Listen carefully to authentic prophecies

Church leaders, listen carefully to authentic prophecies.

The reason that God has provided prophets is so that His will can be heard, understood, and obeyed. The major source of the revelation of God is the bible, and no authentic prophecy could ever contradict the scriptures. But there are many things that God wants to tell us today that cannot be found in the Bible. Biblical revelation is known by the Greek word logos, while contemporary revelation through prophecy is known as rhema. Because they are both the word of God, we must not neglect either one.

I use the adjective "authentic" to modify prophecy because, unfortunately, there are many spurious prophecies going around. In fact, because of some bad experiances with unauthentic prophecy, some have gone overboard and rejected the ministry of prophecy in general. They shouldn't do this any more than they should reject pastoral ministry because of some bad pastors or teaching ministry because of some bad teachers, both of which are common enough. Seemingly in anticipation of this, Paul writes, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thes. 5:19-21). In other words, one of the ways of quenching the Spirit is to reject prophecy, and we don't want to do that.

Taken from: "Seven Power Principles That I Didn't Learn in Seminary" by C. Peter Wagner

Isaiah 56:7

Isaiah 56:7
"My house shall be called a house of Prayer." The word "prayer" here is the Hebrew tephillah, which means "psalm" or prayer set to music. It is another word for what we call "worship."

Sources of information about the invisible world are not limited to the Bible!

Sources of information about the invisible world are not limited to the Bible. Arriving at this conclusion was a major revision of what I was taught about in seminary. I firmly continue to believe that the Bible is our principle and only inerrant source of information about the supernatural. What the Bible teaches cannot be contradicted. But the bible is not our only source. For one thing, while God spoke through the Bible, He also speaks today and He frequently gives us new information. Even the dark side of the invisible world can provide us some valuable information as well if we are careful to filter it through lenses of sanctified discernment.

Taken from "Seven Power Principles That I Didn't Learn in Seminary" by C. Peter Wagner

The importance of holding

A women needs to be held. Even if, and science has shown this, if it's by someone who's not important. Hormones are released and the amount of hormones released depend on the degree by which she is held. The 1st and best is complete suround. He wraps you in both arms, and whispers how beautiful you are. 2nd best is the arm around. He is next to you, but with one arm around you. 3rd is, he's just next to you on his elbow, but he wraps his hand across your stomach and looks at you. 4th is you snuggling up to him with your head on his chest while he looks awasy into space. When the 1st, best happens, we feel completely wonderfully like a woman.

Quote taken from the movie "Shop Girl" with Clare Dane

Welsh Warrior Princess

My mom found this and sent it to me declaring it was me!
She knows me so well :) I Love you Mom!

Ephesians 6:11-18
11. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15. and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Breakthrough is coming

Romans 9:16

"It does not therefore depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

We are in a season of standing on this word--that His mercy, not our effort, will make a way for His desire. I believe this truth revealed, can help many who feel they need to work for what Jesus has already paid the price for...

Breakthrough is coming--because it's on Heaven's time table!

I love you!

Discovering the limitless God

Discovering the Limitless God

Most of us truly, desperately want God to be all in all in our lives. We want to want His good and perfect will to be done, even if we have to die in the process. We want to do whatever He asks of us--to be perfect for Him, to spend ourselves for Him.Obviously, nothing is wrong at all with this passion; however, it can occasionally cause some problems, because we, being human, often try to survive on our own willpower. We have the tendency to try to make things happen in our own strength. So saying, Christians can live in extreme guilt if we feel we don't measure up to "the divine standards" of God.
The scary realization that we have issues (issues that might even include keeping God at a distance), can be difficult for well-meaning Christians to live with. But here's the rub: The walls we've unconsciously, or consciously, built to protect ourselves from injury, do not make God mad at us. He is not disgusted or disappointed by the walls we've thrown up or by the signs posted to keep Him out. Our boundaries do not condemn us. We will live trembling, terrified, unproductive lives if we believe that our salvation rests in our strength instead of God's. This is why trusting Jesus' love, and free grace-full salvation, is so important--because it sincerely is a matter of trust, even when we feel like all is lost. Is He who He says He is? This is the question of our existence.

