Special Request

Please visit my other blog (Do it now! Time is of the essence!) and sign the petition to save Pastor Youcef's life.  He is facing execution by hanging in Iran, simply for being a Christian .

Click here to sign the petition:

http://heartnhandsatnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/be-voice-for-youcef-nadarkhani.html

Let your voice be heard! Pray! And write the Iranian Embassy in your country, or go there and let them know you are against this unjust decision.

You Can Help

***FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HELP BROTHER YOUCEF***
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
(Hebrews 13:3)
The apostle Paul writes to the Hebrews commanding that they remember the believers that are in bonds.  This is not just an historical message, as there are many in prison today for the sake of the Gospel.
How can we remember them?  You can do this first and foremost by praying for them daily. The greatest power we have on earth is prayer. God works mightily and powerfully through the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous. Pray for their strength to overcome the pressure put on them to turn away from Jesus Christ. Pray that they accomplish the purpose of God in their lives through their bonds.   God is sovereign and has a purpose for everything. He has often used the imprisonment of believers to bring others to salvation and redemption. Finally, pray for their release and deliverance the chains of prison.

You can also give financially to support the work and spread the gospel in these countries. To find out more about what we do to help believers visit our Ministry page.

You can help them by writing to government officials, both in your own country and the country that the believers are from. Simply write that you appreciate that their government allows freedom of religion and that you have heard that such and such a person is in prison for being a Christian and that you would request that they look into this matter and take action.
Your Congressmen and MP’s will ask you what you would like them to do. In the US ask them to push this issue with the State Department. In other countries request that they call in the Iranian Ambassador and ask him about this case, Islamic Human Rights and whether Iran truly follows the human rights charter they signed at the UN.
Those from the United States please contact your Congressman by going to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and typing in your zip code. Then contact them either by phone or by email.
Those from Canada contact your MP at http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc
If you are from the United Kingdom go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

If you are from Australia go to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/find-your-local-mp.htm

You can also contact your UN ambassador by going to http://www.un.org/en/members/

Please write a letter to brother Youcef by going to http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_214_profile.html?_nc=c7d8efa49d5fd6ed0f64427b45c2f872 and under What You Can Do click on “write an encouraging letter” then follow the prompts.

You can also contact the following by email or Fax the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, + 98 21 774 2228;  the President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, requesting the release and remission of all charges against Pastors Youcef Nadarkhani, Behnam Irani and other prisoners of conscience in Iran.
You can also help by spreading the word to others about persecuted believers. Share information on Facebook, via email, Twitter, however you communicate with others.

Guidelines for writing to prisoners:
http://www.prisoneralert.com/vompw_writing.htm

Transforming our World

I was tired the other night and sat down to rest a minute and clicked on the TV and began to watch mindlessly a kids cartoon.  It had a story plot, of sorts and was filled with these creative robotic type creatures that could change into a different thing or shape as was needed for the situation.  Seemed pretty void of any spiritual meaning, and I scolded myself for "wasting time."  

But then the Spirit began to unfold similarities and apply them.  

The Bad guys had these radiating green gemstones called "death crystals" or something. (reminded me of kryptonite for those of you who are superman fans.) (Also a good name for illegal drugs that so many get hooked on!)  

I thought of how satan throws his death darts at us loaded for the kill and all wrapped in fear(false evidence appearing real.) The negative thoughts that bombard our minds, the situations that present themselves and look hopeless, as well as the negative words that are spoken in our ears by the media, and people who feel the need to speak what is actually in their own hearts eating away at them.  (The enemy comes but for to steal, kill and destroy...)

I took note of how the main character was an "older" robot who had attempted to confront the enemy in his earlier years, but lacked the fortitude and inner character as of yet, and so ran out on a bunch of folks. He carried around a huge secret guilt and shame at his "failure."  Now here he was facing with this monster enemy again in his old age!  Hmm, shall I just say, all of life is a classroom? And some tests are repeat tests!

A couple of his friends were annoying and comical at the same time.  One was a young robot that talked non stop so fast and repeated himself constantly.  I think he liked to just hear himself speak! At one point the elder had to say, "Be quiet I NEED to hear!"  And so it is with us.  There will be those who attach themselves to us, and some that God gives us ( good to know the difference!) who are young and have not learned how to listen with ears and heart.   They will drain you if you do not set aside time to be alone and listen!

The other creature looked like a dinosaur and he demanded to be explained to all the time.  He did not try to figure anything out on his own, he always wanted someone to feed him all the answers.  There will be those who look to the anointing in your life, and your walk with God, to solve all their problems.
  
They will constantly ask you for prayer, for advice, for answers, but rarely seek them for themselves.  And when you give them, and many times they will not even bother to use what you took time to pray and get for them!

The elder robot, did eventually face his enemy, and won the victory over him with the help of his unlikely friends! And he was able to go back to those that he had run out on and make it up to them.  ( If when you stand to pray at the altar and remember that  your brother have aught against you, leave your gift at the altar and be reconciled with your brother...)

So the kids story had a happy ending. Yaa!  

But can our lives? Yes, they may not turn out the way WE planned for them to turn out,  but they can have a happy ending, when we are walking hand in hand with God.

We can allow God to transform our lives and the world around us through the Power of the Cross.  Through the Blood of The Lamb.  Through our words, our testimony, the speaking of the Word of God. Through the laying down of our lives.

This is what is spoken of in Revelation 12: 11 (AMP)  And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. 

Too many quote that great verse and they leave off the third part of it, " and they loved not their lives unto the death." KJV  Acts 1:8 tells us that we shall be witnesses unto him: Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
That word "witness" means MARTYR.  

It used to be that in America, UK, and Germany one did not have to worry about being killed for their faith.  But more and more there is elements of the anti-christ showing through in society, people that want to be free from the yoke and harness and of any reference to religion that would conflict with their stance against God, Jesus Christ and the moral rectitude that such beliefs embrace!  There are also growing sects and religions whose main goal is to wipe out Christianity and Jews alike.   These are no longer relegated to so called "third world" countries. There have been many killings in UK by muslims and even here in America some have lost their lives to "honor killings under the islamic "sharia law" that says if one becomes a Christian they must be put to death! 

How strong is your faith?  Will you live and die for Jesus? Multitudes around the world already have. You may never be a martyr, but will you die to self and Live for Him fully?  

Many years ago, I preached a message in a church based on John 9:4 (NLV )"We must keep on doing the work of Him Who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no man can work."  The word "day" has the meaning and connotation of " a gentler day."  Paul warned Timothy that "perilous times were coming."  I would say that our gentler days are getting fewer.  It is time to be all about the Father's business of proclaiming the Good News and winning the lost to Christ!

It is time to transform our world, even as Jesus told the disciples that the gates of hell would NOT prevail against the church.  So it is TIME for the CHURCH to stand up, to shake of the lethargy, to wipe the sleep out of our eyes and get busy for the kingdom!  It is time to do as the Prophet Isaiah spoke: "Arise SHINE, for Your Light HAS come! And the GLORY of the LORD IS risen upon thee!" ( Isa. 60:1)

That Glory will seek out and destroy what is ungodly. That Glory will purify and bring Righteousness to the forefront. That Glory will cause an amazing display of God's Goodness and Righteousness and His Beauty to be poured out in magnificent quantities.  And just where will this be seen?  In, on, and through God's set apart ones. Those who have washed in the Blood and have allowed Him to cleanse and purify and do an inner work in their hearts and lives. That inner work will now be seen as He can flow unhindered through them!  The Glorious Church will dazzle with the brilliance of White hot Love burning in pure desire for her Lord. 

Rom 12:1(AMP)  I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. 

AMEN. SELAH!