The Mayflower Compact by Bill Willson

Note: Over the next few days, I hope that you will indulge me in considering your heritage. I want to share with you some of my heritage which has become part of the heritage of America. My grandfather 14 generations back was William Bradford, co-writer of the Mayflower Compact, inventor of the free market system, and governor of the Plymouth colony for over 30 years. This week, I would like to share some insights of and from his writings in "Of Plymouth Plantation."

"What our forefathers with so much difficulty secured, do not basely relinquish." These are the words translated from Latin that are etched on the gravestone of William Bradford, governor of the Massachusetts Colony, co-writer of the Mayflower Compact, inventor of the free market system, and my grandfather 14 generations removed. Bradford is often remembered for being one of the Pilgrims who survived their first winter in the new America. He is one of the brave men and women who endured such great hardship to help make this nation what it is-a beacon of religious and economic freedom blessed in covenant with God. And unto his death his gravestone warns us not to basely relinquish these liberties.

The Mayflower Compact is a covenant with God, dedicating this land now called the United States of America to the advancement of the Christian faith. The Compact declares, "IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia;

"Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience."  With these words, 41 men agreed to govern in submission and obedience to God.


As anyone can see, these were men and women dedicated to establishing a land for the advancement of the Christian faith and they set themselves apart bringing all they had and all they claimed in covenant with God. And it was not just for their time on earth, but as what was written on Bradford's grave, the covenant and their subsequent sacrifices were not to be relinquished. As America embraces socialism and human secularism, let us remember that only 41 men began a nation with their signatures. There are more of us today that are citizens of the Kingdom of God, and we can reclaim what our forefathers with so much difficulty secured. Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Let us give thanks.




Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

Honor and Blessing by Lonnie Mackley

My dear faithful servant, I am well aware of the depleted state that you now exist in because of the wilderness. I know you feel broken and spent and too used up to ever be restored, but you are thinking in human terms. I am able to take your used up life and breathe new life into every area that appears to be very dead and lifeless. I am able to take your apparent dishonor and shame, and turn it into great honor and blessing.

You sacrificed your life when you went into the wilderness and now you know that this death is very real and very deep. You have lived like a ghost still in a body able to view your life passing by you, but actually this was not death but rather transformation. Like the caterpillar you have stayed in a cocoon, but now you have been completely changed into a beautiful spiritual butterfly that will indeed fly and be shown off by Me.

Though you have felt ugly, old, and used up, I can transform your life in a day and change everything. Have faith that I want to do this for you, not just for others; and that I am very aware of your suffering. You are not small, but rather you are spiritually tall. Did you honestly think that I would just leave you in your cave to die? I would not! Be obedient and take fresh hope for I will indeed give you honor and blessing very soon.

PS 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

via Dee Hoetmer

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS

It is imperative that you maintain your spiritual position and refuse to allow anyone or anything to distract you from your commitment to My purposes.  I would have you constantly reach to be holy and to be an example of light and right.  I have given you the tools and the ability to serve with integrity in the Kingdom, says the Lord.

Leviticus 20:26   And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

ft111@ft111.com

The Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving by Garris Elkins

Over the years, Jan and I have found ourselves serving the Lord in several unique locations. One of those places was our assignment in the West Indies when our base of operation was out of Kingston, Jamaica. Thanksgiving time in Jamaica did not have the crisp air and falling leaves like our home back in Oregon. Jamaica had its own beauty at that time of year, but it was wrapped in the hot and humid climate of the Caribbean.

Even more oppressive was the reality that, at the time of our arrival, the city of Kingston was filled with a heightened sense of violence. At that time, the city of Kingston, Jamaica had a very high murder rate. It was a very different holiday season for our family.

Our first Thanksgiving in this new land was coming soon. I had to be in Florida for a ministry assignment and would be traveling back into Kingston just a day before Thanksgiving. My wife, Jan, grew up as a missionary kid so she knew how to always make things special in a new environment.

Tale of a Turkey

While in Miami with some spare time before my flight back to Kingston, I had an idea. Because the tradition of Thanksgiving was uniquely American and because I had not seen any turkeys for sale on the island, I thought I would buy a frozen turkey and take it with me in my carry-on luggage back to my family. It would have time to begin thawing on the trip home.

The presence of a familiar, baked Thanksgiving turkey would take the edge off of being in a foreign environment on our first Thanksgiving in a new land. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought there might be some regulation against importing frozen food, but I did not let my mind wander too far in that direction.

This was pre-9/11 so the security process was not as harried as it is today. As I stood in line, rehearsing what I would say to the security personnel if I were asked the question, "Do you have anything to declare?" – I was determined to not lie. If someone were to ask if I was smuggling a frozen turkey, I would admit my error and hand it over.

Boarding the flight in Miami was easy. No one asked me anything. I got on the plane and put my bag with the frozen turkey in the overhead bin above. I was hoping that during its thawing process the turkey would not begin to drip on the passengers near me, setting off some kind of in-flight emergency. I watched the overhead bin for the entire flight as we made our way across the Caribbean. (Photo via flickr)

When I arrived in the Kingston airport, I tried to put on my most innocent face and not look like my right arm was overly elongated trying to carry a 20-pound frozen turkey. I got in the customs line and inched my way forward with the rest of the passengers.

The Jamaican woman who checked my passport did not ask the usual questions. She simply looked at me and said, "Welcome back," and that was it. I didn't feel as honorable as a Bible smuggler at some checkpoint in one of the Eastern European nations behind the old Iron Curtain, but it would be as close as I would ever get to that feeling.

When I walked in the door of our home in Kingston, Jan and the kids greeted me with hugs and kisses. Then I opened my bag and pulled out the turkey. Laughter and squeals of joy filled our home as the familiar Thanksgiving turkey came to visit four Americans for their first Thanksgiving in a new land. Jan prepared a beautiful meal with all the trimmings and we ate together with joy. That Thanksgiving reminded me of the importance of what each of us bring to this special holiday.

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving – A Heart Attitude

This Thanksgiving, what can you bring to make the unfamiliar feel like "family" to those you gather with? In whatever setting you find yourself there will be something you can bring.

Thanksgiving is bigger than bringing a special dish of food. This special day is about a "heart attitude" and a reminder that God is our blessing, and those people in our lives with whom we celebrate this day are part of that blessing.

The first mention of the word "thanksgiving" in the Bible is not until the book of Leviticus. The writer is describing the law of peace offerings.

"This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil." Leviticus 7:11-12

We have a tendency to think the idea of Thanksgiving might have originated within the American story of our history, yet here it was thousands of years ago in the Holy Land. What struck me were the words, "With the sacrifice of thanksgiving."

Whatever was required to be brought to the table for those important ceremonies would need to be brought with thanksgiving. God places a high priority on thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving, you might be asked to bring a tangible contribution to the Thanksgiving meal. Jell-O salads, green bean casseroles or a potato dish, or even a smuggled turkey could be your contribution to the feast. You might find yourself in place or circumstance that is less than desirable. You may not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in any traditional sense of the word.

In whatever setting you find yourself the most important essence you and I will bring to Thanksgiving Day is: the presence of God wrapped in a heart of thankfulness. This will be the sacrifice of thanksgiving you will offer to those around the table and that sacrifice will be the most important gift you bring. Long after the taste of the turkey has passed your sacrifice of thanksgiving will continue to feed those present. (Photo via wallpicnet.com)

That Thanksgiving, that took place over 20 years ago in Jamaica, is an enjoyable memory and reminder, not only of the unexpected turkey and its unique trip from America to Jamaica, but what actually made that hot and humid Thanksgiving in the Caribbean so special: It was the sense of thankfulness I felt as I sat across the table from three people I loved so much.

Have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving.

Garris Elkins, Author and Prophetic Minister
Prophetic Horizons
Email: info@prophetichorizons.com
Website: www.garriselkins.com

A SIMPLE WAY TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE by John Paul Jackson

Holiness is not something any of us could accomplish on our own. Holiness is absorbed. It is not learned, earned or forced. It is not calculated with points for and against. Holiness is the result of a relationship with someone who is holy. As we draw close to the One who is holy, we start acting holier. It is similar to holding a nail to a candle flame—the nail will heat up. It cannot help but respond to the candle’s warmth in a similar fashion. The closer we are to Jesus, the holier we become.

If the key to holiness is intimacy with the Holy One, the answer to the question of holiness is time spent in His tent:



For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.
— Psalm 61:3–4 (NASB)



HOLINESS CANNOT BE MADE
We tend to be formula-loving people. When we find something that works, we try to make it into a pattern we can follow the next time, so we can predict the outcome.

But a relationship with anyone, including God, is an amorphous thing with ebbs and flows. Patterns do not work with holiness. The moment we start trying to define holiness, we get ourselves in trouble, because the ways of God are far above our own. Isaiah used imagery to show the difference between humanity and the Divine, writing that as far as the heavens are above the earth, so far are the ways of God above our ways. We are human; we cannot make ourselves holy.

Instead, holiness is taken in. It seeps into our bones like water in a dry sponge. The closer we draw to God, the more we realize, “Just a second. Wait . . . He is bigger than I thought. He is holier than I thought. He is purer than I thought.” The mold breaks.

HOLINESS IS NOT LEGALISM
Legalism says we can become holy enough to reach God, but that simply is not true. In fact, that kind of thinking will “teach” us things about God that are not godly, things that do not line up with His truth. We cannot earn holiness by living good and faithful lives. We can only absorb holiness by spending time with the One who is truly holy.

About the time we think we are holy, we find ourselves on slippery ground. I believe we are the most like our Father when we have set aside distractions and are looking at Him in shock and awe. In those moments, the greatest of hope floods our spirits, because we begin to understand that life with God is not about our ability to perform. “My God. You are holy. Compared to You, I am unholy. And yet You love me.” Those are holy moments.

The divine dynamic tensions of God keep us in a place of seeking Him and, at the same time, being transformed by Him. Legalism says once we are transformed, we are transformed. “If you think you are holy, you are holy. If you dress this way, talk this way and follow these rules, you are holy.” But that is not holiness.

If you want to live a holy life, Jesus is the answer, not the rules. He is the One we want, and holiness is an outgrowth of that desire, not the rules. This relationship with Him is real, and like any good relationship, it grows, expands and becomes better as we spend time with the One our hearts long for.

In His presence, we change. We are undone in the best of ways. We know hope and His kindness, and we find ourselves in a holier position, reflecting who He is not just with our actions but also at the core of our beings. Everything He touches is truly transformed.

Kim Clement: Nov. 22 From the Den

From The Den

November 22nd, 2014 - The Den

America, you shall be one! America, you shall stand as one! And those from the north and the south and the east and the west shall say, "Our plans have been foiled. We did not prosper with the weapons that we sent against this nation. We did not prosper because unity began to arise from the states within America" because I called My people, the remnant, I called those that were called and elected for this day and for this purpose. And I can hear the sound of unity coming from this nation, says the Lord!

And new weapons that have been formed, new weapons that will come shall be discovered before they can be used against Israel. For this is the burden of this prophet and this shall be spoken. Hear the word of the Lord - for today as you bless Israel, as you endeavor to send love to Israel, My people shall receive a double portion in return. When you sow in your need, and you sow within your need, I shall bring back to you the blessing that I promised to those that would bless Israel.

The weapons that they have formed against Israel shall be discovered before they can use it. For I will give Israel a new technology and I will give her a new strategy and it shall be greater than what it has now. For it shall see the plans before they can leave the ground. This is My promise to Israel, My nation, says the Lord.

This is the message which the Eternal burdened His prophet concerning Israel - the Eternal One who began existence by stretching out the sky and founding the earth and forming the spirit deep in man. Hear these words, says the Eternal One. Watch what I'm about to do. I'm going to make Jerusalem like a cup of strong alcohol, to confuse all her neighboring peoples. When they lay siege to Jerusalem, Judah also will fight and praise shall arise from the streets - not only praise for Yahweh but praise for Yahweh Yeshua. And on that day when the enemies begin to attack, I will make Jerusalem a solid stone which cannot be moved. Anyone who tries to lift her, lift the stone called Jerusalem, will only be weighed down and seriously hurt themselves, says the Lord. On that day, and that day is approaching now, I promise I, the Eternal One, will confound every horse and drive every rider to madness, says the Lord. Go Zechariah, Go Zechariah!

I will keep a watchful eye on My people, even as I blind every war horse from every enemy nation. The people of Jerusalem cannot be beat because of the eternal Commander of the heavenly armies and their true God leads them. On that day, I will make the clans and the tribes of Judah a blazing pot igniting a pile of tinder, a flaming torch consuming dry bundles of wheat. They will devour all the surrounding peoples, those to the right and those to the left, but Jerusalem will remain safe and secure, says the Lord! Go Zechariah, Go Zechariah!

The Eternal will ensure that victory comes first to the houses of Judah so that the respect due to the family of David and the citizens of Jerusalem will not outstrip the respect owed to Judah as a whole. So Jerusalem need not boast, but neither should it fear. I'm going to say that again. Jerusalem, do not boast, but do not fear at the same time. For when that day comes, the Eternal will protect her citizens as a shield does. He will make the weak who stumble become like David, brave in battle. The royal line of David, Yeshua, will be like God, like the special messenger of the Eternal One who goes before them in travels and in battle. Rest assured, I will set out to destroy all the nations who attack Jerusalem. Rest assured, I will set out to attack all the nations that attack Jerusalem and I pledge - are you listening to me? God says, today, I pledge that I will pour out a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy on the family of David and the citizens of Jerusalem, says the Lord!

www.kimclement.com

Donation Challenge

PLEASE POST       Dear Suzanne  I want to take this time to thank you for all the good work you do in hosting this forum and the other things you do for people in the Norton area.

I am sending you a $50 donation in the mail today, and I challenge 50 others out there to also send in $50 so Suzanne can pay her internet expenses for the coming year.

Come on people, the hard working kingdom laborer is worthy of her wages.
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you,

Jim Rowh
Gather the Outcasts Ministry