Kitchen Volcanoes and Such Like

Hi there.  I just had to tell you what happened yesterday.  I was all proud of myself for my new recipe idea to use these apples I froze and so I made up the recipe again yesterday.

The apples were such a good idea that I thought well more would be better and I wasn't sure how much lemon juice I had added the first time so I thought I'll measure it this time.   Four tablespoons looked good so I added that, mixed it all up and forgot to taste test along the way, never mind ask the Lord what He thought about the whole thing.

Well,  the timer went off and imagine my surprise to see a mini volcano cake in the oven.  Here's a picture of it.

Good thing is, my kids are not put off by my experiments and it's more than half gone as I write this to you.

Talk about a lesson in humility (snort).   The awesome cook, Brenda, just got taken down a peg or two by an apple cake.  So my hint of advice is always ask the Lord questions along the way and taste test before you add more lemon juice!


Have a great day with Him, knowing that He's laughing along with you at your foibles and He's always available for consultation along the way.

Here is a pic of the cake I made this morning.  Can you tell I asked the Lord what to do along the way?  It pays to stay humble and ask Him for help. LOL.

Innovation

Hi there.  I want to share about something the Lord has been challenging me on.  In Ephesians 3:20 we read that God has promised "to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that we can think, dream or imagine" so I have been asking the Lord for new ideas and witty solutions for my family. Then as my faith and confidence grow, I want to believe for bigger ideas and solutions for my town and area.

The first solution I got was for a problem we have around here with hanging up laundry.  Don't laugh, it can be quite a headache because my hubby hates when we use the clothes dryer.  I have close lines strung across my living room, dining room and exercise room as I speak and I still run out of space to hang up all the socks and underwear that five of us can accumulate.

I was thinking to myself as I was hanging up clothes that I would have to buy one of those racks that you can hang clothes on and I thought, "Ask the Lord."

He caused me to look at the wooden baby gate we have installed in one room and it 'dawned' on me that if I stretched out that baby gate, it would look just like a rack.  I stretched out that gate and put some socks and underwear on it and was tickled pink at how well it worked.

I told the kids about it when they came home and they thought it was an improvement and my hubby thought it was a great idea since I wouldn't be using the dryer.  We have wood heat so the clothes dry quickly.

The second new innovation I got was a neat twist on a recipe.  I froze many bags of peeled, sliced and diced apples when they were coming off the trees this summer. The only problem is that they are very wet when thawed and don't work well in a lot of the recipes that call for diced apples.  So I asked the Lord what recipe would work tonight to use up these apples.

I 'happened' to notice a pineapple cake recipe in my recipe box that my kids love.  I was thinking this is such a great recipe and then it occurred to me that I might be able to use some lemon juice to increase the accidity of the apples to get the recipe to work.  Well, a little here and a little there while I am asking Holy Spirit questions and I got the recipe in the oven.   The recipe turned out so well that my gang  all commented on how good it was. Praise the Lord!

It is amazing how much the Lord wants to be involved in our lives.  He cares about all the details we care about.  I sure am encouraged to ask Him more questions.  I hope you are too.

Lord help the person reading this to hear and trust Your voice more clearly today. May they have Joy in their journey and peace when they lie down tonight, in Jesus' name! Amen.

Update on Waiting on the Lord

Hi there... It's been almost 40 days since I started this new habit of waiting on the Lord at least one hour daily.  It's been a challenge with me working 50 hours a week lately, but God has given me grace and my husband has been a huge help.

So I want to tell you the exciting things that have been happening around here.
First of all, I have noticed that when I walk upstairs I can sence Heaven and the Lord's touch. I  get His holy laughter, which is a miracle in itself as I am prone to tears in His presence.

Then a week or so ago the Lord led me to read Revelation 10 and told me that this mighty angel is the one I have been sensing around me at certain times.  He's been such a comfort and he really likes it when I speak God's word.

Third, I've been able to nail the spirit attacking this lady at work.  She's got a mean, mean mouth and likes to complain about people.  At first I was able to bind the spirit of Jezebel; complaining, manipulation, envy and jealousy and then on Thursday it didn't work.  I was like "Lord, what's up?" I knew this spirit must be hiding behind another 'strong man'  spirit but I didn't know which one.

The Lord told me it was a viper spirit.  I didn't know much about them so I just bound it and then looked it up when I got home.   Remember the Pharisees?  Well, Jesus called them a brood of vipers... with  the master spirit of Beelzebub.  Bingo! That's my clue.  My girlfriend also mentioned that I should bind the "queen of Heaven" a territorial spirit.  Don't know much about that one yet.  I'll ask the Lord. The Lord told me to be aware of a scapegoat spirit that always wants to make me a punching bag or a fall guy for the person.  Good thing to be aware of.

So Friday morning on my way to work, after worshiping and enjoying God's presence,  I started to command my morning. I loosed Angels to bind those wicked kings that the Lord showed me (Ps. 149) and then I decreed camaraderie and joy in the journey for our group.  I claimed the whole team for the Kingdom of God, all of them.

