The Man At the Store

Hi Friendly People,
  As I went shopping today a man was coming out of the store limping and in much pain. I felt quickened to catch up with him and pray for him, but it was cold and my daughter was anxious to get in the store. I felt a little convicted because I really felt God wanted me to talk to the guy but shopping soon took precedence over my conviction and it passed. Until my daughter says, "There he is,  Mom." I looked up and sure enough the guy was literally there in front of me.  He had come back into the store! The blood rushed to my face because I knew this was a follow through moment, so I followed through.
   I don't know what the guy thought when I was done praying but I do know He encountered God today. I did my part so I can rest tonight feeling relieved that I didn't lose the opportunity that God gave me to bring Him into someone's circumstance.
  This event brought me back to the thought about cynicism and how it can derail us from praying with a stranger or even a close friend. Sometimes we pray for someone or open our lives to someone just to watch them fall again and make more bad choices, letting cynicism take it's ugly root in us. It is so important to remember all God needs from us is to help the person get in God's presence then trust God with the results, anything beyond that becomes about us, then our pride is attached. God is not devastated by people's sin or their impossible circumstances.  I have come to believe that He delights in showing His strength to deliver us out of the worst that we can imagine.
   I suppose that's why He deliberately picked the woman at the well to bring light to an entire city. You could say that unclean woman started a revival, or at least helped it happen. We better get our "holier than thou" theology cleaned up because we are about to be shocked at the vessels God will soon be using to usher in His power and anointing. A surrendered soul is what He cares about, a broken spirit, a contrite heart.

Luke 6: 20
Looking at His disciples, He said;
" Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
  Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil,
     because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
" But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
 Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."

   I think the church has success all wrong. We look at our lives and if trouble comes our way we dissolve and are embarrassed, yet after reading this........

Hebrews 11:35-38
V35 women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they would gain a better resurrection.
V36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword.
V37 They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-
V38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

   As I looked in that man's eyes, I wanted him to see Jesus, I wanted him to witness His presence and the power that has visited me and transformed my life but, in my worldly agenda I wasn't prepared. Choose to change with me and get a little uncomfortable. Look back at verse 35.  They were tortured and refused to be released, so that they could gain a better resurrection. Enough said!

                                                      Never give up! Never give in!


 

Five Questions To Ask Yourself

Hi Friendly People,
      I heard this message this week and thought it worth passing on. I saw myself in bold confrontation because I have fallen in the trap of the wonder breakers. Read on and do some repenting and crying out to God with me. Your family will help you answer these honestly, if you dare.

These are the five questions to ask yourself

1. Do I have the faith to be healed at my greatest need?

2. Am I filled with wonder at the work that God is doing?

What ruins wonder?

Cynicism- To be cynical is to believe that people are motivated in all their actions only by selfishness; denying the sincerity of people's motives and actions, or the value of living. Sarcastic, sneering.

Skepticism  - To be skeptical is to be not easily persuaded or convinced;  being doubtful and questioning, even being doubtful and questioning the fundamental doctrines of religion.

Fatalism -To believe that all events are determined by fate and are hence inevitable, accepting that every event is inevitable. To have a fatalistic approach to life means you see things always turning out in a destructive, unfortunate or disastrous way.

3. Do I reflect God's glory or do I absorb it?

4. Do I speak for God or do I speak for myself?
   I must speak words of Hope
   I must speak words of Truth
   I must speak words of Grace

5. Do I heed God's messengers?

I hope you will pray this prayer with me. I put my wordly attitude as being cynical, you include your own.
 
     God I ask you to illuminate the darkness in me that  needs to be dealt with. Please God give me Your hope once again so I can trust You to renew me, to change me. I don't want to reflect myself anymore. Please anoint my mouth to speak for you, you alone give the words of life. Renew, rekindle, refresh the wonder I once had of You. Please allow me to shine with your glory; I repent for not allowing you the freedom to move through me, I repent for the fear of man and being lazy with the gifts you have given me. I ask You God to blow Your breath of life on me anew so my faith will rise and I will be able to surrender my greatest need toYou. God give me ears to hear what You say and the obedience to obey those words; whether they be written in the Bible, spoken by Your messengers or dropped in my spirit by You. I choose this day to repent of my "cynical" worldly attitude and ask You to develop a new way of seeing people and situations. Your way God is what I choose, I choose Your nature. I want to live in the wonder of You, I want to reflect Your wonder. Let honor live in me that I would be thankful for all the blessings You have given me and the work you have done in me and in others. From this day forward I give my allegiance to You and not to another. In You my heart seeks refuge my Savior, and my soul seeks peace in You my Shepherd, my spirit in You seeks life my God , I surrender it all!  Amen.

                                                          Never give up- Never give in!

"Purim" Celebration

Hi Friendly People,
    This is a Jewish celebration that was taken from the story in Esther. The Jewish people are saved from an evil man, Haman,  whose intent is to completely destroy the Jewish population; in particular, Mordecai. Mordecai is saved by the King and  instead Haman is himself  hung on the very gallows he prepares for others' defeat.
   We could see this celebration as an ongoing "God's deliverance" from the hand of Haman in our own lives. We all, at one time in our lives will face a Haman, with  fear of our certain destruction. God then becomes our only rescuer. We could see ourselves through Queen Esther as the conduit of God's purpose to free others, as she was obedient to do. Some of us might be called to be a Mordecai, who is the encourager of others to do great deeds of bravery and submission.
   Please read through this short book and find your role at present in the scheme of God's plan. Pray and ask God how He would use you, and what He would like your role to be in the deliverance of Haman from your circumstances and the lives of those around you.

Esther 9

V19 Therefore the Jews of the rural areas, who live in the rural towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending portions of food to one another.

V22 Because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

V28 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.

On this day they read the book of Esther and when the name Haman comes they are to boo, hiss, stomp their feet and rattle a "gaggers" so as to blot out his evil name.
Some commandments to the celebration are:
Eat, drink and be merry
send out gifts of food and drink
make gifts to charity (shalach manos)
carnival like celebrations, plays,and parodies, beauty contests. Some call these celebrations the Jewish mardi-gras.

Haman's Pockets cookies

2/3 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup orange juice (non pulp)

1 cup white flour

1 cup wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp Cinnamon

various preserves, poppy seed and prunes for the filling

Mix butter and sugar, add egg mix, add orange juice, add flour alternating white and wheat 1/2 cup at a time, add baking powder, add cinnamon.
Roll between two wax paper cooking sheets. Cut out 3 or 4 inch circles. Folding sides over to make a triangle making sure the mixture is only showing by a small hole in center. Also, don't let it bubble over.
Bake at 350 degrees for15-20 minutes until golden
For gluten free recipe
2 cups buckwheat flour and 1/2 cup milled flaxseed, reduce baking powder to 1 tsp
                                                                                 
                                                           
                                                      supposed to look like Haman's hat

                                                           Never give up, Never give in!

Graham Cooke "Word from God"

Given 1-29-2011

 Behold, A new place of fruitfulness, your life is increasing . Attack your circumstances with my favour. Take responsibility of the fruit of favour, be responsible for being fruitful in all your situations. The time of leanness and barrenness is over, it's over, it's over. This is the time of your life to enter into your inheritance. The vineyard is my fullness for you, not one tree of fruit but many trees of life and favour. Not one vine but many vines of promise and fullness to abide in. This is the the place of your abiding your inheritance , this is the place that I've opened up for you that I want you to enter, where I want you to stay and abide in; a place of fullness. Don't you ever move back into measure, measure is not your inheritance my people are not a mediocer people they are bright and radiate they shine as I shine, your inheritance is the place of your abiding, it is the true place of your abiding  I am going to teach you how to live and dwell and remain in a conscious abiding in my favour.
    I set you free to soar in the spirit of my favor, you are untethered from the world; not longer earth bound in your ability to receive. I want you to come up higher to a place of provision and inheritance. Be filled with the fruit of the spirit and enjoy my presence even as I enjoy yours.
   This is your promised land that you would live in fullness that you would abide in your inheritance, take responsibility for abiding and I will meet you in ways that you can not imagine.
   There will be tests beloved, but I want you to enjoy them, stop enduring my tests. All my tests are designed to enable you to prosper. Don't endure them, see them for what they are, they are your doorway into a greater prosperity in the Kingdom, each test has an up grade attached to it. That's why I want you to enjoy the tests, don't be daunted by what I am doing, be ecxillerated. You are empowered to pass the tests through the practice of abiding. This is your time don't waste it as in times past. Take advantage of all I seek to be for you and all that I will provoke in your life.
   Take advantage of the goodness of God, because you are my visual aid into the world. I want the world to look at my people and say,"I want to be like that." I want you to go and give out of your fullness, connect with people around you, and give them a gift and say here see that the Lord is good. Tis your time to walk into the fullness that has been prepared for you since before the foundation of the world. This is your time! This is your time to rise up and occupy the place that I have set aside for you for the sake of my beloved Son.

