HOW TO LIVE IN THESE DAYS

2009

November-December

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)

* * *

(Words in italics, like this, are thoughts given to me from the Lord.)

The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:2-5)

JOURNAL 11-1-09 Sunday

I found this song repeating over and over in my mind:

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
Text: Henry Alford, 1810-1871 
Music: George J. Elvey, 1816-1893 
Tune: ST. GEORGE'S WINDSOR, Meter: 77.77 D 

1.	Come, ye thankful people, come, 
	raise the song of harvest home; 
	all is safely gathered in, 
	ere the winter storms begin. 
	God our Maker doth provide 
	for our wants to be supplied; 
	come to God's own temple, come, 
	raise the song of harvest home. 

2.	All the world is God's own field, 
	fruit as praise to God we yield; 
	wheat and tares together sown 
	are to joy or sorrow grown; 
	first the blade and then the ear, 
	then the full corn shall appear; 
	Lord of harvest, grant that we 
	wholesome grain and pure may be. 

3.	For the Lord our God shall come,
	and shall take the harvest home; 
	from the field shall in that day 
	all offenses purge away, 
	giving angels charge at last 
	in the fire the tares to cast; 
	but the fruitful ears to store 
	in the garner evermore. 

4.	Even so, Lord, quickly come,
	bring thy final harvest home; 
	gather thou thy people in, 
	free from sorrow, free from sin, 
	there, forever purified, 
	in thy presence to abide; 
	come, with all thine angels, come, 
	raise the glorious harvest home.

I believe the Lord wants me to sing this song to Him and invite Him to come and take His harvest people home to be with Him.

* * *

A DREAM ABOUT TRYING TO LEARN IF I WAS TAKING ALL THE COURSES IN COLLEGE NEEDED TO GRADUATE

The setting of this dream was a college administration building. I was there during a half-hour break between classes, but ended up staying much longer. I was trying to find the registrar's office because I wanted to find out what classes I was signed up for that semester, to see if I was attending all the classes I needed to attend. It was winter and I was to graduate the following spring and I wanted to be sure I was ready. The people from the administrative offices were sitting out in the hallways. It seemed something was being done to their offices to make them move out into the hallway. I approached one after another of those administrators trying to find someone who would tell me what courses I had signed up for that semester and whether these would complete what I needed to complete before graduating. I was so frustrated because no one seemed willing or able to help me get this information. One man said I had taken "Scientology" which I had not taken. I knew that wasn't true.

This dream indicates that the time of graduating from my higher learning place (college/earth) is soon and will come when new life returns to the earth after the winter. This may refer to the harvest time (time of new life) coming soon. I want to be ready when it arrives. I want to be sure I have taken all the courses or learned all the things I need to learn by that time. I try to find out from the "administrators" who run the college and should know, and they aren't help to me. This frustrates me because I want to be sure. I somehow feel there might be one more course I need to be attending and am not attending. I am seeking to find out what that course is. This taking place in a hallway refers to this being "in transition" to what's coming next. I don't know why the dream referenced "Scientology" but perhaps it is a clue to something false or cultic which is in the world now or yet to come. I knew I had not studied it. Maybe this is a clue to warn me to watch out for false religions which I had not learned about in college.

Lord, did You give me this dream? You told me to write it out on my computer.

Yes, I gave you this dream to teach you something.

1.	You are to keep learning until graduation day.
2.	You take all the courses of learning which I require, even though you don't know for sure what they are ahead of time. Only I know.
3.	Scientology does refer to all those "false" ideas and philosophies in the world of learning. You did not study that course and you know that you didn't. But it is something you learned about by studying the truth (and therefore recognize what is false).
4.	No person on earth can tell you exactly when and whether you are ready to graduate.
5.	All of you on earth are in a "learning zone" and in "a hallway of transition."

This is a dream to tell you the time is short, and you have learned almost all I have planned for you. Keep open to what I continue to teach you, and carefully evaluate the true from the false.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-2-09 Monday

Interesting that I had the word "Scientology" (a false religion) in yesterday's dream, and then I get an email from someone today inviting me to read a book that she says will help me understand what she believes. The book is Power Vs Force by David R. Hawkins. She said to read the preface and introduction. So I put it on hold at the library and will take a look at it. I'm asking the Lord to give me wisdom and discernment as I do. Maybe the false religion reference in yesterday's dream was His way of alerting me to this book. We'll see.

Praise God, Beth got back safely from her trip to Ann Arbor, MI yesterday. And, praise God, she started a temporary job at YRCW this morning.

* * *

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY
(My blue book is the blank book where I write my favorite scriptures)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:13)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. (Revelation 2:2a)

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. (Revelation 2:3)

Here is a Scripture, which J used in church yesterday, which I want to record.

Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13 NIV)

* * *

JOURNAL 11-3-09 Tuesday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (1 Peter 4:7)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2a)

These are all Scriptures about overcoming things while here on this earth. Here are things we can do to be prepared to face them:

1.	Plead the blood of Jesus over us.
2.	Speak our testimony about Jesus and what He has done in our lives.
3.	Don't love our lives so as to shrink from death.
4.	Be clear minded.
5.	Be self-controlled
6.	Fix our eyes on Jesus - follow His example.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-04-09 Wednesday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

* * *

JOURNAL 11-05-09 Thursday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

* * *

JOURNAL 11-06-09 Friday

I was lying in bed awake for awhile this morning thinking about the time when J and I flew into Laos with an Air America pilot who was delivering rice to a small village there, and then we flew on to Luang Prabang, the old Capital of Laos, and walked around for a couple of hours while the pilot was taking care of his business there. That seems so foolhardy now to me because I realize through news media that some people disappear in foreign countries and are captured by foreigners. I remember seeing the Khmer Rouge people (with their silver necklaces I had read about) who watched us as we stood under the wing of the airplane stretching our legs a bit at that small village of the rice drop. That airplane must have been very strange-looking to them and we also - with our white skin and different way of dressing - like something from outer space. It seems now that we weren't being brave for going on that flight, but just ignorant of the difficulties that were potential there. We were told later that a couple of weeks before that the small plane bringing rice to that same village was shot at from the mountains around it.  That was in 1962, I think, and Laos was at war. We could hear some of the guns in the distance at Luang Prabang, and we sat at the airfield on boxes labeled dynamite. Amazing that we didn't encounter difficulties. Thank YOU, God, for being with us and protecting us! I realize now that You did that, and I appreciate Your protection!

* * *

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

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

* * *

JOURNAL 11-7-09 Saturday

A DREAM ABOUT PREPARING A RECITAL FOR MY STUDENTS WHOM I DISCIPLED

In this dream I was preparing for a recital for my piano students. I was working with them to decide which way to enter the stage and play their recital number. As usual, I was nervous about how I would introduce them, how they would play their recital pieces, whether they would remember, etc. Someone mentioned how the role I played was like a servant and I said that was just my personality.

This is what the Holy Spirit showed me when I awoke: My piano students in this dream refer to those I have discipled over the years (taught how to know God and worship Him). The recital being imminent shows that now is the time they will be tested on how well they learned their lessons, how well they remember what they learned, how they perform in front of the public, etc. This is now happening to all Christians as their lessons are revealed by how they respond to the events taking place in the world. I believe this is a dream to alert me to pray for them. I put them on my prayer bundle list.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-8-09 Sunday

I got a book someone mentioned she wanted me to read from our library and read the parts she suggested plus some other parts. My response to that book was that it didn't contain the truth about life. The truth about life is found only in Jesus Christ. He said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). 

When I ponder and pray about what to respond to her, the thought that comes is to "speak the truth in love" (as mentioned in Ephesians 4:15). So this is what I believe is truth, and I spoke it to her through email because I love her and care about her. I asked her to please read it carefully and meditate on it, as this is the truth. 

The truth is this: 
1.	God's purpose for us is peace and eternal life. He loves us and He wants us to live in peace with Him and to receive eternal life (Romans 5:1; John 3:16; Romans 6:23b)
2.	Our problem: sin and separation. God did not make us robots to mindlessly love and obey Him. Instead He gave us a will and freedom of choice. But we often choose to disobey God and go our own selfish ways. This side of our nature is called sin, and it separates us from God. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Genesis 3:23a; Isaiah 59:2)
3.	God's remedy: the cross. Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer to this problem of separation from God. He died on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for our sin - completely bridging the gap between us and God. (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5 TLB; John 5:24)
4.	Our response: Receive Christ. We can receive Jesus Christ when we believe in His message and trust in Him alone to save us. (John 14:1; Acts 10:43; John 1:12)
5.	How to Receive Christ: (1) Admit your need (I am a sinner). (2) Be willing to turn from your sins (repent). (3) Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. (4) Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and   control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as your Savior).
6.	Your new life: When you receive Christ, you are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer…this is called regeneration or "new birth." (Romans 10:13; Romans 8:39; 1 John 5:12-13)

Without this foundation of believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, then we don't have a basis for understanding each other about the way, the truth, and the life. That is found only in Jesus. Any other way to salvation is wrong and deceptive. Any other way distorts the truth. 

I believe this is the only foundation upon which we can understand each other when we try to explain our beliefs. It's more than just using different words to explain the same belief. 

Have you ever in your life made such a commitment? If so, please tell me about it. If not, please consider making that commitment now. 

This commitment to Jesus Christ is the basis for my life. I gave my life to Him to be my Savior and my Lord many years ago and now live my life with Him each day. All that I do, and all that I read, I evaluate by His Word, the Bible. If what I read is not based on Jesus and the Word of God, the Bible, then it is not the truth to me. The Bible is the standard I use to evaluate all of life. So it is what I used in evaluating the book you suggested I read. 

I made this commitment to Jesus as a child while attending West Creighton Christian Church. I made a public profession of it there on a Palm Sunday and was baptized there on Easter Sunday. As an adult I questioned this belief for awhile and then, at my first CFO camp, I recommitted my life to Him in absolute assurance that He is the ONLY way to God, and He is the ONLY truth. I had been seeking the truth for a long time, and finally found Him for sure at that camp. 

I hope this helps you understand where I am coming from in what I share with you. If you don't want me to share what I believe with you anymore, then that is your choice. But I want to be very clear what I evaluate ideas on. 

* * *

At church this morning M said he had a prophetic word for me which he got the second day he was in Israel. It was something like this:

The Lord would bring me a greater understanding of love, and have me receive more love, and have me give more love. The love would be so great that it would just blow away or push aside the fear, worries, etc. that come in my life.

M said he wrote it down on a paper, and when he was out on the Sea of Galilee the paper blew away, so it was now floating there.

* * *

An interesting piece of information we heard today: the person who was given the job at CFCA, which Beth interviewed for and wanted very much, died before he even began that job. Now Beth is not so sure that was a good job for her anyway due to location, pay, and what the work involved.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-9-09 Monday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

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

For he [God] chose us in him [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

This is an absolutely amazing Scripture! Think about what it means! God knew me, and those who belong to Him, before He created the world. He chose us then. He chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight. He loved us even then. He predestined us to be adopted as his sons then. He did this through His Son, Jesus, then. This was His pleasure and will. To me that seems to be one reason why Jesus said in John 6:44-45: 

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."

* * *

JOURNAL 11-10-09 Tuesday

A DREAM ABOUT A GLASS AND SCREEN FALLING FROM A NORTH WINDOW

I was in my childhood bedroom and saw that the window facing north had two glass layers and one layer of screen. One layer of screen and one of glass loosened at the top, leaned out, and eventually fell to the ground making a shattering noise as it did.

I saw something (perhaps a book) which said "First Lady" on it. She was also seen or referred to in another part of the dream, but I don't remember how. 

My thoughts on this dream are these: this dream is about me. It shows me in a place of intimacy with the Lord. He shows me in this dream that layers over the window of revelation of the truth and the understanding of the truth (regarding spiritual reality, judgment, spiritual warfare and heavenly things) is now gone. He shows me that I am a First Lady to Him, His Bride, and this might refer to the books I write with Him since the name was seen on something like a book. The reason it was shown in my childhood bedroom may be to show that I have been in this position even from childhood on.

* * *

Song in my head this morning: "Funiculi, funicula" - look it up for words and meaning.

Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,
And so do I! And so do I!
Some think it well to be all melancholic,
To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;
But I, I love to spend my time in singing,
Some joyous song, some joyous song,
To set the air with music bravely ringing
Is far from wrong! Is far from wrong!

Harken, harken, music sounds afar!
Harken, harken, music sounds afar!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
Love (Joy) is everywhere, funiculi, funicula!

Perhaps the message to me from this song is to harken to the music around me, and that that music sings of the love of God that is everywhere. And it is good to spend my time in singing some joyous song.

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Funicular
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A funicular, also known as a funicular railway, incline, inclined railway, inclined plane, or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope, the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalancing each other.
The word is from the Latin funiculus, a diminutive of funis, "rope".
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The message to me from the funicular may be that the two of us (the Lord and me) work as a team counterbalancing each other.

The song was written to be performed at the celebration of a funicular in Italy in the 1800's. Later Mario Lanza changed some of the words and recorded it in the 1950's. I evidently knew of it from hearing Mario Lanza sing it. I'm not sure I remember the words accurately, but it seems right.

* * *

Today I was reading Scripture in Genesis 15. I read verse 1, which says: 

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him,  "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great."

The Holy Spirit spoke to me that this Word from God was for me too, and I could put my name in it in place of Abram's. What a wonderful promise! Thank You, Lord!

* * *

JOURNAL 11-11-09 Wednesday (Veteran's Day)

Last night as I was reading the book The Apostle by John Pollock (about the life of Paul) the story told of a time when Paul likely shook the dust of a place off himself and indicated that he had warned them and that their blood was not on his head as mentioned in Ezekiel. It seemed to fit my situation in regard to someone in which I have warned her about the beliefs she holds, and she rejects what I say or refuses to discuss with me what I share. The Scriptures about this can be found in Ezekiel 3:19 and Matthew 10:14.

But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. (Ezekiel 3:19)

*Note on Ezekiel 3:16-21 (pg. 987) in my NIV Disciple's Study Bible says: Election, Responsibility - Ezekiel was given responsibility as a prophet to be a watchman to warn both the wicked and the righteous. He was to prophesy not only to the nation but also to individuals. As a prophet, he was accountable for the souls he was called to warn. Election to a task for God brings responsibility and accountability before God. Election is not a free ride on God's grace. It is a responsible service in God's mission.

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (Matthew 10:14)

I think the Lord had me read that special section in the Pollock book yesterday because He wanted me to see that I had warned that friend and she didn't receive the warning, so I am not accountable any longer for her salvation, her choice. I can begin to see how Paul the Apostle may have grieved over the Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah and how he yearned for them to receive the truth. I grieve over her because I truly care about her and her eternal destiny in heaven or hell. Eternity is a lo-o-ong time. I hope I am wrong about her spiritual condition, but I don't think I am. Help her, Lord!!!

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

I think I am to put this Scripture in my next Round Robin letter to my family. I got it in the mail yesterday.

Today I listened to two messages by Jack Hayford at (www.lightsource.com) about streams in the desert which he believes applies to the church and what God is doing now.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-12-09 Thursday

A DREAM ABOUT SEEING TWO CLOCKS SHOWING 6:00

In this dream I seemed to be a church secretary and I was visiting a company across the street from the church. I took them some gifts. There were two women and one man there. One of the gifts I took them was a purse - the kind made of quilted cloth and it had many separate zippered pockets which I showed them. It reminded me of a baby diaper bag. As I was talking with these people I looked at two clocks they had there. One clock seemed to be stopped at 6:00 and the other was showing 6:00 on it's face, but it seemed to be working ok. I told them that I needed to leave because I had to sing in the choir at church that night and needed to be there at 6:20.

Before this dream I had one where I was upstairs in a bathroom like at my childhood home. It involved taking a bath in the tub there.

