LIFESPEAKER

CHRISTIANS--TODAY'S LEPERS

2012-01-09T12:10:00.001-05:00

Lately Luke 17 and the Lepers have been running through my mind. In Jesus' day the lepers were outcasts, unclean, despised. Today, more and more the world is treating Jews and Christians as lepers. To strongly believe in YHWH, Yeshua and all the Bible teaches finds us at odds with a world that calls good evil and evil good.

At this time in history we Christians must choose to be all God's called us to be. We must be in intimate relationship with Him. We have been washed by His Blood, empowered by His Holy Spirit. We have His promise He will keep us from stumbling. His mercy and lovingkindness are new to us every morning. IF we dwell in the secret place of the most high God we abide in the shadow of the Almighty. We can say with full confidence and faith He is our refuge, our fortress and we choose to trust in Him.

He protects our inner spiritual man and often also our physical body. But sometimes the earth cries out because of the blood of martyrs. So the most important thing we can do for ourselves is to KNOW Jesus not about Him. To know Jesus you have to spend time with Him. Read the Gospels, Psalms and Proverbs and ask The Holy Spirit to help you know Jesus. That's part of His job.

The line that had been drawn in the sand between good and evil is a canyon that cannot be bridged. (Luke 16 will help you understand) If you want to know what hell is like go into a dark hot room so that you are only aware of yourself and after putting on a blindfold so you can't see any light hold your hand over a torch till you can't stand the pain...that is just a taste of what hell is like. (Make sure the room is empty...you don't really want to catch on fire—although in hell the fire is never ending and the torment doesn't stop).

Heaven—In God's presence is fullness of Joy. We often think in terms of time—there is no time there. And since God is always the same in His nature: Love, Holiness, Peace, Patience, Creative, The pleasures and fun and happiness that we will experience there seems impossible to express in our languages that are limited.

So Christians let's remember that Christ is for us so no one who is against us and no power of the enemy will prosper. Our souls/spirits which are who we are will always be with Him. We will eventually, one way or another, shed our earth-suits. And what a glorious day it will be.

Kingdom Thoughts

2011-03-05T11:03:00.001-05:00

The kingdom of God is near you even in your mouth. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.n he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

Just like being transformed from faith to faith and glory to glory the Kingdom of God coming to earth and within us is a process. That process is not always fun, but we can find joy in it if we realize God's reasoning behind it all. It's how all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes thatyou find it in the next verse. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethern.

The more we allow that transformation process to happen the more evident the Kingdom of God is. The culture we live in is not the culture we are to be a part of. We are to be in the world but not of it. Being a part of something is human nature. We like feeling that we are part of something bigger than we are. So God wants us to be part of His culture. We are to bring it from heaven to earth because Jesus did and we have been called out of the world to follow in His footsteps. Our time here is not to just be static until He comes again. Father chose for us to be part of His plan—He wants us partnered with Him.

God's culture is one based on love. The Two Great Commandments attest to this. This love is not a mushy kind of love, but our emotions can be involved. Nor is it a door mat kind of love. But a love that sees clearly and is full of His Wisdom. A love that puts Him first and ourselves and others second. As we are transformed then the nature of God begins forming within us and is shown to the world partly as fruit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yup, the Fruit of the Spirit. It is all part of His nature.

His nature is larger than that. After all He measures the universe, the entire universe, by one span of His hand.

There is more to Him. This is just the beginning. Feel free to share you insights.........

Isaiah 24

2010-01-13T11:54:00.000-05:00

Years ago I asked God this question: If one sin had the devastating effect that it had in Genesis what does it do to the earth now. He took me to Isaiah 24. I realize Chapter 24 of Isaiah deals with what happens in the very end but I do believe God allows a foretaste in order to get people's attention--if they will listen. Haiti was dedicated to Satan in the 18th century. Aristide wanted to do it again. I've read conflicting reports of whether he did or didn't accomplish that. Voodoo is very strong there. I know there are Christian organizations there working to make a difference. I can't go there physically but in prayer I can. Here is just a part of Isaiah 24:

¹⁹ The earth is broken up,
the earth is split asunder,
the earth is thoroughly shaken.

²⁰ The earth reels like a drunkard,
it sways like a hut in the wind;
so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion
that it falls—never to rise again.

Judging

2009-09-14T14:00:00.004-04:00

Within the last few days I received a call from someone in tears and they said that I was the only person they knew to call that wouldn't judge them. It wasn't always that way. So it got me to thinking about what God has taught me and about judgment in general.

Nicodemus asked the Pharisees, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” They were judging Jesus. They, who should have been the first to recognize Him, judged Him. He had not sinned, but what about those of us who have? Do we judge people or the sin? Sin is NEVER right. But to bring a person back into the fold an understanding of what was going on in their lives can be a big help. We are told to restore the sinner. Condemnation does not bring restoration. If we have honestly looked at our own sin and how much it grieved Father and what it cost Him and Jesus to bring us to restoration who are we to judge any one?

Galatians says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

I use to Judge, oh what a self-righteous pharisee I was. Thank you Lord, for forgiveness. Thankfully we came across a teaching that basically showed how God felt about it. The verses for the teaching were “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”. The teacher showed how when someone has repented the sin he/she is washed by the Blood of the Lamb and the sin is put into God's sea of forgetfulness. So, if we continue to judge or bring it back up God only sees our finger prints on it so we get judged with that sin. (I can't help but wonder how harsh that judgment is. Is it as harsh as we were to the other sinner?) That was a major wakeup call. God is so good and so gracious to us. That awakening came so gently and lovingly with the call for me to repent and recognize in a deeper way what He'd done for me.

I am not perfected yet but I can Praise God because I'm not where I use to be nor where I will be but I am where and who I am now by His Grace and He loves me!

RECONCILIATION

2009-07-18T16:06:00.002-04:00

In the beginning God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness...." Strong's Concordance says the word "man"--"adam"--means "man", "mankind" or "humanity at large". So we human beings were created in His image and likeness. Adam and Eve were able to have a personal relationship with God. They had unbroken fellowship with Him. Then they sinned and when they heard Him they hid from Him. There was a break in the fellowship that would take thousands of years and a sacrifice of horrendous proportions to repair.

Even with the break God never forsook man. His love was still there, along with His desire for relationship. He had humans who responded to their creator, because Romans says what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. It could say us instead of them. Abram knew Him for that very reason.

Hundreds of years later God would deliver the law to Moses. The summation of the law according to Deuteronomy and Jesus is love--You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself. To explain how to do this He gave the 10 Commandments. To break any of them is to break fellowship. Breaking them kills love. If we love Him we keep His commandments.

In the fullness of time Jesus came to reconcile man to God and to each other. According to Merriam-Webster's on-line dictionary "reconcile" means to restore to friendship or harmony. The entire world was out of harmony and man was out of harmony and friendship with God and with each other. Romans 5 says, "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation". It is His desire for all people to be reconciled to Him and if we have fellowship with Him we are also to have it with one another. We will have it if we are walking in His Light.

Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. Normally a Samaritan hated Jews and vise versa. Yet in the Samaritan's heart was God's truth and when he saw a fellow human being suffering he helped. He didn't shirk for any part including paying for the man's room and board. Now that's love. Those who passed by, too busy doing God's work, were not commended by Jesus.

Jesus ministered life to the Samaritan woman at the well. It horrified all those who saw it, yet Love and truth were more important than the cultural divisions of man.

Years ago I heard a sermon on this subject. The Good Samaritan was the primary focus. The man ended with the words, "If you say you love God, yet you hate your neighbor, YOU ARE A LIAR".

I don't want to be a liar, do you? Romans 15:7 says in NASB "Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. In New King James it says, "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God".

In Strong's the word "receive" is defined as to take to oneself...to admit to friendship. In our day that would also translate "accept".

I want to be God's friend. He says in 1John 1, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you".

What do you want?

Slave or Free

2009-06-08T16:57:00.001-04:00

Do our or your government leaders have your best interests at heart? Are they helping to make you a stronger person or a more dependent one? If dependent, then dependent on who?

The “birth certificate” of the U.S. States that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Do those men and women in government respect all human life? Or just the lives of those they deem “worthy”. Are they protecting your right to liberty? To live the life God has set before you? Or do they want you to live by their standards? Are they letting people think of them as a “messiah”? Do they care about your happiness? Can you be happy apart from the will of God? Are they angry when people do not think their way? Are they control freaks?

If they are interested in your life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness then these are some of the qualities they should be pursuing in their governing.

If they love freedom they will want:

Less Government

Lower taxes

Strong Defense

Traditional Family values

They will respect your right to life and different ideas

no matter what “group” you belong to.

However, if they have a modern feudal lord approach which makes them little gods and you the slave, they want:

Big Government that micromanages your life

More taxes—all of your income if they can get it

and redistribute it but not to you...

They don't care about defense

They will embrace lifestyles that the Bible calls

abominable.

Your life will be endangered and possibly taken from

you if you disagree with them.. You could be put in prison at the very least.

Rights will come because of the “group” you belong to

not from God above.

So as the mid-term elections are heating up, listen closely to what they say and find out what they have done in the past. You could be voting to put yourself in a “slave” mode. Do they care about God's ways:Regarding governments:
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 146)

Remember: Prov. 14:33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

One last point--pray for those in authority at this moment. Pray they will repent and seek God.

Friends

2009-06-04T08:32:00.002-04:00

For the second time in a couple weeks I've talked to a friend I'd lost contact with years ago. For me it was like drinking fresh cool water. We were on the same page spiritually and emotionally. So much of how we have grown is parallel.

Jennifer lived with us, along with her son, for a few months before her marriage to Duke. Duke was my "little brother". I'd never had a brother and he sure filled the bill for me. What is so funny is that before Duke and Jennifer met she was good friends with Garry. I hadn't met him yet!

God is so wonderfully awesome. At a time when I needed that fresh drink of water and when they needed some too He got us together again. Thank you, Abba.

PECULIAR PEOPLE

2009-04-28T12:25:00.004-04:00

Today I did a Biblical Word study on the words: heathen, nations, peculiar and people. In the O.T. "heathen" meant "gentile". In the N.T. "nations" comes from the word ethnos, we get ethnic from it. It means "a race, a tribe, a foreign one". "Peculiar" means "being beyond usual, i.e. special" when it was used in Titus. In 1 Peter it means acquisition, to acquire, to purchase. "People" means "people".

1 Peter 2: 9, 10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special (peculiar) people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

As I studied the words, this verse and thought about it all I saw more than ever God bringing forth HIS Kingdom. He's bringing forth a peculiar people and we are being brought from all countries. We, who have called upon the name of Yeshua, are His Kingdom people. He's not bringing forth American, Irish, Chinese, Hispanic, First Nations, African Americans, etc. as such; He's bringing us all forth as His Kingdom people. He's not looking at our ethnos, He's looking at our hearts and the fact that we have been saved by the Blood of His Son. We have been bought with the price of that Blood--He purchased us.

Just like Abraham was called out we are we being called out. Our first identity must be with Jesus, not with a politically boundaried system. Abraham did not have the Bible and he walked in faith anyway. We have more information than Abraham had and we have access to the throne room of God so we have all we need to continue on. He is calling us forth from all the nations to be His--united in His Spirit.

We are to follow this scriptural admonition: 1 Timothy 2 1-5Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And because it is God's heart that these people be part of His Kingdom we can not ignore this. Our focus at this junction, our energy, our passion has to be for Our King and that His Kingdom comes and His will is done. We must become strong in Him and the power of His might and we must strengthen our brethren.

Denominational distinctives and territorial imperatives are useless. They cause arguments and disunity. Our focus must be on Jesus. We must get to know Him, get to know all about Him............

EMERGENT CHURCH?

2009-03-22T19:46:00.003-04:00

In the past week I have received numerous e-mails on the "emergent church". However, I have not even had time to deal with them but I realized it was time to think about what I'm sensing, learning and to where I'm being led. Now I have no idea what other people mean by the "emergent church".

When I got saved it was a wondrous day. For years I sat in a church with an excellent Bible expositor. He taught and I intellectually grew, spiritually not so much. And week after week after week the Gospel was boiled down to getting saved by repenting of sins and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. Now I AM SO GRATEFUL that my Father in heaven gave His only begotten son so that I might have ever lasting life. I never want to forget or denigrate that fact. Without it and the resurrection nothing else would matter.

In all that teaching though so much of the message of Jesus: Kingdom and Love and the Bride were left out. After years of stagnating and crying out for Jesus I'm seeing more, loving Him more, longing for Him more. I am becoming passionate about Him. I want that beautiful intimacy He desires. That has been a hard place for me to get to because intimacy was taught as only being sexual...That type of thinking does a great disservice to the Gospel and to my Lord and to any who have thought that way. We are part of a Divine Romance and I'm just starting to see this.

What I see emerging is a group of people who are pursuing their Lord with all their hearts, minds, souls and strength. Who are willing to go through the process of transformation so we can be without spot or wrinkle. We love the cross and what Jesus did and have come to know that is just the beginning of His wonderful all encompassing love for us; it is not the end. Neither is just going to heaven the end.

His love for us has been a burning passionate love since before the foundations of the earth. We were already in His heart and mind before we were created; and He knew we'd sin and be who we would be when He would save us, Yet HE LOVES US. It is just like with the Jews in Deuteronomy 7:7, 8a The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the LORD loves you,
It is not because you or I were righteous, perfect, beautiful that we were saved. It was because Father so loved the world that He gave His Son...... I was a horrible wretched sinner when Jesus caught me. Unfortunately the attitude of many of my teachers seemed to keep me thinking that I had to be perfect to win His love. The Word doesn't say that, but the subtle teaching did. Even though the Word says God looks on our hearts externals were pushed. The attitudes were of having to do this or that to please Him. Spirituality was measured by how often people were at church, how radiant their smiles were, whether they were having problems or not, by how many good works were being done. Works are to show our faith and glorify our Father. They were created for us to walk in but not to manipulate God into loving us. He can't love us any more. He loves us totally.

For me there has been much lacking in my understanding of His love and plans for me. I thank His for His love, for the Gift of his Blood and for letting me know I have a wonderful life and future in and with Him, all because of Him. He is expanding my revelation knowledge and understanding of Him. He is more, not less of all good things.

I do not ignore the cross but I will no longer, with the Holy Spirit's help, be blind to all the wondrous plans and future that are before me. They are possible because of the Cross!

OBJECT LESSON FROM A CAT

2009-03-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

Right at the start let me say that our cats had their names before a TV show began using those words to mean something not so nice. O.K?

Now on to Frack our cat.

Today I was talking to God about being distracted instead of focusing 100% on Him. So I went to sit down with my Bible and focus. At that point Frack came up and began walking on the Bible I had on the table. She was going to have my attention NO MATTER WHAT. I was getting irritated but sensed God giving me an object lesson. Yup, it's how He wants me to be with Him--nothing stopping or sidetracking me from Him.

Giving the cat attention was a pleasurable and soothing time for me. I couldn't help but think of all the times in the Old Testament God talked about sacrifices being a soothing aroma (NASB).

I think He was telling me how much He enjoyed it when I sought Him that way--whole heartedly. He says in His Presence if fullness of Joy. I found that when I went back and sought Him with no regard for anything else the Joy was sweet.

2009-02-22T16:48:00.002-05:00

1 Thessalonians 5:^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (Message)

Being a single parent for all those years was financially challenging. When people lent a helping hand I was thankful. There were many times I'd ask God where the next loaf of bread was coming from as my pay check or the child support would be a few days away. And I'd go home to find groceries waiting for me, or a check in the mail. Much of this was given anonymously. It did cause me to rejoice and be thankful. I helped me know God really did want to take care of us.

There were times though when being thankful was a challenge and that was when we were given junk. Someone would think we should want the stuff of theirs that was really ready for the trash. Then there were the times people did what wasn't needed and were infuriated because my thanks wasn't ebullient. I tried to be polite but my heart obviously wasn't in it. Looking back I realize those people did it for their own gratification not out of love. There strings attached to what they did.

What brought me to musing about this is our current economy and how it is effecting my husband and me and my kids and their families. The President made no secret that he planned on redistributing wealth. So that brought me to thinking about the attitudes of some in the "minority" communities and I had to wonder about some things. Will those who have felt disrespected, insulted, held down and kept back (and many have been) then do the same and worse to those they perceive to be the enemy? Will they realize that not all people of a different "race" are their enemy and that they never were?

