The Dawning of a New Era

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The Dawning of a New Era

noreply • Jan 20, 2009

Obama's

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.
1. We will build …that feed our commerce and bind us
together.
a. the roads and bridges,
b. the electric grids and
c. digital lines
2. We will restore science to its rightful place, and
a. wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and
b. lower its cost.
3. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel
a. our cars and
b. run our factories.
4. And we will transform our schools and colleges and Universities to meet the demands of a new age.

All this we can do. And all this we will do.

The Main thing we must remember is that "unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it." We must collectively fall to our knees and cry out to the one who can change the circumstances of our present decline. We are tallest when on our knees.

God cannot honor or bless a nation who ignores His instruction or who denies His very existence. We, the God-fearing, God-trusting, God-believing few must earnestly pray. We must sincerely repent of our own sin, and the sins of a nation that has forgotten God. We must be willing to break with popular opinion and common practice to live lives that are holy and God-honoring. We must be willing to surrender our own passions and pleasures to the One who died for our salvation. He must become more than our "cosmic blesser " and take His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our personal lives.

We cannot change a country. We can only allow God to change us. But as we surrender ourselves to His will, one by one we change the climate and the culture or America. We didn't wake up one day to a massive exodus from God and His principles. We gradually, one by one, ignored His reign in our lives. The path back to Godliness and blessing will come in the same way. We will not "wake up" one day to a Godly nation. We must individually allow God to transform us.

Peace!

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The Source of True Knowledge

By Scott Williamson • 13 May, 2024

The Source of True Knowledge Proverbs 1:1–7 (NLT) The Purpose of Proverbs These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. King Solomon is accredited with being the wisest man who ever lived. Jesus even acknowledges the credentials of Solomon when he proclaimed, “Matthew 12:42 (ESV) 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” Solomon wrote most of the proverbs found in the book by that name and he clearly states the purpose: “to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise,, to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair.” So, if these things appeal to you, then Proverbs should be a daily read in your life. Proverbs are observations and conclusions drawn from observing and listening to the wisest of his time. They are not predictions or promises, but rather, sound advice for a disciplined and successful life. Solomon ends the opening paragraph with this observation: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Fearing God is understanding the total awesomeness of who he is, that he is all powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing. That He IS wisdom and knows everything and views then end of a thing from before its beginning. The good news is, not only is God all these things, but He loves you more than you love yourself and he desires good things for His children. Therefore, He can be trusted to guide my life and my decisions. He can be trusted to discipline me, to correct my harmful behavior. If I met you on the highway in the dead of night and flagged ou down and told you not to proceed because the bridge has been torn in two and if you continue on this road you will plummet to your death, you would be a fool to ignore my warning. God through the book of Proverbs, is flagging you down in the middle of the night. He’s not trying to ruin your trip or delay your passage. He is saving your life! Don’t be a fool! Heed His Words!

Jesus Next Door

By Scott Williamson • 05 Jan, 2022

When asked to pinpoint what mattered most to God, Jesus did not beat around the bush or speak in code. He said (to paraphrase), “This is what matters most to God: Love the Lord your God with the entirety of who you are and love your neighbors as much as you love yourself” (Matt. 22:37–39). Even though Jesus’ words in Matthew 22 are crystal clear, most followers of Jesus will be quick to admit that they struggle to live them out. I am convinced the journey to becoming a person shaped by the two greatest commandments—to love God and love people—often begins in the place of prayer. God is love and loves all people. I have found that if I consistently come into his presence through prayer, it is impossible to not begin loving God and those around me more fully. This is the simple focus of this thirty-day prayer journey. It is designed to help you practically grow in love for God and the people he has already put around you in the places where you live, work, and play. As we get started, here are a few practical suggestions to help you get the most from this prayer journey: # 1 CHOOSE PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Since this guide is designed to help you pray for the people God has already put around you , it is important that you begin this journey by identifying a few people for whom you plan to pray each day. You can pray for your next-door neighbors, your coworkers, friends from school, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, or someone in your own family. You get to choose. But before you go any further, take a moment to write down the names of the people for whom you will commit to pray each day over the course of the next month. # 2 CHOOSE YOUR PEOPLE TO PRAY WITH Once you have determined whom you will pray for, take a minute to identify who you will pray with during this season of prayer. Learning to pray not only for others but also with others will revolutionize your life with Jesus. We are made for community, and, like nearly everything else in life, prayer is better when experienced with other followers of Jesus. Make it a priority to pray together throughout the month, whether in person or through a virtual platform like phone calls, text messaging, or video chats. Get creative, but stay connected to others! # 3 ESTABLISH A DAILY ROUTINE It amazes me how God can use a series of seemingly small but intentional choices to bring about monumental change in our lives. Don’t underestimate the power of establishing a daily prayer routine as you begin this journey of praying for and with other people. What follows is a list of simple ideas to help you establish a daily prayer routine: Find a Quiet Spot It doesn’t matter if it is a comfortable chair in your home, a park bench along the trail you enjoy walking, or your favorite table at a local coffee shop. Simply find a spot each day where you can give God your undivided attention. Clear Your Mind Jot down any overwhelming thoughts or nagging items that might keep you from enjoying God in prayer on your mental to-do list. Some of these items will be things you might need to discuss with God in prayer, while others will be distractions that you can address later in your day. Take it a step further by turning off your phone to free yourself from unwanted distraction. Finally, set aside two minutes to simply sit in silence with God. Before you ask him for anything, enjoy the gift of his presence. Read, Reflect, and Pray Each daily meditation contains a short devotional thought, a passage of Scripture to read, a few questions for reflection, and daily prayer points to guide you as you pray for yourself and those around you. Like a spiritual appetizer, this guide is here simply to help get your conversations with God started each day, but my hope is that this will be a springboard into deeper places with God each day. Take Action Finally, I believe God will give you ample opportunities each day to actively participate in the ways of Jesus as you pray for those God has placed around you. Jesus says we are blessed when we put his words into practice, so proactively look for opportunities and take a step of faith as God prompts you each day. Dave Clayton. Jesus Next Door (Kindle Locations 225-235).

Smile! God Loves You!

By noreply • 27 Jul, 2011

Because of Christ and His redemption I am completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. I am totally accepted by God

My True Worth

By noreply • 26 Jul, 2011

Are you "an approval addict"? Are you controlled by the fear of others' opinions of you? Welcome to my world. There are a number of reasons people become "approval addicts". It can be that your parents disciplined by withdrawing their affection when you misbehave. But that certainly isn't the only reason. If you get sucked in to this trap, however, it will completely control your life, just like any other addiction. Some are completely controlled by how others view their appearance. They seek surgical options or workout and diet options in order to become "good enough".