Mood:  special

Many people believe that piling up good works makes them right with the Lord. Yet death is the only payment for sin that can satisfy divine justice. (Romans 6:23) Since we all transgress, this leaves us in a desperate situation facing an eternity apart from God.

Grace, the expression of divine love and kindness to the utterly undeserving, prompted the solution. God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. According to Romans 10:9, all we need to do is believe and accept Jesus into our hearts. Jesus' death satisfied God's justice and brought us:

New Life. Our spirit is made alive in Christ the moment we acknowledge that we are sinners, turn from our rebelliousness, and believe that His death paid for our sin - debt in full.

Freedom. At salvation, sin's power over us is broken, and we are set free from slavery to its hold. Jesus raised us up out of the quagmire of disobedience and gave us the faith to believe. Now we can exercise our newfound freedom and follow Him.

Security. When we accept God's judgment that we are sinners by nature and acknowledge our Savior's sacrifice as payment for our sins, we are permanently adopted into the heavenly Father's family. Our status changes instantly: once objects of wrath, we are now children of God. Someday we will be seated in the heavenly realms with Christ to enjoy life everlasting with Him.

God, the very one against whom we rebelled, substituted His Son Jesus in our place to receive the punishment that was rightfully ours. How will you show your gratitude to God for His saving grace?

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:47 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink

Mood:  special

Dear Friend,

This letter is coming to you from the future. I write today from the America your children or grandchildren will be living in just a few short decades from now.

It is my heartbreaking duty to report that things are not good here. You see, marriage as we understand it ceased to exist some time ago. And because marriage served as the underlying foundation for our civilization, things here are much, much less civilized.

America chose to follow Canada and Europe down the path of high divorce rates, low marriage rates and gay marriage. These unavoidably opened the door to legalized polygamy and polyamory (group marriage). Soon the very term marriage had been "expanded" into meaninglessness.

Without the stable structure of the traditional family for bringing up children, we produced several generations of broken, dysfunctional adults. Here in the future, America is neither great nor strong. Living standards have plummeted. Crime is rampant.

I wish I could tell you that the America your children and grandchildren inherited was a good place to live—but it isn't. And the truly tragic part is that it was avoidable.

You see, back in 2006 America stood at a crossroads...a tipping point...

Our Unique Position
Of course, I can't actually travel to the future and write to you from there. But the future I have just described is very real nonetheless. It is surely headed our way unless you and I seize the opportunities God has given us in this hour. 

Yes, on one hand Hollywood is doing its part to try to "normalize" homosexual marriage, gay adoption, and "alternative" forms of family composition. For example, you may not have heard much about "polyamory" (group marriage) but, trust me, you will.

HBO has a new celebrated series called Big Love which follows the trials and stresses of a polygamist man with three wives. Conservative social observers like Stanley Kurtz of the Hudson Institute have been warning us for some time that the gay marriage movement was just the tip of the spear.

He has predicted that the same arguments currently being put forth to sell gay marriage will quickly be followed by moves to legitimize polygamy and polyamory.

But at the very same moment in time, God has placed MarriageToday in a unique and powerful position to get the word out. That word is — marriage, done God's way, can not only work, but is our very best hope for happiness, fulfillment and successful children.

God has positioned MarriageToday as the only nationwide television broadcast wholly dedicated to presenting the truth about marriage.

I know in my heart that if we can continue and expand this mission, we can win this battle for marriage in America. We can rewrite that bleak future for our grandchildren!

But this battle won't be won in the voting booth (though, political involvement is indeed important). The tide won't be turned by writing angry letters to our congressmen (but they should certainly hear from you).

No, we can only win as we reach the homes and hearts of average, struggling Americans. And God has positioned MarriageToday to do just that.

God's Answers
For 12 years now, I've been using television to bring you and others powerful, biblical answers. Answers that have rescued marriages in crisis; kept kids' parents together; and helped make good marriages truly great.

They've worked because they are not my answers. They're God's.

But for most of those 12 years, we were only on a few stations and networks. Nevertheless our weekly television program bore remarkable fruit. The letters, calls and emails we received each week proved it.

But the truth is, marriages aren't under attack just one day a week. Or in just a few scattered cities. It's under attack every single day, all across this nation!

That's why, in the face of this national crisis, we recently expanded our reach and frequency in a dramatic way.

At great expense, we have risen up to face this marriage crisis. We are raising up a standard to prevent that dark future for our children I described in the opening of this letter.

The Time is Now!
In this battle, our inspiration, our mission, our rallying cry, has been this scripture:

When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)

Truly, there is a flood of demonic forces pouring in against your family, and against countless other families across this nation. But I'm encouraged to report that God is indeed raising up a standard against this onslaught.

And I'm so humbled that God has chosen this ministry to be key a part of that upraised standard.

But Karen and I can't do it without you.

Be a Part of Rewriting Future History
It's our families and friends who are under attack. It's our neighbors and coworkers. Our fellow Americans. We have to reach these people. And we will.

When I say "we," I mean "you and me." Karen and I need you to help us help you, and hundreds of thousands of others, win this battle.

Specifically, I need your help in bringing MarriageToday with Jimmy & Karen to the widest possible audience before it's too late. Here in the middle of the most critical year for marriage in our nation's history, Karen and I need you to make the most generous gift you possibly can.

Together, we will be a part of something that has the potential to impact this nation in extraordinary ways.

As I've said, Karen and I cannot do this alone. But together, we can keep this country from sliding down a slippery slope into chaos and despair. But only if we act now.

I need you to make an extraordinary, sacrificial gift to this cause. It will be a sacrifice in the service of future generations and to the countless couples who will receive help and hope right now — because you gave.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Evans
"Your family has a great future!"

