In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Iran On The Move
• Nuclear Panic
• No Fear
• AGLOW: Report from Japan
• Prayers for Japan
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Thursday, March 17, 2011
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:6,7)
The Daily Brief
BREAKING: Japan: Effort Begins to Connect Power Line - Fox News
Japanese crews are working to get a power line connected to damaged nuclear reactor.
- Pray that their efforts are quickly successful -- in time to avoid a nuclear meltdown.
- "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
1. U.S. Authorizes First Evacuations of Americans From Japan Over Fears of Nuclear Crisis - Fox News
The State Department says the first U.S. evacuation flight has left Japan Thursday and heading to Taiwan with about 100 people on board. Senior State Department official Patrick Kennedy said chartered planes will be brought in to help private American citizens wishing to leave. Flights will continue for as long as necessary, and officials were advising Americans to bring food and water with them to the airport.
- Thank the Lord for this action being taken by our government, and pray that all evacuation procedures be carried out in a calm and orderly manner.
- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)
2. Japanese Officials at Odds If Water Dumps Helped Crippled Nuclear Plant
- Fox News
Japanese officials are at odds over whether water dumps on the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant Thursday has worked as high radiation levels have been detected 19 miles away from the plant.
A spokesman for the Tokyo Electric Power Company told Japan news agency NHK that "it appears the mission was successful," while a spokesman for the Nuclear And Industrial Safety Agency says the water cannons failed in their attempt to cool the unit when the water failed to reach its target from safe distances.
- Father we ask for unity and truth for the government of Japan as it fights to save their nation from further disaster. We bind the spirits that are trying to cover up the facts, and loose the spirit of truth over their leadership. We pray for efficiency, courage, and the ability to restore these plants to safe levels.
- "Truth shall spring out of the earth . . . " (Psalm 85:11a)
3. Scientists Project Path of Radiation Plume - NY Times
A United Nations forecast of the possible movement of the radioactive plume coming from crippled Japanese reactors shows it churning across the Pacific, and touching the Aleutian Islands on Thursday before hitting Southern California late Friday.
- Lord we thank you for the promise of Your protection no matter what the circumstances may seem. We stand firmly with our hope in You and pray for dissipation and against any ill effects from this plume or any subsequent clouds of radiation from Japan.
- ". . . and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. . . " (Mark 16:18)
4. US backing for world currency stuns markets - UK Telegraph
US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner shocked global markets by revealing that Washington is "quite open" to Chinese proposals for the gradual development of a global reserve currency run by the International Monetary Fund.
- Father, this administration has finally spoken openly about what we have suspected since they took office - that they are in favor of a world currency. As we move toward fulfillment of Your Word, we ask for faith to rise up within our hearts, provision for Your people, and protection against any out-of-time actions.
- "For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." (Psalm 37:9)
5. U.S. Seeks UN Resolution Authorizing Strikes on Libya - Fox News
The Obama administration is pushing hard for a Thursday vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing airstrikes and other measures to stop Libyan leader Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi from killing more civilians and defeating rebel forces in Libya.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya "requires certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems."
- Father, since our leaders have no ability to act decisively with regard to Libya, we bind the spirit of murder within Qaddafi and his son. We apply the cross of Christ against everything he does and everything he plans to do. We stand in the gap for the people of Libya who have desired freedom from oppression and ask that the Holy Spirit move across Libya in power bringing mercy and grace.
- "Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end . . . " (Psalm 7:9a)
6. Bahrain locks down kingdom as uprising surges - Fox News
Soldiers and riot police in Bahrain overran a protesters' camp, imposed a 12-hour curfew and choked off movement nationwide Wednesday. Witnesses described helicopters firing on homes in a hunt for Shiites and attacking doctors treating the wounded, while the government called the demonstrators "outlaws" for demanding an end to the monarchy.
- Lord we pray that the forces for freedom will prevail against the rulers of darkness in high places in the nation of Bahrain.
- "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12)
7. A) U.S. Debt Jumped $72 Billion Same Day U.S. House Voted to Cut Spending $6 Billion - CNS News
The national debt jumped by $72 billion on Tuesday even as the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government for just three weeks that will cut $6 billion from government spending.
B) 54 House Republicans Defect on Spending Bill - Bloomberg
Defections among rank-and-file House Republicans on the latest short-term U.S. spending bill exposed divisions that may complicate negotiations with Democrats on a broader budget plan.
In Tuesday's House vote, 54 Republicans opposed a measure to fund the government until April 8, forcing their leaders to rely on support from Democrats to pass the bill, 271-158. The legislation aims to give lawmakers more time to break their stalemate over funding the government through Sept. 30. The stopgap measure goes to the Senate, where Democrats who control that chamber expect it to pass and be sent to Obama.
- Lord we see the poor fiscal actions of our leaders and are grieved. We see division and strife among our congressional members and know that a house divided cannot stand. Lord as some work toward budget changes, others work toward more spending. Unless You build this house, it will not stand. We pray for a miraculous move of Your Holy Spirit over every member of Congress to establish righteousness and wisdom for our nation. Rather we should fall into Your hands of mercy and grace than the hands of men and their agendas.
- "Unless the Lord builds the house, they lab
or in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127: 1) 8. Senate Passes Bill to Keep Government Running 3 Weeks - Fox News
Senate votes, 87-13, to pass three-week spending bill, sending it to Obama's desk for signature.
- We ask, Lord, for a resolution form Your Hand to this "Continuing Resolution," stopgap process now being pursued by this Congress and this Administration. We agree with the House Republican leadership that this strategy must come to an end, and that a better plan lies ahead. We thank You, in advance, for the answer to this prayer, in Jesus' Name, amen.
- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2)
1. Quartet 'giving up hope' of renewing Israeli-Palestinian talks - Ha'aretz
Quartet representatives say differences between Israel and Palestinians are far too wide to get negotiations back on track; since Itamar attack, Netanyahu refraining from speaking of need to advance peace process.
2. Jerusalem will never be divided, says Barkat - Jerusalem Post
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat insisted that Jerusalem is not up for negotiation in a future peace process during a conversation with Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief David Horovitz on Saturday night at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem.
3. PM says IDF to build fence along Jordan border - Ynet News
During a tour of the fence that is being constructed along Israel's border with Egypt on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the IDF to begin planning the construction of another fence along the border with Jordan.
4. Netanyahu stops nuclear power plans after Japan crisis - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided on Thursday to cancel an Israel Electric Corporation plan to build a nuclear power plant, Israel Radio reported.
The Daily Jot
The realities of our prophetic times and the nature of God
With political disruption, wars and rumors of wars and calamity boiling over around the world, some have expressed anger that anyone would even remotely suggest that a just God would allow innocent people to perish in Japan as part of His judgment for that nation, or any other for that matter, coming against Israel. I have been asked by a handful if I really believe that is even possible. I must say emphatically that yes, I do believe it is possible. Throughout the Bible, the Lord has dealt with nations and individuals who have treated His people in various ways. Egypt and the plagues are one example. The Babylonian captivity is another. The Philistines and others of that ilk represent even harsher treatment.
Rome treated the Jews harshly--so much so that they rebelled in Jerusalem in 70 AD and the city was all but destroyed and so were those Jewish people, down to the very last stand at Masada. And where is Rome today? Adolf Hitler embarked on a massive effort to exterminate the Jews. His empire crumbled around him and is no more. In fact, his efforts invoked enough worldwide sympathy that the United Nations established overnight modern Israel, seeming to fulfill many prophecies like the one in Jeremiah 29:14, "...I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord, and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive."
We know the prophecies and the declarations by the Lord about his people. We have clear examples from both the Bible and from modern times regarding nations and peoples and their disposition in treatment of the Lord's chosen. The scriptures are clear that those who come against Israel, and the scriptures are speaking of nations, will be cut in pieces. Therefore, a nation's proclivity toward Israel is a factor in its prophetic present and future. And nations are comprised of people, both innocent and not, both believers and not. Do you not see that all Americans suffer the consequences of national leadership?--Even those who voted for something different.
God is in control of all things, the Creator of all things; there is His perfect will and permissible will. He will allow things to happen, and He will make things happen. Isaiah 57:1 says, "The righteous perish, and no may lays it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." The modern Christian teachings that God would not allow a terrible thing to happen to innocent people is man defining the nature of God. Man's ways, however, are not God's ways. We must understand and trust in that we serve a just and righteous God as defined on His terms, not ours. These are prophetic times and God's not playing human-defined games.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
Iran On The Move
The U.S. media, as usual, are doing a terrible job informing the public about the "under the radar" war raging in the Middle East. While the U.S. under Obama's uncertain and hesitant leadership continues to retreat, Ahmadinejad's Iran is on offense. The implications for our future are ominous.
A few days ago, Israeli Defense Force commandos seized a cargo ship, the Victoria, on its way to Gaza. They found 50 tons of weapons in containers that were supposed to be filled with cotton and lentils. Included among the weapons were C-704 anti-ship missiles, which would have threatened the Israeli port of Ashkelon and an important oil rig. No one doubts that the weapons were meant for Hamas and that their origin was Iran. Persian language documents were found on the ship.
Meanwhile in Bahrain, Iranian agents appear to be behind the Shiite uprising in that nation -- an uprising so serious that the Saudis sent in troops to put it down. Bahrain is the major home port for our 5th Fleet. Iran's move is a direct challenge to the Saudi government, as well as to us.
Obama might want to consider putting his golf clubs in the closet, putting down his NCAA basketball tournament bracket and actually trying to act like an American president. (Gary Bauer)
Nuclear Panic
Press coverage of the serious problems at a number of Japanese nuclear facilities continues to be unscientific and hyperbolic. But the catastrophe in Japan has already happened. An estimated 10,000 people are dead, and water and power has been cut off in 1.5 million homes. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in shelters.
No one has died of radiation poisoning. The brave Japanese workers toiling to bring the plants under control may face long-term health risks. But as of now it appears they have been exposed to radiation equivalent to several x-rays.
News today that some Americans are rushing to buy iodine tablets to save themselves from a Japanese nuclear cloud drifting across the Pacific Ocean is just one result of the misinformation being spread by the media and left-wing anti-nuclear groups. The nuclear industry's safety track record is outstanding. The worst nuclear disaster, Chernobyl, was caused by a failed communist Soviet Union building a power plant without basic protections. Chernobyl was a communist problem, not a nuclear problem.
We do face the possibility of a nuclear disaster, however -- but not from Japanese nuclear plants. The Islamic jihadists who attacked us on 9/11 are doing everything they can to detonate a dirty nuclear bomb in Seattle, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Paris, Berlin, Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
If they succeed, the resulting deaths, injuries and economic meltdown will be a catastrophe of the first order. But big media and the political left, which are doing their best to scare us about Japan, seldom say a word about the real nuclear threat from Al Qaeda or Ahmadinejad's Iran.
No Fear
Worry, anxiety, fear, panic. The world headlines are designed to breed the opposite of faith. We are all familiar with Psalm 91, the great Psalm of protection. We are familiar with it, but do we believe it? Time to get real about where our faith really lies!
"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." (Psalm 91:5,6)
As we move toward fulfillment of prophecy in Scripture, it's time we start exercising our faith in God rather than what we see around us. Either we believe that God is our strength or we believe that the things in the earth will destroy us. Either we believe that no plan, no demon, no circumstance can keep us from His love or everything can. We must chose what and who we believe- the news, the circumstances, the demonic forces, or God.
Romans 8:28, Matthew 24:13, Matthew 24:22 -- these Scriptures remind us that in the midst of great upheaval God is merciful to us! All of the things going on in the earth right now require us to exercise down-to-earth faith. Religion will not keep us, only knowing God will. Daniel 11:32 says that because we know our God we will do exploits. But we can't do "exploits" if we are worried and anxious about what is happening. Fear causes blindness. It also causes panic that creates poor decisions. It messes with our thoughts. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Jesus told us that His peace was not the same as the world gives. It's an inner peace. It's about knowing that this earth is temporary and that our inheritance is in heaven. It's about the sting of death being removed because we belong to Him. It's about singing in the midst of trouble and watching the prison doors open. It's about hearing the Voice of God, and allowing His Presence to hold us close even when everything around us seems to collapse. It doesn't mean we sit on our hands on the couch and do nothing, but it does mean that our hearts should be at peace as we hear and obey His voice.
His Voice is often drowned out by fear and other emotions. As we walk through each day, let's quiet ourselves and stop the noise. Let's be about our Father's business each day, knowing by faith that He will keep us no matter what happens. Let faith drown out the noise of fear. We belong to the one True Living God!
Love,
Pastor Faye Higbee Post Falls, Idaho
AGLOW: Report from Japan
(Shared with permission . . .)
"He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him." (Psalm 72:12-14)
Dear (Friend),
Praise the name of our God who created the heaven and earth and reins everything forever. We are grateful for your prayer for Japan in such time as these.
I was able to come home a day after the quake. Kunie, our Treasurer whose house locates in a devastated area in Mito was also evacuated, and her husband and the members of the church she and her husband pastor are all fine. Kiyomi's husband came home safely.
4 days passed since the major earthquakes occurred in Tohoku and Kanto areas. Now we were able to contact our Aglow sisters in the devastated areas. None of our sisters and their families live along the Pacific Ocean; so the damages they had was pretty serious, but no one was attacked by TSUNAMI. One of our advisors who lives in Sendai was on the train running by the waters when it occurred, he and his company were evacuated and he was able to have a Sunday service at his own church. Praise God. We hear many testimonies that though the devastation was very serious, everyone experienced His protection and His mercy.
We have begun to see the secondary disasters; the radiation is leaking from the nuclear power station and the residents living within 30km distance from the station are forced to evacuate. An expert points out that the sludge bought by massive Tsunami may cause plague.
In the non-devastated areas, commodities and foods are running out. We often see the sign "NO GAS" at the gas stations. The planned blackout in the Metropolitan area and its suburbs has brought about train stops and influenced commuters. (Kioymi's husband is back to staying at the hotel close to his office to deal with this situation.)
In this kind of situation, we receive e-mails of encouragement and prayers from Aglow around the world. One of our national board members sent me a word of thanks when she read an email from the president of Aglow New Zealand: "I am encouraged very much with such a heart-warm letter. I receive His promise of blessing, a big blessing when I find out His people around the world are praying for our country on behalf of us."
According to the police department, 8000 are the victims of the earthquake. And the record will count more. Our hearts are breaking when we think about our fellow countrymen died from Tsunami. The hearts of Christians in Japan are with heart of the Father God who desires all to be saved. But at the same time, we are challenged to receive the love of Holy God of the Almighty who shakes this land just because He loves this nation. Please pray for Christians so that we can seek His face, come to Him as close as we can hear His heart beat and receive his love. The heart of the people is now softened to receive the Truth. It is time for us to go out and share the Gospel. It is time for the Christians here to stand up.
Noriko Ishikura
National Prayer Coordinator
Aglow Japan
Prayers for Japan
Submitted by AGLOW International
We call the name of our Lord. Have mercy on Japan and save this nation.
Let us pray:
-May love, mercy and grace of God flow over Japan and His glory cover this land.
-We repent of the idol worshipping of the Japanese people
-We pray that Japanese Christians will stand up in the current darkness so that revival will come to this nation.
-Christians here will be awakened so that all the churches will stand up and become one.
-Pray that local churches will know what to do to show the love of God.
-The government of Japan will be reformed and the political parties can overcome party spirit.
-The Japanese government will receive the wisdom and power of God to deal with the current situation: So that the victims of the quake can be saved as soon as possible and can receive relief.
-The Government can know how to deal with the current devastating problem of the nuclear power generators in Fukushima.
-The power generator exploded and the people were exposed to radiation. Please pray for the best treatment for their mind and body.
-All the needs such as water, electricity, gas, foods and gasoline will be provided in Tohoku and Kanto area.
-Pray for wisdom during implementation of the planned blackout
-Relief medicine, technology and funds provided from all over the world can be used wisely.
Submitted by:
Noriko Ishikura
National Prayer Coordinator
Aglow Japan
- Our network of Prayer Partners are in agreement with these prayer requests, Noriko, and we join you in thanking God that He does answer prayer! We continue to lift up all who suffer in your nation toniight, that they will know the comfort and the love of our Savior, and come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Amen and amen.
- " . . . if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
The Good News Corner
Miracle of the baby girl plucked from the rubble:
Four-month-old reunited with her father after incredible rescue
The sound of a baby's cry amid the rubble seemed so impossible that soldiers searching a tsunami-smashed village dismissed it as a mistake.
But it came again. And they realised they had not been hearing things.
They pulled away wood and slate, dug back thick oozing mud - and there was the child they were to describe as a 'tiny miracle'.
The four-month-old girl had been swept from her parents' arms in the shattered village of Ishinomaki when the deadly wave crashed into the family home.
For three days, the child's frantic family had believed she was lost to them for ever.
But yesterday, for a brief moment, the horrors of the disaster were brightened by one helpless baby's story of survival.
Soldiers from the Japanese Defence Force had been going from door to door pulling bodies from the devastated homes in Ishinomaki, a coastal town northeast of Sendai.
Most of the victims were elderly, unable to escape the destructive black tide.
But for this precious moment, at least, it was only the child who mattered to the team of civil defense troops who found her.
The tiniest survivor was cold and wet and crying, but she is believed to have suffered no other injuries. Why she did not drown remained a mystery. (UK Daily Mail) Read more
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