Thanksgiving Praise

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2Co 9:11

Here we are at another Thanksgiving and we have much to thank our God for and especially for His mercy in our recent Presidential re-election of George W. Bush. God truly blesses a nation whose “God is the Lord” and so we give praise and thanksgiving to Him for his bountiful blessings to us. Take this special Thanksgiving Day to praise Him and thank Him for all that He has done for you and yours and make this special Puritan prayer a prayer of your heart. May your thanksgiving be truly blessed!

Praise and Thanksgiving

O my God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

The Case for Democracy

I received a missive from the RNC this morning regarding Natan Sharansky’s new book, “The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror.” Their recommendation follows:

“He [Sharansky] affirms President Bush’s belief that peace can be achieved in the Middle East if we stay true to the ideals of democracy and the principles that make America thrive.

Optimism. President Bush relies on it as a key element for securing peace and freedom around the world. Sharansky agrees with the President’s optimistic approach. He doesn’t question whether we can bring democracy to the Middle East, but argues that it’s critical for security around the world, and with strength, determination, and fierce optimism, we will combat tyranny and terror and make great strides towards world peace.

Natan Sharansky wrote The Case for Democracy from his unique experience having served in Israeli politics for the last decade and having committed his life to promoting democracy. A former Soviet dissident who became the victim of totalitarian brutality under Communism and who shared his experience to advise President Reagan in the Cold War, Sharansky never gave up hope that tyranny would be overcome and the Soviet Union dismantled. With the current terror threat, Sharansky advocates the same hope and optimism. He fully endorses President Bush’s commitment to the War on Terror for advancing human rights and creating a safer world and brighter future.”

(The Case for Democracy is also available at most online booksellers and bookstores across the nation)

New Study, New Beginnings, A Break from Politics

We began a new study this Monday, “God’s Way of Holiness” which, Lord willing, we will learn, grow and apply good doctrine in life and worship. In preparation for the study this week, I recalled this prayer from Arthur Bennett’s “Valley of Vision” — an encouragement and a good supply of power. It is restful after a rest from the political scene and our new beginnings for the next four years and for our own soul:

The ‘Nevers’ of the Gospel
O Lord,
May I never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,
never rest in a system of doctrine, however scriptural,
that does not bring or further salvation,
or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,
or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;
never rely on my own convictions and resolutions,
but be strong in thee and in thy might;
never cease to find thy grace sufficient
in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;
never forget to repair to thee
in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles,
in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;
never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace
and truth, the friend that loveth at all times,
who is touched with feelings of my infirmities,
and can do exceeding abundantly for me;
never confine my religion to extraordinary
occasions, but acknowledge thee in all my ways;
never limit my devotions to particular seasons
but be in thy fear all the day long;
never be godly only on the sabbath
or in thy house, but on every day abroad
and at home;
never make piety a dress but a habit,
not only a habit but a nature,
not only a nature but a life.
Do good to me by all thy dispensations,
by all means of grace,
by worship, prayers, praises,
And at last let me enter that world where is
no temple, but only thy glory
and the Lamb’s.

Oh, Where Have You Been….

Oh, Where have you been….resting, thank you very much. It was a long campaign, lots of work and on top of it, the ministry was running fast and furious to get things done. We are back and will have a few minutes to blog again in spite of our new study which begins next Monday, November 15. More blogging, news, etc. coming shortly.

We are blessed and thankful for God’s provision of “W” for another four years. We are turning the world upside-down for Christ…to Him be the glory and honor forever, Amen!

See you soon!
joany

BUSH WINS!

Praise God….BUSH WINS!

“Why Christian Women Should Vote”

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“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14
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God has bidden us to pray for our leaders and especially that we would pray for “honorable men, of good character” and to “choose” them to rule over us. He has given us a biblical mandate to pray for these things as well as the opportunity to vote for them. God’s Word says in Proverbs 16:33 “the lot is cast into the lap but its every disposing is of the Lord” so as we cast our vote in good stewardship of the blessing that God has given us, we do it from a biblical worldview, seeking God’s face, basing our selection using Scriptural principles applied to choose the man that best will represent us and have the “rule over us.” In our day especially, we are given such great opportunity and this gift to participate to God’s glory in exercising this gift for our good and that of our neighbors. All of these things are in His most wise providence and are part and parcel of our responsibilities to be good citizens of our respective lands.

