Daily Devotional for Wednesday February 11, 2009
We Were Told if We didn't Get the $700B Bail Out The Whole System would Shut Down
(Philippians 4:19)
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Question? Just 5 months ago we were told that if we didn't get the $700 BILLION dollar bail-out the economic experts said would fix the economy, the whole system would shut down and the results would be catastrophic. We were told that the $700 billion would fix everything. Not only did it NOT fix anything, but the economy is in worse shape and another million plus people have lost their jobs. Their big plans failed, the money is gone, and we don't even know where it went! Now we are being told that if we don't go along with this latest $800 BILLION dollar plan, our economy will shut down and it may take decades to recover.
ARE OUR MEMORIES THAT SHORT OR ARE WE THAT STUPID??? WHAT IS THE STORY GOING TO BE 5 MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN THIS CURRENT PLAN FAILS AND THEY COME UP WITH ANOTHER "CAN'T MISS PLAN" THAT ENTAILS ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS???
As I told you last September, they can come up with all the plans they want, throw tens of trillions at the problem, and it isn't going to change anything. That is because our economic crisis is really a spiritual crisis, and it isn't going to be fixed with dollars but by getting on our knees, asking God to forgive us for our sins and rebellion, and turning back to Him and His Truth.
THAT IS THE ONLY PLAN THAT IS GOING TO FIX THE ECONOMY AND THIS PLAN DOESN'T COST A DIME, BUT IT DOES COST OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH AND THE ONE FROM WHOM ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS FLOW!!!
One of the fallouts of this economic crisis has been thousands of churches and ministries have closed their doors because giving had dropped off so bad. Many churches are having their properties foreclosed. Huge media ministries like Robert Schuller's Hour of Power that has been on TV for 30 years, may go off the air. Schuller said they are selling off over $65 million dollars of their property to pay off their debt.
A national study last month stated that over 100,000 non-profit organizations will close down this year because of a lack of funding. As this crisis continues, more and more churches and ministries are going to be affected.
There have been economic downturns in the past, but they have usually affected people who didn't have much money. This crisis has devastated the key people like business owners and people with money to invest. Long running successful businesses have had to close. People have watched their investment portfolios drop anywhere from 25-50%, even more in some cases.
Those large givers churches, ministries, non-profit groups rely on for 30-60% of their giving simply aren't able to give any longer. Many who weren't hurt too bad, have had to redirect funds they would normally donate to children and other family members who are struggling.
Liveprayer has been greatly impacted as well. 50% of our donations come from those who sacrifice to send $10, $20, $50, $100 as they are able. The other 50% comes each month from those who are able to give $1,000 and more. Over the years, God has brought forth a small group of about 30 people who loved the Lord, loved His work here at Liveprayer, and gave generously.
These were the people I could contact when things were tight and they could send a check for $5,000, $10,000, even more if needed. Many of those people were real estate agents, homebuilders, mortgage brokers, and the housing crash hurt them tremendously. Many others had ties to Wall Street, and of course this past year has been devastating to most in the investment industry.
Knowing this was coming in late 2007, I spent 2008 working hard to commercialize the TV program to be able to support the whole ministry so we didn't have to rely on donations to survive. A small group fo 20 people (who in retrospect were protected by God when they invested in the expansion of our Internet TV station since many would have lost a portion of those funds had they been in most any other investment at the time) invested to help us expand our Internet TV station.
Because of the downturn in the economy, most companies have had to severely slash their advertising budgets. So our efforts last year will cover what we invested in the expansion, but sadly isn't going to throw off the additional revenues we planned on to cover the monthly TV budget, let alone our monthly Liveprayer.com budget.
We have struggled each month lately just to cover our $40,000 monthly budget for Liveprayer.com. For the past 14 months now, we have had to go in debt to cover the $40,000 monthly TV budget, putting us $560,000 in debt. I am at a place where I have to prayerfully consider shutting down the TV and radio programs. That would be sad, since for the relatively small amount of money it costs us each month based on the number of people we reach and lives we impact, it would be a great loss.
Sadly, there is no one in the secular media who is boldly proclaiming Christ as the only way to be saved and the Bible as the ONLY Truth. Despite the death threats, the incredible heat I take personally, I have willingly sacrificed myself to faithfully deliver God message to the marketplace thru secular TV and radio every Monday thru Friday these past 6 years.
For as many have been affected by the economic crisis, God has soverignly shielded many more. If you are one of those who has been blessed, your business is still healthy, portfolio in tact, please pray today about stepping up and replacing one of those key people who were faithful to let God use them in a meaningful way in the life of this ministry for many years. It is now your turn to make your impact for Christ. Also, money is relevant. For some, $1,000 is a huge sum of money, for others, $5 million is a huge sum, still others $80 million is a huge sum.
I know that God has placed not one, but SEVERAL "rams in the bush: for this moment. While some who have been blessed with great resources have never considered sending a gift to the Lord's work for $$500,0000 or $1,000,000, but would not hesitate to invest that type of money in a real estate or business deal, let me remind you that the greatest investment you will ever make is in the eternal souls of men. That my friend, will be your only real lasting legacy!!!
