Foundation of Praise - Spreading the Word of God

Foundation of Praise • P.O. Box 2518 • Escondido, CA 92033-3629 • (760) 741-2755

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     For most of our lives our happiness depended on having what we wanted. It's easy for many of us to still have that feeling! Jesus came with a new message from God. It was that He had placed within us a power that could only be activated by faith in Him. It was the same power that God had used to create the universe. With that power He said we could:
      Experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7 TLB).
      Jesus' disciples were unable to understand how they could be at peace if He left them. But not long after He was resurrected, their faith in Him became so strong that they had great joy when they were placed in prison or even facing death because they refused to stop telling others about Jesus.
      Yes, difficult to understand but His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest and lift you above wanting want what you do not have. We all need to learn more about His peace to prepare us for what may lie ahead.

by Merlin Carothers

      We can learn, one step at a time, just as we first learned to walk. This gift from God is what every person needs, but is often difficult to receive . . . when there is something that we really, really want. God knows this and that is why He, Jesus and the Holy Spirit live in us to help us understand and receive His gift that is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
      How can I have something that is far more wonderful than I can even dream of if I am poor, sick, or forsaken by those I love? Such blessings are still available for us just as the disciples and the early Christians enjoyed. They lived in terrible times and we too may face troubles that we do not expect.
      NOW is our opportunity to rejoice and be glad that no matter what happens we can have greater joy than we have ever known.

     There is one thing we can say about Satan: he is consistent in wanting to put us in bondage of one kind or another. Today I was reading in Isaiah 52 where God is saying to His people: Awake, awake . . . shake off your dust . . . free yourselves from the chains on your neck.      When God is telling them – and us – to awake, awake, He means in today's way of talking: "Wake up and smell the coffee." We need to open our spiritual eyes and realize that we have an enemy of our souls who wants to stifle the joy that Jesus gives us. Yes, there are lots of terrible things going on in the world, but God's kingdom is advancing. There are souls being saved from Satan's kingdom of darkness and being delivered into God's kingdom of light every minute of every single day!
      God has much to say to us in His Word about not staying in any bondage we may have experienced in our lives. In Deuteronomy 28 He reminds us that the enemy wants to make us miserable. However, in Exodus 6, He promises to bring us out from under the yoke of any bondage that is oppressing us. In Isaiah chapters 10 and 14, God again promises that His people will be delivered from bondage. Today, when we read this God is saying to us that Jesus has broken and will continue to break any bondage the enemy wants to put on us. This is your inheritance as a redeemed child of God.
      How does this happen? First we need to recognize that often we have some responsibility in forming our bondages by indulging ourselves in a way that has not honored God. Take a few minutes to ask the Holy Spirit to show you if this is the case for you. If so, repent from your heart and ask the Lord to forgive you. 1 John 1:9 promises He will do so.
     Then we should understand that we need to cooperate with God. We are not to sit passively by and expect God to do it all. For example, if we are in financial bondage, we need to determine what we may have done to help cause it and how we can get out from under it. If necessary, get wise godly council. Contrary to our cultural expectations, we did not get into our deep problems overnight and there is usually no "quick fix."

by Mary Carothers

      Another area of bondage is in the spiritual realm. For example, we sometimes receive requests for prayer against curses that are sent or put upon Christians. This is one – of many – reasons why we need to read and study the Bible. Proverbs 26:2 assures us that an undeserved curse will not "stick" to us. Did you know that Jesus took the curse so that we could be set free from it? Read Galatians 3:10-13 where Paul was used by our Lord to share this wonderful understanding with us.
      Every time I think about when Balak, King of Moab, called for Balaam to come curse the Israelites I chuckle. Even though Balaam tried to curse them, each time he ended up speaking a blessing upon them. Trust me – he wanted to curse them because it meant big money in his pockets. But God had other plans – which included Balaam's donkey! Check it out in Numbers chapters 22-24. Its good reading.
      1 John 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. If you believe that Christ died for your sins, He is your Savior. He wants to save you from Satan's lies that tell you that you are under a curse.
      Remember, Galatians 3:13 assures us that part of our redemption that Jesus won for us is freedom from the curse and deliverance from bondages we may have picked up from living in this sinful broken world. Christ came to set us free and give us His joy. Let's give Jesus the glory and rejoice in what He has done.

In the 70's I picked up Prison to Praise at a drugstore. It changed my life from struggling and confusion to thanking God for everything. As last I could relate to God in a positive way. Negativity began to breathe its last. It was the beginning of submitting to God's plan Surrender was always a negative idea. Since then, I have been able to see that it's in obedience that we put ourselves in the position to receive all He has to give us. FERN, WI

While reading Prison to Praise I was so touched,
crying through the whole book. You and Mary have
touched my life and it has changed me more than I
can begin to tell you. STELLA, MO

I read Prison to Praise about 30 years ago. From
that time on I have placed the letters "PTL!" beside my
name any time I need to use my signature. My first
response, in any situation, is always "Praise the Lord". I
have been mocked numerous times by non-Christians
and Christians when they have heard "Praise the Lord".
It is amazing when those same people have come
back, years later and said, Suzie, thank you for your
obedience. Thank you, Merlin, for writing these books
in obedience to the Lord. SUZANNE, E-MAIL

I read Prison to Praise in the 80's when I was going
through a divorce. It was one of the hardest things for
me as I wanted my marriage to be forever. I started
praising God for everything that had happened in my
life - from my childhood till now. Needless to say, it has
changed my life. PATTY, CA

I was given Prison to Praise and thank God he had
you write that book. Now instead of asking "why" I
give thanks and I mean it. PAMELA, MO

Prison to Praise changed my mom's life as she battled breast cancer for 30 years. In every situation she stepped out in faith, believing and trusting God. I have just finished reading Prison to Praise and ask that you pray for me as I am in a difficult situation and want to be
more like my mom. PATRICIA, VA

I read Prison to Praise 35 years ago and the
principles I learned have been invaluable. I was in
Vietnam as a civilian nurse in 1970 so I could relate to
the stories in your book. One year after I read it I
decided to give up smoking. Two hours later, when
tempted to smoke, I remembered the story in Prison
to Praise about the young man who quit smoking. I
was never tempted to smoke again. Six weeks later
my husband gave it up too and neither of us has ever
been tempted again. It has been 35 years and I
often get a chance to share that story and how
your book affected my life. BARBARA, AUSTRALIA

I read Prison to Praise in 1973 and it turned my
life into something beautiful. I've given away many of
your books and it is wonderful that God is still using
you today. MILLIE, CA

I read Prison to Praise 15 years ago and have
applied your principle of praise and thanksgiving
every day. I have been richly blessed by your books.
PAUL, FL

I work at a Christian Children's Home and part of
the ministry is caring for infants whose mothers are
incarcerated. I give Prison to Praise to the mothers
when they get out of prison. ANGELA, KY

The Foundation of Praise has received a donation in memory of:

Donna Jean Jensen By her sister, Madge Church and family of El Centro, CA	Bob Hill By Frank & Catherine Winton of Dallas, TX
John Carney Psalm 139:23-24 By his parents Tim & Carol Carney of Lapeer, MI

OUR LOSS IS HEAVEN'S GAIN! OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE WHO LOVED THEM.

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Read excerpts from Merlin Carothers best selling books! Prison to Praise • Power in Praise • From Fear to Faith • You Can Be Happy Now • Secret Sins

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