32-39Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Philippians 4:8-9 (New Living Translation)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 91
9 The Lord is the one who keeps you safe. So let the Most High God be like a home to you. 10 Then no harm will come to you. No terrible plague will come near your tent. 11 The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. 12 They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone. 13 You will walk all over lions and cobras. You will crush mighty lions and poisonous snakes. 14 The Lord says, "I will save the one who loves me. I will keep him safe, because he trusts in me.
Be on your Guard..Stand Firm in the Faith..Be Men of Courage..Be Strong - 1 Cor. 16:13
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”- Philippians 2:4
Let us believe for better days ahead with the right leader....Barack Obama exudes Hope,Compassion and Consideration.....
I am also reminded of a Song we sang when I was a child in school....NO MAN IS AN ISLAND:
No man is an island,No man stands alone,Each man's joy is joy to me,Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another,So I will defend,Each man as my brother,Each man as my friend.
I saw the people gather,I heard the music start,The song that they were singing,Is ringing in my heart.
No man is an island,Way out in the blue,We all look to the one above,For our strength to renew.
When I help my brother,Then I know that I,Plant the seed of friendship,That will never die.
Hebrews 11:1 (the Msg version)The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.
Developing Patience
Roman 5:1-2 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Acts 12:20-23
20....So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24 Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.
Proverbs 14:34 (The Message)34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
I love and cherish the Obama family because Barack exudes Love for God, Family and Country. These are endearing, exemplary and undefeatable leadership qualities. Everything will be thrown against him to extinquish his God given Wisdom, but they/it will not prosper. I am in constant prayer for our country and have never ceased praying for our leaders such as George Bush.
The Obamas are in my prayers constently. I am also praying that any weapon formed against them boomarangs exposing the perputrators by knocking them out!!!!
This is a Great Story for Obama from: 2 Kings 6:8-20 (The Message) (My parenthesis in the story)
15 Early in the morning a servant (supporter) of the Holy Man (Man with Faith in God) got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! (Those that are bent on trying to destroy him) The young man(supporter) exclaimed, "Oh, master (Leader)! What shall we do?"
16 He (Obama) said, "Don't worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side."
17 Then Elisha prayed (keep on praying Obama), "O God, open his eyes and let him see."
The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha (Obama)!
18 When the Arameans attacked, Elisha (keep on praying Obama) prayed to God, "Strike these people blind!" And God struck them blind, just as Elisha said.
19 Then Elisha called out to them, "Not that way! Not this city (sometimes some compromise)! Follow me and I'll lead you to the man you're looking for." And he led them into Samaria (confusing them).
20 As they entered the city, Elisha (keep on praying Obama) prayed, "O God, open their eyes so they can see where they are." God opened their eyes. They looked around—they were trapped in Samaria(confusion)!
Psalm 33:10-12 (Contemporary English Version)10The LORD destroys the plans and spoils the schemes of the nations.
11But what the LORD has planned will stand forever. His thoughts never change.
12The LORD blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones.
Isaiah 12:3-4 (The Message Version)3-4Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation.And as you do it, you'll say, "Give thanks to God.Call out his name. Ask him anything!Shout to the nations, tell them what he's done, spread the news of his great reputation! (The Contemporary English Version)3With great joy, you people will get water from the well of victory.4At that time you will say, "Our LORD, we are thankful, and we worship only you.We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done.