At the same time as things get financially challenging will we, who are not a minority, have an attitude of gratitude for what we do have? Do we have it now? Will we fall into the trap of resenting any one who seems to have more? Will we curse our leaders and forget to pray for them? Will we continue to speak life and blessings and find true joy in Jesus? Will Christians come together in His Spirit and forget racial barriers? What kinds of strings will be attached to a helping hand?

And what about our faith? The persecution of the church is growing. Will we stand strong for Jesus no matter what?

There is a refining fire coming to our hearts. God wants us to be pure in heart so we can see Him. If we allow Him now access to all of us, not hold one thing back, then it will not be nearly so traumatic.

Regarding God...Jesus

2009-01-26T09:10:00.003-05:00

Regarding God:

A good parent always lets the child know what is expected. They let them know what pleases or displeases them; what will harm the child and what is safe. The good parent's desire is for the child to grow up strong physically, emotionally and morally (body, soul and spirit). Unfortunately we human parents are not perfect and we make many mistakes. On the other hand, God is perfect. He created human beings in His image and let them know what would keep them safe, what would please Him and the consequences of going their own way. Adam and Eve had the choice of eating from the Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Up till the time they ate of the Tree of Knowledge they lived in peace, actually surrounded and clothed in the Glory of God.

God is not a man that He should lie and when they sinned they suffered the consequences. They were cast out of their perfect garden, not because God hated them, but because He hates sin and it will not be in His presence (holiness). But at the same time God told them He would make a way for their restoration. That's in Gen. 3

This fact angers many people who want to know about a mushy warm fuzzy love, His love is more than that. And along with His love God is also holy. No one seems to want to deal with that. For years I sure didn't. His attributes are infinite and He is true to all of them.....

After the sin man then began making up his own idea of who God is, what He is like, what he will do and not do and what pleases or displeases him. He began making up rules by which he wanted to lived. My kids would try to make up the house rules, I wasn't amused. Discipline followed. It is not unusual that we want to set ourselves over authority, Lucifer tried it and became Satan......

History

2009-01-20T10:08:00.006-05:00

As I begin writing this in less than 2 hours Barack H. Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. It is historic. He is the first black man elected to this office. He is also somewhat of a puzzle. Is he liberal? Middle of the road? Is he really a believer in all Jesus did and said?

We have a choice: If we pray we can have a new day with beautiful skies, or we can speak curses against him and have it very gray. Our prayers need to be things like: Ephesians 1:17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to Barack Obama the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of President Obama's understanding being enlightened; that President Obama may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us (President Obama) who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

I keep coming back to something prophesied by Kim Clement (I am copying and pasting it here--it won't let me change the font, colors, size, etc. sorry)

Prophesied on July 27th, 2007--Harrisburg, PA:
Rejoice, please, for God said, "You shall see fires through this Nation, but holy fires. You will see an intervention and Me going into the media and taking the streets of this Nation." Why? God said, "You have prophesied the wind and now you shall reap great, great, great rain," says the Lord. "You will reap great whirlwinds and they will come."

One more thing, the Spirit of God said, "Rejoice in this that you hear tonight. For even as you understand that the fires I speak about will burn out dross and put in the White House a man who will then be transformed into a righteous believer." God said, "Do not fear, for I will Not allow this Nation to fall on their knees in unnecessary humility, but in humbleness of mind. And I will take the fire and destroy your enemies. Your time of peace has come, but more than this--your time of prosperity has come, America," says the Spirit of the Living God!

"Pray, pray, pray for America. Smile saints, smile for 2008. For who I place in your White House, shall know the Spirit of God in a way. A very unique thing I will do. I told you before, there will be joy and celebration. For the man I place in the White House, shall not be filled with My Spirit when he goes in, but when he settles down, I will baptize him with fire and the Holy Spirit."

We must pray for this man. If you would like to know about the numbers of this presidency 44, you can go to philoslogos.org and they have on-line books. Go to E.W. Bullinger's page and then his work on numbers. It is eye opening.

Prov. 21: 1The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.

THOUGH............YET

2009-01-13T11:14:00.004-05:00

As the world turns......not that isn't what I was going to say but it made me laugh.

Our world is turning and continuing on and people are seemingly more upset and worried and fearful. Yet God is still on His throne, His Word is still true and He will accomplish all He has said.

And we have decisions to make regarding all that is going on. Will we allow all the destructive forces of hell to get at us or will we choose to walk God's way.......

This Thursday a women's meeting with a special Prophetess is to be held at my home. The attacks to stop this are mounting, including trying to give me a cold, BUT GOD . . . I am praising Him today and thinking about praise and thanksgiving. Peace that I did not have when I woke up is starting to spread through me.

All that let me to thinking about how we are to do everything without grumbling or complaining and how God inhabits the praises of His people. Then the term "sacrifice of praise" came to me and right after "sacrifice of thanksgiving". And of course that brought more thoughts and questions. Graham Cooke talks about lamentation being the highest form of praise because everything in us is crying out for some terrible reason. For him it was when his very dear friend was murdered in Ireland and the last thing he wanted to do was praise or worship God and that is how he found out about lamentation from a personal perspective. In Job we find, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..." Though the stock market crashes and I have no money I will praise Him because His plans for me are good and not evil...if that happened could we say that and mean it? Though the men in Washington give more money to corrupt executives and want all my pay check to pay for it.....would we praise God? Though______ you fill it in and see if you will say Yet will I praise Him???? My prayer is He will strengthen me to say that.

Psalm 107
22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (KJV)

The word "sacrifice" means to slaughter and in the OT an animal was slaughtered. The sacrifice of thanksgiving went along with the sacrifice of peace (Lev 7). But Jesus shed His blood for us. There is no need now for the blood to be shed. Yet, our "flesh" must die.

When I am really emotionally upset the last thing I want to do is praise or be thankful; I want to wallow and make someone suffer (sure not Godly), yet if I focus on who Jesus is, what He has done, or what He is doing I'm offering my flesh and my ways up to be killed off and speaking out all the good and wonderful things about Jesus I find peace. There is only good to be said about Him. Phil 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". He is the only one who fits this description. All He does fits this description.

The enemy of our souls hates us with a white hot hatred. BUT GOD's love is stronger, more powerful and it is victorious. It is imperative that we focus on Jesus..........He does inhabit our praises.

THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION

2008-11-05T07:10:00.002-05:00

We are still being called to walk in love; to pray for those in authority over us; to bless and not curse; to remember that righteousness and unrighteousness don't walk together; that we answer to God first and that His love for us never changes, His mercies are new every morning and GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS.

24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

2008-10-27T10:16:00.004-04:00

I keep hearing God telling me to TRUST HIM. And He brings me to this Psalm to help me remember who He really is:

Psalm 93

The Eternal Reign of the LORD
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
4 The LORD on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.

5 Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns Your house,
O LORD, forever.

The days are getting darker and no matter who wins the election a lot of the world is already in chaos. In Orissa, India Christians are being slaughtered and that is not the only place it is happening. He is our light and our salvation and we must remember, know, grasp who He is.

BE ENCOURAGED

2008-10-24T08:30:00.001-04:00

WHEN PIGS FLY

2008-09-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

My growing up years, up until I was a grandmother, were spent in the west. Clouds were not plentiful, except when it rained. So looking for bunnies and bears and whatever in the sky wasn't something I got to do. Then we moved to the South. My husband often laughed at me as we drove along and I'd be having a great time looking in the sky.

Down at my daughter's in house in FL I've seen Mickey Mouse, Goofy, the bears from the Bear Country Jamboree and lots of cartoonish looking clouds.

Then one day we were driving toward the I95 to go to FL. We had the son of a friend with us. He was from England. We'd had rain so there were plenty of clouds. As we were talking I looked out the window and saw waring faces. One was coming from the north. It looked like it was blowing hard and with purpose. The other was coming up from the south and it looked malevolent and it too was blowing hard. The date that day was Sept. 10, 2001.

As we got close to the Florida border I looked out again and saw what looked like a charcoal brown leviathan on it's back. (Yes, I know that isn't a color but that is what I saw and still hear that color in my spirit when I revisit this.) It had a huge tail and four paws in the air. It was dead. All I thought was that the war in the heavenlies was heating up, but was busy talking to the young man with us so didn't pursue it.

Of course the next day I realized what it was all about.

I still look at the clouds and have fun but there is a sobering side to it also. Lately there have been lots dragons and pigs flying. When I realized how many times there have been flying pigs the saying “when pigs fly” popped into my mind. My husband said the same thing when I told him. My sense is that it's a two fold meaning. Many people don't think what is prophesied in the Bible will come to pass and have a “when pigs fly” attitude about it. But then we also have promises that God has made to us and many of us are wondering if it will even happen. Discouragement is trying to take over; my sense is the enemy is trying to tell us “yea, when pigs fly God will do that”. Well God will do that and the pigs are flying! He will do what He's promised. His heart is for redemption, restoration, rescue. Eventually His wrath will spill over but it's because of His holiness and evil must be judged. But for now it is imperative that we hear God more clearly, know Him better and get hidden in the Secret Place. We must be so secure in Jesus that no matter what the signs are we stay in His rest. Leviathan dies! The saints Rise in Christ!

Graham Cooke

2008-09-26T16:44:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately youtube doesn't have a link any more, that I can find, to blogs. Graham Cooke is my favorite Christian teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQqAcll4nog

TRUDGING UPSTREAM

2008-09-21T11:34:00.003-04:00

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

wear = Strongs 1080
corresp. to 1086 (but used only in a mental sense); to afflict:--wear out

1086 a prim. root; to fail; by impl. To wear out, decay
According to Brown Driver Briggs' Hebrew Lexicon fig. for harass continually

So now I have a choice. I can either focus on this harassment or on God and what He says and believe it, or I can be miserable and worn out.

Some of what God says, and this is just a couple things.
Phil 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. NKJV

Or as The Message says:Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!

Of course The Message has more to those verses but I felt that was the essence!

It is no wonder I have felt I'm trudging upstream through cold molasses. Satan and his workers want to destroy me. BUT GOD wants me to dig into Him. Through application of His Word to my spirit, soul and body, by choosing to believe and obey I become stronger.

There is more which could be said but I'm leaving that for you to add.

LAUGH

2008-09-14T11:29:00.003-04:00

God laughs at His enemies.

I know at times He's cracking up at me. He's teaching me to be easier on myself and to laugh more. This is how He began:

The first time I was at the Open Church Ministries office in Portal, GA was for a mini-conference. The worship was fabulous and we got to a point of free worship. All of us were quietly singing our own praises to our Lord. I realized my right arm was in the air making circles and I heard, “Make it bigger”. So I did. Then I heard, step under it. I looked around and at first felt foolish but there was room to move under it so I did. I began singing, “You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords” and then I heard, “I'm also merry”. Being a very spiritual person being I said, “Whaaat?????” And then I was told, “How do you think a merry heart does good like a medicine if I'm not merry? All good and perfect gifts come down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shifting of shadow”.

GREAT WEBSITE

2008-09-06T08:44:00.001-04:00

COME JOIN ME HERE.

View my page on Premier Christian Community

HUMAN ENLIGHTENMENT

2008-09-05T18:28:00.003-04:00

Years ago I had a poster I really liked. The scene on it was pretty but the words caught me and have stayed with me:
There are two foundation facts of human enlightenment:
1.There is a God
2.None of us is He!

God is. He always was and still is, always will be. He makes the rules, we don't. He makes them because He is omniscient. He makes them because He loves us. He loved us when He had the idea of making human beings in His image even though He knew we'd sin and Jesus would come to pay our debt. The rules are for our good and because He can see things we can't. He sees the end from the beginning.

An encouraging fact about God is He knows who He is. He is not in the least confused about it. He has told us Who He is but we humans seem to become terribly confused about it. Partly, it seems to me, because we seem to think that since He made us in His image we ought to return the compliment. We seem to look at the things about humans that we like and think God should be just like that. We love warm fuzzies and in order to get them we go to crazy lengths and by doing those crazy things we feel we assure others and ourselves about who we are and that it is good. He knows who we are too. He knows who He means us to be. He tells us how to be who we are to be since sin has kept us from it. We just want to do it our way and prove how great we are. It proves we are foolish. We are like a child who is told to clean his room and instead uses water paints on everything and then thinks his parents should be excited about how pretty the room looks.

God is God. His ways are perfect, His Word is perfect, His Will is perfect. His LOVE is perfect.

A HINDERANCE

2008-08-31T15:13:00.004-04:00

When I got saved studying the Bible was paramount. I was so blessed in that I was with a group of people hungry for God. So I learned a lot. Some things changed in me but I hit a brick wall and the religious spirit that I already had I kept. I was a pharisee. Thankfully God did not leave me like that.

People who seek Him will go through process. It can be very disconcerting, and that is a mild word for it. There were periods where I had no idea why I was going through what I was going through. Prayer wasn't working, or so it seemed. For ages things just stayed static. I kept hanging on to Romans 8:28. Finding out what I was going through was to turn me into the image of Christ came as a shock, then as an eye opening blessing. I had prayed to be changed, He was working to do that but I WAS THE HINDRANCE. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. I was not humble. I was proud because I was better than the person I was dealing with (God doesn't agree with that). I was proud because I went to a church that taught the truth and the others were deluded. Even though at that time I didn't realize how much pride was there I began to allow God to put me through more process. Without specifically saying, “I repent” for pride I did humble myself and say, "Here I am and I have need of you doing something". He is so gracious, so loving and so willing to work in us. But He resisted me for ages, because of pride. It wasn't a demonic spirit that resisted me although it might have helped me stay stuck, but God was resisting me.

There is much more He's done and is doing in me. I have to remember Jesus is gentle and humble of heart. Father wants me to be that way too. He will get me there.

LAKELAND THOUGHTS

2008-08-18T09:07:00.004-04:00

For months now I've had many things in my in-box regarding the Lakeland Outpouring. I finally tried to watch it a few weeks after it began and after 5 minutes I had to turn it off. Deep down I sensed there was something very wrong. I tried to talk to my husband about it without being the accuser of the brethren. What I finally was able to say, at first, is My Jesus is meek and humble of heart. He says so and I didn't find that when I watched but I only watched a few minutes. I had no idea what else was going on. Just had no peace to continue. Honestly, I was very upset and the fear of the Lord was very much with me as I did not want to say or do anything against what He would want.

Garry was able to watch and he couldn't watch any more either. We tried hard to discern how to pray. Our desire was not to judge any one but to KNOW Jesus and know what He was saying about it all. So we prayed that His Kingdom would come and His will be done. We prayed that people would truly be healed, set free and come to know Jesus.

Some of what has been in my in-box has appalled me as a judgmental spirit was very strong. There was much condemnation, arrogance, finger pointing. That probably bothered me even more than what I saw on TV. People in ministry have so much of the enemy looking to destroy them. It's very easy to “arm chair quarterback”, but being in the trenches is hard. It's tiring and if we are not Strong in HIM we are in trouble. To point fingers shows great pride and a lack of humility—I know, I've been a good finger pointer in my day. Thankfully God hasn't given up on me and His transforming work continues. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

I kept wondering where were the mature believers? Where are those who understood that you go to the Lord in prayer for people who you perceive are off base? Where was the accountability for Todd? Did he have any? Did people really seek God before publicly condemning him?

Evidentially he did not have a good accountability group. That is so dangerous. It has proved so for he and his family.

I have had people tell me how excited they were about what was going on in Lakeland. So many of them are so hungry to see the truth of God's word in the natural. Many are led by their emotions. Many, supposedly older believers, don't know the Word. In Hebrews 5 it says:

14But solid food is for the mature,

who because of practice

have their senses trained to

discern good and evil.

The word “senses” means our bodily senses. It's not just a spiritual discerning.

Unfortunately many people have stayed very young in the Lord, allowing their pastors to spoon feed them and never learning to feed themselves. Pastors have been, in some cases, very happy to do this for them. Yet the 5 Fold Ministry is to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Through all this I have sensed Father shaking everything in us that can be shaken. I think He allowed all this to happen to show us what is in us, how much we don't know, how much more our hearts have to be changed. His heart is not to destroy, not to loose wrath, but to love us and turn us into what He really meant in Genesis for us to be—made in the image and likeness of God. So He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose; for those whom He foreknew He also predestined TO BECOME CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, the first born among many brethren. Jesus can not have a Bride with spot and wrinkle. We are to beholy and mature.

