Passports

Passports are identification books issued to travelers so they are fully verified by the United States.
We no longer may travel in or out of the country without one. Why is it that we fully
understand and accept our need for passports to
travel, but needing to follow God’s plan to
be ready for the Rapture doesn’t make sense to people.
The Second coming of Christ is the most significant event anticipated by a believer.
It’s imperative that we get this right.
I had to provide a passport picture, a certified birth certificate, my driver’s license along with
several forms filled out. It was a tedious and expensive
process.
Recently I had to upgrade my passport for international travel. The slightest mistake negates the entire application. If a passport is that important to the US government, then surely our preparation for the
trip to the New Jerusalem must be carefully planned.
Let’s pay close attention to the instructions the Word has provided. Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Keep asking.

It is amazing to me how some prayers take a long while to get answered. I am seeing some people who have been away from the Lord for 30 and 40 years suddenly start seeing their need to draw close to God. And I see the prayers of grandparents and great -grandparents being answered though they may not even be alive.

If you have a painful situation in your family I encourage you to pray while you're working, pray while you're driving, pray while you are doing mundane tasks. Take some special time and steal away with God. Remind him of your heartaches and praise him as you see with your eyes of faith those prayers answered in faith. Speak your faith in prayer and praise. I know we have heard these in words of faith for years and years but we really need to be reminded. I see some people giving up and saying, "oh well, at least they are nice people". I implore you to stay steadfast in your faith. If you've ever heard the testimony of someone who has come back to the Lord or come to the Lord for the first time, you'll realize again the tremendous impact that prayer has.

Remember to pray with a clean heart, keep your own life transparent before God and do what the Lord is asking you to do. In Hebrews 12, we are encouraged to "follow peace with all men". The same passage said that Esau tried to repent and cried out to God but was not able to find repentance. Repentance is a wonderful gift from God, but we can't repent without laying our own will down. In this new year of 2017, clean your heart and pray, pray, pray!


Pray, prayer, desperation, suicide, repentance, Hebrews, pain, miracles , Testimony

God sees.

Who was watching, who observed, who took notes as the Samaritan stopped to help the man left for dead? Who saw the religious leaders (priest and Levite) walk past without stopping to help?

ONLY GOD!

When we do something to help others, God sees, he takes note of it. When Jesus referred to the Samaritan as he taught, where had he gotten his information? He got it from HIMSELF! He was there, he heard the cry for help from the injured man laying on the side of the road.

A lawyer asked Jesus one day how to obtain eternal life, then Jesus told him the true story of the "Good Samaritan".

Luke 10:25-37King James Version (KJV)

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Three times in Matthew, we read that God seeth in secret, he sees it all.
Matthew 6:4
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Matthew 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Dear Neighbor

Dear Neighbor,
I’ve wanted to write this for a long time and it occurred to me tonight would be a great night for writing. Our family moved to our home on Tracy Lynn the summer of 2004, so this summer we have lived here for 12 years. It’s’ been a great place to live. AJ began kindergarten at Clear Springs and now he’s a senior PSEO student at HTC. Also, we now are grandparents!

Here’s the reason for my letter:
I have been a Christian since I was a small child, but at the age of 14 something dramatic happened to me and I want to share my story with you. I attended a church where some incredible things were taking place. I saw people healed, I saw people delivered from depression, alcohol and drug abuse. My friend was deaf since birth and I was there when her hearing was restored. (She was in our wedding) I saw people’s lives changed and it changed my life. My faith in Jesus Christ became alive and I’ve never been the same. I experienced the exact thing the early Christians did. I was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I never felt so much power and love ever before! I then realized that the Bible was TRUE and I wanted to learn more.

During my teen years I made some promises to God and I asked God to prepare me for ministry, and within days of praying that prayer, I was in a terrible car crash. I was hit head on and suffered many injuries, some being permanent. During the time of recovery I was asked to travel with a choir from my college. I was praying one morning early on the bus (we had traveled all night). I asked the Lord why my life had been spared. I got my answer! Since then, as God has directed me, I have tried to share the Gospel and God’s love with others, especially young people.

