The Remarkable Creativity in the Body of Christ – This Will Bless You

This video was taken at a Body Life conference last month. One of the churches wrote the lyrics and performed this song.  

From "Israel Today" news

Muslim Violence Targets Christians (Again)

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 |  Noah Beck 

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Topics:

Christians

As Egypt’s Islamists blame Christians for the ouster of Mohammed Morsi, anti-Christian violence has reached epidemic levels. On August 17th, one Egyptian human rights leader said that there had been an estimated 82 churches across Egypt attacked and heavily damaged by Morsi supporters in a mere 48 hours.

One week later, the number of anti-Christian attacks has risen to 90.

Unfortunately, the persecution of Christians is nothing new in Egypt or other Muslim-majority countries. But thanks to the mainstream media, few Westerners understand the true scale or nature of the horrors involved.

As you read this, Christians around the world are being murdered, raped, plundered, abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, or otherwise oppressed by Muslims. Christians in Muslim-majority areas are some of the most vulnerable and horribly oppressed people on Earth; they live at the mercy of the mob and receive little or no protection from the police or other government institutions.

The reach of this silent tragedy is sweeping – a global religious genocide on “slow burn” with occasional conflagrations that make it into the mainstream media. There are an estimated 100 million persecuted Christians.

This massive crime is documented in shocking and painstaking detail in Raymond Ibrahim’s new book Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians. The book is required reading for anyone who cares about religious freedom, human rights, and/or the survival of Christians in their ancestral lands.

In Crucified Again, Ibrahim methodically presents overwhelming evidence of Muslim persecution of Christians (documented with about 700 footnotes). His exhaustive, scholarly, and compelling study uses many news and historical sources, and statements by contemporary Muslim clerics. The evidentiary details are far too numerous to summarize here, but a few examples stand out.

Continue reading here

Smith Wigglesworth quote on the Bible:

"Never compare this Book with other books. This Book is from heaven. It does not contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration and value, infinite in scope and Divine in authorship. Read it through! Pray it in! Write it down."   Smith Wigglesworth, one of the Fathers of the Pentecostal movement

Who will seek the truth?

Americans are being brainwashed everywhere we turn.  It is difficult to know the truth when so many lies are being repeated over and over.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have some unbiased reporting where  a journalist's only desire was to ferret out the truth instead of provide a sounding board for those with an agenda?

Here's another lie started by Al Gore.  Someone has taken the time to check with the NOAA and the National Hurricane Center to verify the statement which turns out to not be true.  I feel very confident the last part of this will not be quoted with the lie, what do you think?

Al Gore: "Would there be hurricanes and floods and droughts without man-made global warming? Of course. But they're stronger now. The extreme events are more extreme. The hurricane scale used to be 1-5 and now they're adding a 6." NOAA and the National Hurricane Center clarified there is no need or plan to add a sixth category, and there has been no discussion to that end. These excerpts were in The Patriot Post today.

Washington Times editor emeritus Wesley Pruden: "The inconvenient truth Al [Gore] and the junk scientists have to deal with is that temperatures aren't rising, but falling. ... It got so embarrassing Al and the junk scientists started calling it 'climate change.' ... [W]hat frustrates Al and the snake-oil industry is that the skeptics can no longer be shut out of the conversation. 'We can expect the climate crisis industry to grow increasingly shrill, and increasingly hostile toward anyone who questions their authority,' Kenneth P. Green, a former member of the U.N. panel, predicted three years ago. Another former panelist, Dr. Kimimori Itoh, a Japanese physical chemist, calls the phenomenon 'the worst scientific scandal in history. When people come to know what the truth is, they will feel deceived by science and scientists.' That's too bad, because when science and scientists one day discover a genuine crisis, nobody will listen. We're up to our ears already in snake oil."

It's time we do all that we can to make the truth known.  If the media won't do the job then we who have internet access must.  

True Faith is in God, Not How Many People Are With Us by Rick Joyner

Rick Joyner:

True Faith is in God, Not How Many People Are With Us

       It was to the last Church the Lord addressed in the Book of Revelation, the Church of Laodicea, that He gave His greatest promise to. Those promises are for His people today. They are for you.

       When most people think of the Church of Laodicea, they think of the negative rather than the positive. It is time to consider these great promises. First, we need to see why they are so great. Then we need to understand how overcoming the negative things this Church confronted will produce some of the greatest overcomers, the greatest saints, the world has ever known.

      The Church of Laodicea was so prosperous that, as Francis Frangipane once said of today's Church, "They had everything they needed but God." This caused them to become lukewarm, and made the Lord so sick that He would vomit them out of His mouth. Being lukewarm is the worst condition a Christian can fall into. It reveals an ultimate contempt for the Lord.       Indifference is the greatest affront to any relationship. Therefore, to know Almighty God and be lukewarm toward Him is the greatest insult of all.

Zeal for the Lord

      The Lord called the Church at Laodicea to "therefore be zealous and repent" (see Revelation 3:19). We must recover and keep our zeal for the Lord if we are going to make it through these times. How do we do that?

      The Lord sent fire from His presence to light the fire on the altar in both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple that Solomon built. He then commanded the priests to keep the fire going. God has lit every fire in every heart that has ever turned to Him. However, He expects us to keep it going. We do this by prayer, worship, daily reading and studying His written Word to us, fellowship with others who have the fire, and being the witnesses we are called to be.

      We lose the fire when we give ourselves to sin and wickedness. This leads to lawlessness as described in Romans 6. The Lord warned that lawlessness would cause the love of most to grow cold. This has been well proven in our times.

                           The Remnant Principle

       Recently, when I was having lunch with Bob Jones, a prophetic friend, he said an amazing thing. He said that the unity of the Church that is coming would only include about 10% of Christians. I know that sounds unthinkable to many, but there is truth to this. Even in light of knowing we are entering the greatest harvest, a sound and repeated Biblical truth is "the remnant principle."

      The remnant principle was at work when the resurrected Lord told five hundred people to go to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. However, just a few weeks later, there were only 120 gathered there. Yet that remnant was in "one accord" or unity. Do you realize that often our Churches or ministries are shrinking so that we can come into a higher unity that can release a greater glory and purpose?

       As Abraham demonstrated, true faith grows stronger with the passage of time, not weaker. The passage of time between when the promise is given and the fulfillment of that promise will usually thin out the crowd by removing those who do not have true faith, but are just caught up in the excitement of the moment.

       This does not mean that those with true faith will not waver sometimes too, but overall, true faith grows with the passage of time. Is our faith growing stronger, or are we going to slip into the majority that drifts away?

        People tend to draw their security by how many people are with them. True faith doesn't. True faith is faith in God, not how many people are with us. True faith is demonstrated by patience, which is why we are told that it is through "faith and patience" that we will inherit the promises (see Hebrews 6:12).

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
Email: info@morningstarministries.org
Website: morningstarministries.org

Is There Any Word From The Lord? by Dale Gentry

     I know Dale Gentry and have personally received some very accurate words from the Lord through him.  As he says, every January he posts a list of what he believes the Lord is showing him for the coming year and into the future.  Recently he sent this list as a reminder of what he said in 2012 so we could see how many of those things are happening today, and also to spur us to pray.  I thought I would post it for your consideration.
      I pray that it will not all come to pass.  Isn't that one reason we are given prophetic words--to pray that God will spare us some of the things that are going to happen unless someone prays?  He gives us the directive in II Chron. 7:14.  He promises to heal our land if we seek His face and pray and turn from our wicked ways.  We MUST take Him seriously.  It's almost too late.

