Praying as a Nation

National Day of Prayer

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

 

“Prayer is simply a two way conversation between you and God.”   

-Billy Graham, April 28, 2013

Press Release from NDP media@nationaldayofprayer.org

Americans to Unite and Pray on Thursday May 2, for the 62^nd Annual Observance of the National Day of Prayer

Colorado Springs, Colorado (April 8, 2013)-As our nation struggles with continued economic insecurity, vast healthcare reform, and countless challenges to our constitutional rights, citizens of the United States are preparing to exercise their freedom to gather, worship, and pray.  Millions will answer the call to prayer on May 2^nd in observance of the 62^nd annual National Day of Prayer.  Organized events will be held in thousands of public venues where intercession will be made for America and its leadership.

This year’s theme, “Pray for America,” is based on Matthew 12:21 which reminds us that “In His name the nations will put their hope.”  National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Family Talk founder Dr. James Dobson, has said that, “The American people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simple answers, and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance, protection, and blessing-not only on the National Day of Prayer, but throughout the year.”

Senior Pastor of Harvest Fellowship and Founder of Harvest Crusades-Greg Laurie-will serve as the 2013 Honorary Chairman of the NDP Task Force and will give the keynote address at the National Observance in Washington, D.C., to be held at the Cannon House Office Building.

To learn more, or to find a National Day of Prayer event in your community, visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.

 

“The nations will have hope because of him.”

Matthew 12:21 (GW)

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Update information...

Concerning Blogs

I am changing up my blogs.  Because of the volume of writings I am involved with and the request for sermon material by friends, each blog will have a designated purpose in order to help me when sharing these with others.

Life from My Point of View

www.jfuller.blogspot.com will be the site for articles and information related to my personal ministry.  This blog “is the writing of a pastor in small town America.  I will write about life from that perspective, deal with issues, politics, Christ-like living and marriage and family.  All of these and more will be under-girded with scripture and Biblical wisdom.”

Stoned Witnesses

www.stonedwitnesses.blogspot.com is a blog “based on scripture which speaks of Christians being willing to die for the cause of Christ.  This blog will not only encourage readers in living a life of carrying the cross but also share devotionals, insight and Biblical guidance for our daily lives.”  With that as the original purpose of this blog, I will dedicate this blog for sermon manuscripts, devotionals, and Biblical and theological writings, as well as research I find which might help readers who are preparing a message of Sunday School lesson. 

Living Life in Liberty

www.rockfordchronicles.blogspot.com is my third blog, designed to speak to the Christian community related to freedoms we have as Americans.  My purpose for designing this site says: “As Christians, we are to live in liberty; as Americans we have liberty.  This blog speaks to those two valuable and cherished aspects of our life.”  Here I will include articles and research I have conducted related to these two vital gifts which we so often take for granted.

I hope you will enjoy the restructuring of these blogs, and will now know what they are actually intended to contain.  Maybe it will make it easier to follow.  If you have not selected on of the blogs to follow, I hope you will do so today.  Also, feel free to leave comments of the articles you find on these blogs, as I will look forward to interacting with my readers.

God bless you and God bless America!

Jeff Fuller

 

   

WANTED

WANTED

POSITION:

Mother

AKA Mom

AKA Mama

AKA Mommy

JOB DESCRIPTION:

v  Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. 

v  Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. 

v  Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. 

v  Travel expenses not reimbursed. 

v  Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

v  The rest of your life. 

v  Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. 

v  Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. 

v  Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. 

v  Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. 

v  Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. 

v  Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. 

v  Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. 

v  Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. 

v  Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. 

v  Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

v  Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

v  Virtually none. 

v  Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

v  None required unfortunately. 

v  On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

v  Get this! 

v  You pay them! 

v  Offering frequent raises and bonuses. 

v  A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. 

v  When you die, you give them whatever is left. 

v  The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and this wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

v  While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

 

 

Found at: KERUX ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION; ID Number: 10531; SOURCE: Email; TITLE: Mom - Job Description; AUTHOR: Submitted by Linnea Mescall, Mendham, New Jersey; DATE: 5/10/04

 

 

“She is far more precious than jewels.”

Proverbs 31:10

 

Article on Target

Scooters and such

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

At Target and Wal-Mart I have seen electric mobility devices to assist shoppers.  These scooters are available for those who have trouble walking through these huge stores.  Individuals who use canes, wheelchairs or walkers are invited to use these contraptions, free of charge, to maneuver their way through the stores while conducting their shopping experience in the comfort of mobility.

While I am all for this convenience, as well as designating all of the best spaces in the parking lot to those who have the appropriate tags on their vehicle, I have a fear and it came true recently. 