The question of why some Christians do not vote is an enigma to me. I believe the Bible is clear on our Christian responsibilities and this blessing, as it was to those of old who cried to the Lord for righteous rulers over them, is one and the same. In our day, we have a special gift as women to be a part of it. I have over the years heard many reasons why Christians do not vote. For example, “we are not of this world,” “God is sovereign so we can wait on Him” “God will put in office who He wants so no need to vote” “neither candidate is a Christian or is doing what is right” “We do not entangle ourselves in the affairs of this life” (the error in this one is a total misinterpretation of this verse) and like reasons. None of them and others I have heard are biblical or correct in application but an incorrect hermeneutical or uninformed/immature understanding of God’s teachings of our responsibilities to be good citizens and godly examples. One of the ways in which we show that we “stand for righteousness” is to stand against sin, abortion, adultery, same sex marriage, homosexuality, pornography and the like is through our prayers and voice to speak God’s Word in practice, application and to vote for those men who will best serve our country and community. These men, just like us, are not perfect and many times they are men who “know not the Lord” but we still use the biblical principle and vote as biblical stewards of our gift and right to vote. We know as we pray and vote, that God will bless it and us because of it. We cannot ever take a fatalistic approach to anything in this life. To do so would be fatal to our faith and witness. God has called us to “speak” His Words and “apply” His principles and voting is one way in which we can glorify Him in being obedient children in praying and voting for a godly leader. He says,

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

This means that we are to be active participants in humbling ourselves, praying, confessing our sin, and seeking His face for His forgiveness and the healing of our land. God wants our participation in His mighty acts in our daily lives and that includes are prayers and to be responsible citizens in our culture. We cannot be like the Lot and the children of Sodom and Gomorra with our heads in the sand and oblivious to what is going on around us. We vote, support good laws, and use the gifts given to be good stewards of our citizenship.

God’s people act and God, in His providence, blesses. Think about homeschooling. Folks homeschooled for years and then children were forced by laws to attend public schools and after much hard work, prayers, voting, and the like, God in His providence, working through His people, opened the opportunity and means for families today to homeschool their children. We all have seen the blessings of this in both public and church life. Our children are the smartest and the best of the best. God’s blessings on our hard work and working in and through our culture to stand strong for righteousness and to bring to pass this victory and blessing for our children and families. We can apply this same principle time and time again in many aspects of the Christian life and I am sure all of us can number on more than both hands the blessings God has bestowed upon us because of the opportunity to stand strong in our culture and community.

I do believe as Christians that if we want to raise our children and grandchildren and live a “peaceable and quiet life” that is spoken of in Scripture, it is incumbent upon us to act and we act by exercising our God-given gift to vote. Just as the disciples cast lots (voted) for the man who would replace Judas (12th disciple) for the good of the New Testament church, its hearers and the gospel outreach to the world, we cast our vote for the man who will lead us for the next four years. We live today in a time that is perilous to say the least. There are fears on every side, inward and outward. God has blessed us with a President here in the US that is a true born-again believer and that is a gift beyond anything we deserve but God has been merciful in giving us this godly man as our leader. In the election of 2000, 4 million evangelicals did not even go to the polls to vote. Florida was almost lost over the difference of 537 votes. If all of God’s people stood up and voted for God’s man in this 2004 election, there would be no chaos or close polls or anything else. Our voice would be heard and God’s man will be re-elected to office and our lives and that of our children and grandchildren will be spared the oversight of the evildoers. What a privilege we have been given and it is my prayer that God will work in the hearts of every one of His children to vote and their voice will be the “stones crying out” for righteousness to rule in our country. We are able and we have the most powerful source available, our God, His Son, His Spirit working in us and through us to glorify Him in our lives. “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us…” Our trust and hope is in His mercy and we act doing what He has given us to do, vote for a godly man to rule over us. Is our candidate perfect? No, of course not, neither are we. Does He do everything we want Him to do for us and the Christian “right.” No, neither do we in our Christian walk. God has raised him up, pray for him, his fight is harder than ours and he is standing up for us as our leader. Many things he cannot change or control but George W. Bush is God’s man of the hour and just as the kings of old, we submit and bless God for giving him to us.
For the glory of God….