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God doesn’t always “fix” things, but He is still God and He still loves us. But sometimes, it’s important for us to go through certain things.  And just because God doesn’t appear to give us what we want, doesn’t mean God won’t give us what we need. God it always merciful, but we need to learn the difference between what we need and what we want. And to have faith no matter whether He “fixes” things or not!

I know that I have struggled with this; we all struggle with it.

But during our difficult times, God’s Love will surround us and comfort us-if we let it.  For God is always merciful and full of Love for us.

But because He loves us; He will not always give us what we want, however He will ALWAYS give us what we need.  We just need to keep praying, whether we feel like it or not! ?

When I was born, I was born with a large hole in my heart.  I had open heart surgery at about age 6.  Back then they kept you in the hospital 6 weeks!  I suffered from bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis for 16 years.  I was home about 3 months every year from school because I was so sick and weak I sometimes could not get from my bed to my bathroom without fainting.

During those years I read everything from Saints Books and the Bible to the Tales of King Arthur to Socrates and all of the great philosophers.  And most of all-I talked with God.  And I prayed.

Most of those years, thanks to God, I was at peace with my circumstances.  But I remember in 8^th grade thinking there must be something wrong with me that God would not heal me.  But I was wrong, God was preparing me.  And I remember when I was 18, I so badly wanted to “be like everyone else”.    Wow, was that overrated, lol.  So sometimes we all get off-track, and that’s okay.  As long as we get back on track ?

The reason I share this with you my friends, is that we all suffer in some way.  Sometimes that suffering can be seen by others and sometimes it can’t.  But during those times, God never leaves our side.  And God will ultimately use it for good.

So never give up and never lose hope! God will help you and He loves you! Your suffering will end!

There can be no doubt that the persecution of Christians is growing. It’s happened before and it will happen again. But one thing that is true looking back through history (there’s that ugly word lol), is that it DOES end! We just need to pray our way through it.

Worthy Devotionals went through a small part of our Christian history today. First Herod tried to kill Jesus and we see how that worked out-Christianity spread through out the world! Then evil persecuted the early church in hopes of destroying it, but it only became stronger. In the Dark Ages, Christians could not even read the Bible. Catholics and Protestants turned against one another. And then none will ever forget the Inquisition and the pain and suffering it caused. And these are just a few events.

Now, we have the “information age”. Too much meaningless information and not enough information that really matters. And there is the physical persecution happening in Afghanistan and other countries. And then there is the constant onslaught of pressure in the United States pushing people to follow the governent rather than to Follow Jesus. And that “pressure” is rising and starting to move to outright threatening!

But when Christians come together in faith and pray, only good can happen. Our Father has not stopped answering prayers made in Jesus’ Name. The Holy Spirit lives in us and Jesus loves us! And whether we are physically together or physically separated due to Covid, it will not effect our ability to pray.

It’s a Narrow Road. With the Holy Spirit’s Help, Let us be One Voice, One Church, raised in Prayer to our Father in Jesus’ Name.

While The Stations of the Cross are usually said in many churches during Easter, when they were first said, they were said outdoors both mornings and evenings. According to Catholic Tradition, they were created by Mary, the Mother of God, who had moved to Ephesus in Ancient Greece (now Turkey) with John after Jesus’ Ascension to Heaven. She said them in the mornings and evenings and created them as a way to truly meditate on Christ’s Journey to the Cross. They were initially called, The Holy Way of the Cross and erected by Mary herself 🙂

The above photo is from Lake Iseo in Italy . It is a photo of their outdoor beautiful Stations of the Cross. There is another one in Hinkley, Ohio at Our Lade of Grace which is also beautifully done: Our Lady of Grace. Both of these are outdoors. And many exist in other placesas well. As we enter Round Two of covid, and if we encounter other viruses as well, perhaps this may be a great way for all of us to worship together outside.

Catholic or Protestant, we all worship Jesus. And we should do so together, especially now! For we are one church, united by our Faith in Jesus Christ.

