TO BE THE GENERATION OF SEEKERS



 

copyright(c)2015 Daneille Gray Snowden

2015 

TO BE THE GENERATION OF SEEKERS

AFTER GOD

by Daneille Gray Snowden [Always inspired by the Holy Spirit.]

 

 This morning in my devotions (that usually turns into an all out Bible exposition); I was digging into Ps. 24:6 "This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek thy face..."  Reading the entire chapter, my spirit was drawn to this vital need for all the church of Jesus Christ. THIS GENERATION; is referring to ALL... not just the children of Israel; but all who INDEED seek the Face of God...with PURENESS IN THEIR HEARTS AND LIFE (verse 4).

 

Remember that the author David, was known as a man after God's own heart, even though he failed many times: he would turn back in repentance and seek his God.

 

To God TRUE SEEKERS are held in high regard. Peering into the different aspects of seeking God, we learn that:

Seeking Him: sanctifies & influences (Jer. 33:2-3)       /       Seeking Him: (by communicating with Him) purifies. Leading us to purge ourselves of filth.  /  Seeking Him: Awakens our souls to seek Him above everything else.

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 Proverbs 8:17               

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."

 

To the Jewish people, to seek meant to be face to face with someone or thing. It was and is deliberate; eye to eye and heart to heart contact. In this verse it specifies this very attribute: "...seek Thy face..." In the Hebrew; Presence means 'face'. Seek His face...but also we FACE Him.

His Face: Is His personal character.

Psalm 27:8               
"You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 
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My friend to SEEK God is setting our minds and hearts on God, by fixing our attention plus affections toward Him.

In the Hebrew Seek is 'Darash' which means to enquire, require, resort to, frequent, demand, study, follow and sought.  

Think on this; to pray and intercede is vital, and truly needed...BUT - to SEEK is what changes us; this is what draws us into a deeper realm with our Abba Father. As we SEEK... i.e. FACE our God, wow -- think of all that can transpire within and without our being.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29                      

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul."

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HOW TO?

Jeremiah 29:13               

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

What happens when we SEEK the presence of God?
1) When in need of direction  - He Shows light!
2) In weakness - He gives strength.
3) When troubled - His grace comes through His Presence.
4) Perplexed - His Presence places our heart at large...He stills and settles the heart & mind.

Jeremiah 29:12-14               

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

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As we all may know, by definition GENERATION means people born and living at the same time period. It averages around 30 years; from when we are born to adulthood when we have our own children.

In the Hebrew it is Toledoth: descendants & Dor: dwelling .

It occurs 137 x's in the Word of God (132x plural). In the Greek; it is Genea (a noun) a class that means 'who have been begotten'.

My favorite is from 1 Peter 2:9 when he speaks of the 'CHOSEN GENERATION': and the Greek definition for generation is genos which is kin, kindred all from the same stock!



 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:"

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When we SEEK our God; we do with all our hearts, soul and mind. He has our attention; there is nothing else to think or seek. He is it! Our minds; (called a Battlefield by many) can be troubling when we long to SEEK our Lord with our entire being; i.e. with our minds. Some days are more difficult than others seeking the Lord, as we become distracted with all sorts of matters troubling our minds. Yet, God is able as we are in total surrender to live for Him in all ways to BRING OUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE. [2 Cor. 10:5]  What I wrote earlier, to SEEK God is setting our minds and hearts on God, by fixing our attention plus affections toward Him.

I Chron. 22:19a



"Now set your heart and your soul to seek (inquire of, require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God..."

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 MY CHALLENGE TO YOU!

Let's BE THE GENERATION OF SEEKERS! The benefits far outweigh the means don't they? It  is laying it all down for the sake of KNOWING OUR GOD...resulting in having His amazing character to transmit into our lives.

In addition we will be able to live out a life with more power, peace, joy and strength plus be filled with knowledge from ON HIGH! And  I will draw it back around to: the NEXT GENERATION --- those who are following us will see JESUS  (our God) within our lives and they will know where we have been.

                                                         MY CHALLENGE? Be THE GENERATION OF SEEKERS today!

 

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Matthew 6:33               

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."



OUR STRUGGLES ARE AGAINST...

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

  What are these  rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness? We observe that so much happens when our own (or others) flesh is in control then, wham; Forces have an instrument of attack. [I.E.: When the tongue lashes, mischief happens, selfishness and so on.] The evil forces here are Satan and his soldiers. [Gal. 5:17]

 Rev. 12:7-9 "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

  Since the beginning of time Satan has wanted control, and worship; (which he knows belongs to God). Supremely; God is all powerful. Yet, He has given man a choice to serve Him and surrender daily their own fleshly sins so He may lead and be our conquering Lord. All through the Blood of His Son and through the Name above all names: JESUS! 

Rev. 12:11  " And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

Mark 16:17 "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;"

  In the Name of Jesus, we have been given the AUTHORITY to cast out 'rulers', 'forces' --- Satan; who is the enemy of GOD and His Children! The world today is the darkest it has ever been. I truly believe it is because the majority of the REMNANT is not praying (like it could). Some are exhausted, distracted, maybe uninformed there is a possibility of victories. Irregardless, let me BLOW THIS TRUMPET  aloud and let it ring through out the land....WE HAVE THE POWER to tread on serpents and over all the power of the enemy! [Lu. 10:19] 

  Our children are being sucked into satanic activities due to movies, tv shows and music; right in front of our faces! Thus, we have the authority to attack this through prayer, accompanied by God's Word. Christians are frequenting 'dark environments' and becoming desensitized   (numb) to their evil surroundings. God help us! [1 Peter 2:11]

   Like the song goes;

 "It’s time we, the people, stand up for what is right

It’s time we squared our shoulders back and raised our swords to fight

For the Bible is my weapon and the Spirit is my shield

The Church needs more of its members to be workers in the field." [LINK] 

  Elderly pastors  tell me in earnest that it is harder to pastor today than 30, 40 and even 50 years ago. Let's pray folks,  calling out to all spiritual prayer warriors...let's fight with great confidence in our God's power to conquer. 

2 Corinthians 10:4

"for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses"

  I know I am not alone when I plead:  I need a praying army of believers at my side, standing with me as I live for Him and praying with me (as well) as I pray for others. We need the remnant to join as one to pray, and keep praying for great victories. The enemy is fighting harder today than he has in decades. He knows Jesus is coming soon. That God wants all to come to Him so He can welcome them into eternity. 

  Our family has been reading this book that I want to share a part from the last chapter. A novel all about spiritual warfare, written by a pastor of a small church (at the time). 

[From the novel: This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti]
After experiencing a spiritual victory, the Ashton remnant of believers were rejoicing. Yet, there was still an unresolved battle going on as the evil dark prince of Ashton was fighting against God's General (Tal). 
What I loved was this prayer warrior, an elderly widowed saint of God was IN -TUNE to the leading of the Holy Spirit; as she fell to her knees and started weeping and praying. God led her to fight more in prayer, binding the enemy and rebuking him through the Name of above all names: Jesus and His Blood.
Then the remnant of believers joined in as they rebuked  'Rafar' (who brought havoc to this community)..."We rebuke you Rafar!" Edith shouted again. Rafar screamed. Tal's blade had torn him open. ...the angels blade was singing with new resonance." Though he laid wounded Tal could hear the saints were praying!

PRAISE THE LORD!  There is Power In The Name of Jesus, and YES; It breaks every chain.

   Let's FIGHT in prayer together saints of God. Intercede for one another, for your loved ones, leaders and spiritual leaders. Pray for the church, for missionaries and for the GOSPEL to be preached (and lived) out in the Body of Christ through and through. 

AMEN!!!

NOTE: Highlighted words are links.