Please remember to pray for those who minister to you, not just your pastors but those who have ministries on-line, on TV, or any place else. Pray for Todd and his family. Pray for those who were deceived, who were hurt, who are confused by all this. New believers can be truly devastated by all that has happened and they need people to lovingly come along side of them and show them God's love and truth. Pray for yourselves that deception and denial will be removed and kept far from you.

Your mercies Lord are remarkable. It truly is wonderful that you chose to love us and redeem us and not consume us with judgmental fire. Lord, we ask that you put your eye salve on our eyes so we can see clearly. We need to KNOW your Word, not just read it, but to have it deep within us. We need you, we need you to guide us in everything. Clear our ears so that we hear more clearly. We need a greater revelation of your love for us, your love for all. Show us our hearts Lord so that we may repent and allow your transforming work in us. We desperately need the the

Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

Especially Lord, the Reverential Fear of the Lord. In Jesus Name.

LAUGHING AT MYSELF

2008-08-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

This week I have to take an on-line test for the ICIT course I'm taking. The multiple choice questions are very easy. So are the 2 essay questions, except you can only have 10 to 20 sentences and you have to reiterate only what was covered in the material. I'm use to having to do 10-18 page papers in which I do research, express myself and quote others. The test is open book so we have been told it's best to type it in a Word document and then copy and paste it into the test.

I've been working on these few short sentences for a week.......sheesh.

The other night I dreamed I was sitting at an old tymie table next to Sherlock Holmes who was correcting my essay questions. Much to my horror I got a C. I said something to the effect that I had tried so hard not to put myself into it that I went too far the other way. He nodded his head and left the table.

So I am laughing at myself. I do like getting good grades but the reason for taking this course is the impartation and looking to be transformed. So for it to bother me to the point of having Sherlock show up makes me really laugh--at me. You can too.

MORE POOL FUN WITH THE GRANDS

2008-08-01T00:05:00.005-04:00

Not having most of our family close by is hard but we sure enjoy them when they are here. This week was a real blessing and I thanked God daily for it.

He loves to swim.

Cannon Ball?

The fun of trying to get a group shot.

He's enjoying feeding the horse.

GRANDKIDS

2008-07-31T18:36:00.003-04:00

My 8 year old grandson, my friends 7 year old granddaughter swimming in my friends pool with one of her 10 dogs. Unfortunately the video wouldn't download. And it won't let me add more pictures...........the ways of the net are sometimes very challenging

GOING THROUGH THE CROSS

2008-07-13T23:38:00.001-04:00

I received this in an email today. It expresses what is in my heart better than I can.

Going Through The Cross
Charles Elliott Newbold, Jr.
Dec 7, 2005, Jul 13, 2008

Dec 7, 2005

I call a particular of God's people the "crucified ones" because I see them as having not only gone to the cross for the forgiveness of their sins, but as having gone through the cross in total denial of anything for self. Each is willing, as Jesus called, to "take up his cross daily..." (Luke 9:23, Matt. 16:24).

These crucified ones are dead so far as the interests and deeds of their flesh and of the world are concerned. They have come to the end of themselves--the place God wants to bring us all. They understand that the only true life is found in the loss of their own self-life, to be given over completely to the absolute will of God. "Whoever will save his life shall lose it" (Matt. 16:25). They are willing to die, or willing to be made willing to die, for the sake of the gospel.

Jesus is the only issue in their lives. Other great truths and doctrines are important as safeguards against heresy, but, to them, these truths never become dividing issues in the body of Christ. These "crucified ones" are not argumentative or divisive but are, nonetheless, bulwarks for the Truth who is Jesus Christ as Lord.

Under the Headship / Lordship of Christ

The crucified ones have a strong sense of and security in the headship of Jesus Christ. They resist the pressures of traditional Christianity to submit to the headship of other men but are given to the scriptural order of 1 Corinthians 11: 3: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." Any other headship, to them, would be false and offensive to their sincere spirits.

Their insistence upon the headship of Jesus Christ is an offense to the traditionalists/institutionalists who, for some reason, want to bring men into submission to men.
Nevertheless, the crucified ones are submitted one to another, especially to those others who are sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Having come through the cross as it were, they are humble, broken before the Lord, and eager to examine themselves to see if there is any evil within. They voluntarily and willfully present themselves accountable one to another.

They have no ambition for self but see themselves as servants. They are willing to do their service before God in secret, making no acclaim for themselves. They do not seek for themselves "a city, and a tower, ..and a name" (Gen. 11:4). They are without ambition to increase themselves in power, position, or riches. They are not interested in building churches and memberships for themselves, devising programs, or gaining reputation and titles. They have no agenda of their own. They only want and pursue what God wants.

While they are genuinely submitted one to the other in the Spirit, they are not motivated by the fear of man but by their reverence for God Almighty. Jesus is absolute Lord in their lives. They have renounced all forms of idolatry.

Radical Obedience

The absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ infers radical obedience to Him. The crucified ones have abandoned all to follow Him and are faithful in the least as well as in the greater of things (Luke 16:10).

Such obedience comes out of extreme faith and confidence in God as being sovereign in their lives. Their faith supersedes faith for things, even the things of the Kingdom. Their faith is in God regardless of things and circumstances.

Yet, they are not without knowledge of the wiles of the devil nor without power over all the work of the enemy. In fact, they exert absolute power over the enemy because they are obedient to the Spirit.

They have such confidence in the greater power of God in them that whatever happens to them is regarded more as the sanctification work of the Holy Spirit than as the destructive work of the enemy. They are so given to God and His will that they have that confidence that "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

Non-Religious

The crucified ones are non-religious, non-traditional, non-institutional and non-liturgical. They see the difference between religion and relationship. They do not need religion because they have a personal relationship with the Christ of Christianity.

Religion is interested in the doing of things to appease the gods while relationship is interested in being in fellowship with the God-person Himself.

Religion is sacrifice; relationship is obedience. Religion is intent on cleaning the outside of the cup; relationship is intent upon being cleansed on the inside (Matt. 23:25-26).

Religion partakes of the symbol only of the body and the blood (communion); relationship partakes of the Person of the body and the blood.

We can no longer offer people the symbol only. They need the Person of the symbol--Jesus Christ, Lord.

The crucified ones no longer base their own lives on the symbol but upon their relationship with the Person. They are so identified with Him that, when they present their own lives as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God (Rom. 12:1), it is as though they are presenting the Person Himself.

Being in relationship with God this way, they will come to know Him, not just know about Him--to understand Him and His ways, to trust Him, to have love and affection for Him, to fear Him, to respect Him, and to obey Him. An inseparable bond is formed between Him and them.

The interest of these crucified ones is to seek only more and more of Jesus. They are those for whom it could be said by their life and power "that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

They are not centered upon themselves in any way but are centered and focused upon Jesus and His will. They identify with His plans and purposes in all eternity.

Non-materialistic

They are non-materialistic, having learned that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses" (Luke 12:15). They identify with the apostle Paul who said of himself, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). It does not matter whether they have or have not. Their confidence is in their God who provides. They think Spirit, not flesh; eternal, not temporal; spiritual, not material.

Non-Sensational

They are non-sensational. They are Spirit-immersed, likely to speak in unknown tongues, believe in the present day operation of the gifts and ministries of the Spirit as set forth in the scriptures, and are anxiously awaiting the second coming of the Lord. But these things are no longer the issue with them. Their interest is to receive spiritual gifts as tools to go on in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The Pentecostal experience is not the end, but the means toward the higher goal of attaining Him, of being found in Him (Phil. 3: 7-11). They are less inclined to seek the sensational, outward manifestations of miracles and healings and more inclined to seek that "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). They desire more that hidden work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. In the long run, however, the greater and truer signs will follow them.

Their main interest is to be separated unto God. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification..." (1 Thess. 4:3). They are quick to admit to sin and to repent. Holiness, to them, is attained through the purging, purifying, cleansing fire of the Holy Spirit--transforming and conforming them into the image of Jesus.

They are patient to wait upon the Lord--to rest, wait, listen, and then and only then, to do.

They have a profound confidence in the Bible as the word of God and live as though God said what He meant and meant what He said.

They also have a profound confidence in the Holy Spirit of God and operate on the basis of Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." They put no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3).

The Church without Walls

The crucified ones are the church without walls. They have gone outside of the camp with Jesus, bearing His reproach (Heb. 13:12-13).

The churches are like walled cities within which to keep their own.

The ecumenical movement is an attempt to overlap these walls so as to give an appearance of unity. But all of these attempts will never remove the reality of the walls.

More often, even among the most sincere believers, these walled cities become social clubs for their kind. God is not calling for Christian country clubs. Rather He is calling for His people to come out of them. The only wall that God and His crucified ones are interested in is that wall of fire mentioned in Zechariah 2:5: "'For I,' says the Lord, 'will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.'" These crucified ones are a people who have been called out of a people: the ekklesia, "called out ones." 3 {1}

They view the gifts of the Spirit and the ministries of the Spirit as belonging to the whole body without regard to particular church membership.

The crucified ones have taken for themselves no other name but His name: the name of Jesus (Acts 15:14).

They gather in no other name but His (Matt. 18:20).

They submit to no other headship/Lordship except the headship/Lordship of Jesus Christ who is the true head of the church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23).

They follow no one but the Holy Spirit of God who is Himself bound only to do and say what Jesus, the Head, is doing and saying (John 16:13).

They know no other voice but that of the Good Shepherd (John 10:14-16).

They are joined to no one or no thing but to Him (1 Cor. 6:17).

They have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 7:23) and, therefore, dare not attempt to own anyone or to be owned by anyone except Him. Yet, they belong to each other in the deepest spiritual sense of the word (1 Cor. 3:22 NAS).

They have no other life to live but that His life should be lived in and through them (Gal. 2:20).

Prophets

The crucified ones are a people who say what God says, do what God does, and are what God has made them to be.

They are true prophets of God. By the use of the term prophet, I do not infer that they are all called to the equipping gift ministry of prophet. Nevertheless, their lives are styled after that of the prophets of God--the Elijah spirit--having this radical relationship with God in the Spirit, speaking for God by their very life-style, bringing conviction to the world, preparing the way of the Lord's second coming.

They appear as mavericks in the body of Christ but are in fact the very opposite. They are each given absolutely to the will of God at all cost to themselves. There is no rebellion to be found within them.

As each of them follow the Spirit, they find that He leads according to the Scriptures; that the gifts and ministries of the Spirit will emerge and begin to flow together without walls; that His body, the church, will begin to come together in good scriptural order and liberty as one man according to Ephesians 4:13; that His divine purposes and plans are revealed; that His presence and power is manifested; and that they themselves are emerging as a corporate son throughout the world.

These things have to be the work of the Holy Spirit who is building God's house. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Ps. 127:1).

No man knows how to build God's house. Man cannot legislate or institutionalize God's divine order. He can only submit to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit who is doing the building and be radically obedient to that particular thing he is shown by the Spirit to do. Any attempt to build, legislate, or institutionalize ahead of the Spirit is carnal, resulting in legalism and death. "...the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6).

Rivers of Living Water from Within

These crucified ones are self-starters. The life and power of the Spirit is the driving force within them. They have themselves become that living water welling up from within their innermost being, flowing as rivers of life (John 7:38).

They do not need to be prompted to praise and worship, to pray, to fast, to give, to respond to all that is demanded by the Spirit.

They do not need to run to this seminar on healing or that workshop on deliverance. They will not have to buy all those books and tapes on "how to this" and "how to that."

They will not have to try to grasp the promises of God in their lives through endless incantations of faith confessions.

The Kingdom of God is within them (Luke 17:21). The Word of God is within them. They are in Him and He is in them. They are one, even as He is one with the Father (John 17:21). The Word of God is the promises of God; therefore, the promises of God are within them and cannot be attained by grasping outwardly for them.

Moreover, they not only have the Kingdom, the Word, the promises, and the Person of the Word within them, they are themselves becoming the manifestation of the word of God in and through their lives. They are living epistles (2 Cor. 3:2-3), oracles (1 Pet. 4:11). They are the Word made flesh in their own bodies as they are the body of Christ in the world.

Normal Christian Life

This is not to say that these crucified ones are an elite body of people in terms of how the world thinks of elite. On the contrary, they are the subject of much ridicule and disdain in the world.

The crucified life is that to which God has called all of His disciples. It is considered normal Christian living from God's point of view. Any attempt at life in Christ that is less than this is sub-normal, immature discipleship.

Yet, it is not something that one can attain in one's own strength.

Jesus alone is the fulfillment of all the feasts and courts. He is our redeemer and our redemption, our justifier and our justification, our deliverer and our deliverance, our sanctifier and our sanctification, our glorifier and our glorification. If we want any of these things we have to get Him. He is it!

It is not a matter of God being willing to redeem, justify, deliver, sanctify, and glorify. He's already done it. It's a matter of our believing in Him as the finisher of His own work--done on our behalf--and of our being willing for God to work in us all that he has done for us.

Some people are not willing to go on in sanctification and glorification. You cannot have glorification without first going through sanctification. You can not have sanctification without first going through justification. We were justified, we are being sanctified, we will be glorified--together, this is the salvation process. We are becoming who we are in Christ Jesus.

Thus, we not only have all three feasts and courts fulfilled in Jesus, but they are being worked out in our lives as we are willing and yielded. Oswald Chambers, in his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, wrote, "It is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me; is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement?"

Born out of Fire

These crucified ones are born out of fire. Acts 8:1-4 records an example of this among those first century Christians. Here we read that Saul had consented to Stephen's death; thus great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem. Because of this persecution, the disciples were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. These scattered Christians went forth preaching the word.

Jesus Christ had given those first disciples the commission to "go...and teach all nations, baptizing them..." (Matt. 28:19-20), but they were at ease in their Jerusalem cove and were not going out as they had been commissioned. Therefore, it took persecution to scatter them and the word abroad.

I sense that once again, it will take persecution to scatter the saints for the spread of the true gospel.

I say "true" gospel because any gospel that does not preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" is not the true but is "another gospel." Social justice, the rebirth experience, holiness, faith, prosperity, church order, and other such teachings may be truths but are not in and of themselves "the" gospel. They may be by-products of the gospel to one extent or the other. But the gospel, according to the apostle Paul, whose writings we hold inspired and sacred, is Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2: "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

Persecution is often God's shaking--His tool for the fulfillment of the great commission.

A Higher Realm in the Spirit

Having gone from Passover through Pentecost, the crucified ones have crossed over into a higher realm in the Spirit, reaching over into Tabernacles even before it's fulfillment. (I will stress again that this higher realm is expected of and available to every true, hungry, seeking disciple.)

We have a type of this in the Old Testament when David and his men ate the consecrated bread (1 Sam. 21:4-6). In regard to this, Matthew 12:1-8 tells of a time when Jesus and His disciples were walking through a grain field on a Sabbath and ate some of the grain. The Pharisees saw them and questioned Jesus about this unlawful thing they did. Jesus reminded them of how David had entered the house of God and ate the consecrated showbread which he was not permitted by law to do. Yet, he was blameless.

Jesus then declared that something greater than the temple was there. He was referring to Himself--that He was the Lord of the Sabbath. In other words, David, because of his intimate relationship with God, reached beyond the Law and laid hold of the Lord of the Law Himself. He moved in a higher realm in the Spirit.

There is a bread for the children of God of which we have not been privileged to partake until now because we have not yet crossed over into that crucified life for ourselves. We have been operating in the mercy and grace of Him who went in before us once and for all as the Great High Priest: Jesus Christ, Lord.

Once the crucified ones have truly crossed over into the Holy of Holies--the place where Jesus is the only thing there is, where Christ is not only preached as crucified but where the believer himself is a living example of that sacrificial life (Rom. 12:1)--they will have come to a place where they may never be sick, crippled, or diseased again; where demons cannot oppress, torment, or tempt; where material things are irrelevant because these things have nothing to do with a dead man. Moreover, the blessings of God will be in pursuit of them.

