Hand Holding

This past Sunday, the Lord gave us a message at the nursing home about upholding one another. While Moses was in battle, the Israelites were winning as long as Moses' arms were lifted up. Aaron and Ur came alongside to lift up his arms...."So Joshua defeated Amelek and his people with the edge of the sword." (Read Exodus 17:8-13)
It's like me walking across an icy parking lot. I can do it - alone...but I prefer not to - because after having a total hip replacement (and even without one!), I really DON'T want to take unnecessary risks that I may fall. So, I wait for my husband, and he holds me while I make my way across the shiny, frozen sea. This way, if there happens to be "black" ice also....ice which is not visible...he's there to support me through this navigational arena, too.

Brothers and Sisters, we are to support, encourage and lift up one another. We are His Body and in so doing, we love God (Whom we can't see) by loving each other (whom we can see).

I hope you're encouraged in your heart to stretch and grow today by the following scriptures and the story that was sent to me today...written by an unknown author. Maybe the Lord wants you to hold someone else's hand....as He holds ours.

Blessings and love always,

Crista

Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion....

Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

One Stone is enough to break a Glass...... One Sentence is enough to break a Heart...... One second is enough to Fall in Love...... and One Misunderstanding is Sufficient to Break Friendship. Friendship is the Rainbow between Hearts.

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand." "What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me,
chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."~Jesus~John 1:28-29

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.
So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

He IS Ever with Us THROUGH the Winter!

Well, it is still winter here in Michigan...and some things which have happened of late caused my heart to stir and The Lord reminded me of His bird called the "Cardinal".

It is quite a tall bird (8.75 inches/22 cm. with a 12 inch wingspan) compared to the little ones who come to the feeders with him.

But the cardinal has a very, very gentle spirit....and he will yield - allowing the other little birds to feed first, while he patiently sits and waits for them to finish....or he will quietly feed beside the others.

Now, this photo was taken last winter during January of 2009 when we had very bitter, cold winds and snow here in Michigan.

The wind chill was -20F/-30C. THAT IS COLD!!!!!!

During the winter, many of our summer birds migrate south. But not the cardinal.

He stays all the time during the tough winters. He never leaves.

And he always gives us great joy whenever we see him, because he stands out so brilliantly - oftentimes against the faded sun of winter.

You see, the papa cardinal is symbolic of the Blood of Christ.

And as the cardinal never leaves us in the winter...neither does Jesus.

When we go through the winters of life's bitter, cold storms...

~or the fires which burn 7 times hotter....

~He is always there with us....

~And when the winter is done....

~He will bring the song of the turtle dove.

This is His Promise....

~For He Who Promised IS Faithful and True.
Be Blessed Today, Beloved of His Heart!

Hebrews 13:5b (Amplified) "...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will not], [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]"

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 "For, behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."

Harvest Time

This year has begun with the gunshot at the starting line which marks our "off and running". The Lord continues to bring home His message to my heart that "It is Time". And He confirmed this by having my sons give me a new watch for Christmas....because He told my oldest son, "It is time."

My old watch is a "Relic"...and I like the interwoven silver/gold-plating on this watch. But it is symbolic in that a "relic" is out of the past...and definitely indicates the old, ancient things. The new watch is silver and is a "Caravelle" Bulova. What we didn't know was the meaning of "Caravelle" until Christmas morning when I opened my watch.

A "Caravelle" is a noun. Nautical Any of several types of small, light sailing ships, especially one with two or three masts and lateen (Latin) sails used by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries. I cannot tell you all of the significance of this, but I can tell you that the ships represent ministry and movement on the seas which I believe are indicative of His ministry supported on the sea of His Holy Spirit. (Mid-December marked the submission to the IRS for our 501c3 ministry application.)

So, this morning during my time with the Lord, He answered a question of mine in this way. I know that it is not only for my husband and I personally, but how He is speaking to others who have been waiting and waiting for His Time.

May He bless your heart with His words.

"It is a new time for you. I have prepared you for this time. You have sown My Word into you and now it is harvest time, and I alone know where the harvest is ripe for harvest. Not every crop is harvested at the same moment/time. Everything in your life I am bringing together for such a time as this, and you shall be amazed, My love, for it is I Who do the work-not you.

I have orchestrated it all; for it is not by might nor power of your own, but all that I do in and through you.

Seek first My Kingdom, listen in ways which I will speak to you and obey as I tell you, and I shall bring the harvest.

Just as the farmer prepares the ground, plants the seed, waters the seed, removes the weeds and then waits for the fullness of the seed to mature, so do you and I do the same. You cannot make the seed grow. You can only provide the most conducive (best) conditions for its growth, but you cannot control the sun, temperature or rain. You do what I say and leave the rest to Me. And when the field is ripe for harvest, I will take you there for I know where the fields are ripe for the picking.

Some harvest will come as a result of My seed planted inside your own heart (that you've sown in your time with Me), and some of the harvest will be a result for see sown through your mouth and actions, and some seed will produce harvest from the work others have done. You shall Glory (rejoice) in My hand and heart.

Be of good cheer for I see every tear drop you have sown. I have heard your prayers. And I alone know THE TIME for what, all that I have ordained through you; My Precious Vessel; prepared by Me for such a time as this. I AM a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Me. It is not your words, but your heart that I desire. It is the integrity of your heart and life before Me; for I alone discern the motives of the heart; for what is impossible with man is possible with Me. Nothing is hidden from My sight. All is naked before Me. As Jesus hung naked on the Cross, so are you naked before Me. Every thought, word, deed and motive is naked before Me. I see the seeds inside of you and I see the fruit of that seed.

Bring your heart before Me, and I will root out all that which is contrary to My Spirit, My Word and My Will. And after I have removed it for you, then shall My love come and fill these places, too. All I do, I do for your good, because I love you with an everlasting love and My delight is in you.

The old is gone; the new is here. Rejoice and be glad in it. Your Redeemer draws nigh."

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Psalm 66:10, 12 "For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined."..."We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment."

Luke 12:2-3 "For these is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops."

Mark 4:26-29 "And He said, "The kindom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by the day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself, first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

Genesis 14:18 "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Isaiah 18-19 "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Crista Simmons - LifeCare 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.

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.