The Joy of Serving God by Luther

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12: 1 NIV

Martin Luther explained Romans 12:1 in this way:

“A lawdriver insists with threats and penalties; a preacher of grace lures and incites with divine goodness and compassion shown to us; for he wants no unwilling works and reluctant services, he wants joyful and delightful services of God.”

The Significant Events of 1979

I encourage you to watch an exclusive video interview of Joel Rosenberg.

He addresses:
• The significant events of 1979
• The effectiveness of The Jesus Film in reaching the peoples of the Middle East
• Prophecies in Matthew 24 and Joel 2

I especially enjoyed the true story of an Iranian woman’s vision of Jesus while watching the film.

Damascus Trailer

An accurate and exciting movie on the life of the Apostle Paul.

24 Hours

I had planned a day and a half to clean the house for weekend company. My sovereign Lord had other plans for me!

Yesterday afternoon, Guillermo, an electrician, came by to work on our A/C. I could not identify his rich accent.

“I am Colombian… Colombian coffee,” he replied to my question.

We talked more and I gave him a tract on the Spirit-filled life in Spanish.

This morning, Marco came to do an annual pest treatment on our home. We have talked many times over the years about spiritual things. Today, he opened up about the physical abuse he suffered as a child and how he would like to help others who are suffering.

After he left, I had shopping errands and had good conversations with Ana, Walter, Beth, and Amy. I had tracts for each of them which they were very glad to receive.

When I got home I wanted to have my daily devotional with the Lord and get going on my housework.

The doorbell rang. Our neighbor, Sharon, dropped by and I invited her in. We have talked about the Lord several times. Today was one of our best conversations. I gave her Josh McDowell’s More Than a Carpenter.

After she left, I knew I really had to get going with dusting and such, so I turned worship music on and worshiped the Lord for the incredible privilege of talking to seven people in twenty-four hours about the hope and forgiveness they can find in Jesus Christ! I am grateful that he kept my heart open and available to these sweet souls on a very busy day when I normally would want to rush from one thing to the next, trying to check things off my to-do list!

The Armies of the Kings of the East

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.” – Revelations 16:12

Several interpreters of Bible prophecy have taught over the years that the vast armies of China and other nations will enter the Holy Land over a dried-up Euphrates River. I could not help but think of Revelations 16: 12 as I watched this incredible video of a parade in Tiananmen Square. It looks like many more people were in the parade than were watching the parade!

Video information and link:

China’s 60th Anniversary national day – timelapse and slow motion – 7D and 5DmkII from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

God’s Plan for Israel by John Piper

Your Descent from Noah

One of my most favorite articles, is The Sixteen Grandsons of Noah from Australia’s Creation Ministries.

For instance, find out how the Turks, Armenians, Germans, Welsh, Spanish, and French are related.

I’m not writing much here so you will have more time to read the article.

On Those Disappointing Days

Yesterday was rough. I was very angry several times for different reasons. I could not find what I needed. Some tasks I had planned to do were not working out. By the evening, I felt like the day was wasted.

Today, like most mornings, I started my day journaling and studying the Bible and praying.

As I opened my journal, I saw an asterisk next to my last entry for yesterday morning. (Whenever God seems to be speaking loud and clear to me about something, I put an asterisk next to that journal entry.) Yesterday, I had marked a quote from a footnote in my Bible: “When the unexplainable and unwanted intrude into our lives, we can find comfort in . . . [God’s] sovereignty.”

I suddenly realized I had totally forgotten God’s morning lesson to prepare me for yesterday! This morning, He gently reminded me I had not prayed throughout each setback as they came my way. I had been doing things “on my own” and was very frustrated with the results.

How much better if I had given the day to God. The circumstances may, or may not, have changed, but I would not have been frustrated. The day was His to do as He pleased.

He had a reason for showing me that quote yesterday; He wanted to prepare me for the day that was ahead for me! Sometimes I learn best by looking back and learning from my mistakes, but it would be wiser, I would think, to be prepared for what lies ahead.

Pray for Father Zakaria Botros

I just read about Father Zakaria Botros in a blog post (go to the very last paragraph) and felt impressed that we should pray for him and his effective ministry in reaching Muslims for Christ.

Father Botros, an Egyptian Coptic priest, reaches 50 million Muslims a day via satellite television.

Joel Rosenberg explains, “. . . he’s taking on Islam verse by verse, chapter by chapter, hadith by hadith and he’s deconstructing it. Then because he’s a believer in Jesus, he explains . . . the truth. Now, people call in to his show and they’re furious.”

Thank you for praying that many will come to Christ through his ministry. Also pray for his personal safety.

Paul on the Road to Damascus… Again

God is using the life of Paul to reach Syrians for Christ.

The premiere showing of Damascus, a film on the life of Paul, was seen by more than 1,000 influential Syrian leaders. See the trailer.

When Paul encountered Jesus, his Messiah, in Damascus, “the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.’” (Acts 9:15)

How exciting to think that God may still be doing that through this film! Join with us in praying for God to use this film in reaching the people of the Middle East.