WE ONLY NEED TO PRAY!

By Irving Serrano

" Have you ever struggled with prayer? Does prayer seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don`t possess? Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God. Listening and talking to Him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. There is no correct, or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible, people prayed on their knees ( 1 kings 8:45) bowing(Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God. (2 Chronicles 20:18; Mathew 26:39), and standing (1st Kings 8:22). You may Pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud....however you are the most comfortable and least distracted. (Mathew 6:7) " When you pray, don`t babble on and on as people do in other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again, and again. Prayer develops our relationship with God. For an example; If we never speak to our spouse, or never listen to anything our spouse might have to say to us, our marriage relationship will quickly deteriorate. Prayer-communicating with God, helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with God. (Zechariah 13:9) " I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ` These are my people; and they will say, "The Lord is our God". There are many who pray daily, maybe several times in the day. However they limit their prayers to the surroundings of their homes, and their loved ones. God is all mighty, capable and willing to grant you the desires of your heart. We live in a great nation, unfortunately not everyone share our love and devotion to God. If more people would pray for our nation, and those leaders of our nation...God will answer! May God bless you. Love always,
Irving Serrano

WHY AMERICA NEEDS OUR PRAYERS!

Many People today feel helpless as they look upon events that are unfolding before their eyes and cannot believe that things are taking place in our country that would not have even been imagined just a few short years ago! The America of our forefathers is disintegrating more rapidly that we could have ever imagined. Prayer is powerful and we must always remember that God is in control. Every American can participate in prayer, young, old, rich or poor. An example of a prayer might be something like this.......

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Heavenly Father...

Thank you for the multitude of blessings You have bestowed on this great country of ours. No other nation in the world enjoys so much material abundance, freedom and peace. I ask for your protection for our servicemen and women who are abroad and at home. Please give them courage and conviction to face whatever unknown circumstances come against them. Please protect our country from evil both inside America and from around the world. Give strength and courage to God fearing men and women to stand up and fight against any and all evil influences and tyranny in our nation. I pray for our leaders to be motivated by Your Word and not seek greed, power and corruption for themselves. May they lead with wisdom and have You and America's best interest at heart. I pray for future generations of Americans that they are not left decimated by the decisions our lawmakers have foisted upon us. May future Americans seek Your Truth and Your Will much more than our own generation. Forgive us for our complacency in the past and our failure to honor You as we should have. Have mercy on us and our children. In Jesus' name I pray....

Amen

Evening Prayer

Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.

Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchhill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, it's people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. The Gala Foundation and all its Web-Sites are launching a Prayer Campaingn for our Country. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 Central) (7:00 Mountain) (6:00 Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7

THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD!

By Irving Serrano

"The Lord is my Shepherd" As Children, playing games. The hours roll by, and evening sets in as the sun goes down. Running by a dark alley, one of our friends say; 'come on, follow me'. You watch them as they fade into the darkness ahead. When we did follow, it was because we trusted that friend. As adults we have to be more prudent with those we choose to trust. I am sure you can relate with that statement. When we read the 23rd Psalm, it speaks to us about trust. And surely gives us a guarantee, unlike consciences we experience when we choose to live our lives, with out God centered in our lives. In describing the Lord as a Shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherds provision, guidance, and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the good shepherd; the Great Shepherd; and the Chief Shepherd, so we are his sheep.....not frightened, passive animals, but obedient followers, wise enough to follow one who will lead us in the right places, and in the right ways. This Psalm does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep, but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow. When you recognise the good shepherd follow Him. When we allow God our shepherd to guide us, we have contentment. When we choose to sin, however, we go our own way and cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our shepherd knows the " green pastures" and the "quiet waters" that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd`s leading is actually rebelling against our own best interest. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than the shepherds way. Death cast a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We can struggle with other enemies....pain, suffering,disease, injury....but strength and courage cannot overcome death. It has the final word. Only one person can walk with us through deaths dark valley and bring us safely to the other side....the God of life, our shepherd. Because life is uncertain, we should follow this good shepherd who offers us eternal comfort. May God bless you. Love always, Irving Serrano.

THANKFUL FOR OUR SPIRITUAL FREEDOMS

On Independence Day, we in America celebrate our political freedom, won by brave patriots over two hundred years ago. We certainly are blessed to have freedom to worship without having to worry about losing our lives, being arrested or having property confiscated. In the United States, freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. We should be grateful for the right of freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. But there is an even more crucial freedom, the spiritual freedom that God gives us. His freedom is ours for the taking, regardless of our external environment, even if we are in jail or in a country where dissenters are tortured, arrested or killed. This freedom, man cannot take away from us, because it is implanted in our spirits, through His spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Certainly a good feeling to gather with friends, and family to celebrate an occasion. But how much greater is the feeling, to celebrate our atonement with Christ. A liberty we can practise daily. Comforted by His Holy Spirit, we share the liberty and freedom, even after death. ( 2 Corinthians 15:55-57) Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? " The sting of death is Sin, and the power of Sin, is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ". May God bless you.

 Love always, Irving Serrano

CHERISHING OUR FREEDOM!

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations.

We invite all nations to celebrate with Americans online this Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday, America!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”