Deep Darkness and Then His Glory

The following is further revelation re: Dec. 13th dream posted on blog:

I was driving in my car and entered an area where there were no lights. I thought that it was just temporary, but soon realized that I was in a section of a neighborhood where there was absolutely NO electricity. The neighborhood was as black as pitch, and there were no headlights on my car. I was driving in utter blackness. I had no concept of knowing if I was on the right or wrong side of the road, and became afraid that I could be hit by an oncoming car; so I stayed as far to the right as possible...At times, I could see a faint hint of the outline of the road and almost a type of barrier between the edge of the road and the yards in front of the homes in the neighborhood. It seemed as if I drove for a very long time...and I was alone in the car. I slowed my car way down to a crawl, once I realized the blackness was continuing, but I continued to drive.
And then, as quickly as I'd driven into the black section, the scene changed to one of total light! It was a brilliant light...as if white Christmas lights sparkled from every house! White lights sparkled and even the sky was lit with the brilliance. End of dream.

In this dream there is a time of great, great darkness coming....and people will fear, because of the darkness and the great shaking. (Luke 21:25-28)
There are those who say they are Christians, yet they will shout in bitterness and anger at God, "HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN? YOU ARE A LOVING GOD! WHERE ARE YOU?!

I HATE YOU! LET ME DIE!" There will be those, who take the suggestion of Job's wife, and will curse God and die.....And then there will be others, who will choose to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith...and will say, "No matter how deep You allow me to go, You are deeper still."

After the period of great, great darkness, will come His Glory for those who stay the course to walk in Him, in His righteousness (by staying to the right side of the road)....

Jesus questioned in Luke 18:8, "....Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Faith in what/whom? Faith in faith?...or FAITH IN GOD THAT NO MATTER WHAT - HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE!

THAT NO MATTER WHAT - HE WILL NEVER EVER, NO, NOT EVER, LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US!

THAT IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US!

THAT NO MATTER HOW DEEP AND DARK THE SITUATION/CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE BECOME - THAT HE IS DEEPER STILL!!!
There is a sentence from Corrie's book, "The Hiding Place" that jumped off the page while reading it, "But...if the Gospels were truly the pattern of God's activity, then defeat was only the beginning. I would look around at the bare little cell and wonder what conceivable victory could come from a place like this."

There is a perverse teaching that we can control our circumstances and the devil just through faith, and for a Christian to experience suffering and trouble indicates a lack of faith.

Brother, Sister...this is simply not scriptural! If we are walking in the Light as He is in the Light, then we can have confidence before Him that whatever He allows us to experience in this life that He will take us through it. His Ways are higher than our ways...His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Who are we to think that we have God's purposes and ways all figured out?

As the Holy Spirit tells us through James 1, we are to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience, and that through the trial we are to ask for His wisdom in how to get through it...asking in faith, knowing that God will give us His wisdom. I tell you the truth, without trials and suffering, there is absolutely no depth to the message...It is empty and superficial and hits the heart with hardly a discernable "tink".

But where there's been darkness and brokeness, oh my! An arrow from God pierces our heart! For out of the greatest brokeness and darkness comes the greatest of God's glory.

There is a time coming, where deep, deep darkness shall cover the whole earth...and it will seem as if God has removed Himself from our very person and fear will try to overtake us...but we must set our faces like flint...to walk in His Righteousness and choose every minute of every day, WHOM we shall serve....for when we do...and go through this earthly death....HIS GLORY SHALL ARISE WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS! As we go through these end times, we are to seek Him first and foremost and to love Him and do what He commands us and to love as He is love. Faith and love work together.

Isaiah 40:5 "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Malachi 3:16-18

"Then those who feared theLord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them, so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

Malachi 4:2-3

"'But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;

and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this', says the Lord of hosts."

Looking unto Jesus, my Friend~

Crista

Crista SimmonsLifeCare Ministries and Healing CentersRichland, Michigan, USA http://www.tesjoeva.nl/niedgalah.html

http://www.ourchurch.com/member/l/LifeCareMin/

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

May be reprinted only in it's exactness. Freely have we received. Freely do we give.

Blessings 2009!

From Our Home to Yours~
Number 6:24-26
"May the Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you,
And be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you,
And give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually)."

Thank-you so much for your love and prayers.
You bless our lives and hearts in so many ways.
We pray He open the windows of Heaven,
And pour out such blessing upon you
That there is not room enough to receive it;
Knowing that the greatest blessing of all
Is knowing Him.
As Job said in Chapter 42:5,
"I have heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear,
But now my [spiritual] eye sees You."
3 John 3:2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers."
Love in Christ always,
Steve & Crista

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS GLORY!

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS GLORY

Habakkuk 2:14 "But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
2:3b-4 "His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
His brightness was like the light; he had rays flashing from His hand,
and there His power was hidden.
Isaiah 60:1-2 "Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]!
Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord),
for your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.

Glory, chabod: Taken from The New King James Study Bible/Spirit-Filled Life Bible, c. 1991 by Thomas Nelson Publishing, c. 1991, p. 1041
Strong's #3519: Weightiness; that which is substantial or heavy; glory, honor,....."
"In the OT, 'heaviness' represented honor and substance,..."
Chabod is God's glory, not only His honor, renown, and majesty, but also His visible splendor, which filled Solomon's temple and will someday fill the Earth
(1 Kings 8:11; Numbers 14:21)."

Beloved, the Lord is speaking to His Bride about His Glory being visibly seen by all!
The following is further insight He's revealing about the dream (see Sunday's post: Jesus-The Light of the World) He gave me about the darkness and then suddenly coming into His brilliance and glory!
The other thought about that dream is that I stayed to the right - indicating His righteousness.
When we walk in righteousness, it keeps us in right relationship with The Father and keeps us from being run over/overtaken by sin, which leads to destruction.

