Good morning and happy Tuesday, no "evil" Monday's to get through so this week should be smooth sailing:) We continue to pray for all in in the path of the fires in Texas, all who have lost possessions, all of the animals who evacuated themselves and are now separated from their families, all of the ones who are facing evacuation today and who are so fear filled. We pray fervently for the firefighters who have worked so tirelessly to try and keep the fires for doing more damage in residential areas, they must be feeling so helpless at this time, being so under manned, running on little to no rest, feeling defeated as the fire like an army of many continues to spread from place to place. Father in Heaven, please hear the plea of the multitude who are coming to you for relief, I know that mass prayer produces miracles father and we are expecting a miracle, we are expecting the winds to lay still and the heaven to open the flood gates and allow the rains to fall upon these lands, to drench the fires and extinguish them, to put out every embers glow and to give all of these people affected, renewed hope and faith, Father be the strength that each firefighter needs to keep him alert and hydrated as he works to bring these fires to a controlled status. Father take each of the ones affected by the fires whether they be displaced short term or whether they have lost their possession, take them in your love filled arms and allow them rest from the fear they have been through and calm, in the knowledge that they can begin again, that you will carry them through the start over and be their general contractor until the rebuild is complet! I pray that all who have been in the fires path has not wavered in their faith and is holding fast to the rod, knowing that this is not of God, but God will right the wrong. I pray for these mercies and blessings in the name of the savior, Jesus Christ, amen!
As I sit out this morning, enjoying the 64 degree blessing, the sky which appears pale pink and lavender, the sun just topping the mountain, I can think only of all of the devastation that is happening around me, the earthquakes, the hurricanes, the tropical storms, the droughts, the fires, cancer, horrific accidents, critical cares, ICU's, death, heartbreak, financial ruin, governmental dismay, fear, terror, and the list of negative gets bigger and bigger with each passing day! I know that Father God is giving us proof that the end of days is nearing rapidly. There is no appointed day in the bible as to when the rapture will take place, but there is are signs in the book of revelation that each of us should be aware of, many of the signs happening all around us! I sat here praying and one feeling kept getting heavier and heavier on my heart, as I sat I began to cry, not a hopeless cry but an urgent cry...so many are in need of accepting Christ as their personal savior, so many are lost and confused, so many have questions as to the truth of the gospel, as to the validity of the bible, as to their belief of our Heavenly Father and the power of prayer. I pray today, right here and now, not to let another day pass me by that I do not share with someone who is filled with doubt, a truth in my life that keeps me forging forward in heavenly footstep, I will not for fear of being laughed at, chastised, or disliked, refrain from sharing what God has done in my life and how the power of prayer pulled me from the dark abyss that was my life and sat me among the spirit of the holy ghost, I will not remain silent...I will share, share, share in the faith that my words will touch a soul that is so in need of the savior. I beg you to join me in this venture, I implore you to look around you and identify those who are not familiar with our Father in heaven, take their hand and introduce them, offer to share with them the power of prayer, the miracles you have seen in your lifetime as proof that without God, your story could not be possible. We must be examples of Christ now, we must be examples of good, we must walk tall in our belief's and share them...Let this begin with you, and you, and you too. Today allow someone to see the good, the positive, the meaning of Christ and be ready to lift them in prayer so that they too will see the divine truth of God. Love in Christ to you!
Salvation Prayer - The Cornerstone is Christ?
What is the so-called Salvation Prayer? What do I do to get "saved?" At one point or another we all ask ourselves this question.
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."(Romans 10:9)
"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3)
Salvation Prayer - Back to Basics
The Salvation Prayer is merely a road to rebirth in Jesus Christ. To be born again you must confess Jesus as Lord and believe that He is. When you ask Him into your heart, you are allowing Him to be the Lord of your life. Unfortunately, the Church today has complicated the Salvation message with various layers of extra "stuff."
So, let's get back to the basics!
A. Salvation is the "permission slip" to enter heaven when you leave this world.
B. Salvation takes place when a person listens to the salvation message, believes it, and makes a decision to receive Jesus into his or her heart.
Salvation Prayer - The Simple Steps:
1. Acknowledge in your heart that Jesus is Lord.
2. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
3. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and was raised three days later.
4. Repent of your sins and get baptized in the name of Jesus.
Salvation Prayer - Merely a Tool to Communicate Our Faith
The Salvation Prayer is not a ritual based on specific words. This is not the power of a prayer, but the power of truly committing our lives to Christ as Savior and Lord. The following is merely a guideline for our sincere step of faith:
- "God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen."
