This Just In!

RELEASED
Maryam and Marzieh set free after 259 days in prison
see yesterday's post here

To read more of the details of their release go here.

Praise the Lord! Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh were released from Evin prison in Iran today, Wednesday November 18, 2009 at 3:30pm, without bail. However, they may yet have to face a court hearing and still need our prayers.

“Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to His people who have prayed and worked for our release," they said.

Maryam and Marzieh were arrested because of their Christian faith on March 5, 2009. Though their health has suffered greatly while in prison, they are doing as well as could be expected, and are rejoicing in the Lord’s faithfulness to them.

“Maryam and Marzieh have greatly inspired us all. Their love for the Lord Jesus and their faithfulness to God has been an amazing testimony,” says Sam Yeghnazar, Director of Elam Ministries.

We hope to share more details soon.

In the mean time, please pray:

- For their health to be fully restored.

- For their continued safety.

- For their full acquittal.

Praise the Lord! I have been praying for these girls over the last few month; I am so excited to hear of their release. We serve a sovereign, all powerful God! His timing and His ways are perfect! All glory to Him!

Please keep praying for them.

Please Pray!

Maryam and Marzieh: Release Delayed, But Still Imminent

Here is the latest email from Elam Ministries, please pray and ask your friends to pray for a speedy release. To learn more about these ladies and why they are in jail go here.

Dear friends,

Maryam and Marzieh were not released today because of a delay in legal procedures that need to be completed. However, they and their families are still hopeful that their release is imminent.

Your prayers have been very effective and continue to be needed so that all necessary details will be completed smoothly and without further delay so that Maryam and Marzieh can be set free.

Thank you for all your support and prayers.

In His grace,

The Elam team

Grow As You Go! A Homemaker's tip.

Here is an idea for all you busy homemakers out there. One thing I have done over the years to feed my soul throughout the day is to listen to sermons/messages as I do my housework. There are some days that I have been able to listen to 2 or 3 different messages. What a great blessing to my soul! The small boom boxes pictured above only cost (aprox.) $20.00 each. I carry one from room to room as I do my chores.

Over the last 12 years I have collected quite a resource library. I have many sermon/message albums by people like John MacArthur, John Piper, Paul Washer, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Elizabeth George, Martha Peace, etc....

Here is a sampling of some of my resources....

and some more......


OH how delightful it is to put in a message and learn/grow in God's word while doing what He has called me to do around my home. Have you ever thought about feeding on the word of God as you......

sweep or wash the kitchen floor? I have learned that it doesn't take a lot of brain power to scrub the floor, :-) therefore, I can really focus well on what is being taught (from the boom box) while I work. I can vividly remember marveling, on more than one occasion, at the amazing gospel of Jesus Christ being boldly proclaimed through the boom box by Paul Washer. There I sat, scrubbing away, and experiencing sweet fellowship with my Lord as my soul was bathed in the awesome message of the gospel which overflowed into words of praise from my lips to Jesus all while cleaning the kitchen floor!


or how about feeding on the word as you clean the bathrooms.......


wash the dishes or load the dishwasher :) (or make dinner)....


dust.....


make the beds and tidy up the rooms.....


iron (really helps to make this chore more enjoyable :-).....


do the laundry/fold clothes.....


exercise.....


vacuum?! JUST KIDDING!!! (unless, that is, you have a walk man -wow, that just dated me :) or an i pod with headphones, or you could turn on an evangelistic sermon and open all the windows then crank up the radio to be heard (by all the neighbors) over the noise of the vacuum. HEE HEE.


Speaking of i pod's ....they could be used in this endeavor also. An i pod or a laptop computer could be carried from room to room. Of course, they are much more expensive gadgets to use (compared to a$20.00 boom box), but many resources are readily available for download on them (when on line) for FREE. For example, all of John MacArthurs's sermons are available here and all of John Piper's sermon's are available here. Messages by Nancy Leigh DeMoss can be found here and many more great sermons can be found at sermon audio, my favorite speaker there is Paul Washer.

I realize many people choose to listen to the TV or secular talk radio throughout their day, but I submit to you that these things will bring no help or growth to anyone's walk with the Lord ...I suppose, instead, a person could choose to listen to Christian music throughout their day (that would be better than the secular influences), but I think an even better choice would be to listen to the Word of God taught and proclaimed. I heard Elizabeth George say it this way, " Good better best, never let it rest, till your good is better and your better is best!" So aim for the best thing to listen to throughout your day. Perhaps the best thing for you would be to pray or meditate on the Scriptures as you work, or maybe the best thing for you would be to buy a copy of the audio Bible and have it playing throughout your day. This is between you and the Lord, so seek the Lord and ask Him how He would desire you to use the time in your day, but whatever you choose - remember to aim for what is best for your spiritual health.
Keep in mind, that implementing this idea into your day must NOT serve as your main meal :-) Your main meal must be the regular sit down time with the Lord in prayer/Bible reading and study. Consider this idea as a supplement to your diet, a vitamin, or a healthy snack throughout your day, but this snack will be beneficial in feeding your soul, and give you additional energy as you walk with the Lord each day. So go ahead.......grow as you go! I encourage you to do so....for His glory...by His grace!

Dea

Neighborhood Outreach Idea (Updated)

UPDATE: Thank God for the opportunity to pass out 150 tract/candy bags in 2 different neighborhoods on Halloween.



Besides putting a large money tract (and candy) in the baggies, We also included a 2 SIDED typed letter written by me. (I wasn't going to cut any corners when it comes to the gospel message...So instead, I had to keep shrinking the font size to make it fit on two sides of one paper. therefore the print is rather small) :) The letter was addressed to the kids and parents! I rejoice in the great privilege we had to share the gospel with the community. I pray that God will use it for His glory!


Perhaps you can read the letter if you click to enlarge the pictures.


Please watch this two minute tip from Trisha Ramos on how you can evangelize your neighborhood this Halloween. Ken, Daniel, and I have been doing this exact thing for the past 7 or 8 years. In recent years we have branched out to surrounding communities... I go to a friends neighborhood with my tracts and candy, while Ken and Daniel stay at our home to reach out to our neighbors. We look forward to this opportunity, when once a year the world comes knocking at our door asking us to give them something. :) [One thing I add to our candy bags is a letter from me that shares the gospel message with them in a more personal way. I think it makes a nice addition to the baggies.] So don't turn out your lights, don't go out to dinner...rather, take this opportunity to give the gospel to your neighbors and be a light for Jesus in your community.
For His glory...by His grace,
Dea

In the Kitchen Series #1- Ham and Potatoes

I made this dinner for my family last night. It was really yummy! Although, I love anything carbs so of course it was a hit with me, I mean -would you look at all those potatoes! :) Anyhow, I thought I would share the recipe with you. Perhaps you could delight your family with this tasty crock pot meal during this chilly autumn days.

Ham and Potatoes
7-8 large potatoes (sliced up or cubed)
2 lbs. of precooked-cubed, ham
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Mix the above ingredients in crock pot
season well with salt, pepper, paprika and onion powder

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in pan on stove. Wait until it bubbles, then mix 1 tablespoon of flour into the butter stir until brown. Then add in 1 cup of milk. Bring to a boil, stir until thickened. Pour over mixture in the crock pot.

Cook on high 5-6 hours
(until potatoes are soft)

Dish out onto plate and garnish with a little more salt, pepper and paprika for flavor and looks.
Serve with cornbread and green beans!

Enjoy the finished project! :)

Check back soon for In the Kitchen Series # 2...I will be posting a delicious Cannelloni recipe.

The Amazing Gospel!

Please take the time to listen to this presentation of the gospel! Yes, this video is 1 hour 15 min, long but it is worth every minute of your time. The gospel of Jesus Christ is astounding. We have such an amazing message to live and share with others ! Thank you, Jesus, for what you did on the cross for me!

Pray

I recently began a study by Elizabeth George called A Woman After God's Own Heart. The first study is on prayer and quiet time. She has encouraged me to start a prayer notebook. So I made one for myself and for my son. In seeing my completed notebook...my husband asked me to make him one also. So we are now a family in training to become, Lord willing, prayer warriors...or at least a family who is more committed to prayer than we were before. :)

The above photo is the back of the notebook. The photo below shows the reminder page, in the
beginning of the notebook, to pray without ceasing followed by the words of Christ from Matthew 6 regarding prayer.

The photo below shows the words attached to the inside front pocket of the notebook

Below are the words attached to the back pocket of the notebook.
These are the questions Elizabeth George suggests we ask to reveal our motives when trying to make a decision about anything.

There are 8 sections in each notebook organized in order of priority...1. Immediate Family 2. Church Family 3.Extended Family 4. Missionaries 5. Friends/Neighbors/Community 6. International Persecuted Church 7. Governing Authorities 8. PRAISES!

See some examples of the prayer pages below:
This is the prayer page for my pastor and then a page for 2 girls I met during a missions trip/VBS to Texas..

Of course there are MANY more pages that I have not shown you. I just wanted to give you a taste of what is inside.

I think this notebook is a wonderful idea! I am thankful for Elizabeth George's study that has helped to move me (and also my family) in this direction. Her last bit of instruction regarding the use of this notebook...pick a time, pick a place, count it as an appointment and don't miss it!!!

Ready to pray...so let's begin!!

Blessings,
Dea

Walk By Faith!

Without faith it is impossible to please God! Oh Lord, please help me to be continually filled with Your Spirit so that I will walk each moment of each day BY FAITH in the son of God!!!

Protecting Your First Love for Christ

"If you want to have a fiery hot heart of devotion for Christ, you’re going to have to fight for it. It doesn’t come naturally. You have to fight against laziness, against unbelief, against the influence of the world. You have to go counter to the culture. You have to swim upstream in order to conquer, but He says, “If you do, I will grant to you to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” ~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

"No bliss on earth is equal to the bliss of being all taken up with love for Christ. If I had my choice of all the lives I could live, I certainly would not choose to be an emperor, nor to be a millionaire, nor to be a philosopher; for power and wealth and knowledge bring with them sorrow and travail; but I would choose to have nothing to do but to love my Lord Jesus. Nothing, I mean, but to do all things for His sake, and out of love to Him. Then I know that I should be in paradise, yea, in the midst of the paradise of God, and I shall have meat to eat which is all unknown to men of the world. Heaven on earth is abounding love to Jesus. . . . To love Jesus is another name for paradise." ~Charles Spurgeon

Listen to today's Revive Our Heart program Protecting your love for Christ from the current First Love Series.

"Oh Lord, how we pray that You would kindle afresh in our hearts that first love. Help us to remember from where we have fallen, to repent of any loves that have stolen our affection for Christ, and to go back and do the things we did at first, to cultivate and keep cultivating that tender, sensitive heart and love for Christ." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

40 Evidences That You May Have Left Your First Love

Have you left your first love? Examine yourself!

Click the following links to listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss teach on this important topic, and read the list of 40 evidences that you may have left your first love.

Love with a Pure Heart (Radio Program)

40 Evidences That You May Have Left Your First Love (List)