Sexual sin (A man's battle field)

First off I want to start off by asking every sister to please begin to pray for the brotheren, for many among us are battling with sexual sin.  Many men hide in their sin cave's because they don't believe they can over come it. Who can they talk to about it??? Most times they can't not speak to their own wives because she may not understand what he is dealing with or battling.  Often times he can not speak to another brother in Christ out of fear or judgement.  Yet the world stand there with open arms to encourage him and support him and tell him that its not his fault but his wife's fault..  Recently when I was the VA I was listening to a worker there who was gay speaking about an Craigslist ad that his friend had post. It said I will do that thing your girlfriend or wife don't like to do.  I thought how sad, but true the world wants to destroy marriages.  Brothers, yes God programed us to like sex, but if your married it supposing to be with your wife, let your desire be for her only.  Its time we started to take back our authority as son of God.  bind up the devil and step out of our sin cave.  Sister's please do not judge your husband if he comes to you to share his fallen nation, listen and try to understand, but let him know that God forgives and heals but he must give it to the Lord, for his battle is a daily struggle with the media Television and magazines  billboards all promoting sex because "sex sells".

Sexual impurity is running rampant in churches because we've ignored the costly work of obedience of God's standards.  Our only hope is  obedience to the word of God. we can not serve our flesh and God also

Romans 1: 

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers.

I don't know about any other man, but I have had and still do battle against
sexual sin. 

From the television to the Internet, print media to videos, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations…but, thankfully, not impossible to rise above them. Shattering the perception that men are unable to control their thought lives and roving eyes.  The lie that enemy tells me is that God made us this way, sexual desire was made for a husband and wife, not as the world tells us that we do it because it feels good.  Here is a book I encourage brothers and sisters to read

Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time 

                      Male sexual purity is not only critical to sexual oneness, it is an essential component of spiritual and emotional wholeness. Husbands who desire to achieve true intimacy in marriage will appreciate Every Man’s Battle, which provides a practical, detailed plan for pursuing sexual integrity, one of the crucial elements in winning the heart of a woman.

Includes a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.

Lust Sexual immorality Homosexuality

Their hearts were darkened They became foolsGod gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves God gave them up to their vile passions (homosexuality) They burned in lust for one another and committed shameful acts God gave them over to a depraved mind They were filled with evil

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Recommended by Focus on the Family

Note from author Fred Stoeker

Every Man’s Battle is for both men and women. As a man, have you ever said in frustration, “I just can’t get free of this sexual sin! Since I’m a man, I guess I’m just doomed to live this way.” Or, if a woman, have you ever asked, “Why is it that my husband seems to think about sex so much more than I do?” Or, “If sex is so natural, why is it that I’ve been married 15 years and still have no real sexual intimacy with my husband?”

Steven Arterburn and I have written this book to open the understanding of both men and women to their created differences, and how these differences impact their lives sexually. This book was written as a weapon against male sexual impurity. When I personally fought this battle, there were no books to be found on the topic. Even now, there are few books in the Christian arena on sexual impurity, and those that exist generally have little more than a single chapter devoted to “getting free”. Every Man’s Battle devotes at least 7 chapters to the practical details necessary for total and lasting victory.

You’ve read enough books and heard enough sermons telling you to (1) admit your sin, (2) repent of your sin, and (3) pray. You’ve admitted, repented and prayed countless times, yet remained stuck in the same quagmire, just as I did. You need more. This book offers more.

You see, sexual sin is not just a spiritual problem. It is a physical one as well, and the Bible confirms this by claiming that sexual sin is a sin against your own body. So, your battle must be fought on both a spiritual and physical level. Admitting, repenting and praying take care of the spiritual aspects of the battle, but do not fully address the intense warfare between the flesh and the spirit, nor the sexual habits rooted so deeply in your mind and flesh. Every Man’s Battle approaches the problem on both levels, allowing freedom to come quickly.

Women, you’ll find this book shocking. Men are wired so differently sexually that you’ll find it hard to believe. My own wife recently said, “Sometimes it still seems like this is all made up, like all you men have gotten together and decided that if you all stick to the same story, the women will have to believe you and will have to give you what you want. It is all so different from my experience that it seems like this must be some big conspiracy to fake us out.” Well, it is not a conspiracy. It is true. The women’s section includes many other honest comments from my wife and other women that help you process what you learn.

While I didn’t originally plan a women’s section, early readers have been grateful. And, men have been so pleased with how the book describes the male “sexual wiring” that they are insisting that their wives read the book as well, hoping that the full understanding brings full intimacy for both of them.

Men, Steve and I tell our stories of our own bondage in Chapter One, and spend the rest of the book sharing the details of our escape. May you read this book, and then begin sharing the story of your own escape. God bless you as you fight!

Oh men of God  no longer do you have to hide in your sin cave, come out and stand strong. Women of God embrace your man, if you are dealing with this issue in your home get this book read it together and stand together against the enemy.  Many women among you are on your second or even third marriage because of sexual sin. Perhaps it was him who committed adultery, or perhaps it was you, one or both of you could truly forgive the other that is why you ended up divorced.  It is and was a sin, that should not be taken lightly as the world wants us to take. " I did it so get over it, or divorce me",  " I said I'm sorry what more do you want me to do",  "If you truly love me you will forgive me".  " You were not giving me any attention, He or she noticed me and made me feel special"  The saying once a cheater always a cheater, the world again telling you that once you start you can't stop.  Its a lie, time to put the curse to death, men and women if you guilty of adultery accept that you sinned, don't take that sin lightly because it kills the spouse you promised to love and protect and honor. You failed but life is not over yet, accepting true responsibility for your sin is the first step, accepting God's forgiveness. Ensure the other party or your mate has or will forgive you. If the relationship is one you can fight for, then fight for it fix it and give God the glory for only he can restore that which the enemy has sought to destroy.

Lord let us realize that the world view of sexual sin, is that if it feels good its okay and it not your fault you made a mistake. That is a lie if you committed adultery it is your fault and you must accept and admit it yourself to God and your the other party, Perhaps you got a divorce and the other person moved on, but still clean your account with them let them know you admit your wrong doing .  Tell the enemy never again and draw near to the Lord.  Men of God, do not buy into the lie that its your wife's fault that she has no interest in sex anymore. Help her revive it, for god sakes man do the dishes sometimes take out the trash remove all the obstacles send the kids to a friends, send out to get her hair done, buy her a new dress,  get her a special something for the bed room :). Its time you court your wife again, stop her feeling like she is just a pack mule or the maid.  Let her know she is just as sexy as the day you decided you wanted her.

Oh grant us he strength to stand up as men and women of God and rebuke he devil and he will flee. Gather about out you 2 or 3 brothers  to lean on. As most of you know I up late at night so if you need me just call me. I want lie to you and say I can make it all better but I will stand with you in the gap and pray for you and with you.  Your not alone, that is the lie of the Lucifer, God is with you always.

We are Soldiers

Oh men of God did you not hear that horn blow, for the time is at hand where we must stand up as men of God and take up arms, for  we are soldiers in the Lords Army, we are enlisted in the battle .  Like Joshua and David let us go forth with only the purpose of victory to follow the order give to us by Christ Jesus.
For he is our  Commanding Officer! The Word of God is our code of conduct! Faith, prayer and the Word are our weapons of warfare! we have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire!
  We are volunteers in this army, and we are enlisted for eternity! We will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this Army; but we will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
We are  faithful, reliable, capable and dependable! If our God needs us, we are here! If He needs us in Sunday school, to teach children, work with youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use us, because we are here ready and willing to do as commanded, without question!
We are  soldiers! We are not a baby! We do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up!
We are  soldiers! We are not a wimp! We are in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send us flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give us handouts! We do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to!
We are committed! We cannot have our feelings hurt bad enough to persuade us from our mission! We cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside! We cannot be defeat to the point that we would lose all hope and quit! When our Lord called us into his army, we had nothing! If we end up with nothing, we will still break even! we will win!
My God will supply all our needs! We are  more than  conquerors! We will always triumph! We can do all things through Christ Jesus! Devils cannot defeat us! The world cannot disillusion us! Weather cannot weary us! Sickness cannot stop us! Battles cannot beat us! Money cannot buy us! Governments cannot silence us, and hell cannot stand against a soldier of the Lord !
We are soldiers! Even death cannot destroy us! For when our Commander calls us from this battlefield, He will promote us to be  captains and then bring us back to rule this world with Him!
We are  soldiers, in the Lord's army, and we are marching, claiming victory! We will not give up! We will not turn around!
We are  soldiers, marching heaven bound!
Here we stand! Stand up oh men of God and take up your arms and let us march forth with our Commander.

May the Lord keep your eyes forward oh men of God and may you always be battle ready, for we are men of  God not wimps not men ready to quit but men ready for the quickening. Stand tall oh men of God.

A DAY OF REMBERANCE

Dear  God thank you for my brothers in arms that you have kept safe, that you for those brothers and arms that gave their lives so that we would be able to maintain the rights that make this nation great.  For each brother or sister in arms who is not able to see their child or spouse or love one's because they are standing on the front line, for us bless them keep the safe and bring them all home soon.  Let us never forget those proud men and women who gave their all, their very life's blood, for a nation that is becoming an Godless nation.

