Friday, February 12, 2010

Beating Bitterness




I have experienced the impact of bitterness in my life and to tell you the truth -- I hate it. Bitterness is the result of a deep seated anger towards someone over something done in the past that has not been forgiven.
It is very dangerous.

The Bible warns us to be careful so that a root of bitterness doesn't spring up defiling many (ref: Hebrews 12:15) You see, bitterness doesn't just affect you, it affects everyone you come into contact with and taints all your conversation and actions. That should be warning enough to forgive yet so many people struggle to forgive.

You know what I mean. How many times has someone wronged you, or taken advantage of you and you think, I've forgiven them so many times! Lord how much do I have to take???

Then I remember an old song about 70 x 7. It is all about how many times Jesus said we should forgive someone in one day. (Matthew 18:22) The hard part for me is trying to tell if they have repented. We must give them the benefit of the doubt and forgive.

Hard to do, I know. You know how the world says, do it to me once, shame on you. Do it to me twice, shame on me -- for letting you do it to me. So what do you do when the person has done it to you five times? Even 20 times? Forgive so you might be sons/daughters of the Most High God.

I remember telling the Lord once, "I can't trust this person," as if that would be excuse enough to not forgive.

You know what Holy Spirit told me? He said, "You can trust me." That shut down that line of defense.

So we must trust Holy Spirit to look after us and believe the promise that all things will work together for our good, to those who love and serve the Lord." (Rom. 8:28)

I think that a lack of forgiveness, which leads to bitterness, is because we don't really trust that God can and will turn the situation around for us. If we really trusted that God could and would turn it around for us, so that we would eventually win, it would make forgiving a lot easier.

Well God's turned around other situations for me so that I come out smelling like roses, so since God can't lie and He doesn't change, I know He will do what His word says. (Titus 1:2, Malachi 3:6)

Time to go bless some people that have hurt me. Let's say this out loud, "Lord, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing. Bless them, help them come to the light of Your love. I release anyone that I might have anything against, in Jesus name. Now I'm going to watch you work Lord and You show me how you are going to turn this into a blessing for me. Amen!"

Friday, January 8, 2010

Glass Slipper


A few months ago I was worshiping the Lord and I heard Holy Spirit ask me, "What do you see?"

I saw a picture of me and I had something in my pocket. When I reached in, to grab what was in my pocket, I didn't recognize it at first. As I looked at it I realized that I was carrying a glass slipper in my pocket.

Huh? Then I realized that we are like Cinderella and our king is searching for us. Wonder of wonders... He knows how many times we have longed for Him to come.
He sees every tear we have shed.

He is looking in every house.

He is looking for a heart of worship.

Looking for the one who trembles at His word.

He is Looking for His bride.

And that's us! Washed by His blood, transformed by the renewing of our minds, found faithful because we walk by faith and not by sight.

Truly,,, He has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise.(1Cor. 1:27)

I stand amazed at the Lord's goodness. I believe there are a bunch of diligent worshipers that are about to get a divine visitation from the Lord. I can hardly wait to see what the Lord is going to do. The earth will never be the same!

"Father, glorify your name!" (John. 12:28)

Bless you!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Sunday, January 3, 2010

This Year


Normally there are no Church services on January 1st unless it is a Sunday. I was thinking it would be nice to worship with others, so when I heard about a healing service half an hour away, I made plans to go.

It was a cold, blustery night and it took me quite a while to get there because the roads were greasy from all the drifting snow. I arrived and there were a few cars waiting outside. The doors were still locked and we were impatiently waiting for someone to come with keys. We got into the church in a few minutes and there was nothing spectacular about the church-- just a small country church.

One piano player took her seat (no worship team) and started to play and I listened a bit and then started to sing with her, occasionally singing a harmony line as Holy Spirit led. I was blessed and felt the joy of His presence over and over again. (Ps.16)

Then something different happened. I felt Holy Spirit nudge me to lie down on the carpet. This was not something I was accustomed to doing, so I had to hear Him say it a few times. I finally thought, "I don't want to miss anything" so I laid down.

Peace came, then someone put a cover on me and it felt like a really heavy down or fur blanket. I kept hearing the Lord say, "Rest... rest."

Well, I was certainly doing that! I vaguely heard the pastor praying for someone so I thought I'll get up and go back to my seat--only to find I couldn't! I was weighed down and only my head was able to lift off the floor. It was Too funny! I had a giggling spell on the floor. God was making sure I rested! He knows me too well.

I was able to sit up about half an hour later just as the pastor was finishing the service. A man came over to pray for me and told me to stand up. I told him I couldn't at that point, so he said a few words over me as I sat down.

Before I left the other leader spoke similar words over me and told me to take a holiday with the Lord and not to take any baggage with me. He said I needed to rest more in the Lord.

So three times I heard that night, "Rest."

I guess that means that I should let the Lord lead in my life... what a concept. I don't actually know where I got bogged down in all the things I should do because so many people are expecting me to be or do something. It probably does not really matter. What is important is that the Lord helped me to realize that it's much easier to be His child.

All the prophesies are His problem. I can worship and pray as He leads, but I am not willing to let go of Holy Spirit's hand to go help someone. I am nothing without Holy Spirit. (John 15:5)

One man explained it to me this way. He and Jesus were having this cool adventure and then they heard cries for help. They both ran to the edge of a cliff and there was a man down the cliff in a horrible pit. The man grabbed hold of Jesus' hand and went over the cliff to help the man but he couldn't quite reach the man. The man was slowly sinking and he stretched and stretched to reach the hurting man to no avail. The man realized that if he let go of Jesus' hand he could reach the man and pull him to safety. As he started to let go of Jesus' hand something on the inside of him screamed, "No!" and he clutched Jesus' hand even tighter.