P.S.   As a token of our thanks for your gift, I'd like to send you my new 4-disc audio seminar called The Fig Leaf Conspiracy (a $25 value). These powerful sessions will expose Satan's hidden strategy for undermining your marriage and equip you to disarm those attacks—particularly in the area of sexual intimacy and fulfillment.

http://www.marriagetoday.org

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:11 AM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 6 August 2006 8:20 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink

Mood:  amorous

One of the most important issues in marriage is being able to be honest and say how we feel.  Honesty is an essential element of intimacy.  Honesty also means we are dealing with issues as they arise so anger isn't building under the surface.  Being honest and giving our spouse the ability to be honest without fear of paying a price for that honesty is crucial.

That being said the question then becomes -- what happens when you are honest and your spouse doesn't agree with something you've said?  For example, let's say you are bothered by your spouse's spending habits and tell them so.  In response, he or she says you're wrong and it's your problem.

You see, even though you are honest, it doesn't mean you're not going to have any problems or are going to like the honesty.  In fact, it always means you're going to have to deal with some unpleasant truth.  Dealing with these types of things properly is important in keeping your relationship healthy and the lines of communication open.

When you express how you feel and your spouse doesn't agree or doesn't respond in a positive manner the worst thing you can do is try to enforce your opinion.  Let's go back to our example.  Let's say you tell your spouse you don't agree with their spending habits and they don't agree with you.  The wrong thing to do is to verbally assault them, call them names, withdraw or punish them until they agree with you and change.

If you try to enforce your opinions that is control.  It will always result in your spouse resenting you and withdrawing emotionally.  He or she will also learn it is not safe to be honest with you.

For honesty to occur in a safe environment, we need to be able to share how we feel without being punished, shamed or browbeaten. Once we've shared and haven't agreed, then the thing we must do is take the issues to God in prayer.  Only God can change hearts and help us understand things on a higher level.

When we pray, we are asking God to change our spouse or to show us our problems.  Either way, no damage will be done to the open and loving spirit of our relationship.  Also, we are inviting God into our marriage to be the glue that holds us together.

Without trusting in God, marriage will inevitably become a battle of wills. You won't be able to have a loving and honest relationship because control and manipulation will prevent it from happening.

All of us need honest relationships.  It is crucial. However, that honesty must be combined with a trust in God and a commitment to let Him be the enforcer of truth.

Blessings,

Jimmy Evans

http://www.marriagetoday.org

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:08 AM CDT

Updated: Saturday, 5 August 2006 8:17 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink

Mood:  amorous

There is an odd truth concerning love and marriage. Understanding it is an important key in making marriage and other relationships work.  The truth is this -- we don't have the ability to really love without the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit is, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...".  According to this scripture, we don't have the capacity to love without God giving us that ability as we surrender to Him.

So how are people able to "love" when they don't know God?  They can't. At least they are not able to love with God's type of love.  God's love is a special love the Bible calls "agape".   It is a love that flows out of the will and does not change.  It is the most stable and predictable kind of love and the only type that can provide a lasting foundation in marriage.

Often, when people say they love someone, they are just talking about sexual desire (the Greek word "eros" where we get the word erotic) or a passionate feeling ("thumos" where we get our thermos).  These kinds of feelings come and go. When they go for very long, many people give the old line "I don't love you anymore" and are out the door.

Agape love, however, is a committed and sacrificial love that is modeled after Jesus.  When Jesus tells us He loves us, He isn't talking about a feeling that comes and goes.  He is telling us He is committed to us forever and will not change.  Whether His feelings for us are positive or negative, it doesn't change His commitment to us.

We really need to consider what we mean when we tell our spouse, "I love you".  Are we saying that we are experiencing a fleeting feeling or are we saying we are committed to him or her forever and will demonstrate love regardless of bad feelings or negative circumstances?  It isn't wrong to express a feeling, as long as when that feeling isn't there any more, you can still say "I love you," and do the right thing regardless of the situation.

People controlled by their emotions are unreliable, and their moodiness can do a lot of damage to relationships. The most stable and dependable people in relationships are those who are submitted to the influence of the Holy Spirit.  They are powered by a supernatural love that will do the right thing through thick and thin.

Ask God to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit.  He never intends for us to go around trying to love people out of the shallow well of our own emotions.  The ocean of His love is always available to any of us who would just admit our weaknesses and depend upon Him.  His agape love is the highest love and will transform any person, relationship or marriage under its influence.


Blessings,

Jimmy Evans

http://www.marriagetoday.org/

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 9:00 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink

Mood:  amorous

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. And happy are all who retain her.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; In His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes- Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of the trouble that comes from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.”

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of the word.

- Pastor John C. Hagee

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:59 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink

Mood:  amorous

Ministry isn't something we do, but rather, it is something God does through us. So much fatigue and failure could be avoided if believers remembered that He is the source of strength. We serve Him using Spirit - provided resources. "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass," promises the Word. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) This means that the Lord assumes responsibility for enabling His children to carry out whatever work He calls them to do. The Savior exemplifies this principle - He also did His earthly work through divine power. Upon His return from the wilderness, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and He came preaching a Gospel of repentance. Here is what He said of Himself: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works" (John 14:10).

As co - heirs with Christ, believers are entitled to access that same spiritual strength. What a comfort to know that a divinely ordained ministry is not in our hands alone! Some other person may be able to do the work better or offer wider experience, but God does not look for servants who are gifted. He instead seeks out those willing to live in His strength. If we have done all we can through the power of the Holy Spirit, then we never have to wonder if we have done enough. Are you discouraged? Tired? Ready to give up? God is ready to restore you to joyful service if you will simply ask Him to do His work through you.

Posted by Prophecies Of Revelation at 8:51 AM CDT

Share This Post

Permalink