October 5, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

For Such a Time as This

Guest Author’s Series: Nate Johnston, Everyday Revivalists Ministry

“Esther’s Rising: The Awakening of the Bride” excerpt from The Elijah List, October 2, 2016

Mr. Johnston writes: I saw the movement that would come out of the ashes of religion; a renaissance that would reveal the God of love to the world through fiery passionate lovers of God.I wept as I heard a sound of worship that would come as a soundtrack to this revival of love – a sound that would capture the secular and influence the arts. It was pure and honest, raw, undignified, and was birthed by the hidden ones in the wilderness that would someday emerge for their moment.

The Armor Just Doesn’t Fit

Recently God showed me a vision of armor that looked really dated and worn. My thought was, "This won’t really protect me or be very comfortable." Then I was led to 1 Samuel 17 where David put on armor to fight Goliath, but it was too big for him and he wasn’t used to fighting in it.

David represented something new that God had anointed in place of disobedience or man’s choice. The armor of religion just didn’t fit David, and it was actually a burden in battle rather than a strength.

I believe the Father has been calling out to His Church and saying, "That old thing won’t fit you. Let Me show you who you really are."

In that same way God is saying that we can’t do life the same old ways we have been doing it. The armor is old, some of the ways are old and worn, and He is breathing fresh upon the Bride. Many people have been trying to make their previous mold fit over and over, and when it hasn’t they have gotten into condemnation over it, thinking there must be something wrong with them.

But what if God was overhauling you and anointing you for a new assignment? What if this transition season was your awakening season? What used to work may not anymore, so surrender and let His work be completed in you!

Are We Ready?

God is doing a new thing in us, but are we ready?

Song of Songs reveals God’s heart for the Bride in this season as she is coming out of bondage and into wholeness.

Song of Songs 8:14 (TPT) shares this powerful revelation from the mouth of the shulamite (the bride): "Until the new day fully dawns, run on ahead like the graceful gazelle and skip like the young stag, over the mountains of separation, go on ahead to the mountain of spices, I’ll come away another time."

In this passage the bride says to the bridegroom that the timing is just not right for her. Instead of going with him to the mountain of spices (intimacy), she would rather dwell in the mountains of separation.

But I believe something has changed! We are ready, there has been a cry of longing coming from the bride, and we are returning to our first love. The Lord is beckoning us to come to Him and to stand watch and protect this love.

In Song of Songs 2:15 it says, "You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes which hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together."

Deep intimate connection with the King has always been the place we have been called to occupy.

Esthers Arise!

The continuous theme of these past seven years for us has been the story of Esther. What the Holy Spirit recently revealed to me through the book of Esther was that she also lived in a time of transition. The book of Esther begins by describing the end of Queen Vashti’s reign. This queen was the full package of what a queen should be by outside appearances; even her name means "beautiful" but she was removed from her position because she "refused to come into the courts of the King."

On the hand, Esther means "hidden". Esther went through purification and refining process to be ready for the King, and that has been the season the Church has been in – refining and purifying in preparation for the bridegroom.

One didn’t have a heart for the King, the other lived only for the King.

Love has truly been stirred in the Church. We have realized we have been far away from His fiery gaze and are making our way back into His inner courts where we were always designed to dwell.

There is a remnant emerging with an Esther anointing that have been through the process and the preparation for one thing – to lead the people of God out of religious oppression and back to her rightful place – intimately united with the King.

Many people that have been hidden in this season of transition have been marked and anointed as Esthers to restore the Church to her first love.

No you haven’t been taken out. Your preparation may have been long, but now it’s time to step forward and lead the people of God into freedom.

You were born for such a time as this!

Written by Nate and Christy Johnstonof Everyday Revivalists

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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October 4, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Hesed

Guest Author’s Series: David Hauser, Regional Director of International Healing Rooms

Hesed is a Hebrew word commonly translated as "loving-kindness, kindness, or love" but it means so much more.

Various Bible translations often define hesed to mean faithfulness, mercy, goodness, steadfast love, and loyalty.

Normally this word describes something that happens within an existing relationship, either between man and God or two people. Some scholars also translate it to mean ‘covenant love’.

Hesed is a quality of life that should characterize those who know God. We see it in Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, and many other Christians throughout the ages expressing hesed (loyalty love).