Beloved, NEVER, EVER, EVER, NO NOT EVER, use the Gospel to assuage (comfort/justify) your sin!!!!!
That is a lie from the pit of hell, itself!
Some are using Romans 7 to soothe their flesh of sin! And THAT is NOT what the Lord intends! He said we are to be holy as HE IS HOLY!!!!
If you are operating in sin...GET OUT! Ask the Father's forgiveness and repent! Turn around and walk HIS path of righteousness;
purposing in your heart to put away the vileness which has kept you bound!
And if you need it, be accountable to a Godly person who will give you wise counsel and
speak His Truth to your ears!
A true friend in Christ will tell you the Truth and lead you to the Cross...not soothe you in your sin!
For the Lord is a Rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
Dark and light cannot co-exist! If we say we are God's, but do not keep His commandments, then we are a liar and the truth is not in us. (1 John 2:4)
v. 5-6 "But whoever keeps His word truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

Now, return to Isaiah 60:1....We are to arise out of the garbage, the dung, which the enemy has used to keep us down....For when we do, HIS GLORY shall arise upon us.
But we have a choice....Do we prefer to be as a dog returning to his own vomit and eating it?
OR....
Do we want to make the choice to tie our flesh to the altar and have Him kill it out of us for His Glory to arise in us?
Do we want to remain in our sin and lukewarmness and one day have Him hurl, forcefully vomit us out of His mouth?
If we say that we cannot conquer our sin...this is true. We can't in our own strength. This is why we need THE HOLY SPIRIT...for He has put our enemies to public humiliation and shame....but when we are weak, HE IS STRONG!
HE HAS CONQUERED DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE!
To bring His purification! To bring His Holy fire! To bring His holiness!
For Nothing is impossible with God! Nothing!
Let us turn to The Father - pressing in hard!
We are to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS
which is rebellion against God, Himself!
We are to be holy as He IS HOLY!
Beloved, God is not mocked! We shall reap what we sow. That which is sown of the flesh reaps destruction, but that which is sown to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
ARISE BELOVED! ARISE!!!!
Choose this day Whom you will serve!
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Isaiah 35:5 "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called The Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS GLORY!

Crista Simmons
LifeCare Ministries and Healing Centers
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/l/LifeCareMin/
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/
Richland, Michigan, USA
May be reprinted only in it's exactness. Freely have we received. Freely do we give.

JESUS - THE LIGHT of the World

JESUS - THE LIGHT of the World

I had a dream last night....(I do not know all of the significance of this dream, but will share my understanding, so far.)

I was driving in my car and entered an area where there were no lights. I thought that it was just temporary, but soon realized that I was in a section of a neighborhood where there was absolutely NO electricity. The neighborhood was as black as pitch, and there were no headlights on my car. I was driving in utter blackness. I had no concept of knowing if I was on the right or wrong side of the road, and became afraid that I could be hit by an oncoming car; so I stayed as far to the right as possible...At times, I could see a faint hint of the outline of the road and almost a type of barrier between the edge of the road and the yards in front of the homes in the neighborhood. It seemed as if I drove for a very long time...and I was alone in the car. I slowed my car way down to a crawl, once I realized the blackness was continuing, but I continued to drive.

And then, as quickly as I'd driven into the black section, the scene changed to one of total light! It was a brilliant light...as if white Christmas lights sparkled from every house! White lights sparkled and even the sky was lit with the brilliance.

End of dream.

I'm sure there are more interpretations of this dream, but what I saw was this....A world lost without Jesus - Who IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. When we do not know Jesus, our souls are as black as black. There was absolutely no light! And this is the darkness to which we are called as Believers to dispel. To carry HIS Light to a lost and dying world.

The above photo is a lighthouse which is still in use at the pier in South Haven, Michigan. Even though we did not capture the light shining, it still sends out it's beacon to travelers on Lake Michigan. The black snow clouds of Michigan's frozen winters are deepened by the contrast of the sun breaking through the clouds to the south....again, not showing in the photo, but still present.

Beginning in the Gospel of John 1:4-15, we read:

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of the Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world, A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

"I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD~and wherever you are, I AM~

My Light is to shine in a dark world. You do not see My Light with your naked eye. That's why I've said that no one would take a lamp and hide it under a basket. Dark and light cannot co-exist~

There is either Light or Dark.

I AM THE TRUE LIGHT which has come into the world, but the darkness perceived it not. Yet men seek after light, for the darkness overtakes them. They long to escape the darkness, but they seek false lights - those which only lead to more darkness. But when they seek Me, they seek THE TRUE GIVER OF LIGHT - THE TRUE LIGHT who will never fail them, never leave them, never forsake them; never leave them in darkness and never lead them in darkness.

Beloved, as Blood bought Born-Again Believers in Jesus Christ, we carry HIS LIGHT into a lost and dying world. The world looks for false lights in those who proclaim that they can bring light, but it only leads to further darkness...for there is only ONE TRUE LIGHT and His Name is JESUS CHRIST...and as His Army, The Sons and Daughters of His Countenance, we are to go forth in Jesus Name to bring His Light.

Isaiah 60

v. 1 Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

v. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth. And deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

v. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

v. 4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

v. 5. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy;

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you."

Crista Simmons
LifeCare Ministries and Healing Centers
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/l/LifeCareMin/
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/
Richland, Michigan, USA
May be reprinted only in it's exactness. Freely have we received. Freely do we give.

His Word - His Blood - His Life - JESUS

His Word - His Blood - His Life - JESUS

There are times when the Lord will give us deeper revelation,

because He wants us to know more about Him,

and what He wants us to understand,

because greater understanding brings greater awe, reverence and freedom.

Many of us are able to quote from The Gospel of John 1:

v. 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God."...

v.4 "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

v. 5 "And the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

v. 14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

And this scripture just rolls off our tongue,

but do we really understand/comprehend it?

I tell you, as the Lord bears witness to His Word, that I feel His power surging through my muscles as I write...for He gave me a deeper revelation at Erica's funeral.

Rabbi Harvey Spivak led the funeral, because Erica had been studying Judaism

and he knew her and her family.

And as he read passages from Isaiah, Psalms and Numbers, there was such a holy peace of the Lord that descended and filled the room and the air at her grave -

that for me, it was His tangible Presence.

(Such a comfort to my heart that these very scriptures were the very same ones

He'd had me read in the week previous to Erica's Homegoing.)

I was pondering and reflecting upon all this when He spoke:

"....MY SPIRIT IS CONTAINED WITHIN MY WORD -

FOR I AM THE WORD!

WE ARE NOT TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES;

I AM THE WORD.

Think of your skin - You do not take it off and separate it from your body,

and inside your body is your blood. Your blood gives life to your body.

SO IT IS WITH MY WORD.

THE WORD BECAME FLESH,

BUT IT IS THE BLOOD WHICH GIVES LIFE TO THE BODY.

IT IS THE BLOOD OF THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB

WHICH GIVES LIFE TO THE WORD!

When the WORD IS SPOKEN, THE BLOOD GIVES LIFE TO THE WORD!

As the blood of Abel cried up from the ground to My ears,

so does The BLOOD OF CHRIST speak to the entire universe!

Demons scream in The Presence of the Voice of the Blood of My Son!

This is why I tell you, GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN YOU

than he who is in the world.

