2010 is our Year of Divine Victory.

2010 is our Year of Divine Victory.

In 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 the Bible says 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV)

Divine Victory is when God Himself takes over the battle, fights and grants us victory in the battles of Life. In 2010 as we face the challenges of this time of human history - economic down turn, natural disasters, rejection, loss of jobs, family upheaval among many others. In addition daily life challenges, we face attacks from the demonic realm through their agents. In all of this, it is possible to become overwhelmed and give up! But this is what we cannot and must not do. God has stepped in to give us the Victory!

The challenges may be many but we have a Great God! He is perfectly in control. He has gone ahead of us into 2010 and grants (giveth- a present continuous term) Victory over whatever challenges we face. That is why verse 58 of our text is crucial. It defines what our attitude should be to challenges in 201:

1. Be Steadfast - stand firm and stare down the adversary-no retreat, no surrender.
2. Immovable - don't doubt the truth of Gods words to you this year-wait for their timely manifestation.
3. Always abounding - Increasing in your service for God, never decreasing, always pressing on.
4. Labour in love- everything you do, let it be done  because you love Jesus.
5. Be Expectant- you will not serve God in vain!

Whao, 2010 is full of testimony, because God is doing the fighting, we are claiming the Victory on every side. Don't be despondent, be fired up. What would you do, if you know you cannot fail. in 2010 you cannot fail. God will fight for you and you will hold your peace.

Go on out there and fight, your victory is guaranteed. Start that new business, take that exam again, get on that journey, make that application. God will give you victory in Jesus name.

Jesus Day, Baghdad

December 7, 2009, 5:22 PM

Jesus Day, Baghdad

By MARC SANTORA

Joao Silva for The New York TimesMembers of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra walking past a billboard with a picture of Jesus as they took to the stage at the Master of Souls Festival in Abu Nuwas Park in Baghdad.

BAGHDAD — On the banks of the Tigris, Santa Claus — wearing a tatty red robe, stringy white beard, and frightening caucasian mask — was being mauled by children as he tried to pass out some trinkets. Poets on a nearby stage recited odes to Jesus, beneath a massive banner emblazoned with Christ’s image.

Watching over the artists were hundreds of heavily armed security officers, lining the closed street around the park and dotting the rooftops of nearby buildings.

This is what is known as “Jesus Day” (officially the “Master of Souls” festival) in Baghdad.

Joao Silva for The New York Times

It was the second annual festival but the first to feature Christian imagery so prominently. Like other religious minorities, Christians in Iraq have found themselves the targets of militants in recent years. There were groups from eight churches in Baghdad invited to the festivities and they were brought there on buses for their own safety.

The event was sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and while the stated objective was to promote tolerance and understanding, there was an obvious political calculation. The head of the ministry, Jawad al-Bolani, is one of the candidates challenging Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki in the upcoming national elections and the event provided him an opportunity to burnish his credentials among secularists.

Joao Silva for The New York TimesJawad al-Bolani, center, and Ahmed Abu Risha, robed at right, at the ceremony.

He arrived at the four hour festival with Ahmed Abu Risha, the Sunni leader who helped turn the tribes in Anbar province against Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.

There were dozens of reporters on hand as well, but few actual Iraqi residents, despite a closing performance by Iraq’s National Symphony Orchestra.

The relatively small attendance might have been as much about the security precautions as the theme of the festival. However, it was a chance to hear the orchestra, which, against great odds, has continued to perform in Iraq.

Joao Silva for The New York Times

The stage was set up in front of Mohammed Ghani Hikmat’s famous statue ofSheherazade — the fictional narrator of the tales of ‘A Thousand and One Nights’ — so Karim Wasfi, the symphony’s chief conductor, decided to open the performance with Rimsky-Korsakov’s piece dedicated to the Arabian storyteller.

As he took the stage, baton in hand, he had to wait a moment before beginning as two American Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead.

Joao Silva for The New York TimesIraqi security forces guarded the event, behind the riverside statue of Sheherezade.

When his 85-member orchestra did play, it was possible to forget for a moment that one was in Iraq. The setting sun cast a red glow over the violin section, palm trees swaying gently in the background. The orchestra, in black formal wear, did not let a poor sound system or the whir of more helicopters overhead throw them off-stride.

It was beautiful, a phrase often hard to use in Iraq these last few years.