Understanding the Father's Heart

It is hard for human beings in a fallen world to comprehend the Father's heart--the true-blue, romantic, passionate, fatherly, brotherly, motherly love of God. He completely respects us in all regards, including our walls. This next statement flies in the face of traditional Christian teaching, but--it's okay to have boundaries with God. He wants what is real from us. He doesn't want lip service. He is willing to wait for as long as it takes, in order to have our hearts. If all we can give Him right now is a glance from across the room, then He'll take that glance and patiently wait for the rest. If all we can give Him is a mere sliver of our true self, He'll take that piece, no matter its size . . . and patiently, lovingly, wait for the rest.To quote a man long remembered for his romantic nature, "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds" (Shakespeare, Sonnet 116). Do you know--sincerely know in the depths of your heart, how true this is of your Father? Your walls don't send Him on a pity party. Your wrong choices don't scare Him away. Whatever you're going through right now, He knows. He understands it even more than you do, so don't think that what you're dealing with might make Him angry at you. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Don't worry about your runaway emotions. Don't worry about the things that scare you in the deepest parts of your soul. Don't be afraid of God. There is nothing in Him to condemn you. He knows, and He loves, and He fights for you more than you could imagine.

John Paul Jackson

Divine Intervention

Divine Intervention -Joni Ames

I don't know about you, but for me, the few months that we are into this year have seemed extremely rough. Usually we can look to the new year, saying, "Whew! Glad last year is over, and I am glad a new year is beginning!" However, this year has been one of the hardest starts to a new year that I can recall in recent time. There have been times when I have just shouted, "Hey! What's the deal?"

At the same time, there have been some times of divine visitation and breakthrough as well. Truly it has seemed that there has been "Extreme Warfare." We need to continue to press on and cry out for "Divine Intervention" so that it will continue to lead to "Extreme Victory!"

During this time, I have had several "experiences" that have led me deeper into the Word and into my relationship with the Lord. Some of these have brought personal deliverance of sorts, or have given me specific directions on various levels, and all have come at very strategic times when I needed them the most.

Redeeming The Time

I was on a ministry trip, and staying overnight in a motel. When I woke up, I checked the time on each of my two cell phones (I had one for North Carolina and one for Florida because I was in the midst of moving from one state to the other). The time on each read 7:17 a.m. Now, why I checked them both, I don't know!

Anyhow, I went on about my business--got a cup of coffee, turned on Good Morning America, walked my two, sat back down, and again checked the time. Each of the cell phones read 5:56 a.m. I said out loud, "That's impossible," and looked again. It remained the same. So I asked the Lord, "What's happening, Lord?"

"I'm redeeming the time, as I told you I would," He said. He then reminded me that, at the end of last year, one second was added to the atomic clocks around the world. (Those are the clocks that are synchronized to keep us all on time.) I felt it was prophetic, and asked the Lord about it. He said, "I'm giving my people a second chance and restoring lost time."

I told Him, "One second isn't very long, Lord." To which He replied, "Don't tell that to an Olympian! One tenth of a second can mean the difference between getting or not getting a gold medal! Besides that, I'm the one that, with Me, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years, as a day. In one second, I can restore an entire lifetime of lost years--and I plan to restore many in this year to come!

"Dispossessing The Enemy

The Lord then used the [original cell phone time on the clocks of] 7:17 to direct me to Deuteronomy 7:17. It says, "If you should say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?'"

He said, "When you hear of things like the Bird Flu, nations becoming a threat, destructive storms, etc., do not say that they are too strong! If you do that, how can I dispossess them?!" In the same way, if you say that your stray child is 'too far gone,' how can I reach them? If you say that your finances are 'impossible,' how can I take care of them? If you say that any situation is too strong, how can I help you? Life and death are in the power of your tongue! Be cautious of how you speak, for My Word says, 'As your faith is, so be it unto you!'"

He then led me to Psalms 106:29-31: (29) ".....A plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, And the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore."

He said, "It is time to stand up and intervene! Pray on behalf of My People that these plagues [will] be stopped! Do not stand in agreement with the newscasters that they will wipe out 1/3 of the people! Do not say they are too hard for Me! Intervene, and speak death to the plagues, instead of [to] the people!"

What is plaguing you and yours? "The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force!" (Matthew 11:12) Wage war with the prophecies made concerning you and yours! (I Timothy 1:18 & 19) Stand up and intervene on behalf of yourselves and your families, so that [all of] the things that have been "plaguing" you may be halted!

Faith

Mustard seeds have always meant a lot to me because of the story in the Bible about them, but also because whenever someone gave me a mustard seed necklace when I was a child, the seed would actually grow and form a little branch and leaf inside that little ball on the necklace! Also, my given middle name on my birth certificate is Faith.

One day when I was going through a lot of "stuff," I said to the Lord, "It is a good thing Faith is my middle name, because I wouldn't have any Faith if not for that!" He then reminded me that He has given to each of us a MEASURE of faith: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

Then He led me into the "Weights and Measures" chart that was inside my Bible to find out just how much "A MEASURE" is. My chart said "six gallons." Then the Lord spoke to me and said, "Remember what one tiny mustard seed can do?":

Matthew 17:20 says, "So Jesus said to them, '....Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'"

Then He said: "Now remember I gave you A MEASURE--SIX GALLONS of faith--so think of it as SIX One Gallon Milk Jugs Full Of Mustard Seeds! How many mountains can you move with that?! Do you see how much faith I gave you?! PLUS, if you use it all up, I'm the 'Author And Finisher Of Your Faith', so I can Make and Give To You Some MORE!"

Remember: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) It is what God uses of OURS to create HIS MIRACLES--Us believing in Him enough to pray, or TALK TO HIM! Then He reminded me....Faith and Works go hand in hand... (James 2:17-26)

And so it is, if we truly have faith--if we truly believe in Him--we will believe Him--and our actions will show it. We will move towards what we are supposedly believing Him for, and speak in faith instead of doubt! In fact, we will actually "prepare for our miracle," and act like we DO actually BELIEVE Him! All it takes is a "little" faith--the size of a mustard seed--and He's already given to EACH of us, SIX Whole Gallons of that!


So, let's put feet on our faith and RUN THE RACE set before us, moving MANY mountains!

1 Corinthians 9:24: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may OBTAIN it."

Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight (worry, fear, distraction), and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Matthew 14:31: And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Matthew 9:22: Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.


Matthew 9:29: Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you!"


PRAYER

Dear Lord,
We ask You for Your intervention. We repent from our sins, including repenting from acquiescing the authority You have given to us to have faith and be overcomers. Forgive us for saying that anything is stronger than You, for nothing is! Help us to keep our conversations pure and wise. We ask that You lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake, and help us to remember that winter has passed, spring is here, and it is time to blossom and bloom where You have planted us! May we become YOUR beautiful garden!

In Jesus' name, Amen!

Joni Ames

Verse of the Day :)

Psalm 126
1When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
3The LORD has done great things for us;
We are glad.
4Restore our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.
5Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
6He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

How to grow roses in the Desert

HOW TO GROW ROSES IN YOUR DESERT – Kathie Walters

Have you ever been in a desert? I was once on a bus going across the desert in Egypt. About 1:30pm the bus broke down. It was HOT and DRY and BARREN. I can’t remember what happened, except that mercifully, ano ther bus came after a while. There was nothing there in this desert except sand, sand and more sand.

Is He going to kill me?

Someone gave me a word one time- “God is going to speak to you in the desert.” I thought God was going to kill me. I remembered the desert in Egypt. Then I heard a message about the wilderness- Oh God, now He’s going to leave me and let me wander around all alone for months or years. I was busy ministering for God, and God was moving and people were being touched and our ministry as going great. It was a puzzle and a bit annoying. It looked like God was going to interfere with my ministry?

Why God’s desert places?

Why does God sometimes draw us into a desert, wilderness place? A punishment? Kind of like standing a child in the corner? Maybe He wants to see if we can survive or not?

Let’s take a look around the desert wilderness place. You’re right, there’s nothin g there. Great! What now? Well guess what? There’s someone coming toward you? There’s something about Him that is pulling on yor heartstrings. He has all your attention now – nothing else there to distract you. “ “I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her, and she shall sing there.” (Hos.2:14). An old man of God I know said this to me one “ Until you’ve learned to sing in the wilderness, you’ve never learned to sing.” So, now this man in the desert has got your attention – and you remember a few things you kinda forgot. Well you didn’t actually forget it’s just that they got pushed into the background of your life.

Who is this man?

This man in the wilderness - He is incredibly beautiful, His eyes especially. They seem like a fire and piercing. And what great love – and He is so tender and gracious. You remember! He is the Lord - real ly. As you melt, a spirit of worship comes and thankfulness and great joy. “Where have you been?” He asks. Ouch – “Well I was busy in your kingdom, doing things for you.” As soon as you said it you realized it didn’t matter – it was YOU he was interested in, not what you did. He seems so focused on you. He loves YOU -

In verse 16 God says “ In that day you will call me ISHI .. A prophetic term for “Close relationship.”“ISHI.”

He wants to remind you –He desires a close relationship with you. You are not only a servant but you are His beloved. There’s some things He’s been trying to tell you too. Some new direction, about renewing some relationships that you didn’t have time for, or thought you didn’t. Some different areas of ministry maybe.

You might be in a desert, but the desert doesn’t have to be in you. Jesus said there are spr ings of water in you, “springing up into everlasting life.” The springs begin to well up, and praise and adoration flows out of you. Before you know it the springs are watering everything around you. You see things differently, you feel differently about people you didn’t notice before.

Growing Roses

When Jesus shows up the wilderness – the wilderness disappears. The desert starts growing flowers. Whoever heard of Roses in the desert? …..”.And the desert shall blossom like as a Rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing “ (Is.35:1-2).

Is.35:6-7. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water ….”

That happens when the water of life flows out of you – and it flows as you respond to Him. ISHI – close relationship. The Beloved is here - touching the very springs of life in you. “My Beloved is mine and I am His..” (Song. 2:16). There’s a sweet aroma now in the desert, like sweet apples. Flowers of praises, blossoms of thanksgiving. It’s a beautiful place.

Wait! “Who is this coming out from the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved?” (Song 8:5). Why it’s someone beautiful – it’s YOU.

Kathie Walters -

Plumb-Line

I was given this as a plumb-line to use to help discern the voice of the Lord by a dear friend. I thought it would bless you!

My Sheep Know My Voice
For the Good Sheperd
Never Speaks Words of
Despair, Hopelessness,
Frustration, Defeat,
Discouragement, Fear,
Confusion or Failure...
But only words of Hope,
Rest, Victory, Peace,
Power, Joy, Triumph & Love!

Blame it on the Train!

BLAME IT ON THE TRAIN!

More essays from my friend!!!

"The Steps God Has Taken in Releasing the Prophetic Word Through My Life"

My first experience with prophecy was January, 2005. I was invited and attended a New Year’s party where a group of girls would be praying and having a meal to represent that of the last supper, breaking bread, and having wonderful fellowship with each other. Eventually the party moved upstairs where an elderly couple (Bonnie and Ernie Cottrell) were beginning to explain prophecy. They were praying and speaking in tongues ( something else I had very little experience with). Girl by girl, they prophesied, taping everything that was said. I sat back and watched, praying in my understanding, since I knew nothing else to do. A peace came upon me as I listened and agreed with much that they were saying. It was so encouraging. Since words of affirmation is a very strong love language in me, I became excited yet a bit apprehensive about being prophesied over. I can truly say that experience with prophecy changed my life.
Within a matter of months, I was praying in tongues and learning to prophesy over others. I began by praying for people, interceding in a way where I knew that what I was praying for was exactly what they needed prayer for. During this time, God began to show me that the journal I had written to God since I was eighteen was actually very prophetic. I would write to God and He would answer me. I couldn’t believe it. God had been prophesying to me and others before I even knew what prophecy was! In telling me this, He gave me confidence to believe that the things I envision are from Him and not from a wild imagination.
Soon, God began giving me images to share with others. I would prophesy by explaining the image, telling them what I saw and what I believed God was telling me to say. Eventually that grew to not even receiving a picture. God would just tell me to open my mouth and words would flow out of me faster than I knew what I was saying, but I saw people react. I saw them laugh and cry and I knew that I was being used by God, even when I had no clue what I was saying.
One night at our Bible study, we were all laying prostrate, worshiping God and crying out to Him. God told me to go over to the leader of the group and prophesy over her and when I went, I was to say, "The Lord says," something I had never done before. As usual, I argued with God, telling him I would write it out and give it to her, or I would email her tomorrow. Holy Spirit would not leave me alone until I went over to her and laid my hand on her back. The minute I did, he released a word into me about her, a rhema ( as I know it is called now). She had been losing weight and God wanted to encourage her. He told her how her physical losing weight was going to be represented in her spiritual life, that she was even going to war differently as this weight came off, that though she didn’t realize it, losing this weight was not only a physical battle, but a spiritual one and she was winning and would continue to win, but it was going to lead her into a greater battle with much pain and much stretching. When I was done, she told me she wished she had recorded it and, teasingly, asked me to write it in an email the next day. Crazy thing was, I was able to, so I sent it to her that next day, knowing that what I wrote was just as clear and powerful as what God had told me to say before.
My teacher and mentor is and has been Barby Nestor, who had taken this class and began to use our Wednesday Bible study as a time to train all of us in prophetic activation. Eventually, Barby told me that I should take MSG and the School of the Prophets, so I could learn more. She told me about activations that were done and how much she learned in the process.
So here I am, now learning that when I prophesy, by faith, I must say, "The Lord says." Every time I come I find myself amazed with the amount of power in which my classmates speak. I stand in awe of the ways God allows me to encourage those around me and I praise Him with a deeper reverence in seeing how much He blesses all of us through prophecy.
It seems so very hard to believe that a year and a half ago, I didn’t know this way of life. I find it hard to believe that there was ever a time that I did not pray prophetically. Almost every week I pray for another way to exercise my gift because I know it will only grow through reason of use. It has been an interesting journey and I know it’s only beginning.