MEMORIAL DAY

 

 

 

Keep it moving, please, even if you've seen it before. It is the  VETERAN,  not the preacher,  who has given us freedom of religion.  It is the VETERAN,  not the reporter,   who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN,  not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.     It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.       It is the VETERAN,  not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.    It is the VETERAN,  not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.     It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,      It is the VETERANwho serves under the Flag,  ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.      God Bless my brothers and sisters in arms!!!

Sexual addiction

When I first heard about sex addicts I laughted I thought how can you a addict to sex.  SO man or woman wants sex a lot or if even if they wanted it all the time.  I sat in church and talked with a sister who admitted that she was a sex addict.  Again I thought how bad could this be she cute and surely her husband can't be complaining about this.

She informed that she was not married but often times sat in church and had sexual thoughts about the pastor. And many of the men in the church.  She explained to me, that she was not like most women who hated sex but she loved it and needed at least 2 to 3 times a day.  She said she found married men were best because they needed and were always horny .  She did not see the sin, she admitted that having sex with married men was a sin. But felt that it was not her fault

if the wives would have sex with their husbands she wouldn't have to do it for them.  Lies of the devil, men there are many women in the body that battle with the same issue. Its time you as men of God stand up and come out of your sin closet.

                               Face the facts about sexual addiction

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). There are many ways that we humans sin and fall short—lying, greed, stealing, adultery, taking the Lord's name in vain, and many other selfish acts. All sins are equally serious before our Holy God.

1. If there is some sexual sin in your life, the first step toward improvement is to understand and admit what you have done. If you have given yourself to pornography or sexual fantasies involving people other than your spouse, you have been committing adultery. Christ was very clear about that:

   "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).

   Grasp the seriousness of this. You have been breaking a commandment of God. You have turned something beautiful (sex), into something ugly, selfish and damaging. If you are married, then you have been unfaithful to your spouse. If single, you are sinning against the dear person you may one day marry. If you are returning to this behavior over and over again, despite your desire to stop, then you are out control. You are addicted. If this is the case, and you can admit it, then congratulations; you have taken the first step toward recovery.
2. Spiritual salvation
   
   The single biggest factor in combatting such an addiction is to come under the authority of Jesus Christ. You are involved in a spiritual battle. "The Scripture contains no promise of help in overcoming temptation for those who are unsaved." If you are not yet a Christian, we strongly urge you to confess your sin and totally surrender your life to Him. Accept His gift of eternal salvation for your soul. After accepting Christ, some are totally delivered from their addictions. 
   "But, I am saved" - If there is no doubt that you have already committed your life to Jesus Christ and are relying on His sin-covering blood for your salvation, then do not let your sin cause you to doubt your salvation. Instead, deal with your sin. Confess it, and rededicate your life to Christ. Don't hold back any part of your life from Him. Humble yourself totally before God. Surrender it all. Ask Him to help you live a life of purity and true love. Accept your own failure and inadequacy. Admit that you cannot overcome sin on your own.
   The apostle Paul understood the frustration and terrible hold that our inherited sin has on all descendants of Adam and Eve:

   "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. …I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.

   Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

   So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
   Romans 7:15-24 

3. Admit your weakness, seek God's help
   
   All humans are selfish and sinful; it is our nature. Addiction to pornography and other sexual sins are particularly potent in their effect, similar to a seductive and powerful drug. Once it has a hold on you, it is very difficult to resist. In fact, it is virtually impossible to overcome on your own. You must have God's help.
   God cannot work with you if you are still trying to overcome sin on your own; it is a form of pridefulness. You are, in effect, saying to God "I can take care of this myself." Consider these verses:

   "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God…" (Psalm 10:4). "Pride goes before destruction…"(Proverbs 16:18). "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).

   "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You" (Isa 26:3).

   "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (I Peter 5:6-7).

   You see, God's willingness to “exalt you” (lift you up spiritually) is dependent on your willingness to humble yourself before Him. But the second part is just as important: God cares for you so much that He is willing to take all of your cares (worries, anxieties, needs, fears, desires, challenges, regrets, etc.) upon Himself. In other words, humble yourself by accepting your inability to handle the cares of life and give them all over to God. THEN He will lift you up spiritually, and you will find peace and freedom unlike anything you've ever known.
   The Holy Spirit will be the most powerful in your life, when you are the most humble—when you get your own interests and desires out of the way. Then, He can produce in you the fruit He promised: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).
   Notice that last one—self control. It is important to see that self control is not simply a matter of one's will; it is, in fact, a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us. What a merciful God we have! As we learn to depend more and more on God to see us through each day, and we become more aware of His presence moment by moment, we find that over time the magnet of sexual sin loses its strength.
4. Prayer power
   
