Friday, June 30, 2006

A Twenty-Third Psalm For Those Under Pressure


The Lord is my pacesetter, I shall not rush.
He invites me to stop and rest for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness which restore my soul.
He leads me in the ways of efficiency but through calmness of mind.
His guidance is my confidence.
Even though I have many things that must be accomplished
this day I will not fret for He is there in it all;
His timlessness, His presence keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity
by anointing my spirit with the oils of tranquility.
My cup of meaning overlows.
Surley inspiration, balance and effectiveness shall be there in my striving,
And moving by His grace at His pace I shall dwell in His house forever.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Our Roles


We know our greatest anger, as well as our deepest love, in our roles as daughters, sisters, lovers, wives and mothers.

Swim Party Invitation!

My mom and dad have extended an invitation to anyone I want to invite :) so here you go!!!Call or e-mail if you have questions.
Love ya Barby

we thought we'd throw an impromptu swim party. Our place will be open for swimming, volleyball, horse-shoes, relaxing, ect. on Sunday July 2, at 2:30 pm. If you stay through supper, we will be ordering pizza, so bring a little cash! You are welcome to invite your family or friends as we will be extending this invitation to our family and church friends also.
Love and Prayers, Terry & Beverly

Sunday, June 25, 2006

My Commitment As a Christian


I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recongnized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heavan, my raod is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until i have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all I know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me--my bannor will be clear!

-written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Christian Woman


The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.

Elizabeth Elliot

Thursday, June 22, 2006

In memory of todays events!

Job 37:9 - Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

Job 38:1 - Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind

Psalms 58:9 - Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

Proverbs 1:27 - When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Proverbs 10:25 - As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Isaiah 5:28 - Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind
Isaiah 17:13 - The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind

Isaiah 21:1 - The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land

Isaiah 40:24 - Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble

Isaiah 41:16 - Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel

Isaiah 66:15 - For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire


Jeremiah 4:13 - Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled

Jeremiah 23:19 - Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Jeremiah 25:32 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth

Jeremiah 30:23 - Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked

Ezekiel 1:4 - And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire

Daniel 11:40 - And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

Hosea 8:7 - For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up

Hosea 13:3 - Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Amos 1:14 - But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind

Nahum 1:3 - The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet

Habakkuk 3:14 - Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly

Zechariah 7:14 - But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate

Zechariah 9:14 - And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

A thought

We must respect the beliefs of others, but not allow this gracious response to silence us from sharing the truth.

Tom White
Director of VOM

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Should I speak... or should I pray?

Have you ever felt like people get on your case about something that God is already speaking to you about? And you want to scream and tell them to shut up.........you already know and you are working through it...............leave me alone and let God deal with me.............

Is it God telling them to talk to you or did they take it upon themselves to help you.........

I do it sometimes..........I see something in someone...........instead of going to God and praying for the person and asking God if I need to say something.................I give them my two cents worth..............

Sometimes I'm to speak...............sometimes I am to get on my knees and pray for that person..............and then sometimes God has me do both................

How many times do you speak when you should be on your knees?

Thank you H

Monday, June 19, 2006

Baby news




My college roommate Allison had a baby boy today!!
And I am the babies Godmother!!! His name is Mark Robert,
and I will post pictures as soon as I get them.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

OK, last one :)





and more pictures!!





More wedding pictures!





Brad and Amy got married!!!






Well they did it, they tied the knot and it was wonderful!!! Here's some pictures.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Get the annointing out of the Box!


Sandie Freed:
"Get The Anointing Out Of The Box!"

Get the Anointing Out of the Box!

I heard these words LOUD and CLEAR! The question was...Who said that? Since I had not heard God speak that way before, I immediately challenged the SPIRIT behind the words. Surely that is the voice of the devil, he wants me to believe that I am not anointed! Just about the time I began to rebuke the perceived evil spirit, the same voice trumpeted again, only louder and more distinctly.

"Get the anointing out of the box!" Yes, it was the Lord's voice.

"What do you mean...the anointing is in a box? Are you speaking to me individually...are you speaking to the church...are you speaking concerning another ministry?" I asked the Lord these questions in my mind.

Suddenly, revelation came and it became clear that it was the move of HIS SPIRIT that was boxed in. The Holy Spirit was unable to move freely among His Body because a stronghold of religion, traditions and mindsets limited His power.

Then I had a vision of an alabaster jar. I knew that the alabaster jar was full of anointing oil and the anointing was contained--it was "boxed" within this vessel. I immediately remembered the Scripture where the jar had to be BROKEN in order to release the oil. (Mark 14:3)

The Spirit of God spoke to me once more, and said that just as the oil was contained, it had to be released by the broken vessel to become tangible. The Lord gave me an understanding that the oil often represents the anointing of God.


In order for God's anointing to truly flow and become present in our lives, brokenness would be required. The flow of His Spirit would demand that walls come down. These walls were religious mindsets and traditions of man, which became huge barriers blocking the flow of the oil.

The Oil Needs to Flow!

