DAY 21 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHY SHOULD I NOT COMMIT SUICIDE?)

June 14

Question: "Why should I not commit suicide?"

Answer:Our hearts go out to those who have thoughts of ending their own lives through suicide. If that is you right now, it may speak of many emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness and despair. You may feel like you are in the deepest pit, and you doubt there is any hope of things getting better. No one seems to care or understand where you are coming from. Life just is not worth living...or is it?

If you will take a few moments to consider letting God truly be God in your life right now, He will prove how big He really is, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Perhaps scars from past hurts have resulted in an overwhelming sense of rejection or abandonment. That may lead to self-pity, anger, bitterness, vengeful thoughts, or unhealthy fears that have caused problems in some of your most important relationships.

Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, no matter how bad things are in your life, there is a God of love who is waiting for you to let Him guide you through your tunnel of despair and out into His marvelous light. He is your sure hope. His name is Jesus.

This Jesus, the sinless Son of God, identifies with you in your time of rejection and humiliation. The prophet Isaiah wrote of Him inIsaiah 53:2-6, describing Him as a man who was “despised and rejected” by everyone. His life was full of sorrow and suffering. But the sorrows He bore were not His own; they were ours. He was pierced, wounded, and crushed, all because of our sin. Because of His suffering, our lives can be redeemed and made whole.

Friend, Jesus Christ endured all this so that you might have all your sins forgiven. Whatever weight of guilt you carry, know that He will forgive you if you humbly receive Him as your Savior. “...Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you...” (Psalm 50:15). Nothing you have ever done is too bad for Jesus to forgive. Some of His choicest servants committed gross sins like murder (Moses), murder and adultery (King David), and physical and emotional abuse (the apostle Paul). Yet they found forgiveness and a new abundant life in the Lord. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, God stands ready to repair what is “broken,” namely, the life you have now, the life you want to end by suicide. InIsaiah 61:1-3, the prophet wrote, “The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Come to Jesus, and let Him restore your joy and usefulness as you trust Him to begin a new work in your life. He promises to restore the joy you have lost and give you a new spirit to sustain you. Your broken heart is precious to Him: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:12,15-17).

Will you accept the Lord as your Savior and Shepherd? He will guide your thoughts and steps—one day at a time—through His Word, the Bible. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). In Christ, you will still have struggles, but you will now have hope. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you in your hour of decision.

If you desire to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, speak these words in your heart to God: “God, I need you in my life. Please forgive me for all that I have done. I place my faith in Jesus Christ and believe that He is my Savior. Please cleanse me, heal me, and restore my joy in life. Thank You for Your love for me and for Jesus' death on my behalf.”
If you have any questions, please use the question form on ourBible Questions Answeredpage.


While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/why-not-commit-suicide.html#ixzz2WR38kUeW

DAY 21 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 14, 2013

June 14

American Minute for June 14th:

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Thirteen Stars and Thirteen Stripes.

It was on JUNE 14, 1777, that the Second Continental Congress selected the Flag of the United States.

In 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the Proclamation making JUNE 14 "National Flag Day."

On Flag Day, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated:

"The belief in man, created free, in the image of God - is the crucial difference between ourselves and the enemies we face...

God of the free...grant us victory over the tyrants who would enslave all free men."

On JUNE 14, 1954, Dwight Eisenhower signed Joint Resolution (Public Law 396) adding the phrase "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Eisenhower stated:

"From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty.

To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than...this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning."

President Eisenhower ended:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war."

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DAY 20 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (THE WORD OF TRUTH) - JUNE 13, 2013

June 13

Hebrews 13:17 (The Voice Bible)

17 Listen to your leaders and submit to their authority over the community, for they are on constant watch to protect your souls and someday they must give account. Give them reason to be joyful and not to regret their duty, for that will be of no good to you.

DAY 20 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 13, 2013

June 13

Testimony Time
Posted on September 21, 2012 by katherine


I had to share this testimony, I hope it reads ok since I am typing so quickly before picking up the girls at school, God said to share this NOW, & when God says NOW, I have learned to obey!!

About a month ago, God spoke to me to buy a friend of mine a new outfit.. I was like, God, is this really you? You know I am a widow with 4 girls & they need clothes & things all the time?

God reminded me of another time last year when God spoke to me to buy a prophet friend of mine a new wardrobe… In my mind, I was really questioning if I had heard from God, I was like God, I am in need, how can I be buying things for others when my girls & I are in need?

He reminded me of the widow woman in the Bible, she gave all she had…


Anyway, back to my prophet friend from last year, God spoke a certain amount of money to me that was very expensive. I want to be real & not to brag on me, but to brag on God. I wasn’t going to tell you the amount because its not really about the amount, its about hearing & listening to His voice & Obeying, but I want to be real here so I think you should know.. it was $1,000 that God told me to spend. Too make a long story short, we only ended up spending $400, which was a miracle of God… Then about 2 weeks later, I received a check for $1,000..

Then, a few days ago, well, actually September 11th I got a text from a friend of the ministry (Daily Live Worship). I hadn’t heard from her in almost a year.. She said, I need to know what your oldest daughter needs I want to bless her. Little did she know, I had been praying that Alyssa would be able to enroll in the driving school so she can get her learners license soon. The fee was going to be a little over $300. The girls had gotten sick & I never got a chance to actually call this lady back to tell her what Alyssa needed. I got the check in the mail yesterday & it was $325!! GLORY TO GOD!!

I say all this to say: You can NEVER out give GOD!! What has God spoken to you to do or to give? I encourage you to trust & obey! He will never let you down. I know people have let you down & maybe you feel like you can’t trust anyone. God is so faithful. I believe when you give out of obedience with a cheerful heart, God can’t help but bless you richly abundantly above what you can ask or think.. Even if He tells you to give all you have- He is a God who can be trusted. Obedience is better than sacrifice! His Word never returns void…

http://dailyliveworship.com/blog/testimony-time/

DAY 20 - DAILY PRAYER (OBEDIENCE) - JUNE 13, 2013

June 13

Lord, we don’t call you Lord because you were the Lord of our parents. We call you Lord because you are the master of our hearts. We are slaves to your righteousness because your goodness won us over. We are obedient to you because you changed us at the core of who we are.

God, we are not slaves to a list of rules. We are slaves to the love that we feel for you. Bring us to deeper depths of love in our relationship with you. You call us brothers and sisters; you call us friends, Jesus. It’s complicated and yet so simple when it comes down to our need for you. We worship you, Jesus. You are Lord of all, but you are also the Lover of our souls. Our obedience to you and freedom from sin comes naturally when we commit ourselves to making our love for you the focus of our lives. Thank you, Jesus. You are so precious.

