Tuesday, May 31, 2011

NORTHERN IRELAND HAS LOWEST EUROPEAN ABORTION RATE!!!!

BERNADETTE WITH BABY SAVED FROM ABORTION!

Precious Life welcome the latest official statistics which have shown a further drop in the number of women from Northern Ireland having abortions in Britain. The abortion statistics for 2010 revealed that the number fell by 22. 

Every abortion is a tragedy but we welcome that fact that 22 fewer Northern Ireland babies have been killed by abortion in England. 

Each year, fewer women in Northern Ireland are seeking abortion. This annual decline in numbers is a direct result of the daily educational work that we do on the streets and outside the abortion referral agencies in Northern Ireland. 

Precious Life was formed in 1997 to be a voice for the unborn child. Since then, the number of abortions has declined by over 30%. This is due to the hard work, commitment, and prayers of our members who are out on the streets every day. 

No woman in a crisis pregnancy should ever feel that abortion is her only option. Our crisis pregnancy outreach program provides real help to women. We are there to offer them alternatives to abortion. In addition to providing women with free counseling and pregnancy tests, we offer them a full range of services - help obtaining baby clothes and equipment; housing; legal assistance and financial support; information about adoption; etc. 

Tragically, the number of babies killed by abortions in England and Wales in 2010 has risen again, by 447. But the latest statistics show that the pro-life battle is being won here. Northern Ireland has the lowest percentage rate of women seeking abortion in all of Europe. 

The aim of Precious Life is to protect every unborn child and their mothers from abortion. These statistics give us even more encouragement to continue our work to not only to keep abortion illegal but make it unthinkable! 

Bernadette Smyth 
Director
 
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Monday, May 30, 2011

YOUR MONDAY MORNING DEVOTION!

DETOURS IN LIFE


by

Carla McDougal



Read: Acts 16:7, 15:30-16:5, 9:15-16, and 16:6-10
Shortly after we bought our first home as a married couple the housing market crashed. Gas prices are going up 10 cents a day. The dreams that my husband and I dreamed together are in a state of uncertainty.
On top of all this, I endured a terrible trial that emotionally crippled me. We were tempted by a job transfer to Montana and the less attractive move to Illinois, all to escape the trial, but we determined that it was not God’s will for our lives. He told me to stay and make a difference where I am.
In Acts 9:15-16, Jesus had a plan for Paul to reach the Gentiles. It was fulfilled in Acts 16:6-10 when Jesus detoured Paul and Barnabas from Mysia. It was also a sharp disagreement in Acts 15:36-41 that fulfilled God’s plan. Barnabas goes one way and Paul goes another. We discover in other chapters that the friendship between Paul and Barnabas was not harmed, but strengthened. Something the world views as a terrible rift becomes a blessing for the churches in Syria and Cilicia. What does that say to us?
Church splits, disagreements between believers, trials, persecutions, and such are met with fear, anger, disbelief, or sorrow. In The Shelter of God’s Promises, Sheila Walsh writes, “We live in a fallen world, a broken planet. I no longer expect anything to be the way it should be, but I take great comfort, courage, and strength from the promise that in the midst of brokenness, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. To my human understanding I would think that the depth of the groaning corresponds to the depth of the pain. There are times in life when words just do not come. You may find yourself in a dark place that is darker than you ever imagined, and you want to cry out, ‘How can this work out for good?’”
Various scriptures point out that the Christian life is not rainbows and unicorns, but fraught with tears and pain. Intermittently, there is joy. God assures us that all things work for good according to His will. Every detour has a purpose, even if that purpose is a construction detour sign adding 20 extra miles to your trip. The purpose may yet be undiscovered, but if you’re always available God can do wonderful things with that simple detour.
In fact, after spending a little under an hour writing and studying this section, I walked back to work while my mind pondered her points.
A detour? I’ve had several of those, I think to myself as I approach a cross walk.
An older lady with a wide girth waddled across the street to my right. I feared she would not make it in time before the light turned green. As I crossed on my way back to work she crossed parallel to me, again very arduously. She nearly didn’t make it before the light became green again. Our paths met as I continued to ponder Carla McDougal’s detour study. What happened illustrated Carla’s point in this lesson.
The woman began conversing with me. The conversation turned to Jesus. She liked my bag and I said I got it at Women of Faith.
“You’re a Christian girl.” She nodded.
“Yes. You?” I smiled. My heart trembled.
“Yes. He’s my friend.” She had a lovely smile.
We spoke about Jesus and how He’s our invisible friend, always a part of our life, interwoven. I edged ahead a little, but still lagged behind to stay within talking distance.
“Don’t you have to be somewhere?” She asked.
“I’m in no hurry today. It’s too beautiful of a day to hurry.” I smiled.
She didn’t need to know that I was on my way back from lunch. I couldn’t explain why I tarried or why this conversation happened. It was only an illustration—my detour from
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Sunday, May 29, 2011

