Eyes on Him Not Them

January 11, 2022 Gracie

Keep Your Eyes On Him Not Them

Have you ever heard the expression, “Keep your eyes on Him, not them”?

That means us, Church!

Let’s face it: It’s hard.

fear-mongering

It’s very difficult at times to not get caught up in the bad news and fear-mongering coming from the mainstream media, or the rampant immorality and harmful content in the entertainment world.

There’s more.

protect the innocence of children

Even in school systems across the country, there are radical programs – all of which affect the next generation.

The downward spiral of family values is heartbreaking.

Lord, please make it stop.

How can any person, any school system, any agenda, think it’s okay to steal the innocence of children?

We can’t be alright with a world that encourages these things which ultimately represents hostility towards God and His design for the human race.

Thankfully, brave and concerned parents are speaking out against this.

There’s no quick fix.

The devil fights hard.

We’ve got to be ready.

How about a New Year’s resolution to pray more than ever before?

We need to pray to Jesus.

Not to His mother Mary nor any saint, nor any religious leader for that matter who takes our eyes off of our only Triune God who deserves our prayer and worship.

eyes on Him not them

We must keep our eyes on Him and His promises.

Whatever happens, we can’t let these upsetting changes “take over” our lives and stall us in our mission to keep praying for others, and help reach the lost for Christ.

There are many issues dividing our communities right now: abortion, gender identity, human sexuality, racial tensions, religious liberty, and education, among others. But the gospel offers a light to our path! The scriptures are full of good news about our inherent value as humans, from our mother’s womb all the way to natural death. And about how God has uniquely made men and women. And there’s good news about His design for marriage as a reflection of Christ and the church. We need to share it! As citizens, we need to be advocates for sound policy. But as we do so, we should always seek to be as bold and truthful as Jesus, and we should also always seek to be as loving in our approach. – Dobson Policy Center.

Are we ready?

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– Quotation from Dobson Policy Center. “An Important Resolution for 2022.”. January 6, 2022., para. 6. Accessed 10 January 10, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.drjamesdobson.org/news/important-resolution-2022

Our Exceptional God

Reporting For Duty

January 5, 2021 Gracie

The 2021 Draft – God Wants You

Do you recognize this famous wartime poster?

Responding to the Call

That’s “Rosie the Riveter” flexing her muscle.

This iconic poster came to represent millions of heroic and patriotic American women who went to work in the factories during World War II.

While their enlisted husbands were sent off to fight, these inspiring women supported the war effort here at home, all while raising children during some very difficult circumstances.

We can never underestimate the strength and fortitude of women when tasked with a noble mission!

What can we learn from their courageous response to a call?

We can learn that it’s our turn, but for a different mission.

Now that the New Year is upon us – are “we” ready to report for duty?

Our responsibility, present day, is to put on the full armor of God, and to pray.

These aren’t prayers for material wealth, our name in lights, or status.

prayer is reporting for duty

We turn prayer into a heavenly complaint desk where we ask to “speak to the manager.” We treat prayer like filling out an Amazon wish list or a godly GoFundMe. But this is not Biblical prayer. Prayer is the realignment of our warped passions and priorities so they can reflect God’s passions and priorities. Prayer is the process of developing our perseverance and endurance to follow God for a lifetime.- Dr. Michael Youssef, Bible teacher and author.

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

What we are praying for and what we are praying about is serious business.

No doubt, this will be an especially tough year to come in the history of America.

I can’t stress this enough: We must be strong and courageous to fight against the temptation to be silent in the spiritual battles that are to come.

Are we prepared to be challenged for our beliefs?

Don’t think these threats can’t happen.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:13, (NASB).

Reporting for duty doesn’t mean sitting back and sticking our heads in the sand.

Our true strength lies in our prayers to Almighty God, our great “I Am”.

Even when it seems like things in this country are falling apart, be rest assured that God is working His plan behind the scenes.

Battlefield Prayers

While I’d love for the Rapture to happen this instant (considering how wicked the world has become) the fact is we don’t know when that will take place.

That is by God’s design.

We “could be” looking at this present darkness for a very long time.

The problems we are seeing everyday get so frustrating it’s tempting sometimes to throw up our hands and forgo our spiritual conversations with our Maker.

We may not even feel like praying sometimes, but we must pray anyway and resist that temptation. The Evil One hates a praying person.

Reporting For Duty Means Being Prepared

Reporting for duty means showing up and being prepared.

Here are a few ideas:

If you haven’t already, commit to reading the entire Bible this year. Here’s some help for challenging passages.
Memorize scripture. Jesus quoted Scripture, and so can we.
Be prepared to give an answer for your faith.
Ask for God’s will to be done when we pray.

Prayer is the breath of the warrior. The prayer-less Christian is a soldier who is dressed in shining armor but can’t make it up the hill without gasping for air. Just as the soldier needs physical conditioning, so we need spiritual conditioning in prayer. – Dr. Michael Youssef, Bible teacher and author.

Prayer is your weapon and the Lord is your strength!

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* Quotation(s) from Dr. Michael Youssef, courtesy of Leading The Way, “Walking The Walk: Developing Spiritual Endurance Through Christlike Prayer.” November 4, 2020. paragraphs 3 and 5. Web. Accessed December 24, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.ltw.org/read/articles/2020/11/walking-the-walk-developing-spiritual-endurance-through-christlike-prayer

* Quotation from Charles Spurgeon, influential Christian pastor and author. Taken from Charles Spurgeon@spurgeonbooks. 12/16/20, Web. [Facebook post]. Accessed December 23, 2020.

* Photo credit “Rosie The Riveter”, courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net. [Public Domain].

Our Exceptional God

Look Up At The Stars

July 17, 2019 Gracie

When I Look Up At The Stars

Look up at the stars

How many stars are there?

Billions?

Trillions, even?

There are estimates online, but no matter what, the fact is that God created each and every one.

How amazing is that?

Each and every one.

Just like He created you and me.

I can’t look up at the beautiful night sky without thinking of our Heavenly Father.

How astonishing is it that in this vast universe, blanketed by stars and galaxies too numerous to count, God’s design included a “you” and a “me”?

I hope we can always remember how much He loves us when we come to Him in prayer.

God’s Timing

We may not always understand God’s timing, or why He answers “No” sometimes.

But, we are His children, and He does hear us. He never would have sent us His Son if He didn’t love us.

Please don’t give up on God.

Pray big prayers.

Remember His past blessings in your life and don’t forget to always thank Him.

Another blessing may be just around the corner.

Charles Spurgeon quotation

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*Quotation from Charles Spurgeon, influential Christian preacher and author, (1834-1892). Taken from A Closer Look, “Encouragements To Prayer.” Accessed July 12, 2019. Page 49 of Prayer Focus.

Our Exceptional God