We Need Your Feedback

A Note From the Publisher:
As founder and publisher of Charisma, it’s my pleasure to write this note asking for your feedback on our new Charisma News mobile app that is available free for your iPhone or iPod touch, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm webOS or Nokia phone.

Now that the mobile application has been available for about four months, we’d like to know how YOU like it. Our goal has been to keep the content fresh with a new news story virtually every day, and we’re now posting new content daily on our reviews as well as the other categories.

We encourage you to help us by sending us a note at [email protected] or by visiting the application store you downloaded from (Apple App Store, BlackBerry App World, Android Market, Palm App Catalog, Handmark.com, etc.) and rate it according to your experience with the app thus far. We will use your feedback to continually improve your Charisma News experience on your mobile!

We’re developing new apps that you’ll enjoy and will help you in your walk in the Spirit. And we’re developing how you can get Charisma magazine, Ministry Today or Christian Retailing (or other magazines we’ll develop) as an app. Do you have ideas to develop an app? Give us those too!

Our new focus is on “What the Spirit is Saying” with articles and commentary from respected Christian leaders such as R.T. Kendall, Barbara Wentroble, Harry Jackson, J. Lee Grady and others.

God bless you, and thanks for being one of the first to engage with Charisma magazine from this new and exciting technology!

Steve Strang




He Makes Me Lie Down

Just the sound of the word inoculation makes my heart pound and my palms sweaty. I hate shots. Period. Most people do. I am convinced, that that is because of how they give them to us when we are too young to have a say so.

Babies get them in multiples. No single inoculation. In fact, the pediatrician groups them by time frame such as 2 month or 6 month. There is no real name given. Just bring them in for the “6 month” inoculations.

 

Our grandson Elijah recently had this personality altering 6-month event. His mommy and daddy were out of town (by design I believe). So his Nanny took him. I asked her after the appointment if he cried. (Is that a stupid question or what?) She said he was very brave (so I would be a proud grandfather), but yes, he screamed.

That evening when it was time for him to go to bed, he was very fussy. He had been stabbed in both of those tiny precious thighs numerous times. He was running a slight fever (and this is good for him?). I took him to our bed and laid him down. Then I slid in next to him and tried to comfort him. He wasn’t really crying, just soft moans. It was obvious that under those “Scooby-Doo” Band-Aids, both legs ached. No real tears, just overall discomfort. So I reached my arm around him and gently pulled him right up against my chest, very close. And I whispered to him that I would go have a talk with the mean doctor the next day.

I promised Elijah that he would feel much better after a good night’s sleep. He could not understand any of the words. It was simply the sound of my voice. I slipped my thumb into his pudgy little hand. As he started to dose, something startled him (maybe pain?). His eyes flew open and he looked over at me. I gently squeezed his hand and whispered to him. He actually sighed, relaxed and closed his eyes again. His Pappy was there, and he felt safe, secure, protected, loved.

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In the original language, the concept is that the Shepherd causes us to lie down and lean against Him. Take a minute, close your eyes, and fill your mind with this picture. The Shepherd gently makes the sheep lie down. And then He doesn’t walk away with a trite “hope you feel better.” No. The Great Shepherd then lies down next to the sheep. He gets down in the plush green grass with one of His tired, hurting flock.

Then He goes a step further. He puts His everlasting arm around the sheep and pulls it against His chest. He whispers the sheep’s name. Comforts it. Encourages it. Holds it firmly, but gently. And when that sheep is relaxed, secure and resting, assured of His protection and love, the Shepherd goes and finds another sheep in need of tender mercy. And the process starts all over again. Sheep after sheep after sheep. Get the picture?

This week, as you journey in your Christ walk, you may need to lie down in His green pasture.

Has life pounded you? Are you worn out from trying to keep up with the “cares of the world”? Do you feel like you can’t get your next breath? Money is tight. Troubles at home. Exhausted in the battle. Afraid. Worried. Not sure how or even if you can go another day.

Get your mind around this. You are His sheep. He loves you. He has not forgotten you. He knows where you are. The Great Shepherd knows your name. Intimately. Take some time to get alone and in the peacefulness of that solitude allow Him to cause you to lie down, lean against Him.

Feel that? It is His arm pulling you close. Stay there. Relax. Breathe. You are secure, protected, loved. He will stay there with you. No hurry. Don’t rush. Your times are in His hands. And that is a very good place to leave them.

 




Sounds of Revival

Worship leaders say a new song is coming out of Israel. Watch video from some messianic praise and worship artists below.

Joel Chernoff
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Paul WIlbur
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Marty Goetz
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Karen Davis
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Ted Pearce
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Jordan Elias
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Chuck King
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Barry & Batya Segal
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Scriptures on Grief

My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
-Psalm 119:28

Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
-Luke 6:21

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
-Matthew 5:4

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
-Psalm 34:18

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
-John 14:27

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
-2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
-Psalm 43:5

” Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.”
-Jeremiah 31:13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.
-Isaiah 49:13

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
-1 Thessalonians 4:13
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
-John 16:33

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
-Psalms 147:3

As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you;
-Isaiah 66:13

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
-Revelation 21:4

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
-Joshua 1:9

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:31

For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.
– Lamentations 3:31-33

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
-Philippians 4:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
-1 Peter 5:6-7




End-times Prophecies Fulfilled

Learn which end-times prophecies are being fulfilled today.{youtube}Q8qG1iZ9BKw{/youtube}




Experience Yad Vashem’s Holocaust History Museum

Experience a virtual tour of Yad Vashem’s Holocaust History Museum below.
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To Be Politically Active or Not to Be

Watch as Samuel Rodriguez explains why the church must be spiritually and politically active.

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The Younger Face of Politics

Young adult Christians approach church and politics in a different manner than their parents. Watch this video to find out how the mosaic generation is changing the political landscape.

