A WOODEN STRUCTURE LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE BREAD OF LIFE! A manger, as someone succinctly put it, is a wooden structure large enough to hold the Bread of Life. See how this common stable fixture is lifted up to a place of sacred significance. A manger is not enough, though, not even one that holds the Bread of Life. It is only a beginning. The fulfillment lies in another wooden fixture. Looming in the midnight shadows of the manger, there is the figure of the Cross. Like the manger, it is a wooden structure large enough to hold the Bread of Life. The manger is a symbol of joy, but a very peculiar joy, for even as we celebrate Christmas, we know that the day of Crucifixion is also at hand. In these meditations for Advent and Christmas, come and consider the King who was born in a stable, crowned with thorns and now reigns forever. Trace the path of prophets who foresaw Him, angels who announced Him, shepherds who witnessed Him and wise men who pursued Him. Ponder with Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, Simeon and Anna what it means to watch, wait, listen and believe. Learn why Jesus came and how His birth, life, death and resurrection are the reason for every season.
GOD'S WORD IN YOUR MOUTH IS JUST AS POWERFUL AS IT IS IN HIS ~ WHEN YOU SPEAK IT IN FAITH! Bold, expectant faith changes the world. It is how Joshua and Caleb succeeded where so many others failed, and ended up in the Promised Land. It is how Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego “quenched the violence of fire” and caused the king of Babylon to honor God. It is how Paul learned to overcome the challenges set before him and finish his race with joy. In this book, you will learn about the dynamics of faith that accomplished all these things, and more ... • How the Word of God created the world • How the Word of God changes the world • The nature and order of reality • The divine mandate of dominion and how to exercise it • Things working together for the redemption of all creation • The all-sufficiency of God’s grace to deal with hindrances and difficulties • The shadow of glory and how to walk in it • The abundance and prosperity of God that changes the world • The treasure of the heart that changes the world • Fathers and the inheritance of world-changing destiny
YOU CAN TURN YOUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN WITH PRAYER! The New Testament apostles did. They prayed with passion and power ~ and turned their world upside down. We are not all called to be apostles, but we are called to be apostolic people and help establish the work of God in others by our prayers. In this book, you will discover the principles that made them so effective in their prayer life: a heart perfected in love, a habit of devotion, a deep confidence in God and His Word, and a reliance upon the Holy Spirit. You will also learn how to pray the prayers they prayed ~ the apostolic prayers of the New Testament. These are powerful prayers because they express, not only the hearts of the apostles, but the heart of God: • Ground-breaking evangelistic prayers that empower the work of the Gospel and prepare hearts to receive it • Pastoral prayers that build up churches and establish Christians in the faith • Benedictions that water God’s people with the blessings of heaven • Prayers of thanksgiving that return praise to the “Lord of the Harvest” for what He is doing in His people • Doxologies that praise God for who He is and declare His glory and goodness
FOCUS IS IMPORTANT. The better your focus, the more clearly you can see. But it is important that your focus be on the right thing because your direction will follow your focus. When your focus is clear and on the right thing, then you will be heading in the right direction. The gospel of our faith is the good news that the kingdom of God has come and Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed King. He is the focus of our faith — not only the One upon whom we fix our attention but also the One through whom we view the whole world, to see more clearly and understand God’s purpose with greater wisdom. That is what Paul’s letter to the Jesus believers at Colosse is about. This book is a study of that letter. In it you will learn about: • The blessing and inheritance God has for you • The divine power trio: faith, hope and love • A walk that is worthy, a life that is pleasing and fruitful • Knowing God more and more • How all things hold together • Where all divine fullness dwells • The reconciliation of heaven and earth • The good news of God’s pleasure • The revelation of divine glory in you • Being rooted and built up in Jesus • The powers that have been disarmed • Living from a higher realm • The Word that qualifies us • Clothes for your new life • New life at home and in the community of faith • The spiral of watchful, thankful prayer • Walking in wisdom… and more These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Paul’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Paul brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion.
TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES, YOU ARE ON HOLY GROUND! When Moses approached the burning bush, in Exodus 3, the Lord spoke to him and said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (v. 5). Moses found himself in the powerful, purposeful presence of God. On that day he began to walk barefoot. Walking Barefoot is about learning to recognize and respond to God’s presence in our lives. Like Moses, we must realize that God’s presence is holy ~ He’ll not have us separated from Him by any of our human contrivances. It’s about an ongoing relationship, learning to love God deeply, trusting Him more and more, partnering with Him in the world, flowing in His power to fulfill His purposes. These writings are about faith, the things that activate it and the things that hinder it. They are about praying according to the will of God and expecting to see results. They are about speaking in agreement with the Word of God in ways that are life-changing and world-changing. They are about God’s desire to bless, heal and prosper His people. They are about receiving the wonderful inheritance we have in God, and passing it on to our children. They are about healing, for the inner and outer man. They are about giving and forgiving ~ and thanksgiving. They are about growing strong in faith and joyfully enduring in difficult situations. They are about moving mountains. In this book you will learn about: • The power of faith, and how to activate it • The power of praying God’s will and expecting to see results • The power of speaking God’s Word over your life • The power of agreement • The power of giving, forgiving and thanksgiving • The power of praying over your children • The power of your inheritance in God and how to pass it on • The power of Jesus’ healing ministry today
THERE IS ALWAYS JOY! PAUL was in prison. The Jesus believers at Philippi were facing increasing persecution. Add to that an undercurrent of personal disagreements and division in the fellowship, and things were not looking very bright. Yet Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” There is always joy, and in his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul shows us how to find it. Joy saturates this letter. It shows up in unexpected turnarounds in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is found in knowing Jesus in His humble, self-giving servanthood, in the power of His resurrection ~ and even in the fellowship of His suffering. It is discovered as together we pursue the Jesus-shaped life. In this book you will also learn about: • God’s blessing of favor and total well-being • How divine humility is divine greatness • The power of God at work in you to both desire and do His good pleasure • The attitude that can fill you with joy • The attitude that can rob you of joy • The joy of heaven on earth • How to replace worry with divine peace • Paul’s secret to contentment in all things These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Paul’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Paul brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion.
GOD WANTS YOU WELL! Someone has said that prayer is not about overcoming God’s reluctance, but about laying hold of His willingness. This can also be said of healing ministry ~ it is not about overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness to heal. God’s willingness is seen in His Word, where He has repeatedly revealed His desire to heal His people. The format of healing Scriptures and healing prayers is designed to help you lay hold of God’s willingness to heal you by laying hold of His Word and praying it back to Him in faith. The Bible says that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word of God reveals the will of God, and so enables us to pray effectively. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). Healing is the will of God for His people, as these Scriptures show, so you can pray confidently, knowing that He hears you, and that you will receive your healing. In this book you will discover: • God’s healing words in the Old Testament • How healing is revealed in the names of God • Choosing life • God’s healing words in the New Testament • The healing ministry of Jesus • The healing ministry of the disciples • Life restoration stories in the Bible • How healing is revealed in the name of Jesus • The Lord’s Prayer as healing prayer • The Lord’s Supper as healing prayer This is also a great tool to help you minister healing to others.
KEEP THE FAITH, CHANGE THE WORLD! When times are hard, it can be very tempting to hold on to the world and let go of the faith. The apostle Peter certainly knew what that was like when he denied Jesus three times, mere hours after pledging unshakeable faithfulness. But with the reality of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit, he learned how to do just the opposite ~ to keep the faith and change the world! In his letter to Jesus believers scattered abroad, Peter reveals not only how to keep the faith in difficult circumstances but also how to change the world by the new life that comes from Jesus ~ a life of loving, giving and serving. This book is a study of that letter. In it you will learn about: • The new birth, the new mind, and the new life believers have in Jesus • The new kind of people we are called to be in Him • The incorruptible Word by which we have come to know Him • The indestructible inheritance He has for us • What it means to be holy • What true freedom is and how it transforms relationships • How to walk in fervent love and find exuberant joy beyond words • How to arm yourself with the mind of Jesus • How to manifest the glory and dominion of Jesus • How to stand firmly against