Journey Christian Magazine

12/06/2020

Our newest issue of Journey Christian Magazine is available for online viewing at the link below. Included is a wonderful tribute to Carole Anne Hallyburton.

Journey Magazine Publishing encouraging and informative articles on faith, fellowship, and the Christian life. What began in 2008 as a small Christian newspaper in Asheville, NC, has grown into an online magazine for Christian households throughout the Carolinas and the greater Southeast. Journey Ma...

10/22/2020

If any of you who knew Carole Anne Hallyburton (and I private messaged a few of you) would like to submit a tribute to her, let me know and I will send you my email. We are planning a section for her in our next Journey. I would need your tribute by Nov. 2nd. Thank you all for your kind words! Susie Shields

10/13/2020

Today our dear sister and editor of Journey Christian Magazine, Carole Anne Hallyburton, danced her way into the loving arms of Jesus. Carole Anne was the driving force behind each issue and passionate about everything she did. We will miss you but rejoice that you no longer have to struggle in this life and will be forever praising our Lord in Heaven!

10/10/2020

25 prayer days until

Holy God, righteous and true, Your children in America look to You and to You, only for guidance and equipping to make wise decisions that move our country in the right direction - toward You.

Help us, I pray, to do our part in praying and in staying with what we know is right according to the truth of Your Word. Teach us to make our actions count and our words matter, and line them both up to Your sense of rightness, not with our own or with those of our culture. Guide us with Your eye; grip us with Your strong arm; teach us what we need to know to make our lives - and our nation - count for you. In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN

10/09/2020

26 prayer days until

Father God, With the 2020 election just weeks away and increasingly standing out as the the most critical one so many Americans have experienced in our lifetime, I thank You for the unequaled confidence that I and Your other children can claim: that You are our Rock, Fortress, and Present Help always - in good times and bad (Psalm 42:1).

Secular forces are at work to completely change this country that You established two and one-half centuries ago. They fail to realize that Satan is using them as tools to reshape Your beautiful land into a godless, lawless, hellish place.

But they also fail to realize that Your are not only the Rock of Your children; You are indeed and without question the Rock of America...You will not be moved.

I pray today that in You mercy and grace - which none of us deserves - You will open America's eyes as You open the eyes of the Apostle Paul and so many others throughout history. Revive and stir us all, I pray, with hearts that beat, heads that think, and hands and feet that act for Your glory and Yours alone.

I trust You, our Rock, not only to do these things, but also to light an unquenchable fire among Your children - including me - to be so committed to the tenets of You and Your Word that each of us "would rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God."

You alone have the power to do these things, and I ask that You do them in none other than the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, AMEN

10/08/2020

27 prayer days until

Father God, I come before You today so grateful for the privilege of asking and receiving the same forgiveness You extended to David in Psalm 51. I'm sure that a number of Americans share in that gratefulness for the cleansing made possible by the death and resurrection of Your Son at Calvary.

I love You, and because You are Truth, I pursue truth with a tenacity. But sometimes that tenacity is perceived as overly-zealous...in some misconstrued assumptions, even as hatred. For causing this misconception, I am sorry. Father, You know that I have no hatred for anyone. I ask that You guard my heart against this vice always.

At the same time, I askYour Holy Spirit to strengthen me - to strengthen all Christ-followers in America - to pursue and stand in Your truth in a way that brings You glory without cowering to any force that calls us to compromise our Spirit-led convictions. We ask in the holy name of Your Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that You keep us ever-mindful that:

10/07/2020

28 prayer days until

Gracious God in Heaven,I openly recognize and thank You that all authority is Yours, but I also know from Your Word that You give authority to Your appointed leaders for the purpose of protection and guidance (Romans 13:1-7). Today, I ask that You give our two 2020 Vice Presidential candidates wisdom, discernment, strength, and resolve as they prepare for and navigate tonight's debate. Please keep them healthy, safe, and rested today - and at the end of tonight and every night, may Your Word be the prevailing winner.

For our other government leaders, I pray You infiltrate them each one with Your wisdom concerning actions to stop the virus and stabilize our economy. Please give them - as well as America's spiritual leaders - Your discernment on how to meet the needs of our nation's citizens as we continue striving to glorify Your name and encourage fellow citizens.

Please fill our civic leaders with Your divine inspiration, courage, joy, and strength to meet the needs of those they serve. Also, fill those of us whom they serve gratefulness and respect for their service. Also, help us, as representatives of Christ in our communities, to display courage, hope, generosity, and kindness in a way that inspires and bolsters those around us. In the Savior's name I pray, AMEN

10/06/2020

29 prayer days until

God of Mercy, in this country where peace among mankind appears to be more and more impossible, I crave Your peace...and I imagine others do as well. It seems no matter the blessing - or discipline - that we receive, one American rejoices over and another resents Your sovereign actions.

