HOW TO LIVE IN THESE DAYS

2009

July - August

By Joan Royer

INTRODUCTION

In this year 2009 great shaking has been going on in our country, and even in the world. The shaking is primarily coming right now in the economy. Many people are losing their jobs. Many are losing their houses. Many are losing some of their retirement funds and savings. The stock market jumps up and down by big swings daily. Some businesses are going bankrupt. Some banks have been faltering near collapse, and some have collapsed or are bought out by other banks. It is a scary time to be living. This is also happening in other countries and the leaders of these countries are looking for ways to stabilize things. People are looking for leaders who can help. What can we do! Where can we turn for help? 

This is a book taken from my journal writings during these days. I am looking to God Almighty for my help and guidance and comfort during these days. Since I have given my life to God through Jesus Christ my Lord, I seek Him daily for this. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as He told us when He was here on earth. He went to the cross willingly to die as a sacrifice for our sins. He had no sin in Himself; He was pure and without sin. So He was the perfect sacrifice for my sins. Since He took them on Himself and died in my place, I can be forgiven for my sins through Him. All I need to do is to believe what He did for me; then repent of all my sins, ask Jesus to forgive me for those sins, and ask Him to come and live inside me and be my Savior and Lord. He will do that! 

Since I have Jesus living inside me, I seek His presence daily and seek His guidance on how to live in these days. He gives me His amazing peace to walk through these days in quiet rest and trust in Him. I will put in this book some of the dreams, thoughts, impressions, and guidance He has given me. Perhaps some of what I write here will also speak to you and comfort you as you walk through the difficult days in your own life. There is nothing and no one else that is stable during these days. Jesus is our Rock and our Fortress.

This is what the Holy Spirit says about the messages He brings:

I will tell you what it means. I speak in riddles sometimes. I do this so you will seek Me to know what I said and what I mean. I want to teach you something, so I give you a vision, a dream, or a message to stimulate you to come and listen to Me to hear what I want to teach you today, at this time, regarding this time.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (James 5:7-8)

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JOURNAL 6-29-09 Monday

This message came in my email today and I thought it was good.

* * *

Getting rid of bees
June 09
by John Paul Jackson
Over time, I have discovered that God takes our fears very seriously. We often do not. Most of us have been afraid of the same things for so many years that we almost don’t notice how they’re affecting us anymore — or worse, we choose to ignore them.

This isn’t fear, we may think. I just don’t do that sort of thing. I’m not outgoing like that. It’s not because I’m afraid of failing. I’ve just decided not to see this through.

I know God doesn’t want me to be afraid of this . . . but it’s easy to be afraid of this. God takes our fears very seriously. They may seem small and insignificant to us, but they are not to Him.

Several years ago, I had nightmares for 69 nights in a row. Most of the time, I would wake up sweating, yelling and thinking I was going to die. I begged God to stop the dreams, but He didn’t — at least, not in the way I had been expecting.

By the time Night Number 70 rolled around, I was staying up until 1 or 2 a.m. and avoiding going to bed for as long as I could. That night, when I finally fell asleep, I dreamed that I was in a huge, beautiful house. Everything was peaceful. But then I saw a bee outside the window, and I thought, Oh, no! Not again! I am not going to let them in this house!

I got out my duct tape and taped up every window, door and even the fireplace. I was determined the bees were not going to get into the house, and when I had finished, I was relieved. I had done it! I had conquered them! I couldn’t see out the windows because the swarm was so thick — but I had conquered them.

Suddenly, an angel stood beside me. “Come with me,” he said.

But I knew better. “No,” I replied. “I know you. You’ve been here before! Every time I go with you, you take me outside, and if I go outside, the bees are going to know I’m there, and they will sting me, and I will die!”

Rather forcefully, he said, “I said, ‘Come with me!’”

The next thing I knew, I was standing outside about 100 feet away from the house. The bees blanketed the structure completely. You couldn’t even see it anymore.

The angel looked at me. “Blow on it!”

Once again, I knew better. “No,” I told him. “If I blow on it, they are going to know I’m here, and then they are going to come and sting me, and I’ll die!”

“I said, ‘Blow on it!’” he repeated.

It was clear that either the bees were going to kill me or this angel was. So, coming up with a plan, I took a small breath and whispered at the house. I thought that maybe if I blew only a little bit, the bees wouldn’t notice I was there, and the angel would be satisfied.

But no. He turned to me again. “I said, ‘Blow on it!’ Let the breath of God blow through you! Blow on that!”

Knowing I was facing imminent death, I took a deep breath and blew with everything I had. To my shock, a huge number of bees lifted off the house and disappeared! Full of courage, I did it again. 
Three breaths later, I could see that the house was completely clean.

The angel looked at me and said, “Never allow the enemy to do that to you again! The Spirit of the Living God will stop it if you will let Him come forth from you. Never stop the breath of God!” 

God takes our fears very seriously. None of them is inconsequential, and no matter how small they may seem, every one of them affects us. Our heavenly Father wants us to be free from their negative and binding consequences . . . but we have to want that freedom, too. 

We need to view our fears the way God views our fears. Take some time and ask Him which fear, or fears, He wants to address in your life today. What does He want to remove? What do you need to start thinking differently about? It could be that God has a great blessing waiting for you on the other side of this, a blessing that has been there this entire time, but the fear kept it hidden from your sight.

(end of quote)

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JOURNAL 7-3-09 Friday

   When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
   Phillip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
   Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
   Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
   When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:5-13 NIV)

I read John 6:5-13 today about Jesus multiplying the 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the people. The Holy Spirit then revealed to me that He will again be doing that as soon as we need food to feed the refugees who come to CTC for help after the earthquake and economic and natural storms come. He also said He would be doing that (multiplying food as needed) to feed His people who live during the Tribulation, so we are to know this and pray for this.

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JOURNAL 7-5-09 Sunday

This is what was put in my thoughts as I awoke this morning:

Just as Satan stands before God and accuses people, so I (Jesus) can stand before God and speak the truth.

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A DREAM ABOUT 3 FUEL TANKERS IN OUR DRIVEWAY

The setting for this short dream took place in our driveway. I was standing near the garage looking toward the street. I saw the backs of three tanker fuel trucks along the driveway. Out of  those trucks came hoses which brought fuel to us. 

My first impression and idea about this dream is that the three tankers represent the Trinity which shows where my fuel comes from, that which makes me go and do. They come with a huge amount of fuel and prayer power for me to use as I approach what is going on (and will go on) in the world. This represents prayer power from God and knowledge/understanding of how to pray. It represents what I am called to do. Its effects will be visible to others. Is this right, Lord?

Yes, I used just a tiny piece of a dream (i.e. a short picture) to keep you focused on the specific message I wanted to give you today, Sunday, July 05, 2009. "You will be well supplied" is the main message here. You will be supplied by all three of Us. This includes prayer power, but it also can mean you will be well supplied with everything/all that you need to carry on the ministry We have for you to do for Us. You will not use it all up. There will be an adequate amount of what you need - in every way and in every area needed - to minister for us. Primarily it will be through prayer. But it could be through supplying others' needs also since this is in the front yard area and quite visible to others.

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JOURNAL 7-6-09 Monday

We're going into heavier battle now, Joan, and this summer is the time for it. You are feeling the weight of it upon your spirit daily. You know bad stuff is coming, and you don't want to deal with it, but you have to in some way. You know that. There are several ways you can approach the battles.

1. You can run from them and hide and act as if they don't exist. That is not the truth.

2. You can face them and get angry and rail at Me and people and situations. That is not good.

3. You can learn how to fight from Me, and engage in the battle you have to live through. I can and will show you the way if you seek Me for this. That is the best way.

I ask you for this, Lord. Teach me how to fight and engage in the battle I have to live through. Show me the way. I seek You for this.

The Lord guided me to get out the book by Joyce Meyer called, Battlefield of the Mind. He wants me to read it today. He also guided me to listen to a TV program on TBN (Rod Parsley) which talked about taking a strong offensive position and not allowing Satan to take things from me that the Lord wants me to have.

I am reminded of a dream I recently had which showed "little creatures" nibbling away at things in the house of Christians and irritating them. I have seen a couple of irritating things happening to me yesterday and today and have had to quickly forgive for them so they wouldn't cause offense. Satan would like to cause us Christians to become offended with each other and therefore break our unity with one another.

* * *

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV)

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Amplified Bible)

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12 NIV)

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)

These are quotes from Joyce Meyer in her book called Battlefield of the Mind: 

(p.11)
As long as we are on this earth we will need to study in the areas of thoughts and words. No matter how much we know in any area, there are always new things to learn, and things we have previously learned that we need to be refreshed in.

(pp.12-13)
Don't ever give up, because little by little you are changing. The more you change your mind for the better, the more your life will also change for the better. When you begin to see God's good plan for you in your thinking, you will begin to walk in it.

