Sunday, February 24, 2008
Psalms Chapters 82 & 83
Psalms Chapter 82
1: God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2: How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3: Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4: Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5: They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7: But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8: Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Psalms Chapter 83
1: Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3: They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5: For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7: Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8: Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9: Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11: Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13: O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14: As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15: So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16: Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
17: Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Labels: Psalms
Thursday, February 21, 2008
VOM-USA News & Prayer Update (February 19, 2008)
"But He said to them, 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?' Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." (Matthew 8:26) |
Prayers for February 19, 2008 From The Voice of the Martyrs | |
NIGERIA One Dead, 60 Injured in Muslim Attacks on Christians – VOM Sources On February 2, one Christian was killed, 60 others injured, and churches, businesses and homes set on fire, in the latest Muslim attacks on Christians in Bauchi state, Nigeria. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Nigeria, "One Christian man was killed, over 60 people were seriously injured and five churches were damaged." This latest attack took place after two friends, a Christian lady and a Muslim man, had a disagreement. VOM contacts report, "These two were said to be friends of some sort until they had a disagreement on February 1. The Muslim man claimed that the Christian lady made some blasphemous utterances against the Prophet Muhammad. They were said to have parted ways that day without much trouble, but with a threat from the man that he would deal with the lady in his own way." VOM contacts added that the following day the Muslim man ganged up with Muslim extremists and started searching for the lady. "The lady was alerted of the attack and ran to the police station. The gang traced her to the police station and insisted the police release her. When the police did not release her, the attackers set the police station on fire. After the lady and the police escaped, the Muslim extremists attacked Christian homes, churches and shops," VOM contacts said. Believers who lived in the damaged and destroyed homes have not returned because of fear they might be attacked again. Pray for Christians in this state. Ask God to comfort the family of the deceased and those injured. Pray these believers will be encouraged to remain faithful in their walk with the Lord. Psalm 23:3-5 ALGERIA Christians Under Increased Pressure – VOM Sources/ Middle East Concern Christian leaders in Algeria have asked for international support following recent incidents that threaten human rights, especially religious rights. According to a February 7 report from Middle East Concern, believers are under pressure because the local Algerian media has been running an intense campaign against the church. Seven Christian fellowships are known to have been closed by the authorities and several believers have been arrested and formally charged. Pray that the closed fellowships will be opened, those arrested will be acquitted and for God to turn the negative media reports and use them for good. Ask God to encourage believers in Algeria and for the officials persecuting them. Pray they will hear the message of Jesus Christ. Romans 15:3-5 CHINA Women Detained and Treated Indecently by Police – China Aid Association On February 2, two Christian women, Meng Xiu Lan and Zhou Cheng Xiu, were detained by police in Jun Tun County, Yunan Province, after they were found distributing Christmas cards. According to China Aid Association (CAA), the two women, aged 55 and 53 respectively, were "threatened, mocked, stripped and frisked violently." CAA added, "Police then handcuffed the two women and escorted them back to their homes. After searching the homes, police illegally confiscated CDs, handouts, Bibles, song books and calendars, without proper documentation." Pray the Lord comforts and encourages these women after this difficult experience. Ask God to use their testimony to draw nonbelievers, including their persecutors, into fellowship with Him. Isaiah 53:4-5 EGYPT Egyptian Court Recognizes Faith of 12 Converts to Christianity – VOM Sources Praise God! An Egyptian court has recognized the faith of 12 converts to Christianity. The decision overturns a lower court ruling which said the state need not recognize conversions from Islam because it constituted "apostasy," an act often treated as a capital crime in the Muslim world. A lawyer for the 12 Coptic Christians described the case as a victory for human rights and freedom of religion that will open the door for hundreds of other Copts who want to return to their original faith from Islam. There is concern, however, over the ruling's mandate that the converts' former religion must be noted in their official documents, as this could leave them vulnerable to discrimination. Thank the Lord for this victory. Pray that these individuals will not be subject to further discrimination. Pray that those who were born into Muslim families and convert to Christianity will also have their conversions recognized by the Egyptian government. Psalm 103:1-5 www.persecution.com |
1: Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2: For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5: A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6: For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.
7: Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8: He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9: The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11: If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12: If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Labels: Proverbs, The Voice of the Martyrs, VOM
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Prisoner Alert
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1: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3: Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5: In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6: By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7: By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8: By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9: As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10: As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Labels: 2 Corinthians, prisoner alert, The Voice of the Martyrs, VOM