Cease and Desist Elisha and Alta Jackson

VIA certified mail 70140510000203456035 Elisha and Alta Jackson Re: Colesha Jackson cease and desist communicating medical/mental health status Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jackson: Please be advised that Ms. Colesha Jackson consulted with me and asked that I contact you regarding the above referenced matter. I write on behalf of Ms. Jackson to demand that you cease and desist communicating her medical and mental health status to others in an attempt to discredit her reputation in the community. Ms. Jackson states she does not want you and/or your wife to have any participation in her medical or mental health care. She hereby revokes any authorization previously given to you by her to transport her to doctor or counselors or any medical or psychiatric facility. In addition, she would like for you to return all of her personal property wheresoever situated. This includes all medical and/or mental health records you may have or that you obtained from the camper where she resided. Your immediate attention and cooperation in this matter is demanded. Please give these two individuals this letter and give me a notarized copy saying that served them this letter. Please. Thank you for your help.

Bread in the Desert by Pastor Rod Parsley

Bread in the Desert The Lord said to Moses, "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.'" Exodus 16:11-12 In the book of Exodus, after the Israelites escaped Egypt, they could no longer do the tasks they had done all their lives in slavery. They were on a journey to a new land and had to trust God to provide everything for them. God not only gave them water in the desert but also provided manna for them-so much manna that the ground was completely covered! There was a catch, though-the Israelites had to gather it every day. They could not store it up for the next day, and those who did found it rotted. God wanted to transform the Israelites from being independent to being dependent on Him alone for their every need. God does the same with us today. He makes a way out for everyone who trusts Him. Do you feel like you are still in the wilderness, still on the way to your promise? Do you feel lost sometimes, like God has abandoned you? Read the story of the Israelites and remember that God will never leave you or forsake you and He will be with you wherever you go. Further Reading Joshua 1:9 Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Genesis 28:15

Smokie Norful - Justified

Me with more Praises God is Good

On Purpose by Joe Stowell

We . . . are being transformed into [Christ’s] image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:18 Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life has had an unbelievable run on the best-seller lists. Its phenomenal appeal reminds us that believers and nonbelievers alike have a deep longing for a clear sense of purpose. We all want to know that our lives are involved in something worthwhile. Without a strong sense of calling and purpose, life is nothing more than routine busyness. Being a follower of Jesus gives us a distinct advantage when it comes to having a sense of purpose. The Westminster Catechism sums it up well when it says the “chief end of man” is to “glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” Glorifying God means putting His character, His will, and His ways into action in all that we do. The apostle Paul reminded us that we “are being transformed into [Christ’s] image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). The purpose of our lives is to let others see what God is like as they watch and experience His love through us. What a profound privilege it is to mirror God’s love, mercy, grace, justice, and righteousness to a world whose heart is “veiled” to God’s truth! (2 Cor.4:3-4). Our purpose is to show others less of us and more of Him. That’s living on purpose with a purpose! So let our lips and lives express The holy gospel we profess, So let our words and virtues shine To prove the doctrine all divine. —Watts The Christian’s purpose is to promote God’s plan. Categories: Christian life Tags: God, worship

Holy Moly it's Mold

Since I have discover that I have been a victim of mold. I would like to set up a business that helps the people that are victims of mold (renting a property) or brought a home that already had the mold. I will be using SCORE mentor to help me with setting up the business and getting the business plan done. For things that I can't do, I will hire someone to do them. Just remember things like this take some time. I will say give me at least six months once I receive an adequate amount of money to set things up for the business. Thanks for your support. Many states don't have a regulation for mold. Just call EPA or some other agency. Hopefully, the first one I will set up will be in Mississippi.

For Christ by Pastor Rod Parsley

For Christ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 George Williams was a godless young fellow...yet he found Jesus on the filthy, polluted streets of London, England. In 1844 he was led by God to begin a program to win young men to Christ, which became known far and wide as the Young Men's Christian Association....the YMCA. Walking home in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1868, Dr. Samuel Wolcott, the pastor of a Congregational church, was inspired to write a hymn titled, "Christ for the World We Sing," after attending a YMCA meeting. It became one of the most famous hymns ever written. We never know how our actions will impact others, but God does. He can use anyone to effect change in the world and in the lives of those who have not heard His message. Never doubt that God can work good through you. Philippians 2:12-13 says, "...Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Open yourself to His guidance and He will use you in amazing ways! Further Reading Acts 16:30-31 Philippians 2:12 Mark 16:16