Jeff and I married in 1981, and have been blessed with three children. Even though life has had some pretty tough moments, when I wondered why I was going through such difficult times, I have never doubted that God was good and that he is very real and very close. He can turn our sorrows into joy. He works through our troubles, he uses what we are ashamed of to do miracles!

Our older kids Johannah, Tim (Jordana) are very involved in the ministry as well. They moved to Detroit, MI to work in a church that is really making a difference (The International Church of Metro Detroit/Pastor Wilson). Their pastor has had tremendous influence in New York at the United Nations and have seen many of the delegates become Christians. There have been some of them healed of terminal illnesses recently. People are learning that God is real and the Bible is real. It is so exciting! People have been disappointed and often bored at churches, but this experience is not a religion, it is like nothing else! Watch a minister friend of ours as he addresses the United Nations :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYt8sv4vzQs

I am so grateful that you took the time to read this letter. Let me know if you’d like to know more. Contact me (text is best) 612-250-5560 or kpriessler@yahoo.com 5430 Tracy Lynn, Jeff and I have Bible Studies at our home on Thursday evenings from 7-8:30pm, you are very welcome.

Tulla (Kris) Priessler

A question for all of you science geeks:

How does a dairy cow, who only eats oats and hay and drinks nothing but water, produce milk from which we get our cream and butter?

How can corn be harvested to produce ethanol? Corn grows due to it's taking in water and nutrients from the soil. The soil does not provide any oil. I am so full of questions; sometimes I just sit and ponder this world of ours with amazement.
We humans are so complex! We can ponder eternity. We can imagine fanciful worlds and places that do not exist. Can any other creature on the planet do that? Educational psychologists teach us that humans are the only beings that can think about our own thinking, it's called meta cognition. We are not creatures evolved from amoebas.
I do believe with all my heart and MIND that there is an all knowing God that created us and cares deeply about us. We are like Him or as the Scriptures say, "made in His image".
He created this AMAZING world for us, He took dirt and formed the first man with His hands from a plan He had in His mind. I wonder how long he had been imagining us? He imagined the church before there was a church. He imagined himself as a Savior before he ever shed His blood for our salvation. He planned heaven before He ever went to prepare it for us. He spoke of his blood being shed before he had even been crucified. I don't know how a cow's milk can produce milk fat but I do know a creative God that spoke light out of darkness, so maybe it's one of those great mysteries we will discover one day.

Need a little pep in your step?

NOTHING IS QUITE LIKE BEING IN LOVE. When a person is in love one can easily see it on their step, their gleam, their plans. It's just wonderful! And, finding God is just like that. It changes a person; it effects your step, your countenance, your dreams.


David Wrote in Ps. 70:4
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.


We are seeking for God. It's hard to define the experience of finding God. It is similar to finding love.

It's so worth the hunt. So many people know ABOUT God, but they have not found Him. They do not know him. So many people read about love, but have not found love.

SEEK HIM,FIND HIM!

He is so close! Say this with me: "I want you, Lord, in my life, in my heart, in my dreams. Take out of me what is unattractive to you so I can be with you and feel your presence." And to piggyback on my daughter's recent sermon, Fear will cause you to not hear from God. Fear is ugly. Let your fear go and seek for God. Seeking God will lead you down a path of the most amazing things.

You will get re-born! When you find the Lord, you will be led to salvation. You will be born of the water (water baptism) and born of the Spirit (Holy Spirit baptism). But that is just the beginning! It's a new life, a new reason to live. A new walk, talk, path, and fulfillment. He will take your present situation and make a new you. How can this be? He infuses himself into you. So, you are still yourself 100%, but now you see things differently. You will have fire shut up in your bones. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Jesus said in John 14:16, 17, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Seeking=searching,hunting,probing,pursuing


Holy Spirit baptism, water baptism, Jesus' name, love, seeking, new life,

Don't take my weapon!

If you had a weapon that you had used over and over for protection and for conquest, and someone
approached you and told you that weapon was useless and old fashioned what would you do?
This is what has happened repeatedly in our Apostolic fellowship. One of our weapons as women is our "sign" of submission and
power on our heads; our uncut hair.
We might not even be aware of how many times our submission has thwarted the attacks of the enemy. You see, our battle is in the spirit world, so it's not as clear to see with our natural eyes.


There are lies being circulated about the ineffectiveness of our weapon. I call it a weapon because I have used it as a weapon in prayer. I have literally held up the ends of my hair as I interceded for a soul or a situation that I was praying about.
Why does it bother people so much that women choose to not cut their hair? I've heard and read about teachers who have twisted scripture
and used Greek translations to sway women. WHY would it be such an issue to so many "teachers"?


Let me tell you what I believe. Paul addressed the issue of hair in the writing to the Corinthian church because he wanted to provide the women who had come from such a corrupt society with a WEAPON! Their society had degraded women.


Paul wrote to them in I Corinthians 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Then Paul wrote in chapter 11 about a woman's literal hair " For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." KJV
Another translation: King James 2000 Bible : "For this cause ought the woman to have authority on her head because of the angels."

A woman with Godly authority and power? And someone wants to take that away from her? Really? I think I know the source of this plan, it is the enemy at work. He does not want a woman to have any authority or power in the spirit world. The enemy rejected submission, he rejected God's authority, and he wants all of us to do the same.

Our world needs women that use this authority in prayer. Do you want the next generation to love the truth? Protect them by being submissive and by showing the sign or token of submission (Young's Literal Translation) your uncut glorious hair.

What should we call a person that is "sold out" for Jesus Christ?

The Word calls them the BRIDE, but that term is what the Lord calls us, we wouldn't call each other that. It's not sufficient to call them a believer; the term believer does not describe a person with a relationship with the Lord. To call them merely a Christian isn't sufficient either. A follower does not have to converse with the leader, they simply follow, which is great, but it is not personal nor necessarily deep. A saint is a good term, but I hear people called saints that don't seem to have any fire in them. They have chosen to be faithful and dependable, and churches desperately need them, yet it just doesn't seem to fit the description of someone who hears from God, takes risks, longs for more time with the Lord. Please email me at kpriessler@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear from you.

When God says, "No".

We believers see so many answers to prayer that we just think God is going to always say, "yes". But now and then his answer is, "No". It is a harsh answer. We may question our faith when we don't get the answer we want. It SHOULD comfort us knowing that God made the decision. We are to rest in that decision. And REJOICE in it as well. That is super hard for most of us. I've been learning to trust God a very long time, and I'm still not very good at it. One incident comes to my memory: I asked the Lord to heal me as a child. I suffered from excema, a skin disorder. It was miserable at times. I remember right where I sat when I put my faith to the test. I was sitting on the front concrete steps in front of my house. I might have been about 10 years old. I had heard the preachers talk about healing, so I asked God in all the faith I could muster up to heal me that day. I didnt get healed...then. But I did get miraculously healed at about 32 years old. I was healed in a worship service, I have never suffered any skin disorder since! Twenty years is a long time to wait to be healed, but there was a miracle, nonetheless. Child of God, let's not lose our faith when God says, "No". He is the master builder, the Rock of Ages, the Potter, the Author and Finisher of our faith. It will all make sense someday. This walking with Jesus lifestyle is the best thing ever and we need to just keep trusting that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 P.S. Hunter Boutain, do a few loopity loops for me, ok?

For you!

This is it!  YOUR post from me to you.

One of our students today (age 13) told me that her mom doesn't go to church anymore because the priest at her church told her she had a drug dependence and he apparently called her a bad name. The girl explained that her mom takes prescription pain pills for chronic back pain.  Now, I'm all too aware of how stories get misconstrued when re-told, but here was a child disappointed that she no longer could attend a church due to this offense to her Mother.  I have heard so many people lately tell stories of being very hurt or angered by a pastor or assistant pastor or pastor's wife.

I cannot change these offenses, I can only speak to those that have been hurt.  Jesus said," And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Luke 7:23.


