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Walk. Keep. Do.

Sometimes we go through life, praying very hard for something that matters deeply to us and we wonder why God doesn’t answer.  Sometimes, we feel like God is far away in way-off-distant Heaven. And sometimes, we feel as if God doesn’t care about what we are going through. When we hit these snags in life, it’s usually a good idea to stop and take a self inventory of where we are spiritually. Are we living obediently? Are we radiating Christ? Do we spend time in Bible study and prayer? Do we walk God’s statutes, keep His commandments, and do them?

The “If…Then” promises

God told Israel that IF they walked in His statues, kept His commandments, and do them, THEN they would see the blessings of God in their lives. We can’t go through life living any way we want to and expect God to bless the mess we make in the process. We have to live obedient lives to Him and to His commandments…and dowhat His Word says.

My dad once used a sermon illustration about a woman who decided that everything she came to something in the Bible that she didn’t like, she’d just cut that section out. We can’t name and claim all the promises and choose to ignore all the warnings and commands. God is an “all or nothing” God. It only takes one sin for you to become a sinner – and it doesn’t matter if that sin is telling a small lie or committing a felony. Only one sin and we are out of fellowship with God.

Walk in My Statutes

If we want to walk in God’s statutes, we need to know what they are. Here are five statutes that God gives us in His Word:

  1. Love God (with your heart, soul, and might) Deuteronomy 6:1-9
  2. Listen to God’s voice and His commandments. Exodus 15:25-26
  3. Seek God entirely; focus on His commandments. Deuteronomy 6:1-9
  4. Do what God considers to be right; walk in God’s ways; commit no wrong. Psalm 119:1-8
  5. Obey God’s laws, testimonies, and righteous rules. Ezekiel 26:26-27

Keep my commandments

So we are to walk in God’s statutes, but we are also to keep His commandments. Aren’t these the same thing? When we look at the original Hebrew words, we can see the differences between the two: The word “Statute” is the Hebrew word Choq (Strong’s: H2706) It is a condition or civil enactment from God, an ordinance, a limit, or something prescribed. The word “requirement” could be used to define choq. So, a statute is a decree, requirement or boundary that God set in place for our good.

The word “commandment” is the Hebrew word “Mitsvah” (Strongs: H4687, from H6680) which means “a commandment of men or God, a commandment out of a code of wisdom. If we go back to the root word, “Tsavah” (H6680) we find a more helpful definition. Tsavah mean “to lay a charge upon”, “to command”, “to charge”, to give orders”, or “to appoint.” Using this, we can then see that a commandment is an order to do something, or a charge given to us to watch over and keep, and to follow.

Do Them

It’s one thing to read the Bible and know what it says. It’s a whole other matter to keep His commandment, and something else entirely to actually do what the Bible says. But James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” It isn’t enough to just know God’s Word. You have to do it. Satan probably knows the entire Bible from memory including the Table of Contents and dictionary and the concordance in the back. He doesn’t even need to glance at the maps in the back because he’s been roaming the earth seeking whom he can devour since the Garden of Eden. He probably knows it in every language and in every translation. But he will still spend eternity in hell. Knowing isn’t enough.

Walk. Keep. Do.

Only when we walk in His statutes, keep His commandments, and live obediently to His Word can we expect for God to bless us. When we are living according to His Word, then we are walking in His will and we will do what He’s planned for us to do. Whenever we are in God’s Will and walking in His way, then we can be assured that His blessings will come – even if we have to go through a trial or two first so that He can teach us something new.

What does your spiritual self-inventory look like today: Are you walking in His statutes, keeping His commandments, and doing them?

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For America to see revival, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says we are to seek God’s face. Jeremiah tells us that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our hearts.

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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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Prayers for Revival: Walk. Keep. Do.

by Julia Bruce
CEO & Keynote speaker

Big implications from a tiny word

There is a scene in Disney’s animated 1950’s Cinderella where Cinderella learns about the ball and her evil stepmothers agrees that Cinderella can go to the ball, IF she gets all her work done. IF. Just a small, two-letter word that packs lots of meaning. It’s a condition. Something else must be met, IF we are to get the desired thing. IF. Experiencing revival also comes with and if/then clause.

Does God See Our World? Does He Hear our prayers for Revival?