Supernatural Resource by Rod Parsley

Supernatural Resource "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 This life has been likened to a boxing match. There are a few moments when we can sit down and rest, but for the most part, we're engaged in conflict. In this life, we are constantly being confronted by challenges, but we can hope, for we all have access to the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in each one of us. On the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God was suddenly poured out upon the expectant disciples of Jesus. On that day, they were catapulted from ordinary to extraordinary, from the natural to the supernatural. Whatever your need, know that God has already made provision. Ask His Spirit to guide you. Power is available to you for every circumstance you face through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You are able to do all things through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within you. John 14:26 says, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Rely on the power of the Spirit and you will see victory. Further Reading Isaiah 44:2-4 John 14:15-20 John 14:25-27

Never Let Down by Joe Stowell Devotional for disaster victims

When I was a child, one of my favorite pastimes was playing on the teeter-totter in the nearby park. A kid would sit on each end of the board and bounce each other up and down. Sometimes the one who was down would stay there and leave his playmate stuck up in the air yelling to be let down. But the cruelest of all tricks was getting off the teeter-totter and running away when your friend was up in the air—he would come crashing down to the ground with a painful bump. Sometimes we may feel that Jesus does that to us. We trust Him to be there with us through the ups and downs of life. However, when life takes a turn and leaves us with bumps and bruises, it may feel as if He has walked away leaving our lives to come painfully crashing down. But Lamentations 3 reminds us that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (v.22 esv) and that God is faithful to the end even when everything seems to be falling apart. This means that in the midst of our pain, even though we may be lonely, we are not alone. And though we may not feel His presence, He is there as our trusted companion who will never walk away and let us down! Thank You, Lord, that we can trust in Your faithful presence even when we feel alone. Help us to wait patiently for You to manifest Your steadfast loving presence. When everyone else fails, Jesus is your most trusted friend. Insight In Lamentations 3 we see the tribulations of God’s people. They are described in terms of physical suffering, painful injury, and imprisonment. Judah’s journey is portrayed in harrowing terms of terrible obstacles, wild animals, a wound to the heart, and bitter food. And the spiritual devastation can be seen in these words: “You have moved my soul far from peace” (v.17). Yet despite the despair of the moment, the promise of restoration and renewal are given: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (vv.22-23).

What’s In The Name? by Joe stowell

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7 There are a lot of fun events associated with being a pastor. And while great food at church dinners and getting invited to cool events with people in your church are near the top of the list, there may be nothing that quite compares to sharing some great moments with people — like the birth of babies. But in the joy of it all, there is a problem. When you arrive at the hospital, you encounter a weary, but thrilled, couple who hand you this tightly wrapped little bundle and then impose on you a serious ethical dilemma. Of course, you are supposed to say, “Oh, my goodness, what a pretty little girl,” or “What a handsome little boy!” The reality is that I’ve never seen a child fresh out that looks anything like handsome or pretty. (Come to think of it, I have seen three really beautiful babies.) But once I get past the ethical dilemma by saying something like, “My, isn’t she precious,” the conversation ultimately morphs into an easier realm of interaction regarding the child’s name: “What’s the baby’s name?” . . . “That’s a great name. What does it mean?” The answers vary: “Oh, it’s his grandfather’s name.” “Her name means ‘Father’s delight’” or, “We have no idea; we just chose it from a baby book!” For most of us, names are relatively insignificant. They are easily changed into nicknames and serve basically to distinguish us from Bob or Ted. But if we look at God’s view of names in the same way, we may have trouble understanding what the big deal is about God’s name. Why would He include the importance of His name in His top-10 list of “Thou Shalt Nots”? How could diminishing His name rank up there with murder, stealing, and adultery? It doesn’t take much digging through the Bible to realize that names are important to God. Think about Genesis, when God was often giving new names to the main characters—Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel. Each change signaled a statement from God about that individual’s character and his or her place in His plan. It wasn’t about God giving a nickname, it was about God assigning identity and worth to these individuals through the meaning of their name. Most importantly, names are one of God’s key means of revealing His own identity and worth. He reveals His identity when He tells Moses that He is named “Yahweh,” which means, “I Am.” It means that He is eternally existent. He also identifies Himself as “Elohim,” the Almighty God, the God of great power. His names are who He is, not just what we call Him. God’s names also describe His worth. You may be familiar with names like “Jehovah-Jireh,” meaning that He is the God who will provide. Or “El-Shaddai,” which means that He is completely sufficient. There are, in fact, 210 different names of God throughout Scripture, adding incredible richness and depth to our understanding of God’s identity, worth, and character. Which is exactly why He takes it so seriously when we degrade His name by using it as though it weren’t sacred and lowering it to mere casual conversation as though it were ordinary. The exclamation, “Oh my God” should be an urgent prayer, not a verbal exclamation point. When we lower the name of God to drag it through a moment of anger or to use it to intimidate or manipulate, we have taken God Himself and lowered Him from His holy position. His name is intrinsically locked into who He is and what He is like. To put it simply, when we hit on His name, we have hit on Him. No wonder He is offended. So, what’s in a name? If you’re talking about God, the answer is everything! YOUR JOURNEY… Take a minute to evaluate your tolerance level for hearing God’s name taken in vain. Isn’t it interesting (and sad) that we get appropriately offended by all manner of four-letter words in movies and TV, but no longer catch the numerous times that this commandment is violated! In what ways might you be treating God’s name casually? How does knowing that His names reveal His identity and character change your perspective on His name? Take a look at Philippians 2:9-11. What does that passage say about the name of Jesus? How does that motivate you to worship today?