Why are you blessed if you don't get offended? 
Possibly because you have kept your expectations for acceptance and approval so low that you don't even  notice when you are rejected or mistreated.  I think of the woman that  was in such need and distress that she was willing to be called a "dog" and eat the crumbs under the table as the dogs did.  She was willing to accept what little grace and mercy as was falling to the floor.  She didn't expect to sit at the table as a guest, she kept her head down and looked for crumbs.  She is FOREVER memorialized in Scripture by her humility. Matthew 15:27. Her humble spirit gave her high esteem. 
Whatever has happened to you through the years or what happen to you in the comings days, remember that Jesus Christ left heaven and came to our world.  He kept his head low.  He forfeited all his rights for glory and revenge.  He had a higher purpose.  There was a bigger picture.  He wrote the book on Humility. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...Philippians 2:5-8. Please read it!  
I've heard some terrible stories of what has happened to some people in the church.  It makes me shudder, but I look to the Word and see that there is a remedy.  


  
Another reason that we are blessed if we don't get offended is  that we know the tactics of the enemy of our soul so well, that we fully expect a barrage of offenses to come. So when it happens, you simply raise your eyebrows a bit (because it does hurt even though you pretend it doesn't) hold back your emotions if possible and count it "all joy. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" ( temptations is translated trials or troubles) James 1:2


II Chronicles 34:27 and James 4:10  "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up".  HE shall....Let the Lord do it in his time, he will lift you up.

Good news is much better than medicine.

   

 

I got some very good news last week. The best kind of news, actually. I cried with joy; a flood of happy tears fell down my face.   Then, suddenly  I relaxed so deeply, it truly felt as if a sedative was in my body. 

I've had this happen before, but it has been a very long time.

I started thinking about the Bible and this verse came to my mind : 

Proverbs 15:30  ...a good report maketh the bones fat.  

If... blood is formed in our bone marrow

and blood carries nutrients and oxygen throughout our body,

then, according to the Scriptures,

good news or a good report actually gives life and health to our body.

Now a prayer:

Lord, you are the giver of every good gift and  your plan is for your children to be in health and to be provided for. So, I thank you ahead of time for the health and provision that you have planned for me and I will rejoice in you God, for you are my Shepherd.  I shall not want.

 Psalm 3:3  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.






 

Our Three Weapons

Yes, it has been close to a year that I have written a blog, actually I've written many things but have not posted them.  So many things have happened within this last year.  Wonderful things and tough things; astounding things.
Let me merely say that I have learned the power of the three spiritual tools that the Lord has supplied us with.  I want to thank the late Judy Doughty for her book on prayer that I was introduced to many years ago. It has been such an inspiration as I used it daily for months.
Here they are:


THE BLOOD THAT JESUS SHED AT CALVARY
THE LIVING WORD OF GOD : THE BIBLE
THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

The Blood, the Word, the Name....

Utilizing these weapons or tools has become second nature.  I mention these in prayer as I lay hands on people that are ill. I mention them as a cry out to God for strength, for comfort. When my heart is filled with apprehension I speak out these words.

Our enemy hates it when we use these weapons. 

We were always  taught to say the name of Jesus, as we pray, baptize, trust as written in Colossians.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col. 3:17)

However, when you mention the Blood of Jesus as you intercede for others and you ask the Lord in faith according to HIS WORD....Heaven takes notice!

 

Even as a very young lady, I wrote out some of my prayers to the Lord.  I taught my students to do this as well.
Today, I will share a written prayer with you from the bottom of my heart.

 My intention is NOT to impress anyone with my walk with God, but to model how impacting our written prayers can be not only to ourselves but to the kingdom of God.

Remember David and Jeremiah?  We read these prayers and supplications to this day. Writing your prayers is not only a good practice but, these prayers can bless others and certainly effect the world around us.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Oh, how I love you, my Lord! You are my Christ, my Messiah;  Jesus my Lord.   I am so thankful that I know you as my Lord - the Christ.  Once again, I give you my life.  I am yours. Wash me with your Word.

We celebrate your birth soon.  The birth of the Christ-child. The God-man; Emmanuel-God with us.  You are the God that is with me!  I am so amazed to see how you have kept your promises to me. You have been so real; so present. I have come short over and over, but you have never left me.  I see your precious loving hand guiding my life day after day.

