Lord, Plant My Feet on Higher Ground

2010-03-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a great day. I'm finally feeling well enough that I can do things that last more than a few minutes without coughing. My hand is working better, too. I've pulled dandelions and hung out laundry in the wild and windy sunshine of East Texas. A really nice day, in the mid 60s. This is probably the last really nice day for a while. It looks like another cold front is coming through next week. Steven and I sat in the hot tub for a while this evening. It felt really good. I let one of the jets play with my hand and scars. Felt great.

Morning Walk

2010-03-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a walk down to the creek. I even took a picture (however, I don't know how to post it). Much of our woods is covered with vines and weeds, and really thorny bushes, some of them with vines extended in order to catch the pants of walkers who dare intrude in their kingdom. However, I found a big stick and made them "bow" and get out of my way. We have two big ravines witch lead to the creek. Both have old rusty huge appliances dumped in them (did I mention OLD). There are broken bottles all over the place which have been there for years, I would estimate. The thorns, I can understand. They belong there, in a sense. I don't know what their purpose is, but God knows, I imagine. The stuff left by people is what bothers me. The run-off rain water has to travel through all that metal before it goes to the creek. Maybe it's an environmental problem, maybe it's not, but it's definitely an eye sore. I guess I could just quit taking walks, but I love to walk through the trees.

When I got to the back yard, I tried to pick all the dandelions I could get and put them in a bag for disposal. However, there was a herd of bees going after the same dandelions. I did not fight them. Maybe I'll go out this afternoon and try to get more. Or, I could listen to my back yelling "HOT TUB NOW!" I think I'll go turn on the heat.

New Years Day 2010

2010-01-01T18:48:00.001-08:00

I should have written something last night, then it would not look like I have not written in 2 years.

I broke my right wrist last summer. I'm still having trouble with strength and with carpel tunnel, that I did NOT have before the surgery.

OK. I'll give the details. It was August 22. Steven and I were getting ready to go up to Minneapolis to see his dad and help paint. I got up earlier and told Steven I was going to take a shower first. He said "OK," and went back to sleep. I got in the shower and soaped all up. I turned to rinse off my front and slipped. I fell out on my right side and caught myself with my right hand. I also bruised some ribs. Anyway, I called out to Steven, and somehow, he heard me. He was in the bathroom immediately. He got me dried off and dressed in a Mexican moo-moo kind of dress.

We were the only ones in the ER. I got right in and they gave me some kind of lovely IV "cocktail" which took the pain away. I don't remember a lot more, but I had surgery and then I was back home. This has changed so many things. I'm still using my left hand more than my right (I'm right-handed).

I go see a hand doctor Monday. I hope he has some good ideas about how to get rid of carpel tunnel without surgery. I don't want anymore surgery! I want to be able to use my hand. I have PLANS! I have two canners and a huge garden space ready to plant.

I am still thanking God for His Love and for the "training" he is giving me.

Until next time....

One day you will stand

2008-06-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

One day you will stand
before the throne
in the presence of God.
Like the burning bush,
like the pillar of fire,
you will experience Him.

His Glory, pure white
and more piercing than the sun,
sees every thought,
every action,
each experience.

Will you try to run away?
Will you drop in fear and trembling?
Will you melt like wax?

In front of you,
behind you,
to your sides
you see God’s Law.

There is no hiding from it.
There was never any hiding from it.

The story of your life flashes
on jeweled walls
carved with His Law,
awaiting a significant act.

Scenes of childhood, adulthood,
school, jobs,
relationships, religious life,
play out upon the walls,
awaiting that significant act.

That significant act.

Deep and continuous repentance.
Forever humbling yourself as a little child.
Turning from your past.
Dying to sin and self
in the Living Waters and the Holy Fire of Baptism.
Born again as a New Creature in Christ.
Forever seeking HIM, feasting on HIS WORDS.
Loving and living HIS TRUTH.

Is it well with your soul?

2008-05-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Ragan

Is there a drought of the Word of the Lord? Where is the powerful preaching that comes from a deeply rooted knowledge of Christ, and the expounding of truth, the words we need to hear? Where are the powerful sermons that make a person examine their souls? Where are the sermons that strike fear in the heart of the unregenerate church attendee? Where are the sermons that make us yearn to hear more, that make us yearn to make God’s Word our constant companion? Where are the sermons that make us cling to the Rod of Iron because our lives depend upon it? Where is the evidence of daily feasting on the Words of Christ?

I have questioned priesthood and others about their experiences with Christ: Many of them declare, “I’m a sixth generation Restoration Saint,” or “I was born and raised in the church.” I ask them, “Have you had an experience with Christ? Is He your Lord and Savior?” These people look at me as though a “tree had sprouted out of my head.”

I continue to ask: “Did you have an experience like Nephi, like Paul, like either of the Almas, like Enos, like the Brother of Jared?” They look at me nervously.

“These were special people—prophets or apostles,” is their reply.

So I continue to ask: Did you have an experience like the prostitute at Jesus feet, or the woman with the issue of blood, or the woman at the well?

The answer: “These are people with a direct encounter with Christ. We don’t have that available today.”

So I ask again, “What about Cornelius, or the Ethiopian eunuch, or Namaan, or…”

“Stop!” They say. They might add something like this: “My great-great-grandfather had an experience in which he saw a bright light shining on a group of saints at a baptism in the snow in Canada…”

Most are uncomfortable hearing these questions. They don’t want their belief threatened that they will be “grandfathered” into the kingdom. We were born alone, and all of us will face judgment alone—unless our Lord, Jesus Christ, is and has been, our Advocate.

How do we know that we are “true” Christians? We mock the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” We know that a few questions and a prayer at a Billy Graham crusade does not usually result in true discipleship. I quote from a sermon called “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” (http://www.livingwaters.com/helps/HellsBestKeptSecret.pdf ).

In 1991, in the first year of the decade of harvest, a major denomination in the U.S. was able to obtain 294,000 decisions for Christ. That is, in one year, this major denomination of 11,500 churches was able to obtain 294,000 decisions for Christ. Unfortunately, they could only find 14,000 in fellowship, which means they couldn’t account for 280,000 of their decisions, and this is normal, modern evangelical results…

Retained is 4.8%, the loss is 95.2%.

Were these people truly converted to Christ? Does the same thing happen in our branches? Have our members really been “born again”? We tend to stay away from that term, but Christ used it: [John 3:5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [John 3:6] That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. [John 3:7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Alma gives the same message. They knew about the New Covenant early on. He told the people: [Alma 5:24] Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;

Nothing was required of us in our physical births. Our mothers performed the labor for us. In our Spiritual births our participation is demanded. We must come to the knowledge that we are sinners. We must become aware of our sin and repent. We must desire Christ. Jesus is what it’s all about. Coming unto him is shining a powerful light on our lives. It is seeing our sins for what they are. It is regretting them and asking forgiveness. Enos, like Jacob, son of Isaac, had a wrestle with God. In his own words he explains how his soul hungered and he cried unto the Lord until he got his answer:

And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins; Behold I went to hunt beasts in the forest; and the words which I had often heard my father speak, concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication, for mine own soul; And all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came, I did still raise my voice high, that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me saying, Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said, Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me, because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away, before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole. [Enos 1:3-11]

This was not some passive experience. Crying out to the Lord can be exhausting work. Yes, work. It is by faith that we are forgiven. That is God’s job, but the repenting, the desire for Christ’s intervention in our lives, is up to us. Nor is it a one-time thing. The truly born-again Christian will keep his repentance current.

I don’t remember hearing about the Enos experience as a child. At the age of 8, I entered the Pre-Baptismal class. Most of what I learned was church history, church structure, and a couple of class periods about repentance, faith and baptism, including a detailed instruction on the actual baptism itself. I’ve spoken to many in my generation who had the same classes. None of us remember being taught about what part Christ had in the process. We were converted to a church, not a savior!

I was told stories of the Old and New Testaments. I read them myself, but I still had no concept of who Christ was. I had no idea why I needed him. Most of the children, as I was growing up, and into our teens, really had no idea why we needed Christ. As I remember church camp in Kansas City Stake, I remember that most of the conversation centered on social issues. I was sometimes criticized by my peers for taking the religion classes seriously. I had a problem. I wanted to know why I needed Christ, but there were no easy answers.

Where did the church “go wrong”? I believe that in the beginning, converts to the church were already truly converted to Christ. What they heard in the late 1820s and 1830s was not a new Gospel, but the complete Gospel. They came because they were led to it. They entered into the waters of baptism because they saw Christ in the Church.

This was an age when the Bible was read at home and taught in the schools. Children grew up with the realization that Christ was the center of the home. But somewhere along the line, that changed.

Paul says: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness (1 Cor. 1:23). The Jews were raised with the idea that there was ONE GOD. They knew God. They had a foundation. The Greeks, on the other hand, had many gods, one for every season, gender, age, etc. They even had one to spare, the unknown god, in case they had missed one. The idea of a Creator God, or a personal, ONE GOD was foolishness to them. The Jews expected a Messiah. The Greeks expected no such thing. None of their gods could be a savior to them. The God of the Jews was Holy. They sacrificed because it was traditional and because they reverenced HIM. The Greeks sacrificed because it was a party and because they feared death if they didn’t.

The Jews stumbled over the Cross-. They expected a Savior to save them from the Romans and to be their ruler according to the LAW. The traditions of the Law had become more important to them than God. They could not accept that God would come down and become a man, the sacrificial lamb, and die for them. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was able to reveal the message of a Risen Lord to the many Jews who, then, came to the understanding of the truth. For them it was an extension of everything they had been taught. There were many conversions.

Paul found that with the Greeks, this was not so. They had no conception of the truth. The Jewish God was foolishness to them. The early day missionaries had to begin at the beginning and tell them about the ONE GOD who created the Universe, who created them, and in His Mercy, took their place as the great sacrifice to Justice.

In the early 1800s, the people knew Christ. They willingly and joyously came to accept the complete Gospel. They were similar to the Jews, who knew the foundation of Christianity. Today’s society is more like the Greeks. Most families’ lives do not revolve around the Gospel. Most would say that Jesus is not relevant. Materialism has replaced most family altars.

How do we teach newcomers or those who are curious about our church? What is the first thing we tell them? Do we mention Christ? Do we teach Him crucified, and His saving Grace? For how many generations have we been teaching newcomers as though they had already accepted the gospel and as though they had already had the baptism of fire? For how many generations have we simply taught the “differences” between our church and Protestants, or between our church and the Mormons? What does our church have that others don’t? The Book of Mormon teaches Christ. To simply teach that we are different because we have the Book of Mormon is to forget Christ. HE is what it’s all about. None of the Christian converts during the “Apostolic age” had the Book of Mormon. They had Christ. They had the truth, which “got lost” over the years. The Book of Mormon completes that truth.

How do we know that we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit? At confirmation, did we feel the fire of the Holy Spirit? It’s a promise. Nephi fills in “something lost” from the Bible. But, yet, I think we “stumble” over it because we think it does not apply to us.

[2 Nephi 13:16] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son with full purpose of heart,

This is a heart thing. The full purpose of our heart is to follow Jesus,

acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent.

A thorough housecleaning of our intentions is in order.

repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father, that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism;

We have the example of Enos’ wrestling before God. His repentance was very real.

What name are we to take upon us? The name of a church? No, the name of Christ.

yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word; behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost;

We receive the Holy Ghost in the waters of baptism.

[2 Nephi 13:17] Yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Notice that there is NOTHING said about “only some” will experience this baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. Also note that the baptism of fire is separate from the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Most are really uncomfortable about the next line: and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. Have you ever had the desire to shout out praises to God, but you were afraid of what others would think or say? Have you ever looked at a sunset and in the awe of the moment, thanked God for the beauty of it, or told Him what a Great God he is?

[2 Nephi 13:18] But behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have (1) repented of your sins, and (2) witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water,(3) and have received the baptism of fire (4) and of the Holy Ghost, (5) and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this, should deny me, it would have been better for you, that ye had not known me.

How many people do we know who have experienced all these wonderful promises? Would our people be afraid to admit it, if they had?

[2 Nephi 13:19] And I heard a voice from the Father, saying, Yea, the words of my beloved, are true and faithful.

[2 Nephi 13:20] He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

Enduring. I’ve heard some say that this is akin to hanging on to a rod over an abyss.

[2 Nephi 14:3] And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels, save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.

Nephi explains the tongue of angels. This is done by the power of the Holy Ghost. They speak the words of Christ.

[2 Nephi 14:4] Wherefore, I said unto you, Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Here, Nephi tells us that if we feast upon Christ’s words, they will tell us what to do. Feasting on the precious Words of Christ, should be a JOY for us. Enduring should be a JOY for us. If we are feasting on His words, we know what we should do, and it’s not a white-knuckle hanging-on-to-a-rod over an abyss fearful thing.

[2 Nephi 14:5] Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye can not understand them, it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

Those I have asked about these verses from Nephi 13 & 14 often say they do not understand them. Nephi explains that we don’t understand because we’re not asking or knocking. I dare say we are not feasting on Christ’s words, either.

[2 Nephi 14:6] For behold, again I say unto you, that if ye will enter in by the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will shew unto you all things what ye should do.

Again, understanding is available. Those who repent as in the example set by Enos enter in by the way, as Nephi describes, will have the Holy Ghost to guide them.

[2 Nephi 14:7] Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ; and there will be no more doctrine given, until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.

[2 Nephi 14:8] And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you, shall ye observe to do.

Are the things that Christ, in the flesh, tells us to do, any different?

[2 Nephi 14:9] And now I, Nephi, can not say more: the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men: for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

Nephi mourned for those who would read, but not SEARCH to understand the words he says in plainness.

After the calamity of the three days of darkness after the crucifixion, a voice was heard in the land. Christ spoke:

[3 Nephi 4:49] And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

The old covenant was fulfilled in Christ’s shedding of blood, His sacrifice for our sin. He asks for a new sacrifice: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This is accomplished by being humbled at the recognition of our sin and the comprehension of Christ’s suffering in our place at such great cost.

[3 Nephi 4:50] And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

With this broken-heartedness, and the contrite, humble and, perhaps, even grieving spirit, He baptizes us with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

[3 Nephi 4:51] Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin: therefore whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive; for of such is the kingdom of God.

This is the new covenant. This is the same doctrine that Nephi spoke of. Nephi, having seen Christ in vision, had experienced this life-altering event. Those who believed in his word would also come unto Christ.

I’ll admit it. These things did not occur at my baptism. It happened 20 years later, after I had an Enos struggle and had begun to search the scriptures. I saw the promises. I was hungry for Jesus. I could not get enough. And one night, it happened, as the result of a prayerful question. I was baptized by fire that I can only describe as such JOY that I feared I could not contain it. I was given powerful understanding of things that I cannot express in words. I praised God as I had never praised before. I cannot describe the intensity of the JOY I felt in praising HIM, in praising CHRIST.

[Titus 3:5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Coming unto Christ is a very powerful thing. It is SO powerful that what you are, when you come out of it on the other side, is a new creature. You are no longer the same person you were. Being born of the Spirit is a life-altering event. The sins you once loved, you now hate. Spiritual baptism means that you now have the Holy Spirit residing within you. You will have a new outlook. Many of the things that you did before will have become distasteful to you. As the Holy Spirit guides your life, you will notice things you never noticed before. Your spiritual eyes have been opened. As you read the scriptures certain passages will jump out at you in bold print. You will find meaning in verses you once thought dry. You will begin to weep as you read scriptures that seem to have been written just for you. Some verses will slow you down as you feast on their significance, on the new significance. You will read it over and over and over, gleaning all the flavor and substance from it. There will be so much rich meaning that you find yourself praising God for the words he has given to you. You will have a burning desire to read more. The scriptures will become your best friend. You will take them to bed with you and grab them when you wake up.

We should be hearing powerful Holy Spirit filled sermons from powerful Holy Spirit filled priesthood who know the Fire of the Holy Ghost. We should hold up 2 Nephi 13 & 14 as what to expect at our baptism. We need to hear from priesthood who know Christ intimately. We need to hear those who have experienced Christ first hand. We need to hearken to the words of Moroni:

And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized, save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it; neither did they receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism, save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. [Moroni 6:1-3]

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST? IS HE THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE?

The Church of True Believers

2007-10-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

Some friends of mine keep in contact by email. We are not a church. We are people at various stages of spiritual learning trying to discuss what we see happening. Some of us are the walking wounded, having felt the fiery darts of Satan, as shot at us by other "saints." It is our goal to stick to the scriptures as our guide, and feast upon the words of Christ. If we are not wearing and using our Ephesians 6 armor, we are going to DIE, a spiritual death. I see us as picking up the wounded as we see them fall, and offering a safe haven. But we are all wounded. We have all been traumatized by what we have seen happen to our church.

Our church is splintering as was foretold. According to Revelation, the true church would have to flee into the wilderness. Nephi said that in the end there would be only two churches: One of Christ and the other of the devil. Jesus said, [Matthew 24:24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

This false church will have to be a mirror image of the true church, otherwise there is no way we could be deceived. If a false Christ waltzed into the Vatican, the elect would not be deceived. If the restoration is true, which I believe it is, then the false church--a unified and huge church--will have to look very much like the true one.

All this unity that man tries to arrange is a unity among people, and other churches, not a union with Christ. When we, as individuals, are one in Christ, then we will be one with others, who are also one in Christ. The reconciliation, that is often spoken of, is not some massive movement of churches asking forgiveness from other churches. It is an individual being reconciled to Christ. It's all about Jesus. It's all about falling in Love with the King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

I believe that God restored his church, but that it was weakened very early, and that much of what we have today is merely a structure of what it should have been. The following revelation and warning was given in 1834.

[Sec 100:2a] But verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour, unto the counsel which I, the Lord, their God, shall give unto them.
[Sec 100:2b] Behold, they shall, for I have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour, and by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet; and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it for ever and ever.
[Sec 100:2c] But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them, for they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men;
[Sec 100:2d] and inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.

It looks to me as though the world prevailed against the church, not the other way around.

I think we HAVE started our trek into the wilderness. I think there are true believers throughout the world, throughout many different denominations who have heard the call of Christ--who have answered, and to the best of their ability, have obeyed. The true believers have had that baptism of fire and spirit.

The baptism of the Spirit, as described in 2 Nephi 13 and 14 is a life-changing event. Our lives, afterward, are never the same. They can't be. We have been awakened; we have felt the breath of God. I have NEVER heard a sermon about 2 Nephi 13 & 14. Priesthood that I've talked to are afraid of it. We need priesthood who boldly go to Christ and ask for knowledge about this experience. Those priesthood become the TRUE priesthood when they have experienced this baptism of fire.

I am not a “Pentecostal.” I've never spoken in tongues or been "slain in the spirit." I don't seek "manifestations." I am someone who cried out to God and banged on his door asking questions. I wanted to KNOW Him. Like Enos, I cried unto Him until I felt his forgiveness come over me as a cool, fresh breeze. When I read His Word, it is alive. I love to read the scriptures. They wrap themselves around me in love and peace and joy.

I see the bickering and fighting becoming more and more harsh until the Anti-Christ, or false Christ arises. I'm beginning to see the picture: Those who give their lives to this dictator, will live in an imposed peace—a satanic peace because they will have handed over their agency to him. Then they will say "Peace and Safety." Isn't that what satan wants, to force us to love, not God, but himself, as the "most high."

The only true peace, my brother, is the peace of Jesus Christ--the peace that passeth understanding--the peace we have in Him. When His law is written in our hearts, We are written in his palms. In His Law we find His comfort.

Let Go and Let God

2007-07-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Let go and let God...

Easy to say, not so easy to do. This has, at times, been my mantra, as I say this over and over again in my head and heart.

There was a time when I thought I was supposed to control others. I didn’t seem to be doing a very good job of it. I was frustrated and angry that I could not get others to do what I knew was good for them. After all, a good wife and mother should have things under control.

There was a time when I thought I should control God. Someone had told me that if I didn’t pray in specifics, God wouldn’t grant my request. I thought I had to pray for the safety and needs of everyone I knew, believing that God would follow my directions. I prayed for myself. I wanted to be a super organizer, super wise, super quiet, super loving. I thought God was like a computer and if I didn’t get what I asked for, it was because I wasn’t detailed enough and God couldn’t figure out what I needed. I was a very frustrated woman!

I was reminded of “let go and let God.” I had to mentally and emotionally let go of each person, each situation. It was a scary thing to do. Letting go meant they were out of my control and care, didn’t it? As I let go, I had to immediately hand them over to God, lest they fall through the cracks. Was God big enough to handle all the things and people I was handing him?

I placed the people and situations over to him and watched. Horror stricken, I saw people I loved fall or die. It was a nail-biting situation! How could I have abandoned them with my prayers???

As I tried to work on myself, leaving others in God’s hands, I realized that they had to be free to find their own way to God. I had nothing to do but thank God for what he was doing in their lives. I was no longer in charge of all things spiritual in my house and family. He was and is in charge.

As the nail-biting stage gave way to a calmer, more trusting level of dependence on God, I realized that I had NEVER had any control in the first place. It was an illusion. I believed that my prayers had been very powerful and when they weren’t “obeyed” to my satisfaction, I thought it was because I didn’t pray well enough. I don’t know if what I said to God could even be considered prayers. They limited God to human solutions. His solutions are much more creative than I could have imagined.

I heard about a man who was driving in the mountains. An approaching out-of-control truck from the cliff-side lane slid into the side of the mountain in front of him leaving him nowhere to go but against the rail and down. As he fought the wheel and pushed on the breaks, he heard a voice say, “Let go.” He took his hands off the wheel, believing that God was calling him home. Several seconds later, he found his car past the truck and in his own lane. He has no idea “how” it happened, but he knows “who” made it happen. When we let go and let God, we give God permission to make miracles happen.

Email between Jan Griffith and Vivien Willis

2007-07-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was most interested in the following interchange between some friends of mine:

Dear Jan,

I think you and I are in agreement that Zion is not going to be built by man, but Christ. But I have a question: In Revelations 21: 9-11

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I WILL SHOW THEE THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE!

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; ect.

Now down to vs 22 : And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are the temple of it.

I believe that this is going to happen after the millinium because of its placement.. but I do not know.

So what is your take on this, Jan?

Also why is Jerusalem so important to the Jews and the Muslims?

I know in some of the writings of the prophets of the old T. , the house of Israel / and or Jerusalem is considered the Bride of Christ.

Then in the NT the Bride becomes considered the Church of the Believers..

What is your take on all this.. I would like to sincerely see what you believe this all means?

Love ya, Vivien
~~~~~~

Oh golly, Vivien -- big hard questions you ask, and I wish I had more time to devote to them.

My studies have led me to believe that the great city -- the holy Jerusalem -- will descend out of heaven PRIOR TO the millennium. In my opinion, the following is probably the most plain and clear explanation of this event:

[Eth 6:8] Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.
[Eth 6:9] And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.
[Eth 6:10] AND THEN COMETH THE NEW JERUSALEM; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel.
[Eth 6:11] And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb;
[Eth 6:12] And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham.

Compare to the Inspired Version concerning that day:

[Gen 7:70] And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem.
[Gen 7:71] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ENOCH, THEN SHALT THOU AND ALL THY CITY MEET THEM THERE; and we will receive them into our bosom; and they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
[Gen 7:72] And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; AND FOR THE SPACE OF A THOUSAND YEARS SHALL THE EARTH REST.

Also you asked: "Why is Jerusalem so important to the Jews and the Muslims? I know in some of the writings of the prophets of the old T. , the house of Israel / and or Jerusalem is considered the Bride of Christ. Then in the NT the Bride becomes considered the Church of the Believers. What is your take on all this. I would like to sincerely see what you believe this all means?"

A short answer isn't going to do justice to your question. These are questions I tend to ponder and discuss at great length in my study papers. But here is a very short answer attempt, for what it's worth. I'll start with Paul's words:

[Gal 4:22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.
[Gal 4:23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.
[Gal 4:24] Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar.
[Gal 4:25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[Gal 4:26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

I would suggest that there are two types of "Lord's people." There are those who profess to be the "Lord's people" (let's call them the first type) and then there are those who truly are the "Lord's people" (let's call them the second type). Take the Jews back in Christ's day, as an example. Many claimed to be the Lord's people, but only a hand full among those people were truly the Lord's -- and became his followers or disciples. I have to make this distinction in order to make any sense with what I say next.

At least since the days of Christ, the "Lord's people" (first type) have desired a physical kingdom of God on earth (Paul refers to this as "Jerusalem") while those who are truly the Lord's (second type) have desired the heavenly kingdom which eventually will be upon the earth (Paul refers to this kingdom as "Jerusalem which is above--the mother of us all").

[Heb 11:16] But now they [the holy prophets] desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

[Sec 45:2g] a city reserved until a day of righteousness shall come:
[Sec 45:2h] a day which was sought for by all holy men, and they found it not, because of wickedness and abominations, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, but obtained a promise that they should find it, and see it in their flesh.

The Jews wanted a physical kingdom on earth so badly that they killed Jesus who didn't bring them what they wanted. And nothing much has changed in over 2,000 years. The Lord's people (first type) still desire a physical kingdom of God on earth (Jerusalem). True Jews, however, still desire the heavenly Jerusalem above, which Jerusalem will ultimately be upon the earth "when the Lord brings again Zion." When I say "true Jews," I am not referring to worldly definitions, but scriptural. True Jews are not they who are outwardly circumcised, but inwardly (
see Romans 2:28-29). True Jews are truly the Lord's people (second type), not those who claim an ancestry or a circumcision or a lineage and thus set themselves apart (first type).

Back to your question-- why is Jerusalem so important to Jews and Muslims? I think it's because neither Jews nor Muslims are Jesus' "true Jews" or "true disciples" so they lack understanding of Christ's spiritual definitions of Jerusalem. The enemy in secret chambers has exploited their illiteracy of scripture, and used it to his advantage in these last days to create what Paul described as a "strong delusion."

It is my understanding that, even in Old Testament days, there was only one true Bride, and she wasn't always necessarily the "bride" people thought she was:

[Rom 9:4] Who are Israelites; of whom are the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God,
[Rom 9:5] And the promises which are made unto the fathers; and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ was, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
[Rom 9:6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.
[Rom 9:7] Neither, because they are all children of Abraham, are they the seed; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[Rom 9:8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

What Paul said in Romans 9 applied to Jews of old as well as to Jews of today, true believers of old as well as to true believers of today. Ever notice how many times Isaiah speaks of a wicked "Israel" and a servant "Israel" -- two different people "of the Lord" who will receive two different fates? All are his people, but not all Israel are of Israel. They never have been all Israel, which are of Israel. God doesn't change.

This subject is the reason why I am always fighting against those who insist upon building an earthly kingdom -- an earthly "Jerusalem." Man always desires the familiar, thus he tends to place his hope in the earthly -- the Jerusalem who is in bondage with her children.

[Rom 8:24] For we are saved by hope; BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

It's a couple hours past my bedtime. I hope this made some small degree of sense.

Love,
Jan

Growing

2007-07-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

It’s in the valleys where things grow.

In the past year, life has changed a great deal for me. My daughter’s marriage was over, she and the kids came to live with me, and then the marriage wasn’t over, but the kids still lived with me.

Then, at the end of September, I had what we all feared was a heart attack. It turned out that it was tears in my chest wall that have not healed in the nearly 13 years I have had them. I had done some heavy lifting and caused some extra pain. My doctors decided that I was too “chest heavy” and so began the round of insurance “hoops” I had to jump through for surgery.

To cope with what felt like an emotional roller coaster, I began attending Al-Anon again. Thank you, God, for providing such a place.

My daughter decided to take her children back with her and her husband in October. I continued to help her home school Leia, my granddaughter.

On December 7 my grandmother died, at age 94. My son and younger daughter had been caring for her in Missouri. She was adamant in her desire NOT to go to a nursing home. I went to Missouri for the funeral and helped the kids get packed to come back to Texas. They were now unemployed without a place to live, so they returned home (along with two dogs, a cat, and three ferrets).

In January I began a grueling six weeks of physical therapy (one of the insurance hoops), which only exacerbated my chest pain, and added shoulder, neck, and back pain to the physical burdens. Then began a waiting game--waiting to see doctors, waiting to hear from the insurance company, waiting to hear from the doctors again.

One day I was thanking the Lord that I at least had legs that worked and didn’t hurt. A couple of days later I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle. Lesson learned: don’t thank God for what I have, thank Him for who he is. This body is just on loan.

I was on crutches for about three weeks, during which time I developed a huge knot in the arch of the same foot. It’s still there…

Anyway, I had the “chest reduction” surgery in May. The healing process has been very slow, complicated by unrelated infections that I can’t seem to get rid of. I’m on another round of strong antibiotics as I write.

I will praise the Lord, for he is worthy. The Lord is my strength. His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I will cling to His Word, the Rod of Iron, with all my might, whatever may be apportioned me.

What can I do for you today?

2006-04-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

This story is based on a testimony I heard many years ago about a college student. It was told by a friend of his roommate.

It seems this student was an early riser although the roommate was not. It was his habit to rise early in the morning, open the curtains and greet the Lord. His morning greeting was always the same, "Good Morning, Lord. What can I do for You today?" The roommate would cover his head and try to get a few more minutes sleep. Over the course of the semester, this morning routine continued.

One day the roommate was given the news of a tragedy. His early-rising roommate had been in a terrible accident. The prognosis was not good. For a few days he hung between life and death as the roommate prayed for him. Because the hospital was in another town, he could not visit often. A week passed and the news was getting worse.

The next opportunity he had, the roommate went to the hospital having been told this could be the last opportunity to see him alive, as the doctors held out no more hope for him. As he entered the room, he saw his friend lying on the bed with eyes open and a smile on his face. "They told me you were close to death," the roommate blurted out.

"I'm going to live," his friend stated. "Something happened early this morning," he continued. "I was awakened by something, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the curtains were open. The Lord was standing at the foot of my bed. He said, 'Good Morning, son. What can I do for you today?'"

Praying a Song

2005-10-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

I think that my most effective prayers are when I write them. Recently, at the Missionary Reunion in Lamoni (Summer 2005), I responded to a request by a friend of mine to pray for her husband who was giving the sermon that evening. I took some time to be alone with my notebook and began writing.

I approached the Lord humbly. I realized that compared to the universe I was only a small speck of dust. The Lord is SO magnificent, so wondrous, so huge. I confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness of those things that I knew about and asked the Lord to remind me of other things I needed to confess (which He is still doing). I recognized my unworthiness and thanked Him that He would listen to me.

Out of this sense of humility, I began to hear a song. Spirit of the Living God.

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.

Melt me.
Mold me.
Fill me.
Use me.

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.

I began to literally pray the song, but I prayed it for this man who was to preach. I prayed first that the Spirit of God would fall upon me, as well as him.

Melt me: I asked the Lord to "melt" him. I asked that his mind might be emptied, that all his own thoughts would leave, that his his mind might be purified, as silver--when the dross is burned off. The metal must be purified to serve.

Mold me: I thought about a mold for a silver pitcher, and then about how we all have different neural pathways in our brains and that when trauma occurs, a roadblock is set up. Our minds reroute and create new pathways that are not as direct, and sometimes take dangerous detours. We all have these, and it contributes to our thinking differently. I asked the Lord to reroute his brain so that His Word could be communicated more effectively--so that he could then communicate to us more effectively.

Fill me: I asked the Lord to fill him with His Word, His Power, His Love. I saw a silver pitcher being filled with the Water of Life. Give him the Words, the Power, the Love to convey Your Message. Let His Words navigate the new neural pathways.

Use me: I asked the Lord to use him to reach those who needed to hear the message. I asked that this man be used according to the Lord's Will. I asked that during the sermon he might fill us as the Lord had filled him. Let the Living Water pour out upon us.

Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on us.

I know that this prayer was effective. As the man preached, I heard references to the pitcher. The whole sermon was filled with such meaning for me. Afterward I heard others talk about how they could feel the Spirit throughout the evening. I gave the written prayer to my friend and said she could show it to her husband.

The next morning the he sought me out. I had put the time and date on my written prayer, as I always do. He said that while I was writing, he was preparing for his sermon, when suddenly he couldn't put two thoughts together. He felt confused and laid down and took a nap. (His wife told me this is NOT normal for him. He is usually very alert while writing notes for a sermon.) He awoke two hours before the sermon with Words streaming into his mind. He wrote them down as quickly as he could and had time to type the notes into his computer. He finished with only 10 minutes before he was to preach.

He did ask that I not pray for his mind to emptied again. So when I have prayed this for other people, I have only asked for their own thoughts to leave during the melting process. I realize that, perhaps, he needed the nap for the molding process.

This whole experience left me in a state of AWE. I know that I was praying in a way that must have been right, that must have pleased God. I know that prayers are effective.

Warfare

2005-10-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

We are under attack! I saw this dramatically illustrated in Mexico a couple of years ago. Here, where we are perhaps more "sophisticated," Satan has to use other kinds of attacks that are more subtle. But here, as there, we don't know how to fight against a desperate Satan and his crazed minions. I know I have brought this up before, but it is a problem that is NOT going away; it is increasing the closer we get to the endtimes.

In Mexico, I tried to work with a girl in our church who was battling terrible, evil spirits every night. All that I knew to do was refer her to Ephesians 6:10-18. We read those scriptures, but I didn't know how to tell her to put on the armor. I do not know how to do this. I have not been taught how to do this. I appeal to the priesthood.

Sometimes we need "HOW TO's" The priesthood does a good job of telling us to "do this and don't do that," but not so good a job of telling us HOW. I'm a teacher. I never say, "Do this or you will get an F." I say, "Let me show you how to write this essay." I can tell them this because I was taught to write essays, and I've been trained to teach essay writing. The priesthood, God Bless them, are to "preach, teach, and exhort." But I'm not hearing much teaching.

In the school system, when we have to teach something new, we go to workshops. Someone who has done the new techniques and taught it successfully, teaches us the fundamentals and gives us examples. THEN we get into small groups and practice teaching it to each other. We don't go out teaching something we haven't done ourselves. How often I am impressed with someone who tells us to do the right things, but then when I ask questions later, it's obvious he's never done it himself. In the school system, he'd have to have increased observations and sent back to workshops to learn.

Jesus taught by example. I believe that by looking at him, the people were able to see how to pray, how to cast out demons, how to heal. While His methods might have been different each time, he was teaching them to rely on the Spirit. We don't have Jesus, physically, with us. Our priesthood are supposed to be taught from on HIGH and then, in turn, teach us. Warnings are great. My dad tried to teach my mom to drive by saying, "DON'T DO THAT." Well, it made my mom nervous. He wasn't telling her HOW to do it. He was telling her how NOT to do it. She finally got someone else to teach her.

I'd like to hear about a dozen POWERFUL how-to sermons on putting on the armor of God. We, as a people, just don't realize what's coming and how much we need that armor, NOW. We should have had it on long ago. Please, I appeal to you. Teach us HOW to put on that armor. I hope that you never have to grieve over (spiritually) dead saints who died because they didn't have their armor on, or because they were wearing it improperly.

From Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

He Died for Me

2005-10-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

I wrote this on Good Friday, 2005

He Died for Me

I didn't know how He died for me
On the cross at Calvary.
Sinners had placed Him there, I could see.
He died for them, but not for me.
Jesus, how did death on that tree
Pay my debts and set me free?
Tell me, Lord, I want to know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Pictures then came to me of a man--
Chased by sin, he desperately ran
Down the dark avenue without light
Hopeless and fearful through the night.
Jeers and laughter jabbed as a spear.
"You are MINE," Sin roared with a sneer.
Tell me Lord, I want to know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Stumbling and breathless, he raced with dread,
Regretting things he'd done and said.
Frantic and terrified in the dark,
Eyes full of tears perceived a spark.
Loving Brightness shone from afar,
Jesus, Lord, the Morning Star.
Tell me Lord, I think I know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Arms full of mercy reached to embrace.
Radiant Love shone from His Face.
In arms of Safety, I found my Lord,
But then came Satan with his sword:
"Wages for the sin must be paid!"
Jesus turned Himself to the blade.
Oh, my God, at last I know--
How all my sins could have hurt you so.

Jesus you gave your life, for my own.
Bloodied for the sins that I've sown.
Covered in blood, I grieved, sorrow worn.
Gently, He touched me, "Do not mourn.
Yes, I gave my life for you,
Now, go live your life for me.
You are MINE! I'm glad you know--
How all your sins could have hurt me so."

Patricia Ragan 2005

Another Mexican Moment

2004-10-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

I went out with the missionary trainees to the market Saturday--the BIG market in Oaxaca. I bought chocolate and some Christmas presents. On Friday we went to a market in the village of Ocotlan. I purchased a leather hat for 150 pesos. That's about $15.00 US. We visited the local museum which was a former convent. There we saw the restoration work of Rodolfo Morales. We also went to one of his houses which he had restored. We were greeted at the gate by the two guard dogs--a poodle and a chiuaua. We tried to be terrified, but it didn't work. Anyway, finally someone came and opened the gate and disappeared. So we toured the place and found our gate opener in the kitchen deeply involved in cooking comida. She let us take pictures of her traditional kitchen. We talked to the resident parrot who kept calling, "Hola!" and we took pictures of some of the collages of Rodolfo Morales. Somehow he is connected to the "Hermanas Agilar" (Eagle sisters) who did a lot of sculpting. Some very strange sculptures, I must say.

Yesterday we had a pot luck dinner at church in Mitla and made home-made ice cream with a hand crank freezer. I didn't participate in this activity although I did share in its bounty. Afterwards some of the members gave testimonies and we prayed together before we left to go back to Oaxaca. On the way out of town we stopped at the home of Fausto to give him a drink made of juice, vitamins, minerals and sugars from the Aloe Vera plant. Frank Frye and David Newman also administered to him. A couple of weeks ago he was in the hospital with a very serious lung condition. They expected him to die at any moment. Frank gave him the same concoction, as well as admisistering to him. The family was there to say good bye. The doctor had not given them any hope at all. The next morning he had rallied a little and was asking for Frank's "juice." Frank took it to him and prayed for him again. The next day he was permitted to go home. Now he is home and doing better.

My classes are going great. We keep having new students although the classes are in the next to the last week. Some of the students are really learning fast. Then there are the others who need more help. I enjoy the challenge. It makes me feel really good to see the "light bulb" of understanding come into their faces. Learning a new language is not easy. These students are really doing a fine job. Some of the them are learning Engish for their jobs or to help in school. Others are here for the fun of it. I try to make learning fun. We always joke and laugh with each other. We are also learning some camp songs about God. Music and its lyrics enter the brain through a different door than some of the other methods. I try to use it when I can.

Well, back to my preparations for class tonight.

Mid-Mexico Moment

2004-10-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've written. I've been getting the classes going. They are running smoothly. I teach classes in Oaxaca and Mitla--two classes an evening. Kendal Geno and Daniel Smith have been learning to tutor and teach English. I let them tutor individually and from time to time they teach group activities. They have been very helpful.

Last Sunday we went to Hierve el Agua, a park in the mountains. It has natural mineral springs as well as cascades of mineral deposits that seem to flow down the mountain side in a tremendous solid waterfall. Because of my double vision and trifocals, I didn't do much exploring, but I did get Kendal to take pictures for me of his hike up to the top of the "falls."

We stopped in Mitla before going and picked up a few of the Saints there. We had 19 in the van. The roads were narrow and wound around the mountains in zigzags. The scenery was beautiful, of course, as in most mountainous areas. On the way home, it was dark and at one point Frank yelled, "Did you see that?" He backed up the van and I expected to see something extraordinary--some rare animal, or maybe a lost child. But no, it was a tarantula. It was maybe 5 inches in diameter. I don't know how Frank saw it in the dark. Anyway, we stopped and took photos. Even me. The natives in the back were probably thinking, "CRAZY GRINGOS!"

My Spanish always improves when I come to Mexico. I'm remembering more and more of it and learning new words. I can carry on a somewhat limited conversation with sales people in stores if they talk slowly. There are so many American stores down here now, that the states don't seem that far away. On one shopping trip we went to Sam's Club, Office Depot and Burger King. We could have gone to KFC, Pizza Hut, or McDonalds. We went to a movie theater where most of the movies were in English. However there were none playing at the time we arrived that we cared to see.

Tomorrow we are supposed to go out to a place where they make tapestries. Maybe I can find some miniature ones. People are always trying to sell me big things. I have to tell them, "No tengo espacio in mi maleta." (I have no space in my suitcase.) They usually laugh and wander off to another tourist. The other day someone tried to sell me a huge gorgeous plant outside of the grocery store. Sadly, that wouldn't fit either, and even if it did, I imagine customs would have a problem with it.

In this beautiful land, it's easy to see the handiwork of God. I never tire of looking at the scenery as we drive to Mitla from Oaxaca, or even as I look out the windows of my third story "penthouse" room. This is the rainy season and there are constantly huge and brilliant rainbows. Yesterday we saw one that seemed so close and so big we could have walked inside it or climbed it. What beauty!!

I still have a little over two weeks here. I hope to be able to make a difference in the lives of others--to let the Light of Christ shine through me.

Until later--

Arrival in Oaxaca, Mexico

2004-09-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

I arrived Sunday evening, the 12th of September. The ride was bumpy. I heard someone yell, "AIRSICK BAG!!" for the pregnant woman behind me. Yes, an interesting trip. I was glad to land and go to the home of Frank and Patti Frye. I get to use my usual "penthouse" room up on the third floor. It provides such great exercise opportunities.

Oh, I have to tell you about the "sunset clouds." We were flying south over the Gulf of Mexico and we passed over some cirrus clouds as the sun was setting. I was sitting on the east or left side of the plane. The upper parts of the clouds were glowing pink. It was beautiful. They seemed to glow from within. I can't explain it except that the outer parts of the clouds were darker than the inside. I wish I could draw, and sadly, my camera was out of reach.

Upon my arrival I was informed that my bags had not made it. They were still in Houston, but they would arrive then next day after 4 PM. I was given a number to call. HA! The bags did not arrive as sceduled, the phone number didn't work because Continental doesn't work on Mondays. On Tuesday I was promised $25.00 to buy a new outfit. We went to the airport and again, the Continental people were not there and no one was authorized to give me any money. Finally at a 11:30 PM, after Frank called them several times, my bags arrived and they said send them a receipt and they will give me the $25 for a new outfit. I'm not holding my breath.

Yesterday afternoon, before the arrival of the bags, we went to visit a family whose baptisms are being confirmed tomorrow. At one point I heard a discussion about an attack rooster which had injured two of the toddlers living on the family ranch. Chuck Sperry, and David Newman, as well as the man of the house, went out chasing this rooster. Frank chased with his camera. After a wild pursuit, with the cagey rooster always getting away in the nick of time, the four men were able to trap the bird in a box. This huge proud (arrogant) fowl was unceremoniously upended and held by his feet as one of the men tied them together. He was then relocated where he will perform his roostering duties away from children.

Today some of us walked to the produce market and marvelled at the wonderful and beatiful displays of fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc. I wish we could have bought a little of everything. Oh, well. I'll be here for a while.

We may go to Mitla this afternoon to visit with the church members there. I've heard that road is much improved. Last year you could lose weight travelling on those washboard roads. Some of them were so bad we had to drive ten mph for a couple of miles. Needless to say, the trip is probably faster now.

Later--

Faith in Action

2004-08-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

There are many scriptures about asking in prayer, in faith, believing.

Sometimes the "in faith," and "believing" parts are a little difficult. Stepping out in faith--putting it into action--is not an easy thing for any of us. It may be easier for us to believe, if we immediately THANK God for answering our prayer. And every time we think of what we've prayed for, instead of asking God again, Thank him. This is faith instead of whining.

We who are parents can understand how much more thanks would mean than repeating the request many times as though God didn't hear us the first time. I know about the parables of bombarding the baker with requests for bread, and the judge for recompense, but I know that the thanking is a part of faith, and it works.

Last year I fell during a rainstorm on an outdoor staircase in Mexico. I asked for and received the prayer of administration for healing. During the administration I thought about my part--having faith to be healed. I began thanking the Lord for the healing. Then I felt the pain leave my body, even 10 year old pain from a car wreck that had nothing to do with my falling down in the rain.

There are many other examples I could give about the thanking the Lord for his Answer and Will. I've found that an "attitude of gratitude" can make a big difference in our prayer lives.

The Lord wants to give us gifts--when we are ready to receieve them. My granddaughter, who is seven, is not physically or mentally ready for the gift of a car, nor am I prepared to receive the gift of a Leer Jet. Likewise, are we prepared to receive many of the gifts we ask for? Several months ago, as I was reading in Isaiah, the words, "Prepare us to receive thy gifts," came to me. We are not prepared. How many of us, if given a Leer jet, would know immediately how to use it? Would we have had the training? Would we have a licence? Would we have the fuel? Would we have a runway in our back yard? Would we have the finances to maintain it?

Spiritual gifts require a different sort of preparation which is even more important. If the Lord gave us the gift of healing, would we be able to hear Him as he tells us who to heal? Would we know and trust His Voice so well that we would drive to the inner city and find a certain junky and heal him because He told us to? Would we be able to NOT heal a sick, dying or wounded relative if that was His Will?

There are many gifts and many questions. There is much preparation, physically and spiritually, that we have to do in order to Hear the Lord and manage his gifts properly.

Healing of Chronic Pancreatitis

2004-08-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth was 2 the first time that we know (in retrospect) she had pancreatitis. Severe pain in her lower left quadrant and the inability to keep anything down were the signs that she was very sick. She was hospitialized, but at that time doctors didn't know what the problem was.

Over the years she would not go over 18 months without suffering this extremely painful condition. Some of the bouts would only be six months apart. Most of the time she would be hospitalized for IV treatment to prevent dehydration. Doctors would not give her pain medication until pancreatitis was diagnosed during her last hospitalization when she was 11. This was at Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri. The doctor said she would eventually burn out her pancreas and to call the next time it occurred.

Six months later, June or July of 1993, Elizabeth and I had planned to go to a church reunion. We were going to drive up each day as it was in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, not far from where we lived.

On Sunday morning, Elizabeth said she didn't feel well. I thought she was trying to get out of going to the reunion. However, she soon began throwing up so I knew she was sick again. I called the doctor. It was around 9 or 10 when I called, but he answered in a very sleepy voice. He told me there was nothing he could do for Elizabeth, and hung up. I was stunned. He had asked me to call him when she got sick again. I called the doctor on call at our regular clinic. He ordered some pain medication for her. For the first time, I was able to give my child something for this incredible pain.

By Wednesday Elizabeth was feeling better so I took her to the reunion. After the morning service it was announced that there would be elders available to give administration for the sick. I immediately took my daughter to the place where they were praying. Two men, one of them was Delbert Smith, talked to Elizabeth. Delbert said that Jesus would heal her and he asked, "Do you want Jesus to heal you?" She had to think about it. She always received gifts and toys during every hospitalization. After a few seconds she answered yes, she would like Jesus to heal her. The elders put a drop of consecrated oil on her head and asked that Jesus would heal her.

Since that administration, in 1993, she had not had an episode of pancreatitis. She was healed and does not have any problems with her pancreas.

Spiritual History

2004-07-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

For a few days, I'll go into my "spiritual history." These are things that have shaped my life.

The evening before my baptism, Children’s Day 1959, my family went to the drive in movie to see The Ten Commandments. The parted water collapsing down on the Egyptians was a pretty impressive scene on that big screen.

As I was lowered into the waters of baptism the next day, I saw, again, parted water coming together and collapsing over my eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The summer I was nine, my age group was invited to a junior high camp at Lake Doniphan, in Excelsior Springs, MO.

I went childlike to the camp and enjoyed swimming every chance I got. I made lanyards; I ate Popsicles; I listened in the religion classes and enjoyed the campfires. The week was long and busy and exciting.

The last day was Saturday. We had a dedication service ended by prayer walks. We walked in groups to different spots on the campground. As my group arrived at out place we joined hands in a big circle and began praying silently for each other. For the first time, I felt the sweet spirit of God’s Love descend upon us. I was in awe. This was a spiritual as well as physical sensation. I cannot remember my prayer, but I know that I rejoiced greatly in that overpowering Love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a young wife with small children in the early 70s I became fearful of what lay ahead. I had listened to sermons that seemed to say that scary things were soon to come to pass. I wondered if I should save food, make sure my appliances were not electric, buy extra supplies. I became quite worried, and one night a voice whispered to me that I would live by my faith. I had two dreams shortly after that night that comforted me greatly:

There was nothing but dust for miles and miles in the empty expanse of West Texas, not a soul in the arid heat as my husband and I drove north.

The radio, which had been blaring music the minute before, was suddenly silent. Then an announcement was made that cataclysmic earthquakes had rocked California. Communication with California had ceased.

Then my husband shouted, "Did you see that?"

I looked to the left where he was pointing. Something like lightning--I called it sheet lightning--flashed in the sky. It was the middle of the day, not a cloud in the sky.

The radio blared again. Something about "in the event of earthquakes....."

The lightning flashes increased, but remained on the western horizon. The man on the radio suddenly announced that they were unable to receive anything from New York. Then he was replaced by static. All the stations were static.

Rumbles in the earth now accompanied the ever-increasing lightning that was drawing nearer. To our left, to the west, the earth was rolling, rising and falling as waves in the sea.

My husband pulled the car off he road, although it really didn’t matter anymore. We looked at each other, tears in our eyes. "This is it, isn’t it?" I sobbed. He held me. "Here we are, God," he said.