This dream seems to tell me that the "time" has come (clock stopped) for some people to leave, be raptured, and leave the earth and go to heaven and sing in the heavenly choir. For others the "time" (clock continuing to run) to remain on the earth and keep going is still here. It is the time of some men (# 6) to leave and the time of some men to stay.  Two clocks may symbolize dividing, judging, separating out those who belong to the Lord and those who do not. It may also symbolize witnessing, co-laboring with God, and dividing light and darkness.

This dream shows me visiting people "across the street" which may symbolize going outside my usual area of work and taking them gifts - which may refer to the gift of the salvation message, gifts of the Spirit, and a purse. This purse represents treasure, the heart, their personal identity, something precious and valuable. It has pockets which may represent many different aspects or dimensions of this purse gift. Since it looked like a baby diaper bag to me, that may symbolize these people becoming "babies in Christ" and needing to be given things to help them during the baby phase of salvation.

Previous to this I go through a cleansing preparation process.

Needing to leave at 6:20 may symbolize this: (6) leaving mankind, and (20) being holy, tried and approved, and redeemed. Singing with the choir at church may refer to singing in the "heavenly" choir soon after leaving earth.

* * *

Meaning of Song: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come which is in my mind a lot lately:

Come, Ye thankful people, come Raise the song of harvest home.
Thankful people are those who belong to God and are thankful to Him. They are to come up to Heaven and be with the Lord and sing the song about the harvest that is coming home with them.

All are safely gathered in,
All are safely gathered in means all who are to come to Him, who belong to Him, His Bride

Ere the winter storms begin.
Ere the winters storms begin may refer to the tribulation storms soon coming. His Bride gets to come home before those storms begin.

God, our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
God, our Maker, has provided for us. He has supplied those needs on earth and in heaven.

Come to God's own temple, come.
God's own temple may refer to Himself in heaven and to the temple He lives in on earth - his people

Raise the song of harvest home.
Song of harvest home says to sing about the harvest coming home. Raise up the song of harvesting.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-13-09 Friday

On Wednesday Beth was told about revival happening at the Forerunner School of Ministry (IHOPU) in a class they were holding. She found out this revival began about a week before in these classes and grew gradually so that by Wednesday the class began around 9:00 and was still going in the evening. DS called and told Beth while at work, so she went there after work. She stayed all evening and reported to me how people were being cleansed of wrong attitudes, they had testimonies and prayers and worship and deliverance all intermingled and facilitated by the class teachers. She was very excited to get to be part of it and she received prayer herself. 

Then, on Thursday, she talked to KW and learned about a speaker at Olathe Christian Fellowship that night which also drew her interest - a person who serves as an evangelist in Guatamala or Paraguay. She prayed and felt led to attend that on Thursday night. It, too, turned out to be spectacular for her. She said she felt it helped her toward the destiny God has for her which seems, right now, to be going out in some sort of street ministry to reach others for the Lord. It, too, seemed to be to help people of the Bride to get ready to go out.

God is preparing His Bride to go out and bring in the final harvest, just as PK Davis has been teaching us!

My part so far seems to be to intercede for the harvest, and to assist Beth if various ways to help her go out.

The harvest is coming! The harvest IS happening now! Yeahhhhhh!

* * *

Beth talked to me this morning about the significance of the number 22 in her life that the Lord revealed to her in the last day or two. One Scripture He quickens to her is Isaiah 22:22:

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  (Isaiah 22:22 NIV)

That idea in Scripture is also mentioned in Revelation 3:7-8 which the Lord highlighted in my life a long time ago when ___ mentioned it in a prayer she was saying for me - about God opening a door that couldn't be shut and shutting a door which couldn't be opened. I had not heard of, nor knew, the Scripture from Revelation, but He revealed it to me shortly after that while I was sitting under a hair dryer at a beauty shop reading the Bible. It has been meaningful in my life ever since then, and now it is in my daughter's life. I believe the church in Philadelphia symbolizes the true church in the end times that is raptured from the earth.

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. (Revelation 3:7-8 NIV)

Beth will be returning to Olathe Christian Fellowship tonight and Saturday for further training and preparation for her destiny ministry.

* * *

Beth told me that WM, JM's husband, gave her a prophecy sometime back in which he mentioned she was to be a "House of Bethany" and she was to look that up and see what that meant. She looked on Google and found this article at: www.evanwiggs.com/revival/prepare/bethany.html 

BETHANY: The House of Revival
Preparing A House For Christ's Manifest Presence
By David Smithers 

A mere half hour walk east from the wall of Jerusalem, across the Kidron valley, past Gethsemane and over the ridge of Olivet, brings you to the humble town of Bethany. This obscure village nestled on the side of the Mount of Olives would have been long forgotten, if not for the fact that it became the nightly resting-place of Jesus Christ. Bethany will forever be honored and remembered through the coming ages, because one of its humble homes provided shelter and hospitality to Him who had no place to lay His head. Jesus was repeatedly honored in Bethany, whether it was at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus or in the house of Simon the leper. Therefore, Bethany naturally became the preferred dwelling place of our Lord and Savior!

The fact that Jesus consistently dwelt in Bethany, should be of special interest to all those who are looking for a mighty, end-time revival. For what is revival, but God Almighty finding a dwelling place on earth? True revival is ultimately nothing more or less than the abiding visitation of the manifest presence of Jesus Christ. Many today are eagerly expecting a revival visitation, however, it is my prayerful conviction that the Church as a whole is not nearly as far along in the revival-birthing process as some presently believe! Unquestionably a widespread revival is coming, nevertheless, there is still much more preparation required. We need to seriously ask ourselves, what still needs to be done to make our corporate meetings a place where Jesus can consistently and comfortably dwell? We are living in the season when the Holy Spirit is eagerly searching for places that are spiritually prepared for Christ's manifest presence. Bethany was such a place. There was a rare spiritual atmosphere in Bethany that made it comfortable and appealing to the heart and spiritual appetite of Jesus.

A House of Brokenness

The very name Bethany alludes to one reason why Jesus so frequently resided in this secluded and obscure village. One of the primary translations of the name Bethany is: house of mourning or poverty. Bethany is a picture of spiritual poverty, brokenness and humility. To the broken and needy, the Scriptures clearly promise the abiding presence of Christ's Kingdom on earth. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" Matt. 5:3-6. Jesus ALWAYS resists and avoids the proud, but He cherishes the company of broken and humble hearts (James 4:6 & Isa. 57:15). Jesus never fails to pour out the refreshing rains of revival on those who are truly thirsty (Isa 44:3).

A House of Childlike Faith

Bethany was much more than just a place where a few hurting people recognized their spiritual need. There are many today that recognize their own neediness, and yet never enter into the reviving presence of Jesus Christ! Bethany was not merely a place of abstract spiritual poverty; it was a nursery and haven for childlike faith. The hospitality and care given to Jesus at Bethany was the supernatural by-product of trusting and believing hearts. As Mary, Martha and Lazarus opened their hearts in faith toward Christ, they naturally opened their home and lives. This small congregation of needy and trusting hearts created a spiritual climate where Jesus could do some of His most remarkable miracles. It was while at Bethany that Jesus taught about the necessity of resurrection and reviving faith. -"Did I not say if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40. Childlike faith empowers prayer and calls forth life out of death and darkness (John 11:41-44). Yes, it was at Bethany that Lazarus was miraculously raised from the dead, resulting in many other Jews believing unto salvation (John 12:9-11). Faith is contagious. God-given faith will always create an opportunity for faith to be nurtured in others. Childlike faith opens the windows of heaven and ushers in the glory of God. Without a steadfast faith in the promises of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for us to encourage the Spirit of revival in our homes and local fellowships. A pessimistic and unbelieving spirit is the enemy of true revival! We must mix all our preparations for revival with grace-filled faith, lest we find ourselves chasing the winds of revival in the strength of the flesh! (Heb. 4:2).

A House Arranged For Jesus' Sake

A needy heart coupled with true faith will always lavish the person of Christ with extravagant love. Bethany was a place where the person of Jesus was needed, trusted and consequently appreciated and cherished. When Jesus came to Bethany, He was extravagantly anointed with fragrant and costly perfumes. It was at Bethany that He was bathed with tears and holy kisses of gratefulness. At no other time during our Lord's earthly ministry was Christ so completely worshiped and adored as in Bethany (Mk. 14:3-9, Lk. 7:36-50 & John 12:1-8).

In Bethany, Jesus took His rightful place as the sole object of everyone's devotion and affections. In Luke 10:38-42 we find Mary sitting at His feet, embracing every word, as it falls from His lips. Mary was totally content just to sit at Christ's feet and behold the glory and beauty of His face. She joyfully gave Jesus her undivided attention. Mary's encounter with Jesus demonstrates the fact that the highest privilege given to man, on earth or in heaven, is a deeper revelation of Jesus Christ. Mary's encounter with Christ reminds us that there is really only ONE thing needful, and that is JESUS! He alone is truly the better part (Luke 10:42). Bethany was the place where Jesus alone was exalted and made preeminent above all other human personalities, plans and programs.

The house of Bethany was a home carefully arranged for the pleasure and enjoyment of Jesus Christ. Every meal and every activity was planned in view of His preferences and comfort. Jesus was always the honored guest, and therefore His desires and needs naturally came first. Jesus often fed the hungry multitudes during His earthly ministry, but while at Bethany it was our Savior's hungry heart that was fed a carefully prepared meal of love and devotion. He was not hurriedly given some stale leftovers at the last minute, but the very best they had! "Jesus came to Bethany. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil" John 12:1-3. In the house of Bethany, everything revolved around Jesus, and as a result the whole house was filled with the sweet fragrance of His healing and reviving presence. Later, when some jealously attacked this outpouring of extravagant love, Jesus boldly prophesied that Mary's devotion at Bethany would never be forgotten: "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her" Matt. 26:13. The love and worship that Jesus received at Bethany is to be an everlasting witness to the life-changing power of the gospel. The House of Bethany gives us a beautiful picture of what Christ desires from all who would call themselves the Church.

A House of Repentance

The fact that the house of Bethany was carefully arranged to accommodate the desires of Jesus implies that it was also a place of genuine repentance. Repentance, simply defined, is a change of mind resulting in a change of heart and action. As we turn from a position of self-reliance and unbelief to a position of childlike faith in Christ, we begin to walk in repentance. Our lives and affections will ALWAYS revolve around the things or person in whom we trust. Therefore, it is impossible to separate true saving and reviving faith from genuine repentance. Revival can only be experienced to the extent that we are willing to entrust the control our lives and preferences to the control of Jesus Christ! Repentance is an ongoing process of realigning our hearts and lives with the kingdom of God. It is impossible to fully enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth (REVIVAL) while rebelling against the King of Kings. Knowing this, we must beware of accepting or entertaining any concept of revival that doesn't involve the clear message and ministry of repentance. In seasons of revival there will always be some variation in ministry methods and Spiritual manifestations. However, a deep work of repentance is one of the unchanging landmarks on the battlefield of revival (Prov. 22:28). Any efforts to promote the Spirit of revival apart from the ministry of repentance is destined to be shallow and superficial. Be assured of this, there has never been a revival without a deep work of repentance, and there never will be one! (2 Chron. 7:14).

A House In Contrast With the Temple

Jesus often ministered and taught in Jerusalem's beautiful temple, but as evening approached He always made His way back to the quiet house of Bethany to rest and pray (Mt. 21:17, Mk. 11:11, Luke 21:37 & Luke 22:39). Though Jerusalem was called the city of David, it was no longer spiritually ordered after the heart and affections of God. Multitudes of devout Jews regularly traveled to the temple in Jerusalem in search of God's presence, while the One they sought, was a mere two miles away in the humble house of Bethany. Jesus passionately loved the people of Jerusalem, yet He could not dwell there, because so many opposed His kingdom principles of humility and childlike faith. Remember what Jesus said about this seemingly religious city: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! "See! Your HOUSE is left to you desolate and EMPTY" Matt 23:37-38.

Jerusalem's house of worship appeared to be the ideal place where a hungry, seeking heart could find God, but appearances can be deceiving. This so-called sanctuary was not spiritually arranged for God's pleasure and glory. Its daily activities no longer accurately represented the Father's heart and desires. It was not a true reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, but a self-serving religious machine controlled by proud and ambitious hirelings. In Mt. 21:12-17 Jesus symbolically cleansed the temple, giving us a brief glimpse of how the house of God should look and function. He started by removing the spiritual obstacles and unnecessary religious structures. In Mt. 21:12, He jealously drove out all those who had defiled the court of the Gentiles with their religious manipulation and merchandizing. The temple in Jerusalem had become an unsafe place where self-absorbed ministers ignored and disregarded those whom Christ came to save. Jesus found His Father's house cluttered and out of order, and therefore He zealously rearranged the furniture, throwing out the unwanted tables and misbehaving guests with their idolatrous money worship. That which self-serving religion depends on the most, MONEY & HUMAN STRUCTURE, Jesus openly disregarded and cast on the ground.

This was not some random fit of anger, but a deliberate and very necessary step in the house-cleansing process. Mark 11:16 records that after this, Jesus then filled and occupied the very place where these religious men previously ministered. "He would not let anyone carry wares through the temple." After the house was cleansed and reoccupied by its rightful owner, Jesus then boldly proclaimed the purpose of His house, and suddenly it began to miraculously function as it was always intended. Mt. 21:13-15 describes these wonderful events: "And (JESUS) said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den or dark cave of thieves. Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' They were indignant." Once the house was cleansed of its manipulation and refocused on the person of Jesus Christ, it was quickly filled with prayer, healing power and childlike praise!

Can True Revival be Hindered?

After our Lord had cleansed and reestablished proper Spiritual order in the temple, the existing religious leaders indignantly refused to yield their control to the true Master of the house. Jesus then withdrew from them and went where He was welcome and wanted! "Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there" Matt 21:17. These scriptures explain why revivals are sometimes enjoyed at one church for an extended season, while at other churches they are very short-lived. Throughout the history of the Church, revivals have often spontaneously broken out, only to be later hindered and quenched by some man-made tradition, cowardly pastor or controlling deacon. Such spiritual hindrances have often been erroneously attributed to the precious truth of God's Sovereignty. This Biblical doctrine has been repeatedly used throughout the history of the Church to excuse and veil a lack of revival preparation and cooperation. Many have falsely asserted that the Church can do nothing to contribute to, or hinder a true revival. This kind of gross error has left many a saint disqualified and shamefully unprepared in a season of revival and harvest. "He that gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in the harvest is a son that causes shame" Prov. 10:5. A stubborn religious heart, if left unchecked, will ultimately seek to manipulate the Bible in order to shirk its own spiritual responsibility!

We must also beware of trying to create a revival in our own image. Many people cannot accept by faith what they have not already experienced, regardless of how Scriptural it may be. Sadly, there are those among us today, who belligerently refuse to tolerate anything except their own, narrow, predetermined interpretation of revival. If faced with a genuine revival manifestation of power, they would quickly curse it and run for the door. The religious leaders in Jesus' day claimed that they wanted a visitation of the Messiah, yet when Jesus Christ suddenly came to His house and turned their religious system upside-down, they violently rejected Him.

When some speak of seeking revival today, what they really mean is they want their existing religious system blessed, honored and multiplied. They merely want more of what they already have. How many of us would still continue to pray for revival if we were convinced that it would mean the reformation or even sacrifice of our favorite church doctrines and traditions. When lasting revival comes, many of our major denominations, out of necessity, will have to undergo radical reformation in order to accommodate the spontaneous nature of the Holy Spirit. If not, they will spiritually die and eventually crumble! (Mt. 9:16-17, Lk. 5:36-39). A true visitation of God will unquestionably require ALL of us to CHANGE, or we will be passed over just like the rigid and unyielding Judaism of Christ's day!

