November 19 Words of Encouragement

Scripture Reading: Psalm 8:1–9

Key Verse: Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad.

Have you ever hesitated to speak words of encouragement because you weren’t sure how they would be received? Being an encourager means reaching out even when you’re not sure.

You never know the impact you might have. In his book The Power of Encouragement, Dr. David Jeremiah explains:

I can be encouraged by what I hear. If I sense someone genuinely cares about me, that person’s words can be powerful. As the adage goes, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

The Book of Proverbs speaks often about encouragement. Here’s one example: “Anxious hearts are very heavy but a word of encouragement does wonders!” (Proverbs 12:25, TLB). Have you ever been weighed down by anxiety when someone came along and spoke a good word which lifted your spirit?

During one of the deepest, darkest times in my life, a fellow pastor called me just to say, “David, I want you to know I love you, and I know you are going through some hurt. I want you to know I’m here if you need me. I want to pray with you.” And he prayed with me on the phone. He called me every week for several weeks with a word of encouragement. He poured courage into my heart.… Believe it or not, two or three sentences can turn a person’s life around.

Lord, give me the spiritual maturity to help others. I want to be an encouragement and blessing to those with whom I come in contact today.^[1]

 

^[1] Stanley, C. F. (2006). Pathways to his presence (p. 338). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

November 19 Test the Words by the Word

Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:11–24

Key Verse: 1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Don’t believe everything you read” is just commonsense good advice.

It is always wise to read with a wary eye and try to verify facts before you repeat them. The same is true about spiritual information. Scripture warns us to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) to make sure that what we are hearing or reading squares with God’s Word.

The people of the Galatian church had similar concerns about the accuracy of the information they were receiving. Some even doubted Paul’s authority to be a teacher. That was why Paul spent so much time defending his authority as an apostle. In other words, Paul furnished them with the basis for his knowledge: “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11–12 nasb).

Paul had a one-on-one encounter with the Messiah on the road to Damascus and then spent several years in careful study of God’s Word. If the words he spoke were his own or supported by a self-generated philosophy, then Paul’s ministry would have been groundless and false.

Make it a personal habit to test the words you hear against the infallible, inerrant Word.

Master, give me the wisdom to test everything I hear against Your infallible, inerrant Word. Let Your Word be the plumb line against which I measure all other voices.^[1]

 

^[1] Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 338). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Former Catholic Priest Jonathan Morris Predicts That Kanye West Will Soon Be Headed To The Vatican For Private Meeting With Pope Francis — Now The End Begins

Get ready, now, and hold onto your hats, former Catholic priest and good buddy with Pope Francis has made a prediction about where Kanye West may land next.

For the past few days, hip-hop superstar Kanye West has been sucking all the oxygen out of the room with his Sunday Service, grabbing every headline there is to grab, dominating the Billboard charts, and riding a wave of popularity among Christians the likes of which may not have ever been seen before. To date his success with ‘Jesus Is King’ has expanded his bank account to the tune of over $150 million dollars, and there seems to be no end in sight. So what could possible be next for Kanye West? The ultimate prize for any Illuminati superstar – Rome.

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.” Revelation 18:9,10 (KJV)

Fox News contributor Jonathan Morris was, up to very recently, known as Father Jonathan Morris, a Catholic priest in good standing. By his own testimony, he went in private to Pope Francis and asked for something called a ‘voluntary laicization‘, a release from his priestly vows, which was granted him by the pope. No sooner is Father Morris now Citizen Morris, when he pops up at Lakewood Church for private meetings with Joel Osteen and Kanye West. Morris then proceeds to write gushing op-ed pieces praising Joel Osteen and Kanye West, and helps to promote the ‘good gospel work’ of the Sunday Service travelling road show. But get ready, now, and hold onto your hats, former Catholic priest and good buddy with Pope Francis has also made a prediction about where Kanye West may land next. Former Father Morris says that Kanye West is headed to the Vatican to get the papal blessing on his Sunday Service.

Before we go any further, it would be beneficial to remind ourselves about the connection first between Joel Osteen and Pope Francis. On June 5th, 2014, Osteen flew to Rome for a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, and also attend the Convocation of Renewal in Rome. It was also around this time that other prominent leaders from the Charismatic church were seen working with the Vatican, finding “common ground” on how the two sides could come together. Kenneth Copeland famously offered Pope Francis his entire congregation and declared that ‘the Reformation is over’ in a show of unity. You will also remember how Rick Warren, one of the main early drivers of Chrislam, referred to Francis as “our pope” implying that he is the leader of all Christians worldwide and not just Catholics.

Now, in case you really don’t remember this flurry of ecumenical activity that took place between the Charismatics and the Vatican, here is a little video to help jog your memory.

The Charismatics, The Vatican and the Coming One World Religion

Back in 2014, not only did Pope Francis hold ecumenical services in the Vatican where he prayed to the moon god of Islam, Allah, he also held high level meetings with megachurch pastor Joel Osteen and US Senator Mike Lee who was there to represent the Mormon church. The actors have taken the stage, with more still arriving, in the unfolding of what will one day soon be the wildest bible prophecy ever told – the Great Tribulation.

Now that you’re up to speed, let’s turn our attention back to Kanye West and his Sunday Service. Over the past 48 hours we showed you the how Kanye held his Sunday Service show at Lakewood church on a stage set build around the All-Seeing Eye of ancient Egypt, then we showed you the same All-Seeing Eye on his very first Sunday Service at Coachella back in April, just to prove to you this is intentional and not a one-off coincidence. Then we told you that on November 24th, Kanye West will debut his opera based on the life of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, a biblical type of Antihrist. Now today we bring you the prediction of former Catholic priest Jonathan Morris that Kanye is headed to the Vatican for a meeting with the pope.