At times it can feel that we pray and pray and pray for God to send a revival and wonder why God doesn’t answer.  Sometimes, we feel like God is far away in way-off-distant Heaven. Sometimes, we feel as if God doesn’t care about what’s going on in our world. When we hit these snags in life, it’s usually a good idea to stop and take a self inventory of where we are spiritually. Are we living obediently? Do we radiate Christ? Are we spending time in Bible study and prayer? Are we walking in God’s statutes? Do we keep His commandments? Are we doing them? If not, then we can’t expect God to send a revival.

Has America Reached the Same point where revial isn’t possible?

In Jeremiah 11, God said to Jeremiah, “I warned your ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt and I’ve kept up the warnings. I haven’t quit warning them for a moment. I warned them from morning to night: “Obey me or else!” But they didn’t obey. They paid no attention to me. They did whatever they wanted to do, whenever they wanted to do it, until finally I stepped in and ordered the punishments set out in the covenant, which, despite all my warnings, they had ignored.” A verses later, God says, “And as for you, Jeremiah, I don’t want you praying for this people. Nothing! Not a word of petition. Indeed, I’m not going to listen to a single syllable of their crisis-prayers (MSG).

Certainly America can be described as a nation that does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, ignoring God. Despite being a nation founded on Godly, Biblical principles, we — Christians — have set by in idle complacency while little by little America has become the same cesspool of sin and immorality as Israel. If God would judge His chosen nation as strongly as He did, why does America think God would not judge them. Christian need to have a sense of urgency for a revival to move across our land before, like Israel, God chooses to longer hear our prayers for a revival. How bad to things have to get in our world before we fall on our knees, desperately seeking the face of God – We need a revival!

Liars leading the nation to sin

Once again in Jeremiah 14, we find God telling Jeremiah not to pray for Israel. “Don’t pray that everything will turn out all right for this people. When they skip their meals in order to pray, I won’t listen to a thing they say. When they redouble their prayers, bringing all kinds of offerings from their herds and crops, I’ll not accept them. I’m finishing them off with war and famine and disease.”

Jeremiah comes to their defense and says, “But Master, God! Their preachers have been telling them that everything is going to be all right — no war and no famine — that there’s nothing to worry about.” They had all come to believe that because of the temple that Solomon built for God that God resided there and that would prevent anything bad from every happing to them. Over the years, the covenant God made with his people went forgotten and it was traded out for living just like the rest of the world. However, because God is a God of grace and mercy He sent prophet and prophet calling the nation back to Him – but they rejected Him and chose to live their own way. And eventually their sin reached a point where God refused to send a revival.

America led away from God

We still have many God-appointed and God-led preachers in our nations who unashamedly preach the Word of God. But we also have some preachers today who preach incorrect doctrine and lead people astray. We also have politicians and other influential leaders would have us believe that we don’t need God. That living for God is “old-fashioned” and out dated. They change the laws so that they can live anyway they want without feeling guilt – but changing the laws doesn’t erase their guilt in the eyes of God. His laws do not change at the whim of man. And they will all be held accountable to God for their part in leading this nation away from God. With out a revival, we will only see more and more of our nations being led away from God.

Consequences for the Liars

After Jeremiah points out that Israel’s priests were responsible for leading them astray, God said, “These preachers are liars, and they use my name to cover their lies. I never sent them, I never commanded them, and I don’t talk with them. The sermons they’ve been handing out are sheer illusion, tissues of lies, whistlings in the dark. So this is my verdict on them: All the preachers who preach using my name as their text, preachers I never sent in the first place, preachers who say, ‘War and famine will never come here’ — these preachers will die in war and by starvation.”

The Covenant between God and Israel

God told Israel that IF they walked in His statues, kept His commandments, and do them, THEN they would see the blessings of God in their lives. We can’t go through life living any way we want to and expect God to bless the mess we make in the process. We have to live obedient lives to Him, keep His commandments…and do what His Word says.

You Can’t Keep what you like and throw the rest away

My dad once used a sermon illustration about a woman who decided that every time she came to something in the Bible that she didn’t like, she’d just cut that section out. Before long she didn’t have much of a Bible left. We can’t name and claim all the promises and choose to ignore all the warnings and commands. God is an “all or nothing” God. It only takes one sin for you to become a sinner – and it doesn’t matter if that sin is telling a small lie or committing a felony. Only one sin and we are out of fellowship with God and in need of a revival.

To see revival, America needs to return to walking in His Statutes

If America is to truly be “great again” then it will come through following God’s way – not the way of the world. We need leaders who will stand up for Christ and lead our nation back to living in a way that honors and glorifies God rather than what honors and glorifies self. Our nation needs to return to Biblical foundation this nation was built on and be a nation that is under God once again. That will only happen as we walk in God’s statutes given to us in His Word.

To see revival, America needs to keep His commandments

Most of us know the 10 Commandments. But not so many years ago, it was decided to remove the presence of anything that had these Commandments from any government building – as if removing them would someone negate them or make them non-existent. Whether they are posted or not, they still exist and each one of us will one day stand before God who will measure our lives based on these commandments.

As important as the 10 Commandments are, the Bible is full of commandments and instructions for how God wants us to live. We need to honor life and recognize that each and every life is a unique creation of God and make abortion illegal. We need to honor God through the marriage union as one man and one woman. America needs to keep God’s commandments.

To see revival, America needs to do what God says

It’s one thing to read the Bible and know what it says. It’s a whole other matter to keep His commandment and do what the Bible says. But James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” It isn’t enough to just know God’s Word. You have to do it. Satan probably knows the entire Bible from memory including the Table of Contents and dictionary and the concordance in the back. He probably knows it in every language and in every translation. But he will still spend eternity in hell. Knowing isn’t enough.

Revival prerequisite

Only when we keep God’s commandments and live obediently to His Word and follow His instructions can we expect for God to bless us. When we are living according to His Word, then we are walking in His will and we will do what He’s planned for us to do. Whenever we are in God’s Will and walking in His way, then we can be assured that His blessings will come – even if we have to go through a trial or two first so that He can teach us something new.

The same is true if our nation is to see a revival. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people [that’s Christians!] who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, then I will hear them from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.” However, the danger we currently face is our nation reaching the same point as Israel did and God becoming so fed up that he refuses to hear our cries of repentance and judgement comes.

Today’s Revival Prayer

Father, we, your people called by your name, humbly bow before you crying out to you and seeking your face on behalf of America. We have fallen into the same state of sin as Israel and Lord, we need a revival – a calling of God’s people to return to you – to get up out of idle complacency and see the urgency and need for You to be God once again in this nation. Father, hear us from heaven, forgive our sins – both as a nation and as individuals – and heal this land. May American once again bring you honor and glory and be a light to the world of your unending and lavish grace towards those who humbly repent and seek you with all their heart, mind and soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

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 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

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Confidence of knowing Christ (2 Timothy 1:12)

by Julia Bruce
CEO, Author, and Conference Speaker

If you are familiar with the old hymns in Baptist Churches, you probably sang 2 Timothy 1:12 more often than reading it. I couldn’t help but sing it as I typed it, but maybe that’s because of all the years I played piano in church. Sometimes we sing these older songs that we have grown up with so often that the meaning of the words get lost. In other words, we sing them without taking the time to contemplate what we are singing. Yet those old songs, grounded in the truths of the Bible, hold so much of God’s promises to us.

Waiting for execution, Paul still has confidence of knowing Christ

The small book of 2 Timothy in the New Testament, is Paul’s second letter to his “son in the faith,” Timothy, giving him the encouragement that he could live with the confidence of knowing Christ. It was most likely written while Paul was in prison waiting for his execution. When you take that into consideration, the words Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12, have an even deeper meaning. In this verse, Paul gives Timothy two reasons that he is not ashamed for the sufferings he has endured, even his pending death.

Confidence in knowing whom I have believed

Paul says, “I know whom I have believed.” This isn’t like the weatherman on TV knowing what tomorrow’s weather is going to be like. He can take all the meteorological data available to him and make an educated guess, but he can not tell us with certainty what the weather will be like tomorrow. God is in control of the weather and one little adjustment of wind can change the weather’s entire prediction.

For Paul, when he said, “I know” he has 100% – all in – certainty of who he has placed his faith and trust in. He knows who he has believed in – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

Confidence without doubts

There isn’t any doubt in Paul’s mind about his faith or who Jesus is. From the moment he met Jesus on the Damascus Road, Paul was 100% sold out to advancing the gospel of Christ. He endured beatings, chains, loneliness, persecutions, and prison because of his faith in Christ. He also had a pretty good idea that he would not leave this prison alive. Yet in Philippians 3:8-10, Paul wrote to the church at Philippi:

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Risking it all for the Gospel is worth it

To Paul, everything he endured for the sake of the gospel was worth knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection. Because of his certainty of whom he had believed, Paul was not afraid to die. I imagine like most of us, it wasn’t that he wished to die, but he also wasn’t afraid. He knew his eternity would be with the one in whom he had believed.

Confidence in knowing Christ is able to keep and protect our souls

The second thing Paul said to Timothy was that he believed Christ was able to keep what Paul had committed to him against that day. Paul had confidence that God would both protect the gospel once Paul had died and that God would protect his soul.

Paul knew that the sovereign, omnipotent God would, in all His power, keep his soul safe and he was at peace with himself and God as he awaited the moment his life on earth would end.

To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote:

“For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands…So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight, and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. ” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-8)

Paul knew the very second that his soul stepped out of the earthly confines of his human body he would be in heaven with Jesus.

Confidence in Christ’s return

So Paul is confident in whom he believes in and he knew that his eternal soul was in the safe keeping of the one in whom he believed. But what is the day that Paul is talking about when he says, “against that day?” Paul is referring to the “day of the Lord.” This is a day in future history that has not yet occurred. It is the day that Christ returns to earth “like a thief in the night” (Zephaniah 1:14-15, 2 Thessalonians 2:2). The writers of the New Testament was looking for this day even back then. Yet here we are now, in 2020, and “the day of the Lord” has not happened.

Based on how people live today, I believe that Christians have lost their expectations of this day. We don’t live our lives each day as if today could be the day that Christ returns and gathers all the believers in the moment, in a twinkling of an eye.   

If Christ were to return ten minutes from now, what would you be doing? Would you be ashamed of what you were doing in that moment? We need to be ready – expectantly ready – always watching, for Christ could come at any moment.

Do you have Paul’s confidence?

Can you say with the same confidence that Paul did that you know whom you have believed? Do you have as much faith and trust as Paul did that Christ will keep and safeguard your soul until the day that he returns? If not,  2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “today is the day of salvation.”

Don’t wait. Christ could return before you finish reading this post. Make your confidence in Christ as certain as Paul’s. If you need to have Paul’s kind of confidence, pray the prayer below:

Dear God, I need you. I am humbly calling out to you. I’m tired of doing things my way and I want to have the same kind of confidence in You that Paul did. I confess that I am a sinner and ask you to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin. Help me to live according to your Word and follow Your plan for my life. I surrender all that I am to you – my faults, failures, sin, dreams, and hopes – and invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to trust you, love you, serve you, and live my life for your glory. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that with a sincere heart, then you can now have the same confidence as Paul. If you are not already part of a local, evangelical church, I encourage you to find one and talk with the pastor about the prayer you just prayed. He can help direct you in your next steps as a child of God – and welcome to the family, dear brother or sister.

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New in the shop this week:

Give Thanks

Our Fall Designs

  • Autumn Vibes
  • Fall for Jesus – He never leaves
  • Thankful plaid pumpkin
  • Pumpkin Spice Season-Hello Fall – Happy Fall Yall
  • Cutest ‘lil Pumpkin

Yes! We have Christmas designs, too!

  • Joy to the World
  • Holly Jolly Christmas
  • Sleigh Bells Ring
  • Merry Christmas

Here are some of our favorite designs:

  • I’m only talking to Jesus today
  • Known Loved Worthy Enough Chosen Child of God
  • Revive Us Again, Lord
    Revive us again, Lord
  • Walk by faith
  • Grace wins
  • 2021 Trailer – All things possible – Be still – It’s fine
  • Large view 2021 Trailer – All things possible – Be still – It’s fine
  • Way Maker
  • Walk by Faith
  • Script Unstoppable God
  • Print Unstoppable God
  • Unstoppable Force
  • Steps of a Good Man
  • Something New
  • Seek and Find
  • Revive Us Again
  • Resist the Devil
  • Raise a Hallelujah
  • Prayer Warrior
  • Beloved- Mr and Mrs
  • Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan
  • Man of God
  • He Left 99 for Me
  • Cast All Your Cares
  • Giants
  • Faith over Fear
  • Faith Can Move Mountains
  • Don’t Worry
  • Don’t Quit
  • Created to Praise
  • All things are Possible
  • Air Force
  • What the Lord Requires
  • Test positive for faith
  • Test positive for faith
  • Living for the world to see Jesus

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

Westbow logo
Christian book logo
amazon logo
Barnes and Nobel logo
walmart logo


 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

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2 Kings 17:13-14. Stiff Necks

May 16 2 kings 17 13-14

God sent prophet after prophet to Israel to warn them to turn back to Him and to leave the idolatrous worship they had chosen over Him. While the Bible shows brief periods of turning back to Him while there was a king ruling that followed after God, most of the kings chose to forsake God. Throughout the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, we see king after king and it can almost become monotonous reading through these books. However, there are some important lessons we can learn.

The first lesson is that a nation’s leader sets the spiritual atmosphere of the entire nation.May 16 ctt  If the person in charge of Israel followed after God, the nation followed after God and they saw blessings from God. However, even the good kings that followed God did not completely wipe out idolatry from the nation which always left a door open for the nation to revert back to idol worship. We also see that whenever the king chose to forsake God, the nation experienced attacks, famine, and other calamities. Unfortunately for the Children of Israel, they had more kings following idolatry than they did kings that followed God.

May 16 ctt2The second lesson we learn is that a nation’s leader sets the moral compass of the entire nation. Whenever we see an evil king that forsakes God, we find the people following the king in the same behaviors and practices. If the king practice idolatry, so did the people. If the king sacrificed his own child to a false god, so did the people. They practiced witchcraft, soothsaying and “sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him to anger” (2 Kings 17: 17). And in 2 Kings 17:13-14, we find that they did not follow God’s commandments and statutes. If the king’s heart was bent towards sin and evil, so was the people’s.

Today, we can learn from what the Bible tells us about Israel’s kings and understand just how important the right to vote is. As a democracy, we the people choose who will be the leader of our nation and as Christians, we have the responsibility to learn all we can about the candidates running for any political office. We also have a responsibility to pray for them once in office – even if it’s not the person we voted for.

The third lesson we can learn is that turning away from God always has consequences. It wasn’t like God didn’t warn the nation. He did – time and time again through prophet after prophet. Yet they chose not hear God’s warnings. They stubbornly chose to live like the rest of the world around them. Finally, God had enough and the Assyrians conquer them and carry them away as captives. The Israelites lost the Promised Land.

These lessons can be applied to nations or to any leader. If you are a supervisor with a team of people under your supervision, you set the tone for your team and how they will treat each other and work together. If you are a pastor, how you lead the church you have been called to we affect the spiritual and moral climate of that body of believers. We need to be leaders of integrity and leading those under our responsibility to follow God’s commands and statutes. 

Because God is merciful, He does offer us the chance to change. The Israelites had prophets sent by God to bring conviction. Today, God works through the Holy Spirit that dwells within Christians to bring conviction. He can also send people into our lives to convict us when we are living outside of His will. It might be through the words of a friend, a sermon from the pastor, a devotional on a website, or a song on the radio. The Israelites had the opportunity to turn back to God, and when we are living in sin, we also have the choice of repenting and turning back to God or we can be like Israel and stiffen our necks and stubbornly continue in the sin. But if we continue sinning God will eventually say, “Enough!” and He will step in with consequences. 

What sin are you stubbornly hanging on to? Will you be a stiff-necked person with an unrepentant heart? Or will you listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and turn back to God? If you are a leader or pastor, are you leading with integrity and Godly principles that direct people to God?

ctt verse of the day

#stiffnecked #leadwithintegrity

may divider 2020

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Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

memory verse logo

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

This week’s memory verse:

Hosea 14:1-2

Israel, return to Yahweh your God,
for you have stumbled in your sin.
 Take words of repentance with you
and return to the Lord.
Say to Him: “Forgive all our sin
and accept what is good,
so that we may repay You
with praise from our lips.