Self-Centered Religion Kills Revival

Jesus rejected the temple as His resting place, because in spite of its obvious physical beauty, it was not truly a Christ-centered and Christ focused house! How many of our local churches are run much of the same way. We enter the front foyer on Sunday morning and receive our weekly bulletin for worship. Yet, it is often more like arriving at our favorite restaurant where we are greeted and then handed a menu, listing all our favorite appetizers and entrees. Each item is expected to be neatly prepared and quickly served, all for our personal satisfaction. We love this place because they know how to make it OUR way. The so-called worship meeting starts and stops according to our personal preferences and schedule. If the Lord of Glory doesn't seem to show up and meet all our felt needs in a mere hour and a half, we will just have to find another church with better service! After all, we pay good money to eat here. Can we really expect a visitation of God in our churches with this kind of self-serving religious attitude?

To avoid any misunderstanding, let me say that there is nothing wrong with bulletins or scheduled services. Such things have a legitimate place in the Body of Christ, and certainly no one is denying the necessity of ministering to the needs of hurting people. However, we need to remember that like Aaron and his sons, we are called first to minister to God, before attempting to bestow a blessing upon others (Exodus 28). We need to carefully reconsider what our primary purpose is as the House of God. Is it right that the preferences and feelings of MAN are being exalted above the feelings and affections of Jesus Christ? Have we forgotten that Christ is not just some cold and unfeeling piece of orthodox theology! He is a real person with real feelings and emotions! The Apostles did not turn the world upside down by handing out books on theology and church order. They introduced the world to the PERSON of Jesus Christ! They unveiled the living Lamb of God, which they had each personally seen, handled and experienced (1 John 1:1-4). They boldly called all men everywhere to die to themselves and worship and love Jesus. The early Apostolic Church was founded upon the preaching and pursuit of Christ above all else! (1 Cor. 2:2, 2 Cor. 4:5, Phil. 3:8 & Col. 1:28). Our EVERY NEED is only met as we seek first to meet the needs and desires of Christ's heart! (Mt. 6:33). Everything we do as the Church must be done first and foremost for the personal pleasure and glory of the LAMB. "All things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" Col. 1:16-17.

Revival Preparation Demands Reformation

The preparations needed for the coming revival demand that we radically change the way we view Jesus Christ and His house. Our churches must rediscover the priority of adoring the Lamb of God before all others. God's honor, kingdom and pleasure must always come before ours! This was the strength of the Moravians who prepared the way for the First Great Awakening in the 18th century. The words of their leader Count Zinzendorf reflect their relentless passion for the person of Jesus. He writes, "Our method of proclaiming salvation is this: to point out to every heart the loving Lamb, who died for us; to never, either in discourse or in argument, to digress even for a quarter of an hour from the loving Lamb; to name no virtue except in Him, and from Him and on His account; to preach no commandment except faith in Him; no other justification but that He atoned for us; no other sanctification but the privilege to sin no more; no other happiness but to be near Him, to think of Him and do His pleasure; no other self denial but to be deprived of Him and His blessings; no other calamity but to displease Him; no other life but in Him." This is the heart cry of true Apostolic Christianity. This kind of fervent loyalty and jealousy for the honor of Jesus Christ is indispensable, if we are to be fashioned into the resting place of God and a house of REVIVAL!

From A Revival Source Center

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JOURNAL 11-14-09 Saturday

AN IMPRESSION ABOUT A PILE OF LUMBER IN THE BACKYARD AREA

An image that I dreamed about just before awaking this morning was of a pile of cut boards on our lawn and our backyard neighbor's lawn - straddling across both lawns. I thought I might need to go there and tell him to remove his lumber from our yard because it could kill the grass under it.

Lord, is this about L? We were like neighbors when we lived in the same home, and later, when we associated often together.

Yes. If this neighbor in the backyard (past) is L, then what do you think the impression means?

If L is the neighbor from my past, then this dream shows that she has put a pile of lumber (carnal reasoning) on the grass (flesh, self) and it might kill the grass (flesh, self). In the impression I feel I must tell this neighbor the remove the lumber (carnal reasoning) from my own grass (Word of God) so it won't kill my grass too. Is that what this impression means, Lord?

Yes, you have to confront her about her process of self- reasoning and get it removed from your way of thinking. She was a big influence on you at one time (in the past) and that needed to be totally removed for you to move forward into My way of thinking. This impression pictures that - in the past. It's done; it's finished; it's past. Now you can move on without taking her and her way of thinking with you. And follow Me only. You had a long time of being influenced by her and even thinking like her. Now she knows that is finished and she won't try to pull you back into her carnal thinking anymore. She knows you won't receive it as truth anymore. You're finished with that influence!

Thank You, Lord. That's a good word!

* * *

JOURNAL 11-15-09 Sunday

This is the song repeating in my head this morning: 

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Words by Charles Wesley
Music by John Zundel

* * *

Tonight as we listened to PK Davis on CD, he mentioned how he could "see" some intercessor(s) receiving revelation from God and praying it (and perhaps speaking it forth). This put the revelation "out there" and it might then be picked up by someone who told others about it, preached it, etc. But he emphasized that "God keeps good books" and that He says that the sower and the reaper both get the same reward. It gave me the idea that perhaps my times in communication with the Lord when He downloads some revelation to me, sometimes revelation that I don't even write about in my journal, that my receiving it into the earth realm may still have some benefit for His Kingdom work. And also that what I write in my books might be some part of the "sowing" process too. It was encouraging to see this as a possibility.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-16-09 Monday

A DREAM ABOUT GETTING DRESSED FOR GRADUATION DAY

In a dream I was at my home but in a hurry to get dressed and ready to go to work because it was graduation day for my students. Some child came to play and was given several items to play with including a package of straight pins. I took time to show her what they looked like and told her to be careful not to leave any of them in the carpet (she was sitting on) so no one would step on them. Then I was trying to get my clothes together to get dressed and found someone looking through my drawer where I had belts. He needed to borrow a belt and I said anyone in the family could borrow my belts, but be sure to return them. He took a black belt to use.

So what does this dream mean, Lord? Is it from You?

You are like a child using (playing with) pins. These can be useful and helpful, but can also cause pain if not watched carefully. You are like a teacher who is eager to get to school and have the graduation day for all of your students. You are like a person getting dressed who is looking for her clothes to put on. You are like a family member who needs a black belt of karate for the warfare that might come. These all describe pictures of you, Joan. All these things are going on in your life right now, and you have a sense of urgency or needing to hurry because graduation day is here, today, now, and you want to go through it along with your students. Your students represent those you have taught and are currently teaching…as you are a teacher, anointed by Me to teach others what I teach you, especially via your writings. That's what this dream means. The time is short. Graduation is near, and it's exciting. Soon you will come up here and be with Me - what you yearn for more and more.

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:19-21)

This sure makes me think of a certain person, I'm sorry to say. Is that true for her, Lord?

Yes, My child, that Scripture is true for her. She loves the darkness she believes in instead of the light. She doesn't want to look at the light and truth you share with her for fear that her deeds will be exposed. Therefore she puts up a wall/barrier around her mind to protect herself from your influence. That part of her life is "off limits" for you to enter - unless you join her in what she believes. It's sad, very sad, for you, I know, because you love her and care about her eternal destiny. I do too, Joan. But she gets to choose, and she has already chosen. If she closed herself to you, then she closed herself to Me also. Know that. However I will keep trying to show her the real truth as long as she is alive on earth. When she dies, then her destiny is set and can't be changed.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-17-09 Tuesday

A DREAM ABOUT SEEING THE PICTURE OF A LAMB'S HEAD ON A WALL

In a dream I saw things being written on a wall, like it was a chalkboard, in large letters. There were lines on the board. The wall was like the size of a wall in a house. It seemed like a child was doing the writing and I was watching him/her do it. It included the picture of a lamb's head and the picture moved like it was alive. The rest that was written was words. I was very pleased to see this so visible and I could look up at it - like I was down on the floor looking up at the wall. It seemed to be words I wanted others to see.

This dream shows a picture of Jesus, as the Lamb of God and the Head of the Body of Christ. He is moving His head around to see who is looking to Him as He is "high and lifted up." When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me."  (John 12:32)

The wall may represent the Kingdom of God and protection for those in the Kingdom. The words around the Lamb represent the proclamation on the wall of who Jesus is. It is large so many people can see it. Also the words show Jesus as the Word of God. He is surrounded by the Words of Life, the Bible. He is found in the Bible. The child represents the humble ones who proclaim His words. The size of the huge wall and its high position shows that He wants all to see it and read it. He wants "all to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)

QUIET TIME NOTES

In a revelatory experience PK Davis saw a battle. So did Rick Joyner. I see teaching and students and cleansing.

I give you vision for what I want you to do and be.

That's why I don't see battles, but lots regarding teaching and cleansing. That is what I am to do and be.

* * *

On the weather news I observed that we are in a rather strange weather pattern which Beth and I watched on TV last night. Today I wonder if that pattern is a prophetic picture that I want to record here.

The weather front (a low) came in from the West bringing rain and snow - especially to parts of NE Kansas. When it came to the KC Metro area, it changed from going straight east to going in a circular pattern around the Metro. Earlier it came from the west going east. Then it circled around the southern part of the Metro, then to the eastern side, and eventually going almost straight north from there - not going through the main part of the city. As it circled around the Metro, the winds and rain went in a circular pattern (counter-clockwise) around the city, encircling it. It was almost like highlighting it or causing it to appear as a bulls-eye with the storm winds and clouds circling around it, not across it. It was very unusual and strange. As I was thinking about it in light of Murray Drueck's book If this Were A Dream, What Would It Mean? I thought I should write out a description of the pattern and treat it as a dream and try to find an interpretation.

My first impression is that attention is being drawn to KC (Kansas City) and spotlighted by the picture of this weather pattern on the weather map. It could mean KC is being exempted and protected from the usual straight west to east pattern. This makes me think there must be some reason for this attention. My first thought is the IHOP (International House of Prayer) prayer and worship ministry which goes on 24/7. Also there are two places in the Metro that are experiencing revival right now: IHOP and Olathe Christian Fellowship. There could be other places I have not yet heard about.

The wind of the Holy Spirit and the power of God came to the KC area and made a circle around it to draw special attention to it, then went north toward Heaven. I believe it is showing us God is giving special attention to the KC area and drawing attention to it even in the winds and rain. It is like a circle of special protection on this area. It would be similar to the way we draw a circle around something to draw attention to it.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-18-09 Wednesday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

About hearing
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

About seeing
I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19)

So I ask You, Father, to give me spiritual ears to hear You and what You are saying, and spiritual eyes to see what You are doing, so I can speak what You are saying and do what You are doing.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-20-09 Friday

Now I will show you a good and fruitful search. Look up the Word, what it is, and what it does.

THE WORD - Word of God, a name of Christ

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

THE WORD - of God, the Scriptures

Luke 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God…

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

Acts 13:7b The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 

Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

WORD - from concordance

Deut. 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Proverbs 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 25:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Cor. 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

2 Cor. 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Philippians 2:14-16 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

2 Peter 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

* * *

What the Word does

1.	Feeds us
2.	Lights our pathway
3.	Cheers us up
4.	Keeps us from sinning
5.	Keeps us pure
6.	Achieves the purpose for which it was sent
7.	Is a sword of the Spirit
8.	Makes us shine like stars
9.	Dwells in us
10.	Divides soul and spirit
11.	Divides joints and marrow
12.	Judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart
13.	Is a light shining in a dark place

* * *

JOURNAL 11-21-09 Saturday

The Lord came to me in a dream this morning just before I awoke and became my Covering and my Indwelling Presence. He covered me from the back and from the front. It was a very comforting and private and personal experience. I will never be the same. It is like He gave me another level of glory with Him living inside me.

* * *

I asked Him to show me Scriptures showing this kind of relationship. Here are some I found:

Psalm 18:1-3
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18:35
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me.

Psalm 73:23
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

Psalm 91:1
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91: 9-11 If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:14
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."

Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Song of Solomon 2:16 
My lover is mine and I am his.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-22-09 Sunday

The song going through my head over and over this morning is: "I Want To Be Happy."

I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy, too

Life's really worth living
When we are mirth-giving
Why can't I give some to you?

When skies are gray
And you say you are blue
I'll send the sun smiling through

I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy, too 

* * *

Pastor mentioned in his sermon today that he has had three transmission breakdowns recently (one time after hitting a rock in the road). He had VG pray for this problem. Then DG stood and mentioned that the transmission transfers the power from the power source to where it is needed, and that this could have spiritual significance. 

Beth and I both thought about Murray Drueck's book If This Were A Dream, What Would It Mean? When I got home the Holy Spirit said I was to look this up in my dream symbol book and see what it says. Here are the meanings of the symbols:

•	Car: life, person, ministry, personal ministry, vocation
•	Car breakdown: problem, sickness, trouble, opposition, hindrance (i.e. to one's ministry, career), God warning you to slow down, you're putting the brakes on the ministry
•	Transmission: change, steps, change of direction, change of purpose or intensity of ministry, transformation
•	Three times: Godhead, conform, obey, copy, imitate, likeness, tradition, complete, perfection, witness, divine fullness, solid attributes, resurrection power over sin
•	Rock in road: Christ our Rock, stability, safe refuge, the base of the assembling of the believers, to be buried or covered in Christ, the stone that causes stumbling

* * *

JOURNAL 11-23-09 Monday

A DREAM ABOUT A BLACK FAMILY IN MY HOUSE

In this dream I was in my house. There was a black boy who usually came on Saturday morning for some class with me - we took it together. This day he didn't show up. Later his mom and some other family members came walking over to my yard and explained why he didn't come. They all came inside and started to make themselves at home. I began to try to get acquainted with each person and learn his name. There seemed to be some man who was also visiting my home who was sitting and watching all this. He would hold one of the children on his lap at times also. I noticed the black family's two oldest children, an older boy and girl, sitting on a couch. They seemed much more quiet and serious than the younger ones. I also remember that we had some kittens in the house and I placed their kitty litter box someplace and remarked that I used to have it near a set of windows.

This is the first time I remember ever having a dream with black people in it. It seems in the dream like I was trying to get acquainted with them. This family may represent a group of people related to each other in some way but representing lack, sin, ignorance, grief, mourning, judgment or something like that (represented by black). Perhaps it represents the human family, which is in that condition, and this dream shows me starting to get acquainted with some of them. Jesus is watching.

* * *

The Lord told me to do a study on the Word, what it is and what it does. I did that study last week. He also said to do a study on hearing, listening, and sound and light, and seeing. This was after listening to Ray Hughes teach on sounds of the Lord that are coming.

Then I prayed this prayer:

Lord, let Your sound vibrate through me all through the night and bring all parts of my body into alignment with Your sound and light frequencies.

Today the Spirit says to do a study on see, sees, seeing, (and eyes He added later as I hunted)

For 'see' the Scriptures I found are:

Psalm 34:8 NLT
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 36:2 NLT
In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.

Psalm 90:8 NLT
You spread out our sins before you - our secret sins - and you see them all.

Psalm 119:82 NLT
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me?

Proverbs 13:19 NLT
It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. 

Romans 1:20 NLT
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 7:13 NLT
But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commands for its own evil purposes.

1 Cor. 13:12 NLT
Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.

2 Cor. 4:18 NLT
So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Phil. 4:5 NLT
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon.

Col. 1:15-16 NLT
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Rev. 1:7 NLT
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him - even those who pierced him.

* * *

These Scriptures are for my word study on light whenever I do that.

Light

Psalm 36:9 NIV
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Proverbs 13:9 NIV
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Psalm 90:8 NIV
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence

* * *

JOURNAL 11-24-09 Tuesday

(Quotes from book called If This Were A Dream, What Would It Mean? by Murray Drueck:)

(p. 197)
When God gives a sign, he usually does so in response to what is taking place behind the scenes, not in response to events that are already public knowledge.