Link to: Suggestions for Praying The Stations of the Cross at home with our family and friends

Link to: The Stations of the Cross:

Praying together is important. We don’t yet know if Covid (or other dangerous illnesses coming will be cured), this is one way we can gather outdoors together to pray. The Holy Way of the Cross, given to us by Mary, Mother of God is a great way to do that!

A gift that just keeps giving 🙂 Thank you Mary!

Sometimes, many Christians do all the right things.  They pray, they read the Bible, they go to church, they love others well…and they Love God.  But still God’s Joy & Peace seems to escape them.

They want to have it.  They try to have it.  But it just doesn’t seem to be there…

There are two more steps that can really make a difference.

The first is Trust & Acceptance.  Trust that God truly Loves you.  And because of His Great Love, He would never wish hard times of any kind on us!  If fact, He uses all the difficult or hurtful events in our lives to our good!  He stands ready to help us through them, if we will but let Him.  And He draws us closer to Him, especially during tough times.  But in order to feel His Peace and Joy in the face of tough times, we need to trust that God does Love us and will help us.  We need to accept that His Will may not be to erase all of our difficulties, but to Help us through them ?

The second is to Pray to the Holy Spirit directly.  We can even ask God to send us a Double Portion of the Holy Spirit as Elijah did.  Our Father sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Helper.  But as with our Father, we need to ask Him to Help us ?

“the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.”-John 14:26

God’s Peace & Joy are ours always, we just need to believe and ask for it ?

From a Friend in Christ:

“God’s Word shares with you that some time after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter and John had gone together to the temple to pray. A man lame from birth was at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful. Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God! All the people around were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Peter and John spoke to them and many who heard the Word believed, about five thousand. Of course, this did not go well with the priests, leaders, and Sadducees, who put them in custody.

The next day Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Calaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. Then  Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke boldly in front of them and they did not like what he said about them who had crucified Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead. They commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “”Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

When your Heavenly Father sends His Holy Spirit to you, you will personally see and hear His Presence. His Light can not be hidden with His Holy Spirit Stirring! God wants you to know Him intimately, to give your doubts and fears to Him, to Trust Him in ALL you do, think and say, to His Glory and Honor. He wants you to accept His Only Son, Jesus Christ in your heart that you may also know His Love and Peace, being Born Again in Spirit to Awaken His Spirit in you, given to you before birth. When you are in Him and He in you, you will grow in His Presence and continue to see and hear more and more! Know that this amplifies your earthly senses through Spiritual Senses granted to you through your Father. His Healing Power and Touch, Amazing Grace and Mercy, Strength and Courage, Comfort, Love, Joy and Peace, will become you because He IS you! Does this mean no more pain and sorrow? No, moments on earth are still in the midst of sin, but they can be also in the midst of His Joy and Peace, that only He can give! When He needs you Home more than He needs you on earth, and He knows you, your pain and sorrow, blemishes, all earthly things will disappear. 

My thoughts and prayers are that you will always accept your Father’s Invitation to know Him better. That you will see and hear His Presence in your life and will boldly speak and help His Children on their path towards Him. That you know God growing in you and you in Him, now and forever. In Jesus’ Name. Thy Will be done. Amen. Peace.“

From A Friend In Christ 🙂

“God has not blessed you with His Truth, through His Word and His Helper, the Holy Spirit Stirring in your heart to keep inside of you and not share Him with others. The same goes for His Infinite Blessings He has bestowed upon you. Remember this: you are blessed to be a blessing. So get the idea out of your head that sharing your faith is something you can not do or something miserable to engage in. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Jesus told you there IS Joy in heaven over every sinner who comes to repentance. If heaven gets excited, you should get excited too! No doubt about it, new believers are the Lifeblood of His Church. They also are the Lifeblood of the Christian. You need new believers in your life. You need to deepen and help them. In turn, they ignite and excite you! Truly, what a Blessing from God to represent Him in All you do. Amen.

