Did Jesus Lose His Patience?

It seems that the older I get, the less patience for others and their lack of compassion and kindness.  It's not the little children, the teenagers, or the young adults that I have lack of patience for.  They are not experienced and have many lessons to learn in the years to come.  It is the adults I have little patience with.  Those who are 40, 50, 60 years old and older.  It doesn't matter if they are believers or unbelievers.  They should know better.  They should have some maturity. Their attitudes, their opinions, their selfishness, their actions towards others, this is what bothers me and causes me to lose my patience.

I am nowhere near perfect and I am sure others hear me and lose their patience with me.  I am an outspoken person and only at certain times can I keep my opinions to myself.  This is not one of those times.  I  fast lose my patience with people who are intelligent and old  enough to handle circumstance differently or say verbalize differently. 

Romans 12:12 (ESV) 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 8:25 (ESV) 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Ephesians 4:2 (ESV) 

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Psalm 37:7 (ESV)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 

1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV) 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Over and over the scriptures speak of how we are to be patient just as God is patient with us.  I know in my spirit that to lose my patience is not good.  I know that at times people have had to be patient with me as I learned my lessons in life.  For close to 7 decades I have learned patience.  Why am now losing my patience with others?  Why do I not want to be around certain people who exacerbate my patience?  Did Jesus lose his patience with people?

We read in scripture the story of Jesus in the temple turning over the tables of the money changers.  

John 2: 13-16 (KJV)

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

There is the story of a father whose only son was possessed by an evil spirit.  

Luke 9:40-42 (NKJV)

So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Then we have the storm at sea with the disciples crying out for help!

Mark 4:37-40 (ESV)

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

What about the story in the garden of Gethsemane?

Mark 26:37-38 (NKJV)

And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Mark 26:40 (NKJV)

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?"

Mark 26:43-45 (NKJV)

And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

There are more stories of Jesus dealing with the faithless apostles, the hatred of the religious leaders, and the evilness of the hearts of human beings.  His patience had to be hanging by a thread many different times.  Even with all of the humanism he faced, he did not lose his temper.  

Over and over Jesus went to pray, alone.  Did he need to seek the Father to ask for patience?  Did he need to pour out his heart to the Father when the people and the apostles hammered him with questions, explanations, requests for healings and miracles?  Did he need to regroup after spending time with multitudes of people who only wanted something from him while he received nothing in return?  I believe he needed these times of solitude to regain his spiritual, emotional, mental and physical strength.

Matthew 14:23 (NKJV)

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  

Luke 6:12 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Mark 1:35 (KJV)

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Luke 5:16 (NASB)

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

As I think about my lack of patience with inconsiderate people I need to think about how the Lord handled this issue.  I need to find my place of solitude and ask the Father to refresh my spirit and my mind.  I need to find compassion for those who irritate me with their opinions, aggression, and uncompassionate attitudes.  I need to find that mountain top and pray!

Proverbs 3:21-22 (NLT)

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Lord Jesus, refresh my spirit and my mind so that I may speak your words into the hearts, minds and ears of those in my life or cross my path.  Amen.

My Testimony about the Power of Twelve from January 20, 2019

I’ve always thought that someone who gets up with a testimony before the congregation should give a brief bio so that you all don’t think the person is just some back row pew sitter that all of a sudden has something to say, but in many cases that is just what happens.  My thought is that more than half of you see me in that light since most of the time I do not have anything to say at the front of the church these days.  There was a time when I was on the worship team or leading worship when I did more in front of the church congregation.  That was before many of you were a part of this fellowship but there are many that do know my history with this church.  First I will give you a little bio of my life and walk with the Lord for the past 4 plus decades.

I have been in church all of my life because of my beautiful little mother’s faithfulness. I was baptized in the Methodist Church, then baptized in the Catholic Church and then baptized in the river.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior in 1975 in a bible study and then went about living my worldly life only turning to him when life fell apart time after time.

I was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1980 but have been far from walking in the Spirit many, many times since then.

Jerry and I met and married in 1983 and have been committed to this church since the beginning in 1985 when several families started meeting in Alan and Tonchita’s basement.  We raised 4 out of 6 children in this church. His 2 were our on their own when we married.  We raised my 2 children from my first marriage and his deceased sister’s 2 children.

In the mid-2000’s I began what I will call “My Walk in the Desert” period which started when:

1) in 2004 and 2005 the adult children along with the grandchildren moved a long way from this area to other parts of the state leaving no family members nearby, 

2) my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2006 and passed away a couple of years ago in 2016 from Alzheimer complications.  Her last 3 years she was in a memory care facility under total care not knowing any one or any thing.

3) my dad died unexpectedly in 2009, 

4) Jerry was involved in a head-on collision in 2007 which caused an early retirement for him,

5) I quit the insurance company I had worked at for over 20 years to find a job with medical insurance since I lost that with Jerry's retirement,

6) I began a new job with the City.  

These were a lot of new paths for me and I was very unsure where or what the Lord wanted from me.  I was not sure of anything in my middle-age life.

In 2015 I started having severe stomach trouble and doctors could not find the cause and there were numerous tests showing nothing wrong.

Then on Thursday, July 26, 2018, I awoke to a spinning room and intense nausea, was taken to the hospital (by ambulance) and a later MRI showed a mass on the left side of my brain behind my ear.  I was immediately take to OHSU (by ambulance) where a wonderful neurosurgeon removed it on July 29th. Miraculously the stomach problems were gone when the tumor was gone.  

Medically wise, prior to then, 1980 was the last time I had been in the hospital and that was to give birth to my son. My new medical chart says I am "a 64 year old female with an unremarkable medical history,” which means there is really nothing to speak of, medically. I love to say I am unremarkable because I truly am!

But then during the days recovering in the hospital and the week after, I began to hear the Holy Spirit whispering in my ear about a new women’s ministry which became the Power of Twelve women’s group.  My family thought I was nuts or at least still having issues with the steroids.  

The plans came together quickly as the Lord showed me what he wanted me to do and it all came to fruition with my daughter Dena helping me layout how the women would be gathered, how the gatherings would take place, how the words would be chosen and many other details.  The initial group of women invited to participate came from my 64 years of history with many local women.  Many of the women are those who the Lord had me planting seeds in at different times during those years through family connections, work connections, school connections, friends, and church.

He made it as easy as possible for this ministry to come together and the plan can be used by any group of women, any church, anywhere.

Power of Twelve is a women’s encouragement group for 12 women of all ages (20 to 100) committed to meet once a month, for one hour, for one year.  

The main reason the Lord called this group of women together is for reaching across the generations to “save the children, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren”.  Those are his words, not mine.

The group leader should try to find four women seeking the Lord, four women who know the Lord but earnestly desire a closer walk and four women firmly planted in Him.

So far, this first group of the Power of Twelve women have met 5 times since last September.  At the first meeting each woman brought a single word, with a single scripture using that word on a piece of paper and put them all in a jar.  Each month we pull out a new word to focus on.  We talk about the word and scripture and then go out for the month and use that word in our everyday lives to encourage our families and others. Our words have been LIGHT, COMFORT, THANKSGIVING, FORGIVENESS and HOPE. There are 7 more words in the jar waiting to be picked out one by one for the rest of the months. More than half of the women in this group do not attend any regular church but are seeking a greater knowledge of God and a closer relationship to him.  

The tag line the Lord gave me was “Twelve Women – Twelve Words – Twelve Months, which has now been copyrighted.  

There are actually 13 women total as the leader opens her home or gathering place and facilitates the meetings.  

Also, since this all started I have been writing and documenting many different things that the Lord has impressed upon me to share in writing.  So far he has not revealed just what I am to do with all of the writings. 

The business end of Power of Twelve has also been taken care of as it is a registered non-profit organization with the state and federal government.  The bylaws are written and have been submitted to the required governmental agencies. 

The mission statement is:

Twelve Women. Twelve Words. Twelve Months.

The mission statement for the Power of Twelve is to bring a connection to the generations of women across this Christian Nation, the United States of America, to save the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren by speaking the word of God into their lives and the lives of those around them. The good word, by one word can change hearts and lives of those around us. Choose. Your. Words. Wisely. 

The USA Constitution is filled with God.

The USA motto is "In God We Trust"

The National Anthem is "God Bless America"

The Pledge of Allegiance is filled with God

America is the Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.

The Declaration of Independence is filled with God.

The scriptures for the Power of Twelve group are: 

 Joshua 24:15 -  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 Jeremiah 29;11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

https://www.facebook.com/Power-of-Twelve-2041904122520379

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

This morning I was on Worthy Christian Forums and there was a discussion about being the temple of the Holy Spirit.  While I was preparing my thoughts regarding this topic they closed the thread for some reason.  I wanted to retain my thoughts so I am posting them here.  The following is what I would have posted:

I have tried to read through this thread this morning as best I can (there was a ton of scripture!).  I know the topic is about the Holy Spirit living in us, the temple of God, but there is no way to not talk about sin when we talk about us, human beings, who are sinners from the get-go.

My take on being a temple for the Holy Spirit to reside in is this; he knows I am a sinner, that I have accepted Jesus as my savior, and that I am cleansed by the blood of the cross.  He has watched me from the time I began on the milk of the word and continued to watch as I was weaned off the milk and turned to the meat portion.  He knows my heart.  He hears my prayers asking for forgiveness for any sin I commit in a day.  He lives in me and with me on a daily basis.  He has been with me for a long time and still loves and comforts me.  Has he ever been displeased with me?  Of course he has.  I'm an imperfect human being and he knows all about my past, my present and my future.  But again, I repeat, he knows my heart, he knows my soul, he knows my spirit, he knows ALL things about me.  I praise God for the patience, mercy and grace that is afforded to me, this pile of dirt, that I am.

Each one of us that give our hearts and lives to the Lord, give our bodies also.  We should see an improvement in the way we do things spiritually and bodily as we continue our walk with him and our learning of his ways.  We should be boldly confessing Jesus whenever and wherever we can without judgement and condemnation from the worldly eye that is continually watching our every action.  Didn't the Lord say he would use a rock if he needed too, if we did not declare him to the world? 

Luke 19:37-40 - When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,”he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

If a person professes Christ as their savior, they should be different than they were prior to salvation.  Those difference should be noticeable to ourselves and to the outside world.  As a temple that holds the power and light of the Holy Spirit, we should be a "shining light to a dark world" and if we are not then we need to go back to the milk and find out what the issue is.  In my walk, I have had to go back to the milk several times due to sin.  But I am a far better and cleaner temple than I was at the beginning of my journey! Praise God!! 

Thank you for letting me share my heart. 

The Power of God

 2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Christians have discussed and studied the power of God for thousand of years.  We know that our Father in Heaven is all powerful.  We know that as a Father, when we pray to Him, He hears His child.  He responds in many different ways which is sometimes silence.  Sometimes the answers is obvious within a matter of seconds.  Sometimes He sends someone else to us with the answer.  

The power of His love for His child we can barely fathom when we look at ourselves through our human eyes.  We can barely believe the God of the Universe wants us at all when we know the depths of our depravity.  We admit we are sinners.  We know we have things in our lives that are not Godly.  We may be better than we were now that we are walking a Christian life but there is still the ugliness of humanity in each of us.  

This verse in 2 Timothy tells us that the Spirit that God has put into each of us when we came to Him with our hearts, our lives, our souls, gives us the power God wants us to have in order to speak to a lost and dying world.  He does not want us to be timid in our words and actions to others.  By the power of the Holy Spirit we have the power to speak into the lives of those around us.  If we are speaking out in the name of Jesus, sharing the gospel and the salvation He offers to those who follow Him, then we are speaking under the power given to us by God.  

As humans we have no real power.  There are those who do not believe in God or the powerfulness of God.  They believe they have the power to control others and life.  Yes, they can control and influence others through their actions but they have no understanding of the actual power of God.  He can stop them dead in their tracks if He needs to.  He can change the outcome of any human plan that is not of His design. 

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26 

Absolutely NOTHING is out of the reach of the Father.  

Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. — Jeremiah 32:17

The power of God works inwardly and outwardly as we grow in love for Him, ourselves, and for others.  As we learn to love unconditionally, love when it's hard to love,  love when it is painful, love when there is nothing but turmoil all around us, and love ourselves despite our inadequacies, we experience the power.  We all know the saying, "I am my own worst enemy."  We have a Father who loves us and accepts us even when we don't deserve that love and acceptance.  Jesus came so we could be reconciled to the Father through the power of the blood of Jesus.  The power of the blood shed on the cross has the power to transform us into the child of God we have been called to be while we walk this earth.  We can be assured of His love and His power without being timid or fearing what others will think or say when we speak of His gift of salvation and all that He offers His followers.  We become bold when the power of God is within us!

Many times throughout scripture we learn of all the ordinary people the Father used to do His work here on earth.  Over and over He used those willing but not necessarily equipped with the best abilities.  Abraham, Moses, David, several apostles, and others were not self-disciplined and were selfish.  Poor Abraham let Sarah talk him into having a child with another woman to hush her nagging about not having her own child.  In comes Ishmael to the picture, and thousands of years later we still suffer the hostility of his descendants just as God said.

Genesis 16:11-12, KJV: The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” 

Genesis 25:17-18, NIV: "Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.

We have Moses who argued with God about not being the man for the job of bringing the Hebrew nation out of Egypt and leading them to the a land that God promised to His chosen people.  He also disobeyed the instructions given to Him by God.  I certainly understand his frustration with a million people whining, complaining, sinning, worshipping idols, and everything else selfish human beings do. 

Exodus 4:10-13 ISV: Then Moses told the Lord, “Please, Lord, I’m not eloquent. I never was in the past nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly and I have a speech impediment.” Then God asked him, “Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord? Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech, and I’ll teach you what you are to say.” Moses said, “Please, Lord, send somebody else.”

And of course we have King David who committed adultery and then had the husband of Bathsheba murdered.  

2 Samuel 11:14-15 ISV:  The next morning, David sent a message to Joab that Uriah took with him in his hand.  In the message, he wrote: “Assign Uriah to the most difficult fighting at the battle front, and then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and killed.” 

These are just a few examples of the historic and faulty people God used throughout time to get His message of love and acceptance to his people.  God wants us to be self-disciplined and obedient but He is a God who also understands our humanity.  When God the Son, Jesus, walked on the earth, He experienced all of humanism from the human perspective.  

Hebrews 4:15-16 ISV: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned. So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The power of God is experienced in many different ways but I believe the most important part is the power of love.  When Jesus came to tell us how to live a life pleasing to the Father, He told us to love one another.  To forgive others.  To reconcile with others.  To serve one another,  When we do our best to love others on a daily basis, we are walking by the power given to us by God.  It is a strength that comes from Him when we try to love someone who is unlovable.  It is a strength that comes from Him when we are trying to make it through a day filled with trials and tribulations.  It is a strength that comes from Him when we are angry, tired, fed up, emotionally and physically depleted.  

Every breathe we breathe and every thought we think are in the hands of God and He has told us not to worry, to be strong and courageous, and to keep seeking Him and His power for every single day we are given.  When we wake up each day, our Father has given us the gift of life.  He has given us the power to look at the day and use our love and wisdom for others during each day. He is not asking us to do anything beyond our capabilities.  He always lets each of us determine our response of YES or NO to the physical and/or spiritual tasks placed before us for the day.  He is still a God of free will.  

Every day it is our choice on how far we want to allow the power of God to move in us and through us.

Strength For The Journey

The Power of Twelve word for the month is strength.  The scripture is Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm strength of my heart and my portion forever".

It's been a long week and I feel like I have zero strength. In the past 10 days we have spent 12 hours driving to Portland and visiting the Emergency Room at St. Vincent Hospital to get Jerry help with his Rheumatoid Arthritis complications.  Then we drove back the next day so he could see a Rheumatologist to try to find a new affordable treatment plan since we are on Medicare.  Also this week I had half of a tooth removed due to problems with the root canal they had done last month.  This is just one week among the 8 weeks I have been retired.  Each other week had its own trials.

Just as the scripture says, "My flesh and my heart may fail", my mind and my body are exhausted.  My spirit however is tuned in to the Lord.  I curl up in His arms and just breathe.  There is nothing I can do that will change what each day brings.  I know this and He knows this.  So I will cling to God my Rock who brings strength to my heart and to my mind and to my soul.  There will always be those trying days and trying times when we have no strength physically or mentally.  He says, "Be still and know that I am your God.  The One who will see you through this. I will never leave you or walk away from you."  He is a Father that cares about His child. 

When you think of the word 'strength' what is it you see?  I think most of us think of bulging muscles and a fine tuned human physic. We see a guy who can lift a dumbbell with hundreds of pounds attached.  We see a runner who can run for hours and hours to win the marathon.  We equate strength with the body.  But in the Word of God there are hundreds of scripture that speak of finding strength to endure.  Strength from the Lord.  Strength in weakness.  Over and over again the Word tells us to be "strong in the Lord and the power of His might", to "wait on the Lord and renew your strength", for "God is my strength and power". These scriptures are not talking about a physical strength.  It is a spiritual strength.

When I was younger my body was stronger. When I was younger I had so many responsibilities with husband, children, jobs, family, friends, commitments, chores, and everyday life that God many times took the back seat.  Now I have grown older and my faith is stronger than my body.  Today as a new retiree my desire is to spend time in the Word and in prayer. At each stage of life the Lord gives us a measure of His strength to get through each day.  But we have to be willing to take some time each day to speak with Him, to hear Him, and to allow Him to instill that strength into us.  He knows your schedule and how busy you are each day.  He knows if you only have 5 or 10 minutes for Him.  He knows if you have an hour to spend with Him.  He's not timing you but He does know the amount of strength you need for the day or days ahead.  This is the time when the "portion" of strength is measured out to you.  He strengthens your soul.  He strengthens your spirit.  He strengthens your mind.  He gives strength to your tired body by giving you that "second wind" that only He can truly breathe into you.  

God is the Rock.  He is an unbreakable Rock.  An unchangeable Rock.  A solid Rock.  There is no breaking this Rock.  He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  He is our portion forever. He gives us a part of His strength so that we can make it through this day whatever it may hold for us.  He puts a part of Himself into us.  This is a miracle from the Creator of the Universe! He gives us supernatural strength in our minds, our spirits, and our bodies when we come to Him in defeat asking for His help.  Matthew 7:7 says "Ask, and you will receive".  He wants you to come to Him and ask for what you need.  If you need strength, ask.  If you need patience, ask.  If you need wisdom, ask.  If you need help, ask.  Even though Matthew 6:8 tells us that He knows what you need before you even ask, He still wants to hear you ask.  He wants you to come before Him and spend some time with Him.  He might want to share something else with you while you are spending time with Him.  He might just want to hold you in His arms quietly for a few minutes.  God is that parent that holds His child and tells them a story.  He is the one who loves us when we have a hurt.  He is the one who loves us no matter what we have done.  He is the one who forgives us.  He is the one who gives us the strength for the life journey we are on.  When we are weak, He is strong and He gives us a portion of His strength when we need it! Oh, what a Father we have!

💖🙏

March Thoughts - One Year of Lockdown

 

The History of a 2009 Prophetic Word

Back in 2009 our church brought in two prophetic pastors to witness to the people.  Several times before prophets has visited but until this time Jerry and I has never been asked to come forward.  Much of what was spoken over the both of us I could relate to.  We prayed for others all the time.  We stayed strong in the Lord during difficult times.  We remain optimistic and are firm believers that the Lord makes all things possible.  At the time the word of encourager, hospitality and revelation was spoken over me, I did not receive it.  It fact I told others I had ever felt a calling for many of the things spoken directly over me.  Then almost 10 years later, the year 2018 hits and after the removal of a tumor on my brain the Holy Spirit moved in me and my life.  The ladies encouragement group called Power of Twelve was born and continually since 2018 meets monthly in my home.  It is now 2021 and the ladies group is still an ongoing call from the Lord.  I am sharing the prophetic message as a reminder to me and for anyone else who needs to be reminded the Lord does not live by a calendar or by time as we know it.  He moves when He needs to move.  

Presbytery May 4, 2009 (Main Points – Not the full version)

Pastor Mark Cargill:

I hear this phrase come into my spirit, “Strength for the journey” just “Strength for the journey.”  I believe God want to put within you a fresh anointing for strength.  I speak strength to you Sir.  I speak strength to you, woman of God. 

(Spoken over Deb)

I see you Sister, you’re going to be blessed by the Lord, opportunities and things.  God is going to bring a fresh, I see the word, I hear the word, and I see the word “opportunity” written all over your life.  God is going to bless that.  I believe God want to use you to be an encourager in the House of the Lord.  There is a ministry of encouragement that He wants to do.  I see you actually welcoming people, greeting people, standing at the door and smiling and greeting people and “It’s great to see you”.  There is warmth about you that the Lord wants to release into welcoming people to not only the House of God but welcoming people into your home, into your lives.  And the ministry of hospitality and I believe there’s a grace of serving that is in your life.  Ministry of helps that is in your life.  The Lord will release in a greater way.  I see there is almost like a Deaconship upon you.  Where you just serve and you’re ministering so faithfully.  There’s a strength and stability that you bring to the House of the Lord.  I believe the Word of the Lord is going to flow out of your life Sister. I believe God is going to speak to you.  I believe He’s going to speak to you in fresh revelation.  I speak, I prophesize a spirit of Revelation to be released in new ways over your life.  God is going to speak to you, going to give you visions, even pictures in your mind.  You’re going to see them and receive them into your spirit.  I see you getting words for people.  You’ll be taking a walk, you’ll be out doing different things and the Lord will quicken somebody to your mind and your heart and God will give you a word for them.  I hear the Spirit of the Lord say to you to be bold, go to them and say and speak the word of the Lord to them.  And say this, “I was just thinking of you the other day and the Lord spoke to me about you” and then share it with them and tell them what God is doing in your heart in regards to them.

(Spoken over both)

Both of you are going to have a ministry of prayer.  You’re going to intercede and you’re going to have an agreement that will lay hold of a mountain and jerk it from its foundation and throw it into the sea.  

“I’ve put within you a seed of faith.  You’re to lay hold of those things which are impossible and pray them into possibility.  I’ve called you to stand in the gap for The House and the vision of The House.  To pray for your pastor’s and to pray for the different things that are rising up and things that are needing to be accomplished and needing to be done.  I indeed will cause you to be burdened together with them and the two of you shall pray a prayer of agreement that shall move mountains.”  

This is a good season in life for you.  Get ready for the Lord is ready to smile upon you and to work out that smile into the everyday actions and experiences of your life. 

Pastor Mark Strong:

Scripture says, “Have I not commanded you to be strong and of good courage?  Neither be thou dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.  I believe that you’re about to embark on a new field.  I see this field that is unplowed.  It looks rocky and you’re like, “I don’t know if I’m up for this.”  But I believe the Lord is.  I don’t know if this is spiritual or natural.  I believe that God is going to put within your faith, put within your heart, a faith to step out and to buy the field.  There is a new direction.  A new way God is going to lead you.  But what you need to understand is that this thing is going to be so fruitful and so vital in terms of what all God is going to bring forth.  I don’t understand all that and I can’t explain it to you but God will make it clear to you.   You’re going to step out in faith, and as you take the risk, and as you have the courage, you’re going to find that God will give you everywhere you place the sole of your foot.  I see how the enemy would want to try to come around and cause you to shrink back.  God would put the marker out there and the enemy would want to push it back, back, back, back.  But the Spirit of God is going to break through.  There’s a great inheritance.  There’s a greater realm of influence.  There’s a greater field that God is going to open into your heart.  I even believe that tonight that as we lay hands, as we pray for you, that there is just an enlargement of faith that is coming into your heart.  I mean a spirit of Possibility and just optimism is going to begin to just fill you.  You know it’s almost like the enemy wants to kind of drizzle a little pessimism over your head and over your hearts.  But I see the Lord say,

“I’m filling you with optimism.  I’m filling you with faith and I’m filling you with a new vitality for life and open doors and opportunities.”

It’s almost like you’re going to start like this, pioneer and a fresh, with you know, “Hey there’s gold in California!  We’re going to go get it in the Name of Jesus.”  And as God moves you the strength is going to be there.  The vitality is going to be there and you will lack nothing.  Your bones are not going to ache.  Your back is not going to ache.  Your heart’s not going to hurt.  Your eyes are not going to grow weary.  You are going to experience the strength of your God.  And you’re going to experience the courage and the force of your God breathing on you.  It’s almost like the Holy Spirit is going to get behind the two of you and He’s going to push you.  You’re going to feel the Hands of God in your back heading you where God desires for you to go.  Because the Lord says,

“What I’ve called you to do is not just for you. But even, it’s for those that shall come after you and for generations.”  

 I believe, listen to this, what a wonderful promise, that your life will be blessed.  Not only will you bless people now, but what God intends to do with you, shall bless generation after generation, till Jesus comes.  God is going to cause you to put seeds in the ground.  He’s going to cause you to put seeds in the ground and long, long after you’ve gone to Glory, long after that seed, that seed that is still in the ground, long after you have gone to your eternal reward,  that seed is going to be here working and working and working.  For God said this promise, He told Abraham, 

“This promise is to your children and your children’s children. Amen!  I have purposed to bless generations through you.  It’s an ongoing blessing.”  

You know a lot of times; I know in our neighborhood, there have been kids that have been caught up in all kinds of stuff.  What happens was their great grandfather was into it, their grandfather was into it and their father was into it.  It’s almost like a bad seed that had been reproduced and reproduced and reproduced.  But praise God, with you, it’s a “good thing” that God is reproducing.  Generations shall be blessed.  So I encourage you tonight, that as God moves upon your heart, step out by faith.  Be of good courage and know the Lord has purposed the two of you to be a blessing to this generation and too many generations afterwards.

What Salvation Means

What Salvation Means 

Our Power of Twelve ladies group has the word ‘salvation’ (Isaiah 12:2) for the month so this week I have been asking the Lord to give me some insight into what that word means to the believer and why salvation is a key part of being a Christ Follower, a Christian, a believer and why salvation should be on the hearts and minds of all people on earth.

 

Merriam Webster defines salvation as follows:

·        deliverance from the power and effects of sin

·        the agent or means that effects salvation

·        liberation from ignorance or illusion

·        preservation from destruction or failure

·        deliverance from danger or difficulty

I love that the number one definition of salvation is deliverance from the power and effects of sin!  But liberation and preservation are of equal value to mankind.

 

Through Jesus Christ, the sins of the world are wiped clean.  Jesus said in Mark 8:35;

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

 

Throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, from the time of creation until the end of time, people needed, still need, and will need salvation.  Salvation from themselves.  Salvation from others.  Salvation from earthly life.  We need to be saved.  We want to be saved.  Every single person, at one time or another, during their life on earth, have cried out to be saved by someone or something.  Many look for another human being to be their savior only to find that person cannot save them, especially when death is lurking nearby.

The scriptures speak of a “strong tower”, a “refuge”, a “fortress”.   These are places where a person can go when they have fear of something or need protection from something or someone.  When a tornado, hurricane or horrific storm comes, people seek shelter from the storm in strong, reliable structures that can withstand the power of the storm.  People want to live, so people find the strongest place they can find shelter from the storm.

But where does that person go when the evilness of others comes to rob them of their lives and their possessions?  Where can one go to find peace from the troubles on earth?  Even if they hide themselves in a fortress or behind walls, the evilness is still there, waiting.  People living on earth cannot hide from the evil on earth.  They need to be saved.  They need a savior.  They need salvation.

 

The other definitions of salvation include the words; “deliverance”, “liberation”, “preservation”.What encouraging words to the person living in fear and what a blessing for those who find it!  All human beings want to be delivered from hopelessness, anger, hate, and fear.  They want to be liberated from oppression, cruelty, lies, and addiction. They want preservation from health issues, envy, jealousy, greed, and death.  All people are offered salvation from the sins and grief of this deadly world.  Jesus said all we need to do is come to Him.  He said to follow Him and His teachings while here on earth, recorded in the word of God.

 

Jesus says in Matthew 11:30; “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We all know the weight of life and living can be overwhelmingly heavy.  Sometimes it is just too much to bear but Jesus offers to lighten the load by coming along side of us with His Spirit of peace and love.  In Matthew 11:28 He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Be sure to notice the word “all”!  The invitation to come to Him for his salvation, His protection, His deliverance, His liberation is for all human beings.  The only action required on our part is to come to Him, to seek Him, to look for Him and to look at Him. 

 

People have to admit the need and want to be saved. They have to admit they cannot find salvation, deliverance, liberation, or protection on their own.  All have to admit the messes they have made for themselves.  People have to be willing to admit the terrible things they have done to others and the hurt and grief caused by these decisions and actions.  All people have said and done things that have caused tears.  All people have put their own selfish desires before the needs of others who are suffering.  As little children we have to be taught to share, give, and love.  Without these positive characteristics we are just like animals and live a life of kill or be killed.  We live a life focused only on ourselves and what gives us pleasure and could care less about others.  We live an empty existence without hope, peace, or love.  We die and become dust.

 

Human beings are born with a desire to live and to be protected from the perils of living on earth.  Human beings have a soul and a spirit even if they do not admit it to themselves.  Human beings need a savior.  Jesus Christ, God Himself, The Great I AM, Creator of the Universe, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lamb of God, came to walk on earth, was killed by the priests and the people because of His teachings of deliverance, protection, liberation, and salvation.  He taught love, peace, generosity, and selflessness.  He sacrificed His body, His life for everyone.  He gave all human beings salvation from the sins of this world by means of His sacrifice on the cross.  He was pure.  He never sinned.  He died for you and me so that we could have salvation from life, ourselves, and others.  He was the sacrifice needed to save the people of this world because human beings are sinful, selfish creatures. 

 

To ask for salvation is to ask to be saved.  When is the last time you asked yourself or someone if they are saved?  Saved from what?  Saved from themselves?  Saved from a miserable life?  Saved from cancer or the ravages of disease?  Saved from death?

 

Biblical prophecy in Revelation 7:10 tells us that at the end of time for this physical earth, a great multitude of human beings “from every nation, tribe, people and language”, will be standing before the throne of God  and before the Jesus the Sacrificial Lamb, and they will cry out; “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

 

John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

No fortress on earth will save you in the end. Jesus is the only way to salvation.  There is no other way. It is always a choice to believe or not that you can and will be saved after that last breath. 

The Protection of God

 Our ladies Power of Twelve group has the word "protects" as our word of encouragement this month.  The word is from the scripture in Daniel 12:1 which says, 

At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

This part of Daniel is speaking a prophesy of the end times for the people on earth.  There is a great war taking place between the kingdoms on earth.  The very opening of that scripture tells us the Father will send the arch angel Michael to protect the chosen people of God.  How amazing is that?  Michael is the Chief Prince of all the angels in God's Angel Army.  We have no idea how many angels are in this army of God but in Luke 12:13 there was "a great company of heavenly host" which appeared to the shepherds in the fields when they announced the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  In 2 Kings 12:17 the Lord protected Elisha by filling "the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire."  Riding the horses and driving the chariots was the Angel Army of God.  When scripture speaks of a heavenly host this is referring to an army of angels who are messengers, protectors, fighters, those who come to the aid of God's chosen people.  These angels have over and over helped the people God chose to do His work on earth.  From the time of Adam and Eve until the time when the Apostle John is held captive on an island and prophesies about the end times, God has sent angels to minister to people.  Mary, Joseph, King David, Balaam, Paul, Elisha, Ezekiel, and so many others have seen and or heard from a Messenger of God.  These Messengers are angels of the Lord, sent by Him to relay a message or to protect and guide.  In Matthew 26:53, Jesus tell the disciples, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"  In King David's time, each legion held 24,000 soldiers.  Twelve legions would be 288,000 soldiers.  In the Roman army, a legion could be anywhere from 3,000 (plus auxiliary soldiers, plus garrisons, plus guards, plus cavalry) to 6,000 soldiers putting the army count anywhere from 40,000 to over 100,000.  Jesus is saying in this scripture that He can call out hundreds of thousands of angels to assist Him with whatever He needs done!  In the end of times for earth, Revelation19:1 tells us; 

"After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!  

We have no idea how great a "great multitude" is, but with our Lord you can believe it is numerous, powerful, extraordinary, and beyond our wildest imagination.

Over and over throughout scripture and throughout our lives our Father God has protected us from harm.  He tells us repeatedly, He wants no harm to come to us.  He stands ready to guard us and keep us safe.  He will provide security for us in all ways.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Do you have faith in the word of God to His people?  

Have you seen times in your life that could have gone one way and caused you great harm but instead something happened to change the outcome of that instance?  

Have you ever had someone show up at just the right time to help you out of something that could have altered the course of your life?

Do you believe in miracles?

A true believer will be able to say yes to many of these questions and maybe yes to all of them.  People with faith and belief in a Father, a Creator, Almighty God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords know in their mind, their heart, their soul that He is real and really loves His children,  His people, those who are called by His Name!  They don't doubt His protection or His love.

When God sends a messenger, or a heavenly host, or an army of angels to His people He is making a way where there seems to be no way.  He is providing what is necessary for the times.  He is caringly and lovingly surrounding us with whatever is necessary to keep us safe.  Since the beginning of mankind the Father has used his angels in the lives of His people and He will not stop doing this for us until the end of times for this earth.  In the new heaven and earth the angels and the people will worship, praise and live joyfully for there will be no sorrow, no pain, no tears and no need for protection from the evil one.  We will be home with the Lord for ever and ever. 

Amen.

Doors (Revelation 3:20)

November 8, 2020 

Doors 

Revelation 3:20 (ESV) -  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The word “Doors” can mean different things.  Doors are meant to keep things out and they are meant to keep things in.  Some are actual real doors with hinges and door knobs.  Others are not physical doors, but doors to our emotions and feelings.  

We fling open physical doors to our family and our friends and invite them in.  We carefully open those same doors to strangers standing on the porch to see what they want or need.  We lock our doors when there is a possibility of trouble or at night to get a peaceful sleep.  

Each one of us have individual emotional and mindful doors. Often times we close doors when do not want to deal with an issue or a problem.  It’s easier to leave it on the other side of the door and not deal with it.  When we lose someone through relationship issues, have financial trouble, have health issues, or when we deal with actual death, we sometimes close those doors because the pain is too bearable to face. 

We have both physical and emotional doors that we hide things behind.  I have closet doors that hide stuff I have accumulated for decades.  I am ashamed for anyone to see all the stuff in those closets.  I have emotional doors that I am ashamed of.  The Lord knows the things hidden behind my emotional doors.

Many times in scripture we hear verses about Jesus knocking on the door and our response to open the door to Him is up to us.  We hear about the Bridegroom coming to the wedding, someone opens the door to Him and after he has entered, the door is then closed. Those who were invited to the wedding are on the inside while many others are left on the outside.  Those on the outside either did not respond to the RSVP for the wedding invitation or they decided the wedding was not important enough to attend. Regardless, they are on the outside of the closed door.

We also have scripture where the Lord asks us to go into our prayer closet to pray and to close the door.  These are the times when the Lord wants our undivided attention.   He wants to have a private one-on–one with us.  Many times as a parent I had to take a child aside and have a heart-to-heart chat about one thing or another.  The conversation was not for all ears to hear.  It was meant for a specific set of ears.  This is the same with the Lord.  He is our father, we are His child.  We can cast everything, both the good and the bad, before Him and know that He hears and understands it all.  He walks with us no matter what situation we are in. 

Jesus is not the kind of God who forces anyone to do anything.  He is filled with love for each one but allows us the free will to choose His way or not.  When we acknowledge Him as Christ our Savior we only need to trust Him with the physical doors of our lives and the emotional doors of our lives.  We just need to hold onto faith that He is for us, not against us.  That He is molding us into a better person.  That He will always love us no matter what.