THOUGHTS 
And
STORIES
Book 2

A Devotional Book
About Connection Time 
With The Lord 

through Quiet Time journals
through dreams
through visions
through stories

Joan Whitacre Royer

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to the Lord Jesus Christ,
my best Friend.
May it bring Him glory
in the lives of others as they read it.

SPECIAL THANKS

A special thank you to my daughter, Beth,
for inviting me to stay in her lovely quiet home
during the months of writing this book,
for letting me use her computer and printer,
for putting this book on the internet,
and for being such encouraging company.
Thanks, Beth!

INTRODUCTION

This book is about “connection time” with the Lord. In it I share with you some of my personal “connection time” notes. Hopefully, as you read my notes, you can gain ideas on how you, too, might connect with the Lord daily. This connection time includes scripture reading, prayer, and writing in my journal what the Lord taught me. You will find some of these journal writings in this book.

Once you give yourself to the Lord and receive Him into your life, then you need to establish a “connection time” daily with the Lord. You might not even know this is a possibility, but it is! One of the purposes of this book is to make you aware of that. One author talked about this in her book calling it “having an encounter with the Lord” in her quiet time.

I try to begin a “connection time” by reading Scripture and praying. This “connection time” then can grow to encompass more and more of your life as you start with it each day - and gradually continue to talk with and commune with the Lord throughout the day.

Communing with the Lord is primarily what this book is about. I hope and pray that, by reading this book, you can understand in a simple way how to connect with the Lord yourself.

Bob Sorge says in his book Secrets of The Secret Place1 that “my role in the secret place is to listen for anything God might want to speak.” and that “everything changes when I hear from God and act upon that word.”

As the Holy Spirit explained to me one day (I put His words in italics): 

Do this each morning - sit before Me and with Me and tell Me of your love for Me. We will bond together for all that you need for that day. It will be fun. You will enjoy it and it will bring you much joy and peace. 

The stories in this book are testimonies about marvelous things God has done in my life and the lives of others. Therefore I call them stories about His Marvelous Deeds. This phrase is taken from Psalm 96:3 which says, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” I share these stories to do that.

Most of this book was written in 2004 during the time when the Lord revealed to me that I was to quit my job in Columbia, Missouri, pack things from my home there, move to Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and write a book with Him after I moved. Even before I actually moved, He began to show me many ideas He wanted presented in that book. This was a huge transition period in my life and held many uncertainties, but His presence was very near and His peace sustained me.

The references to “the book I am writing” in many of these journal writings are referring to Thoughts and Stories: on a Life God Leads, Guides, and Protects, Book 1. 2  Perhaps, as you read of my struggles in writing that first book, the ideas may apply to struggles you have in your life.

During my Quiet Times (that's what I call my connection times) I often read inspiring writings from other authors, and I quote some of them in this book. You will find the book names and authors in the Bibliography at the end of this book.

I offer this book in humility, knowing that our relationship with God is a deeply personal thing. Each one of us is unique and special, and so is our relationship with God. I offer only what I have experienced or heard, praying it will be a blessing and encouragement to each person who reads this book.

This is my prayer as I write this book: 

Let Your praises pour forth in this book, Lord, as You and I write it together. Let it be Your love letter to those who read the book. And let them encounter You as a Person as they read this book...a Person who loves them and wants to meet with them also.

All the Scriptures are from the NIV (New International Version) of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.

			Joan (“Jo Ann”) Whitacre Royer
					October, 2004

ARISE, SHINE
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)
* * * * * * * *

I am with you.

This would be a good place to come each night for a quiet time with Me. Then you could type if I tell you something you want to keep or remember.

I gave you that book (The Secret Place)3 because I knew you would relate to many things he said in it. He had a similar experience to yours. See, you are not the only one I call apart to be with Me in an intimate friendship...like Enoch. I know that’s what you want, but it’s because I put that desire in you, as I also put it in him.

You are changing; have you noticed it? You are walking much more in quietness and confidence. You are coming “unhidden” more and more. Do not be afraid of this because I will give you everything you need to come forth. You have set yourself apart unto Me, and I have set Myself apart unto you too. 

Remember the light is getting lighter and the dark is getting darker. Arise, shine, My child. The light shows even better in the darkness.

DREAMING DREAMS
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Joel 2:28)
* * * * * * * *

In this dream I left my home by myself during the dark time and walked across a field. It was just barely beginning dawn and I faintly saw a break in a line of short trees along the edge of the field and walked through that break. I found myself in a golf course and saw a man walking by, playing golf. I then heard a woman who seemed to be his wife say to me that she had good news for me, that I would be taken to work directly from there and wouldn’t have to go back home first. The work seemed to be teaching. I wasn’t sure I was ready to go to work from there. This seemed to have something to do with a headscarf on my head (like a turban) which had large red spots on it.

My dream seems to indicate I’m walking through the world in darkness but am beginning to see Christ dawn. I’m leaving the previous church family and I’m going into a place of worship and covenant. I won’t have to return where I was before. This announcement comes through a messenger with a prophecy for me that my life’s work will be teaching others with zeal and passion even though it may involve revealing “my head” - my thoughts, who I am.

MY ROLE AS A PRAY-ER
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there‘ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  (Matthew 17:20-21)
* * * * * * * *

“I now pray until I come into a place of faith for that situation...When that happens, my perspective on the problem changes. I begin to see it from heaven’s view. My role also changes. Instead of asking God to invade my circumstances, I begin to command the mountains to be removed in His name. It is from this place of faith (or rest) that I discover my role as the pray-er.” 4

As I read this I was reminded of something said during a sermon I heard on TBN. He said that we don’t TAKE authority, but we HAVE authority.

So, on the basis of believing I am now in the role of commanding mountains to be removed in Jesus’ name, I began to command the mountains to be removed as the Holy Spirit gave me the thoughts as to what to command. I spoke those commands out loud, knowing I have the authority to do this.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

DADDY

We stood and thanked the judge, then made our way from the legal office to our car.  God had just answered a desire of my heart which had taken many years to unfold.

It started many years ago before I had any children.  I had just returned from Indiana University Medical Center where the doctor had recommended that it was time to consider adoption.

We had been married for nine years and had spent the last three years going through every type of procedure and test recommended by the specialists to help us get pregnant.  

Nothing had helped.  We did not understand at the time why this was happening to us, but I now realize God had a unique plan to bring to us our first child - a very special baby girl He picked just for us - by adoption.

It was an exciting time once the decision was made!  For ten months we filled out paperwork, received visits from the social worker...and waited.  The waiting experience is one I will never forget because every day took on an adventurous excitement!  Would today be the day of the important telephone call?

Every time the phone rang, the thought went through my mind, “Will this be the call saying they have a baby for us?”  Every plan we made was contingent upon “when the baby comes.”

Then one day it actually happened!  The call came!  They had a baby girl for us!  The excitement I felt at the time cannot be put into words.  Life would be different for us from this moment on - forever - because we had a baby....a little girl!

We experienced a whole year of the delight of seeing the world through the wondering eyes of a child.  And now, today was the day to look back and reflect about what God had done in our lives by bringing Kim to us.  This morning we made the trip to meet with the judge for the procedure to legally adopt Kim.  We would have done this a year earlier if the law would have allowed.  Now the day had finally arrived!  After a year of having the silent concern that something might happen to take Kim from us, that concern was finally put to rest.

The judge finished all the questions and paperwork necessary, then relaxed as he addressed Kim for the first time.  At one year old she did not understand the significance of what was happening, but she knew this was a stranger talking to her.

“Well, Kim, is there something you want to say about this?” questioned the judge in a friendly manner.

“Daddy!” she said, as she snuggled up in her father’s lap for security in this strange circumstance.  And we all laughed!

“I guess that expresses your answer pretty well!” laughed the judge.  For, indeed, that day she legally had a “Daddy” in a way she did not comprehend until later in life.  She had a family.  And we had the child God meant for us.  God had just performed another of His Marvelous Deeds!

Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)

FAITH
“...in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”  (Romans 12:3)
* * * * * * * *       

I give the measure of faith I want people to have to be able to do what I call them to do. I choose each vessel and shape it for what I want it to do - and fill it with the faith needed to accomplish that. 

Man chooses whether to go the way I lead him, and whether to use the measure of faith I give him. 

For you I have chosen a quiet life of meditation, introspection, intercession, and writing...a peace-filled life.

RAPTURE
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
* * * * * * * *

You don’t know which year or day or hour - partly because you don’t know how wickedness has grown...and you don’t know when the last person (who is to become My bride) has made that choice. Only I know that. But you are in the season.

Yes, My Bride will go out with a shout of victory - having won every person to Me who will choose Me.

“Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” (Psalm 58:11)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD
“The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21)
* * * * * * * *

Today the Holy Spirit spoke to me about the Kingdom of God. This is what I wrote in my journal:

The Kingdom of God is at hand, here, now. Me, living in you. That is where the Kingdom resides now - inside you. Let it shine. Be Me to the world.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

ONE STITCH AT A TIME

I am sitting in my chair looking at the picture which my mother stitched on canvas for me.  It is a lovely picture of a clump of birch trees blowing in the wind.  I liked that picture the moment I saw it in the store.

I bought the kit to make it myself, but did not get around to doing it.  Then one day my mother saw the kit and volunteered to stitch it for me.  At that time in her life she was retired and had time to sew.  So, although I had the initial desire to create the picture on canvas, and bought all the materials to do so, it was not completed and framed until another person, my mother, volunteered to do the actual stitching.  Out of that combination came this beautiful picture hanging on my wall.  

As I sit here pondering this, the thoughts begin to form in my mind from the Lord about how our lives are similar in relation to Him.  He is the One who had the original idea, the initial desire, for our lives.  He provided life for us and all the materials needed to stitch a beautiful picture from it.  One thing is left for us to do to get the picture completed.

We have to work with Him, using what He has given us, to create that beautiful picture.  It must be stitched day by day, one stitch at a time.  He will provide the directions for us - as were provided with the picture mother stitched.  She just had to follow those to get the picture right.  Our directions can be found in His Word, the Bible.  If we follow those directions, when we come to the end of the picture, He will put the frame on it, and we can all rejoice in His Marvelous Deeds.

I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
(Psalm 32:8)

THE LORD IS MY BANNER
“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning.” (Exodus 17:11)
* * * * * * * *

Exodus 17:8-16  This is the story of the Amalekites attacking the Israelites. Joshua led the battle against the Amalekites while Moses held up the staff of God in his hands. Aaron and Hur stood on either side of Moses and held his hands up when he got tired. As long as Moses held up his hands the Israelites won.  Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is My Banner” (Jehovah Nissi).

As long as you keep your hands held up to Me in prayer, I will be your banner and enable you to overcome all the enemies who come against you - no matter what form they take...criticism, fatigue, lack of ideas, little understanding on how to put your book together, etc. Just lift your hands and heart to Me, and I will give you all you need to do this book. Do not fear man. Just keep looking to Me and separating yourself unto Me daily.

LESSON IN MEDITATION TIME FROM PSALM 27
 (This meditation seems to fit the situation in America right now with the possibility of terrorist attacks. Think about that as you read.)
* * * * * * * *

The Lord is my light and my salvation (v 1)
This means salvation from things, like Satan and his world power, his demons, his authority over some people; but it means salvation to some things also.

Whom shall I fear? (v 1)
There needs to be no fear whatsoever in a Christian’s life. Anytime fear comes you have the means to be completely freed from that fear. I have given you that authority and I have won that privilege. As you know, recognize, and act on this, that scripture comes into fulfillment.

The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? (v 1)
You need to see, and KNOW and act upon this. There is absolutely nothing which you should fear, even though Satan might try to momentarily place fear upon you. You have the position, the power, the authority IN ME, IN MY NAME, (which is your badge or uniform of authority) to rule over that fear and that situation which caused it. That is ruling and reigning with Me. I AM THAT STRONGHOLD!

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (v 2-3)
See what your attitude will be - no fear, and being confident. This can only come as a person has absolute certainty that he has the authority, and the power behind that authority, to control (handle, take care of, do something about) everything that comes up which tries to produce fear. You have that confidence and that opportunity for no fear and for ruling IN ME! It is all there! IN ME! 

It is spelled out to you right there in My Word. It says, “my heart will not fear!” It says, “though war break out against me, even then will I be confident!” I did not say this and not mean it. I do not lie! I am the Truth. This is the truth. 

So, how do you get to this place described here? IN KNOWING MY AUTHORITY AND YOUR AUTHORITY IN ME! That is the big lesson I want you to learn today. Learn it well. Teach it to others. It is not based on wishful thinking or on hope. It is based on truth, on fact. IT IS. It exists. Satan has kept you blind and deceived to this authority you have, so you wouldn’t use it against him. Now you know what it is. Now use it!

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (v 5)
Where is your dwelling? Where is the shelter of My tabernacle where I hide you? It is IN ME - IN CHRIST JESUS!  I am the dwelling; I am the tabernacle where I keep you safe and hide you. Remember: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 RSV). It is by remaining in Me, abiding in Me, by being IN CHRIST JESUS. In Me is “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).  Notice in John 15:7 it says: “It will be done for you.” Notice! What does it mean to be set high upon a rock? It answers that in the next line:

 “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me.” (v 6a) 
And your response will be the next line:

At his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. (v 6b)
Again, “at his tabernacle” means with Me, in Me, us together - ONE - as I prayed for in John 17:20-23. In Psalm 27 I also say, for you to say back to Me:

Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. (v 11)
That is what I am doing today. I am teaching you My way. This is My way. Walk in it.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  (v 13)
We are to see it. That is My will, My purpose - for you to see My goodness in your land, the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (v 14)
Keep waiting before Me, and I will keep teaching you and guiding you. That is My promise to you.

A STORY
* * * * * * *

BAPTIZED BY ONE SPIRIT 
INTO ONE BODY

My husband and I had traveled from Missouri to California for the American Academy of Family Physicians Convention where he was to be initiated as a new member along with hundreds of others who had passed their board exams.  The night for the initiation ceremony had arrived and we were preparing to attend.

I was ready to go when, at the last minute, I decided to change to a red dress.  This red dress had pinned to its collar a dove pin, a tiny silver pin which to me stood for the Holy Spirit.  It identified me as a Christian - like the first century Christians used the sign of the fish to identify themselves.  But tonight, in my hurry to change, I did not notice that pin.  I just followed a sudden urge to change to that red dress.

As my husband and I parted at the huge theater, we made plans to meet after the ceremony by the front entranceway.  Then he went to the stage area while I sat in the theater to watch.  We did not think when we made those plans about the thousands of people at the convention and how difficult it might be to find someone after such a meeting.  But, God had a plan for the waiting time!

After the ceremony I went outside and stood near the entranceway on the sidewalk in front, waiting.  I waited and waited, wondering why we had not been more specific in our meeting place.  Standing there in my bright red dress, I was easy to see.  But it was not the red dress that caught someone’s attention, it was the tiny tiny Holy Spirit pin!

A woman came up to me, introduced herself, said she was from North Carolina, indicated she was a Christian too, and said, “I just wanted to meet my sister in Christ who was wearing that Holy Spirit pin!”  With that we hugged, and she disappeared in the crowd.

My heart leaped and joy exploded within me!  God lifted up my spirit like a cloud floating above the world!  In that moment, I had experienced supernatural instant communion with someone I had never met before - another member of the “Body of Christ”.

The joy of that moment returned in memory many times over the years to bring a smile to my thoughts.  To me this remains as one of  His Marvelous Deeds!

We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -
whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -
and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
(1 Corinthians 12:13)

NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)
* * * * * * * *

Lord, I want to know your Word and to pray it.

Yes, I know, and I am teaching you to do that, and I am putting that in your heart. I will give you scriptures to learn and to pray as you seek Me for this.

That is where you are now--in the climax time of this long process. I want you to pray for it and know that when you pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” that you are praying for THIS: “that every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

You are living in the latter days of this process. It has been coming about slowly over many centuries and now we are very near the end. I have put that knowing and the desire for that ending of the process in your heart - to pray for it to come. And I want you to pray for that now. That is My desire. That is what I want you to participate in now.

You are my intercessor, and I will give you the scriptures to pray back to Me if you want to do this.

YOUR PART IS TO LISTEN TO ME AND OBEY ME
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.”(Deuteronomy 28:1)
* * * * * * * *

Last night in my dream I was looking for a place to “wash my hands.”  As I looked that up in the dream book,5  I found “wash” refers to prayer or petition and “water” to the Spirit or Word, and “hands” refers to works or service. So perhaps my dream is indicating  I am petitioning the Lord for my works. Maybe that refers to this next stage or season of my life and how to approach it.
	
That means I want to do it all. I want to be totally in charge of your life and what you do. Your role is to listen to Me and do all I tell you to do. Then the “work” will have eternal value and be washed clean and be pure. That is the most important part about this next “season” - that it be totally of Me and none of you.
	
Lord, I thought we were to be working together as partners.
	
We are, but I will be making all the decisions about where to go and what to do and how to do it. Your part is to listen to Me and to obey Me. I KNOW what the Father wants to accomplish in this next season and how to accomplish that. You don’t.  I will guide you and show you as we go - together.

WATCH WHAT SEEDS YOU SOW
“The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others--ignoring God!--harvests a crop of weeds.  All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8 TMB)
* * * * * * * *

I read an article regarding sowing seeds. The author mentions two kinds of seeds. One kind is natural seeds, like vegetables. The other kind is spiritual seeds - like offerings, words, attitudes, truthfulness, kindness, love, and prayers.

The part of the article which caught my attention was in regard to truthfulness and deceptiveness. It stated that if we are deceptive and withhold truth, we will reap deception and open ourselves up to being deceived. To the degree we deceive others, we would be deceived. So, today, I want to look at any way I might be deceptive to others by withholding truth. 

Prayer: Lord, open my understanding to any way I am being deceptive to others by withholding truth. As I wait before You, Lord, give me a revelation of any thing I need to confess before You and be cleansed.  I look to You to open my understanding to deception in the seeds I am sowing into the lives of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

THE ONE WHO HAS A PURE HEART
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
* * * * * * * *

I will keep you from deception as long as you keep yourself pure before Me. Continue to ask Me to show you where you need to be purified daily. Remember that the one who has a pure heart can see God. And you are “seeing” (perceiving) Me now as you write this...Not seeing with your physical eyes, but “seeing” with your heart and spirit. That’s where I am--in your heart and spirit.

I AM blessing you. I am blessing you with the book2 you are writing, and I am blessing you by using the book to minister to others. Work on the book as often as I lead you. I will be with you and guide you each time I prompt you to write.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

AGLOW WITH THE SPIRIT

The airline stewardess was staying at the Hotel Denver while she had layover time between flights.  This was her usual place to stay, but little did she know how different this particular visit would be!

While she was in her hotel room that evening she looked out the hotel window and saw the Denver Convention Center.  This was not unusual, but what was shocking that particular night was what she saw coming from the top of that Convention Center.  She saw flames covering it!  As she watched in awe, she realized the building was not being consumed!

She said to herself, “I must find out what is going on over there!”

The next morning while riding down in the elevator she began conversing with a group of ladies from Indiana who were in the elevator with her.  After finding out they were attending meetings at the Convention Center, she told them what she saw the night before.  So they invited her to come to their meetings that day - meetings of the Women’s Aglow organization holding their annual National Convention.

The stewardess did attend those meetings and left at the end of the day very impressed!  She was a Christian, but had never heard of Aglow before.  She said she must get involved in Aglow back home.  It turned out the headquarters were right near her house.

God performed one of His Marvelous Deeds for her at that time.  We do not know why, but perhaps He was calling her into a deeper walk with Himself.  What we do know is that while those Aglow women were praying and praising the Lord, God touched the life of this woman through a supernatural sign.  In the process, He also gave a visible sign of encouragement to all of those women at the Aglow Convention!

Jesus said...
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to myself.”
(John 12:32)

THE NAME OF JESUS
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
* * * * * * * *

PRAYER
I ask you today, Lord, to give me a revelation concerning the name of Jesus and the power that it holds for every believer. Releasing the power in the name of Jesus requires faith in that name. Please give me that faith, Lord.

I pray in the name of Jesus for this book project He is leading me to do. I pray for my physical health, stamina, desire, and inspiration needed to accomplish it. I pray for all the financial provision needed for me to live, for the book to be published, and for the distribution of the book to the people He desires to read it. I ask for the peace and quiet and time to listen to Him and receive from Him all He wants to be written in this book. 

I also pray for protection for me, and for my children, for our homes and possessions and workplaces, for our lives, each day we live on this earth. I ask, believing this is God’s will as He has led me step by step to do this project with Him. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

KEEP HAVING FAITH
“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.”  (1 Peter 4:1,2 TMB)
* * * * * * * *

Now why didn’t I give you word of your provision plan yet? I am testing you to see if you will continue to depend on and trust Me for your provision, as I have instructed you to do, or if you will take things into your own hands and make provision yourself.  I do not want you to do that, but it is your choice. You can make provision man’s way, or wait for My way where I get the glory and praise. Which do you want?

I want Your way, Lord. If Your way is for me to search for a job, then that is what I choose and want. If Your way is for me to wait and have You bring my provision some way, then that is what I choose - Your way.

Just keep going day after day listening to Me and obeying Me and trusting Me to provide everything needed to accomplish My purpose for you (and that includes writing this book, but much more also). I will be with you and I will do it all--if you let Me--by waiting for Me and trusting in Me...faith. Your faith will please Me and I will act in response to it. Keep having faith.

WAIT PATIENTLY IN FAITH
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”  (Psalm 66:20)
* * * * * * * *
The Holy Spirit was saying to me this morning that I should wait and see what provision He brings me. If He doesn’t bring me enough to meet my needs then I can be free to get a job if I need to. But first I must wait patiently in faith to see what He does to provide for me to be free to write full time.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

GOD’S MIRACLE BABY

It was Tuesday afternoon and I was walking up to my sister’s house.  I had been invited to come and share something with the prayer group gathered there.  This was a moment we had all been waiting for - a long, long time, and it was finally here.

This began several years before when the doctors had done all they knew at the time to help my husband and me to get pregnant.  After exhausting their efforts they told us to consider adoption, so we went through adoption procedures.  Through this God brought us a baby girl who was a delight in our lives.

Later, when we moved to another town, a different doctor told us of one more possibility we might try - major surgery.  By this time we were so happy with our adopted child we would have been quite content to adopt a second time.  But something inside kept saying to me that perhaps I should try this one last possibility.  So, in the spring, I had surgery and went through weeks of pain and fatigue to recover.

By Thanksgiving we learned I was pregnant, so we spent the holiday telling our family and friends the good news and we all rejoiced together!

But the day after Thanksgiving, my body began a process of miscarrying that baby.  I spent most of the week in the hospital, then was sent home with the instruction to spend the rest of the nine months off my feet to try to save the baby.  How do you manage a home and a 22 month old child while in bed?

In the midst of the situation I kept talking to God about it.  “God, if You want me to have this baby, that is OK.  You know I want to.  But if, for some reason, it is not best for this baby to come into the world, I accept that.  Please do what You know is best.  I leave this in Your hands.”  And shortly after arriving home, the miscarriage was completed.

Well, that did not stop my sister’s prayer group!  When I got pregnant again within a few months of the miscarriage, they took this new baby as their prayer project!  They prayed for that baby’s life and health and for that baby to be able to be born.  Since I had miscarried once, and possibly twice, the doctors did not have as much hope for this third time, but that did not deter those prayer warriors.  They had faith!

The pregnancy went smoothly!  And a beautiful little child was born.  She even surprised us by coming three weeks early in time to be a Christmas present!  Little Elizabeth was a miracle of God through prayer - reminding me of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, who had her own miracle birth experience.

So, today, all these thoughts flooded through my mind as I approached the house where these prayer warriors were gathered to see “their miracle baby.”  Baby Elizabeth and I entered, and we all praised God together!  Today was a day to ponder His ways, to look back and see His Marvelous Deeds, and to declare His glory.

...with God all things are possible.
(Matthew 19:26)

BE WILLING TO GROW
“Ask and it will be given to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
* * * * * * * *

The Holy Spirit is touching me today with these words from Joyce Meyer. Lord, please help me grow to the point where I can handle what You desire to give me! She says:

 “The name of Jesus is power. No loving parent would release power to a baby, because he knows the child would get hurt if he did. Parents don’t withhold power from their children to hurt them, but to help them or to keep them safe. Our heavenly Father is the same way. He tells us what is available to us, and then by His Spirit helps us mature to the point where we can handle what He desires to give us.

 “Be willing to grow into new levels of maturity and obedience. Ask the Holy Spirit to begin to reveal to you any areas in your life that are blocking the power of God. Ask Him to show you areas of selfishness and areas of deception. Get serious in your praying, serious about growing up.” 6 

LOVE THE LORD
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
* * * * * * * *

Everything in life depends on this - everything! If we love the Lord most, set Him first, esteem Him higher than all, then things in our lives will be in the right order. If not, things will be wrong, out of order, not pleasing to Him. When we love Him first, then all else will come into place.

God is building a kingdom of His people, those who set Him first. It is His kingdom and He reigns there. Self must not, and never will, reign in His kingdom. He is King and Lord.

We are always to love Him first. Then we will come into right relationship with Him, and will see things from His perspective. The key is to love Him. That is why it is the first and greatest commandment. 

And how do we love God? According to John 14:21 ”Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.”

HUNGER PANGS
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  (Matthew 5:6)
* * * * * * * *

You are hungry for My Word, and for Me. That is why you feel so anxious and dissatisfied this morning. That dissatisfaction you feel is like hunger pangs in your natural body, only this is in your spiritual body. You are hungry and starved for Me and for My Word. Now that you know Me, you will feel this whenever you have not been with Me enough to satisfy you spiritually. It is a grace gift I give you. Come to My Word now and be satisfied, fed, with it.

I am your Shepherd. The Shepherd leads the sheep. The sheep does not run wildly around hunting for the Shepherd. The Shepherd sees the whole picture and knows the dangers. He knows where He wants to take you, as well as the best way to get there. So, let Me be your Shepherd. Let Me lead you. Just seek Me. I will lead you in the way. Trust Me for this each and every day. Follow the nudges and “hunger pangs” of My Spirit calling you to Me - Holy Spirit hunger pangs!

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

THE LORD DETERMINES HIS STEPS

For many months my husband had been seeking a different job.  Each time he was informed of another job possibility we would discuss it, consider that area of the country, look at the job, and try to see if this was the right place for us to move. We wanted a good job for him, but we also wanted a good place to live and raise our children of two and five years old.

The answer seemed to be “no” to each one, until he was contacted by Duke University about a position there.  This was different.  It had many attractive features and the decision was not an automatic no.  But, even so, he was not quite sure.

He asked his contact person at Duke to allow him until the end of that month of December to make his decision.  All during that month the answer did not come with peace to him.  He wanted an assurance inside that this was the right step to take before giving up his old job and moving our family.

At the end of December, with no answer clear, he asked for the month of January to finish making the decision, and was granted that request.  In spite of all his efforts to come to an understanding of what to do, the answer did not come!  It was so frustrating!  On the one hand, it was a good job with people he liked.  But, on the other hand, he did not feel a clear direction to take that job.

By the last day in January, he knew he had to make a decision one way or the other.  So he told me he would go ahead and accept the job even without a sureness within himself.  But God had a different plan!

At 4:30 on the afternoon of January 31st he called the contact person at Duke University to say he would accept the job.  But that person’s secretary said he had just left to go to Europe just shortly before the phone call, and he would not be back for nine days.  She really wanted to know my husband’s answer, but he said he would wait to talk to the contact person.

During those nine days, he was contacted about a job in another state and went to look at it.  And this job was just what he wanted!  There was no hesitating or waiting.  He knew this was the right place for him!  So, in God’s perfect timing, he accepted the right job and we moved to Columbia, Missouri, which proved to be an excellent place to live and raise our family.

God had picked the best place for us!  But not only that, he had kept us from making the wrong decision until the right job came!

Not only did God have the right job for my husband, but our children were able to attend the Columbia Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and also graduate from the University of Missouri in Columbia.  When Columbia was selected by Money Magazine as the second best city in the United States in which to live one year, it only affirmed the decision God helped us make in 1974 when we moved there.  In my opinion God had truly performed one of His Marvelous Deeds for us!

In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps.
(Proverbs 16:9)

IN QUIETNESS AND TRUST IS YOUR STRENGTH
“In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
* * * * * * * *

You have everything that I have, everything. You do not need to fear not having enough money to live on. I will give you all you need. Your position is to trust Me. 

I gave you that scripture this morning: “In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” Walk in quietness and trust all the rest of your life. Herein lies your strength - resting in Me. 

Repent whenever you don’t rest in Me. I want you to rest in Me all the time. Rest in Me this day and you will receive My very best for you. 

Now you can go and do your work for the day - work that is bringing about the changeover I am taking you through. It is My changeover to a new place and a new way of doing things - a new season in your life - the best season of your whole life. 

Look forward to that!

CHEERFUL GIVERS
“Cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will not only be enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.”  (2 Corinthians 9:7-8 TLB)
* * * * * * *

You have given generously throughout your life. Generous and happy have been your gifts to Me. I took each gift personally - as a gift to Me - which it is. 

Remember that lady you gave the money to at camp? I will now multiply that gift, and many other gifts you have given, back to you in an abundant outpouring of gifts so you can then work full time on the book we are doing together.

Joyce Meyer says: “This is exactly the way it is with God. He requires our best, something that is hard for us to part with. But, if we give Him our best, He always gives us His best. Sometimes we grieve over the thing God has required, but patience will prove that what God gives in return is far greater than anything we are ever called upon to give up.” 6 

A PUZZLING SCRIPTURE
“Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”  (Psalm 68:13)
* * * * * * * *

A puzzling Scripture I read this morning. I wonder what it means. I wonder how it pertains to me. It is Psalm 68:13... I asked the Lord to help me understand it.
	
And what does My dove represent?

It represents You, Holy Spirit.

Now read it again. “The wings of my dove (Me) are sheathed with silver, its feathers with gold.”  I am covered with silver and gold. I bring silver and gold with Me when I come to you - even while you sleep. 

When you sleep, then you are not aware of what I am doing, but it is being done while you are unaware. That is My message to you today. That is why that Scripture passage intrigued you so. I wanted you to stop and ponder it so I could use it to bring you this message:

I am bringing silver and gold to you even while you are unaware of it.

I AM HAS SENT YOU
“And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you!”   (Exodus 3:14 AMP)
* * * * * * * *

Joyce Meyer says: “It was as if God was saying to Moses, ‘You don’t have to worry about Pharaoh or anybody else, I AM able to take care of anything you encounter. Whatever you need, I AM it. Either I have it or I can get it. If it doesn’t exist, I will create it. I have everything covered, not only now, but for all time. Relax.’” 6 

Yes, that is My Word to you today. “I have everything covered, not only now, but for all time. Relax.” Know this! I am sending you to Lee’s Summit. I am sending you to your church. I am sending you to write the book together with Me. It’s all I. And you are just being obedient as you have told your friends. You are following where I lead.

Where He leads me, I will follow.
Where He leads me, I will follow.
Where He leads me, I will follow.
I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I’ll go with Him through the garden.
I’ll go with Him through the garden.
I’ll go with Him through the garden.
I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way. 14

MY LIFE IS IN YOU
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
* * * * * * * *

Joyce Meyer says: “Just as light is the only thing that can conquer or overcome darkness, so life is the only thing that can conquer or overcome death... The chemical substance that we call blood carries life. If a person loses his blood, he loses his life. No blood means no life, because the blood carries the life... Life is a spiritual substance, but it must have a physical carrier. Blood carries the life of God, for He is life… “Why did it have to be blood that purchased our salvation? Because the life is in the blood, and life is the only antidote for death.” 6 

My life is in you.  Therefore My blood is in you too. The life is in the blood. That life overcomes death. It is stronger than death. Death brings with it the death of all parts of your body (sin, sickness, decay, loss of life) but I now replace your life with Mine in you. 
	
Therefore, when you die physically on this earth, My life resurrects you into heaven. Only the living get to come to heaven. It is a place of the living. No death is there or allowed there. Those with death in them go to the place of death, called hell. 

Satan had his heavenly life taken from him when he rebelled and he tries to take My creation, mankind, to the same place he has to go - hell, the lake of fire, death (the second death).

You have LIFE in you! And you sit at My right hand in the heavenly sphere IN CHRIST JESUS. Picture yourself sitting at My right hand using My authority which I have now given you. 

Remember you have My life IN YOU. In this “knowing” and “positioning” you have power. I will keep revealing (giving you revelation) this to you until you grasp and understand and walk (live) in it.

I AM WITH YOU
“But now, this is what the Lord says... ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.... Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’”  (Isaiah 43:1-5)
* * * * * * * *

This means to you that I am with you at all times, and I save you in all situations. When you drive a car someplace, I am with you. When you take airplane trips, I am with you. When you walk places I am with you. “Don’t be afraid, because I am with you.”

And if I use that situation to allow your life to be snuffed out, then it is because it is time for you to come and be with Me in heaven. I know that special time (and it is truly special) for each person. But I have promised you that you will be kept safe on the earth right up to the Rapture, and I WILL do that. Trust Me for this.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

UNKNOWN DANGER

My ears were hurting from the air pressure change as our small plane circled and prepared to land at the airport at Vientiane, Laos.  We were about to visit the third city on our two-week tour through Southeast Asia.  Having traveled from the huge city of Tokyo, Japan, where we lived at that time, to the bustling city of Hong Kong, then to Saigon, Vietnam, we were not quite prepared for the sparseness and bleakness of the countryside in the Vientiane area.  As we landed and began exploring the city, our amazement increased as we saw practically no stores, only one stoplight in the whole city, and very little traffic on the streets.  We had a lot to learn about Laos from the person we were visiting.

Our host shared with us about the country, and in the process mentioned a short trip which possibly could be arranged to visit the ancient capital of Laos called Luang Prabang.  It  could be reached at that time by joining a pilot who flew a small plane there on special occasions and stopped at a  mountain village along the route to deliver rice.  This sounded intriguing to us two young explorers wanting to experience all we could during this rare opportunity to visit Laos.

It was arranged.  We were told to be at the airport the next day and be ready for a short flight into the mountain village, then another short flight north to the old capital.  We also were told we would have about two hours to explore the capital, and then we would have to return to the airport.  We were warned not to be late because the pilot would not wait for us.  When he was ready to leave, he would leave, with or without us.

The next day when we boarded the plane we found ourselves the only two passengers on a small plane with jump seats along the walls facing the middle.  Along with the supplies, we took off for the village in the mountains.  This was quite different from a commercial flight!

To get to the village we had to fly low between two mountains and wind our way down quickly into a small valley.  As we landed on the edge of the village, we got out of the plane to stretch while the pilot took care of his business there.  It was raining, so we stood under the high wing of the plane and began to look around.  People began to gather near the plane just as interested in looking at us as we were at them.  They stooped down and just stared while we waited.  As I watched them I remembered the description I had read of Khmer people of the Laos mountain area, and these people looked just like the description.

The pilot returned and we took off again, this time to land in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, in the early afternoon.  My husband and I quickly began to walk through as much of the city as we could cover in our two hour time limit.  We believed that as we traveled we got a better feel for the place we visited if we spent time walking there.  Actually I do not remember seeing any type of transportation we could have used anyway.  We discovered that this city had a beauty which made one wish it could still be the capital city instead of the bleak Vientiane.

Believe me, we took no chances on missing our plane back!  So we were at the airport at the designated time, not wanting to be left in northern Laos by ourselves.  As we waited for the pilot to arrive we sat on boxes sitting in the airport area - boxes of explosives.  We could hear shooting in the distance so we knew fighting was not too far away.  It was spring of 1962, and there was warfare in northern Laos at that time.  Uneasily we waited, and were relieved when the pilot returned and we took off for our return flight to Vientiane.

That night, after we returned, our host discussed our trip with us.  When we finished, he remarked, “I did not want to worry you before you left so I did not tell you this...but two weeks ago as that plane flew into the same small mountain village to deliver rice, it was shot at from the mountains on the sides!”

We were shocked!  We had no idea it was that dangerous!  But God did!  How many times He protects us when we are unaware of it.  I believe He was performing another of His Marvelous Deeds in protecting us during that whole trip!

If I go up to the heavens, you are there...
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
(Psalm 139:8-10)

A DREAM
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully.”  (Jeremiah 23:28)
* * * * * * * *

I had a dream in which I was in a car parked at a place something like a drive in theater where other cars were also. A little picture appeared on my windshield in which a cartoon-like character (not a real person, but acting real), that looked like a gumby toy, performed something like a cheer: moving his arms especially back and forth, up in a cheer, etc. He was made to do this by an unseen person who did the movements and the cartoon character did the same thing. I “knew” that a person was causing this gumby to cheer, and wanted to respond to that person and let him know I was responding. I watched it from inside the car and raised my hands cheering along with him. It felt good, and like something I wanted to do.

The car represents my life or person or ministry. I was in a place where stories were dramatized on a screen. Perhaps this represents my life story. The cartoon character resembled a gumby--which is a child’s toy person that is moldable and bendable into whatever position you bend it. I “knew” that a person was causing the cheer, and that person was the Holy Spirit - an “unseen” person. As I watched the gumby cheer, I felt like cheering also, and did so. 

Perhaps this represents taking myself into a separate place in my Quiet Time and watching and listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning what He wants me to do - being moldable and bendable by Him, and praising as He leads me.

WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
“Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”   (Psalm 68:13)
* * * * * * * *

Recently I read this Scripture which captured my attention. Today it has come to my attention again. It brought to my mind that even while I am unaware of it taking place, God is bringing to me the finances that are needed in this next stage or season of my life.

Today I looked up silver and gold in the dream book.5 Silver stands for knowledge, knowledge of God. Gold stands for wisdom, glory.

Then, when I got to work the Scripture on my calendar was: “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”  (Job 12:12)

It was like God was emphasizing and reconfirming to me that I now have the wisdom and knowledge He wants to put together in this new book which I wasn’t fully ready for before. He has impressed me previously how this book is the harvest or fruition of all I’ve learned from Him for all these years. 

Guide me in this, Holy Spirit, so the book will say all You want in it and will omit all You don’t want in it. And He responded: 

I will, My child, I will do that!

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
“But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in all truth.”   (John 16:13)
* * * * * * * *

That’s what I pray today...guide me in all truth, Holy Spirit. I know, if I follow Your guidance, You will guide me in what is God’s best for me. Thank You!

THE BLOOD COVENANT
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
* * * * * * * *

As I read Joyce Meyer’s book I learn about the blood covenant we have with God. She says: “He certainly has many things that you and I need, and in a covenant relationship He cannot, He will not, refuse to share them with us...because we are in covenant relationship with Him, we can trust Him.”6

So, on the basis of our covenant, by the blood of Jesus, I felt prompted to ask for the provision I need monthly, and for it to be continued until (again at His prompting) the end of my time here on earth. Then He said:

And I say yes! 

You need this, and I want this, and I was just waiting until you learned to ask on the basis of our covenant. I cannot go against My covenant with you through the blood of My Son. 

I will give you what you have asked for. I have guided you to ask for it, because I want to do it, and because I have wonderful plans for your life for the rest of the time you are on this earth. 

This is a special time for Me. I have been waiting for this time to come in your life in great anticipation, and have been preparing you for it all the years of your life.

A CHILD OF GOD
“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:2-3)
* * * * * * * *

You and I will have a wonderful relationship, both here on earth and afterward in heaven. You are not one I have picked to be a great one on earth, but I have picked you especially to be a delightful child of Mine in whom I find joy and to whom I give joy and peace in the midst of the terrorist world.

I give you prayers to pray and songs to sing and dances to dance. I gave you a picture of freestyle dancing with Me and for Me for a reason. 

That is part of what I created you to be. You ARE becoming what I created you to be - a beautiful child of Mine in whom I delight. Be my joy and delight each day.

Just be who you are naturally in Me.

THE GOD OF MORE
“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus said to them, ‘no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.’”  (Luke 18:29-30)
* * * * * * * *

Notice it’s people and home I mention there. That is what I will give you “many times as much.” 

In your new home where you are moving, you will receive many times the family relationships you had before, and much more home space than you have here...more close friends, more children in Me, more brothers and sisters, more what you truly want in a church. 

More, more. I am the God of more for you.

SOLID FOOD
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.”  (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)
* * * * * * * *

Am I eating solid food now, Lord?

Yes, you are eating solid food...and soon it will be time for dessert. And that’s some of what you will be giving out in your book - milk to spiritual babes, and some meat to more mature Christians...both. But I have need for such writings for certain people in need of them.

SENDING AN ANGEL AHEAD OF YOU
“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared... Pay attention to him and listen to what he says.”  (Exodus 23:20-21)
* * * * * * * *

I give you this promise this day as My Word to you, and to your daughter also. I sent an angel ahead of her to her new home and prepared all the way for her transition, and I am doing the same for you too. EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.  KNOW THIS!

Thank You, Lord!

You’re welcome, My child. I am with you and will never forsake you. I will continue guiding you along this pathway of moving to your new home. If something seems to not be working out, then it means I am guiding you through that into a different way of going. I may choose to give you some “moving” money in this way, so accept it from Me with gratitude.

I remember the widow to whom You gave oil to go sell to pay her debts. Perhaps this will help me pay some of my debts (moving costs at least).

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

SEEK THE GIVER

I was at a Christian Conference with many wonderful people, great speakers, and blessed music.  I had come to the conference with an unspoken question in my heart that I wanted answered...unspoken to people, that is.  God knew the question in my heart.  I hoped I could find the answer at this conference.  But there were only two days left and I still did not have it.

The question was about a teaching which I had been hearing and reading...a teaching which said I should seek a specific gift of the Spirit.  According to this teaching, if I did not have this particular gift, I was missing something important which God had for me.  It seemed I was not “complete” until I received that gift.  My question was:  “What about that, Lord?  Do You want me to ask for and receive that particular gift?”

One afternoon I was planning to attend a session offered at 4:00.  But around 2:00 a friend injured herself and needed transportation to the local hospital.  So I volunteered, hoping I would still be able to make the session at 4:00.  We were finished at the hospital just in time to return to the conference and walk directly to the 4:00 session.  As I walked in, the speaker entered with me.

As she began to share with the group, the answer to my question began coming from her!  I sat there in amazement!  She said, in essence, that we should not seek any particular gift, but seek the Giver of the gifts and let Him decide what He wants to give each of us.  I knew that was my answer!  And I had not even told her my question!

I had a great peace about that!  I was to seek Jesus, and if He wanted me to have that particular gift, He would give it to me.  The gift was not to come before my relationship with Him!

Later, as I shared with the speaker how God had used her to answer my question, she surprised me even further by telling me this: she had sought the Lord about what she should share at the 4:00 session.  She did not get an answer, so she left for the session not knowing.  She said as we walked in at the last minute God spoke to her about what to say!  She and I both knew that it was specifically for me.  She felt God waited to tell her what to share to see if I would make it back in time and attend the session.  We could both agree this was one of His Marvelous Deeds!

The Lord searches every heart
and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
If you seek him, he will be found by you.
(1 Chronicles 28:9)

I DECLARE YOUR MARVELOUS DEEDS
“My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”  (Psalm 71:15-18)
* * * * * * * *

I identify with David writing these scriptures. I think I am supposed to declare “His marvelous deeds” and “His power” to the next generation, those who are to come. That is what I am doing in writing this book 2 of Thoughts and Stories.

WHAT IS FAITH?
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
* * * * * * * *

These words I was reading are teaching me more about faith and what it is. For years I have been asking God to teach me more about what faith really is. I want to have faith in my life. I believe it is a gift from God, but it is also something I want to cultivate so it will grow. Bill Johnson says in his book: When Heaven Invades Earth:

“Faith is the mirror of the heart that reflects the realities of an unseen world--the actual substance of His Kingdom. Through the prayer of faith we are able to pull the reality of His world into this one. That is the function of faith.

“Faith has its anchor in the unseen realm. It lives from the invisible toward the visible. Faith actualizes what it realizes... Faith provides eyes for the heart.

“We are born again by grace through faith. The born again experience enables us to see from the heart. A heart that doesn’t see is a hard heart.

“Faith is born of the Spirit in the hearts of mankind. Faith is neither intellectual nor anti-intellectual. It is superior to the intellect. The Bible does not say, with the mind man believes! Through faith, man is able to come into agreement with the mind of God....When we submit the mind of man to the things of God, we end up with faith and a renewed mind.”4 

I’M NEVER COMPLETELY ALONE
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
* * * * * * * *

“I’m never completely alone anymore.” As I read that statement in a story, it resonated in me as being true of me also. I always have my Friend, Jesus, with me. He lives in my heart (my spirit). Because He lives in my spirit, it is now alive (born again). Previously it was dead, but He made it alive.

Jesus wants me to listen to Him through my born again spirit (heart). “He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:13)

Jesus wants me to speak through my born again spirit (heart). “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart... For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”  (Luke 6:45)

Jesus wants me to let Him (His Spirit) flow through me...”Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38)

A DREAM
“And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Joel 2:28)
* * * * * * * *

Last night I again dreamed of being on a campus taking classes. As previously when I dreamed this, I didn’t have a printout of what courses I was to take, what time those courses were, and where I was to go to attend them. But this time I seemed to get a little farther along in the dream. I found out where to go to get a course list from the teacher of the history class, and I learned what courses I was to take. I discovered that I was assigned lots of memory work in three different classes. I wondered if I could manage all that “memory work” in three classes. I got my books in one class and started for my next class in the fine arts building. I didn’t recognize the part of campus I was on when I exited the building after the history class, and was looking for someone to ask directions from.

At one part of the dream I seemed to be in an open vehicle which I was trying to park along the street near a driveway. Another vehicle was in front of me which was also trying to park and we had to adjust in relation to each other. It seemed to be driven by my college roommate. She backed into my vehicle once, but nothing was hurt or damaged. She was trying to dig some good dirt to put in her vehicle.

This dream seems to say I am farther along in getting to the ministry I am going to in Lee’s Summit. I am learning more about the book I am to write. This is coming from obedience and being conformed to Jesus. It takes place in an open vehicle meaning in this book I am being open and revealing myself and my ministry. My roommate and I will need to adjust to each other. She is ahead of me in going to Lee’s Summit and getting started on her ministry. She is digging for good soil to work with and in. We use motor powered vehicles, meaning we are functioning in an anointing. She backed into me once may mean she does something unaware or unsuspecting which affects me, but not badly. This seems to be a positive dream showing me/us farther along in this changeover process. I am learning from my classes.

GOSSIP
“The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. People like to gobble them up.” (Proverbs 18:8 NCV) “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Proverbs 26:20)
* * * * * * * *

In regard to something I said many years ago, someone mentioned to me last Sunday that same idea that I had spoken. It seemed like that incident must have been passed around for all those years. It occurred to me that my words had taken root and grown during the years since that time. I was amazed that those words were still being repeated, and not accurately either.

Once the words were said, it was like they took root and grew in a direction not necessarily true to what originally happened (perhaps even without any knowledge of the event which sparked the words originally), but whatever direction various people took them. 

That’s what gossip does: takes root and grows in directions not true to the actual event. It forms lies, untruth based on partial truth. And isn’t that Satan’s way--to distort the truth using only partial truth. Since the truth sets you free, then gossip does the opposite--it binds you with its lie. I imagine that’s one reason gossip/slander is talked against so much in the Bible.

Everything you say and do is a seed planted.  You may ask for, and receive, forgiveness for a seed planted that is not of the “fruit of the Spirit,” but that seed still keeps growing in other people’s mouths and minds. 

Remember that when Satan deceived Eve it was through distorted untruthful words (or only partial truth mixed with lies) that took root and grew in her. If she had countered that untruth immediately with the truth of My Word, it wouldn’t have taken root and grown in her as it did. That’s why speaking the truth of the Word is so powerful as a weapon. It stops the untruth from taking root and growing in you. It gets your mind focused on what is true.

I WILL UPHOLD YOU
“I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 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.” (Isaiah 41:9b-10)
* * * * * * * *

The Holy Spirit says today that He has already arranged for my financial provision, so I am to believe in it even though I haven’t actually seen it yet. My faith is to be in His present word to me about this. Total provision, Lord?

Total provision. I do not want you taking a job outside your home. I have things for you to do for Me and for the Kingdom work, so I want you free to do that. So I have made complete provision financially for you to do that.

Thank You; that’s what I want.

And I have put that “want” into you. Some people might want to have “control” over their money and it’s source and therefore want a job. You have to give up that control if you want Me to provide your financial resource. Will you?

Yes, Lord. I give the provision of my finances into Your hands.

I know this is hard for you because you feel you failed before to believe adequately for your financial provision. I let you fail to humble you. I wanted you moldable in My hands.

SOMETHING NEW
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)
* * * * * * * *

I look forward, Lord, to the “something new” which You have for me and You’ve given me a taste of - writing our book together. Please keep me focused on it, Lord, and keep it primary in my life and thoughts.

I will, My child, and more. I will be a blessing to you all during this moving time, and I will be your peace, as you have asked Me, and I will bring you to our day to begin longer times together working on our book. You will be distributing this book to many of your friends with joy in our accomplishment together. It must be together to have My anointing on it - and have the power to transform lives which you and I both want it to do. It will. I will see to that.

Good, because I can’t give it Your anointing and give it power to transform lives. Only You can do that. But I commit myself to work with you, Holy Spirit, to do this book together. That is one of the major purposes of my move.

Yes, and there will be other purposes which I have in mind which I will accomplish in your life also, purposes which I already have set in place for you, and you will gradually see take place. Yes, they are good!

Do this each morning - sit before Me and with Me and tell Me of your love for Me. We will bond together for all that you need for that day. It will be fun. You will enjoy it---this next season of your life (our lives together) and it will bring you much joy and peace. And you will receive much satisfaction and contentment in knowing you have finished the work I’ve given you to do, and created you for, and trained you for all these years. 

OUR AVAILABILITY
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)
* * * * * * * *

Bob Sorge says: “God doesn’t need our strength; He needs our availability. He’s just looking for us to stand in His presence, gaze upon Him, love Him, and fulfill His word when He speaks.” 1 

I heard John Maxwell preaching on PTL show yesterday afternoon. He talked about two types of people (referencing the feeding of the 5000 and the boy with loaves and fishes in Matthew 14:15-21): those who had a need God wanted to meet (the 5000) and those whom He wanted to use to meet that need (the boy). 

Immediately I felt that I was like the boy with God wanting to use me in writing the book to meet a need in some others’ lives. I wonder what that need is. Right now I would guess that need is to hear the gospel presented clearly and simply from someone they might receive it through. I expect the Holy Spirit will make that clearer as we go forward with this. There is a plan and reason for my writing this book and distributing it. I trust He will show me that reason as we go through the writing and distributing process.

BELIEVE MY WORD
“How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.”  (Luke 24:25) 

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”  (1 Peter 1:24-25)

“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. Above all you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  (2 Peter 1:19-21)
* * * * * * * *

The Lord spoke the first scripture (Luke 24:25) to me in a gentle and loving voice.  Then He said:

That’s My Word for you today...Believe and trust and obey. All the writers of the Bible were prophets who spoke and wrote My Word. Believe My Word. 

HEALING SCRIPTURES
“...by his wounds you have been healed.”  (1 Peter 2:24b)
* * * * * * * *

Today the Lord is having me look up and write out Scriptures that tell of His healing:

"If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)

“O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”  (Psalm 30:2)

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” (Psalm 103:2-3)

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them.”  (Psalm 107:19-20)

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”  (Proverbs 3:7-8)

“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.”  (Proverbs 4:20-22)

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, Yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:4-5)

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:23-24)

“Jesus said to him, ‘I will go and heal him.’ … Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that very hour.” (Matthew 8:7, 13)

“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.’" (Matthew 8:17)

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you,’ and their sight was restored.” (Matthew 9:29)

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14)

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.” (Matthew 15:30)

“The people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” (Luke 6:19)

“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:15-16)

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases.”  (Psalm 103:2-3)

“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord...” (Jeremiah 30:17)

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him.”  (Acts 3:16)

“The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.” (Ps 41:3)

SMALL GROUP MINISTRY
“The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:15-16)
* * * * * * * *

Tonight I attended A LIFE group (small group fellowship and ministry) for the first time. In the leader’s teaching he said God is serious about what we are each asking Him to do in us and that he will require changes after we leave tonight. He said we should keep our eyes ahead on the promise given us rather than on the problems that need to be overcome to get to that promise.

I got in the line for prayer for the provision of all needed to fulfill the call to do the book. A woman prayed for me - and especially for God to light the pathway and overshadow me. She kept praying for the book to be a love letter from God to the people who read it - that all who read the book will experience God’s love as they do.

Then a couple came and said they heard I wanted a confirmation about something. (No person told them this that I know of). They prayed for me after I told them about the book and how I was believing for the financial provision, etc. One thing he said was that I would get 3 confirmations, not just one. And he said one confirmation was that the Holy Spirit, God’s presence, would be with me as I go through this time of writing the book. They prayed for the faith needed. 

BEGINNING TO WRITE THE BOOK
“The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”    (Deuteronomy 30:14)
* * * * * * * *

Today I am beginning to write the book Thoughts And Stories: On a Life God Leads, Guides, and Protects, book 1. This is my prayer as I begin: “Let Your praises pour forth in this book, Lord, as you and I write it together. Let it be Your love letter to those who read the book. And let them encounter You as a Person as they read this book...a Person who loves them and wants to meet with them also, as You do with me. Let this book give them a spiritual pathway to follow on their own personal journey to know You, Jesus, and hear from You, and encounter You in a close, living, and loving relationship."

And this is the way you will write your book...by My word in your mouth and heart and mind--putting that down on paper and printing it...as the books of the Bible were written. We will do this together--the same thing as we have been doing by bits and pieces in your journals. And I will show you how to start, and what to put in the middle, and what to put at the end, how to finish it. I will proofread it with you and tell you when it is finished as I want it.

FORGIVENESS
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
* * * * * * * *

Why do we need to forgive? According to Joyce Meyer:
1.	Because God said to
2.	Because your faith won’t work if you don’t forgive
3.	Because unforgiveness is spiritual filthiness in your inner man
4.	Because unforgiveness causes torture in your own life
5.	Because unforgiveness blocks your personal relationship with God
6.	Because you cannot love properly without being able to forgive those who have hurt you
7.	Because if you don’t, you open a big door for the devil in your life 7 

JUST FOLLOW MY LEAD
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  (Luke 9:23)
* * * * * * * *

Are You with me, Lord? Am I doing what you want me to do with my time?

Yes, I am with you, and I will always be with you while you are on this earth. I will write this book with you, and it is going fine. You are doing just exactly what I want you to do so far. I will surely put a check on you if you start to do something on the book which I don’t want - as this is My book too, you know. I am writing it with you. Just follow My lead as you have been doing.

Anything You want to say to me today?

Yes, I am with you and I want you to go right to working on our book. It is going well and I am pleased. Are you?

Yes, I am, Lord. You are showing me the way, and giving me interest and enthusiasm, and joy in doing this. Thank You.

You are welcome, My child. I am enjoying it, too, as I know the whole book, the whole plan, and I am guiding you to fulfill that plan, that book. It is fun to do this with you, together.

THANK YOU, LORD
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”  (Psalm 73:24-26, 28)
* * * * * * * *

Thank You, Lord, for letting me be near You, for keeping me close to You, at Your right hand. Thank You that You are my refuge. Thank You for guiding me with your counsel and that You will eventually take me into Your glory. Earth has nothing I desire besides You. You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me!

COME UP TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths...”  (Micah 4:2)
* * * * * * * *

I have things I want to tell you. Come up to that place that is the mountain of the Lord within you. That’s where I live. Come to Me there. I want to be found by you. I want to give you some instructions to guide you next. You have lots of things buzzing around in your mind that you might do. I want to give you clear instructions for “from now on.” 

That’s good. Just listen. This is the place where I am, where I dwell. Right here with you, instructing you, teaching you My way for you. In the midst of the noise you can hear Me for I don’t compete with the noise. I am within you. Even though you see things happening around you, you can still hear Me - for I am distinct from all those earthly things going on. This is to be an assurance to you - that you will always be able to hear Me from “within,” no matter what is going on “without.”

This is a good day! It’s a good day for you. You are right where I want you to be when I want you to be there. You know why? Because you listened to Me and were obedient to My guidance. Otherwise you might not be here on this day at this time. I want you now to go downstairs and turn on the news.

First on the news: 70,000 US troops are being shifted from out of Europe and Asia. This indicates on the natural level what is happening on the spiritual level: strategic shifting of the military forces of America. Seven = complete, rest, finished. Thousand = maturity: full stature, full completeness, full rest, fully finished. What does this mean to You, Lord?

It means fully prepared for the war maneuvers to come. You will see how this rearranging of troops is in preparation for what is to come in the U.S., and the same is true of the heavenlies. 

My troops are being shifted, rearranged, redeployed so they are totally ready for the spiritual heavenly warfare coming soon. I am in charge of them. I send them where they need to be - and I have been, and will be, doing that. You are where you need to be, and many others are also. I have been moving them a lot lately, have you noticed?

KEEP ASKING
“Ask [and keep on asking] and it will be given to you; seek [and keep on seeking] and you will find; knock [and keep on knocking] and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
* * * * * * * *

After having prayer for healing of my left eye (which has distorted vision) I asked the Lord...Do You want me to continue with this seeing distortion, Lord? Do You want me to have it?

Yes, for right now. I have a time and place when I will heal you. Until then you will continue to have it. I want to use it for My glory at a specific time. That is why I keep letting it stay when you get prayer for healing it.

Do not be discouraged and think I can’t or won’t heal you. I will at the precise time I want to - to bring Me the glory I want in front of certain people, and to affirm healing signs. It’s not that you don’t believe, because you do. You have the faith for it or you wouldn’t be asking all these people. Keep asking when I lead you to. 

GIVE THANKS
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” (1 Chronicles 16:8-9)
* * * * * * * *

Thank You, Lord, for watching over my daughter when her car was hit last Thursday. Thank you for keeping her safe and for giving Your angels charge over her in the midst of that.

Thank You, Lord, for the New Member Class and for a friend offering to pick me up and take me there.

Thank You, Lord, for this lovely new home you have brought me to live in right now, and for the companionship of my daughter here.

Thank You, Lord, for my church, for the pastors and staff, for the friendly people, and for Your presence there.

Thank You, Lord, for the coming strategic prayer initiative, and for the conference coming soon.

Thank You, Lord, for the book, Thoughts And Stories: On a Life God Leads, Guides, and Protects which you have written along beside me, and for what you are going to do next in getting it illustrated, published, and distributed. I trust You will show me the way.
	
I love You, Lord!

GAZE UPON ME
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
* * * * * * * *

Remember the vision I gave you at camp where you watched Me as I blessed the people? I gave you the ability to “gaze upon Me” then, and forever after then. That was a message to you that you would be given the ability to “gaze upon Me” even as your pastor had visions of what I had ahead for him in his life. 

You, My child, can know that is what I have ahead for you - more and more - to see Me, to watch what I am doing, to know My Presence is near, to know I am watching you and am aware of you. 

And, you can know from this vision that My angels are always standing guard over and beside you through all the stages of your life - to the very end of your earth life. Know this.

PERFECT PEACE
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)
* * * * * * * *

THE VISION OF THE BUBBLE
	In this vision I saw myself inside a bubble which seemed like acrylic. I was able to see through the bubble, but it kept me safe from things outside of me. I thought I might get up and leave the bubble to help a person I knew who needed help, but the Lord said, “No.” I was to stay in the bubble and let Him go to that other person to give help. I watched Him leave to do that. There was no door in the bubble for me to use to exit anyway. The bubble seemed to represent His presence around me.

I want you to think again about that vision where I put you in that bubble. That is also a prophetic picture of where I will keep you throughout your days. You will see around you what is happening, but you will be encapsulated, protected, unharmed by it. Do you receive that?

GREATER THAN YOU THINK OR IMAGINE
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)
* * * * * * * *

You are now in the main stream of where I want you to be to finish out your time on earth. You will stay here in Lee’s Summit for the rest of your days. 

This is our best time - right now. You can be on earth typing, and still be with Me, walking with Me, listening to Me, in the heavenly spiritual realm. Then you can record what I say as we go. That is ok. That is what I want.

I am so much greater than what you can think or imagine. And what I do is so much greater than what you think or imagine. I want you to now spend lots of time with Me, before this computer, recording what I teach you, tell you, and show you. Do you understand?

THINK OF ME AS BEING BESIDE YOU
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said. ‘Come up here...’” (Rev. 4:1)
* * * * * * * *

We’re going up. You’ve had dreams about going up ramps and stairs. Those were prophetic dreams showing what I was going to do with you - take you “up” with Me. 

Remember the dream about walking up the hill? This is a gifting I am giving you - to go up to a “new number” and a new place with Me... and it is a beautiful place, a place of rest, a place of light and color. So that dream shows what I am now doing and will continue to do all the rest of your days on earth. 

And it is ok to be working at the computer as we go. I want you to. I want you to record what I tell you and show you. That is my plan for you, and I have been teaching you this way for many years of your life. It is a good way. It is My way for you right now. Do not seek to find someone else’s way, but just to find My way for you.

I have a unique way with each person. You do not need to find someone else’s way, but your own way with Me. You will like it and it is uniquely designed to fulfill you...the way I made you.

Think of Me as being beside you, going up together to our special room of light and color and rest. You see, it is not someone else’s house number you stop at, but just your own - a special number just for you.

You and I can move along in the spiritual realm. I will show you what I want you to “see” and “hear”, but mostly I just want you to spend the time with Me. Then you are “available.” 

I love you, My child. I love spending time with you. I gave My life for you, so you know how much I care about you.

And don’t think you have to “get somewhere” to have a successful time with Me. Let Me decide each day where we will go and what we will do.

IN THE GARDEN
“Now the Lord had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” (Genesis 2:8)
* * * * * * * *

There are lots of things you are “saved from” and lots of things you are “saved to”. Let’s get more into what you are “saved to.” You are “saved to” be with Me and walk with Me daily “in the garden.” Come to My garden, My child, and walk with Me.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear sounding round my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share
As we tarry there,
None other has ever known.15

This is the way we will walk each day after you set yourself apart unto Me Monday through Friday mornings. Give Me your mornings each day for our “walks” together. Then you can read and listen to study materials in the afternoons.

Do you think I would refuse to give you the money to be free from a job so we could walk together each day? No, I won’t refuse you that money. Ask Me for it.

And I say “yes” to you. This is My idea. It is an easy way to live ONLY if I bring it about. You do not need to go out and “get” the money. I will bring it to you. Just trust in Me to provide. This is another experiment (test) in trusting Me.

WAITING BEFORE THE LORD
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  (Psalm 27:14)
* * * * * * * *

Now rest and listen to Me. I am here. I want to talk to you today. I have lots to say to you. Just listen and write what I say. Now rest in Me.

Quiet, quiet, quiet, rest, rest, rest.

Wait before Me for Me to speak. Don’t write anything unless I speak it into your thoughts.

A DREAM GIVEN TO BETH ABOUT A STORM
* * * * * * * *

The Dream: There was a storm that destroyed homes, broke palm trees, like a hurricane.  For some reason there was a shortage of water. I had a bucket, half-full of water, and a cup. People came walking from all around to find water because their containers were almost empty. As I started to share my water with some children (in rationed portions), I noticed that I, too, was running out of water. I prayed a short prayer asking God to multiply the water so that there would be enough for all. As I shared water with two or three more people, I noticed that the cup that I used to dip water from my bucket stayed full, even after I poured water out of it. So I kept sharing water with people, the same amount for each, until all of them had water.

The storm: A storm may represent a disturbance or change, a sudden calamity or destruction, a trial, judgment, persecution or opposition. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”  (Matthew 7:24-25)

The homes: Homes may represent the heart of a person. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”  (Psalm 127:1)

The trees: A tree may represent a person or covering, a leader, or a shelter. “But 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 water: Water represents the Spirit or the Word. “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39)

The bucket: A container that holds water. In this dream Beth is the container that holds the Word of God. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The cup: A container that holds a portion of the water that one can drink from. “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”  (Matthew 10:42)

We Christians are the buckets to receive and hold the water of the Spirit, and we are the cups to give it out to those in need. As we pray, God will provide.

PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
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There are special reasons why I did not want you to go on the trip. You did not know those reasons when you made your decision - your reasons were based on things you do know.  Those were ok reasons to make your decision. But there are other things - things in the heavenlies, the spiritual realm - which make it good that you stayed here this weekend. You will see some of these things, and others you will never know while on this earth.

I heard your plea yesterday in our writing together to know things, and I gave you that desire. It is a good desire, a God-given desire. And you will know things after you come up here. I will teach you many things you will enjoy immensely learning; and, you are right, you will learn quickly because you will have the brain power originally given in the garden when I created man - much different than the brain power you have on the earth right now under the curse. You can only imagine what life might be like without the curse, and even then, you can’t imagine how great it really is.

There are still a few things yet I need to accomplish before I am ready to take out My Bride. I have waited all these 2000 years, and I can wait more, if I need to, to finish the work I began when I came to earth. I need to yet reap the full results of the sowing of the seed of My life at that time. There is yet a little more to reap, but that little more is very important to Me - and to you since you are Mine.

BAPTIZING
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
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Yesterday (Sunday) I sat through the most extraordinary baptismal service I’ve ever seen. Each person who got baptized got prayed over and prophesied over (often by several people) so that each person took a lot of time. The service of baptism began around 10:30 and ended about 3:15. People kept joining the line of those wanting to be baptized - most did it because they were obedient to the Lord and/or recommitting themselves. There were probably around 25-30 people baptized. The pastor often said that he felt someone else was to come. 

Some were first time baptisms - several children and youth. It was such a personal ministry one-on-one to them. It was very touching to watch and listen to the prophecies, the prayers, and watch the people going through it. I see this as preparing the people, giving them new beginnings, to get them ready for what God is bringing soon to this church and area. 

LIVE ONE MOMENT AT A TIME
“...his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4)
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Today you get the printer. Tomorrow you may print out one copy of THOUGHTS AND STORIES (my first book) and I will go through it with you. Then I will tell you what to do next. I’m teaching you to live one moment at a time, without knowing what is coming next. That’s what the open space in your dream meant - you will not know or see what you are to do or say next, just to listen to My voice (My song) and follow Me.

After this I didn’t seem able to hear from Him. I did lots of things but they didn’t satisfy me. I read some of one book, but that didn’t satisfy me. I began to read another book and that didn’t satisfy me. They were both good books, but I couldn’t stay with them for long.

Then I started reading The Torch And The Sword by Rick Joyner.10 And this was what I was supposed to be reading! It tells of Jesus bringing Rick a torch (in a vision) and how that torch is the Presence of Jesus. We can hold that torch only as long as we stay close to Him. If we get too far away it becomes too heavy and we lay it down. And the Lord began to speak a lot of things to me as I read. So that is a sign I was doing the right thing (in this case reading the right book) and His torch was again near, and I could hear Him speaking as I read.

I came to the computer to record these matters so I could read them again later when I might need reminding of them:

1.	When He is speaking to me, it can be a sign I am in the right place doing the right thing that He wants me to do then.

2.	As I carry the torch of His Presence it will be light to carry as long as I stay close to Him, and will become heavy when I get far from Him. This is a clue as to when I am on the right path or getting off the side of it.

It seems the Lord is leading me not to plan ahead as I have often done in my past, but to let Him lead me each day without preconceived plans. Like that leaf I saw floating in the water at Shelter Garden (when I saw the leaf floating only where the water took it, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me that I was to be like that leaf and let Him take me wherever He wants to).

A SEASON OF PREPARATION
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.” (Isaiah 54:2-3)
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This is a season of preparation and I want you to go through it and get prepared for what’s coming. I will quicken scriptures to you as you pray and decree through them. 

Do not feel you are nothing, for you are something to Me. I love you and I have plans for you - for ministry in My kingdom work, both now and in heaven.

I want you to focus on just being with Me - not what I will say, or what you might see. Just be with Me. Just be obedient to what I show you to do each day and watch how I guide you. When you are dependent on Me, not on yourself, it causes Me to be active in your life, with you. You need Me.

I am paying your salary, remember? I want your time for Me, for My work. Yes, you may do that request for helping in the healing rooms. I put your name in their minds in answer to their prayers. I want you to become involved in and be part of the healing ministry here. This is the way I’m pulling you into it.

DREAMS AND MEANINGS
“You will also declare a thing and it will be established for you.”  (Job 22:28)
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I felt before I went to bed last night that He was wanting to give me a vision for what’s coming next in my life so I could pray, decree, and expect toward that new vision ...as in the Scripture from Job mentioned above.

Before I went to sleep I was asked if I would get up and write the vision He was going to give me during the night. I said I would. But as I woke several times and thought about whether I had had a vision, it didn’t seem like I had. But I did have dreams which I wrote out. If any of it was a “vision” I didn’t recognize it as such. The clearest and boldest memory this morning is of singing the solo about Jesus over and over with a simple clear voice. I think I was a bit surprised I could actually sing when I was pointed to by the leader. Maybe that part was a “vision.” But all the dreams were positive feeling, good, with joy at times. Then the Holy Spirit said:

Now do you want Me to tell you the meaning of those dreams?    

And I answered, “Yes, Lord.”

DREAM 1: I was part of a group preparing and practicing to sing together before an audience. We were standing around a piano. I was pointed to by the leader and I sang a verse as a solo. The words of the solo were telling how Jesus was wonderful and Jesus was good. The notes came out clearly and I was not timid. The words were not scripted, but I just sang the thoughts that I wanted to about Jesus being wonderful and good to the same tune over and over.

Music = worship. Playing instrument = prophesying, ministering in the gifts of the Spirit. The place is here in Lee’s Summit, especially at your church and all of its ministries (like LIFE groups). The leader is your pastor. You are part of the “singers”...those are the gifted ones he calls upon as he sees a need and senses you can help meet that need.

Everything you do out of this giftedness will show and declare how good and wonderful Jesus is.  It will all be clear and you will not be timid in doing it, or afraid, or choked up. Some of it could be prophecy coming from you: a singer, a singer of the Holy Spirit. Remember that His song has begun. It will be heard through My singers and will come by the Holy Spirit.

I later saw this dream also means my “singing” about the goodness of the Lord through the books He is leading me to write. The books are not “scripted” but just written as He gives me thoughts to sing forth or present in writing.

DREAM 2: I saw planting/cultivating being done in a field. There were already tall plants in that field, yet someone was still cultivating and, I think, planting in it.

The field is your church where there are many “tall plants,” mature people, but still lots of planting and cultivating going on for new “plants” to grow too. The one doing the cultivating is the Holy Spirit.

DREAM 3: I saw a very large refrigerator door open and we were looking at the instructions inside which told what to put in each compartment/space in this large door. The top section was for cold stuff like butter and such. Then there was another section. There were words imprinted between these first two sections telling what was to go in them and arrows pointing to the correct section. Then the next space was for workers’ supplies. The regular stuff went down below that. It looked like we would be bending down a lot to put the regular refrigerator stuff in the lower parts of this door. I thought it might be good exercise for us to bend down to use the lower section.

A refrigerator is a storage place for food - this speaks of the distributing and storage of food for the people coming to your church. Cold stuff at the top: those just visiting and observing needing the easiest place to get to, with butter (anointing) for them there. Workers’ supplies: help and ministry training for the workers of the ministries of your church. Regular stuff: what everyone needs. You must bend down to get it = be humble and bowed before the Lord.

DREAM 4: I tried to scrape stickers off that were stuck on the window of a door so it would be cleaner. I desired to see that window clean and free of various stickers on it. This seemed to be the window on the door of a classroom which I was in.

Stickers represent things that have been “stuck” on you from your past experiences with religious organizations, teachings, conferences, etc. Some of these stickers might impair your vision out the window which represents revelation. You have some stickers on you. I am scraping them from you so you can have clearer vision of the real spiritual dimension. I am not going to tell you what they are - just that I am scraping them off you little by little.  When the window is clean, then you can see to go through the door. The classroom represents things to be learned in it.

DREAM 5: I saw blackboards being washed clean of all the chalky stuff that had been written on them. There was someone figuring how much stuff had likely been written on those blackboards over time, and it was something like 7 times 7. It was good to see them cleaned. This was in the same classroom as the door with the window mentioned in Dream 4.

Blackboards = places for writing stuff. For 7x7 times they have been written on. Perhaps this refers to Matt 18:21 where Jesus is asked how many times we are to forgive - up to 7 times and Jesus answers 77 or 70x7. If the blackboards represent people who come with much previous writing on them, perhaps this refers to the repentance and forgiveness they need to cleanse them so they will be clean and ready for the “new season” God is soon to bring upon us. This room too is a room for learning.

DREAM 6: It seemed like I was preparing to plant seeds and cultivate baby chicks somehow. I was looking at the space/place where I was going to do this.

Seeds represent the Word. Baby chicks represent baby people who need feeding, watering and protection to grow. Hen--protection. Chick--defenseless, innocent. So this dream shows our church as a place where we plant seeds (The Word) into peoples’ lives and then cultivate and help them grow while giving them protection during their defenseless time of growth. Perhaps this refers to my looking around for the place I am to be serving at my church.

BLESSINGS WILL OVERTAKE YOU
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God...all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
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Notice - overtake you. That is what these blessings are now doing - overtaking you. They have been “piling up” in My storehouse waiting for this time for them to come upon you and overtake you. That time is now. Declare it.

Yes, I am with you My child. I love you and love to be with you. I have come to bring you these blessings, My joy, and My peace - all of it in the midst of a troubled world. You will receive much blessing in the midst of all this - all that is happening in the world. I saved up the blessings for You so I could display My glory in you and through you at this season of time. You will be blessed more than you can even ask or imagine. Don’t try to figure it out; just receive it from Me with joy.

SOAKING
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
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This is what “soaking” is: it is sitting in My presence; it is focusing your attention on Me fully; it is gazing at My beauty (one thing I ask of the Lord); it is stillness before God (be still and know); it is quietness and confidence (is my strength); it is rest in the Lord (wait patiently for Him).

It is all these things and more...much more. During soaking I am freer to come to you as there are no interruptions, and you are freer to “come up here” as there is time to come. The atmosphere is right, your attitude is right, and there are not interruptions. That is one reason I often come to people at night - it is closer to those conditions.

And you are such a private person. A private person means you don’t want to be vulnerable to others and allow them to see you as you are. I know why you are as you are, and I will be changing that a little bit at a time. You will “come out of your shell” (as a pearl mentioned in the prophetic words over you) here at your church but it will come about slowly and gently. It also involves trust which you need to develop toward your church people and they need to develop toward you.

As you soak in My presence more deeply I will then be able to reveal more to you. And you will have to trust Me to enable you to remember what you have seen, and record it later.  These times are coming to you. Expect them and greet them with joy. Having you “come up here” is more important than your recording it all in accurate and complete detail. I enabled John to remember what he saw, and write Revelation. I have enabled Rick Joyner to remember and record what he had seen. And I will you too.

Lots to tell you, lots to write. You are My listener and writer, remember? This is the way I have gifted you, and trained you, and want to continue to use you, ok?  

OK, Lord.

REVEALED IN ME
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
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The Lord says the first book I wrote began His being revealed “in me.” for others to see. I am to allow others to see Him revealed “in me.”

I will and am giving you what you need for the ministry I have for you - listening and writing. I will be releasing one of those equipping ministries to you soon - prophecy. I will have one of My servants, release that in you. It is already in you, as he told you, but it still needs to be released. And the LIFE group will also help by giving you a place to begin releasing it in an accepting atmosphere/surrounding. Do not fear it, just release it from inside you when I guide you to do that.

Rick Joyner said, “You simply cannot believe we are coming to the last days without understanding that there will be a dramatic increase of prophetic revelations and experiences. In fact, every time the Holy Spirit is poured out there are accompanying dreams, visions, and prophecies. One of the reasons these experiences will become so common as we proceed toward the end of this age is because we are going to need them... they are crucial for our guidance, and we are going to need more specific guidance in the times ahead.”10 

COME UP HERE
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’”  (Revelation 4:1)
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Rick Joyner speaks about this happening in our time: “The body of Christ is about to go through a metamorphosis. It has been like a caterpillar crawling along the ground, but it is about to emerge into a glorious butterfly which soars above the earth. The church that is about to arise will be more at home in the heavenly realm than the earthly.

“The kinds of experiences I am writing about will not seem strange to that church, and those who are going to be a part of it will soon hear a clear trumpet call, which is revealed in Revelation 4:1-2.  (“Come up here”)

“There is a door standing open in heaven, and there is an invitation for us to go through it. Those who answer this call will be caught up into the Spirit, with the result that they will always be seeing the One who sits on the throne. This is the ultimate purpose of all true, prophetic revelation--seeing the glorious, risen Christ and the authority that He now has over all.” 10

HOW DO WE SEE OURSELVES
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)
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Last night at LIFE group the focus was on how we see ourselves and how that affects what we do. They showed us a veggie tales video about one who wanted to dance but thought he would be laughed at and not do it right, etc. And then how he found out it was ok to be as he was, that the Lord made him as he was.

One woman gave a testimony about a breakthrough in her life this past week which freed her up to do dancing (especially prophetic dance) which she had in her but was afraid to do. The Lord gave her a picture/vision of being with Him and walking in a river where she was splashing water and they were laughing.

It reminded me of the vision He gave me of dancing with Him as a little child. It seems I was taught as a child to be stiff, formal, quiet, behaved, not to talk, not to make noise, not to cough, not to show my emotions.... all this to get the approval of my parents, especially my father. I still have in me the feeling that those things are what brings approval from others. It is hard to break out of that inhibited mode and believe it is ok to speak, move, dance, laugh, show my emotions, etc. 

I grew up afraid of making mistakes, and receiving disapproval for that. The fear of making mistakes was very very strong, so strong it probably caused me to make them (especially in musical solo performances) and I condemned myself for them even before making them. It was miserable facing performances and the fear of not being perfect.

At LIFE group we were given the homework of finding three Scriptures which gave us a picture of who we really are in Christ that we can hold before us. So today I am seeking these Scriptures. These are the ones that come into my mind:

Revelation 3:7-8
“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. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Jesus opens a door before me that no one can shut even though I have little strength.)

Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.“ (I have goodness and mercy following me all my life)

Psalm 27:4
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”  (I dwell with the Lord, look upon Him, and see Him)

Psalm 139:13
“You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (He made me.)

2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus)

Isaiah 30:15
“In quietness and confidence is your strength.” (I am quiet and confident)

Psalm 8:32
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (I am being instructed and taught, counseled and watched over)

Matthew 28:20
“And Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Jesus is always with me)

Luke 2:19
“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (I keep things and ponder them)

Jeremiah 1:5
	“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’
	“‘Ah, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’
	“But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a child.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.
	“Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth.’”  (I was known before I was born and was set apart for the Lord’s calling. I am to do what He leads me to do and not be afraid. He will be with me.)

Habakkuk 2:2
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”  (I am to write down what He instructs me and it will come at the appointed time)

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” (I am to trust in Him and He will direct my path)

Psalm 91:1
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  (I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under His shadow)

Revelation 14:4
“They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” (I follow Jesus wherever He goes)

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 Lord gives me words that help others and enables me to listen as He teaches me.)

This is what the Holy Spirit is telling me about who I am in Christ through these Scriptures:

•	Jesus opens a door before me that no one can shut even though I have little strength.
•	I have goodness and mercy following me all my life
•	I dwell with the Lord and look upon Him, and see Him
•	He made me.
•	I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
•	I am quiet and confident
•	I am being instructed and taught, counseled and watched over
•	Jesus is always with me
•	I keep things in my heart and ponder them
•	I was known before I was born and was set apart for the Lord’s calling. I am to do what He leads me to do and not be afraid. He will be with me.
•	I am to write down what He instructs me and it will come at the appointed time
•	I am to trust in Him and He will direct my path
•	I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under His shadow
•	I follow Jesus wherever He goes
•	The Lord gives me words that help others and enables me to listen as He teaches me.

You are My child and precious in My sight. You are perfect before Me. You delight Me with being just the way you are, the way I made you. I love you, and want you to spend all your time with Me.

WORDS OF PROPHECY
“If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.” (Romans 12:6)
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Last night at LIFE group a woman came over and spoke words to me about my future...That I would go to people and speak something to them or do something for them which would bless them.

Then a young man came over to me and told me what a blessing the Bible on Tapes were that I had loaned him, that he had been listening to them about 3 hours a day, and he excitedly told some of the things he was hearing from Jesus and Paul. He said I thought I came to Lee’s Summit to be with my daughter, but really I came to bless him. He said (in regard to the book I was writing) that some people might rebuke me at first when they read it, but later they would bless me for helping them. And he talked about all the crowns I would get for all the people I would help and there would be many through the book.

I GIVE LIFE TO YOU
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” (Romans 8:11)
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Being close to Me causes you to have Life in you rather than death, which is trying to kill your body (with aging, eyes diminishing, hearing diminishing, etc.) It is the devil’s purpose to kill you, to destroy you, through your health and finances. But I am your Life, and I give Life to your mortal body, and to your provision. Claim that Life.

FIRE UPON THE EARTH
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!”  (Luke 12:49)
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Rick Joyner said: “I looked at the fire on the water and I saw that the water was composed of multitudes of beings--people! They were on fire but they were not being consumed. They were coming alive. This was a fire that would one day cover the earth. It would consume the wood, hay, and stubble, but it would purify the gold, silver, and precious stones in every life. I looked over at Thomas. He knew what I was thinking. (He said) ‘Yes, the time has come. The fire is now kindled!’” 10

And it is kindled in you, and it is burning brighter and brighter. And you see it around you each Sunday at church and in LIFE groups, and in the books you read, and in your relationship with Me. The fire is NOW kindled! You have it! You give it to others as you touch them daily. You give it out in our book. It’s the fire of My Kingdom on earth. It’s the fire of Me.

Those who don’t want the fire will stay far from you, as they did from Me. Those who desire the fire of My presence, will come closer to you. Watch for this coming closer or going farther away from you. It is not you, but the fire of My Presence they are reacting to. 

One person you knew couldn’t stand to be around you and wasn’t drawn to you, but desired to be far from you. He couldn’t stand being close to you as My presence grew and grew in you. That’s why more and more of your friends are those who are close to Me, and those not close to Me you seldom deal with anymore, except on occasions when you go “out into the world.”

CREATED TO BEAR MY IMAGE
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.”  (Genesis 1:27)
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In Rick Joyner’s book Jesus said: “When I walked with Adam, I taught him about the creation and his purpose for cultivating and maintaining it. I also gave him the freedom to be creative as he cultivated it. He was created to bear My image. To bear the image of the Creator, one has to be creative. In this we had great fellowship.” 10

You see how you are creative as you come closer to Me and you must express that creativity. The book expresses your creativity, and through it you and I have fellowship together. As you sit and listen to Me each day you are expressing the creativity I give you. Your way to express it is in writing. Some express it in singing, some in preaching, some in teaching, you in writing. The more you write (for Me) the more you express what I created you to be and do - your own creativity. This is where you come closest to Me-when you are writing and listening for what to write. I made you this way. I have a reason for that. You will understand this more as you follow Me along the path of writing what I lead you to write. This is just now being harvested - what I trained you for all these years. 

Your dreams (many) about being in a place of learning shows you a picture of this-- sitting and learning from Me, and writing it down - as a student in My classroom of life.

That’s why You’ve given me skills in editing, proofreading, punctuating, grammar, formatting, and organizing, isn’t it? And You’ve given me an interest in creative writing since I was a small child. I have a freedom to be me when I am writing down my thoughts. That’s why I want often to express myself to someone else by writing rather than speaking. The words come much more easily and without conflict or fear when I am writing.

And to think that I married a husband who taught English and was very critical of others’ writing, and of me. Was that part of Satan’s plan to stifle and thwart Your plans for my writing for You?  

Oh, yes! Just like Satan’s plans to cause you difficulties in vision, health, and provision are part of his plans to keep you from fulfilling what I created you to be and do. But I AM GREATER THAN HE IS! “Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.” I will overcome for you what he tries to do to block/stop you. You stay close to Me and we will do this together! That wasn’t coincidence that your friend chose that saying to put on a bookmark for you... it was My message to you in stitching.

(The message stitched on a bookmark and given as a gift to me said: “You and I can do it together GOD.” And I read it this way: “You and I can do it together, (signed) GOD.”

FINANCES
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:19)
* * * * * * * *

I wanted the Lord to give prayers for finances this Sunday morning at church since I am looking for the financial provision for next month. Then at church this morning there was not only prayer for our finances, but the whole sermon was a teaching about finances...and they had planned this teaching about 1 month ago. So God knew! Some of the highlights from that sermon:

We need to get a revelation personally about God’s rules/principles for our financial giving. We need this revelation so we won’t give reluctantly or under compulsion.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

One principle we were taught was tithing, and tithing would work according to Malachi  3:8-12 which says: 

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do we rob you?" “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

If we are in right relationship with God in our giving then He will keep the devourer from us. But we must know His Word about the devourer and declare it over ourselves and our provisions to keep him from stealing from us. This means the work that I do will not be devoured (eaten up, taken away from me). What I grow will produce what it is supposed to produce, and it will not fall off and be non-useful.

The giving of offerings is beyond the tithe and these are what are multiplied. So I am to be giving offerings into other ministries. Now I am to continue sowing into a ministry as an offering, and give my tithe to church of what I get to live on.

CONTEND IN WARFARE
“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the...sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Ephesians 6:16-17)
* * * * * * * *

We need to contend in warfare so the devourer doesn’t steal our finances. As I drove home from church Sunday the Spirit was showing me that I have on the 4 pieces of spiritual armor of salvation, righteousness, truth, and peace, and I am to use the other two pieces (of faith and the sword, which is the Word of God), to hold in my hands to fight this warfare. But first I needed a teaching revelation that I needed to do this. I saw the devourer steal my provisions many times and didn’t know how to fight against it or that I was supposed to.

For example, when I was saving money toward moving expenses, I got such a terrible pain in my side that I went to the doctor for help. The appointments (2) plus all the tests, the hospital fees for those tests, the medicine prescribed, etc. took close to $500 which I had to pay completely myself since my insurance was $500 deductible. I surely felt my money was being “stolen” by this severe disease--and it was. That happened to me many times in the past when something unexpected or extra came up that took the money I wanted to use elsewhere - a car expense, medical needs, etc.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)

And see, that’s where your heart is now. It is with Me and I am your treasure. No thief can break in and steal this treasure. I will not allow it.

GETTING A BREAKTHROUGH IN FINANCES
	“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (mammon).” 
	“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or eat or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
	“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:24-33)
* * * * * * * *

Getting a breakthrough in my finances takes spiritual warfare. That is because the spirit behind money and the world’s finance system is the spirit of mammon. And we are to live according to God’s system of finances, not mammon’s. We were taught that mammon was a god they worshipped (I think in Syria) and it was the spirit behind the world’s finances. But Jesus taught us to not live by that system.

And you won’t serve both God and mammon. I am calling you to be completely under My system now. You tried before but you didn’t understand how to contend for it and believe for it. Now you do. It is by those two pieces of armor in your hands--the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit...the Word of God. These words you have written down in this article are quite sufficient...just send them by faith, by your speaking them, to fight the battle. Remember My Word is alive and active and sharper than any two edged sword. 

No, your time wasn’t wasted during those 9 1/2 years of being a church secretary. I taught you a lot during that time, and together we paid off your debts. Now we will pay off your debts again, but quickly this time--debts of the car and hospital and doctors. After that you will have a lot to be generous with--as I know you want to be and I have given you a heart to be.

I am not speaking to you of no avail...I am speaking to you of what WILL avail, what will prevail over the world’s system of provision. That is My system of provision. It is a higher system and VERY REAL. As I am greater than satan, my provision system is greater than the world’s (his). He tries to rule people through mammon’s provision system (which came under the curse). He tries to rule through the curse and through his ruling power in the world. But there is a spiritual system of financial (and other) provision which is greater. That is where I have called you to live now.

And this spiritual system, which is greater than the world’s or satan’s, includes finances, health, provision, love, caring, fellowship, instruction, homes, jobs, friends, food--everything you need in life. Remember, it includes health too. 

It is also that way in the spiritual realm. You and your daughter have a house of righteousness here and I will maintain it from the spiritual realm (from My kingdom realm) and you both as you live together here. That is one reason I brought you both under one house for now.

DECLARE THE WORD
“You will also declare a thing and it will be established for you.”  (Job 22:28)
* * * * * * * *

I think I am to declare the Word over myself and my work and finances each day. So what shall I declare? These are some of the declarations I can make:

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  (2 Corinthians 9:8) (God is making all grace abound to me, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work.)

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) (God is supplying seed for me to sow and bread for me to eat. He is making me rich in every way so I can be generous on every occasion.)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:19) (My God will meet all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.)

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:29-31) (I am storing up for myself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. This is where my heart is - with my treasure in heaven.)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:33) (I am seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things I need shall be given to me as well.)

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (mammon).” (Matthew 6:24) (I am serving God and not mammon in my finances. Therefore I am following God’s rules for finances, not the world’s.)

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) (I have enough money and am satisfied with what God brings me.) 

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 5:2) (I am listening to God, and eating His Word.  This satisfies me, and I am delighting in the richest of fare.)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) (I have the wisdom of God about my finances because I ask for it.) 

“But we have the mind of Christ.”  (1 Cor. 2:16) (I have the mind of Christ.)

“See that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Cor. 8:7) (I am excelling in the grace of giving.)

“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4) (I am doing my acts of righteousness in secret, not before men [like giving to the needy] and my reward will be from my Heavenly Father.)

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:9-11) (God is giving me this day my daily bread.)

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed. The crops of your land and the young of your livestock... Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out...the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you... The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord will bless you in the land he is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people...The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity...The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail...You will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” (Deut. 28:1-14)
(I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out.)
(The enemies who rise up against me will be defeated before me.)
(The Lord is blessing my barns and everything I put my hand to. He is blessing the land He is giving me.)
(The Lord is granting me abundant prosperity in this land He has given me.)
(The Lord is opening the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on my land in season and to bless all the work of my hands.)
(I will lend to many but borrow from none.)
(The Lord is making me the head, not the tail; I am at the top, not the bottom.)

KEEP DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1 KJV)
* * * * * * * *

Lord, what do You have in mind? I want Your wisdom and ask for Your guidance about my living expenses needed right now. You said, in regard to the lilies of the field, how much more would your Heavenly Father provide for you than them...oh you of little faith.

It’s all working just right, coming together in My perfect timing, My perfect plans for you. I haven’t revealed them to you yet because it is not yet My time to do that, but I am giving you something to ponder. What you will do this day, and this month, is wait and see what I do - then join Me in it. Remember? I WILL show you the way to walk on the path I have for you. Keep your hands in Mine. That is where you are safe and secure. Keep dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and you shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

You ARE abiding there right now, and that is where I want you every day and every hour of every day. Be there right now. I will show you the way. Do not worry or fret - just watch and see what I am doing and join Me, ok?

Lord, I ask You if we should take the trip we are contemplating.

I know you want and need to know that. I will show you both the way on that too. Trust Me in this and wait for My answer. You think you must go at a certain time, but that is not true. There are other options that you don’t know of or aren’t considering. If I want you to go I will bring about tickets and a place to stay. Do not fret. It will be ok.

THY KINGDOM COME
* * * * * * * *

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 KJV)

And it is coming. Very soon. We are in the transition stage now into My kingdom coming fully. During this transition there is great struggle and turmoil. You see it in the weather (hurricanes hitting Florida coast), in the wild fires, in the weather switches from hot to cold, in the tornadoes, the flooding, the typhoons in the south seas, etc. There is much turmoil in the weather. There is much turmoil in people, especially if they aren’t focused on Me. There are feelings of uncertainty, of insecurity, of the unknown events that might happen (like terrorists), etc. This is the time I mentioned in Isaiah 60:2 “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.” BUT, My kingdom is coming and My will is being done more and more each day as we proceed toward its fullness being manifest in the millenium.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  (Matthew 6:10 KJV)

Lord, I ask you for my daily bread, the provision I need to live during all these transition days. You are my provider. I look to You.

Yes, I say yes to you. I promise I will provide for you all the days of your life on this earth. I will show you how to connect with that provision I have for you. I will bring it about. You do not need to do anything except wait on Me, trust Me, call to Me, and I WILL answer you.

I wait on You, Lord, and I trust You. I believe Your promise.

“And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12 KJV)

Lord, I ask You to forgive me for all my sins through Your blood shed for them.

I forgive you, My child. You are clean before Me. I know your heart and it is clean and pure. 

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13 KJV)

I’m talking about me and my family, and the President and his family. Keep us safe from temptation and deliver us from all evil, Lord. Protect us wherever we go this day, and protect our homes, our cars, our lives, and our work from evil, Lord. I plead the blood of Jesus over all this.

And I say yes to you, for these requests. You feel under stress, pressure today. That is because of all the turbulence in the spiritual realm today. A great battle is on and the presidential race [of 2004] is a product of some of that battle. It is in high gear now. Yes, I will be with the President as you ask. I will guide what he says and does not say. I know that is important to some people. I know how the media pick on little things that aren’t important and mock and tear him down in false ways. These things will happen because the enemy uses lies and distortion constantly to blur things. Keep coming to Me for clarity on the news.

YOUR DOMAIN IS YOUR GARDEN
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” (Genesis 2:8)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Enoch says): “The purpose of every movement on earth is to compel men to do what I did--to walk with God until they are more at home in the heavenly realm than on earth. Man was created to dwell on the earth with his body while his spirit soared into the heavens.....Now you must learn to walk with endurance. You must resolve to walk each day in the domain over which the Lord has given you to rule. He has given you authority, but you must walk with Him in your domain. Only then will you be fruitful and multiply as you are called to be. Your domain is your garden.”10 

You see, why I made that song (In The Garden) so meaningful and important to you? It is because I want you to walk “in the garden” with Me every day. Your way of doing this is coming into My presence, as you did today, and listening and writing for Me. We do this together. In this way you fulfill the creativity I put in you and the way I want to express Myself through you to others. For some it’s speaking; for you it’s writing what you hear from Me. Through doing this daily, or as I lead, you will be strengthened through the life which flows from Me into you daily. Writing is your domain over which I have given you rule.

KEEP THIS FIRE BURNING IN YOUR HEART
“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: “The Lord makes His messengers flames of fire. You cannot walk with God, or fulfill His purpose for you on the earth, unless you keep this fire burning in your heart. Lukewarmness is your deadly enemy. You must not let the fire wane by drifting from His presence. This fire which now burns in your heart must be given fuel each day. Its fuel is the atmosphere of heaven, which is the breath of God. What He breathes upon lives, and what He does not breathe upon dies. Seek this life and pursue it. If you do, you will leave a trail of life where the River of Life will break out and flow. If you walk as you are called, you will help restore true life to the earth.” 10

You see, I AM restoring true life to you. I AM filling you with My presence daily as you come to Me. I give you strength and desire for Me, and joy as you go. Yesterday, when you felt depleted and sensed the enemy wanted you to succumb to depression and futility of life, you needed to call out to Me. I will save you from futility and from depression. As you breath the atmosphere of heaven where I am, you will find new life coming into you. 

Whenever you feel this new life slipping away, call to Me. I will come and renew you. You live in a world which is out of balance and in great turmoil during this transition time of the pouring out of My Spirit and the pouring out of the enemy’s terror all at the same time. The two cannot co-exist very long without tearing the person or earth apart. As I pour out My Spirit more and more the turmoil will get worse. You will see it in the weather patterns, the unrest of people as well as unrest and turmoil in earthly things/pursuits. 

This will cause lots of shaking. You will see the shaking and be amazed at it. You see it in the election process now. That is shaking! But this will continue until I take My Bride away and My Spirit away from the earth for a time. Then the wrath of God will be poured out on all that’s left on the earth - in retribution against those who have rejected Me and My sacrifice.

MANTLES OF AUTHORITY COMING INTO UNITY
“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  (John 17:23)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Jesus): “After each of the torchbearers departed the earth, they left their mantles of authority to be picked up by others. These have been divided just as Mine were at the cross. When one has a part of a mantle and comes together with one who has another part, their authority will be magnified. Many of these mantles were hidden and kept for this time. These have been reserved for those who will be My messengers in the last days.

“It is true that spiritual authority multiplies with unity. One can put a thousand to flight, but two can chase ten thousand. The unity that these last day messengers of power walk in will multiply the authority of the mantles they carry. The earth has never seen anything like what I am about to release through these messengers. They will walk in the fire of all who went before them.” 10

You are one of My messengers. So that is one reason I brought you to your church...to join the multiplied authority and power of others with mantles also, and to come into unity together with them here. You felt this unity the very first time you visited here and it caused you to weep. That wasn’t a coincidence. The yearning to hurry and come was no coincidence. That is because you felt and knew a unity with the pastor and others here at your church and it fulfilled a great need you had to “connect” with such people. That is why you needed to wait until you came here and joined this unity of mantles to write the book - and why it came together so quickly. 

Yes, I do have more writing for you to do, and this is part of it, what you are writing right now...this understanding of coming together with others who also bear the torch and mantles from past generations who laid them down for you all to pick up. Many at your church have mantles which they have picked up from past generations.

That explains the dream I gave you where you were alive, but many behind you had gone before you and were looking to you, the person alive now, to continue the work out in “that field” under the singing of the Holy Spirit. The singing of the Holy Spirit represents the anointing. He comes often through music...heavenly music. Satan knows this and he uses music to come to his own, as I use music to come to My own.

WISDOM AND HUMILITY
“...but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2b)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Jesus): “When you return, this will all seem like a dream to you. The earth is under a shroud of fear and doubt which is growing thicker and darker. Even so, this realm is more real than the earth. But those in your time who break through the fear and doubt to walk in the power of life here will exhibit the greatest faith, and they will be trusted with the greatest authority.

“You may only vaguely remember what you see and feel here. Even so, the yearning for what you are now experiencing has been imparted to you, and this yearning will not go away. It is real and will lead you to reality.

“You can have all that you experience here again, but you too must grow up into it as you walk with Me on the earth. Only by this will you be wise and humble enough to be trusted on earth with the authority and power that you feel here. Wisdom and humility are more important than the power. Without them the power will corrupt you, and you will be used for evil. It is by your wisdom and humility that you will be able to help My messengers along their way.” 10

You see, even as you read My words to Rick Joyner, My words impart to you such a yearning for that closeness with Me which he had. This realm becomes real to you as you read. This yearning will help lead you to come to Me more often and experience My presence greater. I am leading and teaching you to be wise and humble enough so you can be trusted with the authority and power I want to give you. I am doing this, not you. In its time I will do it swiftly.

CAST YOUR CARES ON THE LORD
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)
* * * * * * *

Thank You, Lord, for this holiday to rest and that I get to spend it with You. Thank you for the beautiful cool breeze and sunshine after last night’s storm. I love You, Lord!

I ask for Your mind, Your thoughts, on the situation regarding going to Chicago. Please give me the right attitude about this and show it to me from Your perspective. I want to do what is right.

You will, My child, as you keep seeking Me. Seek Me before you email your answer. These options are what I counseled you about. It just didn’t include your staying here where you wanted to be. 

These are my cares I am casting on You this morning, Lord...That You would provide the finances needed for this month, and show me and provide for the financial needs in the coming months. That You would guide me as to what to do with each day, what ministry to commit to, whether to be involved in the women’s ministry, and whether to visit the Friday night spiritual gifts nurturing ministry.

Yes, I want you to be part of the spiritual gifts nurture group. That will come about gradually. Be patient. And I WILL show you what to do each day.

That You would guide me in writing each day and in publishing just what You want published with the publishing group You want to use, in exactly the timing You purpose for it to be done.

This is good and I say “yes” and “amen” to your prayers listed here. I will do all of that and more - in My timing. Wait patiently for Me, My child. I love you and care for you and I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. That is My Word and that is the truth. I will do it. Just watch to see what I am doing, and join Me.

PRAISE THE LORD
	“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all this benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  
	“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:1-5; 11-12)
* * * * * * * *

I do love You, Lord! I want to tell You this every day of my life!

And I love you, and I want to hear this from you every day of your life. I am with you. 

Now write down the three baptisms of fire Todd Bentley spoke about:
1. Purity
2. Love
3. Power

I have been working the baptism of purity in you for many years. Now you and I, we, are working on the baptism of love. These need to be in place, and right, BEFORE I baptize you with power.

BAPTIZED WITH FIRE
“But after me will come one who is more powerful than I...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Jesus): “I created man to be the torchbearer for all of creation. All men have this calling, and were created to walk with Me and carry the light of life.... You must now go and find those who have persevered to become My chosen ones....

“You will know these chosen ones by the fire that already burns in them. They will never be content with religious practices, for they yearn for Me and the reality of this realm. Because they seek Me, I will be found by them. I will give them their heart’s desire--My fellowship. I will be their inheritance.

“I will also give them greater authority than I have yet entrusted to men on the earth. They will receive this because they will have the wisdom and humility to use it. When the Day of Judgment comes, their testimony will be that they walked with Me and their fire did not dim. These are My messengers that the whole creation has been waiting and travailing for. It is time for them to awaken.” 10

You are one of My torchbearers. That is why I had you write the book - to spread the fire that you have to others who will also pick it up. Yes, you must publish the book. And I will bring that about in the right way at the right time. 

You see, it is like fire igniting fire in others who are being prepared for it. It is like the vision you saw of that ball of fire touching others here and there. I am that ball of fire, but so are you as you are a part of Me. You have awakened, and I am now sending you out to others. 

Wisdom and humility are keys in being prepared to share this fire which is in you. Remember the vision I gave you of fire in people’s chests? The chest represents the heart, and the fire is in the heart. You will “see” this again in some people I will show you later.

POWER
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you...” (Acts 1:8)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Jesus): “I give My power to those who are wise and mature enough to use it. The evil one gives his power to those who are foolish and immature enough to be used by it. The time is coming upon the earth when all must choose to walk with Me, or be taken over by the power of an evil greater than has yet to be known on the earth.

“I have a fire to cast upon the earth that has now been kindled. Pray for My fire to come. It will purify the earth. Pray for it to consume the chaff, and to purify My chosen ones. I gave authority over the earth to man, and therefore I must be asked before I will move on the earth. This is the great purpose of those who walk on the earth, to know Me and My will. Then they can ask for My will to be done on earth just as it is done here in heaven, and it will be done.” 10

WOMEN’S MINISTRY
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (Luke 1:45)
* * * * * * * *

And you are blessed!

Today I went to the vision-explaining session of the Thursday morning women’s ministry group for the first time to see if I am to participate in it. Three women shared their vision of women’s ministry with us. One woman shared primarily how she had been a warrior for many years, but hadn’t known how to get into an intimate relationship with the Lord, and about her vision for us to do that too. Another woman shared primarily about equipping us with some practical things to be functioning better as women. Another shared about wanting to establish a pillar of women to help each other, the church, and the community...a group where impartation is done to us, and in which we grow in our relationship with one another. Another, who wasn’t there, will also be leading sometimes, probably in sharing from the book on favor. 

One woman was excellent with sharing her vision and seems very gifted with words and explaining things. She mentioned a book I want to read called Mantles Of Authority by Barbara Yoder. This talks about why women are held back and held down so much - relating it back to Eve in the garden.

I feel like this is a group that is seeking You, Lord, and what You want us to be doing and understanding during this season. One woman has been attending conferences in Toronto and with the Generals of Intercession, etc. and has a vision to bring these experiences back and impart them to us.

Yes, I want you to go there. This is a place where I have things for you to do and to learn. This “lingo” they use, which matches some of the books you’ve read, will become more meaningful as you watch it being lived out along with other women.

GIVE OUT LIFE
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”  (John 14:6)
* * * * * * * *

Last night we attended a LIFE group. The speaker gave a marvelous talk about how we have Life inside us and how we are to give it out through our mouths by speaking Life to others throughout our days. What we speak causes a reaction in them which they can accept or reject. He asked each of us to answer the question: Why did you come here tonight?

Toward the end he asked us to join in a standing circle for prayer and think about any weight we might have on us at this time that we want lifted. We were to pray about that weight, and physically act out taking it off and putting it into a tub in the middle of the circle. 

After a time of this he asked if any still had a weight he wanted prayer for. T. said yes and explained what his weight was - a darkness he always was dealing with because of the way he was treated as a child. Darkness was spoken to him by mentally ill parents, and he would be shut in a closet, etc. So we prayed for that darkness to leave him. The word the Lord gave me to speak was: “I speak Light to him in Jesus’ name.” 

Then we prayed for S. who needed to have more love for people as he was dealing with many people bugging him with their actions and attitudes. As we prayed the simple words came to me to speak: “The Spirit reminds me that Jesus came to baptize us with fire, so I speak the baptism of fire of the love of Jesus to you.”

