Did you know Ray Comfort has a daily "Live" 28 min TV program? It's called, "On The Box", check it out...

Thank you to Ray and Tony for having me on the program last Friday. You guys are doing a great work! Oh and did I mention that I love the new Living Waters shirts. They don't collect dog hair, they are iron free, they wash up great and they are conversation starters!

"On the Box" is a daily (Monday through Friday) live, 28-minute, web-based talk show hosted by Ray Comfort and the Living Waters team.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/on-the-box

Guest: Trisha Ramos (FishwithTrish.com)

Do you stuggle with fear or panic attacks? Be sure to read this. Plus Enter to Win a Book!

This past Tuesday night I taught a ladies study on Victory Over Fear and pumped "Overcoming Panic Attacks" (by Ray Comfort) while reading portions from it.

Just when I thought that no one could relate to the subject, one dear lady raised her hand and asked for prayer for her son (7 yrs old) who is struggling immensely with fear. She took a copy of the book home so she could read it with him. Another lady broke down into tears at the end of the study. We prayed for her.

Charles Spurgeon's morning devotional just happened to go hand in hand with the topic of difficulties(see below, bold is mine).

If you are struggling with fear or panic attacks or have simply having a difficult season, rest assured that you are in good company with the rest of God's people. Don't give up and keep pressing on. This too will soon past.

---

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Morning Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon

"The Lord our God hath shewed us His glory."—Deuteronomy 5:24.

GOD'S great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of Himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why He bringeth His people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see His "wonders in the deep." Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

--

Here's What to do to Enter Your Name to WIN a Copy of "Overcoming Panic Attacks" By Ray Comfort:

There are 2 Ways to enter your name in the drawing...

1. For 2 entries, post this give away on your website, blog, or social networking site like Twitter and Facebook.

2. For 1 entry, simply enter your name below (in the comment section) and a way for me to contact you if you win.

Contest ends Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011 at midnight (CST). Open to US residents only.

I will randomly pick 1 name and the winner will be announced later in the day on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011.

Ex-Howard Stern Fan

“In May of 2008 I got in my truck and turned on SIRIUS Satellite and the Howard Stern show. I was a huge fan of his for nearly 18 years. As I listened for few minutes, I realized how vulgar and inappropriate his show was, and I knew it was not what I should be listening to. I changed the channel and came upon the FamilyNet station and was listening to preachers such as David Jeremiah, Franklin Graham, Alistair Begg, and other greats. Then around 10:30 I heard a show (you might know this one) called The Way of the Master Radio. I was very attentive and as I listened to you, Kirk, and Todd witnessing to people over the phone with Trish and Tony, it finally struck my heart that I was in huge trouble if I died in my sins. I found a place to pull over and got on my face on the floor of my truck and cried out to God for forgiveness and put all my trust in Christ as my Lord and Savior. It took about an hour before I could pull myself together and go on down the road...I have since been through your School of Biblical Evangelism and have handed out hundreds of your tracts.” ~ Glen H.

PICTURE: Glen’s son Justin gave the driver of Bigfoot, Dan Runte,
a Million Dollar Bill tract (seen on the hood of the car).

Hat tip: to Ray Comfort for this excerpt which was taken from his weekly newsletter. Be sure to subscribe - Click HERE.

No greater authority to which Christian's can appeal

The subject of forensics has always fascinated me. In law enforcement officials going out to make an arrest first need to get the proper search warrant. This warrant gives the officers the necessary authority to bang down doors and invade a person’s privacy in a lawful way. The Great Commission is the church’s search warrant if you would to go into all the nations of the world and arrest them with the gospel. Our authority does not come from a lady clerk in a cubical at an American embassy, but from the throne of God! It is based on Christ’s authority that we are able to go into otherwise closed nations, Muslim nations, Communist nations, and compel them to come into God’s church. There is no greater authority to which we can appeal. There is no denomination, no missions board, or missions agency, or evangelistic organization that will grant us greater authorization to bust down the doors of the nations and bring the nations to the obedience of faith than the exalted all-authoritative King and Sovereign of the universe telling us to “make disciples” for His name’s sake.
- Emilio Ramos on the "Great Commission" (Matt 28:16:20)

I'm diggin' this (for solid biblical lyric lovers only)

Hat tip: Shai Linne

Why You Should Use Tracts - by Ray Comfort

There is an old story of how a diver saw a piece of paper clutched in the mouth of an oyster. The man grabbed it, found that it was a gospel tract and said, "I can't hold out any longer. His mercy is so great that He has caused His Word to follow me even to the bottom of the ocean." God used a tract to save the man. Why should a Christian use tracts? Simply because God uses them. He used a tract to save the great missionary Hudson Taylor, as well as many, many others. That fact alone should be enough incentive for a Christian to always use tracts to reach the lost, but there are even more reasons why we should use them. Here are a few:

Tracts can make an opening for us to share our faith. We can watch people's reaction as we give them a tract, and see if they are open to listen to spiritual things.

They can do the witnessing for us. If we are too timid to speak to someone about the things of God, we can at least give them a tract, or leave it lying around so that someone will pick it up.

They speak to the person when they are ready – i.e. they don't read it until they want to.

They can find their way into people's homes when we can't.

They don't get into argument. They just state their case.

Dr. Oswald J. Smith said, "The only way to carry out the Great Commission will be by the means of the printed page." Billy Graham said, "Nothing surpasses a tract for sowing the seed of the Good News." The Apostle Paul said, "I might by any means save some." I'm sure that if Paul had access to the printed page that we have access to, he would carry his convictions to the full.

I am never in public without gospel tracts. In fact, if anyone ever finds me in public without them, I will give them $1,000. That makes sure I am always loaded for battle (you should say the same thing to your friends). When I see an attendant who is standing in a store looking bored, I can give him or her a tract and say, "This will break your boredom." Most people smile, and say "Thanks." In fact, we have tracts especially to break boredom. One is called the Intelligence Test Bookmark (available from Living Waters Publications). This tract has a ten-minute "getaway" time. After you give it to them, you have ten minutes to get away, before they even know that it's a Christian tract. Other titles are especially designed for specific purposes.

If you want people to accept your tract from you, don't say, "Would you like this?" They will probably say, "What is it?" and then you're in trouble. Instead, say, "Did you get one of these?" That question has a two-fold effect. You stir up curiosity and make them ask "One of what?" That's when you pass it to them. That phrase also makes them feel as though they are missing out on something. And so they are.

Perhaps your whole life seems to pass before your eyes at the thought of giving someone a tract. Don't worry – you are not alone. We all battle fear. The answer to fear is found in the prayer closet. Ask God to give you a compassion that will swallow your fears. Meditate on the fate of the ungodly. Give Hell some deep thought. Confront what it is that you are so fearful of.

Do you like roller coasters? Some Christians want to try bungie-jumping or sky diving. Isn't it strange? We are prepared to risk our lives for the love of fear... and yet we are willing to let a sinner go to Hell for the fear of giving out a tract. Ask yourself how many piles of bloodied stones you can find where Christians have been stoned to death for preaching the gospel. How much singed soil can you find where they have been burned at the stake. Shame on us. We have a fear of rejection. We are fearful of looking foolish. That's a subtle form of pride. That sort of fear isn't from God. He hasn't given us the spirit of fear. If we listen to the lies of the devil rather than the Word of God, it shows we prefer to have faith in the devil rather than in our faithful Creator. What a terrible thought! Faith in His "precious promises" will lift us above the fear that so easily paralyzes us. If God is with us, nothing can be against us.

If you have never given out tracts, leave them in a shopping cart, or put them in the mail when you pay bills. Why not begin today? Then each night as you shut your eyes to go to sleep, you will have something very special to pray about... that God will use the tract you put somewhere. You will also have a deep sense of satisfaction, that you played a small part in carrying out the Great Commission... to reach this dying world with the gospel of everlasting life. Don't waste your life. Do something for the Kingdom of God while you are able to. Finally, always remember – treat every day as though it were your last... one day you will be right, so do something for God while you are able.

Don't forget about your mom

The below message recently was sent to me and I was struck by the precious young lady's devotion to her mother and her boldness to share the Gospel with her mom even when it was hard. If you have a mom that doesn't know the Lord, may this email serve as an encouragement to you. Don't lose heart. If God is able to do this for my mom and Jameka's, He is more than able to do the same for your loved one. Remember that you will only have one mom. Take some time to pour into her life today. Here's the email and read what God did through Jameka:

"God has allowed me to sow into my mother for over a year. Since realizing I was a false convert my relationships with my family changed dramatically. She used to tell me that she thought I was "crazy" and I didn't love her because I was different. Taking her through the law was one of the hardest things I have ever done. At times she responded defensively! Then SHE finally saw her predicament, she realized that she was a false convert! It's been about a month since she told me that she repented and put her faith and trust in Jesus Christ for her salvation alone! Since then she has shared with me how her thoughts, actions, and appetite has been changing. She has been listening in to services from our ministry because of the distance between us. Soon she plans to travel to fellowship with us here in Orlando. I visited her yesterday and she asked me for some tracts so that she could start handing them out. She called me last night telling me that she had given one to a cashier and left some in a restaurant... - Jameka"

A Response to a Comment on my "Uh-Oh" Club (for women only) post

“I don't understand the point of this type of correction if it's with people who don't even profess Christianity. Seems like a side issue if they aren't saved. If they dress modestly but still go to hell, what good have I done? Modesty is a heart issue, it will automatically follow repentance at some point in a believer's life. As believers, we need to have compassion on the lost and let that compassion drive us to share the gospel with them. Focusing instead on modesty is getting side-tracked. – Ginger”

Ginger, thank you for commenting. And thank you for your patience in receiving this response. I have been planning 3 "Transformed" Conferences, 1 Deeper Conference, a Psalm 119 Conference, preparing for a speaking engagement in California, answering a bucket full of emails, serving my husband and the local church, and blogging comes somewhere after feeding my dog, Baby.

