Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” and, partucularly, in me today. Amen
Peanut Gallery: In America, we pretty much take religious freedom for granted – not so for Christians around the world. Open Doors (USA) has just released its 2013 world rankings of persecution by country.
North Korea is still the worst, but the situation in Africa is deteriorating – see Mali. And the civil war in Syria has placed Christians in great jeopardy.
This link (click here) will take you to the Open Doors(USA) website with rankings and background information on each country.
What can you do? Pray, pray and pray again. Please check out this video that explains how your 5 minute weekly prayer can make a difference.
You can sign up here for weekly 5 min prayer updates… eventually you will pray for all 50 countries in 2013.
Special thanks to rodiagnusdei for bringing this update to our attention. Please check out their website here. Their original post is re-blogged below.
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African countries surge – Open Doors reports that persecution of Christians in Africa vastly increased in 2012. Mali is a newcomer on the list and holds the No. 7 position. Tanzania (No. 24), Kenya (No. 40), Uganda (47) and Niger (No. 50) also moved onto the World Watch List and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from No. 38 to No. 15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at No. 10. Libya climbed from No. 26 to No. 17.
Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is No. 11 on the list, compared to No. 36 in 2012.
Christians are persecuted in at least 60 countries for their faith. They suffer interrogation, arrest and even death in some of the most dangerous and restrictive countries in the world. For 58 years Open Doors has supported and strengthened believers worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development and prayer and presence ministry. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 ( 888-524-2535 ) or go to our Website at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.
After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.
As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your sick servants, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Spiritual Song: “Healing Rain” – Michael W Smith (YouTube)
Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.
Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—began shouting at Jesus, “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.
Prayer: Lord God – All authority and power come from you. Give me the wisdom and discernment to employ them as an expression of your lovingkindness. No more, no less. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Heroic Media’s mission is to present women with hopeful alternatives to abortion – and adoption is a beautiful alternative!”
“Our new pro-adoption TV commercial shares the message that adoption is a loving choice that gives a birthmother the ability to choose a family for her baby and receive support throughout her pregnancy.”
Bethany Christian Services has already begun to experience the wonderful effects of the adoption commercial.
Heroic Media, with nearly 10 years of experience developing pro-life media messages, created its first TV spot focused on sharing the option of adoption with women facing unplanned pregnancies. During the campaign, 45 spots aired nationwide over a four week period. As a result of the campaign, hundreds of pregnant women unsure about their situation contacted Bethany Christian Services’ licensed pregnancy counselors for more information about their options.
According to Bethany, one such birthmother in Florida contacted the organization to discuss adoption as she had been considering leaving her baby at the hospital after giving birth, as allowed by state law. Ultimately, the birthmother decided to place her daughter with a pastor and his wife through Bethany Christian Services.
This is a wonderful ad campaign. May both the birthmothers and the adoption parents be blessed as they go through the adoption process. While Kevin and I are not financially able to adopt at this time I want to become an advocate for adoption. Plus, I think it’s a bit too soon since I just had my hysterectomy in September.
There are so many couples out there who are unable to conceive and I hope this adoption commercial campaign opens the eyes of women who are going through unplanned pregnancies so that instead of them choosing to kill their unborn children, God’s creation, that God will give them the grace to choose life and give couples the chance to adopt, care for and love the precious babies. Every living human being deserves a chance to live. The unborn have the God-given right to live.
Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