(200)
But now that I had a possible interpretation of events, I needed to test it. The way to do that was to see if I could assemble the puzzle pieces into a prophetic timeline of confirmation that would produce what such prophetic timelines always produced in Scripture: humility and a new paradigm. Otherwise, I had to assume my reading of events was inaccurate.

It is at this point that many prophetic people get off track. Many times when we hear God speak or see something that we are certain is a sign, the excitement of discovery leads us to force an interpretation. We lean on our own feelings or understanding. But we need to remember that it is not our job to come up with the answers; it is our job to watch and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying.

(243)
I had taught the class that paradigms are like eyeglasses or windows through which we view the world.

(245)
When things continue to go wrong, don't take it as a sign that doom is just around the corner. Instead, realize that such signs are God's way of speaking to us about things in our lives that need to change so we can become like Jesus…God is constantly removing the old to make way for the new.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-25-09 Wednesday

I awoke around 4:30 this morning and began dealing again with something which happened to Beth and me last evening. The situation is that LK was invited to come to Thanksgiving dinner and she volunteered to bring turkey, stuffing, and gravy. Other people agreed to bring other potluck items and Beth and I made plans to contribute all the rest. We have been buying groceries to do our part, and are planning how to use our house to host the dinner and game time afterward.

Then, yesterday, LK told Beth over the phone that she was going to bring the turkey over to our house today, Wednesday, and we were going to cook it and prepare it, because she had to work. She knew she had to work on Thursday when she committed to bring the turkey, but we thought she was going to prepare it on Wednesday and bring it cooked. We were trying to find space to store it in the refrigerator, along with all the other extra things we needed for the dinner too.

Neither of us planned to cook a turkey, not wanting to do that. But, because LK is Beth's friend, she felt obligated to do this for her. But she wasn't asked to do this nicely, she was told By the way, you know that you are going to cook the turkey, don't you?

Beth and I talked and talked about this and decided to ask LK to return her turkey to the store so we weren't stuck fixing it. But she kept telling Beth that it didn't take much work to do the turkey, that it was easy, etc. Then we decided to order a prepared-ahead dinner from  a store which we would pay for and pick it up Thursday morning. Beth called the store, ordered the dinner for 8, and called LK back to tell her to return her turkey. She again talked to Beth in the same way, and Beth finally agreed to cook it for her, even though neither of us wanted to do this.

My reaction was anger at LK. I also wanted to go away and not even participate in the whole Thanksgiving dinner process. Beth mentioned that she knew this forced me to do something like my ex-husband used to do to me (which I also resented until I finally learned to let him do the work for the event he invited people to our house for and then expected me to prepare food for - without asking me ahead of time). That was a good clue from Beth to show me what was happening - manipulation to do something without being asked ahead of time and agreeing to do that.

So I awoke early this morning with all this churning in my mind so that I couldn't sleep. I asked the Lord to reveal to me what was happening and what my attitude should be, my paradigm toward this. I was reacting as I had previously: anger, resistance, resentment, withdrawal, and stuffing the feelings.

Then the Lord helped me see that this was a spiritual battle.

I began to realize several things as He led me, mostly via Scriptures.
1.	This was a spirit of manipulation. That spirit was called the Jezebel spirit. It was a spirit of witchcraft - which tried to control people and force them to do what that spirit wanted.
2.	This spirit did not work by love, but by force.
3.	I remembered other instances of this spirit functioning against me in the past: ex-husband, parents, teachers, EL at Camp Lenmary, our government trying to force its decrees/laws on us, etc.
4.	I asked the Lord what I should do about this. He began to bring Scriptures to my mind:

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 Lord Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me.

Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.

Put on the whole armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may stand.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

I put the armor of God (in Ephesians 6:10-18) on Beth and me. I submitted my will to God and asked Him to be in charge of this situation. I rebuked the evil spirit of Jezebel/manipulation/witchcraft from Beth and me in the name of Jesus Christ. 

I realized that it was always someone we really cared about (husband, parent, friend) whom we allowed to manipulate us because we didn't want to hurt the person or lose the friendship. I also realize I need to place God higher than the relationship of the person here on earth, and resist the manipulation, and it will flee. I will not agree to be manipulated, but I will agree to do whatever the Lord shows me to do.

Lord, You know the way to deal with this rightly. You never allowed anyone to manipulate You while You were on earth. You willingly gave up your life out of submission to Your Father - "nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done." Show me what YOU want me to do, and what my attitude should be. I choose Your will, Father God.

Ok, My child, I hear your prayer and here is My answer. I want you to do this kind thing for LK to help her out, but when the right time and opportunity comes, show her how manipulative she was and not considerate of you or Beth. I might even have you tell her it was a Jezebel spirit and not the Spirit of the Lord that prompted that attitude on her part (she didn't ask you to help her out, she told you what you were going to do, then refused to change her plans.) That way she can learn from this situation, too, of following the wrong spirit, and what you had to do to be free from it. 

I will need to give you the exact wording and timing for that, so wait and watch with Me for that. Expect Me to show you. Then follow Me. It might not even be on Thanksgiving Day that you tell her. Only act if I lead you to, and do it privately when you do, so she is not embarrassed before others. You can tell her it would preferable to have been asked nicely to do this for her to help her out, rather than being told. It would have been kind to allow your thoughts to come into agreement first. Then you could have shared your preferences and come up with a better solution for you instead of for her.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-26-09 Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)

When I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do, He said, "Love Me." Then He guided me to turn my full attention to Him and not let distractions take that attention away from Him. Then He said that when I give Him my full attention and listen to Him, that shows Him I love Him. He reminded me that when I listen to my children and give them my full attention, that shows them my love. So today I am being guided to do a Word study on (1) listening, and then (2) hearing.

LISTEN, LISTENING, LISTENS

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NLT) 
Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (NLT) 
Moses continued, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among  your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV) 
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV) 
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) 
-let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) 
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 
He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame.

Isaiah 6:9 (NLT) 
Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes go and say to this people, 'Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.

Isaiah 50:4
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.

Mark 9:7 (NLT) 
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, listen to him."

John 10:27-30 (NIV) 
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

1 Timothy 2:12 (NLT) 
I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly

James 1:19 (NIV) 
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:22 (NIV) 
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

1 John 4:6 (NLT) 
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

Revelation 1:3 (NLT) 
God blesses the one who reds the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

Revelation 2:7 (NLT) 
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

* * *

This came today by email:

http://www.elijahlist.com

Steve Shultz: 

I Asked the Lord If He had a Word for Thanksgiving. He Did! 

I recently asked the Lord to give me a heart of thanksgiving. I wanted to ask for it during this season of time—the season many of us call THANKSGIVING. Of course, it should be a daily thing, and it's becoming more of that all the time I think for much of the worldwide Church. 

This is what HE, the Lord, said to me:

"Steve, that heart has been in you before you were born. And I see you working on living it out. That means something, not just to the Godhead but to ALL the angels and all heavenly creatures and beings in the spiritual realm. Whenever you work toward a heart of gratitude, HEAVEN sees it for what it is—the very thing I put inside of you as part of your identity before you were born. You are just now beginning to see its outworking. That's because true THANKSGIVING can only happen when there is something to be thankful for. 

"You've gone through much more than most in the Church know, but so has everyone else who has or will come to Me. I never stop thinking about you or those whom I know will accept Me. I don't even stop thinking about those who will be lost. I still bear with them, with much patience. Don't try to make sense of it because it never will make sense to you...never, never, never and NEVER!" 

* * *

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV) 

This morning when I read this verse from Deuteronomy 30:19 where it said "I call heaven and earth as witnesses" I wondered what that meant. I wondered who all were "witnesses" in heaven he was calling upon. Then tonight as I read this message from the Lord to Steve Shultz, I noticed God said, " not just to the Godhead but to ALL the angels and all heavenly creatures and beings in the spiritual realm." I think that answers my question. It seems these were the witnesses in heaven being called upon. I imagine the witnesses he called upon on earth were the humans at this event and the spiritual realm around the earth - Satan and the evil spirits.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-27-09 Friday

If I had healed your ears and your eyes, and made you younger in your body health, then you wouldn't have set yourself apart unto Me and gotten to know Me more and developed the relationship of intimacy that you now have. This relationship with Me is much more important! So be thankful that I haven't yet healed you. And be thankful that I gave these things to you that brought about so much good to you. It's like Paul's "thorn in the flesh" that I gave him grace to live with and used to keep him doing and being what was better for him. AND - you have kept believing that I will sometime heal you, that the healing is already yours and will be manifested at the right time for you and for Me, for that will happen. But, for the present, I have a purpose for the way those health issues have helped shape you and mold you into the person you were born to be. Note what Steve Shultz said about having the heart within you "before you were born" and you are living it out. You, Joan, were given a "heart for a close, intimate relationship with Me" before you were born and you are just "living it out." I am assisting you all along the pathway I've chosen for you.

Thank You, Lord, for telling me this. Now I understand why I haven't yet received the healing I've asked you for…and I have thought you wanted me to ask You for. You did. But you had and have a purpose for waiting to do that healing until the time is right - the "fullness of time" for me to receive that blessing. In the meantime You are using these health issues, like You used the prison in Joseph's life, to mold me and shape me after Your will. Thank You for doing that, and thank You for telling me this today. It helps me understand and be patient and persevere!

The Lord is telling me today that He wants me to take one of the Scriptures about listening each day, and meditate on it, and write on it as He leads me. So I will begin that next week. Today I will copy the "listen" list into next week's journal so I can do that as He leads me. I sense such a deeper level of grasping the understanding of the Word as I read it now. It's almost like reading it with new eyes and new understanding, new revelation. It's wonderful! I think this comes from many, many years of reading and meditating on the Bible, and with that the understanding and revelation grow. There are likely many levels of understanding much greater than the one I am at now, which I can eventually grow into.

* * *

JOURNAL 11-28-09 Saturday

Thank You, Lord, for everything! There are so many things to thank you for! You bless me so greatly! You ARE my abundant life! Thank You, my Abundant Life! I love You! You are my Joy. You are my Peace. You are my Hope. You are all the good things in me and in my life

You certainly are my Protection! And you protect my children also! Day after day you are steadfast and faithful to watch over us and protect us and guide us. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Today you can go and do your household things that you desire to do to prepare for Christmas. I will be with you and bless you as you do this, as you go. For I am with you forever. Forever!

* * *

JOURNAL 11-30-09 Monday

December, 2009 is going to be a very important month for you and for Beth. She will learn where her next job will be and what it is. This will impact both of your lives. It is good, and it will be good for both of you. Do not dread it, but rejoice in it and thank Me for it, for it is GOOD.

* * *

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NLT) 
Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.

* * *

This is from my journal on 9-20-09:

The Lord led me to read about Noah, and I read from Genesis 6:8 

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 

The word "favor" had a reference to Exodus 33:12-17 and it said:

(Moses is talking to God) You have said, "I know you by name and you have found favor with me." If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…

The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest"…

And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

What does it mean: I will give you rest?

It means You will give me peace in relationship with You.

And I will give you rest, Joan. I know you by name and I will give you rest and peace with Me - no matter what comes today.

* * *

I wrote this in my journal on 9-29-09. I am putting it here to remind myself of this idea of what the Lord wants me to do.

COPY OF JOURNAL 9-29-09

So, if I have favor with You, Lord, then Your Presence will go with me and You will give me rest… and that means You will give me peace in relationship with You. Thank You, Lord, for Your Presence, Your rest, Your peace, and Your favor!!!

And you have My favor today, Joan, and so does Beth. My favor provides for both of you, and that includes a job for her.

Is that the way I "stand at my watch" and look to see what You want me to write? I do it by reading books and listening to recorded speeches, and then write about those people and what they do for You, Lord?

Yes, do this like a research paper, Joan. As you encounter another person (like in a video online) and learn something about that person and what he is doing or teaching, then come to your computer and write out what you learned about him and what he said. You've been doing some of that. I want you to keep doing that, but in even greater detail, and giving more information about WHAT I HAVE GIVEN THAT PERSON TO DO AND BE. You will notice I have given many DIFFERENT things to many different people - each one unique to him. And this that I have given you to do is unique to you. I have trained you to do exactly what I am calling/asking you to do.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-1-09 Tuesday

(~ 5:55 a.m.)

Don't worry about tomorrow or where you will live, or what you shall eat, or what you shall wear. I have it all figured out and planned for you, and IT IS GOOD!

All your time of living on this earth until now has been preparation for now, Joan. This is the peak time in your life. I have words for you to think and write, like right now. I have books for you to read and learn from, like right now. I have teaching messages for you to hear and learn from, like right now. The best is yet to come for you! And for Beth! The best, My best for you, is yet to come! I want you to know this so you can look forward to it. You DO have something to look forward to! You don't know what it is, but you KNOW it is good! Because I said so. And you believe in Me and trust in Me. So - the best is yet to come (of your time here on earth). Then you will graduate into My heavenly realm and be "safely home!" I know you are looking forward to that, and so am I.

Don't worry about the things that hurt in your body. Persevere through them and believe and know that I will use all of them to display My glory when My Spirit comes in FULLNESS to the earth and I heal all of those hurts. You WILL BE delighted! I know you will, because I know you, and I already see and know what is coming for you (in your earthly time zone)

This is good to keep the computer files ready to go in the early mornings, so you can write what I talk to you about then. This early morning time will be our special time and I will prepare you for each day during this time. I won't tell you ahead what will come unless it is important for you to know, but I will tell you of My love and My plans for us to work together, co-labor, during that coming day. 5:55 (grace, grace, grace) will be our special time.

Peace in the midst of this crazy, mixed-up civilization right now on the earth - that is like having a Noah's ark to live in, in the midst of the flood, with death and dying going on all around you. Remember 1000 may fall at your side, 10,000 at your right, but it will not come near you? (Psalm 91:7) 

* * *

A DREAM ABOUT PUTTING ON ROUGE AND PREPARING TO LEAVE CAMP

I had a dream where I was getting ready to leave camp. I borrowed something (about the size and shape of a banana, only fatter) from a guy there that I rubbed on my cheeks, like rouge, but it was in thick lotion form. It looked like thick rouge, but I knew it would eventually be smoothed out and look natural and ok. I returned the rest of the "something" that I borrowed to the guy and began to walk away to leave camp. I realized that I didn't say goodbye or tell others that I was leaving, but that was ok.

I think this rouge being given me to put on symbolizes the new health coming to me through healing the Lord is going to bring me soon. Then, after receiving this new health, it will be time to leave camp/earth and go "home" to be with the Lord in heaven. The cheeks may represent victory and patience in this dream. The red rouge may symbolize the shed blood of Jesus applied to me… to my face. And face means my character, my image, my heart, my identity.

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READING AND MEDITATION OF PSALM 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NIV)

That's what you are doing, Joan. You are dwelling in the shelter of Me. You are resting in My shadow. There is no better place to be while on earth than there. And you are doing that now daily, all day. It IS GOOD!

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eves and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:2-16 NIV)

* * *

These are such great Scripture promises that I want to include them today in my journal.

Don't be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. This is because I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

Don't worry; because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you…I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, "Don't be afraid. I will help you." (Isaiah 41:10, 13)

How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you have given to those who trust you. You do this for all to see. You protect them by your presence from what people plan against them. You shelter them from evil words. (Psalm 31:19-20)

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JOURNAL 12-02-09 Wednesday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Deuteronomy 18:15 (NLT) 
Moses continued, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among  your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Yes, Lord, I must listen to You. You are the prophet like Moses whom God raised up - One even greater than Moses. I choose to listen to You, Lord. Thank You for giving me Your Word in the Bible that I can read and listen to You speak to me through. I love Your Word, Lord. I treasure it in my heart. I treasure You in my heart. Father, thank You for sending Jesus to earth to teach us and save us!