You said that it, "Seems like a side issue if they aren't saved." You’re right, it is a side issue. I'm glad you recognize it as an "issue". Abortion is a side issue. But it is an issue - a huge issue.

In my post, did you notice that I encouraged ladies to hand them a "tract" (these contain a gospel message) and better yet, to "talk" to them. While talking to them, bring them through the law and give them the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I apologize if I wasn’t clear in my first post. I can see how you may have thought that I was sounding an alarm for every Christian woman to be the “Modesty Police”. I'm not the best with words. So thank you for understanding. Just for clarification, my aim is to encourage Christian ladies to pass out tracts and evangelize one - 2 - one (that is the first priority) and also when it is appropriate (and using good discernment) to say something about inappropriate dress - even if it is a small "Uh-Oh" as you hand them a tract. We can never assume that someone meant to dress immodestly on purpose. So a discreet “Uh Oh” may be all it takes. In my post, did you notice that the young lady thanked me for doing this. She sounded genuinely thankful. But she may have been thanking me for the tract. Make no mistake, the Gospel is always the priority. You are spot on there.

You'd be surprised how many ladies I have talked to about the Lord that start to cover up about half way through the Gospel presentation. I didn't even have to mention their immodesty.

In my post, I failed to point out that my dear friend, Kristen, was with me. I said “Uh Oh” in a whisper like fashion as I discreetly pointed that I don’t think Kristen (who was standing right next to me) heard or saw what I did. The way I wrote, in my first post, may have communicated that I was on a loud speaker when I said “Uh Oh" and by no means was this the case.

Many women that I have personally talked to at various places like the University Campus, at Walmart, Ross, the 99 cent store, the Post Office, at Down Town Fort Worth, and at the Southlake Town Square, “profess” to “know” Christ but have adopted the really low cut shirt standards that the world espouse. So one idea might be to simply ask them if they are a Christian, if they say yes, gently show them the way more accurate in meekness and in love (1Tim 2:9-10). Maybe they are not receiving proper instruction at their local church and perhaps God wants to use you to speak into their lives. It may sting them. Sometimes words that are true sting. They hurt at first, but “better is an open rebuke than hidden love” (Proverbs 27:5).

Remember if you are a Christian you are the salt of the earth, you are the and light of the world.

Listen to what John MacArthur has to say about Matt 5:13-14:

“Salt stings. Not only is it white and adds flavor, it has a medicinal or healing property when put into a wound. So some say that the Lord is saying, "Believers are not to be honey to soothe the sinful world, you are to be salt in the world, so whenever you see a place where there is a problem, you should just throw yourselves in and make it sting." I like that. I don't think we do near enough of that. I think we just want to drip honey on everyone, and we figure that if we never offend, if we just go along in life, it will be alright. If we gloss it over and let it be the way it is, nobody will get upset and everyone will say, "Oh, those Christians are so loving and tolerant of us." But there is never a clear definition of a distinction, you see. We're not honey, we're salt…

The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. This is Jesus' view, the view of any thinking person. Any evolutionist would have to be blind to reality to think human society is on the ascent. It isn't true. So our Lord is saying that since we have a decaying, corrupted society shrouded in darkness, this society needs salt to retard the corruption and light to brighten the darkness. The presupposition, the darkness and decay of the world…

God has a plan. The plan is the dominion of the disciples. He sets us up in the world as a holy priesthood, a kingdom of priests, as kings and priests. He says, "I'm giving you dominion, I'm giving you a restored dominion that man lost in the Fall. You are My kings, and you are My vice-regents, you are My princes in the world. You are My priests and prophets in the world, and your job is to retard the corruption and bring light to the darkness.

You know what's so sad about it? Instead of the church influencing the world this way, the church is influenced by the world. The very things we talked about this morning, and what we've talked about in the past, we become victimized. Remember when we talked about the crises of Christianity and how the church has fallen victim to so many trends in human society? It's ludicrous what the church permits under the influence of the world.

So what is the plan? Verse 13. "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men." Guess who has the responsibility? You! To whom does the 'you' refer? I believe it refers to the disciples, the believers; they are the agents of divine transformation. They are the ones who are salt and light.

Not only are we to retard the corruption, but we are to manifest the truth, both a negative and a positive. By our influence, we retard corruption. By our verbalization and our living, we manifest the truth. So you have here the influence of a silent testimony and the impact of a verbal and living testimony. Our salt influence may be silent and hidden as salt was rubbed into meat to preserve it. But our light influence has to be open and ablaze in the way we live and in the manifestation of verbalizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Enter to Win A Copy of "Feminine Threads"!

If you've had the desire to study the topic of women and Church history, then no need to look any further. Diana Lynn Severance, (PhD, Rice University) a historian with broad
experience teaching in universities and seminaries, has done the work for you in this creatively packaged book, called "Feminine Threads".

In 336 pages, Diana Severance takes you from as far back as the New Testament era all the way up to the last decades of influential women in Christian history and modern times. "Feminine Threads" is a very readable survey of influential women of the last 2,000 years.

If you are anything like me, you want to see detailed bibliographies and footnotes in the books you read. It’s important to know where authors retrieve their information. Diana Severance meticulously notes where she is getting her facts from.

Interwoven throughout the book are all sorts of precious truths about ladies of old. For example, she notes that "probably the one person from the early centuries of the Church who influenced later Church history more than any other was Augustine (354-430), who became Bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Augustine himself, however, recognized that to a great degree his Christian faith was an answer to the prayers of his mother Monica." Severance goes on to note that in Augustine's confessions he describes his mother as "God's servant" and then says, "who brought me to birth both in her body, so that I was brought into the light of time, and in her heart, so that I was born into the light of eternity." We also learn from Severance that growing up Monica learned modesty, sobriety, and obedience to her parents.

And later in the book, we read of the trials and triumphs of ladies like Susanna Wesley (John Wesley's mother) who had "nineteen children, only nine of whom lived to adulthood. One daughter as deformed for life." But even though her household was large and though she had many trials, Severance points out that she "had to be organized and methodical if she was to accomplish anything. She spent at least an hour of every day in her private devotions; six hours a day, six days a week she set aside for the education of her children, even writing some of the textbooks and study materials herself. She instructed the children in both academic subjects and Christian truth."

I dare you to get a copy of this book and try to read it for only 5 minutes. It won't happen! You will find yourself engulfed in it.

And in case you're still undecided about why to purchase a copy for your personal library here are a few more details and endorsements that might convince you that Feminine Threads: Women in the Tapestry of Christian History belongs on your bookshelf:
• Chronological account of Christian women
(120+)
• Includes extracts of letters, diaries and published
works
From commoner to queen, the women in this book embraced
the freedom and the power of the Gospel in making their
unique contributions to the unfolding of history.
The true story of women in Christian history inspires,
challenges and demonstrates the grace of God producing
much fruit throughout time.

“a record packed with spiritual insights and one that is both timely
and significant.”
Faith Cook
Derbyshire, England

“ with lively prose and scholarly care she has given us an excellent
overview of the various ways in which Christian women have
sought to live for Christ.”
Michael A. G. Haykin
Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

“What women these Christians have!” exclaimed Libanius, the
fourth century teacher of rhetoric. His words are amply underscored
and vividly illustrated in this deeply researched and highly readable
survey of the last 2,000 years – an appraisal that Diana Severance
invariably places against the enduring touchstone of Scripture.”
Richard Bewes, OBE, Author & retired rector of All Souls Church,
Langham Place, London

“I recommend every woman read and study and keep within
reach for reference and inspiration!”
Dorothy Kelley Patterson
Professor of Theology in Women’s Studies
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Fort Worth, Texas

"No-one reading this book can fail to be encouraged by the faith of
these ordinary women who, in their own generation, humbly trusted
the Word of God and lived to serve the Lord of whom it speaks."
Carrie Sandom,
Women’s Worker, Christchurch Mayfair

“Well researched and well written, this study of “feminine threads”
in Christian history makes for a tapestry of inspiration and
instruction for all who love the Lord and his church – men and
women alike.”
Timothy George
Founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
General editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture

***Special Thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a copy of this book to review and give -away on the Fish With Trish Blog. God bless you, all.


Here's What to do to Enter Your Name to WIN:
There are 2 Ways to enter your name in the drawing...

1. For 2 entries, post this give away on your website, blog, or social networking site like Twitter and Facebook.

2. For 1 entry, simply enter your name below (in the comment section) and a way for me to contact you if you win.

Contest ends Sunday, July. 31, 2011 at midnight (CST). Open to US residents only.

I will randomly pick 1 name and the winner will be announced later in the day on Monday, Sept. 1, 2011.