(pp. 15-16)
The devil is a liar. Jesus called him…the father of lies and of all that is false (John 8:44). He lies to you and me. He tells us things about ourselves, about other people and about circumstances that are just not true. He does not, however, tell us the entire lie all at one time.

He begins by bombarding our mind with a cleverly devised pattern of little nagging thoughts, suspicions, doubts, fears, wonderings, reasonings and theories. He moves slowly and cautiously (after all, well-laid plans take time). Remember, he has a strategy for his warfare. He has studied us for a long time.

He knows what we like and what we don't like. He knows our insecurities, our weaknesses and our fears. He knows what bothers us most. He is willing to invest any amount of time it takes to defeat us. 

(end of quote)

* * *

What are the weapons that I learned today that I can use to defeat the devil's strongholds in my thinking?

1.	The Word - which we must abide in, and continue in, until it becomes revelation to us.
2.	Praise God - according to His Word and His goodness
3.	Prayer - a relationship with God where we come and ask for help or talk to God about something that bothers us.
4.	Fill our prayers with the Word of God. Our weapon is the Word used in various ways.

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JOURNAL 7-11-09 Saturday

A DREAM ABOUT DRIVING A CAR WITH THREE PEOPLE IN IT

In this dream I was driving a car up a hill on the road by my childhood home. I was taking three other people (two women and one man) who wanted me to take them there so they could then walk down that hill back to my childhood home. It wasn't easy to steer the car because I had to manipulate it through an area with trees and crooked road. When we got to the place they wanted out to start walking, I turned the car around to start back down. 

My ministry right now is to help carry my three children (two women and one man) up to higher spiritual things until they are able and ready to walk on their own and be conformed to God's likeness. Those three people may also represent anyone else who wants to benefit from my ministry right now (by my writings or my words).

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JOURNAL 7-14-09 Tuesday

Ideas on prayer for Israel from Mike Evans' book The American Prophecies pg. 211

Pray for: 
•	The peace of Jerusalem
•	God's protection over the lives of the citizens of Jerusalem
•	For revival
•	For God's grace to be poured out on the Bible land and all over the Middle East
•	That demonic powers will be defeated by holy angels in a battle that cannot be seen by the natural eye

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JOURNAL 7-15-09 Wednesday

NOTES ON EVENTS OF TODAY

Today things changed immensely in a moment of time when Beth was laid off from her job at Yellow Roadway Corporation Worldwide after she got to work this morning. She was called into J's office and told she was laid off basically because of the economic downturn. She was stunned and shocked and so was I when she called and told me while she was in the parking lot leaving. M said she would pack up Beth's stuff, so she will go back another time and pick those up and get her small refrigerator. She said there were others laid off too, but she seemed to be the only senior analyst from her group. MANY of her friends were in shock too. One lady had tears in her eyes. G said he felt sick and might throw up.

She went to CTC and met there with those having a prayer meeting at that time. They prayed for her and she got to talk a bit with Pastor Alan. She learned that D. and I. had lost their jobs too. We also know of B and G who lost theirs.

All afternoon and into the evening she kept getting emails, text messages, and phone calls from people at work calling to tell her how unhappy they were with this and how much they will miss her and how they just didn't understand why she would be picked for laying off. They likely all felt much more a threat for them - that if she was laid off, they could be just as easily too. Later in the evening L and S came to the house and "kidnapped" her to take her out for ice cream and talk. 

B, who is in a department at Yellow, said he got a bunch of emails from people at Yellow - angry and frustrated about Beth's being laid off because she has helped them so much when problems arose for them, and they didn't want to lose her.

She is starting to deal with the many things that now need to be taken care of and/or changed. She lost her health care benefits as of midnight, so she got a prescription filled to help tide her over until she can get other health care arrangements. Praise God, she had just gotten 3-month refills of most of her medicines. And she had stored up food ahead in case of needing that. Now she needs to rethink her finances and cut unnecessary things from it temporarily. She has approximately 3 months of severance pay which would take her until about October 1-15.

And she will need to begin a job search as well as apply for unemployment benefits. Several people who talked to her said she could use them as a reference for a recommendation. Some mentioned job leads she might follow up on.

So - life is changed. It is not the same now as when she had a steady job. Neither she nor I felt she would lose her job, so this was a great shock to us. Now we are seeking the Lord for His guidance and direction and peace as we deal with this change.

This reminds me of 9-11 when the overwhelming feeling/thought was that "things will never be the same again."

As I prayed off and on all day (and Thursday as I wrote this) these are some of the ideas which came:
•	That this may be the Lord's opportunity to get her to some other place He wants her to now be.
•	That this may be the BEST 2-3 months of her life.
•	That He has a plan for us.
•	That He will never leave us or forsake us.
•	That He can take any situation and turn it for good for both of us.
•	That we are to seek Him and follow Him one day at a time and He will show us the way. Each morning we are to seek Him first, then follow what he shows us to do that day.
•	That the Lord may use this time to draw Beth closer to Him, and me too.
•	That He is our foundation and that hasn't changed. He is stable and sure.

* * *

JOURNAL 7-16-09

A DREAM OF A CAMPGROUND WITH ARMY PEOPLE

In this dream I was in a new place, a different area of the country/world. I had a map of the area and was trying to figure out where I was, but nothing looked familiar or had familiar names. I seemed to be attending, along with other people, some retreat or camp area in the woods and hills. Everything was strange and different from my usual way of doing things. I saw where people were going to get food, so I got some, but the food was strange too. 

People were going about their own affairs, doing what they needed to do. Some women were washing their dresses. One woman brought about 6-8 dresses, on hangers, to a sink area, laid them there, and sprayed water over them, then took them with her. It didn't seem to me she was really washing them but they were wet and perhaps looked washed. Another lady had put her dresses in a sink and began to hand wash them.

I saw a tall slender young woman there whom I recognized as J. She recognized me and we hugged. I asked her how she was doing and she said she was doing very well, maybe better than she ever had.

I walked to an area of the grounds that seemed to be having a separate meeting from the group I was with. They were gathered on benches at picnic tables and were being given teaching/instruction. One group had on camouflage fatigues and another group had on tan uniforms with a patch saying Army.

My first impression was to pray for Janet for a short while. Then I thought perhaps I should write this dream down. As I wrote my thoughts are several:
•	Things have changed. I am in a strange new place where things aren't familiar and I am needing to learn a new way of living - a sparse way of living that camping represents
•	I don't know most of the people here
•	The food is different, strangely prepared, strangely served, not very satisfying, and not meaty
•	Women doing their washing do it by hand and one made it only look like her dresses were washed, but didn't really clean them. This may show how some people are truly getting clean and some are just faking it.
•	A military group was being trained nearby in the same camping area

My thought is that this dream reflects the big change in our lives yesterday when Beth lost her job. We are now in unfamiliar territory where things are different AND there is preparation for warfare being done. We wondered if the job loss was an attack on her spiritually. It may or may not have been, but there will be spiritual warfare that we need to keep preparing for and be aware of.

* * *

JOURNAL 7-17-09 Friday

SOME MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT BETH'S LAYOFF FROM YELLOW CORP.

Yesterday Beth was contacted by B asking if she knew the SAS computer language. He had received information that the business sector of Yellow Corp. might be looking for someone to work there who knew that language and another one. They were asking if any of those laid off on Wednesday might know those. So B was going to mention her name to those wanting to know. That would be interesting if she would be hired back by Yellow by the business sector after being laid off from the IT (information technologies) sector. 

We feel God is working to set things up in the plan He has for Beth and that He will show her the way. She received much affirmation and encouragement last night at W's home group. She has been told this is a promotion.

It's interesting as we thought of her having approximately 2 1/2 to 3 months severance pay coming. That would take her to Oct 1-15. Rosh Hashanah comes on September 18-19 and that could be the time for the Rapture. If so she would have enough to manage on financially until the Rapture.

Another thought which we have discussed is that if Yellow Corp. doesn't make it through the recession and has to close, then she will be blessed that she was laid off when they could still pay her severance pay.

Another thought that came - that we didn't think about our saving and storing food for 3 months that it might be needed because of her being laid off from work. We thought we might need it due to some crisis in the world.

God knows all these things and we are relying on Him.

* * *

JOURNAL 7-19-09 Sunday

QUIET TIME NOTES

Lord God, do You have a plan for her?

I do have a plan, Joan, and it is a good plan. It will make use of the giftings I've given her AND it will pay the bills so she can stay in this house, in this town, in this place, in this state. This is the place I've planted her, and this is the place I want to use her in the harvest. She has the connections she needs here in Lees Summit to work AND to minister. I've placed her here for a reason. Satan will not stop that reason. I've prepared this house and neighborhood for you two to live in for a reason, and that reason is not yet finished. So I will keep you here until that reason is finished or the Rapture comes - whichever comes first.