THE LIVING WORD, THE BLOOD OF CHRIST LIVES IN YOU

~for you ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.

The priests performed the blood sacrifice at the temple.

I tell you the TRUTH -

THE BLOOD SACRIFICE OF MY SON LIVES WITHIN YOU

as the temple of the Living God.

For I tell you the Truth -

YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE -

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!

THE BLOOD, HIS BLOOD, paid your way into My Kingdom.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thought and purposes of the heart."

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and the God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? v. 17 If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are."

Crista Simmons
LifeCare Ministries and Healing Centers
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/l/LifeCareMin/
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/
Richland, Michigan, USA
May be reprinted only in it's exactness. Freely have we received. Freely do we give.

Blog Gap...

Dear Friends~
I'm just writing to let you know that I've been ill w/ the flu and respiratory infection over the past two weeks....Praise God that I'm finally feeling better. I look forward to getting back to this blog as the Lord leads.
God bless you all.
Ever yours in Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.
Crista

CHOICES!

Beloved, It was this past Sunday morning (10/11/09) when The Lord spoke these words...

May we truly hear His heart's cry for His Church in this hour.

CHOICES!

There is a spirit of entertainment in America. This spirit has taken over My Church.

My desire continues to remain that My People who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray; to seek My face and turn from their wicked ways;

then shall I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.

But My People do not seek My face. No! They seek this speaker and that speaker,

but they do not seek Me ---- and oh how this grieves My Heart!

Oh how this grieves My heart.

I weep over My Church.

I weep over My Church.

Oh, My People, if you only realized how much I love you....

how much I long for you, but you turn and you commit adultery with the world;

you fornicate with other lovers, and you think that through them you come to Me.

But I tell you the Truth,

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE! No man can come to The FATHER except through Me.

Yet, you follow other lovers; thinking that you are coming to Me. No!

Do you not yet understand?

You can only come to Me when you are in communion with Me.

IDOLS! IDOLS! IDOLS in My Church!

Those who promote their name instead of My Name.

Those who promote a financial partnership with their ministry,

instead of a partnership with Me.

Tell My People to humble themselves and repent of all sin;

of all idol worship.

Seek first My Face, My Kingdom, My Righteousness,

and I will tell you where and what to give financially.

I ask you this: Do the poor receive the benefits or the rich?

Have I not told you not to store up for yourselves riches on earth which moth and rust decay?

Have I not told you I have a place stored up for you in Heaven that will far surpass any thing you could imagine?

Then why do you seek and run after things?

Why do you allow yourself to be in bondage to things of the earth which have no eternal, Kingdom value?

It is an abomination, I say. It is a weight around your neck. Have I not told you to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares you and to run with endurance the race which is set before you; looking unto Jesus; the Author and Perfecter of your faith.

For I tell you the truth, what I call you to shed is the world, the flesh and the hold the enemy has on you.

You walk in bondage to the things of the world, My Precious Church, when I shed My Blood to set you free.

Come daily, My Love, daily, hourly, minute by minute to the heart of Your Father and I shall fill you with My Living Water - not what man thinks is My Living Water - but I, Myself, shall fill you. I, Myself shall refresh you.

As I fed Elijah in the wilderness, so shall I feed you.

Elijah prayed that I would take his life so he could die. After doing so, I fed him.

That's what I ask you to do, My Love. Die to self.

Die to the ways of the world.

Die to the desires of the flesh.

Die to the ways of man, and I shall feed you in the wilderness.

I shall feed you; for I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE!

For I have said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood,

you have no life in you."

Eat My Flesh and drink My Blood.

As you feast on My Word, you eat My Flesh - for in the beginning was The Word,

and The Word became flesh.

And as you drink My Blood, you drink the cup of suffering;

for My Blood was poured out....

The Apostle Paul, My Bondservant, allowed himself to be poured out as a drink offering. Are you willing?

Have I not told you that in Christ you ARE My children,

then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

if indeed you suffer with Him, that you may be glorified together. (Rom. 8:17)

I tell you the truth, your present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in My time, My Beloved. I tell you, creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:18-19)

When I cause you to suffer for a little while, I AM planting you even deeper in Me.

For vegetation to be sturdy, it must be planted deep or it will be tossed to and fro.

For I tell you the truth, a time is now coming, when I shall tear down the idol worship in My Church. And when I do, where will you be standing?

On the sand or on THE ROCK?

You have a choice.

Crista Simmons

LifeCare Ministries and Healing Centers

http://www.ourchurch.com/member/l/LifeCareMin

Richland, Michigan, USA
May be reprinted only in it's exactness.

This was written as The Father would have me to write for His Purpose and His Glory.

Deeper Is Higher

Beloved, I pray you hear and feel Father's heart for you~ Do not despair. He sees all that you are going through right now...and He IS shaping you and conforming you to the image of His Son.
As Daddy gave me His Words this morning that "Deeper IS Higher"....I sat to type as He gave me the following. Ever yours in Christ, Crista

DEEPER IS HIGHER:

"Have you not seen? Have you not heard that the Lord, Our God, is One God?....Beloved, why do you run to and fro trying to find Me in others, when I AM right here? I AM with you for I have promised to never ever, no, not ever leave you or forsake you! Your God is FOR YOU!

I AM FOR YOU! I stand with My arms outstretched to you. Run, I say, RUN into My arms for I love you with an everlasting love. Know this, My Beloved, that everything through which I take you in your life on the earth, I shall use for My Glory...for My Ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

Do you trust Me? Do you trust Me? Then allow Me to do the work; knowing always that I am even now working on your behalf, My Beloved. You do not need to see the end from the beginning...but I do. I just ask that you trust Me in this that I, WHO have promised you, am Faithful and True. I AM ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY BEYOND WHAT YOU COULD THINK, HOPE FOR, OR IMAGINE....FOR I AM GOD!

You do not know, Beloved, what it will take for Me to form you into the image of My Son...But I do...I do. Trust Me in this. I Alone, Your God, know what it will take to form you into the image of My Son...not the image of someone whom you idolize in what you think is of Me...and some of them are....but you are to look to Me and Me, Alone. I AM YOUR DADDY! I AM YOUR HEAVENLY PAPA! I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA! I AM THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR! I AM YOUR ALL IN ALL! I LONG TO BE YOUR ALL IN ALL!