   Prayer is simple you and I speaking with our heavenly Father. The Word of God emphasizes that it should have a very high priority in our lives. Continual prayer is very important to your recovery. If there was ever a time in your life when you need to pray, it is now. It is the Christian's greatest weapon against the sin nature and the dangers and temptations of this world. "Anything of value in the kingdom of God is initiated in and dependent on prayer." Rely on God, and learn to think as He does. This will bring a revolution of good in your life.
   Here's how to pray, each and every day…
   1. Confess all known sin
      Read: Psalm 51 and Mark 7:20-23 and 1 John 1:7-10
   2. Renounce conformity to the world
      Read: Romans 12:2, 6:13-14
   3. Ardently seek an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He will give you a richer, more meaningful life.
      Read also: John 10:10, 15:5-12 | Ephesians 3:14-19 | Philippians 3:10-14
   4. Offer your body as a “living sacrifice” to God
      Read also Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
   5. Worship God
      Read also: John 4:23-24 | Philippians 3:3
   6. Thank and praise God. Thank Him for his grace and mercy, praise Him, and keep seeking His mercy. Thank God for answered prayer.
      Read also: Philippians 4:6-7 | Colossians 4:2
   7. Ask God for help in living a pure and loving life
      Read also:  Hebrews 4:16
5. Reading and memorizing Scripture
   
   Memorizing scripture is an often overlooked weapon that should be in every Christian's arsenal. Memorize James 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 and quote them when you are tempted.
   Open your Bible at Psalm 51 and make it your own prayer.
   The following passages are also helpful in dealing with lust and sexual immorality:

   Matthew 5:27-30 | 1 Peter 2:11 | Romans 8:13 | Romans 6:12 | 1 Corinthians 6:13 | Galatians 5:17 | Philippians 4:8 | 2 Timothy 2:22 | Psalm 101:2,3 | Proverbs 6:25-29 | Proverbs 5:18-20 |Proverbs 8:13 | Job 31:1-4 | Matthew 5:8 | Romans 8:6 | 1 Corinthians 6:9 | 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 | 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 | James 1:15; 4:3 | 1 John 2:16

   Not only should Scripture memory be a regular part of your life as a Christian, reading the Bible regularly should as well. Read the Bible daily, without fail. 
6. Accountability
   
   Although it is healthy to be ashamed of the sins you are involved in, don't let that shame become one of Satan's weapons to keep you trapped. Secrecy is often a Christian's biggest enemy, while confession can bring freedom and release from the bondage of an overwhelming sense of shame. If no one knows of your personal moral failures, there is no one to be accountable to, or to help lift you up in prayer or encourage you. Don't let your pride destroy you (Prov. 29:23; Mark 7:21; 2 Chr, 32:26). In an accountability relationship, you choose a confidant that you can be honest and open with about your addiction. Confess your sin (James 5:16). Be sure to choose someone of the same sex. Preferably, select a discrete person that has some spiritual maturity in their walk with Christ, and who has a helpful, non-condemning spirit.
   Some of you are church leaders or teachers. We fully understand that breaking total secrecy about your sin is going to be especially difficult. But it is still necessary. God requires more of shepherds (not less) and holds them more accountable. Trust God and pray about who He would have assist you. Humble yourself. Proceed with wisdom and faith. Do what needs to be done. As a leader, it is even more important for you to do what is right and to deal decisively with your sin.
   If your addiction involves viewing Internet pornography, there is an Internet service that can assist you. CovenantEyes.net is an on-line accountability service. They point out that "while Internet filters can provide some help, they can also block acceptable web sites, creating frustration. Filters can also be turned off or bypassed, rendering them ineffective. The Covenant Eyes Program removes the secrecy and privacy of using the Internet. Covenant Eyes promotes self-control and personal discipline, and the individual is held accountable in their Internet use."
   It works by logging the address of each Web site visited, then compiling a list of visited sites that can be viewed on-line by your accountability partner. Users often find their temptation dramatically reduced and often leave it altogether once they know someone is monitoring their Web usage.
7. Blocking Internet pornography
   
   If you spend much time on the Internet, computer monitoring (as mentioned above with Covenant Eyes) or Internet filters are highly recommended. There are many filters to choose from, including:
   • AFA Filter—single profile, with no password overrides. This means no guessed or cracked passwords, resulting in maximum protection for children and adults. About $40/yr. See: AFAfilter.com
     Hedgebuilders—free to pastors, missionaries, and Christian schools. Others pay a small fee. See: Hedge.orgGuard your heart, avoid temptationsGuard your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Don't let the demonic realm influence your thought-life (Ephesians 6:12-20). If you give yourself to sinful fantasies and pursuits, you will become their slave (Romans 6:16).
     A simple change of habit can do wonders in keeping you from temptation. For example, if you are most tempted when you spend time on the computer after your spouse has gone to bed, then make a commitment to stay off of the computer during that time. If you know that a certain street you drive down causes you to lust due to certain establishments on it, or prostitutes that hang around, or alluring billboards, you would be wise to travel a different route.

8. "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word" (Psalm 119:37).

   Stephen Arterburn in his book Every Man's Battle talks about retraining the eyes to “bounce away” from visual things that stimulate lust in you. For men, this might mean you need to look away as soon as you see a scantily dressed female jogger. Don't fuel your lust. Avert your eyes from temptations, and don't look back.
   The same applies to visual temptations on magazines at the grocery store checkout line, or billboards, television programming and commercials. A good habit can be formed in around two weeks. Keep bouncing your gaze away, and remarkable improvement can be noticed rather quickly.
   Destroy all pornographic materials in your possession—magazines, books, videos, and computer files. Make no provision for your flesh (Romans 13:14). If you can't control yourself, then you must then get rid of every possible access to pornographic material in your life (Internet, cable TV, etc.). Stop feeding the fire.
   If some friendships cause too much temptation, severe those relationships.

Trust

 Put not your  trust in princes,  or in  men, in whom there is no salvation, for they will forsake your trust and you. The Psalmist wanted us to realize that we must trust in the Lord and only in him. For it is from him that our salvation comes. Psalms 146:3

Webster's define's trust as: That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.

O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth. We are told in the Hebrew bible to put not our trust in princes, today it would probably read put not your trust in your elected officials or  actors or the media. For they are all men and have all fallen short of the glory of God.

Isaiah 12:

 ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalm 62:8 

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Ponder this for a second if you will, why is that  when you sat down in a chair you check the chair to ensure that it will support your body weight?    You and I trust that chair more than we do our Heavenly Father at times, why is that ?

 We can see in Proverbs 3:5 That we are encouraged to trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

So what your saying is that I must blindly trust in a power that I can neither see nor feel nor hear?  Trust that he will provide for me, trust that he will care for me and protect me in my time of need? Yes that is exactly what I'm saying, You live because of God, he did not bring you this far to leave you. So yes trust in the Lord with all your strength and all your might.

 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Trust is like a flower, it must be handle with great ease, and is easily damaged or destroyed, we are creatures riddled with emotions and we like  ocean way are tossed to and fro by whatever emotion is strongest.  So if we put our trust in mankind we will find ourselves disappointed because like you and I all mankind is faltered from birth.
I hear people say well I trusted him or her not to hurt me. Or I trust that it would work out for my best.

In Isaiah 12:2  Isaiah tell us to that God is our salvation and it is in him that we must trust and to not be afraid.

So are you ready, to give up the worries and all the issues that you hold onto daily because your afraid.  Are you ready??? To give it to God and trust that he will take care of it for you?  Do you think that the God of the universe can not handle your problems?  Sorry I can't hear you can you speak up?  Is the God of the universe big enough to handle your little problem?  Or is that you feel your problems are bigger than the God?

No Judge Will Ever Stop Us From Praying

Amazing with all that is going wrong in this country people are more concerned about Christians coming together to pray.  Is it because they trepidated by the power of prayer, or that they know what prayer can do?  Not sure the rhyme or the reason.

On May 17, 2010 - There was an alarming amount of controversy recently about the National Day of Prayer.

The truth is, whether or not there is an official day of prayer, no judge and no critics will ever stop believers from praying.

by Franklin Graham

Although its roots go back to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and Congress authorized an annual National Day of Prayer more than half a century ago, a federal judge took steps last month to have it declared unconstitutional.
At the same time, the news media gave extensive coverage to outspoken anti-religion activists who persuaded the military to cancel my personal participation in a Pentagon prayer event on grounds that it might offend Muslims.
Then an Islamic advocacy group in Washington tried to keep me from participating in a prayer event on Capitol Hill with members of the House of Representatives.
It is shocking to experience, in our own country, such open opposition to Christian prayer for the nation. Despite that, millions of people across America did pray on May 6. And on May 7, on May 8, and every day since.
The truth is, whether or not there is an official day of prayer, no judge and no critics will ever stop believers from praying.
In the Bible, God says, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage” (Psalm 2:8, ESV). That is a clear call to prayer—evangelistic prayer. And it is a call to pray for more than just our own country.
God sent Jesus Christ “as a light for the nations” (Isaiah 49:6) and intends “that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Daniel 7:14). But God wants us to ask.
Imagine the great, eternal heritage of ordinary Christians who commit to intercede in prayer on behalf of a nation, asking God to bring its people to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Along with our nation, perhaps you would pray right now for the nation of Brazil, where I will be preaching the Gospel in just a few days. We’ve been invited to hold an evangelistic Crusade in Belo Horizonte, the country’s third largest city.
Christians across Brazil are praying, and you can join with them by asking God to bring many people in that nation who “walk in darkness” into “the light of life” (John 8:12).
The New Testament describes an exhilarating time for the early church in the book of Acts when “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, NIV).
Think of people getting saved every single day! God has been doing something similarly wonderful at the Billy Graham Library—every day that the Library is open, people tell us that they have made life-changing decisions for Christ during their visit.
A few days ago a woman from California met up with others at the Charlotte airport for a trip to Israel. When their flight was delayed, she decided to visit the Billy Graham Library nearby. As she toured the historical displays and multimedia presentations, she heard a clear presentation of the Gospel and understood for the first time that “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
She asked a volunteer working at the Library to pray with her and eagerly gave her life to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. “Can you imagine what the trip to Israel will mean to her now!” the volunteer said afterward.
Stories like this can be told every day, sometimes dozens in a day.
The Library, which was closed for a number of weeks for upgrades, reopened last month after numerous exciting changes and improvements. One special addition is an original mural by Thomas Kinkade, a 32-foot painting of a dramatic, light-filled landscape centered on the empty cross. We’ve also put my father’s personal library on display, featuring thousands of books from his own lifetime collection.
My father is doing well and feeling stronger than in the recent past. He participated in the reopening events, calling the Library “a great soul-saving place.” He said he is praying that in the future “its outreach will be as tremendous as it is now” and described it as “a different type of Library that totally and completely honors the Lord Jesus Christ.”
On the day after the reopening, a visitor from New England left a handwritten note about her visit. “Beautiful, uplifting setting. Left refreshed! Wonderful way to show the power of God on Mr. Graham’s life without glorifying Billy Graham.”
The Library’s ministry is like an ongoing evangelistic Crusade, reaching people daily with the truth of the Gospel and encouraging believers in their commitment to Christ. That has been our singular goal, and the changes we have made have strengthened the proclamation of the Gospel.
If you will be anywhere near the Carolinas in the coming weeks or months, please come for a tour. Bring friends or family. You might want to plan your summer vacation trip to include a stop in Charlotte.
Visitors come from every state in the nation and from dozens of countries around the world, up to a thousand people on busy days and even more around Christmas. People come out of curiosity, for the history, or for a free, wholesome family outing. Guests tour exhibits, galleries, and high-tech theaters that re-create historic moments in Billy Graham’s life and ministry from the 1940s to the present.
The exhibits show how God prepared and used a humble man to take the message of His unchanging love to an ever-changing world. The same clear Gospel message that my father preached his entire life is woven into every part of the self-guided tour.
More than 365,000 people have visited since the Library first opened in 2007, and we thank God for drawing many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We believe God will continue to bless the Library’s ministry far into the future, using it to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4).
We have busy months of ministry ahead. After the Crusade in Brazil, I have a wonderful opportunity to preach the Gospel in Huai’an, China, the very city where my mother grew up as the daughter of an American missionary doctor. Later we will take the Rock the River Tour, with its focus on reaching youth, to cities in western Canada, then head to Crusades in Japan and Latvia.
I have found through the years that if we simply stay focused on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, God will provide for His work to be done. He does this through men and women like you who share our burden and passion to win souls.

