How Waiting Prepares Us

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How Waiting Prepares Us

Christian Post Report – But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
— Genesis 39:21

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

Joseph had been doted on by his father, sold by his brothers into slavery, bought by Potiphar, and eventually promoted to manage Potiphar’s entire household. He was doing a great job. Then he was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison.

But Genesis 39:21 tells us, “The LORD was with Joseph.”

In typical Joseph fashion, he was so diligent and hardworking that he was soon running the place. Enter the butler and the baker. They had been working for Pharaoh, but now they were in prison. Joseph saw them one day and basically said, “Hey guys, why are you so sad? Why the long faces?” That’s an amazing statement for someone in a dungeon to make to other people in a dungeon. But there was a cheerfulness about Joseph. He was always thinking of others.

So the butler and the baker told Joseph about the dreams they had. Joseph told them, “Interpreting dreams is God’s business. . . . Go ahead and tell me your dreams” (Genesis 40:8).

The butler was the first to explain his dream to Joseph. Then Joseph said, “Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place” (verses 13–14). But two years passed before the butler remembered Joseph.

Has it ever seemed as though you were just spinning your wheels and not going anywhere? How easily Joseph could have felt that way. Yet we never read of him complaining, even for a moment.

Joseph’s life serves as a reminder that everything we go through is preparation for something else. God is preparing each of us for something.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

Iran Sentences 18 Christians to Prison for Their Faith in New Crackdown on Christianity

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Iran Sentences 18 Christians to Prison for Their Faith in New Crackdown on Christianity

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani speaks to NBC’s Ann Curry in an exclusive interview posted on Sept. 17, 2014.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani speaks to NBC’s Ann Curry in an exclusive interview posted on Sept. 17, 2014.” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/76366/irans-president-hassan-rouhani-speaks-to-nbcs-ann-curry-in-an-exclusive-interview-posted-on-sept-17-2014.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: NBC News video screencap)

Christian Post Report – Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani speaks to NBC’s Ann Curry in an exclusive interview posted on Sept. 17, 2014.

Iran’s revolutionary court is believed to have sentenced 18 Christian converts to prison for their faith in a new crackdown on Christianity in the Islamic Republic, a report said.

Fox News noted that the charges include evangelism, propaganda against the regime, and creating house churches to practice their faith. It added that the total sentences come close to 24 years, but it’s not known how many years each individual received, due to the lack of transparency in Iran’s judicial system.

“The cruelty of Iran’s dictatorial leaders knows no limits,” said Saba Farzan, the German-Iranian executive director of Foreign Policy Circle, a strategy think tank in Berlin.

A number of the imprisoned Christians were arrested in 2013, and sentenced in accordance with Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, which penalizes threats to Iran’s clerical leaders.

Morad Mokhtari, an Iranian convert to Christianity who fled the Islamic Republic in 2006, added: “Iranian religious authorities prefer that they [converts to Christianity] leave Iran because the authorities can’t control them,” Mokhatari said. “Just their name is evangelism. Imagine someone says he’s a Christian and has a Muslim name.”

Christians in Iran make up a tiny minority of the 78 million-strong population, and often face persecution from the government. Watchdog group Open Doors lists the country at No. 7 on its World Watch List of nations where Christians are most heavily targeted for their faith.

Open Doors points out on its website that almost all Christian activity in Iran is considered illegal, “especially when it occurs in Persian languages — from evangelism to Bible training, to publishing Scripture and Christian books or preaching in Farsi.”

It added: “In 2014, at least 75 Christians were arrested. More Christians were sentenced to prison and pressure on those detained increased, including physical and mental abuse.”

Iran’s human rights record has faced great scrutiny, especially in light of a historic nuclear deal it reached earlier this year with the U.S. and other Western nations, which promises to lift international sanctions on Iran in exchange for restricting its nuclear program.

The American Center for Law and Justice and other groups have said that the deal should not be finalized until Iran shows clear signs it is willing to improve its treatment of Christians — and release the American Christians it currently holds in its prisons, including pastor Saeed Abedini.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirt, R-Ill., has added in a statement: “The Iranian regime’s systematic persecution of Christians, as well as Baha’is, Sunni Muslims, dissenting Shiite Muslims, and other religious minorities, is getting worse not better,” Kirt said.

“This is a direct consequence of President Obama’s decision to de-link demands for improvements in religious freedom and human rights in Iran from the nuclear negotiations.”

