Support Israel

In light of the speech by President Obama suggesting that Israel return to the pre-1967 borders, many Christians are taking action to support Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to President Obama's suggestion that a return to those borders is indefensible.

If you want to support Israel's response, I encourage you to visit the Christians United for Israel Web site (just click the previous text to visit the site), and send an e-mail supporting the Prime Minister's stance. The e-mail text is written, you only need to sign the letter. The goal is to have 50,000 letters of support mailed by Tuesday, May 24 when Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress.

God in Every Moment

By Charlotte Lowrie

I often hear sermons about waiting for “God to show up.” When I hear these sermons, I am inevitably confused. I believe that God shows up in every moment of life. There is no waiting. He said that He will never leave us or forsake us, and I take that promise literally. I believe that it means He will be present in every moment of every day of my life.

This is important because for many years, I was determined to live my life myself—all by myself. Independence was the watchword of my life. I trusted no one except myself. After I found Christ, one of the first changes in my life was turning over everything in my life to Christ. Relinquishing control over my life required complete trust in Him.

Through the years, day-by-day, challenge-by-challenge, I've found Him to be wise beyond human understanding. His decisions are sometimes beyond my understanding, and they are always perfect. The impossible becomes possible, not once, but over and over again. Ordinary moments became extraordinary as I learn of His love. Moments are also extraordinary as I also experience His marvelous sense of humor. Periodically, I still remind Him that He's invited to be in every moment and every aspect of my life. And, once invited, He is there faithfully. I never have to wait.

Does this mean that everything goes perfectly in my life? Far from it. I know that there are many things that He has to teach me that involve changes and challenges. And in the course of an average day, I make mistakes. But because He is in every moment of life, I can immediately talk to Him about the mistakes and learn from them. And we, together and in that moment, can move on from that place.

After all these years, I can imagine my life no other way. I never wait for God to show up. I know that He is there in every moment, just as He promised.

For me, a moment without God is a moment without breath. I pray that He is in every moment of your life as well.

Blessings During Easter Season

Easter is celebrated on one day, but living life as a follower of Jesus

is a journey that lasts a lifetime.

As Easter day passes, let us

live the power of the resurrection every day!

Thoughts for Holy Week, 2011

By Charlotte Lowrie

If you’re like me, the ongoing events throughout the world are clear signs of Biblical prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes. As we enter holy week anticipating the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m reminded of His command:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24: 42-44 NIV)

As we watch and wait, I hope that you will join with me in praying for:

• A mighty, powerful revival that will sweep through the world.
• A strong, clear voice for Christians worldwide.
• Our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide who are today being persecuted for their faith in the Lord.
• The Lord’s continued protection of Israel and Jews worldwide.

Jesus said that many deceivers would come. And today, we’re conditioned to be tolerant and accepting of other beliefs and religions. But the Lord didn’t tell us to be politically correct. He warned of false Christs and prophets that will deceive many. Rather, we are to test the spirits. I John 4 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (I John 1-6, NIV)

For a new and important look at the end times and prophecy, I recommend reading God’s War on Terror. This book by Walid Shoebat, a former Islamic terrorist who converted to Christianity, provides a detailed and revealing look at the end times.

I pray that this week will bring a renewed commitment to sharing the Lord Jesus Christ with friends, family, and anyone who will listen.

Prayer Is a Conversation

By Charlotte Lowrie

For years, I’ve admired believers who can pray with power and passion, with eloquence; prayers that inspire listeners to renewed faith and service. For years, I’ve known that I am not I am not one of those people. I’ve thought that I “should” be an eloquent pray-er, and that’s been troubling. In fact, if even one other person is present, I get nervous and self-conscious—a response that is a world different from my daily ongoing conversations with and prayers to the Lord.

Of course, I know that there is a difference between prayers prayed in different contexts, such as prayers prayed in a worship service with a group of believers, and the daily prayers of an individual believer.

First, I looked at what Jesus taught about prayer. The classic passage on praying is found in Matthew 6. In verses 5-15, Jesus gave specific instructions on prayer. To paraphrase, He told us:

• Not to pray in places and in ways to bring attention and credit to ourselves.
• To pray simply. The Father already knows what we need. Just ask.
• To pray privately--in a prayer closet with the door closed.*

And then Jesus gave us the Lord’s prayer, a short prayer of perfect order and simplicity. First we honor the Father and pray for the advancement of His Kingdom. Then we ask him to provide for our daily needs—needs that He already knows. Then we ask for forgiveness of our debts as we forgive others. We ask for His protection from temptation and evil. Then we give Him the glory and honor that belong only to Him.

Certainly, Jesus’ model of prayer argues for simplicity. But I wanted to know more, and so I asked. As I’ve known for many years, prayer is a two-way conversation. With every sentence there must be time for an exchange. If the Lord questions me, I pause, listen for His questions, and then answer from the heart. I am careful with answers. Because He knows the heart, only a heart-honest answer will do. And if I ask questions, I must likewise pause and listen from the heart.

That attitude of prayer as a conversation sets the stage for a rich exchange. Beyond that, the Lord expects that we will, “Pray always from the heart simply, for I know the heart. Anything else is simply noise, and it is not heard.”

It’s important to note that He did not say to pray from the mind. The mind is strong and opinionated. It makes excuses. It has desires, logic, and it colors real needs with both right and wrong motivations. By contrast, the heart reduces the chatter of the mind to our true, essential needs. In some ways, it is harder to pray from the heart than from the mind. For example, to pray from the heart, I have to first question myself closely before prayer to see what lies heavy on my heart. And when I know what’s on my heart, then my prayer is unfailingly simple and direct. In other words, searching the heart truly gets to the heart of things.

Finally, the Lord added, “It is the heart that the Father know and sees. It is the heart that He cares for.”

And when I still have questions about whether my prayers are acceptable, He asks me, “Are your prayers answered?” And the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” So I continue to pray as a two-way conversation, simply, and from the heart. And it is indeed good.

Amen, and Amen, and Amen.

* The prayer closet brings to mind the Jewish custom of covering the head with a tallit for morning prayers. A tallit is a large, rectangular shawl. When closed, the tallit forms an instant prayer ‘closet.’ A blue thread is sewed into the fringe so the wearer will remember and do the commandments of the Lord, and be holy unto God. (Numbers 15: 38-40)

Looking to the Bible for New Year's Resolutions

New Years is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and resolutions seem especially appropriate today with the unique calendar sequence of 1/1/11. We resolve all sorts of things, but at the heart of them all is to the desire and conviction to change one thing or another in our lives. Of course, all the resolutions in the world pall by comparison to the life transformation that comes through Jesus Christ.

But when we "resolve" in unison with the Lord, we can experience success in our goals. I looked in the Bible for resolutions, and I found many. These resolutions inspired me, and I share them that they may inspire you as you look forward to this new year.

"Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, 'A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar' (that is En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help form the Lord; Indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him. (2 Chronicles 20:2-4, New International Version)

"The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way." (Daniel 1:7-9)

"I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." (Psalm 119:16 NIV)

"Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name." (Psalm 18:49 NIV)

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)

And my favorite resolution from the Bible is in Joshua:

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

May the Lord richly bless you and keep you now and always.

What Is Christmas About?

It isn't about black Friday or consumer spending.

It isn't about tinsel, garland, or decorated trees.

It isn't about Santa Claus.

It isn't about a snowy white day.

It is about the birth of the Son of God.

It is about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no other.

It is about a revolutionary new covenant that reconciles mankind with God.

It is about the light that Jesus brings in a world of darkness.

It isn't about sugar cookies, homemade fudge, or peanut brittle.

It isn't about holiday parties or velvet dresses.

It isn't about covered casseroles, eggnog, or hot toddies.

It isn't about the number or cost of the gifts that we give.

It is about letting His light shine in our lives.

It is about living the change that He's made in our lives every single day.

It is about the rising, irrepressible joy in our hearts knowing that

It is about the Savior who is coming again.