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.