BUILDING A PRAYER WALL

BUILDING A PRAYER WALL

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence," Is. 62:6

   I was recently chatting with a strong woman of God, who I know has a powerful prayer life. She shared with me how she has a prayer wall (in her case it's on her door). Like me, she is a visual learner, I do better when I see something. Personally, I have a little prayer wall in my bedroom. As my husband and I pray, we glance on this wall and pray over those needs. There is something impactful though; when you see the face, map, picture and scripture that represents a prayer need. There is a focal point where we as intercessors can fully concert our prayers on. 
I asked Sheila Campbell to share her story and heart about prayer as well as her prayer wall. 
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I started writing a lot of "spiritual" and "awesome" words about intercession and prayer and such, but decided I would just make it simple for now.

I have the prayer door/wall because I forget. 

This area is a very small passage way between the kitchen and dining room. We have to pass through this area to get around the house and out the back door. It is the door to the basement so when I go down to do laundry I have to use that door. So, therefore, I cannot forget unless I go through it with my eyes closed. 

This area keeps me thinking about God and about souls. I see maps of areas God has put on my heart to pray for. I see pictures and words that remind me of why I placed these on this door. I would rather not know what is going on in the world, but since I do... I have an obligation to pray for His kingdom to come and will to be done. I feel like a receiver, that if I don't pray then something that God wants to do will not happen according to His will and in His timing. I believe that God puts it on peoples hearts to pray so that He can do something. 

I have had God speak to me about how, why and what fors and have read later that He has spoken it to others as well. God wants to "Totally Transform America" with Revival in the churches and place an Awakening in hearts far from Him. I have to believe that my prayers "accomplish much" for the kingdom. Plus, it makes me bolder when I talk with people about God. I also know that God has moved over this land and has found many faithful and has called many to intercede for this nation and for His people around the world.

Also a few years ago I woke up with the words "There is power in fear."  I decided then, I would not allow fear to have any power over me or my country. I decided that if I get fear in me I would pray until it was gone. God is love and that perfect love gets rid of fear. Fear is a spirit of the devil and he uses it to freeze people up from accomplishing anything for the Kingdom. I have to believe because the Word says that; "fervent prayer accomplishes much."
 I could go on and on and say more.
God answer the prayers of His people. Amen!
Sheila 

Left: Sheila Campbell with sister Kathy Burton

IDEAS FOR PRAYER WALLS

From the The Philanthropy Family 

At Solid Grounds Coffee Shop- Newton, IL Wendy Helm (owner) said; "Had a customer come in and ask why I didn't have a prayer board.. I said "I don't know, but I will have!" So I went to the back and got this out and put the Bling, Prayer Board on it.. was up that same day! now it's by the door.. every time I see it, I pray for all the needs.. it's been a big conversation piece and comfort for many.."

From David Trotter Creating a Prayer Wall

From Jon Yoder

Joshua Harris & wife at his church's prayer wall. LINK

Pastor's Don & Angela Jefferies of Shelbyville, IL Assembly of God

Their person prayer wall at home.

Our prayer wall in our foyer at New Life Christian Center. 

WHAT'S ON THE WALL?

*Salvation Requests        *Physical Healing Requests     *Emotional Healing Requests 

*Families                        *Children                                *Marriages

*Financial Needs            *Deliverance's from bondage's  *Material Needs / Desires (as God Wills)

*Revival in the Body of Christ   *Persecuted Church       * Missions & Missionaries (in Home Country & Foreign)                          *Peace of Israel/Salvation       *Vision from God /Wisdom /Direction 

-PLACE:  MAPS / PICTURES / DIAGRAMS /SCRIPTURES on your walls. 

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From Sarah Hanks Teaching Your Kids How To Pray

INCLUDE ALSO  :  
*Praise/Answered Prayers 

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Voice of the Martyrs On-Line Prayer Wall - Click

Praying For the Nations Scriptures Link  - Click

12 Bible Verses to Show How Jesus Prayed - Click

Banner drawn by Rev. Paul Frank Gray
Luke 21:36 " Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man."