The purpose of ‘Loyal Love’ is to describe the ‘dependability or loyalty’ that we as Christians should have towards one another.

Without a doubt it is one of the richest, most powerful words in the Old Testament. We, who are committed to God and to each other, should reflect this Christ-centered love for each other. One scholar has said, “It (hesed) is not a mood or feeling but an ‘action attribute’.

Loyal love is often scarce in Christendom today.

Three times we see Covenantal Love in Exodus, and in each case we find the tribes of Israel not holding up ‘their end of the bargain’. They make idols and fall short in both Exodus 32 and 33.

But what is amazing is God saying, “I will still go with them.” This to me is a mystery in Scripture, ‘God says I will destroy them, but Moses reminds Yahweh of his Covenant.’ God then says, “Your right, even though they have not held up ‘their end of the bargain’, I will still go with them.”

A Covenant broken by Israel is not so easily dismiss by Yahweh.

Hesed truly means “great loyalty; over the top”. It is beyond fairness, to keep covenant with people who keep pushing God away. To show Hesed is above and beyond what most people do. It is extremely rare.

The proper response to Hesed is to show it to others. Acts 2 is a ‘living example’, a picture of those who shared meals together. It is staying true when we have differences of opinions. It says I need you and you need me. It says I am with you, and you are with me. It is ‘over the top’ even in contrary situations. It is loyalty love!

There is a song which lyrics say: "Your love never fails, it never gives up on me, this one thing remains, it never runs out on me, on and on it goes, cover by the power of your great love.”

May God grant us all Hesed (the love of loyalty) towards each other. May we guard what we say about each other. May we support each other, and be loyal to His Coming. May we be a faithful community of hesed.

Written by David Hauser

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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October 1, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

If My People Would Pray…

1st of the Month Building Character Series

The Apostle Paul said, “I pray more than all of you as a whole.” How often do you pray? I sure can pray more than I do. I do not think that I am failing God, but I am sure not giving God my best effort or my full attention at times. I am sure God wants me to choose Him more by praying more.

Jesus gave us a pattern to pray with the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. I do not always pray that particular prayer but parts of the prayer at different times. I might include any number of Psalms when I pray. Such as, Psalm 121 when praying for protection or deliverance from evil, or Isaiah 53 when praying for forgiveness and brokenness, or praying parts of The Book of Daniel when I want insight and what the will of God is.

It is not praying just the right words but praying from my heart. My mind can get in the way so I try to pray what is important to me at a particular time. I believe God cares about what I care about. But He wants to hear from me—from all of us.

God is looking for friends. Friends talk with each other, share their feelings and seek help. I need God even though I try to do many things on my own. Once you pass into that relationship in being a friend of God, God begins to share what He is about to do with you. Many times He is testing you—He is looking to see how much of a friend you will be.

Can you change the mind of God when He shares with you? Yes you can. Here are some examples: Moses when God wanted to kill off the people in the wilderness but Moses said no; the King of Israel when He was told by the prophet that he was about to die and the king petitioned God for 7 more years; or how about Abraham who sought the Lord to not destroy Sodom. God wanted to know what His friends thought about His decisions.

Today, I hear too much about God’s judgment and not about intercession. Yes, judgment will come and God does destroy life. Nevertheless, it is forgiveness and ‘standing in the gap’ is what God is hoping for from His friends.

Take for instance the coming Presidential election. I can tell you for sure that God is planning judgment for America but He is asking His friends to intercede for this election. God wants people in power that can be moved by the Spirit of God. Leaders who are willing to hire sincere Christians and listen to sound Christian wisdom—just as Daniel and Esther did and impacted Persia—“for such a time as this.”

If you do not pray, if you do not intercede, if you do not seek God’s will—not your own, then God will not count you as a friend. I wrote this in my August 8th article:

Pray that God’s will be done no matter what you think is right or what you want. Pray that evil will be resisted and crushed by the name of Jesus Christ during this political process. Pray that whomever God wants in the Presidency will come to pass no matter who is promoted by political parties. Pray that it is not up to the voters but the power of Christ—it is God who should decide. Pray that the person’s heart that becomes President will be in the hands of God (this person need not be a Christian according to Scripture). Pray that peace will come to the church because God finally has whom He wants in power. Pray without ceasing, in humility, and without wavering. In 2016 it should be up to God, not the voter, who becomes President. Set your vote aside for the will of God to be done. The fate of America is in the balance in this election.

