SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a priest who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. A man that studied the word of God, but a man who was not anointed with the Holy Spirit, who did not have understanding of being "born again". Nicodemus went to visit Jesus in the night so that he would not be seen, to ask Jesus "How can a man be born when he is old?" Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit....The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
(John 3:5) "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him." (Luke 10:23) "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Saul asked 'Who are you Lord?' 'I am Jesus, who you are persecuting,' He replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" 'Yes Lord' he answered. The Lord told him, 'Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Taurus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hand on him to restore his sight. "Lord," Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, GO! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord---Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here---has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something likes scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests? Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ." (ACTS 9)The Lord chose Saul and named him Paul. Paul was not one of the 12 disciples, yet he was chosen by the Way, the Light, the Voice of Jesus, and Paul was baptized by the Holy Spirit and given the GOOD GIFT of teaching by the Holy Spirit. A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in the service of God's purposes. So Saul/Paul grew more and more powerful by the Holy Spirit and he was used by God to write many of the books of the bible. "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...." wrote to the church of Corinthians "I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way---in all your speaking and in all your knowledge----therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift..." Yet the first church in Corinth was divided, they were abusing their gifts. First Paul thanked them, then in the following 11 chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul spoke the truth in love and rebukes those slipping away for being infants, for their incest, and for judging one another, for bringing lawsuits against one another, for getting drunk. GOD LOVES US and HE shows us His way. In Chapter 12, Paul tells them to not be confused, or ignorant about spiritual gifts. To remember when they were non-believers how they were led astray, how they were easily influenced, how they worshipped idols, statues, and whatever desire of the flesh they had. He addressed the speaking and interpreting of tongues with this reproof. 'No one can say, "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.' Paul completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit taught them "Now to EACH ONE (everyone) the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." ---"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit."....The body of Christ is One body, and many parts. Not one gift is more important than the other. "For we were all baptized by One Spirit into One body." Consider the unseen parts as important as the visible parts. You must agree that the hands of service, and the unseen heart are equally valuable. What good is a hand without a heart? The mind of the teacher, and the unseen heart that prays are parts of the Body of Christ, which work in harmony. Working together, respecting all without division, malice or jealousy." INSIGHTS ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
We need understanding. That spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to you, yet not for you. Any ability given and empowered by the Holy Spirit is to be used in service for others. To have a gift and not use it is a sin. We need to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit decides the gifts He gives. "All these are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." (1 Corin 12:11) We need to know what our spiritual gifts are so that we can put them to use to serve others. We are the hands, we are the feet, we are His church, and we were GIFTED to be used with His intention and purpose.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS - FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT:
1) SIGNS - miracles, healings, tongues. There are believers that hold the thought that all signs have ceased until Jesus returns based "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." (1 Corin 13:10) The Holy Spirit in me interprets that verse to mean when Jesus, the perfect one returns, what we think we know will pass away, all tongues will be stilled, and even the rocks will cry out Jesus is Lord.
2) SPEAKING - Teaching, exhortation, prophesy, song, evangelism etc. Spiritual gifts are outlined in 1 Corin chapter 12; Ephesians 4; and Romans 12. However, like Ananasis, we are not to question the authority of the Holy Spirit, or grieve the Holy Spirit by placing limits to what He chooses to do through us.
3) SERVING - Helps, mercy, leadership, faith, giving, hospitality, administration. Are all apostles? No. Are all prophets? No. Do all have the gift of healing? No. Do all speak in tongues? No. But do people eagerly desire the greater gifts? Yes. Then Paul teaches LOVE! "And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am onlyh a resounding gong or a clanging symbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always prtoects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8) LOVE speaks to us always and we must LISTEN for what the SPIRIT is saying. God never fails, Jesus never fails, the Holy Spirit never fails, and God is love, and His love for us never fails --- as He has given us every spiritual GIFT we need to fulfill His purpose, to spread the good news of Jesus.

