A Prayer to See Christ as ProtectorBy Chelsey DeMatteis "If you love me‚ you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father‚ and he will give you another Helper‚ to be with you forever‚ even the Spirit of truth‚ whom the world cannot receive‚ because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him‚ for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 15-17 Recently I found myself in deep thought‚ pondering all the attributes of Christ and how I could share with my 5-year-old son to paint a clear picture of who Christ is to him. The first on my paper was Christ our protector. To follow was Christ our guide‚ Christ our Redeemer‚ and of course‚ Christ our Savior.  As believers‚ it can be easy to recall all of the ways that Jesus called us to live in this world‚ love those around us‚ and how to do ministry where He's placed us. What I've found is in the day-to-day‚ it takes a lot more effort to recall all that Christ is to us. Partly because it's hard to wrap our minds around the incredible gift Christ is and all that endured on our behalf‚ but the main cause is we often want to take on the roles of Christ. It seems easier in the mundane to think of all I can do rather than what Christ does do. We want to be the sole protector of our people and our circumstances‚ we want to be the guide of our life‚ we want to be the redeemer of hardships we face‚ and we want to act as Savior. This reminds me of what Jesus spoke to his disciples in John 14. He promised his followers the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise now meant Christ will dwell in us!  And with this gift‚ He dwells in us to protect‚ guide‚ convict‚ and redeem. O'‚ what a wonderful Savior!!! "If you love me‚ you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father‚ and he will give you another Helper‚ to be with you forever‚ even the Spirit of truth‚ whom the world cannot receive‚ because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him‚ for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 15-17 As you and I find ourselves trying to navigate this world and all that comes along with passing through this place before we reach eternity‚ I pray we recall what Jesus promised. Through recalling this promise‚ I hope it would cause us to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit‚ look to Christ as the one who protects us every step of the way‚ and share the good news of this gift to all we encounter.  Let's pray: Lord‚ thank you for the promise of your Holy Spirit. I pray that in the moments I begin to do things in my own strength that I would recall who You are in my life. My only protector‚ my only guide‚ my only Redeemer‚ and my only Savior. Help me choose to live from this place‚ clinging to and sharing the Good News we've received because of the cross.In Jesus' name‚ amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Arthit_Longwilai Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him‚ Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women’s Journey Magazine‚ Crosswalk.com‚ and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @livingwithlesspodcast and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to See Christ as Protector – Your Daily Prayer – January 11 appeared first on GodUpdates.

The Importance of Dealing with Bitterness See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. – Hebrews 12:15 Underneath the ground of Belgium's Flanders Field‚ one of the deadliest battlefields of World War I‚ a very dangerous and deadly secret lies. It's so deadly‚ in fact‚ that it's caused a very big problem for the Belgian government. You see‚ all across this field‚ artillery shells are surfacing more than 90 years after they were fired. Still unexploded‚ many are still very capable of killing. Some are unearthed by farmers and construction workers‚ while others simply work their way up through the soil. Dozens of full-time workers cannot keep up with them. And even worse‚ thousands of these projectiles contain poisonous gas. It's one thing to recognize something that can cause immense damage when it's obvious. I'm sure you didn't have to tell the soldiers fighting in World War I to avoid those artillery shells at all costs! However‚ when things such as these lie dormant for so long‚ they become all the more precarious because they are an unseen danger. In much the same way‚ many Christians today hold on to bitterness for years‚ even decades‚ before it finally comes up to the surface or is unearthed by a particular situation. And when that happens‚ it can often be damaging‚ and even deadly‚ for relationships between friends and family. So if you have any "unearthed" bitterness in your heart‚ be sure you deal with it by forgiving the person it concerns and even talking with them about it. Don't let buried feelings of contempt harm your relationships with friends and family because those relationships are some of God's greatest gifts! Prayer Challenge: Pray and ask God to reveal to you any "unearthed" bitterness‚ no matter how old‚ you might have in your heart toward another person. If you find you do carry buried resentment‚ forgive that person and let them know you've let it go. Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post The Importance of Dealing with Bitterness – Senior Living – January 11 appeared first on GodUpdates.