"How the Holy Spirit Gifts Have Manifested in My Life."

I was looking at my best friend, but I wasn’t seeing her, I was seeing a spirit of self-pity that had attached itself to her eyeballs, guiding her vision to what it wished for her to see. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I tell you, spirit of self-pity, you must leave. Through the power of Christ you are being frozen and are not allowed to move around anymore. You cannot direct my friend’s eyes. She will not feel sorry for herself anymore. You have been found out and are being revealed in the light. That which is revealed in the light, in truth, cannot remain in the darkness anymore. You must go, in the name of Jesus Christ."
I was going through a crash course in healing ministries. There were two of us ministering to my best friend. Every time I look back on that day, I am yet again astonished at what God accomplished through us. It wasn’t until the next day that I was truly able to say to someone, smiling, yet timidly, "I cast out demons yesterday, in the name of Jesus Christ. God truly led me to do something that Jesus Christ himself did."
Now, do I break that down into the different gifts that were manifested in that day? Do I tell you that there was definitely a word of knowledge given, possibly many words of wisdom, that I was given strong discernment of spirits? There were prophetic activations done during that time. When a spirit of bad-girl would not leave, we warred by singing a kid’s song, holding hands and dancing in a circle. It was important that she restored the sense of innocense that had been lost. Would the spirit have left if we hadn’t done that? I don’t know. What I do know is I was being led by something greater than myself because you can’t usually get me to sing kid’s songs with my 20-something friends, especially when it’s "Ring Around the Rosie." I’m an English teacher. I know the origination of that song. It’s not really one I would sing to restore a sense of peace.
Somehow, it seems to cheapen the different ways the Holy Spirit was manifested by classifying each gift demonstrated. I know that the Holy Spirit was there. I know He lavished gifts upon us that day and I know He strengthened us beyond measure. There were times He spoke to me and I knew what needed to be done. There were other times He spoke to my partner in warfare and she would know what to do and I would follow her lead. We were desperate in having freedom for our friend and we weren’t going to quit until it was done. It took 7 hours.
There were times that my best friend would repeat what we told her to say, but it never registered on her face that she believed it. We were often looking at demons manifesting themselves. She would mush her face, giggle, titter, and start to fall asleep. God showed us over and over again that this was not our friend. Her eyes would get glossy. She would start talking in a high pitch, squeaky voice. We would continue to speak in the authority Jesus Christ has given us, knowing that was the only reason we were not harmed, knowing that was the only way our friend would receive freedom.
It was scary and one of the hardest things I have ever been a part of. Yet I know it is what God is calling me to even now. I have prayed so many times that God would allow me the privilege of releasing the captives, of seeing the prisoners set free, of restoring the broken-hearted, giving a garment of praise for a spirit of mourning. God has made that my rhema, my life verse, my destiny. That is how the Holy Spirit gifts have manifested in my life. Of course, this is not the only instance, but most of the gifts He has given me have been represented in this essay. There is a Scripture somewhere that says we are given the gifts according to the measure in which they are needed at that time. In other words, all gifts may be present in our life, according to the discernment of the Holy Spirit. He knew many gifts were needed that day and so I was given the amazing responsibility of using them according to the measure in which they were given. I look forward to seeing them manifest themselves in other ways in the future.

When God speaks to Breanna

It is amazing how God teaches us sometimes :) This past weekend, Breanna had two dreams. She woke up crying and very upset, and to say the least I didn't get much sleep that night. The next morning I had her tell me the dreams. Now Breanna is 8, and she is very involved in my life. So she sees me move in the Spirit all the time. She knows that I dream a lot, and that one of my gifts is dream interpretation. So she knows that I believe that God speaks to us thru dreams. (Not all dreams, there are 3 different types of dreams that we have, but that is for another time:) Breanna struggles with understanding how God speaks to people. She is very intuitive to the Spirit and hears His voice a lot, but she thinks it should be an audible voice(which it is sometimes), so she thinks that God doesn't talk to her. Oh but He does!!! Well these dreams, upset her, so I had her talk to me about them, and as she was telling me them, she was telling me what God said they meant! Wow, she didn't even realize it. But the whole reason she was so upset with the dreams, was not because of what the dreams contained (if you heard them you would think "Ah, isn't that sweet") But she was upset, because of what God meant by them, and she didn't agree with God! So she spent the night arguing with God about what was going on in her life, and how she didn't understand why God was doing it the way that He was. Well as the Good mom that I am (Ha, Ha) I explained to her about how God always has our best interest in mind, and how we just have to wait and see, and how fighting with God usually only makes it harder on us, but that it is OK, to let Him know how you feel, and to vent to Him, and that He will be there every step of the way. Well, I have been chewing on this all week! And thinking to myself, wow, God was actually talking to ME!!! Everything Breanna was going through, I am going through too, and everything that she is frustrated with, I am too, and all the answers that I gave to her, God was trying to tell me!!!! Well, I have found a different kind of peace this week. Am I still trying to figure out why God is moving in my life the way He is, instead of the way that I think He should? YES! But, God is using Breanna to confirm His promises, and I am filled with joy. Do I want things to move faster? YES! But, I am learning God's timing, and especially that patience is a fruit, a necessary one, and no matter how many times I want to skip over it, God doesn't. So I need to learn it now, so I don't have to stay here forever!!!!

Well, God does speak to and through Breanna, and He speaks to and through you too!!!!!!
I love you

The Primary Redemptive Names of God

"The Primary Redemptive Names of God"

Jehovah Rohi - The Lord, My Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)

Although Israel learned to magnify the Lord for life, healing, victory, holiness, peace, and protection, they were still pilgrims, and they were in dire need of divine provision in their wilderness journey with all its weariness, physical needs, duties, dangers and difficulties. Thus, there came the revelation of God as their Jehovah Rohi, the One whose Shepherd's love, care, and resources they could depend upon in all the un-trodden and unknown pathways of the future. Thus the Lord is the feeder to provide for us, keeper to protect us, companion to cheer us, friend to help us, pastor to comfort us, and herdsman near to us, as His frequent revelations prove.
Psalms 23 contains eight redemptive names of Jehovah:
1) Jehovah Rohi - "Jehovah is my shepherd...." (Psalms 23:1)
2) Jehovah Jireh - "I shall not want." (Psalms 23:1)
3) Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is my peace. (Psalms 23:2) "He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters."
4) Jehovah Rophi - The Lord, my healer. (Psalms 23:3) "He restores my soul."
5) Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord is righteousness. (Psalms 23:3) "He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
6) Jehovah Nissi - The Lord is my banner. (Psalms 23:5) "He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
7) Jehovah M'Kaddesh - The Lord my sanctifier. (Psalms 23:5) "He anoints my head with oil."
8) Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is there. (Psalms 23:4) "...thou art with me."

Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14)

The definition of this term is "The Lord will see" or "The Lord will provide". For man, this conjunctive meaning seems impossible. However, for the all knowing God of creation, the dual meaning is easily exemplified.His pre-vision means His pro-vision. That was Abraham's revelation given to the place where He found the ram provided as a substitute for Isaac. This miracle was not of a normal significance; but rather it was a creative miracle by God for the sacrifice, in the same sense that the Lord created a body through the miraculous conception for the substitute sacrifice for man. As Elohim, God demanded the sacrifice of Isaac, but as Jehovah He made complete provision of a substitute for the son Abraham willingly offered. The place of this miracle is important. It is the first recorded instance in scripture of the naming of a place after a divine interposition or manifestation.

Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 33:16)

In the Old Testament, there is evident revelation of Israel as being a nation seeking after righteousness. Yet in their passionate desire for righteousness, the people discovered their own unrighteousness. Therefore, we become people who seek after purity of heart, so we can enjoy communion with God. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)The Greeks sought after wisdom, and the Romans pursued power and world dominion; but today there is a remnant of God's chosen people who seek after God and His righteousness. To the glory of the gospel, is that Jehovah Tsidkenu became flesh and was made unto us righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30) A righteous God pronounced death as the penalty of sin--yet that same God became flesh, the righteous branch, to taste death for every sinner and to provide the righteousness that is transferred or imputed to the believer and is thereby accepted before God. Acceptable righteousness; therefore, is not attained but obtained.

Jehovah Shalom - The Lord Our Peace

The word "Peace", and words directly related to it, appear over 400 times in scripture. It is one of the most precious and fundamentally essential ingredients for a believer to be at peace with God and know the peace of God. It relates to a harmonious relationship obtained through reconciliation of a debt paid in full. Peace or "Shalom" is often translated--welfare, good health, prosperity, favor, rest whole, finished, restitution or repay and perfect.

Jehovah Rophi - The Lord Our Physician (Exodus 15:26)

From Israel, we learn that in times of sickness God heals, for He is our Jehovah Rophi, "I am Jehovah thy healer". To express God's grace in restoring spirit life, He declared that He healed all of our diseases, spiritual as well as physical. (Psalms 103:3)He also heals the broken in heart (Psalms 147:3), and for those who are backsliding, He is their healer as well (Jeremiah 3:22). The scriptures also clearly indicate the removal of bodily infirmity (Genesis 20:17; Matthew 4:23).

Jehovah Nissi - The Lord Our Banner (Exodus 17:15-16)

Moses took care that God should have the glory for the victory over Amalek. Instead of setting up a trophy in the honor of Joshua (though it had been a standard policy to put marks of honor upon men), he built an altar to God's honor. What is most carefully recorded is the inscription upon the altar, Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord my Banner. The presence and power of Jehovah were the banner under which they were enlisted, and the banner by which they were kept together.Jehovah Nissi in literal Hebrew means "A hand upon the throne of Jehovah". Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Amalek's hand had dared to assault Jehovah's throne to overturn it, so He gave Israel the authority and power of that throne to overwhelm Amalek. The uplifted hands of Moses symbolized this banner. Here we have an illustration of the hand of faith outstretched in prayer.

Jehovah M'Kaddesh - The Lord Who Sanctifies (Exodus 31:13)

The term holiness is from the Hebrew word "Kodesh" and is allied to "sanctify". It is translated as dedicate, consecrate, hallow, and holy in various translations. "I am Jehovah M'Kaddesh - The Lord who sanctifies you". This term's main influence relates to moral and spiritual purity. In the New Testament, many scriptures relate to the process of sanctification, the sum of which are provided to the church through the atoning work of Christ:
SANCTIFIED By Truth (John 15:3; 17:17)
SANCTIFIED By the Blood (Hebrews 13:12)
SANCTIFIED By Faith (Acts 26:18)
SANCTIFIED By Prayer (I Timothy 4:5)

Jehovah Tsebahoth - The Lord of Hosts (I Samuel 1:3)

This term in Hebrew is taken from sabaoth, meaning host or hosts, with special reference to warfare or service, and the word often appears as the Lord of Hosts. This Hebrew term has also rendered armies. This reference for Jehovah appears 14 times in the book of Haggai and 24 times in the book of Malachi. In Zechariah, the Lord of Hosts occurs 53 times and is of great interest, seeing that it is connected with God's action in judgment and blessing upon Israel. The expression "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts", implied divine revelation and divine authority; a phrase like "Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts", (Zechariah 14:21). When the conquest of Canaan was about to begin, the Lord was revealed as the unknown warrior with naked sword standing before Joshua. When Joshua asked the question, "are you for us or against us"; the reply came, "I am Prince of the Host of Jehovah", therefore Joshua humbly surrendered his sword to Jehovah Tsebahoth. The whole of His creation is under His control and obeys His sovereign command, willingly or otherwise. He is:
1) Lord of all angelic hosts (I Kings 22:19)
2) The Lord of all steller things (Genesis 1:16)
3) The Lord of all the feathered hosts (I Kings 17:2-7)
4) The Lord of all the animal hosts (Isaiah 11:6)
5) The Lord of all the human hosts (Isaiah 40:15)
6) The Lord of the satanic hosts (Matthew 28:18)

Jehovah Heleyon - The Lord Most High

Jehovah Heleyon is frequently used in the Psalms as a declaration of God's highest position or kingship. This title reveals God as the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15). It is prophetically speaking of Jehovah's reign over the earth at the time of Israel's restoration or the restoration of God's chosen people.It is also reassuring for us to know that during these difficult days, that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, also (Daniel 4:25). This redemptive name places God at the highest place of every realm of life, so that He can fulfill His will in and through us. When applied to God, this redemptive name reveals that though He is the highest, there are others below Him endowed by Him with like natures, and therefore, in some way, related to Him by His Spirit.

Jehovah-Makkeh - The Lord Who Smites (Ezekiel 7:9)

The Lord has given Israel to us as an example of His dealings with man. He set Israel in the midst of heathen nations as His witness, but instead of revealing and glorifying Him, she changed His judgments into wickedness greater than all the nations she was supposed to influence for Him. Therefore He said, "You shall know that I am Jehovah-Makkeh", the Lord who smites thee. (Ezekiel 7:9)The 9th chapter of Daniel reveals that Israel found herself in captivity because she refused to heed the voice of the Lord God, which was set before her by His servants, the prophets. As a result of Israel's disobedience, the Lord smote Israel and disciplined her because of her unbelief and rejection of His true revealed word. The church has also experienced a similar disciplinary period over the past forty years because of her rejection of the true revealed word as brought to the church by His servants, the prophets. The good news is His promise to restore. According to Hosea 6:1-2, Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us but He will heal us; He has wounded us but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him."

Jehovah Gmolah - The God of Recompense (Jeremiah 51:6)

The scriptures declare that retribution or recompense does not belong to us but rather it belongs to God. In Jeremiah 51, the Lord declares that He will severely punish Babylon because of their harsh dealing with Israel, thereby revealing Himself as the God of retribution.The same was true of Egypt when they placed the nation of Israel under a heavy burden and struck the apple of His eye. When a person is shamefully treated or misjudged, even wrongfully condemned or blamed when innocent, it becomes very difficult not to take up our own defense, and leave our reputation to God. Yet this is the precise way that He has instructed for us to respond. Retribution and recompense belong only to him. Vengeance is His, and He promised to repay (Deuteronomy 32:35; 2 Thessalonians 1:8).

Jehovah Shammah - The Lord Is There (Ezekiel 48:35)

The name of the city revealed through Ezekiel is Jehovah Shammah - the Lord is There. This location is so named because of the manifest presence and power of Jehovah residing there. We also know from scripture that God does not dwell in temples made by hands, but rather we are to be God's temple. This is the last of Jehovah's redemptive titles in the order of their Old Testament occurrence. It discloses the consummation of His progressive self-revelation. The people of Israel were brought out of the bondage of Egypt by His manifest presence (Deuteronomy 4:37). However, the people willfully and continually sinned, and the conscious manifest Presence of God was rescinded. Yet when the people repented of their gross idolatry, because of His love and pity, the angel of His presence redeemed them once again (Isaiah 63:9).

The apostle Paul describes the church as a habitation of God, a house of God, and the building growing unto a holy temple in the Lord.

The question remains: Does the Glory of Jehovah fill Jehovah's house, and are we, members of that house, displaying His Glory?

Women Awake!

This is a time of awakening. Deborah was a woman who woke up to God's purposes! As the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery puts it, "The general concept of 'awakening' captures the notion of either rousing oneself or being aroused in order to take action, as in the call of Deborah to 'wake up' in song (Judg. 5:12, NIV)." Women, you are more important in God's future than you know.

In his book Satan's Subtle Attack on Women, Dr. J.G. Morrison makes an appeal to liberated women to lead the way in devoted service and sacrifice for the One who has freed them from bondage:

"The advent of Jesus Christ saved womanhood... Christian women, do not forget your heritage. You are the spiritual descendants of the Sarahs, the Deborahs, and the Hannahs of the Old Covenant. Your line is renewed again in the New Testament in Mary who gave birth to Jesus Christ; Elizabeth who mothered His great forerunner; in Mary of Bethany, who anointed His precious head and feet; in Mary Magdalene, who was last at His cross and first at His empty tomb; in the host of women who in the early gospel days, gave their hearts, homes, and deepest toil to the cause of the Master. Your line is again renewed in church history, until for faithfulness, devotion, heroism, martyrdom and all else that pleases the heart of the great Christ, woman has along the way, borne the brunt, shared the vigils, preached with life and lip, and handed the cause on to the next age, with its banners proudly breasting every gale of opposition... Remember then, sisters, your marvelous heritage, and your amazing responsibility."

We will not win the future war of the Church without women coming into their place. Now is the time, women of God, for you to understand your invaluable worth, come into the alignment God has for you and exercise the unique gifts and callings the Lord has for you at this strategic time in history.

Excerpt taken from God's Bold Call to Women by Barbara Yoder