She needed a break from work for a few days. That is ok. Don't worry. She will find the job I have for her at just the right time. And I won't make you both wait until the last minute either. You will have plenty of time for her to find the job before the end of her severance pay. I will lead her right to it - the job I have ALREADY picked out for her, her next job. You have gone through many jobs in your life and they have all worked out ok, haven't they? Even when you quit your jobs and went to Europe for the summer? You weren't worried then. It was almost like an adventure for you. This will be an adventure for Beth, a spiritual adventure. She WILL find the way I have for her because I am dependable, and she is depending on Me. So are you.

She may begin gathering ideas and taking concrete steps (like applying for unemployment) on Monday, just like she was starting a new job, only this time her job is finding a job. You may help by taking care of as much of the household tasks as you can and letting her concentrate on her task. But ultimately I am responsible to get this job for her and guide her during the job changeover time. And I WILL do that, Joan. You are to trust Me. Come to Me each morning and declare your trust in Me.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1,2 NIV)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. (Psalm 84:11, 12 NIV)

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. (Psalm 37:3-5 NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5,6 NIV)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32 NIV)

In the kingdom, there is no lack. In the kingdom, there is work for each of us, work prepared for us by You, Lord. And it is good work, and prosperous work. In the kingdom You are high and lifted up and worshiped and praised all day long.

Anytime you begin to feel fear trying to come in to you, lift Me up high in your thoughts and in your mouth, and praise Me and thank Me. That will return you to My kingdom thinking and living. You CAN live in the kingdom now, Joan. It takes work to do that - the work of continually watching your thinking and speaking and thanking and praising. But it can be done. And you CAN do that now, daily, while on this earth. Try it. Do it. And trust will come to you more and more. And keep thinking on, meditating on, My Word daily. My Word also brings about My kingdom in you, in your life. It is powerful and effective.

So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31, 31 NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust… (Psalm 40:4 NIV)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. (Psalm 125:1 NIV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

These are My Words to you, Joan, and to Beth too. Say them over and over each day as you need them. Print them out and take them with you in your purse to have ready when you need them. They will bring you peace in the midst of difficulties you might encounter. They are powerful!

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
* * *
JOURNAL 7-20-09 Monday
QUIET TIME NOTES
This morning I awoke around 5:30 or so and went downstairs to rest in the black chair as it was hot in my bedroom. Then the Lord began to teach me about His kingdom. Basically He said that I was now living in His kingdom, that His kingdom was near because He was near, that His kingdom was within me because He was within me. He said, in His kingdom I lacked nothing - nothing. Everything was provided for me in His kingdom. He said I could count on that now, and over and over He kept saying, "I will NEVER leave you or forsake you." Therefore, I will always be provided for. 
He said He will keep Beth and me in this house here in Lees Summit in the Summit Ridge subdivision - that He chose this house for us and He will keep us here. We will never be without a place to live, and never be without food to eat and clothes to wear and water to drink. He will provide for us all the days of our lives. This is living in His kingdom, and that is what we are doing now. He also said He has a job for Beth that will be enough to pay all the bills for living here, and for the other things we need daily. And it will be a better job for her than the one she just lost at Yellow Corp. Maybe even much less driving time and expense.
He reminded me that Jesus got up early, while it was still dark, and went apart and spent time with His Father. And that is what He is having me do when He wakes me up while it is still dark and spends time talking to me and telling me about our precious relationship and what it provides for me. He reminded me that this is eternal life - to know Him. And I now "know" Him. And when I know Him, then I live in His kingdom where everything is provided by Him - just as it is in heaven. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." He reminded me that I have been praying that since I was a child, and it is reality now for me. It is happening in my life right now.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4 NIV)
* * *
JOURNAL 7-21-09 Tuesday
Beth got sick with the flu yesterday evening. This morning about 6:00 a.m. her temperature was about 100.2. Last night she called L and L went to the store and got medicine and brought it over for Beth. Beth has done this for L when she was sick. They are such good friends and look after each other.
Beth's susceptibility to disease right now may well be due to the stress of these days when she was laid off from her job of almost 11 years, the seeming unjustness of that, the suddenness of having to adjust to that, and the process of saying goodbye to her many friends she worked with. As soon as that was finished at a special luncheon with her friends, she got sick, the same day, and had to rest all that night and all of today.
This  Scripture caught my attention this morning as I was looking up another verse:

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (Psalm 37:10-11 NIV)
I believe it really is only a little while until Christ returns and cleanses the wicked from the earth and they will be no more here on earth. And then the meek, those who have given their lives to Christ, will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. That's why this Scripture speaks to me today - because it is the truth and I will see it come about soon. Also this one:

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11 NIV)
* * *
JOURNAL 7-22-09 Wednesday
Today I finished reading the book The Smile of God by John Piper in which John tells of the lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainard, the sufferings they went through, and how their lives greatly and positively affected many others toward God. It was an inspiring book to read and encouraged me…especially as we are coming toward the end times difficulties prophesied and the economic difficulties in America and the World right now.
* * *
JOURNAL 7 23-09 Thursday
I am reading a book by Barry R. Smith titled …Better than Nostradamus. Basically it seems to be transcriptions of talks given by Barry Smith as he travels around the world sharing what he has learned about Freemasonry and New World Government people, their techniques to bring down countries so they can be ready to accept One World Government. Barry is from New Zealand which was picked to be a test case on doing this. He explains the process they went through - a process I see happening now in the United States. The process is to tear down nation-states and get them ready for takeover. Barry also tells what he has learned about the Freemasons, the various degrees in it, the initiation process, the vows made, etc. 
It is a hard book to read because he jumps from one thought to another and back so frequently that is isn't very cohesive. He seems to have good material and facts to present, but just doesn't present them in a very scholarly manner or in a way that is easy to follow. Even so, I have learned a lot from the book.  He also gives recommended reading of materials if one wants to gather more information.
Beth seems to be pretty much back to normal in her health and plans to begin the process of applying for unemployment payments today, and possibly follow up on some job hunting leads. She seems to be pretty well healed from the shocking trauma of losing her job and all that went with that. It takes awhile to adjust! Now she can go on to what God leads her to do next. We believe He has something for her and will lead her to it. He tells me to be willing to wait 1 month - which would be until August 15th.
My brother had heart valve replacement surgery on Tuesday of this week and the report is that the surgery went well. Now he is spending 7-10 days in the hospital recovering.
* * *

JOURNAL 7-25-09 Saturday

This is an article by John Piper about a Scripture which I have pondered and puzzled over for years. So I copied the article for my journal. I like his interpretation of this Scripture.

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Be Careful Lest the Light in You Be Darkness
Pondering a Puzzling Text
July 22, 2009
By John Piper

No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. (Luke 11:33-36) 

Just before these verses, Jesus says, “Something greater than Solomon is here . . . Something greater than Jonah is here” (Luke 11:31-32). That is, the wisdom of Jesus exceeds the greatest human wisdom, and the resurrection of Jesus will be greater than most spectacular human rescues and resuscitations. 

The question Jesus then addresses is: Do we see this for what it is—magnificent and compelling, so that it becomes the light and joy of our lives? He talks about seeing—and about two lamps. 

The first lamp: 
Verse 33: No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 

I take this to refer to what Jesus has just said about his wisdom and resurrection: “I have set a lamp in the world: my wise and powerful presence—greater than Solomon and greater than Jonah. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5). I am the lamp that must not be hidden or missed. 

The second lamp: 
Verse 34: “Your eye is the lamp of your body.” 

I take this to mean that the way the lamp of Jesus becomes a lamp for you is that you see it for what it really is. Your eye becomes the lamp of your body when you see the lamp of his greatness in the world. 

He elaborates: “When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.” In other words, if your eye sees me for who I really am, then you are full of light; but if you don’t see me for who I am, then you are full of darkness. 

Then Jesus says, “Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” In other words, there is much that passes for light through the eye that is not light. There are many bright things in the world that keep us from seeing the true light of Christ—just like city lights keep you from seeing the stars. 

“Be careful!” This is the only imperative in the text. Be careful what you see! Be careful what you regard as bright and attractive and compelling. If it is not Christ, you will be filled with darkness—no matter how bright it seems for a season. Candles seem bright until the sun comes out. Then they are useless and put away. 

Christ is the glory we were made to see. His light alone will fill us and give the light of life and meaning to every part of our lives. And when that happens, we ourselves will shine and give off the rays of Christ. “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” 

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to see the supreme greatness of your wisdom and power. Make our eyes good. Heal our blindness. Fill us with the all-pervading, all-exposing, all-purifying, all-pleasing light of your presence. 

Seeking to see with you, 

Pastor John 
(www.DesiringGod.org)

(end of quote)
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A DREAM OF DRIVING UPHILL AND MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO SAND

I was driving a car up a hill. There was a place where the road divided and I took a rounding curve to the left. Then I drove right into what seemed like a sand pit. The sand was stacked up in formations. As I tried to drive, my car got stuck in the sand.