EYE WITNESS

Today on the first day of Spring 2012 we join in as EYE WITNESSES of the world gone mad! Together we HEAR the DAILY NEWS and as humans we may tremble at what we see and hear! We might choose to feel alone, discouraged or worried. We might unwisely isolate from family or friends who can help us . "HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE" and be at peace with the truth of what is yet to be seen and heard! Be encouraged by the story of a simple fisherman named John. This guy was placed in solitude on a tiny island, a barren rock in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Without a phone, a computer or any possibility of escape or communication, this spirit filled man submitted to God's will and accepted the blessing of a time in prison, alone with God. John knew what day it was and celebrated it! "On the Lord's day, I was in the Spirit." REV 1:10 ~ John was in a sweet spirit, he had a right attitude and he was thrilled to spend time, alone with the Lord. He did not spend time in self-pity for his circumstance, he did not complain, he did not resent the happiness of those who had the warmth of family and home. The interior man, the integrity of his soul did what it always did, it longed for more of Jesus. We are a chosen people, and with our eyes we get to witness the Jesus in John and the by the same Spirit, we experience the Presence of Jesus is us. Revelation is the unveiling of the Truth in us, the Jesus alive in us by the perfect will and purpose of God ~ "IT IS WRITTEN: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4 ~ Allow the Word of God to light up your soul with a glimpse of His glory in what John wrote that he saw and heard from the Lord. "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory." Eph 1:14 ~ "I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" Galatians 3:2 ~ Look in the mirror and be the EYE WITNESS to the truth ~ Speak this fact
"I am God's possession, and I am filled by the Holy Spirit." Now release the Teacher within to speak to your soul and unveil the mystery of Who Jesus Christ is. ~ Paul wrote "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him among the gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia (Chapala) and later returned to Damascus (Stockton)....As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance - those men added nothing to my message." Galatians 1:15 - 2:6 ~ Read the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit what is the lesson in this holy sentence for me to apply personally. OKAY, back to the Reveal of Jesus to us, His beloved! ~ In a Patmos prison John wrote that he heard God's voice loudly "I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet" Rev 1:10b When we set aside what we want, expect, need and feel we deserve, when we choose to soak our minds with the living Word of God, we are blessed and our hearts are uplifted when we hear and obey the Word of God. God takes away our burdens when we let go...and let God fill us with His peace. What the EYE can see, the mouth can testify and God shows us His mighty ways as He reveals, unveils and blesses us with a fresh vision of His glory in the book of Revelation! "You will show me the path of life; in Your Presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 NKJV "Christ in you the hope for glory." Colossians 1:27 ~ Hopelessness is a desolate place where people feel insecure, unwanted, forgotten, starved for affection and tortured with pity me thoughts like "how small is my cry within a world of people praying to One God". What hope can one possibly find in a future that is shared with millions of abandoned, lonely, desperate people? Do you or someone you care about ever feel invisible, too ordinary, too insignificant, too unworthy of God's attention? Why would God's hope for glory through you be a part of His divine plan, His purpose, and His unfailing, unmatched promise? Ponder these scriptures and consider the theme of the last book of the bible which is stated right up front: "The revelation of Jesus Christ." It is our Father's purpose to reveal, to unveil the glory of His Son Jesus in the past, in our history, in our present, in our presence and in our future. Today in 2012 we are the lucky believers because we get to watch more prophecy unfold, and to SEE Jesus in a way that the early saints could not. When Jesus walked among us, He was so veiled that His mother, His brothers, His disciples and the Pharisees did not fully understand Who Jesus was and is today. Before the foundation of the world, God gave us all the spiritual blessings, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to unveil Jesus Christ through prophecy in the past, and in last book of the canon, God's plan is that Jesus is unveiled as the HOPE for our future. God told John to write down what he saw and John wrote "I SAW" almost 50 times. John also encourages us in the book of Revelation that he heard God's voice more than 30 times. HOPE ignites our hearts to live and we can BE STILL and know that we are loved by God as we LISTEN for HIS voice ~ as we read His love letter to us. The vision of Jesus gives hope to the hopeless, to those depressed by their circumstance, to all those who are deceived by their own importance, or by their insignificance, to all those who are discouraged by the majority of the ungodly, to all those distressed by evil choices, to all those defeated by life...GOD IS FAITHFUL to his Word, to His work, to His plan, to His purpose, and to those who witness His glory in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Through a vision Isaiah worshiped Jesus as the "wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and as the Lamb by Whose wounds we are healed. Micah worshiped Jesus as the Baby born in Bethlehem. Zechariah worshiped Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords Who would rule the world. Those who walked in Old Testament times did not fully understand Who Jesus was and is, but to us in this generation ~ Revelation is thrilling because it is better than a hopeful weather forecast of what may come - But God assures us in His Word "Yes, I am coming soon." Revelation 22:21 ~ Imagine living on earth with Jesus as the visible Ruler. Living as the eye witness of NO MORE: fear, dishonesty, civil unrest, prejudice, sex traffic, lies, wars, poverty, crime, homeless, taxes, hunger, anger, prisons, sickness, murder, hospitals, foreclosures, discrimination of any kind, hatred, jealousy, evil spirits, depression or broke people! Lord Jesus I long for the day when I can see you face to face, when I will see ONLY followers of Jesus, not just the majority, but the entire population! When death does not separate me from my loved ones, and when the entire world is filled with Your joyfilled glory! "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which He has called you." Eph 1:18 ~ "But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? --- What happened to your JOY? I can testify that if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good....tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.....we are not the children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." Galatians 4:8-31 (Paul's concern for us)

ASK and RECEIVE

Ask for WISDOM, FAVOR and ANNOINTING. Our fear, our reverence, our enraptured AWE, our distilled awareness of His power ~ when our humbled hearts make our weak knees buckle and fall to the ground as we honor WHO God is ~ then is when we can register the wisdom of God entering our mind/heart/soul. As we seek God with our ALL, not half-heartedly, but with an eager enthusiasm for WHAT spills over ~ as we go to the place WHERE God Almighty, Yaweh, Yashua, the rock of ages is, WHEN we place God as our number one priority over family, mate, goals, or dreams ~ that is when we can ASK for FAVOR with confidence that our Father, Who art in heaven, holy is His Name, that His kingdom is within, and that He takes great pleasure in filling us with FAVOR ~ AMEN ~ GO ahead and shout HALLELUIAH and give Him praise for His plan for those who ask ~ RECEIVE! ~ WHY? Because God is blessed by our consistent pursuit of His words, will and ways! Wisdom is supremely satisfying and our response to the call He placed on our souls, is His blessing, wisdom, and His annointing! Because of our passion for more of Christ, greater wisdom and certain understanding is poured into us. When we CLAIM the most prized treasure in the universe, we receive our reward in that instant! Holy insights, a word of knowledge, and pure revelation of His holy character keeps Him on the rightful throne of our hearts. Our God gives unmerited, unwarranted and unfathomable FAVOR to those who seek Him. SO SEEK and ASK and HE WILL DELIVER as He expands your capacity to receive all that He has planned to bless you with! AMEN ~

SIGNS and WONDERS

INVITE GOD into the house and amazing things happen, with out our full understanding. This is the time of increase of signs and wonders. So we must choose to STOP the insanity, STOP tossing in turmoil, STOP doubting God and about His ways. Do NOT listen to the noise of opinion. Do NOT be blown around by the threats of others. STOP and ask God. Listen, obey and expect His best outcome. For His sheep know His voice. As we persevere in trials, as we follow His prompting, as we obey His utterance to "Follow Me, walk this way" our FAITH GROWS strong through our obedience, which is His test of our loyalty to Him. Do NOT feed a selfish desire for more time grumbling about indecision. Please God and go His way ~ or strive to be liked or accepted by a parent, friend, a boss or any club of people and find your ruin quickly. Choose wisdom. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." James 1:2-8 NKJV ~ ASK GOD for wisdom and trust the voice of the Holy One. LET US WELCOME the distractions of GOD. Bill Johnson is as relaxed as could be watching God be God. No pretense whatsoever. This is all a by product of worshiping Jesus and nothing else. It is an environment where Jesus is free to be who He is. Full of power, and full of AWESOME surprise!A WORD about the FAMILY OF GOD. There is about BATTLE in churches about doctrines held. DENOMINATION is man made, and dishonoring to God. GOD has ONE church, His church. The spirit of religion disguises itself as a pursuit of holiness. If we react to error, we create a system of punishment. To disassociate from a family member who has fallen is to abandon the grace of God. Let us BE STILL and turn our devotion to God, not man's dictate of doctrine.

LIVING PROOF

The two lips of James, a converted Jew who spoke powerfully to the people of Israel in his day, and to us TODAY! James referenced the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit inspired him ~ that in 2011 we would know to WAIT patiently during the dry spells, for GOD DOES send the RAIN! ~ "Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was NOT opposing you. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." JAMES 5:4-13 So let us study the Word of God and be encouraged by the endurance of the prophets. Let us fill our minds with what the Holy Spirit had them write down for our benefit today. Let His living Word be our SURE SIGN to step out in faith! "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." ISAIAH 46:10 Our Lord God Almighty never said it would be easy, but He does encourage us with His promises that HIS GLORY IS WORTH THE WAIT! ~ "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” HOSEA 6:3 Pressing onward toward the PRIZE ~ His eyes blazing GLORY as His grace showers us warmly like a summer rain on our parched soul. God will come to us like we expect the rain each winter ~ because He said so! "Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures My plans without knowledge?’ ~ (JOB says YES LORD) Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ~ (JOB wrestled to hear what the spirit was saying) “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ (OH LORD) My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You." JOB 42:1-5 God's purpose through Diana, Debby, Mona, Kathy, Babs and Barbara CANNOT be thwarted lest we speak foolishly of things too wonderful for us to know. God Almighty's plan for us is revealed to us personally through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit wash over me and cleanse me lest I become cynical! We must REMEMBER that the precious, mighty Name of JESUS still saves and that a PASSION for His Word is spreading across the globe in 2011! We therefore drink the living water like the Samaritain woman at the well and never get thirsty again! If we listen to the world and begin to get cynical, God will divinely discipline us by kicking our tiny tail! So let us GROAN to Him not to mere mortals on facebook! Let us KNOW and be satisfied that the Holy Spirit prays for God's will for us! "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." ROMANS 8:26 Lord God Almighty is worthy of our praise for He loved us so much He sent His Son to walk among us as He knows that we often times need to SEE to BELIEVE - God asks us to have FAITH in the unseen as we trust that He is full of compassion and mercy. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." HEBREWS 4:15 Yes Lord, Yes Lord, YES YES LORD - AMEN! "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 We are the brides of Christ, faithful and obedient because we are in love with JESUS! Beth taught us to embrace PATIENCE because in God's economy things are planted in us, watered, pruned and harvested over TIME! We are to LOOK for the SACRED in the mundane each moment and see God as His Glory fills the earth! Inbetween the rainy season is the dry season but hark ~ God is there working in us to perfect us even while we do the dishes! Beth shared that today pyschologists have noted a FACEBOOK depression! Try a STATUS UPDATE when you are feeling all messed up! God calls us to fess up our mess ups to Him as our REAL honest status! Only God can give us encouragement and comfort that will heal us! Beth gets a word from a woman in the crowd who wears a TEXAS sized POOF hairdo! "Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly."


PSALM 102 We can rest assured that GOD ALMIGHTY will "LIKE" our plea posted to Him and He will respond with a Word of His life renewing power! AMEN ~ "Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." PSALM 103

MY SONG to JESUS taken from PSALM 18 NIV
"I love You, O Lord, my Strength.
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress
and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock
in Whom I take refuge... The Lord
thundered from heaven; the Voice of
the Most High resounded ~
He reached down from on high
and took HOLD OF ME!
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, from my woes ~
My God brought me out into a SPACIOUS place
He rescued me because
He delighted in me.
You, O Lord, keem my lamp burning.
My God turns my darkness into light!
With Your help I can advance against a troop
With My God I can scale a wall!
As for God, His way is perfect ~
The Word of the Lord is flawless!
The Lord lives! Praise be my Rock!
Exalted by God my Savior ~
Therefore I will sing praises
To His Holy Name ~ and blog my brag
of all that He has done in me!
Halleluiah and Amen

TRACE the SEED

Born with the birth name of Abram, God's word tells us in the book of Genesis that Abraham is a descendant of Noah's son, Shem. TRACE the SEED of Creaton: Adam, Seth, Enos, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Judah, Pharez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahson, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David. Abram's wife Sarai offered her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, to her husband Abram so that they could parent a child. Abram consented and had sexual intercourse with Hagar. A son was born and the Lord gave him the name of Ishmail. In our holy family history, another man was born BLIND and Jesus assured His friends that asked "was it his sin that caused him to go blind?" Jesus touched the man and asked him to go wash his eyes, that he may see for the first time. With our request, we ask Jesus to be our Lord, we ask Him to come live inside our hearts, and we are given His eyes, His understanding to know the mind of God through the scriptures. He took him outside and said, 'Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness." GEN 15 ~ Abram was 99 years old when God said "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isacc." GEN 17:19 ~ Christians and Jews believe that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. The Holy Spirit of God narrates the life of Abraham and his role as one that could only be fulfilled through a covenant, a promise, a contract established between him and God. "When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. An when they were created, he called them man. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. Adam lived 930 years and when Seth was 105 years old he became the father of Enosh. The Lord said, 'My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." GENESIS 6:9 "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. ~ Noah stands out as a man of right conduct. Noah forewarned doom, by his preaching. However, the people sneered at Noah and called him demented, a man gone mad. Noah was 600 years old when the flood came. The waters flooded the earth for 150 days. After the flood, Noah built an alter to the Lord and sacrificed a burnt offering. "The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in His heart 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood." GEN 8:20 In the 10th chapter of Genesis, God lays out the clans that were born out of the sons of Noah. ~ Man began to use brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, 'come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth. But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us fo down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world." GEN 11 The Book of Exodus is God's word, His story, our history of how God carried the seed of Abraham through a time when his people, the Children of Israel, were increasing in number. The Egyptian Pharaoh was worried that the Hebrews might help Egypt's enemies. A baby named Moses was hidden by his mother Jochebed when the Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. The mother places Moses in a basket and trusts God to take care of him. Moses was adopted as a foundling by the Egyptian royal family. DEUT 7:6 "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." After killing an Egyptian slave-master, Moses flees across the Red Sea to Midian where he has his encounter with the God of Israel in the form of the "burning bush". God sends the stuttering Moses to request the release of the Israelites. After Ten Plagues, the Hebrews are saved by spreading the blood of a lamb over their doorways. After this miraculous Passover ~ Moses leads the Exodus of the Jews out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. Camping as a free people at the base of Mount Sinai, they forget that God parted the Sea, fed them manna and begin to worship idols. Moses receives and delivers the Ten Commandments. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, Moses dies aged 120, within sight of the Promised Land. "It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your forefathers up out of Egypt. Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your fathers." 1 SAM 12:6 ~ Hannah is one of two wives of Elkanah; the other, Peninnah, who bore children, but Hannah remained childless. Every year Elkanah would offer a sacrifice at the Shiloh sanctuary, and give Penninah and her children a portion but he gave Hannah a double portion "because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb" The barren Hannah prayed to God "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." When Hannah prayed Eli thought she was drunk and questioned her. When she explained herself, he sent her away believing that her prayer would be heard and her desire granted. As promised, she conceived and bore a son. She called his name Samuel, saying that he was a gift from God. She raised him until he was weaned and brought him to the temple for the Priest Eli to raise. "And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord....Samuel continued to grow in stature and in FAVOR with the Lord and with men." ~ Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, 'speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'...The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel, Samuel!" Then Samuel said 'Speak, for your servant is listening. And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family - from beginning to end. For I told him I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, the guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering." ---- Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, 'Samuel, my son' Samuel answered, 'Here I am'....So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, 'He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes.' The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His word." ~ So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the Lord's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, 'what's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?' When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. 'A god has come into the camp,' they said. We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight! So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophi and Phinehas, died. ~ When it was reported to the ninety year old Eli that his sons were dead - "When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel for forty years." ~ LESSON: Eli was more concerned about the ark, than God's word. The ark became a relic he worshiped. His faith shifted from our Almighty Creator to the ark. It is easy for people to worship things, relics, artifacts, heros, or books we can hold, things that we can see. Tangible things have no power in themselves. The bible is either merely a respected relic, or it is the sharp, living and effective Word of God. What we think about God is shaped by what we study and come to know as we enter into a relationship with the truth about Who God is. We treasure things, antiques and relics and are careful to store them away. Store God's word in your heart as a treasure. His desire is that we come to love Him as He lavishly loves us. He created us with a free will, that we will call on Him, because He is trustworthy and faithful to His every word. God reveals in the books of Samuel, that Samuel also anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: King Saul and King David. "After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 1 SAMUEL 1:27-4 ~ David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, intending to build a temple, but God, speaking to the prophet Nathan, forbids it, saying the temple must wait for a future generation. God makes a covenant with David, promising that he will establish the house of David eternally: "Your throne shall be established forever." ~ Tracing the seed to David HaMelekh, the King of Israel, and the Jewish people. As the second the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel, David is a direct descendant of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. David was born in Bethlehem, in the territory of the Tribe of Judah. His father was named Jesse. His mother is not named in the Bible. David had seven brothers and was the youngest of them all. He had eight wives: Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maachah, Haggith; Abital; Eglah; and Bathsheba, previously the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David's sons by various wives and concubines are in Chronicles. He had six sons: Amnon, Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah,Ithream,and his sons from Bathsheba are Shammua; Shobab; Nathan; and Solomon. David also had at least one daughter, Tamar by Maachah, who was raped by Amnon, her half-brother. Her brother Absalom kills Amnon for raping his sister. 2 Samuel 13:1-29 ~ Solomon, the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah split. King Solomon was the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem. He prayed for wisdom, and received wealth, power and wisdom from God. His sins included idolatry and turning away from Yahweh. His kingdom was torn in two during the reign of his son Rehoboam. In a brief Bible passage the fame of Solomon's wisdom and wealth spread far and wide. The queen of Sheba decided that she should meet him. King Solomon gave her "all her desire, whatsoever she asked," she left satisfied. (1 Kings 10:10) In Ethiopian history, it is taught that the Queen of Sheba had sexual relations with King Solomon, the bible does not mention this. According to Ethiopa, the Queen gave birth to a son of Solomon. The boy became Menelik I, King of Axum, and founded a dynasty that would reign what became the Christian Empire of Ethiopia for 2900 years. Menelik was said to be a practising Jew, had been gifted with a replica Ark of the Covenant by King Solomon. The original ark was said to be switched and went to Axum and is still there to this day, guarded by a single priest charged with caring for the artifact as his life's task. The claim of such a lineage and of possession of the Ark has been an important source of legitimacy and prestige for Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government and church deny all requests to view the alleged ark. Rabbis have claimed instead that the child was an ancestor of Nebuchadnezzar II, who destroyed Solomon's temple some 300 years later.

WET SEEDS

There are no accidents, only divinely timed appointments! In 1975 God placed Nancy Eller in my life for His purpose. As His beloved ~ unique creation, God used Nancy's simple heart to encourage me when I was going through my divorce. She is a gifted teacher who continues to delight in all things new. We reunite gleefully with an intention to drop all layers of the world's troubles and dip into a refreshing pool. Lounging about we allowed the sun to dry us. As loyal girl friends we have lived a life full of good. With reflection, any growth affirmed was a result of pulling out the weeds of doubt, and the watering of our tears gave us new life and hope for the coming years. Before church Nancita worked her charm and fussed over each strand of my sun bleached hair. After she had lovingly fluffed, perked and teased she twinkled "You look marvelous my dear!" "The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in need, He saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Psalm 115:5 ~ Tenderly and with wide eyes Nancy listened to my tale of all that God has done to provide His best in Stockton, and in Chapala. His plan is always to expand us and to prosper us, AMEN! God's word is the truth: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But IF it dies, it produces many seeds...Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I AM, My servant also will be." John 12:24-26 ~ AHA and HALLELUIAH for we are God's finest thinking creations! Our God of wonder, power and love, with purpose filled holy intention, and unbending justice, our heavenly Dad personally placed within each of us a conscious, a divine awareness of right and wrong, good and evil. Our Father allows His children to experience His living presence in the "knowingness" of when we are gossiping, lying, or stealing the blameless reputation away from God. "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Who was it that created the cucumber, tomatoe, apple, daffodil, sequoia, or lily seed? Who placed the intelligence within the seed to send its roots down and its branches up to the sun? The fruit of the vine comes from the Vine Dresser who created all things for His pleasure and our benefit. We are His field workers who bring in a harvest of lost souls, for His glory, in His way, by His power, that His will - that none should be lost, be done. AMEN. God's message for Nancy and Barbara on Sunday June 26, 2011 was delivered by a missionary from Indonesia. ~ Steve and his wife Patty were at Quail Lakes Church to update us on all that the Lord has done in their hearts and in the souls that dwell in this muslim country. Steve grew up in Stockton in a family that did not believe in Jesus. Steve accepted the truth that life without God's word, will and plans was an empty life so he accepted Jesus as Lord in high school. God gave Steve a new heart that yearned to serve and he chose to follow Jesus to Indonesia. This young couple returned to their home church in Stockton to share all the wonder of God in His ways. Steve announced his fascination when his wife Patty began saving papaya seeds. Steve was accostomed to tossing them out, like water melon seeds and his bride intervened with "we must allow the seeds to die and dry so we can plant them and share our harvest." A local woman commented on the papaya forest on their property and asked "Every time I plant a seed it does not grow. What is your method?" Patty asked do you let the seeds dry and die before you plant them? AHA God tells us the truth: "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed."
ONE WILLING OBEDIENT APPLICATION in 2011: UNLESS we fall to our knees and admit that we lie, steal and sin - UNLESS we admit that we are helpless to produce anything of lasting value, UNLESS we admit that we need grace, mercy and forgiveness to come before a perfect holy God, UNLESS we are willing to die to our ways, UNLESS we admit that it is impossible to always behave perfectly and to do the right thing always, UNLESS we admit that we need a Savior - we shall remain only a single seed that cannot produce a legacy that will feed this hungry lost society. The word of God is His unaltered, unchanging truth: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 ---

ONE WET SEED LESSON: ONLY when we die to our selfish ways, and allow the wet seed of our hopes to dry up and die, will the cracked seed of truth flourish in us. We reap what we sow, so let us prepare the soil of soul with kindness, and when the dry, dead seed falls to the ground, let us water it tenderly with the truth and watch God produce a vast harvest of souls for His kingdom, and His glory. AMEN

ROSH HASHANAH

Both solemn and joyful Rosh Hashanah ushers in the ten days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is solemn because of the Awe of judgment. It is joyful because it represents the hope of the future redemption of Israel. The beginning of the High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה‎), literally means "head of the year". It is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. First of the High Holidays or "Days of Awe" which begin ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed as it is described in the Torah as יום תרועה a day of sounding the Shofar as pictured herein. Rosh Hashanah represents either figuratively or literally the creation of the World, or Universe according to the Jew. In the Talmud, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of man. "The Holy One said, 'on Rosh Hashanah recite before Me verses of Sovereignty, and Remembrance as the Shofar blasts so that you should make Me your King. Remember your captivity and freedom so that your remembrance should rise up before Me. This is reflected in the prayers composed by the classical rabbinic sages for Rosh Hashanah. The theme is the "coronation" of God as King of the universe in preparation for the acceptance of judgments that will follow on that day. Believers of God and His word hang in the balance for ten days waiting for all to repent, then they will be "sealed" on Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים‎, also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. This holy day is preceeded with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days, or sometimes "the Days of Awe". The assumption is that everyone was sealed for life and therefore the next festival is Sukkot ~Tabernacles ~ is referred to as "the time of our joy"! JEREMIAH 2-3 "That you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you." Says the Lord of God of hosts....As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree 'You are my father, and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in their time of trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.'...Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,' says the Lord. In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction. O generation, see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? And I said, after she had done all these things, 'Return to Me', but she did not return. "Return, O backsliding children,' says the Lord; 'for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." A day of JOY, a day to REMEMBER all that God has provided! The Good Shepherd Jesus, the Son of God came, was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, and rose again so that those who BELIEVE would be filled with His Holy Spirit. Reflect, repent and be washed ANEW in His Spirit! Unlike Passover, the Bible does not clearly identify Rosh Hashanah with a historical event, so we must look to tradition to discover its significance. According to Talmudic tradition, the Ten Days of Awe which begin at Rosh Hashanah are the time in which God determines the fate of each human being. On Rosh Hashanah, the wholly righteous are supposedly inscribed in the Sefer ha-Hayyim, or Book of Life, while the wholly wicked are inscribed in the Book of Death. The fate of all others hangs in the balance until Yom Kippur. ROSH HASHANAH is a time for introspection, to be honest and admit that which does not reflect God's best in the last year, to make amends, and then to accept God's grace and His promised abiding JOY and walk free of condemnation in the Holy Spirit! This is the day the Lord hath made, let us REJOICE!RITUALS OF ROSH HASHANAH - Ritual helps us pay attention. From the joy of a recovery to the grief of a funeral, ritual helps us inhabit the breadth of human experience. When we engage in ritual, we leave the everyday and enter a space that touches and transforms us in profound and important ways. During Shabbat dinner, guests are asked to share what they are leaving behind from the week, year that has past ~ AND what they are taking with them into the holy days ahead. The ritual of Shabbat is a time to share what GOOD God has provided, and what we can celebrate has past! Halleluiah!ISRAEL, the land of milk and honey! God fulfills His promise, His word! Dates and palms were important in the scriptures, and the fruit from Judea was known throughout the ancient world. The Romans had nothing nice to say about the Jews except that they had good dates. Roman emperors ordered Judean dates to eat. A 2,000 year old seed planted on Jan 25, 2005 is thriving in 2011 at a kibbutz in Israel's Arava desert. It is the oldest seed ever known to produce a viable young tree. The seed grew into a date palm called Methuselah. The seed was discovered during archaeological excavations at King Herod's palace on Mount Masada, near the Dead Sea. Its age confirmed by carbon dating. God has delivered on His promise that Israel would flow with milk and honey. In 2011, despite the heat, humidity and limited resources, Israel produces more milk per year than cows in the USA, Europe and Australia. Praise God for His prophetic word fulfilled! God desires that we know Him and that we love Him above all else. His living Word is the truth, and accepting His word sets us free. God loves, God forgives, and God provides for His people! ROSH HASHANAH are days to celebrate His plan, His purpose, and His holy, undisputed astounding ways with HIGH praise!

SHIFTING GROUND

CHIEF SEATTLE wrote to the President of the USA in 1852. With complete humilty and submission, he honored the authority of the President, the man God had placed in charge of the land of his forefathers. Prophetic words spoken long ago ~ seem to be coming to pass in the City of Stockton: Its verdant valleys, its flowing rivers, its magnificent mountains, sequestered vales and lush lined lakes and bays, we remember with tender fond affection over the lonely hearted living. Day and night cannot dwell together. The Red Man has ever fled the approach of the White Man, as the morning mist flees before the morning sun. However, your proposition seems fair and I think that my people will accept it and will retire to the reservation you offer them. Then we will dwell apart in peace, for the way of the Great White Chief (GOD) shows us the coming of constant change. The Winter season's dense darkness, is followed by an eternal trip into the light of Spring. It matters little where we spend the remnant of our days. They will not be many. The Indian's night promises to be dark on this plain. Not a single star of hope hovers above his horizon. Sad-voiced winds moan in the distance. Grim fate seems to be on the Red Man's trail, and wherever he will hear the approaching footsteps of the evil hunter, we are destined to meet his doom, as like the wounded doe that hears the approaching footsteps lays down, so do we. A few more moons, a few more winters, and we shall perish into the mist, like a pond dries up. We mourn the loss of our freedom to care for the land we were given by the Great White Spirit. But why should we regret the untimely fate of my people? Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Your time of decay may be distant, but it will surely come, for even the White Man whose God walked and talked with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be brothers after all. We will see. In all the earth there is no place dedicated to solitude. At night when the streets of your cities and villages are silent and you think them deserted, they will throng with the returning hosts that once filled them and still love this beautiful land." Father God, I pray a CIRCLE of the blood of Jesus around the City of Stockton ~ that the darkness shall be destroyed and the City delivered. The City is being re-organized, filing bankruptcy, and knowing that the way of the world does not work. I reclaim the City and all its inhabitants in the name of Jesus. AMEN