Jeremiah 37:17                     PROPHETIC WORDS FOR 2013 Each January for the past 24 years, as a prophetic voice I have been sharing what I'm seeing and hearing the Holy Spirit saying concerning this nation and the nations of the world. Remember that prophetic words are not predictions or psychic sightings. These are words from the Holy Spirit, giving us insight to coming events. These words should be confirmed by other prophets and apostles.  Amos 3:7 says, "Surely the Lord God does nothing except He reveals His secrets unto His servants, the prophets." Isaiah 21:6 says, "Go, set a watchman or a prophet. Let him declare what he sees." Keep in mind that the following prophecies could be words for this year or possibly years to come and that most prophetic words are conditional.  First of all, I will share words that I have given this past year followed by additional words both old and new.  1-10-12  "I see our president gaining great favor this year. Not only in this nation but other nations as well because of his ability to negotiate peace treaties with other countries. These accords will appear to be astounding, and will expand his influence far beyond the American borders. He will receive great notoriety as a peace maker, even though many of these negotiations will be temporary. Many churches will support him in his bid for re-election because of strong overtones of a new found faith." I-10-12  "I see America being lulled into a false sense of security this year."  6-7-12  "I hear the sound of an abundance of rain coming to certain portions of America. Our nation is in a draught. There will come a day that the former rain and the latter rain will come together to produce a wonderful harvest in this nation." 6-7-12  "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that we are hearing so much news and information that we have become Tone Deaf. Like the train near our home, we can't hear it anymore."  6-17-12  "I hear the Holy Spirit saying the church has come to a fork in the road. One road is a road of convenience and the other is a risky road. The latter a road that might cost you your summer plans. A road where your rhythm will be disrupted."  6-21-12  "I see three spirits rising against the church in America. One is the spirit of perversion-homosexuality, wrapping itself in a religious spirit and coming to the church full force with a mob mentality, bold and openly demanding it's rights and calling for major entrances and equality.  I see another spirit rising that will enter with great deception. The spirit of Islam. It will come in with apparent meekness but once in, will demand it's own way. Because of new national influence, once in will set about to destroy all Christian influence in this nation. Both of these spirits will be given power and authority by a system already set in place.   The spirit that empowers the first two will enact laws that will consume and devour independent  churches that have no covering and are not aligned with an organization or major group of churches. Those who remain alone will suffer great wrath at the hands of a treacherous government who will seek to dismantle and dismember every church who stands against the evil spirits that are coming against the church, accompanied by Jezebel voices who will stand against the truth of the Holy scriptures and will follow a new version that will be an inordinate mixture." 6-12-12  "I see the Occupy Movement headed right down Main Street and into the churches where they will occupy themselves, protected by different laws that are being enacted even as I speak." 6-12-12  "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that lest Satan should get an advantage of us, He is now raising up apostles, prophets and teachers as in the church in Antioch, to lead a new dispensation of pastors and shepherds. These pastors and shepherds will submit to the governing voices of the apostles, who will be accompanied by the prophets and teachers. These apostles will be accountable and will govern under the authority of the Holy Spirit, will give direction and will provide a safe covering for churches and shepherds. The shepherds will feed the sheep and cause them to lie down in green pastures as the storms gather across this land."      7-8-12  "I see a banner rising over the people of Jehovah God. A prophetic indicator of His goodness and His unmerited favor. This double blessing season will prepare His sons and daughters a short window of opportunity to prepare for the coming crisis in this land. I hear the Holy Spirit saying that we must not squander this opportunity."  7-10-12  "I see violence erupting in the streets and schools of our nation. Demonstrations and sit in's will disrupt the rhythm and flow of our nation."    7-16-12  "I see a new wave of revival sweeping across America, ignited by Spanish speaking people." 7-16-12  " I see billions of dollars being invested into the American economy from other Muslim nations of the world as well as other countries from the East, providing an unusual time of prosperity in America. It will appear that the economic downturn is over, but this season of prosperity will be short lived. The Lord is giving this time of prosperity for His people to set their houses in order. For leaders to set the House of God in order."   7-16-12  "I see America coming into an unholy alignment with some other nations." 7-16-12  "The voice of the accuser is here. I see false accusations and trumped up charges being brought against pastors and well known Christian leaders in an attempt to minimize their effectiveness. I see major persecution coming against Christians in America, particularly from liberal church organizations."  9-4-12  "I see Barak Obama in the White House in 2013."    10-22-12  "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that He will do nothing unless His people pray. And then He will do nothing without the youth. No one will be excluded but the youth must be included. Intercede for the youth. Keep your eyes upon the youth of the nations. I will do a work among your sons and daughters that will cause the nations to tremble." 10-24-12  "I hear the Holy Spirit saying, a shaking is coming to churches in America. Many pastors will be shaken right out of their churches because of rebellion, trials and difficulties. Others will be shaken into a new realm of anointing and will rise up to lead their congregation into radical moves of the Holy Spirit with salvations, miracles, signs and wonders....with America experiencing another spiritual awakening. I hear the Holy Spirit saying that God will be in a radical mood in 2013 and that no one will be able to remain neutral." 1-24-13 "I see Jehovah God in a radical mood this year. He will not be restrained. He will not be overshadowed by other gods who have made an inordinate entrance into this land. He will not share ownership with these other gods. He is going to show Himself strong this year. The Lion has roared." "I see Him looking for geographical locations this year where He can demonstrate His power as He once did on Mount Carmel. The god that answers by fire is the one we'll serve." "I see another Great Awakening coming to the church. Awakening out of slumber and sleep this year, coming out of the closet and boldly proclaiming they will no longer remain silent. This will release a new dimension of spiritual warfare which will result in thousands turning to Christ. I see many who have abandoned the church returning with a new zeal for His house." "I see young people standing up to boldly proclaim their faith with loud preaching and demonstrations following. Speaking in tongues will become the main attraction on many college and university campuses as well as high school campuses. I see this phenomenon spreading rapidly because of the social networks in place." "I see many Christians running for political office this year, including pastors, bringing a new dimension into local government." "I see Islam expanding in America, as well as the whole earth. I see the Muslim population rapidly rising in America with Islam being announced as the new national religion fueled by widespread teachings and endorsements from Hollywood, gaining a fast track to citizenship, being appointed to influential places in government and given special funds to start businesses. I see Mosques springing up rapidly in this land with Islam being introduced in many schools and colleges, preparing the way for Shari'ah Law." "I see Christians sitting on major corporate boards as consultants because they have been anointed with the wisdom of Daniel." "I see a new bartering system being introduced by a group of spirit-led believers, bringing the church a major opportunity to prosper through trade. Many operating from their homes." "I see an army of young people rising out of obscurity, bold, committed and expressing a call to righteousness. I see thousands of young people, gathering into stadiums, worshipping and lifting up the name of Jesus." "I see revival coming to our prison system. Men calling on the name of the Lord with inmates and guards praying together. The sound of weeping and wailing being heard even in the night season."   "I see major revival being led by youth and women. Youth coming from the back side of the desert and women coming out of their prayer closet." "I see some of the largest churches in America being led by women." "I see major wealth coming out of the earth. These major discoveries funding the end time harvest. I hear the Holy Spirit saying that these deposits were placed there from the beginning for this time in history."   "I see many Christians being envied by their neighbors because of their prosperity in difficult times." "I see a major prayer revival taking place in our nations capitol building."  "I see old men coming out of retirement to once again preach the gospel and hold up the hands of the youth." "I see the church entering into a season of brokenness, repentance and spiritual cleansing. I see church services being disrupted by loud crying, weeping and wailing, repenting over their sins and the condition of our nation. Deep sorrow. People on their knees and faces for hours at a time, calling on the name of the Lord. The next wave of revival being marked by weeping. Weeping over their sins, their friends, for the lost. People weeping for their nation." "I see mobile living increasing with many moving to different geographical locations in search of Safe Cities." "I see one state seceding from the union with others following on the heels of this secession-each being met with great opposition. I see us like the former Soviet Union, broken into different regions as a result of political differences and racial strife, creating violence in the streets." "I see Americans trading their guns for bread." "I see movies about the end time receiving incredible recognition with sold out theaters bringing quite a stir to Hollywood and the movie industry. I see many entertainers and athletes becoming powerful voices of the gospel. I see Christian songs moving to the top of the secular charts as our nation once again experiences another spiritual awakening."   "I see preachers of righteousness being hung in effigy outside their church or home." "I see a mocking spirit coming within the church and preachers of truth being booed during their sermons." "I see major takeovers happening in local churches across America. Pastors and leaders who stand for Holy living being dismissed and escorted out of the building by those who carry a Jezebel spirit." "I see false prophets and prophetesses rising to speak, proclaiming peace and safety everywhere, ministering for pay."    "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that we are at the end of an American Chapter in history. The final stage has been set. Israel is being surrounded by nations of the world and America is set to betray that little nation for 30 pieces of silver." "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that Christian leaders in America must create an atmosphere that will bring strength to the body of Christ. Time is running out for the church in America. The prayers of the saints have given us an extended period to get our houses in order but Christians must not disregard God's timetable. I hear the Holy Spirit saying He is bringing the church into accountability this year. We are in a spiritual decline in this nation and the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of those who occupy the pulpits of this land. Until we erase entitlements in the church and stop making it a matter of convenience, then we will not see the spiritual awakening that so many are desperately praying for."  "I see a new level of hunger and thirst for God coming to the church. I see Spiritual Watering Holes being dug across the land, attracting many people who are thirsty for the things of the Spirit. I see many of these churches having to remove their pews and chairs for standing room only with such a radical move of the Holy Spirit that people will come before dark and still be there after dawn." "I hear the Holy Spirit saying that Jesus is returning soon." For a greater understanding of the prophetic, you can read or download my book on prophecy by going to www.letsprayamerica.com. Then click on Resources. The book is titled "God Assignments" and it's free.

Dale Gentry's Prayer for Today

Have you signed up to pray with Dale Gentry?  This is the prayer we are agreeing with this Sunday.  How many freedoms we take for granted!  How quickly they can disappear.  Let us not forget to be grateful!

Good Sunday morning everybody! Thanks for your participation! Remember to make your Faith Declarations by clicking on the link above. Let's pray America!   "Dear Heavenly Father..............we thank You for the privilege to go to Your house this morning without any fear of reprisal..............help us Lord not to take this privilege for granted while so many Christians around the world risk their very lives to attend church including Egypt................many worshipping today in an obscure place..................we ask that You forgive us Lord for ignoring Sunday worship service in lieu of doing our own thing or seeking our own pleasures.................and we pray this morning for the unchurched................those Christians who love You but somewhere along the line they got disappointed, discouraged, disenchanted and disengaged...............in their relationship with Your church..................we pray today that You will encourage them and give them a place to worship again.................a place where they fit.................a place of healing and restoration.................a place where they can get replanted...........a place where they can start over..............a place to flourish and prosper................we pray that Your church today will reach out to this people group and handle with care..................we ask Lord that you awaken your people to the need to gather on this Lord's Day..................recognizing that by their very presence they are making a difference..............we ask that You anoint Your servants to preach the word this morning with great power and authority..................may they call their congregations to pray for another spiritual awakening in America...........we ask these things in Jesus name..............amen."  Jean Gentry's book on her healing from cancer, OVERWHELMING VICTORY is now available free of charge by going towww.LetsPrayAmerica.com and clicking on Resources.

Hypocrisy

When George Bush was Governor of Texas, a rodeo clown entertained the crowd by wearing a Bush mask.  People thought it was funny.  That was not the reaction of President Obama when a clown decided to do the same.  What a hypocrite!

I Agree--"Things That Should Be Common Sense to Americans"...by Mel Whitlock

Things That Should Be Common Sense to Americans...by Mel Whitlock

1. All elected officials, both Federal and State, should be given term limits

2. Illegal Aliens hurt the American job market, hurt the economy, and break the law

3. It is immoral to forcefully take from one group to aid another group

4. America should not bail out companies, big business, or banks

5. Communities do a better job with social uplift than the government ever could

6. More people get on welfare than get off welfare, the system doesn't work!

7. Politicians should not go into congress poor, and come out millionaires (suspect)

8. If a person earns it, he has a right to keep it!

9. Americans must depend on the government for roads, local government for public safety

10. Legislation for or against gay relationships or abortion, should not exist. Cannot legislate morality. Gay marriage cannot exist, because it does in fact open doors for all 'other' marriages. It is better to dissolve the influence of marriage period before include it beyond man and woman