Do not look to others in what I have done in them for your own life. For I have created you with a uniqueness that is all My own. I do not "rubber stamp" My children. Each of you have My own special plan and purpose for your life. But do you trust ME to perform it? Do you trust ME that I have your best interest at heart for the sake of My Kingdom Glory and your relationship with ME? That is what I desire, My Beloved, your relationship with Me as Your Daddy. But you look to the world....You look to others.....You look and you do not find...Your soul is not satisfied, because I have created you that only One will satisfy you...and that is ME, My Beloved...for I AM A JEALOUS GOD! O, how I long for you....O, how I long for you to cry out to Me.

Beloved, have I not promised you that deep calls unto deep? It is in the depths that I will take you that you will find new heights. A tree which is tall and sturdy has deep, deep roots. Can you imagine the depth to the roots of the giant Sequoias or the Redwoods? Beloved, I am an inverse God...but the god of this universe seeks to deceive you that higher is higher. But lo, I tell you the Truth, that deeper is higher. It is in going deeper with Me that I shall give you the treasures of darkness. It is in going deeper with Me that I shall carry you on the wings of eagles. It is in going deeper with Me that I Beloved, it is My deep desire that you and I are one....but you must leave the world behind....

You must leave behind all that you thought was...and come to THE ONE WHO IS! Come to Me, My Beloved, and I will show you great and wonderful truths which I long to reveal to you in greater depth....for I WILL REVEAL MYSELF TO YOU IN WAYS WHICH YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

It is only in Me that you will find the fullness for which I have created you...that we live and move and have our being together....O Beloved, I desire to be with you, more than you desire to be with Me...for your mind does not comprehend the relationship in store for you...for this is something that will never be comprehended in the flesh, but only in the Spirit...in My Spirit.

My Love, I call you....I call you to the cleft of the Rock....I call you to the depths of My heart for you....

 

May His blessings be yours in Christ Jesus,

Crista

CMSimmons52@aol.com

 

A Must See!

Rec'd this video today....It is truly a must see...A legislator from MI (Mike Rogers) hit the nail on the head re: healthcare bill proposal.
Please feel free to share...
Crista

A US Representative from Michigan that hasn't been sniffing the tailpipes of Detroit cars.

OK, this is worth every MINUTE to watch this! THIS HITS IT OUT OF THE BALL PARK! AND IT has had ONLY 24,048 views.
It was taken inside Congress with a Congressman. YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS and YOU MUST PASS THIS ON!!!
THIS IS IMPERATIVE EVERYONE SEE THIS!! IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE VIDEO TAPES OF THE FLOOR OF OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATURE?
PLEASE GET THIS OUT TO EVERYONE!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc

Love Me Where You're At

I pray that out of God's abundant love, mercy and grace that you hear what He's speaking to encourage you today. This is right where I was at...almost a year ago....recovering from a detached retina....looking straight down for a very, very long month....
Remember, it is to Whom we look during these times of trial....Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith. Be blessed by His message through Francis Frangipane.
~Crista

Love Me Where You're At

Francis Frangipane

September 21, 2009

eword@frangipane.org

I have discovered that, as we seek the Lord, our most difficult periods can be transformed into wonderful breakthroughs into God's love.

For me, one such season occurred during the years 1979 to1981. The association of churches with which I was aligned had fallen under spiritual deception. Not only were its core doctrines increasingly seeded with New Age influences, but immorality crept in, and key leaders began leaving their wives for other women. I could no longer remain silent. As a result, in 1979 I left my congregation in Detroit, Michigan, where I had served as pastor, and traveled to the organization's regional headquarters in Iowa. I came to plead for repentance. However, after meeting with the senior leaders, I was asked to leave the group.

So here we were - we had left our church, we had no money, and we had four little children and couldn't afford even basic housing. Desperate for anything, we finally found an old farmhouse in rural Washington, Iowa. The home was over a hundred years old, but it actually looked much older. After negotiating with the landlord, we were given a year of free rent provided I did basic repairs to the house, such as cleaning and painting.

Even so, the house needed more than I could provide. The furnace did not work well, so we installed a wood burner stove in the kitchen. That first winter, it turned out, was one of the coldest in Iowa's history. Frost formed on the inside walls, spreading a foot or two around each window; wind chills dropped to 60 below, and even colder, on several occasions.

To keep warm each night, the whole family cuddled tightly on one large mattress on the dining room floor, about 18 feet from the wood burner in the kitchen. A fan behind the stove nudged warm air in our direction. My nightly project, of course, was to build enough heat in the stove to keep us warm until morning.

While I worked the fire, I also would pray and seek God. The wood burner became a kind of altar to me, for each night as I prayed, I offered to God my unfulfilled dreams and the pain of my spiritual isolation. Yes, I knew the Lord was aware of our situation. Though we had virtually nothing, He showed Himself to us in dozens of little ways. I just didn't know what He wanted of me.


As the seasons came and went, another child was born, and then we fostered a young girl from Viet Nam, giving us six children. Still, as the family grew, the little area around the wood burner became a hallowed place to me. Even in the summer, I would sit on the chair next to the stove and pray and worship.

I would like to say I found the joy of the Lord during this time, but in truth, though I gradually adjusted to my situation, I felt an abiding misery in my soul. Our deep poverty was an issue (I barely made $6,000 a year), but more than that, I felt like I had missed the Lord. My continual prayer was "Lord, what do You want of me?"

Three years of seeking God passed, and I still carried an emptiness inside. What was God's will for me? I had started a couple Bible studies and spoke a few times in churches, but I so identified with being a pastor that, until I was engaged again in full-time ministry, I feared I had lost touch with God's call on my life.

In spite of this inner emptiness concerning ministry, I actually was growing spiritually, especially in areas that were previously untilled. I went through the gospels hungry to study and obey the words of Christ. Previously, I had unconsciously defined a successful ministry as something born of my performance. During this time, however, the Lord reduced me to simply being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Indeed, a number of things I thought were biblical I discovered were really just religious traditions. The Lord desired that I take inventory of my heart and examine those few truths for which I would be willing to die. He said the truths for which I would die, for these I should live.

Frankly, things like the timing of the rapture or nuances about worship style or spiritual gifts dropped in their priority, though I still considered them important. Rising to the top of my focus was a passion to be a true follower of Jesus Christ - to obey His teachings and approach life not merely as a critic, but more as an encourager. I also found myself increasingly free to enjoy and learn from Christians from other streams and perspectives.

Yet, these changes, though deep and lasting, occurred slowly, almost imperceptibly. They were happening quietly in my heart, and only in hindsight did I see what the Lord had done. Throughout this time, I was preoccupied with feelings of detachment from God's will. My prayer to know the Lord's plan for me continued daily.

The Breakthrough
One day, as I stood in the kitchen pantry, I repeated again my abiding prayer: "Lord, what do you want of me?" In a sudden flash of illumination, the Lord answered. Speaking directly to my heart, He said, "Love Me where you're at."

In this time and season, remember, I was not a pastor or minister. I was a television repairman doing odd jobs on the side to provide for my family. I hated what I was doing. In my previous church I taught against TV and now I was "laying hands" on television sets and raising them from the dead! The Lord's answer cut straight to my heart. I was awed at its simplicity! I asked, "Love You where I am at? Lord, is that all you want of me?" To this He responded, "This is all I will ever require of you."

In that eternal moment peace flooded my soul, and I was released from the false expectation of ministry-driven service. God was not looking at what I did for Him, but who I became to Him in love. The issue in His heart was not whether I pastored, but whether I loved Him. To love the Lord in whatever station I found myself - even as a television repairman - this I could do!

A deep and remarkable transformation occurred in me. My identity was no longer in being a pastor, but rather on becoming a true lover of God. Having settled my priorities, amazingly, just a couple days later I was invited to pastor a church in Marion, Iowa. In spite of all my previous anxiety about returning to ministry, I did not jump at the opportunity. For I had found what the Lord truly desired of me. Though I eventually accepted this call, my focus was not merely on leading a church, but loving God.

What God Seeks
More than one's ministry, God seeks our love. His great commandment is that we love Him, ultimately, with all our mind, all our heart, and all our soul and strength. If we love Him, we will fulfill all He requires of us (see John 14:15). And it is as we love Him that He orchestrates all things to work together for our good (see Rom. 8:28).

Beloved, loving God is not hard. We can fulfill any assignment - auto mechanic or housewife, doctor or college student - and still give great pleasure to our heavenly Father. We do not need ministry titles to love the Lord. Indeed, God measures the value of our lives by the depth of our love. This is what He requires of every true God seeker: to love Him where we are at.

Lord Jesus, the revelation of Your love has swept me off my feet. Lord, You have drawn me and I run after You. Master, even in the mundane things of life, I shall express my love for You. Consume me in Your love.

source: http://www.etpv.org/2009/lmwya.html

Go to the LIGHT!!!!

The following was sent to me today, and the author's name is Becky McClendon. What the Lord shared with her is a very precious and timely application of His Truth.
My friend, Brenda Davis sent the following re: Becky.
"She posted it on Facebook and I told her that I was going to share it. I'm sure that's what she wanted...a bit of info on her ..she's a retired teacher , grandmother, photographer, writer, musician (pianist)...very likable...lives in Houston TX."
I pray you are blessed today~
Crista

Go to the LIGHT!!!!

Yesterday as I was loading my car to take off to New Mexico I looked up and saw a humming bird frantically flying into the fluorescent lights trying to get out. I immediately turned OFF the lights to force the bird to get to the open garage door and be able to escape. I made several attempts by waving my hands and waving my sweater toward him, and all the while, I was saying, "Come on...go to the LIGHT..go to the LIGHT."

The Lord reminded me of something through this "lesson"...the hummingbird had become entrapped. He then became frantic and confused trying to find the way of escape. He was attracted to the artificial light and had I driven off without rescuing him he would have probably beaten himself to death against windows and lights trying to get to the LIGHT...the TRUE LIGHT. In this world, we battle entrapments from the enemy ...we are easily deceived...political deception, propaganda flying everywhere,...we fly into a place that looks like a neat place to explore, only to find we lose our bearings and cannot find the way out. We start running to ARTIFICIAL LIGHT through man made worship experiences, programs, agendas...man made philosophies and movements...not knowing that if we are left there we will hurt ourselves trying to "get to the light" that has appeared in front of us. Satan comes to us every day as an "Angel of light" causing us to place all hope and expectation in some vain philosophy.

The door is closing....God is saying GO TO THE LIGHT. GO TO THE LIGHT. Do we feel His fanning? trying to detract us from running to artificial light? Then he TURNS OFF those lights! and it gets DARK except for one small place. GO TO THE LIGHT...GO TO THE LIGHT...he beats his wings and waves His holy train...GO TO THE LIGHT. The door is closing. WHOM will you believe? Powerful politicians spreading truths which are NOT MY TRUTH? or will you believe ME? I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. It is either Life or Death. Light or Darkness...which will it BE. WHOM will you sing praise songs ME or MAN?
Amen and AMEN
Becky McLendon

I AM...In Your Mist...In Your Midst

In my time w/ the Lord this AM, He spoke the following....
"Trust Me in this: For what you do not yet see, I AM."
So...I write to encourage your hearts in Christ in that what we do not yet see, in what He's given you in His vision...HE IS...AND HE WILL BRING IT TO PASS IN THE FULLNESS OF WHO HE IS...FOR EVEN NOW IN THE MIST AND OUR MIDST, HE IS WORKING TO BRING IT ALL INTO BEING FOR HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE AND GLORY! PRAISE BE TO GOD!
Be encouraged in the Lord.
Ever yours in Christ,
Crista

Jesus-The Lion of Judah Fights Against His Enemies!

Beloved,

I rec'd the following from my friend, Pris. This is a message the Lord gave Dieter who lives in Germany. What is important to understand is that Mr. Obama is bringing God's judgment against the U.S., because of the choices he's making against Israel. God was serious when He said He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her. Gen. 12:3

The Lion of Judah fights against His enemies!

Zech 12:3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. NKJV

Loved brothers and sisters in Yeshua, Today I received several revelations from GOD, about which I may only publish however the latter. I saw Yeshua standing in the sky as a the Lion of Judah with the Scepter of His rule as the true King of Israel before me. HE roars against His enemies, particularly against those, which are against Israel & approach to suppress her and to make her bend to their dictates.

Joel 3:16 NKJV The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem;

The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.

Afterwards I saw clearly president Obama on a high wooden stilts with a Staff & saw, how the Lion of Judah with a blow of His right paw, which smashed Obama's right stilt, so that the stilt broke and president Obama broke away from being on the right page . Thereupon I saw a large and majestic white-headed eagle, which represents the coat of arms animal of the USA in the sky.

The eagle tried to fly as it used to, into the heights. On its flight I saw upward the fact that the wing of its right side was injured, and was carried like a brace. Thus it was weakened and did not achieve dominating strength and flight altitude, like it was used to doing. Where it went he could not control. With each new flight test, at a height to try to win, it stopped after a short time on the right side, in order to float in circling flights downward & again downward. Its strength was broken.

Ezek 30:6 NKJV 'Thus says the Lord: "Those who uphold Egypt shall fall, And the pride of her power shall come down. From Migdol to Syene those within her shall fall by the sword," Says the Lord God.

This revealing says: GOD does not support the USA any longer through

Obama's reign!

I heard a voice say: "In such a way it is issued that each nation against Israel and its true ruler rises!" And to the USA: "Also you, who were large and feared in the nations of the earth, will become strengthless now. Because of your constant pride and arrogance you are made small!"

He will no more support those, who strike holy Israel, only those who will rely in truth & on the Son of Man, "

Written, 31 July 2009

Isa 10:20 NKJV And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

President Obama's cometful high-altitude flight is stopped first! Instead of "Yes we CAN" He must admit now "Yes we can't!" Whoever attacks the existence Israel, in the long run through GOD's intervention will be stopped. An important excerpt from revealing me GOD gave here again: His right paw, smashed the right stilt of Obama's so that the stilt broke and Obama broke away from being on the right page as president".

Read the cutout of an article of of FOCUS ON-LINE ONES from 17 August 2009 as its one which GOD confirmed to me on the 31. July 2009. The health reform was one of the stilts (the domestic large-scale project of Obama's) which now literally away-broke - As I was seeing , it was allowed.

FOCUS ONLINE vom 17.8.09: "Health reform: Obama nicks!"

"The health reform is the domestic large-scale project Obamas. But it becomes ever more questionable, how much of the noble plans remains. Now the US president under the pressure of his opponents had to bend ."

Von EIP (European Info press) On August - 5 - 2009

JERUSALEM - in Israel hangs a poster with the text: "Obama! Let My People Grow. "With this modified sentence from the Bible opposite the Egyptian Pharaoh "Let My People Go! " (Let my people pull) too "Let My People GROW! - let my people grow!" protests one in Israel against the demand of US president Obama to impose over the Jewish settlements a suspension of growth and building work. Netanjahu protests always again for wanting the American pressure to stop, for not giving way, and the building of apartments in the settlements. But the numbers of the Israelis, which will live in Judea and Samaria was reported, & the fact that Netanjahu introduced unofficially a suspension of building work because new building licenses are not being given, & this is why new projects remain unbuilt.

Dieter Beständig Bergstrasse 2 D-79771 Griessen GERMANY

E-Mail: D.Bestaendig@t-online.de

Psalm 91 - Experienced!

You know there are those times that we read The Word, and we read The Word...and we read THE WORD. We hear The Word, hear The Word...and then HEAR THE WORD of the Living God....And we take in His Word....for how will they know unless they hear? How will we know unless we read and hear? And we grow...we take His Word into us...and we grow, because when we take in His Word, we are really taking Jesus in to us...because HE IS THE WORD! And the Word is LIVING!...And the Word grows inside of us, because it is alive, and God makes it grow just like He does a seed in the ground. We plant a seed, water (and talk to it), fertilize, spritz, spray and pray....and one day, POP!...a little shoot above ground.....But before it pops above ground, it must grow in the dark unseen places....But it grows (well, unless you planted a vegetable garden like I DON'T do anymore!)

And we go through life, taking in His Word, and Jesus, filling up with His Spirit...and then something happens that just smacks you in the face, or the gut, or the heart....and God will give us a literal experience to the reality of His Word, His Spirit, His Truth and Who HE IS IN OUR LIVES.

I can't tell you how many times I have quoted that God will never ever, no not ever, leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5 from the Amplified Bible) And this past year, when my most profound prayer from my gut was "God help!", and my mind and heart just could not seem to wrap around very much scripture....God was still there....He IS deeper still....

So, I'd like to share with you how He's brought the reality and Truth of Psalm 91 to the forefront this past week in my life. Will you read with me please? (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 91

v. 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,

and the Most High your dwelling place, (Ps. 91: 1, 14)

v. 10 There shall no evil befall you,

nor any plague or calamity come near your tent,

v. 11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

v. 12 They shall bear you up on their hands,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

[Luke 4:10, 11; Heb. 1, 14]

v. 14 BECAUSE HE HAS SET HIS LOVE UPON ME,

THEREFORE WILL I DELIVER HIM;

I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name ;

has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love and kindness - trusts

and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

v. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble.

I will deliver him and honor him.

v. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

So here's been my week....

Last week Friday, I was driving the highway....70 mph, mindin' my own bidness', when all of a sudden I heard a sound as if I were driving on a rumble strip...which my mind quickly accessed that there was NO rumble strip as the sound increased in intensity....Pulling off I-96 about one mile before my exit, I walked around the end of my car to view a flatter than flat tire...and smoke from the heat! Cell phone in hand...I was going to call my husband (only an hour away! - What's a wife to do?!)....I hadn't even flipped open my pink link to the outside world, when my peripheral vision caught the glimpse of a white auto to my left....It took me a bit off guard....of course by this time, my mind was in a bit of disarray!....THANK-YOU, JESUS! It was a valiant/galient sheriff's deputy come to my aid! Jesus had driven to my aid in a white, sheriff's department car! WooHoo! I hadn't even had time to pray..."Dear God...." HE PROVIDED BEFORE I EVEN ASKED!!!

The deputy was on his way to the scene of a previous accident to do some more investigation....Sure, he'd change my tire. With both our heads inside the trunk, scrounging around for what I knew to be there...but how did they stuff it all in there?....I commented, "I don't know if you're a Christian or not, but I am...AND THIS IS GOD!"

He queried, "Have you been here long?"....And I'm thinking..."Buddy, I JUST pulled off the highway!"....We're talking a matter of seconds...not minutes...seconds!

This is when it gets really God....THERE WAS ABOUT AN 8" GASH IN THE REAR RIGHT TIRE! It had totally blown out! And, I was able to pull off the highway, smooth as glass....

OK...Now, fast forward to yesterday....We've had a "issue" with bees trying to build a nest and infest our enclosed porch....(Last Sunday it sounded like a beehive INSIDE our screened in porch!...Oh...No, no, no, no, NO!) ~Well, the little pests decided to make their way back...so, yesterday, after giving a piano lesson...and my hubby was at work...I thought, "No problem...I'll just climb the ladder and squirt them with our can of handy dandy Bee Be Gone and get them before they get me!....Going up the ladder and giving them a full blast was the easy part...It was coming back down....Looking down to make sure I could see where to put my foot...I THOUGHT I'd made it to the bottom rung and was soon to touch bottom - Cement....About midway down in mid-flight, I knew that I'd not perceived my situation correctly...and I hit the ground full force on my prosthetic, left hip and bee-hind....I just laid on the ground for about a minute or so....listening to the cars whizzzzz past our home...and probably someone (or at least I hope so!), wondering why I'd be lying on the sidewalk in front of my entry door...just gazing up at the sky!....No way was I just sun-bathing! You know what I mean?

This time...there was no cell phone at hand....no neighbor close enough to even remotely hear a cry for help....so I just lay still until I got my bearings and my courage to get up....Everything moved....My derriere hurt like the dickens, but I could move....Well, later, I called my orthopaedic surgeon's office...just to touch base...Yeah, come on in for x-rays....Well, PRAISE GOD...everything is just fine!

Now...if this isn't PROOF of God's protection....I don't know what is!

By the way...the Lord also took care of my dryer issue w/ Sears...Yes, I had to make the phone calls...but He directed me to the person who saw to it that the job would be done right! THANK-YOU, JESUS!!!!

My blogging will experience a brief two week intermission....See ya' later!

Be blessed everyone!

URGENT or ETERNAL: A Call for Empty Hands

I thought this is excellent....and truly "meaty".....Chew slowly....I know so many in the Body of Christ who've been dealing with a lot of pressing issues lately, so this is very timely. Our God IS an on-time God! His mercies are new every morning....and in the evening, too! This is a Word in dues season.
God bless you, dear hearts!

Illuminations Newsletter

Kelly's Blog
FEATURED ARTICLE

I believe that because something heavenly is emerging and birthing the kingdom of darkness rouses situations and emergent circumstances to distract our attention and response away from it.

It is theft.

Let's call it what it is.


URGENT or ETERNAL: A Call for Empty Hands

August 17, 2009

Is It Urgent or Eternal?

Emptying Our Hands for the Lord

Recently a friend who feels tasked with writing a book asked me how I find time to write because life constantly presents so much urgent stuff. I was shocked by my own answer but relieved by it at the same time. Regarding all of the urgent stuff I said, "Ignore it." Shocking!

This is something that I have learned: The Urgent is the enemy of the Eternal.

Have you noticed that when God gives you a vision of an Eternal mission or purpose all of earth and all of hell begin to kick up a fuss? Statistically this is impossible to ignore and perhaps it is more revelatory than we know. Could it be that the intensity which you are bombarded with distraction and opposition is an indicator of the degree of Eternal Significance God has placed upon that which you are called to do or called to become? I am sure of it.

When God asks us to participate in His heavenly initiatives we must be free to give ourselves and all of our attention to Him. We must be free to respond to Him and to be responsible which in fact means "able to respond." We are so privileged to be invited and included in what He is doing.

Watchman Nee says it sublimely; he encourages us to empty ourselves of all that would put any restriction on our response to God. He instructs that we must not have "anything in hand" that would prevent us from using our hands to do the work of the Lord. He tells us that we must stand before the Lord with open and empty hands waiting to respond to His word, his call, His movement.

It follows that we have to watch what we react to and we must carefully consider things that we pick up. So often we are reactive to most anything that impacts us. This often is an emotional response and we have come to see it as loving and Christian. So, the enemy uses this to keep many totally preoccupied with reacting emotionally to needs, to crises, to news. It is a form of bondage. Are we the sons and daughters of God to be led by the urgent, the seemingly needful, the popular? Jesus said, "One thing is needful." Him.

In regard to urgent things we have to ask ourselves, "Who determines urgency?" Typically it is the person presenting the scenario, the one calling on the phone, the one displaying the most emotional reaction. The squeaky wheel gets the grease more often than not. How many squeaky wheels have we oiled with the anointing that God has poured upon our lives? We pour out and pour out in our emotional reactions and then we find we feel spent and burnt out.

For years I have asked the Lord about His late arrival at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I am not challenging Him; I just want to get the revelation if you know what I mean. One layer of revelation in the seemingly delayed response of Jesus is that He determines urgency. He sets the times and the seasons; our part is to discern them. He is the Christ, the anointed One, who is fully submitted to the Father. He only says what the Father is saying, He only speaks what He hears the Father speak, He only moves as the Father moves. Let it be on earth as it is in heaven.

I really believe, and by the way I have learned the hard way, that all of our responses are for Him.
Romans 6:13 instructs us to yield and submit all of our selves-every aspect of our beings-to Him for His use, and He will use us as His instruments of righteousness. And Lord, let us not incline our ears to another!

I believe that because something heavenly is emerging and birthing the kingdom of darkness rouses situations and emergent circumstances to distract our attention and response away from it. It is theft. Let's call it what it is.

I believe this need to discern the difference between the urgent and the eternal is what Jesus talked about when He said all that business about leaving your father and mother and such. He spoke in parables, I believe--since He led by example and He never left His precious mother unattended to. Think of Him calling out to John from the Cross, "John, My man, take care of My Mother!" I believe He means that to birth Eternal things and moves of God and Heavenly initiatives we must 'leave' the clambering, urgent, fussy, and sometimes even what others deem important.

The organizational strategist Steven Covey says, "Don't get caught up in the thick of thin things."

We, as Spirit-led sons and daughters of God must stop reacting! We must quiet our spirits in His Presence and ask "Lord, how are You RESPONDING to this situation?" Then when we allow His response to flow through us heaven comes to earth and His will is manifested.

Sometimes we over manage our own lives. We want to manage our time, our relationships, our careers, our children and their lives... I have been a miserable failure at this! So, I have turned it over to His responsibility. His care is perfect and He loves my children more than I do. He loves them perfectly.

Being free of feeling responsible for everything that goes on around me---and free from making certain people are happy and happy with me---well--it is freedom. I can attest that since He has brought me into this place all of my relationships are blessed and so is the work that I do.

I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him---and that's everything.

So, having said all of that... You really need to be free to do all that He is calling you to do in this season of harvest. Take your liberty from all that He reveals to you is hindering you from the task. Sometimes we stay on the Path of Life that He has for us by way of what we are willing to ignore. Either He is the Master, or the urgent things are the master. It is a call to toughness in a way. Or discipline.

Press on!

Love and Jesus,

Kelly

Roots and Suffering

I received the following from Priscilla Van Sutphin the other day....Now, if you read Friday's post, you will understand why I just get so thrilled with the Lord when He sends His confirmation - especially when I'm feeling a bit worn out from my own journey the Lord has me on! Please note that the italicized, bold and red type are my edits, because I cannot highlight them in this blog.
Are you suffering for Christ's sake...the Body of Christ?....Then I say to you, you've got roots, baby!
And when your breakthrough comes...He is THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS THE GLORY!
Be encouraged today!
Love and blessings always,
Crista

Rev 22:2-5 NKJV2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Understanding Suffering
Elvis Iverson
http://www.elvisiverson.com/

Many are saying why me Lord? Understanding suffering will help us see our own purpose in order to have endurance during those times. Most suffering is not from God. God does no evil. God is a father and a father cares and loves his children. At the same there are some who are not teaching Christians in how to deal with suffering. In this article I will try to help you understand suffering. Besides, there is more than one form of suffering that Christians will go through. You must say why do you go through this kind of suffering, then think about what you're doing for the Kingdom and this will tell you why.
The Word says; “Jesus Christ learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” –Heb.. 5:8. When we are going to live a life of obedience we will suffer at certain times. Suffering comes to see if we will stand in our obedience to the Lord. The Word say; “Yes, and all who desire to live in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” –2 Tim. 3:12. When you desire to follow the ways of the Lord and to be lead by the Holy Spirit there will be attacks of suffering that come against you.
Don’t listen to them and don’t be moved by them, and don’t count your life dear to yourself. The Word says; “There is a blessing upon those that are persecuted for righteousness sake.” –Matt. 5:10. God will bless those in this life and the next that willingly go through suffering for the Gospel sake. The Word says we suffer for righteousness sake. The Word says; “That we should rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. “ –1 Pet. 4:13. We are to rejoice and believe God for exceeding joy to come from God. The Word says we are to partake in Christ’s suffering. There are rewards that come through partaking in His suffering.
In addition, we are to fellowship in his sufferings with the saints. What we suffer we gain with Christ. When we are conformed to His death we will partake with the power of His resurrection. We are to know Him in His sufferings and in His power. –Phil. 3:10-11. The Word says; “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God will rest upon you.” –1 Pet. 4:14.
When we go through suffering we are blessed and the Spirit of glory and of God will rest upon you. Apart from that, the Word says; “about Apostle Paul that he rejoice in his suffering for the church of Colossians, he said he was fill up in his flesh what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the Church.” –Col. 1:24.
This shows us that apostles will go through suffering on the behalf of the churches that they care for, and if they suffer shall not other Christians suffer with them. Christians will suffer for the church to come forth in victory.
Nevertheless, the Word says; “about those who don’t have any root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” – Mk. 4:17. Not every one can go through such suffering for Christ. Some Christians don’t have good roots in Christ yet. The Word says that tribulation and persecution arise for the Word’s sake. Suffering comes For the Word sake. This is why Christians must be grounded in the Word and in Love before suffering comes.
Furthermore, the Word says; “ in Acts eight that great persecution arose against the church and what do we see when we read this that the Word spread everywhere. In Acts eleven that after persecution arose that church of Antioch was birthed. Wow! This tells us that no matter what happens, the Church will move forth.
It says that through many tribulations we enter into the Kingdom of God. –Acts 14:22.
Copyright © 2004 S.I.M. All Rights Reserved

Desolation and Desperation

Beloved, have you been feeling desolate and desperate of late? Has the Lord brought you to the Valley of the Shadow of Death...that desert place of isolation and grief out of which only HE can deliver you? Are you not only in the fire, but it has been intensified to the nth degree? Then you will understand the following encouragement that the Lord gave me this morning....If not now, then someday.....

As some of you know this last year has been a haul....and how all that relates to the vision for LifeCare Ministries....Lately, the Lord has led me to Is. 54:1 and how barrenness/desolation in this scripture parallels the original promise He gave me for this ministry from Gen. 18:14. More are the children of the desolate than the married....Sarah was barren and beyond childbearing age, yet the Lord said at the appointed time, according to the time of LIFE, that Sarah would bear a son.

Here's what the Lord put on my heart this morning with Him:
1) Desolation stokes the fires of desperation.
Isaiah 54:1 In our desolation, the intensity of our desperation is multiplied exponentially to the nth degree. .....Can anyone say 3 Hebrew children and the fire being stoked 7 times hotter at this point?

2) Desperation fuels the intensity of our prayers.
It's not the words we use, but the depth of the heart...not what comes out of our heads, but what comes out of our gut/bellies/heart - Out of our bellies shall flow rivers of Living Water. Allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us with groanings IS LIVING WATER! Rom. 8:18-26. On the Cross, Jesus cried out, "MY GOD! MY GOD! WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!"
It is exactly this type of prayer/communication with God which pours out of us with the passion that is only birthed out of desperation and desolation.

3) Righteousness and obedience in the face of desolation reap the harvest.
Believe in God in the desert! In the desolate/Valley places, the choices we make determine the outcome. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Gal. 3:6 In Gal. 6:9, God promises that we shall reap a harvest if we do not weary in doing good. In other words, in the desert, in the Valley, we continue to be found faithful, conforming to the will of God, trusting in God - THROUGH THE VALLEY/THROUGH THE DESERT - and HE WILL BRING THE HARVEST FROM THE BARREN PLACES.

God bless you....Numbers 6:24-26
In His love always~
Crista

WARNING!

Wake-up call! Watch this video from Glen Beck via FOX NEWS posted on YouTube.
DO NOT GO TO cars.gov! We are not to live in fear, but to live as wise for the days are evil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAOBlqUqUZ8

Remember, the Lord admonishes us to be as gentle as "wise as serpents and harmelss as doves." Matt. 10:16

"See then that you walk circumstpectly, not as fools but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5:15-17

Trust in God!

I rec'd the following from my dear friend, Leigh Larson, who awoke to this email message from the Lord via Pastor Alex in the Philippines whom InTents Ministry supports. How timely!

This is what the Lord says ... your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

"I am the Lord your God,Who teaches you what is best for you,

Who directs you in the way you should go."Isaiah 48:17†††

Many today, are waiting for and seeking direction.

Lives have changed, situations have changed, careers have changed ...

but our God in Heaven never changes!

He is ready to direct our pathways ..

but first, we must learn to let go of what has been,

and allow God to work and move, and give Him the reins.

He knows what we can do alone,

but He wishes us to allow Him to do for us,

in His own very special way.

Better things are in store, for those who will be faithful to trust.

We cannot allow fear to take over.

We cannot allow the enemy to steal our focus, or our joy.

God is our Stronghold, in all troubles, and we must never, ever forget that!

There are times when we need to trust in God, and in Him Alone,

and it is that time for many today!

His power is far above that of our situations and circumstances!

He has the perfect way out of troubles, if we will only remain focused upon Him!

The Lord via Pastor Alex

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not

on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him,

and He will direct your paths."