Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Demand for the Bible has Exploded in Iran, You Won’t Guess Where From - Israel, Islam & End Times

Demand for the Bible has Exploded in Iran, You Won’t Guess Where From - Israel, Islam & End Times Dec. 13, 2015

THOUSANDS of Iranians are risking their lives to gain access to one of the countries most contraband items—the Bible; and they’re getting it from an unexpected source.

The monumentally popular YouVersion Bible app has officially topped 200 million installs across the globe, with developers announcing that the most popular verse in the app’s history is Romans 12:2.

That scripture, which is both the most read and shared, reads as follows: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Produced by Life.Church, an Oklahoma-based megachurch that has made a name for itself by streaming its services throughout the world, founders say that the tool is transforming lives, with increases of up to 1,886 percent in usage in places like Iran over the past two years.

“What God is doing through YouVersion is incredible — changing mobile devices into Bibles that people carry with them everywhere they go,” app creator and Life.Church pastor Bobby Gruenewald said in a statement. “As we see the magnitude of 200 million installs, what we’re really celebrating is what that number represents: countless moments of individuals transformed by their time in the Bible.”

The YouVersion Bible app has been downloaded over 200 million times.

Perhaps the most notable development is the locations in which use of the digital Bible is continuously thriving, with the most prevalent searches among users overall involving “marriage, love, faith, prayer and fasting.”

The exciting aspirations of Life.Church in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The YouVersion Bible app, which allows people to read the Bible and connect with like-minded believers, has been installed among individuals in every nation on Earth, reported “triple-digit growth and beyond” in places like Cameroon, Iran, Suriname, Bulgaria and other locations, since hitting a 100 million download benchmark in July 2013, according to a press release.

The app downloaded by Iranians has gone up a staggering 1886%!!

The remarkable growth has expanded the initial offering of 12 Bible versions in two languages to 1,237 versions in 900 languages. Find out more about the YouVersion Bible app here.

The Faith of Dolly Parton - DR. STEVE GREENE CHARISMA NEWS

Dolly Parton's 'Coat of Many Colors' (YouTube)

The Faith of Dolly Parton

There was a good show to watch on television last week. That in itself is news!

NBC released Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors last Thursday and delivered an audience of over 13 million viewers. It was the most watched film on broadcast television in almost five years. The movie is the first in a series of movies based on Dolly's songs.

Alyvia Alyn Lind was cast as the young, 9-year-old ball of fire, Dolly. We watched a 2015 rendition of Little House on the Prairie and cheered for the squirt as she fought, spat, kicked and sang her way through her struggles. She connected.

This movie brought a discussion of faith and family values back into the living rooms of a hurting America. We are desperate for an end to killings and the bad news that flows like a flooded river from our television sets.

To step back into a simpler time and place was therapeutic and encouraging.

The movie spoke often of faith. The message was soft but clearly spoken. I thought about it as a morning devotional. It reminded me of how I want to represent my faith to others. Dolly as a 9-year-old was already a leader in her family and in the classroom. She took stands even if it meant a trip to the woodshed with her father. She was a model of love and acceptance.

The faith of a leader is shown as much by what we won't do as it shows in what we will do.

We need more faith-based movies. More War Rooms and movies like God's Not Dead. The large viewing audience made it clear that we want Christian values in our homes.

The Coat of Many Colors is a welcome nudge into the reason for the season.

Today's Scripture

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1).

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president—Media Group, Charisma Media. Sign up here for Dr. Greene's leadership e-newsletter.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW from CHARISMA: Do you want to encounter the Holy Spirit and hear God speak to you? Increase your faith, discover freedom, and draw near to God! Click Here

Is It Time to Prepare for Prophetic Matthew 24 Birth Pains? - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Is It Time to Prepare for Prophetic Matthew 24 Birth Pains?

All these are just the beginning: Famine, earthquakes, wars, rumors of war.

Millions die from violence by the year, and yet, this is not the prophetically foretold tribulation, says Pastor Jim Bakker. Rather, it's the birth pains.

"Even pre-trib theorists, they all believe that we're going to have to go through the birth pains, which are the first 8 verses of Matthew 24," says Pastor Zachary Drew. "Well if that's all you have to go through, isn't nation rising against nation, wars and rumors of wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places; isn't that enough to want to prepare?"

Yet some churches ignore it.

"Average citizens need to be able to take care of their own families and their own neighborhoods, and their own communities," Pastor Jim Bakker says. "And not assume that Uncle Sam is somehow going to magically bring in the cavalry and rescue them."

So what should we do to prepare? Watch the video above to see.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW from CHARISMA: Do you want to encounter the Holy Spirit and hear God speak to you? Increase your faith, discover freedom, and draw near to God! Click Here

Baby Among 11 Hurt in Jerusalem Ramming Attack Monday, December 14, 2015 | Israel Today Staff

Baby Among 11 Hurt in Jerusalem Ramming Attack

Monday, December 14, 2015 | Israel Today Staff

Topics:

Terrorism

A Palestinian Arab terrorist on Monday rammed his car into a crowd of people standing at a bus stop near the entrance to Jerusalem, wounding 11, including an 18-month-old child.

The attack occurred near the “chords” bridge adjacent to Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station around mid-afternoon.

Nine of the victims were said to have suffered light injuries, while two, including the baby, were moderately wounded.

Two bystanders, a soldier and an armed civilian, witnessed the attack and quickly shot the terrorist dead before he could exit the vehicle and continue his attack.

Police found an axe in the vehicle, indicating that the assailant, a 21-year-old man from the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Hanina, did indeed intend to hack and stab additional victims following the ramming.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Single Moms - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Single Moms

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, NKJV)

Over the years I have always been amazed at the strength, character, and the sheer determination that comes forth from the heart of a single mom towards her children. Especially those women that have been left behind with small children, with little or no income from the father or husband. My heart has gone out to them many times, trying to give wisdom and support in whatever manner or level of assistance that was necessary and appropriate. But I know I never personally did enough.

From the beginning it has always been in the heart of God the Father to have each and every person in a family. Beginning with Adam and Eve, He desired that together a man and a woman, as husband and wife, would bring forth children, and share in the responsibility of provision and full support until the children reached adulthood. They were to instruct their offspring in the ways of the Lord, and then watch them raise their own family at the proper time.

Far too often, primarily because of death, divorce, or a one-night stand leaving the girl with no man around, many teenagers and young women have been left all alone to raise the child/children. It is a very tough job. Only they know just how tough it is, as loneliness, despair and discouragement abound.

There are many who have chosen not to depend solely on the government, but instead are working one or two jobs, or more, to pay the rent, buy the food, keep the kids clothed and warm, while making sure they are getting a good education. It all weighs very heavily on them daily. If there is no extended family around, or a church that understands their role to assist them, it is very overbearing. Tragically, we as believers have far too often left it up to the government to provide support and provision for them.

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know that our Lord has a tremendous heart for these single moms, and the kids that they daily lay down their life for. I believe He has gifted people in His body to be there for them. I do hope those ones take every opportunity, with the Lord’s grace and provision, to do so, while the rest of us help hold up their arms also.

If you are a single mom, I pray you will be comforted, cared for, and given the love you need and desire, as much as you have given out already for your kids.

And I pray the Body of Jesus Christ will rise up and have you in the family you are meant to be joined with, in the larger family of our Lord.

With His love and comfort,

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

We sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We love Israel.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available).

Contribution checks can be sent to:

Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and Love For His People

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople

Blogs: Love For His People, Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the year of our Lord 12.14.15 - #220 –“Single Moms”

– Monday at 6:45 pm in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

When You're Not Ready for God's Calling - DR. KATHY KOCH - SPIRTLED WOMAN CHARISMA MAGAZINE

If you don't feel prepared to do what God has called you to do, you're not alone. Shyness and disease didn't stop this woman from a thriving public ministry. (Charisma archives)

When You're Not Ready for God's Calling

Have you ever kept ice cream in the freezer a bit too long? You know you have if you remove the lid and see tiny ice crystals before you see the ice cream. You can still enjoy the ice cream, of course. Believe me, I know.

The clouds I saw out the window last night while flying home from the Hearts at Home convention in Bloomington, Illinois, looked like they had a top layer of those ice crystals. They were especially beautiful and unusual.

Flying here and there is part of what I do. Many people know me when there's a microphone in my hand. Maybe it's my books or radio interviews that introduce them to the ministry of Celebrate Kids, Inc. But there's so much more to it.

I'm sometimes asked if I still enjoy traveling. Without hesitation, I can say, "Yes." Then I follow it up with this comment: "When God called me to the ministry, He called me to all of it."

Help your children understand that what they see people do—including you—is only a part of the action. There's so much that's often hidden or ignored.

In my case, God called me to a speaking and writing ministry. It's a privilege to influence so many people in these ways. It's fun. It's also hard work—exhausting, exhilarating and fulfilling.

Because I know it's a call and I know God equips us, I'm able to handle it all. To God be the glory!

Since I'm an introvert, all the one-on-one conversations and opportunities to autograph books fatigue me. Yet they're among my favorite experiences.