 #unfailing love #repentance #COVID19 #revival #WCM

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385361: God Bless the USA Heart Plaque God Bless the USA Heart Plaque

By Barbara Lloyd / Blossom Bucket Inc

Red, white and blue Americana Patriotic heart wall sign

  • Names of all the states on the stripes
  • Designed by Barbara Lloyd
  • Bold star embellishment
  • 12″ x 11.75″
  • For home, office, cottage; Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Patriotic event
  • God Bless the USA
46467X: One Nation Under God, Land of the Free, Canvas Framed Art One Nation Under God, Land of the Free, Canvas Framed Art

By Carpentree, Inc
464691: God Bless America, Canvas Framed Art God Bless America, Canvas Framed Art

By Carpentree, Inc

Vintage Patriotic Collection of fine wall art, with frayed natural canvas above a striped art backdrop.13″ x 19″ clean and contemporary dark frameVintage style in trend, patriotic look. Textured appeal. Star-printed shape of the United States of America; God bless AmericaPowerful patriotic wall accent.
254977: Soldier"s Prayer Figure Soldier’s Prayer Figure

By Dicksons

Beautifully detailed figurine, kneeling soldier in prayer on realistic wood-look base, features a plaque with engraved prayer by Alda Maria. Resin figure; 4.5″ x 5.75″; packaged in colored gift box. Hear Our Prayer Collection.A Soldier’s Prayer
When I put on my uniform Lord, please help me be a soldier who’s commited to life and liberty. As I pray for this great nation, and for every soul’s salvation, please equip me, Lord, I pray to fight the good fight every day. Give our leaders wisdom, Lord, if war becomes a must, may they only choose to fight for a cause that’s just. When the day is over, Lord, most of all I pray, that You will keep in perfect peace Your servants in harm’s way. Amen.
035431: John 8:36, Liberty Cross with American Flag John 8:36, Liberty Cross with American Flag

By Carpentree, Inc

Printers’ Block Collection of fine inspirational gifts; wall decor with the raised, dimensional detail of lettering in artisan styles, combined creatively for display in your home.

  • Wall cross with patriotic American flag
  • John 8:36 Liberty
  • 10″ tall
461418: God Bless America, Small Flag God Bless America, Small Flag

By Tina Wenke / Carson Home Accents

  • Art flag God Bless America
  • Tina Wenke
  • Garden Flag; 13″ x 18″
  • Durasoft fabric is extremely durable; Indoor or outdoor use
  • Readable from both sidesPlease note: We have displayed this flag on a stand so our customers can see how it will look. Please order a flag stand separately since it is not included with the flag.
553412: God Bless America, Small Applique Flag God Bless America, Small Applique Flag

By Carson Home Accents

  • God bless America
  • Carson
  • Small Applique Flag; 13″ x 18″
  • Durasoft fabric is extremely durable; Indoor or outdoor use
  • Readable from both sides
  • American pride colorsPlease note: We have displayed this flag on a pole so our customers can see how it will look. Please order a flag pole separately since it is not included with the flag.
089104: God Bless America Tie God Bless America Tie

By Eagles Wings

Proudly show-off your love for God and country with this beautiful patriotic tie! Features God Bless America on a stars and stripes background; 100% silk; dry clean only.
9115250: God Bless America, Photo Frame God Bless America, Photo Frame

By Carson Home Accents

Photo frame in patriotic stars and stripes design

  • Wood composite with glass
  • Velvet easel back for desktop display; sawtooth hanger for wall display
  • 8″ x 8″
  • For 4″ x 6″ horizontal photo
  • God Bless America
243171: God Bless America Pie Plate God Bless America Pie Plate

By Divinity Boutique

Serve up Americana at your summer table. Glossy blue 10″ fluted ceramic pie plate with red, white and blue inspirational design. God Bless America…”Bless is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. Microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.American as apple pie, or whatever your favorite is; rustic farmhouse charm for the kitchen.

Patriotic pie plate
243233: America, God Shed His Grace On Thee Hanging Jar America, God Shed His Grace On Thee Hanging Jar

By Divinity Boutique

Decorative mason jar with vintage wire hanger handle, trimmed in rustic red white and blue with stars; patriotic quote God Bless America. Glass jar is 6″ x 3″; may be used as a tealight holder, snacks, or home decorNot for microwave or dishwasher, but a country accent for your counter, shelf, or desktop
043680: God Bless America Wall Cross God Bless America Wall Cross

By Carpentree, Inc
491422: Bless Our Nation (Constitution) Small Flag Bless Our Nation (Constitution) Small Flag

By Russ Cannizzaro / Carson Home Accents

Garden-size flag design, readable from both sides

  • Patriotic motif with checkered border
  • Primitive American flag with quote from the preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
  • Bless Our Nation
  • By Russ Cannizzaro
  • 12.5″ x 18″ garden size art flag
  • Flag stand shown is for display purposes only.

And of course we’ve included our CEO’s book:

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God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press
There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

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Luke 24:32. Encountering the Living God

May 5 Luke 24 32

In Bible days, walking was one of the most basic modes of transportation. Today, we might drive or fly or perhaps even take a train, but we usually do something to pass the time. In a trip to Pigeon Forge a few months back, we were keeping track of each license plate to see if we could see one from every state. It’s also time to just talk and fellowship with those traveling with you. In Luke 24, we have two men on the Road to Emmaus and to pass the time on their journey, they were discussing all that had happened in Jerusalem. Perhaps one of the hardest walks to take, is one that leads away from a grave – and that what these two men were doing. Jesus had been crucified, died, and buried and now they were on their way to Emmaus. They probably were confused, sad, questioning, and grieving over the lost of Jesus – but this walk would be a life-changing walking. We don’t know much about these two mean, other than one of them is named Cleopas. 

As Cleopas and his friend were walking, a third man walked up and joined them in their journey. It was Jesus, but the Bible tells us in verse 16 that Jesus kept them from recognizing who He was. As Jesus joins them, He asks what they are talking about. They probably were shocked that this newcomer hadn’t heard already. But as they tell what they knew, we can see that they really didn’t get why Jesus had to die. They, like many others, viewed the Messiah as someone that would overthrow the government and restore the nation of Israel to its former glory under King David. 

Another thing we can assume is that Cleopas and his friend left Jerusalem before the news spread that Jesus was no longer dead and his disciples were saying He had be raised to life again. We can assume they didn’t know this news because if they had they would not have been walking AWAY from the tomb – but running TOWARDS it to see for themselves. 

Knowing they didn’t get it, Jesus gives a slight rebuke saying, “You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.” But its important to note that Jesus doesn’t shake his head, fed up with their lack of understanding and walk away. Instead begins to explain all the Old Testament prophecies that led up to his birth, life, dead, and resurrection. 

The more Jesus taught the more curious they become – they wanted to know more. So they invited Jesus to stay for dinner and Jesus continued to teach them. Then in verses 30-32 Jesus turns the tables and He becomes the host. He reaches for the bread, blessed it and broke it and began serving them. It was in that moment as they watched what they had seen him do before, that they realized who he was. Jesus! He had been dead – but now He’s alive and they had been with him all day. Now they understood why they felt this burning within them while Jesus was with them and teaching them.

What is it like for you when your pastor preaches each Sunday? What is it like when you read the Bible? What is it like when you are sitting in your small group studying God’s Word? Are you bored and spend more time looking at your watch to see how much time is left then actually listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say to you? Do you read the Bible more as a check mark in the to-do box? Or does your heart burn within you to know Jesus more? 

The thing about encountering the Living God, is He will always leave you wanting to know more, yearning for a little more time with Him. If that’s not what your Bible study and worship time is like, try getting alone with the Holy Spirit and ask Him what’s blocking the road in your spiritual journey.

ctt verse of the day

#roadtoEmmaus #lifechangingwalk #encounteringthelivingGod #WCM

may divider 2020

 

revive renew redeem

news and events

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

As of May 4, there have been 68,063 deaths in the U.S. and 250,435 have died world-wide. For the most current data regarding the virus, visit the John Hopkins University website.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for West Virginia:

West Virginia

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

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Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

memory verse logo

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

 

This week’s memory verse:

1 John 3:4

“Everyone who practices sin 
also practices lawlessness;
and sin is lawlessness”

 

 #sin #COVID19 #prayer #revival #WCM

 

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