Rita_Langeland

How do we talk about political issues, especially at election time without criticizing, name calling or judging in our hearts? Here is a a practical strategy: Talk about issues not personalities Pray for God's will to be done in this and future election cycles Commit to pray for all government officials

When believers gather together the Lord is listening and the Bible says in Malachi chapter 3:16 that He remembers those whose words show fear of the Lord and honor His name! Are your conversations with fellow Christians something worthy of God's remembrance? Let your words be honoring to the Lord!

Maybe someone has betrayed you, stolen from you, hurt you or treated you poorly. This is a sad reality of the fallen world we live in. Many people carry burdens of past hurts or offenses in their hearts. This short message offers encouragement and some practical steps to enable you to forgive those who have hurt you, and move past holding those offenses in your heart. Are you ready to be released from the heaviness of offense? The Bible has the keys we need to live free from offense!

Many non-Christians are rightly critical of so-called "believers" who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Do not let "Christian" hypocrites prevent you from following Jesus Christ. Jesus himself had no kind words for the religious hypocrites of his day either! These people are not representing the Bible, Jesus or his teachings! Turn to Jesus and follow him, he is the way, the truth and the life, regardless of what other people may say or do.

Do you feel that you are past the point of no return? Have you hurt someone or committed sins that are so terrible you feel God could never forgive you? Or perhaps you feel as if you could never forgive yourself for your past misdeeds? These are all lies the devil is constantly using to keep people from experiencing the life-altering love and forgiveness of Father God, who sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins on the cross! No one is too far gone... no one!

If we are believing for God to change our story, we must make a conscious decision to surrender bitterness, hatred, offense and anger at those who have wronged us in the past. We must not allow any spiritual hindrance in our lives that could block or prevent God from moving miraculously on our behalf. Like Hannah, mother of Samuel in the Old Testament, or modern hero Nelson Mandela, our hearts must be right if we desire to see God change our story!

Hebrews 12:2 says "Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith." However, God created us with a free will - meaning we are not pre-programmed robots. Often people choose to attempt to "write their own story" - ignoring or avoiding the calling and path God has for their lives by pursuing their own earthly, fleshly desires. No matter what else you or someone you love has pursued to this point in life, God can give a new start to any person's story!!!

Are you feeling stuck, unable to move forward because of your life circumstances or because of what you see happening around you? God never intended for His people to be immobilized in such a way. In 2nd Kings ch. 7 we find the city of Samaria under siege by an enemy army, literally starving out the populace. Four lepers by the gate were taking in this seemingly impossible situation. After weighing their options, they stepped out in faith - and in a complete reversal found the enemy camp totally deserted, full of everything they and the Israelites needed to survive! What steps would you take today if you believed God would meet your faith?

Did you know that God loves to change people's life story? When someone's life trajectory is headed in one direction and then God intervenes, that person 's story is radically rewritten in an instant! If we want that rewrite of our own story, we must come to the Lord with a humble heart, ready to surrender our lives to Christ. He is waiting for each of us to come and say "I'm ready for you to change my story!"

We are living in a time of great upheaval across the world today. The scriptures show us that we are not to think like everyone else or live in dread for our safety, for the Lord will keep us safe! Isaiah 8:11-14 11 The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. 13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. 14 He will keep you safe...

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we see two keys to standing strong in the midst of difficult circumstances. 1) Choosing wisely what we choose to focus on and what NOT to focus on. 2) Recognizing that our earthly circumstances are temporary. 2 Cor. 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

"This is the way, walk in it" - Isaiah 30:21. When you are ready to follow the Lord's path, you will encounter difficulties and discomfort meant to dissuade you, you must guard your thought life! Voices of other people will discourage you from following the path the Lord has set before you. Alternative roads that look easier or more attractive will appear. You will run into obstacles, and you will be tempted to turn aside - DO NOT GIVE UP BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES! God has called you, He will protect, guide and provide for you!

Are you feeling stuck, unable to move forward because of your life circumstances or because of what you see happening around you? God never intended for His people to be immobilized in such a way. In 2nd Kings ch. 7 we find the city of Samaria under siege by an enemy army, literally starving out the populace. Four lepers by the gate were taking in this seemingly impossible situation. After weighing their options, they stepped out in faith - and in a complete reversal found the enemy camp totally deserted, full of everything they and the Israelites needed to survive! What steps would you take today if you believed God would meet your faith?

There are many causes of frustration and it is common to the human experience. However, God never intended us to live a life full of frustration. Frustration can be defined as annoyance or irritation when one cannot change a circumstance. It is often rooted in disappointment, discouragement, hopelessness, or unmet expectations. Frustration will rob you of joy and peace in your life. But praise God, there is hope! We can have victory over frustration!

So called "storms" come to every person. God wants us to be able to withstand these troublesome times in perfect peace. In Mark 4, we see Jesus sleeping peacefully in the boat while the disciples struggled with a ferocious storm, how can we do the same? Isaiah 26:3 tells us how God will help us. “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]."

Often when we are facing a difficult or hopeless situation or are in need of a miracle, we tend to voice fears, complaints or maybe even prayer and scripture recitation. However, the Word of God show's us that there are times when we need to sit quietly in the presence of God and quietly wait on Him - no matter the circumstances we are facing. With the Pharaoh's army hot on their heels, hemmed in by the Red Sea, God's instruction in Exodus 14:13-14 to the Israelites seemed completely nonsensical. “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today... The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.”

Have you or someone you know struggled with blaming God, holding offense at Him for allowing some past negative experience? This is quite common in the world and in the church, but as followers of Christ we must reject this notion! In Luke 7:23 Jesus said, "And blessed is anyone who does not take offense at Me.” We want to walk in the blessing of God by staying unoffended at Him when we experience trials or hardship. Remember he has promised to do us well in the end!

No matter what circumstances we face, there is something for which to be thankful. We cannot give in to the temptation to complain about negative circumstances - it will rob us of all hope and joy in our life! Complaining will bring death, figuratively, if not literally, but thankfulness is the antidote! We must forsake complaining and embrace thankfulness if we want to survive the pressures of the "wilderness seasons." Give thanks for something right now!

Are you so busy working or caring for others, perhaps family members or in ministry, that you don't have time to take care of even your own basic needs? The Lord knows our human limitations and commands us to take times of rest! If you burn out, you cannot work, help or minister to anyone! In the Gospel of Mark 6:30-31 Jesus instructed the disciples to rest from the ministry they had been involved in... "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Your decisions and plans MUST be guided and directed by the Lord! Your loving creator, our Father God knows what is best for each of us, He knows the future! Let us look to Him for our next steps and yield our will to Him! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

Are you facing battles today in your health, family, school, work or business? There is a battle raging against every believer, every day. Praise the Lord that the Bible gives us encouragement to continue, but also lays out strategy for us to win the battles we face! Psalm 55:22 instructs us - "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

If we are going to be dedicated followers of Jesus Christ, we must surrender our own wills in every area of our lives, even to our own earthly discomfort. We must follow the Lamb wherever He goes, regardless of the impact we think it would have on our own lives. Revelations 12:11 shows us a group of people who "overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb... and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

-Part 2 of the message "Your Life is not Your Own"- In this video we look at New Testament comparisons of Christian believers to soldiers or slaves who are subject to the will of higher authorities. As followers of Christ we should seek to submit our lives to the direction and will of the Lord, serving Him, rather than as slaves to our own desires! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

Here is the second of a two-part message on receiving freedom from the orphan spirit. Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, are weighed down with an "orphan spirit" that negatively impacts their every relationship, interaction and choice, and even their relationship with Father God. Whether this is something you or someone you know struggles with, God the Father is ready to pour out his all-encompassing love on each of us, accepting and caring for us as a loving father cares for his dearly beloved child. We are no longer spiritual orphans, but children of the Most High God!

Here is the first part of a two-part message on receiving freedom from the orphan spirit. Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, are weighed down with an "orphan spirit" that negatively impacts their every relationship, interaction and choice, and even their relationship with Father God. Whether this is something you or someone you know struggles with, God the Father is ready to pour out his all-encompassing love on each of us, accepting and caring for us as a loving father cares for his dearly beloved child. We are no longer spiritual orphans, but children of the Most High God!