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Compassionate Conservative?

October 9, 2012 by Anna Mangeni

9 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV

Compassionate conservatism is a political philosophy that stresses using traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society (Wikipedia Encyclopedia).  It is a term that President George W. Bush identified with when he ran for office in 2000.  The idea was that conservatives were motivated by compassion.  This is what President George Bush said about himself.  Many republicans at that time were talking about the importance of compassionate conservatism.  However, I wonder where that compassion has gone.

I have been astounded by the rhetoric of anger, fear, and hatred that I have heard from those claiming to be conservative or republican in speaking about the direction this country is going and the current administration.  The Republican Party seems to have been hijacked by a small group of right wing individuals who promote hate and fear.   They have made the republicans look like the main thing that matters to them is money.  They are tired of paying for programs that benefit the less fortunate or cringe at the idea that somehow their wealth will be redistributed to the poor or minorities who are viewed as being lazy or dependent upon government handouts.

The Republican Party has stood against abortion and stood for traditional marriage which is what entices many Christians to the party.  We even use terms as the Christian Right who have been vocal critiques of the liberal policies that make abortion legal and desire to allow gays to marry.  Despite the Republicans’ stance on these issues the recent rhetoric for the past four years has given me great pause and I ask where is the compassion?

How is it that policies that have favored the poor, immigrants or minorities are the very policies that are driving our nation to the brink of destruction?  Why is it that when the first black President is elected there were those who questioned his birth right, and called him names including Hitler, a Marxist or whatever negative term that would bring about fear and loathing?  But I don’t expect that much from those that are motivated by money or are more concerned about their balance sheets and profit margins.  I do expect more from Christians.  Where is the love and compassion?

As much as the current administration has been criticized by the Christian right for their policies concerning abortion and marriage they have remained silent about those in the republican party spouting fear, hate and anger.  Some have even fed the rhetoric by repeating what they hear.  Things like our country is headed for destruction and God will judge us if we support the current administration or Democratic Party.  They have not criticized those within the party that are spouting all this negativity.  Where is the hope?  Why all the doom and gloom?  Compassion has been thrown out the window.

I have been truly baffled by all of this.  I have prayed for understanding but I keep going back to love and compassion.  Jesus said that the world would know His disciples by the love that they have for one another.  Instead fear has been the driving factor in this election season by the Republicans who claim that God on their platform unlike the Democrats who tried to remove God from their platform.  I guess we should at least give the Democrats credit for being honest instead of purporting to be followers of God but not displaying the characteristics of God.

Let’s leave politics to the politicians and corporations that support them.  The church is to be about the business of God.  If the government is not going to provide justice, compassion and mercy to the people it is the church’s responsibility.

We can’t just support making abortion illegal without offering a solution for women and those babies born to parents that can’t care for them or do not want to care for them.  We need to provide them with a safe place where they will find compassion and mercy, not judgment and hate.  If we do not want the government providing the poor or minorities with programs that benefit their education, finding work, health benefits, etc. then the church has to step up.

When these right wing conservatives are crying foul and speaking doom and gloom; the church needs to step up and provide hope and love to a lost and hurting people.  We should not be standing behind them rooting them on in hopes that their rhetoric will encourage people not to support the current administration or Democratic Party.  How often have we demonized the current administration and those that are part of the Democratic Party?  Since when did they become our enemy?

The direction of our nation is not dependent upon those who do not know God.  They are doing what they know to do.  We can’t expect them to walk in righteousness.  However, the direction of the nation is dependent upon the righteous.  If the nation is headed toward moral decay or destruction then we have to look to ourselves and judge ourselves before God.  Are we fulfilling the great commission that Jesus gave us?

If we would show the mercy and compassion toward others that God has shown to us then we will find favor and compassion with whatever party or person that occupies the white house.  The bible is full of examples of godly men and women that found favor with kings and governments that lived contrary to them.

We should be celebrating everything that is right in this country and provide light and hope in those dark places.  Fear, hate, and anger should never be part of our vocabulary or conversation because it was never with Jesus.  Our hearts should long for the salvation of every lost soul and compassion and mercy toward all.  We can hate sin but not the sinner.  We should be building up and not tearing down.

I hope one day Republicans will return to the idea of compassionate conservatism.  Remember the bible teaches us that if we seek first the Kingdom that all these things will be added to us.  If we give to the poor we will not have to worry about our riches.  What we do for others God will do for us.  The church knows this message and it is time we begin to teach it to the nation.  The lust and love of money is the root of all evil but love, compassion and mercy is the very DNA of our living God.

Posted in government, Love, Money, Prayer, The Body, The Father, The Righteous |

Prayers for the Nation

September 29, 2012 by Anna Mangeni

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

Thousands have gathered together in Philadelphia for the “America for Jesus” rally.  Thousands of Christians have come together to pray for the nation and the upcoming election.  Many are spending the next forty days fasting and praying for the nation.  Prayer is the life source of the believer.  It is our connection with God and it is vital that we pray and never cease to pray.  However, we can’t stop there.  We have to act and do what God has called us to do.

Many feel that our nation has become morally depraved and that we are headed for destruction.  Our government has failed us and many feel that this country is headed in the wrong direction.  The things that are contrary to God seem to be taking precedence in this nation of ours – sin abounds.  The people are hurting and crying out for help.  So they are looking toward this election to determine who is best to lead our nation which is one of the reasons for this rally and 40 days of prayer.

The church needs to understand that our government does not have the answers and we are the ones called to turn this nation toward God.  We have to see America as a land that is ripe for the harvest; to see the people as Jesus saw them “like sheep without a shepherd.”  So really our prayer should be to ask God to send more workers out to the harvest field.  Also, those of us that know God should answer God’s call of whom He shall send and go out as Jesus instructed us.

The tragedy of these 40 days of prayer is if we walk away at the end of the time and return to business as usual -back to our pews and pulpits.  Far too long the church has remained silent over the years.  Truthfully if our nation is becoming depraved then we have failed to live and teach the people by example because it is righteousness that exalts a nation and it is our duty to walk in righteousness.

So as we pray let us prepare ourselves for the work that lies ahead.  We can’t continue to sit in our pews and pulpits judging the nation and the people lording over them and dismissing the lost.  We need to have the compassion that Jesus had and seek to help and shepherd the people of this nation.

I refuse to believe that our nation is headed to destruction or moral depravity.  We are better than that.  We cannot give up on the people of this nation and we have to seek and go after those that are lost.  It is our mandate and the commission that Jesus gave every believer to go and make disciples of everyone.  It is God’s desire that none should perish and all should come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer and hope that this rally and this time of prayer will result in the greatest harvest our nation has seen.  It will happen in our nation and other nations as well.  We will see the greatest revival and soul harvest the world has ever seen.  Our best days are still ahead of us.  The United States of America is our inheritance and every nation that we declare.

Posted in Uncategorized |

The Prophet and the King

September 10, 2012 by Anna Mangeni

22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.” 1 Samuel 12: 22-25

Samuel was called and appointed by God to be the prophet over Israel.  At the time Israel had no king because God acted as Israel’s king.  However, Israel told Samuel that his sons were not like him and they wanted a king.  God granted them their wish and gave them a king but told Samuel that Israel had did an evil thing and rejected God as their king.  Samuel appoints Saul as the king over Israel and reminds Israel that what they have done was evil in God’s eyes but that God would not reject them since Israel was His own.  As Samuel addressed Israel he noted that he did not want to sin against the Lord and said that he would fulfill his role as prophet and pray for Israel and continue to teach them the way of what was good and right. 

In the Old Testament we see how the prophet and the king operated over Israel.  The kings of the OT ruled over Israel but it was the prophet of God that would tell the kings and the people what God was saying.  Often times the kings would call the prophet when they did not know what to do in a situation like war or when they had a problem they couldn’t solve.  So the prophet would be the one to come to the king with solutions from God and let them know what God was saying.  The prophet also spoke to the people to remind them of God and to follow after His ways.  The prophet of God was pure before the Lord because it was often times the prophet that would act as the high priest for Israel before the Lord.

Today we do not have a king but we do have a President and many others who govern us.  Often we look to our leaders to be the one that lead the nations in regards to upholding the law and morality.  However, the church is supposed to play the role of the prophet.  We are to be the one that has our ear to God and tell the people what God is saying.  Like Samuel our responsibility is to pray and teach the people what is good and right.  We can’t rely on the government to do that nor does God expect the government to do so.