11. Government should not force people to pay into a system period (social security), but leave it up to the individual

12. Racism did, does, and will always exist in America...no legislation can fix it

13. Poverty did, does, and will always exist in America...no legislation can fix it

14. Despite a lie from a "dumb ass president," all Americans want clean air and water

15. Racially, we are more divided now, than we were under the Bush years

16. America has no business in foreign countries that do not harbor terrorism against Americans

17. America should not depend on foreign oil when we have our own

18. High taxes are a problem, and Americans should only pay taxes for roads-public safety-public schools. Everyone hates the IRS!

19. We all care about education, our next generation, and our future

20. We all generally believe we have a right to keep the money we earn

Another Beautiful Song

    A friend just sent me this link. This is also very beautiful!  (I'm sorry that YouTube has changed their posting links so I can no longer post the video directly to my blog, but instead I can only post the link to take you to the video on YouTube.)

Another beautiful song.

So True!

Beautiful!

Charlotte Church & Josh Groban - The Prayer

An Interesting Website

    I am interested in alternative medicine.  I don't like to take prescription drugs unless it is absolutely necessary so I am always trying to discover things that may be missing in my diet to help my body overcome disease.  As I was looking for information on a product I saw advertised, I came across this website: Braintuner.com  The site has several pages of alternative treatments for common ailments.  

This disclaimer is posted at the top of each page:

"The information on this page was obtained from various consumer-oriented Medical Newsletters. It is presented for informational and research purposes only. Transformation Technologies can not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. This information should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health care practitioner before you start a new health care regimen. Even though many of the products listed below are naturally formulated, they can have powerful effects on the body and some products, supplements, herbs, etc. could potentially have adverse interactions with prescription medications. The URL links listed may have changed in some cases. We do have a list of some favorite supplement suppliers at the end of this page. Be sure to scroll through this entire page to find the health tips you need. Topics are presented in a basic alphabetical order."

I found many interesting ideas as I was browsing the pages.  One in particular, I passed on to two of my children who have suffered from kidney stones.  

Kidney Stones 

Magnesium /B6 - research shows that a small dosage of daily vitamin B6 (10 milligrams) along with 100 milligrams of magnesium, in the form of magnesium citrate or malate (not magnesium aspartate) - significantly inhibits kidney stone formation. Magnesium also reduces the painful spasms associated with a kidney stone attack and helps to dislodge the stone from the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder (the ureter). Look for combination formulas or take individually. 

This seems to be a common sense idea to try.  What can it hurt?  And maybe it will help.  So if you, too, are interested in discovering what research is finding in many different health areas, you may want to check out the site.

No wonder every hard working American is outraged!

Columnist David Limbaugh: "The Cato Institute has released a report documenting that in Obama's America, 'welfare pays better than work.' ... In the state of New York, for example, 'a family receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, public housing, utility assistance and free commodities (like milk and cheese) would have a package of benefits worth $38,004, the seventh-highest in the nation.' Because welfare benefits aren't taxable, a New York wage earner would have to earn in excess of $21 per hour to do better than his welfare recipient counterpart, which is more than a beginning teacher makes. Though benefits vary among the states, for many recipients, especially long-term dependents, welfare pays substantially more than an entry-level job. Ponder the powerful disincentive this constitutes to work.... How can a society that embraces the work ethic not shudder in horror at this development?"

I Will Praise The Lord by Francis Frangipane

      I first read this article by Francis Frangipane many years ago.  It so impacted me that I even had a plaque made to remind myself that I have a choice every time something happens contrary to my desire--and this time I choose that "I Will Praise The Lord!" (even though I continue to forget :o))
     I am including it on my blog so I can read it over and over when I begin to forget.  I hope you find it as helpful as I did.

Francis Frangipane:

"*This Time?* - I Will Praise The Lord?"

We cannot pass through life without getting hurt. Pain and disappointment in this world are inevitable. How we handle our setbacks, though, shapes our character and prepares us for eternity.Our attitude is the pivotal factor determining the level of our protection from strife. Regardless of the hardships we have faced, and in spite of the mistakes we have made, the end of our lives can either be full of praise and thanksgiving or full of misery and complaint. In the final analysis, what we have experienced in life will be as rich as the desires we have had fulfilled or as painful as the things we regret.

The Bible tells us, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick"(Proverbs 13:12). Deep disappointments in life have a way of never leaving us; they enter our hearts like fire and then harden into our nature like lava. Setbacks can leave us cautious about new ventures and suspicious of new friends.

Our woundedness restrains our openness. We are fearful we will be hurt again by new relationships. Gradually, unless we learn to handle heartache correctly, we become embittered and resentful cynics. We lose the joy of being alive.

The Source of Fulfillment

It is our own desires and the degree of their fulfillment that produce either joy or sorrow in our lives. Even basic desires for marriage or friends can enslave us if they consume our attention. Are these desires evil? No, but if having our desires fulfilled is the main reason we have come to Christ, it is possible our lives simply will not improve until our priorities change.

The Lord is concerned about fulfilling our desires, but to do so He must pry our fingers off our lives and turn our hearts toward Him. Indeed, the reason we are alive is not to fulfill our desires but to become His worshipers.

Personal fulfillment can become an idol; it can develop into such an obsession that we are living for happiness more than living for God. Thus, part of our salvation includes having our desires prioritized by Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, He put it this way: "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself" (Matthew 6:33-34). God wants to, and will, satisfy us beyond our dreams, but not before He is first in our hearts.

A wonderful example of this can be seen in the life of Leah, Jacob's first wife. Leah was unattractive, unwanted, and unloved by her husband. Jacob had served Laban, Leah's father, seven years for Rachel, who was Leah's younger sister. On their wedding night, however, Laban put Leah in the nuptial tent instead of Rachel. Although Jacob actually did marry Rachel a week later, he had to work another seven years for her. So Jacob had two wives who were sisters.

The Scriptures tell us that Rachel was loved by Jacob, but Leah was hated: "When the Lord saw that Leah was hated..." (Genesis 29:31 KJV). We must understand this about the nature of God: the Lord is drawn to those who hurt. "The Lord saw...Leah." What wonderful words! In the same way water descends and fills that which is lowest, so Christ reaches first to the afflicted, to fill the lowliest and comfort them.

The Lord saw that Leah was unloved. He saw her pain, loneliness, and heartache. Leah, though unloved by Jacob, was deeply loved by the Lord, and He gave her a son. Leah's reaction was predictable. She said, "Surely now my husband will love me"(verse 32).

Worse than living your life alone is to be married to someone who hates you, as was Leah. How Leah wished that Jacob would share the love he had for Rachel with her. Who could blame her? Leah's desires were justified. She had given him a firstborn son. In her mind, if the Lord could open her womb, He could also open Jacob's heart. But the time was not yet; Jacob still did not love her.

Twice more Leah gave birth to sons, and each time her desire was for her husband. She said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons"(verse 34). Yet, Jacob's heart still did not desire her.

For Leah, as well as for us, there is a lesson here: you cannot make another person love you. In fact, the more pressure you place upon others to accept you, the more likely they are to reject you instead. Leah's concept of fulfillment was based on attaining Jacob's love and now her problem was worsening. Not only was she unattractive to Jacob, but also her jealousies were adding to her lack of loveliness.

Three times we read in this text that the Lord saw and heard that Leah was unloved. He saw her affliction. Through all her striving for Jacob and her disappointment with her marital relationship, the Lord was tenderly wooing Leah to Himself.

As Leah became pregnant a fourth time, a miracle of grace occurred within her. She gradually became aware that, while she had not been the focus of her husband's love, she was loved by God. And as this fourth pregnancy drew near to completion, she drew nearer and nearer to God. She became a worshiper of the Almighty.

As she gave birth to another son, she said, "This time I will praise the Lord" (verse 35). She named that child Judah, which means, "praise." It was from the tribe of Judah that Christ was born.

Leah had been seeking self-fulfillment and found only heartache and pain. But as she became a worshiper of God, she entered life's highest fulfillment: she began to please God.

It is right here that the human soul truly begins to change and enter God's stronghold. As Leah found fulfillment in God, He began to remove from her the jealousies, insecurities, and heartaches that life had conveyed to her. A true inner beauty started growing in Leah; she became a woman at rest.

Likewise, we each have character defects that we are reluctant or unable to face. Others have seen these things in us, but they have lacked the courage to tell us. Both physically and personally, these flaws in our nature are what leave us anxious, threatened, and unfulfilled.

It is not counsel or classes on success or self-esteem that we need; we simply need to discover God's love for us. As we begin to praise Him in all things, we simultaneously put on the garments of salvation. We are actually being saved from that which would otherwise have destroyed us!

Disappointments and heartaches cannot cling to us, for we are worshipers of God! And "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28). If we continue to love God, nothing we experience can ultimately turn out harmful since God takes all we pass through and, in His redemptive power, works it for our good.

The Tree of Life

You will remember the verse we quoted, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12). The verse concludes with, "But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." As our desires are fulfilled, we are fulfilled. Since it is the fulfillment of our desires that fills us with satisfaction, the secret to a rewarding life is to commit our desires to God.

Let Him choose the times and means of our fulfillment, allowing the Lord to prepare us for Himself along the way. The truth is that in ourselves we are incomplete; but in Christ we have been made complete (Colossians 2:10).

You say, "That's easy for you to say. You have a wonderful wife and family. You are blessed. But you don't understand my problems." Yes, I do. My wonderful marriage was very difficult for the first few years. We struggled with many things in our relationship. My wife and I both came to the place where we were unfulfilled in each other. But, like Leah, we both looked to God and said, "This time I will praise the Lord." In fact, we named our second child the very name Leah gave to her fourth: Judah.

For us, as for Leah, our lives were turned around as we chose to delight in God in spite of being unfulfilled with each other. As we became His worshipers, He began to work on our hearts until we were not only more pleasing to Him, we were also pleasing to each other! What I am relating to you is the very thing that saved and blessed our marriage!

Psalm 37:4 reads, "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." As you delight in God, you change. The negative effects of disappointment and grief fall off. As love and joy from God begin to fulfill us, our very souls are restored and beautified. Yes, delight yourself with Jesus and your self-destructive tendencies will actually begin to vanish. Christ will beautify your life from the inside out.

The Outcome of Leah's Life

What happened with Leah? Well, the long years came and went. In time, Rachel and then Leah died. Jacob, on his deathbed, spoke to his sons: "I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave...which Abraham bought...for a burial site. There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah"(Genesis 49:29-31).

Jacob had buried Leah in the ancestral place of honor! Oh how those words, though few, say so much! They tell us that God had, in some marvelous inner way, beautified this afflicted one with salvation. After Leah found fulfillment in God, God gave her fulfillment in Jacob. Over the years, inner peace and spiritual beauty shone forth from Leah; Jacob was knit to her in love. It is not hard to imagine that when Leah died, she left smiling, with the praises of God upon her lips.

Become a worshiper of God! As you surrender your desires to Him, as you put Him first, He will take what you give Him and make it beautiful in its time. He will take what has been bent and imbalanced within you and make you stand upright in His light and glory.

Therefore, this day speak to your soul. Tell the areas of unfulfillment within you that this time you will praise the Lord!

Lord, I am a Leah, unlovely and always seeking the love of those who have rejected me. How foolish I have been. How blind. There is no love, no fulfillment in this life apart from You. You are the Tree of Life that satisfies all desires; You are the Healer of my heart. I love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Adapted from a chapter in Francis Frangipane's book And I Will Be Found By You.

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org
Website: frangipane.org