Foundation of Praise Warehouse

Spring Cleaning

We have very limited supplies of discontinued products and are offering them at greatly reduced prices.

Here Animal – Read This tract - 100 for $4(text is the same but the newer tract has a different cover)

Individual messages on Cassette - 50 cents each and for everyfive cassettes you purchase you will receive a free case to store them in.

Prison to Praise audio book read on Cassette - $1.50 A very few audio albums reading of More Power to You and Power in Praise and the Praise Album II (with selected messages) on Cassette - $1.50 each

Prison to Praise VHS movie - $1.00Prison to Praise audio book read on CD - $6.00

(recording is the same but a different case than the newer one)Please see the enclosed order form for the shipping charges.

In I Corinthians 4:9-14, Paul wrote to people who seemingly had no

problems. They considered themselves “wise in Christ …

strong …and honorable”. But Paulexperienced weakness, hunger, thirst,

nakedness, persecution and being “like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things.” Paul was asking them if they thought they had more faith or lived closer to God or were more spiritual than he. His answer for them was a clear, “No, you are not. Because you are comfortable, and everything is going well for you does not mean you are spiritual giants.” Satan will try to use other Christians to hurt us. They will say, “If you had more faith you wouldn’t be sick,” or “If you confess your sins, then God will take that suffering out of your life.” They mean well but they are being used by Satan to try to weaken your faith. So, be firm in your confidence. If God allowed Paul to go through suffering, weariness and pain, He may permit the same in your life. But never once will you suffer needlessly if you trust God. We only suffer needlessly when we refuse to trust the Lord. Like the children of Israel who were complaining, groaning, fearful, we could go around and around in the “desert” of our lives. Like the Israelites, we might never reach the Promised Land of rest in Him. That wouldn’t cause God to disown us. We would simply lose the blessing that God wants to give us. If someone you love despises or hurts you, don’t feel deserted. You are in good company with many of God’s

greatest saints. Loving makes us vulnerable. But never give up! Even those you love do not control you. All of us must learn that our joy comes from God, not from people. Learning this is difficult but learn we must if we are to become more like Jesus. What about headaches, flu, cancer, arthritis or bad teeth? Are you less of a Christian because you suffer? Not according to Paul. He probably had more faith than anyone we know, yet he suffered. But you might think, “Paul was a great man and I am nothing.” Wait! Paul was great because of the way he accepted suffering. Suffering didn’t make him great, for the entire human race groans in suffering. Paul was a shining light to all following generations because he suffered with peace. We can survive like Job did. His friends told him there must be sin in his life because if there wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been attacked. But Job held firm. He wouldn’t curse God. He clung to his faith. He was sick, lost his possessions and even his family. He didn’t have the book of Job to turn to or any of Paul’s writings to comfort him. He had only his faith that God was with him. God uses the book of Job to let us know that, with God’s permission, Satan does use the forces of nature against people. People often blame God for everything nature does. Insurance companies call them “Acts of God”. But sometimes nature is distorted and twisted to destroy men. Every force of nature was once a blessing to mankind until Satan manipulated us in “The Fall”. When nature strikes with tornados, floods and earth-quakes, Satan is tormenting the world just as he always has. (continued on page 3...)

God ’s Wall of FireFoundation of Praise • P.O. Box 2518 • Escondido, CA 92033-2518 • 760.741.2755 • www.foundationofpraise.org

May 2019

Power in PraiseBulk Price Special Coming next month!

by Merlin Carothers

Central Jail, San Diego, CADetention Center, Henderson, NVHenry County Jail, McDonough, GACole Cunty Jail, Jefferson City, MOBradshaw State Jail, Henderson, TXBeaver County Jail, Aliquippa, PACorrectional Facility, Norton, KSKings County Jail, Hanford, CASouthwest Regional Jail, Haysi, VACorrectional Facility, Pendleton, INAtlantic County Jail, Mays Landing, NJWilson Detention Facility, Knoxville, TNHopkins County Jail, Sulphur Springs, TXAdult Detention Center, Frederick, MDLewis and Clark Detention Center, Helena, MTCorrectional Ministry Services, Zanesville, OHJefferson Parish Correctional Center, Gretna, LAMecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte, NC

Yourfaithful support

has enabled

us tosend free

praise booksto the

following facilities!

Happy Mother’s

Day!

National Dayof PrayerThursdayMay 2nd

Memorial Day

We are thankful!

Take a moment and reflect upon

the bravesacrifices of those who have given their lives for

our great nation!

In Matthew 12 Jesus teaches what we call the parable of the Sower. The

words Jesus uses are about the seeds the sower is scattering.

But what he wants us to think about is how well a person hears and guards the seeds which are actually the words of God’s loving truth to us. The sower in the parable is Jesus. For us the seeds can be the words of the Bible when we read it. Or they can be the spoken words of a pastor or a teacher. They can even be the casual, helpful words we hear some-one say that the Holy Spirit ministers to us. While I was reading this parable, the Holy Spirit ministered to me the importance of our hearts. Prov-erbs 4:23 urges us to guard our hearts because out of them flow all our thoughts as words. This is why the attitudes of our hearts are so important. As a child and especially as a teenager I had a real problem with my attitude. If someone corrected me today would I be resentful? That would be an immature attitude. The attitude I should have would be to respectfully say, “Thank You.” Then I should check with the Lord to see what additional corrections I might need to hear from Him. It is extremely important to guard and protect ourselves by what we allow to come into our hearts and minds. Do we listen to someone trash talk about

someone else? Or profane God’s name? If this hap-pens, we can try to change the subject. If this doesn’t work, we can plead with the person to please not talk that way. If all else fails, we may need to get up and walk away. Or turn off the TV. Why is it so important to guard our hearts from what we might hear and see? Because if we allow our hearts and minds to be filled with junk, we may not be able to hear and receive God’s loving truth. We could become like the person whose heart just can’t hold onto God’s Word. Then the enemy comes and steals away the peace and understanding the Lord wants to give us. Remember when Jesus said, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy in John 10? Satan, our enemy, wants to steal God’s Words of comfort and correction from our hearts. We don’t have to allow him to do that. Let’s not be like the person whose heart was just too full of wrong thoughts to have room for God’s wonderful truth. If we realize that we have fallen into the trap that Satan has set for us, we can choose not to listen to that kind of conversation anymore. We can choose to not watch that particular show or program on television. Remember when Jesus said for us to open our eyes and look all around because the fields are ripe for harvest in Matthew 9? Oh, there is so much opportuni-ty! So, be encouraged. Be bold for Jesus who loved you and gave His life for you.

By Mary CarothersOur Hearts Letters of Praise and Thanks

God’s message through Merlin and Mary’s writings in the January Praise News did wonderful things in my life. I keep learning and becoming a better person, despite my fiery trials. As Mary said, “He wants to teach me through my struggles.” Blessings to all. LESLIE, IN

Thank you for continuing serving our Lord with the message of praise. Merlin’s books have had a major impact on my life. Mary, your mes-sages are so helpful. Thank you for your honestly about your own strug-gles. ELAINE, PA

Thank you for sending the Praise News each month. I look forward to reading my copy as it is a breath of fresh air, always inspiring and help-ful. PEGGY, GA

I want to say thanks for your donation of books and support of the ministry here at Belmont Corrections. I have so many men who are eager for the truth of God’s grace and expressions of His love for them which they find in your books. CHAPLAIN, OH

Just a note to say “Thanks” for all your ministry does. My prayers are with you as you carry-on what Merlin started. LAUREE, TX

My wife and I have been blessed and encouraged by Merlin’s books for many years, and now our daughter Abigail is being blessed and trans-formed by the same books! God is good! MITCH, MT

I love the Praise News and the articles truly speak to my heart. I continue to read Merlin’s books and they are all such a comfort. God bless all of the staff and family!BETTE, MO

Thank you for the reprints of Mer-lin’s articles and for all you do to continue the godly ministry Merlin started. You have touched so many lives. LINDA, MS

Thank you for the praise books. We will report to you the testimonies of the inmates they are blessing along the way.

CHAPLAIN, DODGE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE, WI

Thank you so much for the donation of praise books. Merlin’s life was a great testimony for the transforma-tive power of God. It is wonderful that you are carrying on with his min-istry to prisons. The books are greatly appreciated. CHAPLAIN, NORFOLK CORRECTIONAL

INSTITUTE, MA

While in prison I was at the lowest point in my life when I read Prison to Praise. I have re-committed my life to Jesus Christ and have a new sense of hope. I am doing my very best to thank Him for all the things that have come upon me. NATHAN, CORRECTIONAL CENTER, WA

I’m an inmate at the Fort Dix Federal Prison and found Prison to Praise in the trash. I had to wash the cover and then put it in the sun to dry before I could even read it. This book brought a whole new light and love into my heart. I can’t remember the last time I cried like a baby, which I did while reading this book. Thank you and God bless you all. RICHARD, NJ

Harold Joseph Pawlik

By his daughter Edeeof Henderson, NV

Todd StevensBy Sue Horn

of Fishers Island, NY

Lana ThompsonBy PatrickHenderson

of Athens, GA

Arthur DavidsonBy Jean & Richard

Kellamof Escondido, CA

Vic WassermannBy his wife Joan

of Grand Island, NE

Merlin CarothersBy Elaine & Douglas

Wilsonof Harrisburg, PA

andRose Marie Garciaof Inglewood, CA

andRoberta Leroyof Novi, MI

Mary CarothersBy Elaine & Douglas

Wilsonof Harrisburg, PA

andRose Marie Garciaof Inglewood, CA

andRoberta Leroyof Novi, MI

(continued from page 1...) I frequently get the feeling that Satan hates me and wants to maneuver me into a place where he can destroy me. But then I sense a wall coming up between him and me, and I remember Zechariah 2:5 where God says, I myself, will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord … God knows that I am too weak to endure the worst Satan could do, so He allows only relatively small attacks. His wall of fire is my only protection. By praising God, we keep a hedge of His protection around us. The more we praise the Lord, the more difficult it is for Satan to defeat us. That is why it is beneficial to learn to praise the Lord for things that we have previously grumbled about. If a green light turns red just before we are able to cross the intersection, we may immediately be tempted to grumble. If we do complain, this only opens the door to more grumbling. But if we close that door, we are hemmed in with the joy of the Lord. That joy will increase as we increase our praise. As we learn to praise God more, the infirmities or problems that Satan thrusts at us will lose their ability to destroy our peace. If you have been under stress lately, by faith let the wall of God’s salvation rise around you and allow no grumbling to enter your life. (Reprint from July 1983)

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