This is how the One World Religion, which Pope Francis has spent nearly all of 2019 assembling, finally comes together. Kanye West is the linkpin that connects together the lost denizens of Illuminati Hollywood with bible-deficient Laodicean Christians, mainly Charismatics who number at over 100 million, to form the end times ecumenical horror show the Bible tells us will come. Kind of makes the Pretribulation Rapture more of a rescue operation than anything else, doesn’t it? God will not allow born again Christians to enter the time of Jacob’s trouble, but it’s starting to look like that before we are all pulled up and out, that many will have to be liberated from the clutches of Pope Francis and his  One World Religion.

Watch As False Teacher Kenneth Copeland Attempts To Sell His Flock To The Vatican

Why would Kenneth Copeland make such a strong pitch for his church to reunite with Rome? Money, money …MONEY. That’s why.

via Former Catholic Priest Jonathan Morris Predicts That Kanye West Will Soon Be Headed To The Vatican For Private Meeting With Pope Francis — Now The End Begins

Trump Pastor Paula White Tells Followers To Give $229 For ‘Prophetic Instruction’ on How To Defeat Their Enemies — Christian Research Service

Newsweek

www.newsweek.com

President Donald Trump’s personal pastor and spiritual advisor Paula White is asking followers to give her $229 in order to receive “prophetic instruction” on how to defeat the enemies in their lives this November.

In an email to her newsletter subscribers Thursday, White said she has “prayerfully focused on November as a month for a victory over enemies” and said dark spiritual forces are stopping her believers from achieving a “complete breakthrough in every area of your life.”

The request for money in exchange for this so-called prophetic instruction comes just two weeks after the Trump administration appointed White to head up the White House’s new Faith & Opportunity Initiative, which was founded by executive order last year.

“I decree a prophetic instruction for a SUDDEN DEFEAT OVER YOUR ENEMIES! Victory is yours,” said the email sent to White’s followers on Thursday.

The email lists seven “principles” about the spiritual warfare believers find themselves facing in the month of November, including that “there is an enemy in your life” and “the warfare you find yourself in is dangerously aggressive.”

Read article HERE.

via Trump Pastor Paula White Tells Followers To Give $229 For ‘Prophetic Instruction’ on How To Defeat Their Enemies — Christian Research Service

About Beth Moore — The Watchman’s Bagpipes

Too much has come to my attention this past week in regards to Beth Moore that I decided to just do a short post on her, and hope that those who follow her teachings might see this and wake up to the truth that Moore is a narcissistic false teacher.

Not only is Moore a horrid teacher, she’s also not too smart/lacking common sense to be hanging around with heretics and apostates.

And if you were just dying to see Beth’s morning workout….

How can any Christian justify supporting this apostate person?!?

Lifestyles of the mega-rich pastors with estates and private jets: You’ll be shocked to see who is among them (OK it’s Beth Moore)

She has raised a straw man when told that women are not to be leaders in the church nor teaching over men in the assembly

If this (below) is the sort of praise and support Moore gets — from a rank heretic– you just KNOW she should be avoided:

Search this blog for articles about Beth Moore and you will not be able to logically come to any other conclusion but that she and her teachings should be avoided as one would avoid any other false teacher.

via About Beth Moore — The Watchman’s Bagpipes

November 19 Trusting Through Tragedies

Scripture reading: Psalm 139:7–12

Key verse: Psalm 139:17

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

Anne Bradstreet, the greatest female poet of colonial America, was a busy wife and mother as one of the early settlers. Yet in the middle of unrelenting duty and hardships, she poured out the passions of her heart in poetry that is admired today for its rich simplicity.

On the night of July 10, 1666, she was awakened by terrible cries in the night—“Fire! Fire!” After she and her family made their way to safety, she stood outside and watched the fast-moving flames consume everything they owned. The next morning she picked over the smoking ruins, finding the remains of old keepsakes, chests, the family table. She was brokenhearted and wept as she thought of the joys that were gone.

In her poem “Upon the Burning of Our House,” notice the conclusion she reaches as she works through the pain of traumatic loss:

And did thy wealth on earth abide?

Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust?…

Thou hast an house on high erect,

Framed by that mighty Architect …

There’s wealth enough, I need no more;

Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store.

The world no longer let me love;

My hope and treasure lies above.

Anne understood that God was taking care of her and her family, regardless of how much they had or did not have. She also knew that He would provide for their future. Do you have the peace of trusting Him through your tragedies?

Father, help me trust You in bad times as well as good. Give me a faith that shines brightest in the darkest hours.^[1]

 

^[1] Stanley, C. F. (2000). Into His presence (p. 338). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Voters “Numb And Disoriented” From Constant Political Drama And Fake News: NYT | ZeroHedge News

After three years of fake news, fake polls and fake outrage, Americans trying to keep up with the constant barrage of political drama are ‘numb and disoriented,’ and people are tuning out according to the New York Times.

In upstate New York, Travis Trudell got an alert on his phone Wednesday morning telling him the impeachment hearings had started. He turned on Disney Plus instead. In Wisconsin, Jerre Corrigan never considered watching. She spent the day giving a math lesson to third graders. In Idaho, Russell Memory worked a busy day as a computer programmer and figured he’d catch up in a few weeks when the hearings were over. –NYT

“It’s harder now — they want to grab you with those headlines,” said Jerre Corrigan of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. “Trump did this, Trump did that. You have to go in and really research it. And I don’t think a lot of people do that.”