Present Prayer Theme: Pastors

Present Prayer Theme: Pastors 

By Daneille Gray Snowden

   I feel the Holy Spirit guiding me to have our prayer warrior mom's to lift up our church pastor's. We all have many different spiritual leaders in the communities we live in, and they all need our prayers. My spirit aches deeply for pastors who are preaching the complete Word of God. Those who with  great unction plus compassion, speak in front of handfuls to thousands pouring out God's anointed message each week. 

   There is a cost, God does have an enemy who wants God's Word tainted. The enemy wants to distract pastors and parishioners from hearing the challenge presented week after week. As when a Pastor spends great time praying and basking in the Presence of God; then God leads them in unique directives for the church. The cost comes with an onslaught of attacks that without prayers and support, a pastor can become deeply discouraged to the point of defeat.  

   Each October, here in the United States churches celebrate: Pastor's Appreciation Day. It's one day a year, that the Body comes together to express their love to their spiritual leader. Can I tell you even though that is great churches do this; yet, daily pastors need everyone's prayers, love, support and help. Too many times pastor's are having to put messages together, counsel, be the substitute Sunday school teacher, youth leader, clean the church, host missionaries and evangelists and well the list continues endlessly.  Many pastors are also just wore out physically. [By-the-way; when I express pastors, the entire family is included. Many times the wife is part of the ministry as much as the husband. (Or if their is a female pastor vice-versa). The children eventually are right by their parents side, or sacrificing personal time, as their parents are counselling, and such.] Much of the time, spiritual leaders are THRILLED serving the Lord, for God has filled them with amazing zeal and abundant love for people. 

   So, why is it that 1,700 pastors leave the ministry every month? For some, it's burn out, as others have been deeply wounded in their spirits. From the beginning of time, strife has been a destroyer of families including church families. When a man or woman answers the call to serve a church, most of the time he leaves the comforts of extended family and good financial security to serve. Only God can stir a 'man's' heart to do this, He fills the ministry couple with His Love to the point that they can't wait to serve. Yet, as they do...eventually in some churches (not all) a  hateful spirit of gossip, condescension, and even apathy start sewing it's thread through out the church with the needle pricking the heart of a pastor. 

   In these tumoultuous day we all live, we see a new age teaching that has crept within the theology of the church. We also observe that church attendance has decreased as well; less than 17.7% of the population attends a Christian church on any given weekend. [source] As well as mainline denominations have reported a deep decline in the past 30 years. Thus, apathy has been an over-whelming difficulty for churches and their leaders. The feeling of disconnect from one another in the Body is a major battle for a local pastor to encounter. The more the disconnect, the less help any spiritual leader has to teach, preach, worship, and take the church to where God has intended. 

   Lately, I also have noticed bountiful attacks physically on pastors. Just within our own very small community, in the past ten years we have seen a few pastors pass away (fairly young), have cancer, encountering debilitating diseases and injuries. It's clear the devil himself is angry and is not letting up his raging war on the servants of God. Most of God's men and woman are dug-into God's Word, clinging tight to His strong Hand and looking intently to Him for all the strength and guidance there is. But, we as prayer warriors must never 'let-up' praying fervently for the pastors in our community. Praying through, being sensitive to the spirit to lead us at any given time or place to pray for these men and woman. In addition, reaching out to them as well...availing yourself to help as you are able. 

   As a co-pastor and a pastor's kid; I can tell you; we FEEL the prayers. We also can reflect through out the years and remember those who stood not just behind us, but beside us. We remember those who treated our children as their own grandchildren, or niece/nephew. We always lived far away from our own extended family thus; our church was and still is our family. 

  Jesus is coming oh so soon. We need a revival in the church of Jesus Christ; and we need our pastor's to preach all what God has for Army of God. To also, lead us with great vision to areas of ministry that will affect our community for the Kingdom of God. 

  Let's all make a commitment together to be diligent praying for our pastor's. As we do, God will fill us with such an amazing amount of love and even understanding the heart of a pastor. 

   

   

Daniel Nash-Prayer Minister for Charles Finney

Prayer That Brings Heaven to Earth Part II

Written by: Daniel Kolenda
Friday, January 06, 2012
http://us.cfan.org/bible-study.aspx?id=10865
From D. Kolenda's book: Your Kingdom Come
Let this be our vision as prayer warriors. Read this story and be ultimately changed.
"The Divine Alliance

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

 

 

This Bible Study has been taken from Chapter VI of Daniel Kolenda’s new book “Your Kingdom Come” and is for those who desire to enter into a divine partnership with God and His purposes by joining the prayer revolution.

 

Charles Finney (1792-1875) is considered by many people to have been one of the greatest revivalists in American history. When Finney preached in a city, the entire region was powerfully impacted by the holy presence of God, which seemed to descend like a cloud. The tangible presence of God would be felt for miles around and multitudes of people would come to Jesus as if being drawn by a mysterious, magnetic force. Churches would be overwhelmed with new converts. Crime rates would plummet, and jails would empty because of the numbers of people who had come to Jesus. The moral nature of cities and regions would be impacted for decades to come because of the supernatural work that was done by the Holy Spirit through this man of God. Interestingly, approximately 80 percent of those people who came to Jesus in Finney’s meetings were still actively serving the Lord twenty-five years after their initial salvation experience16 – an extraordinary statistic.

 

The amazing revivals that followed the ministry of Charles Finney were much more than just the result of the eloquent preaching of this evangelist. There was an atmosphere that followed Charles Finney that reflected the holiness of God. When people encountered that atmosphere, their testimony was much the same as the prophet Isaiah who, encountering the holiness of God, cried out in despair, “Woe is me! for I am undone…” (Isaiah 6:5). People were stricken by the horrors of their sins and the deep offense that sin caused in the heart of God. A reverential fear of the Lord was experienced by many that caused them to turn to the Lord with true, heartfelt repentance, and they were never the same again.

 

Much has been written about the amazing ministry of Charles Finney, but very little is known about another man named Daniel Nash who was an associate of Finney. Very few people even knew that he existed. He was very quiet by nature and rarely, if ever, attended any of the revival meetings where Finney preached. Though he had been a pastor early in his life, he had been wounded by some church leaders who had fired him from his church thinking he was too old. He was forty-six at the time. This breaking of Nash’s heart was only a part of the preparation for a much greater work that God had prepared for him to do. Nash’s ministry was a ministry of prayer and intercession. Because of his hurt, he withdrew from public ministry but became a man of mighty prevailing prayer!

 

God brought Daniel Nash and Charles Finney together to form a team that was to be used by God in a most phenomenal way. Nash would precede Charles Finney’s arrival in a city for revival meetings. He would go to the city and check into a boarding house and begin praying for the meetings that were coming. Sometimes he wouldn’t come out of his room for days at a time as he devoted himself totally to intercession. Sometimes people reported hearing weeping and groaning coming from this man’s room as he prayed for the Holy Spirit’s power to be released and a mighty harvest to be reaped when Charles Finney came to preach.

 

Daniel Nash would pray for days before he felt that the work had been done in the spirit for the meetings to convene. Other times he would pray for three to four weeks in advance of Finney’s arrival, but he would not quit until he felt in his spirit that the preparation through intercession was complete. Nash prayed until he felt that the spiritual atmosphere had been prepared, and once he felt a release, he would send word to Charles Finney that the town was ready for him to come. Finney would follow, preach the Gospel, and the tidal floods of God’s holy, convicting, and saving glory would overwhelm the town and people would come to Jesus to be saved as a result.

