward to His coming, look forward to all God has promised until then. He will not fail on a single promise; He will keep every one. And in keeping His promises, He will bless and keep you. This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's Devotional Magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points. >
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in the Name of Jesus Christ.” The good thing is that he will have to do it if he knows you are walking in and acting upon the truth. Cling to the promises of God, and don’t let anything or anyone make you change your mind. God WILL do what He says even though it might take longer than you would like. He always does everything right on time – never early or never late. If you know that God has told you to do something, do it with all
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your heart, mind and strength, and don’t listen to anyone else who might try to convince you otherwise. After all, they are not the ones who heard God – YOU ARE. We need Christians who will stand up and claim God’s promises BEFORE they see them happen. God will always honor His Word, and He wants you to have the radical faith to believe it no matter what the circumstances are that are happening around you. First, make absolutely sure that you heard God correctly; then believe that what He said will come to pass with all your heart. >
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The Way Up Continued from Page 26 You and I will never meet God in revival until we first meet Him in brokenness. That is the heart of what we read about in the book of James: “Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:8-10).
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This is a message today's men and women are not eager to hear. Most of us don't walk into a Christian bookstore and say, “Can you help me find a book on how to ‘mourn and weep’?” We think our problem is that we are gloomy and depressed and we need someone to make us happy. But God's Word says, “No, before you can get close to God, you have to find the highway of lowliness.” We want to lift ourselves us. He says, “No, humble yourselves, and I will lift you up.” As is true in so many other areas, our idea of brokenness and God's idea of brokenness are usually quite different. Brokenness is the shattering of my selfwill—the absolute sur-
www.changingtimes.info render of my will to the will of God. Brokenness is the stripping of self-reliance and independence from God. Brokenness is the softening of the soil of my heart—it is the breaking up of any clods of resistance that could keep the seed from penetrating and taking root. Brokenness in the life of a believer has both a vertical and a horizontal dimension—it goes two ways. For our hearts to be revived, the roof must come off (brokenness toward God) and the walls must come down (brokenness toward man). God's richest blessings come only through brokenness. © Used with permission. Excerpted from Brokenness: The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Moody Publishers, 2002). http:// www.ReviveOurHearts.com >
Heaven is Silent Continued from Page 29
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in God’s silence. We all know the background of David’s sin and how Nathan the prophet was led by the Holy Spirit to speak the piercing words. We all know this plea of David was through repentance of gross sin. However, when a believer goes through times of suffering, not always, but most often there is a similar plea. It is not necessarily that one is in sin or has backslidden from God. But it definitely is from one who has experienced His pure presence and has seen His hand at work. It is a healthy fear and concern that His presence remains. While He has told us that He will not leave us, forsake us, or even extinguish the smallest hint of a flame, our healthy concern during these times is that He remain. Silence is definitely loud and sometimes overpowering. Job’s story gives an account of his finding Heaven silent. Only due to the fact that this account tells us the background do we understand the origin of this trial. Any trial or suffering could certainly be as it was with Job. It could be as Paul or any others found within God’s word. In any case God is faithful. (Jeremiah 29:11) – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end”. I cannot begin to tell of the countless multitudes throughout the years that I have heard ask the Lord why. We were created by God with an inquisitive thought and as such we often seek answers. Ultimately we find the answers. It may not be immediate but ultimately God shows us. (Psalm 46:10) – “Be still and know that I am God”. He Is Still God As I look back, it is now clear. Others that had depended upon us to be strong in prayer and belief became the ones we leaned upon to lower us through the roof to where the Answer was. It was very seldom and never to this magnitude that I had ever depended upon others to hear from God for me. Words of encouragement came from Pastors that we have encouraged. Healing came to others through this experience. Younger ministers that had relied upon us were given place to pray and watch God move. Words of wisdom and knowledge that would freely flow to others from us now flowed toward us. His ways are not our ways and most certainly reasoned beyond our understanding. But a true and faithful father He is. If you are in that place of silence be encouraged. It may seem as though prayers are like spitting sawdust with a lead cover between you and Heaven but He still hears, He still answers, He is still God. >
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Power of Christ Continued from Page 32 with a touch. But when He saved me; He had to hang on a cross. Oh what a miracle — that Jesus can transform you! The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life,
your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation. Copyright 2015 Love Worth Finding Ministries >
Getting past Continued from Page 33
Maybe your kids didn’t turn out quite like you thought they should, so you look at yourself and think; what could I have done differently? You are always second-guessing yourself. Or maybe you think that just didn’t measure up and you now feel like a failure. I want to talk to you about moving past your failure. 1.) Your biggest sins are not too big for God’s grace. You felt so guilty about the things you’ve done. You say there’s no way God could forgive me. Now I’m talking pre-Christ, before you received Christ as your Lord and Savior. So if you’re reading this and you don’t have Christ this way in your life and you’ve not asked Jesus Christ to save you from your sins; you are who I’m talking to. For those of you who are already saved, I’m not talking to you about messing up and making mistakes. God has already forgiven you. And His grace is bigger than your sin. I know that you understand that. But for those of us who are not yet in Christ, I want you to look with me in (1 John 1:9) for it says this, “If we confess our sin, He, God, is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us or purify us, listen to this word, all unrighteousness. All unrighteousness, does that mean everything? All means everything. That means it doesn’t even matter what the sin is, how big or how small it was, when God saves you from your sin, guess what, it’s a done deal! 2.) You are not what you have done. You are who God says you are. This is what Satan tries to do when you’ve messed up and failed. He tries to personalize your failure. You’re bad, you’re unlovable you’re used goods, you are a failure, you are unworthy, you are dirty. Now listen to me. You are not what you did. You are what God says you are.
(2 Corinthians 5:17) NLT, “Anyone who belongs to Christ or anyone who is in Christ, remember has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” You are new in Christ; the old things are gone, dead and gone! Listen to me, failure is an event, it’s not a person. So when the devil tries to tell you, you’re a failure; you tell him, ‘I may have failed, but I’m not a failure’. You understand that! Just because you’ve failed at something doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Whatever sin that you’ve committed, whatever problem is in your past, it’s all part of God’s story in your life. It’s called your testimony. And listen, when the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. I know where you’re going. Go ahead; talk all you want today, because your end isn’t going to be a good one. You’re going into the abyss. You are going away forever, never to bother me again. In Genesis he said to Eve, that he’s going to strike her heel, but understand this, he may strike your heel, but you’re going to crush his head. (Philippians 12:13-15) the apostle Paul speaking to the church at Philippi from a Roman jail cell said these words in the NLT, “I don’t mean to say that I’ve already achieved these things or that I’ve already reached perfection, but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Know dear brothers and sisters I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us.” And so, yeah, I’m not there yet. But I keep pressing on to take hold of that which has already taken hold of me, amen. >
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SHaken Continued from Page 24 otherwise thou also shall be cut off" (Romans 11:22). I am more concerned about the deep sleep that is falling upon believers in the house of God! Christians who once were on fire for God, once full of love and joy in Jesus, once looking for His return-are now drifting, cold, and full of doubt and fear. They are half asleep, but will soon fall into a deep sleep! They once had the glory of God, the power of the Holy Ghost. But now, their lamps are dim and dying! They now have adultery in their hearts; they play hard; they eat and drink; they act religious, but their hearts now grow cold and hardness is setting in. I look at multitudes in God's house half asleep on to Lord, and I must warn loud and clear: Your lamp is going out! You have just a spark left! You are spiritually empty! You need a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost! You are living on an old anointing! It isn't enough! You need more! You are in real danger of missing the marriage supper! You will be outside in the dark and He will say, "Depart,
I never knew you!" If we took God at His word, we would not be so lazy and half-hearted! We would not live another minute in doubt and unbelief! I don't fear the Devil and all the forces of hell as much as I fear God's curse of a spirit of slumber! I take it like it's written, "God has given them the spirit of slumber... For the Lord has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep... You are blind, deaf; the word is sealed up." I refuse to shrug off this awesome warning to the people of God! These were God's people--an unbelieving, rebellious, doubting people of the Lord; and God put them into a spiritual coma. You can preach like Paul to them; they can sit through precious Bible studies; they can be around other Christians who are growing in the Lord--but they go nowhere! They simply shrug it all off. They don't believe it's necessary to change anything in their lives. They are not hearing what God is saying! The table of the Lord represents worship; blessings of His Word; all that is intended to comfort us, make us grow, build us up, and make us rejoice! It is the house of God, good Christian friends, His holy Word,
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and the presence of the Holy Ghost! It is all part of the table He spreads! O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves... And I will put my spirit in you, and ye shall live" (Ezekiel 37:12-14). This is a dual prophecy from God; first, to Jewish Israel--and second, to Israel of faith--the believers. An exceeding great army is going to come walking out of their graves! Spiritual Lazaruses, ripping off grave clothes and breathing new life, will walk out of the valley of dry bones and join the ranks of the overcomers! Many who have been in that deep sleep, bound by the grave clothes of a spirit of slumber, will be breathed upon by the Holy Ghost and will spring to life! We are instructed in this passage to call upon the Holy Spirit to come and breathe! The prayer of all who walk with God should be, "Come, Holy Spirit, awaken the dead. Awaken the slumbering; open their graves; bring them up and out of death and dryness--to new life!" If the Spirit of God be in you, you will live! He is the Spirit of life. There can be neither death nor
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slumber where He abides! Get Ready to Be Shaken! Are you dead? Dry? Get ready to be shaken! Get ready to be remade, worked over! Get ready to be visited by the breath of almighty God! You have an appointment; you are chosen to live, to get out of your grave! God will say to you, "Live!" And you will rise up--and live! That is, you will live if you respond to the mighty breathing of the Spirit upon you. Saints of God, O holy remnant-rejoice! The wind of God is blowing! The breath of almighty God will rattle the gates of hell and send every demon into shock as the spiritual graves open and as those who have been very dry for so long come out of their bondage and become alive to holiness and worship in spirit and truth. As certainly as Satan could not keep Christ in the grave, he can neither hinder nor stop this great awakening from the dead in God's house! Just before judgment falls, He will breathe upon all flesh in even greater power. The remnant will respond, rise, and walk in new resurrection life! Save the Nations Ministries >
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www.changingtimes.info sEEK hIS fACE Continued from Page 37 should be no barriers for us. If any church invites us, then we should go and minister the message that the Lord said. It is midnight and the Bridegroom who is coming. We need to wake up and trim our lamps and get ready to come out and meet the Bridegroom. That is the message of the last hour. So to me it is a very clear message that the Church of God has to repent and trim this blackness of sin, blackness of corruption, blackness of materialism. To trim the lamp, that means to repent and clean up your life, inside and out, and get ready as a holy Church without spot or wrinkle, to meet the Lord. That is the call. The people of God in the last days have to come to the point of such fervent prayers that they cannot be denied. They really have to bombard heaven with their prayers. The churches in America have to organize prayer groups bombarding heaven, "Lord, talk to us. Teach us. Lord, if need be, chastise us. Lord, clean us up. Lord, cleanse your Church and get us
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Community ready. Lord, empower us with the Holy Spirit, so we’ll be able to stand in the very terrible days to come." There must be very persistent prayer. Today we need a church, which will be a crying church. Brethren, teach your people to cry. Teach your people to weep before the face of the Lord. My Christ wept. The Apostle Paul wept with many tears. The men of old, they wept, they cried. Jeremiah cried. Isaiah cried. They were really pouring their hearts out. America does not want to cry. People want to laugh in churches. Yes. A preacher stands here and tells jokes and anecdotes from the pulpit, and people grab their stomachs and they laugh to their hearts content. And then at the end of the service they praise the Lord, "The Lord blessed us, the presence of the
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Lord was with us." I’m sorry. But I think it was the presence of the devil. Now the devil has comics right in churches. Everybody wants to laugh. They want to have fun. They want to have laughter. Nobody wants to cry anymore in churches. So this is the call of the Lord? We read, "Will not God, just before Christ comes, will He not defend His elect, those who cry to Him day and night?" Yes. He will definitely defend them. For them, this is the will of the Lord for the Church in the last days before the coming of the Lord. If you believe the coming of the Lord is close, if you believe the
coming of the Lord is at hand, then this is the message: Church, let’s learn to pray, let’s learn to cry to Him night and day. Then the Lord will empower His people with the power of the Holy Spirit like in the days of the Apostles. He will get the Church ready, when we start to seek His face! Save the Nations Ministries >
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