Meanwhile, the MSM has thoroughly discredited itself after staking their reputation that Trump would surely lose the 2016 election, then promising he’d go down for colluding with Russia, and now – promoting Democrats’ impeachment scheme like willing lapdogs without asking critical questions about Joe Biden and his son Hunter that even the Obama State Department raised in 2015.

“I just don’t know what to think. You would have to know the facts, and I don’t know that I’m getting the facts from the media right now,” said Corrigan.

And according to a recent poll cited by the New York Times, 47% of Americans believe it’s difficult to identify truthful news.

Just 31 percent find it easy. About 60 percent of Americans say they regularly see conflicting reports about the same set of facts from different sources, according to the poll, by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.

“Now more than ever, the lines between fact-based reporting and opinionated commentary seem blurred for people,” said Evette Alexander, research director at the Knight Foundation, which funds journalism and research. “That means they trust what they are seeing less. They are feeling less informed.” –NYT

Travis Trudell, a registered independent mentioned at the top of the story, told the Times he stopped paying attention to national news around a year ago – finding it toxic and mentally taxing, in addition to starting seemingly endless arguments at home. Instead, he focuses on local and state-level politics.

“People can see totally different things, standing right next to each other,” said Trudell. “Yes, there are shades of gray, but what about black and white? We assume that everything is a shade of gray now.”

Blaming social media and memes

The Times then segues into the impact of “powerful new digital forces buffeting American voters” through deception.

Matt Stanley, a school administrator and registered Democrat in Crum, W.Va., watched as his candidate for Congress in the midterms last year, Richard Ojeda, lost badly. The result, Mr. Stanley believes, was at least partly related to a stream of negative ads on Facebook featuring doctored photographs aimed at discrediting Mr. Ojeda, including one depicting him in makeup and a pink beret.

But the most corrosive part came later, Mr. Stanley said. It was not that people believed wrong things that they saw online, but that they stopped believing right things — or anything at all. That made him afraid for the future. How do you have a society without shared reference points, he said Thursday. –NYT

“The social media, it muddies up stuff so badly,” said the 50-year-old Stanley. “There’s so much information that’s biased, that no one believes anything. There is so much out there and you don’t know what to believe, so it’s like there is nothing.”

Meanwhile, the sheer volume of news is causing information overload and mental fatigue.

“There are certain programs, with their disdain for Trump, it just becomes the Trump-bashing show,” said 55-year-old Detroit translator Els Ruijter, a left-leaning independent. “It’s like eating French fries. It goes down nicely, but it gives me a little indigestion afterward.”

“It’s a freaking day job nowadays to keep up with stuff,” she added.

Facts?

“In the political space, you no longer have to have facts to back up your claims,” said University of Texas director for the Center for Media Engagement, Talia Stroud. “The result is a population bordering on cynicism, where people discount everything that’s opposed to their views.”

The degree of alienation is new. In the late 1970s, nearly three quarters of Americans trusted newspapers, radio and television. Walter Cronkite read the news every night, and most Americans went to bed with the same set of facts, even if they had different political views. These days, less than half of Americans have confidence in the media, according to Gallup.

The decline in confidence is particularly pronounced by party. Today about 69 percent of Democrats have a great deal of confidence in the media, compared to just 15 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of independents, according to Gallup. –NYT

Who could have predicted that years of fake news, failed proclamations, and overt partisanship would cause rational minds to recoil.

Source: Voters “Numb And Disoriented” From Constant Political Drama And Fake News: NYT

Clinton Foundation Files $16.8 Million Loss | ZeroHedge News

Authored by Steve Watson via Summit News,

The numbers don’t lie, Hillary’s name is poison

Hillary Clinton’s name is pure poison and no one in their right mind wants anything to do with her.

This is evidenced nowhere more in the fact that the Clinton Foundation has gone from turning over a revenue of almost $400 million in 2013, to actually LOSING almost $33 million since Donald Trump wiped the floor with Hillary in 2016.

Newly released tax records show that the foundation reported a loss of almost $17 million in 2018, to add to the net loss of $16.1 million the previous year in 2017.

The numbers don’t lie.

Total revenue reported for 2018 was just $30.7 million, less than a tenth of what was being pulled in While Hillary was Secretary of State.

Source: Investors.com

Only $24.2 million was posted in grants and contributions, which constitutes a record low for the “charity.” Expenses amounted to $47.5 million, hence a loss of $16.8 million.

In 2009, the Clinton Foundation hauled in $249 million, and in the four years that followed, another $392.2 million in revenue poured in. In her last three years in office, 2014-16, the foundation raised a whopping $344.4 million.

In total, during the eight years of Obama’s presidency, the Clinton Foundation reported total revenue of more than $1.1 billion

Then Hillary coughed and collapsed her way to the election, and America was ‘made great again’,

We learned about hammers and hard drives, and a many of the Clintons’ donors realised that the optics of giving money to a ‘crooked’ family are not good.

It seems there is only one thing left for Hillary to do…

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/19/2019 – 12:55

Source: Clinton Foundation Files $16.8 Million Loss

Franklin Graham Says Trump’s Enemies Hellbent on ‘Destroying Him’

Christian evangelist Franklin Graham said on Tuesday that the Democrats’ ongoing impeachment effort against President Trump is “dividing our country even further” and added that Trump’s enemies are hellbent on “destroying him & his presidency regardless of the damage it does to our nation.”

Source: Franklin Graham Says Trump’s Enemies Hellbent on ‘Destroying Him’

Spiritual Warfare Is Real — Christian Research Network

“I’m not necessarily saying we should look for a demon behind every incident that doesn’t go our way, but perhaps we’re underestimating the influence of the kingdom of darkness.”

(Alan Shlemon – Stand To Reason) Angels and demons exist. I’ll admit that even though I believe that, I tend to downplay their reality. Daniel 10, however, offers us a glimpse of spiritual warfare that helps us glean some insights into their activity and their real-life impact.

Daniel experiences a vision and then prays and fasts, asking God to help him understand it. Three weeks later, an angel appears to him and says:

O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you…. Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future. (Dan. 10:11–14)      View article →

Resources

Are All Angels Safe? Are You Armed For Battle? Christian,You’re Engulfed In An All-Out Spirit Battle. Are You Prepared For It? Justin Peters & Jim Osman On Spiritual Warfare: Binding Satan Seeing the Unseen: The Nature Of Spiritual Warfare What Do You Think About All This Satan Stuff?

Research

Angels, Demons & Spiritual Warfare

via Spiritual Warfare Is Real — Christian Research Network

November 19, 2019 Afternoon Verse Of The Day

49:4  As the minds of men continually vacillate, because they do not sufficiently consider the infinite power of God, the Prophet, that he might remove all obstacles which might have rendered his prophecy doubtful, now declares that the Ammonites gloried in vain in their valleys. Some understand by valleys a fertile land, well watered. But the Prophet, as I think, refers rather to fortified places. He then says, that they in vain gloried in their deep valleys; as they were surrounded with mountains, so they thought that they could not be approached. He derides this vain confidence, Why, he says, dost thou glory in thy valleys, or, profundities? Flown down has thy valley. By saying, that the valley, or depth, had flown down, he alludes to its situation: for when any one considers a region situated among mountains, the land appears as flowing, like a river gliding between its banks. It is then a striking allusion to a deep place, when he says that the valley flowed down. It was the same as though he had said, “Thy depth has vanished,” or, “It shall not be to thee such a protection as thou thinkest.” But the meaning is, that though the Ammonites, confiding in their defences, disregarded all attacks of enemies, they would yet be exposed to plunder; for their mountains and valleys would avail them nothing, notwithstanding the opinion they entertained, that they were so fortified, that they could not be assailed.

He calls Ammon a rebellious, or a backsliding daughter, though he mentions no particulars. But Ezekiel and also Amos and Zephaniah, these three, clearly shew why God was so severe towards the Ammonites, (Ezekiel 25; Amos 1:13; Zeph. 2:9;) it was because they had uttered blasphemies against Him and his people, exulted over the miseries and calamities of the chosen people, and plundered them when they saw them overcome by their enemies. For these reasons, then, our Prophet now calls them a rebellious people: they had proudly exalted themselves against God, and exercised cruel tyranny as to the miserable Israelites, who were yet, as it has been stated, connected with them by blood.

Who trusts in her secrecies, or hidden places: rendered by some, “in her treasures.” But as אצר, atser, means to hide, the reference is, as I think, to strongholds; for the Prophet in the next words explains himself, Who can come to me? It appears, then, that the Ammonites thought themselves thus secure, because they were not exposed to their enemies, but protected by their mountains, as though they were in hiding places. This boasting sufficiently shews that they did not so much trust in their treasures as in their hidden places, because they dwelt in recesses. The meaning is, that though the Ammonites gloried that they were beyond the reach of danger, yet God would become the avenger of the cruelty which they had exercised towards their relations, the Israelites.^[1]

---

^[1] Calvin, J., & Owen, J. (2010). Commentaries on the Prophet Jeremiah and the Lamentations (Vol. 5, pp. 60–62). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

GEORGE SOROS’ Open Society Foundation Gave Regular UPDATES to Whistle Blower ERIC CIARAMELLA

Absolute Truth from the Word of God

Does the reader remember “Where’s Waldo?”

Geopolitically, there could now be a game called “Search for Soros” because we know that whenever there is something BIG happening which affects the U.S.  Soros will be found.

From  Twitchy.com

Wait!   No big deal, just Eric Ciaramella getting regular Ukraine policy updates from Soros’ Open Society Foundation

So many (too many) questions keep popping up about the Ukraine investigation, like this nugget about whistleblower Eric Ciaramella and Steele-dossier connected Victoria Nunland getting regular Ukraine policy updates from Soros’ Open Society Foundations.

Why?

From our sister site, RedState:

Emails obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by conservative group Citizens United show that Jeff Goldstein, a senior policy analyst for Eurasia at George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, kept CIA officer Eric Ciaramella and former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the State Department, Victoria Nuland, regularly informed on…

View original post 271 more words

Video: An Unmistakable Move of God to Purify His Church — Julie Roys

In the past 24 months, journalists and bloggers have exposed rampant abuse and corruption in the evangelical church—from James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel to Bill Hybels and Willow Creek, the Moody Bible Institute, the Southern Baptist Convention, Gospel for Asia, Liberty University, and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. I firmly believe this is no accident. It’s part of a powerful move of God to purify His Church. And we need to join God in what He’s doing.

