Friday, June 29, 2007

AMERICAN DEPENDENCE DAY

SPECIAL 4th of July EDITION

This 4th of July Weekly Newsletter begins with an edited excerpt from a recent Prayer Surge article reminding us to intercede for our military in Iraq with complete dependency towards God. It continues with a news link explaining positive progress in the “troop surge.”

Please scroll below for articles such as:

*PREPARATION FOR WARFARE: MAKING GOD THE SUCCESS (Joshua 5:13-15)


*THE REALITY OF WAR IN IRAQ: CHALLENGING THE MEDIA BIAS

*LET US PRAY LIKE JESUS: JOINING OUR LORD’S INTERCESSION (Hebrews 5:7-8)

*HONORING CPL JOSEPH ANZACK JR., TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

*WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO LIVE FOR?: TOUCHING THE HEART OF GOD (Revelations 5:8-10 & 8:3-4)

*THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRAYER SURGE! (2 Chronicles 7:14)


“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen at His own inheritance.”
Psalm 33:12


AMERICAN DEPENDENCE DAY

In a few days, we will celebrate our Independence Day. We Americans hold this day very dear. Therefore we must ask ourselves, "What/who are we independent from? On July 4, 1776, America declared independence from British rule. The Founding Fathers claimed that we were no longer to be held as subjects of King George III. Therefore, it is safe to say that Americans of 2007 celebrate knowing that no individuals or nations have ruled over us for the past 231 years.

Growing numbers of Americans have also made the choice to be independent from God and one another. This has created a crisis in our nation. Many complain that we are losing our values, families and a sense of community. We are even approaching the current War On Terrorism as a divided nation and the terrorists are capitalizing upon our lack of unity and resolve. Unity, which only comes in the spirit of interdependency, is a mandate if we are to enjoy lasting liberty in our nation.

Most importantly we must move toward a greater dependency upon our Lord. Are we convinced that God alone can bring us to a place of unity that will truly bring ALL men to Jesus. Are we willing to be ONE with each other and with God as Jesus and His Father are ONE (John 17:21)?


Lord, would you prepare our hearts for the upcoming 4th of July?
We thank you for our INDEPENDENCE from foreign powers since the birth of this nation. Would you bring unity in Your Church by making us an INTERDEPENDENT people?
We choose this day to be DEPENDENT on you!
In the Name of the ONE who calls us as ONE,
AMEN!


PROGRESS IN IRAQ? YOU BE THE JUDGE

Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top day-to-day commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, is optimistic with the progress being made in Iraq and hopes to reduce our forces in the spring. Please go to
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286375,00.html and read the complete story.

Join us in praying for the 156,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and the millions of Iraqi people.

Friday, June 22, 2007

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

PREPARATION FOR WARFARE

The Bible describes Joshua as a man of great faith and courage. From the original Israelites whom God delivered from their bondage in Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were permitted to cross the Jordan River and settle in the Promised Land. Although this territory consisted of many powerful nations with greater number of warriors and superior weapons than that of the Israelites, Joshua found great success whenever he applied the strategies given to him by the Lord. Joshua understood the importance of making GOD A SUCCESS in his humility, worship and obedience of Him. Then God would use Joshua and the Israelites to bring GREAT SUCCESS in possessing the Promised Land.

We can apply this valuable principle TODAY and make Prayer Surge a great success. Let us learn from the Book of Joshua 5:13-15.

In Joshua’s military campaign against Jericho, he needed a strategy to overcome the city’s great fortresses. It was then he encountered “a Man… with His sword drawn in His hand” he asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The Man answered, “Neither, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have come.” Joshua immediately humbled himself and worshipped God as the COMMANDER OF HIS MIGHTY ARMY. Then, he was given the instructions in the Jericho campaign. When, Joshua and the Israelites obeyed, the Lord fought for them in Jericho. The word of GOD’S SUCCESS on behalf of Israel spread throughout the surrounding nations (Joshua 6:27)

Like Joshua, we are not in a position to ask God if He is on our side. But rather humbly CHOOSE to be on His side by worshipping Him and no other. We must encounter the God of Joshua and depend on Him in our intercession. Then the UNLIMITED POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GAIN UNLIMITED ACCESS in our personal lives as well as our “Jerichos.” We must approach Prayer Surge with such preparation in order to engage in warfare intercession for our military in Iraq.


PREPARATION FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

In 12 days, we will celebrate our Independence Day. Many Americans hold this day very dear. Therefore we must ask ourselves, "What/who are we independent from? On July 4, 1776, America declared independence from British rule. The Founding Fathers claimed that we were no longer to be held as subjects of King George III. Therefore, it is safe to say that Americans of 2007 celebrate knowing that no individuals or nations have ruled over us for the past 231 years.

Growing numbers of Americans have also made the choice to be independent from God and one another. This has created a crisis in our nation. Many complain that we are losing our values, families and a sense of community. We are even approaching this current War On Terrorism as a divided nation and the terrorists are capitalizing upon our lack of unity and resolve. Unity, which only comes in the spirit of interdependency, is a mandate if we are to enjoy lasting liberty in our nation.

Most importantly we must move toward a greater dependency upon our Lord. Are we convinced that God alone can bring us to a place of unity that will truly bring ALL men to Jesus. Are we willing to be ONE with each other and with God as Jesus and His Father are ONE (John 17:21)?

Lord, would you prepare our hearts for the upcoming 4th of July? We thank you for our INDEPENDENCE from foreign powers since the birth of our nation. Would you bring unity in Your Church by making us an INTERDEPENDENT people? We choose this day to be DEPENDENT on you! In the Name of the ONE who calls us to be ONE,
Amen!




IMPORTANT!

Remind: The purpose of Iraq Prayer Surge ~ NOW! Weekly Newsletter is to remind us to daily pray for the situation in Iraq and the related war on terror.

Encourage: We are in no way looking to compete or take resources away from any other initiatives that encourage prayer. We are not asking for any money. We know that corporate and individual prayer can take many forms that God will honor.

Multiplication of Intercession: Through the use this weekly newsletter (sent out each Friday by noon) that is forwarded from one intercessor (or intercessory group) to another and is, also, made available on our www.prayersurgenow.blogspot.com thousands of intercessors can be reminded and encouraged in a short period of time. While we ask that the newsletter be left intact when forwarded, we do encourage personal notes to be added in the forwarded e-mail before the newsletter. We ask that you use the appropriate tools such as BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) to limit the sharing of e-mail addresses with other intercessors down the line.

Input and Feedback: We ask your help in suggesting news articles, teachings, crafted prayers etc. that we can use in the weekly newsletters. We, also, want to hear about testimonies that can be shared with others.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Weekly Newsletter


THE REALITY OF WAR IN IRAQ

Most Americans’ view of Operation Iraqi Freedom is shaped primarily by the media. Much of the news coming out of Iraq has been negative. Is the media providing an accurate assessment? Is there a bias in the news media? Who is reporting on al-Qaida’s death threats against the Baghdad Christians? Let's take a look at three of the stories the media has failed to give an adequate accounting.


GREAT SUCCESS IN NORTHERN IRAQ!

The media's coverage of Iraq comes from mostly from the Sunni dominated Central Iraq and the Shiite regions in Southern Iraq. Based on the news coming out of these regions, many Americans are convinced that Iraq is embroiled in a hopeless cycle of violence.

What about Northern Iraq? We do not hear much about this Kurdish region. Recently American medical missionaries were in Northern Iraq by invitation of the Department of Health to train Iraqi physicians. One of these missionaries wrote A Message of Thanks to President Bush and the United States from Iraq.


Here are some of the quotes from this letter of appreciation:

"While we were there, government officials and physicians repeatedly told us how much their nation benefits by the presence of the United States for freedom, stability, healing and rebuilding in their country."

"The Muslim Iraqi Government officials honored us as Christian Americans."

"Northern Iraq is thriving and rebuilding since the Saddam regime was brought down."



"THE SUCCESS IS FAR GREATER…"

Another reality check comes from Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma). Senator Inhofe has traveled to the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi in the Anbar province seven times and states,
"The troop surge has given us the troop numbers to push al Qaeda out of most of the area in the Anbar province and allowed governance to hold onto their own destiny."

He has seen both the success of the US "troop surge" and the Iraqi military and the Sunni tribes beginning to work together against al-Qaida. He also points out,
"They've never done that before, but they realize now, there are a lot of people in the United States who want to cut and run, and I'm seeing a new kind of cooperation. The Iraqis now have a vision for Iraq and see their place as an important, self-ruling governance."

Please click here



URGENT!!!

Our brothers and sisters in Baghdad need our prayers today! Here is a quote from June 14, 2007 addition of Jewish World Review: “An al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent group is giving Christians in Baghdad a stark set of options: Convert to Islam, marry your daughters to our fighters, pay an Islamic tax or leave with only the clothes on your back.”

For details, go to

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0607/baghdad_christians.php3.


LET US PRAY LIKE JESUS

The Scriptures promise that God will answer our prayers if we have the heart of Jesus. How would you like to have your prayers answered as the Father answered Jesus' prayers? Let's look at Hebrews 5:7-8 and find out what kind of prayers are required of His people:

In the days of His flesh,
when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Let us intercede on behalf of our military and the believers in Iraq and see God move on their behave and using them to being a GREAT REVIVAL across the Middle East!

Friday, June 8, 2007

Weekly Newsletter - June 8, 2007


Honoring Cpl. Joseph Anzack Jr.

Joseph Anzack Jr. graduated from South High School, located in my hometown of Torrance, California, in June 2005. Joseph made national news last month when he and Pvt. Byron Fouty and Spc. Alex Jimenez were believed to be taken hostage by an al-Qaida-affiliated group in Iraq. On May 23rd, Joseph's body was found floating in the Euphrates River south of Baghdad.

On June 1st, Joseph was honored as a hometown hero. His flag-draped casket inside a horse-pulled white-wheeled carriage passed through the streets of Torrance, returning his body to where he graduated less than two years ago. The City of Torrance was never more united, as thousands of her citizens paid tribute to Joseph in the streets as well as in South High Football Stadium.

On June 6th, Cpl. Joseph Anzack Jr., at the young age of 20, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors, a formal procession, Army honor guards, a 21-gun salute and a bugler playing taps. I had the privilege being there with my family with permission of Joseph Anzack Sr.

As I stood with my wife and two young children, behind the Anzack family and next to some of the soldiers who served with Joseph, I realized that I was standing on sacred ground. In the background of this somber graveside service were many hundreds of graves of soldiers who, like Joseph, gave their lives in Iraq.


WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO LIVE FOR?

Joseph knew the dangers of war and was willing to pay the ultimate price, and he did. As of June 7th, he is among the 3,487 men and women who have given their lives for our nation and the people of Iraq. What are we willing to give our lives for? Are we willing to come before the Almighty in great humility and total trust in the One who died for us all and plead for the release of His grace and mercy?

We must be broken before our Lord for the sins of the Church which are bringing judgment upon our nation and be restored. Then our prayers will be like incense and be pleasing to the Lord (Revelations 5:8-10 and 8:3-4).

When our prayers touch God's heart:

*We will better discern the intercessions of Jesus and come into agreement with Him.


*We will be the answers to Jesus' prayer in John 17 and become ONE with Him and ONE with one another.

*He will move and be victorious in the war against terrorism as well as the cultural war that rages in every American city.

*His strong and mighty arms will move and execute judgment over the "Prince of Persia" and the "Jezebels."

*He will silence the false teachers/prophets as well those who are promoting evil agendas.

*He will fight for our soldiers in Iraq and bring them home safely.


Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

Psalm 33:12


Praying with you,
Prayer Surge Now