But a quick glance up to the gunners on the roofs, down to the trash-strewn ground, right to the armored vehicles lining the road, or left to the receding banks of the river, and the reality of Iraq was present again.

Joao Silva for The New York Times

Mr. Wasfi is hopeful that in the future events like Wednesday’s festival will be able to be held in a genuinely open way.

But even as he holds onto his faith in Iraq, he continues to be challenged by some of the more extreme elements of society that hold sway in parts of the country.

The orchestra was scheduled to play its first ever concert in the Shiite holy city of Karbala this past weekend. Despite securing the support of key religious figures in the city, one prominent cleric denounced the planned concert as sacrilege. It was canceled for safety reasons.

“Music is not a threat to any religious ideology,” said Mr Wasfi.

Joao Silva for The New York Tim

IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIBLICAL HUMOR ONCE IN A WHILE....

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth? 
A. Ruthless. 


Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds. 

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? 
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. 

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? 
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. 

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? 
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord. 

Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? 
A. Samson. He brought the house down. 

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home. 


Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? 
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once. 

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan The banks were always overflowing. 



Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible? 
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep. 


Q. Which Bible character had no parents? 
A. Joshua, son of Nun. 

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark ? 
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...) 

PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee? 
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . . "He-brews" 

KEEP SMILING!!!! GOD LOVES YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!!!! 

Christian Sisters Released From Iranian Prison

Two sisters jailed in Iran for more than eight months after refusing to renounce their Christian faith were released Wednesday.

Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30, were arrested March 5 on charges of "acting against state security" and "taking part in illegal gatherings."

During an August court hearing, the women were pressured to renounce their faith in verbal and written form, but both refused. "If we come out of prison we want to do so with honor," they said after the hearing, according to Elam Ministries, which supports Christians in Iran and has advocated for the women's release.

As a result of their response, the judge sent the sisters back to prison "to think about it," Compass Direct News reported. At a court hearing in October, the judge dropped the anti-state charge, but the women still faced charges of propagation of Christianity and apostasy.

"Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to His people who have prayed and worked for our release," the sisters told Elam Wednesday.

Rostampour and Esmaeilabad were held in the notorious Evin prison, a facility that has drawn criticism in recent years for its human rights violations. Sources say the sisters were put in solitary confinement and subjected to intense interrogations.

Esmaeilabad also suffered from spinal pain, an infected tooth and intense headaches but was reportedly denied medical attention for a time. In October Rostampour had severe food poisoning.

"Maryam and Marzieh have greatly inspired us all," said Elam director Sam Yeghnazar. "Their love for the Lord Jesus and their faithfulness to God has been an amazing testimony."

Open Doors, a group that advocates for persecuted Christians, launched a campaign to free the women. The group called on supporters to contact Mohammad Khazaee, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, and to the Iranian government requesting the sisters' immediate release.

David Yeghnazar, Elam's U.S. director, said it is not clear why the women were released, but he credits prayer. He notes that roughly 17,000 people have spent a least a month interceding for Iran as part of Elam's Iran 30 prayer campaign.

"We're not sure of the exact reasons for their release, but certainly people have been praying for their situation," he told Charisma.

Although the U.S. State Department designated Iran as a country of "particular concern" for its religious repression, hundreds of thousands of Iranians have reportedly come to Christ in recent years. Many converts report having dreams and visions of Jesus that led them to salvation.

Yet amid the growth of underground churches, government intimidation of Christians has been increasing. Elam leaders say last year there were more than 50 known cases of arrests and imprisonment, and some cases of torture.

Despite their release, the sisters may face further legal battles. "They've been told there will be a future court hearing, so prayers continue to be needed," David Yeghnazar said. "What we don't want to happen is that people think, 'They're out. We don't need to keep praying for them.' ... I really believe that people's prayers are making a difference."

African Missions Support Group

The Vision:

The African Missions Support Group seeks to raise support for Missionary activities in Africa from Africans in Diaspora and Interested Supporters for the propagation of Christianity in Africa in the next decade of the 21^st Century.

Rationale:

Missionary work in Africa is in dire need of help. This is as a result of a combination of factors. The changing landscape of Africa, the increasing terror threats and Islamic attacks on Christian Institutions and Missionaries -the most recent being the Boko Haram violence in Nigeria, where 3 Pastors were decapitated, as well as the resource gap that is occasioned by the challenges of poor infrastructural and human capital development, corruption and bad leadership in many African countries. Added to this is the Islamic agenda for Africa, which is a new frontier of spiritual warfare that must be engaged strategically. For example, South Sudan ( a predominantly Christian and animist part of Sudan, which is due for independence, has suddenly been thrown into warfare through the sponsorship of break away groups to neutralize the plan for independence, among many other issues.

The AMSG is therefore designed to create a pool of resources to support new Missionary activities across Africa. The new Missionaries would be professionals who engage the development process, as well as propagate the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our Mandate: ‘Occupy Till I Come’ Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Christ’s clarion call to believers to continue to press forward the Mandate till every nation hears the Gospel, even as we awaits the Second Coming of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. If you cannot go, then your resources can send others!

Our Needs: We require:

• v Educational and Health Volunteers/Missionaries
• v Infrastructure Support: Buildings, Homes, Schools and Education Support Centres.
• v ICT Equipment and Software Support- including web development.
• v Materials Support – Borehole facilities, Books, Clothes, Shoes, Toys etc.
• v Strategic Development Advisors to engage local government and thereby direct development appropriately.
• v Effective Communication Strategists-The Church in Africa is doing much, but little awareness.

v Financial Support to carry out this Mandate.

Our Strategy:

• ü We will build a College in Southern Sudan to help raise new leadership for the emerging Christian Nation.
• ü We will execute Medical Missionaries across communities in poor and very needy areas of Africa.
• ü We will build Libraries to Support Missionaries and Bible Schools.
• ü We will provide Leadership Training for Young Christian Workers especially in underserved areas.
• ü We conduct Community Prayer Outreaches to break the Power of Satan in many traditional Communities in partnership with other Ministries.
• ü We will donate, books, clothes, shoes and food to the very needy in the areas of missionary assignments.

Our Accountability Statement: We will provide an annual audited report to our supporters and bear true allegiance to Christ in the management of resources. An International Advisory Board will oversee this initiative.

To support this vision, write or email the contact address below:

Lakeside Intl Christian Ministries, Plot 300, Lugbe FHA, Box 18063, Garki, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria. lakesidemin@gmail.com; +234-802-660-8087

Are You Coming to the Celebration?

Are You Coming to the Celebration? by Lara Odetoyinbo

So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends." (Luke 15:29)

God is concerned with bringing people from death to life. His heart rejoices over each person who returns to Him from a time of rebellion. If your heart is like God's, you, too, will rejoice when a sinner returns to the Father.

Jesus' parable about the prodigal son is as much about the older son who remained as it is about the wayward son or the father. Year after year the older son labored for his father, waiting for a future reward. He had seen the brokenness his brother's rebellion had caused his father. Yet when his brother returned, the older son did not rejoice with his father. He felt no pleasure in seeing his father happy. His concern was for himself and the injustice he perceived he'd been dealt. He felt like a martyr and totally missed the blessing of celebrating with his father.

It is possible to serve God year after year and yet have a heart that is far from Him. You might be one of the hardest workers in your church and yet be filled with bitterness because others do not share your load. You can become so preoccupied with your spiritual labors that when God works miracles in the lives of those around you, you cannot rejoice.

If you serve the Lord out of duty or habit, but not out of joy and gratitude, you will feel like a martyr. You will envy those who are experiencing joy in the Lord while you feel weighed down by the work you are doing. This is not the abundant life your Father has planned for you. Come to the celebration, spend time with the Father, and share in His joy!

An Anointing to Finish by Barbara Wentroble

Overcomers have a 'finishing' anointing. They don't merely start things. They keep on moving forward until they complete the task. Many people love to start new things. They like to be creative. They enjoy thinking of new projects and dreaming about new adventures. Often, these people actually start some of the new things they are planning for the future. The problem is that they seldom finish what they start.

Helen Keller was an overcomer who finished her assignments against major obstacles. She was born with severe illness that deprived her of sight, hearing and the ability to speak. Her courage, faith and optimism in the face of overwhelming disabilities propelled her forward. She never retreated. She never stopped. She persevered until she completed what was needed to succeed. As a result, Helen Keller graduated cum laude from Radcliff College, became the author of several articles, books and biographies, served on several boards and lectured in more than 25 countries.

You have the same potential in you that was in Helen Keller. Do what she did. Keep moving forward against all obstacles. Allow your courage and faith to rise to a new level. It is only a matter of time until you finish your goal. Wow! You are an overcomer with a finishing anointing!