Lord, we lift up this anonymous cry for help in prayer. Amen

http://www.givenlife.com/2013/02/prayer-of-obedience/

DAY 20 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (ARE WE SUPPOSED TO OBEY OUR PASTORS?)

June 13

Question: "Are we supposed to obey our pastors?"

Answer: The verse that speaks the most directly to this question is Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Pastors are hurt deeply to see people ignore the counsel of God they share in messages or Bible lessons. Some people “blow off” the Word of God, doing so not only to their own hurt but also to the hurt of those who are around them. Young people especially have the tendency to ignore the counsel of those older than they, making the mistake of trusting their own wisdom as well as their own heart. God states that a godly pastor shares precepts from God’s Word because he desires not only to serve God but to feed the flock the spiritual food that will result in their experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10b).

On the other end of the spectrum, the Bible gives warning about “false shepherds” who do not have the welfare of the flock at heart but are more interested in maintaining control or exercising lordship over others, or who fail to study the Word of God and end up teaching men’s commands instead of God’s. The Pharisees were guilty of this during Jesus’ time. There are numerous examples of this in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. And there are repeated warnings about this in Acts, the epistles, and Revelation. Because of the unfortunate existence of these self-seeking leaders, there must also come a time when we disobey man in order to obey God (Acts 4:18-20). However, accusations against a church leader are not to be lightly launched and need to be substantiated by more than one witness (1 Timothy 5:19).

Godly pastors are worth their weight in gold. They are usually overworked and underpaid. They bear greater responsibility than medical doctors asHebrews 13:17states—they must one day give an account of their ministries before God.First Peter 5:1-4points out that they are not dictators, but lead by their example and by their teaching (1 Timothy 4:16) in humility of heart. And like Paul, they are like nursing mothers who truly love their “children” and are willing to give themselves for their flock and rule with gentleness (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12;John 10:11). They are characterized by sincere devotion to the Word and to prayer (Acts 6:4) so that they can rule in God’s power and wisdom and impart to the flock spiritual meat to make them healthy and vibrant Christians (1 Timothy 5:17). If this is a description of your pastor, or close to it (no man on earth is perfect), he is worthy of double honor and obedience as he declares the plain teachings of God.

So the answer to the question is yes, we should obey our pastors. We are also to pray for them always, asking God to grant them wisdom, humility, a love for the flock, and protection as they protect those in their care.

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandBiblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.


Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/pastors-obey.html#ixzz2WQhHgJ6l

DAY 20 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 13, 2013

June 13

American Minute for June 13th:

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19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette purchased a ship and sailed to America, arriving JUNE 13, 1777.

Trained in the French Military, he was a descendant of one of the oldest French families, with ancestors who fought in the Crusades and alongside of Joan of Arc.

Commander-in-Chief George Washington appointed Lafayette a Major General in the Continental Army, though Lafayette paid his own expenses.

Lafayette endured the freezing winter at Valley Forge, was wounded at Brandywine, and fought with distinction at the Battles of Gloucester, Barren Hill, Monmouth, Rhode Island and Green Spring.

Returning to France, Lafayette worked with Ben Franklin to persuade King Louis XVI to send General Rochambeau with ships and 6,000 French soldiers to America's aid.

Lafayette then led troops against the traitor Benedict Arnold, and commanded at Yorktown, helping to pressure Cornwallis to surrender.

George Washington considered Lafayette like a son, and belatedly wrote back to him from Mount Vernon, June 25, 1785:

"My Dear Marquis...I stand before you as a culprit: but to repent and be forgiven are the precepts of Heaven: I do the former, do you practice the latter, and it will be participation of a divine attribute.

Yet I am not barren of excuses for this seeming inattention; frequent absences from home, a round of company when at it, and the pressure of many matters, might be urged as apologies for my long silence...

I now congratulate you, and my heart does it more effectually than my pen, on your safe arrival in Paris, from your voyage to this Country."

Lafayette joined the French abolitionist Society of the Friends of the Blacks, which advocated the end of the slave trade and equal rights for blacks.

On May 10, 1786, George Washington wrote from Mount Vernon to Marquis de Lafayette:

"Your late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with a view of emancipating the slaves on it, is a generous and noble proof of your humanity. Would to God a like spirit would diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country."

On August 15, 1787, in a letter from Philadelphia to the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington wrote:

"I am not less ardent in my wish that you may succeed in your plan of toleration in religious matters. Being no bigot myself to any mode of worship, I am disposed to indulge the professors of Christianity in the church with that road to Heaven which to them shall seem the most direct, plainest and easiest, and the least liable to exception."

On May 28, 1788, George Washington wrote to Marquis de Lafayette regarding the U.S. Constitution:

"A few short weeks will determine the political fate of America...I will confess to you sincerely, my dear Marquis; it will be so much beyond any thing we had a right to imagine or expect eighteen months ago, that it will demonstrate as visibly the Finger of Providence, as any possible event in the course of human affairs can ever designate it."

When the French Revolution began, President Washington wrote to Marquis de Lafayette, July 28, 1791:

"I assure you I have often contemplated, with great anxiety, the danger to which you are personally exposed...

To a philanthropic mind the happiness of 24 millions of people cannot be indifferent; and by an American, whose country in the hour of distress received such liberal aid from the French, the disorders and incertitude of that Nation are to be particularly lamented.

We must, however, place a confidence in that Providence who rules great events, trusting that out of confusion He will produce order, and, notwithstanding the dark clouds which may threaten at present, that right will ultimately be established....

On the 6 of this month I returned from a tour through the southern States, which had employed me for more than three months. In the course of this journey I have been highly gratified in observing the flourishing state of the Country, and the good dispositions of the people.

Industry and economy have become very fashionable in these parts, which were formerly noted for the opposite qualities, and the labors of man are assisted by the Blessings of Providence."

Lafayette tried to maintain order in France as the French Revolution began, but fell out of favor. He was eventually imprisoned for five years, with his wife and two daughters choosing to be imprisoned with him. Napoleon negotiated his release.

On June 10, 1792, from Philadelphia, President Washington wrote to Marquis de Lafayette:

"And to the Care of that Providence, whose interposition and protection we have so often experienced, do I cheerfully commit you and your nation, trusting that He will bring order out of confusion, and finally place things upon the ground on which they ought to stand."

Jefferson asked him to be the Governor of the Louisiana Territory, but he declined.

Fifty years after the Revolution began, Marquis de Lafayette visited America. He traveled over 6,000 miles to 24 States.

On June 17, 1825, the cornerstone for the Bunker Hill Monument was laid. Daniel Webster spoke to a crowd of 20,000, which included General Marquis de Lafayette:

"God has granted you this sight of your country's happiness ere you slumber in the grave forever. He has allowed you to behold and to partake the reward of your patriotic toils; and He has allowed to us, your sons and countrymen, to meet you here, and in the name of the present generation, in the name of your country, in the name of liberty to thank you!"

Many ships, streets, parks and cities were named after him, including Fayetteville, North Carolina.

When word came to America that Marquis de Lafayette had died, President Andrew Jackson wrote to Congress, June 21, 1834:

"The afflicting intelligence of the death of the illustrious Lafayette has been received by me this morning.

I have issued the general order inclosed to cause appropriate honors to be paid by the Army and Navy to the memory of one so highly venerated and beloved by my countrymen, and whom Providence has been pleased to remove so unexpectedly from the agitating scenes of life."

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DAY 19 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (THE WORD OF TRUTH) - JUNE 12, 2013

June 12

2 Timothy 2:15 (The Voice Bible)

15 Timothy, do everything you can to present yourself to God as a man who is fully genuine, a worker unashamed of your mission, a guide capable of leading others along the correct path defined by the word of truth.

DAY 19 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 12, 2013

June 12

God Is There
Posted on February 15, 2013 by katherine


As I look at my beautiful purple & white flowers & smell their lovely fragrance, I have to keep in mind that they will die in a few days & be gone… That reminded me of the scripture, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”

Aren’t you thankful that God never deteriorates, dis-appears, tarnishes, vanishes, wastes away, or wilts? He is always there and so is His Word!

DAY 19 - DAILY PRAYER (YOUR WORD) - JUNE 12, 2013

June 12

O gracious Father in Heaven,

We thank You today for the provision of Your word, which carries us through this earthly life.  For allowing us to know You and Your Son in greater detail. Lord, please continue to make us hungry for Your word, and bold enough to seek You in the scriptures on a daily basis.  Illuminate our path daily with Your lamp upon our feet, that the enemy would not succeed in having us leave the straight path set before us.  Father, please instill in us the necessary instruction to allow us to lead others to You.  Help us to hide Your word in our hearts, and live it out in our lives daily.

In Jesus' mighty name we pray, Amen!

Wally Ziolo
Founder - 40DAYPRAYER4USA
Lancaster, Ohio USA

DAY 19 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE?)

June 12

Question: "Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?"

Answer:We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?

We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. The Bible is unique among so-called "holy" books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say, "Trust me." Rather, we have the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once asked which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Rise, take up your bed and walk." Then He proved He had the ability to forgive sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic (something those around Him could test with their eyes). Similarly, we are given assurance that God's Word is true when it discusses spiritual areas that we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in those areas that we can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and prophetic accuracy.

We should read and study the Bible because God does not change and because mankind's nature does not change; it is as relevant for us as it was when it was written. While technology changes, mankind's nature and desires do not change. We find, as we read the pages of biblical history, that whether we are talking about one-on-one relationships or societies, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). And while mankind as a whole continues to seek love and satisfaction in all of the wrong places, God—our good and gracious Creator—tells us what will bring us lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible, is so important that Jesus said of it, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to and heed God's written Word.

We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. We are worshiping something that He is not. The Bible tells us how one truly gets to heaven, and it is not by being good or by being baptized or by anything else we do (John 14:6;Ephesians 2:1-10;Isaiah 53:6;Romans 3:10-18,5:8,6:23,10:9-13). Along this line, God's Word shows us just how much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8;John 3:16). And it is in learning this that we are drawn to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17;Ephesians 6:17;Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8;James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9,11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8,119:99;Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).

Reading and studying the Bible helps us see beyond the attractive "bait" to the painful "hook" in sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11).

The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandRead the Bible in One Year.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/why-read-Bible.html#ixzz2WPQtTLYm

DAY 19 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 12, 2013

June 12

American Minute for June 12th:

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He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his WWII service in the Pacific.

He studied at Yale, was a Congressman, Ambassador to the U.N., CIA director and Vice-President under Ronald Reagan before becoming the 41st U.S. President.

His name was George H.W. Bush, born JUNE 12, 1924.

George H.W. Bush told Amish and Mennonite leaders in Lancaster, PA, March 22, 1989:

"Barbara and I went to China as your emissary...in 1974, and we had wondered about the family in China - Communist country, totalitarian...

We knew that there had been almost entire banning on practicing and teaching Christianity...This was right after the Cultural Revolution."

In his Inaugural Address, January 20, 1989, President Bush said:

"I have just repeated word for word the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago, and the Bible on which I place my hand is the Bible on which he placed his...

And my first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads..."

On February 22, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed Joint Resolution 164 declaring 1990 the International Year of Bible Reading:

"Among the great books produced throughout the history of mankind, the Bible has been prized above all others...

The Bible has had a critical impact upon the development of Western civilization...

It was a biblical view of man - one affirming the dignity and worth of the human person, made in the image of our Creator - that inspired the principles upon which the United States is founded...

The historic speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., provide compelling evidence of the role Scripture played in shaping the struggle against slavery and discrimination...

We recall the words of the prophet Isaiah, who declared, 'The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever.'...

When you have read the Bible you will know that it is the Word of God...

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the year 1990 as the International Year of Bible Reading.

I invite all Americans to discover the great inspiration and knowledge that can be obtained through thoughtful reading of the Bible."

On May 3, 1990, President George Bush declared a National Day of Prayer:

"The great faith that led our Nation's Founding Fathers to pursue this bold experience in self-government has sustained us in uncertain and perilous times...

Like them, we do very well to recall our 'firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,'...and to pray for continued help and guidance from our wise and loving Creator."

President George Bush stated in his 1992 National Day of Prayer Proclamation:

"Whatever our individual religious convictions may be, each of us is invited to join in this National Day of Prayer...

Each of us can echo this timeless prayer of Solomon, the ancient king who prayed for, and received, the gift of wisdom:

'The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.'"

In his Christmas Message, December 8, 1992, President George H.W. Bush stated:

"As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whose life offers us a model of dignity, compassion, and justice, we renew our commitment to peace...Christ made clear the redemptive value of giving of oneself for others...

The heroic actions of our veterans, the lifesaving work of our scientists and physicians, and generosity of countless individuals who voluntarily give of their time, talents, and energy to help others - all have enriched humankind and affirmed the importance of our Judeo-Christian heritage in shaping our government and values."


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DAY 18 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (BAPTISM) - JUNE 11, 2013

June 11

Luke 3:21 (The Voice Bible)
21 But before John’s imprisonment, when he was still preaching and ritually cleansing through baptism the people in the Jordan River, Jesus also came to him to be baptized. As Jesus prayed, the heavens opened,
Voice from Heaven: You are My Son, the Son I love, and in You I take great pleasure.

http://www.hearthevoice.com/search-bible

DAY 18 - DAILY PRAYER (BAPTISM) - JUNE 11, 2013

June 11

Prayer for Baptism Day (Adult)

Living and Loving Father,

I praise and thank You with my heart for the liberation You have given me from the clutches of sin and Satan. By Your death on the Cross of Calvary, You have put my old life with its sin and judgement to death forever, and endowed me with a new life that is abounding with joy.

Father, I commit this Baptism Day into Your most precious and loving hands. I believe that by Your crucifixion on the Cross, my old self was rendered powerless and I was freed from all sin. You were raised from the dead that I too may live a life victorious and overcoming all evil.

Father, this day, I rededicate myself to live in You and live a life for Your glory. I remember the day when I was baptized and washed off all my sins. Lord, it is Your grace that I must be counted worthy to be called Your child. Help me to keep Your commandments. Renew my strength this day that I may be strong in faith and increase in zeal. Preserve me for the glorious day of Your coming. I believe Your Word which says, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ". Let this day be the beginning. Lead me into greater spiritual depths even in the coming days. In Jesus' precious name I pray.

Amen.

DAY 18 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM?)

June 11

Question: "What is the importance of Christian baptism?"

Answer: Christian baptism is, according to the Bible, an outward testimony of what has occurred inwardly in a believer’s life. Christian baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible declares, “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4). In Christian baptism, the action of being immersed in the water symbolizes dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.

In Christian baptism, there are two requirements before a person is baptized: 1) the person being baptized must have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior, and 2) the person must understand what baptism signifies. If a person knows the Lord Jesus as Savior, understands that Christian baptism is a step of obedience in publicly proclaiming his faith in Christ, and desires to be baptized, then there is no reason to prevent the believer from being baptized. According to the Bible, Christian baptism is important because it is a step of obedience—publicly declaring faith in Christ and commitment to Him—an identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandBeliever's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ by Schriener and Wright.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.


Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-baptism.html#ixzz2WPJiB7GB

DAY 18 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 11, 2013

June 11

American Minute for June 11th:

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He sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their midnight ride.

They were to warn Lexington and Concord the government was coming to seize their guns and arrest Tea Party leader Samuel Adams and businessman John Hancock, who was targeted by the King's tax collectors, having his Liberty ship raided and confiscated.

A Harvard graduate and a successful doctor in Boston, he left his career when the British passed the hated Stamp Act of 1765.

His name was Dr. Joseph Warren, born JUNE 11, 1741.

In 1774, King George III punished the colonists for the Boston Tea Party by enacting Intolerable Acts:

-blocking Boston's harbor until citizens reimbursed the East India Tea Company;

-quartering British soldiers in private homes;

-allowing British officials to be unaccountable for their crimes; and

-replacing Massachusetts' elected officials with royal appointees.

In response, Dr. Joseph Warren and Samuel Adams organized the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in protest.

In September of 1774, Dr. Joseph Warren wrote the Suffolk Resolves, urging Massachusetts to establish a free state, boycott British goods, form militias and no longer be loyal to a king who violates their rights:

"Whereas...the vengeance but not the wisdom of Great Britain, which of old persecuted, scourged, and exiled our fugitive parents from their native shores, now pursues us, their guiltless children, with unrelenting severity...

It is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend and preserve those civil and religious rights and liberties, for which many of our fathers fought, bled and died, and to hand them down entire to future generations."

Dr. Joseph Warren became President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, April of 1775.

His brother, Dr. John Warren, founded Harvard Medical School.

In June of 1775, as British ships entered Boston's harbor, 34-year-old Dr. Joseph Warren joined the militia.

Though appointed a Major General by the Provincial Congress, he chose to serve as a private, acknowledging General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott had more military experience.

On June 17, 1775, Warren asked to be placed where the heaviest fighting would be and Putnam pointed to Bunker Hill.

He fought in the redoubt, repelling the British soldiers, till he ran out of ammunition.

The British made a third and final assault on the hill, and Warren was killed instantly by a musket ball in the head. His body was stripped, bayoneted until unrecognizable, and then shoved into a ditch.

Ten month later, Paul Revere helped identify his remains by an artificial tooth he had placed in his jaw.

A monument marks where he died.

Three years earlier Dr. Joseph Warren had stated on the anniversary of the Boston Massacre:

"If you perform your part, you must have the strongest confidence that the same Almighty Being who protected your pious and venerable forefathers, who enabled them to turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful field, who so often made bare His arm for their salvation, will still be mindful of you, their offspring..."

Warren continued:

"May this Almighty Being graciously preside in all our councils.

May He direct us to such measures as He Himself shall approve, and be pleased to bless.

May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, a name and a praise in the whole earth, until the last shock of time shall bury the empires of the world in one common undistinguishable ruin!"


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DAY 17 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (GIVE TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD) - JUNE 10, 2013

June 10

Mark 2:17 (The Voice Bible)

Jesus (to the scribes): People who have their health don’t need to see a doctor. Only those who are sick do. I’m not here to call those already in good standing with God; I’m here to call sinners to turn back to Him.

DAY 17 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 10, 2013

June 10

What Are You Hiding?
Posted on March 25, 2013 by katherine


When I started dating the wonderful man God brought into my life, I didn’t want him to “know everything” if you know what I mean, not that there was really anything seriously wrong, but in reality, anything hidden needs to come to the light, don’t you think?

I didn’t want him to know that when I get afraid I push back & resort to running & hiding like a little child.

God began to show me, I needed to confess and expose all the fears that were holding me captive, so that I may be healed as it says in James 5:16.

Once I did, God took my hidden things, healed it, and gave me a love that could only come from Him. Not only was I free from bondage that held me, but now, I was whole and complete: mind, body, soul, and spirit. What a Great God we serve, to take something hidden that is really harming us, and turn it around for our good!

I urge you- don’t allow the devil to tempt you into keeping your deepest darkest secret a secret any longer. Confess and Expose, so you may be healed!

We expose it for what it is.. Sin! Don’t be embarrassed, get rid of it now, no matter what it may be: failure of any kind, fear, loneliness, lust, pornography, sexual addictions, depression, oppression, suicidal thoughts, drug addictions, or maybe it’s something that I haven’t even mentioned, God knows, so let it go.

Now, “Pleasures are by my side forevermore” and pleasures can be by your side too, if you will expose and confess, so you may be healed.

http://dailyliveworship.com/blog/what-are-you-hiding/

DAY 17 - DAILY PRAYER (SINNERS PRAYER) - JUNE 10, 2013

June 10

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

http://www.salvationprayer.info/prayer.html

DAY 17 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHY DOES GOD HATE SIN)

June 10

Question: "Why does God hate sin?"

Answer:God hates sin because it is the very antithesis of His nature. The psalmist describes God’s hatred of sin this way: “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You” (Psalm 5:4). God hates sin because He is holy; holiness is the most exalted of all His attributes (Isaiah 6:3;Revelation 6:8). His holiness totally saturates His being. His holiness epitomizes His moral perfection and His absolute freedom from blemish of any kind (Psalm 89:35;92:15;Romans 9:14).

The Bible presents God’s attitude toward sin with strong feelings of hostility, disgust, and utter dislike. For example, sin is described as putrefying sores (Isaiah 1:6, NKJV), a heavy burden (Psalm 38:4), defiling filth (Titus 1:15;2 Corinthians 7:1), a binding debt (Matthew 6:12-15), darkness (1 John 1:6) and a scarlet stain (Isaiah 1:18).

God hates sin for the simple reason that sin separates us from Him: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2; see alsoIsaiah 13:11;Jeremiah 5:25). It was sin that caused Adam and Eve to run away from God and hide “among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Sin always brings separation, and the fact that God hates sin means that He hates being separated from us. His love demands restoration, which in turn demands holiness.

God also hates sin because of its subtle deceitfulness which entices us to focus on worldly pleasure to the exclusion of God’s blessings. Those who have their sins forgiven can say, “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). To pursue sin is to turn one’s back on the gifts of God, who has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s hatred of sin implies that He loves His people and wants to bless them.

Another reason God hates sin is that it blinds us to the truth. Jesus likened false teachers to “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14, NKJV). John said that the one who hates his brother “does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” (1 John 2:11). Sin has consequences which the sinner often disregards. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7; see alsoNumbers 32:23). God hates sin for the same reason that light hates darkness and truth hates a lie. God wants His children to “have the full riches of complete understanding” (Colossians 2:2), and sin only gets in the way.

God hates sin because it enslaves us and will eventually destroy us. Just as Samson’s sin led to his physical blindness and captivity (Judges 16:21), our sin will lead to spiritual blindness and bondage. “Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness” (Romans 6:16). God is the source of life, and He will extend that life eternally to all who believe. Sin is a barrier to our reception of life, and that is one reason why God hates it.

God hates sin because it lessens our love for Him. The Bible says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:15-16). James warns us of the danger of embracing the world: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). No one can serve two masters (Luke 16:13), and we must choose between sin and righteousness.

As believers, we should hate sin as does God. We are “sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). We must recognize that God has set us apart; we are “a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9). We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to sanctify us (2 Thessalonians 2:13). We have His promise that He will help us in our struggle against sin (1 Corinthians 1:8).

We hate sin because it separates us from God. We hate it because it lessens our love and dulls our conscience, because it binds us and blinds us. We hate it because it grieves the Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30). Our prayer to the Holy One is “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandBasic Theology by Charles Ryrie.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/God-hate-sin.html#ixzz2WP7CzROv

DAY 17 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 10, 2013

June 10

American Minute for June 10th:

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The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduated its first class on JUNE 10, 1854.

The Academy was established under George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy under President James K. Polk, 1845-46.

Bancroft also established the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

He is the namesake of the Naval Academy's "Bancroft Hall," the largest single dormitory in the world.

George Bancroft published a ten-volume History of the United States, the first comprehensive history of America.

In it, Bancroft described the Puritans who founded Annapolis, Maryland:

"Puritanism had exalted the laity....

For him the wonderful counsels of the Almighty had appointed a Saviour; for him the laws of nature had been compelled and consulted, the heavens had opened, the earth had quaked, the Sun had veiled his face, and Christ had died and risen again."

Puritans, comprising about 600,000 of the 3 million Americans at the time of the Revolution, were influenced by Reformer John Calvin, as were other colonial Americans: 900,000 Scotch and Scotch-Irish; 400,000 German or Dutch Reformed; Protestant French Huguenots and
Episcopalians, who had a Calvinistic confession in their 39 Articles.

George Bancroft wrote:

"He who will not honor the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows little of the origin of American liberty."

George Bancroft wrote in "The Progress of Mankind," published in Literary and Historical Miscellanies:

"For the regeneration of the world it was requisite that the Divine Being should enter the...hearts of men and dwell there...

That He should be known, not as a distant Providence of boundless power and uncertain and inactive will, but as God present in the flesh...

The consciousness of an incarnate God carried peace into the bosom of humanity...This doctrine once communicated to man, was not to be eradicated...

The idea of GOD WITH US...dwells...in every soul that sighs for redemption."

On June 16, 1845, Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft received Order 27 from President James K. Polk:

"The President...with heartfelt sorrow announces to the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps the death of Andrew Jackson...He resigned his spirit to his Heavenly Father...

He believed the liberties of his country imperishable and...departed from this life in a full hope of a blessed immortality through the merits and atonement of the Redeemer.

Officers of the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps will wear crape on the left arm and on their swords, and the colors of the several regiments will be put in mourning for the period of six months."

The U.S. Naval Academy has a large stained glass window picturing Irish Saint Brendan of Clonfert (c.484-c.577), called "the Navigator" or "the Voyager" for his seven year voyage across the Atlantic.

St. Brendan discovered the "The Land of the Promised Saints which God will give us on the last day," also called "The Isle of the Blessed," making his band of monks possibly the first Europeans to reach America.

The U.S. Naval Academy has the oldest military monument in the United States - the Tripoli Monument, dedicated to the heroes who fought the Muslim Barbary pirates during the First Barbary War.

One of those heroes was Edward Preble. "Preble Hall" was named for him, which houses the U.S. Naval Academy Museum.

John Paul Jones is buried under the crypt in the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel.

Jones had fought during the Revolutionary War and afterwards fought Muslim Turks on the Black Sea for Catherine the Great of Russia.

Jefferson wrote to General Washington, 1788:

"The war between the Russians and the Turks has made an opening for our Commodore Paul Jones. The Empress has invited him into her service."

Uriah P. Levy was the first Jewish Commodore in the U.S. Navy.

Levy fought in the War of 1812 and commanded the Mediterranean squadron against Muslim Barbary pirates.

He was responsible for ending the practice of flogging in the Navy.

