Little by Little

 It was my grand daughter's birthday  last week and I wanted to give her something special.  My daughter didn't want to take the time to learn how to crochet or knit so I took over.    It looks like a lot, but really it's not.   I just did a little every day or so-- when I was waiting for the bus, baking something or listening to some great teaching on youtube.  Little by little the number of clothing pieces  increased over time.

The key is to start and not give up.  Some of these pieces I had to rip apart and crochet or knit over and over to get them to fit right.   It's the same  with seeking the Lord.  Some days it seems like all I can do is spend my  hour trying to quiet my mind so I can hear his voice. Yet through it all I am growing little by little into His image.

God knows about your struggles. He knows how loud and insistent the world can be.  Every day you seek him you are changed into His glory bit by bit, as you worship and stand in His presence.  The Bible promises that and God can't lie.

So this week as I worship God might be working on forgiveness.... next week it might be faithfulness.  I can guarantee you that He's the best potter in the universe!

People have asked me how I carry this great anointing on me; where they feel angels as soon as I start to worship.  It starts with the day to day seeking.  Just like all these barbie doll clothes started bit by bit he's working on me bit by bit.  You cannot go wrong seeking Him; spending time away with Him every day.  When I try to do what he shows me in the secret place I receive grace to do what He's called me to do.  He is the most amazing God!  And the best part is that what He has done for me He wants to do for you and 100x more than that!

So don't give up!  You're further than you've been before and you are closer to Him than you realize!
He who began a good work in you will finish it.   And that's a promise you can take to the bank!

I bless you in Jesus' name!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Cameras, Video Editing and Power and Love!

Here's my video set up at church.  It's a bit messy because we don't have some pieces mounted on the wall yet, but that will get fixed eventually.

I'm getting better at multi-tasking.  I have this lap top recording some of the service and also transferring the last week's service to an external drive.  At the same time the dvd burner behind the lap top is directly burning the camera feed onto a dvd.  Amazing what technology can do!

This is allowing me to do most of the work at church so I don't always have to bring the lap top home.  It's amazing!  It's saving me at least 6 hours a week of editing, rendering and burning.


I'm still going out and sharing the good news of God's love.  This week I was in Ottawa at Michaels when I noticed that the cashier had these huge lumps on her arms.  I asked her if she was okay and she said that she's on kidney dialysis.  So I asked her if I could pray with her and I decreed healing over her, in Jesus' name.    I know but I know her kidneys are working now!  That was one of the first miracle's I ever saw!

Then I was at Walmart and I saw a lady with a mask over her face.  I asked her what was going on and she said that she had horrible allergies.  I asked if it was okay for me to bless her and she said, "Sure!' So I blessed her in Jesus' name and decreed that she could enjoy all creation without allergy or side effect from now on.  She was touched that I would stop and enquire about her health.   Amen!  She's getting better all the time!

Those are the encounters that really stand out to me.  I pray for people with headaches, colds and pain all the time.  I hate what the devil does to people.  Heaven on earth around me -- that's what I'm here to enforce!  I am his revival vessel and so are YOU!

Go and have a great day sharing the love of God with the people you meet and Don't forget your family!  They might not want to hear your words but they can't resist His Love, lol.  Sometimes when our light is shining bright the conviction brings out the worst in them.  Don't let it get to you!  Just know that in Jesus we win!

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Summer is almost here!

Hi.  I haven't dropped off the planet.  I have gotten my gardens going this year and I put in two hummingbird feeders so there wouldn't be so many fights.

Also, I have been riding my horse with a dear friend and it's been so much fun!

Here's me before we actually go out.

 Anyhow, I was recently asked how I manage to keep smiling with all the work I do volunteering at church.  I think the key is to ask God how much you are supposed to do and only do that amount.  I'm having to get better at saying, "No."  And no means no.  No guilt trips will move me.  If God's not in it I don't want to do it.

Too many people get burnt out at churches with the work load and then they don't want to do anything.  I don't want to get to that point.  When I struggled with saying 'no' to people in authority over me I got a book out from the library about boundaries and how to enforce them.

You can only do so much!   It's not your responsibility to keep their world turning!   So make sure you take your day off a week and keep your relationship with God your top priority.   If you expect your reward from God you are doing well. If you are expecting promotion, recognition or opportunities from your Pastor etc. you might be disappointed.

Clear concise communication about what you can and can't do will help to avoid conflicts down the road.  It's so important.

I hope what I shared helps you to keep your priorities straight.  There's absolutely no point in getting so busy that you don't have time for God.  You can't replace that hour every day with him.  That's how the growth happens.  We think we're waiting on God to do something and all the while He's waiting for us to come away and just spend time with Him. It's tragic how easily the days slip by!

I am reminded of an acronym that Gloria Copeland uses...

S = Satan
C = Constantly
U = Uses
D = Distractions!

Therefore, let's keep scheduling in our time with God before the day fills up.

Bless you!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Sunbeams

I had a crazy day recently.  It went by so fast that I didn't get the time to seek the Lord.   I was tired from a work out and all the gardening I did and I was going to bed when I heard Holy Spirit ask, "What do you see?"

I stopped and focussed on my spirit and I saw black and then a beautiful, golden sunbeam came streaming down to me.  It was gorgeous and it felt warm, refreshing and cleansing at the same time.  I could feel all the day's 'spiritual smog' burn off of me as I basked in this enveloping sunbeam.

I know that the Bible says that, "The son of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings and his beams..." (Mal. 4:2 Amp.)  It was a whole new experience to live the verse-- to have the Lord send down a special golden sunbeam, just for me.  I felt so refreshed as I enjoyed his love.   He wants to dote on us like a grandfather you know.  He looks for ways to brighten our day.  He loves to see us smile with delight at  a new discovery.

Anyhow,  the second part of that verse now  makes sense..." and you shall go forth and gambol (frolic) like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy."  I felt so refreshed like a calf let out of the barn after a long, dark winter.  Now I understand how you can go from sunbeams to calves frolicking.  It's so obvious--now.

I went to bed that night with tears in my eyes reveling in the great, great love of Holy Spirit/Father God/Jesus.  I know I will never be the same.

May the Lord bless you 100x more what he has me and may you know His love that passes all understanding, in Jesus' name I ask. Amen!

Bless you more!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Pentecost Today

This first was published in Come to the Table, a Facebook Group, May 24, 2013

Pentecost Today
Scripture Reading:  Acts 1:1-15, 2:1-21

When I think about Pentecost I think about what happened at the end.  What an explosive way to start a church!  As I'm sure you remember, Holy Spirit came down on everyone in the room like a huge wind and flames of fire appeared on people's heads.  People were baptized with Holy Spirit and started speaking in different languages as Holy Spirit led.  It was an amazing time.

What I tend to forget is all the stuff that happened while they were waiting.  Can you imagine 500 people waiting in a crowded room or building for God to show up?  Just the logistics boggle my mind!  I'm sure some people got turned off by the renovations that were always 'half-way done' and left.  I'm sure there were people who got tired of waiting and felt that they should be doing this or they could be doing that... and walked away.

I am also certain that in those cramped quarters people got upset with the leadership. After all,  look who the leaders were!  None other than, Peter, James and John-- the greatest deserters of all!  God surely couldn't use them after all they had done.

In those hot, stinky conditions who could pray for any length of time anyhow?  And look at brother so and so.  He's always hogging the speaker's place and trying to impress everyone.  Don't they know who he is?

Is it any wonder that the 500 people who saw Jesus after his resurrection whittled down to 120 within those 40 days?

I can see the same thing happening today.  I have talked to people from different churches across Ottawa and the valley and everybody knows that something is about to break, but we don't know what.   People are leaving churches, disengaging from churches or plain, not going to church.

Some are getting tired of leadership.  Others are getting tired of renovations.  There's a great uneasiness or dissatisfaction in the body-- almost like itchy feet.   We know something is up but we can't put our on thumbs on it.

So, I want to encourage you that you are not alone if any of this stuff has crossed your mind.  We are on the edge of a great, great move of God.

Holy Spirit woke me up last Sunday with these words, "I'm going to do something no one has dreamed of." (ref. 1Cor. 2:9)  I believe Him.  I've never, in all my 30+ years as a Christian, seen the body of Christ so uneasy.

The key I believe is to not lose our focus.  As we keep the big picture (the Kingdom advancing) the big thing in our lives God will sort out all the other stuff; renovations, leadership, volunteers, families, our lives and our dreams.

Did you know that Holy Spirit doesn't get upset with renovations?  He doesn't even get upset with leadership!  He's not remotely upset with your family members either.  I can see that I need to spend more time with Holy Spirit so that those things don't bother me either.


Let's Pray Out Loud:
"Thank You Lord for joy in our journey and for all your comfort and encouragement! Help us Lord to remember all the great things you are doing at our church.  Help us also to give grace to those around us when they disappoint us.  Help us to expect our rewards from you and not people.  And thank You Lord for using imperfect people, including us. Amen!"

Bless you!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Ps.  If you like this article please share it!

Run a Strife Check

I wrote this for the Facebook Group, "Come To The Table" May 17, 2013

"Run a Strife Check"
Scripture: 1 Pet 3:3-6

I remember the time I was praying and praying and getting no answers. I was getting really frustrated, asking, "God don't you care? Can't you see what's going on here?"

I sat down after my kids were in bed and said, "That's it! I'm not leaving this chair till you tell me what's going on and how I can change this situation."

I had no clue where to go so I opened my Bible and it fell open at the page where this verse jumped out at me, " Where there is envy and strife there is every evil work." (James. 3:16)

Hello! God had my attention now. I was so frustrated and upset with my husband I could spit. Not good I know, but he didn't want to talk to me so any hope of discussing the issue was postponed for the moment.

I asked Holy Spirit what the big deal was and he told me to go to 1 Pet. 3.... As I started reading, it resonated in my spirit. It reads, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Pet 3:3-4)

That's a laugh. My Spirit was anything but gentle. I was born for war and I loved winning. A quiet spirit? Hmmm that needed some thought. How to have a quiet spirit....peaceful, content, relaxed where the connotations I got as I meditated on this verse.

I could see that I had some work ahead of me. I continued reading and then I got slammed by Holy Spirit as I read, "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." (1 Pet 3:5&6)

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I couldn't believe God was telling me to defer or give in to my husband when he's wrong! I thought, "How stupid is that? I mean what's the point of having a brain if you're not allowed to use it!?"

Holy Spirit put up with my tirade for a bit and when I had quieted down he said it's a trust issue. You don't trust me enough to let me work on him for you. You're manipulating and controlling things to meet your own desires.

Nailed! Holy Spirit got me again. All I could say was, "You're right."

I had to start trusting Holy Spirit to work in my husband's life and not interfere. I wasn't allowed to control or manipulate situations to get what I wanted, no matter how much my flesh screamed. When I went to the Lord and complained, He responded, "Didn't you mean it when you said you wanted to be a living sacrifice for me? Didn't you mean it when you said that you would pay any price to carry my glory?"

He was right, I just wasn't expecting that my cross would be so hidden and inglorious.

So, while I was waiting for the Lord to work on my husband he was working on me. I learned how to go to him for strength for the day, for help when I didn't get the sleep I thought I needed, for comfort when I didn't get the support I thought I needed, for protection when we came under attack, for provision when the money ran out ahead of the bills, for good teaching when I was alone.

I can look back and thank God for all the hard times cause it's made me so much stronger in God. I know with certainty that there's a promise for every situation I'll ever face and that my God is backing me to the hilt. And Praise God I even found some scriptures to help me to become a gentler woman! Hallelujah!

So now when my prayers aren't getting answered I immediately ask the Lord where have I missed it or dishonored my leaders (husband, pastors, etc.) I've finally learned how to keep my heart with all diligence! Yahoo! God's good!

I hope my story helps you avoid some of the pitfalls I went through!

Bless you today!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Constant Fellowship

I wrote this for the Facebook group "Come to the Table" May 15, 2013
Enjoy!

Constant Fellowship
For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Is. 57:15)

I love this verse because of what it means for us. God is promising to live with us, to be in constant fellowship with us as we are real and humble before him, in all situations we face in life. He's promising to revive the humble and repentant ones. I think we can all qualify for His kind of Revival!

As I am in this fellowship with Him, I love how Holy Spirit is always encouraging, always hopeful, always full of laughter and how he helps me to see the funny side of things. He's always telling me, "It's not as bad as you think!" You see, I'm naturally a serious person, and before I got to know the Lord I was Way too uptight!" Holy Spirit is so good at helping me see the humor in life. Thank God for all his comforts!

Personal journaling:
How has the Lord revived you when you were low?
Have you seen His encouragement when you didn't think you would ever make it?
Has he whispered your name lately?

Let's pray out loud... "Lord we come to you and ask for your encouragement today. Tell us things we don't know yet and show us the way to go. Make our lives count for Your Kingdom, in Jesus' name we ask. Amen!"

Further Reading:  Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Isa. 66:2, Micah 6:8 and

Rom. 15:5-6, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Bless you!

Big hugs,

Brenda Gale Thompson