Beware of Terrorist Groups in Church

Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches.

They have been identified as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

However, there have been reports of a sixth group.

A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ.

We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.

No church is exempt! You can spot them if you bin lookin and bin goin.

-- Author Unknown

Texas Beer Joint Sues Church Over Lightning Strike

Drummond's Bar began construction on an expansion of their building to increase their business. In response, the local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from expanding with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up until the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.

After the bar burned to the ground as a result of the lightning strike, the church folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about "the power of prayer," until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church "was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means."

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise. The judge read through the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's reply, and at the opening hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that now does not."

Peace, Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. (Psalm 46:10, NLT)

Many years ago a little boy was given a priceless possession: his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it. But one day, while playing
at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amidst all the ice and sawdust.

He searched and scratched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do. He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the
silence he heard the watch ticking.

"Be still and know that I am God ...."

In the busyness of life we need to slow down, stop and hear the voice of God.

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. Available from amazon.com

True Prayer is Rewarded

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, NLT)

The most important work that you can do as a Christian is to pray. Prayer is the instrument that God has chosen to move mountains, to restore nations, to renew churches and to save families and individuals. Moses prayed and the sea parted and the Israelites crossed on dry ground. Elijah prayed and God stopped the rain for three years. He prayed again and the heavens were opened. Daniel prayed and the lions mouths were shut. Joshua prayed and the sun stopped in its course. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16, NKJV).

Your prayers do make a difference. Your prayers can change lives and create history.

DAY LIGHTERS 365 Devotional thoughts to ignite your day. amazon.com

Take Time to Listen

Be still and know that I am God Ps 46.10

Many years ago a little boy was given a priceless possession: his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it. But one day, while playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amidst all the ice and sawdust.

He searched and scratched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do. He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the
silence he heard the watch ticking.

Our lives are so busy. We frantically rush from one event to the next, and tackle a myriad of new projects before we completed the last one. There is just no time to stop and listen to the voice of God.

From DAY LIGHTERS by Nico Bougas. Available from amazon.com

Prayer Priority

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me
(Psalm 50:15, NKJV)

We often hear people say, “at least I can pray for you”. No! No! That is the most they can do for you.

Less than two months after Lincoln was inaugurated President, the Civil War began with Confederate troops in Charleston, South Carolina, firing upon Fort Sumter. The Confederate Army was unstoppable, twice winning battles at Bull Run, Virginia, just twenty miles from Washington, D.C., forcing the Union troops to retreat to the fortifications of the Capitol. It wasn't until the Battle of Gettysburg, over two years into the war, that the tide began to turn. President Lincoln confided: "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."

Don’t make prayer the last resort make it your priority. If you are looking for light at the end of the tunnel then turn to the light of the world.

DIRECT LINE

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV)

Like most people you probably get very frustrated when you call some significant organization needing important information and you get a mechanical answering service. After a brief recorded message you get a number of options. You choose one and soon you get another recorded message and when you do eventually find the option that you choose you are put on hold....seemingly ad infinitum?

What if you called on God in prayer and got a recorded message? 'Thank you for calling Heaven. Your prayer is very important to us. Please stay on the line and your prayer will be answered as soon as an operator becomes available.

But that is not the way it works. God is always online and always available. He does not need a receptionist not does he need a string of intermediaries. You have a direct line to God.

From the e-Book, DAY LIGHTERS - 365 devotional messages to ignite your day. Available from Amazon.com

The Prodigal Saint

Augustine  was a shameless and immoral man who lived in the city of Carthage. He had a very godly mother whose prayers and holy life served to stab his conscience. He decided to run away from her and get away from her influence. He thought he could escape the claims of God on his life. So off he set to the wicked city of Rome where he continued in his wicked ways. 

One day, whilst sitting in a garden in Rome, he heard a childlike voice repeatedly saying, "Take and read". He found a scroll containing some words from the Bible.  Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:13-14, NLT)

The Word of God is alive and powerful and St. Augustine became a transformed man and turned out to be one the great theologians of the Christian church.  God had caught up with him and there was no running away.

St Augustine's godly mother, Monica, kept praying for him and was greatly concerned when he decided to leave home and venture off to the city of Rome. As she stood at the harbour bidding her prodigal son a tearful farewell, Ambrose the local bishop, came to her and said, “Fear not Monica, it cannot be that the child of these thy tears should be lost.”

Don’t stop praying! God has not forgotten your prodigals. They are still on His radar. He is the Good Shepherd and will bring those wayward sheep back into the fold.  

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!(Psalm 139:7, NLT)

Try Tears

When a couple of struggling Salvation Army Officers wrote to William Booth telling him that they were having difficulty in their work and though they had tried every way they were unable to get any converts he gave them this terse reply. "Try tears". They did and they had revival. Leonard Ravenhill has said. "Our eyes are dry because our hearts are dry. We live in a day when we can have piety without pity.

"He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:6, NKJV)