In the bible it was the prophets that God relied on to return the people back to God.  Also, the kings relied on these prophets for wisdom and direction when trouble came their way.  It is the same today we should be in a position that our government leaders come to the church for wisdom and guidance.  No matter who the king was God always had a role and positioned His prophets to speak to the king and to pray and go before God to learn the will and purpose of God.

The church more than ever needs to understand her role as the prophet in regards to our nations’ governments.  We are the ones that pray for the leaders and the people.  We are to be the examples the people follow.  When the nation is facing problems we are to go before God and get answers and solutions.  We do not need to be in the king’s position to have influence and power.  We have that through Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings but we must steward well the job given to us.  We must fulfill our role like Samuel because we must give an account to God on what He has entrusted us with.  A nation is a reflection of the righteousness or wickedness of God’s people.

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Then the End Will Come

August 20, 2012 by Anna Mangeni

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  Matthew 24: 1 

Years ago I used to debate with others about the last days.  There were differing views about the rapture and the return of Jesus.  Most of us were looking at the signs of the times in determining Jesus’ return.  We looked at world events, economic situations and wars between nations.  Some were even looking for the signs of the antichrist or the mark of the beast as explained in the book of Revelation.

In Matthew 24 Jesus tells the disciples the signs of His return.  He talks about wars, rumors of wars, hatred by people, the rise of false prophets, deception, increase of lawlessness, but these are just signs.  Jesus said the end would come when the gospel is preached to the entire world.

As I have traveled on this missionary journey to some remote villages bringing the gospel of the good news, I am really beginning to understand the significance of this scripture and God’s will and purpose for the people of the world.  It is the commission that Jesus gave us before He returned to the Father over 2000 years ago to go and make disciples in all nations and all peoples.

Our concern should not be what the signs of the times are but are we fulfilling our purpose in taking the gospel to the far corners of the world?  There are so many that have been deceived by Satan and are in desperate need for the message of Hope, the Good News, the Kingdom of God.

We cannot be satisfied that the gospel is being preached if we are not in some way participating.  Not everyone has heard of Jesus and knows the truth of God.  Does your neighbor know Jesus?  How about your family members?  Who do you know that is still lost and blinded by the lie of the enemy?  You see the end cannot come until this gospel is preached to the entire world.  It requires every believer to participate and it is the mandate that Jesus entrusted us with.

I no longer hold the views of the last days that I used to.  Honestly, I was wrong in my views.  They were short sighted and quite selfish.  As I have traveled to other parts of the world I am ever convinced that my responsibility is to preach this gospel, to take it until the day the Lord calls me home or the day Jesus returns.  Either way I want to be found doing the work Jesus entrusted me to do.

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No, Not Even One

May 30, 2012 by Anna Mangeni

“There is none righteous, not even one;

There is none who understands,

There is none who seeks for God;

All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good,

There is not even one.”  Romans 3:10-12

 

I grew up being told that “good” people go to heaven.  You have to hope that your good deeds outweigh the bad.  I was also told that certain sins would guarantee you hell.  There are many that believe this not knowing what their future holds; but hoping that they will see heaven when they die.

Salvation is not about escaping hell and going to heaven.  That was never God’s purpose to begin with.  When Adam sinned and man fell; and our relationship with God was lost.  God is our creator and sin separates us from a relationship with Him.

It wasn’t enough that our sins were restored but our relationship be restored with our Father.  The problem is we do not desire a relationship with God.  It is not in our sinful nature to seek after God or to do good.  The sinful nature is evil and this is the truth we have to come to realize before we can truly understand and embrace the message of the cross.  There is no one who is righteous, no not one.

Salvation is about saving one’s soul that is dead in sin.  A dead soul cannot respond to God.  A person must be “made alive” in Christ to begin to seek and want God.  Jesus didn’t come to just wash our sins away but to restore our relationship and fellowship with the Father our creator.

So salvation deals with more than the question of heaven or hell but it deals with the radical transformation of the human condition and heart.  God knows this.  God knows our hearts; if we are left to our own choices and understanding would never choose Him.  So God designed a plan not to just save us but to make us a “new” creation that would seek after Him for a real relationship and intimacy that God intended to have with man from the very beginning.

If the only reason you believe Jesus is to escape hell then you missed the message and the purpose of the gospel; for even the demons believe and they tremble (James 2:19).

Posted in Heaven, Jesus, Knowing God, Salvation, Satan, Sin, The Father |

Reflecting on 2011

December 31, 2011 by Anna Mangeni

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.  Psalm 149:4

At the beginning of 2011 our church declared this was the year of God’s pleasure.  At first when I heard this I thought about blessings and promises of God.  I thought maybe this year if I did more for God I would find more pleasure in Him.  But that was not the case.  Instead this year I learned that God is pleased with me not because of what I did but God is pleased with me because of who I am His daughter.

Discovering God’s pleasure has been life changing for me.  For so many years I viewed Christianity as working and doing right by God.  As long as I did those things then He would bless me.  If I worked then I would be accepted.  Unfortunately, this year I have not worked as hard as I have in the past or produced a bunch of good works that would qualify be as having grown as a Christian.  Instead I have spent this year learning that God loves me and accepts me just as I am.

It has not been easy seeing me as God sees me.  At times I have shied away from God’s pleasure and fallen into the trap of condemning myself.  Time and time again God has spent time expressing His love for me not based on what I have done.  God has shown me He values relationship over work.  He would rather me spend intimate moments with Him lavishing His love on me than me producing a bunch of work and saying “look what I did.”  God has asked me to look to Him.

I did not accomplish everything I set out to do this year.  But I am not the same.  Something has shifted and changed in my life.  I no longer see my relationship with God as to something that has to be earned; or supported by the work that I do in the church or ministry.

I am not a servant doing my master’s business, but I am a daughter continuing the work of my Father’s business.  My goals and dreams have changed.  I want to see the same things God wants to see happen.   I no longer judge myself by past, my failures, or shortcomings.  You see I am the beautiful daughter of the Most High.  He saved me and He changed me.  The Lord takes great pleasure in me, and I take great pleasure in Him.

2011 was a great year, for the first time I experienced the true pleasure of God He found in me.  He brought me to beauty from ashes.

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Trust Gold or Trust God?

November 29, 2011 by Anna Mangeni

24 “If I have put my trust in gold
   or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’
25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,
   the fortune my hands had gained,
26 if I have regarded the sun in its radiance
   or the moon moving in splendor,
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed
   and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,
28 then these also would be sins to be judged,
   for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.  Job 31:24-28 NIV

Often times we find security in things other than God.  For instance, we may look at our job as our source of income and financial security.  We can’t imagine what we would do without our jobs or money.  This nightmare is becoming a reality for many people today.  So many people are looking for security in other places instead of God.  When the stock market was booming many were putting all their retirement money into stocks in hopes they would be a millionaire by the time they retired.  But the stock market crashed, and many lost all their retirement, some even lost their homes and other assets.

We can’t overlook that God is our provider, and put our faith and trust in Him.  We can’t always trust in our jobs to keep us employed or others to take care of us.  We can’t trust in temporal things but we are to trust in eternal things.  We must trust Him, and put Him first in our lives.  To put everything else above God is unfaithfulness on our part.  We should not hold our wealth or the splendor of life over God.  God is jealous and He will not compete with anything or anyone.

And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

 

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God is Forever Faithful

November 28, 2011 by Anna Mangeni

3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?  Romans 3:3

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

God is forever faithful, continually showing His love and mercy toward us.  God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon our faithfulness.  Praise God!  Unfortunately, many Christians feel that God will only remain faithful to them if they remain faithful to Him.  We constantly fall short of the glory of God, but His love and faithfulness is unconditional.

When Israel was being led out of Egypt, they murmured and complained.  They built an idol and worshipped it.  However, God remained faithful and continued to lead Israel to the promise land.  Despite man’s denial of Jesus and rejection of Him, God still fulfilled His promise and sent Jesus to the cross.  God used the death and resurrection of His Son to deliver us from sin, making us blameless and righteous like Jesus.  We also have the promise of the Holy Spirit to seal us until the day of Jesus’ return.  These things are dependent upon God’s faithfulness and not ours.

God does not shift like the wind.  He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  God promises us new mercies every day.  When we repent of our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9).  We can be confident in trusting God with everything in our lives; He is faithful and will fulfill all of His promises, abounding in His love for us.

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Jesus Died for the Ungodly

November 22, 2011 by Anna Mangeni

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:6-9

When man fell into sin we did what our evil hearts desired, we were enemies of God.  The Law showed us just how sinful and wicked we were.  Who would die for a wicked man?  When the wicked are punished and get what they deserve we rejoice.  We cry out for justice and rejoice when justice is served.  Yet Jesus came for the wicked, for us.  Jesus died for us sinners.  When we were still enemies of God, He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins.  God chose to show mercy over judgment.

Jesus was sinless yet took on our sins and died.  God did this to demonstrate His love toward us.  We deserve to be judged for our sin, but God gave us His son.  He chose to show us mercy and grace through Jesus.

If you ever doubt God’s love for you take a look at Jesus and remember what He did for you.  He suffered for you.  He died for you, and He has called you to Himself.  Scarcely, will someone die for a righteous man, but Jesus died for the ungodly – us sinners.  Know that you are loved and God’s gift to you is His Son Jesus Christ.

Posted in Crucified, Grace, Jesus, Law, Love, Salvation, Sin, The Righteous | Leave a Comment »

The Price of War

November 11, 2011 by Anna Mangeni

“Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in Me.” Jeremiah 49:11

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  James 1:27

Today we celebrate Veteran’s Day in the USA.  It is a time that we honor our soldiers who have served this country and the many wars we have faced.  We know the high price of war is the lost of our soldiers lives; prisoners of wars; wounded soldiers; and broken families.  Unfortunately, the current wars that we have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan may have lingering effects for generations to come.

We have been fighting these two wars for 10 years now.  Even though the death toll has not been as high as previous wars; these two wars have taken a great toil on our soldiers, their families and our society.  Our soldiers have faced multiple deployments and we have seen a record number of women soldiers serving in these two wars.  Many children have been left behind and these children may be the greatest price we pay for these wars.  Children need their parents, if they are raised apart from their parents it has a lasting effect even into their adulthood.

I can’t even imagine a child that loses a parent to war.  Everyone knows the risk but we all hope that our soldiers return home safe and sound.  But the other tragedy facing children are the multiple deployments.  Imagine seeing your dad or mom going off to war; they return home to only be sent back again – leaving a child to face the separation again and again.  This can cause fear, anxiety, anger, and hatred to build in a child’s heart.  Where is their safety and who will care for them?

We may not know the impact of this until years from now even after the wars are completed.  Truthfully we are seeing more and more homes losing the fathers as they go off to fight in these wars.  There are also mothers being sent but the majority of those serving are men and many of them are fathers. 

We cannot ignore the impact that these wars have on our children.  They need our love and support.  As the bible tells us we are to care for the widows and orphans and we do not have to wait for our soldiers to die to take notice of the needs of the families that are left behind.

God has a special place in his heart for orphans and widows.  He has a heart for the fatherless and so should we.  I honor the men and women that have serve our country, but I pray that by God’s grace and wisdom that He can pave a way that these men and women are separated from their families as little as possible.

We may not have the resources or knowledge to prevent multiple deployments of soldiers but we can stand in the gap for those that are away and serving our country.  We can pray and we can care for their families.  We as a society can do this.  It is not only our government’s responsibility but it is also ours. 

Whether or not we agree with the wars, the truth is our soldiers are fighting and we need to support them in any capacity we can.  The holidays are approaching and there are many families that will be without their dads and moms as they serve overseas to fight for our freedom.  Let’s see what we can do  to help these families cope and enjoy this holiday season.

As Christians let us continue to pray for peace and victory in these wars so we can bring our soldiers home and these children do not have to be orphaned any longer.  Let’s believe God for a supernatural act on behalf of our soldiers.

I pray God’s blessing, protection and grace to every soldier that serves this country.  I pray for unity in our nation as our military fights for our freedom and safety.  Theirs is a great sacrifice; but their children do not have to be the casualty of war.  The African parable says “it takes a village to raise a child’; so let’s help raise this generation of military children.  We all have a part, so let’s each do our part in raising up the next generation.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all our soldiers and their families, THANK YOU for all you do. God Bless our Veterans and God Bless the United States of America.

Posted in government, Love, Peace, Prayer, The Body, Unity | Leave a Comment »

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