Exercising Your Spiritual Senses
There was a man desperately wanting to hear from God. As he was listening he thought God said get rid of your garage. Wanting to respond in faith and obedience he immediately went out to his yard and tore down his garage. It was in need of repair anyway. The Lord was watching him and suddenly called all his angels the great cloud of witnesses and other heavenly beings to observe this act of faith and obedience. As the heavenly host watched, God explained, he thought I said get rid of your garage but I actually said get rid of your grudge. Though the man missed it, God was impressed with his faith. Don’t be afraid. to step out, God is cheering you on. you will become seasoned in hearing as you exercise your senses.
From the e-book: Developing your Five Spiritual Senses by Patricia King.
Published & distributed by XP Publishing XP Ministries PO Box 1017 Maricopa AZ 85139 – location 435
Justin Bieber and His Relationship with God
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is sincerely trying to repair his bad boy image and develop good Christian values. He earlier created a video of apology for his arrogance and foolish ways, made amends to his mother, and got baptized by Pastor Carl Lentz. Now, the singer is sharing his faith on his Instagram account (@justinbieber). He posted a photo of himself reading and captioned it with a Bible verse from Psalm 43. It reads: “Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.”
He then wrote, “I’m not religious nor do I think I have ANYTHING figured out that’s why I call out on God to help me through what I can’t do on my own. Developing my relationship with God has been the coolest thing I’ve experienced, to know that I’m not alone and I don’t have to live in fear.”
Bieber added that it’s such a wonderful feeling and he hopes his fans would “never feel like I’m pushing anything on you,” but instead think of his post as his way of “sharing the good news I’ve felt in my own life.”
For more on this story see: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/justin.bieber.says.relationship.with.god.is.the.coolest.thing.hes.experienced/55190.htm
3 Ways to Pick Your Spouse Over Other Commitments
Recently my husband and I were talking to our engaged friends about showing each other love through service. The husband-to-be said, “I feel like you treat a lot of your friends better than you treat me. When they come over, you’re willing to cook a full meal, run errands for them, or listen to their long boring stories without missing a word. Honestly, I just wish you would treat me as well as you treat your friends.”
His fiance sat in silence with a smirk on her face for a few minutes and quietly whispered, “Well, that’s pretty embarrassing. I think you’re right.” I loved observing this interaction from a young couple, but thought to myself, I don’t have that issue.
A week later, I found myself awake until 1 A.M. picking up a friend and dropping her car off at the mechanic, and then waking up at 4:45 A.M. the next morning to spend two hours in the car for an airport drop-off. I was battling a cold, had a huge to-do list in front me, and for some reason I said yes to being a before-the-sun-was-up chauffeur! As I was driving home, I let out a big sigh as I thought about the errand my husband asked me run that same day. Before I even had time to complain, I thought of the observation from my friend, I just wish you would treat me as well as you treat your friends. I laughed out loud as I thought about how God had shown me I’m guilty of the same offense. I treat my friends better than I treat my husband. I was so willing to bend over backwards to help a friend but was frustrated about running a simple errand for Caleb.
Have you ever experienced this? Why is it easier to help your friend, serve at the church, or even volunteer at a local shelter than it is to serve your own spouse? The design of marriage is to love and serve each other above everyone else! Honestly, this “aha moment” caused me to sit down and ask God to show me how to make my husband more of a priority. Here are a few practical steps the Lord has taught me on how to do just that.
For more see: http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/juli-slattery/2015/june/how-to-prioritize-your-husband.html
Slain Ministers Children Forgive Gunman
The teenage children of one of the victims of the Charleston shooting have said they forgive the killer. Chris and Camryn Singleton have said that they forgive the killer of their mother Sharonda. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45 years old and one of the ministers at the church, was one of nine people killed in the attack on worshippers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dylann Roof, 21, has been arrested in connection with the killings. In a BBC interview at a service at a Charleston high school, her children Camryn and Chris said they felt “love” for the killer. “I just feel a lot of love, I’m a little bitter, but I’m overewhelmed with love,” said Camryn.
Chris Singleton said: “We already forgive him for what he’s done, there’s nothing but love from our side of the family.”
For more of this story see: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/charleston.shootings.teenage.children.of.slain.minister.forgive.killer/56639.htm
Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Church’s Right to Post Road Signs
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a church’s right to post roadside signs where other signs are allowed.
The town of Gilbert, Arizona’s restrictions on Good News Community Church’s signs advertising church events violated freedom of speech because they were “content-based regulations of speech,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote on behalf of all nine justices.
Senior Counsel David Cortman says, “The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling is a victory for everyone’s freedom of speech. Speech discrimination is wrong regardless of whether the government intended to violate the First Amendment or not, and it doesn’t matter if the government thinks its discrimination was well-intended,” he said. “It’s still government playing favorites, and that’s unconstitutional.”
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/supreme-court-unanimously-upholds-churchs-right-to-post-road-signs-140584/#oFd7JpZdYdc0LGwt.99
Jesus Name in Use at the House of Representatives
Rev. Gregory Goethals of Los Angeles closed his House opening prayer on May 19 by saying, “We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.” The prayer was another example of guest chaplains invoking Jesus’ name as the House began its day.
Nearly 18 percent of the prayers read at the beginning of each House session in this Congress have referred to Jesus, and all of those prayers have been given by guest chaplains. Of the 29 guest chaplains who have addressed the House in the 114th Congress, 13 of them have made a specific religious reference, all of them to Jesus. All but one of the guest chaplains have been Christian. Guest chaplains are nominated by members of the House, and, given that more than 90 percent of House members are Christian, the probability that a guest chaplain is Christian is high, because members typically invite clergy from their home churches.
For more on this see: http://blogs.rollcall.com/hill-blotter/praying-to-jesus-on-the-house-floor/?dcz=
A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.
Marine Court-Martialed for Refusing to Remove Bible Verse from Work Computer
A United States Marine was convicted at a court-martial for refusing to remove a Bible verse on her computer – a verse of Scripture the military determined “could easily be seen as contrary to good order and discipline.”
The plight of Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling seems unbelievable – a member of the Armed Forces criminally prosecuted for displaying a slightly altered passage of Scripture from the Old Testament: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”
Sterling, who represented herself at trial, was convicted February 1, 2014 in a court-martial at Camp Lejune, North Carolina after she refused to obey orders from a staff sergeant to remove the Bible verses from her desk.
For more of this story see: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/05/26/marine-court-martialed-for-refusing-to-remove-bible-verse.html?intcmp=latestnews
How Not to Answer the Phone
A guy walks into work, and both of his ears are all bandaged up. The boss says, “What happened to your ears?” He says, “Yesterday I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang and I accidentally answered the iron.” The boss says, “Well, that explains one ear, but what happened to your other ear?” He says, “Well, I had to call the doctor!” 🙂
Faith in our Government: The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress
Proverbs 29:2 (KJV)
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
When the new, 114th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 6, 2015, Republicans will control both chambers of the legislative body for the first time since the 109th Congress (2005-2006). Yet, despite the sea change in party control, there is relatively little change in the overall religious makeup of Congress, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. More than nine-in-ten members of the House and Senate (92%) are Christian, and about 57% are Protestant, roughly the same as in the 113th Congress (90% and 56%, respectively). About three-in-ten members (31%) are Catholic, the same as in the previous Congress.
For more on this see: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/01/05/faith-on-the-hill/
Don’t tell people your problems. Eighty percent of people don’t care and the other twenty percent are glad you have them. – Lou Holtz