This was the message I brought to the RESTORE Chicago conference at Judson University on November 2nd. My talk included stories I’ve never told before, showing the miraculous ways God gave me sources, audio, and even legal support as I followed His lead in exposing wrongdoing at Harvest and Moody. And just as God gave David “one smooth stone” to slay Goliath, He’s likewise given each of us a unique role to play in His purifying work to slay the godless “giant” of the “evangelical industrial complex” or “celebrity machine.”

via Video: An Unmistakable Move of God to Purify His Church — Julie Roys

New York Stock Exchange Double Topping or Sending A Strong Bullish Message? — Kimble Charting Solutions

A very broad index is testing last year’s highs, as monthly momentum is creating lower highs? Which indicator is more important, price or momentum?

This chart looks at the New York Stock Exchange Index (NYSE) on a monthly basis over the past 15-years.

The index peaked in January of 2018, as momentum was the highest since the peak in 2007.

The rally off the lows around Christmas last year, has the index testing the highs of January 2018. While the rally has taken place over the past 12-months, lofty momentum has created a series of lower highs.

Can you believe that this index has lagged the S&P 500 since June of 2008!

Bottom line; Price is the only thing that pays! If this lagging index would happen to break above last year’s highs, it would send the S&P a bullish message.

via New York Stock Exchange Double Topping or Sending A Strong Bullish Message? — Kimble Charting Solutions

November 19, 2019 Truth2Freedom Briefing Report (US•World•Christian)

REUTERS

Democrats responded skeptically on Monday to President Donald Trump’s declaration that he might be willing to testify in his impeachment inquiry and also said they were examining the truthfulness of his testimony in the Russia 2016 election interference probe.

Four more witnesses were set to appear on Tuesday in the third public hearing of the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump including two – Alexander Vindman and Kurt Volker – who previously have offered contrasting testimony behind closed doors.

The Trump administration is set to harden the rules this week on those allowed to seek asylum in the United States, as it attempts to stem a wave of migration on its southern border with Mexico.

Protesters prevented Lebanon’s parliament from holding its first session in two months on Tuesday, escalating a wave of demonstrations against rulers blamed for steering the country towards economic collapse.

Britain’s opposition Labor Party on Tuesday took aim at “obscene” billionaires, pledging a radical redistribution of wealth to cut the power of the super-rich and to introduce policies including a pay cap at some companies.

A scheme for entrepreneurs founded by Prince Andrew has taken down the logos of its corporate sponsors from its website, as firms and charities distance themselves from the British royal over a sex scandal.

Security forces have “obliterated” Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said on Tuesday, hours after a prisoner swap with Taliban insurgents raised hopes of a lull in violence in the country.

A Swedish prosecutor dropped an investigation into an allegation of rape against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, ending the near decade-old case that had sent the anti-secrecy campaigner into hiding in London’s Ecuadorian embassy to avoid extradition.

U.S. homebuilding rebounded in October and permits for future home construction jumped to a more than 12-year high, pointing to strength in the housing market amid lower mortgage rates.

Boeing’s 737 MAX took center stage at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday as airlines announced plans to order up to 50 of the jets worth $6 billion at list prices despite a global grounding in place since March.

Emirates, the largest customer of Boeing’s upcoming 777x aircraft, wants the plane to be put through “hell on Earth” in testing to ensure it is safe to fly and meets performance expectations.

AP Top Stories

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the United States is terminating the sanctions wavier related to Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant, adding that it is closely monitoring ongoing protests in Iran and is deeply concerned by reports of several fatalities.

Some families of the 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a truck in Britain last month will take on steep loans from the government to repatriate their relatives’ remains, they told AFP Tuesday. Vietnam’s foreign ministry said they would help to bring either the ashes or the bodies of the victims back – but that families would have to cover the cost of repatriation.

The price to bring ashes back in a jar was $1,774, while the fee to repatriate a body in a coffin was $2,858.

Mexico, Uruguay and representatives of the Caribbean Community on Monday rejected the use of force and human rights violations in Venezuela, urging a peaceful and democratic solution to solve the crisis in the troubled South American nation.

A Spanish National Court official confirmed Monday that a former Venezuelan spymaster accused of attempting to “flood” the United States with drugs remains missing since an order for his arrest pending extradition was issued this month.

BBC

Lebanon’s parliament, besieged by angry protesters Tuesday, for a second time postponed a session to discuss draft laws which critics charge would let corrupt politicians off the hook.

Bolivian officials have flown basic provisions into the capital, La Paz, amid reports of food and fuel shortages.

People in Sydney woke up to a city shrouded in smoke on Tuesday, as scores of bushfires rage across the region. Strong winds overnight brought smoke from fires inland, pushing the air quality in Australia’s largest city to beyond “hazardous” levels at times.

Ghanaians are being encouraged to rethink what it means to be a man by a campaign called #IAmUNLEARNING. Free workshops and summits will be offered to help men “unlearn what doesn’t serve them, their families, their community, society”.

A court in Zimbabwe has awarded transgender activist Ricky Nathanson $25,000 in compensation after police arrested her in 2014 for wearing female clothes and using a ladies toilet in a hotel in the second city, Bulawayo.

Millions of Spanish mobile phone users are being tracked this week as part of the government’s census, in a move that critics fear is a step closer towards spying on the population.

WND

Thousands of Disney customers say they have been hacked after signing up to its online streaming service. Since Disney+ went live, hackers have stolen thousands of customers’ accounts and put them up for sale on the dark web, according to a report.