By reading in Psalm 133, we notice that the oil is not to be contained, but it is to flow! Just as the dew on Mount Herman manifests on a daily basis, so is the anointing to be fresh every day in our lives. The anointing is to flow from the head down, covering the entire body. According to the Scripture, the anointing flows freely when unity is present.

Obviously disunity affects the flow. When the Body is under headship, the anointing touches the entire Body of Christ. Therefore, we, as believers, need to find our place within the Body of Christ, and remain in our position so that when the anointing flows, we get touched! As a result, we become empowered with more anointing to fulfill our destiny! To insure a fresh flow of anointing, we must daily position ourselves under the direction and headship of Christ and submit to His plan. This is when we know we are allowing ourselves to become broken...it is now "thy will be done" rather than "my will be done."

Broken Vessels

The word "broken" is past tense of "break." So often I have ministered on the "breaker anointing," and how the Breaker goes before us and breaks open a move of the Spirit. Therefore mindsets and traditions become broken because of His "breaking through" on our behalf. However, I now understand that unless we are also "broke," the breaker cannot bring us into fulfillment (into a past tense, where it is already fulfilled).

We are often like wild horses that need to be "broke" into a place of submission. I recently watched a movie in which a wild mustang was "broke." The actual speaking lines in the movie were, "that mustang needs to be broke!" and, "is that wild horse broke yet?" That horse definitely needed to be tamed. He bucked, snarled and kicked while the owner was attempting to tame his spirit. Finally, after great exhaustion, the mustang would surrender his will to the master.

Isn't this like us? We kick and scream and ask "why?!"... which only delays the plans of the Father. However, once we surrender to His perfect will, there is a breakthrough. We are now "BROKE!" For the anointing to flow, we will have to experience brokenness.

The Vision of the Chariot

While in worship one morning, the Lord gave me a vision of God in His chariot. His golden chariot hurled from the Heavenlies towards the earth. It was clear He had a pathway planned, and His chariot was directed toward that destiny upon the earth. Suddenly a pathway appeared upon the earth, yet it was unpaved. (It was similar to an airplane pilot spotting the runway...suddenly the runway appears and the plane can be landed.) As the chariot approached the determined pathway, a long line of apostles appeared along each side of the path. It became even clearer that they lined the edges of the path providing the chariot's "runway." As the chariot approached its pathway, the apostles and prophets began to fall down upon the path. THEY became the path for the chariot of glory to follow. In other words, they became the ROAD on which the chariot would ride.

It became more evident that glory would come because these apostles and prophets laid down their lives and they were truly the FOUNDATION (like foundation stones) upon which the Lord would reveal His glory!

The apostles and prophets truly became the road--the highway of holiness upon which God's glory would travel upon the earth. As they fell prostrate before the Lord, their bodies filled in all the chug holes, crevices and rough spots, so that the chariot could move smoothly and freely without any obstacles hindering its destiny.

Laying Down Our Lives

Many prophets and apostles have been pioneers of a present-day move of His Spirit. They have determined to focus on fulfilling destiny, and have been laying down their own lives and desires for the gospel. In the vision, the glory would not manifest unless many laid down their own vision, their own desires, and even their own "kingdoms." In order to experience His glory, there will be a death to self and selfish ambitions. But also, to flow in the anointing of God, we will experience needed purification. Just as Esther had to lay down her life, submit to an unknown life with strangers and endure purification, so must we as end-time believers. We must know that we have truly come to the Kingdom for such a time as this!

Full Circle

Esther endured a 12-month process of purification. Twelve is the number for "new government." It is time for the "new government" within us to arise. It is our season to take Godly authority over our flesh, over infirmity, and over generational strongholds. Many of us have come full circle once again...this is because we are facing old enemies that need to be put totally under our feet. As our belief systems are transformed, new government will operate within us and through us.

We must believe only what the Lord says about us, and we must decree what God has said about us, our families, our businesses and our ministries.

Find your written decree in the Scripture and begin to proclaim what God hath said. In Esther's time, written decrees were laws which could not be reversed unless another decree was written. A new written decree would negate the power of the previous decree.

Decrees

Saints, hear me! God has already written a decree which will negate whatever the enemy has decreed over you! Your written decree is found in the Word of God. Maybe it is written in a personal prophecy or a documented dream. The important thing at this time is to find your written decree and WRITE it down so it can become written. By writing it, you can use it against the enemy...and therefore declare "devil, it is written!" At this time, it will become a proceeding word, just like the proceeding word that Jesus used during His temptation. If you have prophecies that are not "written," it is time to write them so that you can "decree a thing and it shall be established..." (Job 22:28)

The purification process you endure will secure your authority in the Spirit, and the anointing will become more intensified.

You might be wondering, "Is it worth it?" I have even asked myself this, especially when the fire of God is scorching every fiber of my flesh. But, I have always concluded that YES, it is worth all the sacrifice when I experience someone being ministered to by the Holy Spirit through a teaching, or when I witness a saint receive hope through a prophetic word, or see someone get their miracle or breakthrough. Yes, it is worth the process to be a vessel of His glory!