Jesus is their pattern. His sacrificial life becomes their lives, and their lives become His. The Holy Spirit gave gifts and ministries as tools to equip the saints for the work of "service" to the end of becoming like Him. We are fast approaching the end and the perfecting of the saints--those who are willing to go through the cross in Christ.

Footnotes

{1} Ekklesia is the Greek word that has been translated "church" but which literally means "called-out ones."

ME & MY BIG IDEAS OR NEVER SAY NEVER

2008-07-08T16:50:00.005-04:00

Years ago we painted one of our bedrooms lavender and blue. I loved it! My husband endured it, but I think he really HATED IT!!!!! When our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter moved it the colors were perfect. It was very feminine and Rachel went from being an 8 month old to a 3 year old before they moved out. When they moved my husband wanted to make it into his "office". He doesn't have to have an office for work but he loves playing with his computer, learning Lynux and other open source programs, plus he pays bills etc. So I wanted to bless him and paint it.

Please understand I never prayed about painting it. The process has been a nightmare and I remember saying a few years ago "I'll never paint again. I'll hire someone next time"...... so now I am saying, "I hope to be able to hire someone" as the hallway is peeling, scraping it isn't working right and neither is using a pad sander.

The pictures are the daybed cover. We had wallpaper trim that matched it. No matter how hard I tried to be careful it made a mess of the wall in spots when I removed it.
The other ones are the wall in process, I'm not adding the pic of the place where I had no idea I had green paint on my sleeve and bumped into a primed wall.....Our ladder isn't a painting ladder so I have to get down 3 times to reload with paint, instead of the 1 time if it was a different type......Oh I want the money to hire someone next time :-) Also, when we first painted the walls years ago the wallpaper made a horrible mess of them. We tried to fix them but we needed a professional. So now I see the one dark wall and cringe as it shows all the blemishes, flaws, etc...........It looks awful in person.BTW the lavender and blue pic is turned correctly in my file.......just not here. The top part of the wall was lavender and bottom blue. It's just that kind of day.

So, hopefully I am learning to check with God about what He wants. He did help me with the mess, but I had to calm down and ask, even then my attitude was anything but Christlike.

BLINDING FLASHES OF THE OBVIOUS (BFO)

2008-07-07T15:25:00.003-04:00

Years ago I had the privilege and blessing of seeing Fuschia Pickett at a women's conference. She prayed that Scripture would be Lifed to us. When reading or studying and the moment of "AH HA!" hits it has become revelation, lifed or as my husband says, "a BFO".

Many times I have heard the phrase from John the Baptist, "I must decrease; He must increase". However, it was more an intellectual statement with all the understand of, "yea, sure". There was no life to it. Then today I was rereading Chapter 1 from ICIT and I had the BFO. Francis Frangipane is talking about how we receive impartation from other people. He says, "Most importantly, of course, even when we submit to men, our quest is to possess the heart of Christ as it lives in them. it is Christ we seek to know, not merely those He sends us. Thus, even as we appreciate those whom God sends, our passion is to develop an abiding relationship with Christ Himself, that every area of our life might be filled up with Him".

Suddenly I saw that people must see Jesus not me. The more flesh I have the less of Jesus is there, and people cannot see Jesus in that case. People do not need me imparted but Jesus.

My hunger for Him is growing. I have know more of Jesus as religion rather than knowing HIM. If religion is the rule then I have dead works. I do not want man's ideas of correct doctrine, I want DEITY. I do not want a manual on being a good church member which puts a yolk of slavery to man on me. I want Emmanuel whose yolk is easy and whose burden is light.

I believe that if people in churches begin to run hard after Jesus many wonderful things will happen. Pursue Him, not man's approval, not to be head of the deacon board or whatever. Hunger for HIM.

ICIT

2008-06-29T08:54:00.003-04:00

There are some teachers in the Kingdom of God who I am blessed by. Two in particular are Graham Cooke and Francis Frangipane. For a few years now I have been writing on Frangipane's Message Boards. During that time I have learned more about his ICIT (In Christ's Image Training) and have wanted to take it. Thursday I asked Father if I was to, or if Garry and I were to, that He would make the way. Honestly, I was looking toward doing in next year. So I get an e-mail from a friend saying this person is paying for us to take it!

Francis Frangipane has a vision for the City Wide Church. Not a denomination but Jesus, Kingdom people, no matter where they go to church...I am wondrously dumbfounded that He moved so quickly and so generously! So I may either blog more because of all I'm learning or be so busy that blogging may wait. I just know I feel this is an important step in us fulfilling God's plans and purposes for our lives.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

2008-05-30T10:28:00.001-04:00

The video posted in the entry below this entry is my friend Kim. Please enjoy it.

a new Karaoke performance

2008-05-30T10:18:00.001-04:00

Rate this performance at The Sims On Stage

FAREWELL KITTY

2008-05-28T06:27:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately the kitty died yesterday. He tried very hard to live but just couldn't over come how sick he was nor now neglected he'd been. He had the sweetest temperament for a cat. We enjoyed him for the short time we had him and he enjoyed us.

MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS

2008-05-23T15:05:00.003-04:00

There we were last Sunday minding our own business. We ran errands and on our way home we see this very emaciated kitten struggling across the street. We got to his spot about the time he made it up the curb and into grass. Now, a few days ago, I'd been being grateful that we didn't have any more cats or dogs. So I say to Garry, "We are going to stop, right"? Of course he was already stopping.

I got out of the car and the poor little thing ran, sort of, but I could tell it was scared. I also knew that if Garry got out the kitten would be fine and I was right. It just laid there and watched as he approached. So I drove home with the kitten laying on his feet.

The kitten's eyes were a mess as you can see in the first picture. We bathed them often with boric acid eye wash. Monday I could not get him to the vet but did Tuesday. He gets antibiotics 2x a day and a special amino acid to help build up his immune system.

He wants so badly to have the dogs and other cats like him and they don't.

The second two pics were taken 72 hours after we got him.

Yesterday I told Garry about having been so grateful not to have more animals and here I had another. Same thing happened last time I was grateful for not having more so my sweet husband said, "God's trying to get you to stop limiting Him"! Need I say more....... :-)

BAGDAD

2008-05-22T15:00:00.002-04:00

This is from the Bagdad Prayer Patrol. Sure wish our media would report this.

Letter from a Soldier
May 22, 2008
I have been praying with your Prayer Patrol for a long time and I got an email from a friend’s son who is in Iraq and I wanted to send you a copy of it to encourage you. Thanks for all your work. Suzanne

Soldier’s Letter:Thank you for sharing how so many people are praying…. to Him be all glory in this, as I am continually amazed at what He is doing! I tell you what Mom, things are happening over here!!! I have said this over the phone, but I will say it again here: I CANNOT believe the difference between when I first came here in 2005 and this deployment.

Things are far from perfect, and yet there has been such improvements, especially in security and safety, that I sometimes wonder if I am actually in the same country again.While many things have happened in terms of the efforts of our troops and on the Iraqi side too, I can only attribute these amazing changes to God’s work here, and I truly believe He has responded to the prayers of saints all around the globe who are praying for this country.

I think back to last deployment, when you had that month of prayer for Iraq, and how things have changed so dramatically even since then…. all I can say is, Praise the I Am Who I Am, for He truly holds the nations in His hands and the ways of men in His palms!

Please tell all you know, rather, plead with them, to keep praying. Now is the time, I believe, that we need prayer most desperately of all times. While things have improved so much and hope can actually be seen, there is still so many problems and, without His continual grace here, I can easily see all that has been done and all the sacrifices that have been made lost into chaos and complete anarchy. Much more important than the security and stability of Iraq or the safety of the troops over here, though, is what He has been doing in men’s hearts!
I am so very excited…here at the base I have been at even just for a month or two, already several men have given there lives to Christ Jesus. There are troops from many different commands, as well as many different nations, here and it has been amazing (and unexpected) to see all the different people who show up at the worship services and Bible studies.

On a personal note, I have been SO blessed to be meeting with our Chaplain and a couple of other dear Christian brothers almost every morning for prayer…. you don’t know how much this means, especially after not having much fellowship last deployment, and now being able to share so deeply and honestly and to pray for one another. It is so obvious that it has been His work in bringing us together and it is His grace that is pouring down on our lives now! All praise to the One Who was and is and is to come!

Before I close, here are my promised prayer requests. Please, please, do share them with any and all who will pray. Any you know, ask them to come before the Almighty, for it only He Who can truly change men’s hearts…. I have said it before and I am more convinced now than I was then, that the true battle, both here in Iraq and throughout this planet, the REAL fight, is with saints on their knees, humbly asking the Father to do what He and He alone is capable of doing. Human means will fail us, the things of this world will pass in time, and yet He is “my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91).

Prayer requests for my unit, 2D Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion:
-Diligence and discipline to do our jobs well, even over long months

-Humilty and wisdom both for the leaders in our Battalion, as their decisions affect the lives of many men

-Healing and comfort for the families of those deployed, as many are hurting and it is often made much worse by t he separation and anxiety of deployment

-Prayers for our enemies… Our Father loves the terrorists and the insurgents just as much as He loves the Marines and I have heard stoires, AMAZING stories, of terrorists coming to Christ Jesus… this reminds me of Paul and how God completely and radically changed his life

-On a personal note, please pray that I might be close knit to the Father, especially that I might have good devotions, short accounts for my sin, and that I might delight in trusting and fearing Him.
Bought at great price,Capt Rudd Olmstead, USMC

http://prayercentral.net/baghdad/?page_id=154

Laugh

2008-05-17T10:52:00.006-04:00

My son is over today and told this story about his 3 year old daughter.

He was lying on his bed, without his shirt. His arm was above his head and Rachel came in and took one look at the hair under his arm and said, "Daddy, you have fur! I need to find the scissors so I can cut your fur".

In the pic she is helping make her mom's birthday cake.

DIRTY OLD SHOE

2008-05-04T08:26:00.001-04:00

I showered and shaved.............
I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat.............
In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer.........
As I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me.....
Touching my own.

I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......
I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine...
But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'.............
I thought, 'This man with the shoes.. has no pride.

They're dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said a quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer.......
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look ou r best..
When walking through that door?

Well, this certainly isn't it, I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended............
And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud......
Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters.........
His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear..
The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering.......
And what I threw in was steep

I watched as the shoe man reached....
Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out..........
What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink'
as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me..........
To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man...
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service......
As is the custom here.

We m ust greet new visitors..
A nd show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow.............
And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer........
I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark....
And his hair was truly a mess.

But I thanked him for coming........
For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie..........
I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes.......
But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.........
Wiping tears from his eyes.

I've been coming here for months....
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'

I know that my appearance.........
Is not like all the rest.

But I really do try.................
To always look my best.

I always clean and polish my shoes..
Before my very long walk.

But by the time I get here.........
They're dirty and dusty, like chal k.

My heart filled w ith pain............
and I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize.........
For daring to sit so near.

He said, When I get here...........
I know I must look a sight.

But I thought if I could touch you..
Then maybe our souls might unite.

I was silent for a moment............
Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison...
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......
And taught me, in part

That the best of any man............
Is what is found in his heart.

The rest, I thought,................
This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am...
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul

WOW

2008-04-30T15:30:00.002-04:00

This is slow to begin with. Please watch till the end. It is more than worth it! You will have to copy and paste it as I have no idea how to do .anything else. Please let me know if it doesn't work or what you think about it

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

I'm blessed

2008-04-17T01:45:00.003-04:00

Tuesday night my daughter-in-law and I were cleaning out the fridge. I began putting stuff down the garbage disposal and she followed suit, until nothing would go down (yes, we had it running) and everything backed up into the sink. :-( Actually when the back up happened it happened to her. My husband with only a mild tone of irritation asked us not to do that again as it had obviously been over loaded.

So Wednesday he sent me to Lowes to get an auger and plunger. He came home on his lunch hour and plunged away for a while, even though he has a tumor in his left arm that has to be seen about next month. Anyway, he never stopped walking in joy, was patient and later in the day asked me to meet him at store to get me a new bed. Because I'm a wrestless sleeper I drive him nuts at night so we sleep in separate bed. The bed I sleep in is old and not real comfortale but better than the floor :-).My new bed arrives either Saturday or Monday! WOW!

Tonight when he got home from work he took apart the plumbing under the sink and ran the auger. That didn't work so he went under the house to the clean out and that worked! He still kept his joy. Now I want to be able to do that too. He focused on who God is, His nature and His love....He reminded me that no matter what the mountain for the Christian God is on the mountain; we just have to remember to look up to Him. He is the help that comes from the mountain.........

So I am a blessed woman. God loves me incredibly, nothing can take that away from me and my husband loves God and me!

CULTURES

2008-03-23T14:13:00.002-04:00

In the 1960's I became aware of Governor George Wallace. I was in my late teens. I could not stand the man; I was horrified that he thought segregation was acceptable. My attitude toward him was not Christian as I wasn't at the time. When he got shot my attitude was, "serves him right". The black community sure didn't like him because of his racism. And today I see no difference between him and Jeremiah Wright. Well I don't think Wallace called down curses on American, but I think his actions brought curses.

Since becoming a Christian I have been amazed at how many people do not believe God's Word who say they are Christians. Picking and choosing what to believe and live by is NOT an option. Blessing instead of cursing (1 Peter 3:8,9), hate instead of love (John 13:33), treat people differently because of race, money, power (James 2:2-4)...

Men (human beings) were made in God's image. Christ died ONCE FOR ALL! How dare any of us judge someone else:

Matt 7:1"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

I am so grieved that people who claim to stand for Christ are so devoid of knowing who He is, what He stands for, what He taught. They do not seem to grasp the heart of His message--love. The entire Bible is based on it.

I had a teacher who said once, "All behavior makes sense if you know the reason for it. It doesn't make the behavior right (serial killers for instance) but it gives you a point to start from".

Where racism is concerned I am not just talking about one race against another. I've known racists of all colors.

There is a book that is out of print called "Black and White Styles in Conflict". It does have horrible language because the author took the words from rap songs. But it shows how their culture differs from the white culture. Where it came from, etc. It made me realize that certain things about cultures are not understood by other cultures and if we would be able to be open and honest, instead of judgmental and critical, a lot of misunderstandings and judgments would go away.

Different part of the country are the same way. I grew up in Southern California. It's a fast paced life out there with lots to do and more acceptance of people where they are. I moved to the slow very traditional south. It was culture shock. They have been shocked by me too :-). In CA where we went to church for a bit was a block from Seal Beach's beach. Kids came to church in shorts, tank tops, leaned their surfboards against the wall. If someone did that in your church or area what would happen? Women here dress to the 9's for church because they are bringing their best, but teaching has wrong and hearts have been left unreached by the worry about appearance.

May the eyes of our understanding be illumined. May our love be so strong for Jesus that it never grows cold toward human beings or lukewarm toward Him.

WELL SAID

2008-03-20T10:41:00.002-04:00

The following is from The Elijah List. I'm copying and pasting a paragraph here and then posting the entire article. The part that I'm starting with expresses better than I did my thoughts on disciple making.

True discipleship seeks simply to be like the Master. Converting others is not our primary goal. However, we will positively influence others with the salvation message of the Kingdom when we surrender our lives in honor to God. It is not the vastness of our revelatory knowledge or the clarity of our theology that will capture those whom Jesus has ransomed by His Blood; it is the evidence of our being ravished by holy love and wasted on the wonder of being His which will cause the lost and the prodigals to discover their Redeemer King. What might that evidence look like? It is simply holy, forgiving love that has no earthly agenda.
~~~~~~
"We are called as apostolic ambassadors to carry His heart of love to the nations so that the nations may experience the love of His heart."

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! For they are ripe for harvest." John 4:35b
In a recent vision I received, some people approached the Lord and reached out to touch the hem of Jesus, in much the same way as the sick woman who had bled for twelve years (Mark 5:25). It struck me how these dear ones were so heavily burdened and how much the Lord wanted to heal them with just one look of love from His eyes. Have you ever been in that place of being bent over and reaching out in desperation to the Lord for help? It is so important to know He is always willing and always able to lift up our heads and flood our beings with His healing power. As if in affirmation, the Lord spoke in the vision, "See My hands, see My face."

As more people approached the Lord, they held onto His hands, but nonetheless, they seemed unable to look into His loving face. So often, we read how Jesus took others by the hand and healed them. His look of love shattered chains of sickness, bondage and oppression from sin and compelled even the dead to respond with resurrection life. As I pondered how our hands are used for works, the Lord said, "All fruitfulness flows from holy intimacy with Me."

We are healed for harvest, and each one of God's children has a testimony to the Risen Christ that will bless others as it is shared. The Lord Jesus desires for us to have a worship mindset that embraces holy works. From this place of relational security, the Holy Spirit will produce His witness to Christ through us. If we try to approach the harvest from any other perspective than His love, we are in danger of running on empty. Intimacy with God is everything, and without this, we have nothing of any worth to offer to the world.

We cannot hope to be Jesus' hands if we have never seen His face, and yet we cannot see His face unless we receive His pierced hands. In this, we find the paradox of grace. Seeing the Cross is about first believing, and in believing, we perceive and see Him more clearly. In gazing upon the loveliness of Christ, we are blessed to receive the Father. Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father" (John 14:9b).

FACE TO FACE
In the midst of this revelatory experience, I had another beautiful vision of a good friend of mine who has been used by the Lord to usher in revival in a number of nations, including Mozambique. Jesus held my friend face-to-face, and as He held her, rivers of live giving waters poured out from Jesus' belly through her. As He held her in His love-gaze, I watched the flow of His love cause nation after nation to be born again. This picture is not just for one, but for all of those who will answer the Master's call to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and make disciples of all nations. It occurs to me that the most profound experiences we have, take place in the inner sanctum of our hearts, where the Lord creates moments of holy communion with us in which we are forever changed.

Jesus longs to hold each one of us in a personal face-to-face encounter. When we behold His face, we are enabled and motivated to become His hands reaching out to a hurting world. The birthing of multitudes is born out of the secret place. The secret place of Christ, the Bridegroom King, is where His inner gaze captivates our hearts and makes us lovesick, causing us to overflow from His love. Face-to-face is a place where we are enabled to trust God fully and to rely completely on His love.

Time alone with Christ enables us to surrender in adoration to God's will. Seeking the heart of God is a precursor to seeing His power manifest in our lives and through our lives, into the nations of the earth. God is asking us to restore the altar of devotion as an inward response to His glory. The outward manifestation of such devotion will be fruit that will last for all eternity.

The inner gaze of Christ is a multifaceted experience--a secret moment, a holy tryst and a private place of pilgrimage where Christ becomes our all-in-all and when all our defenses and distractions melt away in the silence of communion with our Savior. The inner gaze of Christ may be described as a place of divine encounter and surrender, when our hearts acknowledge the Lord in absolute obedience and adoration to His will. The inner gaze speaks of a time, a place or a season when our souls become saturated in God's presence, and from this, we often receive a fresh commissioning to walk and work with our Redeemer.

Each one of us is brought to a fresh realization of our need to be filled to overflowing with heavenly manna--the sustenance that can only be found in the rest of the Lord. The writer of Song of Songs tells us that the Bridegroom King has been captivated, "with one glance of your eyes." God longs to remove the veil from our eyes, so that we might know Him more. In such holy moments, the Lord reminds us that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternally present, and overflowing in unconditional love. The Lord is captivated by His beautiful Bride, but perhaps we do not always fully comprehend how deeply we are adored by our King of Kings.

FACE TO FACE IS ABOUT HAVING HIS HEARTBEAT
Recently as I waited with Jesus, He reminded me that I need to remember to rest in His love and not always be concerned about "the next assignment." As I pondered my deepest desire to be one with my Savior, I realized that I needed to stop and just breathe deeply of His presence and allow myself to receive His love. God began to speak to me about how those in the battlefields must find rest in the company of the Commander of the armies of Heaven. God spoke of His great longing for lonely leaders to come and find fellowship with Him and allow Him to fill up the empty places. He spoke to me of His grace to dismantle every place of defense in our hearts and allow His love to complete us.

When God meets us in such encounters, it is a uniquely individual experience. To the sinner or the saint who seeks the Savior, "they will look on the One they have pierced" and in return will receive the magnificent grace of Christ. One of my most favorite and lovely verses in the Bible is when Jesus looks at the rich, young man, "Jesus looked at him and loved him" (Mark 10:21). Jesus probably knew before He spoke that the young man couldn't do the one thing that was needed: to give his all for Christ--but not even this rejection could prevent Jesus from loving him.

Time spent in God's presence ploughs the furrows of our hearts, planting the seeds of His will and His word deep into our beings to bring forth fruit at the appointed time. When we are alone with God, He is able to both prune and nurture us and bring our minds, will, and emotions into alignment with His perfect plan for our lives. Jesus softens the hard places in us and refreshes the dry places when we make time to worship Him. He readjusts our spiritual eyesight in the places where we are blind to His compassion, so that we are enabled to view things from His perspective and not our own. His eyes of fire are irresistible and draw us to Himself, compelling our consciences to bow down in humility and reverent awe. Jesus wants us to know that lowly is lovely!

THE THREE ALTARS: DILIGENCE, DUTY AND DEVOTION
In a vision, I was shown three altars in Heaven. One was called the "altar of diligence," one was named the "altar of duty," and the third was the "altar of devotion." Each heavenly altar was truly exquisite, and each burned with a different size of flame, yet, devotion burned the brightest. These altars represent witness (diligence), works (duty), and worship (devotion). The altar of diligence is where the standard of His love is outworked in our actions. The altar of duty is an altar of grace where faith and action meet to do good works, and humility enables us to emulate the obedience of Christ.

On the altar of devotion, I saw beautiful jewels in the flames. This is an altar of love and worship, and the one on which our lives can be spent, bringing much joy to Jesus. On this altar, the fire of the Rock of Ages descends to refine the precious jewel of our faith, producing Christ-likeness in us. Devotion to Christ releases the atmosphere of Heaven into the heart of a worshipper.

Jesus taught, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5). When the altar of devotion burns brightly, our hearts are purified because of the time spent in His holy presence. The eternal purity of Jesus' love reveals His heart in us, and we see Him as He truly is. This "seeing" is not so much about physical vision; rather, it is about being anchored in a covenant relationship of knowing Him and being known by Him. Loving Him creates a desperate longing in us for more of Him, and this earnest longing becomes a catalyst for Godly transformation in our lives. When we are in love, we will reflect His radiance.

True discipleship seeks simply to be like the Master. Converting others is not our primary goal. However, we will positively influence others with the salvation message of the Kingdom when we surrender our lives in honor to God. It is not the vastness of our revelatory knowledge or the clarity of our theology that will capture those whom Jesus has ransomed by His Blood; it is the evidence of our being ravished by holy love and wasted on the wonder of being His which will cause the lost and the prodigals to discover their Redeemer King. What might that evidence look like? It is simply holy, forgiving love that has no earthly agenda.

We run into God's heartbeat for a myriad of reasons, and the Lord longs for us to run out of this encounter with His passion for the multitudes and His Bride. We are called as apostolic ambassadors to carry His heart of love to the nations so that the nations may experience the love of His heart. The Holy Spirit sets our hearts in alignment with the Father's heart. We are anointed and appointed and commanded to love, to teach, to preach, to witness of the Risen Christ, and to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey the Lord. My prayer for each of us is that our onward journeys of faith flow from face-to-face encounters with the Lord.

God bless you as you discover (or rediscover) His love for you today.

Catherine Brown Gatekeepers Global Ministries Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk

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RETRY

2008-03-13T18:13:00.003-04:00

Matt. 28:18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Making a disciple takes time, effort and relationship.

Before I received Christ inside I was like the light brown saying, "don't come near me, you don't mean good for me". I so badly wanted Jesus, not religion, not a formula but the real Person. People would approach me and tell me how to get to heaven by accepting Jesus and my stock answer was, "I've done that". Our salvation is so precious, so awesome and so much more than a scripted prayer which makes us think we have fire insurance. It is a committment to the one who paid the price for all our sin and suffering. He paid with the ultimate sacrifice of His life. He suffered for every sin since Adam to the last man/woman who is ever born. His love encompassed all of us.

He has sent His Holy Spirit to continue having relationship with us, to lead us, to guide us. We are to make disciples not get a notch in our spiritual belts that says "I've led so many people to Christ". I believe in leading people to Christ but there are times I have seen manipulation, badgering, guilt trips, anger, and on it goes, used to get people to say the sinners prayer. I've seen people do it to get someone to just shut up. They didn't mean the prayer because they didn't see the Love of Christ coming from the person. There was a cold impersonalness to the way Jesus was shared. They didn't see or experience salt and light. Intellectualism produces pharisees who produce more pharisees. Truly knowing God makes the Word come alive.

I like the way The Message puts the verses that began this writing:

18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Becoming a Christian is more than a prayer. It is a true changing of direction and learning and being trained in a brand new life.

FAITH LIKE A CHILD

2008-02-23T20:05:00.001-05:00

There I was somewhere between awake and asleep in that very comfortable twilight area meditating on something Graham Cooke said in one of The Heart of Prophecy CD's. He said we must be sensitive to the Spirit. Now I'm not too sure how I got from that to thinking about children but I got there and suddenly had a BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious). I realized that to be sensitive to the Spirit we must be like little children. It's no wonder we have to come to Him that way.

Have you ever noticed how sensitive children are to their parent's moods? If there is tension they are uptight and act out. If there is peace they are normally more peaceful and easy to be around. If there is anticipation, sorrow, worry, fear kids will reflect that.

The Holy Spirit doesn't manifest tension, sorrow, worry, etc. But He does manifest Love, kindness, merriment, peace, patience, etc. He does direct and move, do as He sees Jesus who sees Daddy directing, moving, doing. We are His kids and we have to be constantly aware of Him! We must become as sensitive to Him.

God is not static. It is why sometimes I sit to study and sense it is time to worship or I want to worship and sense it is time to intercede. Sometimes I just do what I set out to do and end up feeling very unfulfilled.

ELECTION

2008-02-20T15:15:00.003-05:00

The up coming election is on a lot of our minds. I’ve noticed that fear really wants to take hold of Christians. It’s tried to hit me in many different ways. BUT GOD says fear not. Father’s perfect love casts out fear so when we focus on His love, get in line with Father and pray His will we do not have to fear.

I am going to start praying the following regularly with a thankful heart because God knows exactly what He’s doing.

Proverbs 21

1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2Every man's way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

Also, Kim Clement has been given some words regarding the election so I think it’s time to get in agreement with God on these.

“God says, ‘A President that I will bring into the White House—they will say he is ungodly—he does not know God. Even as Jesus disguised Himself for the great feasts, so I’ve disguised this man’s heart. When he comes to the White House, not only shall he be Mine, but he shall pray as a man that never prayed in the White House. That same man shall put his feet onto this platform. They will say, How did this take place? Laws shall change. Young men and young women will have access into the Kingdom and with authority into politics and with authority into industries that now have been controlled by darkness because of this man that shall rule for two terms. Do not fear, there will be no unnecessary stuff. There will be things that men shall question. Fear not, for he shall sit in that seat, and suddenly My Spirit shall come upon him and baptize him with fire and with anointing, says the Spirit of the Lord. No more war, the time for war has gone. The time for Peace has come. The House that you call White shall receive a man, a knight, who fought for you in your nights” (June 17, 2007)

Oct. 5, 1007 Kim Clement: “Pray, pray, pray for America. Smile saints, smile for 2008. For who I place in your White House, shall know the Spirit of God in a way. A very unique thing I will do. I told you before, there will be joy and celebration. For the man I place in the White House, shall not be filled with my Spirit when he goes in, but when he settles down, I will baptize him with fire and the Holy Spirit.

F Y I

2008-02-20T09:51:00.004-05:00

A few months ago my husband came home with a new laptop for me. Mine had bitten the dust. He figured I'd be easier to live with and a lot happier if I had a laptop again. :-) He's a good guy.

The laptop itself is great; however, its operating system is Vista. I am not happy with that part of it. It takes up too much space, takes too long to load, we have had a hard time getting it to network. Betwee my son, his wife, my husband me and we have a lot of computers in the house and they are all on the wireless network.

When I have some extra time I'm going to have Lynux, Mandriva or something else loaded on half of it so I can learn it and then do away with Vista altogether.

Just thought you should know.

PRAISING GOD

2008-02-11T15:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were driving home from visiting our daughter and had a lot near misses with people pulling in front of us! Today Garry has had some more of these and The Holy Spirit revealed that demons were trying to kill him. So he said, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." He said the atmosphere immediately cleared!

Our Abba Daddy is so good. He didn't allow the accidents, gave Garry the heads-up as to what was going on and the powerful Word, His Word, to defeat the enemy.

We must be close to a breakthrough. He has said we are.

FRUSTRATION

2008-02-11T15:24:00.000-05:00

I wanted to change the text color on the post after this and it wouldn't let me. Someday I will take the time to learn the ins and outs of blogging :=).

A PONDERING

2008-02-04T13:43:00.000-05:00

A friend asked a question on her blog: To Lent or not to Lent. It seems people in the church her husband pastors want to do the Ash Wednesday observance, 40 days of Lent observations.

I can't help but wonder what the purpose for religious observances is. Do we think God is happy with us when we do them? I do not see how we love God, us and our neighbors by religious observance. It see ms like we try very hard to do things that will make Father love us and be happy with us. BUT GOD can't love us any more than He already does. He is more interested in keeping us close to Him than in casting us away.

Even after getting saved I kept thinking I had to do..........do............do............and the bottom line in my heart was so that God would be happy with me and there by love me..........

It's taken The Holy Spirit a long time (in my estimation) and a lot of work to get me to the point that I know God's love and consequently find my heart's desire is to be all He wants me to be. The being comes from my being in Him and being transformed by His power. In realizing I am in Him and He is in me I am finding transformation a lot easier. It's not that I didn't have intellectual knowledge of this, but it hadn't been “lifed” to me. Now my works, that I know are led by Him, are not a burden but a response to His love. They are not manipulation. They are not my flesh saying, “If I do this I'll feel good that I did this for God”.

The following is an excerpt from Angels on Assignment by Roland Buck. It is found in Chapter 4. The website is http://www.angelsonassignment.org/

One of the discoveries which was so beautiful to me in heaven, was the total absence of the piety people often want to apply to their lives when they think of God! There was none there! Everything was on a light, happy, relaxed basis, with real brightness! I didn't feel like I had to walk on eggs because I was totally at ease! I didn't have to think twice of what I was going to say for fear I would displease someone for there was a sense of total openness. It was a beautiful, but awesome experience that I will never forget!

God emphasized to me that we should quit worrying about HIS responsibilities. He actually let me view people who are trying to serve him by seeing how much they can get their minds in tune with him, by trying to think just exactly right, or trying to say the right word at the right time! God emphasized to me, "That is my business. You worship me, walk with me, put your hand in mine, get your heart in tune with me and I will give you the privilege of moving with me.

"Let me take care of my own business! What I have promised is my business, and I will take care of it. I have not failed in all of this time. Not even one of my words has failed in all of my good promises."

I believe this is the meaning of the word "piety" as it is used here:dutifulness in religion

Jesus condemned the pharisees for their religions practices. He so badly wanted relationship. He had it with His disciples but those who should have recognized Him did not.....

