A PREACHER’S BROKEN HEART FOR HIS COUNTRY

(This was posted by a preacher earlier this week who has given me permission to share with others.... Pastor Danny Bezet of Baytown, TX)

We stand as free Americans today, though there is turmoil in our land
God help there to be a prayer on our lips, thanking Him for a land so grand

My heart still pounds as I see our flag, it’s beat quickens beneath my hand
I owe a great debt to so many, who for freedom took a stand

In anger I gaze upon those that would divide, self and power is all that they can see
It will take courage to stem the tide, but America’s still worth it, seems to me

It’s not skin color or a a party line, it’s a nation of free people and their desire to remain
While some fight, blame, accuse and whine, the brave and true will look to God again

It is sad that we have to protest and take to the streets or get on the TV
With our future at stake and our faith put to the test. Its time for good men to agree

We have dismissed our God and ignored His call and wonder why we are in such a mess.
His Word is rejected or not heard at all, such a people, such a nation, He will not bless.

It’s time to stop and take a long look, at where we once were and where we have come
To pick up the Bible, And lift our eyes to Heaven, where mercy and help is from

The enemy is not a leader that is a louse, nor is the enemy those that distort the news
The enemy is not the Godless in the White House, Its the blind that sit in our Church pews

While we wait to see what will be, let us do what we should have done before the race
Ask the God of Heaven for another opportunity to humble ourselves and seek His face

Let us plead for God to protect our birthright, and to give us courage that knows no gender
To walk in His Word and the power of His might and stand for right, and never surrender

Look past your stomach and pocket book, pray for God to smile on our nation again
Give God and your children a fresh look, and God's favor to regain

These are fearful days I must confess, and what will happen I cannot tell
I can only trust and in the Lord rest, and know that He does all things well

Our own will and way put us in this place, a place of deep sorrow and dreadful shame
I bow before my God and trust His grace and I suggest that you and yours do the same

Prayer for the 21 South Korean Christian Hostages???

On July 19 twenty-three South Korean Christians on a bus in Afghanistan were hi-jacked and captured by the Taliban and taken as hostages to negotiate the release of captured Taliban prisoners in that country. The South Korean Christian group were in Afghanistan to provide humanitarian aid to that country. Two of the hostages have been killed by the Muslim group after deadlines in negotiations came and passed without the release of any Taliban prisoners. There are still 21 hostages in captivity after almost two and half weeks have passed.

Have you or I spoken up about this situation to our church leaders, the media, and possibly Muslim groups in our areas to pray and encourage a huge outcry about this situation and hopefully gain the release of these innocent Christian brothers and sisters??? Have we even prayed for them???

Why is it that the media finds the brief incarceration of Paris Hilton worthy of 'round-the-clock vigils but spares little ink and little air time to tell the world more about these two men who gave their lives while serving the people of Afghanistan??? Even more disturbing than lack of media coverage, though, is the tepid response of the churches to the plight of their brothers and sisters from South Korea. No matter what issues currently occupy Christians in the U.S., they should shift their focus to Afghanistan right now and join the churches in South Korea in vigilant prayer for the remaining hostages.

I'm afraid Christians here in the U.S. are too comfortable and think only of their families and their church families to be too concerned about Christians in other parts of the world who suffer persecution almost on a daily basis. We ourselves cry out about us being persecuted if someone slams the door in our face when we are out knocking on doors to share the gospel and invite people to church!!!!!

We need to open our eyes to pray for Christians in other countries who suffer daily at the hands of other religious groups and government officials. We also need to keep alert to changes in our own laws here in the U.S., i.e. so called "hate-crime" bills and other intrusions into the church. The name of Jesus and God's Word, the Bible, are fast becoming targets to those who want nothing else but to shut the mouths of Bible-believing Christians in today's society.

Click on the title link above to read some current news about the South Korean Christian hostages, or look for other articles about this situation using online resources.

Let's also lift these fellow Christians up in prayer tomorrow at our churches.

Two Poems to Develop "Passionate Passion" For Souls

O for a passionate passion for souls,
O for a pity that yearns!
O for the love that loves unto death,
O for the fire that burns!
O for the pure prayer-power that prevails,
That pours itself out for the lost!
Victorious prayer in the Conqueror's Name,
O for a PENTECOST!

By Amy Wilson Carmichael

Oh! for a heart that is burdened!

Infused with a passion to pray;

Oh! for a stirring within me;

Oh! for His power every day.

Oh! for a heart like my Saviour,

Who, being in an agony, prayed.

Such caring for OTHERS, Lord, give me;

On my heart let burdens be laid.

My Father, I long for this passion,

To pour myself out for the lost -

To lay down my life to save others -

"To pray," whatever the cost.

Lord, teach me, Oh teach me this secret,

I'm hungry this lesson to learn,

This passionate passion for others,

For this, blessed Jesus, I yearn.

Father, this lesson I long for from Thee -

Oh, let Thy Spirit reveal this to me.

By Mary Warburton Booth

Make Time For Prayer

(This article is taken from the 1/12/07 issue of The Sword of the Lord, written by the former editor, Dr. Curtis Hutson. The Christian's prayer life is often their biggest challenge; prayerfully this could be a help to all of us.)

Prayer is the one thing that Christians are commanded to do without ceasing. We are not told to sing without ceasing or to go to church without ceasing or the read the Bible without ceasing, but "pray without ceasing." (II Thess. 5:17)

The scripture also says in Luke 18:1, "men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Dr. John R. Rice said, "All your failures are prayer failures;" then he quoted James 4:2, "ye have not, because ye ask not."

A. J. Gordon said, "There is more you can do after you pray, but there is nothing more you can do until you pray."

Prayer is God's appointed way of getting things. He said in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Prayer is God's appointed way to fullness of joy. He said in John 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Prayer is God's appointed way to obtain forgiveness and cleansing. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Prayer is God's appointed way to obtain victory over anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Prayer is also God's appointed way of expressing praise and gratitude. II Corinthians 9:11 says, "Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. "

When we pray, God may not do everything we ask Him to do; but if we don't pray, we don't even give Him a chance. So pray about things that seem utterly imposssible; it may surprise you what God will do.

Remember the possibilities of prayer exceed your ability to ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 gives the assurance that God "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."