Who is a person of character? It is one who prays and becomes a friend of God. A friend that God confines in and shares what He is about to do. God wants us to change history—do you have enough character to be that friend?

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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September 24, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You’re No Good To God

Being Healed—what does it take?

Healings—I am amazed that there are not more healings with all the sickness in today’s world. It would be safe to say that each of us needs some sort of healing each day of our lives. What we must not do is think that if someone is healed we had something to do with it—I wonder what God thinks about this line of thoughtful pride?

Here are some significant points of consideration for healings and prayers of faith:

1. Healings are complicated. It is “Gifts of Healing”, plural. It takes the Body of Christ, many members working together for all healings to take place. I might have faith for heart problems while another for sight or hearing to be healed.

2. Healing requires “thankfulness”. Jesus told those who where healed to be thankful and offer a sacrifice to God once you were healed. Do you want complete healing or to keep your healing—try thankfulness.

3. Healings might take a “trail and error” scenario for a healing to be complete. Jesus asked the blind, “What do you see?” to find out if their healing was complete and whole. There is not a ‘one-size fits all’ or a simple formula for all healings to take place.

4. Healings come in many styles and operations. Jesus used His touch, His words, mud, word of knowledge, or even other people demonstrating their faith when healings took place in His ministry.

5. Forgiveness and healings are linked together. Their connection is critical and cannot be dismissed. Book of James says, “A prayer of faith shall save the sick and if they have sin, it shall be forgiven them.” Do not let someone tell you that if you are not healed it is because of sin or doing something wrong—what a lie! Your sin is automatically forgiven during your healing.

6. Humility is a requirement. We come to Jesus to be healed, not to a person, group or denomination. It is not about how much faith you have. (You either have faith or you do not. Faith is not believing enough but simply connecting to God.) That is why humility is important. You cannot connect to God without coming to Him with humbleness and/or contriteness.

7. Jesus paid the ultimate cost for your healing (by His strips you are healed), just like His shedding of blood for your sin. Not everyone experiences forgiveness and not everyone will be healed. I do not like to think about this, but I know this to be true. Nevertheless, I do not let this get in the way of me praying for healing nor do I think less of God or become judgmental of others if healings do not take place. Whether I live or die or am healed or not—I belong to the Lord.

8. What you are thinking about can get in the way of your prayer for healing. “What one thinks in one’s heart so is he (or will happen),” the Bible says. So when we are praying for healing, clear one’s mind of secondary thoughts or untruths that can get in the way of the Holy Spirit accomplishing healing.

9. God’s presence alone in your life is good enough for someone to be healed. You do not have to pray each and every time. Let the Spirit of God in your life or the anointing of the Spirit get things done—it’s not about you. (The story: Jesus and the woman who touched His robe without His knowledge—virtue left Him.)

10. Remember there is no magic bullet for healing but I would always pray for healing with God’s Great Name on my lips and say Jesus’s name as many times as I feel needed. “God, because of your Great Name and the name of your Son, Jesus…”

You are no good to God if you cannot set aside your pride and judgments when praying for healing. Be humble, be forgiving and pray that God fulfills His promises for our healing no matter how, why or what form God chooses when creating wholeness in our lives.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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September 22, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You’re No Good To God

Got Humility? Got Answers!

Do you know that without humility God will not hear your prayer or heal your land? 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

God is always looking for that humble person who is indeed broken (contrite) and seeking God’s will in every situation. The part of the Lord’s Prayer guides us to say, “Thy will be done, thy Kingdom come.” What do you mean God? I can’t decide on what is good or right without you? No, we can’t! We need His help. As Jesus said before being crucified, “Not my will but your will (the Father’s will) be done.”

We indeed have power to create our destiny and make decisions, but are any of our best plans ever as good a God’s perfect will for our lives? Academia tells us we can decide our own destiny, that we can be smart enough to ‘think things through’ without help. I was amazed to discover the depth of ignorance when I was a professor, not among students but among the facility. There is often little humility among the educated elite—what a tragedy.

The Bible says, God laughs at us when we think we can fix things on our own. One would think that Jesus could get things done on His own. Why not, He is the Son of God. But the Bible says, He humbled himself and would often go up into the mountain to be alone and pray. Wow, what a novel thought?

To humble oneself (to allow God to show us His way) and then to pray while in that position of humility, it is that which ignites the answer to your prayers. I wonder how many prays God would answer if we humbled ourselves before and during our prayers and requests to God?

The real problem with pride is that it is full of sin, and sin in any situation is always outside the will of God. Only in humility can we find God’s will and answers to our prayers.

A good example of this is the upcoming national election in November. I stated this in my August 8th article:

Can you set aside your political persuasion? Can you resist allowing the news media to decide who should be in power? Can you honestly pray with humility, passion and determination for God to give us the person(s) He wants in office?

I do not care about what the surveys or poles say. I do not care about the impressions that media gives me regarding a candidate. I do not care how my party tells me to vote. I care only about what God wants; not what advantage I can have if a certain candidate wins. It’s time that you pray—not what you want but what God desires. It’s my prayers for God’s direction not our votes that should determine an election. Be bold, be courageous—let God lead America.

It is time to temper all that we pray for with these words, “God’s will be done” and with the attitude, “not what we want or think should be done.” I am not sure most Christians can do this. If we do not, then what will take place over the next 8 to 10 years will be worse than tragic. Have you ever been part of God’s unforgiving judgment? Well, you will, if you do not pray out of humility for only God’s will to be done.

May I remind you, you are no good to God if you cannot set aside your will and desires for God’s will and His healing of our nation. Be bold in being humble and broken for our nation’s people and pray only that God has His way and puts in place leaders that He chooses. Humility and God’s will—you cannot have one without the other.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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September 21, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You’re No Good To God

God In You-Doing More

Don’t you wish God would use you more? I have wanted this my whole life. I had wondered why God did not use me more, since I was so willing. What is strange is that God wanted this for me too, but He has some requirements for me, for all of us. I am reminded of scriptures that reference passion. Yes, God is looking for passion in my willingness.

How many of you would have gotten married, if we expressed no passion in our relationships? That’s right, nothing would have ever happened! Well, God is inviting us all to a one-of-a-kind marriage in heaven. You must have a robe of white, must be excited about getting married, and must be looking forward to this event long before it happens. He is looking for passion in our walk with Him.

Before you got married, you did little romantic things, expressed words of affection and passion, offered gifts to each other, and could hardly wait for the marriage ceremony. You were in love!

Now multiply that by 1000 and you might have a glimpse of the love Jesus has for you, and I hope what you have for Him. Jesus is passionate and is waiting for your arrival. So let’s get ready for the ‘marriage feast of the Lamb’ by praying with passion!

Just to call out my wife’s name, Alonna, was enough for me to get all funny inside. I just wanted to say her name, see her face, and watch her response to me voice. That is exactly how it is with Christ when you pray, when you say His name with passion.

I get excited when I say His name or look toward having His presence. I feel his love and His hand on my life when I call out and say, “Because of Your great Name!” There are many names of God. You can find them on-line or in books. We need to know them when we pray. I use different ones at times and not afraid to call out any of His names, but my favorite phrase is, “Because of Your great Name.”

“Our Father in heaven how great and holy is your name(s).” That is how Jesus taught us to pray. Also, Jesus said, “Ask my Father in my name (Jesus the Christ) when you pray.” It is just that simple. It does not require faith nor any great understanding. You could even say, “The man who died on the tree for me” and God will hear and run to you.

You want your prayers to be immediately answered, call upon God’s great name(s). God will meet you in your prayer before you get to your stated request. Many times I just begin my prayer or conversation with God with this phrase, “Because of your great name God and your son’s name, Jesus…” I can tell you most times God shows up by the time I get to “Jesus.”

Where is your passion? Do you want more of God? Do you want God to hear and respond to your requests? Call out ‘His great Name’ with feeling, with excitement, with passion—do not be afraid.

God responds to passion not to properly expressed words or academic vernacular. Show God respect and honor with love and passion. We are no good to God if we do not care about saying ‘His Great Name’ when you pray. I promise, He will show up—you will feel His presence and will have the answer to your prayer. Honor His name with passion.

