Who's Closer to God - the Missionary in Africa or the Business Woman in Europe!

 

Who’s More Blessed?—The Missionary or the Business Woman?--And the Guilt Factor       by  Jacki Scott

Recently I had something that rocked my religious boat. I was talking with a close friend who has a business in Italy which has had many ups and downs, turn-arounds and a fair share of struggles. Business has been down since Covid, she had to move out of her house, she had to find a new warehouse for the business, issues with unreliable people making the product plagued her, finding clients, finances were stressful, the country’s economy, legal hoops to jump through compounding the complications. She’s probably not the only one who has experienced a similar dilemma. But as she prayed and called on others to pray with her the Lord took care of things: She found a new home AND a new warehouse very close together which was a miracle, business picked up, the Lord provided a sweet social media employee, plus clients and other helpful people. She gave the Lord ALL the credit. She spent many very desperate days in prayer petitioning her needs & pouring out her heart & feeling like she was at the bottom of a black & hopeless pit.

What was the result of this great desperation? One result was that of course the Lord answered. But there was something much greater than just answered prayer for a home, warehouse and a running business. He gave her a closeness to Him, a tight relationship, a bond of certainty that He’d take care of her, faith in His faithfulness, knowing He would always come through, putting Him first no matter what, gratitude and joy in His provision and love. Why does the Lord drag us through the mud of testing, anyway? Why the purge? Well, like someone has said, the Lord isn’t so much concerned about our  comfort than He is about growing our character. What does that mean?

The only thing we are going to take with us to Heaven are the souls we win and the character we develop here in our Earth journey. That’s it. And what develops our character, grows it and strengthens it? Tests and trials are the fast-track to growing and developing character and a wonderful relationship with the Lord.—Like Job. Basically Job was transformed from just a very rich businessman to someone who learned to put the Lord above all else & got to know Who God was & His character, so Job could in turn become like the Lord!—But he had to go to Hell and back to receive this priceless treasure.

So I thought to myself, “Here I am on the field, living by faith. Trying to put the Lord first, do what He wants me to do. I’m in a sensitive country and can’t openly witness but I try to be the Bible in shoe leather. But am I really that close to the Lord? My friend has drawn so close to the Lord & she’s got a job & sort of what we used to say is ‘in the system or world’. But who’s really closer to the Lord. My friend, or me? I thought I should be closer to the Lord because I’m on the field trying to live by faith. But am I really? What fruit do I have? How desperate have I been? How much time have I really been spending with Jesus? How much have I grown? How desperate have I been? How much do I really really love Him? Have I been loving others more over the last years?” Wow. I truly could not say I was a better “Christian,” even though I’m on the “field living by faith,” than my dear Sister who is in her home country and managing a business.

This helped me to see two things: 1) It’s not where you are that’s the most important, like being a missionary on the field, than where your heart is.   And 2) It doesn’t matter to the Lord what you’re doing—if you’re a missionary or business woman—because His end goal, no matter how we make our living, is to draw us closer to His heart, to develop a loving relationship with Him, and to be intimate with His Spirit. And maybe a job can bring us to that end result very well. And actually, someone with a “job” might be a lot closer to the Lord than me. This was a little shocking to me—and maybe you know that already, but I’m a little slow. It also helped me not judge people’s spirituality by what they’re doing. A missionary on the field living by faith may not have as close a relationship with the Lord than someone with a job.

The reason I’m writing this is because I think some people, or quite a few people, may have felt guilty that they returned to their home fields and got a job. They may have known in their heart that that was what the Lord wanted them to do, and they knew it was the Lord’s will, but peer pressure or other pressures may have made them feel guilty with the feeling that, “The Lord will bless you more if you’re on the field as a fulltime missionary.” It’s an attitude adjustment. The Lord can help us reach many souls if we’ve got a job. We can be a sample to the employees in our company. We can have a small group that we can invite neighbours and friends to. We can have on-line Bible classes.  In fact, in looking at the sad and sorry state of America and some of the Western countries, it seems they really need some returned missionaries to witness and win souls, to turn the tide of evil that is taking over and turn things around and bring light and truth back into the hearts of people.

The Lord never wants us to feel guilty. Our job is just to go where He wants us to go, be what He wants us to be—missionary or business woman--& if we’re just doing what He wants, where He wants, we will be fulfilling His will, we’ll be growing and pleasing Him & living out our calling and destiny.—Like Joseph in Egypt, like Daniel in Babylon. There might be a few pits, lion’s dens and burning furnaces, but the Lord will bring you out and take you to a whole new level with Him! Just stay close to Jesus—that’s the name of the game & give it your best shot no matter what!

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Você tem um marca-passo para ajudá-lo a terminar bem?

Por Jacki Scott editado por Dennis Edwards

Rezando para que cada um de vocês tenha o coração cheio de esperança para o início de mais um ano, e promessas de perseverar, para ir longe em 2023! Muito obrigado a todos vocês por suas orações, amor e apoio que trouxeram chuvas de misericórdia sobre as pessoas queridas aqui, ajudando-as com suas necessidades no ano passado. Estou anexando abaixo uma inspiração que o Senhor me deu sobre a importância dos marca-passos e espero que seja uma bênção para você. É uma orientação para mim este ano para me ajudar a correr bem! Te amo muito e estou orando por você!--Jacki

Marca-passos

Perguntei ao Senhor o que mais me ajudaria a fazer o meu melhor por Ele no próximo ano. Ele respondeu que eu precisava de um “marca-passo”. Há um incrível corredor de maratona no Quênia, Eliud Kipchoge, que correu a maratona (mais de 26 milhas) em menos de duas horas. Ninguém nunca tinha feito isso antes. Foi inédito! As pessoas diziam que era impossível. Como ele fez isso? Ele tinha 42 marca-passos. Cada marca-passo correu a velocidade exata que precisava para correr para quebrar a maratona de 2 horas. Eliud correu em 1:59:40. Era 20 segundos menos de 2 horas. Ele tinha 34 anos na época. Sozinho, ele nunca teria feito isso. Qual era o segredo dele? Os marco-passos eram seu segredo. O evento aconteceu em Viena em 2019, mas não foi reconhecido como recorde mundial oficial, pois foi estabelecido com uma equipe de marca-passos rotativos e não em uma competição aberta.

O que o Senhor me mostrou foi que precisamos trabalhar com os outros se quisermos ter sucesso a longo prazo! Precisamos de outros a curto prazo também. Mas quando estamos fazendo a maratona da vida a serviço do Senhor, se quisermos terminar bem — ou talvez até mesmo terminar — precisamos de pessoas com mentes e espíritos semelhantes para nos ajudar. Eles ajudam a nos acompanhar, nos manter no caminho certo, nos manter motivados, nos manter focados, nos manter fazendo melhor do que se estivéssemos sozinhos. Eles ajudam a nos levantar quando caímos e ajudam a nos manter inspirados ao longo do caminho. Como diz a citação: “Se você quer correr rápido, corra sozinho. Se você quer correr para longe, corra com os outros.”

Relacionamentos são o que nos ajudam a seguir em frente e nos manter no caminho certo. Mas é importante com quem você corre. Se correr com os “perus” não vai longe, mas se voar com as águias, o céu é o limite. Devemos ser cuidadosos sobre com quem andamos na vida, especialmente porque somos cristãos. Devemos escolher companheiros de equipe que nos ajudem a ser melhores cristãos e nos desafiem a manter uma caminhada crescente com o Senhor. O segredo para chegar ao final como vencedor é com quem treinamos, quem é nosso treinador e quem são nossos companheiros de equipe.

Recentemente, a lição de ter um marca-passo foi trazida para mim em minha vida pessoal. Vários meses atrás, comecei a caminhar com um amigo. Meu amigo é atlético e está em boa forma. Caminhamos em desfiladeiros, colinas e montanhas. Eu me canso muito mais rápido e teria me sentado para fazer um lanche ou desistido cedo todas as vezes - exceto que ele continuou me pressionando para atingir nossos objetivos combinados. Eu nunca teria ido tão longe sem um marca-passo... nunca! É o mesmo em nossa jornada espiritual - precisamos de acompanhantes para fazer o nosso melhor e ir mais longe!

Durante o próximo ano, convidei várias pessoas para se juntarem a mim em meu campo, mesmo que seja por pouco tempo, pois estou sozinho no país onde sirvo. Eles serão como marcapassos para me ajudar a continuar por Jesus. Estamos planejando estudar a Profecia Bíblica do Tempo do Fim, entre outras coisas. Não apenas temos mais resistência quando corremos juntos e nos mantemos firmes, mas também corremos de maneira mais inteligente. Sozinhos, podemos existir, mas juntos podemos prosperar. "Um pode perseguir mil, mas dois podem colocar dez mil em fuga." [Deuteronômio 32:20]

Faça as contas! Quando você tem um marca-passo, você está 10 vezes melhor do que quando está sozinho! Sempre tentei entender por que Jesus disse: “Onde estiverem dois ou três reunidos em meu nome, aí estou eu no meio deles”. Isso significa que se alguém está sozinho, Jesus não está com ele? Eu não acho. Mas significa que, se estivermos juntos com outros crentes, o poder de Jesus dentro de cada um de nós é multiplicado e fortalecido.

"E a multidão dos que criam era um só coração e uma só alma: nenhum deles disse que nada do que possuía era seu, mas eles tinham todas as coisas em comum. E os apóstolos davam, com grande poder, testemunho da ressurreição do Senhor Jesus; e grande graça estava sobre todos eles”. [Atos 4:32-33]

Esse é o poder de trabalhar em conjunto com os outros.

Por que Jesus enviou Seus discípulos dois a dois?

"E chamou a si os doze, e começou a enviá-los de dois em dois; e deu-lhes poder sobre os espíritos imundos." [Marcos 6:7] "Depois disso, o Senhor designou outros 70 também, e os enviou dois a dois diante de sua face a todas as cidades e lugares aonde ele mesmo havia de ir." [Lucas 10:1]

"Jesus enviou seus discípulos para pregar o evangelho não individualmente, mas dois a dois, para que pudessem trabalhar unidos na divulgação da verdade. Jesus sabia que um plano de dois a dois resultaria em muito mais bons frutos do que se um fosse enviado sozinho. Há necessidade de dois trabalhando juntos; pois um pode encorajar o outro, e eles podem aconselhar, orar e examinar as Escrituras juntos. Dessa forma, eles obtêm uma melhor compreensão da verdade; um verá um aspecto do verdade, e o outro outro aspecto. Se eles estão errando, eles podem corrigir um ao outro na fala e na atitude. Os defeitos individuais de cada discípulo serão minimizados através do trabalho com os outros. Se os obreiros forem enviados sozinhos, não há ninguém para ver e corrigir seus erros. Mas quando eles vão dois a dois, uma obra educativa pode ser realizada, e cada obreiro se torna o que deveria ser - um ganhador de almas bem-sucedido." discipulado.com

Oro para que cada um de vocês encontre um marca-passo, para correr com você ao longo do presente ano. Se você não tem um marca-passo, talvez deva orar sobre como conseguir um. Sua jornada será mais suave, fácil e segura com um compatriota, com um marca-passo. Não só isso, mas a jornada nunca parece tão longa ou difícil com alguém ao seu lado.

"Melhor é serem dois do que um, porque têm melhor recompensa pelo seu trabalho; porque, se caírem, um levantará o seu companheiro; mas ai daquele que estiver só quando cair, porque não tem quem o ajude. Novamente, se dois se deitarem juntos, então terão calor: mas como pode um só se aquecer? E, se alguém quiser prevalecer contra um, os dois resistirão; e o cordão de três dobras não se quebra tão depressa.” [Eclesiastes 4:9-12]

Nós somos melhores juntos. Com um marca-passo conosco, podemos terminar bem e receber isso: “Bem está, servo bom e fiel... entra no gozo do teu Senhor!”[Mateus 25:23] Um marca-passo pode ajudar a nos manter fiéis , pode nos ajudar a correr bem e pode ajudar a percorrer a distância e obter a recompensa final! Como o apóstolo Paulo afirma no final de sua vida,

"Pois agora estou pronto para ser oferecido por aspersão de sacrifício, e a hora da minha partida está próxima. Combati o bom combate, acabei a minha corrida, guardei a fé: desde agora, a coroa da justiça me está guardada, a qual o Senhor, justo juiz, me dará naquele dia; e não somente a mim, mas a todos os que amam a sua vinda”. [2 Timóteo 4:6-8]

Antes de ir a Jerusalém alguns anos antes, Paulo falando aos discípulos em Éfeso, sabendo por profecia que problemas o esperavam em Jerusalém, no entanto, disse: 

"Mas nenhuma dessas coisas me comove, nem considero minha vida preciosa para mim mesmo, de modo que eu possa terminar com alegria a minha carreira e o ministério que recebi do Senhor Jesus, para dar testemunho do evangelho da graça de Deus. E agora, na verdade, sei que todos vós, por quem passei, pregando o reino de Deus, não vereis mais o meu rosto. Portanto, no dia de hoje, vos protesto que estou limpo do sangue de todos. Porque nunca deixai de vos anunciar todo o conselho de Deus.” [Atos 20:24-27]

Lembre-se, como discípulos de Jesus, somos chamados para ser Suas testemunhas. Em Ezequiel 3:17-19, lemos:

"Filho do homem, fiz de ti um atalaia para a casa de Israel; portanto, ouve a palavra da minha boca e dá-lhes aviso da minha parte. Quando eu disser aos ímpios: Tu certamente morrerá; e tu não o avisares, nem falares para advertir o ímpio do seu mau caminho, para salvar a sua vida; o mesmo ímpio morrerá na sua iniquidade; mas o seu sangue eu o requererei da tua mão. Mas, se avisa o ímpio, e ele não se converterá do seu mau caminho, morrerá na sua iniquidade; mas tu livraste a tua alma." 

Isso é o que o apóstolo Paulo quer dizer com ser puro do sangue de todos os homens. Ele é puro, porque entregou sua alma e não reteve nada que fosse proveitoso para seu rebanho ou para o público. Ele lhes deu todo o conselho de Deus.

Depois de ser capturado e preso primeiro em Jerusalém e depois em Roma, Paulo continuou a ser uma testemunha fiel durante seus processos judiciais, suas viagens, suas sentenças de prisão e, finalmente, por meio de suas epístolas que continuam a falar conosco hoje.

Aos coríntios, Paulo escreveu: "Não sabeis vós que os que correm numa carreira correm todos, mas um recebe o prêmio? Correi, para que o alcanceis. E todo homem que luta pela maestria é moderado em todas as coisas. Agora eles fazem para obter uma coroa corruptível; mas nós, uma incorruptível. Portanto, assim corro, não com tanta incerteza; assim luto, não como alguém que esmurra o ar; Antes, subjugo o meu corpo e o reduzo à servidão, para que, pregando aos outros, eu mesmo não venha, de alguma maneira, a ficar reprovado ou náufrago."  [1 Coríntios 9:24-27]

Não nos tornemos náufragos. Uma pesquisa de cerca de 1.000 figuras bíblicas mostrou que apenas 300 terminaram bem. A tendência na Bíblia é começar bem, mas não terminar bem. No livro de Hebreus, lemos: "E consideremo-nos uns aos outros, para nos estimularmos ao amor e às boas obras; não deixando de nos reunir, como é costume de alguns, mas exortando-nos uns aos outros, e tanto mais , como vedes que o dia se aproxima." [Hebreus 10:25]

Nossas pequenas reuniões e vigílias de oração são importantes. Mas cada um de nós deve fazer o que puder pessoalmente para cuidar de nossa caminhada espiritual com o Senhor. Ter comunhão com os outros é uma parte importante do nosso crescimento espiritual, mas especialmente ter comunhão com outros cristãos que nos incitam a obras piedosas.

"Tende cuidado, irmãos, que não haja em algum de vós um coração perverso e incrédulo, afastando-se do Deus vivo. Exortai-vos, porém, uns aos outros diariamente, enquanto se chama hoje, para que nenhum de vós se endureça pelo engano de pecado, porque nos tornamos participantes de Cristo, se retivermos firmes o princípio da nossa confiança até o fim.” [Hebreus 3:12-14]

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Do You Have a Pacer To Help You Finish Well?

By Jacki Scott editted by Dennis Edwards

I am praying that each of you have a heart full of hope for the start of another year, & promises to hold on to, to go the distance in 2023! Big thanks to all of you for your prayers, love & support that brought down showers of mercy on the dear people here in helping them with their needs last year. I'm attaching below an inspiration the Lord gave me on the importance of "Pacers" & hope it's a blessing to you. It is guidance for me this year to help me run well! Love you dearly and praying for you!--Jacki

PACERS!

I asked the Lord what would most help me do my best for Him in the coming year. He responded that I needed a “pacer”. There’s an amazing marathon runner in Kenya, Eliud Kipchoge, who ran the marathon (26+ miles) in less than two hours. No one had ever done it before. It was unheard of! People said it was impossible. How did he do it? He had 42 pacers. Each pacer ran the exact speed he needed to run to break the 2 hour marathon. Eliud ran it in 1:59:40, or 20 seconds under 2 hours. He was 34 years old at the time. By himself, he never would have done it. What was his secret? The pacers were his secret. The event took place in Vienna in 2019, but it was not recognized as an official world record, because it was set with a team of rotating pacemakers and not in an open competition.

What the Lord showed me was, we need to work with others if we want to make it for the long haul! We need others in the short term, too. But when we are doing the marathon of life in service for the Lord, if we want to finish well—or maybe even finish at all--we need people with like minds and spirits to help us along. They help to pace us, to keep us on track, to keep us motivated, to keep us focused, to keep us doing better than if we were alone. They help to pick us up when we fall, & help to keep us inspired along the way. Like the quote says, “If you want to run fast, run alone. If you want to run far, run with others.” 

Relationships are what help us move ahead & keep us on track. But it’s important who you run with. If you run with the “turkeys” you won’t get far, but if you soar with the eagles, the sky is the limit. We should be deliberate about who we run with in life, especially because we are Christians. We should choose team mates which will help us be better Christians and challenge us to maintain a growing walk with the Lord. The secret to of making it to the end as a winner is who we train with, who our coach is, and who are our team mates.

Recently, the lesson of having a pacer was brought home to me in my personal life. Several months ago I started hiking with a friend. My friend is athletic & in good shape. We hike in canyons, hills & mountains. I wear out much quicker & would have sat down to have a snack or given up early every time—except that he kept pushing me to make our agreed upon goals. I never would have gone the distance without a pacer…never! It’s the same in our spiritual journey—we need pacers to do our best & go the distance!

During the coming year, I have invited different people to join me on my field, even if it’s only for a short time, as I’m alone in the country where I serve. They will be like pacers to help keep me going for Jesus. We are planning on studying Endtime Bible Prophecy, amongst other things. Not only do we have more endurance when we run together & stick-to-it-tiveness, but we also run smarter. By ourselves, we can exist, but together we can thrive. "One can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight." [Deuteronomy 32:20] 

Do the math! When you have a pacer, you’re 10 times better off than when you are by yourself! I’ have always tried to figure out why Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Does that mean if someone is by himself Jesus is not with him?  I don’t think so. But it does mean that if we are together with fellow believers the power of Jesus within each of us is multiplied and strengthened. 

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." [Acts 4:32-33]

Why did Jesus send out His disciples two-by-two?

"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits." [Mark 6:7] "After those things the Lord appointed other 70 also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." [Luke 10:1]

"Jesus sent forth his disciples to preach the gospel not singly, but by twos, that they might labor unitedly in spreading the truth. Jesus knew that a two-by-two plan would result in much more good fruit than if one was sent alone. There is need of two working together; for one can encourage the other, and they can counsel, pray, and search the Scriptures together. In this way, they gain a better understanding of the truth; one will see one aspect of the truth, and the other another aspect. If they are erring, they can correct one another in speech and in attitude. The individual defects of each disciples will be minimized through working with others. If the workers are sent out alone, there is no one to see and correct their errors. But when they go two-by-two an educating work may be carried out, and each worker becomes what he should be, -- a successful soul-winner." [discipleheart.com]

I pray each of you finds a pacer, or pacers, to run with you throughout the present year. If you don’t have a pacer, maybe you should pray about how to get one. Your journey will go smoother, easier & safer with a compatriot, with a pace maker. Not only that, but the journey never seems as long or as difficult with someone is by your side.  

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."[Ecclesiastes 4:8-12]

We are better together. With a pacer with us we can finish well & receive that, “Well done good & faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”[Matthew 25:23] A pacer can help keep us faithful, can help us run well and can help us run the distance & receive the final reward! Like Apostle Paul states at the end of his life, 

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing." [2 Timothy 4:6-8]

Before going to Jerusalem some years earlier, Paul talking to the disciples at Ephesus, knowing through prophecy that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem, nevertheless said, 

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my race with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God....Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." [Acts 20:24-27]

Remember, as disciples of Jesus we are called to be His witnesses. In Ezekiel 3:17-19, we read,

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shall surely die; and thou gives him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul."

That's what Apostle Paul means by being pure from the blood of all men. He's pure, because he has delivered his soul and not kept back anything that was profitable to his flock or the public. He has given them the whole counsel of God, he's poured out his heart to his fellowman as a witness of Jesus the Christ. 

After being captured and imprisoned first in Jerusalem and later in Rome, Paul continued to be a faithful witness during in his court cases, his travels, his jail sentences, and finally through his epistles which continue to speak to us today.  

To the Corinthians Paul wrote, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that strives for mastery is moderate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." [1 Corinthians 9:24-27]

Let us not become castaways. A survey of some 1,000 Biblical figures showed that only 300 ended well. The tendency in the Bible is to start off well, but not to finish well. In the book of Hebrews, we read, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."[Hebrew 10:25]

Our little meetings and prayer vigils are important. But each of us must do what we can personally to care for our spiritual walk with the Lord. Having fellowship with others is an important part of our spiritual growth, but especially having fellowship with fellow Christians who will provoke us to godly works. 

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end."[Hebrews 3:12-14]

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Por que nossa saúde mental está sendo atacada?

Jacki Scott

Nos últimos dois anos - e especialmente nos últimos meses - parece haver um aumento no número de incidentes dos quais ouvi falar e pedidos de oração para jovens. E também cristãos mais velhos passando por batalhas mentais e confusão também. Alguns jovens, na verdade, estão ficando completamente psicóticos ou lutando contra uma esquizofrenia grave ou se tornaram violentos. O que está causando isso? E os pais que ficam profundamente tristes e sobrecarregados ao ver isso acontecer com seus filhos. Este artigo é resultado de uma oração sobre a causa, por que e o que podemos fazer. Talvez ajude alguém que está lutando. Eu rezo para que seja uma bênção para você. As batalhas mentais parecem ser uma tendência crescente - tanto para aqueles no mundo quanto para nós. Muito amor e orações. E um abençoado Natal para você e sua família!

==Respostas às suas perguntas: Por que nossa saúde mental está sendo atacada?

Com o passar do tempo você notou um aumento no número de pedidos de oração pela estabilidade mental de nossos jovens? Jovens que sofrem crises severas de depressão, explosões, raiva, confusão, personalidade volátil, amargura extrema e tormento mental. Com o passar do tempo, a intensidade dos ataques mentais e confusão parece estar aumentando. Também parece haver mais pedidos de oração vindos de cristãos mais velhos, que antes eram bastante estáveis, mas também estão lutando contra a depressão, desespero, montanhas-russas emocionais, preocupação e desânimo. Em primeiro lugar, se você está se sentindo assim, não se sinta “você é o único” – você não está sozinho, então não se sinta mal – você tem companhia! Vamos expor o Inimigo e buscar uma solução.

Existem dois tipos de deficiência mental: 1.) Biológica, isto é, nascido com síndrome de down, autismo, “aprendizagem lenta”, etc. Isso é mais parecido com qualquer deficiência física [embora alguns acreditem que o autismo pode estar ligado a reações a vacinas]. E, 2.) Sofrer algum tipo de trauma mental, emocional que deixa uma pessoa mentalmente instável, deprimida, imprevisível, irracional, raivosa ou violenta.--Estes são mais influenciados espiritualmente. Eles nem sempre foram assim, então o que os levou a se tornarem assim? — Especialmente filhos de cristãos. Estamos lidando com o ponto 2 neste artigo.

E por que isso está acontecendo? Por que as coisas parecem estar se intensificando? E o que está provocando isso? E o que podemos fazer sobre isso? Na verdade, é outro “sinal dos tempos” quando as batalhas espirituais se intensificam. A guerra espiritual está se intensificando para todos nós — para os que estão no mundo e também para os cristãos. Então prepare-se e prepare-se para lutar, coloque sua armadura e lute. Não vai desistir. Talvez nos últimos anos tenhamos continuado “vida como sempre” com nossas vidas diárias, cuidando de nossos negócios, levantando-nos de manhã e fazendo o que fazemos. Mas, de repente, sentimos que fomos atingidos e não esperávamos. Esta é uma das táticas do Diabo. E isso nos deixa um pouco desequilibrados.

Aqui estão alguns versículos para ajudar a esclarecer por que as coisas estão começando a ficar mais intensas.

1.) “Porque o diabo desceu a vós, cheio de grande cólera, sabendo que pouco tempo lhe resta.” Apocalipse 12:12. O Diabo está realmente zangado, especialmente com os filhos de Deus e tentará nos incapacitar, especialmente nossos jovens, pois eles são a próxima geração de soldados cristãos - e ele começa seu ataque na mente. Uma vez que a mente não está funcionando corretamente, o corpo segue. A mente e nossos pensamentos são o campo de batalha. É aí que o Inimigo começa seus ataques.

2.) “E [Satanás] destruirá os santos do Altíssimo.” Daniel 7:25. Isso não precisa ser apenas fisicamente, mas também um desgaste espiritual e mental - já que é uma guerra espiritual e nós e nossos jovens estamos em sua "lista de alvos" principal. Se os cristãos estão incapacitados, o Inimigo pode trabalhar mais livremente.

3.) “Não estranheis a ardente prova que vem para vos tentar, como se alguma coisa estranha vos acontecesse.” 1 Pedro 4:12. Não devemos nos surpreender quando as coisas se aproximam do Fim, pois ambas as batalhas e a guerra espiritual aumentarão.

Quais são os tipos e características desses ataques que o Inimigo usará? Veja se algum desses soa familiar para você nas ações de nossos jovens e de nós mesmos. Veremos especialmente esses traços como raiva, sendo mais facilmente irritado e chateado, pensamento irracional, presunçosos, orgulho, ódio, mentira, ações prejudiciais etc., nos não salvos porque eles não têm proteção ou poder contra os ataques do Inimigo.

1.) “De acordo com o príncipe das potestades do ar, o espírito que agora opera nos filhos da desobediência:” Efésios 2:2 O Diabo e seus demônios receberam mais liberdade e poder para influenciar as pessoas. Ele é o “príncipe das potestades do ar” e trabalhará cada vez mais.

2.) “Porque o mistério da iniqüidade já opera: Somente aquele que agora deixa, até que seja tirado do caminho.” 2 Tessalonicenses.2:7 O que isso significa é que Satanás já está trabalhando. E o Senhor está lhe dando permissão para fazer seu trabalho sujo sem restrições - até que o Senhor volte e o destrua. É por isso que as batalhas estão se intensificando porque o Senhor está dando a Satanás mais poder pouco a pouco e restringindo-o cada vez menos até que ele tenha pleno domínio sobre o planeta Terra.

3) Existem algumas atitudes e características preditas que veremos com mais frequência no mundo, e hábitos com os quais teremos que lidar: “E assim como eles não se importaram de ter conhecimento de Deus, Deus deu entregam-nos a uma mente reprovável, para fazerem coisas que não convêm; Estando cheios de toda injustiça, fornicação, maldade, avareza, maldade; cheios de inveja, homicídio, discussão, engano, malignidade; murmuradores, caluniadores, inimigos de Deus, maldosos, orgulhosos, presunçosos, inventores de coisas más, desobedientes aos pais. Sem entendimento, quebradores de convênios, sem afeição natural, implacáveis, impiedosos”. Romanos 1:28-30

4) De boca aberta. “Cuja boca está cheia de maldição e amargura.” Romanos 3:10-18.

5) Características de personalidade dos últimos dias: “Sabei também que nos últimos dias sobrevirão tempos difíceis. Porque os homens serão amantes de si mesmos, avarentos, presunçosos, soberbos, blasfemadores, desobedientes aos pais, ingratos, profanos. Sem afeição natural, irreconciliáveis, caluniadores, incontinentes, ferozes, desprezadores dos bons. Traidores, obstinados, orgulhosos, mais amigos dos prazeres do que amigos de Deus”. 2 Timóteo 3:1-4

Teremos que lutar contra essas características também - pois o mundo está sendo inundado por esses espíritos que tentam nos sugar para esses hábitos. Todas essas características e hábitos têm espíritos malignos ligados a eles que tentam nos fazer cair nessas armadilhas também.

6) Guerra espiritual mundial sendo lançada: “E vi três espíritos imundos, semelhantes a rãs, saírem da boca do dragão, da boca da besta e da boca do falso profeta. Pois eles são espíritos de demônios, operando milagres, que vão até os reis da terra e de todo o mundo”. Apocalipse 16:13-14. É uma invasão espiritual mundial.

"Filhinhos, é já a última hora; e, como ouvistes que vem o anticristo, também agora muitos se têm feito anticristos, por onde conhecemos que é já a última hora." 1 João 2:18  "Mas os homens maus e enganadores irão de mal para pior, enganando e sendo enganados." 2 Timóteo 3:13

O que podemos fazer como cristãos para não sucumbir às forças que estão atacando o mundo e nós? Aqui estão algumas armas de guerra que temos à nossa disposição para contra-atacar. Não podemos fazer isso na carne. O Senhor e nossos anjos fortalecerão e lutarão por nós, como Miguel quando lutou por Daniel por três semanas. Daniel 10:1-21. Mas temos que pedir e deixar claro ao Senhor que estamos fazendo uma “declaração de guerra”. Alguém sabiamente apontou que as “ajudas” abaixo não farão nenhum bem se tivermos filhos que se voltaram contra o Senhor e não querem ajuda. Eles só são eficazes se alguém quiser ajuda.

No entanto, a falar sobre esse assunto pode ajudar alguns pais que tiveram filhos que se tornaram amargos ou sofreram algum tipo de instabilidade mental e esperamos que este artigo seja um incentivo e esclareça por que nossos filhos são tão atacados. O Diabo tem atacado os filhos de Deus, até mesmo bebês, por milhares de anos. Os israelitas até ofereceram seus recém-nascidos ao deus Moloch, que foram mortos pelo fogo. Então o Diabo começa a atacar os filhos dos crentes desde o berço desde o início dos tempos.

1) Ore em línguas. Orar em línguas é o nosso espírito orando diretamente a Deus e nosso pedido vindo diretamente diante de Seu Trono! E Ele responderá. Efésios 3:16, “Seja fortalecido com poder pelo seu Espírito no homem interior.” — O homem interior é o seu espírito.

2) Faça orações específicas com outras pessoas pela ajuda de que você precisa. “Um pode perseguir mil, mas dois podem colocar dez mil em fuga!” Deuteronômio 32:30.

3) Memorize versículos sobre fraquezas específicas. Basta responder ao Diabo usando um verso. Muitos de nós conversamos muito consigo mesmo, então por que não responder ao Diabo? Jesus falou diretamente com ele e disse-lhe para onde ir!Lucas 4:4, 4:8, 4:12.

4) Leia muita Palavra: Nos primeiros dias do Movimento do Povo de Jesus, havia alguns novos discípulos que tiveram overdose de drogas ou diferentes problemas mentais. Mas através de uma ampla dieta de ingestão extra da Palavra, suas mentes e pensamentos foram curados. “Ele enviou Sua Palavra e os curou.” Salmos 107:20.

5) Esteja ciente do que está acontecendo, ou seja, “sabendo”. Sabemos que são os últimos dias, sabemos que o Inimigo anda por aí como um leão tentando nos devorar, sabemos que estamos em uma guerra espiritual.— Estar atento nos ajudará a nos prepararmos. “Para que Satanás não tire vantagem de nós: pois não ignoramos seus ardis.” 2 Coríntios 2:11

7) Amarre e confine os espíritos malignos. “Tudo o que você ligar na terra será ligado no céu.” — Os anjos lutarão por você se você lhes disser o que fazer. Mateus 18:18-20

8) Diga ao Diabo para onde ir! “Põe-te atrás de mim, Satanás.” Mateus 16:23

9) Use o nome de Jesus. “Até os demônios estão sujeitos a nós através do Teu Nome.” Lucas 10:17.

10) Use! “Eu lhe dou poder sobre todo o poder do Inimigo.” Lucas 10:19.

11) Assuma o controle de seus pensamentos. “Porque as armas da nossa milícia não são carnais, mas poderosas em Deus, para destruição das fortalezas. Destruindo sofismas e toda altivez que se levante contra o conhecimento de Deus, e levando cativo todo pensamento à obediência de Cristo.” 2 Coríntios 10:4-5, Filipenses 4:8, Samos 119:11, 119:97, 119:128, Salmos 101:31, 119:160, 119:54, 119:140, Hebreus 4:12, Efésios 6:17.

12.) Você não está sozinho - Jesus está em você. “Maior é Aquele que está em Ti, do que aquele (o Diabo) que está no mundo.” 1 João.4:4

13.) Fique com raiva e lute, não aceite isso de forma desanimada. Espera-se que você lute! “Resisti firme na fé.” 1 Pedro 5:8-9. “Nem dê lugar ao Diabo.” Efésios 4:27. “Vistam toda a armadura, para que possam resistir às ciladas do Diabo.” Efésios 6:10. "Sujeitai-vos, pois, a Deus, resisti ao diabo. e ele fugirá de vós." Tiago 4:7

14) Seja cheio do Espírito [Efésios 5:18] e, “Nenhuma arma forjada contra ti (mesmo por Satanás) prosperará.” Isaías 54:17

15) Jesus está orando por você! “…Satanás pediu excessivamente que todos vocês fossem entregues a ele fora do poder e guarda de Deus, para que ele pudesse peneirar vocês como grãos. Mas eu tenho orado especialmente por você [Pedro], para que sua fé não desfaleça.” Lucas 22:31-32. (versão amplificada) Romanos 8:34, 1 João 2:1, Hebreus 7:25, João 17:9, 1 Timóteo 2:5, Mateus 10:32-39.

16) Nós temos uma escolha. Podemos controlar nossas ações – Deus nos deu a arma do “autocontrole”. “Deus não nos deu um espírito de timidez (de covardia, de covarde, servilismo e medo bajulador), mas Ele nos deu um espírito de poder e de amor e de uma mente calma e equilibrada, disciplina e autocontrole. .” 2 Timóteo 1:7 (versão ampliada)

Portanto, temos muito poder contra o Inimigo e contra ataques espirituais em nossas mentes e pensamentos. Não somos suas vítimas e temos todo o poder do Céu para matá-lo e derrotar seus ataques. Levante a espada do Espírito e corte sua cabeça. O santo mais fraco de joelhos é mais poderoso que o próprio Diabo. Faça a guerra espiritual em Nome de Jesus e recupere sua sanidade, sua mente, sua saúde mental, clareza de pensamento, sua alegria e felicidade, estabilidade, sua direção na vida e busque seu propósito. Você foi criado para ser um soldado corajoso e destemido de Cristo. 2 Coríntios 5:17-20, 2 Timóteo 4:1-8.

"Quem comete o pecado é do diabo; porque o diabo peca desde o princípio. Para isto o Filho de Deus se manifestou: para desfazer as obras do diabo." 1 João 3:8

Jesus não morreu para que o Inimigo pudesse espancá-lo, mutilá-lo e paralisá-lo roubando sua mente. Ele morreu para que você pudesse derrotar o Diabo e puni-lo e seus demônios e mandá-los de volta ao seu tormento - e não estar atormentando você! O Diabo pode tentar peneirar você como trigo, mas não se esqueça, Jesus está orando por você para que você possa fortalecer outros! Lute e nunca desista! A vitória é prometida e é sua na terra como no céu! Deus os abençoe e os mantenha lutando e ganhando vitórias para sempre em nome de Jesus! 2 Timóteo 4:18, Filipenses 1:6, Romanos 8:37, Apocalipse 3:10-11.

"E ao que vencer, e guardar até ao fim as minhas obras, eu lhe darei poder sobre as nações," Apocalipse 2:26 

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Why Is Our Mental Health Being Attacked?

Jacki Scott

Over the last couple of years--& especially over recent months--there seems to be an increased number of incidents that I've heard of & prayer requests for young people. And also older Christians going through mental battles & confusion too. Some young people actually completely going psycho or battling severe schizophrenia or have become violent. What's causing that? And parents who are deeply sadden & burdened when seeing this happen to their children. This article is a result of praying about the cause & why & what we can do. Maybe it will help someone who is struggling. I pray it is a blessing to you. Mental battles seems to be an increasing trend--both for those in the world & for us. Much love and prayers. And a blessed Christmas season for you & your family! 


==Answers to Your Questions: Why Is Our Mental Health Being Attacked?

Over time have you noticed an increased number of prayer requests for the mental stability of our young people? Young people who suffer severe bouts of depression, outbursts, anger, confusion, volatile personality, extreme bitterness & mental torment. As time goes on the intensity of mental attacks & confusion seems to be increasing. Also there seems to be more prayer requests coming from older Christians as well, who before were quite stable, but are also battling depression, despair, emotional roller coasters, worry & discouragement. First of all, if you’re feeling this way don’t feel like “you’re the only one”—you’re not alone, so don’t feel bad—you’ve got company! Let’s expose the Enemy & seek a solution.

There are two kinds of mental disabilities: 1.) Biological, that is, born with down syndrome, autism, “slow learner”, etc. This is more like any physical handicap [though some believe autism may be linked to vaccine reactions]. And, 2.) Suffering some kind of mental, emotional trauma that leaves a person unstable mentally, depressed, unpredictable, irrational, angry or violent.--These are more spiritually influenced. They weren’t always that way, so what caused them to become that way?—Especially children of Christians. We are dealing with point 2 in this article.

And why is this happening? Why do things seem to be intensifying? And what is triggering it? And what can we do about it? It’s actually another “sign of the times” when spiritual battles intensify. Spiritual warfare is intensifying for all of us—for those in the world and for Christians too. So get ready and get prepared to fight, put on your armor & do battle. It’s not going to let up. Perhaps over the last years we may have gone on “life as usual” with our daily lives, going about our business, getting up in the morning & doing what we do. But all of a sudden we feel like we’ve been hit & weren’t expecting it. This is one of the Devil’s tactics. And it leaves us a little off balance.

Here are verses to help clarify why things are beginning to feel more intense.

1.) “For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 The Devil is really angry, especially at God’s children & will try to disable us, especially our young people as they’re the next generation of Christian soldiers--& he starts his attack in the mind. Once the mind is not functioning correctly, the body follows. The mind & our thoughts is the battle field. That’s where the Enemy begins his attacks.

2.) “And [Satan] shall wear out the saints of the most High.” Daniel 7:25. This doesn’t have to be just physically, but a spiritual & mental wearing down as well—since it is a spiritual warfare & we & our young people are on his primary “hit list”. If Christians are disabled, then the Enemy can work more freely.

3.) “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1 Peter 4:12. We shouldn’t be surprised as things get closer to the End that both battles & the spiritual warfare will increase.

What are the types & characteristics of these attacks that the Enemy will use? See if any of these sound familiar to you in the actions of our young people & ourselves. We will especially see these traits such as anger, being more easily ticked off & upset, irrational thinking, boasters, pride, hate, lying, hurtful actions etc., in the unsaved because they have no protection or power against the Enemy’s attacks.

1.) “According to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2 The Devil & his demons have been given more leeway & power to influence people. He is the “prince of the power of the air” & he will be working more & more.

2.) “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: Only He who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.” 2 Thessalonians.2:7 What that means is Satan is already at work. And the Lord is giving him permission to do his dirty work more unrestrained, because of mankind's wrong choices—until the Lord comes back & destroys him. That’s why battles are intensifying because the Lord is giving Satan more leeway & restraining him less & less until he has full sway on planet earth.

3) There are some attitudes & characteristics that are predicted that we’ll be seeing more frequently in the world, & habits that we will have to grapple with: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” Romans 1:28-30

4) Mouthing off. “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Romans 3:14

5) Personality characteristics of the Last Days: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 

We will have to fight against these traits as well—as the world is becoming flooded with these spirits that try to suck us into these habits. All these traits & habits have evil spirits attached to them that try to get us to fall into these traps as well.

6) Spiritual worldwide warfare being released: “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world.” Revelation 16:13-14. It’s a worldwide spiritual invasion.

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." 1 John 2:18. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13.

What can we do as Christians to not succumb to the forces that are attacking both the world & us? Here are some weapons of warfare we have available to us to counter attack. We can’t do it in the flesh. The Lord & our angels, will strengthen & fight for us, like Michael when he did battle for Daniel for three weeks. Daniel 10:1-21. But we have to ask & make it clear to the Lord that we are making a “declaration of war”. Someone wisely pointed out that the below “helps” will not do any good if we have children who’ve turned against the Lord and don’t want help. They are only effective is someone wants help. 

However, talking about this subject may help some parents who’ve had children that have become bitter or suffering some kind of mental instability & hopefully this article will be an encouragement and shed some light on why our children are so attacked. The Devil has been attacking God’s children, even babies, for thousands of years. The Israelites even offered their newborns to the god Moloch and they were killed by fire. So the Devil even begins to attack children of Believers from the cradle on, since the beginning of time.

1) Pray in tongues. Praying in tongues is our spirit praying directly to God & our request coming directly before His Throne! And He will answer. Ephesians 3:16, “Be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”—The inner man is your spirit.

2) Have specific prayer with others for the help you need. “One can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight!” Deuteronomy 32:30.

3) Memorize verses on specific weaknesses. Just talk back to the Devil using a verse. Many of us do a lot of self-talking anyway, so why not talk back to the Devil? Jesus talked to him directly & told him where to go! "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:8

4) Read a lot of Word: In the early days of the Jesus People Movement there were some new disciples that had drug overdoses or different mental problems. But through an ample diet of extra Word intake, their minds & thoughts were healed. “He sent His Word & healed them.”

5) Be aware of what’s going on, in other words “wisen up”. We know it’s the last days, we know the Enemy walks about as a lion trying to devour us, we know we are in a spiritual warfare.— Being aware will help us to prepare. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

6) Use the authority that is yours. “He gave them power against unclean spirits.” Matthew 10:1.

7) Bind & confine evil spirits. “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven.”—Angels will fight for you if you tell them what to do. Matthew 18:18.

8) Tell the Devil where to go! “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Matthew 16:23

9) Use Jesus’ name. “Even the devils are subject unto us through Your Name.” Luke 10:17.

10) Use it! “I give you power over all the power of the Enemy.” Luke 10:19.

11) Get control of your thoughts. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

12.) You’re not alone—Jesus is in you. “Greater is He that is in You, than he (the Devil) that is in the world.” 1 John.4:4

13.) Get angry & put up a fight, don’t take it lying down. You’re expected to do battle! “Resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9. “Neither give place to the Devil.” Ephesians 4:27. “Put on the whole armor, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Ephesians 6:10 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

14)"Be filled with the Spirit," Ephesians 5:18 & “No weapon that is formed against thee (even by Satan) shall prosper.” Isaiah 54:17

15) Jesus is praying for you! “…Satan has asked excessively that all of you be given up to him out of the power & keeping of God, that he might sift you like grain. But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:31-32. (Amplified version)

16) We do have a choice. We can control our actions—God has given us the weapon of “self-control”. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven & cringing & fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power & of love & of a calm & well-balanced mind & discipline & self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified version)

So we have a lot of power against the Enemy & against spiritual attacks on our minds & thoughts. We are not his victims & we have all the power of Heaven to slay him & defeat his onslaughts. Raise the sword of the Spirit & cut off his head. The weakest saint upon his knees is more mighty than the Devil himself. Do spiritual warfare in Jesus’ Name & take back your sanity, your mind, your mental health, clearness of thought, your joy & happiness, stability, your direction in life, & seek your purpose. You were created to be a brave & fearless soldier for Christ. 

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8

Jesus didn’t die so the Enemy could beat you up, maim & paralyze you by stealing your mind. He died so you could defeat the Devil & punish him & his demons & send them back to their torment—and not be tormenting you! The Devil might try to sift you as wheat, but don’t forget, Jesus is praying for you so you can strengthen others! Fight & never give up! Victory is promised and it’s yours on earth as it is in Heaven! God bless and keep you fighting and winning vistories forever.

"And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations." Revelation 2:26

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The Power of Blessing Others!

 

Good news all the time and especially good news this month--as we've just finished Ramadan! Thanks for your prayers! And over 5,000 benefited from food boxes, financial aid, clothes, toys, dinners, bread and more.--A lot to celebrate. As well, below is something I hope will bless your life--how to bless others intentionally  through your words. And...you can be blessed by blessing others. Praying you all have a blessed May, with safety, happiness, health and provision. Love in Jesus, Jacki 

If you feel led to help our field in the Mideast you can send to Paypal, the ID address is: Jkiscott@gmail.com 

THE POWER OF BLESSING OTHERS.

There is power in “blessing” someone, even a simple “God bless you.” And anybody can do it. Recently when reading through the Old Testament & seeing how people would bless others it was apparent we have lost an ancient privilege & secret to bettering & adding to others’ lives in a powerful way.  A blessing was sacred & people knew when they blessed someone, that the God would follow up on it.  When you bless someone, the Lord does it. The Lord takes you at your word, & every word counts.

You can see this when Jacob stole Esau’s blessing. Jacob disguised himself as Esau to get his blessing, so when Isaac pronounced the blessing over him, Jacob received the full blessing, anointing, prosperity & favor of the Lord—even though Esau was supposed to get it. It proves there is power in the words of a blessing. Esau then asked Isaac for a blessing too, but it wasn’t like Jacob’s. There is power in blessing others, & God is behind it.  Blessings & cursings were really serious things back in Bible times, it wasn’t just empty words. And the blessings were there not just for the one person who was blessed, but their children too, for generations!—The blessing usually covered & included their houses, possessions & well-being.

Now we say, “God bless you” so repeatedly & redundantly that we have become so accustomed to it that  it’s lost much of its meaning, we’ve become numb to it. But if you want to bless someone, & you say it with intention & as a prayer, that person is blessed, because the Lord will honour His Word. It’s a vow He will keep. We can bring back this powerful gift into our lives by sincerely saying to people, “God bless you” not just as a by-word or non-thinking habit, but as an intentional prayer, & the Lord will add blessing to their life. You can also add what kind of blessing you want to give. You can say, “God bless you with a safe trip”, or “God bless your work today to be fruitful”, or “God bless your pregnancy & keep you safe & healthy”, or “God bless your children to grow up knowing the Lord.” You can bless strangers or those you meet, such as to the taxi driver, “God bless you with a safe day”, or to a teacher, “God bless you with joy in your work & teaching the next generation.” But as the household of God we are especially privileged to bless each other. What do you want the Lord to do for those in our Christian Family? Give them a good financial state? Joy & happiness? Health & a safe life from Covid?  Protection from accidents?  A blessed home life full of love?

In ancient times blessings were so powerful a prophecy would sometimes accompany it. These blessings were coveted, respected & sought after. The Patriarchs many times just before they passed on to their heavenly reward, would gather their sons & grandsons around them & bless each one. For example, Jacob, before dying called his 12 sons that became the 12 tribes & blessed each one & a prophecy followed telling how the blessing would be fulfilled in their future. Quite amazing! (Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.)

To give an idea of how a blessing was used, which was even a sacred rite, here are a few examples:

Gen_12:3  If you want to be blessed, you get a blessing for yourself when you bless others. It comes back to you. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”

Gen_27:36 Blessings were like money, they were valuable & came to pass.  “And Esau said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Esau said unto his father (Isaac), Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept…”  The blessing for Jacob included prosperity & inheritance for generations, “And God Almighty bless thee (Jacob), and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.”

Gen 32:26 Jacob wrestling with the Lord demanded a blessing.  You can request a blessing from the Lord—if you’re doing your part.   “And Jacob said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

 

Gen_39:5  Because we are blessed, others that we work & live with can be also blessed because of it. Our blessing rubs off on even the unsaved.  “And it came to pass from the time that Potiphar had made Joseph overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.”

Exo_23:25  Blessing over food & water & against sickness. Pray that your food will be blessed—good one during Covid.  “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” 

 

Lev_25:21 You can command a blessing for people to be prosperous.  “Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.”

Aaron's Blessing. The priests were commanded to bless the people, so the Lord could follow-up on blessing them. Here is a prayer you can use to bless others. Blessing the people was an assignment & part of the priests’ job & ministry so that they could be blessed, even up until Jesus’ time.  Num 6:23  “Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them: The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” This blessing is still good today!

 

Num 23:19  The power of a blessing, to be taken seriously: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.”

 

Deu_23:5  If someone does curse you, the Lord can turn it into a blessing!—That’s powerful!  “Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD  turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.”

 

2Sa_6:20  You can ask the Lord to bless people & their homes. “Then David returned to bless his household.”

 

2Sa_7:29 You can ask that your family be blessed for generations. “Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.”

 

1Ch_4:10  You can ask the Lord to bless you in keeping you from evil. Blessings are for the asking. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast (territories & lands), and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

 Mat_5:44  Jesus asks us to even bless our enemies, & He will do it.  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Rom_12:14  “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

1Pe_3:9  If we bless others who are mean to us, we will inherit a blessing! “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

And God bless all of you as you read His Word, work for Him in the harvest, pray for others, & be His light in today’s world. God bless you with strength, wisdom, love, patience & endurance to run the race & finish well.  God bless you with passion for the mission He’s called you to, & blessed with all the support & tools to do the job! And God bless you as you bless others with His love.  In Jesus’ name!

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Jacki Scott | Founder & President e: jkiscott@gmail.com | w: handsonhope.org m: +962 78 748 4445

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What’s with the Water?

 What’s with the Water? by Jacki Scott

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Sometimes I think that living and working in the Middle East is giving me a little bit of a heads-up on future events concerning politics, current events, and even such things as water shortages. So, if I can pass on what I’m learning, maybe it can also be a help to you.

Recent photos of the Euphrates drying

Tanks installed in remote areas of Jordan and in Palestinian camps

Water is one of the greatest gifts we can give to people, farms, and animals, so they can live and prosper

Trying to find water, sometimes walking a kilometer, with no guarantee of finding it

Hezeron and children

That brings me to water. We can only live three or four days without water. So, after air, water is the most important thing we need to live. The Bible has given us some foreshadowing about water in the future. For example, “…the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared” (Revelation 16:12). Usually big events like this are gradual, over decades sometimes and not sudden, so we have time to adapt—if we are tuned in.

The Euphrates is not far from where I am. Recently I read reports of how it’s drying up, and farmers are moving since there’s no longer enough water to make a living. So, for me, this is not something in the distant future, but it’s already knocking on my door.

The fact that a huge river like the Euphrates is vanishing sends up a red flag, even if rivers drying up weren’t predicted in the Bible. I think we can pretty much agree that water issues are becoming a common concern worldwide. In the U.S. at present, over half of the country suffers from drought. A street vendor in Egypt could not afford the rise in the cost of bread to feed his children, so he set himself on fire. The rise in bread prices was due to droughts in the U.S. and Russia, the main global producers of wheat, which caused the price increase of wheat around the world. So already we’ve seen the repercussions of the lack of water, and we’ll be seeing more.

So, what can we do? In Jordan the last three years we’ve had the “Water Tank Project” for families who have no water or whose tanks are rusted or leaking. A new tank helps to ensure that a family has enough water for household use.  This stops water leakage, and we can teach them to conserve water and use their gray water. (The tanks are only for water for household use; they do not serve for drinking water, which has to be bought in bottles.)

Here are some interesting facts about water in Jordan:

• Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water availability, making it the country with the second-least amount of water. Water is rationed to each house, coming in only one day a week, and soon it will come in only twice a month.
• Jordan is on schedule to exhaust underground fresh water as early as 2050, if not before.
• Jordan is facing continuous challenges due to the additional refugee population, leading to more than a 22% increase in water demand.
• Water per person in Jordan is 88% less than the international water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters annually.
• Jordan can expect up to a 60% decrease in rain and a one-to-four-degrees-Celsius increase in temperatures as a result of climate change.
• The cost of electricity used in water pumping has increased 220%.
• Jordan, one of the world’s driest countries, is losing water due to aging infrastructure. The amount of water lost nationwide every year could satisfy the basic needs of 2.6 million people.

Our water tank project is an investment in survival and a solution for Jordan’s thirsty. Here is Hezeron’s story:

She is 36 years old, a single mom, and she lives in a village with her four children. She received a water tank for her family, which is essential because the water is salty in this area. Before that, she had no water tank! The water truck charges her for 4,000 liters of water even though she only has a 2,000-liter tank!—Either she pays for 4,000 liters or she doesn’t get any water at all!

She needs another tank as she doesn’t have water for her goats. Her goats are her livelihood.  To find water for the goats, Hezeron has to take her goats at least one kilometer out into the desert in hopes of finding a small amount of water. Sometimes there is no water at all there, and she has to walk them back again without water.

Although a water tank is relatively cheap, she can’t afford it. She works the fields picking vegetables from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., then she works cleaning houses, and doing any available jobs to support her children (just to buy them school uniforms and the basics). She has doubled her goat herd, because she is very industrious. She built a room for them with her own hands.

If Hezeron had a water tank she could save money, water her goats, and increase her business. Hezeron is one of hundreds of families with a similar story!

(Good news: Hezeron now has a water tank for the goats!)

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty.”— Isaiah 44:3 NKJV

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that it has been insightful for you. Perhaps you need to invest in water storage where you are. Or if you feel led to help with a water tank in Jordan, donations can be received at my PayPal address here: jkiscott@gmail.com 

Thank you so much! God bless you and keep you hydrated!!

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