One part of me, head so often in hands, wonders how You do it...how You keep from clearing everyone out of the nation with one fell swoop of Your mighty hand. Your patience is perfect...but not everlasting (e.g, Romans 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:8-10).

The other part of me knows exactly how You do it, though; Your peace is also perfect, while human peace is far from perfect (John 14:27). And so it strikes me afresh this morning that - in order to know any peace at all - each American must stay carefully attuned - carefully close - to You. Only through an active, abiding relationship with You will we and this culture be infiltrated by Your peace through Your Holy Spirit. This gift is ours for the taking - and that, Lord Jesus, blows me away.

So in Your peace I continue to pray for the physical, mental and spiritual health of everyone in this nation...including our leaders and their families; law enforcement, healthcare workers...my next door neighbor. Please strengthen us to live with purpose and stalwart empowerment to serve and obey You, that we may know well Your perfect peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, my only Savior, AMEN

10/04/2020

31 prayer days until

“Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of the Nations,” I lift my heart, soul, hands and voice to You this day in praise for Your priceless gift of salvation and in petition for America. I continue to lift our President, his family and everyone worldwide who is fighting Coronavirus to You...asking that Your healing comfort and peace surround and shield each one.

A nation who does not know fully Your Word is a nation that stands divided. Sadly, America is such a nation because we haven’t taken to heart the warning of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12. We fight each other instead of uniting to attack and derail the real enemy - Satan and his minions.

Please clear our hearts and minds to see and repent of this misconception, that we may be free to move in unity toward defeating the root of America’s problems by and through and for Your glory. In Your precious name we ask, Lord Jesus, AMEN

10/03/2020

32 prayer days until

Gracious God, although I come before Your throne this morning with a heart weighed down by concern for America, her leaders and her people, I also rejoice in gratitude for the undeniable fact that, in ALL things, You are sovereign. Knowing that You are in control of Your creation brings a sense of peace like no other.

I continue to pray Your protection over all individuals affected by Covid-19 - from the least to the greatest - patients and their families as well. I praise You for the physician's report this morning that our President has thus far been administered no supplemental oxygen for his symptoms. In my heart I know that You are there by his side as You are with every other patient, and I love You for being there.

Please watch over our government leaders, candidates, their families and teams - regardless of political affiliation - and keep them safe. For those who have tested positive for Covid, I ask for strength and healing. For those who've tested negative, I give You praise and ask for their continued good health.

For media outlets and other individuals who choose to spew derogatory, shameful comments of hate during this crucial time for America, I pray, Father, that You'll forgive each one; truly they know not what they're doing.

For American citizens, I ask that Your Holy Spirit give each of us a good dose of discernment to keep our priorities aligned with Your will, particularly during this time.

And for American citizens, I ask that Your Holy Spirit give each of us a sustaining dose of discernment to keep our priorities aligned with Your will, particularly during this time. Specifically and in the mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray that - as each of us processes what we see and hear from other sources - we will heed the weight of Your Word which declares that:

10/02/2020

PSA: 33 days until

In the words of the great hymn, "O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made," I am so thankful - so utterly blessed - to be able to call America my earthly home.

But my earthly home is under attack - some deem it political, some spiritual, and others supernatural. I personally sense that it's linked to all three - and spearheaded by Satan. Whatever the cause, Covid-19 is here and You, Father, are the only One who can carry us through it.

And although I haven't asked corporately, I've asked in personal prayer and continue to ask that You cover each and every one of us with protection from this virus. I've seen it affect so many - regardless of name or status - which underscores the fact that all Your children are equal in Your eyes.

Your Son, Jesus Christ - who gave His life freely for each of us at Calvary - traveled during His earthly ministry through towns and villages, curing every disease and illness as He went (Matthew 9:35). At His simple command, the sick were made well. We ask You, Jesus, to come to our aid here, now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we - especially those who rejector don't know You - may experience first-hand Your healing love and respond by accepting You as their personal Savior.

Please heal those who are sick with the virus. Enable them to regain their strength and health through the power of Your Holy Spirit and quality medical care.

I need to be honest with You, Jesus, about what's on my heart: this Covid-19 stuff can be scary at times, even amid my faith in You. Please deliver all of us from such fear; its presence only serves to prevent nations from working together, neighbors from helping one another, and Satan's schemes from being thwarted.

Precious Jesus, You are the indisputable Healer of all; please stay by our side and bolster us in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Please be with those who have contracted the virus. May they experience the eternal peace that only You can give. Be likewise with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. I pray for the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected, and for those who put themselves at risk. I pray for the leaders of all nations. Please, Lord, give them the foresight and wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus, stay with us as we persist, prepare and recover from this pandemic.

Above all, Father, heal America of all its diseases in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, AMEN