Remember When...

Remember when I treated your children like my own, when they came over.
Remember when my family helped you move and no one else would.
Remember when my daughter babysat your kids so you could work in the store.
Remember when I prayed for you, when you were sick and Jesus healed you.
Remember when I shared my food with you and you shared your food with me and we both laughed about it.
Remember that I am a friend, not an 'infidel' or something you have been taught to exterminate.
And lastly -- remember that I love you... friend.

"...And the greatest of these is 'love'", love which never, ever fails. (1Cor. 13:13, 8)  I am claiming this family for the Kingdom of God.  The kids love Veggie Tales and appreciate getting out of their tiny, two bedroom apartment and coming out to our farm.  God is working in a great way.   People of other faiths love getting dreams and visions so  I have been praying for them to get some. LOL.

Hmmm, maybe I am wrong, but I have noticed that when they are in the minority they are great people.  It is only when they are the majority that they start to try to force their religious laws on others.

We have the greatest weapons though. No religious spirit can stand against Love, Hallelujah! (2 Cor. 10:4-5, Eph 6: 10-20)
Bless you... in Jesus' Name!

Praise Is The Voice of Faith

Hi there.   I heard Joshua Mills mention at the Signs and Wonders conference in Ottawa that, "Praise is the voice of faith."  I've been mulling it over and I have to agree with him.

I was just thinking about how I know when I have faith in a promise of God.  99% of the time when I am in faith then it's easy to praise God about the situation.  When I am doubtful then it's really hard to stay positive and thankful about the problem.

Even when I know I have heard from God and I'm waiting on the answer I have to keep a tight rein on my tongue so that I don't mess up my confession.  There is grace though.  If I make a mistake and start getting negative or doubtful I quickly repent.  I'm telling you this so you won't get discouraged.  Learning to live by faith, where your words are powerful, takes some effort, but it is well worth while.

So how do you know if someone is in faith? There are a few clues. If they say they are believing but they keep confessing the problem then, you know you have a double minded person (at that moment)   So what I do (quietly) is claim God's mercy and grace for them and join my faith with theirs so they get the right result.  I cast down every negative, unbelieving word they've spoken and plead the blood of Jesus over them.  They might not be that teachable at the moment so I'm really careful not to step on their toes hard. LOL.

Also, faith isn't faith if you can't leave it with the Lord.  He's not a dead-beat Dad.  He's all over your situation and your praise, thanksgiving and confession release angels to work on it. (Psalm 103:20)  We can be  His little children and leave it with Him when Holy Spirit tells you to.
 It's a lot more fun to wait expectantly for Him to answer.

Here's a quick example.  3-4 weeks ago I got hit with a huge dentist's bill.  They told me it was going to cost almost $1000.00 to fill the cavities in one daughter's teeth, and I have three children at home.  Ouch!  I asked the Lord what to do and He told me His mercy and grace were enough for her and I.

I have to confess that I wasn't sure what to do with that so I told her to claim the word of God over her teeth that by His stripes she was healed, including her teeth. (Is. 53:3-5, 1Pet. 2:24)  When I would praise and worship the Lord I would claim Phil 4:19 that "He will meet all my needs according to His riches in glory."

The day after the bad news the receptionist told me she was going to submit Cassie's name to a gov't agency to see if they would help and would I be ok with that.  I said, "Sure."

Three weeks later, Cassie has had the first apt to fill the worst cavities and the dentist told her that if she keeps flossing that she won't have to have one tooth filled.  Praise the Lord!  I can see the word is working already and best of all she is using her faith.  I am still thanking the Lord for meeting the need and not letting go of the word He gave me.  His mercy and grace is enough.  It's not about how hard my husband or I can work.  His mercy and grace is enough.

Just got a call yesterday... Can you guess?  They are going to pay for all the fillings!  That's my God.  He's a lavish Daddy and He's on my side.  He's on your side too you know.

Let's pray.   Lord we want more victories so we can give You all the glory and testify to your goodness, love and concern.  We want to testify about how well You look after us. Give us a hunger for your word and show us which promises apply to our specific situations.  Help us to trust Your voice and discern the chatter of the enemy.  Thank You for all Your dreams and plans for us.  Amen.

Justice or Grace?

Someone was complaining to me today that God was unfair and that He would help someone and then maybe not.

