You've heard of "Crisis Intervention"? How about "Crisis Intercession"?

Call to Prayer (from Morningstar Ministries)
On Thursday, March 5th, one of the most significant court cases in America’s history took place. The California Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the overturning of the vote of the people last year to pass Proposition 8, which defines marriage between a man and a woman. The vote was not overturned YET, but still the California State Senate ruled against the peoples’ vote and asked the court to overthrow the defining of marriage as between a man and a woman. Senator Leno likened the people who voted for Prop 8 to the Germans who voted for the Nazi Regime.
During these past three months since President Obama’s election, the voices of rage against Judeo-Christian values and against the church have been emboldened to use inflammatory language and pass bills and laws that are anti-Christian in their very nature. When senators use such language, persecution is close at hand. We are in a desperate moment in American history. Everyone is pointing to the severe crisis of our economy, but it is only an indicator of a massive moral decline America has slid into. It is time to pray, humble ourselves, and rid ourselves of moral compromise in the Church. If the salt loses its savor, it is only good for being thrown out and trampled under the foot of man.Today we are calling the Church across the nation to pray. Take this moment and hear His call to humility, fasting and repentance. If we do this, God can deal with kings and judges like He haunted Nebuchadnezzar with dreams and removed Herod by the angel of the Lord. This hearing today will be followed by a 90-day period in which the court must make a decision. Pray for these judges that the hand of God will influence their minds and hearts, that the fear of the Lord would fall upon them, and that dreams would invade their world, their wives, their children, and their innermost thoughts. Pray that God would restrain principalities and powers that have mustered their forces of demons to seize this nation through this door in California. Pray for an unprecedented outpouring of the Spirit in California and America. Pray that God would raise up righteous leaders and bring down the unrighteous ones. Pray for the cleansing of sexual compromise and divorce in the church so that she can reclaim spiritual authority. Finally, pray that the love of God would be poured out on those struggling with homosexuality across this nation. Oh that the power of God, the power of the gospel, would be released again to free the captives!This is a moment in time that calls for crisis intercession.To resign to an inevitable collapse of society is sin, for throughout history God has moved with amazing power to change the courses of nations and overthrow the wrongdoers. Just look at Elijah’s confrontation with Ahab and Jezebel. This could be our Elijah moment.
(Side note:)President Obama has since vowed to reverse Bush's ruling on Stem Cell Research and will sign it into law on Monday. Folks, he is not wasting any time, should we? Just a thought....

Unconditional love...

...I have really been considering what that means lately, and I can say with all honesty that I have barely even grazed the surface when it comes to applying that one! It is so human to want to hold back in this area, especially when you feel that someone is "undeserving" in some way, and even easier once the light shines on this area in my own heart to want to feel guilty for my shortcomings.

Then, this morning, in two completely different devotions, this same verse came up: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. —Hebrews 6:10 (He reminds us that everything and anything we have done in faith and love will one day be honored by God - amazing - God remembers the good we forget!)

"Lord, I earnestly desire to love others in the same way that You have consistently loved me. To really LOVE them, and not expect anything in return."

Road Trip

Jaimie and I, with kids in tow, took a trip down to

Tenessee to see Mike, Samie and Summer.

I was amazed at how well the kids did on

such a LONG drive!

Drew and Kaylie liked having breakfast

at the Hotel...

...and they got pretty comfortable in

their new digs away from home too!

Then they got to meet Uncle Mike and

their new cousin Summer Elaine.

Summer is so cute! And she has grown

so much since I saw her in December!

Mind Blog

Yes, it's true. I have not kept up with my blogs! It's not that life hasn't been happening. In fact there have been a lot of things going on - you know - Grandchildren Birthdays, Tax time - all those usual excuses! Maybe I should blog on being BUSY! There is a lot to be said there - especially after an excellent teaching by Peg on Sunday morning - hope you were there!

I will catch up!

There is Barack, and then there is Barak!

There is a man in the Bible who shares our president’s name. Barak was chosen by God to lead Israel at a time of serious military and economic crisis. (Hmmm, I see some similarities here!) The Canaanites were plotting an invasion, so Deborah—the prophet of the Lord at that time—called on Barak to defend Israel even though Jabin’s iron chariots far outnumbered Israel’s ragtag army.
Barak had an unusual response to Deborah’s request. He told her: “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go” (Judg. 4:8, NASB). This may sound like an admission of weakness, but Barak was no mama’s boy. He is actually listed as a hero of faith in the book of Hebrews (see Heb. 11:32). So why did he insist that Deborah accompany him?

Barak knew he could not be a successful leader without the Lord’s prophet by his side. He needed the counsel of God. He wanted the supernatural wisdom and favor that comes from honoring the Lord and His word.

Every leader in the Bible was measured by his or her reliance upon the one true God. The Bible gives us a long list of the kings of Israel, and each one either stood or fell depending on how he aligned himself with God and His true messengers. Those who honored God and listened to His prophets experienced economic prosperity and military victory; those who turned to idols and listened to false prophets failed miserably.

(taken from an article by J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine)

"If President Obama truly wants to make the most positive mark on American history, he cannot simply position a few token Christians on his stage while the prophets of Baal surround him."

We must pray that our new president will honor the God of our fathers and seek counsel from His prophets.

Today is "National Religious Freedom Day" - Jan.16th

Did you know that?

Each year, the President declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day, and calls upon Americans to "observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship." The day is the anniversary of the passage, in 1786, of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

Yesterday, President Bush gave his Farewell speach to the nation, and today made the following post:

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. On Religious Freedom Day, we recognize the importance of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We also celebrate the first liberties enshrined in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Americans and prohibit an establishment of religion.
Our Nation was founded by people seeking haven from religious persecution, and the religious liberty they found here remains one of this land's greatest blessings. As Americans, we believe that all people have inherent dignity and worth. Though we may profess different creeds and worship in different manners and places, we respect each other's humanity and expression of faith. People with diverse views can practice their faiths here while living together in peace and harmony, carrying on our Nation's noble tradition of religious freedom.
The United States also stands with religious dissidents and believers from around the globe who practice their faith peacefully. Freedom is not a grant of government or a right for Americans alone; it is the birthright of every man, woman, and child throughout the world. No human freedom is more fundamental than the right to worship in accordance with one's conscience.
Religious Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy of religious liberty, foster a culture of tolerance and peace, and renew commitments to ensure that every person on Earth can enjoy these basic human rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2009, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH

This would be an excellent day to thank our God for the freedoms we still have, and to lift up the persecuted church here and around the world - Just a thought!

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

I went to the prayer meeting Tuesday morning with the spiritual state of our nation in the forefront of my mind, admitting that although appalled by the rising intolerance toward morality and godliness, I have done relatively nothing about it.

Then, as 'fate' would have it (just kidding guys - relax!), I received an article titled "Becoming a Reformer". Needless to say, this piqued my interest. It started off with this challenge:

It is time for “good men”--the church—to arise and let their voices be heard. The spirit of reformation must arise in God’s people and turn this nation back to righteousness and to God.

I won't bore you with a recap of what is going on, as we all have eyes and ears, so let's focus on the solution. A clear definition of right and wrong must be put in place. We have to reestablish our plumb line to use as a measuring rod.

(Maybe that will begin with Rick Warren being given a voice at the Presidential Inauguration. I don't think our focus should be on Rick Warren being dubbed 'the next Billy Graham', because that takes the focus off of the Lord Himself as the answer, but it's definitely a start.)


In the Old Testament, God made a promise to the Jews. As long as they obeyed Him, He would bless them as a nation. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deut. 7:9, NKJV).
As believers, we cannot remain nonchalant. We must become new wineskins that have embraced the spirit of a reformer. Reformers are hearing the warning to awake! The destiny of our nation is waiting for them to arise and let their voices be heard. God will use men and women to release prophetic decrees that will snap the chains of death wherever God sends them.


True, we can't force a godless people to obey God, but can we obey Him? What is he calling you to do? Pray for Rick Warren as he delivers a speech and/or prayer in front of the millions who will be watching? Add a prayer meeting to your schedule? Intercede for our leaders? Call your Senator? Write a letter? I know I feel spanked, and I will have to re prioritize - how 'bout you?


Hey, what better time than now - January 1, 2009?

“‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’”(Luke 4:18-19).
This is your acceptable, or as some translations say, “favorable,” year. Go forth in 2009 as a new wineskin! Be who you really are. Be anointed with the spirit of the reformer and change the world!

(excerpts taken from an article by Barbara Wentroble)