Good Morning Girls-Easter devotional

Devotional-Exodus 12:1-14 Such rich text today as we remember the establishment of The Passover, where God instructs the Israelites to take and prepare a lamb in a certain way, and then use the blood of the lamb to paint their door-frames so that the angel of death would pass over their houses, saving their firstborn from the final Egyptian plague. This “passing over” was not a result of works, but a gift of mercy, separating God’s chosen ones. This Old Testament history of the first Passover plays such an important piece in the Easter story, setting the scene for the ultimate gift of grace to come, which was poured out on us by Christ’s work on the cross. The blood of the lamb saved from death. For those who know Him, Jesus gives life… He is our Passover lamb!

She Reads Truth: Women In The Bible, Part 1 from the Bible App

Devotional Eve: Who We Believe "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." (The Apostle Paul, from 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, ESV) I’m convinced that Eve gets a bad rap. Yes, she deliberately disobeyed God. Yes, she was easily swayed. Yes, she brought Adam down with her. (Though, to be fair, he made his own decision to take a bite.) The serpent was sneaky, to say the least. Everything that spewed from his mouth was a lie:There is no danger here. What you have is not enough; you deserve more. God is not protecting you; he’s holding out on you. One bite won’t hurt. Yes, the serpent shares the blame. But even he is not the biggest reason I find myself leaping to Eve’s defense.The thing is, I know this story and I know myself. And I am one hundred percent certain I would have made the same choice.I would have bitten that apple. I would have convinced Adam to do the same. In fact, I have. When I dare to look hard at my Southern church-girl past, it is littered with forbidden fruit, with times I heard God’s truth in one ear and the Enemy’s lies in the other and I chose to believe the lies.Of course, it is not always that simple. We really do try to get it right. But the shame and guilt we carry are proof that we don’t. No one does.Perhaps this sounds dramatic. I do have a tendency toward word drama. But I don’t think it’s a stretch to say we each face these apple-moments in our lives, in our everyday. We know truth and we live in it, but the lies just get so loud. We get weary, we get confused, we get angry, we get jaded. And we bite. Immediately the shame settles in. Like Eve, we hurriedly begin sewing together fig leaves in an attempt to hide our brokenness and our guilt.Let’s stop. Let’s put down our DIY efforts of self-salvation that Paul warned us about, and let’s run fast to the foot of the cross.We will find Jesus there, ready for us. Ready to forgive. Click here to join the discussion with the SheReadsTruth community

Not Ashamed by Pastor Rod Parsley

Not Ashamed But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:33 Are you embarrassed to be seen in public with a Bible? Do you hide yours in your briefcase or in your purse? Would you sit in a restaurant with your Bible proudly displayed on the table, or would you rather keep it hidden from view? We are called to be witnesses for God. Take your Bible from its hiding place and display it proudly. Many have suffered and died just so you could have that priceless book. Christ paid the price for your freedom, and because of what He did you are able to claim each promise in the Bible. Why be ashamed to let the world know that you treasure the Word of God? The Bible has an uncanny ability to stir up human emotions-love, joy, hatred or disdain. If you will allow Him, God will open a door of opportunity for you to witness-to plant a seed for the kingdom. You do not have to beat people over the head with God's Word. All you have to do is be willing, ready and not ashamed to let the world know you are a believer. Further Reading Mark 8:38 Luke 9:26 Acts 1:8

