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Ukrainians STAND UP for Freedom: God Answers Prayers
LISTEN NOW! Greg and Pat discuss how Ukrainians have stood for freedom and ousted the current President. They continue to discuss how Russian President Vladamir Putin has tried to take over Ukraine. According to CBN the former president of Ukraine is a fugitive from justice Monday. The country’s interim government issued an arrest warrant for Viktor Yanukovich after the mass killings of civilians last week. “Christians were praying on Independence Square,” Pastor Kaluzhny said. “We were praying in our churches. People around the world were praying for us, and God did a miracle! Ukraine is a new country.” The exciting thing is that a Christian leader is emerging. It has been tragic and many have died but it is good for people to stand up for freedom. They continued to discuss how a prominent evangelical Christian has been picked to be the interim President until elections in May. The congress heard that the people don’t want to be up under that oppression. We are watching freedom. We see a people who want to stand up and do what they can to be free. You just can’t hand over your country to Russia. It’s what our founding founders have done in our own country. We have a representative government to represent the rights of the people. They encourage us by reminding us of how bad the situation was in Ukraine. They could have given up and said “Oh Well” but they didn’t. Instead they pressed in and the church in Ukraine prayed as well as Christians all over the world. They further discussed how the Ukraine used to be the bread basket of the world. The people rose up and demanded change but at the same time standing for freedom can cost you and for some of those who stood up in Ukraine, it did. People every day in America lay down their lives for freedom. It’s okay to pledge your allegiance to your country but as Christians we pledge our allegiance first to Jesus we can be proud of our relationship with God. We must never forget it’s going to cost you something. They continue to encourage us about the blessing that we have in America and how it’s not illegal for you to support the laws of the land. We are a nation of laws. They encourage us to look at what happened in Ukraine and remember the freedom that we have in our country and to stand up for the rights that are afforded to us in the Constitution and to encourage our representatives to do the same.
The Science of Happiness
Greg and Pat discuss the science of being happy. They continue to discuss what happiness looks like. In a recent study conducted by psychologists they were able to determine what made people happy was directly associated with their ability to focus on the positive.
They continue to discuss that as Christians it’s important for us to know what makes us happy and brings us joy. It boils down to whatever you think about. Some may say that all they think about is all of the responsibilities that are before them and although many can relate, as Christians it’s very important to our witness that we think about positive things. Christians are people who understand that they need a savior, they are still human beings and still struggle with being happy. Jesus told the disciples in John 14: 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” Jesus has overcome the storms in life. Happiness is determined by what you focus your attention on. You literally have to take hold of things to make sure you keep the right focus. You have to make the time to focus on the things that are joyful and make you happy. It appears the enemy tries to do everything he can to get us not to be happy. They continue to share how you need to give yourself permission to think about certain things and to keep them on your mind. The Bible in Philippians 4:8-9 gives us some instruction “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” They encourage us to give ourselves permission to think about yourself in a positive light and to remember that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and to think about how God loves you and has a plan for your life. They also encourage us to never forget that no matter how far you have gone astray, the moment you turn back to God and say that you are His and that you are back to stay all of heaven opens up to you and the Lord will embrace, forgive and restore you. We must never forget what Jesus did on the cross for us and when we begin to think and meditate on the implication of this amazing event we are filled with great joy and happiness knowing how loved we truly are.
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