YOUR SUNDAY MESSAGE AND DEVOTION!

DOES HE CARE?

Saturday, May 28, 2011

FAIREST LORD JESUS - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

One of the songs, that I will be leading at the Sunday service in church in the morning. I love ROSS PARSLEY'S version from New Life Church in Springs!

He is the Fairest of 10,000. Mightier than all we've ever seen! Jesus - He is the WORLD to me...and you...and us! PRAISE HIS GREAT NAME!!

YOUR SATURDAY MORNING DEVOTION!

A Road Less Traveled 


by


Carla McDougal


I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war again the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12


It was August 1984, Fred and I drove from Bakersfield, CA to Red River, NM in a 1979 blue Ford pickup without an air conditioner. Just think of this romantic scene... the 120 degree Mojave desert wind blowing my hair, newly weds sitting side-by-side, the aroma of sweat in the air. The adventure of sleeping at the luxurious roadside park because we were saving every penny for our honeymoon destination - Red River. Oh, the blessing of creating memories to last a lifetime. 

Of course there are always the "newly wed" spats that arise, especially when you are hot and tired! A day into our journey I recall becoming a bit upset because he was making all the decision. So, he said, "Ok, you map our route from Flagstaff, AZ to Red River, NM. With excitement and a sense of power I decided the course of action. In my twenty-year old naive mind I chose the shortest route on map. Little did I know this way would take us across an Indian Reservation and end up looking down a cliff onto a wooden bridge crossing The Royal Gorge. Hot, sweaty, and grumpy we gasped as we approached the top of the cliff! Our minds started spinning out of control. Our gas tank indicated low fuel, so there was no turning back. Moving forward we located the path leading down the gorge. We prayed every inch of the way. This narrow, winding dirt road caused us to focus our heart on trusting the Lord. When we finally arrived, teenage Indians were jumping off the bridge. As we moved stealthily over the wooden overpass they stuck their heads in our window and yelled... "Woo Woo Woo Woo" in an Indian chant voice. For a moment I thought I was in a television movie. 

Oh, with a sigh and relief we made it without harm. Looking up the cliff we realized only God could have successfully guided us down this Road Less Traveled! We thanked Him for taking care of us and helping us through this experience. 


I often think of this real life experience. I had the choice of which route to take and I chose  the shortcut. I didn't take into account all the obstacles, circumstances and terrain. What a lesson learned! 

This resembles a spiritual lesson as well. Are you trying to take shortcuts in your Christian life? Is God calling you one way and you are taking the shortcut? What does He have for you on His path for your life? Don't miss diving into His Word, it is the only book of directions we need in life. 

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Friday, May 27, 2011

YOUR FRIDAY MORNING DEVOTION!


But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and though us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14 AMP)


Early Christian ichthys sign carved into marbl...


TRIUMPH
by
But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and though us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14 AMP).
I like to find my favorite verses in many translations to appreciate the full meaning of every word. I also like to check out certain words in the Strong’s Concordance to dig deeper into the original words and meanings. This has greatly enhanced my reading through the Bible. In this verse, the word “Thanks” has a surprising meaning in the Greek. It means
Grace; that which affords joy, pleasure, loveliness; grace of speech; good will, loving-kindness, favor; of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues; what is due to grace; the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace; the token or proof of grace, benefit; a gift of grace; benefit, bounty; thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward.
Quite a different definition from what I was expecting. So I could say “Now thanks to the grace, which affords joy, pleasure, loveliness which will affect everyone else around me, with an aroma of Christ, turning them to Christ, increasing them in the faith, be to God ….”
This gives an entirely new meaning to the whole verse for me. It adds a fragrance—an atmosphere—of sweet smelling aroma, to our thanksgiving to God. Because of Christ in me, fully living His life through me, people may feel that they are in the presence of an atmosphere of His fragrance. I have been in the presence of some saints where I felt I wanted to stay and absorb something from them, and I later realized it was not them, it was Him—it was Jesus—and I wanted Him. The saints I most admire are not those with the most Bible knowledge or those who can expound well. It is those who give off a sweet-smelling atmosphere of peace and love and genuine joy (not that plasticky smile that we often see), that is simply Jesus, given full sway in the person’s life and living exactly Himself through them.
Christ in me is always leading me in triumph, always leading me in His triumphal victory procession as His trophy—the evidence of the victory He won on the Cross over Satan, sin and death.
In the tabernacle in the wilderness, and later in the Temple, God has an incense altar where burning coals are mingled with incense which ascends up to God. In Revelation, the incense is the “prayers of the saints” (“And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand”. Revelation 8:4). It is the prayers of the saints mingled with the smoke that rises up to God in the Heavenly temple and brings that sweet smelling aroma to Him directly.
Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ led another triumphal parade in the Heavenly realms. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Here, Christ is parading “rulers and authorities” which are called “principalities and powers” in other translations, and which are the fallen angels, demons, Satan’s defeated army, disarming them and proclaiming victory over them at the cross.
This was the way all Kings displayed their victory over the enemy—they disarmed them, brought them back to the Kingdom, and paraded them as defeated enemies before the people. This is what Jesus did. He led a victory parade over the spoiled foes.
And, he always is leading us in a victory parade as His trophies! We are the prize! Always! And we are always a sweet smelling aroma not only to Him, but to those who are saved, and to those who are not.
May the ongoing process of dying to ME, to MY wants, MY desires, MY self-life, MY right to Myself, and giving Him full reign over me, be that sweet smelling fragrance to Him and to others. What a life this is with Christ.I like to find my favorite verses in many translations to appreciate the full meaning of every word. I also like to check out certain words in the Strong’s Concordance to dig deeper into the original words and meanings. This has greatly enhanced my reading through the Bible. In this verse, the word “Thanks” has a surprising meaning in the Greek. It means
Grace; that which affords joy, pleasure, loveliness; grace of speech; good will, loving-kindness, favor; of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues; what is due to grace; the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace; the token or proof of grace, benefit; a gift of grace; benefit, bounty; thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward.
Quite a different definition from what I was expecting. So I could say “Now thanks to the grace, which affords joy, pleasure, loveliness which will affect everyone else around me, with an aroma of Christ, turning them to Christ, increasing them in the faith, be to God ….”
This gives an entirely new meaning to the whole verse for me. It adds a fragrance—an atmosphere—of sweet smelling aroma, to our thanksgiving to God. Because of Christ in me, fully living His life through me, people may feel that they are in the presence of an atmosphere of His fragrance. I have been in the presence of some saints where I felt I wanted to stay and absorb something from them, and I later realized it was not them, it was Him—it was Jesus—and I wanted Him. The saints I most admire are not those with the most Bible knowledge or those who can expound well. It is those who give off a sweet-smelling atmosphere of peace and love and genuine joy (not that plasticky smile that we often see), that is simply Jesus, given full sway in the person’s life and living exactly Himself through them.
Christ in me is always leading me in triumph, always leading me in His triumphal victory procession as His trophy—the evidence of the victory He won on the Cross over Satan, sin and death.
In the tabernacle in the wilderness, and later in the Temple, God has an incense altar where burning coals are mingled with incense which ascends up to God. In Revelation, the incense is the “prayers of the saints” (“And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand”. Revelation 8:4). It is the prayers of the saints mingled with the smoke that rises up to God in the Heavenly temple and brings that sweet smelling aroma to Him directly.
Colossians 2:15 tells us that Christ led another triumphal parade in the Heavenly realms. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Here, Christ is parading “rulers and authorities” which are called “principalities and powers” in other translations, and which are the fallen angels, demons, Satan’s defeated army, disarming them and proclaiming victory over them at the cross.
This was the way all Kings displayed their victory over the enemy—they disarmed them, brought them back to the Kingdom, and paraded them as defeated enemies before the people. This is what Jesus did. He led a victory parade over the spoiled foes.
And, he always is leading us in a victory parade as His trophies! We are the prize! Always! And we are always a sweet smelling aroma not only to Him, but to those who are saved, and to those who are not.
May the ongoing process of dying to ME, to MY wants, MY desires, MY self-life, MY right to Myself, and giving Him full reign over me, be that sweet smelling fragrance to Him and to others. What a life this is with Christ.
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Thursday, May 26, 2011

YOUR THURSDAY MORNING DEVOTION!


ABIDING IN THE NIGHT WATCH
by
There are two things that keep me awake at night.
Worry over my kids/grandkids;
Worry over finances
I am fairly certain that most of us have lain awake at night with racing thoughts; even good thoughts that simply won’t turn off (one person described that he often has a song playing that he can’t stop hearing—and it was a worship song at that). The frustration and agony of this cannot be ignored. Roll over onto right side, fluff pillow, adjust the sheets, close the eyes—no, no, no! Don’t look at the clock—DON’T LOOK AT THE CLOCK! Too late. You looked.
Ok, so it was midnight. Still plenty of time to get to sleep without waking up feeling exhausted. Lots of people stay up every night until midnight, no big deal.
Roll over onto the left side, fluff pillow, adjust sheets, curl into favorite sleeping position. Ok, eyes are tired, time to sleep.
How am I going to pay all the bills that are due this month? Lord, I am trusting You to pay these bills. But where is the money going to come from? I keep having to charge something because there isn’t enough in the account to cover it and now the garbage disposal needs to be fixed. And my house desperately needs to be painted—the south side is bare wood in places. Lord, I am trusting You to take care of this for me. Roll over, fluff the pillow, adjust the sheets, get into favorite sleeping position, don’t look at the clock. Oh, the economy—the rise in gas prices, the rise in groceries—we are really headed for a big fall here. Everyone else I know is buying extra of everything, stocking up food, water and emergency supplies—Lord, I need You to handle this for me; please show me how I can be a good steward and start my emergency fund. Dave Ramsey says I should have an emergency fund of at least 3 months of wages in cash! How do people do this when their month outlasts their paycheck? Lord, I am trusting You to provide for me in this upcoming economic catastrophe. But, what if there isn’t enough money? I am supposed to have a supply of gold—a good steward saves for emergencies—they see the coming catastrophe and have prepared in advance for it. Lord, I want to give more to You, and I know You tell me to test You in this—give and it will be given—pressed down and overflowing—why doesn’t that work for me? It works for everyone else. Lord…oh and what about my grandkids—their parents can barely afford groceries anymore and I so want to be able to help them…Lord…I know what I can do, I can give over and above to others and God will take care of me; He promised to take care of me … Lord …I could sell the house … no, that won’t work, the housing market is the lowest it has ever been. …
Roll over, fluff pillow, adjust the sheets. Darn, now I have to go to the bathroom. Go to the bathroom. Oh No! Looked at the clock. 2:00 am. Still plenty of time to get a good night’s sleep. Let’s see, if I go to sleep now and wake up at 7:00 I’ll still get five hours, that’s enough sleep.
Get back under covers, now I am really tired, feeling relaxed, body not tense. I can finally go to sleep.
I wish I hadn’t opened my mouth again and blown it with that person. Why do I keep doing that? Tomorrow I’ll call them up and apologize. Lord, that person always gets me upset, but I turn them over to You and will forgive them for always saying just the wrong thing to upset me.… The reason I got so upset is because they always make me feel guilty that I’m not doing _____ at Church. I wish I hadn’t said I would take on that project at Church; now I am completely over-loaded and where will I find the time? I must learn to say no. But Lord, You know I love to serve You. Oh Lord, thank You so much, You have blessed me with so much and I am such a whiner and murmurer … if that person does that again, I’m going to just ignore it and pray for them. Lord, I pray for ______; I know You love them and died for them … ooooh it made me so mad, they humiliated me in front of all those people—why do they seem to enjoy humiliating me so much? Lord …
Roll over, fluff pillow, adjust sheets, accidently look at clock—the thing is shining like a neon sign blinking in the window! 3:30 am. I have to be up in three hours. If I go to sleep now, I’ll feel worse when I wake up. May as well get up now.
Zzzzzzzzz.
Can the abiding life principle apply even to this scenario?
I believe it can. I have done it numerous times now and it does work. I know, I know, all the arguments will flood in “You don’t understand my sleep problem, this doesn’t work for me, I’ve tried it.” I am not pretending that I have a magic bullet. I am only going to apply the truth of God’s word to this situation. If God’s word is “God-breathed” as 2 Tim. 3:16 (NIV) says, and if it is “living and active” as Hebrews 4:12 says, then it is a living, breathing organism, not merely words on a page. If God’s breathed out, living and active word has power to tear down strongholds, to cast down “imaginations” and every high thought that exalts itself above God (2 Cor. 10:3-5), then how can this apply to my racing thoughts in the middle of the night?
This is the nuts and bolts of the abiding life. It is taking God at His word, believing that it is exactly what He says it is and then applying it to every situation. Can my middle of the night worrying, murmuring, fretting, racing thoughts, even racing songs be considered “high thoughts?” I believe so.
Can I take those thoughts “captive” in obedience to Christ? I believe so.
Can the “living, active” word of God be enough to take them captive? Yes, definitely. But it requires a certain amount of discipline to learn this, and most of us don’t want to have discipline in the middle of the night. Most of us just want to go to sleep. I will be accused of teaching “vain repetition” when I tell you how I have taken these racing thoughts captive, but I can tell you that this is the only way to overcome and have victory.
Let’s repeat the above scenario.
How am I going to pay all the bills that are due this month?
Lord, I take that thought captive in obedience to You. I invite You to think Your thoughts through me. What are Your thoughts Lord? Your God-breathed Word gives me that answer “[W]hatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).
The garbage disposal, Lord I need … I take that thought captive in obedience to You Lord and I choose to meditate on You—You are true. You are TRUE. Your Word is truth and I choose to think on You right now. Thank You for Your truth, thank You that you have already supplied all my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. Thank You that You will provide for the garbage disposal.
I need to stock up, get my emergency fund … I take that thought captive in obedience to you, Lord and I choose to believe that Your promise to “feed me in time of famine” is Truth. The news media, the well-intentioned books and articles are likely true, but they are not TRUTH. They are of a bad report and I choose to think on only Your good report.
Do you get the picture? Even if for the first several times you do this, you are still lying awake all night taking thoughts captive, you are in the process of truly winning a huge battle against the enemy of your soul—a very real enemy who wants to tie you up in knots and prevent you from trusting in Jesus Christ and His word, and hopefully in the end, he can even cause you to accuse God of never answering your prayers, because after all, you were praying while all of this was going on and He never helped you.
The question posed to me many years ago shook me to the core. “Do you not believe that He cares for you much more than for the little birds? Do you not believe that He will take care of you even when there is nothing left?” I thought I believed, but I didn’t. I was an unbelieving believer. I wanted to be a believing believer; I invited Jesus to begin this new work in me and what a ride that was. But in the end, worth every aching muscle, every painful failure, every mistake I made in the process, because in the end. Jesus Christ won and I believed Him. And, he has never failed nor forsaken me. And He will never fail nor forsake you. You can take that to the bank.
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