The principles work for ladies as well.
The following is a long quote…
Down through the ages, followers of Christ have believed that to be able to give God our attention as a regular practice was a very important thing. After vividly recounting the many challenges of faith and character before us, the author of Hebrews says,
Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping [fixing] our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith (Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT).
Those who look to him are radiant (Psalm 34:5 NIV)
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes. (Psalm 119:97–99 NIV)
I don’t think we realize how much our use of technology and its assault on our attention has made this difficult to do. You can’t give God your attention when your attention is constantly being targeted and taken captive … and you’re cooperating.
In a blog post entitled “Mobile Blindness,” marketing guru Seth Godin writes,
We swipe instead of click, we scan instead of read, even our personal email. We get exposure to far more at the surface, but we rarely dig in.
Mobile blindness. The quick pass. The inability to linger, and dig deep. It’s just the next thing, the next thing, the next thing.
Our precious attention has been groomed and taken hostage. The key is this: the rooted person is able to meditate — give sustained attention to — the revelation of God. Not swipe, not multitask. Lingering focus. So Crawford wonders, “As our mental lives become more fragmented, what is at stake often seems to be nothing less than the question of whether one can maintain a coherent self. I mean a self that is able to act according to settled purposes and ongoing projects, rather than flitting about.”
Dear reader — you can’t find more of God when all you’re able to give him is a flit and flicker of your attention.
The good news is that we actually have a choice. Unlike persecution, the things currently assaulting us are things we can choose not to participate in.
And now for another long quote from God’s word
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 NKJV
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, [13] and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. [14] Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. [15] See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not despise prophecies. [21] Test all things; hold fast what is good. [22] Abstain from every form of evil. [23] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Thank you Father for your Word and Your work in our life. We want to give you our full attention today.
For the above reading and more… https://wildatheart.org/daily-readings/giving-god-your-attention/
]]>Pastors over the last few decades and churches have shrunk from the fights in our culture, and then we see what happens when we don’t have a presence in the political field. We look to some of the most radical things that are happening in our nation right now and wonder where they came from and how this could manifest itself and why a populous that is based in a Christian nation could allow something to arise, it is because too many pastors have been afraid of offending congregants rather than preaching the truth and the Word.
It isn’t possible to divorce the truth of God’s Word from the actions as Christians that we must take in the public sphere. It was just mentioned a moment ago that when you look at scripture you can see politics all throughout it and I agree wholeheartedly with that. I would add that you see governance because politics is what leads into governance, and they are also in some senses, identical because when you look at some of the things that happened in scripture, you see Esther promoted to a position in government that she did not want or seek out, but yet, she was placed there ‘for such a time as this.’ You saw people like Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego that were serving in a kingdom that they did not want to be in, but were hauled into a position of power before the king, and their testimony led to him saying that there is one true God.
You see people like Joseph who went from the prison house to the penthouse, essentially, the vice president of Egypt because he said I’m going to serve God in this position of government and God was glorified because of it. So when we see pastors today shrink back from these battles and say that ‘we need to keep our faith and our activism between the doors of the foyer and the church sanctuary’ that is false Christianity.
We are charged to take our mission and our faith and our gospel to the ends of the earth and that includes our Jerusalem, our Judea and Samaria, right here in the United States of America, and then the uttermost parts of the world can look at the United States and try to model after that if we have good governance.
We also have to remember very quickly that when we are given responsibility over our families, that strong family is going to lead to a strong church, and those vibrant and strong churches with good leadership, especially leadership with men who are shrinking too much in this world, you see how they’re trying to be feminized with like something Tim Walz is doing, when we have strong leadership in our families, it gives strong leadership in the church. Then we have a strong constituency in the United States that gives us good leaders, and that’s when God starts to bless the United States, when we have that emphasis on leadership and strength through governance and politics, that is conduit for God to work in our nation once again.
]]>Context: Samuel is learning to listen to, and respond to the voice of God…
KAREN’S WORDS Samuel had not yet learned to hear God‘s voice, and so when he did hear his name, he thought Eli was calling him, and then Eli perceived after a while that God was actually speaking to SAMUEL, so he instructed Samuel and said the next time this happens I want you to say ‘speak Lord for your servant is listening.’
JERRY’S WORDS
Let me encourage you that you are reading this article to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
Psalm 95:7 NKJV – Today, if you will hear His voice:
This is also spoken of in Hebrews chapters 3 & 4
God is wanting to speak to us…
God is speaking, are we listening?
We are instructed to 17 “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5). But there is much more to prayer than us as people talking and God listening. We need to cultivate a LISTENING HEART.
Do we recognize His voice and His leading and working?
We want to share some thoughts about WAYS of hearing from God…
KAREN’S WORDS
I know that this is like preaching to the choir because most of you who are reading this already know these things that we’re talking about and have experienced them and yet it does help for us to be reminded of these things.
JERRY’S WORDS
Thank God for His Word that we can hear Him speaking to us.
His Word that is a lamp and to our feet and a light into our pathway. (Psalm 119:105)
His Word that we read is forever settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
His Word that is changeless.
Some people try to adapt the word to their lifestyle.
But we are to change to what ‘thus says the Lord.’
So many want a God made in their image and they’re likeness… And lifestyle.
KAREN’S WORDS
In my 40s, the Lord began to pour out songs on me and most of the songs that came were straight from His Word. And unto this day when I hear someone preach a sermon or quote a scripture, many times the Lord will give me a tune to that Word of God. But this happens mostly when I myself am spending time in the Word. His Word is alive and one of the good things about putting his word to song is it helps us to remember what he has said, so that we obey.
JERRY’S WORDS
2. Another way that we hear from God is through people speaking prophetically. It’s important to seek to discern what is from God.
And we need to pray into prophetic words. Some people hear a word from a prophet, and immediately look forward and say, if God said it’ll come true.
But that wasn’t Daniel’s approach. When he read in Jeremiah that after the 70 years, God was going to shift things for Israel and bring them back home. Daniel didn’t say, “Well if it’s the word of God through this prophet it’ll happen. No, he began to seek God with fasting and prayer.
I have heard some that seem more excited about stoning the prophet rather than accepting responsibility to do their part in prayer.
God is looking for us to be laborers together with Him, to pray for His kingdom to come, and His will to be done.
When Jesus, Yeshua, told us to pray for “His kingdom to come and his will to be done,” He wasn’t simply trying to make His book a little longer, so it would sell it for more. But he was giving us the opportunity to participate with him in seeking for His kingdom come and his will be done.
I was sharing with a group the other day and I said, “Before we pick up stones, let’s get on our prayer bones…
Instead of focusing on what may be wrong let’s pray for God’s purposes to be revealed and to come to pass.
——
Jeremiah 23:16b does speak of people who “speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord.” But my point is that when we hear a prophetic word, especially from someone with a proven track record that we begin to pray into and seek to discern what is God and seek for His plans and purposes to prevail.
3. Another way that God speaks is by directly speaking to us.
KAREN’S WORDS
After 5 years of serving in Jerusalem, we got rid of all of our earthly possessions in the States and when we returned to Jerusalem from this task, I kept hearing a phrase, but ignoring it, not realizing that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me. After about three days of incessantly hearing the same words, I said God is this You? And it was just amazing to me to think it could be God speaking. He was speaking to me “HarAdar” , a village 7 miles outside of Jerusalem, over and over again. Now back in January of the same year we had bought a vehicle (after five years of being car-less in Jerusalem), which was miraculous to us, but God was preparing us to move to Har Adar. A few months later after we first went out to Har Adar to explore if there might be a place for us to live in that community, we moved in to a large house and a fenced in yard and fruit trees, and herbs in a beautiful, beautiful neighborhood. I did not know that about six months later I was really going to need that beauty and that peace and quiet instead of living in the city center of Jerusalem. But the Lord knew, and He was watching over me.
JERRY’S WORDS
When we came to the end of our five-year B1 work visa which concluded a total of seven years in the land, we did not want to leave Israel. After 7 years, it was home. We had made a couple of trips over to Poland and Germany, trying to establish the possibility of Karen’s Jewish lineage.
But we were coming to the end of our time and needed to let our landlord know something.