This dream seems to alert me to some spiritual change coming to me. I don't want to end up at a dead end, stuck in the sand, so I better be seeking the Lord as to which way to turn in my personal life. I have remembered this dream for several days. It keeps popping in my mind, so I think the Lord is giving it to me as a warning dream.

That's right, Joan. Be forewarned that a place of decision is soon coming about which way to turn. I want to lead you as to the right way to go. Keep seeking Me about which way to go, and to keep you from making the wrong choice, even though it may seem right at that moment.

* * *

A DREAM ABOUT PEOPLE PUSHING CARS AGAINST MY HOUSE AND CRACKING IT

In this dream I arrived home and found someone had backed their car up against the side wall of the house and pushed it in so it cracked some of the boards of the house. I saw another place where someone had pushed his car against part of my house so it bent a ceiling area out of shape. I watched as some woman backed her car up against the outside of the house and drove off. 

Perhaps this dream shows my fears that my self and family are being broken and hit by others and I am being broken and hurt in the process.

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JOURNAL 7-27-09 Monday

Quotes from the book Satan's Dirty Little Secret by Steve Foss:

(75-80)
Taking every thought captive is the key to total victory. The Scripture commands us to repent.
Sorrow leads us to repentance, but isn't repentance by itself.
Repentance isn't an emotional expression. It's a change in the way we think.
If someone doesn't change the way they think, they will ultimately never change their actions.
If you think differently in accordance with the Word of God, then your feelings and emotions will line up with the Word of God and drive you in the right direction.

(81)
One day…the Spirit of God began to speak to me about sin. He spoke to me a definition of sin that forever changed my life and has changed the lives of multitudes around the world.
He said, "The essence of sin is the rejection of God's rightful authority over one's life."
Everything in the kingdom of heaven is about authority. The word authority speaks to us of the "legal right to exercise power."
When one has authority they have the legal right to exercise power over another.

(82)
Sin is an authority issue. God created us and has an inherent right to tell us what to do, say, and how to live. He is Lord.
From the beginning all sin is based in this single first step: the rejection of God's rightful authority.

(83)
Now the Bible commands us to repent of our sins. In other words, change the way we think about rejecting God's rightful authority and accept His rightful authority over our lives. This is true repentance.
When we repent He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:9.) He will cleanse us from all our un-God-like character and create in us His character and nature. The power of sin over our lives will be broken. As we take each area of our lives to God and surrender them to the rightful authority of Christ, then the power of redemption and deliverance begins to work practically in our daily actions.

(91)
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17 AMP)

Paul prays the prayer of the Holy Spirit that God the Father would give to them a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Now there is only one Holy Spirit, so what he is talking about here is an anointing - a supernatural power for wisdom and revelation of insight into mysteries and secrets in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him.
God has secrets and he wants to reveal them to us:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, … (Daniel 2:28)

Then I will give them heart to know Me… (Jeremiah 24:7)

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

We need supernatural eyesight to see and understand the mysteries and secrets of God. God wants us to know His secrets:

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Why does God want you to know His secrets?

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The secrets of the Lord belong to Him until they are revealed.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Once the mystery of the healing power of Christ's stripes is revealed, then we have access to His healing power. When you see it, you can have it. Once the mystery is revealed it rightfully belongs to you. It is your inheritance. An inheritance that is not understood does the heir no good. It is not until the heir sees and understands what is rightfully his that he can have it.
In Ephesians Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is praying that God will give to you supernatural eyesight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of God. Because once you see the secrets, you have legal access to them. For we are "joint-heirs with Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:17)
One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to show us the secrets of God:

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13)

God wants to open your spiritual eyes to see--the eyes of your heart, your understanding:

By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope of your calling. (Ephesians 1:18, AMP)

(95)
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

It was at this point that the vision took hold of me. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus.
I saw in an open vision the Word of God. I saw these verses suspended in the air and from within the words themselves I saw a visible bright, blue-white light. It was the most beautiful light I had ever seen. It was the visible glory of God. I fell to my knees and cried out, "I see it! I see it!" Then God spoke to me and said, "Through My Word you'll see Me."
The spirit of wisdom and revelation came upon me and opened by eyes to see the mystery of the gospel, "which is Christ in you the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27 KJV).
This event changed my life and forever set the course of my ministry. It was the revelation of Christ that would change everything. As we see Him as He is, we will be changed. (See John 3:2.)

(end of quote)

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JOURNAL 7-29-09 Wednesday

This morning I read an article by Benny Hinn about Vows and the World of Faith. He teaches about the power in a vow before God and gives illustrations from his own life when he made vows to God when in desperate situations. As a child he vowed to give God a jar of oil if God would get his family out of Israel, and God did. He also vowed as an adult that if God would spare him and deliver him (when what God had given him was in deep trouble) that he would help children around the world. Both times God did what he had asked Him to do. He also gives Scriptural examples of Jacob in Genesis 28:20-22, Jephthah in Judges 11:30, Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11, David in Psalm 56:12, Jonah in Jonah 2:9 and Paul in Acts 18:18.

He says "If you are facing an especially large challenge or don't know what to do, or where to turn, it may be time for you to consider making a vow before God."

Scriptures regarding this:

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.  (Psalm 50:24-25)

I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. (Psalm 66:13-14)

I feel like all that God has given Beth and me (by bringing us here to Lees Summit and providing a house for us, a church, and friends and a job for Beth) is now in jeopardy because she was laid off from her job. I want to find God's way through this situation, but am not sure what that way is. I know I am to trust Him. I'm not sure if I am to make a vow, and, if so, what that vow should be. Teach me, Lord. Instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go. (Psalm 32:8)

Ok, Joan, I promise I WILL instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I begin right now by instructing you to tell Beth she is free to take off as many days as she needs to find out what I want her to do. I will help you to allow her to do that, Joan. I knew you would have trouble with doing that, Joan, because you are a "do" person. I work through you as you "do" things I lead you to do. She is not a "do" person, and she isn't comfortable doing that which she doesn't feel right doing. Let her find her own way to learn from Me. It won't take long, and I WILL show her the way. Just have her stop doing what she did yesterday and Monday, and let her find her own way to Me.

* * *

JOURNAL 7-30-09 Thursday

Beth was much more relaxed and at peace yesterday. She got networked with many friends and people who might know about jobs available through the web site called Linked In. She also contacted many friends and got very positive feedback from them for helping her find a job. She applied for at least one job which C recommended her for at Quintiles where C works. Thank You, Lord, for helping her through those tough days.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-1-09 Saturday

This article came by email from Francis Frangipane ministry (www.frangipane.org), and I wanted to save it in my journal.

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Pastor Richard Speight has been my friend for almost ten years. In his book Come Rest, Richard shares living truths from the Lord, realities that he personally experienced and is now teaching. Considering the degree of fear, pressure and stress attacking people in our world, Come Rest is a road map into the love of God. -- Francis Frangipane

The Jedidiah Identity
By Richard Speight

Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means "beloved of the Lord") as the Lord had commanded. (2 Samuel 12:24-25)

What defines you? Is it what you do? Some find their meaning in life by "making a difference." But what happens when you don’t? Fear of failure can become your god when you find your identity through making a difference.

What defines you? Is it who you are? Some think they have found enlightenment in the saying, "It’s not what you do but who you are that matters." Unfortunately, that thinking sets us up for a self-centered life---"I"dolatry. Fortunately, there is another way. 

The Bible tells the famous story of David and Bathsheba. King David, a man who loved God with all his heart, made horrible choices in arranging the death of Bathsheba’s husband (Uriah, his loyal friend and soldier) so he could take Bathsheba as his own. God confronted him through the prophet Nathan, and David repented. (Sometime read David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51. If you ever blow it, pray that prayer with all your heart and watch what happens.)

Though God forgave him, David experienced the painful consequences of his choices. 

After the death of the child conceived in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, David took her in as one of his wives. They named their next child Solomon, which means "peaceable." They were declaring, "We’ve been through a lot, but maybe we can have some peace now." They were like many people in our day, hoping for mere survival and maybe a little peace. It’s the best the world hopes for, and the best the world can offer.

But Jesus offers so much more. 

Notice that "they named him Solomon," but the Lord named him Jedidiah---"beloved of the Lord." 

As long as Solomon found his identity in being loved by the Lord, he became the wise king. But when he found his identity in being the wise king, he was given over to idolatry. Each one who is saved in Christ is His "Jedidiah." This identity is the Lord’s desire for every person. When you find your identity in what you do, your security depends upon your performance; but when you find your identity in being loved by the Lord, your security depends upon His performance. 

We often make statements like, "I am a pastor… I am a teacher… I am a mother… I am a consultant… I am a student… I am an athlete"---often statements of identity. The truth is not that I am a pastor, but that I am a beloved child of the Lord who is doing the work of pastor. 