our true adversary... and more These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Peter’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Peter brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion. “Keeping the Faith When Things Get Tough is an excellent Bible Study on the book of First Peter. Jeff Doles gives us a very practical and easily understood breakdown of this important book. Based on extensive research and his well-rounded biblical perspective, Jeff takes us on an inspiring journey from start to finish. Your faith will be strengthened, and your life will be greatly enriched as you embrace these keys to victorious living out of the pages of God’s word. I highly recommend this book for everyone who loves God’s Word and wants to strengthen his or her faith for miracles in times of need.” ~ Ben R. Peters, Kingdom Sending Center. Author and international speaker
RENEW YOUR HEART TO THE RHYTHMS OF GOD! The psalms of the Bible are powerful expressions of the heart of faith in covenant with God, and of the heart of God in covenant with His people. Confessing the psalms is simply speaking in agreement with them, and is a great way to meditate on, personalize and instruct your soul with the truths and promises they bring. The personal confessions in this book are adapted from the psalms. They are defibrillations to shift your heart into the rhythms of faith, to recalibrate your thoughts and emotions with the promises of God and realign your will with the heart of God. But don't just read them. Find a place where you can say them out loud and maybe even shout them out with passion. Let them go up with a whoop and a holler to God, with the velocity of faith, and watch what happens in your heart and in your life. Samples O the Happiness! ~ from Psalm 1 O the happiness! I do not walk in the counsel of those who are ungodly; I do not seek out or follow their advice. I do not stand in the path with those who purpose to do what is wrong. I do not sit with those who mock what is good. But my delight is in the instruction of Yahweh, I think about it all the time. So I am like a tree planted by rivers of water, Established, well-rooted, well-fed, That bears its fruit abundantly in its season; And its leaf does not wither. Whatever I do prospers. The judgment of Yahweh is for me, not against me. I stand with the people who stand in awe of Him, And Yahweh watches over my path. O the happiness! My King ~ from Psalm 5 Yahweh is my King and my God. To Him I will pray. In the morning, He hears my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before Him I wait and I watch And I look to Him in expectation. By His great mercy, I come before Him. I bow down and worship Him, As His holy temple, in whom He dwells.* He leads me in all that is right And He straightens out my path before me. My heart is light because I trust in Him. I shout wildly because He defends me. I jump for joy because I love His name. For Yahweh blesses those who are right with Him, He surrounds them with His favor. He surrounds me with His favor, All around me, as with a shield. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Confessing the Psalms Psalm 1 ~ The Happiness Psalms 3-4 ~ A Shield All Around Me Psalm 5 ~ My King Psalm 16 ~ The Portion of My Inheritance Psalm 18 ~ My Strength in Time of Struggle Psalm 19 ~ The Instruction of Yahweh Psalm 20 ~ My Help From Heaven Psalm 21 ~ Victorious Joy Psalm 23 ~ My Shepherd Psalm 25 ~ My Whole Life Psalm 26 ~ Yahweh Clears My Name Psalm 27 ~ The Goodness of Yahweh in My Life Psalm 28 ~ Yahweh’s Treasured Ones Psalm 32 ~ The Happiness of Being Forgiven Psalm 34 ~ A Brag About Yahweh Psalm 35 ~ Yahweh Contends for Me Psalm 36 ~ The Covenant Love of Yahweh Psalm 37 ~ Possess the Land in Patience Psalm 40 ~ Yahweh, My Rescue Psalm 41 ~ The Happiness of Being Helped Psalm 46 ~ Abundantly Available Help Psalm 52 ~ Like a Green Olive Tree Psalm 56 ~ Yahweh is For Me Psalm 57 ~ Yahweh in the Storm Psalm 61 ~ When My Heart is Overwhelmed Psalm 62 ~ God My Calm Psalm 63 ~ Yahweh is Life and Joy Psalm 66 ~ What Yahweh Has Done for Me Psalm 71 ~ Yahweh All My Days Psalm 73 ~ A Sudden Realization Psalm 77 ~ The Tenacity of Faith Psalm 81 ~ Fully Satisfied in Yahweh Psalm 84 ~ Yahweh’s Dwelling Place Psalm 85 ~ The Glory of Yahweh in Our Land Psalm 91 ~ My Sheltering Place Psalm 92 ~ The Hand of Yahweh in My Life Psalm 94 ~ Yahweh Sets Things Right Psalm 101 ~ Honoring Yahweh Psalm 103 ~ Yahweh’s Benefits Psalm 112 ~ A Life Well-Lived Psalm 115 ~ All My Glory is in Yahweh Psalm 116 ~ Why I Love Yahweh Psalm 118 ~ Giving Thanks to Yahweh Psalm 121 ~ I Turn to Yahweh Psalm 126 ~ Yahweh Frees the Captives Psalm 127 ~ A Legacy in Yahweh Psalm 128 ~ The Extravagant Blessing Psalm 130 ~ Forgiveness and Help Psalm 131 ~ Quieting Myself in Yahweh Psalm 133 ~ Where the Anointing Flows Psalm 136 ~ Yahweh’s Faithful Love for Me Psalm 138 ~ Before All the Kings of the Earth Psalm 139 ~ Yahweh Knows Me Psalm 140 ~ His Victory Over My Enemies Psalm 141 ~ Help in a Time of Evil Psalm 142 ~ When I Feel Abandoned Psalm 143 ~ When My Soul Feels Weak Psalm 144 ~ From Battle to Blessing Psalm 145 ~ My King and My God Psalm 146 ~ All My Life is All About Him End Notes
