BOLD Ministry

In light of the fact that May 3, 2012 is the National Day of Prayer, I thought it appropriate to provide a brief history surrounding the event.

“Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it.” Thomas Jefferson, 1808

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation.

The call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863.

In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer.

In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

• 1952   Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64—April 17, 1952).

• 1988   Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer  – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307

• January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).

• 1998  Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

It is an amazing thing when the life that an individual leads changes things for the better and brings good things to future generations.  Bloomberg reporter Laurence Arnold did a legacy profile of Ray Forbes life.  It is worth a read.  http://bloom.bg/HLsHsv

Scriptural Declarations for Healing: One a Day

Exod 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Exod 23:25-26 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Deut 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

Ps 91:9-10  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Ps 103:1-51 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Ps 107:19-20 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Prov 4:20-23  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Isa 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isa 53:4-54 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa 55:9-11 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isa 58:6-11  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Mal 3:6″For I am the Lord, I change not”

Mal 4:2-32 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Matt 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matt 8:16-17  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Matt 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matt 15:30-31 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mark 16:17-18  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Luke 4:17-19 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 9:1-2  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 10:8-9  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luke 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Acts 4:29-30 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Acts 5:15-1615 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

James 5:13-16  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

3 John 2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Ray was one of the lions of the NYSE. What he did and who he was spoke as loud and even louder then most. He was one of the founding members of the NYSE Bible Study which was established in 1977 and still continues today, 35 years later. He was generous, gracious and disciplined. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Personally, Ray was a unique and a tremendous example of humility.  He could be tough, but his toughness was never out of malice or pride.

This morning while I was at the beach, my friend Joe, a 74-year old retired Army major and small business owner, came by as he often does.

I was reading from my Dake’s Bible, and was reviewing the list in the margin, “The 20 Blessings of Faith.”

I wanted to see about making an impact in Joe’s day so when he came over for a visit, I asked him, “How are your eyes?” thinking that I would have him read the list.

He went into telling me about changing eye doctors, and then how he had to put drops in his eyes every day now.

I asked him about the reason he drives the kind of car that he did (knowing that he drives a Mercedes).

He told me, “Features, benefits and safety.”

I then said, “Well, here I am using a Dake’s Bible, for the very same reasons that you drive the car you do: features, benefits and safety.”

I then showed him the list of 20 Blessing of Faith (see the next post)I encouraged him to invest in a Dake’s since it might be helpful to him. By daily reading the scripture, it is like putting daily eye-drops into your eyes; it allows you to see through the eyes of faith.

Leading with Lollipops

This is a great reminder that leadership isn’t so much what we do, but who we are, and what others become when they are around us.

Whenever I hear someone say, “We live in interesting times,” it’s definitely ‘code’ for ‘things are nuts around here.’

Our BOLD Board Member, Gordon Brown has repeatedly mentioned to me one of the disciplines from his pastor is to start each day declaring the kind of day it is going to be.

At one point in my life, I might have balked at the idea, but now I am willing to listen, and what’s more change.

Upon reading the Scripture this morning, I am willing to come into agreement with what Deu 30: 15-20 states are my benefits as a result of choosing God.  I am listing them, first, for your review:
1.) Life and good things
2.) Privilege to live and multiply
3.) Blessing in the Land of Promise
4.) Long life on the earth
5.) Life for children

And now I am recommending that they be crafted into a daily declaration as such:
I declare this day, that I choose God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.God’s irrevocable and eternal word states that because I have chosen God I can expect these five blessings:
  Life and good things
  Privilege to live and multiply
  Blessing in this land of promise
  Long life on this earth
  Life for my children (spiritual & biological)

These promises are clearly stated in Deuteronomy 30, and I believe that today is the stage upon which God’s Word shall manifest in my life and in the lives of my family.

May your day be filled to over-flowing with the manifestation of God’s redemptive covenant.

I have seen a lot of leaders do things that disappoint and distract from faith in Christ.

But Tim Tebow is not a ‘leader,’ rather I view him as a ‘show-er.’  He shows us how its done.  Maybe that is what we need these day’s, less traditional leaders, and more show-ers.

So here is what this young man’s life is ‘showing’ me:

• God will use the unconventional to acheive the unimaginable
• Faith doesn’t eliminate setbacks (Tebow lost three straight games before defeating Pittsburgh)
• Setbacks to God are re-purposed into setups to victory
• Never give up
• Your life is not about you- but those that surround you
• You win when other people win as well
• Make time to worship
• The residue of victory is hope

Thank you God for reminding us that there is hope, life and peace in the midst of it all.

I was a bit carried away this morning… at the beach. I began to see some of the ‘handles’ having to do with this whole idea of declarations.

I am not one that likes to hear himself talk…so the entire idea of declarations always had this un-nerving element to it… that is until this morning.

So for the next few weeks, I will be sharing some ideas and insights. My prayer is that they bless you as much as they blessed me. [Also Carol was pretty rocked as well.]

I look forward to seeing everyone this Tuesday at BOLD at 12:45…

God has created Eternity in order to reveal all that He has done in Time.

When you write down what God has said, you are capturing particles eternity.

And what it eternal life?
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

When you write God’s word down, it is like the farmer who takes the seed and sows it into the earth.

There are three stages to spiritual growth:
We hear God’s word (either in our ears or heart)
We speak God’s word
We write God’s word

That is why faith comes by hearing first. So what we hear, we speak,And what we speak, we shall write,
And what we shall write,
we shall see.

So that is why the scripture says:My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.      Psalm 45:1

For the ready writer, writes what the tongue has said. And by doing so, he translates the spirit into flesh.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.   John 6:63

And that is why Eve was able to be deceived in the garden; because the words God had spoken to her she failed to write down.

God said that he would write His words in our hearts, and that’s why we renew our minds, so that we can recall and remember what He has written on the tables of our hearts.

Daniel was an individual who demonstrated an incredible ability to live for the audience of one.  Looking at how he maintained this level of focus is worth a quick read.

1. He refused to be defined by the culture’s values, food and activities
2. He maintained a spiritual community with those that shared he served even his enemy with the level and standard of service that reflected the God of excellence
3. He maintained a disciplined God focused prayer life throughout the day
4. He always framed his state of live by an expectation and awareness that was greater than his circumstances
5. He lived not at the standard of his condition, but at the level of his destination
6. His spiritual gifts flourished, though he refused to allow his growth to become a stone of pride or of bitterness
7. His unflinching, uncompromising standard acquired the attention of his enemies and became a platform for his promotion