That is how we need to be with respect to Holy Spirit. We might not know how the story is going to end. The person might even suffer or die, or an angel might appear to help the man, but one thing is for sure, we must keep our relationship with Holy Spirit as our top priority. If we don't we will burn ourselves out.

Therefore, I am going to make more time to rest in the Lord. I know how to be a child and He promised that the Kingdom of Heaven was for such as these.

So my mandate this year is to ask the Lord how I can bless His heart right here and right now, in the situation I am in. Yes I am calling forth the prophesies He has given me and yes, I am standing in faith for greater and greater victories, but that is taking a second seat to worship and adoration.

I prophesy that 2010 is going to be a great year with far greater fruitfulness! Amen!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Season 2009

Hi there. I have started a new job and it's keeping me very busy. So I apologize for not writing. I'm still witnessing as the Lord leads and giving out tracts and praying for people for healing and deliverance... that I will never stop.

So my advice is keep going! I am amazed at how God finds time in my busy day for worship, bible study and prayer if I ask him to help me prioritize my time. He's the best scheduler I know!

We are entering a new season. I can tell as I have been getting a lot of new songs to usher it in. I encourage you to press into more of the Lord's joy and peace this season, as it is a mighty weapon against the enemy.

Also, don't be surprised if the personal warfare you experience is increasing. I have noticed this and a few of my friends have noticed that the amount of personal warfare they are experiencing has increased dramatically. It is becoming more and more important that we live holy lives so that the enemy doesn't have a landing strip or fortress from which to operate in our lives. I have been claiming that, "the pride of my heart will not deceive me" (Obed. 3) and that, "no sin will have dominion over me because I love his word." (Psalm 119:133). In addition I always want a great guard on my mouth. and a wise,discerning heart. God promises wisdom to those humble enough to ask and receive it so I have been asking.

I have been resisting a lot of distracting thoughts and sleepiness whenever I try to spend time alone with the Lord. As I resist the enemy in Jesus name, he must flee, so I have been doing that.(James 4:7) So heads up, the devil knows his time is short and he knows that you are transformed more and more into God's image when you spend time in His presence, so it's no wonder he tries to stop you from worshiping and abiding in Him. (2Cor. 3:18) Do not let the enemy win.

I pray you all have a precious time with Holy Spirit this Christmas season. My He be exalted in our lives, truly.
You are Blessed and Highly Favored in Jesus' Name!
Shalom,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

My "MO"


My "MO" or method of operation is to be one of God's kids and since He speaks and things happen we, his kids, should be doing the same thing.(ref. Eph. 5:1)

I like to use the following scripture verses a lot.
I am calling those things that be not as though they were. (Rom. 4:17)
I know that life and death is in the power of my tongue (Prov. 18:21)
I am daily practicing speaking words that will bless, give hope and help people.(Eph. 4:29)
"I open my mouth with wisdom; and in my tongue [is] the law of kindness.(Prov. 31:26)

I am living by faith and not by feeling, sight or sound because that's the only way to please the Father. (2Cor.5:7, Heb.11:6)

My faith is the substance of the things I have hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)
My imagination is the drawing board that God uses to relay new ideas and impressions to me. (Eph. 1:18, 3:18-20)

I just wanted to share a few thoughts on how I walk out promises in the Bible using scripture verses and things the Lord has shown me.

When I set myself to seek the Lord through praise, worship and the word, I end up in His presence. Sometimes Holy Spirit will show me things and I'll get a picture or He'll remind me of scripture promises that I have heard before. This is the time to really pay attention because what He reveals to you is yours. (Deut. 29:29) You just have to decree it out of your mouth, because the bible says decree a thing and it shall be established.(Job 22:28)

Sometimes what you decree will come to pass quickly and sometimes what He shows you is prophetic in nature and Holy Spirit is wanting to get you going in a new direction. Ask Holy Spirit lots of questions so that you know what to do with the picture, words or promise that He shows you. Make sure you write it down so that you can remind yourself of it and keep declaring those words over your circumstances. (Habb. 2:2) The truth of God's word changes circumstances. It's a supernatural word and it always accomplishes what it is set out to do. (Is.55:11)

Holy Spirit will give you confirmation of things too, if you ask.

Remember "When you pray, believe that you receive and you shall have what you have prayed for."(Mark 11:24) Use this verse to get things on Earth to line up with Heaven... THY will be done, THY kingdom come, on Earth as it is in Heaven."

In a nut shell, I praise and worship, pleading the blood and repenting as Holy Spirit shows me stuff that needs cleansing. It's like going by the alter of sacrifice and the Bronze laver for the washing of the Word.

Then we can enter through the gates of thanksgiving and enter his courts with praise... Then we can go into the Holy of Holies as you feel the leading to worship the Lord. Then you are in His presence because there is no veil anymore. Hallelujah!

So when the awe of God come on me or the rarefied air I get really quiet and wait for Him to talk to me. IF I get distracted thoughts I say "Jesus, Jesus." and focus on Him. He always has something so special for us. It's the greatest joy of my life!

Lately I've been getting laughter and tears when I'm in His presence. This is not a bad thing, just a new thing that God is doing. The Quakers quaked, others have done, shaking and falling down in His presence, etc. etc.

May I pray for you? Lord I ask that you would impart a desire for this precious person to get into Your presence and that You would make it easy for them Lord. Show them something of Heaven and You Lord. Help them to see things from Your perspective Lord, in Jesus' name I ask. Change them from Glory to Glory as they behold You, Lord. Amen! (2Cor.3:18)