GOD HAS ALWAYS DONE MIRACLES IN HIS CHURCH ~ AND STILL DOES! The Holy Spirit has never left the Church and neither have His supernatural gifts and manifestations. They have been available in every century ~ from the days of the Apostolic Fathers, to the desert monks of Egypt and Syria, to the missionary outreaches of the Middle Ages, to the Reformation era and the awakenings and revivals that followed, to the Pentecostal explosion of the Twentieth Century and the increase of signs and wonders in the Twenty-first. Miracles, healings, deliverances, prophecies, dreams, visions ~ even raising the dead! ~ have all been in operation throughout the history of the Church. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, Presbyterians, Quakers and many others have experienced the supernatural gifts and workings of the Spirit over the centuries. Miracles and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the History of the Church gathers up numerous accounts from a variety of historical sources and provides a handy reference for those who want to know more about: • How the Church has understood and operated in the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit at various times in history. • Why the gifts and miracles were more frequently in manifestation in some eras than in others. • The many ways the Church has ministered in healing and deliverance. • How the Holy Spirit manifested in great revivals. • How the river of gifts and miracles continues to flow today.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS HERE ON EARTH! Jesus began His ministry proclaiming, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” In other words ~ it is now here! Everywhere He went, He preached it, taught it and demonstrated it by signs and wonders, healing the sick and setting the spiritual captives free. He brought heaven to earth and taught His disciples how to do it, too. The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is a study of the nature and dynamics of the kingdom of Heaven on Earth, and how to live and operate effectively in its dominion. It is a motivational commentary on select passages in the Gospel of Matthew, to stir up your passion for the reality of God’s kingdom now at work in the world. In this book, you will learn about: • The Kingdom of the Heart • The Kingdom of Authentic Living • The Treasure of Heaven on Earth • Discerning Heaven on Earth • The Authority of Heaven on Earth • Parables of Heaven on Earth • The Glory of Heaven on Earth • The Incomparable Value of Heaven on Earth • The Controversy of Heaven on Earth • Heaven on Earth and the End of the Age • The Victorious Kingdom
What is faith? Where does faith come from? How does faith work? Faith is not the ability to believe anything and everything. It is not about positive thinking, will-power, or what you see or feel. Biblical faith is much more powerful and precise: Faith is believing what God has said. In this book you will discover the dynamics of faith, including: * What is the essence of faith * How God uses faith * How faith can work for anyone * The importance of love to the working of faith * The importance of God's Word in your mouth * How faith perseveres and develops expectation * How to forgive by faith * How to conquer worry and fear * The gateway between heaven and earth * Why God created us to speak * How to get more revelation of Jesus * The authority we have in the name of Jesus * How to tap into the limitless thoughts of God. These are "jumpstarts" for your faith-defibrillations to set your heart beating with the rhythms of God.
GOD'S WORD IN YOUR MOUTH IS JUST AS POWERFUL AS IT IS IN HIS ~ WHEN YOU SPEAK IT IN FAITH! Bold, expectant faith changes the world. It is how Joshua and Caleb succeeded where so many others failed, and ended up in the Promised Land. It is how Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego “quenched the violence of fire” and caused the king of Babylon to honor God. It is how Paul learned to overcome the challenges set before him and finish his race with joy. In this book, you will learn about the dynamics of faith that accomplished all these things, and more ... • How the Word of God created the world • How the Word of God changes the world • The nature and order of reality • The divine mandate of dominion and how to exercise it • Things working together for the redemption of all creation • The all-sufficiency of God’s grace to deal with hindrances and difficulties • The shadow of glory and how to walk in it • The abundance and prosperity of God that changes the world • The treasure of the heart that changes the world • Fathers and the inheritance of world-changing destiny
FOCUS IS IMPORTANT. The better your focus, the more clearly you can see. But it is important that your focus be on the right thing because your direction will follow your focus. When your focus is clear and on the right thing, then you will be heading in the right direction. The gospel of our faith is the good news that the kingdom of God has come and Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed King. He is the focus of our faith — not only the One upon whom we fix our attention but also the One through whom we view the whole world, to see more clearly and understand God’s purpose with greater wisdom. That is what Paul’s letter to the Jesus believers at Colosse is about. This book is a study of that letter. In it you will learn about: • The blessing and inheritance God has for you • The divine power trio: faith, hope and love • A walk that is worthy, a life that is pleasing and fruitful • Knowing God more and more • How all things hold together • Where all divine fullness dwells • The reconciliation of heaven and earth • The good news of God’s pleasure • The revelation of divine glory in you • Being rooted and built up in Jesus • The powers that have been disarmed • Living from a higher realm • The Word that qualifies us • Clothes for your new life • New life at home and in the community of faith • The spiral of watchful, thankful prayer • Walking in wisdom… and more These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Paul’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Paul brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion.
TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES, YOU ARE ON HOLY GROUND! When Moses approached the burning bush, in Exodus 3, the Lord spoke to him and said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (v. 5). Moses found himself in the powerful, purposeful presence of God. On that day he began to walk barefoot. Walking Barefoot is about learning to recognize and respond to God’s presence in our lives. Like Moses, we must realize that God’s presence is holy ~ He’ll not have us separated from Him by any of our human contrivances. It’s about an ongoing relationship, learning to love God deeply, trusting Him more and more, partnering with Him in the world, flowing in His power to fulfill His purposes. These writings are about faith, the things that activate it and the things that hinder it. They are about praying according to the will of God and expecting to see results. They are about speaking in agreement with the Word of God in ways that are life-changing and world-changing. They are about God’s desire to bless, heal and prosper His people. They are about receiving the wonderful inheritance we have in God, and passing it on to our children. They are about healing, for the inner and outer man. They are about giving and forgiving ~ and thanksgiving. They are about growing strong in faith and joyfully enduring in difficult situations. They are about moving mountains. In this book you will learn about: • The power of faith, and how to activate it • The power of praying God’s will and expecting to see results • The power of speaking God’s Word over your life • The power of agreement • The power of giving, forgiving and thanksgiving • The power of praying over your children • The power of your inheritance in God and how to pass it on • The power of Jesus’ healing ministry today
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS HERE ON EARTH! Jesus began His ministry proclaiming, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” In other words ~ it is now here! Everywhere He went, He preached it, taught it and demonstrated it by signs and wonders, healing the sick and setting the spiritual captives free. He brought heaven to earth and taught His disciples how to do it, too. The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is a study of the nature and dynamics of the kingdom of Heaven on Earth, and how to live and operate effectively in its dominion. It is a motivational commentary on select passages in the Gospel of Matthew, to stir up your passion for the reality of God’s kingdom now at work in the world. In this book, you will learn about: • The Kingdom of the Heart • The Kingdom of Authentic Living • The Treasure of Heaven on Earth • Discerning Heaven on Earth • The Authority of Heaven on Earth • Parables of Heaven on Earth • The Glory of Heaven on Earth • The Incomparable Value of Heaven on Earth • The Controversy of Heaven on Earth • Heaven on Earth and the End of the Age • The Victorious Kingdom
KEEP THE FAITH, CHANGE THE WORLD! When times are hard, it can be very tempting to hold on to the world and let go of the faith. The apostle Peter certainly knew what that was like when he denied Jesus three times, mere hours after pledging unshakeable faithfulness. But with the reality of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit, he learned how to do just the opposite ~ to keep the faith and change the world! In his letter to Jesus believers scattered abroad, Peter reveals not only how to keep the faith in difficult circumstances but also how to change the world by the new life that comes from Jesus ~ a life of loving, giving and serving. This book is a study of that letter. In it you will learn about: • The new birth, the new mind, and the new life believers have in Jesus • The new kind of people we are called to be in Him • The incorruptible Word by which we have come to know Him • The indestructible inheritance He has for us • What it means to be holy • What true freedom is and how it transforms relationships • How to walk in fervent love and find exuberant joy beyond words • How to arm yourself with the mind of Jesus • How to manifest the glory and dominion of Jesus • How to stand firmly against our true adversary... and more These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Peter’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Peter brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion. “Keeping the Faith When Things Get Tough is an excellent Bible Study on the book of First Peter. Jeff Doles gives us a very practical and easily understood breakdown of this important book. Based on extensive research and his well-rounded biblical perspective, Jeff takes us on an inspiring journey from start to finish. Your faith will be strengthened, and your life will be greatly enriched as you embrace these keys to victorious living out of the pages of God’s word. I highly recommend this book for everyone who loves God’s Word and wants to strengthen his or her faith for miracles in times of need.” ~ Ben R. Peters, Kingdom Sending Center. Author and international speaker
A WOODEN STRUCTURE LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE BREAD OF LIFE! A manger, as someone succinctly put it, is a wooden structure large enough to hold the Bread of Life. See how this common stable fixture is lifted up to a place of sacred significance. A manger is not enough, though, not even one that holds the Bread of Life. It is only a beginning. The fulfillment lies in another wooden fixture. Looming in the midnight shadows of the manger, there is the figure of the Cross. Like the manger, it is a wooden structure large enough to hold the Bread of Life. The manger is a symbol of joy, but a very peculiar joy, for even as we celebrate Christmas, we know that the day of Crucifixion is also at hand. In these meditations for Advent and Christmas, come and consider the King who was born in a stable, crowned with thorns and now reigns forever. Trace the path of prophets who foresaw Him, angels who announced Him, shepherds who witnessed Him and wise men who pursued Him. Ponder with Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, Simeon and Anna what it means to watch, wait, listen and believe. Learn why Jesus came and how His birth, life, death and resurrection are the reason for every season.
