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 – Trials and Discipline

Job, a Godly man, was severely tried; he lost his possessions and his children. (Job 1:1-22).

God at times sends trials to develop patience in us.  (James 1:2-4) 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.

God disciplines His children to promote sanctification. (Hebrews 12:5-11).

We must neither make light of god’s discipline nor lose heart because of it.  (Hebrews 12:5,6) And you have forgotten the word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”

No discipline is pleasant, but later on we enjoy its fruit.  (Hebrews 12:11) No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

To the lukewarm church Jesus declares that He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves.  (Rev. 3:14-22 – the letter to the church of Laodicea) and (Rev. 3:19,20) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with Me.

In everything God works for the good of those who love Him.  (Rom. 8:28)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

God will never give you more than you can bear.  (1 Cor. 10:13)  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.

We cannot always comprehend God’s ways, as He, in His wisdom, carries out His plan.  (Rom 11:33-36)  Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!  “Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been His counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the golry forever! Amen.

2.  Strategic Advice for the Remnant - Celebration

Does God want us to celebrate?

Yes – see Deut. 16:9-17 and Nehemiah 8:10.  We celebrate to thank God for all He has done for us, to recall His acts of goodness, and to enjoy each other’s company.

Joy and fun, as God intended, are important parts of celebration because they lift our spirits and help us see the beauty and meaning of life.

Celebration allows us to rest and focus on what is good.  It should take our minds off the ordinary and routine.

We celebrate to mark important milestones in our lives; we also celebrate to teach our children the ultimate reason for our celebration.

And we celebrate to praise and worship God because He loves us, because of the blessings He has given us on earth, and because of the eternal blessings He has waiting for us in heaven.

What kind of celebration is INAPPROPRIATE?

Celebration that is self-centered, indulgent, involves sinful acts, or has conditions that can temp you into sin is wrong.

Are there times when God alone should be the focus of our celebration?

Yes.  Through life’s journey and its regular milestones, God has been there to supply all we need.  We often, in life’s routine, forget it was God and think it was us supplying our need - but be assured it was God.

Celebration should be a time for fun and eating, of course, but it should also be a time for thanksgiving to God for His blessings to us.

Celebrate occasions, celebrate persons, but most of all, celebrate God.

Psalm 5:11 – But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever.  Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy.

3.  Scripture Guidance

 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

 Luke 10:17-20 

 The King James Version 

Truth is the shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a straight line.

John Tillotson 

My kids never had the advantage I had: I was born poor.

Kirk Douglas 

4. Thoughts for Meditation

LIVING BY FAITH – UNNATURAL EXPECTATIONS

1 Samuel 2:4-5 NIV

       "The bows of the warriors are broken,
       but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

       Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
       but those who were hungry hunger no more.
       She who was barren has borne seven children,
       but she who has had many sons pines away.”

I don't know about you, but I have yet to see God do anything the way I thought He would before He did it. 

Who'd have thought God would chose a barren old woman to be the mother of one of the earliest and greatest prophets?  But God chose Hannah. 

Who'd have thought God would pick the youngest son of an obscure Jew, the one no one even thought to bring before Samuel, to be the King?  But God chose David. 

Who'd have thought God would send His only son to be the child of a carpenter and his young bride, to be born in a stable, and to die an agonizing death on the cross to save us from our sins?  But God sent Jesus. 

Who'd have thought God would choose a loud-mouthed, pushy, spineless fisherman who spent more time with his foot in his mouth than out to be one of His disciples and one of the great leaders of the early church?  But God chose Peter.

When you think about it, God is continually going against what is “natural,” what is “logical,” what you and I would do in virtually every circumstance.  But no matter how illogical, no matter how unnatural, no matter what you and I think should be done – God's way always turns out to be so much better than our way. 

So illogical.  So supernatural.  Yet so much better. 

 I don't know how many times I've prayed for God to solve a problem in a specific way, only to have Him solve the problem – in a completely different and marvelous way that I could never have imagined!

Are you in the middle of an insurmountable problem in your life? 

Does the situation seem to be impossible? 

Is there no logical answer? 

Pray honestly and specifically about the problem. 

Talk to the Lord like you would your earthly father or mother.  Pour out your soul to him.  And lay the problem in His hands. 

Ask Him to solve it in His way, no matter what that is.  Then take this step in learning to live by faith, and let your expectations be unnatural.

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 55 - Why Bother With Our Country As The End Times Are Upon Us--Wrong Attitude - By Bill Wilson, Daily Jot News Service Senior Analyst – www.dailyjot.com

There seems to be some confusion among Christians as to their responsibility to their nation. Many have commented to me that they have read the last book of the Bible and we win, so there is no use considering the current state of our nation or the direction of the world toward the one world order. They tell me that the end time is set in stone and there is nothing that Christians can do to change it. They say that the fallen nature of our nation is just part of the end time condition of mankind, so accept it and go along with it. Forgive me for being so bold, but I believe this attitude is against everything we are instructed to do in the Bible.

Click to Read Rest of Article

End times watch 56 - Secular Hostility? Well not Exactly - Ron Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com

There is a hostility growing which is aimed at Bible believing Christians. I’m speaking of those of us born again believers who actually take the word of God seriously and literally. We are being singled out and maligned by some of the most surprising sources. We would expect this hostility to come from our adversary, Satan, and all those who gleefully follow him. Satanic hostility is certainly occurring at an alarming rate of speed. But what Bible believing Christians should not be enduring in any form is the astonishingly clear hostility coming from folks who also profess to be Christian. End time watch.

Click to Read Rest of Article

End times watch 57 - Japan warns that North Korea may fire missile at U.S. on Independence Day - www.dailymail.co.uk

North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.  End times watch.

The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles, would be launched in early July from the Dongchang-ni site on the north-western coast of the secretive country.

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 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.