Daily Devotional for Tuesday February 7, 2023

Beyonce dresses like a prostitute! and, What you wear to church!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2023

(1 Timothy 2:9; Ecclesiastes 9:8)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: This is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!!! Thank You for this wonderful day my Lord. It is a day like none other. There will never be another day like this day. Let me never take for granted even one day of this precious gift of life You bestow upon me. Let me do something this day to bring honor and glory to You. I love You Lord, my life is Yours, use it for Your glory. Thank You for your many blessings, so many I can't even begin to count them. In the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I pray...AMEN!!! *Salvation message from Ground Zero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqZ9oaqJNJg

***DAILY DEVOTIONAL BLOCKS! Praise God! sATAN is a liar and a loser! By the grace of God it looks like all of the blocks many of our friends with Yahoo and AOL email accounts have been dealing with since the first of the year will be cleared up by the end of the weekend. IF YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL IS NOT IN YOUR INBOX, MAKE SURE IT ISN'T IN YOUR SPAM FOLDER SINCE THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE WE FIGHT ALL THE TIME OUT OF OUR CONTROL. Also, never forget the Daily Devotional is always on the Liveprayer.com homepage each day. On top of our normal monthly operations, this block has forced us to spend apx. $2,500 we hadn't budgeted to cover our techs overtime the past 4 weeks. Please pray one of our friends will be able to help us with a special gift to cover this unexpected expenditure. GOD IS GREAT!

******LIVEPRAYER OPPORTUNITY!!! We are in the process of hiring a social media professional. This will be someone who is experienced in the social media world who can work the Liveprayer social media platforms 24/7 and attract new people to our message. THIS IS NOT A FULL TIME JOB WITH FULL TIME PAY AND BENEFITS! I am looking for someone who is experienced in social media and I can work with on production based results. If you, or someone you know is well versed with a history of results in social media platforms, contact me at bkeller@liveprayer.com so we can chat. For someone who is experienced and plugged into the world of social media, this could be a great opportunity to use your gifts to get God’s Word out to the masses and bring lost souls to faith in Jesus thru Liveprayer!!!

***THE DAILY LIVEPRAYER TV NUGGET: The Bible tells us only God can know the heart of a person. However, we have every right AND RESPONSIBILITY to judge a person by their words and deeds. Sunday night was the annual Grammy awards. I give them credit for airing several Christian artists and their music. It was also a night that saw the singer/entertainer Beyonce win a record number of Grammys. I do not consider myself a prude in any form or fashion nor do I waste my time dealing in faux outrage. There are far too many issues for a Christian to be outraged about. The reality is while Beyonce was thanking the Lord for her awards, she was wearing a dress that made her look like a cheap prostitute. Actually, if you ever watch ANY of her music videos she looks like a woman who works in a strip club. Sorry, but she sells her music while dressing and performing like a stripper! The biggest problem is that it sends a horrible message to millions of girls who want to emulate her. The message is to be famous you have to wear provocative clothing and perform like you work in a strip joint. That is sad because it is NOT true, but that is the message the music industry sends to young girls who dream of being a famous musician/entertainer! Even worse, this is what people consuming music respond to, mostly males! My friend, it is not just Beyonce and those who dress and perform like her, it is what the public demands!

*Don't miss the Liveprayer TV program, airing “LIVE” every Monday thru Friday from 11pm EDT to Midnight! For details on viewing options for the Liveprayer TV program, “LIVE” or “On Demand,” go to: https://liveprayer.com/liveprayer-show-about.cfm

***FEBRUARY FINANCIAL UPDATE: We ended January with a shortfall of $35,000. So far we have covered $10,000 of that shortfall leaving the final $25,000. I am praying that in the first week we can clear up that shortfall and begin working on the $55,000 we require for our February ministry operations. That is a total of $80,000 by the end of the short month of February to go into March with all of our ministry operations current. OUR GOD IS ABLE!!!

The Bible teaches us to “give according to our ability to give.” For some that may be $10 or $20. For others it may be $50 or $100. Still others it may be $200, $500, $1,000, $10,000 or more. GOD WILL BLESS YOUR GIFT NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT!!!

ALSO, DON'T FORGET A GIFT OF $1,800 COVERS ONE DAY OF MINISTRY AT LIVEPRAYER!!! I received this email recently, “Pastor Bill, My wife and I have just sold our last rental and God told us to tithe $1,800.00 to pay for a day of your ministry. Not looking for accolades, just that you know when you receive the check. Rest assured that we will still be making our regular weekly tithe.”

TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card at: http://liveprayer.com/donate.cfm or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible!