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JOURNAL 12-03-09 Thursday

Thank You, Lord, for this new day! I love You, Father God. I love You, Lord Jesus. I love You, blessed Friend, Holy Spirit. I rejoice in this new day because You live, and because You live in me! You are the treasure and delight of my life! You are my constant companion, friend, and helpmate. I wouldn't want to live on this earth without You. I worship You, God, and praise You with all my heart! Your love and Your joy is welling up within me today, and I want that!

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV) 
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In my regular Bible readings for today I read this verse which I want to record here.

Ears that hear and eyes that see - the Lord has made them both. (Proverbs 20:12 NIV)

Thank You, Lord, for giving me ears that hear and eyes that see. I believe this refers to the natural ears and eyes, but also the spiritual ears and eyes if we belong to Him and He causes us to be born again spiritually. Having spiritual ears that hear Him speaking to me continuously and eyes that see what He shows me - that is a great, great blessing in my life.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-4-09 Friday

Today I saw the sunlight hit the mirrored Christmas ball ornament hanging between the dining room and living room, and saw the many lights it sent throughout the rooms. I think it would have done this yesterday or maybe before if the sun had been out or I had been downstairs to see it. Therefore it seems that the month of December, and maybe a bit of January, is the time of year the sun strikes that ornament. We enjoy seeing that phenomena each winter.

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV) 
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

That's what I want to say to You this morning, Lord. Speak, for I am listening. I will wait until I hear You speak, then I will write it down as You want me to.

OK, I am with you. Listen. I want to speak something and have you write it down. That's why I gave you that particular Bible verse this morning. Yes, I do work out all these tiny details so that certain verses fall on certain days for My use in your life. I care about you, and all the details of your life like this. 

I'm coming soon, Joan. VERY soon. It is only a short time, as time goes, until I will return for you and the rest of My Bride, and I will take you away. Pursue My purposes until the very end. And you will know My purposes if you come to Me each morning, and seek Me, I WILL be found by you.

Yes, I am putting a negative response inside you for the Manhattan Proclamation which Beth asked you to investigate. You may read the paper she brought home, but she can investigate more if she wants to. This is not for you to join or sign.

Just as I am in control of your life and plan good things for you to do for Me, so also I am in control of Beth's life, and plan good things for her to do. She IS following My guidance when she gives up her free time to go to the places I lead her to go. Trust Me so you can trust her to know what to do and what not to do. She IS being guided by Me. Yes, I gave her the information about tonight's meeting and about tomorrow's meeting so she could choose to go there. They will be good for her and part of what I am doing in her life. Accept that as good and from Me. Do not fear. I will take care of her.

That's all for now.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-5-09 Saturday

A DREAM ABOUT GROWING AN "APOSTLE TREE"

The setting or place where this dream takes place is a room which seems to have two twin beds in it, almost like a motel room, but smaller. I am in the room along with one other person, a woman, maybe Beth, but I'm not sure. I bring with me this unusual plant, which is a bit wilted, so I give it some water and put it in the refrigerator so it can get moist and crisp. The plant seemed to be in the shape of a ball, about softball size, and had very curly green leafy outgrowths all over it.

When I took it out of the refrigerator and showed my roommate, it looked good and crisp and healthy. We discussed where to put it in the room. We seemed to realize that it would grow quickly and spread out and take up space, which it seemed to automatically do as we talked about it. It grew to eventually be like a small tree. This tree had small blue packages (about 6 " long, cylinder shaped, 2" circumference) fastened onto its branches. Each package would eventually produce many offshoots from it. Someone called these blue packages "apostles" and they would grow out more plants like the one I brought home (ball shaped with curly green leafy outgrowths). We began to talk about the tree as the "apostle tree."

Such a strange dream! I'm writing it down because it is so strange. What could it mean? I'll look up and write the meanings of the symbols, and then see if an interpretation comes into my mind. Lord, guide me.

The setting of the dream is in a place of intimacy, a place of rest, along with a companion (maybe the Holy Spirit). The place is a room of living temporarily, like on this earth while waiting to go to heaven.

Into this place I carry a plant shaped like a ball. The shape symbolizes favor with God, love and mercy, spiritual, grace, compassion, and forgiveness. The plant may symbolize me (or something within me) that can grow, but it is a bit wilted. I give it water symbolizing the Holy Spirit, and I place it in the refrigerator which symbolizes placing it in my heart, motive, attitude, thoughts, or storing it in my heart. 

This ball-shaped plant had curly green leafy outgrowths coming from it. They may symbolize life amidst prosperity, or the ability to survive under pressure, or abundance. Trees with healthy leaves are planted by the rivers of life. This seems to symbolize a picture of me being revitalized by the Holy Spirit in my heart, and being kept alive and healthy and growing during adversity which may come. When I took it out of the refrigerator and showed my roommate it looked good and crisp and healthy. 

We discussed where to put it in the room. We seemed to realize that it would grow quickly and spread out and take up space, which it seemed to automatically do as we talked about it. This seems to symbolize that the spiritual life within me grows, as it does within all true Christian.

It grew to eventually be a small tree. Those with the life of Jesus within them spread out and grow into trees. These symbolize a leader, leadership, nations, individuals, the church, a person or covering, a shelter, Jesus, or a sanctuary. An oak tree refers to great strength to weather storms, and a solid place of refuge. I see this tree symbolizing how the Body of Christ grows and becomes strong and spreads out/multiplies. Branches symbolize great triumph and conquest, churches, God's people, Israel, Christians, and adversity. They symbolize God's people filled with joy, abundance, salvation, and blessing.

This tree had small blue packages (about 6 " long, cylinder shaped, 2" circumference) fastened onto its branches. Since they are blue they symbolize something spiritual, Spiritual gift, divine revelation, heavenly visitation, God's Spirit or Word, blessing, healing, good will, symbol of heaven, peace, calm water, The Fear of The Lord, communion, and the revelatory.

Each package would eventually produce many offshoots from it. Someone called these blue packages "apostles" and they would grow out more plants like the one I brought home (ball shaped with curly green leafy outgrowths). We began to talk about the tree as the "apostle tree." This symbolizes how those who belong to Christ multiply. An apostle is one who follows another's (Jesus') spiritual lead, one who follows God and tells others the Gospel, one who brings many to salvation, and one who starts new churches

This dream can be showing me what I can grow into and be a part of when I water my spirit with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, and take that into my heart completely to be renovated and renewed. But it seems to also show a picture of how the Kingdom of God (represented by a small plant becoming a tree and growing other plants) grows and reproduces. And I am just one small part of that Kingdom. It may be alerting me that God's Kingdom is right now growing rapidly and will continue to do so.

This small plant - I brought it to my place of rest on this earth, my place of sharing and communing with You. It got refreshed through what You had me do for it. It's a process of communing with You and following You.

What do You have to tell me about this dream, Lord?

That small round plant - it's the seed of spiritual destiny which I planted in you before you were even born on earth. That seed has been multiplying and growing since the day you were born. At one point in time if became partly wilted, but due to My Spirit watering it and due to your taking this into your heart, it was refreshed and vibrant again.

Then you began to see a picture of My kingdom like a tree which grew many hidden gifts on its branches. These branches grew new plants, like yours, and multiplied. You are one of My beautiful healthy alive plants, Joan, and there are many, many others being grown also all around the world - wherever My Kingdom tree grows and prospers. You see it as a young tree, but it grew quickly, and is growing exponentially now as new gifts are extended on its branches. 

Remember the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which multiplies and grows quickly. That is like this tree you saw with many gifts appearing on its branches.  Through these spiritual gifts many come to Me and give their lives to Me and become ball-shaped plants like you are. They are all your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for them, all of them.

* * *

I read this message yesterday through ElijahList:

God is Protecting All that He has Promised Us
by Doug Addison 
Dec 1, 2009
Over the past few months, I have received quite a bit of revelation about a new season coming to many people that was starting in September and October of 2009 and continuing through the New Year. I keep hearing over and over that "this is the time of new beginnings and new opportunities."
Similar to Being Pregnant
When God begins something new in our lives sometimes it can be similar to a baby taking nine months to birth. It takes time to grow and develop the new thing from God in our lives. I can look back in my life and see many examples of when I heard God speak to me clearly about a change in my life. Then when the change actually takes place, it is oftentimes close to a nine-month period. 
In April of 2008 I was living in Moravian Falls, North Carolina, and I was speaking at several churches in the Central Coast of California. God spoke to me clearly that we would be moving to that area and be part of something new He was going to do. Through a series of events and without making it happen on my own, we relocated to Santa Maria, California, nine months later in January 2009. After arriving in Santa Maria, nothing really seemed to be happening. Then after nine months, in September, I had two major angelic visitations and God spoke to me more clearly about our next steps and plans for why we moved. Just as a baby is hidden during the nine month pregnancy period, quite often God will hide us for a season.
Satan Comes Before a New Move of God
A principle most people miss in the Bible is that when God is about to do something new in our lives, satan will come just before—to get us discouraged and to cause us to give up before the breakthrough. David gets anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel, and then he is pursued and nearly killed by Saul. Jesus receives the Holy Spirit to begin His ministry on earth, and immediately He is taken into the wilderness to be tempted by satan. Saul (Apostle Paul) has a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, and then he is greatly opposed to the point that he has to run for his life. These are just a few cases of a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible.
God will often call us to something new; then it seems that all hell breaks loose and it appears that the opposite of what we heard from God begins to happen. The fact is that the reason God spoke to us to begin with was to strengthen us to be able to walk through the storm and know that He is still with us no matter what it looks like. 
God spoke to me that something radically new was coming to me and many people after September of this year. During the month of September I received some incredible revelation and visitations from God, then in October things began to look the complete opposite. I have been watching this pattern for some time now, so I was not thrown for a loop. The best way to handle this is to continue to move forward with the last thing that you heard from God and pay little attention to the distractions from satan.
New plans, strategies, ministries, gifts, anointing, miracles, businesses and relationships are on their way. The key is to not give up. Satan and the forces of darkness really don't want you to get what is coming. You will receive what you are looking for. If you are looking to God for the new things and you endure the storm, it will transpire in your life. If you begin to doubt and give up on what God has promised you, then there is a good chance that it will not come to you at the level that God had intended, or it may be delayed.
Jesus is Protecting Our Promises
I had a dream on November 17 that the enemy was coming to steal away the promises God had made to me and many others. I ran to the ocean and when I got there the ocean appeared to be dried up, even though there were still plant life and animals. As I stood wondering what to do, Jesus Himself, clothed in a purple and crimson robe, walked up to me. I told Him that the enemy was trying to steal away what had been promised to us. 
Without saying a word, He used His right hand to take something from deep inside of me and placed it in what looked like an ancient iron cage in the shape of a sphere (the size of a basketball). He locked it, kept the key, and tossed it a few feet away onto the floor of the ocean. I was thinking to myself that He could have at least hidden it a little better. As I looked, there were many of these ball-shaped cages lying all over the place, and I knew they were the promises of others that Jesus was now protecting and placing them where they needed to be.
This dream is a confirmation that what God has promised to us will come. The fact that the ocean "appeared" to be dry but still had life is symbolic of a coming move from God that is nearing but not here yet. It was not like a wilderness that had no life. 
Our promises from God are being placed in a safe place so that they will be picked up by the next wave of the Holy Spirit. It is similar to a chessboard; God is strategically placing us where we need to be for this next season.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Doug Addison
InLight Connection 
Email: info@dougaddison.com

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
ElijahList Publications
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Albany, OR 97321 
www.elijahlist.com 
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250 

* * *

I also read this good message yesterday sent through Maurice Sklar ministry:

Watch and Pray: Spiritual Fitness in the Midnight Hour
Maurice Sklar
Dec 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
We are living in the most challenging days that the Body of Messiah has ever been through. These are dangerous and perilous times for all believers. The undertow of the Babylonian anti-Messiah spirit is rising up as never before. The world is growing darker and darker, and the church is asleep, bound and lukewarm as a whole. Yeshua warned us over and over in the gospels to take heed that we are not overtaken by deception, fear, distractions, lusts of the flesh, and spiritual slumber as the end of the age of grace draws ever nearer, as it is written:
 
“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end shall be saved…And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened…Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come….therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:4b-5,11-13,22,42,44)
 
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is…Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” (Mark 13:33,36)
 
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken…And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:26,34,36)
 
The Lord spoke to me and said: 
 
“I am the Lord of the harvest. Overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil is not an option. Bearing fruit is a command, not a suggestion. You must abide in Me and love Me more than anything else. There can be no substitute for the oil of true worship. It is the only oil that will keep your lamps lit. Many lamps are going out. Come and buy of Me this oil before it is too late – by watching and praying daily so that  you may be ready and full of light.   I am bringing the church down to My threshing floor and beating the wheat of My final harvest. I am separating the wheat from the chaff. I am gathering the wheat into My barn and the bundles of fruitless branches together to be burned in the everlasting fire. Warn the lukewarm church to watch and pray, or they too will fall in this final midnight hour! Teach them how to be spiritually fit, so they can stand and overcome. It is My will that none perish, but all come into the joy of My wedding supper. All are invited, but most will not be ready. They will be left behind to suffer in the wrath to come. Without holiness, no one will see My Kingdom or taste of My wedding supper. I am at the doors ready to call My Bride home. Who is awake and will heed the voice of My Spirit?”

So we MUST watch and pray. Prayerlessness is the greatest sin of the Laodicean church of our generation. The reason we have so little power and we live in defeat is simply because we have let idols come in the place of God. There is one thing that is most precious that God has given you: and that is time. Time… How do you spend your time each day? Are you investing it in eternal things or in temporary things? 
 
The word “watch” that Yeshua is using is a military type of word: it means that we must stand guard against sudden and perilous attacks of the enemy like an armed guard would protect the crown jewels of an earthly kingdom. The word “pray” incorporates within it an endurance; a tenacity; a persistence. Just like a bulldog will never let go of his bone even to death, we must “hold on” to what the Lord has given and promised us and never give it up. 

Yeshua admonishes us as overcoming believers in Revelation 3:11:
 
“Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
 
Sir Winston Churchill once said in his famous speech in October 29, 1941: 
 
“Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
 
So, that gives you a good idea what Yeshua is talking about spiritually when he says to tenaciously watch and pray. We are in a world at war spiritually. Good shall triumph over evil, but it won’t happen without winning each day in the realms of enduring prayer and intercession over the powers of darkness arrayed against us. 
 
Here is what is necessary to be spiritually fit and overcome. I beg you to make changes in your life priorities and the use of your time so that you too can develop these spiritual disciplines and have the strength to make it and to “never give in” to the evil in this hour:
 
1.      Simplify your life. Stop wasting time doing things that are not what God has called you to do. Remove every weight such as doing things to please people, or to run after money, or to pursue anything that has no eternal value. For me, God said to remove from my life everything except for five things that all begin with the letter “P”: God asked me to do these things: pray, practice (violin), preach, perform, and prophecy….that’s it. I also do my best to be a good husband and father, but these 5 “P” words are where you will find me investing my time. Of course, God has different callings for each of us, but, if you search your heart and seek the Lord, He will tell you what really matters for you individually.
 
2.      Spend time with God. Give Him the first and the best of your time each day. Let Him have the time when you are the freshest and most alert – whenever that is. Start with a tithe of your time. We have all been given 24 hours each day. Give the Lord at least 2 ½ hours daily with absolutely no distractions. I now spend approximately half of my waking hours in prayer, the Word of God, worship (which includes my violin practice), and communion with the Holy Spirit. I have to block out everything and everybody else – even those closest to me in my family – so that this time is exclusively for the LORD only. Without spending lots of time daily with God, we will never fulfill our high calling in this life. If Yeshua had to go many times and pray all night, surely, we need to pray and seek God also.
 
3.      There are seven primary habits of personal prayer/devotion that I orbit around. By God’s grace, I have done this for nearly 25 years. This is not because I am super-spiritual or anything like that. It is simply because I have battled with depression. It was desperation that drove me deeply into God. (Sometimes I think that our suffering has a way of MAKING us into prayer warriors. If everything had been easy for me, I doubt seriously that I would have done this. I do not believe that God sends it as such, but it certainly has been a great motivational tool. Desperation has been a blessing in disguise for me. After all, if there is a way out of my pain, misery, and defeat, and into victory, don’t you think I want to find that path and to take it at all costs?!) 
 
1.       Put the Bible in your mouth! I spend about an hour to an hour and a half SPEAKING the promises of God nearly every day. Usually this is when I awaken in the morning, but often at other times too.   There are several wonderful books of faith and prayer confessions that I heartily recommend for this:
 
I have recently discovered three new books this year:
 
“Commanding Your Morning” by Cindy Trimm 
“The Rules of Engagement” (Volume one) by Cindy Trimm
“Prayers that Rout Demons” by John Eckhart
 
In addition, for the past five years or so I have prayed through these books by James Riddle, which contain every promise in the Bible followed by a declaration of faith claiming them– 
 
The Complete Personalized Promise Bible for Men (there is also one for women and teens)
The Complete Personalized Promise Bible for financal blessing
The Complete Personalized Promise Bible for health and healing (these are published through Harrison House)
 
Instead of saying just “I” or “me”, I include others by using the pronouns “us”, “we”, and “our”. After all, Yeshua began His prayer with OUR Father, not MY Father. Also, the important thing to remember is that the power of this lies in CONSISTENCY over time and also to watch all the words coming out of your mouth. Let them be words of blessing and not cursing at all times.
 
2.      The Apostle Paul exhorts us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) That means all the time. He also told us in Romans and I Corinthians that we don’t know how to pray and we don’t know what to pray for either so the Holy Spirit has moved in with His power and supernatural languages of tongues to help us in this area. (Romans 8:26-27, I Corinthians 2:7; 14:2, 4-5a, 14-15, 17, 18, 39b)
 
So, I spend hours and hours speaking in the supernatural languages of the Holy Spirit so God can pray for me and through me for others perfectly according to His divine will. I am in the habit of praying quietly in tongues at all times whenever I am not speaking to someone else. I have found that this practice causes me to average about 4-6 hours a day of praying in the Spirit as I just live my daily life. 
 
(For a life changing book on this subject, PLEASE read the book, “The Walk of the Spirit, The Walk of Power” by Dave Roberson. It is available for free online to download at his web sight. I have the highest of respect for this great man of God, who also ordained me in 2000.)
 
3.       Devotional prayer. I pray through the Lord’s prayer in a cyclical way during each week as taught by Larry Lea in his book, “Could You Not Tarry One Hour?” It presents the Lord’s Prayer in an outline form. Originally, this revelation came from Seoul, Korea from David Younggi Cho, and adapted for the west by Larry. This is the way they pray in South Korea. I don’t know whether it is still available in print, but it is well worth the reading if you haven’t read it. 
 
(For a further explanation of this prayer and the outline, as well as another teaching on this subject, go to my website www.mauricesklar.com and click on Teachings. Then, click on “Victory through Prayer”.)
 
4.      Private worship. Spend some time worshiping God with vocal praise, proclamation, singing and instrumental music and/or dance. There is enormous blessing and benefit in just worshiping God by yourself. It will empower you and fill your life with His glorious anointing and Presence!
 
5.      I also read through the Bible every 3-6 months. I have alternated for the past several years between reading it out loud and silently while praying in the Spirit. So, I read through the scriptures in their entirety about 2-4 times each year.
 
6.       Meditation of the scriptures. I have read through all of the New Testament letters, the book of Proverbs, and the Sermon on the Mount each fifty times through silently while praying in tongues during the past 10 years. God breaks each book to me as bread of revelation and it gets down on the inside of me in the form of images of faith. I am presently reading through the book of Revelation for the 24th time. This is done as the Spirit leads me to read over several weeks and sometimes several months. I keep track of where I am, and just continue until I have read each one fifty times. My next book after the book of Revelation, Lord willing, will be the Song of Solomon. 
 
(For in depth teaching on this subject - go to Dave Roberson’s website (www.daveroberson.org) and download – for free! – his teaching series “Meditation by Assimilation” and “How to Meditate”, and “Meditation, Imagery, and Delivery” – these and all of Pastor Dave’s teachings are life changing! If you are hungry spiritually, he serves the finest pure revelation in these and many other vital subjects.)
 
7.       Fasting. I have done some fasting, but because of health reasons I have to be careful. However, we can fast more than just food and drink. For example: television, leisure activities, sex, as well as food/drink can be abstained from temporarily for the purpose of putting our flesh under and keeping it there. I find daily exercise is also a powerful discipline of my flesh. Fasting does what nothing else will: It enforces the legal position that Yeshua paid for – we died with Him – our bodies are dead and sin shall have no dominion over us. I find what works best is to live a fasted life rather than go on long extended fasts from food. Don’t eat everything you want to. Skip some meals. Keep your body in subjection to your inner spirit man. This is essential for us: especially in those areas of besetting sins, compulsive addictions, and overcoming tough strongholds that we all face.
 
Now, beloved, I am not writing this to condemn you or to put you under laws and obligations. I know that our salvation is free and I live by  love, and celebrate the grace of God. Nevertheless, grace is activated by faith. Faith comes from a disciplined life in the Word of God and prayer when we plant and sow it into our hearts on a daily basis. Stay in the grace of God and let the Holy Spirit lead you in how to implement these prayer and devotional habits into your life.
 
This is my final point:
 
THERE WILL BE NO TRUE AND LASTING VICTORY IN OUR LIVES WITHOUT A DAILY VIOLENT, RADICAL, AND TOTAL PURSUIT OF GOD IN THESE AREAS.
 
Are you spiritually fit for these last days? If not, repent and seek Him like never before!
 
Yeshua our Messiah pleaded with the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, as it is written:
 
“And he cometh to the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.”
 
My love to you all in our Messiah,
 
Maurice Sklar
Maurice Sklar Ministries . 12127 Mall Boulevard . Suite A440 . Victorville, CA  92392
(646) 244-7350  .  www.mauricesklar.com  .  info@mauricesklar.com

* * *

JOURNAL 12-7-09 Monday

A DREAM ABOUT A LARGE TRUCK TRYING TO HIT ME WITH ITS CARGO ON TOP

In this dream I was standing outside on a street. I saw this large heavy truck coming toward me. it was carrying on it's top some merchandise fastened on it which extended out ahead of it's cab by several feet. That merchandise was formed in a V-shape sticking out above and over the cab. I had the thought it might be BB driving the truck and that he was playing a game of trying to hit me with that merchandise. So I kept moving around to evade the cargo. Then I seemed to be cornered in a place where I couldn't get totally away from it. It moved really close to me and started tipping the cargo/merchandise to dump it on me, but it only dropped off the truck in front of me. I watched as the boxes of cargo fell and began to break open. I was concerned the merchandise would be ruined by this.

Is this dream from You, Lord?

Yes. Go ahead and try to interpret it.

This is what the Lord shows me as I ponder this dream. The large truck represents Southern Baptists. The clue to this is BB who stands for that denomination to me. The V-shaped cargo on top represents a rocket/bomb which the Southern Baptists try to hit me with or dump on me while I proceed along the way of faith, the street. I represent the Charismatic renewal/revival happening now. I am to watch and see this, but know that it will not hit me. I will only watch and see it happen. This is a warning dream to alert me to this "attack" coming against me, and perhaps the Charismatic movement/revival happening now (and coming more and more).

This is right. This is good. I just wanted you to know this ahead of time so you won't be surprised when it happens. Just stay out of the fray and watch and see as I break open the "cargo" or bomb they try to use to discredit the coming revival.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-8-09 Tuesday

Praise God! The snowstorm which is crossing the US right now and dumping lots of snow has gone north of us. It is hitting north and west metro area, but very little, if any, in our county. Beth was able to drive into KC, MO to the courthouse of Jackson County this morning with no problem. She is to report for jury duty today. 

We are supposed to get sleet for about an hour between 9:30-11:00, and then snow tonight. We'll see how that goes. So far we have been spared the most difficult stuff.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-10-09 Thursday

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)

* * *

JOURNAL 12-11-09 Friday

About the revival going on at IHOPU: Beth said M was there Monday and Wednesday and was greatly blessed. She said Bill Johnson and John Arnott (and their wives) taught in the afternoons (and we can see that on their web site archives), and in the evenings they ministered to people along with the IHOP leadership. D was there Monday evening and said there were so many people that they asked them all to take a seat, then asked the rest of the people still standing to leave since they would break the fire safety code if they stayed. M said the Johnson-Arnott-Bickle leadership team talked of possibly rotating to their three places to minister to the revivals going on in each place (Redding, CA, Toronto, CAN, Kansas City, MO).  Also M said the One Thing Conference (Lou Engle-Mike Bickle) for New Year's Eve and Day has scrapped their plans and are seeking God for what He wants to do during this conference. It will be held at Bartle Hall.

Thank You, God, for these revivals and for the leaders of them. Guide them in exactly the way You want them to go so these will produce the ministry and results You want to accomplish. Give them supernatural wisdom, knowledge, and understanding every moment. Protect them from the evil one. May it all bring You the glory You deserve! Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

SCRIPTURES FROM MY BLUE BOOK FOR TODAY

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

…The Lord, the spring of living water. (Jeremiah 17:13b)

* * *

A DREAM ABOUT MAKING A PRESENTATION IN SILVER IN CLASS

In this dream I was attending my first class of my first year at that school. The teacher told me I was to give some kind of a presentation to the class and I was to do it in silver. Then I saw myself without a blouse on. Later I went around a mall-like area where various people were, and I just talked to them. I kept wondering how I was to give a presentation in silver and what I was to say.

My thoughts are that this first class at my first year at that school may represent attending class in Heaven. Or it may refer to something new the Lord is sending me to - a new school to learn. The teacher may refer to the Holy Spirit. Doing a presentation in silver may symbolize doing it in knowledge, which silver can symbolize. Being without my blouse on shows my being vulnerable and open, not hiding anything. Talking to people wherever I go may be my way of making that presentation. I may have been doing the assignment, but didn't realize it. 

* * *

JOURNAL 12-12-09 Saturday

A DREAM ABOUT GIVING PIANO STUDENTS NOTE CARDS WITH INSTRUCTIONS

This was a repeated dream very similar to one I had awhile ago but didn't write out. In this dream I was trying to teach beginning piano to a few students. I wrote out instructions/notes on cards for them to practice during the week. It was a frustrating dream because I didn't think this was a good method for teaching them. When I awoke I remembered that I had pretty much dreamed this same dream before, so thought I should write it out.

What shall I do about this dream I hardly remember, Lord? Since I dreamed it twice that may mean it is significant. What does it mean? Did you give it to me?

Yes, I gave it to you. As to what to do, do nothing now. Just have it mentioned here and see if I bring it to your memory some time in the future.

* * *

This article came by email. I wanted to copy it into my journal as I liked it.

The Christ Pattern
By Francis Frangipane 

The seeking heart habitually looks to God. Was not this the inner working of Christ's heart? Yes, consider the perfections of Christ. Though He was the embodiment of God in Heaven, He laid aside His privileges of equality with God. Instead, He "emptied Himself" taking the appearance of a man, and as such patterned for us the way of a perfect man with God (Phil 2:4). What we see in Christ is, in truth, not merely the perfection of one’s talent or leadership abilities; in Christ we see the perfection of a surrendered heart. His life is the maturation of spiritual dependency. Christ’s incomparable righteousness, His stunning virtue and unparalleled strength of character all had to be appropriated from God the Father. 
Christ shows us how God, manifested as a Son, submits to God, ruling as the Father. In so doing, Jesus also reveals how man, made in the image of God, draws spiritual strength and substance in seeking God as his life source. 
It staggers me that the Son of God said of Himself, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18). Of course Jesus was good! He was perfect. He who gazed upon Christ, feasted upon God. Yet, even here, Jesus models the pattern we must follow if we would find true spiritual fulfillment. 
Christian, let us grasp this one great truth: attaining righteousness is the result of seeking God. Jesus had no plan of action other than to mirror the things He saw His Father doing. Everything we see Jesus accomplish on earth was, in fact, the result of His times of seeking God. We see the boldness of Christ and assume He moved in great faith and authority - and He most certainly did. Jesus was bold, but He was never self-willed. His faith came from seeing and hearing the Father. Whether by intuition or by physical sight or by hearing God's voice, Jesus had an inner "radar" that kept Him continually tracking and following the Father's heart. 
Jesus did nothing on His own initiative (John 5:30; 8:28). The pattern He set for us is not one of a man wielding unlimited power, but a man pure in heart, seeking God as both a Son and servant. In so doing, He perfectly demonstrates that, when we ask for power or virtue from God, we are, in fact, asking to be nearer still to God the Father. The pure in heart see God; the work of power is, in truth, an act of obedience to what God revealed beforehand. 
Lord, walking close to You is my plan. Hearing Your voice is my strategy. Knowing Your heart is my confidence. Master, I pray the prayer patterned by Your Son: not my will but Thine be done! 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This message was adapted from a chapter in Pastor Frangipane's newest book, And I Will Be Found By You. 

* * *

JOURNAL 12-13-09 Sunday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) 
-let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

* * *

As I awoke and looked at the clock (7:47) this morning, the Lord said:

Like a 747 plane: a big ministry, flying high in the sky ministry, holding lots of people in it, close to Me, powerful, flying above the rest of the world/earth - that's what I have planned for you, Joan, and all those who believe in Me and follow Me and trust Me in these days, at this time in history, in this "fullness of time." It will be HUGE! You cannot even conceive of how huge it will be! I am giving you glimpses of it through Paul Keith Davis and others who are also believing Me and listening to Me and following Me in these days.

We're starting a new phase in our life together now, Joan, in December 2009. Things will be different from now on, from this day forth. And you will have this computer on a lot, listening to Me, and writing what I tell you. Then you can put it in your next book - which you will put on the web in January 2010. 

It's here!

Yes, it's here - that for which you have been waiting for many years of your life, that for which you have prayed and sought Me, that for which you have gotten excited, that for which you yearn for bringing many other people to Me for salvation. It's here, now! 

A heart alive unto Me - that's what you have. I love your heart, Joan, because it is ALIVE UNTO ME! You know Me; you believe Me; you trust Me. And now, that heart (which I have put in you) will produce My fruit on the earth as I stir you, lead you, counsel you, speak to you, encourage you. Just LISTEN. Listen each day and all day and all night. I will do all this as you listen, follow what I tell you, speak what I say to speak - whenever I tell you to speak and to whomever I say to speak.

I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU! 

And I will lead others to find Me - by you. Many will come to Me through you, since you have waited patiently for Me to lead you and guide you and protect you (as you wrote about in your first book). For these 5 1/2 years (since May, 2004) you have stayed hidden away, drawing closer and closer to Me, and writing My thoughts for others to read also. Now you will become "unhidden" as I have prophesied over you by Mel back in 2004. But, don't be afraid because I will do this gradually and easily for you. It will come "naturally" as you walk with Me each day. It will be YOU, expressing yourself - the YOU that I have changed you into. You have given Me permission to change you, and have even asked Me to change you into what I want you to be. I AM doing that, and I WILL do that. 

* * *

JOURNAL 12-14-09 Monday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) 
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-15-09 Tuesday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 
He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame.

* * *

LIGHT DISPLAY

Around 9:30 in the morning the sun hits the mirrored squares ball hanging between the living room and dining room. When this happens it sends a "light display" all around -on the floor, walls, ceiling - of little round circles of light. As I watched it this morning, the words "light display" came into my mind, and I felt I was to write that in my journal. The thought is that Jesus is going to soon do a "light display" of His Light around the world for all to see. Yeah! Do it, Jesus!

I will, Joan. I wanted you to record this in your journal, with today's date, for others to see and read later. This will confirm to them that what they see really is Me doing it and that I said it, as a prophecy, before it was done.

Then, shortly after that the sun hits the crystal in the handbell Beth has sitting on the piano. This puts a "color display" onto the wall behind it. It's just beautiful! This displays the many colors of the Lord as His light is broken into parts. We also have 2 crystals hanging in the southern window and this puts a many faceted color display on the walls.

* * *

Today I began reading back over my 2009 Journal since the Lord directed me to read back through the dreams from 2009. Then He guided me to highlight things in the Journal that He lead me to. I found myself mainly highlighting what He told me. I am to create a book called Highlights from My 2009 Journal and print it and put it at the end of the 2009 Journal. I started this today. As I read on January 14, 2009 I highlighted this:

Pastors A, J, and D are your spiritual covering. I want you at CTC to stay under their covering. That is one reason you are doing so well here in Lee's Summit, is that you have such powerful and effective spiritual covering over you. I want that for you. That is one of many reasons I brought you here to live in these days. They are covering for Beth also, and so are you covering for her, and so is L. That is one reason she is so effective in prayer for healing for others - because of her strong covering. You may tell her this if the time ever comes you feel you should.

Then the Lord started to say to me that CTC is the place of our ministry - Beth and me. He wants us to stay there, not so we will be ministered to, but so we can minister to others there. It would leave a big gap/hole in some of their lives if we weren't there for them. It's not about us, but about His ministry He wants to use us for there. We will get our own ministry to us from other sources than CTC.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-16-09 Wednesday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Isaiah 6:9 (NLT) 
Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes go and say to this people, 'Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-17-09 Thursday

Beth was born 38 years ago today! What a wonderful gift she has been in my life! Thank You, God for lending her to me for these 38 years. I know she belongs to You, and I am very thankful for that! 

Beth is to have a job interview either today or tomorrow at ARGUS CO. They are located in Kansas City, MO in the SW corner of the downtown loop. They work with medical insurance companies with their pharmacy benefits management software. Beth has some friends formerly from Yellow Corp. who work there and are recommending her there. I think we both sense that this may be the job the Lord is bringing her and she should have it before the end of December. She may actually need to start work there Dec. 28th. We are praying that she has favor there to be offered the job and that she knows, and has peace, if this is the job for her. It is a short-term contract position, but she thinks it could eventually turn into a hired position if they like her. Be with her, Lord, and guide her through this interview and transition process.

* * *

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Isaiah 50:4
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.

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, and He has put this declaration on my tongue today to speak forth in His Name. The Lord led me to declare, in Jesus' Name, that Beth will be offered the job and that she will accept it, knowing the peace of the Lord in this. I declared that the Lord is in charge of this transition, and that He gets the glory and praise for it.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-18-09 Friday

Beth's interview with Argus Company is today at 3:15. I pray for You, Lord, to be with her and bless her and give her Your great favor today as she goes through this.

I will, Joan, and she will get a job from this interview. Watch and see what I will do to bring this about.

* * *

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Mark 9:7 (NLT) 
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, listen to him."

* * *

This article came by email. I wanted to copy it into my journal as I liked it.

The Nearness of Our God 
By Francis Frangipane 

In the 73rd Psalm, the psalmist Asaph expressed a struggle we all might feel at times. He questioned why the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous are chastened. The whole idea was troublesome until he entered the sanctuary of God. Once in the presence of God, Asaph realized his error. As he compared himself to the unbeliever, he saw that, apart from the influence of God, he had nothing in which to boast. He said, "When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You" (vv. 21-22). 
Finally, his soul brightened as he considered that God alone was his salvation, and his relationship with God was his strength. He wrote, "Nevertheless I am continually with You … You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth … God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (vv. 23-26). 
The summary thought of Asaph's revelation, and the point of this chapter, is in verse 28. He wrote, "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good." 
Let's settle this truth once and for all: It is the nearness of God that produces our good. Christianity was never designed by God to be sustained by nice people trying to appear good. We're not that good. We're not that clever. And we're not that nice. The only thing that can sustain true Christianity is true union with Jesus Christ. It is nearness to Him in all things that produces our spiritual fruit. 
If we are honest, we will admit that, apart from the influence and work of God, there is nothing morally superior or remarkably virtuous about our lives. Our flesh has the same carnal passions as do people in the world; our soul carries within it the same insecurities and fears. Thus, apart from the influence of Christ in us, there's no difference between Christians and non-Christians (except that Christians, when living separate from God's presence, can be more obnoxious). It's only our relationship with the Lord that keeps us from fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh, for apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). 
Therefore, the strength of our walk does not originate from within ourselves; rather it comes from our relationship with Christ. Our virtue, if it can be defined as such, is that we have learned to prioritize seeking God; our character is the offspring of our oneness with Jesus. By this I mean, Jesus is not only first on our list of priorities; His influence rules over all our priorities. He inspires love in our relationships; His voice becomes the conviction in our integrity. God has made "Christ Jesus" to be to us "wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). 
Thus, the God-seeker desires to find the Lord's pleasure drawn to every aspect of his soul. He also knows that, should an area of his heart exist in isolation from God, he will remain vulnerable to manipulation by the enemy in that area. So let me underscore the psalmist's truth, and let us say with our own voice of conviction: it is the nearness of our God that is our good. 
Oh God, You are the lover of my soul. Faithfully, have You extended Your hands toward me. Yet, I have been, at times, a drifter and distant. Master, this day I acknowledge my most wonderful times are those spent close to You. When my heart is near to You, I am partaking of the nectar of life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taken from Pastor Frangipane's newest book, And I Will Be Found By You.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-19-09 Saturday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

John 10:27-30 (NIV) 
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.

I'm your sheep, Lord?  

Yes.

And no one can snatch me out of your hand? 

That's right.

And I follow You?

That's right. You don't even know it or recognize it often, but you do follow Me.

And You and the Father are One?

Yes, and you are now one with us in spirit. That's why you will fit in with us in heaven, and with all the others who go there. No one will be out of place there or not fit in, because we will all be part of the One that We are when you come here. It is something which you will understand later, but now only partially know.

And my children, Lord? Are they one with you also and will they come to heaven too?

Yes, they are all three Mine, Joan. That's why they are doing so well. And they will come up here too. Then you will be closer to them even than you are now. Trust Me for this. I will keep them from being snatched out of My hand. I and My Father are greater than ALL.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-20-09 Sunday

A DREAM ABOUT SHOWING A PICTURE INSIDE A BODY THAT WAS PREGNANT

In this dream the setting seemed to be in a church. There was a man who showed a picture on a screen (using some kind of a projector machine) about what happens inside the person who is pregnant. The picture seemed to be showing a large round cavity inside a body and what it looked like.

In another scene I was meeting with Dr. N and she was discussing with me about being pregnant, and what things a person could do to help it.

In another scene I was talking with a man (who maybe was the pastor) standing at the office area. Near him some other man was setting up and using a large switchboard area to place many, many calls to people giving out information about this same topic, I think, but it wasn't spoken. The man/pastor was talking about how important this was and what a big thing this was - calling many people to tell them.

The body refers to the Body of Christ on earth. The large round cavity refers to the spiritual space that has something preparing for birthing in it. The man showing the picture to you is the Holy Spirit. He is "projecting" this picture to you by revelation through this dream. I, Jesus, am the Doctor, and I am discussing with you what you can do to help this birthing process through this dream. The Holy Spirit and I are those two men (pastor and switchboard operator) and we are sending out many, many calls on our communication apparatus to people giving them information about this new thing which is about to happen - which is the birthing of the Great Harvest. It is very important. It is a BIG thing. I am calling many people to tell them. This dream is a prophetic picture of what I am doing now - NOW.

* * *

JOURNAL 12-21-09 Monday

Praise the Lord! Today Beth was offered a job (which she accepted!) at Argus Co. which handles Pharmacy Benefits Management for medical insurers. She has friends inside the company who gave her good recommendations. They also talked with her and helped her know what to expect in her interview - and that was helpful. God is so good! I believe this is the right place for her right now. It is not a long term employment yet but is a 6- month contract job right now. Hopefully they will like her and offer her long term employment if that is what God has for her. She will be getting less salary than she got at YRCW so she will need to readjust her monthly budget and reduce it down accordingly. We are both exceedingly grateful for this job! Thank You, Lord!

* * *

JOURNAL 12-22-09 Tuesday

A DREAM ABOUT TRYING TO FACILITATE A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION IN A NOISY ROOM

In this dream I was facilitating a group discussion around questions. These were planned to help us deal with spiritual needs in our lives. We were in a large room, and there were other people in the room and lots of noise. The noise kept us from being able to hear each other very well and focus on our discussion. Also the people in the small group kept moving around which broke the concentration of the group. I kept trying to continue and to improve the ability of the group to seriously discuss the questions.  I asked other people in the room to go to a different room for their talking. I thought the people in the small group might eventually want to study a discipleship book together like Experiencing God or MasterLife. I was trying to guide the discussion toward questions from those materials.

A small group studying spiritual things may symbolize those who are born again, the remnant, those who are going to go to heaven. A building may symbolize the church, a family, a congregation, or edification.. In this dream this may be a picture of those who belong to the Lord functioning in the midst of a congregation or church. The noise may symbolize something that is intrusive, an annoyance, interference, irritation, battle sounds, or resistance that is dynamic. This noise or distraction was interfering with our focus and attention to what we were trying to discuss. Also the people in the small group got up and moved about occasionally. This could refer to our not being together all the time, but intermittently. My desire was to disciple them. I tried to arrange circumstances so we could do that.

The noisy room is the earth realm. I just wanted you to see how difficult and frustrating it is for you to try to disciple people right now on earth. There are many distractions keeping this from happening. BUT THAT WILL SOON CHANGE. Then many will come for discipling and will WANT to learn from you and discuss things with you. Look for this to change soon…when that great harvest starts…soon. When Billy Graham dies, that will be the sign of the beginning of the great harvest. Watch for it. I want you (and Beth) to be ready, and I will get you ready. That is My job and I will do it.

Is that why you arranged for Beth to be free from the pressure of the job at YRCW and the "on call" schedule she had there? So she could be freer to disciple others now?

Yes, that is certainly one of the reasons. I will use her and you in reaching out to others and discipling them.

* * *

As I was thinking about Beth's new job which she was given yesterday, and the reduced salary she will get there, the Lord said:

You do NOT need to cut back on things. Beth will need to readjust to her new salary, but she can do that. I will guide her and enable her to do that ok. She CAN live on the new salary. And, yes, she made the right decision to accept that job. It will be a good one for her and highly beneficial. I gave it to her, as you both asked, because it is the right job for her for right now. She is highly blessed to get it.

* * *

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

James 1:19 (NIV) 
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

* * *

Last night I watched Praise the Lord show on TBN. The first hour Paul Crouch, his sons, and Benny Hinn were talking about Oral Roberts (whose memorial service was today) and I took a few notes on things they said.
•	Benny Hinn said that in 1989 the Lord told him that the passing of Oral Roberts and Billy Graham would mark the beginning of the greatest harvest the world has ever seen.
•	Benny Hinn said that Katherine Kuhlman said two times that the day would come when all would be healed. I think that meant like all in a healing meeting who came for healing, but he didn't say that.
•	Kim Clement sent Benny Hinn a message yesterday and said that Benny would get Oral Robert's anointing - I think, on top of, or added to, the anointing he already has.
•	Benny Hinn told of a dream he had perhaps 10 years ago where he saw Oral Roberts and Elijah. Elijah held a staff and was turning water into blood. Oral Roberts put his hand above Elijah's on the staff and turned young when he did. Oral also began to sing. Benny said that shortly before Oral died he began singing.

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JOURNAL 12-23-09 Wednesday

THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

James 1:22 (NIV) 
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

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JOURNAL 12-26-09 Saturday

A DREAM ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT IS COMING FOR THE CHURCH

In this dream I was the secretary at a church. It was my first week there and I was trying to do a bulletin for their Sunday service. The woman pastor was new also and I didn't know much about her. I wasn't even sure how she wanted to be addressed: Mrs. or Dr. I made a bulletin but didn't put any information in it about the pastor or other leaders or events upcoming. The bulletin was thick and in rather a book-like form, but there wasn't any personal/event information in it. I was handing them out on Sunday morning, telling people there was 1 bulletin per family. I also seemed to have some other things to give out, maybe to the children. These seemed like they might be candy. I wanted to find the pastor and get information from her about how she wanted to be addressed, etc, and was thinking of printing out information during Sunday School to be given out at the beginning of the church service.

The setting seems to be a church and I am the main character. I am assisting in doing a bulletin which would give out news and information about what will be happening in the church service. However there is no information in the bulletin about who will lead or what they will do. This may refer to the Holy Spirit (woman pastor) being in charge and not letting us know ahead of time what He/she is doing or going to do. The bulletin's thickness may indicate that there will be a lot happening. I wanted to know what would be happening, and wanted to give this information to others in the church.

* * *

(8-28-09) On that day I had a dream where the Lord was teaching me more about prayer. After that I wrote this next paragraph. I want to remember that today as I think about the New Year coming, starting next Friday:

"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." 

* * *

(Today) I will lead you in the prayer when it is the time I want you to pray. Just be aware that that is what I want, and be ready to respond when I give you a prayer burden to pray…like you have been.

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THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

1 John 4:6 (NLT) 
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

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JOURNAL 12-27-09 Sunday

A DREAM ABOUT PEOPLE FOLDING CLOTHES IN A LINE OF TABLES WITH BETH

In this dream I was in a room of a building. I was cleaning my face. I walked to another room where Beth had a bunch of people folding clothes along tables. The tables, although round, were all arranged in a straight line so they could watch TV as they folded them. I noticed they could only talk with the person on either side of them, so after they left, I suggested to Beth that the next time she might try putting the tables separately instead of in a line. Then the people could talk with 3-4 people who sat at the same round table with them.

In the beginning of this dream I was washing my face (cleansing from sin) with a washcloth (truth). Then I walked over to a room where Beth was with an unknown number of other people who were standing in back of tables (communion with God and one another) lined up together. They were folding clothes (managing their covering/mantle) and watching TV (vision, message, prophecy, preaching, news). The tables were round (spiritual). I noticed the people could only talk with the person on either side of them (share their lives, communion). I suggested to Beth that she might try putting the tables separately next time so people could sit around them and talk together. 

If my daughter symbolizes me, then this might be a message to me to talk and share with more people in the future.

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THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Revelation 1:3 (NLT) 
God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

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JOURNAL 12-29-09 Tuesday

Beth had her first day yesterday working at Argus Co. It went very well for her. She saw at least 7 people she knew already. She arranged a parking place at a parking garage catty-corner across the street from her building. It seems that Argus, and DST the parent company, have work spaces in about 11-12 different buildings in the downtown loop area near each other. She seemed pleased with her day and therefore I was pleased. One of the difficulties so far is getting up very early to get there by 8:00 - which means we get up at 5:30. Her big adjustment to that will likely be needing to leave her evening activities by 8:30 (rather than 9:00-10:00) in order to get enough sleep. We are very thankful to the Lord for her new job.

The song going through my head over and over this morning is:

"To meek souls who receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in."