So lent or not to lent...........I guess it depends on the reason

Pivotal Day

2008-02-02T19:36:00.000-05:00

Since returning from California I could feel things in the Spirit realm being different. A good different. God has worked a lot of my husband and me and we are more of a team than we thought possible. We had company today and by the end of it Garry said he knew it was a pivotal day. New things are coming. We have no idea what BUT GOD has said he will never leave us or forsake us. He says he will help us!

The number 8 signifies new beginnings. It's also a year of releasing others into their destiny. It is also a time of drawing closer to Father. We must live in that secret place Psalm 91 talks about. Things are not going to look the same soon and we can not be shaken. I post this here to help me remember, too.

I MISS

2008-02-02T18:41:00.000-05:00

Since the California Visiting blog got messed up I want to make sure people know that the first thing that was originally listed, and shows up when I go to edit, is my family! I have 4 grandkids out there plus a son and daughter-in-law and a daughter and son-in-law!

CALIFORNIA VISITING

2008-01-31T18:18:00.003-05:00

People have asked about my 6 weeks out west so here is a synopsis.

There is much to do there. My daughter and her husband and my two grands like a variety of foods and they eat out a lot. I had American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Lebonese, just to name a few types of food. Plus my son-in-law is a fabulous cook and my daughter has learned from him. Now I'm trying to get the weight off.

Most of the time I was down south but for a few days I was in my favorite part--The Sierra Nevada Mountains! I miss them. Besides that and my family I miss The Hollywood Bowl, the Museums in L.A. and of course the weather.

The Sunday before I came home we all celebrated my daughter-in-law's birthday. My son sliced off the tip of his finger while preparing supper (he is a good cook too) so my daughter, the R.N. came to the rescue and bandaged it. He had to keep it above his heart so that will explain the picture...sort of.

Life has lots of "I miss" and when someone lives far away from family it seems worse but all of us are where Father wants us right now. I missed my husband, my family here in GA and my family in FL. I miss my son in Ohio too. No matter where I am they are not all there. It is good that I like to travel.

Fun in the Sierras

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean

WHAT'S A MEME?

2008-01-28T08:05:00.000-05:00

I have been tagged by Merrie at merriedays.blogspot.com to do this meme. She told me it is called that because it is all about me......how boring........but I love Merry so I will do this.

The rules for this meme are: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

1. Our books shelves are overflowing with secular and Christian books. Some history, some whatever, some fiction. I've started a bunch of them........they may get finished some day. If stress is very high in my life and I begin a fiction book that feels stressful I put it down......I've been told it's because my adrenals are overloaded.

2. My family keeps wanting me to watch movies with them and they just can't understand that I'd rather read. I do like some old movies, and even though it had lots of stress The Lord of the Rings is my favorite.

3. Having grown up in a home with white walls, "Because I can do whatever colors I want" was my mom's reasoning, I don't have white walls. She never added much in the way of color. My husband isn't sure what to do with my penchant for color. Our bedroom has a faux finish what we thought would have brown the more predominant color. I managed to make it look like antiqued red leather (I LOVE IT). He says he doesn't hate it as bad as he thought he would. Our kitchen is lavender, blue and white. Most of it is sponge painted but one wall is all lavender with a carousel horse painted on it.

4. Why a carousel horse you might ask. Well our subdivision is called Camelot and the idea of my cooking is pure fantasy...........

5. Some day I'm going to have a Golden Labrador Retriever. They are gentle wonderful dogs. In 1991 my husband's oldest brother died suddenly so in the middle of December we took a "red eye" from California to Michigan. I was running a fever. The fever got worse and the day after the funeral I was on my husband's cousin's couch while they went to visit an uncle who was in the hospital. Her dog came over to me ever half hour and when I'd tell is that I was O.K. the dog went and laid down again. Yup, Cameo was a Golden Lab.

6. Yorkshire Gold Tea is one of my favorite drinks, I make it iced. NOT SWEET. For 3 years after moving to Georgia I tried to like sweet tea. Finally I had to admit that I hated it.

Now I know I'm supposed to tag other bloggers. I don't have 6 blogger friends ...sigh... so, heartofdavid-garrysblog.blogspot.com is the one I'm going to put here.

EVER BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH PEOPLE AT CHURCH

2008-01-22T13:14:00.000-05:00

Today I was thinking about churches and the one I like in FL. My thoughts were running to the fact that some people there have a heart for God, some are just there. My thoughts started to go to the desire we all be on the same page and I heard WHEAT AND TARES and sensed that I was being reminded it is not time for the separation.

Sense I'm to stop here and let you share your thoughts...

MANY FACES OF CALIFORNIA LIFE

2008-01-16T00:04:00.000-05:00

Following are some of the pictures of life in CA at the end of December and beginning of January. I did not get a picture of the 7 lanes of traffic on the Interstate going all in one direction. There were 7 going the other way too and all of them had lots of traffic.

It's nice to be home, even though I miss my CA family. I miss my FLA family too.

FLOWERS IN JANUARY IN CALIFORNIA

2008-01-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

AT THE MARINA

2008-01-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

SNOW'S GONE, ICE REMAINS

2008-01-14T19:42:00.000-05:00

DEER TRACKS TO THE DOOR

2008-01-14T19:39:00.000-05:00

CALIFORNIA

2007-12-12T02:57:00.000-05:00

So far life has really been in the fast lane. In fact the other day I was with my daughter and there were 7 lanes of traffic on the freeway and we were in the diamond lane and had to merge over to get off. She began to do that a couple mile before our off ramp or we would have missed it. Life sure is different than in Glennville. Within a couple mile we have more traffic lights than in the entire county where I live.

I'm enjoying myself immensely even though I miss my husband lots.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

AFFLICTION AND JOY

2007-11-29T13:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I am extremely amazed at how The Holy Spirit guides my thinking. It has to be His guiding because I am not geared that way.

The other day I was thinking about how our struggles and afflictions sometimes feel overwhelming. The term "momentary light afflictions" kept coming to mind. It's from 2 Cor. 4

16Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

17For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Somehow from there I began thinking about Jesus enduring the scourging and crucifixion. His Daddy, our Father, sent Him to go through that. Have you ever wondered how Abba felt watching His Son go through this? I thought about my kids and grandbabies and what I would feel if I had been asked to have them pay such a price. Everything within me rebels at that thought--at having them endure that, at me enduring that pain. Yet Abba Father GAVE His only begotten Son to pay for our sins.

We have all been crucified with Christ. Every illness any of us have ever dealt with, every pain we have ever had, every sin from Adam to the last human being was put on Jesus at His scourging and crucifixion. He felt every person's momentary light affliction, He endured them AND OVER CAME! He endured for the Joy sent before Him (2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.)

The joy is doing Daddy's will and receiving His reward. The joy is seeing those who would repent and bring honor and glory to God. The joy is knowing other's would walk in joy because He wants our joy to be full -- " These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. His desire isn't for us to be overwhelmed by our sins or by the negative happenings in our lives but for us to be full of joy. His desire is for us to joyfully overcome (His joy is our strength) Part of His mission statement is this section from Isaiah 61

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise

It is up to you and me to decide to have this mindset. With the power of The Holy Spirit we will make that decision and our souls will rejoice, will praise and be so full of joy that nothing can shake us.

LEAVING FOR 6 WEEKS

2007-11-28T07:55:00.000-05:00

Saturday, 12/1 I am flying to the west coast. I return 1/12/08. My precious husband is sending me to my kids out there for 6 weeks. He told a friend that part of loving a wife Jesus' way is being willing to die for her and that he has to die to himself and bless me and the kids with this. Not only will we not spend Christmas together our 24th anniversary is 12/30. I have never gotten to spend the holidays with Laura's two kids so part of the itinerary is: Helping pick out a Christmas tree, decorating the house, going to the school holiday activities. Natalie takes Hula lessons (I hear she is really good--blond blue eyed, petite hula dancer...should be great) so I get to go to her recital. Both kids are taking ice skating...My son has two teenagers who I will get to see, at least for a moment...you know how teens are. :=)

This week I have been so sick--sinus and bronchitis. But that has not dampened my excitement.

Blogging may be on hold while there BUT GOD has plans for me out there...whatever they are they will be good.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a year full of God's manifest presence, direction, love and joy.

PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS

2007-11-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

Lately I've gotten a lot of e-mails claiming various negative things about politicians, certain religious groups and on it goes. The problem is they are all FICTION! The rest of the problem is they fit our preconceived idea of how people are, what they do or think. Occassionally there is a kernel of truth in them but it has been twisted--reminds me of Adam and Eve. When you come right down to it, these e-mails are malicious gossip. There are ways to check out things before they are sent on. When they are forwarded, without responsibly checking them, they make Christ's Body look really stupid. The World already thinks we are and I have to wonder if they are started to prove that point.

No Matter what the reason God's Word says:
Romans 1:28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

When we talk or pass on negative comments we are murdering the reputation of a person, stirring up strife, possibly being deceitful and obviously malicious. We are to love God, ourselves and our neighbors as we love ourselves (paraphrase of 2 great commandments). All the law and prophet hinges on those commandments. The above from Romans is a partial list of that which isn't loving.

There are at least 2 websites where the truth can be checked out:
www.truthorfiction.com
www.snopes.com

Lets not give the world reason to think badly of our Lord because of our preconceived notions. And let's walk in love, treating others like we want to be treated.

THICK HEADED ... BUT GOD . . .

2007-11-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

For ages I had no vision for myself. Disappointment and crashed dreams brought in a sense of overwhelming defeat and fear. BUT GOD. . .

A couple years ago I was trying to increase my vocabulary and the first word I learned and the only one I remember was

factotum

1 : a person having many diverse activities or responsibilities
2 : a general servant

The other day when asking God what His vision of me is that was the word I heard. It is exactly what He's had me doing for ages. A little of this or that as He needs it. So God has a vision for me, He has dreams for me even if I am too thick to see them.

Then Sunday we were driving back from our daughter's and a business trip when my husband asked me what dreams had died. So I told him that I'd dreamed of the way I would parent and failed at that. I had wanted to use my mother's house for ministry after her death but sold it. (I am an only child so the house was held in trust for me) I had wanted to be a GRANDMA...kids at the house, etc. (We have 8 grands, one here, 3 in Fl and 4 out west).

I had failed in many ways as a parent BUT GOD has changed me and relationships are being healed and that dream is coming true. My idea for my mom's house had been for things like using it for missionaries on furlough, etc. BUT GOD had other ideas. Our home has been partially bought with my inheritance. We have had Bible studies, house church and at 3 different times young people who needed a place to live were with us. We now have family living with us. SO GOD used her house for ministry.

15 years ago we made a down payment on a rental house which now has a single mom and her 2 kids living in it. Our relator told us she took a chance on them and they have been great tenats for 2 years now. We have never had the house vacant and other tenants have received prayer they may not have had ascent for them. We have a grand daughter living here, I get to see my grandsons in FL every few weeks and they and I love it. On Dec. 1 I fly to CA for 6 weeks so for that time I get to build better relationships with my kids and have a blast with the grands out there.

As I saw this I fell apart. You know the kind of falling apart-when the Spirit touches you and there's nothing else to do. Just because it didn't look like I thought it would didn't mean those dreams weren't from God. It didn't mean they were dead. I repented for being so blind, dense and thick headed. One of my prayers has been for Him to open the eyes of my heart to whatever He needs me to see regarding Him. WOW.

Not only did my dreams not totally die but I am doing diverse things as directed by The Holy Spirit. Now I have to repent for how I resented my husband insisting on mom's house being sold. God did direct through my head...just like He says He does. DUH

Thank you Abba Daddy for being so merciful, so incredibly loving and giving so much grace to me. You are AWESOME and you, who measures the universe by the span of you hand, has revealed Your love and care for me.
Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

FIRST MEMORIES

2007-11-02T20:06:00.001-04:00

My friend, Merrie, just did a blog on 5 things she remembers. It made me look back and I decided to do my first memory. Trains. I still love trains. My mother had to take me, at a month old, to where my dad was stationed in the Army--Cheyenne, WY. We went to Oregon months later and back to Illinois to visit and then moved in Long Beach, CA. I loved the way the train moved. It's probably why I love it when ships are moving quite a bit. I remember the smell of the dining car and wondering why the men would call for the last drink. My mom said it was because the state we were entering was a "dry" state. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how they could live without water. :-) I remember being terrified the train would leave without us and not wanting to be off the train long. Why I was afraid? Not sure. I remember having the births made up to sleep; being in a small restroom with a woman putting on her make-up (I have prayed for her every time I remember her.)

These are all wonderful memories. Maybe I'll go for another nice stroll down the lane some time. It was nice, but I don't want to stay too long. I'm grateful for now too.

Almost Deceived

2007-10-30T16:11:00.000-04:00

The other day I saw an ad for Spirit Led Worship so I decided to see what it was about. The minute the website opened I felt that this was not led by anything Holy, especially not the Holy SPIRIT of God. But the site quoted C.S. Lewis. It was a very positive quote about Christianity. The title of the songs available to be listened to were either very Biblical sounding or the names of Psalms. The person's voice was beautiful. Oh, but the feeling of things not being right were so strong.

A couple friends of mine checked it out too. They found what I'd missed--I'm more audial than visual. They found this person is promoting the New Age. How deceptive. I was sure that was what was going on but what if I hadn't been in the Word for years? What if I hadn't believed Hebrews 5:14 "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil". What if I didn't believe that Word means what is says when it says one of the gifts of the gift of Discernment? What if I was just saved the night before?

I have been praying this person will have the eyes of their heart opened.

Matthew 24:23-25

23"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.

24"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

25"Behold, I have told you in advance.

Satan and his demons are wily. They are becoming more stealhy. I needed this reminder. Not that I didn't know it but it still made me feel like I'd been slapped in the face. BUT GOD is able to direct his angels to help us, he has gained the victory and has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth! Thank you Father!

. . . AS YOURSELF

2007-10-28T19:49:00.000-04:00

While thinking about the Two Great Commandments and 1 Corinthians 13 I had a BFO--blinding flash of the obvious. The way I love others is to be the same way I love myself. Yea, OK you say, so what...Well the Holy Spirit quickened "patient and kind" to me. I am to be patient with myself and kind to myself.

That does not mean I can set back and do nothing--that's laziness. It does not mean I can do whatever I want--that could be lots of different sins depending on what I want to do.

It does mean that as I pursue God and study His Word and try to live it and know him I don't have to panic or be anxious. I can rely on God to get me there. It means that the "switch" my husband use to say I was so good at using on myself can go into the burn pile because I can give myself grace and mercy. Father gives it to me. By encouraging myself in Him I'm giving grace and mercy to me.

The thought, "He's cheering me on to victory", just popped into my head and heart! What a delightful thought.

LOVER OR HATER

2007-10-26T08:53:00.000-04:00

One day it was pointed out to me that if I don't walk in love then I walk in hate. OUCH. So what does it look like to be a lover?or a hater?

Love is patient ~ impatient

love is kind ~unkind

is not jealous ~ jealous, envious, covetuous

love does not brag ~ braggadocious

is not arrogant ~ proud

does not act unbecomingly ~ acts appropriately

does not seek its own ~ looks for the good for others

is not provoked ~ keeps their peace

does not take into account a wrong suffered ~ is Christlike in all unpleasant dealings with others

does not rejoice in unrighteousness ~ keeps a pure heart

FROM THE MESSAGE
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always, Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Father, This is how you love me. Deepen, please, the revelation of your love for me so I can love you more and love others, In Jesus Name.

GOD'S MANTLES

2007-10-19T10:14:00.001-04:00

I was going to do more on what a bargain walking with God is--even though it costs us everything! Today I received this in my e-mail and you will see why I had to post it.

October 19, 2007

Matt Sorger:

"HEAVEN IS RELEASING NEW ASSIGNMENTS--PICK UP YOUR MANTLE"

"Never forget that mantles always have a price. Salvation is free, but the weight of His glory will cost you something."

THE MANTLE ROOM OF HEAVEN

I was recently caught up into a Heavenly visitation during one of our "Awakening Gatherings." That morning, as I stood to the pulpit to preach, I was instantly brought into an "open-eyed vision" where I was taken to a room in Heaven. Peering through the door, I could see many robe-like garments hanging along the wall. As I entered into the room, I could see that these garments were different sizes and patterned with many different colors. I intuitively knew that this was the "Mantle Room of Heaven." The Lord spoke to my heart, telling me that these garments were mantles He created and prepared for His people to wear on the earth. They would empower His children to fulfill their Heavenly callings and mandates.

In my vision of the Mantle Room, I saw that not one of these mantles were the same. Each was a unique size and color. I understood that God did not want carbon copies, but originals. He has a unique mantle made just for you. God does not want you to pattern yourself after another person or ministry. He wants you to be uniquely you. There is an aspect of His nature and power that He wants to display through your life. Each mantle, when worn by an individual on the earth, expresses a unique facet of God's nature and glory in Heaven.

