Source CBN
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When you fear for your finances: How to avoid the ‘prison of anxiety’
NOTE: Welcome to our first Special Edition Daily Article responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
I will publish an article like this each weekday afternoon as we look at a breaking news story in the context of biblical encouragements to “fear not.”
In these days, it is vital that we fight fear with faith. I hope these Special Editions will be a source of biblical hope for you.
President Trump and the coronavirus task force held another press conference today as the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the US.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the White House was asking Congress to approve a massive emergency rescue package to help businesses and taxpayers. This after stocks fell yesterday in the worst day for the market since 1987’s “Black Monday.” The New York Times reports, “Not since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has a crisis enveloped so much of the economy so quickly.“
If you’re like most Americans, you are worried not just about the global economy or the national outlook but about your personal finances and retirement accounts.
But we’re not the first followers of Jesus to have such fears.
How to avoid the ‘prison of anxiety’
Paul founded the Philippian church in the face of great opposition. He and Silas were beaten and imprisoned before they were released and asked to leave the city (Acts 16:6–40). The congregation they left faced the threat of similar political and religious persecution. Many must have wondered about their financial security and their futures.
To them, the apostle offered these transformational words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Do not be anxious” could be translated, “Be worried about absolutely nothing.” There are no exceptions here.
Instead, we are to pray about “everything” with “supplication” (specific…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.
ISIS Warns Members to Stay Out of Europe Because of COVID-19
Despite years of ISIS pushing its soldiers into Europe to inflict acts of terror, the group has about-faced in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and is now telling them to stay out of Europe.
“The healthy should not enter the land of the epidemic and the afflicted should not exit from it,” said the group’s al-Naba newsletter, according to CBN News. The virus is a “plague” and “torment sent by God on whomsoever He wills,” the group continued.
ISIS encouraged any terrorist in Europe to remain in order to inflict “the infidels.” If members are healthy, however, they should “flee from the one afflicted with leprosy as you flee from the lion.” They also pushed hygiene habits, including washing hands and covering their mouths when sneezing or yawning.
The terrorist group has been on alert regarding the growing situation ever since the outbreak began in China last December.
According to Homeland Security Today, the al-Naba newsletter blamed Chinese officials for not fully revealing the scope of the coronavirus’ spread, which, according to them, is a punishment from God for China’s mistreatment of the Uyghur Muslim population.
“The real numbers for the dead and the ill are many times what they announced,” ISIS said. China is “claiming the recovery and discharge of some patients with the disease … to reassure people, and to reduce the catastrophic effects.”
The…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
PODCAST: Whyte House Family Devotional Reading of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening #60 with Daniel Whyte III
This is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International with the Whyte House Family Devotional Reading of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening podcast. This is Episode #60.
Charles Spurgeon was a prominent English Particular Baptist preacher. He was very influential among the Christians of various denominations during his age and even today, and is commonly called the “Prince of Preachers”. After some time of alternately searching for God and running from God, he had a powerful encounter which led him to give his life to Christ. Spurgeon was only 16 when he preached his first sermon and he began publishing books shortly afterward. At the time of his death, he had preached nearly 3,600 sermons and published 49 volumes of commentaries, sayings, anecdotes, illustrations and devotions. Spurgeon said, “encouraging thoughts are like honey to the heart”, and wrote this devotional in hopes that its uplifting messages for each day of the year would bring comfort and refreshment to our walk with God. He was inspired by Isaiah 50:4 which reads, “He wakeneth morning by morning. He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” and Psalm 63:5-6 which says, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips; when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.”
Ephesians 1:11 reads: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
When Jesus gave himself for us, he gave us all the rights and privileges which went with himself; so that now, although as eternal God, he has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal head of the covenant of grace, he has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of his obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in him, and on whose behalf he accomplished the divine will. See, he enters into glory, but not for himself alone, for it is written, “Whither the Forerunner is for us entered.” Heb. 6:20. Does he stand in the presence of God?—“He appears in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9:24. Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through his blood; if you are justified, it is through his righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because he is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in him. Thus Jesus is magnified—for all is in him and by him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us—for it is obtained in him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved “in whom” we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and his treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ’s sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ’s possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. “All things are yours, for ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.”
PRAY.
