Evil Will Not Conquer Us If We Pray Together!

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.
-- Romans 12:21 (GWT)

Do we really believe that good still overcomes evil? I sure pray that we believe it. There seems to be too much pessimism on the planet these days and sadly too many "Christians" seem to be buying the lies and biting the lures of the evil one hook-line-and-sinker. It's troubling. Let us repent of breaking what Reverend David Ring referred to as "The Eleventh Commandment" -- "Thou shalt not bellyache" or "Thou shalt not complain".

Has wickedness in our world really got so out-of-hand that the Blood of Jesus can no longer redeem it? No way! His Blood goes deeper still. I'll agree, many situations in this present century of ours are "seemingly" hopeless, but the key word is "seemingly". Friends, let's be encouraged because it is not possible for sin to go deeper, wider, or higher than the Love of God has already gone!

On Tuesday mornings, "I get to" meet with our men's dawn patrol prayer team at 6:10 a.m. Yesterday at our daybreak gathering, twenty-one men showed up to partner together in prayer. Take it from me, during that sacred and sweet hour of prayer each week, the atmosphere in the prayer room -- more often than not -- calls out loud and clear: "Our God's goodness still conquers the world's wickedness!"

So, if you think good no longer overrides evil, here's a sacred suggestion: Begin meeting regularly with a group of God-seekers for intercessory prayer for our "seemingly" hopeless world.

In my quiet time yesterday, these words written by Andrew Murray inspired my soul (and inspired my previous suggestion as well): "Meet together with other praying believers with the aim of strengthening each other in the grace of intercession."

Click here: Matt Redman - You Alone Can Rescue - YouTube

Let's not allow evil to conquer us! Let's pray together!
Grateful

IN UNITY: Live Together In Harmony!

Click: YouTube - IN UNITY -- Shalom Israel

A song by David for going up to worship...

(1) See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! (2) It is like fine, scented oil on the head, running down the beard —- down Aaron’s beard -- running over the collar of his robes. (3) It is like dew on Mount Hermon, dew which comes down on Zion’s mountains. That is where the Lord promised the blessing of eternal life.
-- Psalm 133 (GWT)

Click: YouTube - Dwell Together In Unity - Paul Wilbur

IN UNITY!
Grateful

If I Go, I Will Send Him To You

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, Paraclete) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
-- Words of Jesus in John 16:7 (Amplified Bible)

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
-- John 16:7 (NIV)

Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful

Steps and Stops

Psalm 37:23 (NLT) The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.

It has been said that the Lord orders the steps and the stops, yes, the ways and the waits of those who belong exclusively to Him.

IF MY PEOPLE.. WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Rest, O My Soul

(7) Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. (8) For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, (9) that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living. -- Psalm 116:7-9 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

A New Song of Beautiful Joy

For the one who belongs exclusively to God, yes for the saint, suffering is not merely something to escape but something to be entered into so that a new song of beautiful joy might be born and sung for the glory of the Lord.

A new song of beautiful joy always requires the blessing of bountiful rain storms. Lord, give me wings to rise above the storms of suffering with singing. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

The suffering You sent was good for me... Psalm 119:71 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the LORD!
Sing His praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing, all you who sail the seas,
all you who live in distant coastlands.
-- Isaiah 42:10 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

For His Name's Sake

In the shepherd's fields and folds surrounding Bethlehem, one learns that the undeniable character of the shepherd is known by the overall condition of his individual sheep. If the flock is well-fed and content then the shepherd is known as a good shepherd. If the flock is hungry and harrassed the shepherd is known as a bad shepherd.

The shepherd-boy who would be king, yes the Psalmist, David, wrote these words to define the character of his Lord, yes his Shepherd: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Today when we pray, let us ask our Shepherd to please continue to prove Himself "Good" not only for the good of His sheep, but most of all for the good of His own name, yes for His name's sake.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

May I Pray Philemon 3-7 For You Today?

I pray the very words written in Philemon 3-7 (NLT), for all the saints, yes, for all of those who are God-owned and others-focused. May I pray this prayer for you, today?

(3) May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. (4) I always thank God when I pray for you, (YOUR NAME HERE) (5) because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. (6) You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ. (7) I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother (SISTER), because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise on 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Seasons of Great Struggle

You have seen me suffer for Him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.
-- The Apostle Paul's Testimony in Philippians 1:30 (NLT)

Without doubt, God allows those who wear His name to be fastened to seasons of great struggle in their lives. But let us never forget that the same mysterious God who brings forth the beauty of the butterfly (only because of its season of great struggle from the cocoon) surely knows that seasons of great struggle will likewise bring out the most marvelous of colors in our lives.

Lord, have mercy on us especially during seasons of great struggle. Give us grace to pray, trust, and wait on You for release from whatever seasons of great struggle you have ordered in our lives. Give us confidence in knowing that You, our Greatest God, will be our Greater Strength in Seasons of Great Struggle. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Like & Love a Good Neighbor

There is a familiar insurance company slogan that includes these four words: Like a Good Neighbor. However, this morning when I was beginning my seemingly non-stop, winter wonderland, snow shoveling, I suddenly heard the sound of a loud engine and then when I saw the sneaky, boyish grin of my across-the-street neighbor, Philip, coming my way with his brand-new, heavy-duty snow blower, my soul sang out these four words: Love a Good Neighbor! What a blizzard-day blessing Philip was to my blurry, ice-lined eyeballs! :-)

While Philip was in the midst of his blizzard-day blessing to me, I opened the back door and called for Kim to bring me my pocket-knife collection. I selected one of my prized pieces (still in the box) and walked across my soon-to-be-snow-removed, asphalt driveway and handed it to Philip. He smiled as I said: Philip, whenever you see this "pocket knife", remember that "Pastor Kerry" appreciates you! (Of course, "P.K." = "pocket knife" and/or "Pastor Kerry".) My good neighbor smiled and told me: Get in the house, Pastor Kerry. I'll knock the rest of this out in no time at all.

I went in the house, took off my wet clothes, and through a frost-covered window snapped a photo of Philip and his big, snow-blowing machine. As I focused the camera, tears came into my eyes. I prayed for Philip and his precious family. Later, while on the phone with my dad, I retold the story and said, Funny how God can use a heavy snowfall to help us Love a Good Neighbor!

Proverbs 3:28 (NLT) -- If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, "Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you."

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Need a Ridiculous Miracle?

If you haven't read 1 Samuel 17 lately, go ahead and read it now. It's a simple yet profound story of faith that inspires hope for those who worship the Lord of Lords.

If you need a ridiculous miracle, 1 Samuel 17 will heighten your trust and help you to know that God wants to partner with you in a ridiculous miracle for His glory, for your good, and for the good of those around you.

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Let's Be Encouraged By the Psalmist

The Psalmist said, For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
-- Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Speak and Live to Encourage (Not to Sorrow)

Ephesians 4:29b-30 from The New Living Translation of the Holy Bible is near to my heart. I share The Apostle Paul's words with you:

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He is the one who has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

ALL JOY!
Grateful