Get ready! Some of these mantles are right now hovering over the Church and are about to be released in the earth. God is looking for those He can place them on. Some mantles will resemble things we have seen and are familiar with, while others will empower people to do things that have never been done before this time in history! God is looking for those He can anoint with fresh oil.

NEW MANTLES ARE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED

In a recent dream, the Lord showed me one of the mantles about to be released over the corporate Body of Christ. In my dream, I was in a house full of people. I heard a knock at the door and went to open it. When I opened the door, a very elderly woman was standing there. She could barely stand and looked like she was just about to pass over into eternity. I instantly recognized her. She was a very old "Kathryn Kuhlman." I reached down and put my arms under her, picked her up and carried her into the house. As I stepped over the threshold into the house, I awoke from my sleep. --End of dream.

For weeks I prayed over this dream, asking God for understanding. As I waited on the Lord, He began to unfold its meaning to me.

The Lord used the picture of Kathryn Kuhlman (along with her age) to symbolically speak to me. Once again, there is about to be released over the Church, a mantle that is similar to the one this great woman of God wore. Not only will it release mass miracles, but it is deeply connected to our level of intimacy with the Person of the Holy Spirit. It is a mantle of extraordinary power as well as deep intimacy with God. This mantle releases creative miracles as the atmosphere of Heaven is released in and over our lives. This type of mantle will not just cover one or two. God is wanting to release it over the Corporate Body. But it does require something....

It requires a life of complete surrender, obedience and death to self. It requires a lifestyle of deep communion with God. This mantle is being made available to all who want it and are willing to pay the price that goes along with it. Never forget that mantles always have a price. Salvation is free, but the weight of His glory will cost you something. With power comes responsibility. The heavier the mantle God gives you, the more dead to self you must be.

We can see the weight of responsibility that goes along with receiving a mantle in Numbers 11:17. The Lord said to Moses, "I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone." Not only was the "authority" of Moses transferred to 70 people, the "responsibility" of bearing the burden of the people came with it.

BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME

In my dream, it was significant that I had to pick Kathryn Kuhlman up. When God releases a mantle, we must pick it up! There is an action required on our part. When the mantle fell from Elijah, Elisha had to bend down and pick up that mantle. When he did, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Elisha had to be in the right place at the right time to receive that mantle. It required persistence, determination and faithfulness on his part so he would be correctly positioned to receive the mantle when the time came for it to be released.

The same is true for us. It does matter where you are and who you are hanging out with! Some visitations from the Lord require you being in a specific place at a specific time. It is crucial that we are where God wants us to be, so that He can visit us in such a way to release the new mantles He has for us.

I know each time I have received a mantle from the Lord, it has been in a specific place and time. Each time I was exactly where the Spirit wanted me to be. For example, the Lord led me to be in Moriah Chapel in Wales during the 100-year anniversary of the Welsh Revival. It was during this special time of prayer and seeking the Lord that I had a deep encounter with the "Revival Mantle." I could physically feel a blanket-like garment being draped over my legs and around my waist. God gave me a very deep revelation on the true meaning of revival, but that is for another article.

Another time I was in Europe, ministering with an evangelist friend in Estonia, who was doing some large evangelistic crusades when the "Mass Crusade Mantle" came upon me. I was standing on the platform when it happened. The anointing for miracles and mass salvation came into the meeting. As I was standing on the right side of the platform, it felt like someone placed a blanket over my head, shoulders and arms. There was a new mantle for mass crusades being placed on my life. This mantle was released in the midst of the glorious atmosphere of a mass crusade meeting. I was in the right place at the right time. Just three months later, I held my first mass crusade in India. Multitudes were saved, healed of sickness and delivered from demonic oppression!

WHAT TYPES OF MANTLES CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE?

I want to briefly share with you four mantles that we can expect to see released in this next season. This is by no means an exclusive list. There are many other mantles to pick up and receive besides the four I am about to share. I simply want to highlight some of the mantles the Lord has highlighted to me.

The first is connected to the dream I had concerning Kathryn Kuhlman. This mantle is a "Mantle of Glory and Creative Miracles." It will bring a keen sensitivity to the Person of the Holy Spirit and will release amazing signs and wonders, not just inside church buildings, but everywhere His people carry His glory. The Lord recently spoke to me that He was raising the standard in the healing movement once again. Matthew 12:15 says, "He healed them ALL."

This outpouring will release an even greater wave of signs and wonders, not just in the church services, but in the marketplace. God is looking for vessels He can endue with power out in the marketplace. We will see "backyard miracles" in mass--miracles in the homes, in the workplace, out on the streets, in the hospitals and in the malls. We will see creative miracles everywhere God's people go, releasing the power of the Kingdom into this present age.

The second is a "Mantle of Mass Deliverance." Not only will we see mass miracles, but there is also a wave of mass deliverance coming. People that have struggled in areas of their lives for years will receive breakthrough as the fire of deliverance is released into their lives. I encourage you to pray this prayer, "Lord, uncover and expose every area of darkness in my heart." As you do, God will release by His Spirit, a deep deliverance in your life.

Just as the Lord delivered Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians in mass, so God will deliver His people in mass. And we are not coming out empty-handed. This is where we will see the supernatural divine transfer of wealth which the prophets have been proclaiming. Mass deliverance is connected to the release of this divine transfer (see Exodus 3:20-22).

The third is a "Mantle of Supernatural Favor." God is placing mantles of favor upon His children in this hour. It's the type of favor that God placed on Isaac as he was taking possession of the land of his inheritance in Genesis 26. As he contended for what God said was his, the Lord eventually even caused his enemies to want to be at peace with him. Isaac eventually came into a place of total fulfillment and rest as he dug a well and called the name of the place Beersheba, meaning "Well of the Seven." Seven speaks of "fulfillment, completion and rest." Favor makes a way where there seems to be no way and causes you to receive all God has for you.

The fourth is a "Media Mantle." We will see a "Media Revival" with a move of God spreading through the airwaves. The Lord spoke to me that He is raising up TV networks that will help facilitate this end time move of God. GodTV is one of those networks. But there are more. Jesus will even be glorified over the secular networks! God is placing Media Mantles on people who will glorify His name through various media outlets.

As we move into this next season, I encourage you to stay sensitive to the voice of the Spirit as He leads you into times of prayer and waiting on Him. This will prepare you to be fully ready for all that He wants to release in and through your life. Get ready to pick up your mantle!

Matt Sorger
Matt Sorger Ministries
Email: info@mattsorger.com

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FREE BUT COSTS EVERYTHING

2007-10-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

Today my husband and I were talking about how our salvation is free but to truly follow God it costs us everything.

When we moved to Georgia we knew we were doing what God told us to do. His wisdom in not telling us what we would go through is phenomenal. If we had any idea how hard these last 14 years would be nothing would have budged us. BUT GOD is wise and called us to a deeper level with Him and got us to the place where we could begin to get there.

Both God and satan want the same thing--they want us dead. It is just that God has something awesome to bring to life in us as we die to ourselves. Satan wants us totally destroyed.

I left a 3 year old grandson and 3 week old granddaughter when we moved here, along with 3 of my kids. BUT GOD said go and if I had not obeyed knowing Him like I do now probably wouldn't have happened. It's been very painful at times. Loneliness and depression tried to swallow me up and I almost let them, BUT GOD, brought me out of it. He has given me a hope that I didn't know was possible to have. He has gotten rid of some of my pride (do we ever get rid of all of it this side of eternity?).

His free gift is eternal life but to grow with Him, to know Him more costs everything. What a bargain!

WOW 44

2007-10-15T14:34:00.000-04:00

Years ago I kept seeing multiples of 4. The Holy Spirit finally got me to Isaiah 44:4 which basically (because of verse 3) says my offspring and descendants will be strong as poplars planted by streams of water. I have planted a poplar tree as a memorial to this. However, recently, I've been seeing multiple of 4's again. Yesterday my husband posted the following on his blog...

As I wrote before, the numbers for the Messiah are 4, 40, and 400. The fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is Daleth. Its symbol is a door. The 40th number in Hebrew is the letter Mem. It is pronounced like a "m", and its symbol is a wave as in an ocean wave. I told you before that the number 400 is a Tau and means the end.
Where do you begin with Christ as the door? John wrote about a door in John chapter 10. Paul wrote about an door being opened to him in 1 and 2 Cor. James 5:9 about the judge at the door. Then Christ speaks in Rev 3:8 and 20. The more you look for Christ the greater He shows up!
The Hebrew writers use a word for wave that also refers to springs of waters gushing upward out of the ground. Strong's # 1530. One thing I like to do with the Hebrew alphabet is to put the letters together and see what word they form. If you but Daleth and mem together you find a word that is translated "Blood", and is Strong's #1818. The definition in Strong's reads: Blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by anal.the juice of the grape; fig. Bloodshed(i.e. drops of blood):- blood (-y, -guiltiness, [thirsty], + innocent. The root word it comes from is Strong's # 1826. The definition is: to be dumb; by impl. to be astonished, to stop; also to perish:- cease, be cut down (off), forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, keep (put to) silence, be (stand), still, tarry, wait.
So the Hebrew alphabet means something! The words down to the letter means things. The numbers of the Messiah shows His mission on Earth, to be the door to an intimate relationship with the father. The means to accomplish that mission, the shedding of His Blood. How he conducted Himself during the shedding of His Blood, silent like a lamb to slaughter. And that this was completed by the letter tau as the end of the alphabet. 4, 40, 400. The numbers of Messiah.

CITY COMES TO THE COUNTRY

2007-10-13T13:20:00.000-04:00

Most of you know that I grew up in Los Angeles County California. My dad loved Roses so we had beautiful ones. Until I was in 5th grade we didn't have a vehicle so we walked to the grocery store for all our food. Our dog was a house dog. She loved me, slept with me and went to the vet once a year for her shots. She ate table scraps.

The day after graduating from 8th grade we moved. The house my parents owned had two fruit trees so we had wonderful peaches and plums. My dad loved Roses so he planted a Rose Garden.

You now have the extent of my knowledge about country life. Food came from the store and animal husbandry consisted of a dog sleeping with me.

When my husband and I moved to Georgia my ignorance of agrarian life shown brightly.

The first part of my education was that people didn't have a pig ranch they had a hog farm. I thought farming was something that happened in the ground...well when you look at hog wallowing in the mud the word "farm" begins to makes sense.

Next was the day Garry said that they were getting the pine straw for the animals. My brilliant question was, "Do they eat that"? Hay, straw, pine straw...what do I know? It gave him a good laugh and reminded him that I was truly ignorant of the basics of life and survival without a grocery store and money would be very difficult for me.

Today I took my granddaughter outside. She's 2.5 and we had a good time. The vines that I've been told for years are grapes had something beautifully purple growing on them. They don't look like grapes to me and the birds hadn't seemed to eat them but I laughed. Laughed because I love purple and lavender and my husband has told me that there is ENOUGH of that color in the house and that he didn't want any more. I have no idea if those are wild grapes or what but they are purple! And they aren't in the house!

The picture at the beginning is the purple whatever. If you know what it is please let me know. In the mean time I'm going to enjoy learning to live in the country.

DETAILS ~ RELATIONSHIPS

2007-10-11T12:50:00.000-04:00

A friend and I were talking about ministry. She mentioned a friend of hers who said that God is interested in the details of the ministry. However, she said she believed He was interested in the details of the relationships in the ministry. This set me thinking.

Looking back on ministries I've been involved in when things have gone downhill, in the negative way, I can see where relationships were the cause. People became offended, they didn't care what other people thought, they became offenders. I can see where elitism, control, dominating attitudes, arrogance, and pride have really stopped what seemed to be, and I believe was, God moving in our midst. It seems that we forgot to be kind to one another, forgiving as Christ has forgiven us. We forgot that we are all imperfect and in process and that so and so hurts in ways I don't and I hurt in ways they don't and that the pain can cause lots of misunderstandings that grace is needed for. Blatant sin can not be tolerated but I can see how I and others judged someone's words, actions, body language as something that person never meant...we were the sinners because we judged them.

When I have seen God move the most powerfully people have been in harmonious relationship with each other and Him. So if I'm sensing a ministry isn't what I think it should be, what I want it to be or if I am having problems with it I guess I'd better check out my relationship with the people. Am I being loving and forgiving? Is it my pride that is hurt? Can I disagree and see things from a different perspective and not be disagreeable or angry if they don't see things my way? In some cases there may be something horribly wrong but I need to make sure of where my heart is and how my relationships are.

The ministry statement of Jesus is Luke 4:18
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED

That talks about people.

The two great commandments are, in a nutshell, Love God, Love others as yourself. That does not talk about a building or a program. That is relationship.

VACATION

2007-09-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

My husband and I are on vacation and won't be on-line until the 8th of October. I am very excited to have this time with him.

A LOVER

2007-09-20T10:20:00.000-04:00

What are the characteristics of a lover?

They are consumed with the thought of their beloved. They want to spend all their time with them. To do for and give to them. They want emotional intimacy with them. There is a desire to be loved back. They want the very best for the person.

Merriam Webster’s on-line dictionary (m-w.com) gives this definition of lover:

Function: noun
1 a : a person in love; especially : a man in love with a woman b plural : two persons in love with each other
2 : an affectionate or benevolent friend
3 : DEVOTEE

Number 3 really got my attention so I had to look up “devotee” and “devote”.

Main Entry: dev·o·tee
Function: noun
: an ardent follower, supporter, or enthusiast

Main Entry: de·vote
Function: transitive verb
1 : to commit by a solemn act
2 : to give over or direct (as time, money, or effort) to a cause, enterprise, or activity

synonyms DEVOTE, DEDICATE, CONSECRATE, HALLOW mean to set apart for a special and often higher end. DEVOTE is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective . DEDICATE implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose . CONSECRATE stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality . HALLOW, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity .

Father loves us so passionately that His only begotten Son, Jesus, died and rose from the dead for us. This was both Father’s and Jesus solemn act. He has given over all for us. He watches over us: Deuteronomy 32 9 But the LORD's portion is His people,
Jacob, His own inheritance.
10 He found him in a desolate land,
in a barren, howling wilderness;
He surrounded him, cared for him,
and guarded him as the pupil of His eye. (A)
11 He watches over His nest like an eagle
and hovers over His young;
He spreads His wings, catches him,
and lifts him up on His pinions

His compelling motive is our redemption--a much higher end, a huge good.

Because God first loved us we can love Him back. Because He is passionate about us we can be passionate about Him. He is our lover. Everything above applies to how He loves us. When we grasp how thorough and intense and passionate His love for us is our love for Him will grow. As that grows so will our desire to obey Him, to be with Him, to be transformed into His image.

AWE

2007-09-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

When I was 7 I made my first communion. Disappointment flooded me because I had expected a personal encounter with Jesus. As I knelt and prayed, like I'd been religiously taught, I didn't find Him.

Later that day friends were driving my parents and me along with their daughter through the Palos Verde Peninsula in Southern California. I was looking out the window thinking, "Is that all there is?" when my mother asked me if I was happy. I knew better than to tell the truth so I lied and said, "Yes" with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. For years I did all the right religious things according to the church that man instituted and NOTHING happened except I grew more rebellious and cold hearted. At some juncture I remember wondering what it would take to change my cold hard heart because I wasn't able to.

After having 5 children in less than 4 years I ended up divorced. 3 years into that divorce I found out that the Bible says I'm saved by grace through faith, not works. Right then I received Jesus as my Savior and many things changed but there was still some hardness of heart that I didn't want and I still didn't have a PERSONAL relationship with Him, even though I said I did. Experiencing God was frowned upon. I still don't know why.

Three years after being saved I met my husband. He married me and took on 5 teenagers too. (That's a whole other story). Ten years later God moved us to a little farming town in S.E. Georgia. It was a very different environment from Southern California. He put us in a church with precious people and dried us out really good. He wanted us to be ready to take a good drink of His Spirit. We did but still I could not feel God's love. A MorningStar prophet told me that and as I cried like a baby she wrapped her warms around me because Father told her to hug me for Him. That started a little crack which would later become a full blown fisure.

During the next few years God did things gently with me. Once during a worship time at a church we were involved with I felt laughter bubbling up and since I was the only one who seemed to be experiencing this I tried not to give in believing it was my flesh. However, God finally pursued me until I fell on the floor laughing so hard I was almost crying. Two days later I realized that what I had been sensing within the core of me as a concrete urn with concreted hands holding it in place had totally vanished!