All of the money we raise at Liveprayer goes directly to reaching people for Christ. I make the last 3 yrs of our audited financials available to anyone who asks for them, since I have always been transparent about our finances for nearly 20 yrs now. I have no buildings, no huge staffs, no planes, no huge infrastructure to support.
I don't live in a multi-million dollar mansion or have new luxury cars, all paid for by the ministry. I don't have professional development people who are paid big salaries to call on people to give like other major ministries do. Since day one have simply walked by faith, shared our needs via email, and trusted God to move on peoples hearts to give to His work here
The nearly 4 million praise reports we have archived are the reminders of why I have gotten up every day these past 10 yrs to serve God thru Liveprayer. This is why I have given my life to God's work and have no shame in asking you to help me each month.
"Dear Bill, I just wanted to share with you that my friend watched your video and accepted Christ last Saturday. Thank you so much for putting that video out there, and thank you for your prayers! I have been friends with her for almost 20 years and this is a long awaited answer prayer. May God Bless you indeed!!!"
" I just wanted you to know that I asked you to please pray for my parents salvation as they are Mormons ,2 weeks ago I was very blessed to lead them to the Lord. I have been saved for 30 years and have been witnessing off and on all this time. Praise God for your ministry and a few others like you."
"You prayed years ago with me for my husband to be healed from deadly cancer, and I will never forget it because I know it was Jesus who guided me to you. Never heard of you, yet Jesus made sure I did and he had me write you. My husband is alive and well. Praise God. Thank you!"
I love you and care about you so much. I have to admit, after nearly 10 yrs, living with Liveprayer literally 24/7, I am a bit weary. What keeps me going each day is the fact I know how many people depend on Liveprayer each day and how many lives we impact for Christ. Every day we exist, God's Truth is getting out into the marketplace and lives are being impacted and changed now, and for eternity.
I am fully aware that over these 10 yrs, Liveprayer has accumulated some great assets. Our brand, email data base, content, has a market value of $4-$5 million dollars. It would be very tempting to simply sell everything, pay off our debt, and go lay on the beach and tell myself that I did my part. BUT I CAN'T!
I made a commitment of my life to the Lord nearly 20 yrs ago, a commitment I have tried my best to faithfully fulfill. My race is not over. As a matter of fact, now more than ever, I need to be faithful to my calling as we endure these difficult days ahead. I still believe that this nation can repent, turn back to God, and escape the majority of His wrath. I do! I also believe that because I have not bowed my knee to Baal or sold out to the world like so many in the Lord's work have done, God can use me to help bring this nation back to God. But I can't do this alone. Unlike ever before, I need YOU!
I need your prayers each day. You know my heart, that I have openly shared with you daily for nearly 10 years now. I could care less about money or I would have reaped millions and millions by simply preaching to the choir all of these years like nearly everyone else does. I am asking everyone to sit down today, pray, seek the Lord, and send me the best gift that you can, even if it is only $1. God will honor your sacrifice. Even though there are 2.4 million who get this Daily Devotional each day, less than 1./4 of 1% ever give.
I KNOW there are many reading this today who God has blessed and protected thru this economic crisis. I am praying today for 560 people to step up and send a one-time gift of $1,000 or more so we can retired the TV debt and keep the TV/radio program going. I also know there are several people right now who have the ability to send a gift to clear up that entire debt and can only ask that you pray, seek the Lord about helping me with that burden.
*Please pray about a family member or friend that you know who God has blessed. Tell them about Liveprayer, about our needs, and ask them to look at our unique work in reaching the lost and hurting around the world, and to prayerfully consider supporting our work financially. People give to all sorts of causes, there is none as worth as this work that has a 10 year track record of faithfully delivering God's Truth and helping to lead the lost to faith in Jesus Christ!!!
Memo to satan, I AM GOING NOWHERE! Yes I am a bit weary. Yes I am a bit discouraged. But every time these past 10 yrs when I was down, God send SOMEONE to pick me up. Each day I am here to pick up millions around the world. However, today God knows that I am the one that needs to be picked up. All I can do is share my heart with you as I do each day, and let you know that I will continue to be that voice crying in the wilderness until the Lord calls me home. We have the tools, the infrastructure, and I am asking you today to stand with me and help me.
The Bible teaches to give according to your ability to give. For some that only may be $1. For others it may be $10 or $20. Still others it may be $50 or $100. Still others it may be $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000, or more. It is not the amount God sees, it is your heart! Don't forget, that we can also take gifts in stock, jewelry, automobiles, or real estate. Many people find tax advantages to giving to Liveprayer in one of these ways. You need to check with your tax accountant.
TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our secure server at: www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" link, you can give using your PayPal account using my email address: bkeller@liveprayer.com, or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and sacrificial support of God's work here at Liveprayer. We have been faithfully doing this for nearly 10 yrs now. We have been able to impact tens of millions of lives because of friends like YOU. Now more than ever this world, the lost and hurting, need the Lord. Liveprayer is one of God's last days vehicles to boldly, without shame or compromise, bring His hope and love to this lost and hurting world.
Thank you for standing with me and being a blessing to so many who you will never know until Glory. Know that I am praying for you and your family and for the Lord's blessings as you serve and follow Him each day!!! TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR HIS KINGDOM!!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller