Morning Reading: Luke 6.20-23 NLT – weeping

Reading: Luke 6.20-23 NLT

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”

Prayer: “On the 40th Anniversary of Roe v Wade”

Heavenly Father, Thou hast given us the gift of freedom to love and to follow in Thy ways and commands. Some parents choose to abuse this freedom by destroying the gift of life which Thou hast given to their offspring. Please forgive those who destroy human life by aborting their unborn babies. Give these unborn children the opportunity to enjoy Thee for all eternity, if it according to Thy ordinance.

Assist me in being one in solidarity with Thy little ones by taking to heart the words of Thy Son, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Mt. 25:40)

Therefore, allow me today, Father, to adopt spiritually an unborn child and to offer my prayers, works, joys and sufferings for that little one, so that child will be able to be born and live for Thy greater honor and glory.

We pray this in Jesus’ name, in union with the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.

Please pray for North Korean Christians – World Watch List #1

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – North Korea – #1 (worldwatchlist.us)

“For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labour camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.”

Please click on this link to Open Doors US to learn more about Christians in North Korea.

Please join me in prayer –

Heavenly Father: May your Holy Spirit strengthen and comfort all North Korean believers in Your Son, Jesus Christ… especially those who are imprisoned and suffer great hardship, those who gather in secret to worship and pray, those who are afraid for themselves and their families, those who are sick and tired, those who are refugees, those who hunger and thirst, and those who labor to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus: Bring Your Truth to Life – reveal Yourself through signs and wonders that demonstrate Your mercy and grace. Move among North Korean believers with wisdom, healing graces and power.

Holy Spirit move across the entire country of North Korea – its leaders, its military, all of its people at every level of society. Turn their hearts to Jesus Christ and lead them to repentance and faith… that one day soon the country of North Korea will know God’s deliverance and finally be free.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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For more information on Christians in North Korea – click here.

Sign up for weekly emails from Open Doors 5-5-5, highlighting one of the top 50 most difficult countries to live in for our brothers and sisters in Christ – click here.

Re-blog: “Seven Traits of the Christian Man”

Peanut Gallery: What makes a Christian man? It’s an odd question to be asking in the 2013th year of Christendom. You’d think we’d have it worked out by now.

On the other hand, every generation has to learn essential Christian truths themselves. And in a post-Christian world, the teaching of basic, essential Judeo-Christian truths is all the more important… since there’s little chance of picking anything up by societal osmosis.

Roderick Evans offers some practical advice for men wanting to live Christian lives. It’s not a theological treatise and it’s not the last word on the subject, but it contains good practical guidance. It’s a good starting point.

I’d welcome any additional resources that you think might be useful. God bless.
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Defining the Christian Male – Seven Traits of the Christian Man

January 7th 2011

by Poet, roderickevans.net

Every Christian male should ask himself this question: What makes me a man? More importantly, what makes me a godly man? If a man does not know who he is, he will not be all he can be in Christ Jesus. The Christian male has to understand that he can only define himself based upon biblical standards.

This is because culture and Christianity have varying viewpoints about what makes one a “man.” The Christian male, then, has to learn to define his manhood in terms of his relationship with Christ (righteousness and character), rather than by the culture (which focuses mostly on external traits -strength, money, stature, family, etc). Before going further the Christian male should understand:

*A man’s definition is not based upon external characteristics, but internal traits.*

*The Definition of a man is found in the image of God.*

*Culture cannot define a man.*

With this understanding, we want to offer seven primary qualities or traits of the Christian man.

1. He reflects Christ’s image. As Adam was made in God’s image, the Christian man has to be made in Christ’s image. He will reflect the characteristics of Christ. (Romans 8:29)

2. He is a man full of wisdom and integrity. The Christian man will not be a fool. He will not lack spiritual wisdom and insight. He will be full of faith. (Acts 6:3a)

3. His is an example of the believers in this world. The Christian man will set an example that others can follow. He will represent the Christian faith well to the world. (I Timothy 4:12b)

4. He leads his home in the worship of God. One of the qualifications for a bishop was to have his home in order. This same quality will be in the true Christian man. (I Timothy 3:4)

5. He follows the example that Christ set. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to follow his example as he followed Christ. This will be the same desire of the Christian man. He will only want others to emulate him as he follows Christ. (I Corinthians 11:1)

6. He is man of prayer. In the Old Testament, men offered the most powerful prayers. Contrary to popular belief, women are not more effective in prayer than men. Prayer is not woman’s work. Men have a responsibility to weep and mourn and intercede for others also. (Ephesians 6:18)

7. He is a student of the Word of God. The Christian man will have a desire to know God’s word. He will not shun corporate and personal study of the Word. He will also understand the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith. (II Timothy 2:15)

Well, there you have it! Until next time, stand in the faith. Faithful is Christ who will be with us in the life and in the one that is to come. I have addressed this topic in detail in my book “What is Man? – Defining the Christian Male” which can found at Amazon.com.

Stop & Pray: Billy Graham’s Prayer for the New Year

Peanut Gallery: Making plans for tonight’s New Year celebrations? Getting together with friends and family to watch the ball drop in Times Square? Here’s an idea…
Mute the sound on the TV at 11:30 pm – that will get everyone’s attention – and stop and pray.

Don’t know what to say? Print out Billy Graham’s prayer… or just call it up on your new iPhone or iPad. The words are timely and timeless. If you make hard copies, you and your friends can pray together.

And here’s a reality check. If you’re with people who would be offended… consider getting some new friends.
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Billy Graham’s Prayer for the New Year
billygraham.org

This prayer from Billy Graham, written for “The Saturday Evening Post” in 2008, is just as relevant this year.

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds fJudior us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

Amen