The President of the United States has personally intervened for Pastor Saeed, the imprisoned and abused American pastor.

This is the most encouraging development since Pastor Saeed was jailed in Iran more than one year ago.

On Friday, President Obama and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani spoke, the first conversation between an American president and an Iranian president in 34 years.

President Obama urged Pastor Saeed's release, and Pastor Saeed knows the President intervened for him. He got the news this weekend inside his cell in Evin Prison.

You made this happen. You engaged Members of Congress.  You engaged the State Department.  And now you've engaged the President.

But we can't rest until Pastor Saeed is free.  So we're setting a new goal of 150,000 letters to Iran's president by the next 48 hours, asking him to free Pastor Saeed.

Our nation is fully engaged.  We are fully engaged.  Now is the time to Be Heard for Pastor Saeed and the persecuted Church:
Sign a Letter to Iran's President for Pastor Saeed.

Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel

"Grove Norwood tells the incredible story of forgiving the man responsible for
his daughter's tragic death, and how God inspired him to take his forgiveness
message to those in prison."

Follow this link to Focus on the Family...

Allowing God to Use All Things for Good, Part One

Allowing God to Use All Things for Good, Part Two

Read Constantin Caraman, from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church, compiled by Jan Pit.





"This is no easy assignment. We are inclined to dislike those who hurt us. The best thing we are able to do is to ignore them. But God requires something totally different. He wants us to bless those who hate us. To pray for those who persecute us. That seems impossible. Remember that blessing someone does not mean that we approve of his actions. In fact, we disapprove of their behavior, but they need God. That's why we need to pray for them, and bless them with the love of the Lord."

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.   
Matthew 5:44-48

Read Faith Is Creative, by Alistair Begg, at One Place.








"The world is constantly creating and inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: Can't faith invent too and by some creative means reach the people who are strangers to the Gospel? It was the presence of Jesus that stirred this victorious courage in the four friends of the paralytic. Is the Lord still present among us? Have we seen His face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt His healing power in our own souls? If so, then through the door or the window or the roof let us overcome every hindrance in bringing others to Jesus."

Being unable  to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:4

Read Transforming Our Culture, by DR Tony Evans, at One Place, for a wonderful study on how to treat fellow saints...

"What is the role of Christians in our society? ...Society is transformed when God's people execute His strategy in history in a Christ-centered way."








Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.

'Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.' "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 'For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,' declares the LORD. "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.   

Jeremiah 19:4-11


Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.   

Romans 12:9-16

Read The Lesser Blessings, by Rick Whitter, at Bible Study Tools.









"Let me explain. When most American talk about “being blessed,” they are talking about material things: houses, cars, boats, jobs. Without doubt, these things are provided by God – and they are blessings. But sometimes the acquisition of these blessings has cost us something of much greater value. While it is not always the case, some lesser blessings cost us greater blessings. We have traded. If financial gain is the best blessing you have, you are not experiencing God’s best. According to Jesus, you can’t serve both God and money."

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.    
Matthew 6:24

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 
Mark 8:36
 

One Saint is a place of crowns.  We are witness to many, many Crowns of Life as persecution continues around the world.  We suffer and pray in His name.  Jack Kelley has wonderful insight into the crowns found throughout scripture. 

Please read his wonderful work, Crown Him With Many Crowns, A Bible Study by Jack Kelley, for illuminating insight into the matter of crowns.



"This verse from the old hymn obviously refers to the Lord in His position as King of Kings. But did you know that you may also receive multiple crowns? There are five types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be given to qualifying believers immediately after the Rapture. These crowns are identified as the Everlasting Crown (Victory) in 1 Cor 9:25, the Crown of the Soul Winner in Phil 4:1 and 1 Thes 2:19, the Crown of Righteousness in 2 Tim 4:8, the Crown of Life in Jas 1:12 and Rev 2:10, and the Crown of Glory in 1 Peter 5:4."


The Everlasting Crown

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  
1 Corinthians 9:25


The Crown of the Soul Winner

Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my
beloved.   
Philippians 4:1

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation ? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?   
1 Thessalonian 2:19


The Crown of Righteousness

...in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8


The Crown of Life

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial ; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12

'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10


The Crown of Glory

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.     
1 Peter 5:4