What's in your wallet by Joe Stowell

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." Ephesians 1:11 An advertising blitz for a credit card company once featured two humorous television commercials. One featured Vikings who were defeated by credit card’s low interest rates. The other series of ads poked fun at the apparent difficulty of cashing in on the “other company’s” frequent flier miles. Every one of the commercials ended with the same catchy tagline: “What’s in your wallet?” It’s an interesting question. The stuff in our wallet represents financial security, purchase power, and prosperity. The question “What’s in your wallet?” is a clever way of planting doubt in our minds about whether or not we have the right stuff to get all the satisfaction we are looking for in life. It prompts us to wonder if we are getting all that we think we deserve. Is there more out there that we don’t yet have? Do we have what it takes to be successful? Of course, the intent of the ad campaign is to make us think that only this particular card will make us satisfied, secure, and significant. And if we don’t feel secure about having the right things in our wallet, perhaps we need to reevaluate its contents. But those who have traveled life’s road for a while will tell you that it’s not really the stuff in your wallet that finally brings the happiness you’re looking for. Thankfully, God has an announcement of His own about where to find satisfaction, security, and significance! In Ephesians 1:3-14, the apostle Paul can hardly contain himself as he lists the incredible resources that our Father has placed at the disposal of His children. When we turn to Christ by faith, we’re given forgiveness—the joy of a clean conscience before God. We’re entrusted with His wisdom—inside information on how to live life without the downside of our ongoing dead-end experiments. We’re given access to His mercy and grace to find help in the time of need, worship to lift our spirits above the din of ordinary living, and prayer to put us in touch with the One who cares for us and loves us without condition. We find all of this and more in our spiritual wallet! What are you trusting to bring you joy and satisfaction? What do you depend on to give you a sense of security and safety? Where do you turn for significance? Are you focused on a wallet that’s growing with the “right” credit cards, a thick stack of cash, and the right business cards? Ironically, a full wallet can be carried on a body with an empty heart. Live for the incredible spiritual wealth and riches offered to you by our loving heavenly Father, who, according to James, delights in giving good gifts to His children. Your physical wallet may be almost empty, but, if your heart is full of all that Jesus offers, you’ve got all the right stuff to defeat the Vikings that plague your life and to experience true joy and satisfaction.

A Devotion to Revive Your Dreams by Cynthia Ruchti

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:35 At a retreat, I heard a clear challenge to dream bigger than normal, to dream Jesus-sized dreams, things only He could do, things He delights in doing. The retreat instructor offered us time to pray and write down those courageous, adventuresome dreams. I wrote in pencil, not only because writing in pen seemed arrogant, but because no dream is worth it if God isn’t in it. I needed more time to listen to Jesus stirring in my heart through His Holy Spirit. Two days after returning home from the retreat, life got messy. It started with a grease fire in the kitchen. The smoke, soot, and extinguisher dust scattered to every corner of the house. The cleanup took three weeks. The crew put a rush on it because my husband was hospitalized that same night, had surgery the next day, and spent more than a week in Room 530, Bed 1. He spent the following many months in a back brace and used crutches the brief times he could be out of bed or off the couch. “My dreams went up in smoke,” I whimpered. I didn’t even know where those pages were anymore. Jesus–the epitome of Truth–seemed to whisper something profound to my spirit. “No, they didn’t. They’re in the garage.” I’d hastily thrown office items into bins and hauled them to the garage when the fire remediation crew cleaned and painted the office. My dreams didn’t go up in smoke. They were temporarily relocated. To the garage. Faith Step: Misplace a dream? Is it truly gone or temporarily relocated? Spend some time today asking Jesus to revive the dream He planted in your heart. By Cynthia Ruchti This devotion is excerpted from Mornings with Jesus 2014.

Purpose by Pastor Rod Parsley

Purpose Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:3 Have you ever asked yourself why the devil is always picking on you? One fact to consider is that Satan only attacks believers-why would he waste time on people who don't follow God? But let's go a step further and think about God's purpose. Could it be because God is refining you and developing the fruit of the Spirit in you (Galatians 5:22-23)? Nothing is wasted or without purpose in Him. God uses our mistakes to teach, to correct and to help us grow. Almighty God seizes every opportunity to direct us in His ways...if we are willing and if we obey. When your home is attacked, choose to fill it with the faith-filled Word of God-walk in your God-given authority. When change does not happen quickly, stand firm in your faith in Jesus and watch things turn around. When you operate in faith and authority, Satan can't continue his work of discord, disharmony, hatred and confusion. All the other schemes and tactics of the enemy become "null and void" because of the provisions of the cross (Galatians 3:13). God's ultimate purpose is your success and victory. Further Reading 1 Peter 1:7 Isaiah 48:10 Job 23:10 God Bless,

A Devotion to Help You Through Difficult Challenges by Karen Barber

A Devotion to Help You Through Difficult Challenges Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19 The weekend before our son Chris deployed to Iraq, our whole family pitched in to clear everything out of his three-bedroom house, so it could be rented while he was off to a war zone. The job was huge. Yet it was nothing compared to the impossible task of making it through the next year under the daily stress of knowing that Chris could be in mortal danger. How on earth am I going to make it through his deployment? I wondered. I carried a bucket of heavy-duty cleaning supplies into the bathroom. The walls and floor of the shower were caked with a thick layer of grayish soap film. An impossible job! I thought. I pulled on rubber gloves and sprayed cleanser on the shower wall until it dripped down the drain. I took a sponge and made a swipe. The gray yuck didn’t budge. I picked up a scrub brush and leaned my whole weight against it. Nothing. Then I repeated the process. Spray. Scrub. Lean. Spray.... In a few minutes a clean patch of white shower wall emerged. Encouraged that the job really wasn’t impossible, I kept at it. An hour later I stiffly stood and looked with satisfaction at the now white shower. Cleaning the shower showed me how to get through a huge life challenge like being a mom of a soldier in a war zone. Don’t try to handle the whole overwhelming job at once. Just finish up one small part at a time until the long difficult task is done. Father, what I’m facing feels impossible but with Your help, I will make a little progress each day. By Karen Barber Karen Barber is the author of Daily Talks with God.

Faith is the Gift of God by Pastor Rod Parsley

Faith is the Gift of God For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 All gifts are given to us by God and they are distributed by the Spirit of God-not for our own benefit but for the benefit of the body of Christ. Each gift is to help build, restore, counsel, strengthen, enlighten, encourage or to bless the Church and her members. Too often the gifts in the house are used to exalt "self," which is pride and haughtiness wrapped in the cloak of religious work, piety or duty. Our faith is not for ourselves nor should it be rooted in us-it is about God. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." God did not call us to have faith in ourselves, but to have faith in Him. He has given us a measure of faith to believe in Him, and as we grow in the knowledge and understanding of God our faith will grow as well. Further Reading 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 Romans 12:6-8 Matthew 17:19-20 God Bless,

The Fruit of Love-Lesson from Sunday Singles bible study (not written by me)

We have the mind of Christ Kenneth Copeland

PURSUIT OF HIS PRESENCE -- DAILY DEVOTIONALSEARCH September 19, 2014 You Can Change Your Mind Kenneth Copeland We have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:16 Some people are baffled by everything about God. You’ll often hear them say something like this: “Yes, amen, but you know that’s the way the Bible says it will be. After all, God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.” Yes, the Bible says that, but if that’s all it says, we can never hope to be anything except stupid. But praise God, the Bible doesn’t stop there. According to Isaiah 55:11, God says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” In other words, you don’t have to stay below God’s thoughts. Your thoughts can come up to His level. How? Through His Word. God’s thoughts are His Word, so if you’ll think His Word, you’ll think His thoughts. “But wait a minute. To think God’s supernatural thoughts, you’d have to have a ‘supernatural mind,’ wouldn’t you?” Yes—and if you’re a believer, you already have one. You have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I read that for years, but I didn’t really understand it until I translated the word Christ. It means “the Anointed One.” So to have the mind of Christ is to have a mind that is under the influence of the Anointing of God. A mind that’s not under the influence of God is in opposition to Him. It always goes contrary to His ways. And since God’s ways are right, then a mind without the anointing will think wrong. But hang on...just because you’ve made Jesus Lord doesn’t mean you’ll automatically think God’s thoughts. You only begin thinking God’s thoughts when you begin to fill your mind and heart with the Word of God and make yourself subject to His Anointing. Romans 12:2 calls that process “the renewing of your mind.” It also says that process will transform you. Why does it have such a dramatic effect? Because when you change your mind, you change your choices—and that changes everything. So learn to stir up the anointing on the inside of you. Subject your mind to it. Allow the anointing to transform the way you think. Allow it to change your mind! Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:6-11 © 1999 Kenneth Copeland Ministries All rights reserved.

Christlikeness in The Family written by Phebe Smith (I believe)

He lifts up the Needy by Pastor Rod Parsley

He Lifts Up the Needy Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:3-4 Maggie was found half-alive in a burning trash pile in Haiti. Mercifully, she was pulled out just in time. Her rescuers learned of the trauma that had been forced upon this poor girl. She'd been sexually abused and she'd been beaten almost to death. In time, Maggie's body healed and she learned to smile again, leaving behind her painful past. More importantly, Maggie came to learn about a Savior who loved her. She embraced Him with all her might and radiated with hope for her future. In the orphanage that took her in, she was loved by the younger children. She cooked for them and helped them in any way she could. Her future was bright and full of hope. But one day she got sick...and there was nothing anyone could do to make her better. Maggie died shortly before I left Haiti. The Bible instructs us to look after the poor, the needy and the oppressed: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor" (Zechariah 7:9-10). Will you follow the Lord's command to help those in need? Further Reading 1 Samuel 2:8 Psalms 113:7-8 Job 30:25 God Bless,

NYC

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy by Pastor Rod Parsley

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalms 5:11 You might think of joy as happiness. But don't be confused; joy is not an emotion-it is a supernatural expression given to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Unlike happiness, which is a fleeting emotion that often depends on our circumstances, joy is a deep and abiding sense of contentment that provides a foundation for our lives in Christ. Unlike fragile happiness, which can wither during times of testing, joy grows and blossoms in the hard soil of tough times. The Bible is replete with examples of those who continued to rejoice even in the face of persecution. For example, the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while he was imprisoned, yet his letter is one of joy, exhorting the people of Philippi to rejoice (Philippians 4:4). We will never find joy by seeking self-centered excitement and pleasure. True joy results when we give ourselves to God, wholly and completely, and yield to His will and purpose. True joy is the gift of knowing that our loving heavenly Father holds our future in His hands. Further Reading Psalms 51:12 James 1:2-4 1 Peter 1:8 God Bless,

Who’s Holding All the Cards? by Joe Stowell

“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1 To borrow a poker phrase, some people seem to hold all the cards. They are dealt a winning hand while the rest of us do the best with what few resources we may have. And with a “winner takes all” frame of mind, many of these high-profile, prosperous people manipulate and maneuver their wealth and power to pursue their own interests and advance their own cause. We all know the type. In the story of Ruth, Boaz holds all the cards. He enters the scene as a man of great wealth and power. Yet I am struck by several aspects of his life that set him apart from the typical guy who holds all the cards. I love the fact that he willingly aligns his resources with God’s heart for the poor and needy. God outlined in Levitical law that those who didn’t have the resources to survive could be “gleaners”—gathering grain that intentionally was left at the edge of the fields during harvest time. Boaz lived in a time when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. After a devastating famine, he could easily have ignored God’s heart for the poor in order to secure an abundant harvest for himself. But unlike other wealthy landowners, he still welcomed gleaners in his field. It was a tangible display of God’s love for the needy. God also provided ways in which foreigners could be welcomed in Israel. Again, Boaz aligned himself with God’s heart—even for a Moabite from enemy territory. He could have cast Ruth aside when he learned she was not a Jew. Instead, he opened his heart to her. Sometimes we don’t want other “kinds” of people to move into our neighborhood, but God is actually delighted when they do. It’s an opportunity for us to do what Boaz did—open our hearts to “different” people who could use a tangible expression of God’s love and grace in their lives. Not only did Boaz use his wealth for the benefit of those in need and welcome a foreigner to his field, he also desired to see God’s blessing poured out on her (Ruth 2:12) and then proceeded to be the instrument of God’s blessing in her life (Ruth 2:14). He became the answer to her prayers. Boaz was also abundantly generous in his care for Ruth. Once again he put his treasures where God’s heart is. It is the character of God to be a generous God “able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). So when was the last time you planned to cooperate with God and be the answer to someone’s prayers? You may think, Easy for Boaz—he had all the cards! But we all have some cards. Whether big or small, there’s always something we can do to bring the heart of God to a needy life that crosses our path. Besides, God is the One who really holds all the cards. He shares His resources with us not for us to consume them all ourselves, but to share them for His glory and the good of others. So life is not about holding all the cards. From God’s point of view, it’s what you do with your cards. Use them as God would to bless others who cross your path.