It is from "O Little Town of Bethlehem." This is the first verse:

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the Everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight.
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This came by email:

Be Anxious for Nothing, Nothing...Nothing!
by Bobby Conner
Dec 22, 2009
American culture is a cauldron of fear, stress and anxiety. Nervousness and worry plague our business lives, home lives, social lives—and even our church lives. We live with silent murmurs in our souls: What if I lose my job? What if my child goes astray? What if he doesn't...she can't...we don't...?
We seem to work harder and longer every year—but find less and less peace. We face more and more unanswered questions—and find more and more reason to fear. We worry that war and terror attacks may occur at anytime and anywhere. We worry about whether our struggling economy can recover. We worry about aging and health. We have stress at our job or stress about our lack of a job.
Our families can be a place of comfort—or a place of anxiety, especially concerning our children. Someone once said, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child," which is true for fathers, also. We all carry loved ones in our hearts—their battles becoming ours, adding stress and anxiety to the load we already carry. Indeed, anxiety seems to be the American Way! And even the way of Believers. Fear, depression and worry are common in the daily lives of most Christians—but, according to the Word of God, none are welcome in the soul of the Believer!
The Bible commands us to be anxious for nothing. The Bible commands us to fear not. Survey the Bible and take note of the many times the Lord commands His people—indeed, even the great heroes of the faith—not to fear:
Genesis 15:1: "Fear not, Abram"
Numbers 21:34: "Moses, fear him not"
Joshua 8:1: "Joshua, fear not"
Daniel 10:12: "Fear not, Daniel"
Matthew 1:20: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not"
Luke 1:13: "Fear not, Zacharias"
Luke 1:30: "Fear not, Mary"
Luke 5:10: "Simon, fear not"
Acts 27:24: "Fear not, Paul"
The Lord instructs all His people, the sheep of His pasture, not to fear:
Isaiah 41:14: "Fear not...ye men of Israel"
Joel 2:21: "Fear not, O land"
Zephaniah 3:16: "Jerusalem, fear thou not"
Luke 12:32: "Fear not, little flock"
John 12:15: "Fear not, daughter of Zion"
Note also the many times righteous men and women of faith encouraged God's people not to fear:
Genesis 50:19: And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not..."
Exodus 20:20: And Moses said unto the people, "Fear not..."
Joshua 10:25: And Joshua said unto them, "Fear not..."
1 Samuel 12:20: And Samuel said unto the people, "Fear not..."
2 Samuel 9:7: And David said unto him, "Fear not..."
1 Kings 17:13: And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not..."
We needn't come under condemnation if fear and anxiety are engrafted into our souls, but we do need to find the cure that will eradicate these besetting sins—once and for all.
Stress is Not a Sickness—but a Sin
We see commercials promising relief from stress and depression, and we can buy pills for almost any ill, mental or physical. Stress-related anxiety has become so familiar, so accepted, that it has become part of our everyday lives. Unfortunately, we no longer recognize fear and anxiety for what they are: sin. We medicate stress but do not change the habits of fear that caused stress in the first place. Do not be deceived: fear and anxiety are sin. At its core, fear is a stubborn refusal to trust the goodness of God or rest in His power. Anxiety is a by-product of unbelief. It is a spiritual "terror attack" from Hell that is silently killing tens of thousands every day.
You will not find the cure for anxiety in a pill. A pill may numb uncomfortable feelings and adjust brain chemistry, but it won't address the spiritual root of the physical problem. Your serotonin may be depleted...but it is your faith in God that is also depleted. You will not overcome fear through a self-help book. Soulish teachings may adjust cognitive and behavioral patterns for a season, but the soul cannot cure itself, no matter how determined we are to change. The belief that we can exert our will-power to change or redeem ourselves is exactly what the Lord came to overturn at Calvary.
And, unfortunately, you will not conquer fear and worry through a divine impartation or anointing, or even by attending another glory conference! Some Believers develop a dependency on others' anointing, or even on godly counsel and prayer, when the Lord is asking each of us to learn to drink from His well within us, looking to the Holy Spirit as our Teacher and Comforter.
What is the lasting antidote for anxiety? How do we repent and be healed from this besetting sin of fear? How do we rise above stress and abide continuously in the divine peace that Christ won for us on the Cross? Where do we turn, then, to find the antidote for anxiety? Where do we find the lasting cure for fear?
The antidote for negative thoughts or emotions is simple: we must obey the Word of God. The only cure for fear and anxiety is abiding in the Word, the person of Christ Jesus. Paul declares in Philippians 4:6-7:
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amplified Bible)
Consider this passage in another translation, from The Message Bible:
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
The answer to stress and anxiety is not medication, but the Master! This is the pattern we need to learn: as we turn our inner focus, our will, to Christ and place our affections on Him, adjusting our thoughts to the Word, we will discover abiding peace. This is the Enoch walk of the overcomer! Christ's Presence within us is our assurance that we can live in peace, even in times of pressure and turmoil. The promise is much more than just merely getting through the tough times; He promises us perfect peace and constant contentment!
How can this be true? It is true because the Kingdom of God is within us. The Prince of Peace abides within us! We have a blood-bought right to walk in uninterrupted shalom, free from all anxiety and fear, because of the living, breathing presence of Christ in our temple.
Does this sound too good to be true? Despite how your mind or heart may argue, the Scriptures are always true, and are filled with examples of people living in peace in overwhelming situations. Abraham believed God, even as he raised the knife over Isaac. Caleb and Joshua believed God's promises after 40 years in the desert. Mary believed God's Word, having never known a man—and her soul rejoiced!
Christ Himself believed His Father even as He was crucified. When He overcame sin, fear and death at Calvary, we overcame them in Him. We were united with Him in death, then united with Him in His resurrection. The Cross stripped the power from fear and anxiety: they no longer have legal mastery over our souls—unless we let them rule.
We must repent from allowing fear and anxiety to rule in our lives. We can and must experience the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. In our union with His resurrection, we have been given open access to perfect peace. How do we abide in this peace as a daily, lived experience? By keeping our mind, will and emotions fixed on Christ.
Whenever the emotions stray from peace, ask for forgiveness and return to the heart of your Beloved, found in His Word. Whenever the mind strays from peace, ask for forgiveness and return to the truths of your Beloved, found in His Word. Whenever the will strays from peace, ask for forgiveness and return to radical dependence on your Beloved's good will, found in His Word.
Ponder the promise in Isaiah 26:3-4, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength."
Never doubt that God is good and He does good (Nahum 1:7): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." This is the Rock on which you can stand when the storms come your way—and they will indeed come (Matthew 7:24-27). Despite the storms, however, God's plans and purposes for you are wonderful (Jeremiah 29:11): "'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'"
You must distinguish between the truths of God and the facts of your existence—and choose to trust the Lord, no matter what you perceive or feel. Look not at the facts of your life, think not about the facts of your life and do not place your emotions upon the facts of your life...but upon the truths of these marvelous Scriptures, and you will abide in peace.
Instead of worry and anxiety, recall this to mind: The Lord's compassion and mercies are overwhelming (Lamentations 3:20-24). When I recall this, I have hope. I am not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!
Your battleground is not the circumstances of your life. Not at all. The true battlegrounds of the enemy are your mind, will and emotions. Keeping your thoughts and heart focused on good things will prevent darkness from overtaking your soul.
Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6). We must stay focused upon Christ and His unchangeable Kingdom if we are to have abiding peace during these days of chaos (Matthew 6:33-34): "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
There is no greater warfare than our abiding with the Prince of peace. The God of peace will crush our foe under our feet (Romans 16:20). The moment you feel the loss of peace, repent and ask for the Forgiver Himself to flood you with His peace. Have no doubt—He will bring peace because He always keeps His promises.
Media Madness
One of the most powerful avenues for confusion and chaos into our soul is the media—television, movies, newspapers and magazines. Much of the mainstream media has an agenda that is far removed from God's plans and purposes, with an agenda to mold the minds of the unsuspecting. Much of the media is motivated by political agendas: reporting the whole truth is no longer honored, no longer the highest aim of journalism.
Although the Scriptures admonish us to keep our mind on that which is holy, we are constantly bombarded with bad news, chaos, misinformation, censorship and conflicting reports. We have but one source of Truth, one that can bring stability and hope to every heart, and that Good News source is the Word of God. The Word of God is powerful and perfect.
Psalm 19:1-11: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Now is the time to present the real Truth that will set the anxious heart free: Christ stated that we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free. Yet many are anything but free, living in panic, having watched too many news broadcasts that predict doom and gloom. This is not a time to run in fear, but rather, to stand firm in faith. We do not need to stumble in the dark but rather leap in the light (Psalm 119:130).
Choose to set your mind on the Good News—not on broadcasts of despair. Choose to let your emotions glory in the Cross—not the losses on Wall Street. Choose to turn your will to stand on His promises—not on the slippery slope of what if.
In a world shaken by financial, environmental and political upheavals, we must remain calm as followers of the Prince of Peace, constantly pointing men to the solid Rock of Christ. During this time of shaking, we must remain steadfast: nothing takes God by surprise. God is not sitting in Heaven, ringing His hands, saying, "I never saw that coming!" On the contrary, God has everything under His control. I've read the back of the book, and it's no surprise: we win! Christ has won! In Christ Jesus, you are more than victorious (Romans 8:37). You are called to live as more than conquerors, not as victims (1 John 4:4). The promise from Isaiah 54:17 states that no weapon that comes against you will work.
Choose this day to believe the Word and to turn from doubt, fear and unbelief. Choose this day to repent—for fear is sin. We are accusing God of a lack of faithfulness, of being unkind, of ignoring us, forgetting us, not loving us. Repent of fear and receive the lovingkindness of your Father, who will never forsake you. His perfect love—no matter the circumstance—casts out fear. Love is stronger than death itself.
These Days were Prophesied
I'm rather shocked to see how the Body of Christ has been shaken by the current economic and political situations—as if the Church has been caught off guard. Did we not read the Word of God? It should come as no surprise that we are facing the end-times. The Word of God informs us that in the last days, the world would face untold problems and perilous times. Why are we surprised by global disasters, wars, earthquakes and pandemic diseases? Over and over again, the Bible gives us clear warnings concerning the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
These days were prophesied, but Jesus said, "Do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9). As followers of Christ, we must not panic. Christ also warned that, because of world conditions, men's hearts would fail them "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:26 NKJV). This, unfortunately, is taking place in our day. Not only will these events generate fear worldwide, but the expectation of difficulties will cause men's hearts to fail.
Indeed, doctors are reporting that heart failure is the number one cause of disease-related deaths in North America. Stress and strain resulting from the cares of this world are very real; however, God invites us to come to Him and cast all our cares upon Him, reminding us that His yoke is easy and His burdens are light. We must slow down and focus on Christ. Psalm 46:10-11 admonishes us to "Be still and know...God."
I am not suggesting we become passive; however, we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful anxieties that come from not trusting in God. One title for the Messiah is "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus promised to be with us "even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). At some point, we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise. He is with us always! To mistrust this promise is to reject the very character of the divine nature. It is not a minor issue.
Jesus says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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).
My friend, let us come to Him! Cast your burdens upon Him, for truly He cares for you!
Break your addiction to stress. Repent. Repent. Repent! God's Word promises that the God of peace will crush satan beneath your feet (Romans 16:20). Believe that. Trust Him. Repent from fear and anxiety by admitting that all fear and anxiety is sin.
Break the bondage of fear and anxiety in order to walk as sons and daughters of God, who are anxious for nothing. You are not called to face these dark days with dark hearts. On the contrary, you are called to have hearts filled with divine light! Do not be afraid of the dark, little children: our God reigns.
You are not alone—you are not facing the future without the help of God (Joshua 1:9). You are a child of God, called and commissioned to live in the light (1 John 1:5-7). Never, never, never forget you are called to be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). The foe of your soul is attempting to get your focus on the problems and away from the promises of God.
Turn away from problems. Turn to the promises. Turn away from any thought, feeling or intention that does not bring peace. 
How do you turn away? Repent. Repent and the Forgiver Himself will flood you with His peace. Without fail.
The nightly news reports continue to paint a dark picture and it is easy to feel the gloom seeping into our culture right now. But we must set our mind on things above. We must think on good things. Arise, come out of the murkiness, shake yourself from the fog, focus on Christ. This turning of our soul to the Word of God will drive away the spirit of fear and cast out anxiety.
A Time of Great Potential and Possibility
Yes, times are rough, yet while these are hard times, God is still working all things for good. His Word and Promises do not change just because the stock market is down and your 401k is not what it used to be. "Hard" times do not mean "bad" times; it just means that we must apply faith, keep listening to God, and—for Heaven's sake—keep our joy, for the joy of the Lord is truly our strength!
Times of darkness are actually when the leaders of tomorrow are being forged. If you see light while others see gloom, your faith will inspire others to follow you into the future (Isaiah 50:4). These will not be easy times, but we must stand strong on the Word of God: "Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward" (Hebrews 10:35). The reward will be great for those who trust God.
We are on the brink of many new breakthroughs in the natural realm and also in the Kingdom of God, especially in the next three to five years. Consider technology. The Spirit of God is releasing wisdom and insights! New sciences are developing energy sources that have zero emissions and are utilizing resources that are abundantly available. Oil will still be necessary—and the news reports stating that we are running out of oil are wrong. Huge oil fields offshore in Brazil and also in the upper Dakotas and Canada offer hope for lower energy costs. 
New breakthroughs are also emerging in medical research. Health cures for many of mankind's most devastating diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's Disease, are on the horizon. I was encouraged by a vivid vision recently; I watched as a formula slowly made its way in front of my eyes. I inquired, "What is this?" I was told this is the cure for AIDS. Expect to see a genuine breakthrough in this area. These discoveries have the potential to be as stunning as Jonas Salk's vaccine in eliminating polio.
Do you want to partake of these wonderful breakthroughs—not only in science but in the arts and media? Also in government and, indeed, in every part of culture? Contend with the Lord that you may prevail, even in the knowledge of "witty inventions" (Proverbs 8:12). As we obey the commandments of God, the blessing of God will overtake us (Deuteronomy 28:1-20)—but know this: you will not prosper in this time if you continue to abide in the sin of anxiety rather than the peace of God. It is as we seek first the Kingdom of God that all these other things are added to us (Matthew 6:33).
Pray this prayer with me, with all your heart: Lord, forgive me for my sin of anxiety. I renounce fear. Forgiver, come to and through those places of fear and anxiety in my emotions and thoughts. I turn my will to follow after You, to fix my heart and mind on You. I declare that my soul is Your property. I choose this day to believe Your Word, and trust that You have promised to care for me. I believe this promise. I come to You and entrust all I am into Your love and care. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Bobby Conner
Eagles View Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org

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I find that as I read back through my writings of 2009, there are many things the Lord has shown me to pray for and to declare. I do this as I re-read those writings. I believe THAT is the way the Lord is leading me in prayer these days. Perhaps I am to realize that, as I lack instruction or direction in how to pray, I can re-read 2009's writings and I will find lots of instruction on what to pray for - things He has already shown me.

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THE SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION TODAY ON LISTENING

Revelation 2:7 (NLT) 
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

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JOURNAL 12-30-09 Wednesday

As I went through my 2009 Journal and copied part into my 2 books (Dreams, Things to Remember) I came to this Scripture. I feel there is a lot the Lord wants to reveal to me through it, so He led me to copy it into today's journal writing for further meditation.

Deut. 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

I believe THAT is something the Lord is going to be teaching us in this coming year…that we don't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Through this process He will be humbling us, feeding us, and teaching us. Thank You, Lord! 

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JOURNAL 12-31-09 Thursday (New Year's Eve)

This is the last day of 2009. Amazing to me is that we Christians are still here, and the Lord still has more harvest to bring in. Praise the Lord for that!

I believe, from all I have heard through the prophets, that in this coming year, soon, the Great Harvest will begin (and perhaps has already begun!). Yeah! It will be the fulfillment of the growth of all the "good seed" the Lord has planted on the earth. Those good seed will mature and be harvested starting in 2010. This may last several years, maybe culminating in 2012. But also the bad seed has been maturing and will be harvested soon, too, that Jesus told us about in Matthew 13:24-30.

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
	"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
	"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
	"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

This is what I expect to happen in 2010 - the harvest. It may come in the midst of many tribulations in the world. All this will be leading up to THE Tribulation of seven years after the Christians are taken off the earth in the Rapture. Come, Lord Jesus, and reap your harvest! And then bring your Bride, Your Saints, home to be with You. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

That's my prayer at the end of this year and for the coming year: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

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