Over the past few month there have been predictions of harsh times ahead for the United States and possibly around the world. It has been reported that because of the real estate bust and the use of farmland to build houses could impact the US negatively in 2010. Less farm land translates into less crops which can lead to food shortages.

According to Andy Lagomarsino, NewJerseyNewsRoom.com “Inventories of agricultural products are the lowest they have been in decades yet the prices of many agricultural commodities are down 70% to 80% from their all time highs adjusted for real inflation. Catastrophic food shortages are possible in 2010, not just in the U.S. but all around the world.”

If you’re like me you won’t want to be caught by surprise. You want to be prepared in the event of a disaster. My family and I have started to buy non-perishable items (water, beans, rice etc.) when they are on 10 for $10 sale. We have also begun to purchase food from are you prepared . They have an assortment of food choices in mountain house freeze dried (25-year shelf life) and dehydrated food storage (including breakfast, fruits, desserts, stews, Oriental and Italian style meals, etc.)

They offer several prepared kit options (for the home, office, school, and car) which can feed a single individual to a family of four (for three months up to a year). If you don’t have a survival kit already prepared, check out are you prepared and start working on your kit today. If you’ve started to prepare your kit… check are you prepared out and see what items you would like to add to your kit. If you like cheesecake you may want to check out their desserts.

Disaster often strikes without warning–it is better to be prepared. Your family will be grateful that you planned ahead–and that you know where their next meal will come from.

To learn more visit are you prepared.

To get your free copy of the 7 STEPS TO PREPAREDNESS click here now!

God Healed My Wounds!

Recently I attend a meeting and in attendance were many people I hadn’t seen in months. I was apprehensive about seeing them because I didn’t know how I would be received because before my hiatus there was a severing of sorts in our relationship.

But God had prepared me in advance for the break in relationship. He showed me that I would be wounded. In a vision the Lord showed me a circle of people talking in a dim area. The topic of discussion was me. And as I saw the images playing before my eyes my heart ached within me. Tears streamed down my face as I realized they were tearing me apart with their words. Several of the faces I recognized while others all I saw was their backs.

As I sobbed before the Lord, I was moved to pray—for forgiveness, healing, that they would see themselves and be brought to shame before God.

At the meeting hall, I waited to greet some of the very people I saw in the vision… my stomach filled with butterflies.

Was I ready for this? Was I prepared enough for this encounter? Had I really forgiven them? Was I truly healed from my woundings?

I was pleasantly surprised at the warm greeting I received from most of the people—hugs, kisses and smiles. Yet the one who had caused the deepest wound treated me as if I were non-existent.

I left the meeting hall in a flash to consult the Lord. I poured out my heart to him. I cried before him. My chest ached as if it had been stabbed with a knife. My breathing was labored.

I asked God “why is it that I must return to a place I know I am not wanted?” And as I unburdened my heart before him he healed my wounded heart. He encouraged me with songs. He comforted me with his word, “I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD” Jeremiah 15:20 (NIV).

Yet I found it difficult to leave this place of safety before the Lord, out under the open heavens. The wind bore witness to my pain. The sun kept watch over my anguish. The trees cheered me on as I lifted my voice in song before my Lord. The grass sat in attentive silence as I declared the word of the Lord before the clouds.

When I finished my heart was uplifted—my hope was in the Lord my God and my wound was healed. And every time the enemy tried to peel away the scabs I applied to word of the Lord. When he tried to fire another dart by bring up the memory—I sang a song unto the Lord.

The amazing thing is that even though the person who hurt me may never say “I’m sorry”… may never ask for my forgiveness… may never acknowledge how much hurt was caused by words spoken or actions taken—God healed me! He is the Lord… my God who healeth me! (Exodus 15:26).

If you have a wounded spirit why not get healed today?

Part I What is a wounded Spirit?

Part II Refusal to be comforted

Part III Watch out for spiritual germs

Watch out for spiritual germs

Did you know that spiritual wounds can be infected by spiritual germs? Well they can!

What are some of these spiritual germs?

Unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, hatred, anger, blame, guilt, and shame are just a few. They can cause hurts to turn into full blown diseases, and cuts and scrapes to become infected.

How can you be germ free?

Make a decision to forgive. Forgive those who have hurt you. Let go of bitter feelings. Refuse to harbor hatred or anger. If you’ve been carrying guilt, blame or shame—let it go.

If you have allowed germs to infect you…it is not too late.

How to remove the infection?

You can get your infections removed by trusting in the word of the Lord and placing your hope in Jesus.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV).

To read the other parts of the series click the link.

Part I What is a wounded Spirit?

Part II Refusal to be comforted

Refusal to be comforted causes woundings

In life there are a multitude of things that can cause deep woundings. Each person has to choose if they want to be healed, delivered or comforted if they choose not to be healed, delivered or comforted they will remain in their wounded condition.

In Genesis 37:35, Jacob refused to be comforted by his children when he learned that his beloved son Joseph was killed. Likewise we can choose to marinade in our sorrows. We can refuse the comfort that God provided for us through Jesus.  We can refuse to accept his healing words, his love, and we can refuse the Balm of Gilead—the ointment of God.

Our sorrow can become a badge of honor that we share with everyone we meet. Our woundings can become an idol that is erected before people to show how terrible a blow we have received. Our wounds can be a place that we hid as we watch life be sucked out of us.

God wants to heal us…he wants us whole—and if we are wounded we are not whole.

How to get on the path to healing?

Accept the comfort that God has provided. Tell God, “I accept your healing today. I refuse to live a wounded life anymore. I want to be whole.”

Now you are on your way!

To read the other parts of the series click the link.

Part I What is a wounded Spirit?

Part III Watch out for spiritual germs

“The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” Proverbs 18:14.

There are many walking among us with wounded spirits. They lack hope, experience no joy, and their hearts are not merry. Truthfully they just live a burdened existence.

But there is a remedy! Before we dive into how a wounded spirit is healed…let us discover…

What is a wounded spirit?

A wounded spirit is a painful sorrow. It can be described as heartache, grief, dejection, despair, desolation, heaviness, misery, despondency, anguish, hurt, suffering or torment.

What causes a wounded spirit?

There are many things that can cause one’s spirit to be wounded for example:

• Death of a loved one
• Rejection by a spouse
• The unkindness of men
• Ingratitude of those we’ve helped
• Betrayal of a friend or relative
• When a friend becomes a foe
• Abandonment
• Health afflictions (infirmities)

Woundings can be inflicted by pastors, church members, bosses, co-workers, neighbors, children, parents who may say or do things that cause deep scars. And this can be rather painful…but there are things that can cause even deeper woundings according to theologian C.H. Spurgeon.

Charles H. Spurgeon notes in his sermon The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Spirit that woundings can also be caused by:

• When a soul is under a deep and terrible sense of sin—“I am guilty”
• The fierce temptations of Satan—“you’re lost”
• Desertion by God—God has hidden his face from you
• Through mistake—thinking more highly of oneself then one ought

The weight of guilt crushes, the knowledge that the wrath of God awaits you—wipes out all hope, the never ending taunts of the enemy badgering your mind that “you’re lost”, the realization that because of your continued indulgence in sin God has hidden his face from you, or knowing that you are utterly alone are weights that can crush and deeply wound a spirit—who then can bear it?

The good news is that no matter what has caused you spiritual wounding, God provided a remedy—Jesus.

Cry out for deliverance, shout unto the Lord for your healing, confess your need for a savior, acknowledge that he alone has provided all that you need to bring health and wellness to your spirit, and declare that without Jesus you have no hope. Let Jesus restore your hope and make your heart be merry once again.

To read the other parts of the series click the link.

Part II Refusal to be comforted

Part III Watch out for spiritual germs

When you were saved you were healed

Do you believe that it was God’s will to save you? Do you believe that because you are saved this glorifies God?

Well it was his will to save you and your new life in Christ Jesus glorifies him!

Spiritually speaking sin is a “sickness”, it is a “disease” that results in death, decay and judgment. When you came to Christ not only were you saved from God’s wrath but from the consequences of sin—you were spiritually healed.

The same is true for your physical healing. All the provisions were made through Jesus on the cross (Isaiah 53:5).  And you are to glorify God with your new spiritual life and your new body (1 Cor. 6:20).  How can you glorify God with a sinful life? How can you glorify him with a sick or diseased body?

John prayed that we would prosper and be in good health even as our souls prosper (3 John 1:2). The two are tied together.

It is time to declare war on every form of illness and disease and take full authority over every form of demonic power in the name of Jesus. For when you were saved healing was part of the package. Why settle for part when God wants you to be whole?

To read the other parts of this series click the link.

Part I What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

Part II Do you believe?

Part III How does faith factor in?

Part IV Are there conditions for healing?

Part V The dual provision of God’s healing

Title of Book: The Life Of David

Author: Robert Pinsky

ISBN Number: 0-8052-4203-1

Publisher: Schocken Books

Book Length: 210 pages

Price: 12.95

Book Type: Hardcover book

Rating 3 out of 5 points

The Life Of David by Robert Pinsky is a literary essay that tries to blend the complex nature of David the shepherd boy, the king of Israel and the worshipper of the most high God into an unforgettable portrait of David, the man. At the same time Pinsky reveals unknown facts to the average Bible reader such as Goliath was David’s cousin, a descendant from the line of Oprah He teaches, and questions while interpreting the age old stories of the Bible.

The Life Of David is not an easy book to understand. It is at times like reading one of the works of Shakespeare or the Canterbury Tales. But once you understand Pinsky’s style the stories come to life and the arguments leap from the page. Many to day love the Godfather movies or the Sopranos series. Pinsky likens Saul’s exchanges with David to a gangster exchange. The pretence of civility with the undercurrent of ruthlessness and pure hatred, as Saul sends David to obtain the 100 foreskins as payment for his daughter.  The true meaning of the request is not lost on David he decides that he will not only bring back the 100 foreskins but he will double it. And so the battle goes. Saul determined to get rid of this cocky and agile young man and David determined to not only survive but to do the best he can with each challenge.

But could it be that David too has a streak of the Godfather in him? Pinsky brings this point out as he recounts King David’s final instructions to his son Solomon. David had left loose ends and he wanted to make sure that each loose end would be properly tied up thus securing Solomon’s grip on the royal throne.

The Life Of David helps the reader to get a more in depth look at King David who had a heart like God.

Many Christians settle for part of the provisions God has made for his people. They believe that God could save them but not that he wants to heal them. Jesus asked a powerful question in Mark 2:9, which is easier to say that your sins are forgiven or to say arise and walk.

Both are easy…because Christ already did the hard work!

The dual provision of God’s healing

When Christ died he provided for both our spiritual and physical healing according to Isaiah 53:5.  Christ purchased this for us (1 Cor. 6:20). The two are to go hand in hand. Jesus demonstrated this when he healed the man who was sick with palsy.  This man received forgiveness for his sins and he was completely healed (Mark 2:5; Matt. 9:2).

We (believers) should always see our two-fold deliverance in Jesus—and we should also expect it.

If Christ took on our infirmities and bore our diseases (Matthew 8:17), why then should be bare them? If he has carried away our grief’s and sorrows why then should we hold on to them?

The word of God is clear—Jesus Christ bore them for us—he carried them away, therefore we are redeemed from them. We needn’t bear them again ourselves. And if we insist on carrying them—to learn patience, to be disciplined, because the days of miracles have passed, to pay penance, because it is not God’s will, then Christ didn’t need to die—and he did not need to bear our infirmities—it was truly a waste.

To read the other parts of the series please click the link.

Part I What is God’s will for us concerning healing?

Part II Do you believe?

Part III How does faith factor in?

Part IV Are there conditions for healing?

Part VI When you were saved you were healed

Title of Book: Exposing Witchcraft in the Church

Author: Rick Godwin

ISBN Number: 978-0-88419-454-5

Publisher: Charisma House

Book Length: 169 pages

Price: $12.99

Book Type: Paperback

Rating: 4 of 5  points

Description: Many Christians are unaware of a subtle influence of witchcraft in their homes, relationships and in their churches. If you want to learn how to spot it, confront it and eliminate it from your life then read Exposing Witchcraft in the Church by Rick Godwin…you will never look at things the same!

Review:

This book was an eye opener! I did not know that control, manipulation and intimidation were forms of witchcraft–and that it had generational implications.

As I read this book, I got my family free and myself from these demonic influences. Godwin opens the eyes of the reader which when opened it can’t be closed again. You start to see the subtle workings of the enemy in the church, your home, your job, and your relationships.

The choice as to whether or not you keep operating in witchcraft is your choice…but it is far better to live a life of freedom in Jesus.

Godwin also points out in his book the God ordained way for promotion. Which goes contrary to what society says and how many churches operate. Earthly promotion is temporary…but God’s promotion is eternal.

You may not think that you work witchcraft or were ever under its control but when you read how works, legalism, and trusting in the flesh can cause you to walk in witchcraft you will have a new appreciation for what Christ did on the cross.

If you want to reign with power…if you want to reclaim what the enemy has stolen from you…if you want to live a life of freedom and victory…get a copy of Exposing Witchcraft in the Church today!