I cannot agree with that.  God does not have multiple personalities.  He is the embodiment of Love.  His mercy and grace are over all his works and even in the old testament He extended grace to King David, a murderer and an adulterer because he cried out for forgiveness.  Of all people King David deserved to lose his throne, his kingdom and his life, and yet God forgave Him.

So what's the deal?  One thing I have learned is that our mouths get us into more trouble than we ever realize.  What we speak about God limits what we will receive from Him.  God asks us every day to choose life and much of the time we won't.

We want justice, whether it be the person driving without regard for the rules of the road or the coworker that got the promotion we thought we needed.  Wanting justice costs us grace and the price is too high, in my estimation.  We can't walk in justice and grace at the same time.   Wanting justice shuts down our faith and paralyzes our praise and worship.

God has promised that 'all things will work together for our good' and we have to take him at His word. (Rom. 8:28)  If He really is God almighty then it's high time we start asking Him to turn our troubles into blessings.

As we stay in grace the promise of Galatians 3:13-14 becomes available to us. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."  Since we have the blessing of Abraham on us (as we walk in grace) we have the right to ask God what to say or do that will turn this circumstance, that's coming at us, into a blessing.

He's our Daddy and as we run to him, with the right attitude He'll show us what to do.  He wants to help us.  He gets no glory when we suffer with lack and hurt and torment.  Rather, God gets glory when His people get breakthroughs financially, physically and mentally.

Bless you as start to command your troubles to turn around into blessings!

ps. Testimonies are coming. It's been a busy summer and I've been keeping my journal up to date with lots of nuggets from the Lord and testimonies... so check back every so often.
Bless you again in Jesus' name!

Out of Words?

I think it's awesome that when I run out of words God always has something to say. When I don't know what to say to somebody, I ask the Lord for an encouraging word for them. My girlfriend, an amazingly detailed prophetess started out this way. It's legit too. The Bible even says that we are to desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophesy. (1Cor. 14:1)

Sometimes people get one word and as they speak it to the person the river starts flowing and they get a lot more words. Most intercessors get a word or a picture and as they ask the Lord questions about it the revelation unfolds.

It's a very exciting life. The more you practice the more you will grow in the gifts.

The Bible says that, "A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men."(Prov. 18:6) Amen. Russ Moyer, a visiting prophet, said something that caught my attention... "If we don't use our gift(s) we are shutting the doors to our future ourselves." Ouch! That's something to think about.

I recently heard that fear of reproach or retaliation has kept many people silent at work. I believe it because it has happened to me. As soon as you give in to fear once, it gets harder and harder to witness at work.

The Lord on the other hand has promised that He will be with you. "He'll never leave you or forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me." Also, "He's not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind/self control. ( Heb. 13:5-6, 2Tim 1:8)

Therefore, let us resist fear and speak those encouraging words to others that will bless them and get them back on track with God's plan for their lives.

It's easier than you might think. I make sure I am walking with the Lord and that my heart is right. Then I double check to make sure that His love is shed abroad in my heart by Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5) I don't want any fleshy attitudes or preconceived ideas influencing what I am hearing.

Then I ask, "Lord, What's up with them? or "What do you want me to say, Lord? or "Give me an encouraging word for them, Lord." And I tell them what I get right away. Don't make the mistake of walking away and telling yourself you'll do it later. Procrastination is not from God!

Also, I don't speak 'Christianese' to people. Non Christians don't understand it most of the time, anyhow.

You can say, "I see kindness in you." If they are receptive ask the Lord for more.
Sometimes I have said, "I was praying and God gave me three words for you. Do you want to know what they are?" Sometimes, I have even forgotten to ask them if they want to know what I've heard! There's grace and mercy to cover mistakes.

Everybody, everywhere is hungry for encouragement and affirmation. Especially practice on your family and friends... just make sure you don't have preconceived ideas or judgments that will skew your hearing God's voice.

Use Phil 4:8 as a guide line for what is acceptable to say. "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(speak) on these things."

If you get something negative or awful, don't tell them --that's a word of knowledge for you. Ask the Lord what you can say that will cut that thing out of their lives and turn them around.

Have fun! Your faith is alive because you are a doer of the word and not just a hearer.(James 2:17-22) You are blessed and highly favored by the greatest King of all... JESUS! I bless you with great boldness and confidence in Holy Spirit. (Prov. 28:1)