January 11‚ 2024 The Enemy Is Already a Defeated FoeLYSA TERKEURST  Lee en español "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion‚ seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) I'm not a fan of lions. They aren't picky with their food choices. Whether you're a gazelle that got separated from your herd or an uninformed human sleeping in a tent where lions roam‚ they'll think you look delicious. When my family and I went back to the continent where my two sons were born‚ I got to experience this terrifying reality firsthand. The guides assured us the lions wouldn't come. Not true. Right when I was falling asleep‚ a creature brushed the length of my tent and - wait for it - roared! As he brushed the tent again‚ my imagination fired off one horrific outcome after another. Though I never stepped outside the tent‚ I suffered a brutal attack of the mind. I let the lion get the best of my thoughts. But we don't have to go to Africa to get stalked by a lion. We see this in the way Peter warned believers against the devil in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober‑minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion‚ seeking someone to devour." The enemy isn't just looking to distract you‚ tempt you‚ or pull you slightly off course. He's looking to devour you. But we must remember something crucial: The devil is vicious‚ but he's not victorious. And‚ my friend‚ you have everything you need to defeat him. We don't have to live feeling powerless and deathly afraid. A closer look at 1 Peter 5:8-9 shows us how we can come out on the other side of these moments. "Be sober‑minded; be watchful" is a reminder to be self-controlled. Words similar to these show up three separate times in Peter's letter (1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). The specific reason why is given in 1 Peter 4:7: "The end of all things is at hand" (ESV). Satan knows the end is fast approaching. He is a defeated foe who has already suffered a fatal blow. But before he falls‚ he'll try to make as many last kills as possible. With everything he's got left‚ he's coming after us. This is why we must be ever watchful. While many of us don't have lions regularly brushing by our homes‚ we do have daily encounters with the enemy. And just like the lion's power over me that night stopped the minute the guards showed up‚ Satan is rendered powerless the moment we tap into the power of God's Word‚ like we're doing today in this devotion. Here's what I want you to remember: God's promises are always a perfect match for our problems. And He is our perfect protection against the enemy. Father God‚ I'm so thankful You haven't left me defenseless. The enemy is no match for Your promises. Guide me‚ equip me and infuse me with holy confidence as I stand firm today. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS When you feel like everything you've tried to hold on to has crumbled in your hands and you're reaching out for something - anything - sturdy and reliable‚ it can be hard to know what page to turn to in your Bible. Maybe you've heard about the promises of God‚ but have you ever wondered what they actually are? With so many uncertainties in life‚ there are still some things you can be sure of. Get our new study guide‚ Keep Holding On: 30 Promises From God You Can Cling to Right Now. ENGAGE Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY James 4:7‚ "Submit yourselves‚ then‚ to God. Resist the devil‚ and he will flee from you" (NIV). Declare James 4:7 over an area of your life where the enemy's voice has felt loud lately. How are you encouraged to know that he is a defeated foe who will flee from you? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post The Enemy Is Already a Defeated Foe – Encouragement for Today – January 11‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Allow me to introduce you to John Anthony Castro. Make that “Attorney” John Anthony Castro…. Stick with me on this because this is pure poetry in motion! I said the other day that the “Trump Boomerang Effect” from 2016 was back in full force‚ and there is simply no better example of it than this. You may not recognize his name right away‚ but trust me you will recognize his actions. It turns out that most all of the court challenges to remove President Trump from the ballot in various different states all have one thing in common: they’re all filed by the same guy‚ the same “Plaintiff” — John Anthony Castro. Imagine that! From an October 2023 CNN article‚ here is Castro at work: And here he is trying to bar Trump from New Hampshire: From our own reporting just a few days ago‚ here is Nevada ruling against Castro: And on and on it goes…. In fact‚ in almost every state challenge trying to ban Trump‚ you’ll find Castro. How charming! The guy really gets around! Maybe he needs more of a social life or something….. Maybe pick up a hobby? But this is his hobby. It seems as though he has Trump Derangement Syndrome and he’s got it BAD! Level 5 TDS! Here he is on Twitter basking in his newfound “fame” and posting a Newsweek article about his efforts against Trump: “Donald Trump’s Biggest Ballot Case Hasn’t Happened Yet.” Excellent @Newsweek article explaining how my pending appeal before the 9th Circuit would guarantee Trump’s loss in the general election. Thank you @AndrewStanton!https://t.co/j57Ldr4Sgg — John Anthony Castro (@realJohnACastro) January 3‚ 2024 But a funny thing happened on the way to victory for Castro…. The TRUMP BOOMERANG EFFECT just struck and it seems to have taken him down! Check. This. Out. BREAKING: The man who has been filing lawsuits in every state to get Donald Trump removed from the 2024 election ballot has been arrested &; charged with filing 17 sets of false tax documents to the IRS In total‚ John Anthony Castro has been charged with 33 counts of aiding the… pic.twitter.com/5rY7XlKKym — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) January 11‚ 2024 BREAKING: The man who has been filing lawsuits in every state to get Donald Trump removed from the 2024 election ballot has been arrested &; charged with filing 17 sets of false tax documents to the IRS In total‚ John Anthony Castro has been charged with 33 counts of aiding the preparation of false tax returns. Prosecutors claim he ran a virtual tax preparation business that provided customers with tax returns beyond what they were actually owed‚ defrauding the government. Castro announced his “campaign” for President in the Republican primary which was clearly all for show in order for the deep state to use him as a vehicle to file the ballot lawsuits (all of which have failed). You literally cannot make this up‚ this guy told judges Donald Trump was a criminal when in actuality‚ he was a criminal. OH THIS IS DELIGHTFULLY JUICY!!!!!! BREAKING: John Anthony Castro who has been filing lawsuits in every state to get Donald Trump removed from the ballot has been arrested &; charged with filing 17 sets of false tax documents to the IRS. pic.twitter.com/kLYdKFOxng — Mary Frost (@Mary_frostt) January 10‚ 2024 The irony and the poetic justice cannot be overstated…. The Hill had more glorious details: A Texas man who filed over two dozen challenges to former President Trump’s ballot eligibility was arrested Tuesday on charges alleging he filed 17 sets of false tax documents to the IRS. John Anthony Castro was indicted last week on 33 counts of aiding the preparation of false tax returns. Prosecutors claim he ran a virtual tax preparation business that provided customers with tax returns beyond what they were actually owed‚ defrauding the government. “Castro would promise a significantly higher refund than taxpayers could receive from other preparers and on many occasions‚ offered to split the additional refund with taxpayers‚” prosecutors said in court documents. “In order to achieve these larger refunds‚ Castro generated false deductions‚ that were not based in fact‚ and which were submitted without the taxpayer’s knowledge.” Castro was busted by an undercover police officer‚ prosecutors outlined‚ who posed as a customer for his tax services. While a reputable tax preparer promised the undercover agent a $373 tax return‚ Castro instead claimed he could get $6‚007‚ and offered to split the difference in extra cash. The tax forms Castro then filed on behalf of the undercover officer contained nearly $30‚000 in fraudulently claimed deductions‚ prosecutors said. Castro is also a 2024 GOP presidential candidate‚ a long-shot bid that has gained little attention outside his legal challenges to Trump’s ballot eligibility. Castro has filed challenges to Trump’s ballot placement in 27 states‚ claiming that Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots violates the 14th Amendment. He was indicted on the same day that his ballot challenge in New Hampshire was dismissed. His attempts have also been thrown out in Florida and most recently in Nevada on Tuesday. While multiple of the suits remain pending‚ none have gained significant traction. From his law firm’s website‚ Castro sure does seem to think very highly of himself: John Anthony Castro is the managing partner of Castro &; Co. Dr. Castro earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington‚ DC. Dr. Castro also earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from UNM School of Law. Additionally‚ Dr. Castro is a graduate‚ alum‚ and fellow of Harvard Business School. Dr. Castro is an internationally recognized published scholar and author of International Taxation in Plain English‚ a soon to be published practitioner’s guide for attorneys practicing in the field of international tax and estate planning. Dr. Castro is listed on each and every return submitted by Castro &; Co. and AiTax as a Third-Party Designee‚ which authorizes him to practice federal tax law in all 50 states as well as the 68 countries with which the U.S. has income and estate tax treaties. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. § 500‚ generally‚ and 31 U.S.C. § 330‚ specifically‚ Dr. Castro is authorized to practice before the IRS albeit the U.S. Treasury has chosen not to regulate third-party designees listed on federal income tax returns. Nevertheless‚ Dr. Castro’s activities are authorized by federal law. As such‚ Dr. Castro is a federal tax practitioner and state bars cannot lawfully regulate his activities. The general public does not know the difference between a state-licensed attorney that practices state law and the exemption for federal attorneys such as federal tax attorneys and patent attorneys that do not practice state law.(Editor’s Note: Gee thanks Castor‚ the “General Public” is just so dumb‚ huh?  But not dumb enough to get charged with 33 federal counts!) Federal practitioners are not required to obtain state licensing because they only interpret and practice under federal laws; not state laws. The Florida Supreme Court articulates it very well in this document: click here (PDF Page 5‚ Section 11 “Federal Tax Practice”). As the Florida Supreme Court’s analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sperry v. Florida (373 U.S. 379‚ 1963) outlines‚ the activity of advising on federal tax law and income tax treaties is the “practice of law; it is merely authorized by federal regulation” leaving state bars without jurisdiction. This is what we in the legal profession call the “licensing exemption for federal practitioners.” Federal practitioners do not need to be licensed with a state bar. Moreover‚ state tax law and estate tax planning are matters ancillary to the federal practice and are also covered. In other words‚ just as preparing state income tax returns is allowed‚ our firm’s position is that preparing state trusts are also covered. We understand the issue of state trusts being ancillary to the federal practice is a matter that is not settled law‚ but we are approaching it in good-faith to establish precedent. We have a positive working relationship with all state bars. We believe in honesty and transparency and always welcome respectful due diligence from clients and colleagues. If you have any other questions‚ please do not hesitate to contact our offices. My favorite part is that last paragraph! Honesty and transparency are definitely the two things I will always think about when I think about this Castro guy! LOL! Even the NY Times is covering the disastrous charges to Castro: A long-shot Republican presidential candidate who has repeatedly‚ and so far unsuccessfully‚ tried to have Donald J. Trump thrown off the primary ballot was arrested this week on federal charges of preparing false tax returns for clients. The candidate‚ John Anthony Castro‚ faces 33 felony counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent return. Each count carries a sentence of up to three years in prison if he is convicted. Court records show that prosecutors filed an indictment of Mr. Castro under seal on Jan. 3. That same day‚ Mr. Castro represented himself in a New Hampshire courtroom‚ appearing without a lawyer to contest Mr. Trump’s eligibility. The records in the criminal case against Mr. Castro‚ which are now public‚ show that he was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday and was released after making an initial appearance in federal court in Fort Worth Mr. Castro graduated from law school but has never been licensed to practice law in any state. His bare-bones presidential campaign had raised $678 as of September‚ and he has not emerged as a serious challenger to the leading Republican candidates.  (Editor’s Note: what a winner this guy is!) Even so‚ Mr. Castro has made headlines for a fire hose of litigation in at least 27 states‚ asserting that Mr. Trump is barred from the presidency by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment‚ which excludes from office any federal or state official who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” Tracking Efforts to Remove Trump From the 2024 Ballot See which states have challenges seeking to bar Donald J. Trump from the presidential primary ballot. Several of Mr. Castro’s lawsuits remain pending‚ either in trial courts or on appeal‚ but to date‚ none of them have gained significant traction. Some judges have questioned whether he had standing to sue on the issue‚ and have expressed doubts that he was a serious candidate for the presidency. Earlier this week‚ a federal judge in Nevada dismissed Mr. Castro’s lawsuit in that state‚ finding that by running for president‚ he was “creating his own injury in order to manufacture standing.” The criminal charges against Mr. Castro‚ who has prepared income tax returns for clients of his business‚ accuse him of repeatedly promising to help those clients get a higher tax refund than other preparers could‚ and of claiming false deductions on their returns without the clients’ knowledge. The indictment claims he “devised and executed a scheme to defraud the United States by falsely creating and submitting false tax returns on behalf of unsuspecting taxpayers.” In a phone interview on Wednesday‚ Mr. Castro claimed he was being persecuted and retaliated against by Trump appointees. He said the allegations in the indictment involved actions he took years ago and that he had previously taken responsibility for misinterpreting the tax code in those instances. He added that he thought the charges against him were an attempt to disrupt his lawsuits regarding Mr. Trump. “They sat on it for three years to see if I would stop being a problem‚ politically‚ and go away‚ and I didn’t‚” said Mr. Castro. He said the charges might affect his plans to file more lawsuits around the country on the ballot eligibility issue‚ because he now needs the court’s permission to leave Texas. Here is the Press Release from the United States Attorney’s Office: A Mansfield man has been charged with 33-counts of filing fraudulent tax returns‚ announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. John Anthony Castro‚ 40‚ was indicted on thirty-three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent return. He made his initial appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hal R. Ray‚ Jr. “Mr. Castro’s alleged crimes are stunning in their brazenness‚” said U.S. Attorney Simonton. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold people accountable who steal from the federal government’s—and the American public’s—pockets.” “This is precisely the type of conduct IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners are committed to deterring‚” said Tammy Tomlins‚ Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office. “Today’s indictment sends a clear message‚ you will be held accountable‚ if you abuse our tax system for your personal financial gain.” According to the indictment‚ Mr. Castro owned and operated Castro &; Company LLC. a virtual tax preparation business with locations in Orlando‚ Florida‚ Mansfield‚ Texas‚ and Washington‚ D.C. Starting in 2016‚ Mr. Castro devised a scheme to falsely create and submit false tax returns on behalf of unsuspecting taxpayers. Taxpayers would seek out Castro’s assistance in filing personal tax returns and Mr. Castro would promise a significantly higher refund than taxpayers could receive from other prepares and on many occasions offered to split the additional refund with taxpayers. In order to achieve these larger refunds‚ Mr. Castro generated false deductions without the taxpayer’s knowledge. In 2018‚ an undercover agent‚ posing as a taxpayer‚ contacted Castro &; Company‚ LLC for assistance. Castro refused to meet in person unless a $5‚000 retainer was paid but offered to assist the undercover agent virtually. During a recorded telephone conversation‚ Mr. Castro stated that he could project the amount of the tax refund the undercover agent would likely receive from another firm and then compare that figure with the refund that Mr. Castro would obtain. According to the indictment‚ an employee of Mr. Castro’s interviewed the agent over the telephone regarding deductions. The employee stated that Mr. Castro would make any decisions regarding what items would be included on the tax filing. The employee did not identify any deductions that would apply to the agent and in the course of the interview‚ the undercover agent denied any facts that would support deductions. On March 14‚ 2018‚ Mr. Castro filed the agent’s tax return claiming $29‚339 in fraudulent deductions. The IRS issued a refund of $6‚007‚ Mr. Castro received $2‚999 for his services and the agent received the remaining amount of $3‚008. As Castro told the taxpayer‚ he would have received only a $300 deduction had he used another tax preparer. Mr. Castro continued in a similar pattern with dozens of other taxpayers‚ resulting in hundreds of thousands of improperly paid claims. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct‚ not evidence. Mr. Castro is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted on all counts‚ he faces up to 99 years in federal prison – 3 years per count. The Internal Revenue Service‚ Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl is prosecuting the case.

1779 - Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur 1966 - "Daktari" African adventure series premieres on CBS TV 1967 - Romeinse Curie installs Council for Pontifical Study commission 1981 - "Tintypes" closes at John Golden Theater NYC after 93 performances 1985 - CDC MMWR publishes guidelines for screening U.S. blood supply for AIDS antibodies with ELISA test that would be available later that year 1987 - NFC Championship‚ Giants Stadium‚ East Rutherford: New York Giants beat Washington Redskins‚ 17-0 1998 - Sidi-Hamed massacre takes place in Algeria‚ over 100 people are killed. 1998 - 24th People's Choice Awards: Harrison Ford and Julia Roberts win (Dramatic Motion Picture) and Tim Allen and Oprah Winfrey win (TV) 1999 - Marty Schottenheimer resigns as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs 2004 - 30th People's Choice Awards: Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts win (Dramatic Motion Picture) and Ray Romano and Jennifer Aniston win (TV) More Historical Events »

Celebrating the equipment-smashing‚ French-kissing day Nirvana knocked Michael Jackson off the top of the charts