Yes, God answers prayers when we pray with excitement over His name!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

September 20, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You’re No Good To God

To Hope Means To Decide

Don’t you wish things would be easy for a change? Many times I feel overwhelmed—I’m rushing around trying to stay ahead of any problem. God’s solution to problems, however, is just the opposite. Often God wants you to wait, not hurry up.

We do not receive what we pray for not because God doesn’t want to help but because we do not ask correctly. I am convinced that we do not position ourselves so God can answer us immediately. (This series will help you in this endeavor.)

Psalm 23 says, “My eyes wait on the Lord.” To wait means ‘I decided’, i.e. I make a conscious decision to stop what I was doing to do nothing—well almost. David proclaims, “I wait on the Lord, who is my hope.” Waiting creates hope and hope creates God showing up.

Often we are told to just believe. But, I rather decide first and then believe. God wants us to decide, to make a choice, to react to Him who is knocking at the door. For me, I will “show you my faith by my works”, as James chapter 2 puts it. I decide; I choose God first; then and only then do I believe and have hope and exercise faith.

Too often we are trying to believe but we didn’t choose God. To wait on God is not a fruit of the Spirit or a gift from God—it is a choice! Let me simply state, “Make decisions for God (choose God) by waiting for God to show up.” God will see and understand your decision to wait for him today, and immediately He will come and stir hope and faith in your life so your situation or circumstance will change.

Remember that ‘to decide’ does not mean ‘you think’, but ‘to decide’ means you acted! David sang a song or said a prayer when he decided to wait and so should you and I. We need to tell God we have decided for Him. I pray when I decide, what do you do? The Bible says, “With the mouth you confess God and then believe in your heart.” I decide first and tell God what I have decided, and then and only then I begin to believe. I wait first and hope second. I decide first and express confidence second.

It is time we do what God wants—I choose God! After that, I can have hope and confidence, which God wants to respond too. You want a prayer life that works, then tell God what you have decided first. Wait for God to bring you hope and faith. I am no good to God if I do not decide to wait for Him.

Yes, I wait for the Lord because He is my hope and my future.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

September 1, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Be Happy — Get Ready

Building Character of the Month Series

Remember the tune “Get Ready” by Rare Earth? I like the long version to that song—about 30 minutes in length. “Get ready, here I come,” was the signature line in the song. A young man was singing to his love interest—get ready girl because I am after you!

Do you know that Jesus is after you? He is coming for you! Jesus says in Revelation that He is coming for his love, His church—the Bride of Christ. What a happy day that will be! (Now that’s something to be happy about and should give us strength.)

I indeed find strength when I sing that 1968 song, “Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins Singers—the song makes me happy! “Oh happy day when Jesus washed my sins away” is part of the lyrics to that famous song. It was a #1 hit on most record charts that year.

You know, I want to be ready for Christ’s return. To be happy and ready for His return is critical for us all. Jesus forgave my sins so I could “fight and pray and live rejoicing everyday”—another lyrical line to the song Oh Happy Day.

What does it take to be ready for Christ’s return? How does one get ready for ‘the wedding event’ of all time? Revelation says these things about the Bride of Christ:

· She cries in happiness and prays for Christ to return.

· She wears a robe of white linen—the righteousness of the saints.

· She is looking for Christ’s return and is preparing herself to be His bride.

· She rejoices in His return because she has made herself ready to be married.

· She is not fearful or unbelieving, neither a murderer, liar, idolater nor sorcerer.

· She has made herself perfect in everyway by not being part of the Satan’s design—did not worship his image, had his mark on them nor were deceived.

Today, we have passive Christians, Christians who are not active in taking a stand against Satan, the beast or the false prophet. Revelation says, ‘they accepted his (Satan) teachings, were deceived by what he said and the miracles he did, and wanted to be protected by him’. It is sad if we have no strength by not being wise, i.e. we have no happiness (joy) to withstand what Satan throws at us. If you are not happy for Christ’s return, He will not be coming for you. This will be the saddest day in your life.

In having joy I can wait; with happiness I make myself acceptable; by strength I endure to the very end. I am ready!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

August 30, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

An Alert and Warning

God Is Waiting For You To Care

I made this statement a week ago, “Every direction you turn, you hear ‘the call for prayer’ regarding this next presidential election.” This election cycle should not be decided by voters but by sincere prayers of the saints. If we do not pray then the consequences will be devastating. But you say, “What should I pray?”

There is always a four-step process for praying for a nation.

One, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and heal their land.” Yes, Jesus promised that He would heal our land when He hears from Heaven (God the Father) to do so. It is time to make oneself available to God: is your heart right, your motives pure; are you humble, thinking of others not just yourself; and have you made yourself clean by the blood of Christ, wanting others to be clean also? This is your ‘positional stance’ when you pray!

Two, Mathew states, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, and blessed are those that mourn.” This requires two things from us. We must be willing to be in a state of repentance and admit we have not always done things right or allowed things to happen that were terribly against the will of God. Also, we must be willing to take up the position of confession and repentance for others. People in the church and outside the church do not know how to pray or what to pray to connect with God. We must do that for them. Do you care about others? Are you willing to ‘stand in the gap’ even for people that do not deserve God’s grace or forgiveness.

Three, pray that evil does not win. We have allowed our freedoms to be voted away, our judicial system to undermine acknowledging God in the public square, and looked the other way when evil people got their way. When are you going to fight? We must win this battle for the people of America or evil will have its way and judgment will follow. Pray that evil will not decide this election but God.

Four, Pray that God’s will be done no matter what you think is right or what you want. Pray that evil will be resisted and crushed by the name of Jesus Christ during this political process. Pray that whomever God wants in the Presidency will come to pass no matter who is projected to win. Pray that it is not up to the voters but the power of Christ—it is God who should decide. I would read and pray Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 9: 1-8, 11-12, 14-19): "O Lord listen and forgive, O Lord hear and act for your sake. O my God do not delay because of your great name."

It is time to intercede for Americans everywhere! Do not give up no matter what is proclaimed in the media. Do not be fearful or unbelieving. Pray all the time you have a moment. (Yes, you may forward this email along to others: family members, friends, church leadership/groups, Christian outreaches, or to whomever God leads you to.)

Our nation needs healing. Do not let a vote decide its destiny.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

August 28, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Getting Happiness

Don’t you want to be happy 24/7? Sure you do, everyone does. Happiness gives you strength. In being happy you live longer, have better health, and have lasting relationships. Happiness is critical in order to get things done. By showing happiness you have what it takes to be productive.

There are a lot of things, which give me pleasure or make me laugh. I love all those things God has given to me. I love running in the rain, water skiing, working on a new project, and taking a ride on my horse. But, I am talking about happiness—happiness in Christ.

The strongest man in the Bible was Samson. You could not recognize his strength by his stature. Samson was skinny and small. His strength did not come from being muscular but in keeping his oaths/his commitments to God. He had long hair and did not drink liquor.

Samson was a man who was neither politically correct nor humble. In fact, he would tease his enemies, the Philistines, and provoked them to anger and inhumane actions. Samson was looking for any reason to exercise God’s will and judgment against his foes (Judges chapters 13-16). By expressing his rare sense of humor he had incredible strength. His joy was keeping his promise to God and in return, God was always there, at a moment’s notice, to help him be strong.

The Bible says, “Jesus endured the cross and despised its shame for the joy set before Him.” Only through joy (happiness) was Jesus able to do what He did. How much joy/happiness do you have?

Where does your strength come from in the Lord? It can only come through happiness! I am happiest in the Lord when: I am praying in the Spirit all by myself or listening to the Bible being read or singing a song that mentions Christ. Those three attributes give me more joy than anything else in my walk with the Lord.

If you do not have strength then I am sure you are not very happy. You and I have to find those things that make us happy and apply our time and energy to do such things.

To Samson it was keeping his oaths. To Jesus it was seeing what was waiting for Him—His future. To you it might be giving to the homeless, or may be, taking the time each day to call and encourage a friend to keep walking with the Lord. Whatever it is, you need to do it. Be happy—be strong!

Let’s overcome our enemies. You can only do this through happiness. Let’s begin laughing in front of our enemies. Got enemies (sure you do) then get happiness.

WWJWMTD What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.