Tag: Christian Living

Prepare The Way!

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Prepare the way! Prepare the way of the Lord! Maybe you remember the musical Jesus Christ Super Star? It’s from my younger years with a sister almost a decade older than me and that’s where this song came from. I was just listening to Celtic Worship by Eden’s Gate from my iTunes library, which I’ve not heard for a while. Why am I listening to this? Because I’m working to wrap my mind around packing for Tanzanian 2023 and needed the company. I was supposed to do this two weeks before we travel, which would have been Tuesday, January 24th, and now it’s the 27th. Yesterday we were able to go into the city and get the last things I need to pack… hopefully! My checked bag weighs in at just over 41 lbs., and I have seven more pounds leeway. Lord, as I prepare, help me not forget what will be needed. Oh, the photo above is what our house looks like after a two- going on three- day snow event. I took the pics today when I went out to check the mail.

The constant questions I have been asked about this trip, “Are you anxious?” “Are you excited?” “Are you worried?”… No, No, and I don’t think so. I know I am right where I need to be today, and the Lord has proven He has gone before me to prepare the way. One example so far: the Public Health nurse rattled off the name of the malaria meds she was prescribing, one I hadn’t heard of. She said it’s really expensive, I should get Good RX or something to help pay for it. This brought me some anxious thoughts. When I called the drug store to ask what it was and how much, the pharmacist said it’s Malarone, a well-tolerated medicine combination, and it costs $15.00. Wow!

The Lord knows just how much money I need for things for the trip and for things that will come out of my account while I am gone. At each turn, the money has been there. John has been extremely generous, making sure I have what I need above and beyond my income I bring in. He just got his first Social Security check with the “raise” yesterday, the day I needed to take cash out of our joint account to pay the Visa when we get to Tanzania.

I’m looking forward to meeting the team I’ll be working with, especially a young woman named Hannah who will turn 18 while we are there, whom I am partnered with. Her father is also going, well versed in construction skills, and she told me she went to Mexico with her family on a mission trip when she was 10. We are part of the first team, the only women, the second team comes just before we leave Moshi, Tanzania and that team has no women on it. Our leader said there’s been a word already given that women are being called forth into ministry and Hannah and I are part of this calling forth.

We all need to be extremely sensitive to the Spirit of God, He’s already giving us words to speak forth to those around us. This encouragement is for my readers as well as for our team! We must be in tune with what He’s wanting to say, His spirit in tune with ours.

I am preparing my body to be used as needed on this trip. I was able to help shovel yesterday when the belt broke on the snowblower. I am designated Mason’s Helper on this team, so that mostly means carrying buckets of mud for the masons. It’s an adventure accumulating the clothing needed for this trip. The temps will be above 80 F. and lower 60s at night. We need to cover as much skin as possible since the malaria meds make you sun sensitive. Makes me think Amish dresses might be easier? The Lord led me to the medical scrubs in the thrift store. I found light weight pants with comfortable waists and pockets. I got light weight long sleeved men’s shirts that will keep me covered in the back, and I bought a safari hat with neck coverage and a good brim on the front. I also have some long skirts and summer blouses for church or dinner. Thank you for those who buy new clothes to donate to thrift stores!

I am preparing my spirit. Since I haven’t found a devotional to use before I go, I have spent many hours between 10 PM and 8 AM communing/dreaming with the Lord. I bless the Spirit to seal my dreams and reveal what I need when the time comes, since I’m not remembering much once I wake up. I am keeping a journal as I prepare for this trip and will keep it with me as I travel. I’ve also been playing a lot of Lauren Daigle and other worship songs. I spent my younger years of my walk with Jesus gleaning Scripture from songs, and I return to that in these days. reawakening what’s been planted. The Lord knows we are but flesh, I pray my spirit feasts on Him.

I leave you with the glory I captured this afternoon. Yes, my Musings book is on its way; I should have a proof copy before I travel or just after I come home.

Do Not Compare Yourself to Others…

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God’s glory in the morning sky!

We are traveling again this weekend, seeing the last of our family, minus the California one. I am reaffirming my faith that The Lord is working and it is a good work. I declare: All my family, friends, and loved ones are becoming manifest children of God. They are being saved and healed by Jesus. They will not miss their destinies. They are becoming the manifest example of the saving power of Jesus and are being called forth as workers for the harvest. Amen.

As we enter the year of our Lord 2023, I point you to the scripture in Romans chapter 12. It deals with the parts of the body of Christ, each having differing functions, according to the grace that has been given to you. One version says not to compare yourself to others.

Measure yourself by who you are in Christ, since He is the only true measure. Why measure yourself by someone else? You are unique, and Father God made you for a unique destiny that will not be complete if you are trying to be someone else. Also, if you think others should do what you do, think what you think, understand as you, your life will be frustrating. In a marriage or other partnership, the two should agree to compromise, but if both were exactly the same, one would not be needed!

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Let us walk in humility, dwelling in the love of Jesus, walking in the Spirit. I hope you find a re-set as we enter the new year, whether fasting and praying, starting a new bodily or Spiritual devotion, and pursue the things He has for you at this stage in your life. Next week, I plan to seek the Lord for the word He wants me to concentrate on for 2023. I expect my first book to be published soon and will keep you abreast of how things are going. Also, preparations for the trip to Tanzania February 7th to 22nd are progressing well.

I leave you with this picture of our new granddog Sunnie from last weekend. Shalom!

God With Us

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Last post I told you about reading Chad Gonzales’ devotional Think Like Jesus and today I would like to share another day with you. Day 35: The Father Is Always With Me.

Don’t be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God’s presence. For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!” So we can say with great confidence: “I know the Lord is for me and I will never be afraid of what people may do to me!”

Hebrews 13:5-6 TPT

Emanuel, God with us… soon we will hear Christmas carols proclaiming this message. What does it mean in reality? Because Jesus came in the flesh, fully man and fully God, he showed us what it’s like having the Father dwelling inside a human body. Thanks to Father sending us the Holy Spirit after Jesus rose from the dead, we have Father God inside of us, Father God all around us, once Jesus Christ comes into our being by faith.

So, even if everyone leaves us or turns against us as Jesus foretold the disciples all would in John 16:32-33, the Father did not leave him and will not leave us. In our small group, we are reading Present Perfect Finding God in the Now by Gregory A. Boyd.

This book is all about inviting God into every moment of our lives. It’s remembering that Father is always with us, waiting to join with us to bring Heaven down to earth. This means we can live full of peace, always have joy, and always overcome because in Christ, we always have the victory.

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Romans 14:16-18

This passage is about food and drink and Jewish Law, but in the midst of it, we see our portion in Father God here on earth as it is in Heaven: righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we abide in Christ and he in us, no matter what state we are in, we can be joyous, peaceable, and firm in our standing with the Father.

My comment posted on Hannah’s A Grateful Life Lived blog:

Oh, Hannah! Brokenness brings wholeness in the Lord’s mighty hand. Tears are from the overwhelming move of the Spirit on our human bodies that can’t contain it, whether from joy, pain, or conviction. Remember, the Lord is always with you and in you. The light within us is the light of Christ! Let it suffuse your being until there’s no room for anything but God’s presence and thanksgiving for all He has and is doing in your life. Shalom, precious sister!

You can quickly read her post by clicking here:

https://agratefullifelived.com/2022/11/11/somehow/

My dear readers, may you be broken, overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord inside and all around you. May this lead to new revelations of who you are in Christ, and boldness to step out in the plans and purposes He has for you, so you can do your part in bringing Heaven culture -and the Father’s will- down in the midst of your life here on earth.

Here is a view of God’s bounty harvested from our garden and settled in our storage cabinet. This was taken before all the chutneys and apple sauce I processed in October and November, which displaced things and filled up most of the top shelf. It’s satisfying seeing the fruits of our labor and know we are able to bless so many people besides ourselves with what God has provided. May you experience God’s abundance so you can bless others as well. Shalom dear ones!

Blood moon, Elections, Full moon!

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It is said that the sky is God’s billboard. Angels like to hide in cloud shapes and what did God say in Genesis? Let’s look.

Possible angel clouds?

Genesis 1:3 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness

So what might the Lord be saying with two significant types of moons at either end of this momentous election day? Well, I hope you voted. There were many emails, texts , Facebook posts, and messages, as well as phone calls flying around the past few weeks. Oh, I forgot the mailings we’ve received!

Some things to think about: I’m happy to exercise my right to vote, but I’m glad when campaign season ends. God wants us to work with him to decipher his signs in the firmament, but we’re not to delve into astrology or worship the heavenly lights. I’ve heard teachings that point to blood moons aligning with major happenings for Israel and the Jewish people. You can look up John Hagee’s ministry:www. jhm.org, he did a whole series on blood moons.

This morning’s blood moon taken by my husband

In other realms of thought, yesterday we had quite the bustling group at our church for our Operation Christmas Child packing party. Almost 240 boxes got done, and one dear saint did another 100 boxes at her home and brought them all to church to add to our tally.

My current second devotional book is using the book of John as well as some other scriptures to show how Jesus didn’t do the signs, wonders, and miracles on his own, they were accomplished through him because Father God was in him causing these to happen through him. This means we also have what Jesus did because we are the temple of God that He dwells in. So, if signs are not happening, it’s because we think it comes from our efforts rather than doing the things the Father is doing as Jesus did here on earth. It’s a partnership.

Well, you can see I found out how to use photos on the WordPress app. I will end this here. I plan to share another preview of my soon-to-be published book next week. Until then, I bless you with shalom from Father God and pray God’s will be done through these elections and all the COVID 19 and other illnesses attacking so many of us cease and desist soon. Amen.

Forgiveness, Thankfulness, and Release

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If you’re following my posts, you know God gave me the word forgiveness to concentrate on in 2022. This morning I listened to another of Randy Kay’s interviews with an NDE person and she gave me insight into forgiveness, putting together several things I’ve already discovered like thankfulness and release, in a way that’s easy to understand. Here’s the video link:

Imagine being a single mother of six children with no visible means of support. You have lots of people you don’t trust, including your ex-husband, and don’t know how to forgive. You are in a horrific accident, freed by the jaws of life, medevacked to a big hospital with a trauma unit, and slip into a coma. This woman met Jesus and experienced the true love contained in heaven. What is the main message she brought back from heaven? Forgive and be thankful and this will release you as well as those you forgive.

Muse with me about what life could be like if we spontaneously thanked God for everything. Thank You God, for my laptop so I can share Your great news with others through email and this blog. Thank You God, for the catchup I just processed from our bountiful garden. Thank You Father, for my husband John and thank You that he does not acknowledge You as Lord yet… Thank You God, for the hot, humid weather and that I have the ability to sweat. Thank You for the food I just ate and that You provided the dark chocolate treat! Thank You for my brother in the nursing home and all the people who care for him. Thank You…

I’m thankful for sweating because I have a friend who cannot sweat, and his wife has to keep an eye on him in hot weather. I’m thankful that my husband has not found a relationship with Jesus yet because God’s timing is perfect and it’s not quite time yet. While I wait, we are both learning many things about relationships. I’m thankful for the rain and that before it came, our well ran low and we’ve been working off a 500-gallon water tank for over a week. It’s giving us a chance to find creative ways to conserve water while I’ve been canning!

I forgive my husband, my brother, people who have made my life difficult and challenging, because I do not want to keep them away from the good things God has for them. I also realize it hurts me when I hold on to unforgiveness. Ignoring people or walking on eggshells around them puts stress on me and may be keeping me away from fulfilling God’s plan for my life and for His glory.

So, I choose to forgive, choose to be thankful, and find release for myself and those around me. It paves the way for me to experience more of the love of God in Christ Jesus and to walk in the light. As the light of love grows, I can’t help but let it shine! We are to dwell in Christ and shine the light to draw people to kingdom realities, including freedom, faith, and healing.

This week I also began a new 30-day devotional, Walking in the Miraculous by Chad Gonzales. Chad says, “Miracles are normal for the one who walks in their union with Christ.” These devotionals focus on renewing “…your mind to who you are in Christ and the powerful, victorious life God has designed for you to live.” The video I linked goes well with this book. I encourage you to watch it and get the first-hand account.

In closing, I pray you will find it in your heart to truly forgive others, to give thanks in all things, and find release for yourself and those around you. I offer you Shalom which comes from trusting that God’s got your back!

The Glory of God surrounds us if we only look for it!

The Peace of God & Free Will of Man

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Welcome to another collection of my thoughts. By the way, my manuscript is in the hands of Zoe Life Christian Communications and projected to be published in December of 2022. I’ll keep you posted as my first book’s publishing progresses.

I have been listening to Destiny Image with Randy Kay interviewing people with near-death experiences (NDEs). Randy’s desire is that the things his guests share will convince you of the great love of God for all of us. Today I was intrigued when I read: “Three die in fatal crash – he sees his wife who speaks to him on the other side and his toddler-alive”. Since I was busy slicing and freezing sweet banana peppers from our garden, not realizing I need to wear gloves even with sweet peppers, and my fingers began burning as well as the end of my nose I must have rubbed, I enjoyed the company listening to Randy and Jeffery share about the love of God, free will, and no condemnation from the Lord’s side. I encourage you to listen to Jeffery’s message of hope, forgiveness, love and how we can live this life in light of Eternity, walking with Jesus here and now.

I am reminded of Romans 1:8, titled:

Free from Indwelling Sin

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Then in John 3:17 Jesus said,

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

So, if God does not condemn us and Jesus does not condemn us, then who does? The world and people in it, the devil and his minions, and we condemn ourselves to the point we believe there Is no forgiveness possible.

The Blessing of Returning to God

Deuteronomy 30:1“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, 2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you.

God is gathering His people in Israel, showing His faithfulness in keeping His promises. So, what is the aim for this life on earth? To love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength and understanding, and to love others as we love ourselves. You know, because of this ‘free will’ the Lord created us with, we carry heavy loads of condemnation and regret for things we’ve done, things others have done, things we have not done, things others have not done to/for/with us. God did not mean for us to live in condemnation, depression, addiction, or doubt. God has compassion on us and the love that brings that compassion is what God wants to share with us, so we can share it with others.

I have sticky notes hung on my wall above my desk. First one says, “Lord, what are You saying?” Second is: “Discernment… No Compromise and No Apologies!” Third is “Nobody owes me anything!” Then I see: “What happens in our lives is 1.5% our individual control, 16% our influence, and 82.5% totally beyond our control or influence.

I cannot control another person [1 Samuel 15:23 for rebellion [control] is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.] Think about that! Jesus’ obedient, loving sacrifice left us with the fullness of Christ and Holy Spirit to indwell us, making the way for us to use the same power that raised Him from the dead and the same access to Father God He had here on earth. All this turns me back to Philippians chapter 4 where the Apostle Paul advised/commanded us:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do you trust that God is always good? That Father, Son, Spirit, angels and saints watching us from heaven have no thought of failure? God uses the choices we make with our free will to work things for good. I think that’s why Paul penned the next verses:

This life we live is all about learning how to love well. This means trusting God has good thoughts about you, great plans for your life and all that concerns you, and He has given you choices to make. Choice means we can choose to not worry or be anxious, that we can say as Jesus: “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” The joy of the Lord truly is your strength, so rejoice in the Lord all ways! Note: Faith actually means trust. See how the Roman Centurian trusted that Jesus would heal, even without Jesus physically going to the man’s home.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

I pray you grow in your relationship with our Savior and experience the peace and forgiveness found in His love.

I leave you with a picture of my granddaughter Ashlynn exploring the water creatures next to the wading beach at Beaver Camp in the Adirondacks. Her sister Nataleigh and I had a good time at Grandpaent & Grandchild camp at the end of July. Check out the website for more pictures and information.

https://beavercamp.org/
[photo taken by Heidi Honey]

SHALOM!

God-Given Appetite

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Well readers, I am still working my way through Defining Moments by Bill Johnson. I just completed chapter eleven, Spiritual Hunger: Aimee Semple McPherson. The chapter begins with this quote from Aimee:

“Oh, Lord, I am so hungry for your Holy Spirit. You have told me that in the day when I seek with my whole heart you will be found of me. Now, Lord, I am going to stay right here until you pour out upon me the promise of the Holy Spirit for whom you commanded me to tarry, if I die of starvation. I am so hungry for Him I can’t wait another day. I will not eat another meal until you baptize me.”

Defining Moments God-Encounters with Ordinary People Who Changed the World, page 211 by Bill Johnson with Jennifer A. Miskov, PHD

Have you ever experienced hunger such as this? I confess I have not yet followed this hard after the Spirit. Hunger for God… Pastor Bill says, “We were born to step into His purposes, demonstrating His love, purity, and power. Not to hunger for ‘more’ is to suppress our God-given appetite.” [italics mine] page 218.