Levy bought Jefferson's decaying Monticello home in 1836, repaired it and opened it to the public. He commissioned the Jefferson statute which is the the U.S. Capitol rotunda.

A chapel at Annapolis was named after Uriah P. Levy, as well as a WWII destroyer.

The U.S. Naval Academy's "Maury Hall" is named for Matthew Fontaine Maury, the first superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Known as the "Pathfinder of the Seas" for pioneering the charting sea and wind currents, Matthew Fontaine Maury wrote in Physical Geography of the Sea, 1855:

"I have always found in my scientific studies, that, when I could get the Bible to say anything on the subject it afforded me a firm platform to stand upon, and a round in the ladder by which I could safely ascend.

As our knowledge of nature and her laws has increased, so has our knowledge of many passages of the Bible improved.

The Bible called the earth 'the round world,' yet for ages it was the most damnable heresy for Christian men to say that the world is round; and, finally, sailors circumnavigated the globe, and proved the Bible to be right, and saved Christian men of science from the stake.

And as for the general system of circulation which I have been so long endeavoring to describe, the Bible tells it all in a single sentence: 'The wind goeth toward the South and returneth again to his circuits.'"

Maury's tombstone at the U.S. Naval Academy has engraved the Bible verse, Psalm 8:8, which had inspired him, "Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas."

In front of Maury Hall is a Japanese Bell, commemorating Commodore Matthew Perry opening trade with Japan in 1855.

Matthew Perry stated:

"I have just finished the Bible; I make it a point to read it through every cruise. It is certainly a wonderful Book-a most wonderful Book...

From boyhood I have taken a deep interest in Christianizing the heathen, and in imparting a knowledge of God's revealed truth everywhere."

Commodore Perry, on a Sunday in 1853, while sailing to Japan, set his Bible on the capstan and read Psalm 100, then sang:

"Before Jehovah's awful throne
Ye nations bow with sacred joy."

Civil War hero, Admiral David Dixon Porter, became superintendent of U.S. Naval Academy. He wrote:

"When one sees how much has been done for the world by the disciples of Christ and those professing the Christian religion, he must be astonished to find anyone who hesitates to believe in the Divine origin of Jesus and the wonderful works He performed, all of which are so beautifully portrayed by the author of the work under consideration;

and no man or woman of real intelligence would hesitate to believe that it is only through Christ that sinners can be saved, unless their vanity is so great that they are capable of saving themselves without an intermediary."

The U.S. Naval Academy's "Luce Hall" was named after Rear Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce, who was a hero of the Civil War and founder of the U.S. Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island.

When asked to write a comment in Stephen A. Northrop's book A Cloud of Witnesses in 1884, Stephen Bleecker Luce wrote:

"Surely seamen are worthy to appear in your Cloud of Witnesses. Not only did our Saviour consort with the seamen of Galilee, but there are many examples in history of noted naval heroes who exhibited the highest Christian virtues.

I wish to be counted among this great company of believers in the divinity of Christ, and in the inspiration of all Scripture."

The U.S. Naval Academy's "Mahan Hall" is named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose books on naval strategy influenced President Theodore Roosevelt to increase U.S. Naval strength.

Alfred Thayer Mahan stated:

"Upon the Bible my life rests for whatsoever is good and strong. Convinced that Christ is the Son of God, in the deepest sense attributed to those words, I not only find in this belief all the power of my life, but, in the account of His personality, an intellectual satisfaction that surpasses any other in its inexhaustible freshness, daily renewing my strength, and throwing an ever-increasing light upon the problems and difficulties of life.

It is this intellectual satisfaction that most impresses me; that the teachings of Jesus Christ contains a philosophy of life in fullest accord with experience, and also inexhaustible, in that its revelation is continuous.

While the faith in His teachings thus meet all my mental exigencies, I in no way derogate from its supernatural sanctions. He is to me one who speaks with authority no less than Divine, to whom I submit where I do not understand."

President Woodrow Wilson addressed the graduating class of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, June 5, 1914:

"You are champions of your fellow men, particularly of that great body one hundred million strong whom you represent in the United States...

Things that show the moral compulsions of the human conscience, those are the things by which we have been building up civilization."

President Calvin Coolidge addressed the graduating class of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, June 3, 1925:

"Not long ago I heard a Navy chaplain refer to the sage advice of the Apostle to put first things first...If we are to heed the admonition to put first things first...one of the main essentials which lies at the very beginning of civilization is that of security.

It is only when people can feel that their lives and the property which their industry has produced today will continue to be safe on the morrow that there can be that stability of value and that economic progress on which human development has always rested...

Unless we lay our course in accordance with this principle, the great power for good in the world with which we have been intrusted by a Divine Providence will be turned to a power for evil."

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DAY 16 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (GIVE TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD) - JUNE 9, 2013

June 9

Mark 12:17 (The Voice Bible)

17 Then give to the emperor what belongs to the emperor. And give to God what belongs to God.

DAY 16 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 9, 2013

June 9

Longing For
Posted on June 12, 2013 by katherine


David said in Psalm 130:6, “I long for the Lord, more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.”

Do you really long for the Lord; more than your upcoming summer vacation, finding your soul mate, or counting down the days & months until you can make more money?

Lord, help us to ache, crave, & yearn for you, help us never to be satisfied, until we have been with You!

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DAY 16 - DAILY PRAYER (PRAYER FOR FINANCES) - JUNE 9, 2013

June 9


Dear God,

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties, and fears about money, and replace them with faith.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed.

And finally, I ask you to help me understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world.

Thank you, God.

Amen

http://www.beliefnet.com/Prayers/Protestant/Work/Prayer-For-Help-With-Finances.aspx

DAY 16 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PAYING TAXES?)

June 9

Question: "What does the Bible say about paying taxes?"

Answer:
InMatthew 22:17-21, the Pharisees asked Jesus a question: "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought Him a denarius, and He asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then He said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." In full agreement, the Apostle Paul taught, "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (Romans 13:6-7).

Federal income tax, state income tax, local income tax, sales tax, property tax, personal property tax, capital gains tax—the list could go on and on. Statistics show that, in the United States, April 15, tax day, is one of the most stressful days of the year. The Internal Revenue Service is probably the most despised government organization. Similarly, tax collectors were not thought highly of in Bible times (Matthew 11:19;21:31-32;Luke 3:12-13).

As much as we hate taxes, as much as the tax system is corrupt and unfair, as much as there are far better things our money could go towards—the Bible commands, yes, commands us to pay our taxes.Romans 13:1-7makes it clear that we are to submit ourselves to the government. The only instance in which we are allowed to disobey the government is when it tells us to do something the Bible forbids. The Bible does not forbid paying taxes. In fact, the Bible encourages us to pay taxes. Therefore, we must submit to God and His Word—and pay our taxes.

The most frequent objection to paying taxes is that the money is being misused by the government or even used for evil purposes by the government. That, however, is not our concern. When Jesus said, "Give to Caesar...," the Roman government was by no means a righteous government. When Paul instructed us to pay taxes, Nero, the most evil Roman emperor in history, was the head of the government. We are to pay our taxes even when the government is not God-honoring.

We are free to take every tax deduction that is both legal and honest. We do not have to pay the maximum amount of taxes possible. If the government allows you a tax break, take it. If there is a legal way you can shelter some of your money from being taxed, shelter it. By all means, take the deduction for your children, your mortgage, your moving expenses, etc. Again, feel free to take every legal and honest opportunity to reduce your tax burden. Illegal and/or dishonest methods must be rejected.Romans 13:2reminds us, "Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandHow to Manage Your Money: An In-Depth Bible Study On Personal Finances by Larry Burkett.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/taxes-Bible.html#ixzz2W9UtuBwK

DAY 16 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 9, 2013

June 9

American Minute for June 9th:

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Withholding taxes from paychecks began JUNE 9, 1943.

It was an emergency measure by Congress during World War II to get money to fight Hitler.

It was the idea of Beardsley Ruml, the treasurer of Macy's Department Store who became chairman of New York's Federal Reserve Bank.

Ruml was helped by Bernard Baruch and Milton Friedman.

The Federal Government would forgive people not paying their annual lump sum taxes at the end of 1941 if they signed up to have future taxes withheld from each paycheck.

It was called the "Pay-As-You-Go" tax.

It was part of the patriotic war enthusiasm which included slogans such as:

"UNCLE SAME NEEDS YOU"; "BUY WAR BONDS"; and "SMASH THE AXIS-PAY YOUR TAXES."

So much money came in from the "Pay-As-You-Go" tax with so few complaints that it continued after the war.

John F. Kennedy told Congress, April 20, 1961:

"Introduced during the war when the income tax was extended to millions of new taxpayers, the wage-withholding system has been one of the most important and successful advances in our tax system in recent times.

Initial difficulties were quickly overcome, and the new system helped the taxpayer no less than the tax collector."

But Americans were not always so taxed.

Jefferson noted in his 2nd Annual Message, 1802:

"We are able, without a direct tax, without internal taxes, and without borrowing, to make large and effectual payments toward the discharge of our public debt and the emancipation of our posterity from that mortal canker...

It is an encouragement, fellow-citizens, of the highest order to proceed as we have begun in substituting economy for taxation."

President Andrew Jackson stated in his 8th Annual Message, December 5, 1836:

"There is no such provision as would authorize Congress to collect together the property of the country, under the name of revenue, for the purpose of dividing it equally or unequally among the States or the people.

Indeed, it is not probable that such an idea ever occurred to the States when they adopted the Constitution."

Andrew Jackson told Congress, May 27, 1830:

"Through the favor of an overruling and indulgent Providence our country is blessed with general prosperity and our citizens exempted from the pressure of taxation, which other less favored portions of the human family are obliged to bear."

Jackson stated December 5, 1836:

"No people can hope to perpetuate their liberties who long acquiesce in a policy which taxes them for objects not necessary to the legitimate and real wants of their Government...

The practical effect of such an attempt must ever be to burden the people with taxes, not for the purposes beneficial to them, but to swell the profits of deposit banks and support a band of useless public officers...

There would soon be but one taxing power, and that vested in a body of men far removed from the people...

The States...would not dare to murmur at the proceedings of the General Government, lest they should lose their supplies;

all would be merged in a practical consolidation, cemented by widespread corruption, which could only be eradicated by one of those bloody revolutions which occasionally overthrow the despotic systems of the Old World."

Jackson stated in his Farewell Address, 1837:

"There is, perhaps, no one power conferred on the Federal Government so liable to abuse as the taxing power...

Plain as these principles appear to be, you will yet find there is a constant effort to induce the General Government to go beyond the limits of its taxing power and to impose unnecessary burdens upon the people...to fasten upon the people this unjust and unequal system."

Prior to 1913, other than during the Civil War, the Federal Government was financed primarily from tariff taxes on imports, called imposts.

President Franklin Pierce stated in his First Annual Message to Congress, December 5, 1853:

"Happily, I have no occasion to suggest any radical changes in the financial policy of the Government.

Ours is almost, if not absolutely, the solitary power of Christendom having a surplus revenue drawn immediately from imposts on commerce."


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DAY 15 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (FALSE PROPHETS) - JUNE 8, 2013

June 8

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 (The Voice Bible)
Moses: 1 The Eternal your God commanded me to teach you these rules and judgments so that you would obey them in the land that is yours when you cross the Jordan. 2 You are to fear Him and obey His rules and commands, just as I’m teaching them to you now. Do this your whole lives—you, your children and your grandchildren—and you’ll live in the land a long time. 3 Yes, Israel, if you pay careful attention and obey, everything will go well for you in that land flowing with milk and honey; and you’ll have many, many descendants just as the Eternal, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

DAY 15 - DAILY PRAYER (A PRAYER FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD) - JUNE 8, 2013

June 8

A Prayer For Obedience To The Word

God of eternal wisdom and everlasting glory, who had only to speak and the world was formed and mankind was created, we come humbly, and yet boldly, into Your presence this morning hour. We worship and we praise You for who You are and what You have done, and what You are doing and for what You will do for all who have their faith and trust in You.

This morning we are moved to great gratitude and awesome wonder at the gift of Your Holy Word, the Bible. We thank You for inspiring holy men of old to record for us that which You knew to be necessary for our salvation and congruent with Your will as made known through Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You for Your providence and Your protection of that Word. We thank You for those across the centuries who gave their lives to preserve, copy and defend it against the many forces of evil that would destroy it. We thank You for those thousands who laboriously copied the Word with quill and reed and for those who first placed it into print. We thank You for those who have in the past, and are still translating the Word in the language of tribes and nations and unreached people of the world. Lord with the Psalmist of old we cry out, “Oh, how we love Your Word. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but Your Word stands forever.”

But even as we thank You for Your eternal Word, we have much to confess. We have not always treated it as Your Word. We have not always approached it in humble obedience. Sometime we have neglected it altogether; at other times we have read it half heartedly with our minds on other things; worst of all, there have been those times when we have read it thinking that we would, through such reading, gain brownie points in the Book of Life. Father, we know that Your Word is intended, both directly and indirectly, to get inside our heads, to deal with our souls and to form a life that is congruent with Your will as You have made it known through Your Son Jesus. O God, forgive us for our failure to internalize Your truth and to let it form and fashion us into a people that are well pleasing unto You. Help us, O God, to take You seriously when You cry: “Is not my Word like a fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.”

