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ZMI Daily Dose

STANDING STRONG

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Introduction:

As many of our readers already know, Nicaragua is going great turmoil these days. The people are under attack in their own neighborhoods. Hundreds have died at the hands of government officials for peacefully standing for their beliefs. I do not preach or teach politics. I do teach a Biblical message of hope found in and through Jesus Christ. Many people who we have worked with and ministered to for the last nine years are in crisis. This message is written to them, and to anyone else now going through a crisis of their own,

because with Christ,

HOPE IS ALIVE!

For my precious friends in Nicaragua

There are times in our lives when everything seems to be falling apart…when we don’t know what to do next…when it seems like we’ve lost our way, and our strength. When everything is dark it is hard to see, hard to remember. But during those times it is also easy to forget that we have hope. We have hope because the promises of our God never fail! Never. It may feel that way…but the truth is – God Never Fails His Children.

“When you don’t understand what God is doing, you can Trust His heart! “  Jake Thornhill

In a time of deep trial God told Jeremiah in 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

BELIEVE HIM THIS DAY!

This time of upheaval in your country has been a DARK time. But darkness always has to flee when the light appears! And Never forget that our Jesus is the Light of the World. He sees what His children are going through. He is with us in the valley. He will calm the storm. Some storms last longer than others. But the storm always ends! And when it does, and the sun starts to shine again, it is a new day. A bright day, a day of recovery and rebuilding, a day of Bright Hope for tomorrow.

“For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning” Psalm 30:5

Tonight, as you read this message from my heart to yours, you can know that thousands here and across the world are praying for you. We believe that our God will prevail and your country and your people will be restored. We believe in a bright, hope filled tomorrow for Nicaragua. And we look forward to the day that we can be with you again!

 We stand strong with you, ready to help right now in prayer, and tomorrow when the rebuilding begins. So, you stand strong too! In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul says;

 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

 

Paul points out 5 things to us in these two short verses:

  1. It is his final word to the people.
  2. To be Strong by depending on God’s power in you – through the Holy Spirit who lives in you if you have given your life to Him.
  3. Put on His Armor – not our own fleshly armor
  4. His Promise – you WILL be able to stand firm if you do these things!
  5. Flesh and blood – people – are not our enemy. Our real enemy is the forces of evil in the unseen world. Satan.

 

Therefore, let us come together in unity – using the armor that God supplies – and defeat the real enemy of our souls! We can trust our God and His Mighty Power to bring victory to His people!

God in Peace my friends. God is watching!

Blessings,

Brenda Lancaster

 

 

photo credit: https://www.freeimages.com/photographer/thiagofest-60126

LESSONS LEARNED FROM SANDY, OUR GOLDEN RETRIEVER

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“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. “

Isaiah 53:6

I Want to Do Right, But…

I recently shared with you that our beloved Golden Retriever, Sandy, is now permanently asleep.  We still grieve him, but we still have the memories – and some are lessons the Lord taught us through the sweet dog’s life.

One day we were walking on the beach and Sandy ran on ahead of us, as usual. He always came back when we called, and this time was no exception. The first time he came as soon as we called but was obviously not too happy about it. A second time he took off but only came back after much kicking and screaming on our part. The third time was the clincher –  he took off again after spotting a pretty little thing down the beach a-ways. This time we had to chase him down and leash him and haul him away from his new girlfriend. He wasn’t happy. His facial expression went square-nosed and angry. Rebellious he was.

Straight home we went. We marched him right up on the deck – put him in the corner and locked the gate behind us – or so we thought. A while later we went to free him from his misery only to find he had flown the coop. Gone.

We walked and called for him. No Sandy. Called the neighbors, no Sandy. Finally, we called the Beach Dog Pound, which was at the police department (little southern beach town) and lo and behold, they had Sandy in lock-up. We had to leave our beautiful vacation house to physically go and rescue him and pay the penalty for his escape – $200.00. He had done the wrong, but we had to pay the price because he belonged to us.

Sandy was so glad to see us! His tendency to wander – like a sheep – had gotten him into trouble. The consequences were not pleasant.

Jesus calls you and me sheep – did you know that? We, somewhat like Sandy, tend to wander off the path God has placed us on and we, too, get into trouble.  Isaiah 53:6 states:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. “

Jesus made us. It says so in Genesis and the first chapter of John. We wandered away. We rebelled and didn’t come when He called. So, He left his beautiful home and came to get us.

Jesus came to rescue us from the bondage brought on by our sin. He did nothing wrong, yet He paid the price of our rebellion, and it wasn’t $200. It cost Him His very life. All He asks is that we turn from our wanderings – get over our madness – and “come home” to Him. Why? So that one day, when this earthly suit we live in wears out, we can spend the rest of eternity with him in His beautiful Home by the Crystal Sea.

Now, that’s one offer I can’t refuse. How about you? If you have decided to turn from your rebellion and return home to Daddy God, click here for the road map.  

https://www.zmiinternational.org/peace-god/

God bless you dear one.

Until next time,

Brenda

MEMORIES OF SANDY

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“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6 NLT

Lessons learned from Sandy, our Golden Retriever

What Do Sheep, Dogs, and People Have In Common?

On January 30, 2018, we were forced to put Sandy, our beloved Golden Retriever, into permanent naptime. I know he was “just a dog” – but he was still one of God’s creatures, one He allowed us to care for and love for 14 years. He was like a quirky family member for sure, but one who was loved by all of us. It hurts. At this writing, it’s been six weeks, but we’re still grieving. We miss him and his sweet presence every single day.

Sandy was a joy, but sometimes he would drive us crazy! He was sweet to a fault, beautiful with soft blond, curly hair, and had the friendliest face ever! We never knew a dog could show so many different facial expressions! In any given situation, we’d see expressions of joy, anger, affection, and humor.  Sometimes he seemed to be making fun of us! When angry, he’d get a square nose look.  When embarrassed, he’d turn his face away. We called him Mr. Personality Plus.

 

He was the most obedient dog we ever had. But there were two propensities he had that always got him in trouble! One was to grab something in his mouth when excited. His preference was dirty underwear, one of our shoes, my purse, – or his bed – which he would shred to pieces! These propensities would get him in trouble every time, even though he knew it was wrong. He just couldn’t help himself.

All those traits are now only memories in our hearts. One of my favorites is a scene from 2010.

One day, as I opened the door to let him inside, all I could see was a cloud of white polyester fiber floating in the air all around him. He was covered with it – which he loved by the way! His bed lay shredded like a heap of snow, all around his body. At the sound of my voice, his square nose look appeared.  Then the embarrassed turn-his-head-away look emerged.  He knew it was wrong, but he’d done it anyway – again.

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Romans 7:18

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on Him
    the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NLT

So, what do sheep, dogs, and people have in common? We are all in the same boat, no matter what our inclinations for doing wrong are. Left alone, we can’t control them because they are inherent to our DNA, passed down from the fall of mankind.  That’s why Jesus came to earth. He came to teach us, to love us, and to rescue us from the penalty that was ours to pay.  So, He paid that penalty for us.  After we turn to Him in faith and repentance, He will give us the power needed to overcome those propensities. That’s real LOVE people. Jesus said this in John 15:13:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

He did just that.  I pray you will thank Him today by asking His forgiveness. Here’s how:

https://www.zmiinternational.org/peace-god/

Blessings,

Brenda