Published by Practical Spiritual Warfare web site, a division of Mission Miami Valley and authored by Dr.  D. Vincent (Bud) Ford.  This e-zine is dedicated to providing valuable, practical information for dealing with the chaotic and confusing times in which we live.

Contents

1.      Tips for Kingdom Living

2.      Strategic Advice for the Remnant

3.      Scripture Guidance

4.      Thoughts to meditate on

5.      Articles Pointing to the End Times

6.      Site Build It (Don’t take my word for it - Check out the links below – you owe it to yourself)

7.      Announcements

1.  Tips for Kingdom Living – How to Discern if you need to be Set Free - Part 2

I was overwhelmed with responses to this topic in the last Remnant e-zine.  There is an obvious need to help people who are overwhelmed, confused, frustrated and feel a need to be set free.  I have not completed responding to the requests I received for help.

I made the statement in the last “Tips” section that Satan has been defeated at the cross and the only power he can have over true believers is the power we give him through our beliefs and choices.  God gave us all a free will and He has chosen not to violate our free will under any circumstance.  If we do not work at becoming transformed by renewing our minds and overcome our own double mindedness we give Satan and his demons ground.

Significant others in our lives have spoken curses or LIES to us such as: “You are so dumb”; “You are no good”; “Why can’t you ever do anything right”; “You are stupid”; “I wish you had never been born”; “You think you are so smart”; “I don’t love you because you….”; “You look terrible”; “You are ugly”, “You are fat”, “You will never amount to anything”; “You are worthless”; “I am no good because I let him/her….”; “I am not smart enough to do well”.   Well, you get the point – just put in the lies you grew up with.

The point is we all have beliefs that are based on past experiences.  If those past experiences were positive in our life there will be positive choices in the future when we come up to a similar experience.  At the same time, if we have had negative experiences we will have formed beliefs about those also, without realizing those beliefs are based on lies similar to those in the above paragraph.

Here is a truth: if we believe the lies from our past they have the same effect as if they were true!

I would like to recommend to you a discipline that deals with our beliefs and choices and how to root out past lies that impact our lives in negative ways by getting us upset or angry or frustrated or what ever triggers your emotions.

That discipline is Theophostic Prayer.  This ministry helps you uncover the lies from your past that trigger you in the present and as a result keep you from becoming all that God has for you.  Once a lie is identified, it is offered up to the Lord for Him to speak truth to you.  He does that when His speaking to you does not violate your free will.

Explore the Theophostic Prayer Ministry web site at http://www.theophostic.com to learn details on this discipline and how it can help you.  The site is geared to those wishing to get training materials and learn the process, however, there is much information detailing what it is all about.

To find a person trained in Theophostic Prayer Ministry visit the Theophostic Association web site at http://www.tpassociation.com. Search the Public Directory by selecting the city nearest you and hit search.  You will find contact information about those who have been trained in Theophostic Prayer Ministry.  You will also find my directory information under D. Vincent (Bud) Ford at Sidney, Ohio.

If you have questions after viewing the Theophostic web site, you can either contact them or you could web mail me.

Bud Ford

2.  Strategic Advice for the Remnant - Beauty

Who is beautiful in God’s eyes?

When we look at a person, our eyes are trained to look at their physical appearance.  God sees through our physical appearance into our heart.

People in society today too often believe that an ugly face with a beautiful heart is an unattractive person.  But to God, real beauty comes from who we are, NOT WHAT WE LOOK LIKE.  In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read …”People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”

Physical beauty may be a blessing, but it can also harm or corrupt us.

Because we tend to have a misguided view of beauty, those who are physically beautiful can be harmed by it.  They can also use their beauty in a corrupt way.  And those who are not beautiful may become victims of their discrimination.

Ezekiel 28:17 says…”Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty.  You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.”

Beauty can be used for evil, and when it is, it becomes something very ugly.  According to Ezekiel 16:18,25 …”You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to cover your idles.  Then you used my oil and incense to worship them…you defiled your beauty, offering your body to every passerby, in an endless stream of prostitution.”

Is inner beauty really much more important than outward beauty?

The short answer is a resounding YES!  Physical beauty fades with age. Inner beauty can mature with age.  While we all appreciate looking physically as nice as we can, it is our inner beauty that prevails, now and over the long term.

In 1 Peter 3:3-5 WE READ…”Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends upon fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful cloths.  You should be known for the beayty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to God.”

3.  Scripture Guidance

The test of serenity is having to absorb someone else's anger.  The solution is to turn it over to God, to simply let it go.

Ben Stein 

 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 

 Psalm 149:3 

 The King James Version 

Marriage should be a duet- when one sings, the other claps.

 Unknown 

4. Thoughts for Meditation

LIVING BY FAITH -  REJOICE IN YOUR TRIALS

James 1:2-4 NIV

  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Consider it pure joy.  That means everything that happens to you – no matter how difficult the trial.  Divorce, loss of a spouse or a parent or worse, a child.  Loss of your job, your home, your belongings.  Loss of your health.  Facing a crippling or fatal disease.  And the little trials.  Messing up your checkbook and bouncing a check.  Having to deal with the IRS (Did I say "little"?!).  Fighting traffic on the way to work.  Having a fender bender or getting a ticket.  Every difficulty you can imagine is there for a very good purpose – to add one more divine quality to your nature – patience.

When we pray for patience, the Lord begins to teach it to us.  He doesn't take a giant celestial hypodermic needle and insert patience.  He teaches us patience.  And patience can only be learned through adversity.  But the Lord wants us to learn to be patient, because He wants us to be perfect.  And part of being perfect is being patient.  Why?  Because a patient spirit is a submissive spirit... a spirit willing to suffer whatever it takes to become pleasing to the Lord.  A spirit willing to accept the Lord's will – not only without argument or grumbling, but with joy!

Thinking about patience brings to mind when Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi.  After being severely beaten, they were locked in what we would call a dungeon.  Prisons at that time were not what we would call hygienic.  In fact, they were downright filthy.  We won't go into specifics of what was probably covering the floor, but Paul and Silas were put in there, forced to lie in that muck on their naked, cut and bloody backs, with their legs elevated in something like stocks, in the dark.  Got the picture?  Did they cry? Did they complain and say, "Why me?"  Did they get angry at God for letting them get into this situation?  No.  They sang praises to God!  And what happened?  God sent an earthquake, shook loose their chains, and set them free!

So this step in learning to live by faith is to be joyful in the midst of your trials.  Sing praises to God no matter what is happening in your life.  Remember, what comes out of your mouth reflects what is in your heart, so – no matter what is going on in your life - let your words be filled with joy.

Dogwood Ministries

5.  Articles Pointing to the End Times Watch

[Note: The number following End Times Watch is the sequence number for the End Times article and is inserted to assist the reader in locating the article as well as assisting the search engines.]

End times watch 49 - From Generation to Generation – By Ron Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com

Every generation since Jesus died on the cross has been sure of Christ’s return during their lifetime, but Jesus will return only after certain events take place.  It may very well be true that each generation anticipated Jesus’ return, and well so. However, anticipation and hope alone aren’t what will facilitate Jesus’ soon return to earth. According to the prophetic scriptures, Jesus would only return after certain events unfolded.

Click to Read Rest of Article

End times watch 50 - Will the United States Abandon Israel? - www.cfijerusalem.org

Writers and speakers have been reminding us for some time that eventually Israel will be separated from her long-time best friend and benefactor, the United States. When we heard such words, most of us agreed that it would happen sooner or later, but did not think it would be soon. Now, however, there are some indications that under the new US government it could happen more quickly than any of us thought.

Click to Read Rest of Article

End times watch 51 - The Truth About Islam: Jihad - By Dr. David R. Reagan - www.worldviewtimes.com

From its inception, Islam has been committed to what it calls jihad - a word meaning holy war. The duty of Muslims is to subjugate or destroy "infidels" - the term the Koran uses for all non-believers.

Click to Read Rest of Article

6. Site Build It (SBI)

Don’t take my word for it, check this out yourself Free.  This is a way to either SUPPLEMENT YOUR INCOME OR REPLACE IT While Following Your Passion at the same time!

I needed a web site but had no idea how to build it.

It was all greek, mysterious and intimidating to me.

I paid to have a web site built – cost me a lot of money. But the good thing (I thought) was I could maintain it and add to it myself through a control panel.

This was supposed to save me money – but guess what – I could never get it to work properly. Way to difficult and complicated to understand.

The site looked good but no traffic came and it was a waste of time and money!  After four years I had to get rid of the site and find another way.

I found the solution! It is Site Build it.

This is absolutely fantastic and I can not say enough good about it! 

Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself FREE.  This is a way to either supplement your income OR REPLACE IT!

It does not cost as much as I paid for MY old site – that is a very good thing. The step-by-step teaching and the unique and phenomenal large amount of tools is unsurpassed.

This is a TRULY USER FRIENDLY, and just as much "do it yourself" as you want, web site builder.

Take a look at some of the information – you’ll be glad you did.

1. Quick Tour Slide Show:

2. Site Build It Home page:

3. Find Your Business:

4. I Love SBI:

5. What’s your passion?:

6. Web Hosting:

The networking available with the internet is mind boggling, and the use of the internet seems to be limited only by our imagination.

It is rapidly becoming the source of commerce. Don’t get left behind in communication, commerce, networking, information and you name it.

I have found a way to benefit greatly with the Site Build It approach and I want to share it with you.

Check out the above links by clicking on the picture. You owe it to your self to see this wonderful user-friendly tool.

7.  Announcements

(1)  Thank you for all your wonderful comments about this e-zine, The REMNANT

(2)  This e-zine, The Remnant, continues to be a part of the www.PracticalSpiritualWarfare.com  web site for the time being.

At some point in the near future, the Remnant will be transferred to the new web site www.EndTimesPreparation.com.  You will be informed at that time because you will need to re-confirm your desire to continue receiving the e-zine; this will help to eliminate spam, which I am sure you will appreciate – I know I do.