The First Prayer In Congress

O - Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from Thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give; take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of Own unerring Justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle! Be Thou present, O God of Wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and Truth and Justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask  In the Name and through the Merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.

 Amen

 By Jacob Duche Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 September 7, 1774, 9 o'clock a.m.

'Tis The Season

^{Matthew 19:29} And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

My holy people, 'Tis the season and I am increasing your ability to give.

Understand that there is a powerful principle at work in each of you ... the power to give. I have given you each the power to give something. Some of you will give time. Others will give possessions. Some will give houses and lands. Some will give those close to them. Even others will give the closest and most treasured items. Some will give much. Some will give little. All will give.

This power to give is largely representative of how much grace I have poured out upon you. I have given you the power to give in measure to the heart I have placed within you. So don't think it is a strange thing how I have given you this desire to give. You see, I gave. I gave My life, a ransom for many, that men and women, boys and girls, old and young, rich and poor, may be saved. I have done this and this gave me the ability to make a difference with my life.

The greatest measure of fulfillment of divine purpose in your life, is how you were able to exercise the power to give.

Without giving (a tangible expression of love) there is no real faith. For love without expression is a dead thing. But love expressed through giving is a living thing. It is a picture of Me at work in the world. Give what your heart desires. 'Tis the season.

Beyond Grief

A Celebration of Life in Memory of
Jesse Allan Wiseburn
12/27/1979-12/09/2006

II Samuel 12:20-23
²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

 ²¹ His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
 ²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

And so it was today, I went to church with my sister, Becky, to celebrate the life of her son, Jesse. We lost Jesse 5 years ago. Today was a celebration of the Lord's magnificent blessing in giving Jesse to us for his short  26 years.

What the Lord is encouraging us to do today is to stop mourning over what has happened in the past and to make the decision to live today and everyday for the rest of our lives. He is telling us not to ruin the time we have left by grieving what has been lost.

He has sustained us to get beyond grief. And for that, we praise Him and give all the glory to Him!

Thank You, Jesus!

A Rustproof Heart

How do you rustproof the heart? You simply add a "t" and turn rust to trust.

Psalm 37:1-11

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.
 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
 ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
   though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
   and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The Road To Wisdom

^{Proverbs 2:1-10}

¹ My son, if you accept my words
   and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
   and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
   and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
   he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
   and protects the way of his faithful ones.

 ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
   and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
   and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Arise From The Rubble!

My holy people; leaders have become unfaithful and are leading many to be unfaithful. No longer seeking Me, no longer consulting Me, no longer taking direction from Me, they have pursued other lovers and have become imitators and duplicators. Taking what others have learned and try to implement according to what others have done, rather than seeking Me, having relationship with Me, and consulting Me. No longer equipping gifts, these have become blind leaders, leading blind followers into the ditch.

Where are those that actually seek Me? There are very few who seek Me. Most seek the preachers and what they have to say. And these preachers take what other famous preachers have learned and teach these things as though they were received from Me. They wonder secretly why things do not work well. Is it any wonder?

My holy people; this has gone on for generation after generation after generation and the time for change is now. Do not be surprised when things take a turn for the worse in America. All is not lost, but things must change. I am continuing to shake, to remove and to cleanse. I am blowing out the chaff, making ready a people that will do exploits in My Name. The imitators and duplicators will not do these things; only those who have spent time in My Presence and who know My Great Heart.

A promise to My remnant: religion is about to fall in America. Rejoice, for what I am about to do. Do not fear, but realize it is taking a severe shaking to remove what needs to be removed. Get close to Me. Stay close to Me. That is the place of safety. Leader's hearts will fail them. Don't look there for your safety, but look to Me. For some of you, this is the first time you will truly be following Me, instead of following self-imposed leaders. I will raise up fathers that will teach their spiritual children the truth of following Me, of learning of Me, of following My ways instead of the ways of religion. Much has been substituted for following Me. Much has been taught instead of following Me. Much has been used instead of Christ. Instead-of Christ [anti-christ] is ruling instead of Me in many, many hearts. Therefore, make yourselves ready.

It is time to arise from the rubble, cleanse yourselves, separate yourselves unto Me, consecrate yourselves to Me, renew your vows before Me. I will prove Myself faithful and am certain to raise up new equippers who will do what I desire, rather than try to manage My people like pigs.