The world makes it easy, with all the trials and tribulations encountered, to keep to yourself. Seems like it takes a lot of effort to just make a Good Difference for others. Know that you can NOT do this on your own. Your Heavenly Father, who Loves and Cares for you SO much, shall be Extremely Delighted for you to ask Him for help to share the Redemption of Jesus Christ’s Blood and His Blessings with others! He not only will be Delighted, but the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, along with His angels will Dance with Joy! Know you are too are to Dance like no one IS watching, Love like it will never hurt, Sing like no one IS listening and Live like heaven IS on earth! Amen.

My thoughts and prayers are with you that you are EXCITED to share our Lord, in All He IS! May you know His Truth, His Love and Peace that knows NO limit. May He give you His Strength and Courage to represent Him well. The Love of Jesus – Wear it! Share it! Live it!! In Jesus’ Name. Thy Will be done. Amen. Peace.”

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”-2 Timothy 3:16

Inspired by the Holy Spirt.  God-Breathed some call it ?.  The Bible has everything we need to know.  Notice, “need”.  Want to know is a different story.  We may want to know everything, but we need to know how to live, and who to follow ?

Our lives on earth are just a tiny part of what our life is to come.  Kind of like a stamp on a letter.  The envelope and letter are so much bigger than the stamp ?

And that is how our life is.   Our life on earth is so much smaller ( and shorter lol) than our life in Heaven will be.  I would say it is irrelevant, but it is here where we will make our choice.  Heaven or Hell.  So our time on earth may be relatively short, even stormy, but it is very important.  Because it is here that we will choose where we will spend all of our tomorrows ?

The Bible is a Roadmap for our lives here on earth.  It tells us how to live and who to follow (Hint:  Jesus ? ).  It reminds us that above all things-we are first and foremost Children of God and Citizens of Heaven.

So no matter how difficult life becomes, never give up.  Our Home in Heaven is already assured.  And no power on this earth can take it from us.  Just as no power on this earth can take us from God’s Hand.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

As we enter round two of Covid, remember:

Pray Psalm 91:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  ² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  ³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  ⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; ⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  ⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee

⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  ⁹ Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; ¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  ¹² They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  ¹³ Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  ¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

So be it! Amen 🙂

By George Whitten and Family

 “Outnumbered, exhausted, but still in pursuit!

Judges 8:4-6 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. “And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

Judges 6:12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

“Exhausted but still in pursuit…” Well, now we know why the angel of YHVH addressed Gideon the way he did. With his small three hundred man army he had just decimated the army of Midian — but the victory wasn’t complete, and so the Jewish general and his small, exhausted, hungry, band were determined to cross the Jordan and take care of 15,000 additional Midianite enemies and their leaders, Zebah and Zalmunna.

Once chosen and appointed to his task, Gideon didn’t settle for the slaughter of 120,000 Midianites. He might have reasoned that, having driven the remaining enemy force across the Jordan River, a natural barrier, Israel was now safe. After all, he and his men were exhausted and hungry. But this victory was insufficient, especially because the Midianite leaders were still alive. Instead, Gideon continued to press on, refusing to settle until the job was completely done. His refusal to allow serious physical discomfort to compromise his objective is apparently one of the things that qualified Gideon as a “mighty man” of God. No settling into a comfort zone for him.

My Friends, are you moving toward victory, but exhausted and hungry? Be careful now. Comfort could be your greatest enemy. And your so-called friends may not be standing there to give you a hand, but rather, watching skeptically from the sidelines to see whether or not you’ll make it through your “heroic effort”. Now is not the time for self-pity, fleshly resentment, or mediocrity. “The comfort zone is for those who are exempt from pain but denied progress; protected from failure but held in the grip of mediocrity.” Keep your focus and spiritual passion for victory, and finish the job appointed to you — because God has too much invested to settle for mediocrity!”

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah