Hello, Nurowife's approached me with a great idea to start posting the daily devotionals that I have been sending to some of you here on PTO via email. I have found these devotionals to be very helpful and a good way to start the day. I pray that these words and scriptures will bless you as they have been blessing me each day. THank you Nurowife for such a wonderful idea to share them in here. :thumbsup:

Love,
Babieboo

HALLOWEEN FOR CHRISTIANS
By Vonette Bright

"'I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me'" (Acts * *26:17b-18).

Sally wondered what she could do for her *two sons this Halloween. They always looked forward to dressing up, but this year was different. *Sally and her boys had recently asked Jesus into their hearts. *Was it still *OK to celebrate Halloween?

The name Halloween is derived from All Hallow Even. This was the night before All Saints Day. *Halloween actually began as a spiritually dark event.

Richard Abanes, an authority on cults and the occult, says that we need to be careful. *But churches and parents can change Halloween from being a scary night. He says that children can "dress up as their favorite Christian character or their favorite Biblical character and use that as a springboard to talk about their faith in Jesus Christ."

This year use October 31st to tell others about Jesus.

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe. www.liveprayer.com/signup.htm


DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2004
(Romans 8:1, 5, 9, 13, Galatians 5:16-18, *Galatians 2:20)

***A CALL TO PRAYER! In 2000, Liveprayer mobilized over 1.5 million people to pray for the elections and that God would allow to rise to power men and women who would follow His heart. Over 3 million prayed and fasted 40 days for our nation and its leaders earlier this year. I am calling on everyone who is part of the Liveprayer family to pray and fast as led during these next few days that God will bring men and women into office who will uphold Biblical standards as they lead our nation. May we repent of our gross wickedness, turn from our sins, and once again turn back to God before He completely removes His hand of blessing from our land and we suffer His wrath.

***SPECIAL ELECTION DEVOTIONALS! Do not miss the re-air of a sobering
2-part Devotional, "The United States is no longer a Christian Nation" this Saturday and Sunday, followed Monday by a powerful Devotional on "Leadership, political versus spiritual," and finally next Tuesday with a special "word" for our nation.


Walking in the SPIRIT, not the flesh. Two of the great historical events in 1918 were the sinking of the Titanic and the Boston Red Sox winning baseball's World Series. After 86 years, the Red Sox have once again won the World Series, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to none. To even get to the World Series, Boston had to do something no team in the history of baseball had ever done, come back from an 0-3 deficit in a best of 7 series to win the American League Championship over their arch rival New York Yankees.

After winning the 6th game of that historic series with the Yankess, Boston pitcher Curt Schilling who had been playing with an injured ankle gave an incredible testimony of Christ's strength. "Seven years ago I became a Christian, and tonight God did something amazing for me. I tried to be as tough as I could, and do it my way, Game 1, and I think we all saw how that turned out (Schilling was hit hard and lost the game). I knew that I wasn't going to be able to do this alone. And I prayed as hard as I could. I didn't pray to get a win or to make great pitches. I just prayed for the strength to go out there tonight and compete, and He gave me that. I can't explain to you what a feeling it was to be out there and to feel what I felt." What Curt was talking about was operating in God's strength, not his own. He was talking about what the Bible calls walking in the Sprit, not the flesh.

I am always amazed to find out who some of the 2 million people who subscribe to the Daily Devotional are. About a year ago I responded to an email from one subscriber who is a caddy on the PGA Tour. The PGA is in the Tampa area this weekend and I had a chance to spend some time the last few nights with Steve and several other caddies along with some of the players who are Christians and love the Lord. God has His people everywhere, and Jesus is WELL represented in professional golf. As we were talking about different issues the other night, one of the men brought up Schilling's testimony and asked me what it really meant to allow God to have complete control over our life. He wanted to know how we do that in our day to day life.

I shared with them that this is exactly what Paul was talking about in Galatians 2 when He spoke of dying to self daily. It is the conscious act of dying to self and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells every Believer to have control over you. It is NOT a natural act and is something you must consciously do every day. We have to practice every day following the Lord until it becomes part of our daily life and who we are. The fact is, we practice sin until it becomes natural. Nobody wakes up one morning and decides to be an alcoholic, or drug addict, or engage in sex outside of marriage. We make the choice to commit sin and we "practice" sinning over and over until it becomes almost instinctive and part of our life.

Walking in the Spirit, allowing God to have control over our life at all times is also something we have to practice. We have to wake up each morning and consciously yield our lives to Christ. We have to pray and read the Word, spend time each day building up our relationship with the Lord. Over time, it starts to become instinctive, natural to walk in the Sprit instead of in the flesh. We become used to allowing God to guide our choices throughout the day. *You see my friend, when it is us, it doesn't work. When it is God, it works!!!

I love you and care about you so much. I am praying for you today to make that conscious choice each day to follow Paul's admonition to walk after the Spirit and not the flesh. It is amazing how incredibly easy life can become when we are living each day in HIS strength and not our own. When we allow the Holy Sprit to guide us through the day, there is a peace and a calm regardless whatever problems may arise. When God is in control, at the end of the day you aren't physically drained like you have been up for 72 hours without any sleep. Again, when God is in control of our life, we are operating in His strength, not ours. May you walk each day not in the flesh, but IN THE SPIRIT!

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV)


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com

OCTOBER 29

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere.

. . .but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version
is taken from Proverbs 8:1; Proverbs 8:17; James 3:17; and 1
Corinthians 1:24.

Friday - October 29, 2004

--- 2 Samuel 19:14-33 -------------------------------------------------

14 Amasa swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."15 So the king came back to the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him over the Jordan. 16 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the people of Judah to meet King David;17 with him were a thousand people from Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king,18 while the crossing was taking place, to bring over the king's household, and to do his pleasure. Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,19 and said to the king, "May my lord not hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; may the king not bear it in mind.20 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, see, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."21 Abishai son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?"22 But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today become an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?"23 The king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king gave him his oath. 24 Mephibosheth grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety.25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"26 He answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, ‘Saddle a donkey for me, so that I may ride on it and go with the king.' For your servant is lame.27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.28 For all my father's house were doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?"29 The king said to him, "Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land."30 Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely." 31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan.32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.33 The king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side."

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Winning Friends

by
Carol Moerman


* * *

He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. (v. 14)

* * *


Abraham Lincoln once responded to his cabinet member Thaddeus Stevens' desire to "destroy" their southern enemies following the Civil War by saying, "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"

One of the darkest points in David's life had to have been his betrayal by his son Absalom. Those who had previously seemed loyal to David joined in the betrayal. Shimei cursed King David as he fled Jerusalem, pursued by his treacherous son; Ziba deceived David to enhance his own position, portraying the king's ward Mephibosheth as a traitor. In stark contrast, an old and trusted friend named Barzillai provided for David as he fled for his life. As returning king, David would have been justified in rewarding his allies and punishing his detractors. Instead, he forgave those who had wronged him and bestowed favor on all. David's actions both won over his enemies and strengthened the affection of his friends, "conquering" Israel with his conciliatory effort. "He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man" (v. 14).

How do my actions enhance or hinder reconciliation? Do I erect "monuments of bitterness" or build "bridges of love"?


Lord, enable me to be an ambassador of peace, forgiving those who have sinned against me, reconciling people to each other, as well as to you.


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Today's Words of HOPE daily meditation is available on the web at http://woh.gospelcom.net/devo/today.php

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked as NIV is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley

Sunday October 31, 2004 - Learning To Live With Life's Loads
2 Corinthians12:1-10

We don't know the nature of Paul's affliction, but it wasn't a pleasant one. Perhaps it was physical. Perhaps it was emotional. But we do know it was painful. Three times Paul went before the Lord, begging Him to take away this burden. And three times, Paul was denied.

Are there burdens and afflictions in your life? Do you wonder why you must experience them? Rest assured that if God allowed a trial in your life, you will be able to withstand it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

When we ask God to take these burdens and trials away, we must analyze our requests. Are they because we just don't want them around? Can we not go on anymore? Are our burdens simply uncomfortable?

No matter how heavy the load seems, God is there with you. He will use the burden or trial to transform you, to change you, to use you.

The answer Paul received as to why his burden wouldn't disappear was this: "'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Cor. 12:9).

In his weakness, Paul was made strong, stronger than he would've been had he not suffered. In your weakness, you also will be made strong through Him.

Moments Together for Couples by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
October 31

Good and Stressful - 2 Corinthians 11:28




Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.



We refer on more than one occasion in this book to the stressful nature of modern life. Or is it just a modern issue? It's obvious from this Scripture that Paul faced pressure, too. How was he able to bear it so well?



I've found that pressures come from two directions: What others expect of us and what we expect of ourselves. It is so easy to let yourself be driven by the agendas of other people. Externally, their voices form a deafening chorus, incessantly telling us what we ought to do. But Paul had an inner settledness that enabled him to affirm, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).



Dr. Hans Selye, a leading pioneer in the study and treatment of stress, described something called "eustress." This pressure is actually good for you. Then there is "distress"-pressures that overload your system and prey on your weakness and vulnerability.



There is no such thing as a pressure-free life. Perhaps in heaven we'll feel no pressure-only total peace and contentment. But here and now we have responsibilities, and responsibilities create pressure and stress.



We can, however, allow that pressure to point us to Jesus Christ and draw upon His strength. J. Hudson Taylor, the veteran missionary to China, said this: "It matters not how great the pressure is, only where the pressure lies. As long as the pressure does not come between me and my Savior, but presses me to Him, then the greater the pressure, the greater my dependence upon Him."



Spiritually, what is pressure doing to you? If you and God are not as close as you used to be, then don't be deceived about who moved!



Prayer: That the Lord as "God Almighty" will strengthen your ability to eliminate unnecessary stress and empower you to turn remaining stress into positive forces that press you against Him.

Discuss: Evaluate with your spouse how you handle pressure. Discuss how you'd like to handle it.

EFFECTIVE PRAYING
By Gail Rodgers

We sat around our backyard fire. As we watched the stars come out, we talked with our friend Jerry about how to *live *our faith *on a day-to-day basis. We had many conversations like this-- looking at what the Bible says about things like business ethics, raising kids, and dealing with church politics or prickly people. This night, as he often did, Jerry said, "It really all comes down to abiding."

I still keep coming back to that. It truly is the answer to walking out our Christian faith where the rubber meets the road...and it affects our praying.

John 15 describes so well the picture of what abiding is. The picture is clear of the branch attached to the vine and producing much sweet fruit.

Jesus explains the picture and reminds us that He is the vine and we are the branches. It is only when the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us that we are able to touch lives with His love. A life changed by Jesus' love is the fruit produced. Apart from Him we are able to do nothing of any eternal value.

Then Jesus goes on to say something truly amazing...

"If you remain (abide) in me and my words remain (abide) in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7 & 8).

Suddenly it is very clear. My abiding in Christ will even affect my prayers. In the original Greek this word "abide" means to "continue to be present."

* If I "continue to be present" with Christ and make time in His presence a priority, I abide in Him. As I seek Him throughout my day, in each decision I encounter, I abide in Him.

* If I let His Words of truth from the Bible "continue to be present" in my life, applying them to my heart and my actions, then His words abide in me.... and even my prayers will be effective.

This, in turn, will make my God renowned. It will show the world around me just who my God is and others will be drawn to Him.

When God's Word is a continuing presence in my life, guiding my thoughts, actions and attitudes, then my prayers will be different from the self-centered requests I often beg God for. The results will be for eternity.

Our fulfillment in this life comes as we bear fruit for the next life. Keep God's Word central in your heart and in your life. Let His words "continue to be present" as you walk out your faith in front of a world that needs to know "who my God is!"

~ Father God,

Fan the desire in my heart to read Your Word. Make it clear to me so it will guide my thoughts and my actions. Reveal to me the treasures in Your Word. Cause me to pursue it more than silver or gold or any other thing, for Your words are life to my soul. In Jesus' strong name I pray, amen.

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe.
www.liveprayer.com/signup.htm


DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2004
(Ezekiel 3:17, 33:6)

***A CALL TO PRAYER! In 2000, Liveprayer mobilized over 1.5 million people to pray for the elections and that God would allow to rise to power men and women who would follow His heart. Over 3 million prayed and fasted 40 days for our nation and its leaders earlier this year. I am calling on everyone who is part of the Liveprayer family to pray and fast as led today that God will bring men and women into office who will uphold Biblical standards as they lead our nation. May we repent of our gross wickedness, turn from our sins, and once again turn back to God before He completely removes His hand of blessing from our land and we suffer His wrath.

***SPECIAL ELECTION DEVOTIONAL! Do not miss the Daily Devotional on
Tuesday which will be a special "word" for our nation!!!


Leadership, political versus spiritual. Last year, California got a new governor, Governor Arnold. Many people in that great state are hoping that Gov. Schwarzenegger will prove be a better leader than Gov. Davis. While I pray that Gov. Schwarzenegger will do a good job for the people in the state of California, I want to use this time today to help you understand the difference between political leaders and spiritual leaders.

Let me make two statements to set the tone for this Devotional today.
First, if you are looking to political leaders for spiritual leadership, you are doomed. Second, the problems that we have in our nation today, are spiritual problems and the result of a void of spiritual leadership.

In the Old Testament, there were the political leaders, the kings, and the spiritual leaders, the priests. These were two very separate offices with two very separate roles to play. The king was the political leader of the people, analogous in our society to the President. The priest was the spiritual leader of the people, which would be the same as the pastor of a local church. God clearly established these as two separate offices. The governing of a nation and the shepherding of the spiritual lives of people are two separate and distinct roles.

***THE ONLY ONE GOD CALLED TO BE BOTH PRIEST AND KING WAS JESUS CHRIST!!!

For some reason, many people in our nation look to our politicians for spiritual leadership. These men and women are NOT in office to provide spiritual leadership to the nation, but are there to govern our nation. It is a great blessing to have political leaders that have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and try to live their lives in accordance with God's Word, but we can never expect them to be spiritual leaders, that is NOT their role.

Let me say something that is going to make some people angry, but it is a critical point that you MUST understand. George W. Bush, our current President, is NOT the spiritual leader of this nation. I know from personal contact that President Bush has a very real and vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but he is the political leader of our nation, NOT our spiritual leader.

<Let me note that there are times when God WILL call upon a political leader to take a spiritual leadership role on certain issues, especially when the spiritual leaders have failed.>

The role of spiritual leadership is one that God has given to those men and women He has called into His service. I want to tell you today that the problems we have in this nation today are NOT the fault of the political leaders, but are the fault of the spiritual leaders. The void of spiritual leadership in this nation is directly responsible for the state of the culture and society that we are living in today.

Today's spiritual leaders hide behind the four walls of their churches where it is safe, and they preach their message to the choir through the Christian media where it is profitable. There is now a large percentage of two full generations in our nation that have never been to church. The fastest growing religious movements in this nation today are the cults and false religions of the world because they are bold enough to take their lies that are straight from the pits of hell, directly to the people the church ignores. Every day, more and more people are dying and going to hell, and God is going to hold accountable those He has called into spiritual leadership.

I love you and care about you so much. We are at a critical time in our nation. There are more churches, more ministries, and more resources than ever before. The paradox is at the same time we have more people living their lives void of God and a society operating in total rebellion to God's Word. The blame has to fall squarely on those God has called into spiritual leadership. Contrary to popular belief, this is no longer a Christian nation. 50 years ago it was assumed most people were Christians. That is no longer the case.

***We have got to understand that this is a war my friend, a war for the eternal souls of people. You simply can't open the doors of the church on Sunday morning and expect the people to come. Most people don't go to church and they never have, so why should they come? You can't put a program on Christian TV and radio and expect people to tune in. There are 100's of stations to choose from, so why would they want to listen?

That is why God will raise up in these last days, NEW SPIRITUAL LEADERS.
Men and women with the guts to stand toe to toe with the world regardless of the consequences. Men and women that can operate on a street corner just as effectively as they can behind a pulpit. Men and women that will take the truth of God's Word, the hope and love of Christ to the people thru the same delivery methods the world uses to take its lies to the people. Men and women that are not ashamed of the Gospel and are not worried about being politically correct. Men and women that are not here to be served but have come to serve others. MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAN THEIR OWN KINGDOMS USING GOD'S NAME!!!

I pray today that you will not put your hopes in a politician when it comes to spiritual matters. That is not their role. I pray that you will find Godly men and women that He has called to lead the people in these final days. God always has a remnant, both of people and leaders. As these final days wind down, those true leaders will rise up and you will know who they are because you won't be able to miss them. They won't be hiding in a church, or secluded on the Christian media, but they will be visible in this world we live in.

The world will scoff at what they have to say, they will be persecuted for their bold stand for Christ, but God will have His hand on them and their message will be heard by the masses. They will boldly declare to this lost, hurting, and dying world the TRUTH of God's Word, that Jesus Christ is the "way, the truth, and the life," and that He is the only answer for this world and each person.


In his love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

NOVEMBER 1

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version is taken from Psalm 103:2; Psalm 103:10-13; and Psalm 103:17.

Monday - November 1, 2004

--- Deuteronomy 7:12 --------------------------------------------------

12 If you heed these ordinances, by diligently observing them, the Lord your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors.

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Courage of Our Convictions

by
Kendall J. Wingrove


* * *

The Lord your God will keep his covenant with you, as he swore to your forefathers (niv)

* * *


Elections are important because a dedicated public servant can make an impact. As a congressman, John Quincy Adams battled pro-slavery factions in the House of Representatives during the 1840s. To halt discussion on the divisive issue, they passed a series of resolutions that stopped free speech and squelched the right of any citizen to petition the government. The most notorious of these measures became known as the Gag Rule.

For many years, Adams debated House slaveholders and their supporters in one parliamentary battle after another. He continued despite verbal attacks and death threats. His brilliant defense of free speech and constitutional rights earned him the nickname "Old Man Eloquent."

Thanks to his persistence, support for the Gag Rule faded in 1845, and Adams' motion to rescind it was approved. "Blessed, ever blessed be the name of God," he wrote in his diary that night.

Adams' guiding star was the principle of Puritan statesmanship his father had laid down many years before: "The magistrate is the servant not of his own desires, not even of the people, but of his God."


God, give us courage to stand up for what is just, no matter how long it takes.

November 3, 2004


My Friend,

"I have prayed this prayer..please send me information to help me win my new life with Christ." THIS IS ONE OF THREE HUNDRED SALVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OVER NIGHT FROM THE INVITATION IN THE WEDNESDAY DEVOTIONAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE SO WE COULD BE HERE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE WORLD!!!

***I deeply appreciate those who sacrifice their time praying for me and Liveprayer, and those who God has led to sacrifice some of their resources to support the work here. God is moving in a powerful way here at Liveprayer and YOU make it all possible. I could not be here doing what God has called me to do without you. Thank you for caring!

The Bible is full of accounts of people who made sacrifices in their life to give someone the hope that only exists in Christ. God has moved on the hearts of billions of people over these past 2000 years to sacrifice what they had so the Gospel could be heard by others. Over the past 62 months, thousands have made great sacrifices to make it possible for Liveprayer to share the hope and love of Jesus with millions worldwide literally 24/7 here on the Internet as well as on secular television. These are people who gave of what they had so that the message of Christ could be heard by others.

As we begin our 63rd month of ministry here at Liveprayer, I am coming to you to first thank you for the sacrifice you have made to help further the work of God here and to ask you to take a moment and pray about what sacrifice you can make to help me. For some of you, it may be sacrificing a dinner out. For others, it may be sacrificing something you have been wanting to buy like a new TV or stereo. For others, it may be sacrificing lunch one day a week. The goal is to pray, ask God what He is calling YOU to sacrifice, and take that money that represents your sacrifice and send it as a gift to support God's work here at Liveprayer.

Every day, Liveprayer is reaching people through the Internet and through secular television that will never go to church, will never turn on Christian TV or radio, listen to Christian music, or buy Christian books.
They are simply living life without the hope of Christ in their hearts.
Those are the people we target and go after. Those are the people we are reaching every day. It is the love, prayers, and sacrificial gifts from friends like you that make it possible for us to do that.

It takes $30,000 a month to run the Liveprayer.com Internet Ministry, and $40,000 a month to run the Liveprayer Television Ministry. The $30,000 a month for the internet operations comes from the 2-3 appeals I make each month, as people faithfully give to support the work here. The $40,000 for the television ministry has been given each of the 20 months so far by key people that have seen the vision of putting God on regular commercial television to tell this lost and hurting world there is a better answer!

As we get into our 63rd month, I simply ask you to take a moment, pray, and ask God what He would have you do to help me this month. I only ask that you are obedient, give according to your ability to give, and give what God is asking you to give. If it is $20 or $50, fine. If it is $100 or $250, fine. If it is $500, $1,000, $5,000 or the entire $30,000, fine. God may be asking you to sponsor one week of the TV program for $10,000. All I ask is that you pray and are obedient to give what God is asking you to give today.

IT HAS BEEN THE SACRIFICIAL GIFTS OF THOSE DURING THE PAST 62 MONTHS THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE HERE FOR SO MANY. IT WILL BE YOUR SACRIFICIAL GIFT TODAY THAT WILL INSURE THAT WE ARE HERE FOR ALL THOSE WORLDWIDE WE WILL BE
REACHING IN THE FUTURE. SO GIVE YOUR VERY BEST GIFT TODAY!

You can make a gift to Liveprayer on your major credit card at our website www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" button, or you can give from your PayPal account by using my email address, bkeller@liveprayer.com , or you can mail a gift to:
Liveprayer
6660 46th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33709
All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.

Again, thank you for your sacrifice. In those first 62 months, over 90,000 that we know of accepted Christ as their Savior, we have archived over 1,400,000 praise reports. THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS IMPACTED FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE OF YOUR SACRIFICE!

Together, we are making a difference for the Kingdom of God. The exciting thing is that we are just scratching the surface of those we can reach. The time is now, the hour has come, and we are here to be a bold and visible voice to this lost and hurting world that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings!!! Will you stand with me??? Make your sacrifice today to help further God's work here at Liveprayer!!!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe.
www.liveprayer.com/signup.htm


DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2004
(Romans 14:12, Jeremiah 31:30, Ezekiel 18:20)


***CLARIFICATION AND APOLOGY: In the Tuesday Devotional, I spoke of many churches, especially mainline denominations that do not hold the Bible to be God's inspired, inerrant Word and accept sin like abortion and homosexuality. To be fair, there are many United Methodist churches and branches of the Presbyterian and Lutheran church that do uphold God's Word and have not bowed their knee to Baal. To those faithful pastors and members I apologize. However, the fact remains that over 50% of the church population in this nation do attend churches that have compromised the truth of God's Word

***PRESIDENTIAL PROPHECY. I have not publicly commented since March on what God told me about the Presidential election that caused so much controversy.
Don't miss the Thursday Devotional when I will make my only comments on the prophecy God gave me and wrap up the elections.


The "sex spirit." This is the spirit that is responsible for fornication, adultery, lust, homosexuality, and every other sexual sin. After all, we know there has to be some reason so many people commit sexual sin and the "sex spirit" is the answer. Since sexual sin is something almost everyone fights at some point in their life, I should actually write a book about the "sex spirit." It would sell millions of copies worldwide to people who are Christians as well as to those who are not. It would actually be a best seller in the homosexual community and to others who have rejected God's plan for sex since it would explain their actions. I could actually take a few verses here and a few verses there to even make a Biblical case for the "sex spirit."

However, there is only one small problem, THERE IS NO SUCH THING!!! I am sorry to have to tell you this, but there is NO "sex spirit." It doesn't exist. Oh trust me, I know people want it to exist. They want something to blame their sinful behavior on and blaming it on a "sex spirit" would be perfect. You see, if there really was a "sex spirit," then you don't have to take responsibility for YOUR CHOICES since it wasn't you, it was the "sex spirit" that made you do it.

When you read the Bible cover to cover, one of the things you understand is that the Bible is a book of personal responsibility. We are personally responsible for the choices we make in our life. Blaming someone or something else doesn't work! Ever since man committed the very first sin in the Garden of Eden, he has been trying to blame his sin on someone or something else. Look at Adam. When confronted with his sin by God what did he do? HE BLAMED GOAD AND EVE!!! Like I say so often, we have not changed one bit since the Garden. But God was not interested in Adam's excuse and God is not interested in your excuse either.

I'm not sure if you noticed lately, but God is one smart guy. You see, God gave us something called "free will." Free will means we are NOT pre-programmed robots, but have the ability to make our own choices throughout our life. The upside to this is that we can choose to do whatever we want. If you want to be an Adolph Hitler and commit your life to destroying lives and killing millions of people, you can do it. If you want to be a Billy Graham and commit your life to preaching the Gospel to the world and be used by God to bring millions to know Christ as their Savior, you can do it. Free will means you have the ability to choose to do whatever you want.

Because God gave man free will, it also means that we are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for the choices that we make. Now I understand in today's society accepting personal responsibility is not popular. We have to always find a "reason" why people do the things they do. Children that are hyperactive, have way too much energy, who act like children should are now told they have ADD or ADHD. While in a percentage of cases there may be a medical issue that exists, in most cases it is simply an excuse for children that have not been properly disciplined or are simply just being kids.

No place do we see people making excuses for their choices more than in the criminal justice system. It is the job of well paid defense lawyers to dream up excuses to explain away a person's criminal actions. They have come up with every reason you can imagine to explain why a person who committed a crime was not really responsible for their actions. This mentality has permeated to every part of our society, and finding reasons to explain why people are not responsible for the choices they make has become an art.

Let me make sure you understand, this may work in the world in which we live, but it doesn't work with God. God has given us free will to make our own choices, but along with that freedom, comes the responsibility for whatever choices we make. God is not interested in your excuse why you sinned, only in you taking responsibility for that sin. He has even given us a wonderful promise in 1 John 1:9 that tells us, if we will confess our sins, take personal responsibility for our sins, He will not only forgive us but cleanse us from all unrighteousness. All God wants us to do is to be honest, not make excuses, and take personal responsibility for the choices we make.

I love you and care about you so much. I am sorry that there is no "sex spirit," or anything else you can blame for sin in that area. God has given us the choice to either obey Him, or disobey Him. When we choose to disobey Him, it was not another person, a "spirit," or anything else we can blame.
It was OUR CHOICE. I will be praying for you today, praying that you will realize that you have got to be responsible for whatever choices you make in this life. You, and you alone made those choices, and you, and you alone have to be responsible for the choices you make.

This is why the moment we die and stand before God, there is only one question He is going to ask us. It is not what day of the week we went to church. It is not the name of the building we choose to worship Him in. It is not how successful you may have been in this life. No my friend, the only question God is going to ask you is, "do you have a personal relationship by faith with my Son Jesus." You either do, or you don't. If you do, God will welcome you into His presence for eternity. If you don't, you will be eternally separated from God your Creator. Period.

If you don't, God is NOT going to be interested in any of your excuses.
"Jim and Tammy had an air conditioned dog house." "The pastor in my church ran off with the choir director." "Somebody was mean to me at church."
"Christians are hypocrites." "I don't like Bill Keller." "All they care about is money." " I was a good person." "The Bible was written by mere
men." "My dog ate my homework." No, God is not going to be interested in
hearing any of your excuses for why you rejected Jesus Christ as your Savior. That is a personal decision each person must make in this life, and each person will be held responsible by God for eternity for that decision.

If you have not made the decision to accept Christ into your heart and life by faith, the Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. I would invite
you to go to, www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html . Pray to ask God to
open your heart, read the words, pray the prayer, and accept today God's gift to you of everlasting life through His son Jesus Christ.


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

NOVEMBER 3

..for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version is taken from Proverbs 8:11; James 1:5; and James 3:17.

Wednesday - November 3, 2004

--- Mark 1:1-15; Luke 9:1-2 -------------------------------------------

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,' "
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their
sins.6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you withthe Holy Spirit."

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."


1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

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The Kingdom Has Come Near!

by
Bryant Mathews


* * *

Jesus came to Galilee . . . saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
(Mark 1:15)

* * *


What was Jesus' purpose in life and death? How would you summarize it in a single phrase? Maybe you would say that he came to save us, or to give us eternal life, or to forgive our sins. These things are, no doubt, gloriously true, but if we look to the words of Jesus himself, a different answer turns up again and again.

As he traveled around first-century Israel, Jesus repeatedly declared, in word and especially in deed, that the kingdom of God was now at hand.

What did Jesus mean by this "kingdom"? Why did he choose to describe his mission in this strange way? And why did some people get so excited (and others so irritated) about it? Even more importantly, what does it mean for our world today?

To find answers to these questions, to know what Jesus was really about, we need to see the world and its people as he saw them. Join us this month as we look carefully at three remarkable scenes: first, the story of God's kingdom; second, the family God has called into existence as subjects of his kingdom; and third, the kingdom tasks which God has solemnly entrusted to his people.


Lord, make us part of your everlasting kingdom!

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2004
(Exodus 32:9-14 )

"I have clearly stated in the past that the penalty for a false prophet is to be stoned to death. I support that standard and am willing....... The fact is, God is NEVER WRONG........I will make NO EXCUSES." words of Bill Keller from the Daily Devotional on March 10, 2004 in reference to Presidential Prophecy given on March 8, 2004.



For the past 14 years that I have been in full time ministry, I have come to appreciate that the only thing I have to offer is my credibility, and I can insure that by sharing with you the absolute truth of God's Word each day.
Every morning since August 31, 1999, I have written this Daily Devotional.
At first it only went to a few people, today, there are over 2 million people worldwide who subscribe and well over a million more who read it through forwards and on various websites we allow to post it. It is an awesome responsibility that God has given me to share the hope and love of Christ with such a vast audience each day, and nobody but my wife and God will ever know how serious I take that responsibility as I give all that I have every single day to His work. THE ETERNAL SOULS OF PEOPLE ARE AT STAKE.

One of the commitments I made from day one was to never lose the pulse, the heartbeat of those I minister to. That is why everyday, faithfully, I personally respond to app. 150 emails of the 40,000+ we receive, and at least 150 more from those I have corresponded with in the past. God has not given me this wonderful opportunity so that I could sit back and be served, but has allowed me to do the greatest thing any person can do with their life, serve others.

To do what I do each day, requires me to spend many hours everyday in prayer, in God's Word, and in doing my very best to hear His voice so that I can be the most effective servant possible. God speaks to me EVERYDAY, and if He is not speaking to you that is simply because you are not taking the time to speak to Him. Have I ever heard God wrong? Absolutely, often. I don't ever take lightly the responsibility of sharing the things I hear God asking me to share with you. It is a fearful task to allow God to speak through me to you and millions worldwide each day. But it is a task I do to the best of my ability and have for the last 1900 days, trying to reach, inspire, and encourage the hearts of men and women of all ages for the Lord.

Back in March, I clearly was hearing God's voice as He spoke to me about this recent Presidential election and that President Bush would not be re-elected and why. I come to you this morning to ask your forgiveness.
God is never wrong, I clearly was. Being wrong does not upset me since I am wrong about things everyday. However, I take what I do for the Lord each day very seriously and spent these past 62 months building a level of trust and credibility with you. I have already spent time with the Lord asking His forgiveness and now come to ask you to forgive me.

I realize that some people will simply write me off as a false prophet, dismissing
62+ months of sharing Christ with millions worldwide daily. I can't
doanything
about that, just like I can't do anything about people who get upset most days
about something I have written. My biggest concern is that people
will not lose faith in the power of God just because I missed hearing from Him about the outcome of the election. The greatest fear I have each day is doing anything to harm the cause of Christ. I have refused the temptation to sell out the Gospel, have done my best to be a credible representative of our Lord, and can only ask that you forgive me for being wrong about the election.

It has been a bit amusing reading the emails I have received about the election so far.
They are running about 50/50. Half of the people were those enraged last March and have been patiently waiting since that time to participate in stoning me. I gave those people my office address and let them know I am more than willing to receive that just punishment.The other half want to know how much the Republican Party paid me to stir up those who read Liveprayer and get them out to vote for President Bush which is laughable because I have never, nor ever will endorse a political candidate.
The nastiest emails were the ones that poured in early in the evening saying that if Kerry wins it didn't mean I was right, just made a lucky guess and I was going to be held responsible for President Bush losing. I realized at that point people were going to blame me no matter what the outcome. But that is OK. I surely don't write what God tells me to each day to please man, only Him.

What was glaring to me in all of the emails however, was the fact that for every one email about the election, there were 99 from people just like you who were dealing with financial problems, divorce, health issues, a bondage to some sin, needing a job, and the entire spectrum of real life needs that we deal with every single day here at Liveprayer. Tuesday evening as I was watching the election returns, I was on the phone several times during the evening with people who were facing some sort of crisis in their life.
While I know the election was a big issue in many peoples lives, for most people their reality is not what is happening in Washington but the crisis they are facing in their life. I have been grateful to God all day that He has raised up this ministry to be there for them in their hour of need.

As only God could orchestrate, the TV program on Tuesday night was one of the most powerful ever. Again, the calls were not about the elation, but the needs people were facing in their life. Halfway through the program, a man who had been separated from his wife for 4 years broke down and gave his heart and life to Christ right on live television. In the Daily Devotional for Wednesday, I shared an invitation to know Christ as I do several times each month. Over 300 people we know of responded to that invitation. No matter what the real life issues of the day may be, seeing people won to Christ has always been and will always be my number one focus. As anxious as I am to see Jesus, I pray that God will give me many more days to share His hope and love with the lost and hurting in this world.

I love you and care about you so much. I pray today that whoever you voted for for President and other offices, you are be proud of yourself for being a good citizen and exercising your right to vote whether the person you voted for won or not. Remember the Bible teaches us that it is God who allows men to rise to power. It is no accident or coincidence those who won did. God has put them into office. Our responsibility is to pray for them, pray that they will look to God and His Word in leading our great nation.

My greatest fear is that many Christians will now sit back and think that they don't have to do anything for the next 4 years. *Make no mistake, it was the votes of Bible-believing Christians that was the difference in this election!!! Listen my friend, as I clearly shared with you Monday, if you are looking to political leaders for spiritual leadership you are in huge trouble. We have to press our politicians on those spiritual issues that are also political issues, but it is up to the spiritual leaders of this nation to lead the people in righteousness and Biblical values. I pray that the people of God will realize that we have a much friendlier environment to work in for the next 4 years and take full advantage of it.

The reality is the Federal Government is still in the business of slaughtering millions of babies every year. We still have a strong movement to destroy God's Holy Institution of Marriage and the family. We are moving ever closer to having the Bible itself deemed as hate speech. These issues are still as real today as they were yesterday and since they are also political issues, must continue to be dealt with. I pray that President Bush will realize God has given him 4 more years in office, not to mention a Republican Senate and House, and that he will be bold in moving on these key spiritual issues.

May God bless President Bush and all of our leaders. May He continue to be merciful to the United States that has turned its back on Him. May those who call themselves followers of Christ realize that the time is short and we must be found faithful in serving our Lord until that moment when the trump sounds and our Lord returns! Thank you for your love, your support, and your prayers as we stand together to take Christ to the hurting and lost in the world.


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com

MAKING ME LIE DOWN
By Doris Beck

God had brought my husband and me to a special place, a bed and breakfast on the shores of the Guadalupe River in Texas. After 30 years in ministry, we were on sabbatical, taking as a good friend put it, our jubilee time!

In my study of the Psalms, I was at Psalm 23 that morning. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul."

Suddenly that word picture became very clear to me. Here I sat, in a rocking chair on the porch, looking across the meadow down to the river. God wanted me to sit still long enough to restore my soul!

I am a person who is always doing something or several things at once, often too busy to allow God my shepherd to lead me to those quiet waters where He wants to make me lie down. Instead, I kick and squirm much like a small child being led to bed for a much-needed nap.

"Not yet, Lord. There are things to do, needs to be met, promises to keep. I don't have time to lie down."

"Trust me my child, I know what's best," He replies.

I knew that He had brought me to this place, for such a time as this. Will you allow Him today to lead you to such a place of quiet rest, so that He can restore your soul?

Thank You, Lord, that You, my loving shepherd, know me best! You know my needs better than I myself know them. Thank You for today's green pastures and quiet waters. And thank You most of all for loving me enough to restore my soul today. Help me not to fight, but to just rest. Amen.

Thursday - November 4, 2004

--- Genesis 1:4-31; Luke 19:33-40 -------------------------------------

4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.8 God called the dome Sky.
And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.11 Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so.12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it.
And God saw that it was good.13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years,15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so.16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth,18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the
sky."21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every
kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so.25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"34 They said, "The Lord needs it."35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

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The Creator King

by
Bryant Mathews


* * *

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38)

* * *


God makes his first appearance as King in the first chapter of the Bible. There, we find him first exercising his creative authority and then delegating it. He begins by separating light from darkness, sky from sea, and land from water. Then, he provides rulers for each realm, climaxing in humankind, who are given authority over all of creation. They must "fill the earth and subdue it," joyfully continuing the creative process in accordance with God's will.

When a king delegates authority over a territory to a governor, he expects the governor to faithfully represent and execute his will.
But what if the governor refuses to submit to the king? The king has two clear choices: either surrender the territory, or replace that governor with another.

God found a third way of dealing with his failed, rebellious human "governors" of earth: he became one of them and then ruled faithfully on their behalf. When a certain man traveled about first-century Israel proclaiming that God was personally taking charge again, and then rode into Jerusalem past cheering crowds as if he himself were about to claim the throne, he wasn't getting things mixed up in his head. That was precisely what was happening!


Thank you, King Jesus, for coming to deliver us from evil and bring us under your saving rule.

NOVEMBER 4

"The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."

"'I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.'"


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version is taken from Psalm 102:19,20; and Ezekiel 34:15,16,31.

NOVEMBER 5

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version is taken from Matthew 23:12; and James 4:6,7,10.

Friday - November 5, 2004

--- Isaiah 49:5-7; John 1:1-5 -----------------------------------------

5 And now the Lord says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—
6 he says,
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
7 Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

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A Light to the Nations

by
Bryant Mathews


* * *

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isa. 49:6)

* * *


Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea after all. The children had wandered into the cave while the sun was still shining, but as it grew dark, they could no longer find their way out! After some hopeless stumbling around, one boy suddenly remembered his father's wise instructions: "If you ever get lost in the dark, light one of these matches." A reach into his pocket, a swift flick of the wrist, and the cave walls were aglow. His friends, seeing the light, followed him to safety.

When Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, his listeners knew they were no ordinary people. Israel's Scriptures revealed a persistent, though oft-neglected, theme that they existed for a purpose greater than themselves. God told Abraham, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3). Isaiah declared the same, that Israel was to be a "light to the nations" (Isa. 49:6). Surely when Israel's God came in person to rule, that would usher in the great age when Israel would truly accomplish her special vocation. That's just what John had in mind when he wrote of Jesus, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:5).


Father, may the same light shine through us today.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2004
(Galatians 5:1)

***WOW!!! That is all I can say. I am truly humbled by the incredible outpouring of love and forgiveness from literally hundreds of thousands of
people in the past day. I really have no other words but thank you. I was
so encouraged to read how many people woke up and became motivated by what I shared last March, read and were challenged by the various Devotionals on the election and our nation in the past year, how many were serious enough to join in the 40 days of prayer, fasting, and repentance for our nation last May, as well as the prayer effort prior to the election. I pledge to continue to do my very best each day to share with you what the Holy Spirit has led me to write to convict you, challenge you, and inspire you in your daily walk with the Lord in addition to being here to pray with you and for you in your time of need. God bless you!

***DO NOT MISS THE MONDAY DEVOTIONAL, "God's Reprieve for the United States." It is a message EVERY person needs to read.



Shopping can be an addiction. I have dealt many times with addiction problems. Most think of those fighting addictions as people who are prowling around seedy adult sex shops late at night, meeting scary people who have sold out to satan and sell drugs, slipping into a neighborhood bar after work and having your "normal" 4-5 drinks before going home, just to mention a few.

In past Devotionals, I have tried to help you understand that ANYTHING can be an addiction. One of the most common battles many fight daily is an addiction to food. But today, I want to expose another addiction that MANY of you are battling each day that is RARELY talked about, SHOPPING.

First, an addiction is something that consumes your life. It takes over and becomes your number one priority. It destroys your personal relationships.
Worst of all, it destroys your relationship with God. Whenever you allow ANYTHING to take over your life to the point that it is interfering with your walk with God, when God is no longer your number one priority, IT IS A SIN. It is something that you must deal with immediately before it totally destroys your life.

Shopping is legal. It is not like doing cocaine which is not. Shopping is actually a necessary part of life, just like eating is. However, many have found their "escape" in shopping. Just like some will come home and have 2..3..4..5..6..drinks in the evening to "escape," many will shop to escape.
One of the growing problems that I have had to deal with over these past
5 years is the number of people who are addicted to Home Shopping and other 24-hour TV shopping channels.

I am NOT going to sit here and tell you that they are evil, that they equate with TV pornography, that is clearly NOT the case. However, for many, the addiction is just as real, and just as powerful, as someone who sits at home and watches pornography on their TV. It is an "escape" from reality.

The worst thing about "escapes" is that they ALWAYS compound the problems that a person is "escaping" from. People spend thousands on pornography, catch sexually transmitted diseases, get caught and destroy their marriages and families. People who use drugs and alcohol not only pay a huge price by driving under the influence, but they are destroying their health, and numbing themselves from being able to function at 100% efficiency in their daily lives. Those who are addicted to shopping ultimately end up spending thousands, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in many cases destroy their finances over this addiction. THERE IS ALWAYS A HUGE PRICE TO PAY WHEN YOU TRY TO "ESCAPE!!!"

I love you and care about you so much. Sadly, this is a HUGE issued that many are fighting today. Please know that I will be praying for you in this battle. Like ALL addiction battles, you can only attain victory after you first turn it over to the Lord. God will help you devise a battle plan, God will give you people that will walk through this with you to hold you accountable, and most of all, God will give you the strength each day to walk victoriously. This has been one of those silent issues that few will ever talk about, but it is time to pull back the curtain and expose this problem that many are fighting today. Above all, know that God loves you, and that God will lead you to victory when YOU are ready to fight this battle.

The key however is that first step. I don't care what your battle is.
Whether it is with drugs, alcohol, sex, food, OR SHOPPING. The first step is for you to admit that you have a problem. Being addicted to shopping is no different than any other addiction. You have to admit that this is a problem in your life and ask God to help you get victory over it. Please know that I will be praying for you today. I will be praying that God will not only give you the courage to admit this problem in your life, but that you will allow Him to guide you to victory. Never forget, with God..ALL THINGS...are possible. Even victory over an addiction to shopping.

***GOD MAY BE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT YOU WILL EVER HEAR AT CHURCH, BUT YOU KNOW HOW DESTRUCTIVE IT IS IN YOUR LIFE. ACCEPT THAT GOD IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU, TELLING YOU THAT THESE ARE WORDS OF LOVE, THAT HE KNOWS THE PAIN YOU ARE IN OVER THIS ISSUE.

TODAY, NOW, IS THE TIME TO GO TO YOUR KNEES, ASK HIS FORGIVENESS, AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING VICTORY OVER THIS PROBLEM IN YOUR LIFE. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH, AND I WILL BE STANDING WITH YOU IN PRAYER. MAY YOU BE FREE OF THIS BONDAGE IN YOUR LIFE, IN THE NAME OF JESUS!!!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ
Bill Keller

Secret death

Romans 6:1-14
"Because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (v.7)

We are seeing that "goodness" is essential goodness -- goodness in the inner parts. William Sangster, in my view, comes closest to grasping the content of this sixth fruit of the Spirit when he says: "Goodness is the impression a Christian makes as he moves on his way, blissfully unaware that he is reminding people of Jesus Christ." Perhaps we can get no nearer to a definition of supernatural goodness than that -- reminding people of Jesus Christ. But note the words -- "blissfully unaware ..." A Christian is largely unconscious of this fruit at work within him, for it is not something he tries to manufacture but something that flows out of his deep relationship with Jesus Christ.


George Muller of Bristol, the man who cared for so many stranded orphans, was said to demonstrate the fruit of "goodness" to a remarkable degree. Dr. A. T. Pierson says in his biography of the great man that one day, Muller was pressed to share what he considered to be the power behind his ministry, and he surprised his questioner by talking about his secret death. "There was a day," he said, "when I died; utterly died" -- and as he spoke, he bent lower until he almost touched the floor. He continued: "I died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved of God." In those who manifest the fruit of goodness, one thing is always clear -- they have "died" to their own interests and have returned to "live" for Christ's. </FONT>



Prayer: Gracious and loving Father, help me also to "die" to my own interests so that I might return and live for Your interests. Whatever I need to bring me to this place, lead me toward it -- today. In Christ's Name I ask it. Amen.

For Further Study
Gal. 2:1-20; 2 Tim. 2:11; Col. 2:20, 3:3
1. What was Paul's testimony?
2. Why did he have to admonish the Colossians?

CARELIFT
By Vonette Bright

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'" (Matthew 19:26).

Have you ever been asked to do the impossible? Not the difficult.

I mean the impossible.


Several years ago, Campus Crusade for Christ staff member Josh McDowell faced an impossible situation.The Soviet Union had just collapsed. Their economy was in shambles. And Josh was asked to help bring desperately needed medicine to seven pediatric hospitals in Moscow.


Josh saw it as a chance to prove the integrity of the Christian witness. * So he and his staff jumped at the opportunity. But they needed 40 volunteers, 70 tons of food and medical supplies, and 6,000 teddy bears. AND they needed it all in LESS than TWO MONTHS!


Impossible? Not for God.He raised more than four times everything they needed! And, as a result, thousands of lives were changed.

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily word. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe. www.liveprayer.com/signup.htm



DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2004
(Genesis 18:32, Exodus 32:14, Jonah 3:10)

***WOW!!! That is all I can say. I am truly humbled by the incredible outpouring of love and forgiveness from literally hundreds of thousands of
people in the past day. I really have no other words but thank you. I was
so encouraged to read how many people woke up and became motivated by what I shared last March, read and were challenged by the various Devotionals on the election and our nation in the past year, how many were serious enough to join in the 40 days of prayer, fasting, and repentance for our nation last May, as well as the prayer effort prior to the election. I pledge to continue to do my very best each day to share with you what the Holy Spirit has led me to write to convict you, challenge you, and inspire you in your daily walk with the Lord in addition to being here to pray with you and for you in your time of need. God bless you.


"Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."" (Genesis 18:32 NIV)

***GOD HEARD the cries of His children. For everyone who was part of the 3 million plus people worldwide we assembled through Liveprayer in the last few weeks to pray for the election, I have no doubt God heard and honored the prayers of His people. Thank you for being part of this great effort. PRAYER WORKS!!!

God's reprieve for the United States. It has been interesting watching the post election coverage over the past couple of days, watching the talking heads trying to explain why President Bush won. Most touched on the real reason, but none really had the understanding to state it clearly. Let me do that here today. GOD'S PEOPLE PRAYED, GOD'S PEOPLE VOTED, AND GOD ANSWERED THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE. Period. The difference in this election was those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior prayed and voted. God has given the United States a reprieve and now we must take full advantage of this brief window of opportunity.

One of the points I have made time and time again over the past 5 years is the power of God's people when they come together "all in one accord." When the people of God come together in one heart and one accord, you will always see the power of God move. GOD DOES HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE! I share with people all the time that the power of Liveprayer, both here on the Internet and on the TV program on secular television, is the unseen army of prayer warriors that pray every day for me, the staff, and the needs of those who contact us for prayer. There is no power greater than when the people of God come together in prayer!!! The power of prayer is multiplied exponentially when God's people are praying together!!!

That was evident earlier this year in Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion." It was the prayers and response of the Christian church that made that movie the worldwide success it became. While the political pundits can sit there and try to explain this past election, it simply boiled down to the fact that those people who know Christ as their Savior got serious, prayed, and voted. While the United States is no longer a Christian nation in regard to the majority of the people being Christians, God still has a might army that when motivated can not only turn this nation upside down, but the world as well.

I pray today that you realize what has happened. God has given this nation a reprieve. He has given us an opportunity to turn this nation back to God as well as to keep sharing with the rest of the world the hope and love of Christ. We have a short four-year window and we simply cannot waste one precious day. The natural response now is to sit back and take it easy, thinking we did our part. WRONG! All we did is earn from God an opportunity to try and turn this nation and the entire world back to Him. NOW is the time the real work has to begin. Just like it took each one of us working together to get this opportunity, it is going to take each one of us working together to take advantage of it.

The key issues here at home that MUST be dealt with are upholding God's Holy Institution of Marriage, helping to stop the decay of God's plan for the family which is the foundation of our society, getting the Federal Government out of the business of slaughtering innocent babies, and helping to share the hope and love of Christ with nearly two full generations of people that do not go to church, do not accept the Bible as God's Word, and do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Globally, it continues to be evangelism. We have got to use our freedoms and resources to take Christ to the world while we still have this chance.

***Please don't see this victory as a time to stop working, but see it as a time to start working. I have shared many times how we cannot take the freedoms we have for granted since one day soon we will not have them. We must take full advantage of this time God has given us.

It was encouraging to see 11 out of 11 states by a wide margin uphold God's definition of marriage which is between a man and a woman. Now is the time to work hard to pass the Constitutional Amendment so that in the future this definition can never be changed. We have a crisis in the family. Divorce is destroying families and the lives of children before they even have a chance to really live their life. We have got to get serious about helping to make strong families which is the foundation of our society. If God can part the Red Sea and cause the walls of Jericho to fall with some people simply shouting, then God can overturn Roe vs. Wade. This may be the last chance to ever make this happen and rather than making excuses why it can't be done, we must seek God for the plan to get it done.

The reason is simple. If this nation wants God's blessings, we have got to honor God with our lives. Just like I share with you about our personal lives, when we follow God there are blessings, when we rebel against God there are consequences. It is the same for our nation. God cannot and will not bless sin. How can we expect God to bless us when our Federal Govt. has legalized the murdering of millions of innocent babies each year? How can we expect God to bless us when we are making a mockery of His Holy Institution of Marriage? How can we expect God to bless us when we have perverted His plan for the family? This does not mean there will never be abortions, or that people of the same sex will stop living together in rebellion to God, or that there will not be any more divorce. But the nation can no longer endorse, accept, and support these acts of rebellion to our Creator if we truly want His blessings.

One of the greatest opportunities we have for this season is to freely and openly share the hope and love of Christ with the hurting and lost in this country and around the world. Evangelism MUST become a top priority in the church again. The ultimate answer for this nation and world is seeing people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I love you and care about you so much. I believe in my heart God has heard the cries of His people over these many years, cries that were intensified to a fever pitch in this past year. Just as God honored Abraham's request to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if 10 righteous were found, just as God heard the cries of Moses and turned his wrath from the people of Israel, just as God spared the people of Nineveh when they repented, I believe God has issued a reprieve for a short season and is giving His people the opportunity to turn back to Him.

Life is full of opportunities. I think back in my life, and I am sure you can think back on yours and lament the opportunities we missed. That is the purpose of this message today. I want you to clearly understand what has happened. God has given this nation a reprieve, a brief window of opportunity to turn back to Him. He is calling on His people to boldly lead this nation and world back to righteousness and Biblical values. Just like in our personal life where we must seize the opportunities we have along our journey because we never know when we may get another one, or if we will ever get another one, God's people must seize this opportunity He has given us through His infinite grace and mercy.

I pray that you will take some time in the next few days and ask God how He can use you to make a difference. God has something for everyone to do and He wants to use YOUR life. Now is the time to lay it all on the line, to get motivated to do great things for God. We are all here to serve and glorify Him with our lives. God wants to do great things through YOUR life if you will completely surrender to Him. I pray that you will take time to get alone with God and let Him pour into you fresh vision, fresh strength for the battle ahead. GOD WANTS TO USE YOUR LIFE IN WAYS YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE! The key is if you are willing to trust Him.

Let us pray for President Bush, for all of those who will lead this nation politically over the next 4 years. However, never forget that it is us, the people of God who He has called to lead this nation to righteousness and Biblical values. The enemy is upset to see God's people rise up and on the move. The battle lines have been drawn. There is no turning back now. What we choose to do with this brief reprieve God has given to us over the coming months will determine the future of this nation, and whether there even will be a nation one day. May each one of us who call Christ Lord, step up to the plate and do our part in helping to turn this nation and world to the one and only King, Jesus!!!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com

Agreement, Unity, and Love is the Key
by by Keith A. Butler


Matthew 18:18-19
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

There is power in agreement, unity and love. Jesus said ...Whatsoever ye shall bind..." or paralyze "... on earth shall be bound in heaven:

The heaven He''s referring to is not the heaven where God resides. There is nothing where God resides that needs to be bound. There are three heavens in the Scripture. And this one refers to the atmospheric heaven around the earth. He said, Whatsoever you bind or paralyze on earth shall be be bound in heaven, or the heavenlies, "...and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then in verse 20 Jesus makes this statement: For where two or three are gathered together in my name... -- the name of Jesus, ... there am I... As the Greek text actually says here, I am there to make good that which they agree on.

The power of agreement puts you in a position where God moves. Good things happen when we agree with one another; when we come in unity one with another; when we drop all of our differences and love one another. When we agree, we have the power to paralyze Satan and his acts. You bind satanic activity in Jesus'' name on the earth, it''s going to be bound in the atmospheric heaven where demons reside. Whatever you loose – that''s angels – on earth will be loosed in the heavenlies. In this sense, the believer, the one who stands in the name of Jesus, is the one who determines ultimately what is going to happen down here on this planet.

So agreement, unity and love is the key to making it work. Don''t hold what a few people do against a whole race. That just makes us further divided. Rather pray that the few be revealed. We have Christian brothers and sisters in every race. So it is time to set aside all the junk that keeps us going against each other. No man is better than another man. Jesus died for every one of us. He shed His blood which was the price for our redemption. As a result every one of us can make heaven our home, and have peace and victory on the earth.

Scripture reference: Matthew 5:43-48

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
by By Keith A. Butler


John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

When trouble comes your way, thank God that you can go to His wonderful word. It doesn''t matter what the situation is, God''s word holds true in every situation, and God is there to send your troubles to flight when you trust Him.

Now the word "trouble" here means stirred up or agitated. Don''t allow situations to stir you up and agitate you. Trusting in God is the key to not allowing your heart to be agitated and stirred up. Take a look at verse 26-27: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in (Jesus) my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)

Jesus has given you His peace. That means that His peace is available and you can tap into it. You can be sure that His peace is well able to calm your fears. That peace is supernatural and is able to bring you to a place of quietness and assurance of God''s love for you and protection for your life. Because of this peace, Jesus tells us to not be afraid and don''t allow ourselves to be troubled. See to it. That is a decision that you must make.

You need to decide right this moment, right now while you are reading this devotion, to stop all fear right now. Say, "I''ll not be afraid." You need to turn that T.V. off for your young children. And you need to tell your children what the Bible says about the situation. Tell them, don''t you worry about it. Things will be all right. The Lord''s on our side. What can man do unto us? No need to worry when God is with us.

I want to tell you to do as Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." When you believe that Jesus is your deliverer, then you receive His supernatural peace.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 32:17; Philippians 4:6-9

NOVEMBER 9

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come
to God through him, because he always lives to intercede
for them.

..and how from infancy you have known the holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture
is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version
is taken from Hebrews 7:25; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; and 2
Timothy 2:15.

Tuesday - November 9, 2004

--- Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ----------------------------

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------



The Way of the Cross

by
Bryant Mathews


* * *

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

* * *


Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor hanged by the Nazis, wrote that "when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." He understood that the life of a follower of Jesus may not look victorious in the world's eyes. More likely it will look like a weary man struggling to drag his cross, past mocking crowds, through the streets of Jerusalem.

Jesus has already won the key victory in God's struggle to redeem his broken world. But there remain battles for us to fight in the power of Jesus' Spirit, until all will be made new.

We must fight in the same way Jesus did, by bringing God's love and hope to places of pain and strife. We must share in the suffering of our families, friends, and societies as we pray and work for their healing. And if we remain faithful and obedient, even unto death, then we will be vindicated just as Jesus was, through resurrection. Through it all, we join Paul in declaring, "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of the church" (Col. 1:24).


Jesus, help us to take up the cross daily and follow you.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2004
(Acts 4:20, Revelation 12:11)


Sharing how good and GREAT our God is. By far the Devotional everyone looks forward to is the 4 times a year I share some of the incredible praise reports we receive every single day here at Liveprayer. One of the things that I wish I could do, is let you read all of these great praise reports. Even though we deal with email names and unseen people, I never forget for a moment that there is a very REAL person in need at the other end that God loves very much. It is amazing each day to see God healing people, restoring marriages, providing necessary finances, and meeting every kind of need imaginable.

We currently have an archive of over 1,400,000 Praise Reports that we have received in over 63 months of ministry here on the Internet. Satan hates the "word of testimony" because it gives people hope. No matter what you are facing in your life today, never forget that the same God who has brought someone else out of the valley and led them to victory, is the very same God that will lead YOU out of the valley and to victory. Please enjoy this special Devotional of PRAISE REPORTS!



"Dear Bill, Thank you for the encouragement you gave back in march 2003. Elizabeth went in to treatment in Oct 2003 and for one year she has been clean from drugs and alcohol. She left her "boyfriend" and seems to have waken up. She is working, going to school with plans to graduate, and associates with other sober friends. Her spiritual walk isn't where I would like -she's not in church etc. but her attitude and demeanor is so much nicer and sweeter. She does say she is a Christian. God is answering prayers."

"Bill, I'm a soldier in Iraq, and I get your devotionals daily, I admit unfortunately I don't get to read them daily, but I get to from time to time. They're great, they've really been uplifting to me. When I get down sometimes I can read one of those and the Word of God and the way you express it makes me feel uplifted. I just wanted to thank you for sacrificing your time and efforts to send a daily devotional. If I check my e-mail and I only have 1, I know for sure it's my daily devotional. I do ask for continued prayers over here for our safety and our safe return home, but know that as a Christian, I am happy to be serving and helping to rid the world of tyranny and oppression. Thanks again so much for your sacrifices and efforts."

"Hey Bill! Well, almost one year ago at this time, I sent you the email, and you replied with that life changing reply. Wow! In 2 days shy of one year, I am in my second semester of Bible College, and married. I have peace, no drugs, no alcohol, wow, I am blessed, praise God!"

"Our prayers have been answered! My husband was offered a job on Sept. 15th, we put our house up for sale on Sept. 24th, and we have a buyer as of yesterday!! We truly owe it all to him who loves us, no matter how what! Thank you again for your prayers."

"Back in January I asked you to pray for us and our desire to start a family. We finally became pregnant (The history of the e-mail is below). I am pleased to say that I gave birth to Dante'-Emmanuel on Saturday October 2, 2004. What a true gift from God. Thank you for your prayers and daily devotionals - they have been such an encouragement for me through my pregnancy and now into motherhood. I praise God for the amazing things he has done and I am praying that Dante'-Emmanuel will grow up to love the Lord first and foremost. I have attached some pics for you."

"You have received emails from my wife Melissa requesting prayer over our situation. I cheated on my wife. I stole from my family. I turned away from God. These things were my free will and my choice and I blame no one but myself. I am asking you to pray for her to understand she did nothing wrong. And that I fell week to sin. I ask for a prayer for our family. I am ashamed of myself. I will never be able make it up to her. Regardless of what her decision will be for us I ask for your prayer to help me find God again. I want to devote my life to Christ. I have decided to give this to him. And for what is best to happen."

"Thank God (and Brother Keller) for helping me through my recent divorce. I was very worried about finances and my children, but God always provided just enough just in time. I recently moved and the crisis is over....and without Bill and his daily devotional I would not have stayed in the Word every step. Thank you!"

"I prayed with your prayer line on Saturday that God work a miracle for me and TRUE TO HIS WORD HE DID."

"I have read the prayer and asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and guide my soul to him. I am asking you to send me your free information."

"I asked you to pray a while back about my husband losing his job and that he would get another quickly and that it would be even better than his old job. Well, God answered your prayers and my husband has a new, good job that pays $1.50 more per hour and he gets a lot more hours per week. Thank you and thank the Lord."

"Praise Jesus! Thank you Bill for your daily word of encouragement and your challenges to grow in faith. It is through the help of your devotionals I was able to pray at the altar at church and give God my life and be free of my addiction. Thanks be to God!!!"

"She called me the next day! She found a house to rent! They even lowered the rent for her! And she's cleaning it herself for NO security deposit!! THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS!! May Almighty God be praised and glorified now and forever!"

"Thank you so much for the daily devotionals!! I've recently broken up with my boyfriend of 3 years because i became a Christian and wanted my body, my heart and my mind to be pure for my Savior. I've really learned the value and the wisdom of waiting until you're married to be involved sexually. Since i've stopped i'm a new person. Thank you for being faithful and obedient to your calling. You're words and your compassion glorify God and they've made a huge difference in my life. Never think that what you do isn't reaching people...because you reached me!!"

"Hi I have just decided to give up the life that I used to live and I want to commit myself to Christianity. I would like you to help grow spiritually as far as Christianity is concerned. Thank you!"

"Hi Bill, I just wanted to say thank you for your very encouraging e-mail the other day about my job search. I also wanted to let you know, not that you didn't already know, that God is fabulous!! I got a job offer today from a company and they even offered me $10,000 more a year then what I asked. I got on my knees right after the phone call and thanked God so much! He is just so wonderful!! I just wanted to also express my gratitude towards you and the work that you do. Please keep it up!"

"Bill Keller, It has now been several days since I wrote to you requesting prayer for the pain brought on by back surgery. I first want to thank you for believing in me, and standing with me in a prayer of healing. Next I want to report a very drastic change in the severity of my pain. Pain is measured by most medical personnel on a scale of 0 to 10, the stronger the pain, the higher the number. Of course my pain was staying around a 9 or 10 before I wrote to you. Within 24 hours it was dropping, and is now steadily between 2 and 3, or less! Even more fantastic, I am able to control it with OTC medications instead of the hard narcotics!"

"After I gave you my prayer request...2 hours maybe...someone came to buy the couch I was trying to sell. That gave me the money I needed for the car part. (over $100.00) My car will be on the road by tonight."

"Bill, I am the Fireman who wrote you back on 10/17/04 detailing the event of an adulteress incident that my wife had committed the night before. First of all, I want to thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. God is doing amazing things in our marriage right now. We have come a long way through this short period of time. Even before we started counseling, God started working in our marriage when I got into prayer with a Christian co-worker and I gave this situation over to the Lord. I know you get thousands of emails a day and I want to thank you for the personal acknowledgement you gave to mine."

"I requested prayer for Kenneth a few days ago. His heart was failing and the doctors had no hope for him but PRAISE be to GOD he's off of life-support and he"s coming home in a couple of days. Thank everyone for your prayers and GOD BLESS!!!!"

"I contacted you about a week ago as a friend and I had words, you advised me to call and say sorry I waited a few days and now she contacted me and we did lunch today and everything is fine, we agreed that since we are both Christians that made us forgiving each other easier. Thanks."

"I have prayed the prayer of salvation. I am ready to commit my life to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"


NOW YOU KNOW WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO EACH DAY, AND WHY I AM WORKING SO HARD TO EXPAND THE OUTREACH OF LIVEPRAYER. GOD HAS RAISED UP THIS GREAT INSTRUMENT IN THESE LAST DAYS TO TRANSFORM LIVES. IT IS YOUR LOVE, YOUR PRAYERS, AND YOUR SACRIFICIAL GIFTS THAT MAKES ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE!

FOR THE MILLIONS WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE HOPE AND LOVE OF CHRIST WITH EACH DAY, THANK YOU!!!

Please do me a favor. As we head into the last 21 days to close out our 63rd month here on the Internet, I still need $26,200 to finish the month with all of our financial obligations met. As you know, we need $30,000 every month to cover all of the monthly costs to operate this ministry. For only $1,000 a day, we minister EVERY DAY to just over 2 million people all over the world! Only God could do that. Only YOU make that possible!

Please pray today about how God would have you help me this month and give the most generous gift that you can. For some that may be a gift of $20 or $50. For others it may be $100 or $300. Still others it could be a gift of $500, $1,000, or the entire $26,200. Simply pray, and give as God leads you to give.

NEVER FORGET, IT IS YOUR LOVE, YOUR PRAYERS, AND YOUR SACRIFICIAL GIFTS THAT KEEPS LIVEPRAYER HERE FOR MILLIONS OF LOST AND HURTING PEOPLE WORLDWIDE EACH DAY! PLEASE STAND WITH ME AND HELP TODAY!

You can put your gift on your major credit card on a secure server by going to my website, www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" button, you can give via PayPal using my email address, bkeller@liveprayer.com ,or you can mail a gift to: Liveprayer 6660 46th Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33709 All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.

Thank you for your love, for your prayers, and for your sacrificial gifts to Liveprayer. I never forget for a minute that without you there would be no Liveprayer. I realize that you are asked to give to so many good causes all the time, and I am HONORED that God has moved you to share some of what He has entrusted to you to support His work here. On behalf of those that we minister to every day, THANK YOU!!!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2004
(1 Timothy 2:9, 1 Peter 3:3,4, Isaiah 3:16-24)

***THIS IS A MESSAGE EVERY WOMAN FROM THE AGE OF 10 TO 90 NEEDS TO READ. PLEASE FORWARD IT TO EVERY WOMAN THAT YOU KNOW.


The clothing a woman wears. This is a Devotional that is long overdue and one I have prayed over for many weeks prior to sending it out. It is important that you read ALL of it, and not take one part out of context. This is not only a legitimate issue, but one the church has quit preaching on for fear of offending people. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your ears to hear all God is saying to you about this issue of the clothing a woman wears.

In dealing with this topic, we have to go to God's Word, our final authority in all issues. The key word I want you to hear throughout this Devotional
is "modesty." The key verse is found in 1 Timothy 2:9 where the Word says,
"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety." I am fully aware that our present culture teaches the exact opposite which is why this message today is so critical. As I have stated often, for the child of God we are to live UP to the standards of God, and not DOWN to the standards of this world.

Let me make this first point perfectly clear. The moment you die and are standing before God, the only garment He is going to be interested in is to see if you are wearing the white robe of righteousness that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior. THAT, is the only garment God is concerned about. It is your heart God will judge, not your wardrobe. This issue of dress is one of spiritual maturity, being more like Christ, having a desire to be the most effective servant of our Lord that you can be during this life.

In some churches, they have made it part of their rules for women to be dressed in certain ways. While I respect the heart and intention of these churches, they are not Biblically accurate. It is critical in studying the Bible that you understand the social and cultural issues involved in a passage as well as what God is saying. In giving the Law, God talks about how a woman is not supposed to dress as a man, nor a man as a woman. While we are no longer under the Old Testament Law, it is a good reminder that even though men and women are 100% equal, they are also each unique with different roles to play. God also knew how bad a man would look in a dress.

As fashions have changed over the years, there are lots of clothing like bluejeans, t-shirts, sports jerseys, mostly casual clothing both men and women wear. When it comes to more formal dress, it is very obvious that the pants a woman might wear are very different than the pants a man would wear. It takes nothing away from a woman being a woman by wearing this type of clothing and is NOT what the Bible was speaking against, even in the Old Testament Law. So churches that force a woman to wear a dress are taking an extreme and unBiblical position.

The other issue the Bible speaks of in this area is hair and jewelry. Again, it is CRITICAL to understand the cultural and social issues involved at the time these passages were written. In the days the New Testament was written, Greek and Roman women were little more than property. They found their worth in their clothing, in their hair, and in their jewelry. Of course, as they came to know Christ as their Savior, they brought this part of their life into the church.

Peter helped these women understand where their true worth was found in 1 Peter Chapter 3. These words are just as applicable today as many women are in the same trap the women of that day were in. Trying to find their worth in the fashion of the day, the hairstyle of the moment, and the endless array of jewelry that is as close as your local mall or TV shopping channel. Peter said, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Let me come back to the word I want you to clearly hear today, and that is modesty. There is nothing wrong about dressing in a way to feel good about yourself. But the question is, do I feel good about myself because of what I am wearing, or who I am in Christ? Do I get my worth from how other people view me, or how God views me? Do I dress to impress others, or impress God? These are important questions you need to ask yourself.

There are two important Biblical principles I want you to be aware of. One is avoiding the appearance of evil, and the other is to not be a stumblingblock. The world sends the exact OPPOSITE message. Appear evil and do your best to be a stumblingblock. The media feeds women a steady diet of lies from the pits of hell of how a woman should dress from the music, television, and movie industries.

Don't you realize when you dress like Paris, Britney, or Christina or any of these stars, you are sending a message that you are for sale? Just as bad, men are visual creatures. There are VERY FEW men on the face of this earth that don't struggle with lust. Don't you realize when you dress provocatively, you are being a stumblingblock to men? Why give someone the false impression you are not a Godly woman just because of what you wear? Why cause a man to sin by lusting after you because of what you wear? Pray about what you wear when you are out socially, pray about what you wear when you go to work, and please, PRAY ABOUT WHAT YOU WEAR WHEN YOU GO TO CHURCH! When in doubt, remember Paul's admonition, MODESTY.

I love you and care about you so much. This message today is about maturing in Christ, being a real woman of God. Like many of the women in the early church, there are many women that may be young in the Lord who simply don't know they need to change the way they dress. That is why older women of the faith need to be involved in the lives of younger women, that is Biblical by the way (Titus 2:4), to help them know how God expects them to live and act and what to wear.

I will be praying for you today. Praying that God will speak to you through these words. Please don't misunderstand this message. There is NOTHING wrong with a woman wearing nice clothes, looking her best, having her hair done nicely, or wearing jewelry. Simply be cognizant that in what you wear you do not give the "appearance of evil," or are a stumblingblock to others. The key is to know that your worth to God is not in what you wear on the outside, but in who you are on the inside. It is not your clothes God will judge, it is your heart!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

Wednesday - November 10, 2004

--- Mark 4:30-32; Luke 17:20-21 ---------------------------------------

30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!' or ‘There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

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Eyes to See

by
Bryant Mathews


* * *

The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed . . . (Luke 17:20)

* * *


The kingdom of God is all around, but it's not easy to see. You have to know how to look for it.

Worldly kingdoms are easily observed. They make their presence known with lavish palaces, state banquets, powerful militaries, and carefully-guarded borders. But in the kingdom of God, the King dwells not in a palace but in each of his followers. Kingdom banquets are humble and solemn affairs of remembrance and anticipation, serving only bread and wine. The kingdom of God is armed with faith-filled prayer, not bombs and missiles. Its borders are ever expanding, one person, one family, one community at a time-but never by force.

When a woman forgives her husband's murderer, the kingdom of God is at hand. When an organization delivers young girls from forced prostitution, the kingdom of God is at hand. When a doctor serves a poor community that often cannot afford treatment, the kingdom of God is at hand. When a former gang member starts a non-profit to help kids on the street, the kingdom of God is at hand. All of these things are signs to both the powerful and the lowly that God is King indeed, and that he is at work making all things new!


We praise you, God, for every sign of your kingdom's presence.

NOVEMBER 10

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under law...

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
for God gives the Spirit without limit.

..how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and power, and how he went around doing good and healing
all who were under the power of the devil, because God
was with him.


Today's Encouragement from the New International Version
is taken from Galatians 4:4; John 3:34; and Acts 10:38.

Your Hope is Your Message to the World
by By Keith A. Butler


Isaiah 54:14
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (KJV)

Be not troubled! God commands us not to be troubled. In response to His command there must be a point in time that we decide to obey the word of God. It is only then that we can be a lighthouse to those who don''t know that Jesus is the Lord Advocate General of the church, and when we ask Him, He is both able and willing to deliver us.

There is a ton of recession talk going on right now. Listening to all that negativity can cause fear to grab your heart. But you can put a stop to it right now, because when terror comes, it isn''t coming near you, if you put your trust in God.