Thank you for listening to the Morning and Evening podcast. If you do not know the Lord as your Savior, here is how you can be saved from Hell and walk with the Lord morning and evening until you go to that wonderful place called Heaven when you die:
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:8: “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at [email protected] and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Source Black Christian News
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PODCAST: The Scripture & the Sense Podcast #446: Amos 4:12 with Daniel Whyte III
This is Daniel Whyte III president of Gospel Light Society International with The Scripture & the Sense Podcast #446, where I read the Word of God and give the sense of it based on an authoritative commentary source such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary or Matthew Henry Commentary. This podcast is based upon Nehemiah 8:8 where it says Ezra and the Levites “read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” The aim of this podcast is that through the simple reading of the Word of God and the giving of the sense of it, the church would be revived and the world would be awakened.
Today we are reading Amos 4:12.
12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
________
That was Amos 4:12. Now here is the sense of it.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary reads:
Therefore, because Israel had resisted these chastenings and had continued her sinful rebellion, God would pronounce her sentence of doom. This is what I will do to you refers to God’s devastating sweep through the land as predicted in 3:11–15. The nation was commanded to get ready for this terrifying moment—prepare to meet your God, O Israel. Some understand the word “prepare” as an invitation to repent before this final catastrophe. Since the word, however, was often used of war preparations, “prepare to meet your God” is most likely a military summons to an awful confrontation. Israel was to face God’s final judgment.
____________
Thank you for listening to the Scripture & The Sense Podcast. Remember to read the Word of God each and every day and pray without ceasing to God for wisdom to understand it and apply it to your life. Most importantly, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Please stay tuned for a complete presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so that you can get your soul saved from Hell to that wonderful place called Heaven when you die. May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.
Source Black Christian News
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Focus in a time of crisis: Warren Buffett’s rules and four ways to improve your life and world
In these days of working from home and social distancing,
one of our great challenges is to find and keep focus on what matters most. It
is challenging to parent at-home children while officing at home. Distractions
from the news on the pandemic are ever-present. So much has changed about our
lives, making it easy to feel disoriented and unfocused.
In this context, an article I read just now on Warren
Buffett may be helpful.
Buffett is obviously one of the most successful investors
and business leaders in the world. However, he is countercultural in so much of
his life and work.
He has never had a computer in his office. He has never used
a stock sticker. He does not have a smartphone. He rarely talks to the media.
He doesn’t attend industry events. And he barely attends internal meetings.
What he does do is maintain focus.
He refuses busy work and lives simply: he’s lived in the same house in Omaha, Nebraska, for sixty years and spends only $100,000 a year. He focuses his investment strategy on only a few, long-term bets.
The profile then suggests steps we can follow in prioritizing our schedules and lives. I encourage you to read more at “Warren Buffett: ‘Really Successful People Say No To Almost Everything’”.
Four ways to improve your life and world
Warren Buffett may be one of the most influential investors
of our generation, but Jesus Christ is the most influential person of all time.
And he lived by the same commitment to focus and priorities.
He began his day alone with his Father (Mark 1:35). He
focused his message and ministry on advancing God’s kingdom in all he did
(Matthew 4:17). He knew and fulfilled his mission: “The Son of Man came to
seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Now he stands ready to focus and direct your life. Consider
these steps:
One: Ask the Lord how he wants to redeem this time of uncertainty in your life.
If you’re working from home, how would Jesus make…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.
‘Caremongering’ Movement Provides Beacon of Hope amid COVID-19 Outbreak
A new online movement has recently become widespread across Canada as a way to provide help to communities, especially to those who are at high risk if they contract COVID-19.
BBC News reports that “more than 35 Facebook groups have been set up in 72 hours to serve communities in places including Ottawa, Halifax and Annapolis County in Nova Scotia, with more than 30,000 members between them.”
Acts of kindness across the globe have ranged “from delivering soup to the elderly in the UK to an exercise class held for quarantined residents on their balconies in Spain.”
Canadians, who has long been stereotyped by the media as “kind to a fault” have recently established the “caremongering” movement to help others.
Under the social media hashtag #caremongering, one can read about the dozens of acts of kindness being done across Canada.
The initial caremongering group was founded by Mita Han with the assistance of Valentina Harper.
Harper shared with BBC News that the pair decided to start the #caremongering movement to combat widespread fear of the coronavirus.
“Scaremongering is a big problem,” Harper told the BBC. “We wanted to switch that around and get people to connect on a positive level, to connect with each other.
“It’s spread the opposite of panic in people, brought out community and camaraderie, and allowed us to tackle the needs of those who are at-risk all the…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson released from the hospital: Why good news is such good news
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson became the first celebrity faces of the coronavirus pandemic when they told the world they had contracted the virus. Since that time, they have shared words of encouragement and wisdom; Rita also compiled a very entertaining “Quarantunes” playlist for those who are isolated.
Now we are learning that the couple has been released from their hospital in Australia and are in self-isolation at a home they are renting in Queensland.
Other celebrities are now known to have contracted the
disease as well, including actor Idris Elba and Sophie Trudeau, the wife of
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. But Hanks and Wilson are especially
beloved by Americans and other fans around the world. Their story has
personalized the pandemic in a powerful way.
Part of the reason we are grateful for them is that they
consistently find ways to speak good news into our culture. Hanks is famous for
his kindness to fans and strangers. He and his wife have been on a decades-long
quest to improve the lives of those they influence.
The coronavirus pandemic is just the latest example of their
commitment to reframing challenges as opportunities.
Why good news is such good news
Maya Angelou famously noted, “I’ve learned that people
will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will
never forget how you made them feel.”
When the pandemic is over, people will remember how you made them feel during these hard days.
Did you encourage others through your social media interactions and other connections?
Did you seek to serve those who were sick or discouraged?
Did you make a tangible, practical difference in someone’s life?
Most of all, did you find ways to glorify your Lord and draw
people to him?
Paul encouraged us to “rejoice in the Lord always”
(Philippians 4:4). James taught us to “count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). Solomon…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.
‘We Have an Invisible Enemy’: Trump Urges Americans to Limit Groups to 10 People
President Trump issued new guidelines Monday, urging Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people for 15 days, saying it is essential to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Each and every one of us has a critical role to play,” he said.
The guidelines are a companion to CDC guidelines issued one day earlier that recommend “mass gatherings” with 50 or more people be canceled or postponed for eight weeks. Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the Coronavirus Task Force said the “trajectory of the outbreak” may last until July, although the 10-persons guidelines will be revisited at the end of 15 days.
Together, the guidelines mean churches must find different and new ways to serve the community.
“It’s important for the young and healthy people to understand that while they may experience milder symptoms, they can easily spread this virus, and they will spread it indeed, putting countless others in harm’s way,” Trump said.
“We especially worry about our senior citizens,” he said.
The coronavirus is at least 10 times deadlier than the flu. For the elderly, the mortality rate is between 10 and 20 percent, according to data from around the world. There is no vaccine.
“We’ve always heard about the Greatest Generation,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force. “We’re protecting the Greatest…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Samaritan's Purse Rushes Aid as Hard-Hit Italy Sends 10,000 Student Doctors into Coronavirus Fray
Italy is rushing 10,000 student doctors to help hospitals struggling to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.
More than 2,100 people there have died from the virus making it the worst-hit country after China. Nearly 28,000 have been infected.
The crisis has overwhelmed the country’s hospitals forcing the government to build outdoor facilities to accommodate the growing numbers of sick patients.
In the northern Italian city of Bergamo, one of the hardest-hit regions, families buried their loved ones Tuesday, as the number of new cases there spiked this week.
The entire country is under quarantine, preventing 60 million Italians from leaving their homes unless it’s for food or medical emergencies. All public gatherings are been banned.
Franklin Graham’s aid ministry called Samaritan’s Purse is rushing aid to Italy.
The organization tweeted Tuesday: “Our DC-8 is en route to northern Italy with a 68-bed emergency field hospital to care for those infected by #COVID19. Please join us in praying for all who have been affected by the #coronavirus.”
Our DC-8 is en route to northern Italy with a 68-bed emergency field hospital to care for those infected by #COVID19. Please join us in praying for all who have been affected by the #coronavirus. https://t.co/Ca5sl3pH7s
— Samaritan’s Purse (@SamaritansPurse) March 17, 2020
Edward Graham, Franklin Graham’s youngest son, is also a leader in Samaritan’s Purse. He tweeted, “Italy bound, wheels up to serve in Jesus Name on the front lines of COVID-19. Please be praying for our crew and hospital staff that will be helping the Italian people during a time of crisis.”
Italy bound, wheels up to serve in Jesus Name on the front lines of COVID-19. Please be praying for our crew and hospital staff that will be helping the Italian people during a time of crisis. #coronavirus #covid_19 #serving #hope #fieldhospital #love #lovethyneighbor pic.twitter.com/xUeLL200sm
— Edward Graham (@EdwardG1911) March 17, 2020
Source CBN
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