If my happiness depends on what happens, the evil one can steal my happiness away. But if I rest in being the Lord’s beloved, then real life begins to well up inside me to overflowing. 

Letting Jesus Love You

Jesus says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV).

When my daughter Emily was editor of her college newspaper, she wrote an opinion column entitled, "Avoid identity theft, just be a schmuck!" Nice satire! Who wants to steal your identity if it’s not worth anything? However, the Bible says you were made in God’s image; you are of ultimate value to Him.

"This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10). Out of his real love for you, God sent His Son to rescue you by dying on the cross for you. The Lord invites you to come to Him and find real rest, real love, and the real identity He has won for you---the Jedidiah identity.

What’s in a name? As a Jedidiah, you would let more and more of Jesus’ loving presence rest upon you, and as you let Him be enough for you, He will transform your life. 

Make no mistake, there is an enemy who wants not only to steal your identity but to kill and utterly destroy you. However, the One who made you loves you. This wonderful rescuer, Jesus, died on a cross for all of us schmucks! He wants to rescue and fill you with life overflowing. Let Him. He wants to reveal to you the secret of true contentment; let it be enough to just be loved by Him. 

LET’S PRAY! Lord, You know how driven I can be. I’m so tired of proving my own worth. It’s lonely being so dependent on myself. I need more than just a little peace. I’m tired of finding my identity in what I do. I want to enjoy life as Your beloved child. I sometimes act as if You are not there and don’t care about me. Please forgive me. Help me feel secure in Your love. I choose to let You love me. Please show me how much You love me. Teach me to let Your love be enough. Shine Your light on the dark stuff in me. I give my hurts, fears, and angers to You. Clean me out! Fill me up with Your love. I am putting my life truly in Your hands. My security now depends upon Your performance, not mine. I am Your Jedidiah. In Jesus’ name, amen.

* * *

The preceding message is a chapter in Richard Speight’s book, Come Rest (published by Arrow Publications). For more information on this book, please visit the Arrow Bookstore at www.arrowbookstore.com. 

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JOURNAL 8-2-09 Sunday

Yesterday, while I was reading a book by Chuck Pierce about The Future War of the Church, I was impressed by the Holy Spirit that I was to help Beth attend an upcoming conference in Kansas by Chuck Pierce and Dutch Sheets. Later yesterday, while she was looking at job postings, she found one that she said looked like the perfect job for her - at least from the things posted about the job. So she applied for it.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-3-09 Monday

(5:00 a.m.)

Every time you criticize yourself for not being a good enough pray-er, then remember that you are Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord…and that is enough. And every time you think you need to hurry up and do something before it's too late to do it, remember that you are Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord…and that is enough.

Is that right, Lord? Is that really right? Is it enough to just be Your beloved? I feel like I need to earn rewards for doing things for You. Am I "feeling" wrongly?

Yes, if I say so. You may earn rewards for doing things for Me, but You don't have to earn My love, Joan, like you felt you needed to "earn" your earthly father's love or your earthly husband's love. You don't have to earn My love, because you already HAVE My love. It exists. It is not something you earn. You have it because you exist - because you live. I am that kind of God, Joan…a God of love. Love is who I am and what I am. I give each person on earth opportunity and time to get to know Me as love, because I love each one. It may be through a dream; it may be through a revelation or realization someday, but I do give that opportunity to each one.

That's what I want you to "stand" in - being a "beloved of the Lord." I could love you no more nor love you any less because of what you do, and that includes prayer. I know that is hard for you to comprehend, because your life has been one of trying to please others around you. Now I want you to know that I love you - not by what you do, or by the prayers you say, or what you accomplish, but just because you are My beloved, beloved of the Lord. Will you try to grasp that?

I gave My life for you before you were even born, Joan. That's how much I love you and loved you. You are ALWAYS My beloved…always have been and always will be. It is not dependent on what you do. Just receive My love. I will be pleased if you do that…just receive My love - daily.

How do I do that, Lord? How do I just receive Your love in a way that's right and pleasing to You?

How do you do that? Just like you learn who I am and what I'm like - in the Bible. You read My Word and believe it and trust in it. Look up the verses on love and put them here.

* * *

He loved me and gave himself up for me.
…and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:7-10)

He has a banner over me of love.
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. (Song of songs 2:4)

He is a faithful witness; He loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.
…and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood... (Revelation 1:5)

He makes me lie down, He leads me, He restores me, He guides me, He comforts me, He prepares a table before me, He anoints me, He gives me goodness and love, He lets me dwell with Him.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)

He instructs me and teaches me, He counsels me, He watches over me.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

He forgives all my sins, He heals all my diseases, He redeems my life from the pit, He crowns me with love and compassion, He satisfies my desires with good things.
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

He gives me His Word to light my way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)

He directs my path.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

He is a strong tower for me; He gives me safety.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

He keeps me in perfect peace.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

He gives me an instructed tongue; He wakens my ear to listen.
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. (Isaiah 50:4)

The Lord laid on Jesus all my iniquity.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

He has plans for me; He will listen to me; He lets me find Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

He answers when I call on Him; He tells me things I do not know.
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

He gives me my daily bread; He forgives my debts; he delivers me from temptation and the evil one.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)

He gives me what I ask for; he opens the door to me.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7)

He gives me rest; He teaches me.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

He is with us in our midst.
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20)

He is with me always.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

He gives me the right to become His child.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

He gives me eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

He gives me life to the full.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

He gives me the way to the Father through Him.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

He will never leave me or forsake me.
I will never leave you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

I will remain in His love if I obey Him.
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10)

He chose me and appointed me to go and bear lasting fruit.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. (John 15:16)

He gives me peace. He sends me.
Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20:21)

He baptizes me with the Holy Spirit.
Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

He wipes out my sins and gives me refreshing.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (Acts 3:19)

His Holy Spirit lives in me.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

He lives in me. He loved me and gave Himself for me.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

He gives me the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

He saved me by grace. It is a gift from Him.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

He works in me to will and to act as He wants.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

He gives me His peace and guards my heart and mind.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

He supplies all my needs.
And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

He is greater than the evil one.
The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

He teaches me, rebukes me, corrects me, and trains me through His Word.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

These are all signs of My love, Joan. Now you know I love you, so receive My love, every day of your life, from Me.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-4-09 Tuesday

I want you to listen to Me every morning like this. Turn on your computer when you get up and prepare to hear from Me. Remember that I "awaken your ear to listen like one being taught" (Isaiah 50:4). That Scripture is for you. I DO awaken your ear to listen to Me like one being taught. That is why I want you to listen each morning and write each morning that you can. I have prepared you for many, many years for this time - now. You ARE ready for it. So is Beth. I have plans for both of you, together.

If you know that I have a lesson for you each morning, and you don't come and listen, then you know you will miss what I have planned for you to hear that morning. So know that. I have a plan for you to listen each morning - and sometimes during the day also as I guide you to come and listen. I will not start speaking until you come. That way you show Me that you expect Me to speak to you. That expectation is called faith. You have faith in Me and what I will do.

By faith the Israelites in Egypt prepared their Passover lambs. By faith, they prepared to leave Egypt, not knowing exactly where they were going or how I would provide for them. They believed the word I gave to Moses. Their faith grew as they watched the plagues on Egypt - especially the ones that didn't affect them while it did affect the Egyptians. They saw a difference between what I did for them and the Egyptians. They grew to understand that I had set them apart as special unto Me. And their faith grew.

Your faith has grown too, Joan, over many years. Now you will see how I have set you apart as special unto Me - different from the "Egyptians" - those who haven't accepted Me into their lives. You will see a great difference. Daily. Beginning today. 

* * *

(Quotes from The Future War of the Church by Chuck Pierce)

(p. 25-29)
KNOWING THE TIMES

God is transforming our minds so that we can have the mind of Christ, and He is searching out those with a heart to lead the troops in the days ahead. As we enter this new season, here are some guidelines that will assist us in maintaining our spiritual focus.

1.	We must think prophetically
Without vision we can't see the provision God has made available to us. If we cannot see our provision, our supply for the future will be easily cut off by the enemy. Ask the Lord to remove anything that has quenched His Spirit in your past and stopped His prophetic flow in your life.

2.	We must stay alert to activity and anything unusual around us.
God is restoring a watchman anointing to His people. Today's spiritual watchmen are just as important to the kingdom of God. We all must allow the Lord to teach us to have a strong defense so that we can both stay on the offensive and guard that which God has given us.

3.	We must keep our spirits alive and active so that we discern properly.
One of Satan's greatest tools of destruction is apathy. Discernment is a key to defeating apathy and remaining on the offensive.

4.	We must know how to get in touch with each other immediately.
Maintaining our connections and relationships with each other is another key to securing our future. God sovereignly connects and aligns us with one another so that we can function effectively. Know with whom God has connected you and how to let them know what God is saying to you. This will keep God's warning system in proper order.

5.	We must learn to understand each other's ways and methods of communication.
Intercessors in particular can be very misunderstood. Intercessors are a part of the resurgence of the prophetic. However, they must learn when to pray and when to say. Once they begin to talk about what God is revealing to them, they take on the function of the prophet.

6.	We must not let petty issues distract us; they may be the work of religious spirits.
When we are legalistic with one another, faith is weakened and we fall into criticism and judgmentalism, rather than walking in the love of Christ. 

7.	Embrace one another.
We must be flexible enough to connect with and embrace those who will help us accomplish our mission, even if they are not people we have worked with or have been comfortable with before. Remember this: You do not have all the gifting you need to accomplish your purpose. That is why God has given us each other.

THE VISION

On December 31, 1985, I waited on God to speak to me. God began revealing many things to me. I felt He was showing me how the Church was to prepare for the future.

He began by saying that within 12 years from that time, the government of the Church would change to reflect the pattern given to us when Jesus ascended to heaven. In this visitation God showed me three distinct governmental structures on this earth and their importance for the future of society.

The Existing Church Structure
God first showed me the Church as I knew it. At that time I was a member of a mainline denomination and I really didn't know any other method of doing church. That form of church appeared to me as a large building of about 50 stories. And God said, "I will have an opportune time when many will come out of this church government and begin to flow into another government structure that will arise."

Other Types of Government
God then showed me two other buildings rising up. The first building was labeled Militant Religious Governments (the -Isms). This building was being constructed rapidly and had great strength. The Lord showed me the effects that these religious systems would have on our society in the days ahead. I saw strategy rooms in this building where plans for terrorist activity were being devised.

There was another, smaller building located in front of the 'Isms. The smaller building was called Lawlessness. In this building there were hidden lawless forces linked with secret societies such as the Ku Klux Klan and Freemasonry. I saw the influence of this building begin to result in lawless acts of violence and murder taking place in schools, churches, shopping malls and supermarkets.

God said that if we were to understand how these structures operated, we would have keys for victory in the future when the structures of the 'Isms and Lawlessness would rise up and attempt to gain control.

The Church of the Future
God then showed me a third picture. This was of a building that was filled with light. The Lord called it My Future Kingdom Authority. This building was very small. It was just beginning to form and was still lacking in size and shape. Even so, the structure was nothing but light (similar to a hologram) and glory.

Several words appeared on its foundation. They were the five ascension gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 that make up the government of God: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. God was bringing order to these five gifts and placing them in the foundation. Every time one gift would be set in order, the light would increase tremendously.

He said this order would become very visible over the next 12 years. Once the proper order had been established, He would rapidly transfer His people to the new structure. I saw many leaders from the first building move their offices from the old building to this new structure. As they turned out the lights of their offices in the old structure, that building grew darker and much more rigid, and it was unable to withstand the -Isms and Lawlessness. However, the Lord's new structure began to arise, and it had the ability to superimpose itself over the   -Isms and Lawlessness structure and could overcome their governments.

God then said to me:

This is the government of the Church of the future that will arise and spread My light throughout the world in the latter days. This government will overcome all other governments. When this government is in order, you can then command governments of the earth to come into order.

This will be the government that My latter-day blessings will rest on. This will be the government in which My glory will be seen. This will be the government that truly comes into a double-portion anointing and will dethrone the systems of Babylon on this Earth. This government will not be one of compromise but of determined commitment to My purposes.

As the vision was coming to an end, I asked, "Lord, how in the world will we make the changes necessary to move into this new structure in such a short amount of time?" Here is a list of six directives the Lord gave me to prepare for the future:

1.	Understand authority
Authority is the key to power. The Lord showed me that if I would begin to understand and analyze every authority that had influence in my life, I would begin to operate in a new level of faith. Faith is linked with authority. To the extent that we submit to the authority God has placed in our lives, our faith has the opportunity to be stretched and strengthened. Faith is the overcoming agent that God's people have on this earth. If the Church is to overcome, we must understand and submit to proper authority.

2.	Deal with your greatest fear
The spirit of fear creates an unsound mind, weakens power and negates love. The Lord showed me that at the end of this 12-year period, a new move of holiness would begin to emerge among His people that would unleash a genuine fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord releases wisdom, and wisdom will unlock and dismantle demonic forces.

You cannot shout down principalities and powers. They are a structured hierarchy that forms a government, and governments have to be dismantled. Wisdom causes false governments to topple. If we will tear down the spirit of fear that is hindering us and move into a new fear of the Lord, we will topple iniquitous patterns that allow principalities and powers to blind unreached people groups, cities and even entire nations to the light of the gospel.

3.	Increase your discernment
During my vision, I said, "Lord, I do not have the ability to discern at this level." It was as if the Lord said I did not have a choice. He then said to me, "Discipline yourself in the Word and exercise My Spirit within your spirit, for it will take both Word and Spirit to cause the reality of Me to be seen in days ahead." 

4.	Know who labors among you
The Lord showed me that in the coming days it would be imperative for His people to communicate necessary information to one another efficiently…I began to see a network that would form a net. When this net was completed, He would begin to drag it through cities and nations, collecting a great harvest.

5.	Be in the world, not of it
The Lord is planning for the glory that He is about to release in His Church to permeate the earth. But we cannot spread His glory if we hide out.

6.	Understand wealth
We must allow purification to come into our lives wherever money is concerned…If we allow God to purify us and make us holy, He will then be able to trust us with great wealth.

(End of quote)

* * *

JOURNAL 8-11-09 Tuesday

This is a new day, Joan, a day when things are going to be different. You never know which day something will change things in your life, but this is one of them. That doesn't mean it is something bad that will happen, although that could be. But on certain days, things change. It could even be the day you come to Me in the Rapture. Would you like that?

Yes, Lord, I would REALLY like that. And I want my three children to come too. And all my brothers and sisters and their families. But that is in Your hands and Your timing.

I bless You, Lord. I love You, Lord. I want to come up there and be with You forever. Thank You for wanting me and for giving me joy in Your presence. Thank You for giving Your life for me, in my place, for my sins, so I can come close to You and spend forever with You. Thank You for Your love, for life, for joy, for peace, for Godly relationships here on earth and in heaven. Thank You for preparing a place for me in heaven, that where You are, there I may be also.

I want you to "come up here," Joan, and soon too. It will be soon, but it will not be today. I have a bit more to do yet before I call My Bride up here to be with Me and have the marriage supper of the Lamb. But it won't be long. Not long at all. It is almost here, and I am so eager for that to come!

So am I, Lord. So am I!

Now, prepare your heart to listen to Me and hear from Me. This is important.

Yes, angels are watching over you - day and night - and you can count on them because I said so. And what I say is true and right and just. All that I say and do is just, Joan, remember that. Even if you don't understand why I do some things, they are just. 

Now I want you to just go and do your regular daily things but keep listening for My voice to speak, and come and write when I do, ok?

Ok, Lord, I will keep listening and writing throughout this day as You lead me.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-13-09 Thursday

In my Quiet Time this morning the Lord again assured me He is with me and protecting me all the time. He says that this time and season are when I am supposed to be alive and that He still has things for me to do here. My great desire is to go to Heaven, but I don't want to leave Beth here alone, so I want to be here with her until we can both be raptured together into Heaven.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-14-09 Friday

QUIET TIME NOTES

During my QT, as the Lord told me what He wanted me to do with my life, I made this commitment:

I commit myself to be Yours and work for You all the days and all the nights of my life. I commit myself to be a watchman for You, to listen to You, to pray as You lead me to pray, to do what You lead me to do, all the rest of my life here on earth and for all eternity.

You say You have trained me for this and You want me kept apart for this and that You need me for this work. You tell me this morning in QT that you don't want me to spend my time working to prepare for a garage sale or looking for other paying work because you want me completely devoted and committed to working for You. Is that right, Lord?

That's right, Joan. I am calling you to be My employee, and I'm offering you a job working for Me, just as you have been - in praying first of all, then of writing next and giving that writing away to others for Me to use in My work with others. Then, thirdly, I am calling you to be there for Beth and Kim and John as they need you - to be the person who loves them unconditionally. They need that even if they don't realize they need that. I am calling you to do that too. So, three things:

1.	Pray for Me daily and nightly as I lead you.
2.	Write for Me daily and nightly as I lead you - and give it away as I guide you to do.
3.	Be one who loves Beth, Kim, and John unconditionally for Me.

Be a Palm Tree - a highly righteous fruit-producing person of My Church. Whenever I show you a palm tree, in a dream or otherwise, know that is what I see you as and what I want you to be - for Me, Joan. You are working FOR ME! Will you agree to do that?

Yes, Lord, I agree. I commit myself to You and to the work You have called me to.

And I pay good wages, Joan, for the wages of working for Me full-time, as I've called you to do, is eternal life with Me, starting right now, today, and in this eternal life I provide all that you need, and all that you want that is approved by Me (since I know what is best for you). Now that's good wages.

That's what I want, Lord. I want You to take care of me, to provide for me. I want to work for You all the days of my life and I want to live in Your house, Lord, forever.

I know, Joan. I know what you desire, and I am the One who put that desire in you so you would work for Me all the days of your life. It is a life to live by faith (not by sight) and I will even give you that faith.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

* * *

JOURNAL 8-15-09 Saturday

Today is August 15th - one month after Beth was laid off from her job at Yellow Corp. The Lord had asked me (on July 23) if I was willing to wait one month for her to get a job. I thought that meant by August 15th.

Yesterday Beth said she believes God has already given her the job at CFCA even though they haven't said the actual words to her yet. She has had two interviews by phone with them, and she believes they are just waiting until she takes the new training courses she is signed up for and see how she does on them before they make the final job offer. That should come on September 2nd or 3rd when she is scheduled for an interview with them. This is the job she wants to get. 

And yesterday she met with J. for about 3 hours while he was in town for an AAFP meeting that evening. He said he would pay for the job training courses she will begin next Wednesday. Praise the Lord for that!

She also signed herself up for the 2-week trip to Israel with the Warring Dove group, even though she hasn't yet got the money to go, nor does she know if she could get that 2 weeks off from her new job. She believes she is to go, so she signed up for it. We'll see how that works out. If God wants her to go, He will work it out.

* * *

QUIET TIME NOTES

This morning in my QT the Lord had me pray for J. and C. and their family: G., B., and their 2 children, and J., A., and their two children (10 in all). I prayed, along with Him, for J. to be healed of his vision problem in such a way that they all KNOW it was the Lord, and turn to Him because of that great healing, and be saved eternally. He said this was a special little prayer bundle within my larger prayer bundle. I expect Him to do this.

This is one reason why the Rapture won't come for at least another year yet, because there are still some to be saved that He wants saved. That includes ALL my brothers and sisters, their spouses and extended families. This great salvation for all of them is worth waiting another year until Rosh Hashanah in 2010, even though I'd like to be raptured now on Rosh Hashanah 2009. But this is the harvest He and I are working on together and another year is needed for that.

He also assured me that He will soon heal me from head to toe, including all the many things I need healing from: eyes, ears, neck and shoulders and spinal column, knees, feet, internal areas, diabetes, sleep apnea, and anything else in me that needs healing. PTL!

He brought the thought to me that it was ok to be so involved in discipling others while I was at CBC many years ago, but His purpose for me now is to be set apart to commune with Him and pray prayers as He leads me. To change me from one stage of my life to the other, He allowed the hearing and seeing deficiencies to come about that have kept me home and isolated most of the time (starting with the prayer group at Doug's church when I couldn't see well enough to drive home safely at night).

So You want me still set apart unto You, Lord, and spending my days and nights alone with You now?

Yes, I want that for you unless and until I change that. I have trained you up to be My intercessor and spend lots of time with Me and commune with Me all day and night so you would be ready for now, this year, this time of the end when I will use you to pray and speak for Me, and to Me, for others. This is My perfect plan for you. Now that you understand this and are completely set apart unto Me all the time, I can heal you of those things which helped set you apart by yourself. And you will still stay set apart because you understand and know that is your purpose from Me. And writing will continue for you, just like it is now, almost daily, and to be given to others on the web as I lead.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-16-09 Sunday

(1:25 a.m.) I had a dream in which a white dove flew down onto our deck and I saw it and exclaimed about it. I awoke and pondered it. Then I noticed the clock said 12:34 (1-2-3-4) and Holy Spirit said:

It's all in order.

I asked, "What's in order?"

What I'm planning.

What are You planning?

Your rescue.

Rescue from what?

The earth.

When?

As soon as I'm ready.

Do You want to tell me when You'll be ready?

No, not yet, but I will just before it happens.

[Will it happen] By rapture?

Yes, by rapture. When the white dove (in your dream or in any form) comes he brings special revelation knowledge.

I am to go online and Google "What is the Rapture?" and send it to Kim and John by email and by letter so they will know what it is and how to be ready for it.

Now I want to talk to you about some other things. These things pertain to what is coming to you and all My people. I want you to listen carefully. I will tell you of things to come, remember? Things I know and you don't know.

This next week Beth will endure the learning of a new phase of her life's calling. It WILL be to go to Israel as she is feeling led to do. You are to pray for this and encourage her in this action…just as you are encouraging her to go to the Chuck Pierce/Dutch Sheets conference. She is also to go to that. Encourage her spiritually and encourage her financially. Do not fear for her safety as I will take care of her no matter what happens while she is there. It will NOT be war with Iran while she is there. Joel Rosenberg knows it is ok to go to Israel yet this year, but not next year. Follow that knowledge.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-17-09 Monday

I had two dreams last night that I remember. 

A DREAM ABOUT MONEY BEING STOLEN FROM THREE CHURCHES

In the first one, as I talked with some people in a church office, I became aware that this church had had some money taken from it. I told them that two other churches I had affiliation with had also had that happen.

Money represents natural strength and trust in that. So these churches seem to have had stolen from them some of their natural strength and power. Three represents the Godhead or conforming, obeying, imitating, copying, a likeness, or tradition. Something of tradition or imitating was taken from these churches. It could symbolize some of their tradition being taken away. 

Since this dream came first of these two dreams, it may show the sequence of events: first the traditional church loses some of its strength and tradition, then students come for learning, cleansing, and individual recognition just before leaving for heaven in the rapture.

* * *

A DREAM ABOUT DECORATING MY KINDERGARTEN ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS

In the second dream, I was a kindergarten teacher at a school and was preparing my room for the children's arrival the next day. I decided to decorate it for Christmas by putting up a string of lights around the room at the top of the door and blackboard frames. I was planning a way to highlight each individual child by making some heart or Christmas decoration and putting it up for each child. 

I noticed in the first grade room, next to mine, that she had many people there putting up elaborate Christmas decorations with several artificial trees, areas of diamond shaped fenced sections between the trees with lights on all of this. I was amazed at so much decoration being done there. 

Then it was the day the children came, and some parents, and I was showing them our room. I looked at the clock and it was about 20 minutes until 11:00 (the time they were to leave on their buses) so I began to get them ready to leave. One person needed to use the rest room, so I showed the girls and told the boys where the rest rooms were so they could use them before they left.

This dream seems to portray my making preparations for teaching beginning students. It was really close to Christmas - the season of rejoicing and surprise. This seems to represent something good happening - a surprise about to come that would bring much rejoicing.  I was preparing to highlight who each child was and help them get to know each other. Then, during the first day of school, I saw by the clock that it was time to prepare to get on the buses and go home. Before going home the children needed to use the rest rooms - which represents getting cleansed and repenting of their sins. Going home may represent going to Heaven in the rapture and they all needed to be cleansed before that event. 

The first grade room being elaborately decorated may represent Heaven which is being prepared for us to come there. It will be a new beginning for us with God as the unity and source of that.

A message to me may be to keep the "decorations" simple, to highlight each individual, and to allow for cleansing before the "departure time." This dream also shows that we are really close to the departure time for Heaven.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-19-09 Wednesday

A DREAM ABOUT WORKING WITH A WEDDING PLANNER

In this dream I seemed to be planning to get married. I was working with someone like a wedding planner to get me ready. I had picked out a dress which was pale blue. But it was getting dirty because it got put down on a road and got dirty spots from that and needed to be cleaned. I was at a beauty shop talking with a girl there who was planning my hairdo for the wedding - a hairdo that would go well with my dress. My hair was being cut/trimmed and was shorter in the back than I usually like. The dress turned out to be too low cut to be comfortable to wear at a wedding dinner, and I wished I had bought a higher cut one. Then the wedding planner seemed to be a man instead of the woman it formerly was. He reminded me of K who owned the beauty shop in Columbia where I went. Then he introduced me to the owner of the shop who was going to really plan the wedding. This owner had one of my gloves which I had dropped somewhere along the way and held it out to me. K seemed to have a woman there with him who was to become his bride. She and I were both older. The owner referred to us at the 50's brides.

What does this dream mean, Lord?

Make a list, Joan, of what you perceive in the dream.

1.	It's almost time for the wedding and I am making plans for it.
2.	I went to a beauty shop to get prepared.
3.	My dress/covering/anointing/authority/righteousness was spiritual, but didn't quite fit the way I wanted it to. It was lacking and had dirty spots on it from touching the road.
4.	The road refers to the way of life, life on this earth, the Christian faith, and I get soiled as I go along that daily.
5.	I need regular cleaning from life's dirty spots and need my spiritual dress adjusted to fit me better.
6.	I got a haircut which represents putting away bad habits, old traditions.
7.	The wedding planner started out being a woman (HS), then the shop owner/manager (Jesus), and then was ultimately the owner (Father God).
8.	The name of the shop manager (K) refers to being trustworthy and being commended for that.
9.	Being a 50's bride shows me that I am a bride of freedom, liberty, Pentecost and jubilee.

So this dream seems to be telling me that the wedding of the Bride of Christ is very soon and preparations are taking place to get this Bride/me ready by adjusting attitudes and cleansing from the spots of living on earth. It also assures me that I really am a Bride of freedom, Pentecost, liberty, and jubilee - a 50's Bride. But I need some cutting, adjusting and cleaning yet. Lord, show me where and how I need changing to be ready to be Your Bride. I want to get clean for You.

I will show you. Be watching for this. I may use books you are reading or things you hear on TV, etc. Be watching, and when I show you some way, write it down and put it in your Journal for Me and others to read, and for you to reread as needed. We'll start with "adjusting attitudes and traditions."

You were brought up to believe that "worship" was going to church on Sunday and going through a planned program of singing and preaching, along with communion, together. That does honor Me, but worship is also much more than that. It is an attitude of heart that honors Me in everything you say and do. It is an attitude that seeks Me and My way of thinking and acting in every act of everyday life - daily. It is an attitude of calling to Me and seeking Me in everything and in every way. Paul called it "praying without ceasing." You do this a lot of the time now. I want it to be your attitude ALL the time, especially with thoughts that try to invade your thinking with negativity - fearful thoughts.

I want you to give encouragement and finances to Beth to help her go to Israel. The more you give, the more I will give back to you. I am a "giving" God, Joan. Give and it shall be given unto you. If she decides not to go to the Chuck Pierce conference, then give her that money towards her Israel trip, for she IS to go.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-22-09 Saturday

(~2:00 a.m.)

A DREAM ABOUT A CHILD SAYING IT WAS 2:96 O'CLOCK

The setting of this dream seemed to be a church. Some of us adults were with some children. One child said something cute and then said it was 2:96 o'clock. I repeated what the child said several times to people because it seemed funny. When I awoke I wondered if it was significant and wanted to look up that number to see what it might mean since it involves time. The number was said: two ninety-six…like you would say the time (i.e. 2.19). 

I asked the Lord to reveal to me what 2:96 meant. Later that day He showed me that 2:96 (2 hours and 96 minutes) was the same as 3:36 (3 hours and 36 minutes) and it stood for my birth month and year. He draws my attention to that time on the clock many times a day (i.e. 1:36, 4:36, etc.) to draw my attention to Him. It is a sign between us to draw our thoughts together. That, so far, is what the number in the dream seems to mean…a secret sign between Him and me to remind me of our relationship. I guess that is why I repeated it in the dream and why I laughed when I did. It is a delight to me to be reminded by Him of our relationship. That child represented me, and the child in me is happy in the Lord.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-24-09 Monday

A DREAM ABOUT TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT  TENNIS

In this dream I was assisting a coach in teaching tennis to students. We had all girls on our tennis team and were preparing to play a tennis match with a team that was all boys.

The team I was coaching was getting haircuts and wouldn't want to be seen for awhile right after the haircuts, so I got the idea of having wigs made for these girls to wear for awhile after their haircuts. Later I saw a couple of wigs and one was yellow and one was pink.

Students are people who are learning, so these students represent people who are learning about playing tennis. Playing tennis symbolizes worship and spiritual warfare. They were getting haircuts which symbolizes putting away tradition or bad habits, repenting of bad attitudes, and removing or breaking covenants or religious traditions. Hair refers to your covering, so a wig might represent a temporary covering or a fake/false covering. It could also represent an attempt to alter or correct one's thoughts. These wigs are seen as pink (moral, chaste, passion) and yellow (gift, gift from God, something good, the Spirit of Knowledge) in their positive meanings. These seem to be good things to put on after taking off bad habits/attitudes.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-25-09 Tuesday

A DREAM ABOUT SENDING DEMONIC FORCES AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER JESUS' AUTHORITY

I had a dream last night in which I met some people from a church (seemed like it was BCC) who were trying to scare demonic forces away from them by using a flame/fire.  I realized that that wouldn't work because we send demonic forces away because of the authority we are under, the authority of Jesus who has all authority.

This dream seems to be reminding me that we have authority under Jesus and we are to use it.

* * *

JOURNAL 8-26-09 Wednesday

A DREAM ABOUT TEACHING OTHERS TO BE SILENT AWHILE

In a dream I was teaching a group of people around a table sitting outside. There were other tables beside us with other people around them. The first thing I tried to do was to get everyone to sit silently for 1 minute. One lady at my table didn't seem able to stop talking that long and be quiet, but we kept trying it until she would. She reminded me of J, the woman who attended CBC awhile and called me to talk for a long time even after she moved away. She seemed to "need" to talk to someone a lot. Later in the dream I was trying to help my group of people look at what was in front of them from a different perspective. Somehow we were able to draw farther and farther away from the table, going upward, and looking down at the table from a different viewpoint. This seemed to be to help them get a bigger picture or broader perspective of their circumstances. 

This dream seemed to be to teach me some things:

1.	I AM a teacher. Many of my dreams show me teaching or preparing to teach. I believe the Lord wants me to KNOW that I am a teacher. He made me that way, and I will continue to be that way - a teacher of others. This is good to do and good for me to know.
2.	One thing I help teach others is the value of silence and listening to God.
3.	Another thing I help teach others is to get a broader perspective, a big picture, on their situation.

It reminds me of a little episode regarding teaching that happened to me at the grocery store recently. I was standing near the fresh corn-on-the-cob section. A lady came up and started to get some corn for herself, but she was grumbling because the price was so high compared to what she could get it at Johnson Farm. She said that there it was 6 ears for $2.00 and here it was 2 ears for $1.00. I mentioned that the Johnson Farm corn then cost 3 ears for $1.00 while this grocery store corn was 2 ears for $1.00, so this was just a little more expensive, but not too big a difference. She looked at me and thought awhile and then said that I was right and she hadn't thought of it that way. (It seemed like she had been thinking she could get 6 ears at Johnson Farm and only 2 ears here.) She said I must be a teacher, the way I used those numbers so quickly, etc. I said that I had been a teacher previously, and we talked some more while she told me where Johnson Farm was. It was a very friendly and cordial exchange for both of us.

The Lord impresses me that He wants me to KNOW I am a teacher. I believe this means I am a teacher for all eternity. Perhaps I will be a teacher during the Millenium.

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JOURNAL 8-27-09 Thursday

A DREAM ABOUT GETTING A CART FOR MY TEACHING SUPPLIES

Last night I had another dream in which I was preparing to teach kindergarten. I saw that another teacher had a rolling cart on which she gathered her materials for teaching and I thought that was a good idea. So I asked the person in charge if I could have such a cart, and she said ok.

I talked to the Lord about having yet another dream about getting ready for teaching and what I needed to do to get ready. He said to keep doing what I am already doing: reading His Word daily and reading the other books He leads me to read.

Yes, and keep seeking Me and praying daily. Keep open to where I lead you and what I tell you to do. I will lead you to your new students, whether through your writings or some other way. 

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JOURNAL 8-28-09 Friday

A DREAM ABOUT BEING INSTRUCTED HOW TO PRAY BY THE LORD

As I dreamed the Lord was teaching me ways to pray and what not to pray by following His instructions. He wants me to work harder and with more concentration when I pray from now on. He wants to instruct me and have me learn from Him. He wants me to be more serious and focused when I pray from now on. In the dream He would show me words written out and tell me to either pray those words or not pray those words. He also had me praying for LR's back in one dream segment. L's back was different than the average person's due to his surgery in the past. In the dream it seemed that L was back as my pastor and we were beginning to reestablish our relationship/friendship of sharing again.

L and P were your two favorite pastors because they talked with you and shared with you what I was showing them and they wanted to hear from you what I was sharing with you. That is a precious relationship which you miss greatly. And G did too. So I am showing you in this dream that I will begin to reestablish that kind of spiritual sharing relationship for you with someone whom I have now picked to be your spiritual friend. AND I do want to teach you much more about praying, perhaps through this new friend. You haven't been taught yet all I want you to learn…and you will learn best from hearing another person pray the right way. Watch for this coming new relationship and welcome it, Joan. It is from Me. In the meantime, listen to the prayers that others pray - whether at church, through TV or in books, and learn from them as I lead you to. You can learn a lot about praying from Chuck Pierce.

Lord, I dedicate myself to You for prayer. You tell me that there is one more chapter in the book of my life and it is called: Prayer and Writing. You showed me that I have already written and lived chapters called Learning and Writing, Studying and Writing, Listening and Writing, and  Following/Obeying and Writing. Now the last chapter is Prayer and Writing. Prayer is the central focus of this last chapter of my life. 

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