Source : Christian Post

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal May Drop Gender From Birth Certificates After Complaints by Transgender, Intersex Activists

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Canadian Human Rights Tribunal May Drop Gender From Birth Certificates After Complaints by Transgender, Intersex Activists

Canada (Photo: Reuters/Mark Blinch)

Christian Post Report – A man holds a rainbow colored Canadian flag attached to a hockey stick during the “WorldPride” gay pride Parade in Toronto, June 29, 2014.

In a complaint filed by the Trans Alliance Society and several transgender and intersex individuals, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has agreed to consider dropping gender categories on birth certificates, which may give “false information,” activists say.

Last week, the National Post of Canada published a story detailing the complaints of transgender individuals and activists who believe possible “false information” based on a quick inspection of the genitals is discriminatory.

“Birth certificates (may) give false information about people and characterize them in a way that is actually wrong, that assumes to be right, and causes people … actual harm,” said Morgane Oger, chair of the Trans Alliance Society. “It’s considered true and infallible when it isn’t,” she added.

Vincent Villano, a spokesperson for the Washington,D.C.-based National Center for Transgender Equality, told The Christian Post, “In an ideal world there is no real reason why gender is on identification cards.” Villano, however, explained that their organization is working to better accommodate transgender individuals to have “access to accurate identification.”

The National Post quoted babrara findlay (“who spells her name in all lowercase letters for non conformity purposes”), who does not believe you can tell a child’s gender at birth.

“That means that children are raised ‘as’ the birth-assigned gender, which is a crazy-making experience,” declared findlay. “Instead of living in a social reality that recognizes that gender develops, and does not exist at birth, those children have nothing to work with except that something feels profoundly wrong.

“Getting to the stage of being able to ‘change’ gender is an anguishing process, in which a child often experiences severe pushback from their own families.”

She believes gender is determined not by what is between the legs but by simply asking a person their gender category.

In a 2014 press release on changes to New York law regarding changes to gender markers on birth certificates, the National Center for Transgender Equality wrote:

“According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 40% of transgender people have faced harassment when presenting identity documents that did not match their gender identity/expression. In addition, 15% report being denied entry or asked to leave because of gender mismatches, and 3% report facing physical assault due to mismatched ID.”

The New York law was changed to allow individuals to change their birth certificate without proof of surgery, which is a right recognized by some states but not all. The American Medical Association has said surgery shouldn’t be a requirement to change birth certificates.

Connecticut is the most recent state to change the law making it easier to change your gender on your birth certificate.

Last month in South Carolina, The Washington Post reported that teenager Chase Culpepper, who now identifies as female, won a federal lawsuit that forced the state to change their rules for transgender and non-gender conforming license photos.

Some experts feel the rules requiring gender on a birth certificate may be difficult to change because data is kept for census collecting purposes.

In a post regarding the controversy in British Columbia, popular conservative Canadian citizen and American resident Mark Steyn wrote, “Having done an impressive job of demolishing the basic societal building block of the family, the left has now advanced to demolishing the basic biological building block of the sexes.”

On Tuesday, the National Post in Canada published a story about “Transable” people who purposefully become disabled or live as disabled, despite otherwise normal bodies, because they do not feel normal as able bodied individuals.

Source : Christian Post

God’s Gift To You

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God’s Gift To You

God's Gift To You

Source : Christian Post

Got Doubt? Why You Should Step Out in Faith

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Got Doubt? Why You Should Step Out in Faith

Christian Post Report – God loves boldness and He wants us to be confident of His love for us. He wants us to know without a doubt that we are made right with Him through the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross — especially on those days when we feel unworthy of His love.

  • Joyce Meyer
    (Courtesy of Joyce Meyer Ministries)

To live boldly means that we’re willing to step out in faith to try new things and pursue our God-given dreams and passions without letting the fear of doubt overshadow our faith.

Doubt is a fear that can bring a lot of confusion: Did I make the right decision? I don’t know. Maybe I did. Well, maybe I didn’t. We can go back and forth like that in our heads forever but I’ve found that when I’m confused, it’s better to stop, turn off my brain and just look at what’s in my heart—not for what I think I should do, but what I believe I should do.

Sometimes it becomes very clear what God wants us to do; other times it’s less obvious. But before you jump ahead, give God a chance to speak to your heart.

God Is On Your Side, No Matter What

James 1:5-6 (AMP) says, “If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given to him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting).”

I hope that you noticed it says, “If any of you” need wisdom. God isn’t looking for perfect people; they don’t exist. So no matter where you are, God wants to help you! Isn’t that good news?

God will never leave you or forsake you, and He will always remain faithful to His Word. All you have to do is ask and receive, dismissing the doubts that set themselves up against His Word. If you can do that, there’s no telling what God will make happen in your life.

Words of Faith Bring Clarity and Confidence

Romans 4 gives a wonderful account of the story of Abraham, one of the great heroes of faith. Verses 18-19 (AMP) say, “[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised…. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb.”

Abraham considered the facts. But he still believed God was greater. Verse 20 says, “No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.”

Instead of relying only on what we see around us, you and I can choose to believe God’s Word. And we can open our mouths to speak words of thanks, like this:

“God, I remember the good things You’ve done for me and how You’ve been faithful to those who’ve trusted in You through the ages. I’m giving You praise today because I know You’ll always be faithful.”

Doubt cannot make you cave in if you will open your mouth and war against it with words of faith.

Be Ready to Be Stretched in Times of Waiting
Like Abraham, we all have times of waiting that God uses to test and stretch our faith. But He promises to work all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Honestly, if we can keep a good attitude throughout the process, our wait time might be shorter than it would be if we decided we’d rather murmur and complain. God wants to use the challenges we experience to draw us closer to Him so that when our prayer is finally answered and our day of breakthrough comes, we’ll be stronger in our faith and able to withstand any opposition that comes against us.

Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.

It takes boldness to believe God’s promises are for you and not just for everyone else. It takes boldness to cling to His promises when the world around you says: It will never happen! And it takes boldness to step out in faith and try something new. But be encouraged. God isn’t concerned about you making mistakes. He knows you’re not perfect and He wants to give you His wisdom and strength to do everything He’s put in your heart.

So stop doubting and step out in faith…and believe God can do something amazing in you and through you. He wants to see boldness in you!

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 90 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Do Yourself a Favor…Forgive (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.

© 2015 Printed with permission of Joyce Meyer Ministries

Source : Christian Post

Conference Calls on United Church of Canada to ‘Review’ Ordination Standards Amid Atheist Minister Controversy

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Conference Calls on United Church of Canada to ‘Review’ Ordination Standards Amid Atheist Minister Controversy

United Church of Canada (Photo: courtesy Hamilton Conference, UCC.)

Christian Post Report – The office of the Hamilton Conference of the United Church of Canada, located in Carlisle, Ontario, Canada.

A body within the United Church of Canada has passed a proposal calling for the liberal denomination to review the questions it poses during ordination in light of controversy surrounding an atheist clergywoman who’s been leading a congregation for 14 years.

The Ontario-based Hamilton Conference approved the proposal on Sunday that seeks to have the UCC’s General Counsel order a “broad based and theological review” of ordination standards.

In a copy provided to The Christian Post by the Hamilton Conference, the proposal alludes to the Rev. Greta Vosper, an outspoken atheist who will soon face review by the UCC over the “effectiveness” of her ministry.

“In light of dramatic changes, intentional and unintentional, currently underway in our church, we need to ensure that our future ministry leadership meets the challenge of change,” reads the resolution in part.

“In light of recent events in London and Toronto Conferences relating to how particular ministry personnel publicly express their theological outlook …”

The resolution called for the General Counsel to “instruct its Theology and Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee, or other appropriate group, to undertake a broad based and theological review of the Basis of Union part Eleven (11) which deals with the preamble and questions, posed as persons are ordained or commissioned, to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness as we move forward in support of our ministry leaders.”

The Rev. Peter Hartmans, conference executive secretary for Hamilton, told CP that the resolution did not go into specifics as to what should be changed.

“The proposal does not ask for specific changes, it asks for a ‘broad based and theological review of the Basis of Union part Eleven (11),'” said Rev. Hartmans, adding that “it is not presuming the outcome of that review.”

Hamilton Conference’s proposal came not long after news broke that Rev. Vosper was to be called for an interview as part of a process to determine how effective her ministry can be since she’s an atheist.

In June, the UCC Toronto Conference will conduct a formal process known as a review regarding Vosper, an author and founder of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity who is also a professed atheist.

The Rev. David W. Allen, executive secretary of the UCC Toronto Conference, told CP in an earlier interview about the investigative process.

“A review is a formal process within the United Church which is ordered when serious questions have been raised about a minister’s effectiveness,” said Rev. Allen.

“In this case, a team of five people will interview Ms. Vosper. They will report to a larger committee of 40 people, and that committee will give its opinion to the sub-Executive of Toronto Conference on whether Ms. Vosper is suitable for ministry within The United Church of Canada.”

According to Allen, at issue will be an interview of Vosper to determine if she continues to affirm certain questions asked during her ordination.

These questions include: “Do you believe in God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and do you commit yourself anew to God? Do you believe that God is calling you to the ordained ministry of Word, sacrament and pastoral care, and do you accept this call?” And finally, “Are you willing to exercise your ministry in accordance with the scriptures, in continuity with the faith of the Church, and subject to the oversight and discipline of The United Church of Canada?”

Source : Christian Post

Jeremy Lin Regains Passion for Basketball After Struggling With Discouragement

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Jeremy Lin Regains Passion for Basketball After Struggling With Discouragement
  • Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak introduces Jeremy Lin during a press conference at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California, Thursday, July 24, 2014
    (Photo: Reuters/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
    Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak introduces Jeremy Lin during a press conference at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California, Thursday, July 24, 2014.

Christian Post Report – Christian NBA point guard Jeremy Lin, may be seen as a role model by his many fans, but the athlete recently revealed that at the end of his season with the Los Angeles Lakers which didn’t go according to his plan, he struggled with a serious bout of discouragement.

The future of the 26-year-old who is now an unrestricted free, is unclear as he begins training for his next season.

 In a post on his personal blog, Lin assured his fans and supporters that other than his celebrity platform, he struggles with many issues that they do.

“I guess I’m saying all of that to say…even though many of you may look up to me as a ‘role model’ or a ‘story of perseverance,’ I’m no different than you guys. I get discouraged, I get worn down, I get burnt out,” Lin wrote. “I have doubts, thoughts of giving up, and of not being good enough. But the beautiful part is that God comes through in His unique and perfect way every time!”

Lin heads a digital prayer group that he started this year where he emails prayer requests to people who subscribe. In an email titled “Jeremy’s Prayer Requests 8” sent last month, Lin admitted to losing some passion for many aspects of his life after a tough basketball season.

“In many ways, I feel burnt out from the season so please pray that I continue to regain passion and joy in all aspects of life,” he previously wrote in the email prayer. “It’s been increasingly difficult to deal with the frustrations of life, as I feel like I’m faster to reach my patience limit (another by-product of feeling burnt out), mostly because the season took a lot out of me.”

The point guard recently admitted that he needed a break from basketball after an arduous season and lacked motivation to begin his training once again. After three weeks, his fervor for basketball seems to have returned and now he is putting his focus back on God.

“I started to really miss basketball and couldn’t wait to start training again. As I begin my off-season I will focus on God’s faithfulness, His perfect plan, and His unfailing love,” Lin wrote on June 1. “Life isn’t about maintaining your highs and eliminating your lows (because obstacles will inevitably come). Life is about cherishing your relationship with Christ and loving others through the highs and lows of life.”

While Lin may not know which team he will be playing for next season, he is putting his faith in God by writing, “I may not know where I’m going next, but I trust Who I’m following!!”

follow me on Twitter @CAThomasos

Source : Christian Post

‘Whoever Does Not Recognize State of Israel’ Is Anti-Semitic, Pope Francis Affirms in Email to Reporter

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‘Whoever Does Not Recognize State of Israel’ Is Anti-Semitic, Pope Francis Affirms in Email to Reporter

Pope Francis (Photo: Reuters/Tony Gentile)

Christian Post Report – Pope Francis (R) embraces Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the end of the ceremony for the canonisation of four nuns at Saint Peter’s square in the Vatican City, May 17, 2015. The four nuns being canonised include two Palestininan nuns, Marie Alphonsine Ghattas, founder of the first Catholic congregation in Palestine, and Mariam Baouardy Haddad, who established a Carmelite convent in Bethlehem.

After allegedly calling Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas an “angel of peace” over two weeks ago, Pope Francis reportedly asserted last week that anyone who does not recognize Israel as the Jewish state is anti-Semitic.

The Times of Israel reports that in an email sent to Portuguese-Israeli journalist Henrique Cymerman last Thursday, the pontiff equated anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism as one in the same.

“In an email we got from Pope Francis: ‘Whoever does not recognize the Jewish people and the State of Israel falls in antisemitism,'” Cymerman tweeted last Thursday.

The pope’s alleged comment comes after media controversy surrounded the Vatican when it was reported that Francis told Abbas, the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, that he was an angel of peace during a traditional gift exchange at the Vatican on May 16.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the pope gave Abbas a medal featuring an angel of peace, “which destroys the evil spirit of war.”

Although many news agencies reported the pope’s informal comment to Abbas as him saying “You are an angel of peace,” the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported the pope’s comments being more along the lines of “May you be an angel of peace,” hoping that Abbas would become such an angel.

After the pope took heat for allegedly praising Abbas, the Vatican released a statement a few days later to clarify that the pope didn’t mean to offend Israel by calling Abbas abbas an angel of peace.

“Pope Francis meant no offense to Israel by referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as being ‘an angel of peace’ and intended to encourage harmony between the two sides,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Lombardi further clarified that Francis tried to use the word angel in the context of a “messenger.”

Abbas’ visit to the Vatican came after a bilateral agreement was reached between the Vatican and the “State of Palestine” that indicated that the vatican would officially recognize Palestine as a state.

“To this end, the wish was reiterated that with the support of the international community, Israelis and Palestinians may take with determination courageous decisions to promote peace,” a Vatican statement on the treaty said.

According to Crux, the treaty also governs the tax and legal status of Catholic Church properties on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The statement added that both parties principally agreed to the treaty and that “the agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval ahead of setting a date in the near future for the signing.”

Although the Vatican is hopeful that such a treaty will progress the peacemaking between Israel and Palestine, an official within Israel’s foreign ministry told Jerusalem Post that the agreement won’t help move the peacemaking process forward and that it “moves the Palestinian leadership further away from returning to direct bilateral relations.”

Source : Christian Post

Fox Network’s ‘Empire’ Star Taraji P. Henson Says ‘Without God, I’m Nothing’ After Critic’s Choice Award Win

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Fox Network’s ‘Empire’ Star Taraji P. Henson Says ‘Without God, I’m Nothing’ After Critic’s Choice Award Win
  • Taraji P Henson
    (Photo: BET Press)
    Taraji P. Henson is a Christian actress.

Fox Network’s “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson said she is “nothing without God” after winning the Best Actress category at the 2015 Critics’ Choice Television Awards on Sunday night.

“You know, I don’t know what to say, I just… So many people to thank,” Henson began during the annual awards ceremony, which honored her portrayal of Cookie Lyon on “Empire.”

The 44-year-old star first rattled off thanks to Fox, colleagues, and critics before turning her attention to God.

“Thank you God, because without God, I’m nothing,” said Henson. “And the fans. I love awards, they’re great, but this just means I’m touching lives, and that’s why I got into acting.”

It comes as no surprise that Henson acknowledged God in her acceptance speech. In a past interview with The Christian Post, the star credited faith in God as the reason for her success.

“I moved to California with $700 in my pocket with my son and a dream and faith,” explained Henson. “And every time a door would close I would pray to God, like ‘I know you’ve got a plan for me because I’m still here.’ There’s a plan for me and I believe in that.”

Henson, who is also an Academy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominee, never faltered in her faith, despite early disappointments in her career.

“Whenever I thought I was supposed to get something and it didn’t fall through, I would just fall back to God and be like, ‘Ok, well what else, because whatever you’ve got must be better than this,'” added the actress.

Henson also revealed that faith in God helps her understand others around her.

“Faith keeps me from snapping on people because people will test you and push you… Humans hurt each other, because we were hurt,” explained the actress. “That’s what humans do, so why would you give that much power to another human? You’ve got to look to something higher.”

Henson stars on the Lee Daniels-created “Empire” alongside Terrence Howard, Trai Byers, Grace Gealey and others. Season two of the drama premieres on Fox Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch Henson’s Critic’s Choice Awards acceptance speech here.

follow me on Twitter @emmakoonse

Source : Christian Post

Requirements of Waiting

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Requirements of Waiting

Christian Post Report – Psalms 25:3-5

Waiting for God’s timing is neither passive nor idle—it takes discipline and commitment. I can think of four basic requirements for successful waiting.

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley
    (Photo: In Touch Ministries)
    Dr. Charles F. Stanley (File).

Faith. The Lord’s ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). From a human standpoint, the way He does things is usually totally different than expected. But as we trust Him more, we’ll discover that His approach isn’t so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God’s will, His timing starts to make sense.

Humility. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility—you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.

Patience. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.

Courage. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is pressure to act. If you’re not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear attuned to the voice of Almighty God, and you won’t go wrong.

Waiting upon the Lord is one of the wisest, most important decisions we make in life. And contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage. When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Source : Christian Post

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