This morning, as I spoke to AJ before he went off to school, I reminded him about how there are so many kids that know ABOUTt you, but do not truly KNOW you.  I told him to please continue to get to know you more and more; to talk to you about things and then expect to hear back from you.
I don't think kids are taught to listen to what you are saying to them.

Conversation with God-what a revelation!

Lord, my family needs continued guidance and healing.  I can't thank you enough for bringing us through these storms.  We are a living testimony that your Word sustains us, heals us and restores us.

I miss being in the ministry, Lord.  I miss teaching classes and speaking. I love to see the faces light up when your Word begins to come alive to them.  It is like seeing a fire ignite; there is no mistaking it.  I keep getting messages to share with others.  I will just keep them,  and when the right time comes, I pray I will to be able to share what is on my heart again with others.

Joseph comes to my mind often.  He too,  felt like his life had been stolen from him.  He lost his family, his identity, his wealth, his security and his freedom. But Lord, you were building something through his life.  You were building a plan of escape for your people.  Please help me to learn to trust you more.  I want this loss in my life to be used for something good. I give you this loss.  If you can take broken vessels and make them new,  please take my family and make something useful of us as we enter this new chapter.

I choose to trust you and to believe you,  though many times, I doubted that your promises were for ME.  I wanted to believe, it was just hard. I hurt so deeply.  I wondered why I was having to go through this terrible trial.  But I thank you for sending true Christians in my life.  They kept speaking faith to each member of our family. Oh, how I need to be there for others that are hurting and going through trials that make no "apparent" sense.

Lord, you gave me a verse about hope back when I was a teenager.

Proverbs 13:12  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 

When we wait and wait for a prayer to be answered, it can make us truly sick.  But when we see the answer come forth, it is like seeing trees blossom once again.  I pray, Lord,  that I can remember that you have every intention of bringing healing to our lives.  Night only lasts so long.  I want to be filled with hope during those night hours when fear and dread reigns usually.

Lord, thank you for this time we had together and please help those that are in so much anguish today.  Please supply the needs of the destitute.  I hurt for those that are suffering.  Heal ____, and _____, and ____. I know that I am nothing without you and all my efforts are nothing compared to one moment of your working in a situation.  Bless my leaders and bless those that I teach. Please supply our needs. 

In Jesus' name, AMEN.

 

God may have to knock you down to get your attention!

God speaks through His creation all the time, and He speaks through people all the time.  But some of us are tough to reach.  Saul was one of those.  He was so "dense" to spiritual things.  He was so steeped in his traditions and religiosity, that God Almighty had to use unusual means to reach him. 

Acts  chapter 9 tells his amazing story.  We soon read that Saul, this man on  a "holy war" mission  to destroy the followers of Jesus, being  knocked off his donkey by a "light" that shone so brightly that it literally knocked him off of the donkey. It must have been like a bolt of lightening. 

How often do we get some unforeseen physical interruption in our life?  God may just be trying to get our attention.  We need to recognize, as Saul did, that it must be God speaking.  Then, as Saul did, we should ask, "Who are you, Lord?"  Saul (Paul) certainly knew this occurrence was spiritual, but he now questioned from WHICH source it had come from. 

Saul was now blinded to natural things but enlightened and illuminated to TRUTH.  He became  Paul, the most ardent follower  of Jesus and preacher of the Gospel ever.  He gave his life for the TRUTH that he found that day.  He was used by God to write most of the epistles or letters that form the New Testament of the Bible.

Lord, today, let me be so sensitive to your presence and voice that I may hear and see your work  in my life. Use my life Lord, TODAY, to do whatever it is that you need me to do.

 

Four months

It's been four months since I added a new post to this blog. Why?  Because our "tipped-over" canoe has become  a righted!  Life took a sudden turn and my full attention has been needed to put things back in order " on the boat".  It  may take us a year or more to put things back in place, but it is so worth it.  In a canoe, it takes a lot of balance to say afloat and the fact that we did "tip over" does not mean we could not make things right; it means we will be ever so careful in the future to keep balance in our lives. God is our healer and he is the ULTIMATE model of forgiveness.
 
During this last year, I can say that I've been testing the Hebrew names of God out....the Jehovah translations that we have heard and sang about for years.

I can assure you that He is everything the WORD says he is and more!
He is:
 my peace,
 my righteousness,
 my banner,
 my shepherd,
 my provider,
 my healer,
 my sanctuary,
 my I AM.
My Lord, you are everything!

Bless the Lord.

 

Rebuild your house before the storm comes.

In college,  I took a class called Building Construction 101.  To explain for those of you that know me,  the other classes offered that hour did not interest me at all.  As I think of this blog entry I reminisce on some of the instruction from that class. 

Jesus said that a wise man built his house upon a rock, but a foolish man built his house on sand.  Both the wise and the foolish man encountered the same storms.  Both had heavy rains, so much so that flooding followed with such heavy winds  that both homes were "beaten". (Sounds like straight line winds, a hurricane or a tornado to me).  The only difference in the outcome was what was not seen initially. Underneath the one house was rock;  under the other home, sand.

What we are founded or built upon will only be evident after the horrendous trials and storms  come our way.  Trials and storms  bring deep pain and suffering. But to experience all that pain in addition to losing everything would be devastating.

God has not promised that we will not suffer the storms of life.  We need to be more clear on this point, we need to teach our youth these things.  We should teach that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper", Isaiah 54:17  "and it (the house) fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."  Matthew 7:24 and " but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  I Corinthians 10:13.

We are truly founded upon a rock, though unseen, it sustains us in any storm.

What if we have not built our house upon a rock?  Is there hope for us?  Of course!  Rebuild before the storm comes! How do we do that?

We open up the depths of our soul and allow God to go in and remake us.  We admit that we have not done right in the past.  We allow God to take over; we trust him with every area of your life.

He will be your ROCK, and the storms of life will NOT destroy you.  You will still have troubles like anyone does, but the ROCK will be holding you up and you will NOT FALL.

The term,  "SAVED" means: To be born spiritually.  Rebuilt.  Reborn. Remade. Redeemed.  Renewed...these are terms that we use to describe this wonderful process of salvation.  Jesus spoke to Nicodemus the lawyer about what it meant to be saved in John 3.  We are born of the water (baptism) and of the Spirit ( Holy Spirit baptism).  The Bible says that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh., everyone can be saved! 
So, get your house ready for the storm coming, you will be fine IF you are built on the Rock Christ Jesus.

Snow cleans the air....

Every little ice crystal or snowflake adheres to a bit of dust or dirt (pollution)  floating in the air and brings it down as  to the earth. Eventually that snow melts and that dust or dirt just stays on the ground as dirt.

That is why the air is so clean after a snowfall.  Take a deep breath and enjoy God's amazing filtered air.

A storm can do the same to our lives.  Troubles adhere to the  pollution in our mind and spirit.   I'm not sure how it happens, but the ugly/filthy things in our hearts are cleaned out as we allow the storm to do its intended work.

Pray this with me:

Precious Lord, take this storm and use it for good in my heart and spirit.
Go ahead, grab some of the dirt in my heart and bring it down where it belongs.
Let this terrible pain and sorrow be used for some good, I give it to you, I trust you. 


David said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me". Psalm 51:10.
Til the storm passes by...
just a short clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-a4jYkTSEc



 

Special Forces

Having been raised with four older brothers, and then marrying a big strong guy, I rarely have had to protect myself. I never developed the ability to defend myself against bullies or those that would intend to hurt me. I know this is strange for a woman of my age to write, but I have been asking God for help to be stronger and more fearless. I have always been so protected; spoiled. I looked up the definition of "special forces" on Wikipedia this morning.  These definitions reminded me of the book on spiritual warfare prayer that our ladies prayer group has been studying. People who really learn how to pray are just like those who are trained to be in the SPECIAL FORCES. Under each definition I will add my take from Scriptures (KJV). 