                                                         Never give up, Never give in!

Jude

Hi Friendly People,
    Have you ever fallen tragically in your walk with God and are afraid you'll shame Him again? I think some fear of sin is good, it keeps us on the alert for a stumble and watchful of the enemy's attempts to trip us up and hinder us. But in Jude verse 24 God says, He will keep me from stumbling and He will make me stand in His glory, blameless with great joy. True joy is knowing you are in right standing with God; He is pleased with you and all that He has is yours. You can't mess it up, it won't fall apart, He won't lose interest in you, ever. Nothing is better, nothing. It's such a heavenly gift, one never to be mimicked on this earth in any way, yet we try to counterfeit it all the time.

Colossians 1
V 21 Although you were once formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
V22 yet , He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-
V23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven , and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

     Are we staying firmly attached, grounded and steadfast? Are we easily moved away from the things of God through circumstances? This week let's dig in and be determined to live out our hope and be firm in our faith. Stay focused!

Jude
V5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once and for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
V6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
V7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

   We should be very careful of the things God addresses in our lives that we refuse to correct. Take some time in these verses; I did, and was humbled by the areas I need to be more alerted to and careful to watch in my own life.

V8 Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming , defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
V9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, " The Lord rebuke you."
V10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.
V11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
V12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear.
V13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever,
V14 And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
V15 to execute judgment upon all , and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
V16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
V17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words, that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
V18 that they were saying to you, "In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."
V19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
V20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit;
V21 keep yourself in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
V22 And have mercy on some who are doubting

             HOW COULD ANYONE DOUBT WITH STUFF LIKE THIS IN OUR GALAXY

V23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

    Those of you who are snatching the bodies out of the fire, don't look at the fire too long- just get 'em outta there! Sin, even if you didn't invite it, can be very tricksy. Have mercy but do it with fear ( always protecting your salvation). You have to hate sin, don't rationalize it or minimize it.

V24 Now to Him who is able to keep from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy,
V25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever, Amen


                                                       Never give up, Never give in!

Anakites

Hi Friendly People,

   I was invited to a concert, "Hillsong", and my heart was lit up inside me. I wanted to see God manifest His glory so we would all be transformed in an instant, the entire arena full of people! I grieve for this generation and want God to give them the easy way out; just zap um! They haven't had many Godly examples of men and women leading the way for them but then either did most of us. We learned how to live out our faith one step at a time, holden Jesus' hand all the way.Yet, I read about Isaiah's personal encounter with God as he is purified, as he is transformed into a holy conduit of God's glory. God is faithful to transform anyone who is willing to believe Him and agree with the process. Maybe we need a few Isaiahs who will cry out for this generation, "Woe is me." Look at this next scripture, it encouraged me that regardless of the giants this generation has to face, that you and I will and do face, our repentance will bring God to the rescue.

Deuteronomy 9
Not because of Israel's righteousness
V1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.
V2 The people are strong and tall- Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said; "Who can stand up against the Anakites?"
V3 But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

Colossians
V13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
V14 In whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.

   The miraculous doesn't bring transformation, it does prove power and does brings glory, it's purpose is to show the reality of the kingdom of God present. Only when the step taken to pull that reality into your being will the transformation take place, our eyes become open and our ears hear! Jesus performed miracles and they did recon the undeniable, some of them, yet their need for human approval won their hearts. Has it won ours? Hardness of heart never happens immediately, it happens choice by choice; the small choices of compromise that seem so harmless, that seem so minuscule.

John 12
The Jews continue in their unbelief.
V37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
V38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
V39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
V40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts nor turn- and I would heal them."
V 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about Him.
V42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him . But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

   This chapter 6 of Isaiah is a must read, hope you'll take the time. Pray for America!

Isaiah 6
V5 "Woe is me!" I cried, "I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
V6 Then one of the seraph's flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
V7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for."

                                                         Never give up, Never give in!

They Could Not Quit

Hi Friendly people,
    Thinking about Katherine Kuhlman today. She was starting to preach one day and a man came up, shut her bible, and escorted her off the stage. Those same people would change their theology if they were healed at one of her services. She would be to them like this sunflower in the rays of the sunshine. God is not afraid of the imperfect; the problem is, we are. She persevered and pressed toward her calling in the face of great obstacles; she layed down her life, completely.

    I came across this scripture and thought of David, Elijah, Joseph, Jacob and so on, who have all faced the fear and dishonor of men; even though they confidently knew they were called by God to do great things.

Jeremiah  20
V7 Then I said, O Lord, You deceived me when you promised me your help. I have to give them your messages because you are stronger than I am, but now I am the laughing stock of the city, mocked by all.
V8 For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction, Because for me the word of the Lord has resulted in reproach and derision all day long.
Living Bible
V8 You have never once let me speak a word of kindness to them; always it is disaster and horror and destruction. No wonder they scoff and mock and make my name a household joke.
V9 And I can't quit! For if I say I'll never again mention the Lord- never more speaking His name-then His word in my heart is like a fire that burns in my bones, and I can't hold it in any longer.
V10 Yet on every side I hear their whispered threats, and am afraid. "We will report you ," they say. Even those who were my friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. " He will trap himself," they say, "and then we will get our revenge on him."
V11 But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior, and before Him, the Mighty, Terrible One, they shall stumble. They can not defeat me; they shall be shamed and thoroughly humiliated, and they shall place a stigma upon them forever.
New American Standard
V11 But the lord is with me like a dread champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.
He goes on and on, even to curse the day he was born. He's not alone though is he. Think back to Elijah running from Jezebel. Read the blog " Fear of Man "
         .
David too has a similar cry.
Psalms 31
V13For I have heard the slander of many, Terror is on every side; while they took council together against me, they schemed to take away my life.

The disciples had a whole different view on persecution it seems. They were warned of the cost and accepted the terms, laying down their lives.

Matthew 10
V16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.
V17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues.

  Katherine Kuhlman was divorced, a woman who had made some mistakes. I can almost hear the people saying about her, "She can't preach, she's been divorced",  "She heals by Beelzebub",  "God would never use a sinner to do great things like this!" The Pharisees always have something bad to say, especially when there is a great move of God. When I need a dose of encouragement I look back to her life and know God touched a life like hers, for a life like mine. He didn't promise the road would be easy or that the fog would clear for us but did promise He would lead us through it.

                                                        Never give up, Never give in !

David's Last Psalm

Hi Friendly People,
      Thinking today about how my words get me in so much trouble, the greatest struggle of this flesh. Truth in speech means a great deal to God as it does us. Even in this earthly realm it is impossible to have a relationship with people who have no integrity and whose word can't be trusted. An unrighteous man hardly makes us feel like a bright sunny morning after a fresh rain, do they? Let's give it all and trust Him with our desires and Salvation! He will cause it all to grow for His sake.

This is the last Psalm written by King David
2 Samuel 23
V2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, and His word was on my tongue.
V3 "The God of Israel said, The rock of Israel spoke to me, He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God.
V4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through sunshine after rain.'
V5 "Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?
   
Psalms 15
V1 O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent (sanctuary) who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
V2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart (NIV).  Who speaks the truth from his heart.
V3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man,
V4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
V5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
     Sometimes we look at the lot we have been dealt and feel, less than enthused. Our position on earth, I think, is to do the best we can in our given circumstance; not just surviving, but having some fun and joy along the way. God has given us a delightful inheritance it's up to us to embrace it.
    
Psalms 16:
V5 Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup You have made my lot secure.
V6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
New American Standard
V5 The lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot.
V6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

  This next scripture seems so harsh but it's an area I need to work on, strife. I find myself complaining about people and situations to much; it's ungodly and unfruitful. Let's bring peace into situations, not strife.

Proverbs 6
Six things the Lord hates, that are an abomination (detestable) to Him
V17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
V18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
V19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife (stirs up dissension) among the brothers.

                                                           Never give up, Never give in!