What a difference! This stuff works!  The Lord was really happy with me and another Christian and myself were able to shine brightly the presence of the Lord. 

Let that encourage you.   It's always worthwhile to spend time with the Lord.  Sometimes I play the piano for Him, sometimes I read my bible,  sometimes I just sing and then wait on Him.  Holy Spirit will lead you, just like He leads me.

 I decree that His word out of your mouth is 'like a fire and a hammer that breaks the rocks into pieces!" (Jer. 23:29) Amen! (So be it!)

My Friends

Friends are so important, don't you think?  I have a few good friends that I can call anytime and they will help me with emotional and spiritual support.  It's so nice to know that you have people who believe in you.

My girlfriend wants me to write a book about how to make time to seek God.  What a nice compliment!  I am no pro, that's for sure, but I could probably fill a book with all my bloopers. I can't repeat a joke properly to save anything so I won't even try, but my friends laugh when I mention my daily antics with the job, kids and farm. I am so glad I don't have to try to be somebody I am not.

So, my thought for the day is pray for your friends and be yourself.  God loves us so much for who we are and not for what we can do. Hallelujah! His love sets us free to be ourselves and all that He's dreamed for us.

I bless you with an open Heaven today. May you have His abiding presence with you today.  May you comprehend all the good things He has laid up for you in Heavenly places and may you learn how to pull them down by faith. In Jesus' name I ask.  Amen!

Update

Hi there.  It has been over 21 days since I started this endeavor to seek His face and has it been interesting.  You never realize how many distractions there are until you decide to lay them all aside for the best thing.

On a good note, His presence around my life has been increasing.  There have been many new songs, many new revelations and an ease I have found to staying in His presence while I work or look after my children and other responsibilities.

The Lord asked me to fast idle words a few weeks ago.  That has been a little more difficult.  I didn't realize how careful I have to be to think before I speak.   This precludes mouthing off when upset of course.  I am not done learning how to master my reactions in any and all circumstances.

I want to say emphatically that pursuing Jesus in your quiet place is so worth it!  In fact an hour a day is not enough!  I was just told by somebody on Friday that I am now going in a new direction. He had no idea that I was on a secret mission.  How cool is that?  Breakthroughs are abounding on the family front, for my friends and for those I pray for while on the ministry team at church.  It has been a very good investment in time.

So that is why I am not posting much these days.  I will have lots to catch up on... someday.

Bless you!
Big hugs and blessings in Jesus' name!

Brenda Gale

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!

Reality Bites

Reality bites for today.
We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor. 5:21)
Our old nature is dead. Rom. 6,7
Wherever there is great love, there are great miracles.
We are seated with him in Heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6)
We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, the anointed one and His anointing. (ref. Eph 1:3)
The anointing we have received abides in us and will never leave. (1John 2:21-27)

For too long people have been trying to visit Heaven, or have a supernatural experience. That is like trying to get into a chair you are already seated in. Talk about a frustrating time. The  reality is that we are already sitting in it! (ref. Eph. 2:6)

God inhabits the praises of His people.  Therefore as I make the choice to make praise and thanksgiving a habit during my day the manifest presence of God which is Heaven starts to show up right here.

Repent for anything that might have caused you to sin and fall short of the glory of God. Plead the blood of Jesus and His glory will cover you again.

Did you get that?  That's why God doesn't want us to sin.  It causes us to fall short of the glory of God.  He wants us in the glory.  He's not trying to keep us out! He wants us to learn how to walk in the glory while we are doing our thing here on earth.   We've prayed it so long, "Your kingdom (glory) come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

There is no time in the Glory.  When God shows you something it's yours.  Don't put off receiving it by saying, "One day I'll be Your  minister" for example.   Claim it now.

One time I saw a big treasure chest on a beach and I heard the Lord tell me to go open it.  I opened it and there were gifts in it for me.  So I started thanking God for my gift that I would receive.  Wrong!  Better to thank Him for the gifts He has given you now.   There is no time in the glory so don't put off receiving anything Holy Spirit shows you.  It might take you a while to get the revelation of who you are in the Spirit realm,  so start now.

We have been made righteous.  It's not about doing all the stuff to get clean.  No where does the sacrifice have to clean itself before it can be used!  That's the bosses job!  In the same way when we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord it's his job to clean us up! (Ref. Rom. 12:1-2)

In Zech. 3: 1-7 we see that Joshua the high priest got a new garment as soon as he showed up.  We do too as soon as we enter his presence with our praise and worship.  Just receive it by faith!

Bless you as you start to walk by faith, believing that Your Heavenly Father wants supernatural experiences for you.  He's no respector of persons.  So put on the worship music and praise and thank Him for a while. Repent as He leads to restore your fellowship with Him and then ask Him what He wants to show you.  Close Your eyes and see what He shows you in your imagination.  Enjoy! You know by faith that if you ask for bread, your Heavenly father will not give you a fish.  He is forever faithful!

You are blessed and highly favored!

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson