"I will make a covenant of peace (shalom) with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods." Ezekiel 34:25
Our daughter and grandsons have been here from Nebraska this week, so our daughter-in-law suggested we take a pottery class with the kids. John Graves has been doing pottery for nearly 40 years and now offers classes in his shop at his home near Greenup. We arrived there at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday and spent a relaxing and educational afternoon making pots, bowls and anything else we wanted to try. It was fun! We got to choose the color of the glaze to be used. John will then fire them, apply the glaze and fire them again in one of his kilns. He said they should be ready to pick up in a couple of weeks.
Here are the results of 3 hours playing with clay:
Not only did we have fun, but we're going to have some usable bowls besides! If I remember, I will post a photo of some of the finished products.
Have you seen any of Darren Wilson's films--Finger of God, Furious Love, Father of Lights, Holy Ghost, or Holy Ghost Reborn? They are amazing testimonies of the goodness and power of God. I received this email today so thought I would pass it on to all of you who might not have received it but who find encouragement in hearing amazing stories of God's intervention in our lives.
Today's story is about an adventure Darren had with Suprise Sithole. I was blessed to meet Surprise when our pastor invited him to speak at our church. He is one of the leaders in Roland & Heidi Baker's Iris Ministries and came on their behalf. He told the most amazing story of the resurrection of a young boy whose body he sat with and prayed for several days until he returned to life.
It looks as if you can subscribe to receive emails of more amazing stories, or go to the website to read Darren's blog.
Hey,
As I’ve traveled the world filming God, he has never failed to show up. But it doesn’t always look like what we expect.
Today, I’m kicking off a new blog series called Filming God. Each post will contain a story from one of my adventures where I discovered something new about God and his heart for all of us.
In this adventure, in particular, we bring Jesus to a small village in South Africa. It wasn't until the drive home that I realized the incredible thing God had done.
As Christians, we tend to believe that our faith, actions, and choices only affect our journeys. But our God, is a BIG God, and He uses our journey with Him today, to affect not only everyone around us but future generations that we'll never meet on this earth.
I encourage you to experience this story for yourself. It will change the way you view your response to the Father's call.
If you're not excited about these stories from my adventures while filming God, I totally understand! We can definitely still be friends. Simply click here to stop receiving these emails.
Mark Virkler's ministry - Communion With God Ministries- is offering another free video event, Empowered by the Spirit, beginning today. You can watch the first video immediately or anytime today by clicking on the link, but if you sign up to receive a reminder of each day's video posting, you will also receive a PDF file of a most helpful "Miracles of Healing - A Seven Step Model" which condenses much of the material on the videos. I highly recommend it.
Have you been curious about the gift of speaking in tongues? What is it? Is it really for every Christian? Mark does an excellent job in this first video of explaining how he came into believing and receiving the gift of speaking in tongues.
Here is the invitation from Mark with a link at the end to begin watching.
Dr. Mark Virkler
President of CLU and CWG Ministries
A Personal Message from Mark Virkler – Free Online Video Event
The next move of God is going to provide healing on the streets, just like Jesus did 2000 years ago. He took the power of God outside the buildings and released it to hurting people where they were. This produced a great revival. I have no doubt we are headed for the same thing to happen once again.
Everyone is hurting. Everyone is sick. Everyone wants and needs a compassionate touch from their Creator. We are the ones who can offer it. We are the Church, the body of Christ, God alive in the midst of His creation!
No one is looking for a dusty theology about a God who did great things a long time ago. Everyone wants a living encounter with this God. As Bill Johnson says, "The Church owes the world an encounter with God." Amen! That's what I want. I want a living encounter with almighty God, all the time, everywhere I go, everywhere I am. That is what Emmanuel, God with us, is offering.
Last month at our Christian Leadership University Graduation Celebration four people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues, all graduates received prophetic words from a prophetic presbytery, and during the healing service at the close, a good number of the 100 in attendance received physical healing. Praise God, that is church! That is what I want to experience when I attend church! That is what the world wants and needs to see! That is what you and I can offer.
Demonstrate the power of God: This month's special is our training module, Empowered by the Spirit. We will teach you how to pray for the sick and how to pray for someone to receive the gift of speaking in tongues. You will discover the simple steps to having HEART faith, which produces miracles and casts mountains into the sea! Next to salvation and hearing God's voice, this is the most important message of my life.
Invite your friends to watch this free streaming event, beginning today
"The bigger I grow in God, the smaller I become." ---Allen Bond A Holy Man Is a Humble Man "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29 KJV). The holiest, most powerful voice that ever spoke described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart." Why begin a message on holiness with a quote concerning humility? Simply because holiness is the product of grace and God gives grace only to the humble. It is vital we understand that Jesus did not condemn sinners; He condemned hypocrites. A hypocrite is a person who excuses his own sin while condemning the sins of another. He is not merely "two-faced," for even the best of us must work at single-mindedness in all instances. A hypocrite, therefore, is one who refuses to admit he is, at times, two-faced, thereby pretending a righteousness that he fails to live . Indeed, the hypocrite does not discern his hypocrisy, for he cannot perceive flaws within himself. Rarely does he actually deal with the corruption in his heart. Since he seeks no mercy, he has no mercy to give; since he is always under God's judgment, judging is what comes through him. We cannot remain hypocrites and at the same time find holiness. Therefore, the first step we truly take toward sanctification is to admit we are not as holy as we would like to appear. This first step is called humility. In our desire to know God, we must discern this about the Almighty: He resists the proud but His grace is drawn to the humble. Humility brings grace to our need, and grace alone can change our hearts. Humility, therefore, is the substructure of transformation. It is the essence of all virtues. At some phase in each of our lives, we all will be confronted with the impurities of our hearts. The Holy Spirit reveals our sinfulness, not to condemn us but to establish humility and deepen the knowledge of our personal need for grace. It is at this crossroad that both holy men and hypocrites are bred. Those who become holy see their need and fall prostrate before God for deliverance. Those who become hypocrites are they who, in seeing their sin, excuse it and thus remain intact. Though all men must eventually stand at this junction, few are they who embrace the voice of truth; few are they indeed who will walk humbly toward true holiness. Therefore, sanctification starts not with rules but with the forsaking of pride. Purity begins with our determined refusal to hide from the condition of our hearts. Out of self-discovery comes forth humility, and in meekness true holiness grows. If we are not enlightened to the depravity of our old nature, we become "Christian Pharisees," hypocrites, full of contempt and self-righteousness. Did not our Master warn of those who, "trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt"? (Luke 18:9) Every time we judge another Christian, we do so with an attitude of self-righteousness. Each time we criticize another church, contempt is the motive behind our words. The irony of our Christianity is that so many churches look upon each other with identical attitudes of superiority. The modern church has become overstocked with those who, thinking they were holy, have become the exact opposite of holiness because they so lack humility! Yet the humility we seek is drawn from a well that goes deeper than the awareness of our needs. Even in times of spiritual fullness, we must delight in weakness, knowing all strength is the product of God's grace. The humility we hope to find must go beyond the pattern of living proud lives, interrupted momentarily by intervals of self-abasement. Meekness must become our way of life. Like Jesus, we must delight in becoming "lowly in heart." Like Jesus, His disciples are humble by choice. Anyone Can Judge, But Can You Save? Hypocrites love to judge; it makes them feel superior. But it shall not be so with you. You must seek earnestly for lowliness of heart. Many zealous but proud Christians failed to reach holiness because they presumed they were called to judge others. Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Anyone can pass judgment, but can they save? Can they lay down their lives in love, intercession and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need and, rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel is lacking? And then, can they persevere in love-motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow! To judge after the flesh requires but one eye and a carnal mind. On the other hand, it takes the loving faithfulness of Christ to redeem and save. One act of His love revealed through us will do more to warm cold hearts than the sum of all our pompous criticisms. Therefore, grow in love, excel in mercy, and you will have a clearer perception into the essence of holiness, for it is the nature of God, who is love. One may argue, "But Jesus condemned sin." Yes, and we condemn sin also, but the sin we must condemn first is the sin of judging others, for it obscures our vision from discerning sin in ourselves (Matt. 7:5). Understand this: We will never become holy by criticizing others; nor is anyone brought nearer to God through finding fault! If we are honestly pursuing our sanctification, we will soon discover we have no time for judging others. Indeed, being in need of mercy, we will seek eagerly for opportunities to be merciful to others. Yes, Scripture tells us that Jesus judged men in certain situations, but His motive was always to save. His love was perfectly committed to the one He judged. When our love toward another is such that we can honestly say, like Christ, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Heb. 13:5), our powers of discernment will be likewise perfected; for it is love alone that gives us pure motives in judgment (1 John 4:16-17). Do you still insist on finding fault? Beware, Christ's standard of judgment is high: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone" (John 8:7). Indeed, speak out against unrighteousness but be motivated by the love of Jesus. Remember, it is written, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). In the kingdom of God, unless you are first committed to die for people, you are not permitted to judge them. It is also important to note that the ears which listen to gossip or criticism are as guilty as the mouth that speaks it. Do not contribute to such sins. Instead, stop the offender from speaking and entreat him to intercede, as Jesus does, for that person or situation. Your ears are holy; do not let them come into agreement with the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Remember, Christ did not condemn sinners, He condemned hypocrites. He numbered Himself with sinners -- bearing our sins and sorrows (Isa. 53). This is the humility we are seeking. Indeed, holiness shines brightly through the meek and lowly of heart.
I heard the most helpful information on Sunday when we were watching the Mother's Day conversation Kris Vallotton and his wife, Kathy, had in front of the Bethel congregation. Since you can view past Bethel sermons on their website for free for 4 weeks, you might still be able to watch it. Check out the iBethel.TV website.
The whole message was excellent but this little tidbit of wisdom has been a life-saver to me this week. I am applying it to every area of my life because as much as I know how, I have forgiven everyone who has hurt me.
Kris was telling a story about forgiving his wife for the way he dishonored her and then asking forgiveness of his children because they witnessed the disrespect. Then one of the children brought it up again later.
I am not sure I am quoting him here, but this is my translation of what I heard him say. He said that when we forgive someone the scale has been reset. We can no longer go there anymore because it is under the blood. We have no right to remember, or ever bring it up again, because forgiveness makes it as if it had never happened. I LOVE that! I have often heard people say, "I will forgive but I won't forget." Well, this is a great explanation of why that is wrong. They have no right to ever think on it again.
How freeing to remind yourself when the devil sends those thoughts of anger, bitterness, rage, hurt, disappointment etc. etc. as you begin to dwell on the situation, that it's been forgiven and you can't go there anymore. You might even want to substitute a prayer of thanksgiving as you remember you are no longer held accountable for the wrong you've done to others once you have asked forgiveness and forgiven yourself. Try it for a few days. I'll bet you will be as excited as I am to be free!
Preparations are in full swing for Heritage Days! It is now only a little more than 3 weeks till the Festival. We have added several new events including a horse & mule pull and a horse farming demonstration to the schedule. There are already more than 100 magnificent draft horses, mules & haflingers registered--some coming from several hundred miles away to compete. The North American Six Horse Hitch champions for the last 2 years--Blue Ribbon Farm--will be here with their beautiful black percherons, among other top hitches in the nation, to compete in this qualifying show. We have great musical entertainment throughout the Festival and lots of actvities for kids and adults alike. Check out our website for more information: martinsvilleheritagedays.com
If you are looking for a fun weekend--followed by a week of the Martinsville Ag Fair-- then consider coming to Martinsville, June 10-12 for Heritage Days and staying through the 20th for the Fair. Last year we had a couple from London, England at the Festival, who had found out about the Horse Show on the internet, so wherever you live--You Are Welcome!
"Unforgiveness is classified in medical books as a disease. According to Dr. Steven Standiford, chief of surgery at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, refusing to forgive makes people sick and keeps them that way.
With that in mind, forgiveness therapy is now being used to help treat diseases, such as cancer."
CBN recently published an amazing article, please follow this link to see more: CBN
Forgiveness Testimonies
"It's funny that I see this right now because I was researching ADHD and anger. My son was diagnosed with ADHD and over the past 5-6 months he has shown a huge change in his behavior. He says he can't control his anger. I came across a site, not a Christian site, and it said that the power of forgiveness helps a child with ADHD and anger. I read Biblical Foundations of Freedom by Dr. Art Mathias and it helped me with my breakthrough, but I never thought about praying with my 8 year old son the same way and now I see this. Yeah, I hear you Holy Spirit." Stacey P. FB Testimony 5/12/16
"This is exactly what healed me. When I read Biblical Foundations of Freedom, I was and healed of lifelong allergies to wheat, dairy, pollen and hayfever. I was also healed of scoliosis, chronic pain, migraines and menopausal symptoms. I exercise more now than I ever did in my youth, and I feel great! Unforgiveness causes pain and illness." 5/12/16
"I struggled with resentments and unforgiveness all my life from what was done to me as a child, and again later as an adult. I always thought that I had to "feel" forgiveness, and I could never feel forgiveness for what they did to me. but learned, that I don't have to "feel" it, I only need to truly forgive them (as in prayer below), and God does the rest. The results in my life for completing forgiveness therapy was healing, no drugs, no surgery, just freedom in my body from pain, sleeplessness and depression. Praise God!" Ella L. FB Testimony 5/12/16
4 Part Wellspring Prayer:
Part 1 - Forgiving or Repenting In obedience we choose to forgive or repent. - Matthew 6:14-15, James 4:7, I John 1:9
Part 2 - Canceling Satan’s Authority In the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, I cancel Satan’s power and authority over me in the issue of ____________________. Ephesians 4:27, James 4:7
Part 3 - Asking for Healing We ask to be healed of a broken heart or a broken body - free from shame, anger, guilt, rejection, bitterness, fear. We seek the renewing of our mind or the purging of our conscience. - Psalms 103:3, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 4:18-19, Hebrew 9:14
Part 4 - Listening or Talking With God Ask the Holy Spirit to tell you His truth about the specific situation you are praying about. The Holy Spirit talks to us in a quiet voice, dreams, visions, impressions, or just takes the pain and leaves His peace. - John 14:26
Forgiveness Prayer: Heavenly Father, I purpose and choose to forgive…..(the person for what they did). I release them and cancel their debt to me. In the name of Jesus I cancel all of Satan’s authority over me in this memory because it is forgiven. Holy Spirit, heal my heart and tell me Your truth about this situation. Listen…
Repentance Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for….(the specific sin). I purpose and choose to forgive myself. In the name of Jesus I cancel all of Satan’s authority over me in this sin - I am forgiven. Holy Spirit, heal my heart and tell me Your truth about this situation. Listen….
I have begun receiving bi-weekly emails from the Passion Translation. I am not sure how I got signed up, but I love this first one I received. So inspiring!
I HEAR HIS WHISPER... "The season has changed"
You heard it said before, but I declare to you: The seasons of time have changed. Eternity is now flooding into time. I am calling you into the no time zone, the realm of eternity within you. This season will be the most productive and powerful you ever witnessed, for I am hastening My word to bring it to pass. Long dormant promises will now spring to life as I bring you through the most rapid changes of your life.
Finances will not hold you back, for I am the God who provides all that is needed and supplies all that you lack. Never be held back by what you call "lack," or "need." for I call it, "Miracles of Trust." As you trust Me I will open doors of blessing and miraculous supply that you have never even considered. Remain faithful to Me and I will show you My faithful and miraculous supply. My harvest of the nations will not be limited to the financial structures of men. There will be no limit of resources to see My harvest reached and My Bride made radiant.
This season of change will move you from passivity to passion. The fire of My love will motivate you to make sacrifices of time and treasure that you have never entered into before. Did I not ask Abraham for his dearest? For only then did I promise him the anointing which would conquer cities and possess the gates of his enemies. Great sacrifices will yield great prophetic promises. When I move upon your heart to yield to Me, to go where I send you, to do what I call you to do-- even at great personal cost, as you step out you will find Me to be the Great Provider and the Great Promise Keeper.
The changes that are upon you will demand that you trust. For in the stretching of faith you will find Me as never before. Leap for joy and in that leap of faith you will find My supernatural presence as never before. Faith leaps for joy! Get ready for the kingdom of JOY to come even as dark shadows linger in your circumstances. Faith rejoices and will subdue doubts and fears. Watch new miracles flow through the seasons of JOY that I bring to you.
Be ever ready to open your mouth and share your living faith with those who are near you. I will open hearts--do not I hold the key to unlock the hearts of men? Speak forth your praises, give your bold and courageous testimony and watch me melt the hearts of men and women before you. A great harvest is now here. Not someday, but now--this day! Tell them TODAY you can come and be with Me in paradise!
This season of change will be most noticed in your family. I have committed My Spirit and My power to work on behalf of My people among their families. You will see many miracles, MANY MIRACLES of restoration, healing of relationships, and joy returned to millions of homes across the land. I have blessed marriage and have never lifted that blessing I first gave to Adam and Eve. The blessing of marriage will be one of the great lights that shine from the Church is this season of change. I have heard your many cries for your family to be healed and restored. I WILL SHOW YOU MY FATHER'S HEART as I restore, heal, renew, and gather My children with tenderness and respect once again. As I have forgiven YOU now you must forgive and the veil will be torn as you speak the words, "I forgive you."
The season of change that you have anticipated has now come. It will be your love for ME that will see you through. Disruptive revelation that brings the shocking truth to the media, to the government, to My church-- this disruptive revelation that overturns the tables of religious profit will bring the righteous ways of My 70 servants that I sent out taking nothing with them. New mission strategies will come to you in dreams and through prayers. Great understanding of My mysteries will come to those who sit with Me on My blood sprinkled Love-Seat. The old order is quickly passing away and the new breed is arising, and they will be known as Daybreakers and Dawnmakers. They belong to Me and to ME alone. As My fiery servants they will accelerate the changes I am bringing to the earth and will bring My Bride back into the ways of holiness and passionate love.
Have I not called you to love with all your heart and all your passion? This is the day of ALL, not part. You will see ALL My love and ALL My power at the disposal of those who have sought My face with all their hearts. The season of change has come, you have heard it before but know I declare it: You will never be the same again, for I have placed My hands upon you, My church, My bride!
1 Timothy 6:11-14 The Passion Translation
Timothy, you are God’s man, so run from all these errors. Instead, chase after true holiness, justice, faithfulness, love, hope and tender humility. There is a battle raging, so fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling—celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses!
So now, I instruct you before the God of Resurrection Life and before Jesus, the Anointed One, who demonstrated a beautiful testimony even before Pontus Pilate, that you follow this commission faithfully with a clear conscience and without blemish until the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.
Dr. Mercola had another interesting article on Vitamin D deficiency today. Below is an excerpt. To read the entire article click here.
"...I firmly believe that any cancer prevention or treatment strategy that excludes vitamin D is depriving the patient of a safe and vital immune boost to defeat the cancer.
Moreover, the current recommendation to avoid sun exposure in order to avoid skin cancer is likely increasing other more serious cancers. Prevention, after all, is worth a pound of cure, so why are people told to engage in behavior that will dramatically increase their cancer risk?
Recent research2 shows that UV abstinence is actually as dangerous as smoking when it comes to cancer and overall mortality risks. In this "competing risk" analysis, the life expectancy of sun avoiders was reduced by as much as two years when compared to those who got the highest amount of sun exposure.
As noted by Michael T. Murray, N.D. who reported and commented on these findings:3
"These results shatter conventional wisdom, but they are not new. Noted vitamin D researcher Dr. Michael Holick, warned almost a decade ago that avoiding sun exposure to prevent skin cancer results in such a drop in vitamin D levels that for every life saved from skin cancer over 100 people will lose their lives to other forms of cancer ..."
Improving Vitamin D Status Is a Key Cancer Prevention Tool
The evidence now clearly shows that once you reach a serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/ml, you see a major reduction in virtually all cancers.
The Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine, IOM) has also reported an association between vitamin D and overall mortality risk from all causes, including cancer.4,5
So why is there such resistance against vitamin D optimization through sun exposureas a cancer prevention strategy when the scientific evidence showing the enormous benefits are right there in black and white?
Vitamin D has become one of the most well-researched nutrients out there, and studies have repeatedly demonstrated that it can significantly reduce your cancer risk, and increase your chances of surviving cancer if you do get it. 6,7
Most recently, researchers at the University of California found that women with a vitamin D serum level of 40 ng/ml or greater had a 67 percent lower risk of cancer compared to women with levels of 20 ng/ml or less.8,9,10,11,12,13,14
The study included ALL invasive cancers, with the exception of skin cancer, and had a follow-up period of nearly four years. In my view, this is a finding that simply cannot be ignored. As reported by Science Daily:15
"Primary prevention of cancer, rather than expanding early detection or improving treatment, will be essential to reversing the current upward trend of cancer incidence worldwide,' the researchers wrote.
'This analysis suggests that improving vitamin D status is a key prevention tool.'"
Vitamin D Boosts Immune Function — Your Primary Defense Against Cancer and Other Disease
While I certainly do not discount the benefits of targeted immunotherapy, it seems inadvisable to say the least to ignore the very basics of health, such as diet and lifestyle, when developing cancer treatments. This is particularly true when it comes to vitamin D, as it is indeed a very important immune booster...."
This has been a difficult week. My mother, who would have been 89 on May 30th, was admitted to Intensive Care at Union Hospital last Monday evening. After being there a night & a day she decided she didn't want any other treatment so told the doctor's to stop any meds except for pain. Hospice was called in. After another day in ICU they moved her to a regular room so we could all gather round her. On Friday, Hospice said she had stabilized enough that she could no longer stay in the hospital. My sisters wanted to bring her home so everything was put in place. The ambulance arrived around 11:00 to transport her. She arrived, was brought out into the beautiful sunlight from the ambulance, opened her eyes with a hint of a smile and was brought into the house to a hospital bed which had only a few minutes before been delivered and installed in the living room. Her breathing became labored, her heart rate began to drop, and she passed into her new life at 12:07 p.m. She made it home to her earthly house in time to go to her eternal home! I had talked with her just last Sunday to be certain she knew Jesus personally. She said she did and she was ready to go. What a blessing!
I arrived in time to tell her good-bye. I'm now rejoicing that she is celebrating with her loved ones in Heaven.
Friends & Family have been congregating to share memories. The funeral will be tomorrow at 11:00.