I find a simmering desire for MORE! deep amidst my being. I know it’s part of Holy Spirit fire, but have yet to experience the deep, electrical filling of glory that Amiee experienced. From the mighty testimonies of seekers of Jesus across the generations since Pentecost, I realize there is abundantly more available! Holy Spirit, light the fire within! It takes surrender to the Lord, making Jesus truly Lord of your life, something like Amiee’s quotation above. We don’t need to fear the fire; it is God’s all-consuming love.

What do you fill your natural God-hunger with? I’ve probably shared before, but I squander my hunger on food, MahJong games, reading, entertainment and other pastimes. In fact, this post did not go out when it usually does because I spent my evening playing “Kitchen Mah Jong” and didn’t realize the time I was spending until bedtime. In themselves, none of these things are evil, but they take the place of God’s best plan for me. Having a finite number of hours, days and years in a life, how we spend that time filling our appetites is eternally important.

Walk in Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

A Prophetic Manifesto for the New Era: 20 Prophetic Words for the 2020s - By: Patricia King

A Prophetic Manifesto For The New Era; 20 Prophetic Words For The 2020s by Patricia King is is the next book I am using for devotions/study for this year. Each day Patricia begins with a Scripture followed by a prophecy, then Insights, Thoughts To Ponder, and a prayer. I am on chapter six, day six and each day has hit home, being relevant to where I am at and where our churches and society is at.

Today’s chapter is “An Era Of The Plumb-line”. Patricia saw the Lord’s double-edged sword come from Heaven and plunge into the land. God told her that the sword is Truth; The Word of God. One side of the sword is God’s kindness, the other God’s severity. Kindness leads to repentance, but those who will not repent will experience God’s severity.

Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

The church has used the Word of God to serve their own follies. In the name of love and acceptance, the truth in God’s Word is watered down or re-written. Some don’t believe ALL of the Bible is true; just the parts they agree with. Do you believe it when Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”?

As we navigate through our lives, we must know the Truth and let the Truth of God set us free so we may bring freedom to others. Are you willing to be bold and speak truth amid lies? Facts are not necessarily God’s Truth, so as His representatives, how shall we live? So much to take in! I am looking toward God’s justice that’s rolling across our land and around the world to expose and clear the evils of our society from top to bottom. Hold on, dear ones, it’s going to be a wild ride and we must stand on God’s side, making His Truth known, no matter what the cost. Remember our brothers and sisters in chains. We have not fought the good fight of the Gospel to the point of death yet, but we must prepare to do this if necessary. My friends, we must patiently keep the commandments of God.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus… “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

May we all be counted faithful! Until next time, Shalom my dear readers.

Concentration for 2021

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If you’ve been following my blog, you know I have not chosen a word for the year 2021. I finally decided on not just a word, but a couplet of Scriptures the Spirit has quickened to me for the year which follows 2020’s Emmanuel, God with us. Here they are:

Romans 11:36 For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. [NASB]

Philippians 1:6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. [NAB revised]

I read the book of John during my January fast, which led me to doing a weekly study from Talking With Jesus Ministries,via zoom meetings with Rev. Cyprien A. Afrika, who is ministering in Kenya. I met him through LinkedIn and you can find things at: http://www.clsoionline.com/talking-with-jesus-ministries/

Getting back to my Scriptures for 2021, I’m learning what it means to have the spirit of God – Father, Son, and Spirit – living in all fullness inside this body I inhabit. If you think about this and search the Scriptures, the more you understand, the more there is to understand. What is our authority? What should our relationship be to the fullness of God in Jesus Christ living inside us? How can we walk as Jesus did, in constant contact with the Father?

“1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. ” Now I’ll introduce the book I read this week, which fits right in.

