Saturday Writings.......7/2/16

Good morning...

My daughter has arrived. Love seeing her and her family. It was fun to spend time with them and to go our to dinner. They leave today to go to Josh's mother's house. They come back on the 8th and will stay until the 17th. 
      

Hope your Saturday is a good one.

God bless from
Corinne


The Devotional component in the Friday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, 
"TRUE FRIENDS" and was written by Carol Steficek. Carol wrote, "True friends are those with inner qualities of the Spirit who will help you walk closer to the Lord.."

The monthly writing by Cathy Friberg is also included today. It is titled, AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. Cathy wrote, "So as we celebrate Independence Day this month, let's remember to persevere in prayer for a miracle in America. Let's cry out to God for the United States to return to Him and reach our full destiny as a Christian nation!

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  Today's Devotional   

"TRUE FRIENDS"

written by

Carol Steficek

"Do not be misled: 

Bad company corrupts good character." 

I Corinthians 15:33

     Friendships are an important part of life.  Friends are both wanted and needed.  We spend time with friends sharing interests.  We bounce ideas off of friends to see their value.  Friends are there to support us when we need it.  sometimes friends are a valuable substitute for family members who may live far away.

     You should choose people as friends who share your love for God.  These friends will build you up, not tear you down.  These friends will hold you up in prayer.  A true friend will help you walk on the straight and narrow of God's commands and not lead you astray.

     

It is important that you choose your friends wisely.  You can be of good character and eventually be corrupted by bad friends.  Don't be misled by surface attractions.  True friends are those with inner qualities of the Spirit who will help you walk closer to the Lord.

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  Prayer for Our Country  

Almighty God,

We come to honor you this day. We come to acknowledge that you are the only one who can rightly lead and guide our country.

Lord, we lift up prayer for our country.

We ask that you would bless our country with your wisdom, your love, and your compassion. May we be a people who are pursuing you and your plans for us - individually and corporately.

Lord, we lift up prayer for our leaders.

Lord, we ask for blessings on our leaders. May these servants who are in positions of authority take that responsibility seriously and do their very best each day. May they realize their need for you and for your direction. May they hear your voice as they make their decisions, and may they follow your guidance. May they have a passion for people, for truth, and for righteousness.

Lord, we lift up prayer for our troops.

Lord, we ask for blessings on our service men and women. We ask protection for all our men and women in uniform both here and around the world. We are grateful for their service and their dedication to keeping our nation safe. We pray that you would keep them safe.

We thank you for our blessings of life and liberty. May our country continually show love and honor to you. May our dedication to you cause us to reach out to all the other nations and people groups with a strong desire for peace and harmony to be displayed whenever possible.

We ask all these things in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Copyright © 2012 Beth McLendon of Inspirational – Prayers.com

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  July Writing   

  by Cathy Friberg     

  Member of our Monthly Writing Staff   

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

I stopped by our local farmer's market the other day to see if there might be any tantalizing summer fruit on display. While browsing the aisles I came across an unexpected treasure. Under one of the canopies was a prayer booth! I was delighted and approached the two people on duty to have a chat. They were from a local church.The Holy Spirit had prompted the chief intercessor to begin praying for her neighborhood area. Then the Lord planted the idea of manning a prayer booth at the local farmer's market. She asked the supervisor of the event if that would be possible. He was quite agreeable. He said that if she provided her own awning that she did not even have to pay for the space. When the Lord directs us to follow His will./ He goes before us and blesses us with favor!

As I pondered this encounter I had, I thought about all the creative avenues God has been providing to make prayer possible in recent years. There is the Franklin Graham Decision America Tour. Graham travels the 50 states holding prayer rallies to pray for the moral and spiritual restoration of the United States. Anyone is welcome to join him at these prayer events. The Lord has also raised up "Houses of Prayer" at churches throughout the United States. This ministry makes possible 24/7 worship and prayer. Christians are also having nation wide "free conference call" prayer meetings. I have engaged in these and it is so exciting to be praying with people from distant states.Another innovative idea was given to a pastor. She live streams her weekly church prayer gathering over the Internet so that viewers at home can take part. The Lord has raised up some very unique means of calling his people together to intercede for our country. 

We have fallen so far from God and His ways in our country. We have forsaken our Savior and are reaping the tragic consequences of our actions. Of course, the enemy has launched his attacks on America, seeking its demise. However, so many saints have been crying out and repenting for the soul of this nation. There has been deep intercession for the glory of the Lord to be poured out upon us. I believe with all my heart that God has orchestrated this prayer movement. I also believe that He is pleased and ready to answer our cries.  

  

     "If my people, who are called by my name, 

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, 

and I will forgive their sin and heal their land."  

2 Chronicles 7:14  (NIV)

There may very well be even more intense shaking and dismantling in our country before the Lord releases His mighty Spirit of restoration and revival. However, as we do not give up in prayer, America can and will rise up from the ashes. 

    

 "And let us not be weary in well doing: 

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  

Galatians 6:9  ( KJV)

So as we celebrate Independence Day this month, let's remember to persevere in prayer for a miracle in America. Let's cry out to God for the United States to return to Him and reach our full destiny as a Christian nation!

By Cathy Friberg

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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