*STOCKS! A great way to help Liveprayer is by donating stock. The transfer can be made in a way you get the full credit for your donation without having to pay any of the taxes you normally would on gains your stocks may have enjoyed. Contact me for information about this incredible way to help God's work here at Liveprayer: bkeller@liveprayer.com

*LIVE ON AFTER YOU ARE IN HEAVEN!!! By remembering God's work here at Liveprayer in your will/estate planning, you can still help me share His Truth with the masses, be here for people in their time of greatest need, and help lead the lost to faith in Jesus even after God has called you home!!! God has led many of our friends in the Liveprayer family to remember His work here in their will. Please pray about this opportunity to continue and partner with me in the Lord's work at Liveprayer, even after you are enjoying your rewards and the eternal peace of Heaven! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at: keller@liveprayer.com

***ANNOUNCEMENT ON LIVEPRAYER'S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE!!! Here are the social media sites where you can find Liveprayer and what is posted there: Facebook (1, 2, 3), Twitter (1, 2, 3), GAB ( 2, 3), Parler (2, 3), Clouthub (1, 2, 3), Rumble (2), TPN (2, 3), Gettr (2, 3), Telegram (2, 3), ROKU (1, 2). WE ARE ALSO NOW ON Sovren Media (2, 3), Mr. Pillow Mike Lindell's Frankspeech (2), Truth Social (2,3), and Frank Social (2,3). *Content posted: 1) Liveprayer TV “LIVE" Mon-Fri 11p-Mid EDT 2) Recent Liveprayer TV programs for “On Demand” viewing 3) Liveprayer Daily Devotional

***Our techs are currently setting up the audio of each night's TV program on major Podcasting platforms. Our first is I-Tunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liveprayers-daily-podcast-by-bill-keller/id1437210653

***ALEXA! You can now listen to the audio of the TV program on your ALEXA. The first time you need to tell ALEXA to "enable Liveprayer." After that, simply say, "Play Liveprayer!"

***Please watch and share the exciting new Bill Keller Docudrama at: https://www.liveprayer.com/bill.cfm

***How you can help Liveprayer! 1) Pray for Bill and the ministry team each day. 2) Encourage people you know to sign-up for the Daily Devotional at: https://www.liveprayer.com/signup.cfm 3) Share the TV program with people you know: https://liveprayer.com/liveprayer-show-about.cfm Here are the social media sites where you can find Liveprayer TV ‘live”, Liveprayer Facebook, Liveprayer Twitter, and the Liveprayer Church ROKU channel. For ON-DEMAND viewing, Liveprayer GAB, Liveprayer Rumble, Liveprayer TPN, Liveprayer Gettr, Liveprayer Telegram, Liveprayer Sovren Media, and Liveprayer on Mr. Pillow Mike Lindell's Frankspeech and Frank Social and Liveprayer on Trump's Truth Social. 4) Pray about helping Liveprayer with a gift at: http://liveprayer.com/donate.cfm

***REVIVAL TOOL!!! Do your part in helping to bring revival to our nation each day in less than 15 minutes and without costing you one penny! Join others by making this part of your daily routine! Visit the Liveprayer Revival Tool and share it with others at: www.liveprayer.com/revival.cfm *ALSO, THE DAILY REVIVAL TOOL IS MY WAY OF DISCIPLING YOU TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR FAITH. SO IT SERVES A DUAL PURPOSE! HERE IS A SPECIAL LINK THAT GIVES YOU THE PAST 30 DAYS OF THE REVIVAL TOOL VERSE FOR THE DAY, DAILY TASK, AND PRAYER: https://liveprayer.com/bill/revivalcheck.cfm

This is one of those Devotionals I have shared in the past that upsets a few folks. It is an issue that needs to be addressed, but is so fraught with "land mines," it will no doubt end up upsetting many people today as well. Hopefully God has given me the wisdom of Solomon in dealing with what is a very sensitive issue and helped me to address all of the different views regarding not only what we wear to church, but what a Pastor wears.

Keep in mind that the real message today is one of RESPECT. Don't fall into the trap of getting emotional or upset, but keep in mind at the end of the day this is NOT a message about clothes but about RESPECT!

Let me ask you a question. If you are going on an interview for a great job that pays well, has wonderful benefits, what are you going to wear? Do you show up in jeans, shorts, sandals, a t-shirt, or do you take the time and effort to put on the best clothes you have? Ultimately, they are hiring you, not your clothes, so why bother dressing up? What you wear doesn't change who you are or the skills and gifts you have to perform the job you are trying to get. You put on your best clothes so that you can make the best impression possible. You dress up so the person interviewing you knows that you care enough about the job to look your best.

Many companies and businesses have strict dress codes. You are required to dress up when you are at work due to the image that business wants to portray to those they associate with. They have set certain standards for their employees to live up to including what they wear while on the job. Dressing up to come to work doesn't make their employees any smarter, or perform their job at a higher level, but it does show respect and commitment to their job when they take the time and effort to dress nice.

I know I am stepping into the deep end today, but this is a word that I need to bring forth. If we can get dressed up to go on a job interview, if we can dress up to go to work, if we can dress up to go visit Aunt Betty, if we can dress up to go to a nice restaurant, if we can dress up for dozens of other reasons, WHY CAN'T WE DRESS UP TO GO SEE JESUS??? What ever happened to having enough respect for the house of God to put on our best clothes when we go there? If you had a meeting with Jesus, wouldn't you put on your best clothes to go see Him?

Like in everything that happens in a church, it is the pastor, the shepherd, who must lead. The pastor must have a vision for his church and convey that vision to the people and lead them in seeing it fulfilled. The pastor must lead his church in every other area as well, INCLUDING WHAT PEOPLE WEAR TO CHURCH!

Let me be blunt. It is no wonder people go to church today in torn jeans, shorts, deck shoes, golf shirts, t-shirts, when that is what the pastor wears! It is no wonder why women show up to church on Sunday looking like they are ready to work in the garden or go to the club, young men and women wearing clothes that show their underwear, when the pastor has created this lax, laid back, casual environment based on the fact he shows up on Sunday morning like he is heading to the gym!

I know I'm in the middle of it now, so please bear with me. What I am talking about is not some violation of God's Word that says you have to dress up to come to church or that the pastor has to wear a suit and tie. What I am talking about is setting a standard, having enough respect for God and His house to take the time and effort and care enough to put on your best clothes when you go to church. The pastor is God's representative. He is not only there to lead the people, but to set the example for them. What I am talking about today is appearance, simply honoring the Lord in what we wear when we come to serve and worship Him.

Listen, I am VERY aware that too many have used Sunday morning like it is a Milan fashion show. It sadly turned into a time to see who can out dress the other. That is just as wrong on the other end of the spectrum. I am also aware that many who come to church simply don't have nice clothes. They should not be made to feel inferior or unwelcome just because they may not have nice clothes to wear, but that doesn't mean the whole church has to come looking like they are homeless! Every person has a different wardrobe, but most men have a suit and tie and most women have a nice dress or other outfits they wear when they dress up.

That is all I am talking about. Making the effort to dress nice and look our best out of respect for the house of God and for our Lord.

I am also well aware of the argument that it is not what you wear when you come to church, but your heart. I agree. It is more important that we are there, with a heart open to praising and worshipping our great God and being fed His Word and fellowshipping with other Believers. My point is that it still comes back to an issue of respecting God's house and the Lord enough to dress up and look our best when we come to church on Sunday morning, and it is the pastor who sets that standard for his church by what he wears on Sunday morning and encouraging his congregation to come to church looking their best.

I love you and care about you so much. I realize that this is not the most spiritual issue there is, but it is real life, and trust me, it IS an issue. Having preached in over 500 churches of all denominations around the nation, I know it is something that many pastors and churches struggle with. Much of the controversy around how to dress for church has arisen in the past 20 years with the plethora of "seeker churches" and churches who have "contemporary" services. I know the idea is to "meet people where they are at," and to try to not look like "church," but I have never agreed that you have to disguise the message or lower the standards to reach the lost. Going to church should be at least as special as going out to eat at a nice restaurant.

Going to God's house should automatically demand enough respect for those who come to wear nice clothes. It is not to show off what a great wardrobe you have, use it as an opportunity to flaunt some high-priced outfit, but to simply out of respect and honor for God, look nice. Again, it is the pastor who has to lead on this issue, and that doesn't mean he has to show up every Sunday in a new $5,000 Boss suit with a $300 tie. He is the one God has placed in a position of spiritual authority and he needs to set the standard for his church in all things, including how they dress. He is God's representative and should at least respect God enough to wear a coat and tie on Sunday.

I will be praying for you today. Yes, the most important thing is the message and the work of the Kingdom. However, church is a special place and a special time each week. We should make it special by what we wear. It should be special enough for us to dress up, to put on our best clothes and honor God not only with our heart and but with our appearance. I have NO DOUBT that if you knew Jesus was coming to visit you in an hour, you would immediately be in the shower, you would wash your hair, brush your teeth, put on your best cologne or perfume, and you would PUT ON YOUR BEST CLOTHES!

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller