A Life of Thanksgiving

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In all circumstances and at all times, we must find something to be grateful for, and remain thankful in the place that God has stationed us.

When God shows us something that He wants to give us and it does not happen immediately, it is easy to become frustrated. But we can rest assured that if God has promised it, He will bring it to pass in His time and in His way.

But while we're waiting let us maintain a thankful heart and trust Him to perform it. Our frustration and anxiety will only hinder God, while Praise and Thanksgiving on the other hand will prove that we're trusting in Him to do the impossible for us.

Therefore, let's heed the admonition from God's word, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. The New Living Translation renders it this way "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

The presence, peace and power of God are gifts given freely to those who trust Him and do not allow fear and anxiety to remain in their heart to paralyze them. The peace of God will be a guard to our heart, fighting against anxiety and dissatisfaction.

Anxiety has the potential to erode our faith and trust in God, but the peace of God that passes all understanding will produce a thankful heart. I firmly believe that a thankful heart will touch God and enable us to experience His presence anywhere at all times.



Let us show our gratitude to God by giving thanks; God bless you.

God Will Break The Rules of Religious Productivity

Recently, a counselor friend of mine spoke to a leader who was burned out. The counselor told the leader to stop studying, stop having daily devotions, stop making plans and simply learn to rest in God's presence. None of these things the leader was asked to stop doing were wrong. They are all part of a healthy Believer's life. 

The "spiritual disciplines" of his life had become the places from which he had tried to draw life. An orderly life had replaced Jesus as the Giver of Life. My counselor friend wanted this leader to break the rules of religious productivity in order to come back to the simplicity of faith in Jesus.

God is breaking man-made rules of productivity that tell us "doing more is holy." God desires that we lay down the deception of trying to prove our worth to God through religious duty. Productivity is the language of slaves. Inheritance is the language of God's children.

In 2011 God will ask His people to move into the deeper revelation of friendship that Jesus promised His disciples. In John 15 Jesus told these newly-defined friends that a master does not confide in slaves. Slaves are not receivers of revelation – only friends are. Slaves work from a list of duties provided by a slave master. Each day the predictable drudgery of the slave's list produces a defeated heart in the slave. 

God wants His friends to hear His voice. Some have mentally moved back into the slave quarters of the past and now God is calling them back into friendship and into fresh daily revelation that comes from living in the dwelling place of His presence.

Garris Elkins, Senior Leader
Email: info@livingwatersmedford.org

We Honor Our Veterans

Today is the day we Americans have chosen to Honor our nation's Veterans for their service and sacrifice to our country.

As citizens of this God blessed land we say THANK YOU to all our Veterans. We know the commitment that you have made and the sacrifices both you and your families make are to make America FREE for all of us.

It takes a special person to dedicate his or her live to the service of our nation. It takes someone who realizes there is something greater than ourselves; and recognize the founding principles of this nation are worth fighting for and, if necessary, dying for.

America is a great nation because of you, the men and women, who have given their all for us.  We have our freedom today because you placed your lives on the line to defend it. Here, Veterans share their personal stories about life in combat and hear from Peter, who was awarded a Silver Star.

All America salute you, and God bless these United States.

There is one who gave His only son to demonstrate His great love towards us. God loves us! That is the triumphant message of the Bible and the greatest message we will ever hear.

God wanted us to experience His love for us, so He demonstrated that love at great personal cost. God loves us and we know that because He sacrificed His son (Jesus) so that we could have life. 

Yes, God loves you and wants to give you life! “For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

Prayer for Help

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my pleading. Listen to my cry for help, my God and my King, for I pray to no one but you.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. For each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly for your word.

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, because you hate lies; and detest murderers and deceivers.

Lord, because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house and worship at your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O Lord, don’t let the enemy overcome me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord, you surround them with your shield of love.

I acknowledge my sin and confess them to you. Show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Amen. (Psalm 5:1-11, 16:11, 32:5)

Signs of the End- A Look at Saint Malachy's Prophecies

Saint Malachy was an Irish Monk who was born in the 12th century. While on a visit to Rome he had a vision of all the popes who would ever reign. Malachy "saw"-and committed to paper- a series of Latin phrases describing the popes to come. He catalogued each one with an epigrammatic verse, such as 'the tears of the sun'.  

Malachy made the prophecy in 1139 and entrusted it to Pope Innocent II in 1140.  But for some unknown reason it was "lost" in the Vatican for 400 years, only to be "discovered" in 1595 A.D.  

Malachy's predictions reputedly were made in 1139 while he was on a pilgrimage to the Vatican, where he was appointed papal legate for Ireland.  On his last trek to the Holy See in Rome, in 1148, Malachy accurately predicted the place and time of his own death: Clairvaux, France, on All Souls Day, November 2, of that same year.

The late Pope, John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920. On that date in the morning there was a near total eclipse of the sun over Europe. Prophecy - The 110th Pope is 'De Labore Solis' (Of the Solar Eclipse, or, From the Toil of the Sun). The corresponding pope is John Paul II (1978-2005). Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) was born on May 18, 1920 during an eclipse of the sun.  John Paul II died at the Vatican on Saturday, April 2, 2005, the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas. 

One of the interesting things about Pope John Paul II is that no other Pope in history ever called for a "New World Order", and this pope waited until he had sat on the Throne of Peter for over 25 years! Why would Pope John Paul II wait for 25 long years before announcing his affinity for the New World Order? 

A "New World Order" is known in the esoteric realm as "the kingdom of the Christ" -- but thought by many in the Bible as an Antichrist (or Antichrist system). Was it because John Paul was senile or carried away with his own desire for ecumenicalism/friendship?

Other things John Paul II did while very old were: he also kissed the pagan Qur'an and said that Islam and Christians had the same God.  Would the God of the Bible agree to tell the lies about Jesus that Islam does?  Islam lies that Jesus never even died on a cross, and Islam also says that Jesus is not divine.

Let us now take a look at Malachy's final words and see what he had to say about the End-Time. In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock among many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city (Rome, the seat of the Vatican) will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people (Revelation 18:8). Read more...
If the current Pope Benedict XVI is declared an antipope and deposed from the holy seat, which he eventually will, then his name and number (XVI) will not count on the official list of popes. Thus its like he was never even elected.The next pope after him will choose a new name thats never been used in the history of the church like John Paul 1 did in 1978. This new name will be the eighth name since 1798 and 666. 

Consequently, it is view by many that the St Malachy prophecy about Peter the roman occupying the holy seat during a time of persecution in the roman catholic church, will be caused by Benedict XVI and this will wind up getting him deposed and Peter the Roman will step in right in midst of it (666).