The Student Senate at Grand Valley State University has voted to stop reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at its meetings, with some arguing it’s non-inclusive and represents an oppressive government.

A new report from the Center for Military Readiness reveals 84% of the women who take a new Army combat-fitness test fail.

---

Mid-Day Snapshot · Nov. 19, 2019

The Foundation “There are certain social principles in human nature, from which we may draw the most solid conclusions with respect to the conduct of individuals and of communities.” —Alexander Hamilton (1788)

---

Principles vs. Profits — Chick-fil-A Caves to Rainbow Mafia COO says the company will no longer donate to charities that have been labeled “anti-LGBT.”

---

‘Schiff Show’ Roundup: Perjury, Nine Witnesses Democrats have a busy week of testimony, and are also going back to the Mueller well.

---

Hong Kong Fights Chinese Tyranny Unrest continues in the struggle between Rule of Law and communist authoritarianism.

---

Boy, 8, Raises $50K to Help Homeless Veterans “‘He asked me, ‘If they’re heroes why should they be on the street?'” Good question.

---

Video: Trump Gives Farmers More Than Obama Gave Detroit Growing government subsidies for farms. Should conservatives be worried?

---

Video: How Big Government Hurts Women Young women, especially single women, are among the left’s most loyal supporters.

---

Today’s Opinion Cal Thomas Desperate Democrats Dennis Prager Does the Left Hate America? Stephen Moore Trump Needs Tax Cut 2.0 Rich Lowry Elizabeth Warren’s ‘Medicare for All’ Debacle Burt Prelutsky ‘Groundhog Day: The Sequel’ For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion.

---

Tuesday Top News Executive Summary Big impeachment week kicks off, another probe, Trump tax returns halted, and more.

---

Tuesday Short Cuts Notable quotables from Jim Geraghty, Andrew T. Walker, Liz Wheeler, and more.

---

Today’s Meme For more of today’s memes, visit the Memesters Union.

Today’s Cartoon For more of today’s cartoons, visit the Cartoons archive.

---

Headlines – 11/19/2019

A Third Election Is Almost Inevitable. Even Israel’s Political Kingmaker Knows That

The scenarios that could prevent 3rd elections, each as far-fetched as the next

Netanyahu, Liberman to meet as Gantz’s coalition deadline looms

Flanked by all his allies, Netanyahu again warns against Arab-backed coalition

Ultra-Orthodox parties said willing to compromise to stave off third election

Top Arab MK accuses Netanyahu of trying to ‘spark a civil war’

West Bank settlements not illegal, Pompeo announces in historic shift

In pivot, US says Israeli settlements not ‘inconsistent’ with international law

Caroline Glick: Pompeo’s statement on settlements is a diplomatic turning point

In phone call, Netanyahu thanks Trump for US policy shift on settlements

Netanyahu pushed US policy change on settlements for months, report says

By saying settlements not illegal, Trump seen as throwing Netanyahu a lifeline

Netanyahu told Trump: settlement announcement corrects historic injustice

Israelis Laud ‘Historic’ U.S. Policy Shift on Settlements; Palestinians Call for International Rebuke

Settler leaders call for West Bank annexation after US shifts stance

EU says Israeli settlement on Palestinian territory is illegal

EU denounces US decision on settlements, saying they remain an obstacle to peace

US announcement on Jewish settlements does not ‘close door’ on peace, says legal expert

Leading Democratic presidential candidates denounce US settlement decision

US embassy in Jerusalem warns of Palestinian unrest over settlements decision

IDF launches surprise military drill in northern Israel

4 rockets fired at Israel from Syria, shot down by Iron Dome, IDF says

Emergency travel warning for Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza – U.S. Embassy

Iron Dome’s success poses its own security threats – defense experts

The Battle You Never Hear About: How Intense Persecution is Driving Endangered Christians Out of Gaza

UN says Iran amassing heavy water in fresh breach of nuclear deal

US cancels Iran nuclear cooperation waiver after Fordo restart

Cruz, Graham and Cheney call on Trump to end all nuclear waivers for Iran

Iran’s ‘largest internet shutdown ever’ is happening now. Here’s what you need to know

Iran downplays, demonizes protests amid internet shutdown

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn of ‘decisive’ action if unrest continues

Iraqi Protests Against Corruption Have Become an Internal Threat for Iran

US threatens sanctions on Iraqi officials over protester deaths

Iraqi Spy Chief: ISIS Regrouping and Plotting Mass Prison Breaks

Lebanon Is On the Verge of Collapse

Lebanese protesters gather around parliament to block lawmakers from entering

Egyptian TV News Report Alleges Turkey Supplying Weapons to Nigeria’s Boko Haram

Police in Georgia detain protesters demanding early election

Global Protests: Russia and China Risk Ending Up on the Wrong Side of History

Beijing tells US to stop ‘flexing muscles’ in South China Sea as it sends new carrier

North Korea says no more talks with U.S. just so Trump can boast

Campus under siege as Hong Kong police battle protesters

Hong Kong leader says campus protesters must surrender peacefully

Unequal and Irate, Latin America Is Coming Apart at the Seams

House investigating whether Trump lied to Robert Mueller in written answers

McConnell ‘can’t imagine a scenario’ in which Senate removes Trump

Dem Staffer Exchanged Private Emails with Yovanovitch, Contradicting Her Sworn Testimony

White House official sues Politico over Ukraine report, ties story to ‘Schiff’s baseless Ukrainian quid pro quo hoax’

Gingrich: Democrats have pathological need to destroy Trump

Huckabee: Dems ‘chasing rainbows’ with impeachment, Trump headed for ‘landslide’ win

Chief justice orders delay in House fight for Trump financial records

Obama indirectly rebukes Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren by warning donors not to be ‘deluded’ into thinking voters want radical change

NASA warning: Three dangerous asteroids to whiz past earth soon, what are collision chances?

5.9 magnitude earthquake hits near Kadingilan, Philippines

5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Manokwari, Indonesia

5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Chichi-shima, Japan

Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 27,000ft

Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 24,000ft

Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupts to 22,000ft

Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 20,000ft

Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 16,000ft

Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 15,000ft

Nevados De Chillan volcano in Chile erupts to 13,000ft

Sakurajima volcano on Japan erupts to 10,000ft

Venice Floods Threaten Priceless Art And History, Submerge 70% Of City

Flooding chaos in northern England to continue until Tuesday

Deadly drug-resistant superbug fungus now in 14 states

Third case of plague linked to Black Death found in China after hunter eats wild rabbit

Samoa declares state of emergency after measles deaths

Samoa makes measles vaccine mandatory to stop deadly outbreak

Exposing East Tennessee’s dark secret: Families sell children for sex

Is America ready for a gay president? Buttigieg surge poses question

‘Chick-fil-A is about food’: How national ambitions led the chain to shed its polarizing image

Chick-fil-A no longer donates to controversial Christian charities after LGBTQ protests

Chick-fil-A denies capitulating to LGBT activists; Christian groups won’t be excluded from donations

Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford Receives ACLU ‘Courage Award’

Tide In Culture War Begins To Shift With New Kanye West Announcement: We’re Bringing Top Musicians ‘Back To God,’ ‘Only Superstar Is Jesus’

Kanye West calls himself “greatest artist that God has ever created” during Joel Osteen service

The “Great Pleasure in Destroying Christians”: The Persecution of Christians, September 2019

---

Apostasy Watch

Mike Ratliff – Living a Godly Life in these Apostate Last Days

Kenneth Gentry – A Postmill Interview – Defining Postmillennialism

Chick-fil-A Will No Longer Donate to Salvation Army and FCA: A Question and Two Important Facts

ERLC Website Says Not to Preach Against Abortion from Pulpit OR at Clinic

Paula White promises “sudden defeat over enemies” in return for $229 donation to her ministry

Sports Writer Compares Having More Than Two Kids To Tossing Garbage Into The Ocean

African Pastor Builds Swimming Pool ‘With Healing Powers’ In Church, Charges 50k Per Swim

Mexican pastor shot dead in truck at Juarez intersection; Motive unknown

---

Truth2Freedom Blog Disclaimer

This post was originally posted on: https://truth4freedom.wordpress.com

This blog is an aggregator of news and information that we believe will provide articles that will keep people informed about current trends, current events, discussions and movements taking place within our church and culture.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107,material here is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. Any copyrighted material displayed or referenced is done under the doctrine of fair use.

An article and/or blog post link doesn’t necessarily mean that there is agreement or approval with all the views and opinions expressed within the linked article/posting. Caution is also warranted with regards to the advertisements and links that are embedded within the headline linked article.

“A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it…” – Martin Luther

November 19 Communion with God

scripture reading:	Psalm 95
key verses:	Psalm 95:1–2

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

The Word of God gives you the basis for knowing and worshiping God, clearing away the obstacles of ignorance, apathy, and error. But when you take what you have learned about God in the Scriptures and pour your heart out through prayer, worship is fully realized on this terrestrial ball.

When you pray with your lips and your heart, you magnify God. Worship is not a subject for a textbook but the outpouring of your dependence on and love for Jesus Christ. Do not let prayer become a list. Do not let prayer drift into repetition. Do not let prayer be just a discipline.

Allow your prayer life to be a living channel of worship, telling God how much you think of Him. He wants the glory that is due His name, and your prayerful worship ascribes His worth. Prayer intimately enters the throne room of God, allowing you to exalt and glorify your Savior. Prayer links heaven and earth. When you pray, always begin with “Hallowed be Your name,” and all else will fit into place. Worship is first in heaven and on earth, and communion with God is its highest expression.

Dear Lord, Your name is hallowed! Intimate communion with You is my goal. Transform my prayer life into a living channel of worship.^[1]

 

^[1] Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

19 november (preached 18 november 1860) 365 Days with Spurgeon

All-sufficiency magnified

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

suggested further reading: Acts 22:6–16

Christians, beware lest that village in which you have found a quiet retreat from the cares of business, should rise up in judgment against you, to condemn you, because, having means and opportunity, you use the village for rest, but never seek to do any good in it. Take care, masters and mistresses, lest your servant’s souls be required of you at the last great day. “I worked for my master;” they say, “he paid me my wages, but had no respect to his greater Master, and never spoke to me, though he heard me swear, and saw me going on in my sins.” If I could I would thrust a thorn into the seat where you are now sitting, and make you spring up for a moment to the dignity of a thought of your responsibilities. Why, sirs, what has God made you for? What has he sent you here for? Did he make stars that should not shine, and suns that should give no light, and moons that should not cheer the darkness? Has he made rivers that shall not be filled with water, and mountains that shall not stay the clouds? Has he made even the forests which shall not give a habitation to the birds; or has he made the prairie which shall not feed the wild flocks? And has he made thee for nothing? Why, man, the nettle in the corner of the churchyard has its uses, and the spider on the wall serves her Maker; and you, a man in the image of God, a blood-bought man, a man who is in the path and track to heaven, a man regenerated, twice created, are you made for nothing at all but to buy and to sell, to eat and to drink, to wake and to sleep, to laugh and to weep, to live to yourself?