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Expect to Be Healed

Recently,
the Lord has impressed me to share with God’s people the importance of putting a
demand on the anointing. The word demand means “a seeking or state of
being sought after.” It means pressing forward despite obstacles to get to a
place where the anointing is and expecting it to fall on you.

The woman
with the issue of blood put a demand on the healing anointing and received her
miracle. She expected that once she pushed through that crowd, pushed past the
disappointment of years of failed treatments, and pushed against the stigma of
being unclean, she would be healed.

Too often God’s people do not receive
miracles and healing because they do not place a demand on the anointing. They
don’t push forward because they don’t expect that something miraculous will
happen.

Sometimes believers let themselves get discouraged. Let me tell
you this: Don’t let the devil talk you out of your healing. Put your mind on
God. You have to press through discouragement and frustration so that you don’t
miss your miracle. Don’t let anyone stop you. You have to press through-press
through traffic, press through the parking lot, press through people coming in
the door-but don’t get upset. Just stay in the Spirit and get to the place where
the anointing is and reach up and get your miracle. Just like the woman who
pressed, reached and was healed by touching Jesus’ garment, you too can press,
reach up and grab your healing.

Healing is available to all during
the kingdom age. It is amazing that some Christians still believe that God puts
sickness on His people. Some may ask, “God, why do You allow this sickness to
come upon my body?” They feel, or may have been told by a church leader, that it
is the will of God for them to suffer sickness and not be healed.

However, that is not biblical. God does not put sickness on His
people. Jesus died so that we might be healed. I do believe that there are times
when God allows sickness, especially for rebellion or disobedience. But for
God’s people, we can expect to live in health and be healed of all our diseases
because of what Jesus did on the cross.

When Jesus came He announced the
coming of the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God, where His presence and
glory dwell, no sin or sickness can coexist. We are in the kingdom of God now,
but it is not fully manifested. However, it can be established in your life and
in your heart.

Wherever Jesus preached the message of the kingdom, He
healed people. Healing accompanies the kingdom message. This is the kingdom age
where you don’t have to be sick, broke or run over by the devil. That is good
news! You don’t have to be sick, broke, poor or confused any longer. Sickness
and disease are works of the devil, and Jesus came and “disarmed principalities
and powers, He made a public spectacle of them. Triumphing over them” (Col.
2:15). Healing comes with the territory. When you are in Christ, you can expect
to be healed.

Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs will follow those who
believe; In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no
means hurt them; and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So not only should you expect to be healed, but you should also know
that you are to pass that healing on to all those around you. That is true
kingdom living.

 

Adapted from Prayers That Bring Healing, by John
Eckhardt, copyright 2010, published by Charisma House. Prayers and confession of
Scripture are two of the most powerful weapons we have in life. Break the powers
of darkness and release the healing of God in your life today! This book
combines powerful decrees taken from Scripture and identifies 12 ways that
healing takes place. To
order a copy click on this link:




Don’t Give Up

Early one Saturday morning, I was sitting on the deck watching a female robin build a nest (or rather try to build a nest). She had chosen a location on the downspout that comes off the gutter. The spout was heavily sloped and made of shiny white aluminum. The surface was obviously very slick. I watched for about an hour.

She had made amazing progress. Then suddenly, as she landed on the nest it started to shift. She actually spread out her wings to use them like feathered arms trying desperately to hold the nearly completed nest in place, but to no avail. The nest slid off and fell two stories to the ground below.

My heart sank. She had worked so very hard, and now her efforts lay in a pile in the grass below. Well, I thought, at least she now knows that the downspout is not a good place to build a nest. She can go find a spot more suitable. As I sat drinking my coffee and reading, I heard a noise. I looked over and there was Mrs. Robin again...starting over.

For the next 10 days she built nest after nest. Nest after nest that, when almost completed, slid off onto the ever-growing pile of “nests” below. My wife would call me at work horribly distraught. “What can we do?” she asked. (She was mostly upset because the male robin had been sitting on a power line simply watching for the 10 days-something she thought was terribly unfair.) But day after day, nest after nest, there was nothing we could do.

And then something incredible happened that changed everything. It rained. Early one morning it rained one of those great soaking rains. And that evening as I was out on the deck, sure enough, there was mama robin (yes with daddy robin still looking on), starting another nest. But this time she was using wet, muddy grass. Not the dry parched grass that had been too dry to stick, but wet, sticky grass. It was nest-building material that stuck to the downspout. Within a couple hours the nest was finished.

Think about this. Paul, the apostle, who wrote a vast portion of the New Testament, obviously knew what it felt like to wonder, Is it all worth it? He had certainly experienced the temptation to just give up and go on to something new. But in this little verse, Galatians 6:9, Paul shares a valuable principle: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV).

Here is the greatest part of his admonition. This verse contains a promise. We will reap. Not maybe. Not we hope so. There’s no room for doubt. We will reap. Mama Robin did not know when the rain would come. She didn’t sit around waiting. She did not lose heart. She did not grow weary. Not even for a day. And the rain eventually came.

This journey we call “Christianity” is not always easy. Even when we are doing “good” things, we can get weary. The “cares of the world” weaken us and choke out our spiritual lives. And our weariness causes us to question: Does it all really matter? Who really cares? What difference does my little corner of the world make? If we are not careful we can lose heart.

We must do as the Bible says, “Contend for the faith.” Fight. Hang on. Dig your heels in. Do not lose heart, because you do matter. Your persistency can and will make a difference. Sure, some of your “nests” may fall to the ground. Take some time, get alone and ask your Father for strength and grace, and then get up and start again. Contend. Overcome. Do not lose heart. For in due season, when the time is right, you will reap. And the reward will be so very worth it.