Process was still happening! Then about a year ago I realized that the Bible says I love God because He first loved me and that in order for me to be truly transformed and to really love Him I had to have a revelation of that love--a life changing revelation. I prayed for it and told a group of people it is what I wanted. Finally, all these years after expecting a personal encounter with Jesus (40+) I have a personal, deep relationship with my Lord and it's only the beginning. God used many wonderful people and things including Don Milam's book, The Ancient Language of Eden which touched me deeply, to help me in my process. I'm so grateful for all of them.

Then He directed me to Graham Cooke's ministry and his Cd's have opened up God's love for me in that life changing way I had prayed for. Today I've begun doing a Graham Cooke Journal called Living in Dependency and Wonder and in the introduction he talks about being taken back in a dream to a time of sin when suddenly Jesus stepped into the picture. His shame was incredible but Jesus told him, "Grae," He said gently, "it wasn't your disobedience or your rebellion that grieved Me. Son, I dealt with those issues on the cross. What grieved Me is that you never saw what I wanted to be for you. You never understood what I wanted to give you".

I wept because I didn't understand that either, BUT GOD is opening all that up to me in wonderfully loving new ways. He is wonderful beyond description, He is too marvelous for words and I do stand in AWE of Him and His wonderful process continues. . .

IN CASE OF CONFUSION

2007-09-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

Just in case there is any confusion about my last post I believe that as we become conformed to the image of Christ then we do out of that. We are to be obedient but that obedience needs to bring forth the works that will stand up to fire. If we do it out of our flesh, not out of our love and BEing in Christ then we produce hay, straw and stubble. We are not different than the Pharisees.

Christ said to make disciples. We have a choice to walk in love or flesh and from there share the gospel but we will either bring people into an atmosphere where God's love and ways are wonderful or into a religious institution where condemnation is heard more often than forgiveness and growth are experienced or just feel good that we led them to Christ and leave them. Disciples are made through time and caring...

Where's the Love

2007-09-10T12:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went with my daughter, son-in-law and their 3 sons to a "seeker sensitive" church. My son-in-law needs Jesus. He needs to know how much Father truly loves him. What we found was do do do. The entire service was so oriented on doing that I wanted to weep.

It began with some old praise and worship songs. Then went into a one person skit. She was talking to God about His wanting obedience and how, in essence, she couldn't live up to His expectations. It went on to her father and how she had wanted to please him and whenever he wanted something he'd order her to get it and never say, "thank you". It seemed to me what it was about was wanting relationship and not finding it with her natural dad so she couldn't find it with Father. She ended by saying, "I'd just like you to tell me Thanks for the coffee". I knew exactly how she felt. BUT GOD has brought me past that; however, the skit didn't.

That made me want to weep, then scream. God's love goes so far beyond that and when we get a revelation of that we start to BE. From that we can then do. I now know he was talking to me and wrapping His arms around me but fear kept it away. The church we visited is so caught up in doing that they never thought to bring God into this skit as He wants to be. They don't seem to know Him that way. And neither did most of the churches I've ever attended.

Religion said, "You HAVE to be here when the doors are open or you are not spiritual", etc. Guilt/condemnation...the pastor's message was full of guilt and condemnation...I want NO MORE of it. I want JESUS! I want Father! I want the Holy Spirit.

A few years ago I was talking to God about not being able to feel His love. It came from the same thing as the skit...I'd never be good enough. And I told God that I knew I didn't love Him like I should. That His Word says I love Him because He first loved me and that I really needed a life changing revelation of that love. It's come! and will continue to come! I am being and from that the desire to love Him and others His way is seeping forth. It will eventually gush forth. I now desire to obey Him because He truly loves me and wants the best for me. I know it deep down. Transformation is happening.

God wants us restored to who He meant us to be. He wants us conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-30). But it is His work that does all that. It is our yielding to Him that brings the changes. We can not be or do on our own. We can't save ourselves, He provided that. We can't love on our own, we respond to His love so again He provided the way. He has to give us what He wants because on our own we can't do it. I couldn't be holy on my own. He knows I tried and failed miserably. And so it is with all He wants for us. He provides it.

His love for me is amazing. It's always been there, it's just been polluted with religion and the expectations of others and performance Christianity. If I do all the right things without love then I'm sounding brass. But if I obey God out of a heart of love there is joy!

My son-in-law won't talk to me about Jesus, yet. He needs to know that love that I have and have been doing my best to give, without preaching to my family. Father, Help me and your people GET it and give it to others.

DELIGHT

2007-08-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

After Jesus' Baptism He heard:
You are My beloved Son;
I take delight in You! (Holman translation)

When I read this a flood hit my spirit and soul--wonderful God flood.

First I was imagining how Jesus would have felt. Because His father was not his biological father there is a chance He would not have had Bar Mitzvah. This is the time when Jewish boys are validated by thier fathers. Jesus' Father validated Him in an incredible display! Since everything Jesus did on earth was done in His humanity He would have had some kind of emotion about this. From a human standpoint I think it would have been pleasing, exciting, liberating, encouraging and a lot more adjectives besides.

Secondly, it hit me that in this translation they made what was said more PERSONAL. There was something about say, "I delight"...that really spoke to my heart. Then I realized how often we have de-personalized the Gospel. I do not believe this has been intentional but it has happened. Somehow the Gospel was presented to my intellect, not to my heart. The Holy Spirit has been taking it there but when I got saved I repented of my sins and received Jesus as my Savior, even though the words "Come into my heart forever" were part of what I said my intellect was what grew. In fact having an emotional response was taught against. We were not to experience anything spiritual. Yet God wanted to touch me spirit, soul and body. There have been people who prayed for me and I knew deep down that what they were saying came directly from Father to me. Other times I have known the truth of their prayers but the heart of Father was missing.

I have lots of Bible Knowledge but am just getting to know Jesus experientially. Rejection by people and the fear of Father rejecting me caused a fear I was not aware of and it kept Jesus at arm's length. Thankfully that deception has been routed and my relationship with Him is deepening and becoming exciting. I sense Father saying that He's delighting in me too.

Compound National Stronghold: Gossip

2007-08-16T10:57:00.000-04:00

A few mornings ago a friend was awakened with this:
Compound national stronghold: GOSSIP.

As I've thought about this The Holy Spirit has been showing me things, how He's worked on me in the past and where this is going.

PROVERBS 18:21 Death and Life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it eat it's fruit. When I realized that this meant I needed to watch my mouth (about 10 years or so ago) God started showing me how often I spoke "death". Not only did I not say loving things to people when I was upset but I gossiped and that is a form of death speaking. There was a time in my life that gossip helped me feel better about myself. If I pointed a finger at someone else then maybe I was better than they were and also maybe someone wouldn't look too closely at me. Root: needed to know God's LOVE for me and others. When I finally got a beginning revelation of that it was easier to have compassion for others. While writing this I heard, "I resist the proud but give grace to the humble". When pointing fingers at someone else pride was there, not humility.
Lately I've been having to be very careful about what I'm saying regarding some people That frustration springs from not liking the way people at my husband's work treat him. For years he and I both spoke "words of death" over them. By that I mean that we talked badly about them, not that we spoke things like I wish they'd die......... BUT GOD has shown us that He's in control, that we need to speak blessings and we don't have a clue what they are rally dealing with in their lives. Most of what I suspect God is showing me right now is my own heart's motives. He's even asking me why I watch so much news and other programs. I'm turning the news off when gossip starts. I always loved reading mysteries and from that came an interesting in the forensic shows, yet there's lot of gossip in them.
In this time of purifying His Body I suspect the core of our thought-life will be challenged and this will have to be implemented: Phil 4: 8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Because out of the abundance of our heart our mouths speak so we have to have His heart in ours.

This is just the beginning of understanding this. There is gossip every where I turn. God says in Romans 1 it is one of the sins worthy of death.

Giving Credit

2007-08-08T22:44:00.000-04:00

I just realized I had not given credit in my last two postings for the quotes. They have come from CD's by Graham Cooke. His website is www.grahamcooke.com.

Negative to Positive

2007-08-08T15:32:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was in Florida at my DD's house. My 7 year old grandson and I went out walking. During the conversation I noticed, once again, how much negativity was coming out of his mouth. He loves to make-up stories and they had a negative feel and so did his talk about his friends. Later in the day I was "reading" a book to my 2 year old grandson. He kept pointing to pictures of kids crying and kept saying crying. No matter how hard I tried to show him the next page where things were put right, he went back to the crying page. My DGD (dear granddaughter) who lives with us is also 2. She brought a book to me the other night and when it got to the point where the puppies' bones had been stolen she kept pointing out they were crying and like her cousin, just seemed to be stuck on it.

When God created He said, "It is good".

God is Joy along with all His other attributes and that is GOOD. When Satan fell and then caused man to sin he brought us negativity. We read the Word and don't see God's love, we just see what will happen if we don't toe the line. BUT GOD wants us to have His perspective. His view says that He has good plans for us, for good and not for evil. Recently on a teaching CD I heard, "If the thought you have has gotten you to a point you don't want to be -- GET ANOTHER THOUGHT". As we dig into God's Word we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. If we will allow His Spirit to show us what we are thinking and what to replace it with we will find ourselves in a new place--probably the place God meant for us to be to begin with, the place of good and not evil.

PRESENT-PAST OR PRESENT-FUTURE

2007-08-07T08:48:00.000-04:00

Recently I heard a question on a teaching CD -- this question:
"Are you living in your Present-past or your Present-future?"

That began me thinking about where I am now compared to 5 years ago and beyond. For years I was controlled by my past, even though I knew I needed to move past it. Things that had hurt me deeply and caused me to have a wrong idea of who I am and who God is hindered me and I allowed that. It was allowed partly because I didn't know how to rid myself of it.

BUT GOD...most people who know me know that is one of my favorite phrases.

BUT GOD showed up, delivered me of some majorly oppressive spirits and brought people into my life who helped me on a path of inner healing. I no longer had to feel that I was useless, would never measure up or any other negative thing. because God sees me differently and HE LOVES ME! Oh, how He loves me. He's been breaking through all my fears of rejection and helping me experience, feel, rejoice in His Love and that makes all the difference.

One day I told Him that I don't know where I belong. He told me, "You belong to me". What more do I want?

So now I know that I know He's with me, loving me and guiding me. I can live in my Present-future now because no matter what He will be there, see me through it and bring good out of it.

Merriness

2007-07-30T08:32:00.001-04:00

Years ago I was at a Worship service and the worship had become free flowing with everyone singing their own song to the Lord. I found myself with my hand in the air making circles. I heard "Make it bigger" so I did. Then I heard, "Step under it" so I did and was singing, "You are King of Kings and Lord or Lords",when I heard, "I'm also Merry". Being very spiritual I said, "WHAT?" The answer was "How do you think a Merry heart does good like a medicine if I'm not good"? And it came to me that all good and perfect gifts come down from the Father so God is Merry.

Recently I've been listening to Graham Cooke teaching CD"s and he says that God is the happiest person he knows.

All this was brought to mind after I posted the last blog. God is showing me that the accuser of the brethren was right there pointing out my bad attitude BUT GOD was saying, "You just wait. She's more sensitive to my Spirit than she's ever been and she will repent". Then when I repented I sense Father was saying, "See, I told you so. She's mine and I will perfect that good work I've begun in her".

Growing up all I saw was frowns about how imperfect I am. And God was taught with that same attitude...He was looking for everything wrong I did and NOTHING WOULD EVER BE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLEASE HIM OR MY PARENTS. At least that was what I was taught and believed. God is still working on me getting the last vestiges of that wrong belief out of me.

A couple years ago I told Father that I knew I didn't love Him like I should but it was because there was something blocking me from receiving His love. And I asked Him to help me be able to love Him. I knew the truth in my head but my heart was really struggling with knowing and experiencing that love. So He's been bringing inner healing and I'm feeling, experiencing His LOVE for me. Now He's adding His Joy to it.

If He wasn't working in me I'd never have been able to receive His gentle loving correction. In the past it took me much longer to realize He was talking to me and correcting me. I love where I am with Him yet I know it will get even better. I'm not where I was, nor where I'm going to be. He wants me transformed yet He is not down on me. His desire is for me to walk in His joy and His love, not in a downtrodden state. As I know and experience His love I am being changed and it's happening more gently and more quickly than it did when there was a blockage to experiencing Him.

Proverbs 22A joyful heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Luke 15: "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance"

FOXES AND FRUIT

2007-07-29T12:24:00.001-04:00

"The little foxes spoil the vine" is a saying I've heard for years. Actually the Song of Solomon reads, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom". (Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV).

That old saying and the verse came to mind yesterday as I was getting more tired and judgment and bad attitude reared their ugly heads.

We were with my daughter and her sons at a restaurant. As I said I was tired. For three weeks I had not had enough rest, had been busy with grandkids (which I loved) and the fibromyalgia was trying to cause a lot of weariness and pain. We were eating and I was wanting more ice tea. It never came. Because of trying to keep the two year old happy I never looked around for the waitress. When we left my husband left a tip but was looking for more one dollar bills when I said, "She wasn't that good".

About 5 minutes later the Holy Spirit finally got my attention. I hated what He was showing me about myself. The waitress looked downtrodden and in need of love and help but I hadn't paid that much attention. He let me know that when I'm tired, hurting or challenged in any way the tests are more critical because they show me what is deep down inside. YUCK!

All this got me wondering about what the little foxes did to spoil the vine so today I googled "foxes". I found that one of their favorite foods is fruit. My fruit was devoured yesterday. It wasn't ripening and whole like it should be. The enemy's desire is to ruin our fruit, destroy our testimony and steal our joy.

BUT GOD has given us repentance, forgiveness, refreshing and restored joy. It is His goodness that leads us to repentance, His mercy that gave us forgiveness and His lovingkindness that brings refreshing joy. All of that runs the little foxes off, at least for a period of time. So instead of staying stuck in a place of self-condemnation (where I use to live) I'm praising God for who He is and what He's done.

With the help of the Holy Spirit the fox was caught before more damage was done, before more fruit was ruined!

THE PROCESS OF SERVANT HOOD

2007-07-26T13:28:00.000-04:00

Servant. Servanthood. Bondservant. These words bring forth a cringing response for so many people. In our society being Number 1 is the ultimate. We must be the best, achieve, achieve, achieve that's what we are told to do. We are taught to reach the pinnacle of success. It looks like a pyramid with this wonderful point on top and the base of it full of those who have helped us or whom we have climbed on or over to get there.

As a Christian I am working on learning to serve others and in that to not think more highly of myself than I ought to think. Better put the Holy Spirit is teaching me. This process goes against my flesh--my human fallen nature. I want what I want because I should have it. I like it when I get what I want, have others wait on me, feel important. I like it when other's puff me up.

BUT GOD....

He says that if I want to be great in HIS Kingdom I have to be the servant of all. Paul called himself a Bondservant or Bondslave of Christ. He was imprisoned yet he said he was content and ministered to all he could including the man in charge of keeping him in prison and the prison wasn't neat and clean.

This last month has found me serving my daughter and her family. For a couple weeks I was at her house helping with her 3 boys (my fabulous grandsons). Then we came to my house where my oldest son, his wife and 2 year old daughter along with my husband and I reside. We have given up our room so our daughter and her sons can sleep as normally as possible. Consequently we are sleeping in our living room. My husband on a leaky air mattress and me on a bed that we brought from upstairs. Our living room is a disaster however I'd rather have them around than not. Along with this the pain from the fibromyalgia I keep trying to ignore is increasing. Then almost a month of lack of sleep and no true Christian Fellowship has my attitude trying to slip. Crankiness wanted to take over, then The Holy Spirit reminded me of all the times I wept in the shower because we had no family here. The word "balance" keeps coming to mind and I realize that it's my internal balance that has to become totally stable no matter what. I must have a quiet and gentle spirit. If I keep my mind focused on Him I will.

When we moved to this little country town across the country from where we lived I left a 3 year old grandson and a 3 week old granddaughter. All comfort was ripped away. Yet, God had told us to come. I have often wondered how Sari (later Sarah) felt when Abraham told her they were going.

Then I remembered Jesus. He left His home in obedience to Father. He served, and served and served. In fact when you look at His Kingdom structure it is an upside down triangle. The more you die to self, the farther down you go so that you can be a servant like Christ. It is Father who will exalt us and only if we are humble.

And the process will continue......................