RENEW YOUR HEART TO THE RHYTHMS OF GOD! The psalms of the Bible are powerful expressions of the heart of faith in covenant with God, and of the heart of God in covenant with His people. Confessing the psalms is simply speaking in agreement with them, and is a great way to meditate on, personalize and instruct your soul with the truths and promises they bring. The personal confessions in this book are adapted from the psalms. They are defibrillations to shift your heart into the rhythms of faith, to recalibrate your thoughts and emotions with the promises of God and realign your will with the heart of God. But don't just read them. Find a place where you can say them out loud and maybe even shout them out with passion. Let them go up with a whoop and a holler to God, with the velocity of faith, and watch what happens in your heart and in your life. Samples O the Happiness! ~ from Psalm 1 O the happiness! I do not walk in the counsel of those who are ungodly; I do not seek out or follow their advice. I do not stand in the path with those who purpose to do what is wrong. I do not sit with those who mock what is good. But my delight is in the instruction of Yahweh, I think about it all the time. So I am like a tree planted by rivers of water, Established, well-rooted, well-fed, That bears its fruit abundantly in its season; And its leaf does not wither. Whatever I do prospers. The judgment of Yahweh is for me, not against me. I stand with the people who stand in awe of Him, And Yahweh watches over my path. O the happiness! My King ~ from Psalm 5 Yahweh is my King and my God. To Him I will pray. In the morning, He hears my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before Him I wait and I watch And I look to Him in expectation. By His great mercy, I come before Him. I bow down and worship Him, As His holy temple, in whom He dwells.* He leads me in all that is right And He straightens out my path before me. My heart is light because I trust in Him. I shout wildly because He defends me. I jump for joy because I love His name. For Yahweh blesses those who are right with Him, He surrounds them with His favor. He surrounds me with His favor, All around me, as with a shield. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Confessing the Psalms Psalm 1 ~ The Happiness Psalms 3-4 ~ A Shield All Around Me Psalm 5 ~ My King Psalm 16 ~ The Portion of My Inheritance Psalm 18 ~ My Strength in Time of Struggle Psalm 19 ~ The Instruction of Yahweh Psalm 20 ~ My Help From Heaven Psalm 21 ~ Victorious Joy Psalm 23 ~ My Shepherd Psalm 25 ~ My Whole Life Psalm 26 ~ Yahweh Clears My Name Psalm 27 ~ The Goodness of Yahweh in My Life Psalm 28 ~ Yahweh’s Treasured Ones Psalm 32 ~ The Happiness of Being Forgiven Psalm 34 ~ A Brag About Yahweh Psalm 35 ~ Yahweh Contends for Me Psalm 36 ~ The Covenant Love of Yahweh Psalm 37 ~ Possess the Land in Patience Psalm 40 ~ Yahweh, My Rescue Psalm 41 ~ The Happiness of Being Helped Psalm 46 ~ Abundantly Available Help Psalm 52 ~ Like a Green Olive Tree Psalm 56 ~ Yahweh is For Me Psalm 57 ~ Yahweh in the Storm Psalm 61 ~ When My Heart is Overwhelmed Psalm 62 ~ God My Calm Psalm 63 ~ Yahweh is Life and Joy Psalm 66 ~ What Yahweh Has Done for Me Psalm 71 ~ Yahweh All My Days Psalm 73 ~ A Sudden Realization Psalm 77 ~ The Tenacity of Faith Psalm 81 ~ Fully Satisfied in Yahweh Psalm 84 ~ Yahweh’s Dwelling Place Psalm 85 ~ The Glory of Yahweh in Our Land Psalm 91 ~ My Sheltering Place Psalm 92 ~ The Hand of Yahweh in My Life Psalm 94 ~ Yahweh Sets Things Right Psalm 101 ~ Honoring Yahweh Psalm 103 ~ Yahweh’s Benefits Psalm 112 ~ A Life Well-Lived Psalm 115 ~ All My Glory is in Yahweh Psalm 116 ~ Why I Love Yahweh Psalm 118 ~ Giving Thanks to Yahweh Psalm 121 ~ I Turn to Yahweh Psalm 126 ~ Yahweh Frees the Captives Psalm 127 ~ A Legacy in Yahweh Psalm 128 ~ The Extravagant Blessing Psalm 130 ~ Forgiveness and Help Psalm 131 ~ Quieting Myself in Yahweh Psalm 133 ~ Where the Anointing Flows Psalm 136 ~ Yahweh’s Faithful Love for Me Psalm 138 ~ Before All the Kings of the Earth Psalm 139 ~ Yahweh Knows Me Psalm 140 ~ His Victory Over My Enemies Psalm 141 ~ Help in a Time of Evil Psalm 142 ~ When I Feel Abandoned Psalm 143 ~ When My Soul Feels Weak Psalm 144 ~ From Battle to Blessing Psalm 145 ~ My King and My God Psalm 146 ~ All My Life is All About Him End Notes
GOD HAS ALWAYS DONE MIRACLES IN HIS CHURCH ~ AND STILL DOES! The Holy Spirit has never left the Church and neither have His supernatural gifts and manifestations. They have been available in every century ~ from the days of the Apostolic Fathers, to the desert monks of Egypt and Syria, to the missionary outreaches of the Middle Ages, to the Reformation era and the awakenings and revivals that followed, to the Pentecostal explosion of the Twentieth Century and the increase of signs and wonders in the Twenty-first. Miracles, healings, deliverances, prophecies, dreams, visions ~ even raising the dead! ~ have all been in operation throughout the history of the Church. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, Presbyterians, Quakers and many others have experienced the supernatural gifts and workings of the Spirit over the centuries. Miracles and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the History of the Church gathers up numerous accounts from a variety of historical sources and provides a handy reference for those who want to know more about: • How the Church has understood and operated in the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit at various times in history. • Why the gifts and miracles were more frequently in manifestation in some eras than in others. • The many ways the Church has ministered in healing and deliverance. • How the Holy Spirit manifested in great revivals. • How the river of gifts and miracles continues to flow today.
As Jeff Singleton shows, the rapid expansion of unemployment relief in the early 1930s generated pressures which led to the first federal welfare programs. However the process has received relatively little attention from historians, and unemployment relief does not play a major role in discussions of the current state of welfare. Singleton seeks not only to fill this gap, but to challenge popular interpretations of relief policy in the early 1930s. He shows that relief was expanding prior to the depression and that the modern aspects of social policy implemented in the 1920s profoundly influenced the response of the welfare system to the early stages of the economic crisis. Relief under President Herbert Hoover was neither primarily voluntarist nor traditional. The first full-fledged federal welfare program was implemented under the Hoover administration by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The initial goals of the New Deal's Federal Emergency Relief Administration were to reduce the national relief caseload and the federal welfare role, while improving standards for those on the dole. The institutionalization of state-level welfare was a consequence of the failure of the 1935 reform program (the WPA and the Social Security Act) to eliminate the dole, not a product of conscious liberal policy. Singleton concludes by evaluating the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act in the context of these conclusions. If the dole was not a product of liberal reform, but, instead, arose to fill a policy vacuum, then it will be difficult to eliminate by legislative fiat unless states and the federal government are willing to finance relatively costly alternatives. A provocative analysis of interest to historians and social scientists concerned with American social and labor policy.
Unusual Vessels is perfect for anyone interested in the sea and the craft that sail on it. The strange vessels discussed here are just a few of the more curious craft that the author, Jeff Markell, has come across - some he has sailed on, some he has only seen, and some only learned about from others. Ranging in size, color, purpose, and historical significance, the ships described in this book will fascinate sailors and spectators like.
GOD WANTS YOU WELL! Someone has said that prayer is not about overcoming God’s reluctance, but about laying hold of His willingness. This can also be said of healing ministry ~ it is not about overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness to heal. God’s willingness is seen in His Word, where He has repeatedly revealed His desire to heal His people. The format of healing Scriptures and healing prayers is designed to help you lay hold of God’s willingness to heal you by laying hold of His Word and praying it back to Him in faith. The Bible says that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word of God reveals the will of God, and so enables us to pray effectively. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). Healing is the will of God for His people, as these Scriptures show, so you can pray confidently, knowing that He hears you, and that you will receive your healing. In this book you will discover: • God’s healing words in the Old Testament • How healing is revealed in the names of God • Choosing life • God’s healing words in the New Testament • The healing ministry of Jesus • The healing ministry of the disciples • Life restoration stories in the Bible • How healing is revealed in the name of Jesus • The Lord’s Prayer as healing prayer • The Lord’s Supper as healing prayer This is also a great tool to help you minister healing to others.
THERE IS ALWAYS JOY! PAUL was in prison. The Jesus believers at Philippi were facing increasing persecution. Add to that an undercurrent of personal disagreements and division in the fellowship, and things were not looking very bright. Yet Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” There is always joy, and in his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul shows us how to find it. Joy saturates this letter. It shows up in unexpected turnarounds in the midst of difficult circumstances. It is found in knowing Jesus in His humble, self-giving servanthood, in the power of His resurrection ~ and even in the fellowship of His suffering. It is discovered as together we pursue the Jesus-shaped life. In this book you will also learn about: • God’s blessing of favor and total well-being • How divine humility is divine greatness • The power of God at work in you to both desire and do His good pleasure • The attitude that can fill you with joy • The attitude that can rob you of joy • The joy of heaven on earth • How to replace worry with divine peace • Paul’s secret to contentment in all things These are “bite-size” studies to help guide you through Paul’s letter, a little at a time. At the end of each study are focus questions to help you think further about the truths Paul brings. They are open-ended questions to allow for maximum personal reflection and group discussion.
This definitive guidebook to Los Angeles and Southern California features hundreds of reviews of the city's restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shops, and cinemas. Along with a thorough look at LA's top tourist areas, from Hollywood and Beverly Hills to Santa Monica and Disneyland, the guide explores more obscure but no less deserving sights, from Downtown's arts district to Santa Catalina Island. Additionally, the book covers the broader Southern California region, including San Diego, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara. A full range of practical information for the visitor includes city transport and tours to costs and currency, while an in-depth contexts section details the region's colourful background, from its landmark architecture to the rise of the Hollywood film industry. Finally, individual sections highlight the region's top sights, as well as its beautiful beaches, and there are plenty of maps to help you plan your trip to this free-spirited American metropolis. Originally published in print in 2011. Now available in ePub format.
An America not merely fractured but altogether splintered by extremism, hyperpartisanship, unprecedented vitriol and widespread disdain for democracy. A world order threatened by autocracies, and a Europe threatened by a tyrant demonstrably ready to conquer territory by force. A Mideast taken hostage by genocidal terrorist enterprises funded by Iran, long adjudged the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror. And that’s just for starters. For Americans struggling to keep up with a 24/7 cycle of news—or what purports to be news—it feels as though we are on the brink. And it feels that way because we are. Notes From the Brink is a collection of columns written from 2019 through early 2024 by syndicated columnist Jeff Robbins, a nationally recognized First Amendment attorney and a former United States Delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The columns are by turns forceful, exasperated, outraged, incredulous, ironic and passionate. They have in common an appeal to good sense and basic decency in the belief that sense and decency are at least a starting point for pulling us all back from the brink.
The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pacific Northwest is the ultimate travel guide to this beautiful part of the USA. It guides you through the states of Washington and Oregon with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions from sophisticated Seattle and cycle-friendly Portland to the stunning natural attractions of Olympic, Crater Lake and Hells Canyon national parks. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the best trip possible. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to the USA, with all the practical information you need for travelling stateside, including driving tips, accommodation and food and drink costs, plus background on festivals, sports and outdoor activities. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to the USA. Full coverage: Washington, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, San Juan Islands, Olympic National Park, Cascade Mountains, Mount St Helens, Spokane, Oregon, Portland, Astoria, Crater Lake National Park, Hells Canyon (Equivalent printed page extent 90 pages).
A U.S. Army Platoon Leader shares an honest account of Iraq War combat and his long journey of healing from trauma in this military memoir. During his time in Iraq, Jeff Morris saw and experienced some truly harrowing events, such as the time he had to pulled shards of another man's skull from the palm of his hand. When he got home, he struggled for years just to face his own reflection. In Legion Rising, Morris provides a candid account of his service—from the rigors of military training through the thrills, dangers, and tragedies of combat. Morris tells of losing eight men in the line of duty, and of the second battle he faced once his combat service was over. Scarred by trauma and haunted by the past, Morris faced a long struggle before his ultimate rise from adversity.
Jesus once spoke of a time when men would sleep and an enemy would come and sow tares among the wheat. The Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Modern Age were just such a time. In this second installment, the reader will learn how signs and wonders played roles in the foundations of nearly every new state church, Free Church, and denomination. How Catholicism countered with its own reformation that included a revival of mysticism, a new army of spiritual soldiers, and the discovery of the New World. How restorationist movements countered the intellectual revolutions of their day with revivals of faith in the supernatural. How a decade-long prayer meeting shaped the future of revivalism affecting both England's Wesleyan Revival and America's First Great Awakening. How the French Revolution replaced Christianity with liberalism as the world's dominant ideology. How many Americans countered this new revolution with a Second Great Awakening. How Phoebe Palmer began the modern Holiness movement and Jeremiah Lanphier launched a worldwide Laymen's Prayer Revival. How many Americans reunited after the Civil War with a series of Holiness Camp Meetings, followed by a similar "Higher Life" movement in Britain, and later, a new stream of American healing ministries.
A team of award-winning sports reporters takes down the Great Satan of college sports: the Bowl Championship Series. Every college sport picks its champion by a postseason tournament, except for one: Division I-A football. Instead of a tournament, fans are subjected to the Bowl Championship Series, an arcane mix of polling and mathematical rankings that results in just two teams playing for the championship. It is, without a doubt, the most hated institution in all of sports. A recent Sports Illustrated poll found that more than 90 percent of sports fans oppose the BCS, yet this system has remained in place for more than a decade. Built upon top-notch investigative reporting, Death to the BCS at last reveals the truth about this monstrous entity and offers a simple solution for fixing it. Death to the BCS includes findings from interviews with power players, as well as research into federal tax records, Congressional testimony, and private contracts, revealing: ?The truth behind the "Cartel"-the anonymous suits who run the BCS and who profit handsomely by protecting it ?The flawed math and corruption that determine which teams participate in the national championship ?How the system hurts competition by perpetuating "cupcake" schedules ?How "mid-major" teams are systematically denied a chance to play for the championship ?How a comprehensive sixteen-team playoff plan can solve the problem while enhancing profitability The first book to lay out the unseemly inner workings of the BCS in full detail, Death to the BCS is a rousing manifesto for bringing fairness back to one of our most beloved sports.
The Rough Guide to Washington DC is the definitive guide to this historic city, with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the city's best attractions. Discover Washington DC's highlights with stunning photography and information on everything from the city's memorials and museums along the Mall to showpieces like the International Spy Museum. Find detailed practical advice on what to see and do in Washington DC, relying on up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels, bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets; The Rough Guide to Washington DC also includes full-colour sections of the region's top sights, and there are plenty of maps to help you plan your trip to the lively and fascinating capital of the United States. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Washington DC.
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