God of love and mercy, give us an appetite for Your Word such as was expressed by the prophet: “When Your Words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight.” Only then will the reading of Your Word produce in us, the purpose for which You have given it to us. Only then will it enter our souls as food enters our stomachs, spread through our blood and produce in us the Christ-likeness which makes us truly Your people in word and deed.

This is our prayer offered in the name of Jesus. Amen

http://www.biblecoachonline.com/obedience%20to%20the%20word.html

DAY 15 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHY WAS MOSES NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND?)

June 8

Question: "Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land?"

Answer: In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses' response: "So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank." The Lord was displeased with Moses’ actions: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12).

What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, "Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?" Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again. His punishment for disobedience, pride, and the misrepresentation of Christ’s sacrifice was that he was barred from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).

Recommended Resources: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Holman Old Testament Commentary by Glen Martin.
Leviticus & Numbers: The NIV Application Commentary by Roy Gane.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

DAY 15 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 8, 2013

June 8

American Minute for June 8th:

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On JUNE 8, 1845, "Old Hickory" died.

Slashed by a sword as a boy for not polishing a British soldiers boots during the Revolutionary War, his mother died of cholera caring for American prisoners.

He later fought the Seminole Indians and, in the War of 1812, defeated the British in New Orleans.

He was governor of the Florida Territory, and is credited with proposing the name "Tennessee" at that State's first convention.

His name was Andrew Jackson.

Fighting in duels, most notably to defend his wife's honor, he carried bullet fragments in his body. He survived assassination attempts.

His wife Rachel died just three months before he took office as the 7th U.S. President.

Andrew Jackson stated in his 2nd Inaugural:

"It is my fervent prayer to that Almighty Being before whom I now stand, and who has kept us in His hands from the infancy of our Republic to the present day...that He will...inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from danger."

On December 30, 1836, Andrew Jackson wrote to his nephew, Colonel Andrew Jackson Donelson, upon the death of his wife, Emily, who had served as the unofficial First Lady of the United States:

"We cannot recall her, we are commanded by our dear Saviour, not to mourn for the dead, but for the living...

She has changed a world of woe for a world of eternal happiness, and we ought to prepare as we too must follow...'The Lord's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"

Considered the founder of the modern Democrat Party, Jackson was criticized for his role in the Indian Removal Act, but praised for ending the corrupt Bank of the United States and paying off the national debt, the only time in U.S. history that was done.

Of the Bible, Andrew Jackson stated:

"That book, Sir, is the Rock upon which our republic rests."


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DAY 14 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (FALSE PROPHETS) - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7

Matthew 7:15-16 (The Voice Bible)

15 Along the way, watch out for false prophets. They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath that quaint and innocent wool, they are hungry wolves. 16 But you will recognize them by their fruits. You don’t find sweet, delicious grapes growing on thorny bushes, do you? You don’t find delectable figs growing in the midst of prickly thistles.

DAY 14 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7


When WHY Isn’t Answered
Posted on May 31, 2012 by katherine


Are you like me and have asked God some serious questions of “Why” something happened. And, to make matters worse- no answer was given? It seemed you were going along in life just fine, doing your best to live for God. Until, all of a sudden, like a whirlwind, everything around you was completely devastated.

I know another person who can relate- Job. Job had some horrible un-imaginable things happen in his life. It says that Job lived righteously & loved God. He was doing everything right, yet he lost his family, everything he owned, and suffered horrendous physical things like: boils (2:7), itching (2:8), drastic change of appearance (2:12), worms and running sores (7:5), corroding bones and gnawing pain (30:17), blackened skin and fever (30:30), and this happened over several months (7:3; 29:2).

Can you imagine going through all of that and still being able to say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job 13:15 KJV

I am learning even though I don’t understand and may never completely understand the “Whys” God is so faithful and He can be trusted. We must continue trusting God no matter what may come our way. His mercies are new every morning!

God has such a compassionate heart for us, and I believe God sees and understands our tears, mourning, and even emotional break downs. But, in the midst of it all, we must not let our mouths sin against God. Resolve in your mind & with your mouth that you will continue trusting God and believing everything will work out for your good. The devil wants us to give up and sin against God with our mouths. The Bible says that Job didn’t sin with his lips against God. Instead, he said, “…The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

You may feel like giving up right now. I want to encourage you with a scripture from Galatians 6, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don’t give up.”

Look at the harvest Job reaped for not giving up. He was rewarded to an even better wealthy state, a bigger family and his daughters were the most beautiful in the land, Job went on to live one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

I see great reward coming! Join me in shouting from the rooftops: Blessed be the Name of the Lord and don’t worry about the “Why’s”. In fact, let the “Why’s” go in Jesus Name! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” Job 13:15 KJV

DAY 14 - DAILY PRAYER (GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS) - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7

All Knowing Father God,

Thank You for allowing us to know You Father; to know Your Son, and to have the very indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within us.  You have set us apart for Yourself, and away from this world in which we live.  You have named us, and have counted each hair upon our head in great love for us.  With this great love, You have called us to follow You to the end of time...to stand upon the rock of salvation, and to not lose our footing. To hold tightly to Your truths, and to not become imitators of the world. How then Father is it that the enemy comes against us in the form of false prophets?  How is it that the enemy tries to steal us away from Your grasp, even to the end of our time here on earth?  Your word has warned us against false prophets (teachers), and the appearance that they may take to lure us away from Your truths.  They come in the form of great spectacles - television celebrities, sports figures, government leaders, and the wealthy.  Their very talk can often lead us away from the safety of Your fold, straight into the schemes of the enemy.  Their promises of 'miracles' and a 'new life' should cause fear in our hearts, but we are often mesmerized by their captivating image and flowing speech.  Father, help us to see them for what they really are, and to filter out their lies through the truth of Your word.  When they tell us that we can be healed through Eastern practices and rituals, or made joyful through meditation and self exploration, allow the light of truth to uncover their true scheme.  Help us to weed out the deception of idolizing these agents of the enemy, and allow our focus to lock onto the one true lover of our souls, Your son Jesus Christ.  May those with an agenda of deception that come into our lives be opposed by Your might. May the enemy be defeated, and his plans to kill, steal, and destroy be overthrown in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Wally Ziolo
Founder - 40DAYPRAYER4USA
Lancaster, Ohio USA