The bride

The Blind Woman
      A blind woman walks along the path. A sighted Friend walks beside her, sometimes before her, sometimes behind. But the Friend always walks closely to the blind woman, attentive to her every move, His open hand near hers. Should the woman stumble or veer too close to a thorn patch, a boulder, a deep crevice, or the edge of a cliff, her Friend gently takes her hand and guides her away.
      The two are engaged to be married, and the man loves the woman with an eternal love that motivates His every action toward her. He thinks of her constantly. His thoughts about her are as numerous as the sands of the sea shore.
      Sometimes the woman forgets her fiancé is there. Or, worse yet, she ignores His presence. Sometimes she puts her hands into her pockets so that He cannot gently lead her. When she neither offers her hand nor listens to her lover’s soft voice of warning, He must push her aside, but only as roughly as necessary, to keep her from the fangs of a viper or from stepping off a high precipice. He is quick to catch her when she falls.
      The blind woman doesn’t like being shoved about, and because she can’t see the dangers and because she doesn’t fully trust her husband-to-be, she sometimes doubts His ability to keep her safe or doubts His love for her.
      Sometimes when she hears another man’s voice, she turns toward the stranger and calls out to him. She flirts shamelessly even though her promised Husband is standing right beside her, hearing every word. He watches, yet says no word of reproach. His love for her is boundless, timeless, unchanging. But at times, He burns with jealousy.
      The woman often talks to her lover – but usually in shallow, half-hearted attempts at being polite – talking only because it’s expected of her. Mostly she speaks a steady stream of complaint: The sun is too hot, the wind is too cold, the path is too bumpy, she is hungry, she is lonely, and travelers along the way mistreat her or call her names.
      And when she’s tired of whining or has become bored with her own opinions and thoughts, she lies down beside the road and goes to sleep, leaving her fiancé to keep his silent watch. While she sleeps, He looks lovingly on her face and longs for the day when the woman He loves engages Him in intimate conversation as they walk along the way – when the blind woman reaches for His hand and thanks Him for His provision, His protection, His guidance, His loving attendance upon her. He longs to hear her confess her love for Him, confide in him as her sweetest dearest friend --  her everything, the love of her life.
      But He is faithful to His woman throughout the journey. He knows a great and wonderful secret. The path they walk leads to His Father. And when their journey is done, His Father will touch His bride’s eyes, and she will see. The Father will change her and present her spotless and pure to her Bridegroom. On their wedding day, she will see His face and will fully know the truth of His constant, consistent love toward her.


You are that bride!!!  Yes who the world see as broken not being worthy, But his Father see you as a precious jewel.  Its time you started to see yourself as the Father did, don't worry about how blemished and faltered you are, give it all the Father and let him do what he does best which is fix it.  After  all his son was a carpenter, since the son can only do what he see the Father doing I would say his Father is a master builder and a greater potter.  He has a plain for your life and mine, we must surrender control, notice that why in Revelations it says that he stands at the door knocking.  Because he is God he could kick the door in or walk right through it, yet God is a gentleman he will only come in if you invite him in.  The time is now that he standing there wanting to come and fix that which is broken.  Open up the door to your heart and let him in.  He doesn't judge you nor will he bring back to remembrance your past sins.  He wants to wash them away and give you a fresh new start, will you accept his offer???

God's Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:

²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

You and were given a gift that we could never earn nor are we worthy of it. Simply because God loves us and desires to have redeemed and not lost. For hell was not created for mankind, so neither the Father nor the son desires that any of us should go there. The only way to ensure that we did not all end up there for he price for sin was eternal death and eternal separation from God.  So Christ through the shading of his blood bought us back and made us righteous something that man could never do on his on for we are sinner and have all fallen short of the glory of God. But Christ who had no sin took sin upon himself to make us righteous.                                                                    

  Righteousness in the Hebrew Bible

Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God. Its chief meaning concerns ethical conduct. (In Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy25:1; Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 8:20) It is used in a legal sense; while the guilty are judged, the guiltless are deemed righteous. God's faithfulness to His covenant is also a large part of His righteousness. (Nehemiah 9:7-8)

Righteousness also relates to God's role as saviour; God is a "righteous saviour"; (Isaiah 61) and a deliverer. (Isaiah 46:12-13) The righteous are those who trust that they will be vindicated by the Lord God. (Psalm 37:12-13).

Isaiah 61:10 

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
      My soul shall be joyful in my God;
      For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
      He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
      As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
      And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Hebrew Definition of Righteousness

The Hebrew word for righteousness is tseh'-dek, tzedek, Gesenius's Strong's Concordance:6664—righteous, integrity, equity, justice, straightness. The root of tseh'-dek is tsaw-dak', Gesenius's Strong:6663—upright, just, straight, innocent, true, sincere. It is best understood as the product of upright, moral action in accordance with some form of divine plan.

In the Book of Job the title character is introduced to us as a person who is "perfect" in righteousness. This does not mean that he is sinless."Perfect" in this sense means that his righteousness permeates every relationship of his life as his working principle. After all, righteousness is a matter of relationships, with God, with things, and with other people. The biblical definition of righteousness involves the inherent quality of God. God is right because He is righteous, therefore God can only act righteously. In one instance the word means being right; in another it is used to mean doing right; in still another case it means putting right. Job qualifies as a righteous person on each of these counts, so much so that he is commended by God as "wholly righteous" or, translated into our terms, "perfect."

Righteousness as it is understood in the Old Testament is a thoroughly Hebraic concept at variance with the common understanding of the term. The failure to comprehend its meaning is perhaps the most responsible for the view of the Old Testament religion as legalistic and as far removed from the graciousness of the New Testament. See also supersessionism, Biblical law in Jewish reconciliation.

God's Grace

Ephesians 2:

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Simply put, Grace is defined as God's unmerited favor.
Grace is the power of God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves and the fact is that we cannot do anything for ourselves.
It was his blood shed at Calvary that revealed God's grace for his lost children.

The Torah gives us a beautiful example of what grace is and does.  When Moses took the Children of Israel out of Egypt and into the desert the people soon became thirsty, but there wasn't any water to be found, especially not for 2,000,000 people, plus their herds of animals.  God told Moses to strike a specific rock and He (God) would give the people water.  The water that came out of that rock demonstrates the grace of God flowing out to all who would drink.  It also caused the parched and barren land to blossom which in turn gave the animals something to eat.  Without this water, without God's grace supplying the needs of the people, the people would have died.  Christ is the Rock, He is also the Living Water. 

Without the grace, without the pardon that God gives us, justice demanded that we die for our sins, for the price of sin is eternal death which means eternal separation from God .  We are supplied daily with the light of the sun and air to breath, something to eat and drink. He supplies all we need, but we must choose to accept His gifts, or to reject them.

Ephesians 1:

⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Grace is God showing His love to us even though we don't deserve it.  

John Wesley believed that God provides us with  grace from birth?

Wesley believed that people have freedom of choice. We are free to accept or reject God's justifying grace. Wesley emphasized "Free Grace" saying:

The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is FREE IN ALL, and FREE FOR ALL.... It is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in man; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in anywise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything he has done, or anything he is. It does not depend on his endeavors. It does not depend on his good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God; they are the streams only, not the fountain. They are the fruits of free grace, and not the root. They are not the cause, but the effects of it.

Gods grace is so much more than in salvation alone, it is in Gods whole being. It is who God is. 

God's Mercy

What is God's mercy?  God's Mercy is withholds what we do deserve.
God's Mercy in the New Testament, eleeo and eleos are used 59 times. Mercy is not simply the withholding of punishment, but it is the act of giving help or having compassion on someone who is afflicted. We were all afflicted with the sin gene. Leaving man and with  no hope of escaping his sin nature .
Our Salvation is an act of the mercy of God, completely unwarranted by our past actions. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost"

Lamentations 3:

 ²²It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
 ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.


 It is God's mercy to which we sinners primarily appeal. We see this demonstrated in the words of the penitent David in Psalm 51:1, to the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had committed adultery with  Bathsheba  and ordered the assignation of her husband.  David once he was made aware of his sin cried out to the Lord in Psalm 51 verse 1.                                                  

Psalm 51

 ¹ Have mercy upon me, O God,
         According to Your lovingkindness;
         According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
         Blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 59:16 

 ¹⁶But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Psalm 136

 ¹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The author of Psalms 136 want to ensure that the reader  knows that God's mercy is never ending, based off the fact that it is mention in the Psalm 26 times. Normally it believed that if something is mentioned twice that is God's way of letting his people know that he is going to do just what he said he would do. Example in Genesis with Joseph we see two appearing as sign of what God is going to do. But when something is mentioned 26 times I think we can say for certain, that God is making a clear indication of who he is, what he is about.

Psalm 145:

 ⁸The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
 ⁹The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

 Titus 3:5 we see that "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy...."Mercy was such an important thing to the early Christians that they often included it in their greetings. Today it seems we have forgotten our roots, let us return back to that stage that we saw with Paul and many of the original followers of Christ.  Because God is a merciful God, he expects his children to be merciful. Mercy is so important that God instructs us to bind it around our necks and write it upon the tablet of our hearts (Prov. 3:3). In Matthew 23:23, we learn that mercy is one of the weightier matters of the law, and that it takes precedence over many other things. The prophet Hosea informs us that God desires mercy, even more than he desires sacrifice (Hos. 6:6). In what seems to be a watershed statement in the Hebrew scriptures, the prophet says to us in Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

     When Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount, he summarized the biblical teaching in these simple words,"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matt. 5:7). In another place, the Lord gives us a simple command to be merciful: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36).

     Let us look at some aspects of mercy and try to bring this command down to where we live our daily lives.

Oh Heavenly Father have mercy on America, have mercy on this government and most of all have mercy on the body of Christ for we have failed you in not bowing down daily before you. We have failed you because we no longer have clean heart, for we have become apart of the world.  Have mercy on us oh Father of Jacob, thank you for your mercy is new each day.  I thank you that without your mercy I don't know where I would be, let each of us examine ourself and seek to live an improved life for God and to seek to please the desires of the flesh or feed the fears of man.