PRAY, PRAISE, PERSEVERE

Take care, be a GOOD STEWARD of the BODY you were given, be an OBEDIENT servant and share the GOOD NEWS with others and LIVE LONG and PROSPER! I am AMAZED by the intricate design of my body! The ability to see, smell, hear, think, touch and taste ~ WOW! To the Creator of all that is, I thank Jesus and the Holy Spirit who hath flooded my body, mind and soul. I was baptized, submerged, drenched, immersed into a willing death, buried with Christ, then raised from the dead into a NEW life in Him! Halleluiah and once again, in front of a crowd of local witnesses, I choose to begin again, with a fresh baptism of commitment to walk by faith in Jesus. Lord I acknowledge Thy holy presence and ruling Authority in each beat of my heart, in every word I utter and I PRAY that You are blessed in my PRAISE of who You are. I persevere in Your purpose in order that I bless Your name and bring You glory. I understand and accept that I am a divine soul living in a human body. I choose to DETOX my SOUL by claiming Your holy presence, and the cleansing blood of Jesus that redeemed me from the pit. I remember my emptiness without the Word, and the Spirit of God. I am ready Lord and I willingly respond to Your grace, mercy and transforming power with obedience. I choose to no longer be an armchair quarterback who accomplishes nothing by my passivity. I ask for courage to get up, speak out, and walk through the doors that You open. The City of Stockton's wall of faith has fallen as the gates to our minds have been burned up by the fires set by the Liar. The enemy's plan to shame and destroy the City of Stockton has been interrupted by God's plan to rebuild and restore His people. We are spirit filled, equipped and ready in Stockton to heed God's call. Implementing prayer, courage, careful planning, teamwork and tremendous faith, the City of Stockton has been restored by the saints who are called to pray for it's deliverance. Together we come together, united in our request that God move into the center of our hearts and that His presence be felt in this place. O Lord, God of heaven, our great and awesome God, our Father who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant Barbara's prayer.Your chosen remnant stands fully dressed to slay all doubt and fear as we fight the good fight and run the race set before us. We are Your chosen Avengers of the Faith! In the name of our Lord Jesus, I confess the sins of the inhabitants of the City of Stockton, including myself and the house of Alley and Newell, and the dishonor we have committed against You. We choose to tear down the idols we have worshipped above You, our Father, the One and only true God. We admit to spending more time watching sports or seeking pleasure for ourselves than time acting on the faith You have given us, for Your purpose, in Righteousness, Peace and Joy for Your kingdom work. We admit that the dominating thoughts and conversations have been about things that shall all pass away. We have chosen not to obey Your commands, decrees and laws and we ask for Your forgiveness. Lord we recall the instruction You gave Moses 'If you return to Me and obey My commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.' God, You are good all the time and we trust the PATH you have revealed and we listen and respond to our good Shepherd's voice. "Walk this way" and "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD". We take time to be stilled, to listen and to respond with action that is empowered by Your Presence. Your creation, Your people, Your redeemed, Your chosen, Your beloved, Your uniquely gifted servants REJOICE in the privilege to serve You as we bring glory to Your name. O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer contained in this written post and to the desire of my heart to rebuild faith and hope in You, in Stockton through the Immunotec opportunity. Lord I ask that You place words in our mouths that will inspire faith, that will encourage reliance on Your mighty power, that will encourage people to take hold of the HOPE You offer. I approach You with confidence Lord and I boldly ask for Your strength and courage to face certain opposition to our promotion of the welfare of those who live in San Joaquin County. In every generation there are those who hate God's people and who will try to block God's purpose to prosper those He loves. We ask for Your wisdom when we face opposition that we be prepared, not surprised by their slander and attack. We know that You are always n charge, always present, and our confidence is grounded in the truth that we are engaged in an intimate relationship with God, the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit who strives to make Your name respected and honored by humble submission. When they mock You God, You decide what to do with them. We are in Your apt hands and we ask that You specifically make Yourself known in the midst of our trembling. AMEN

HIS PERFECT PLEASURE

" I wish I had the same feeling, the same faith that I had when I first received the holy spirit!" It was God's greatest purpose and pleasure to fill us with His presence, we are never alone. We are constantly filled with His presence, regardless of our feelings, or what we see. Walking by faith is to KNOW that we possess the full amount of the Holy Spirit ALWAYS. His whole presence, His whole body, mind, soul and purpose completely are within us. We cannot lose a foot, a hand, or a share of the person of the Holy Spirit. There are no words to express whatever is not material and not perceptible to our sense of sight. If we do not feel His presence, if we do not see or feel His touch, that does not mean He left us. When we hold onto sin, the light is yet inside the darkness, we just need to release it's POWER and the dark departs. There are no words to communicate His virtue, His presence, His quality, His true friendship, purpose and desire to make Jesus the throne within our hearts upon which no other idol sits. The pleassure of a luxury spa day in an expensive spa does not last. The cost does nothing to purify and cleanse the soul. We were chosen by God and regarded as His treasure, not for our exterior appearance, but because our interior soul is His precious dwelling place. Going to His word, is to take a free trip to God's spa. Last night I watched "One night with the King" A movie that vividly brings the story of Queen Esther alive. Esther was required to stay in a spa for an entire year before she was chosen. She was bathed for six months with oils of myrrh and another six months with perfumes(Esther 2:12). Preparing her to come into the presence of the King, she was made to wait an entire year while seven ministering attendants took care of her every need. Over a year Esther had time to think of what whe would say, and what she would wear when she was called before the King. In the movie it was clear that the King found her mind, body and soul attractive. Her true beauty, her captivating essence was deeper than her appearance. Esther was a Jew that recited God's word to the King and His choosing of her as his queen was a testimony to what she treasured most, her relationship with God. Becoming the beauty that God recognizes as a personal treasure is to discover the hidden treasures of His word. Inner beauty glistens in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who delights to find a soul willing to seek God's word as if it were rubies and gold. God chooses us as we were found, covered in fear, doubt, shame and He makes us new creatures in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (she) is a new creation," Paul wrote, "the old is gone, and the new has come!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Amazing Makeovers occur when we choose to spend a spa day with the indwelt Master makeover artist, the Holy Spirit - the one sent by our Father, as Jesus promised. Open 24 hours a day, the price of admission has been paid in full. Thank you Father! AMEN