The second dream:

There were still many lost and wandering individuals in Central Texas. I ached for them, feeling their hurts and wishing with all my heart that I could help them. They had to want help.

Dressed in a white robe, my feet not touching the ground, I followed groups of them across barren wastelands. They followed a leader like cattle. They searched for food and water, and for shelter from the damp, yet dry terrain. Sometimes one would stumble. He or she would be trampled on as though not seen. Sometimes it would be a child. The others would wander on in the darkness, not even the mother noticing.

When I took these people, when I gently picked them up and gave them nourishment and water, they saw me for the first time. We walked in Light which expanded, as our group became larger. We sang praises to God, which seemed to fuel the Light. Their limping and exhaustion left them. When I had a group of a dozen or so men, women, and children, I quit following the group and we started for the "Camp of the Saints."

My husband was there. He was also in the Light and dressed in white, the leader of this outpost in East Texas, where people were helped to become fit enough to travel to the Center Place.

I rejoiced to see him again. Our love for each other was much more than we had ever dreamed it could be. But the Love we felt wasn’t just confined to ourselves. It expanded to all those we helped, to all those we wished to help. The Love did not emanate from within us, and what we received, we gave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a time of intense stress, I realized I needed to repent and ask for forgiveness from God. I had no excuses for my actions and inactions. I was guilty! Through prayers and tears, I tossed and turned on that hot June night. Searching for the cool side of the pillow, I finally stopped to listen. God spoke as a cool breeze that started at my head and descended to my toes. I knew I had been forgiven.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There were Mormons at my door as I was rushing to get David off to school. I invited them to wait till I got back from driving him the couple of blocks and back. They said no. They would come back tomorrow.

That afternoon I pulled out the only book I had about Mormons: The Truth and the Evidence. I read it all the way through in preparation for meeting with the elders. The next morning I fasted and prayed that I might be a good witness.

The elders came shortly after I took David to school. I had just put three-year-old Lara down for a nap. As they entered, I felt excited. I continued in silent prayer as they seated themselves and began to ask me questions in a conversational manner. Very soon we switched to talking about their beliefs and ours. I had The Truth and the Evidence out. Every question or comment they made I was able to answer or refute. I was able to find every reference in the book, after only having read it once. I felt supernaturally charged; everything I said came out right. One of the men was very interested in the Reorganization. He was excited about finding answers. The other man looked worried. When they left, the first man had the Herald House address and phone number, and names of books he wanted to buy. The other man seemed glad to leave.

As I watched them go, I felt the "supernatural" strength leave me. I fell to the couch exhausted. I could not move for perhaps 10 minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had been reading and studying the scriptures every morning and evening as well as fasting twice a week. Someone had suggested a book by Catherine Marshall: The Helper. I loved her books, and so I began reading this one in the evenings. One night, about 11:00 I had a most unusual experience.

One of the chapters spoke of JOY. I couldn’t figure it out. What was the difference between joy and happiness? I pondered this question as I headed for my bedroom where my husband was already asleep. As I turned the corner in the hallway, I asked, "God, what is this JOY?"

At the doorway to my room, I felt something like liquid JOY and LOVE splash over me. Perhaps it was like the "living water." It was not really wet, but I was overcome by hypersensitivity expressed in extreme pleasure, physical as well as Spiritual. I praised God as I climbed into bed.
Praises and prayers went up as I marveled that I was not repeating myself. At one point I saw something I can only describe as a fire. It was bright white. The brightness and the love that emanated from it was so intense that I could not get as close as I wanted to. I knew that I had not exercised my "spiritual muscles" to the point where I could endure the presence of the Lord.
The physical and spiritual sensations were so strong that I begged the Lord to turn it down a little. I looked at the clock and realized it was 2:00. I reminded the Lord that I had to get up in three hours to get ready for the day and get the children off to school. I begged him to let me retain some of the Spirit the next day. I finally slept.

In the morning I still felt the presence of the Spirit, but not to the intensity of the night. I thanked God for the experience. For showing me His JOY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For years I had wondered why there was a need for Christ. I had God. Why did I need Christ? I asked people, who gave me all kinds of answers, but none of them made sense to me. I asked God, but he was silent. As a child I had always had God, a grandfatherly type who let me climb in his lap for unconditional love. He let me cry and He wiped away every tear. As an adult I had experienced his JOY. I loved Him.

One afternoon after church I flopped down on the bed, intending to take a short nap. Instead I began to "see" a picture taking shape. A man had sinned. The sin was the size of a walnut, but it chased him. He ran and from time to time looked behind him as the "walnut" turned into a man with a spear. This "sin-man" shook his spear at the sinner and shouted, "You are mine!"

The sinner ran harder and faster, with the fear of doom upon him. He ran desperately. Suddenly he could see ahead of him a bright light. The bright light took the form of a man as he approached it. Fearfully, he flung himself into open arms. Christ smiled at him.

The sin-man hurled his spear. Christ turned in order to protect the sinner. The spear entered his side and his blood poured out on the sinner. He cried to realize that his sin had caused the death of Christ.

Through my tears, I saw the living face of Christ, my Grandfatherly God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Driving in my car, I sobbed from desperation and cried out to God because of my husband’s actions and my inability to stop them. I heard a voice say: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

I’d heard the verse before but I didn’t even know where to find it in the scriptures. When I arrived home I was able to find it using a concordance. Romans 8:28. I had hope. I now had hope that the horror that I was experiencing would somehow work out for good. I knew I loved God, but I only later, much later, understood that I had been called according to his purpose. This verse sustained me in the years that followed as I walked alone through a valley of despair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lara was perhaps 18 when she came home in the middle of the day, drunk. She was loud and angry. She wanted a certain blouse and stormed through the whole house looking for it. At one point she put down her keys and I took them. She turned and saw me and roared for me to give them to her. She was bigger than I was and in a drunken rage. Although I feared what she could do to me, I feared what she might do to herself and others more.

She began to chase me through the house. I had started down the stairs when she caught up with me. I worried that she would lose control and we would both go tumbling down. For "some" reason, I turned and spoke to her. I said, "Jesus loves you."

She stopped, and I said it again, "Jesus loves you."

"Don’t say that!" she yelled, but I said it again.

Lara turned and headed back up the stairs. In awe of the power I had tapped into, I followed her and told her again and again, "Jesus loves you."

Lara fled, begging me to stop saying that. I pursued her to her room where she went to the farthest corner and collapsed with her hands over her ears, still begging me to stop. I was overwhelmed with the knowledge of the power in the name of Jesus. I didn’t know what to do at that point. I left her to fall asleep in the corner as I contemplated what had just happened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of years ago I had a strange experience regarding lost keys. I was in a hurry to get to work and couldn't find my keys. I emptied my purse on the piano bench. No keys. I looked in every nook and cranny where I thought they could possibly be. They weren't there. My husband and children took up the search. We couldn't find them. They also looked through my purse.

I had been praying, but kind of as a joke, I said out loud, "Lord, remove the demon that is sitting on my keys." I looked at the piano bench, and there were my keys on top of my purse. This really scared me--the thought that I had demons in my house. I didn't want to believe this, nor that I had stumbled onto a Biblical principal. I stored this information in the back of my brain, hoping never to have to think about it again.

Fast forward to July 1, 2004, Leia’s seventh birthday. My daughter has a tiny lightweight black purse. She uses it as a wallet and for her keys. After the birthday celebration she couldn't find this purse. She looked for a few minutes then enlisted the help of everyone else. We turned the house upside down looking for the purse. Eventually my husband offered to drive her to her house (45 minutes away) so she could get her spare keys. She accepted.

I was upstairs going through the recliner where she had sat when she first arrived, when it occurred to me to pray out loud for the demon to get off the purse. Afterward, I went downstairs to the kitchen and my eyes were directed to my other daughter's essential oils bag (she's studying to be a massage therapist). I looked in the bag and there was the purse. I was absolutely stunned. How did it get there? I called my husband's cell and let him know I had found it. My mother and my younger daughter were astonished. They had both looked in the bag. There were actually only three bottles in the bag, but they reported seeing many more bottles. When my older daughter returned, she said she had also looked in the bag, which was full of bottles of oil.

I don't want to believe that these things exist, but yet I know they do. I had just imagined they would be in unbelievers' houses, not mine! I am just as astounded at the power available through prayer. Apparently these things have to flee when we pray outloud. There have been times when I couldn't find my scriptures before going to church. I have always blamed it on a lousy memory. Maybe that's not the case.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the fall of 2003 I taught English in Oaxaca, Mexico with Frank and Patti Frye. One rainy afternoon I fell as I was walking down the stairs. I hurt my back, my shoulder, and my hip. This pain did not go away over night. I worried that the pain would distract me in my teaching of a class that evening. I asked Frank to administer to me.

During the administration I remembered that my faith had something to do with the healing and I began thanking God for the healing. As I did I felt the pain leaving my body. I was pain free, even from a hip injury from a car wreck over 10 years previously.

It was brought to my mind again, that stepping out in faith includes thanking God for what he is already doing.

Church-Centered English as a Second Language Program

2004-07-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

In a planning meeting the following details should be discussed and decided upon.

Needs of the community—who is being invited to attend classes? How will you reach the community? Is it a closed class—only for a certain group? Multi-lingual? Is this a language with a different writing system?

Teachers—volunteer teachers can be anyone from older teens to seniors. Teacher training should be required. Many of your best teachers are going to be teachers who are already teaching pre-school classes or who have taught them in the past. These teachers are familiar with teaching language. Local Literacy Councils will often train ESL teachers for their own programs. They usually ask that a person teach for a specified time in one of their programs in exchange for the training. Actually, this is good training.

Curriculum—type will depend on needs of the students. Series such as Side by Side, Word by Word, and the Betty Azar books, are all good choices. The English ASAP series helps them in the workplace and Conversation Books help students to talk. Growing Readers’ Phonics Bible is a good book for presenting phonics/pronunciation and the gospel. Will you provide books or make copies? Will you write your own curriculum? (If this is a government grant program, religious training cannot be included.)

Enrollment and Placement Testing—what do your students already know. A short test can tell a lot. Oral and Written assessment. Open enrollment or closed enrollment? Will you continue to take in new students throughout the program or will you have a cut off date? Is the class only open to a certain group, such as employees of a specific company? Announce the date/dates of enrollment to your target group. The announcement needs to be written or given in the students’ native language. It should include enrollment date/s class days and times, and length of program. Will you have a summer program?

Book keeper/Administrator—must have to maintain records and data. Central communicator who calls subs when needed. Sends out reports from time to time. Keeps track of attendance, enrollment data sheets, placement and achievement tests. If this is an open enrollment program, this person is on site during classes to enroll and test new students. This person can also sell books to students.

Children’s program—Will the students be able to attend if they cannot bring their children? An organized program with children separated according to age is best. High school students who need "community service" hours for college entrance applications, when properly trained, make excellent volunteers for this program. It should be overseen by an adult. Problems do occur. Parents must sign children in and out.

Data sheets—What do you want and need to know about your students and their children entering the children’s program? If you are looking for a government grant, this must include social security numbers, home addresses, phone numbers. Many people, when faced with having to give a social security number, panic.

Classes—Three levels are most common: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. If you have enough teachers you can break classes down into Beginner 1 and 2, etc. If you only have two teachers, try to have a beginner class and an Intermediate/Advanced. It is difficult for one teacher to teach all levels, but it can be done with advance preparation.

All classes have a sign-in sheet. Students and teacher should always sign in.

Classes can be twice or three times a week for an hour-and-a-half to two hours.

Focus

2004-05-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

From a folded paper boat in the middle of the pond,
I throw a pebble, causing motion.
It expands and grows, a ripple
affecting all the other paper boats on the pond.

From another little paper boat,
my husband throws a pebble.
I watch as his ripple advances.
It reaches my paper boat and I capsize.
I always capsize.

God sighs and restores my little boat.
"Keep your eyes on me," he smiles.
He throws a stone into the middle of our pond.
I watch as enormous waves replace our ripples.
I put my eyes on Him.

Somehow, without my quite knowing how,
my husband's boat is beside mine.
The boats bounce as we tie them together.
My husband steers and we both watch God,
and somehow, without my quite knowing how,
we stay afloat.

September Breeze

2004-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

Soft September evening breeze--
Full moon lights up sweet gum trees.
The pine and cedar, dusty gray,
Watch and listen as I pray.

"Father, this display of wonder
Speaks to me with words of thunder.
I would climb these trees to reach you."
"No, " You say, "I've more to teach you."

Moonlight shines on page and pen.
I do not know the where and when,
But one day You'll reach for me,
And I will gladly go with Thee.

The Answer

2004-05-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

Three-year-old hands roll out fat, blue snakes. Her five-year-old brother sculpts a yellow wingless bird, pinching the head to form a beak. Peppercorn eyes locate the snakes. They battle. Action stops when the beak is flattened. The sculptor has questions.

"Mom, why did God make birds?"
The snake maker pauses; this could be important.
"Please, no more God questions."
"But I really wanna know."
"I told you, I'm tired of God questions."
"Please? Just one more."
"Okay. Just one more. God made birds to look pretty in trees and to eat bugs and worms."
"YUK!!" In unison.
"Why did God make bugs and worms?"
"So the birds would have something to eat."
Snake production ceases.
"Why did God make trees?"
"For birds to sit in, and to make houses out of."
"Why did God make houses?"
"God doesn't make houses. People make houses."
"Why did God make Play-doh?"
"God didn't make Play-doh! Stores make Play-doh!
NO MORE GOD QUESTIONS!!"

Busy little hands return to their creation duties. A large ant on reconnaissance scrambles over a snake.

"Mom. Why did God make ants?"
"I DON'T KNOW! ASK GOD!"

Hands clasped and head bowed, he inquires:
"God, why did you make ants?"

Beside him, a deep three-year-old voice answers:
"CUZ I LIKE 'EM!"

The Sin

2004-05-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

He ran,
Blindly.

The sin had grown.
From the size of a walnut,
it had grown to the size of a man…
who chased him.

He ran,
Fearfully.

The man who chased him held a spear.
The man with the spear
sneered at him when he turned to look.
The man shook his spear as he gave chase.
“You’re mine,” he said.

He ran,
Desperately.

Up ahead was Brightness,
Loving Brightness:
An offer of Love to a child.
Refuge.

He ran,
Hopefully.

The Loving Brightness smiled.
Open arms gathered and enveloped him.
Love replaced Fear.

He loved,
Gratefully.

The man with the spear took aim.
“You’re mine,” he said as he hurled the spear.

He cried,
Regretfully.

The Face of Brightness smiled:
Christ smiled as the spear approached.
HE turned and His Side was pierced by the spear—
The consequence of Sin.

HE DIED. . .
GLORIOUSLY.

As Life-Blood ran from the Wound,
New life surrounded him.
Christ smiled.
“You are mine,” He said.

Gates of Heaven

2004-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Gates of Heaven swing wide open;
Songs of Joy fill every space.
"We've been waiting for you Brother,
Hurry up and take your place.

"There are others who are worthy
For whom we must still watch and wait.
Then the Resurrection Army
Will descend upon that date."

Joyful greetings meet our brother
As he joins the Heavenly Choir.
In praises sanctified and holy,
They call the Spirit as a Fire.

Our grief is worldly sorrow
That our brother cannot hear.
Our voices are more needed
To give encouragement and cheer.

For those who seek endowment,
There is power in Godly praise.
Let us join now with our brother,
As in song our voices raise.

Thou art Lord and have all glory,
Wisdom, knowledge, and great power.
With all honor, we behold Thee;
With great joy, we bless this hour.

Hallelujah, Holy Father,
We approach on bended knee;
Not to ask for any blessing
But to give ourselves to Thee.

HIS Mercy Endureth

2004-05-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

Jehoshephat’s people were threatened one day;
Three armies came after their land.
They prayed and they fasted till one man did say,
The battle is in the Lord’s hand.

Refrain:
They-sang: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever, we know.
They-sang: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever, we know.

They gathered their forces with singers to lead.
And marched to the site of the Lord.
By praising and singing their hearts were all freed
To lay all their trust in His Word

Refrain:
They-sang: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever, we know.
They-sang: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever, we know.

In heavenly armour did they sing and pray.
The battle belonged to the Lord.
Their enemies killed one another that day.
Because of their trust in His Word.

Refrain:
We-sing: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever, we know.
We-sing: His mercy en-dur-eth
Forever and ever. A-men

Testimonies

2004-05-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

Let us share with one another
Testimonies of the love
That our Lord has poured upon us
As he guides us from above.
Share the courage, faith and wisdom
That he gives in this last day
So that we may show to others
Stepping stones upon the way.

As we share our testimonies
God will bless our words with power.
Joy and courage will attend us
Flooding our souls in that same hour.
For our Father loves to bless us
As we hear and tell his deeds.
He is strengthening and preparing
Those who follow where he leads.

The great Blessings from our Father
Call for action on our part.
Our decisions will determine
Whose law is etched upon our Hearts.
Our response to God’s great Blessings
Separates His children here.
Loving workers in his kingdom
See their duties without fear.

As we share our Father’s Blessings,
We reflect his Love and Light.
We can draw to Him still others
Who are walking without sight.
If we do not share His Message,
We will lose what light we’ve gained,
And our blessings will be given
To those workers who remain.

Hugged

2004-05-18T06:14:00.000-07:00

When no one was looking,
I slipped outdoors,
reached up my hands,
and hugged God.
I felt his Smile,
and knew for certain,
He had hugged me first.

Delight thyself in the Lord
and he will give thee the desires
of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

Dirt!

2004-05-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

Adam was made from dirt.
We are dirt creatures.
We are connected to the dirt.
In order to survive, we must eat food grown in dirt.
Once we have absorbed all the value from it,
the remains return to the dirt.
Whole lives are spent chasing, cleaning, dusting,
and moving the dirt.
Then we die
and we are buried in dirt!

Angels are not connected to dirt.
They are spirit.
They can see what we can't.
They see right and wrong as we can't.

Would that we were angels
and not connected to dirt!
But maybe that's what makes us special to God.
When we choose to love Him and obey Him,
it's not a choice made with full knowledge,
but a choice made by faith and love.
There is no coercion, no force.
He already loves us
and when we love Him back,
it splashes all over the place.

I wonder if fasting and prayer
disconnect us from the dirt
so that we can experience that spiritual realm
just a little bit more clearly.
Maybe that's how we clean up to approach God;
we clean up from the dirt a little,
break the connection,
show God we're willing to give up,
sacrifice our dependence on the DIRT!

Patricia McCann Ragan (1993)