We were setting up on the hill there in Har Adar, praying one evening as the sun was going down. God spoke to me, and said “It’s not that you are having to leave Israel, but I am sending you back to the United States for such a time as this.” In a matter of 45 seconds after months of grueling over this, I was recalibrated on the inside. I realize that I was fighting against God‘s purposes, but now I had cleared direction.
It was also around that time that God spoke to me, Washington DC. I had only been to Washington DC one other time in my life for Lou Eagle’s THE CALL in 2000.
Shortly after that, we were in the Galilee for a couple of days to celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary. We met with a couple that he is strong in the prophetic and has a track record of hearing from God. I hadn’t told him anything about what God had said… But he said I’ve been praying for you all for two days and he said I see Washington DC. There was much more to the prophetic word, but I won’t go into that now.
Since we’ve been back to the states, we have just completed our 21st trip to Washington DC (almost 800 miles away) where we have connected some with congressman, but mostly with other praying groups, and individuals, interceding for our nation and focusing a lot in on praying for the Supreme Court and the justices.
4. Another way that we hear from God is through our circumstances.
Toward the end of our time in Israel, Karen and I were driving north to join together with others for David Davis’ homecoming celebration.
We were about 20 minutes out and all of a sudden I got very sleepy. I told Karen I needed to pull off and get something to help wake me up. She said we’re only 20 minutes out, but I said I’ve got to stop right here.
After I had consumed a milkshake from McDonald’s… We were ready to leave and head on to Haifa. But, God wasn’t ready for us to leave yet. The car would not crank.
KAREN’S WORDS
It would be lovely to have the Buehlers tell their side of the story, but as they were traveling up the highway to go also to David Davises celebration of life, Vesna was driving their Vehicle and she was extremely groggy and she told Jorgen I must get off at this exit to which Jorgen replied, but we’re only 20 minutes away, can’t we keep going? She said no I must have some coffee now.
A car came around the back of the gas station and was just about to honk at us because our car by now was in the way from people trying to help us jump our car. When a look of surprise came on their faces, it was Vesna and Jorgen Buehler. They were so surprised to see us were we surprised to see them. They spoke fluent Hebrew, we did not, so they were such a huge blessing to us, and from that providential meeting at the gas station where our car would not start, God turned that frustrating situation into a huge blessing for both the Buehlers’s and for Jerry and I. They had just received a notice The night before our gas station meeting that after living at their apartment for 8 years that they had 30 days to move out of their apartment. ended up moving into what was our house, and now they still live there. And a relationship was formed with them. That is precious till this day.
JERRY’S WORDS
There’s a lot more to that story, but just to say, God also uses circumstances to speak to us and to lead us, He is faithful. He delights in taking things that the enemy means for evil and turning it around for our good and for his glory.
God is speaking today and I want to leave you with this challenge that there are things that God has spoken to us in the past that is not yet been fulfilled. Things that we knew were from God.
I want to challenge us to begin to pray again into those things that God spoke to us in the past and be listening for the words in the now and pray into them.
]]>These cases, along with a host of other cases this year, will help determine how United States law is applied regarding justice, politically motivated prosecutions, and the issue of life. These cases seem to be on track to provoke the same level of animosity and intimidation towards the Justices as seen in 2022. We MUST PRAY protection over our justices and that they will operate only in the fear of the LORD.
The Supreme Court Justices normally release their opinions the last week in June, when their 2024 term is ending. So, NOW ‘is’ the time to pray in faith for them to fulfill their duties before God and the American citizens they represent. We invite you to join us in praying a ‘key’ scripture for our justices. We have been praying this from 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 NKJV. God gave me a song almost verbatim from this scripture:
VERSE:
“Jehoshaphat set judges throughout the land throughout all the cities of Judah
He said to the judges ‘take heed’ what you are doing for you do not judge for man but for the LORD!
The LORD is ‘with you’ in the judgements – NOW, therefore,
let the FEAR OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU, BE UPON YOU!
Take care and do it, for you do not judge for man, but for THE LORD YOUR GOD. For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes!
CHORUS:
Let the FEAR OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU,
Let the FEAR OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU
Lay everything aside, for such a time as this you’ve been called into the Kingdom
Let the FEAR OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU, AMEN!!!” KarenSchradeEllard˙2024
For those of you who feel compelled by the Spirit of God to inform yourselves and to pray for our Supreme Court ‘for such a time as this’ please avail yourselves of this excellent up-to-date Supreme Court prayer resource by our trusted friend and brilliant leader of Judicial Action Group, Phillip Jauregui.
Prayer Briefing
The Supreme Court’s Esther Moment in The 2023-2024 Term
Updated: May 10, 2024
As we pray for God’s Justice and the reversal of injustice in our Nation, please read the Book of Esther for strategic insight on how to pray for the Supreme Court Justices to accept their “Esther Moment” and to correct attempts to abuse our courts unjustly persecute political opponents.
Read Esther and pray for: (1) God’s people in this nation to be like Mordecai by exhort the Justices of the Supreme Court to align with God and His justice, (2) Our Supreme Court Justices to be like Esther by choosing to fear God, risking their lives to save the nation, and standing for justice and the salvation of the people of God in this nation, and (3) God to issue justice.
“It comes as Georgia’s appeals court on May 8 agreed to take up an [interlocutory] appeal filed by President Trump’s lawyers, who are seeking to disqualify Ms. Willis over allegations surrounding her relationship with Mr. Wade. In March, Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Ms. Willis could stay on the Trump case if Mr. Wade leaves, although he wrote that an “odor of mendacity” remains.”
“Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis suggested she will not testify before the Georgia Senate committee investigating her after the panel threatened to subpoena her ….”
“The Senate committee chairman, Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert, told a local Fox station in an interview that his committee has the power to make her testify, adding that she could be held in contempt if she doesn’t cooperate.
“I sure hope it doesn’t get to that,” Mr. Cowsert told the station. “If she’s not willing to come and explain her conduct, then we will subpoena her and ask her to come, require her to come.”
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican, wrote on social media that “if subpoenaed by the Committee, [Ms. Willis] will be required to appear or she will be in violation of Georgia law.” Just result: Not guilty and exoneration of Trump and allies. Thank God: that Willis and Wade have been exposed already
8. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said he filed a request as part of an investigation into whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) coordinated with multiple state prosecutors handling cases against former President Donald Trump.
In a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed on May 9, the Republican attorney general asked the DOJ to provide communications from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and Special Counsel Jack Smith related to the investigations or prosecutions of President Trump.
]]>In 2019 the Lord told me that He wanted to move in our nation, but He was could not move in America as He desired until we dealt with the sin of abortion (murder). I then began to write and record many pro-life songs (for the 1st time). Then on June 24, 2022 in a glorious victory, Roe was righteously overturned in our nation by our Supreme Court (which was an act of ‘repentance” for the SC). Many Christians thought we could just coast and that our job of fighting was over. WRONG.
The Lord showed me freshly that the forces of evil are trying to keep their territory for child sacrifice in our nation SO THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVE THAT GOD DESIRES TO BRING TO AMERICA WILL NOT HAPPEN. WE MUST ENGAGE IN LOVE, WITH THE FULL ARMOR ON, WITH THE WORD OF GOD, WITH HOLY ACTIVATION! WE MUST MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD!
The battle for LIFE has gotten more bizarre and insane than ever as the Executive Branch of government seems determined to break the law and force or push abortion through by any way possible.
Now the FDA is bringing a case before the Supreme Court on March 26 for Oral Arguments wanting to make this horrible mifepristone pill that causes the murdering of babies to be legalized to where you do not need a doctor or any supervision, you can do it yourself as a woman. The promoters of ‘death for babies’ have the audacity to call this women’s healthcare. The opposite is true. They should call it women’s ‘deathcare’.
The industry and the organizations involved do not care about these women. They only care about making the money from the murder pill and many have been taken over with evil spirits having a craving to kill babies.(Child sacrifice). Young women who do not know any better, are being victimized, lied to, and their lives are being destroyed because of this sin. We have heard the testimonies of many women who have experienced abortion, and it was only the grace and mercy of God that keep them from killing themselves due to the guilt and shame of this sin – the unnatural act of a mother killing their own baby (made in the image of God).
1 Kings 18:21b “How long will you (America) falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”
We believe that we are in an Esther moment, but also as we go to Washington DC that we are facing an “Elijah and Mount Carmel” moment.
We plan to worship the Lord in Washington, D.C. Events are being organized by both sides ‘at the same time’ in front of our Supreme Court, (Tuesday, March 26 – morning).
So please pray for the people of God to SHOW UP, TURN OUT and make YOUR VOICE HEARD for our LORD who is the Giver of LIFE.
We are going in to DC with the love of God but we are going as worshipping warriors of the KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords. If you can join us please let us know you are coming!! We’ll connect you.
]]>The Lord has given me a strong word for this season, that we are to pray to “contain and restrain” regional conflicts, so that they do not escalate into a premature World War 3 that would greatly hinder the Great Harvest.
So pray that this situation will be “contained and restrained”, especially that Hezbollah will not join in on the conflict and start firing rockets upon the North of Israel. Pray also that Israeli Arabs will not continue to join in with isolated attacks on individuals, etc.
Pray for great wisdom for the military and governmental leaders.
Pray protection in a special way over the most vulnerable areas close to Gaza. We have a good friend who pastors a Messianic Jewish community in Sderot, where some of the hostages were taken.
Pray protection for them. Pray for miraculous rescues of hostages that were taken by Hamas.
Pray also for our house of prayer in Jerusalem, Succat Hallel (Hebrew for “Tabernacle of Praise”). Pray for protection over the worship watches, and for the watchmen coming and going.
A group of Muslim young men were gathered across the street from Succat Hallel today shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“Our god is greater” — referring to the god of Islam) and “Hamas is in the streets”.
Pray the Lord will give us both courage and wisdom. Heidi Baker had been scheduled to minister to our Jewish and Arab youth this evening, but had to cancel so she could stay close to the students she has here at this time.
Please pray that we (Rick and Patricia) can still be able to fly home tomorrow (Sunday) from Dubai, where we are meeting with spiritual leaders today.
]]>Do not be silent, O God. Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones, They have said, Come and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more…..
But fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O LORD. O let them be confounded and dismayed forever. Let them be put to shame and perish, That they may know that You whose name above is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. (Ps. 83: 1-4; 16-18 NKJV)
Dear Friends of Israel
Greeting from Jerusalem. As I write this prayer letter, Israel is at war. I am presently hearing the sound of the IAF jets turning over Jerusalem to make their attacks on HAMAS positions. Marylois and I were suddenly awakened this Shabbat morning by our missile alert app, warning us of missile attacks in Israel.. Then just a few hours later, the sirens sounded in Jerusalem, warning us on approaching rockets. We heard the booms and explosions as Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted them, but still more rockets came., and all morning we had missile alerts and attacks near this city.
Israel Suddenly Attacked
Israel was suddenly and unexpectedly attacked this morning. HAMAs terrorists covertly breached Israel’s security fence which protects this nations from the Gaza strip. Hamas terrorists using a bulldozer broke through and went on a rampage, shooting up farming villages and towns. Other HAMAS operatives used hang gliders to fly over the security fence and invade Israel. Other HAMAS “commandos” used rubber zodiac boats to infiltrate settlements. An IDF military base was taken and soldiers captured. Many Israelis were also killed or injured or taken hostage. Current figures released by Israel’s Magen David (Shield of David) emergency services state that over 100 Israelis have been killed, some 900 injured and scores held captive, or missing.
There is also a danger that Hezbollah, another terrorist army up in Lebanon, may enter this conflict. If that is the case, we must be prepared for a long and protracted war. Please pray Psalm 83 over Israel. Marylois and I , plus six guests are safe in the House of Peace, but have our missile alert alarms on and are praying. Stand with us and ask God that the captives are released and that the enemies of Israel may know that the LORD Adonai is Most High over all the earth.
I will write more when there is more information, or needs. I have attached a photo of Marylois and team praying for Israel, this morning.
Stand with us in Prayer for Israel
Gene and Marylois/House of Peace, Jerusalem.
]]>Genesis 50:20 NKJV “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Job 37:12 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.”
Psalm 54:5 “He will recompense the evil to my foes;
Destroy them in Your faithfulness.”
Psalm 66:5 “Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.”
Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts. 2:1-4: 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
“And the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:22
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13
Judges 3:10 a – The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Jn 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Rom. 8:26: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Rom. 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Rom. 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
1 Chron. 12:18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands
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