Life Unpredictable! Sunshine In The Storms Of Life.


NOTE: This is a Guest Post used with permission from Gloria Thomas Anderson, LMSW at http://www.hearttones.com.

 
Lately, the weather across the country has been anything but “normal”. Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding seem to be happening in places that usually do not experience these conditions, but such is a metaphor of life—unpredictable.

One recent morning, I decided to take a walk, although the sky was overcast and a light drizzly rain was falling. With umbrella in hand, I started on the mile-long walking trail that has several hills and winding paths. I began to think about a situation that brought a mixture of sadness and joy to my mind.

Through tear-glazed eyes, I felt a calm come over me as I thought about all the life storms God has already brought me through. Whatever circumstances may be happening in our lives, the peace of God brings comfort to our souls. Sometime a storm comes into our lives to release what
was in order to make room for what is to become.

As I continued walking, the clouds remained and light sprinkles of rain fell upon my face. I noticed a rabbit on my left and a bluebird on my right as I shifted my thoughts to nature’s wonders in the quietness of early morning.

And just as I came around a bend, the sun suddenly appeared, breaking through the clouds! I felt hopeful and encouraged as I realized that life unpredictable could also result in something positive.

Wherever you are on your path of life, the important thing to remember is to keep moving forward. Continue on. And like the unexpected rays of sunshine that brought hope to me on my morning walk, be mindful that it's bound to appear somewhere along your way too, perhaps unexpectedly—right smack dab in the midst of a storm!

Blessings to you,

Gloria

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The U.S. Is Rapidly Becoming An Apostate Nation.


DEFINITION OF APOSTASY:

  • Renounces or disassociates from religious beliefs or faith;
  • Rejects or renounces religious beliefs that were once held and accepts different beliefs;
  • Abandons what was previously held to be true and practiced and rebels against the same beliefs and practices;
  • Attempts to completely remove God from all facets of society (Schools, Government, Money, Pledge of Allegiance, Public Prayer, etc.).

1 Timothy 4:1-2 says “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

Jude 1:4 says “For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”

4 THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE
GOD TO PUNISH OUR NATON

1. SHEDDING OF INNOCENT BLOOD

Genesis 4:10 saysThe Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”

There have been an estimated 57.5 Million Innocent Babies aborted in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade was decided back in 1973 (National Right to Life/Guttmacher Institute, Jan. 2015).

When you total up all forms of abortion, including those caused by the abortion drug RU 486, the grand total comes to More Than A Million Abortions performed in the United States every single year.

Approximately 21% of all U.S. pregnancies end in induced abortion (Guttmacher Institute, July 2014).


2. REMOVING GOD FROM OUR SOCIETY

Over the last three decades, despite the fact that a vast majority of Americans support religious displays on public properties (Christmas, the Ten Commandments, etc.), federal and state courts have ruled that such displays are unconstitutional because they violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause which prohibits government from establishing a religion and from favoring one religion over another, or from favoring religion generally over nonreligious beliefs.

President Obama recently stated that we are no longer a Christian nation and numerous attempts are being made to completely remove God from all facets of our society (Everything and Everywhere).

Christian's religious liberties are fast disappearing and Anti-Christian policies are rapidly being implemented.

From imprisonment to torture to be-headings, more Christians worldwide live in fear for their lives than at any time in the modern era.

That’s the message from Open Doors USA, which released its annual World Watch List on Wednesday (Jan. 7). Christian persecution reached historic levels in 2014, with approximately 100 million Christians around the world facing possible dire consequences for merely practicing their religion. If current trends persist, many believe 2015 could be even worse.

3. IMMORALITY AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Natural sexual instincts and sinful desires have gotten way off track. Lust and immorality are rampant in our American culture. Consider the enormous Pornography Industry and all the X And R Rated Movies now playing on TV even during prime time.

And, the Supreme Court recently ruled that Same Sex Marriages are now the law of the land.

Leviticus 18:24-25 says “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.”

Leviticus 18:22 says Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”

Leviticus 20:13 says If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Note: All of the above applies equally to women having sexual relations with other women.

4. BREAKING COVENANT

Integrity has almost disappeared in America and outright lying is common among elected officials (all the way up to the President). As a result, most Americans no longer trust what their elected officials say or do. This is a very sad commentary!

Isaiah 24:5-6 saysThe earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.”

Daniel 11:27 says The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.”

All of these 4 things are a sign that we are in the “Last Days” and the return of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. Are you ready for His return?

God loves you but He cannot take you into Heaven if you have not accepted His Free Gift Of Salvation! Time is growing very short so don't put it off – Do It Today! Heaven or Hell? Your decision today determines your destiny tomorrow!

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To Determine Your Strengths And Growth Areas, Take A Personal Inventory.

 
We recommend that you regularly take a personal inventory of your thoughts, memories, emotional triggers and past experiences to honestly determine what your strengths and growth areas are.

Do you have too much of one thing and not enough of another? Do you need to add something new to your life? Do you need further education or training to achieve your goals?

When you've discovered what these things are, you should write out a plan and set some goals for your life that uses your strengths and improves the growth areas you discovered while taking your personal inventory.

Psalm 139:23-24 says Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 says “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

Do The Following:
  1. Ask God to Search your heart and thoughts;
  2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and believe that help is available through Him;
  3. Give your problems, concerns, and worries to God. When you give them to God, you shouldn't try and tell God how to do it or when He should do it. You should trust that He will take care of them in His own time and in a way that is best for you. If you really do this, you will no longer be anxious or concerned.
While Taking Your Persona Inventory,
Consider The Following 7 Deadly Sins:
(These are poisonous venom that comes directly from Satan.)

1. Anger And UN-forgiveness – A strong passion or emotion of displeasure caused by a sense of injury or insult, usually antagonistic and excited and directed toward a person, event, or situation.

2. Envy Or Covetousness – Being discontented or resentful or longing after the good fortune of another. Wanting what someone else has.

3. Laziness – Being Idle or Unwilling to work. Also includes Indifference, Atrophy (wasting away from lack of use), and an “I Don't Care Attitude”.

4. Greed – A desire to acquire things beyond reason. Many of us are chasing the almighty dollar and wanting more power, prestige, and position while ignoring our family, friends, and other responsibilities.

5. Lust And Immorality – A natural sexual instinct or sinful desire that's gotten off track. Lust and immorality are rampant in our American culture. Consider the Pornography Industry and all the X And R Rated Movies now on TV.

6. Gluttony – Excessive Eating or Drinking. Many of us are eating and drinking too much and are literally killing ourselves with clogged arteries, high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, and other self inflicted infirmities.
 
7. Pride – Having an excessively high opinion of yourself and being conceited. This is the most deadly sin of all because it makes you want to appear wiser, smarter, bigger, better, richer, finer, and more righteous than you really are. Some people, in an attempt to appear better off than they really are, have a bunch of credit cards all maxed out and, in reality, are completely broke.

Proverbs 16:18 says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”.

Proverbs 29:23 says “A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly (humble) spirit gains honor”.

Are You Guilty Of Any Of These 7 Deadly Sins?”

Psalm 51:10-12 says “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”

Ask God To Search Your Heart And Reveal Any Hidden Sin That You Just Don't Want To Own Up To.

Because we were born as sinners, our natural inclination is to please ourselves rather than God. Ask God to cleanse you from within and to clear your heart for new thoughts and desires. Right conduct can come only from a clean heart and spirit. Ask God to create in you a pure heart and a right spirit.

Once you have completed your personal inventory, make plans to take one day at a time and ask God to help you use your strengths, overcome your weaknesses, improve on the growth areas that you have discovered, and let go of all those things that you have given to God to take care of.

Finally, ask God to show you His purpose for your life and the path He wants you to take. When He tells you what these are, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be obedient to them. If you do these things, your life will never be the same again.

And, Always Remember This. You Have An Appointment That You Cannot Change Or Cancel!

You can cancel or change your appointment with a doctor, dentist, barber, hairdresser, or mechanic, etc. However, your appointment with death cannot be canceled or changed.

Where are you in your walk with the Lord? When your appointed time comes, will you be ready? Will you spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell? The choice is yours and yours alone!

We Encourage You Not To Procrastinate. You Are Not Promised A Tomorrow, So Accept God's Free Gift Of Salvation Today!

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10 Steps To Effective Prayer (Part Two).


 
This post is continued from “10 Steps To Effective Prayer (Part One)” covering steps 1 to 5.

STEP 6. PETITION

Matthew 7:7 says Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

NOTE: Here, Jesus is telling you to persist in pursuing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through, and Jesus is assuring you that you will be rewarded. Don't give up in your efforts to seek God. Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give them to you.

STEP 7. GIVE THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

NOTE: Your joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with your circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands...be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks...often goes against your natural inclination. But, when you make a conscious decision to do what God says, you will begin to see people in a new perspective. When you do God's will, you will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

STEP 8. MEDITATE

Joshua 1:8 says Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

NOTE: Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed, Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God's laws, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law...God's Word. If you want to be successful, follow God's Word. You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes...and His opinion lasts forever.

STEP 9. WAIT AND LISTEN

Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

NOTE: War, destruction, and calamities are inevitable, but so is God's final victory. At that time, we will all stand quietly before the Lord Almighty. How proper, then, for you to be still now, reverently honoring Him and His power and Majesty. Take time each day to be still and to exalt God. Prayer is a two-way communication. First, you pray. Then, you listen. Don't just pray and then begin doing other things and not give God any time to answer you.

STEP 10. PRAISE

Psalm 52:9 says I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”

NOTE: Finish your prayer with Praise by repeating Step 1. Then, frequently give God Praise by telling others about all the good things God has done for you.

FINAL NOTE: These “10 Steps To Effective Prayer” only apply to those persons who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. God is not obligated to answer any prayers from a person who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. God may answer their prayers but He is not obligated to do so.

End Of Post (Part Two)

10 Steps To Effective Prayer (Part One).


Since this is a lengthy but very important post, we have split in into two parts. Part One covers steps 1 to 5 and Part Two covers steps 6 to 10.

STEP 1. PRAISE

Psalm 9:1 says “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.”

NOTE: Praise is expressing to God your appreciation and understanding of His worth. It is saying “Thank You” for each aspect of His Divine Nature. Your inward attitude becomes your outward expression. When you praise God, you help yourself by expanding your awareness of who He is. 
 
STEP 2. CONFESS

Psalm 139:23 says “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

NOTE: Ask God to search for sin and point it out to you, even to the level of testing your thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for sin. How are you to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows you, you can repent and be forgiven.

STEP 3. WATCH

Colossians 4:2 says Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

NOTE: Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? This verse tells you to “devote” yourself to prayer and be “watchful” in prayer. Your persistence is an expression of your faith that God will answer your prayers. Your Faith shouldn't die if the answer comes slowly, for the delay may be God's way of working His will in your life. When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering...maybe not in ways you had hoped for, but in ways that He knows are best for you.

STEP 4. INTERCEDE

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

NOTE: Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He has chosen to let you help Him change the world through your prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a reality. We are all urged to pray for each other and for leaders in government. Your earnest prayers will have powerful results.

STEP 5. PRAY

Philippians 4:5-7 says “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

NOTE: Verse 5 tells you to be gentle (reasonable, fair minded, and charitable) to those outside the church, and not just to fellow believers. This means that you are not to seek revenge against those who treat you unfairly nor are you to be overly vocal about your personal rights.

Verse 6 tells you not to be anxious about anything. This may seem like an impossibility...we all tend to worry about something. You are advised to turn your worries into prayer. If you want to worry less, then pray more. Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.

Verse 7 tells you that God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Your citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, your destiny is set, and you can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard your heart against worrying.

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5 Keys To Answered Prayer.

Things are brought to pass only as man prays, and without his prayer, some things will not occur.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Your prayers may go unanswered unless the following 5 keys are met.

HERE ARE YOUR 5 KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER

1. MAKE YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD THE FATHER
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

John 14:13 says “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

John 15:16 says You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

John 16:23 says In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

2. YOUR PRAYERS MUST BE MADE
IN KEEPING WITH GOD’S WILL.

1 John 5:14-15 says “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

3. YOU MUST PRAY IN FAITH.

Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

4. YOU MUST HAVE NO UNFORGIVENESS IN YOUR HEART.

Matthew 6:12-15 says “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

5. YOU MUST HAVE CONFESSED
AND RENOUNCED YOUR SIN.

Isaiah 59:1-2 says “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

Luke 13:5 says “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 saysGodly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. When you don't know what to do, PRAY!

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