The third person, D. was at a crossroads in her life and wanted prayer. She was advised by the leader not to tell us what was going on, but just to let us pray. No words came to me for a long time, but eventually the words: “God loves you.” came and I spoke them in her ear. My daughter asked me what I said and I told her, then she said basically to D. that God not only loved her but he really liked her too. Later she told me she had been wondering if she should say that thought which was in her mind, and when she heard what I said, she was encouraged to go ahead and say it.

The Holy Spirit shows me today that He gave “pieces” of what He wanted ministered to her to each of us, and only as each spoke what He gave them would the “whole” be ministered to her. He also kept telling me that what He gave me to share was like a “gift” that I could give to the person being prayed for. I could keep that gift or give that gift. He kept putting in my mind the thought: “Aren’t you going to give them the gift I gave you?”

I’ve not participated in something quite like this group before, and I am thrilled to get to be part of it. Thank You, Lord, for bringing me here and connecting me into this group!

I’m learning I must “push past” the hesitancy to speak out what is being given to me, and speak it even if it is only a few words, and not a long prayer. A few words spoken in the power of the Spirit may be as good or better. Maybe longer prayers will come later and maybe not. Whatever He gives me to speak is what I am to speak.

THE LAST BATTLE
“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”  (Psalm 24:8)
* * * * * * * *
In Rick Joyner’s book (John Wesley): “You are here to learn about your purpose. You are called as one of those who will help awaken the coming great host. Then you must train them, preparing them for the last battle.” 10

It will be the last battle for the church on the earth. It will be a battle between good and evil, and it has already begun. While this battle goes on, many will be won to My kingdom and become part of My bride. When all who will come, come to Me, then the battle will have been won by My warriors, and I will take My bride out. After that comes the tribulation which is a battle which My people, Israel, will fight, and I will return with all My saints to win it at the final fight. Then will come the prophesied peace on earth, good will to men which was given at My birth time.

YOUR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO LEARN
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...” (Matthew 11:29)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (John Wesley): “If you remain teachable, you will be wise beyond your years, regardless of how old you get to be. You can receive the wisdom of the ages. Remember that your primary purpose is to learn, not teach. The primary teaching that you have for the coming ones is to teach them how to learn. This is what it means to be a disciple--you are forever a student. Each one that you meet will teach you more about how to learn, and you will teach them the same.10

PEACE WITHIN THE STORM
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
* * * * * * * *

I love You, Lord.

And I love you, My child. Focus on Me in the worship service today at church. This is a beautiful day I’ve given you, so enjoy it.

Recently in my Quiet Time the Holy Spirit was guiding me to picture myself in the “eye” of the hurricane with the winds of this world going on around me, but being at peace and calm in the middle of it all. Then I read this next quote by Jim Goll. Interesting!

“Just as in the natural there is an eye, or center, of quiet in the midst of every hurricane, so it is in the realm of the Spirit. There is a refuge to which we can turn from the storms and pressures of life. Just as there was a progression in Moses’ tabernacle from the outer court to the Most Holy Place, so there is within every believer a progression through the tempests of life into a place of quiet communion in the Spirit. That is the place where God dwells, and in Him there is perfect peace.” 11

NOT MY HUMAN PRAYERS, BUT YOUR DIVINE PRAYERS
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “God has placed a river of living water--His Spirit--inside each of us. He wants that river to pour forth from us even more than we want it to. The way we tap into that river is by entering the center of quiet. There we can pray that not a trickle but a gusher of living water will pour out, that we might be a well-watered garden and a pool of refreshing where others can come and renew themselves in the life-giving flow of the Lord. 11

It will be like fire in your bones that must be expressed, like a pressure inside which must come out. And this will flow primarily in your writing, but sometimes by speaking it too...like at your LIFE group in prayer time. I’ve started you out with a few words, and you have been faithful to speak those few words. Now, later, I will increase what I cause to flow through you. Look for that, but don’t “make any up” on your own, just speak what I put in you, whether it is one word, or a whole flow of words. When I stop giving you words, then you stop speaking them, ok? 

Yes, ok. Keep reminding me as I need it, Lord.

I will. I want to use you to speak My words, but first I had to stop you from speaking your own words and making up things yourself that you wanted for that person or situation out of your human reasoning. Now you have shut that down to almost nothing. Now I can begin to pray through you My way.

Yes, Lord, that is what I want - not my human prayers, but your divine prayers running through me like a stream of water gushing forth. I want to speak ONLY Your words, Lord.

I know you do and that is why you quit going to prayer meetings where you felt such pressure to say something from your human spirit. I know you can do that, but that is not what I  am preparing you to do for Me. I want you to speak ONLY from My Spirit directly through your mouth and through your writing. There often wasn’t enough quiet in your previous prayer meetings to listen to Me and speak only from Me. So I had you quit going to them. I have My plans and purpose for you if you will “follow Me.”

OUR CAPACITY FOR PRAYER CAN GROW
* * * * * * * *

From Jim Goll’s book: “The more time we spend praying in our “inner room,” the more our capacity for prayer will grow. The more of ourselves we yield to the Lord in prayer, the more of His heart He can entrust us with.” 11

And I do want to share more of My heart with you. It is time, and you are now ready to receive more. Come to Me, expecting the “more” I have for you.

Yesterday I had your pastors pray for you for a reason. It was time to move you into greater depths of prayer and intercession, even travail at times. All of this is at My instigation, not yours. It is your job to come into My presence as you have been reading about in Jim Goll’s book. It is My job to move you in prayer to where I want you to be and what I want you to pray--whatever I lay upon your heart.

Sometimes you won’t be able to write what I am saying because I will take you deeper than when you can type. But I will enable you to remember what I want you to write, IF I want you to write. Trust Me on this. Just like in dreams I want you to remember and write out.

Yes, it’s time to go farther and deeper now. You have written about the past and experiences you had then to share with others. Now I want you to write about the NOW. You can put old stories and dreams into this next writing project, but current journaling too...and mostly current journaling. I gifted you to listen to Me and write for a reason...and I will fulfill that purpose/reason.

DEEPER INTERCESSION
* * * * * * * *

Deeper intercession: I’ve just opened it up to you yesterday when your pastor prayed for you. And he was right that you will see more travailing - but only when I bring it. Do not try to force it upon yourself. It must come from Me to be true. Save yourself for what I put upon you.

Yes, you felt something inside your spirit yesterday wanting to be expressed. Now you are beginning to express it here in this writing and in quietness with Me. It is the expression of “something new” which I placed in you yesterday with the prayers, and imparting, and worshiping in My presence for hours.

MY PRAYER WALK
* * * * * * * *

My prayer walk over the years has had a number of phases: 

First I remember as a child at church camp feeling “forced” to pray something, sentence prayers around the circle, and I resisted and disliked that.

Next I remember as an adult the prayer groups to which we were all assigned at summer camp, and I didn’t want to go pray with strange people when I really didn’t know what to pray. I often skipped them. So, what did the Lord do? He had me say yes to leading a prayer group there for several summers. That was hard but it helped free me a bit more.

I remember a friend wanted me to pray with her in a conversational type prayer. It was good the one time we tried it, but I was so uncomfortable that I didn’t want to continue.

Then, in MasterLife classes, I grew a bit more comfortable in prayer when it was a small group and I began to know the people. We learned in MasterLife16 about conversational prayer and I liked that and tried to get others to pray that way, but they often just went on and prayed and prayed over many subjects without letting anyone else pray or respond until they were all through. That seemed to be the way many people functioned. I really liked Rosalind Rinker’s book on Conversational Prayer.13 That kind of prayer somehow I could relate to and participate in.

Then I was part of the five-woman prayer group for about a year or so. We grew close and prayed in more and more unity. And there was the Saturday night prayer group for about a year or so. And the PrayerLife17 groups that met in my home.

But then the Lord began teaching me to only pray when I heard what He wanted me to pray. This made it even harder to be in prayer groups because there was not much quiet for listening, and I wanted to be obedient to what He was teaching me. I often skipped prayer times church wide because of this situation of being torn in two directions at these meetings.

And it was so difficult when someone would call on me to pray for people I didn’t know at the ministry time at church. I was so uncomfortable with the leader calling on me that I would not look him in the eye when he was calling on people, and he would call on me anyway.

Then the Lord brought me to “a new beginning” in Lee’s Summit and no one assumed I was a “pray-er” because I had been in discipling leadership, had taught MasterLife, etc. I could pray all I wanted to in my personal quiet times without the pressure of praying for others publicly. I could follow the Lord’s leading and only pray as He led. It was freeing!

Then came the LIFE group with the leader telling me that there was prophecy inside me and I just needed to learn to release it and push past those things which would tend to hold it in. And the Lord would give me just a few words to say in prayer time at LIFE group, and He would say to me in my mind: 

Won’t you give them the gift I’ve given you for them? I’ve given you a gift to give them; will you hold it back and not give it for Me? 

This was a whole new way of viewing the words He put in my mind during prayer time - as a gift He put in me to say for Him to the person being prayed for. So last week I said the words He gave me, only a few words, but I said them three different times for three different people we prayed for. What a feeling I had done what He wanted me to do and that there just may have been power in those words because they were His words!

The Lord did something new in me yesterday when my pastor prayed for me for intercession. I felt like something was “inside” me after that. I wanted to release it, but the time wasn’t right. The Holy Spirit told me to wait until this morning and He would help me understand what new was in me. So I am writing down the ideas coming in my Quiet Time now.

I am looking forward to the “something new” and trust it is built on a different foundation of prayer than what I formerly experienced. I trust it is now built on listening to Him and praying only what He leads me to pray - and resisting any pressure to make up prayers in my human mind.

Thank You, God, for this “something new!” I want it. I say “yes” to You for it and want to receive it, and do receive it, in Jesus’ name.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

MOM’S STORY

My Mother was scheduled for open heart surgery at the University Medical Center in Columbia where we lived. She was in the hospital the night before the surgery was to be held the next day, and had this experience, which she wrote out in her own words:

The evening before my surgery (open heart) Rev. Lon from the Assembly of God Church came to my room, anointed me, and said a healing prayer for me. I was so grateful to him.

On the 9th evening after my surgery, I had a dream, which I now think must have been a vision. I could see a screen up on the wall with little tiny beings covering most of it. They resembled a bent wire, with one leg longer than the other - reminding me of a praying mantis without any head. They were of the purest white light, and shiny and radiant.

Up in the top right hand corner of the screen was a book - shaped like a church window, and I could hear a voice, that I took to be the voice of God, reading from the book, in biblical terms, but explaining the little radiant beings. The voice told me this was a form of healing going on in my body, which hadn’t been discovered yet (by man) and as yet there was no name for it. He told me that these little radiant healing agents were scouring my arteries and lungs to heal them. I kept wondering why I had never read this in the Bible, but reasoned later that the voice had said that it wasn’t discovered yet and so it probably wasn’t in the Bible which we have. I had great peace of mind. 

And then another picture was shown me. I and three other open heart patients were in the Thoracic Intensive Care Unit and I could see 3 men-like creatures at the door, trying to get in. They seemed to represent the evil forces in the world. I was told or knew somehow they were trying to get in to kill all of us. I seemed to have peace of mind about it, for I was sure they would never get that door open. They didn’t, and soon the pictures faded.

Later in the night I had another dream but I remember nothing about it, so I concluded that it was just an ordinary dream.

The first two pictures seem to get stronger and more fixed in my mind all of the time.

I was so grateful to God that I had the healing picture first as I had great peace of mind, and I just knew that those evil forces would never get that door open, to get in to kill us.

					Jennie M. Whitacre

IN THE INNER ROOM
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “The point I am making is simply that the more time we spend praying in our “inner room,” the more our capacity for prayer will grow. The more of ourselves we yield to the Lord in prayer, the more of His heart He can entrust us with… As I spent many hours there cut off from the distractions of the world, I found such a life of the Kingdom of God welling up within me, I let go and just let the Spirit feed my soul. It was wonderful.” 11 

A VISION PICTURE
* * * * * * * *

The Lord had me go to the upper room and unplug the phone and shut the door for a “deeper” quiet time this morning. I saw a picture of a bluebird flying over my head from left to right. It was carrying something, I guess a seed, in its mouth. 

A bird represents the Holy Spirit; blue represents Spiritual: Spiritual gift, divine revelation, heavenly visitation. The seed represents the Word of God.

So the bluebird represents that I am sending My Holy Spirit to fly over your head with a gift, revelation and/or visitation that will implant My Word into you better for it to grow. After it is implanted and full-grown, I will tell you when to give it out to others.

RECEIVE MY WORD INTO YOUR HEART
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:10)
* * * * * * * *

In Rick Joyner’s book: (Jesus said) “That is the power of My Word for those who will receive it into their heart. To receive My Word into your heart must be your quest every day. Then you will begin to see. Then you will have understanding.

“You must receive My Word into your heart first, then it will open your mind. If you only receive it into your mind, it will not live. My living Word must be received into the heart first, and then your mind will open.

“Only when you believe can you understand....When your understanding ceases to grow, you have departed from the path of life. As long as you are on that path you will grow. Your understanding will grow as well.” 10 

WRITING THE BOOK
“Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.”  (1 Corinthians 9:18)
* * * * * * * *

And yes, that is for you. You are to offer your “preaching” in the book for free, so as not to make use of your rights in preaching it. If someone sends something to you because I prompted them to do it, accept it with thanksgiving, but don’t ask or expect.

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)
* * * * * * * *
That is why you are writing the book and taking off all these months of earning money by your work - for the good of others who will read this book and be ministered to by it.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
* * * * * * * *
You are doing this for My glory, not yours, and that’s one reason it is offered free to others. It WILL bring glory to Me as I will quicken it to those who read it - some part of it will be quickened to each person who reads it, in some way. I WILL use it for My glory and for My kingdom work.

“For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33)
* * * * * * * *
And that is the ultimate purpose of the book, so many may be saved and discipled through it. Don’t worry about constructive criticisms and suggestions by others. Look at these suggestions to see if they will help others understand it better - understand what you are really trying to say.

THE SEER IN PROPHECY
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “Although prophecy comes through the mouth or pen of man, it comes from the mind of God.

“A prophet or prophetess, then, is a spokesperson for God; one who hears the voice of the Holy Spirit and speaks or pens God’s mind or counsel through a ‘divinely anointed manner.’

“Within the overall realm of the prophet lies the particular and distinctive realm of the seer. ...all true seers are prophets but not all prophets are seers. The word seer describes a particular type of prophet who receives a particular type of prophetic revelation or impartation.

“When it comes to prophetic revelation, a prophet is primarily an inspired hearer and then speaker while a seer is primarily visual. In other words, the prophet is the communicative dimension and the seer is the receptive dimension.....The first lays emphasis on a prophet’s relationship with the people; the second, on a prophet’s revelatory relationship with God. 

“The seer realm describes a whole other aspect of the way the prophetic operation occurs. Generally speaking, seers are people who see visions in a consistent and regular manner. For the most part, their prophetic anointing is more visionary than auditory. Rather than receiving words that they attempt to repeat or flow with, they often see pictures that they then describe. These pictures may be in the form of waking visions, or as dreams while sleeping.” 12 

I gave you visions for awhile, to awaken you to the seer quality I have put in you. Then I stopped the visions (and you wondered why) to awaken you to dreams and interpreting them. Now I am ready to do both in you at the same time. 

I started with the “vision” of the bluebird flying from left to right over your head with a seed in his mouth. That represents My Holy Spirit coming over you from the spiritual to the natural realm and carrying My Word in His mouth to deposit in you as a divine visitation or divine impartation. It’s time for both now.

WAITING ON THE LORD
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “This kind of prophetic anointing (seer) has a lot to do with quietly waiting on God. A highly anointed and sensitive seer of our day has remarked on how hard it is sometimes to wait on God. There are times, he says, when he waits on God all day, only to have Him come at the last minute.“ 

(That’s what happened to me one day this week when I waited and waited and He gave me the bluebird vision in a few seconds at the last minute before stopping the waiting time.) 

“Quite often, impartation in the seer realm comes only after a time of patient waiting and contemplative meditation upon the Lord.”  

(That’s why I am to set myself aside to wait on the Lord for long periods in my days – sometimes it’s hard and I get restless). 

“But thank the Lord, if we wait, He will come!”12

STIRRING IN THE HEAVENLIES
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.” (Haggai 2:6)
* * * * * * * *

(Lots of lightning and thunder during the night and this morning)

The prince of the power of the air is showing his displeasure in the natural for the stirrings in the spiritual realm taking place at your church this last few days. Lots of new levels of discerning and imparting and power were decreed and declared and went out into people -- and it stirred the heavenlies. There will be more Sunday. This all goes toward making the “shaking” happen that I told you about when the forces of good and evil clash as each gets stronger on the earth.

About your finances...keep praying for them to come in. Contend in the heavenlies for those finances as satan wants to stop you by stopping those finances from coming in. He is the one who tries to convince you that you don’t deserve to get financial help and need to go get a job. He doesn’t want you giving yourself full-time to My work/destiny for you. Know this, and respond accordingly. Pray for the finances on the basis of My Word.

KEEP ON STANDING BY FAITH
“...but the righteous will live by his faith--” (Habakkuk 2:4)
* * * * * * * *

A VISION PICTURE
Today I am remembering a vision picture the Lord gave me at a camp many many years ago - perhaps between 1971-1975 sometime. In this vision I walked from the ocean up to the shore and Jesus was waiting there for me and He handed me a treasure. 

Interpretation: I come “out of the ocean” of people and separate myself to find the Lord on the shore. He comes to me and brings His treasure--His treasure being Himself and His provision; all He has belongs to me. I only need to seek Him for it, for it comes through Him--no matter how it appears to come in the natural.

I gave up my job and set myself apart unto the Lord and came to Lee’s Summit under His direct guidance. I wrote, with the Holy Spirit, the book He guided me to write (Thoughts And Stories, On a Life God Leads, Guides, and Protects, book 1). 

I now wait and pray for the next step in this journey of faith...the publication of the book and the provision for my living expenses, as well as guidance for what to do next in the process. All of this I pray for answers to now.

And I say YES to your prayers, My child. YES! I will guide you to the next step for you to do. I will make your provision (which I already have planned and stored up for you) known to you very soon. Keep on standing by faith. 

And I told you I already had the publisher planned for your book, and I do. Just because you haven’t seen it yet doesn’t mean it isn’t real. It is. And it won’t be long until you will see it come about and you will know another of “His Marvelous Deeds” that you can declare. 

But the struggle to see this come about will be recorded in your journal for others to read about. Maybe I want it (the provision) to come so out of the unknown that no one else can take credit for this provision. I want it to be clearly by Me and Me alone.

REMEMBER YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY 
MY THOUGHTS
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:9)
* * * * * * * *

You are thinking that just because you are ready to publish the THOUGHTS AND STORIES book that it is time to publish it. Wait, My child. Wait on My timing for publishing it. It may not be right now, or it may not be even this month. You have done your part in putting it together, and I will do My part in bringing about the publication of it. 

I know you are eager to get it into the hands of people in Columbia, etc. before they forget you, but I will take care of that - the people who are supposed to read it. Just wait and watch and pray as I lead you. There might be a greater readership of it if we wait just a little while, and I know about that. It’s My book, right?

I will publish it at the right time....you just watch to see where I am working that and join Me at the right time. Remember your thoughts are not necessarily My thoughts, and your ways My ways.

“...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.” (Isaiah 55:11)

HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”  (Job 22:21)
* * * * * * * *

Is this a word to me today, Lord? I am looking for Your way for me today...for how I am to receive the provision You have promised me if I would follow You, quit my job in Columbia, come here to Lee’s Summit, MO, and write the book you put in my heart to write. 

I need new revelation, Lord. I do not know what step to take next...what to do, how to act in light of the end of the provision that got me here and kept me provided for until now. I need Your guidance and help to know what to do next. You guided me to pray for money to be provided for me to live on, right?

Yes, that’s right.  I guided you to pray for that and tithe as an offering toward it. It’s all stored up here in your heavenly bank account.

I have done all this, Lord, and have followed the directions You gave me. Now I am almost out of funds to live on, and I seek You, Lord, for direction as to what to do next. Do you want me to seek a job here?

No, My child, no job in Lee’s Summit. I have given you a job to do for Me -- to listen to Me and write what I tell you. You have been faithful to that and I will be faithful to pay you your wages, as I promised I would if you follow Me.

Then why is it so hard to see that provision, Lord? Why doesn’t it show itself to me? Do I have to use up the last penny You’ve given me before You provide the first penny of the “provision?” 

The answer to that is “yes,” My child. Go ahead and use up all that I’ve given you so far, then I will provide more. That is one of My principles: give out all that I’ve given you and then I will refill you with more. Give and it shall be given unto you.

Even in paying bills, Lord?

Yes, even in paying bills. Go ahead and pay all the bills left for this month; then I can give you more. I want My funds flowing through you, not sitting in a bank account waiting to be used. I want what I give you flowing through your usage. What I give always flows, isn’t stagnant.

The idea of a savings account with money being transferred to my checking account each month -- that was my idea, not Yours?

Correct. Your thoughts are not My thoughts in this case. Your “savings account” is in Me, in heaven, under My authority and governorship. I oversee your account with Me, and I disperse it when it is the right time for it to come--and in the right way.

You see, you DO have money in a savings account, but I’m keeping that account here in heaven so it won’t be destroyed by the things yet to come on earth. It represents all that you need for the rest of your life here on earth. It is all yours when it is needed. At that time I will transfer what you need to your earthly account for you to draw on.

You have an account for me in heaven with you, Jesus?

Yes. And I oversee it, and manage it...not earthly people. I am the great overseer of your account. I will never let it fail or be lost, or lose its value. I do not trust your heavenly bank account to earthly overseers. It is here. It is viable. It is available, and I disperse funds from it when it is the right time. You do not need it yet (even though you feel anxious about it) until you have used all I have given you.

Is this the way it works?

This is the way it works.

You’d rather give it to me each month, then, than have some stored up in an earthly bank account that I fall back on or trust in?

Yes, that is correct. I will disperse your heavenly bank account funds - when I decide, in the way I choose, and in a way that blesses not only you, but others as well. I do more than one thing each time I act. I bless more than one person and/or accomplish more than one purpose. I will do that with you, too. I did that yesterday with E. buying your lunch. I blessed him, too, mightily.

Thank You. I pray for that blessing for him, Lord. That was so kind of him to buy my lunch when I didn’t have money to buy it.

You see, your need became his blessing as well as yours.

ACCEPT INSTRUCTION
“Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.” (Job 22:22)
* * * * * * * *

And that is what you are doing just now...accepting instruction from My mouth and laying up My words in your heart. My words are life and truth, and they show you the way. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes unto the Father but by Me.

“If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.” (Job 22:23-25)

You see, you have to use up your gold, your nuggets, your money (assign it to the dust and rocks). Then I will be your gold and silver...real gold and real silver as well as wisdom and knowledge. Isn’t this what you want?

Yes, Lord, that is what I want...You to be my real gold and silver as well as wisdom and knowledge. I see that “wickedness” is doing things in a way that is not Your way--in an unrighteous way. I have been “holding on” to the little money left in my bank account, clinging to it in fear there wouldn’t be more coming in, and trusting in it rather than You, Lord. Please forgive me. Thank You for showing me this.

“Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.”  (Job 22:26-27)

Those vows are your commitments to pay. You will fulfill those. In other words, you will pay your bills each month from your heavenly bank account -- as you use up what is already withdrawn.

“What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast. He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”   (Job 22:28-30)

And this process of listening to Me and following me will eventually cause the rest of that stated: 
•	You will pray to me and I will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows (bills)
•	What you decide on (decree, declare) will be done
•	Light will shine on your ways.
•	When you pray for others who need bringing up, I will save them
•	Even the person who is not clean and innocent will be delivered by Me through the cleanness of your hands, for I will listen to and answer your prayers.

This is quite a promise, Lord!!! 

Yes, but it is true. When you get in right relationship with Me, then I hear and answer your prayers like this!

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”  (Job 23:10-12)

That is the truth for you too. You have followed My ways as I have tested you. You will come forth as gold. Isn’t that what you want?

Yes. Thank You, Lord, for accomplishing the purposes You have put in my heart to desire...even when I didn’t know how to accomplish them. I will now, today, pay out in checks the rest of my bills for this month, knowing you will bring in more after that is done. Thank You for showing me Your way!

This lesson is for others too. I am teaching you this lesson, but you are to pass it on to others through your writing, and they will be blessed and learn from it too. That way I accomplish something in more than one person’s life, but give blessing to many through this.

FEAR THE LORD
“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” (Psalm 34:9)
* * * * * * * *

Listening to Me, and following Me and My instructions, are part of “fearing Me.”

In a recent dream I was looking for money and found 2 quarters lying on the ground and picked them up. (I seem to recall that I have looked for and found lost coins lying around in many dreams in the past. In fact, I remember finding them in lots of places where others didn’t seem to notice them.) In this recent dream I then found a stash of money folded up with some papers and took it thinking it was lost money too. Then, without reading the papers, I felt that money was “planted” in that hiding place for someone to pick up and that I should put it back for them - which I proceeded to do. 

Interpretation:  The story in the Bible of the lost coins comes to my mind. Perhaps these lost coins represent people who need the Lord, and perhaps my finding them refers to my book which goes out into many places and finds people I don’t even know and ministers to them.

The second part about the stash of money and papers: this may refer to a purposely planted bunch of money (representing people) by the enemy to snare me, which is not to be taken up by me. I am perhaps being warned to look carefully at any money (representing people) brought to me to be sure it is what the Lord wants me to accept/minister to. He will show me, as He did in this dream.

GOING THROUGH A NEW DOOR
“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.....After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.” (Revelation 3:20; 4:1)
* * * * * * * *

Notes from Sunday’s sermon by James Goll--To go through a new door:
1.	Close old doors (Learn from the past and go on. Forgive as needed)
2.	Identify new doors
3.	Prepare for the new
4.	Cross over the threshold of new doors and possess the new (new culture, fresh faith)

That surely is what I have been going through over the past 10 months! I’ve gone through this whole process. I am in the part of possessing the new culture and faith to live in it.

A DREAM
* * * * * * * *

I had a dream just before I woke up. In the dream I saw a group of manila files with the tabs on the upper left corner. On or over those tabs there were rainbows shining on each one...like the sun was shining on them to show those rainbows. It was like each folder held a “story” that was very special because of the rainbow shining on its tab corner. I sensed somehow I was getting to explore each file/story. I knew these were very special.

My first impression is that these represent stories/events in my life that are now opening up, being revealed, due to the prayer effort for me last night at Heartland Healing Rooms. Things were opened up within me for viewing and the Son was shining on those events and turning them into rainbows - the sign from God of redemption from the wickedness on the earth and from the sorrow of the time of the flood of rain. It gives a dream picture of new parts of me being opened up to view with Jesus shining on them to reveal them. I want to continue to explore those “stories” in those files. Perhaps they will be part of my next book of Thoughts And Stories, Book 2.

So I feel the dream described above shows about the previously unknown “stories” hidden in me that are now free to be explored, and that the light of the Son is shining on my flood of sorrows and making them into rainbows...something beautiful coming out of sorrow. 

It reminds me that James Goll said we needed to shut the doors on the past, and forgive things from the past, so we could go into the new door into the future. I feel last night’s prayer brought that about, closed that door to the past, and that the dream is a “sign” of the rainbow from the Lord giving a glimpse into the “new things” which are going to be opened up for me. PTL!

Yes, I want to tell you more about that dream with the rainbows. The rainbow was a sign and a promise of hope for the future. So it is with you in this dream also. I have “files” to open in your life that you know not of, have not even imagined yet, and they are good. You will delight in them as you delight when you get to see a rainbow. I love you, and I have much joy and promise ahead for you. It is My delight to do this in you and for you. 

Lord, what are these files with rainbows on the tabs that You showed me in my dream last night?

You and I will be exploring them further. Call them “the rainbow files.” We will look at “the rainbow files” and see what they hold for you and your future. They are good and you will be delighted with the future I have planned for you. It is just right for you and the way I have made you, and the things I have you delight in.

THE PROPHETIC WRITER
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3)
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “Prophecy is not limited to the verbal and the visual; it may also come forth in written form. Although not as common perhaps as the spoken forms of prophecy, prophetic writing is just as valid. A person with this anointing is just as prophetic as anyone else. The difference is that he or she has the gift and bent to communicate more powerfully and effectively through the written word than through the spoken word.

“Over the years, I have seen many prophetic people who were awkward in front of people, but give them a pen and paper or a word processor and watch out! On the other hand, I have also seen many powerful speakers with incredible charisma and “stage presence” who could hardly jot down two sentences together coherently, much less write a book. The written word and the spoken word are quite different, and there is a prophetic anointing for each.” 12 

This is the way I understand the writing I am being led to do right now...as a prophetic writer. I listen to the Holy Spirit speak into my thoughts, then I write those thoughts down and share them with others in my books.

THE PROPHETIC ANOINTING
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

* * * * * * * *

Jim Goll says: “Essentially, the anointing is the supernatural enablement or grace--the manifested presence of the Holy Spirit--operating upon or through an individual or a corporate group to produce the works of Jesus. It means God with you and God in you; you are talking His talk and walking in His shadow.” 12 

That’s why Psalm 91:1 about being in the shadow of the Almighty is so important to me!

That’s where you are right now. You are dwelling in My shelter and resting in My shadow.

“The single most characteristic mark of a true prophetic person is the evidence that he or she has stood in the counsel of God and has, therefore, faithfully declared what he or she heard from His mouth.

“Usually, prophets make no special claim to be heard but are content to speak and act and leave the matter there, confident not in themselves but in the fact that they have heard from God and that every word from Him will find fulfillment. Their primary concern is not with the distant future but to tell forth the will of God in the crisis of their own days. Prophets, then, are essentially interpreters of God.

“Prophecy comes through the mouth of man but from the mind of God--spiritual thoughts in spiritual words.” 12

PROPHETIC INTERCESSORS
* * * * * * * *

“Under this anointing, a person receives a burden from God that releases intercession that can affect individuals, communities, cities, and even nations. Depending on the measure of sphere and authority granted by the Lord, a prophetic intercessor may move under a particular international burden. 

“It takes a strong prophetic spirit to endure in prayer before the Lord even when much time goes by with nothing seemingly happening. Without such an anointing, people become hopeless, disappointed, and discouraged to the point of giving up. The anointing for prophetic intercession imparts the grace to endure. You don’t just pray to God, you learn to pray the prayers of God!” 12 

I realize as I read this from Jim Goll that the prayer guidance the Holy Spirit has taken me through has brought me to the place where I am to be a prophetic intercessor - listening to the Spirit and then speaking in prayer what He shows me. That’s what He has been teaching me. I just didn’t have a name for it before.

VISION
“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”  (Proverbs 29:18 NAS)
* * * * * * * *

In Jim Goll’s book: “People who have no vision also have no goal or purpose--nothing to shoot for. They have nowhere to go in life and therefore go nowhere. As Christians, we have the biblical promises as well as the current day revelatory words that are spoken into each of our lives, which come in a multiplicity of manners. Sometimes they come by the quiet still witness of the Spirit; at other times, through dreams or visions. They may come from God directly to you, or through someone speaking to you what they have received from God.... Whatever the case, don’t cast away your dream, for it will have a great reward. Don’t take off your dream coat in the presence of your enemy. Keep the vision God has given you before your eyes. Vision is a power that sustains a people...and humility is a key that releases understanding!12

THE DOVE
“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!” (Genesis 8:11)
* * * * * * * *

The first day of autumn. And You have wonderful plans for this fall, Lord, which You spoke to me about even before fall came. I say ‘yes’ to Your plans and how You want to include me in them!

I saw a dove on the roof of the house across the street which I can see as I sit at the table for breakfast. It is the first one I remember seeing near this house since I moved here. Then, later, there were two doves there, just sitting and resting in the sun. 

I felt the message coming to me that I was to sit and rest along with You, Holy Spirit, as these doves remind me of You and Your work together with me. So I rest in You, Lord. I rest for my financial provision and for the work that You have for me to do with You today in writing and in all else this day holds.

Jim Goll says: “Asking a question is a wise course of action whenever visionary revelation occurs. That is a lesson I learned from Zechariah. No matter what I see or how many times I think I may have seen it before, I always ask, ‘What is this, Lord?’ I am confident that the same God who gives me the revelation can also interpret it for me.” 12

So I ask You, Lord, about the two doves I saw: “What is this, Lord?”

They are from Me, and they symbolize that I am with you, standing beside you, and that I want to remind you of that by this sign. Yes, it is a sign. Whenever you see doves, they are My sign to you and are to remind you of Me. As you are in the ark of My protection all the time, I want you to be reminded of that regularly.

DO NOT BECOME WEARY
“Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
* * * * * * * *

I believe this Scripture is to be an encouragement to me to not become weary and discouraged. If I don’t give up, the harvest will come at the proper time. I do not know what the “proper time” is, but You do, Lord, and I trust You for it. 	This harvest can be, for me, a harvest of provision for my living expenses “at the proper time” and a harvest of kingdom work being accomplished through the work we do together “at the proper time.”

REVELATION LIGHT.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him...that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”  (Ephesians 1:17-19a)
* * * * * * * *

Jim Goll says: “While praying on the living room couch early that morning, I watched through the sliding glass door as the sun rose. For one short moment, a beam of sunlight coming through the Venetian blinds lit across my forehead, and the thought came to me, “I will give you a shaft of revelation light.” In that moment all my confusion dissipated. I did not hear anything or have any internal knowing of what my decision was to be. My spirit was simply at rest in the confident knowledge that the Lord was revealing it to me.”12 

This is the quiet confidence I feel regarding my financial provision since the revelation knowledge came to me on Monday regarding my heavenly bank account and how the Lord will disperse it to me as needed, when I have let flow through me what He has already given me, and need more.

“What is the hope of the Lord’s calling on your life? Ask him to give you a vision of it, and don’t stop asking. Keep on looking until you see it. Don’t look just for a project or for something to do; look for a vision of Him! Pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened and your spiritual vision enhanced. Ask that a revelatory shaft of light would enter your spirit so that you would know the hope and the expectation of good for your life. Remember that what you keep in front of your eyes is what you will become. Present your eyes, your mind, your heart--your whole self--to the Lord and ask Him to grant you the spirit of revelation. Ask Him for the vision that will sustain you.” 12

And I AM giving it to you. You know it inside your being but just haven’t brought it to the surface too clearly yet. I will make it clearer and clearer--not just the next project you and I will do together, but the purpose and end of our work together...the hope of your calling and your inheritance in Me. I will do this.

A TIME TO DANCE
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, A time to mourn, and a time to dance.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.)
* * * * * * * *

Two times recently people have spoken to me about dancing. One was S. in the New Member Class Prophetic Presbytery and the other was last Monday evening during healing prayer time with the two women at the Heartland Healing Rooms. Then this email came. I copied it to put in this journal regarding a New Version Of Footprints and dancing:

FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
	Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.
	But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
	For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently.
	You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
	This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.
	Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
	This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
	Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints they have become one.
	This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.
	You are amazed and shocked.
	Your dream ends. Now you pray:
	"Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."
	"That is correct."
	"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely."
	"Very good.. You have understood everything so far."
	When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way."
	"Precisely."
	"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."
	There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
	"You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

MY PURPOSE IN LIFE
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
* * * * * * * *

I want some people to be intimate with Me and you are one I’ve picked. I’ve trained you in how to be since you were a little child. I’ve brought you close with dreams, visions, scripture, journaling, prayer, communicating with Me moment by moment, asking, seeking, knocking, and putting that desire in your heart - all this through the Holy Spirit. And this is your purpose in life! You wanted to know your purpose. It’s to be close and intimate with Me, sharing each moment, each happening together.

That’s why I gave you so many instructions on listening, visioning, journaling, experiencing, and following. This is something you are to be rather than something to do. Doing is loving Me, communicating with Me, worshiping Me, etc. This is your purpose; you are fulfilling it daily. I am pleased. It’s what I’ve trained you to do. It’s the dream/desire I’ve put in your heart. There are some I’ve called just to be with Me - and you are one. Be content with that.

Read this whenever you have doubts (not from Me!) about fulfilling your purpose in life.

A DREAM
* * * * * * * *

Last night I had a dream which I got up and wrote down. In this dream I saw two columns of prophecy. One was from T. and it was on the left side of the page in lines about 3” wide. The other was from S. and it was on the right side of the same page in lines about 3” wide. Then I saw those same prophecy lines written out clear across the page instead of in narrow margins. T’s lines were on top, then there was a green line across, then S’s lines were underneath that. When I woke up the clock said 3:21.

T. and S. are two prophetic people I know (and talked with last night at LIFE group). This dream represents a “prophecy” or proclamation from the Lord. It is a proclamation saying it is about God’s strength demonstrated through man’s weakness. The green line represents renewal for me.

3:21 represents the full measure of conformity of being holy and approved. This is first in importance, and is new. It is a new start, a new beginning. It seems the Lord is wanting to affirm me through this dream that He is renewing me in the ability to let Him work through me, and in my weakness to show His strength.  He is telling me by the time on the clock that He sees this as first in importance and that He sees me as holy, tried and approved in full measure. This time right now is a new beginning for me. Is that right, Lord?

Yes, and I want you to know that the “new” has already begun. It has been imparted to you, and you are already beginning to walk in it. It is always primary of importance in your life and will take first place in your time also. I will provide for you so you can allow this ministry with Me to be first place in your life, not a job outside the home with this becoming second in time commitment. 	This is a prophecy which I proclaim to you. I showed you the words written out were prophecy by your “knowing” it and by T. and S. representing prophecy to you also, as they are prophetic intercessors.

This is seen right and left, top and bottom. In other words, it encompasses all space and time in your life. This is the vision I am giving you to continue in and keep progressing toward.

A STORY
* * * * * * * *

HE WHO WATCHES OVER YOU

My husband and I were returning to Indiana from a trip to Missouri in our small plane.  It had been a long day and we were both tired.  As we flew through the darkness late that night, the humming sound of the plane began to lull us both to sleep without our realizing it.

The next thing I remember is suddenly awakening.  I looked at my husband and saw that he was asleep as I had been.  I quickly woke him up!

He immediately looked at the gauges on the instrument panel of the plane and saw that we had dropped about 1000 feet while we slept!  Had we continued to sleep, obviously we would have crashed.  But, just in time, we had been awakened!  God had not been sleeping but watching over us to perform one of His Marvelous Deeds!

“He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel 
will neither slumber nor sleep.”
(Psalm 121:3-4)

NEW ASSIGNMENT
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
* * * * * * * *

You really DO want me to begin a book on Quiet Time Thoughts, don’t You, Lord?  (Thoughts And Stories, Book 2)

Yes, I do. You have already written much into that book. I will work with you on cutting and pasting out of the Quiet Time writings into this new book. You may call it “More Thoughts And Stories.” We will decide the subtitle later as we go. You will know that when it is the right time.

Keep reading back over your August and September writings. It will encourage and help refocus you on what I’ve already told you. That’s one reason I have you write - to encourage yourself - but also to encourage others eventually, when they get a chance to read it.

Just pull out of your journals things to write a good devotional book taking only those ideas I show you and perhaps expounding on them as I lead you. Make “More Thoughts And Stories” a book of daily devotionals mixed in with stories every so often. You may want to ask R. for his great story about the hot water. Remember I said you might get some stories from your church people. 

Lord, what are we waiting on for publishing the Thoughts And Stories (book one) book?

We are waiting on My bringing your monthly provision, the money to finance the publication, and the knowledge about who the publisher is. It will all come in My time. It won’t be much longer. It will come together swiftly - you’ll see. Be patient with Me. I am in charge of it all, remember? I already know all the pages of the next book we will write together. 

Yes, I will continue to have you write in this format after this beginning book. I won’t say how many “devotional” type books you and I will write, but we will keep this up until you leave this earth. They will be very helpful for people right now during these stressful days before the rapture, and also very helpful for those who come to Me after the rapture. There will be much fruit from them.

A DREAM
“Meanwhile his disciples urged him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’” (John 4:31-32)
* * * * * * * *

In this dream: I was inside a car with 3 men in there also. We 4 were sitting facing each other in the back of the car. I didn’t recognize anyone. Two of the men (one on left and one on right) seemed like they had money. The one on my left had on a black coat. He took out a big wad of money and looked at the man on my right to see if they agreed on what they were going to do. They each seemed to agree by their looking at each other that they were going to give me a wad of money.

I said as I saw this, “Are you going to give me some money?” Then I thought that I would say, as I got out of the car after getting the money, “Now I can buy some food.”

The interpretation: The middle stranger was Jesus. The right and left strangers were His angels of provision. They agreed to bring me money for my provision. This was done through God’s strength and the power of God revealed through flesh or the Church. This money represents the power or provision with which to do the ministry God has called me to. It is given into my life or ministry...and it is important. The amount is unknown, so unlimited. The statement “Now I can buy some food = Now I can do the work of God. Is this correct, Lord?

Yes, My child, that is absolutely correct. It is a picture of My bringing your provision in a strange, unknown way and amount into your life.

 “Dreams are the language of emotions and often contain much symbolism. When dealing with the visionary prophetic realm, we must learn to take our interpretations first from Scripture and then from our own lives....One important point to remember in trying to understand dream language is that God is consistent with His symbolic language. How He speaks in Genesis is similar to how He speaks in Revelation. Throughout the Bible, the types and symbols remain very much the same. This same consistency of symbolism holds true in our own lives as well. 12 

Later I also realized that Secret Service agents wear dark suits, and that the angel with the dark coat was like an “agent” doing “secret service” for me.

BE SEPARATE
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord....I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
* * * * * * * *

Separate yourself unto Me. I want to speak with you. I saw you there at church this morning--praising Me and worshiping Me, and praying for the peace of Jerusalem. You are a delightful child to Me. I love you!

I know you have been waiting to hear a word from Me about your provision. Yes, it comes by My grace poured out upon you. Yes, it is mercy from Me in regard to your needs while on the earth. Yes, I am fulfilling My promises to you. 

You are My listener and writer. I have called you to this, and you have obeyed. I have tested you for this, to see if you would believe and stand believing for it, and you have passed the test. You have overcome fear of poverty and stood waiting and praising and worshiping when you haven't had money to live on this day.

You have continued to listen to Me, and write what I wanted you to write, in faithfulness. So, I am with you. I bless you. My blessing brings prosperity. I needed to strengthen you to stand even without seeing the provision, and needed you to be willing to do whatever I guided you to do. You have.

I love you. I love your pure and obedient heart before Me. Now I stand with you...and I call My angels to bring you provision...those provision angels you saw in your dream and believed. Trust Me. Trust in Me. Rely upon Me. Rest in Me. I am with you. When you have Me with you, you have all you need.

I love you, My child. You ARE looking to Me just as a child does to his father. I AM your Father. I AM your husband. I AM your brother in the faith. I AM your bridegroom. I am EVERYTHING you ever need now and ever will need later...for all the days of your life upon this earth before the rapture. I love you, and I am now pouring out My love in provision grace. Provision grace. Provision grace is what you will live in all the days of your life...and you will come to Me at the Rapture in provision grace.

Thank You for provision grace, Lord! I love You! I love your presence. I love to hear Your voice. I love to minister in your name. I love to listen to You and write for You. I want to continue to be Your writer.

I know, and you WILL!

LISTENING, WATCHING, WAITING
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:34-35) 
* * * * * * * *

I am almost out of food, and I am out of available money to pay the first of the month bills. I don’t know what else to do. I am seeking leading from the Lord.

In your book you revealed Me, and marvelous things I did in people’s lives. That’s what I want you doing, My child. I want you, as a seer, to be “seeing” Me and revealing Me to those around you, who will listen to you, who will read your writing. So keep writing today and all the days I give you. 

You were right when you wrote your pastor that what I want for you is to listen to Me and write what I show/tell you. This writing will increase; it will grow; it will multiply. Thoughts And Stories was only the beginning for your writing days. I have many more of them for you. I want you home, here, listening to Me as you are right now. I have trained you for this and I WILL fulfill my purpose and plan for you. Trust Me. I WILL LEAD THE WAY! 

It seems like this (writing) is what I am supposed to be doing.

It is.

Then how shall I live, buy food, pay my bills?

I will show you the way. I AM the way.

OK, show me, Lord. Show me the way.

Didn’t I show you a picture of My angels bringing food to you? 

Yes.

Didn’t I give you a dream of My angels giving you money?

Yes.

Watch for this to be fulfilled. Then you will KNOW this is from Me and that I want you to trust ME for food and money. Watch for it to be fulfilled; then you will KNOW. If it is not fulfilled? Then come and talk to Me again about this. I will answer you.

How long must I wait, Lord?

Until I answer your requests for food and money. If this answer doesn’t come in 2 days, come again to Me.

These scriptures on provision are what I pray to the Lord today:

“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”  (Psalm 25:12-14)

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” (Psalm 25:21)

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5)

“These [creatures] all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.” (Psalm 104:27-28)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

CONFUSED, WITH DIRECTION HIDDEN
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
* * * * * * * *

I had a dream last night and I remember this morning four scenes from it.

1. I looked out a window from inside and saw a strange looking dark dark gray cloud sort of hanging down from the sky. The sky was mostly clear except for this cloud and maybe 1 other cloud the same color. But this cloud hung down almost to the ground, maybe to 6 ft above the ground. At the bottom of the cloud there was a shape kind of like small square blocks grouped together. 	           [    ]       ]
                                                               			[   ]     ]
                                        			   		   [__]
I think I saw it hanging in front of a tree outside the window. I looked at it awhile because it was so strange shaped and so dark gray. But I don’t remember feeling any emotions. In this scene I was looking to my right.

What does this mean, Lord?

There is trouble that has come upon you; it is threatening to you, it troubles your thoughts, it leaves you confused as to what to do and your direction is hidden, covered, and not clear. Its color indicates it is unclear, vague, not specific, hazy and hidden. The window indicates that I am giving you a glimpse or revelation into that situation you are now in. I am showing you the truth and understanding by this dream. The tree refers to your covering and that it seems square: harsh or hard right now and of the world’s ways of thinking (like you must get a job in order to be provided for). You feel pressure to follow the square way of thinking-of the world. But look at what the next scene shows you...

2. I saw another “cloud” sort of thing up in the air outside the window. A person stood outside too, a tall person. I looked up at them both. The pillow-like cloud was maybe 8-10 ft up in the air, and the person was maybe 7-8 ft tall and standing between me and the cloud. This cloud was yellowish green in the center and shaped like a round pillow which has been stitched so the middle is pushed in. I saw that the face area of the person looked the same as the cloud, the same color, maybe even a similar shape. I started to say something about, “Look how that cloud and you look almost the same.” But I thought that might be offensive or hurtful to hear he looked yellow greenish, so I didn’t say it. In this scene I was looking slightly to my left.

What does this mean, Lord?

The tall man is My angel standing near you. You look UP to see him. He is not someone known to you, a stranger. His face area is yellow and green and just like the cloud. This cloud is shaped like a pillow representing rest, comfort, rest for your head (thoughts, mind).  The green and yellow represent LIFE and GIFT of God. These are both gifts from God. The angel is bringing them to you and this will be your new “covering” as the cloud represents. The round shape indicates this is grace, mercy, and compassion from the Lord, via His angel, to you.

3. In one other scene I looked down at my body and saw I had a yellow shirt on and a brown cardigan sweater over it.

What does all this mean, Lord? Please reveal the meaning of these dreams to me!

It represents your covering as pertaining to your heart. What is covering your heart is God, a gift of Him, His righteousness. What is placed over that covering is a picture that you are repented, born again, not mortal in that you are dead to self. So your covering, your anointing, your protection, is all Me, all God, righteous, not of self - and this is good.

4. I now think of a piece of another dream scene last night: In this I saw a yellow hand coming through something (like a veil, wall, paper, barrier, box or something) slowly and coming toward me as I watched it. It was a right hand.

So this means you had a vision of the righteous right hand of God’s power, strength, and might coming out through the veil of being hidden/concealed and extending toward you with a gift from or of God...in regard to your deeds, labor or service.

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:24)

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:8)

And I want to talk to you now. You have had dreams telling of two positions: one is square and stiff and the way the world thinks - that you must go get a job to have provision come in. The other is soft, flexible, cheering, and comforting. It is a gift from God and brought by His messengers, the angels. Which do you want?

I want the gift from You, Lord, the soft, comforting, cheering, flexible one. The yellow pillow/cloud brought by Your angels.

I know you do. I asked you that so I could dialogue with you. Would you be willing to wait for it until it is the right time for it to come?

Yes, Lord.

Then wait expectantly. This is the best way. This is the way that is your destiny. This way will fulfill your purpose and desire that I have put in your heart...to listen and write for Me daily. Not work part time in a worldly job. I know you need food and money. I am well aware of that. And I will bring it to you!!! Trust Me. It will come in time to meet your needs. Do not seek further to find a job.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” (Isaiah 42:1)

DO NOT TURN ASIDE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT
“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)   
* * * * * * * *

This was on today’s scripture calendar! Right = natural; Left = Spiritual. I am not to turn aside to either way if it is not what the Lord my God has commanded me. As I now understand what I am to do...I am to wait until the Lord brings my provision at His timing. I am not to pursue any job.

THIS IS THE VICTORY
“This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
* * * * * * * *

I’d so much rather be here than out looking at jobs!

This is right. This is where you are supposed to be. I am with you, My child. I am blessing you with My presence. You KNOW it this morning!

Yes!

And I will STAY with you! You have passed another test. You have gone through another trial and had overcoming victory! Praise the Lord!

SCRIPTURES ON PROVISION
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)
* * * * * * * *

Look up, write out, pray and proclaim scriptures on provision:

“Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.” (Psalm 106:4-5)

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” (Malachi 3:10)

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)

“A good man obtains favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 12:2)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23:1, 5, 6)

“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” (Psalm 34:9)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19)

“For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling...I will bless her with abundant provisions.” (Psalm 132:13, 15)

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)

“‘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.’” (Psalm 91:14-15)

“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” (Exodus 33:13)

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

“What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28) 

“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” (Job 22:28 KJV)

“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 28:12)

IN QUIETNESS YOU WILL MEET ME
“Therefore I will teach them - this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the Lord.”  (Jeremiah 16:21)
* * * * * * * *

Today You are drawing me to something, Lord, and the key to finding it is through prayer. There are some things you are ready to teach me and I must set aside time for this. You want me to follow You, and learn from You. In the quietness You will meet me. You are leading me to give up my human dreams, and to ask you to take away the desire for them. Then You can set me apart unto Your higher calling on my life, to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, to be led into the wilderness, to learn directly from the Spirit.  In the quietness you will meet me. I say “Yes” to You, Lord!

PRUNING
“Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2)
* * * * * * * *

That is what I am doing in your life, My child. I am pruning you to get you totally at peace while trusting in Me and waiting on Me. This does not happen overnight, but through much testing to let your faith grow. Thank Me for this. Soon the testing time will be completed and the abundance I have promised will come to you. Persevere, My child. This time of pruning is bringing good to you.

I KNEW YOU
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.’” (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
* * * * * * * *

This means I knew what kind of person you would be. I knew your soul and spirit. I knew you would desire to be close to Me, to follow Me, and to be like Me. That body I formed in your mother’s womb is not you. It is the earthly package in which I put you. I knew the inner part of you before you were formed in the womb, and I put your inner part into that earthly body. The inner part is the real you--the part that is important.

Do not worry about the body. Remember when I said that? You have spent so much time and effort worrying, fussing, and taking care of the body. Give Me equal time for the growth, shaping, and feeding of the inner part of you each day as you give the body.

ALWAYS WAIT ON ME
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  (Psalm 25:4-5)
* * * * * * * *

Because you walk closely and intimately with Me, you experience My guidance. Because you believe in My indwelling presence to guide you, I do so. Always wait on Me to show you the way. Follow My timing and guidance every hour, every day - trustingly, quietly, confidently. Set yourself apart unto Me as first in your life. Then I will see that everything else important gets accomplished. Always wait on Me.

HONOR ME
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”  (Proverbs 3:9-10)
* * * * * * * *

Lord, You teach me through this Scripture to honor You with my wealth. You show me that, if I do, my barns will be filled to overflowing. My barns are those storage places for worldly goods: checking account, savings account, food storage area, etc. These are the material storage barns I use in life.

You also say my vats will brim over with new wine. My vats represent to me the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual parts of me. You say they will brim over, be filled to overflowing. This wine refers to joy - not just the same joys I have had before, but new joys - ones I have not had previously.

Lord, I want to honor You with my wealth. How do I do that?

This is the way to honor Me, My child...Whether you have a little or whether you have a lot, consider it all Mine. Give where I tell you to give, spend where I tell you to spend, save where I tell you to save. Listening to Me, and being obedient to Me, is honoring Me!

PRAYER LIFE
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  (Ephesians 6:18)
* * * * * * * *

What the blood is to your physical body, prayer is to your spiritual body. As blood flows through your physical body taking help, nutrition, and healing to all parts, so prayer goes throughout your spiritual body. It brings help, nourishment and healing to it. As you commune with God (pray) all day long, that life-breathing prayer flows throughout your spiritual body and builds it up. Lack of prayer lets it become depleted and malnourished. As our physical blood can become ‘unbalanced,’ so can the spiritual blood...and need to become right through prayer...therefore God calls us to regular daily prayer.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)

BUILDING
“From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (Proverbs 12:14)
* * * * * * * *

We build or tear down with our thoughts, attitudes, and words. It is like taking building blocks, like lego blocks, and putting one on top of another to build something. Or we take off blocks one at a time in a similar way. The blocks go on with the words we speak that agree with scripture, and the blocks come off with the words we say which disagree with scripture. We build the kingdom of God in our lives in this way--by speaking the truth of God’s Word day by day.

THREE STEPS
“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.”  (Isaiah 55:11)
* * * * * * * *

One day in my Quiet Time the Holy Spirit showed me this pattern about how He works in His people. The pattern involves three steps.

1. In the first step He speaks, reveals, calls, and gives a covenant promise. An example of this from Scripture is in Isaiah 46:11 where He says, “What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.”

In this first step God gives a word of promise specifically to a person about a certain situation. This is not something you just pick out of the Bible and decide you want, but this is a rhema word (a word from God) through the Holy Spirit to you.

3. The third step is when God completes, fulfills, and accomplishes what He promised. This is the fulfillment of the covenant He made with you. This is mentioned in Scripture in Isaiah 48:3 which says, “I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

2. In between the first and third steps there is often a period of time which I am calling the second step of this process. This period of time might be long or short. During this time God teaches us how to live in covenant with Him. It might be called the time of a walk of faith, a time of waiting on the Lord, a desert experience, a time in the wilderness, or a time of trials, tests, and attacks. This is the time where we hold on to the Word God has given us. It is the time of character growth.

A Scripture which describes this second time period concerning Abraham is found in Romans 4:20 which says, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

During this time we are called to live as James encouraged us in James 5:7-8 which says, “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.”

The Israelites went through this second step in the wilderness. It speaks of this in Deuteronomy 8:2 where it says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

Knowing these three steps helps me to understand where I am in the process regarding promises He has given me. When the second step is long, and I wonder why, I can know He has a plan and purpose in that timing, and that He is building character, Jesus’ character, in me during that time...and be thankful!

I AM YOUR PROVIDER
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” (1 Corinthians 3:19)
* * * * * * * *

The wisdom of this world says: put your money in banks and save for the future. But I say: Trust in Me. I am your provider. Be a channel for the money I give you. Let it flow through you to the places I want it to go. Be a person I can trust to pass the money on, knowing it is all Mine. Trust in Me. I am your provider.

IN THE DESERT
“In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” (Isaiah 40:3-4)
* * * * * * * *

As the Lord helps me apply this Scripture to my personal life, I am reminded that in my life the “desert” and “wilderness” are times when I must go forward by faith not knowing for sure where I am going and how to get there. Those are the times I must trust in the Word of God as true, and base my life on that Word. As I apply His Word to my life - to my mind, soul, and spirit - this brings them into oneness with Him, with His ways, and with His purposes. Then wholeness will come. This is one reason He wants me to study His Word.

This Scripture also says to me that during the “desert” and “wilderness” times I am to “prepare the way for the Lord” and “make straight a highway for God.” I do this by communicating with the Lord daily in Bible study and prayer. If I do that, then valleys can be raised up (this could be emotions, thoughts), mountains and hills can be made low (this could be pride, self-centeredness), and the ground (the place we walk) can become level and smooth.

SHINE LIKE STARS
“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.”  (Philippians 2:14-15)
* * * * * * * *

My kingdom is coming and My will is being done on the earth right now. The culmination of My kingdom plan is fast happening. You are in the latter days and My return is imminent.

During these last days I will be pouring out My Spirit in a mighty way, a way previously unknown upon this earth - greater than in the former days of My first appearing.

I will pour out My Spirit upon My people and they will shine like stars in the night all over this world, before all people, for all to see. They will be brilliant in the midst of the darkness around them - as the stars are the bright lights in the nighttime sky with darkness all around them.

MY TIMING
“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the time has come.’”  (John 17:1)
* * * * * * * *

Remember when I would talk about time and how it was or was not the right time? My timing is very important to seek so you can follow it exactly.

Satan knows enough to keep trying to steal and thwart My timing. He works on man’s impatience and lack of vision to try to alter it.

He often will try to anticipate what I am going to do and make a wonderful looking substitute - just before I bring My best into the picture. You can always watch to see if this is happening!

WITH SHOUTS OF JOY
“He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy.”  (Psalm 105:43-45)
* * * * * * * *

Today I am experiencing a spirit of heaviness. It has been stealing my joy, my ability to praise and have peace. But this spirit cannot stay in the presence of the joy of the Lord, of praise to Jesus and thanksgiving to God! Thank You, Lord, that You do bring out Your people with rejoicing, Your chosen ones with shouts of joy!

BETH’S DREAM ABOUT RAIN OF LIQUID LIGHT
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.” (Joel 2:23 AMP)
* * * * * * * *

In the dream I was visiting the home of a couple from my church who taught the college ministry Sunday School Class. They were hosting a fellowship for the college kids and I was there with them (a part of the group, I think). 

I left the group of students in the living room and walked toward the kitchen and happened to look out the front of the house, which was open with only the outer glass/screen door shut. I noticed that it had begun to rain outside but the drops of rain were like liquid light. 

Then I walked into the kitchen and looked up at the high vaulted ceiling that was just below the roof (i.e. no rooms or attic above it). I could see that the liquid light was soaking through the roof and ceiling and was starting to seep through the ceiling and drip onto the floor. 

I then went into the living room where the students were and by that time they all knew that something unusual was happening. I picked up the phone and called my mother and she answered the phone in a normal fashion. I was amazed that she was acting so normally and I asked her, “Don’t you know what is happening?”

HIS MOST MARVELOUS DEED
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
* * * * * * * *

The Most Marvelous Deed God ever did in my life happened when He made me a new creation in Christ Jesus! You see, God loved me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to pay the penalty (death) for my sin so that, if I believed in Him, I could be forgiven for my sin and receive eternal life in heaven.

All I had to do to receive this free gift of eternal life was to believe and ask:

1.	Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was crucified on the cross, who died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin, and who was resurrected from the dead.
2.	Ask Him to forgive me for my sin and come into my heart and live in me.

The scripture says: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

It also says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

If you have not asked Jesus to come into your heart (or if you want to be sure you are saved) I pray you ask Him right now as you read this. Then the Most Marvelous Deed will be performed in your life also. Then you, too, can be a new creation in Christ! 

YOUR OWN JOURNAL AND PRAYER TIME
* * * * * * * *

An article in Guideposts magazine, March 2005, by John Sherrill called “Pencil in Hand” gives a good description of how I approach the Lord in my Quiet Times when writing my journals. I will share parts of that article in case you want to try this also.

In the story John tells how a friend of his shared about a surprising way to pray and asked him to try it. His friend gave him a pencil and a legal-sized yellow pad to use. His friend told him to imagine himself sitting on a bench with Jesus, alone, and Jesus invites him to talk to Him about anything that is on his heart -- and to write down what he said to Jesus. Then he was to listen to Jesus’ response and record it also on the yellow pad.

John said he experimented with this technique, so unlike his usual prayer approach.  So he said, “Well, Lord, here I am,” and he wrote on the first line of his yellow pad, that what was on his mind was not very spiritual, but he was worried about their old car breaking down on a trip they were soon to take. He waited and listened, then wrote down what he thought he heard. He heard from the Lord that his concern was a greater one than the car, and the Lord told him what it really was. Back and forth the dialogue went on many subjects.

But he wondered if he was really hearing from God or were these his own thoughts. He had been given two yardsticks for measuring anything he heard: 1. Were the responses in keeping with the personality of Jesus? 2. Were the responses consistent with scripture? He was advised to check with a trusted and experienced Christian friend if he still had doubts.

John concluded by saying he still dialogues in the early morning. He “prays with his pencil.” He said, “My sessions now extend beyond strictly personal matters...to include daily thanksgivings and intercessions, and pleas for simple guidance. And never before in my life have I felt so close, so connected to God in prayer.”

So you, my readers, might take pencil and paper in your hands and sit down with Jesus. Tell Him what is on your heart, listen for His response, and write it all down. Keep these records as your journal and read back over them periodically. You, too, might find this a surprisingly effective way to pray and find you are feeling closer and more connected to God.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.	Bob Sorge, Secrets Of The Secret Place (Greenwood, MO: Oasis House, 2001)
2.	Joan Whitacre Royer, Thoughts And Stories: On a Life God Leads, Guides, and Protects, Book 1
3.	Dr. Dale Fife, The Secret Place (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2001)
4.	Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image, 2003)
5.	Ira Milligan, Understanding The Dreams You Dream (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image, 1997)
6.	Joyce Meyer, The Word, The Name, The Blood (New York, NY: Warner Books, 1995)
7.	Joyce Meyer, Bitterness, Resentment and Unforgiveness (Fenton, MO: Joyce Meyer Ministries cassette tape series)
8.	Rick Joyner, The Final Quest (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996)
9.	Rick Joyner, The Call (Charlotte, NC: MorningStar Pub., 1999)
10.	Rick Joyner, The Torch And The Sword (Wilkesboro, NC: MorningStar Pub., 2003)
11.	Jim Goll, Wasted On Jesus (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2000)
12.	Jim Goll, The Seer (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Pub., 2004)
13.	Rosalind Rinker, Prayer: Conversing With God (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub., 1959) 
14.	“In The Garden,” Hymn #314 United Methodist Hymnal
15.	“Where he Leads Me,” Hymn #338 United Methodist Hymnal
16.	Avery Willis,  MasterLife (Nashville, TN: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1980)
17.	T. W. Hunt and Catherine Walker, PrayerLife (Nashville, TN: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1987)

The scriptures in this book are all from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise marked. TMB = The Message Bible. KJV = King James Version. TLB = The Living Bible. AMP = Amplified Bible. NCV = New Century Version.