Transition

The Lord began to reveal more to me concerning the appearing of His chariot. I was reminded that in one incidence, His chariot appeared at a time of transition. Transition means to move from one place to another, or from one POSITION (in the spirit) to another. The Lord's chariot appeared when Elijah was taken up into Heaven, and also when Elisha was transitioning into his new double portion anointing.

By studying the passage of the transition of Elijah-Elisha, let's observe what this means today. When God's chariot of GLORY came to earth, it was symbolic of "thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

1. The mantle of the "old" prophet was given to the "new" prophet. The passing of a mantle is a releasing of authority, but also it is symbolic of a garment change in the Body of Christ; taking off old clothing and putting on the new. Also, we are putting off the old man and putting on the new. A new wine skin is being developed in this season because we must transition into God's New Thing.The changing of the mantles also speaks to us today concerning an old order. Prophetically, the order of Saul is dead and the new order of David is coming forth. Old ways of having "church" will change because a fresh anointing is needed.

2. We are in a season of great transition. Transitioning out of old doctrine, old structure, religious mindsets and religion--into a relationship with Christ, into a church without walls, and turning into empowered ministers in the marketplace.

3. We are transitioning away from a religious movement into the saints movement, where every saint is a minister. In the saints movement, we will witness double portion anointing, and a release of increase and multiplication, as well as financial breakthrough.

4. God wants to release a Greater Glory. This is derived because we are continuing to move from faith to faith, strength to strength and glory to glory.

5. There will be a "breaking open." Heaven had to break open for the chariot of glory to come, which means we must pray for breakthrough.

6. We will become broken as we embrace Elisha's anointing. Remember the process that he endured as he followed his mentor, and he endured with him until the very end.

7. We will experience a parting of our own "river Jordan" as we transition. Elisha transitioned with his new mantle, and the parting of the Jordan was symbolic of the parting from the old into the new.

8. There will be a crossing over. We are leaving the past behind and pressing forward into the new. As we cross over, there will be a reversal that occurs. This reversal will reverse decrees that the enemy has made against us, and will result in a return of what the thief has stolen. There will be a reversal in the curses that have plagued us, as well as a reversal of poverty, which had a stronghold over so many of God's givers.

Being Open-Minded

In order for us to break into this new place, we must be open-minded.
This can become extremely difficult because we are creatures of habit and most of us dislike change. God desires for His children to openly embrace whatever He has planned. This new move will shake traditional mindsets, it will cause each of us to feel uncomfortable. But we must not hold back, we must leap forward into the freedom He is offering.

He Will Oversee Our Building Up and Planting!

Just as God oversaw every area in which we were being uprooted or torn down, or feeling destroyed, He promises to oversee you totally rebuilt and planted firmly. (Jeremiah 31:28.) He has had each of us in a process of purification. We have been torn down, He has judged our sins and laid the axe to the root of many hidden desires. Now, precious ones, He will oversee every area as He rebuilds us. He will make the crooked paths straight and cause our ground to be fruitful. This is promised to us as we get the anointing out of the box.

Let's be determined to let go and let God. Let go of tradition, let go so that you can grow. Release and let go of your own control over your situations so that God can release increase.

In Him,Sandie Freed

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Dedicated to my best friends!

When I was little, I used to believe
in the concept of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.
One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say let's pray together,
another let's cry together,
another let's fight together,
another let's walk away together.
One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season of confusion,
another will be your clarifier,
another the wind beneath your wings.
But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day,
or whenever you need them to meet you
with their gymshoes on and hair pulled back,
or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ...
those are your best friends.
It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many it's wrapped up in several...
one from 7th grade,
one from high school,
several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
several from church,
on some days your mother,
on some days your neighbor,
on others your sisters,
and on some days your daughters.
But no matter,
God has truely blessed you with a best friends in multiple shapes, sizes, and ages.
I love you!

Friday, June 09, 2006

Just Dance



Just Dance
Lord my body is filled with pain
My heart is broken
I can't see my way through
I feel alone, what should I do
And God said...Just Dance
Father, I'm tired of fighting
I'm tired of being disrespected
I'm tired of not being counted worthy
How can I make it all stop
And He said...Just Dance
I can't put up with it anymore
I can't stomach the deceit
It makes me ill to watch the enemy at work
Show me Father, please, how to get past this
And once again my Father said...Just Dance
Dance, when you feel disrespected
Dance when your heart is broken
Dance when the pain is unbearable
Pick yourself up baby, take my hand
Lift your head, and dance
For I am your partner
My melody is the key to your song
Lay your head against my breast
And let me take the lead
Just dance, baby, just dance
Exodus 15:20 - And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Andrea J. Blackmon
June 8, 2006

Monday, June 05, 2006

Bachlorette Party



Amy's Bachlorette party was Saturday, here's a decent picture :) And then Amy got arrested!!!

Amy and Brad's wedding is June 17th!

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Matt's new haircut




I thought you might want to see Matt's haircut before he shaves it ALL off.

PS Happy belated Birthday