Tina and Granny went to Target in Montgomery, to do a little shopping, between doctor’s appointments.  While Ruby is using a wheelchair for the time being and is perfectly content with this way of transportation, it was going to be near impossible for Tina to push her, as well as use a buggy to retrieve the items they had stopped in to get.  Therefore, Ruby opted for the mobility of a scooter.

Once Granny was settled into the scooter, it was too late for Tina to realize the scooters at Target are a little larger and a bit more powerful than the ones at Wal-Mart.  This came as a surprise when Granny engaged the power and took off, right for a display in the center aisle.  A near miss took place, but a fellow shopper, not using a scooter, had to jump out of the way, as Ruby made apologies and Tina covered her eyes, grabbed a buggy and went in the opposite direction.

From several aisles over Tina heard Ruby apologizing for nearly running another costumer down, bumping a display and taking a third of the merchandise with her, and getting hung up in an end cap.  Tina found her stuck in the end of row six, freed her and returned to her shopping.

While Ruby was zooming around the store, with customers jumping out of the way, Tina was hiding on the other side of the store, fearing that management would run her Momma out any moment.

Crossing paths, Ruby announced she was heading to the back of the store to find an item she needed.  Tina explained to her they would meet at the checkout in five minutes.  Ten minutes later, Tina was at the front ready to head into one of the many checkout areas, but there was no sign of Granny. 

Listening and waiting, Tina was getting concerned.  There was no disturbance from other customers, no sounds of a scooter bumping into stands or displays.  She started toward the back of the store and encounter her mother coming toward her.

“Mother, are you alright,” Tina asked.

Looking up and smiling, Ruby replied, “Yes, Tina I am fine, just fine.  I have been looking at all of the nice things in the back.”

“Did you get what you needed?” Tina asked as they headed for the checkout.

Looking into the small, empty basket on the front of the scooter, she answered, “No, I forgot what I was going for.”

This scooter story was related to me the afternoon after they made it home.  I was quit disturbed, because I remembered the time she let the wheelchair get away from her.  Oh, I have not told that story here, have I?

One afternoon, Ruby’s youngest daughter and her two children came for a visit from Auburn.  It was a pretty day and the children conspired with Savannah to go to the park.  Patsy helped Ruby wheel down the ramp, parked her at the edge of the garage to enjoy the sun and took the three kids to the park.

Ruby was not pleased with her location, so she unlocked the wheels and moved out on the parking area so she could see the kids playing.  Even then she still could not see them well, so she moved a little further around the truck and closer to the incline that leads into the back parking lot and to the road.

Granny was enjoying the sights of the children and hearing their joyful laughter, and the sun shining down on her, warming her body and soul.  Unaware that she was in danger, she attempted to turn the wheelchair, but in so doing encountered a small stone or rock, which jerked the wheels out of her hand and propelled her down the hill and toward the road.

Patsy and Savannah saw what was happening and immediately took off running toward Granny’s run-away wheelchair.  Savannah was outrunning her aunt, who was carrying Emily Gwen, and Price was following them as fast as he could.

Just before Granny reached the end of the concrete at the bottom of the hill, and right before she pitched forward into the grass, Savannah grabbed a wheel, Patsy grabbed the handles and Price was clinging to the other side, they were able to stop the run-away chair.  All was safe, Granny was none the worse, and each of the five caught their collective breaths. 

Fear turned into delight and they all had a good laugh as they returned up the hill and into the garage, Ruby was out of breath, ready to lay down and was spent.  It was a trip she would not soon forget and does not want to repeat.

Scooters and wheelchairs have been the life for us the last several months.  We hope soon that will all be over, as Ruby will soon start walking on her own.  But until then we take heart in the healing power of Jesus Christ.  Over and over again He heals the lame and gives sight to the blind.  He said, “If only you will believe.”

Jesus said that in prayer we are to persevere.  He said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 KJV)

Are you asking, seeking, and knocking?  If not try it and see what God might do in your situation. 

Wanted: Revival in America

Wanted: Revival in America

A book by Peter Marshall and David Manuel titled From Sea to Shining Sea chronicles the history of America from 1787 to the election of Abraham Lincoln as sixteenth president of the nation.  The preceding book The Light and the Glory tells the history from the sailing of Columbus to the writing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Each of these excellent books give evidence to the fact that America was founded on Christian principles, by men who longed for the new nation to be a light of Christ to the World.  Through each of these volumes the reader is able to feel the heartbeat of God as one great event after another shows the favor He had on our nation from the beginning.  Yet, one also receives a lesson in the wanderings of a people who struggle with self-centeredness and sinful natures.  At times we see the nation pulling together to serve and be obedient; at other times we see the drifting taking place.

In the second book, and the last chapter, after a thorough and extensive examination of the slavery issue, the authors give us a view of our nation at that time and at the time in which we live today.

“Revival-many Christians today hope and pray for a direct intervention of God by His Holy Spirit, a miraculous solution to a seemingly endless situation.  Only we have already had an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was supposed to accomplish that.  In the late sixties and early seventies, the Charismatic Renewal, and Jesus movement brought thousands upon thousands of nominal Christians and agnostics to Christ.  New multitudes raised hands in praise of God, but the renewal was in the main individually and vertically oriented.  Where was the horizontal commitment to change society that traditionally followed in the wake of revivals?  Where was the concern for the poor and needy about which Scripture speaks so clearly?

Surely, later some encouraging signs have appeared on our horizon-black and white evangelicals and charismatics working together with other Protestants and Catholics to combat abortion and a genuine nationwide yearning to recover the moral and spiritual values that once formed the bedrock of society.  Most Christians seem to agree that we need national revival now-another Great Awakening.  But the price will be high.

For the key to revival has always been repentance.  Before God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, an individual and corporate turning away from sin and self, to God, must occur.  No other way-no cheap grace, no putting the country ahead of God, none of the ‘we’re God’s Chosen People, and we know that He will see us through, no matter what’ kind of thinking that too many Christians like to comfort themselves with these days will suffice.  Repentance is the missing ingredient in much of modern American Christianity.  Yet its pivotal role in national revival is clearly revealed in Holy Scripture in such passages as the much quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14: ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.’  Those of us already committed to Christ are being challenged not only to face our personal needs for growth and change and take them to God in prayer, but most important of all, He is calling us to repent of our wicked ways.  No matter how much we might prefer to see ourselves freed from sin, we still have wicked ways.  We still often live for our own personal comfort or success, ignoring the needs of the poor or hurting around us.  We are still self-righteous, still get jealous or vindictive, we still lust after other people’s approval.”

How much more truth do we need?  The authors hold nothing back in these few paragraphs and challenge us all to must forward in a sin confessing, Spirit moving, God honoring revival in our personal lives.  When this happens among the people of God, then it will flood the hearts and souls of the multitudes of people still without Christ as Savior and they will run to find Jesus.  They will ask, “What must I do to be saved?” 

Real revival, will be fulfilled with a heartfelt change.  This will not come easy, nor will be taken lightly.  For a believer to truly be conformed into the image of God’s Son will involve pain.  This is why revival will be withheld, damned up in many place; most are unwilling to go through the pain.  Sure, believers will gladly wear out their knees in prayer, or knock on doors to find people to come to meetings, and will sit through spiritual charged services; but if they are unwilling to bend and bow and experience pain, the great revival they desperately need will not come.

That pain will lead to something wonderfully transforming.  Once yielded to God and allowing Him to chisel away and burn away the sin caked exterior, the believer will find something victorious.  Yes, true repentance is freeing, cleansing, uplifting!  It is something that will flood the soul of the believer and touch every area of their life-it will spread like wildfire through the family, the church and the whole society.  Real revival in the life of one person can do much for the Glory of God.  It will allow the salt to regain its savor.

This is what we need in America today.  Here in Alabama, over the past several weeks we have been involved in a serious and concerted effort of praying for Revival.  At each courthouse in the state, prayer rallies have been held with hundreds of people attending, churches have been spending time in focused prayer for Revival, and many church leaders have been talking about what it take to have true Revival.  I think this is important and vital to a Great Awakening in the time in which we live.  I applaud and support Dr. Rick Lance and the Director of Missions who have spearheaded this movement in our state.

We are at a crossroads.  As America is attacked and crumbles with the weight of sin and disobedience, we are at a place we find ourselves facing judgment or mercy.  I think back through the Word of God and see many examples of where we are and what we will face or what will happen should we chose one of two roads ahead of us.  I pray we will chose rightly.

I personally believe should we hear the voice of God sweetly calling and heed His direction in our country, we might yet fulfill His plans and His purposes for our lives and for the life of our country.  May God be allowed to direct our nation!  May we fall before Him in earnest pleas for forgiveness, for cleansing, for redeeming!  Let us once again be a nation blessed by God; One Nation Under God! 

 

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!

America!  America!  God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America!  America! God mend they every flaw,

Confirm they soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

 

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America!  America! May God they gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

 

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam,

Undimmed by human tears!

America!  America!  God shed His grace on thee,

And crown they good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

(America, the Beautiful; Katharine Lee Bates/Samuel A. Ward The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration; Word Music, Waco, Texas; 1986; Page 572)

 

Note: The Light and the Glory and From Sea to Shining Sea, written by Peter Marshall and David Manuel were published in 1986 by Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Book House Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Website is www.bakerbooks.com