Special forces capabilities include the following:

• Reconnaissance and surveillance in hostile environments 1 John 4:1 (Apostle John wrote) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.(Apostle Peter wrote) 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
• Training and development of other states' military and security forces..... Philippians 3:17 (Apostle Paul wrote) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
• Offensive action..... Our Lord Jesus said, Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
• Support to counter-insurgency through population engagement and support..... (Apostle Mark wrote) Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
• Counter-terrorism operations..... (Apostle Paul wrote) 1.Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
• Sabotage and demolition..... (Prophet Isaiah wrote) Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (Apostle Paul wrote) 2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
• Hostage rescue..... This may be the most difficult part but also the most noble duty of the special forces: Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. and Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

SPECIAL FORCES ARE CALLED UPON TO DO A WORK FOR GOD.  ONE OF THE MAIN PREPARATIONS ARE OF THE HEART: WE MUST HAVE A CLEAN HEART...

 

CONFESSION FOLLOWED BY PRAYER BRINGS HEALING...AND WHEN RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE PRAY THINGS HAPPEN.(Apostle James wrote)James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. :

My best friends....

I have a few friends in life that I would not trade for any THING. You know who you are. They have laughed and cried with me through many times in life. They have thrilled at what thrills me and sorrowed right along with me in times of distress and defeat. I hope they would say the same about my love for them. But even closer than these friends are my friends that are not tangible; they never leave my side and actually abide in my heart and mind. Their names are Hope and Joy. When I am at the end of my rope, they kick in and find a way to help me through. If you see one you will see the other. They are best friends; kissin' cousins. Last night someone in my house told me as we were saying good night, "I don't feel any joy in my life right now." Right away my motherly instincts rose up and began to try and solve that dilemna. I said that we would begin to study where Joy comes from. But I know already that Joy leaves when Hope leaves; they are inseparable. So, we need to invite Hope to come back. Joy will be toddling right behind, no doubt. Jesus knew this. He had hope that all of his suffering was going to birth something INCREDIBLE. We believers are testimonies that his hope was founded in truth. His sacrifice paid off in me, I know that. I am so thankful to the Lord for being real to me. I met Jesus at age seven. I had quite a talk with Him, told Him I wanted to clean my heart of my sins. Then I was baptized in Jesus' name in Lake Galilee. Later on, I was baptized with His Spirit and spoke with tongues. He has lived in me ever since. I KNOW JESUS. Therefore, I am a part of the JOY that Jesus endured the cross for. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus knew that the torture and shame that he was enduring would pay off. He had HOPE and JOY right there near Him on the cross. All of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." So, since JOY is in heaven, HOPE must be there too. Invite your friend HOPE back and JOY will walk in also. HOPE must be founded in things that will not let you down. People may let us down, careers, possessions, relationships, our government, all these things and more may let us down, but Jesus will never let you down. Soak up His presence, speak in His language, dance in His freedom, sing those words of praise. JOY AND HOPE will be singing and dancing right along with you. They are such good friends to have. I have let HOPE go lately so, JOY left too. I am TODAY inviting them back in my life.

I fell down.

When we stumble, it is so embarrassing! Once I was rushing to a college class and as I reached the top of the stairs, my shoe caught the lip of the top stair and I went sprawling like a baseball player trying to make a base. My arms, which were loaded with books(no backpack)flew out to catch my fall and I laid there in front of several students who were waiting to get into classes. Oh! I was so embarrassed. One nice young man quickly came to my rescue and helped me up and another one bagan to gather my up notebooks and textbook. It is really funny to recall NOW, but at the time I just wanted to vanish. When we stumble IN LIFE though, due to heavy burdens or mistakes we have made, we must know that the Lord somehow relates to us and comes to us to help us up. He really does relate to us. He did not fall due to his own carelessness or misjudgment; he fell due to the weight of OUR GRIEFS AND SORROWS. This pain was placed upon him by US. The weight of mistakes and sins can feel heavier than a physical weight. Jesus really does know how it feels to fall. Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. I love what the psalmist David wrote in Psalm 145:14. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. Don't lose heart; keep trusting. Don't assume that since you have fallen you are without help. Pride can keep us from asking for help. Pride is a lousy friend. James wrote, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10. Jesus is right beside you holding his hand out to help you up.