 

The greatest moves of God in American history occurred during this season of time. Entire regions were changed as a result of Finney’s ministry. Historians point to those meetings as having such a profound impact upon people and societies that the effects could still be seen a century or more later! The powerful preaching of Charles Finney that saw hundreds of thousands of people saved would have never had the impact it did had it not been for the spiritual partnership with the intercessory ministry of Daniel Nash. It is interesting to note that only four months after Daniel Nash’s death, Charles Finney left the itinerate revival ministry to pastor a church. The powerful revivals that characterized his ministry and changed a nation began to wane.

 

Daniel Nash is buried in a simple grave in an obscure cemetery behind a farmer’s barn in upstate New York. It was lost in history for many decades. On his small, well-worn tombstone are these words: “Daniel Nash – Prayer minister for Charles Finney.” Though he was virtually unknown to the masses, God used Nash in a most profound way to birth the revivals of Charles Finney which touched multitudes. Surely, Daniel Nash enjoys the same fruit of reward as Charles Finney in Heaven today because of the role he played in intercession and prayer! I believe that there are many Daniel Nash’s in the earth today. They are known only to God (and maybe a few family members or friends). They may never write a book. They may never have a television program. They may never have a large public ministry that draws money, popularity, and acclaim of the masses, but their unseen labors in the spirit through intercessory prayer are resulting in the work of God moving forward in the earth. They may be strangers while here, but one day they will be champions in Heaven.

The next great move of God will come as a result of Prayer & Obedience by the body of Christ. Discover how God made us partners with Him for the fulfillment of His purposes in the earth."

Not Ashamed to Pray

THIS ARTICLE IS BEING RE POSTED FROM THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS.

Not Ashamed to Pray

By Cheryl Odden

"Perhaps one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our prayer life and our relationship with Christ is disappointment. We are disappointed in our spiritual life, job, country, church, and perhaps even our family.

If we get to the heart of the issue, our disappointment is directed not at these areas of our lives but at God. We may ask: How could he allow this (circumstance) to happen? Why isn’t he helping me overcome these sin issues in my life? Why isn’t he rewarding me for my hard work? Why isn’t he bringing about revival in our nation? Why isn’t he working in our children’s hearts?

The apostle Paul had every "right" to be disappointed in God. Paul was given a dramatic salvation experience and was launched into ministry. People were coming to Christ; religious and government officials were being convicted. It couldn’t get any better than that, could it? It did. Paul was thrown in jail. There he wrote several letters, which today are cornerstones of the Christian faith.

Yet Paul saw his chains not as a disappointment or a setback, but as an opportunity. He wrote to Timothy, advising him not to be ashamed of him, and used Onesiphorus as an example of one who was "not ashamed" of his chains." He invited Timothy to share in his sufferings through God’s power. Then earlier in his letter to the Philippians, he tells them that his imprisonment has furthered the gospel not frustrated it (1:12-14). And more so, his bonds have emboldened believers to preach without fear.

As we pray for the persecuted church, let us first evaluate our relationship with Christ. Spend some time alone with God, asking him to reveal any areas of your life where you are disappointed in him. If we allow ourselves to be honest, have we accused him of being indifferent toward our trials? Are we viewing our current sufferings as an obstacle for the gospel or an opportunity? Agree with him that your disappointment ultimately is sin. Thank him that he uses all things for his good purposes, and then stand on what’s true about him: Jesus is the chief cornerstone (Matthew 21:42); the earth is his and all it contains (Psalm 24:1); and he is the "ruler over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5).

Then start praying for your persecuted family who is inviting you to fellowship in their sufferings according to God’s power."

My husband Brad & I support VOM's ministry as well are becoming area director for a large part of Illinois. Please, pray for our church. I honestly believe persecution in the strong sense will be here in America in quite possibly our life time.

http://www.persecution.com/public/pray.aspx?articleonprayer_ID=MzE%3d&clickfrom=c2lkZWJhcg%3d%3d