for meditation: The Christian—chosen to do (John 15:16), created to do (Ephesians 2:10), commanded to do (1 Corinthians 10:31), continue to do (Galatians 6:9, 10). What?

sermon no. 346^[1]

 

^[1] Spurgeon, C. H., & Crosby, T. P. (1998). 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1) (p. 330). Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

19 NOVEMBER 365 Days with Calvin

Asking for Guidance

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2 Samuel 2:1

suggested further reading: Luke 11:9–13

When the text says God told David that he should go to the country of Judaea, it teaches that we have only ourselves to blame if we do not accept good advice. For Scripture says we are to knock on the door and it will be opened to us, we are to seek and we shall find, we are to ask and it will be given to us (Matt. 7:7). David had this promise engraved on his heart, but it had not yet been stated in its fullness as we have it today. Instead, he sought God’s will by the ceremonial means of the priestly ephod.

Today we have far more than that. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to fulfill his promise to his disciples that he would no longer call them his servants but his friends (John 15:15). That means he has come so close to us that we, like good pupils, can learn all we need to know.

When we clothe ourselves in humility, God will certainly respond to our need. Are we lacking in wisdom? James says the “Father of lights” (James 1:17) is ready and able to help us in our weakness and needs. Thus, let us go to him. Above all, when we need wisdom, let us realize that God reserves the right to give it, and we should not be so foolish as to attribute wisdom to ourselves. Instead, let us worship him for such an excellent gift.

We should be persuaded that if we ask God to give us the Spirit of understanding, we can be assured that he will respond if we are ready to subject ourselves to his Word. We will find him ready and inclined to grant our requests, and we will never be frustrated for having waited to make our requests to him.

for meditation: God has not changed since the time of David. David asked and he received what he asked for; we too can ask and know that we will receive what we ask for. The New Testament clearly states this. Believing this is a great test of our faith because it is difficult. Be encouraged by David’s example.^[1]

 

^[1] Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 342). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

November 19 – True love – Reformed Perspective

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Scripture reading: Romans 5

In case we fail to see the greatness of God’s love for us, Paul spells it out. Paul compares the greatness of God’s love by the smallness of man’s love. It is indeed rare to find someone willing to die for another, but it happens. It happens on the battlefield when an unknown hero becomes known to all by diving on the grenade to save his troops. We’ve all heard the story of the man risking is life, even giving his life to run into the burning building or jumping in the frozen lake. There are exceptional men and women in the world; total depravity does not rule that out. Yet as loving as that may be, rarer indeed, perhaps unheard of, is the one who dies for someone who hates him. You don’t hear of the hero jumping on the grenade for the enemy. Yet this is exactly what Christ has done. In contrast to the very best of human love is God’s love. God sent His Son to die for a people who hated Him.

God loves the unlovely. This dying “for us” is proof. Christ never dies for us in Scripture apart from the Father’s first loving us. The Father never loves us apart from Christ’s dying on the cross. God’s love is active, it moves to remove sin. It loves by preparing, protecting, and providing for us all we need in life and death. It is a sacrificial love. Christ died not for Himself but for us. He was our Substitute. He suffered in our place.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank God for the abundance of His loving-kindness, Who has sustained us with every spiritual blessing by giving us His grace.

This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Jared Beairdis the church planter and pastor of Covenant Reformed Church( URCNA) in Missoula, Montana, USA.

— Read on reformedperspective.ca/november-19-true-love/

Tuesday Briefing November 19, 2019 – AlbertMohler.com

PART I

 Twitter “Clarifies” Its Policy on Political Advertisements: The Social Media Giant Is Stacking the Deck Decidedly Left

PART II

 The LGBTQ Revolution Takes No Prisoners: Chick-fil-A Will No Longer Donate to Christian Organizations That Affirm Biblical Marriage and Sexuality

PART III

 President Obama Warns 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates of Being Too Far to the Left: How the Former President Became Out-of-Date in His Own Party

PART IV

 Is There a Viable Place for a “Moderate” in the Democratic Party? Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick Enter the Race for the Middle of the Party

PART V

 The All-Consuming Pro-Abortion Ideology of the Democratic Party: No Room for Even One Pro-Life, Democratic Attorney General in the Entire Country

DOWNLOAD MP3

---

DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL READING

PART I

VOX

 Twitter is walking into a minefield with its political ads ban, by Emily Stewart

WALL STREET JOURNAL

Speech and Sanctimony at Twitter, by The Editorial Board

PART II

BISNOW

 Chick-fil-A To Stop Donations To Charities With Anti-LGBT Views, by Cameron Sperance

PART III

NEW YORK TIMES

 Obama Says Average American Doesn’t Want to ‘Tear Down System’, by Lisa Lerer

NEW YORK TIMES

 Too Far Left? Some Democratic Candidates Don’t Buy Obama’s Argument, by Jennifer Medina and Lisa Lerer

PART IV

NEW YORK TIMES

 How Moderates Are Seizing the Moment in the Democratic Primary, by Alexander Burns

PART V

NEW YORK TIMES

 Abortion Is New Litmus Test for Democratic Attorneys General Group, by Lisa Lerer

— Read on albertmohler.com/2019/11/19/briefing-11-19-19