What would you do if you suddenly found you had stage four breast cancer, and the doctor wants to do surgery, radical mastectomy, chemo and radiation as fast as possible? Well, Capt. Dale Black dug into the books at the library and devoured every book he could find about cancer. Eye opening, to say the least! Did you know cancer is not hereditary? Or that a German doctor who immigrated to the U.S. developed cures for nine different cancers? They poisoned him to death. This is a full exploration/expose of the cancer industry and what we need to do so we’re not sucked into the sick, money-driven system. Paula and Dale bring together the three parts of our being: body, soul, and spirit. Yes, we need to be physically healthy with a good immune system, but our soul and spirit also need feeding and tending to. A sick spirit can be more detrimental than a lowered immune system! This book is very healing and encouraging, even if you don’t have cancer or don’t follow all that Paula did to heal her being. Heck, all of us know someone close to us that cancer has touched!

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

I pray you take this verse to heart as you feed your “earth suit” or “present tent”. We are a spirit that has a soul, that lives in a body, and we need to nurture all three on Spiritual and physical food! May you discover what it means as Emmanuel, God with us, inhabits your being; finding the abundant life Christ Jesus offers us, learning how to vanquish the enemy who comes only to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10)

Shalom!

Total Randomness?

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Welcome to my crazy end of summer/harvest musings! We’ve had some crazy shapes in our tomatoes this year we’ve never seen before. This is one of our Early Girl tomatoes that are ripening enmass! My canner has been busy as well as cutting board, paring knife, dishpan, and baskets. I have four baskets I love to collect the harvest in; sometimes daily, once in a while weekly. I’m glad my husband’s sister wanted the last beans we picked and I was blessed today when he said she’s not canning any more and sending me her jars and lids! If you haven’t heard, canning supplies are in short supply; especially lids. I told the Lord early in the gardening that it’s His garden; we are just tending/caretakers. He has definitely brought abundance to us and we’re eager to share with others. It’s a definite double blessing increase in this dry, hot summer, praise the Lord!

All that is going on in my life these few weeks is overwhelming; none of it really having anything to do with Covid. The bounty has caused me to have produce all around my home and no end to tomatoes and peppers to tend to. In the midst of this, the motel has been busy so more hours housekeeping, I’m doing some doctor appointments, my publisher has needed my help, I’ve hosted both the garden club and a prayer meeting in our yard. Add to this the proofreading course I finally bought and began but haven’t gotten past the first day of lessons, the book I’m writing I haven’t worked on in a month, the book I’m editing I’ve not gotten past the first chapter. Our second house my husband’s been working on for four years just went on the market today and my sister’s house my son just moved out of has kept us busy cleaning, painting, etc. If anyone’s interested in a two-story 3 bedroom home on Mill Creek or a 135-year-old remodeled Victorian with a one-bedroom apartment, let us know. We’re so excited the flyer for our old home is just published!

Home looking for a new family!

How about a list of books I’ve purchased during this time?

  • Amazing Love by Corrie ten Boom
  • The Prophetic & Healing Power of Your Words by Becky Dvorak
  • The Healthy Living Handbook by Laura Harris Smith
  • God Adventures
  • Finding God In The Bible
  • Filming God (all from Darren Wilson)
  • Igniting Furious Love by Heidi & Rolland Baker
  • The Hebrew Alphabet by Edward Hoffman
  • Prophetic Manifesto for the new era by Patricia King
  • Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy by Cindy Jacobs

See the source image

Now that our house is on the market, it won’t be much longer before John can build my bookcase for this house. I know I can fill it quickly with what I’ve recently purchased added to what I saved when we cleaned out the other house! So many books; so little time! I’m glad we haven’t been watching TV so I can get back to reading after the harvest; which leads to hunting season where I become chief cook & bottle-washer for the men who like to eat and sleep at our home as part of the hunting party.

So, what is God doing these days? I am learning new things about time management and leaving it in His hands; there are only a certain number of hours in a day and I’m desperate for Him to lead me through them properly. As I am working on my chapter about money relationships, I am getting on-the-job examples. First thing was the day I went for it and bought the General Proofreading course from Caitlin Pyle’s http://www.proofreadanywhere.com while she had a “back to school discount”. Part of the first unit was keeping track of what I’m doing and what emotion I’m feeling every hour for a day or two. Very insightful!

They offered me another cleaning/housekeeping job at another small motel in our area. First, I thought it was the Lord’s way of increasing my finances and ministry base. It didn’t take long before I realized I am already overloaded with good things to do and my needs met by the finances from the jobs already being juggled. Last evening I watched Ryan Le Strange’s Groan 9/1/20 YouTube video. To seal what they had released in the Spirit, Ryan encouraged those of us watching to sow a seed; whatever amount the Spirit was telling us to donate into what God is doing. I realize he meant to donate to his ministry, but I did what the Spirit was telling me to do and give to Sid Roth’s Project 77. I donated $77.00 by PayPal, then the enemy started playing with me. I checked my account, which showed the money being taken out twice. I emailed an inquiry to Sid Roth, then went back to PayPal to alert them, couldn’t get through to submit an inquiry, then went back to my CU account and saw it was NOT being taken out twice. So, I got a call from Sid Roth’s Customer Care today and got to tell them the testimony and confirm it was for Project 77.

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You haven’t heard about Project 77? Sid Roth had the Holy Spirit download the book They Thought For Themselves in which he interviewed Jews that found Messiah when they thought for themselves instead of letting the Rabbis (or anyone else) do it for them as an evangelistic tool. So when you join Project 77, seven of these books get sent to seven Jewish families that have asked for it, then they give the donor a card with the seven family names to pray for. Most Jewish people don’t have anyone praying specifically for their salvation. Oh, you will also receive two copies of the book; one to read and one to share. This is the second time I’ve donated for this program; I still have the prayer card and the Project 77 key chain with the High Priest’s breastplate stones of the 12 tribes of Israel on one side and Project 77 on the other. I love to bless the Jewish people according to Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

AMEN!

We’re At War!

musingsalonglifesjourney1 Comment
taken from https://store.renner.org/

I am part of the launch team for Rick Renner’s Last Days Survival Guide which released August 2, 2020. I just watched his interview on Sid Roth from March 9, 2015, when Rick was promoting his previous book Dressed To Kill.

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During this interview, Rick said we’re in a war and dressed to kill according to the armor in Ephesians 6. He relates that the armor of God comes upon us when we’re given the seed, or measure, of faith when we first believe. The Apostle Paul had intimate knowledge of Roman armor from his time being heavily guarded. He knew God speaks of His armor in the Old Testament, and this Spirit armor is what we get from the Spirit of God. Rick shared that a Roman soldier’s shield was created from measuring his height and width and building the shield from wood, covering it with leather. This shield would cover his entire body and when wet, it would quench fiery darts. This is only one piece of the protection we get as Believers. We get more formidable with this armor as our relationship with the Lord grows.

Rick has joined with Robert Henderson, who teaches about the courts of heaven, adding to Rick’s understanding of the war we’re in. Last Days Survival Guide (LDSG) connects the spiritual war to the courts of heaven. Rick says in heaven the blood is always on the mercy seat and Jesus is continually interceding for us from there. Thinking about the eternal blood and body sacrifice of Christ made a difference when I took communion this morning. Those who have seen the Risen Lord say He’s still got the nail marks in His hands and feet. I still have scars on my toes and other places from surgeries; I wonder if I’ll keep these as badges of healing on my resurrected body also?

I mentioned before in my July 24, 2020 post titled End Times?, we are not at the end of the end times, but in the season called birth pains. On page 48 of LDSG Renner says, “We must wake up and realize that we are the generation called to close out the age. We were chosen for this hour – it is our destiny.” The Bible has called this the era of the end times since Jesus rose from the dead, and we have been chosen for this important time we’re in, but Jesus said no one but the Father knows the exact date and time of the end. Some signs are fulfilled, but not all.

These things aside, paired with the Holy Bible, the Last Days Survival Guide is helpful. Renner leads you through what you need to know to thrive in these perilous times we live in. He poses many questions for you to work through to find out where your heart, mind and spirit are at. His examples from life bring the topics to life. Pages 446-452 end the book with the best:

  • A Final Prayer for end-time believers
  • A Final Confession Of My Faith
  • Prayer For Overcoming These Perilous Times
  • Prayer To Receive Salvation
  • Prayer To Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit.

He encourages you to underline, highlight and mark up the pages of this book and use it as a handbook for keeping on track as it gets more challenging to live as a Christ-follower in this world. Rick and his family have testimonies from living in Russia at one of the toughest parts of the Soviet era and how God proved Himself faithful as He set their fledgeling ministry on fire.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how to prepare to live victoriously in this time God chose us to be here on earth. It’s an excellent gift to give to someone you love and want to encourage – after you’ve read your own copy!