Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.


Good Morning Holy Spirit-
I love you and thank you for all the wonderful encounters recently. My heart is stirred to seek you more, and to walk in complete deliverance and physical healing.

I delight in you. You bring joy to the Father’s heart. Hard lessons came and you have learned well. Take captive every thought that does not line up with your healing and make it obedient to what the Word (Jesus) says about you. A new level of faith has been established in your heart.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving I came down with a common cold. It quickly turned into pneumonia that lasted for approximately 4 weeks. On a Sunday 2 weeks after the diagnosis of pneumonia, I began experiencing urinary tract problems. I ended up in the Emergency room with pain in the bladder off the 1-10 scale. I began seeking the LORD that Sunday as to what was going on with me. He quickly told me it was a spirit of infirmity and to take authority in Jesus name over it. My husband had been napping that day and as he awoke he told me of a dream he had. He was praying for a woman and received a word of knowledge to evict the spirit at work in her. I immediately received that word and he prayed over me. We battled this for no less than 9 hours and finally relented and went to the ER. This was a difficult time, as I knew the LORD had spoken so specifically to me that Sunday. In the midst of the intense pain I began praising Him; not for the infirmity but in the midst of it. I continued to take the antibiotics and eventually recovered completely. I also continued to seek Him and press into the understanding of why the healing didn’t quickly appear.

We were in Tyler, Texas visiting our children recently for Christmas Holiday. It was an amazing time spent with all of our family. I experienced another attack, but this time it was a fear and insecurity that suddenly came on me. It was a tormenting spirit. I battled this in the ways I have always battled when under an attack. The word of God was given to me by the Spirit. I took authority over it in Jesus name. It still remained.

In all of these attacks this month there was a common denominator associated with the battle. I knew in my heart that Jesus was battling with me. He was interceding for me. He also was giving me knowledge of what I was battling; but was not delivering me out of it. He was allowing it for a deeper purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me form becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the LORD to take it away from me. But, he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I was healed in 2004 of an aggressive cancer that characteristically does not respond to chemo therapy or radiation treatment. I received a creative miracle in 1985, that there was no medical explanation for. Many times he has intervened in my life and the life of my husband and children. We always pray in faith knowing it is the Father’s will to heal. When you pray and the healing is delayed or never happens, it is perplexing. I began to press in more, to praise him more, to seek him more. More revelation came as to why this happens in my life and in so many believers.

I Corinthians 10:33
For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

On December 27th and 28th, I was seeking the LORD specifically about the attacks that I had encountered recently and He began shedding some light on it all.

Jan, the weakness you are feeling is actually my strength being perfected in you. I want you to walk in supernatural confidence in me. My character is being shaped in you. You should have no confidence in the flesh. I am shaping you for service, service to others, to the least of these. This takes being clothed in humility. This process is not comfortable. You recognized early on that I was at work in you. You were crying out for deliverance from your physical and emotional torment and I was right there with you walking you through it all. Character building comes through walking it out, not being delivered from it.

Philippians 2:3-11
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father

I believe these delays in healing are for a deeper purpose, if we allow the LORD to work good in them. He is working on clothing us in humility, shaping us in compassion. I have better understanding of walking in His authority, of walking in his power. I have no confidence in myself, but I am completely dependant on Jesus. He sees the bigger picture of our lives. Unless you have suffered how can you have compassion for the suffering of the world? Unless you have been tormented how can you press in for deliverance for the tormented? I want to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings. I want more compassion for the world, and for the Body of Christ.

For many years now, my husband Nate and I have known we were called to the least of these. We had an intercity ministry for several years and look forward to foreign missions in our future. In July of 2011, we are planning a trip to India to minister the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What does that entail?

• Complete deliverance from sin that has them bound.
• Eternal life with Jesus.
• Deliverance from tormenting spirits
• Physical and emotional healing
• Joy, Peace and Rest

I was one of the least of these when Jesus saved me gloriously. I have passion to share his love with all people. To those who have been forgiven much, love much. I would gladly fellowship in Christ’s sufferings to have a part in the blessing of the gospel. To God be the Glory!

Philippians 4:14
Yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles

Philippians 3:10-11
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.




Holy Spirit what does it mean to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings?

Holy Spirit asked me, “What did Jesus take on himself when he died for humanity”
My response to Him was. “Jesus took all pain, physical, emotional and mental.”
Holy Spirit replied, “Everything that happened to humanity because of the fall, Christ took on himself to redeem mankind.”

As you become more transformed into his image, the image of Christ, you begin to think his thoughts. You love more complete. What breaks the heart of the Father begins to break your heart. You fellowship in his sufferings, so that you can help mankind, through your prayers of intercession and through your physical actions. You are Jesus to them.

John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Jesus refers to us as friends, even close friends. He is intimately acquainted with our lives and we are becoming intimately acquainted with his. At least that is his desire for us. He wants us involved in what he is thinking and doing. He wants to share with us everything the Father shares with him!

We have to set a pause button on our lives. By this I mean we need to settle ourselves and center our thoughts on him. Take time, set aside time to just listen, quieting ourselves to receive a download from our Father through the Holy Spirit.

Two and a half years ago, Nate and I were taking time to listen. We were praying about going to The Netherlands for our youngest daughter’s wedding. We were planning on staying about two weeks. That was our plan! We began quieting ourselves and listening to the Holy Spirit, He asked us this question. “Would you consider staying two months?” That was how Holy Spirit phrased it to us, “Would you consider?” He is such a gentleman in the way he speaks to his children. We responded, “Of course we will.”

We had no idea how this would all play out. Where would we stay for two months? We both had fulltime jobs in the states. Were we to quit these jobs? How would we finance such a trip on our retirement salary? There was an excitement, an energy we had not felt in many years. I will not go into all the details, but needless to say, it was amazing! God orchestrated this trip. All of it was taken care of by the time we arrived in The Netherlands. It definitely stretched our faith, but oh it needed to be stretched a little! There were many ministry opportunities for Nate and myself. God ordained appointments with people from all over the world. In fact the young Indian Pastor that has invited us to India in July 2011 was one of those God appointments we encountered in The Netherlands at the YWAM base.

Wow! What if we had not taken the time to listen? I once again stand in awe of God and I am humbled by this thought. I would like to encourage you to take time to quiet yourself and listen for the voice of God. Take time to find out what is on his heart. That is a great starting place, “What is on your heart today, LORD.” I am listening and willing to do your bidding.

There are God opportunities everywhere each and every day. I am not talking about busying yourself with good things to do. That typically results in burnout and a lack of passion. It is a form of legalism that has the appearance of good works. Seeking guidance through Holy Spirit, who searches God’s heart and reveals direction to you, is a better way. This way produces lasting fruit and much joy in the giving and serving. I love this Kingdom walk so much. God’s progressive will for me keeps me full of anticipation and unspeakable joy. I have confidence that what he is leading me into is a perfect fit for my life. It will deepen my walk with him and will bless the people he leads me to.

I Chronicles 4:10b
Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me.

There is HOPE

Isaiah 60:22
The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.

This is just one scripture that gives us hope for His Kingdom coming to earth through nations turning to Him. I have been giving a lot of thought to intercession for the nations lately. I know that this is by the Holy Spirit’s prompting. The LORD has a plan that all nations will come to acknowledge who He is. I believe we, as current believers, can play an active role in this coming to pass. It is through intercession for the nations

Mark 4:30-32
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants with such big branches that the birds of the air perch in its shade.”

God’s kingdom is coming to the earth, you can count on it! The word of God is going forth daily all over the world, and it is bringing forth fruit. Many people are coming to the LORD through personal witness and also through supernatural visitations. Don’t ever underestimate the power of God’s word going forth. It will not return void, but will accomplish that which it was sent to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

Several years ago, Nate and I were leading an urban church. We were not seeing a lot of lasting fruit coming from the young people we were serving; even though we were consistent in our love towards them and also in delivering the word of God several times a week. I remember seeking the LORD as to what we should do. His answer remained the same for several years. It was to keep on loving them and speaking the word of God over them. We may not have seen the lasting fruit, but there is not any doubt in my mind that we were obedient. God will bring the increase! I am sure many of those young people are serving the LORD today because of what was sown into them! We have since heard from several of them giving testimony of just that. Praise God! He is faithful to perform what his word says! Do not ever despise small works! God can take what you have and multiply it.

Isaiah 61:11
For as the soil makes the sprout come up, and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

I declare this to be true! Jesus will cause righteousness and praise to spring up in all people, in all nations!

How can we be apart of this move of God? We can partner with God through intercession for the nations, for all people. I have been in intercessory prayer where I know that I have touched the heart of the Father with my prayers.

This is how it works:
You ask Holy Spirit what is important to Him.
You listen to what He tells you.
You pray to Father God what was revealed by His Spirit.
This is praying in accordance to His will, thus we are partnering with Him on behalf of many different people groups.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

As we intercede revelation accompanies these times of praying. Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us. He does this so that we pray more effectively.
There is such joy in reaching the heart of the Father. I have said many times, “I feel most alive when I am interceding.”

I have a young Navajo friend who has been with Youth With A Mission for several years, and is now serving at IHOP. She sent an update today via email. She gave testimony of praying for her family to come into the Kingdom. They are all presently serving the LORD. I cannot go into detail, but this was not an ordinary family. There was definitely baggage of many years of addiction and being torn by the enemy. She is giving glory to God, and rightly so. I will say that she played an incredible part in their redemption. She cooperated with God and is now seeing her family changed by the power of prayer.

Wow! Let’s get excited about what God is going to do through our times of intercession. He has extravagant plans that we do not know about yet. North America come in, South America come in, Europe come in, Asia come in, North, South, East and West come into the Kingdom. It is your destiny, your created purpose to serve the LORD!

My husband has had more than one dream about calling out to the peoples of the earth to come to the LORD. One of them, he saw so many people responding that in his dream he called our sons to come and help him with the needs of the people! This is going to happen and I say it is already begun. Expect it, ready yourself for it. God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations!

In January of 2011, I plan to begin a prophetic intercessory meeting at Global Destiny ministry house. It will be for the purpose of praying God’s heart over our nation and the nations. We will also pray specifically for our church and the other churches in Albuquerque as the LORD leads us.

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all of his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.


I have been thinking about the fear of the LORD. I am wondering how I learned it and how I imparted it to our four children. It’s funny how we walk into some truths without struggling and with only very little knowledge of how to do it. I recently recalled a childhood memory that included walking in the fear of the LORD. I think in the beginning it was strictly a reverence for his house which was drilled into me through the nuns in our parish school. I didn’t exactly know why I was to be quiet, still and reverent but I was quick to obey! It turns out that this was a great discipline learned early on. Later in my life as I came into a sweet relationship with Jesus it was a natural response to the King of Kings. I had understanding of how much I had been delivered from; and I was in awe of the One who did this for me. Those who have been forgiven much love much. There is a reckoning of how things could have been so different had He not saved my soul and made me whole again!

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

April 25, 1986 the above scripture was given to me by the Holy Spirit. He said to me, this is a new ministry that I am calling you to. It is to your children. Teach them. I took Him seriously even though they were toddlers at the time. I began reading to them the Bible stories and telling them about Jesus. I would pray with them and teach them Bible verses. They were like little sponges taking it all in. I know that when God gave this command through Moses to the Israelites, they took it literally. They would wear the scriptures in little pouches attached to their foreheads! They were definitely walking in the fear of the LORD. They wanted to obey whatever the cost! I believe that as we learn the scriptures, and are obedient to them, we develop a healthy desire not to disappoint the LORD. God is creating a conscience in us; this makes us socially and morally good people. Thus, we live a long prosperous life here on earth.

When I hear that another young person has murdered or has lost his own life due to drugs and gang activity, I know he has been cut off due to disobedience. Many days are promised to those who fear the LORD. This is an incredible truth that needs to be taught from an early age.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools (morally deficient persons) despise wisdom and discipline.

Another way of learning the fear of the LORD is through retelling our God stories to our children, grand children and spiritual children.

Joshua 4:21-24
He said to the Israelites,”In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Wow, these are great stories, to tell and retell, to build our faith and also increase our awe of God. Then as we begin to have our own God stories, we tell and retell them to our children, grand children and spiritual children. Also, encouraging them to step out in faith and see God’s hand move on their behalf. We are now telling some of our children’s stories, because they are powerful and show a powerful awesome God!

Of course first and foremost to have a fear of the LORD you should be in relationship with Him. Now what does that look like? Well for me at age seven it was knowledge of God without relationship. It was a good beginning. God does welcome us at any stage of faith. We should encourage relationship with God at an early age. Little children have the ability to hear from God early on. We would pray openly with our children, but we encouraged them to pray and hear from God personally at a young age. This also develops a good healthy fear of God. A reverence of someone that is much bigger than themselves and their parents!

So, let’s be diligent to teach our children. This includes those coming into the Kingdom. There are many people who walk justly and rightly in the schools, marketplace and everyday life without knowing it is a fear of the LORD. They just know they are to obey authority and treat others as they would want to be treated. Even though we call it conscience, it really is walking in the fear of the LORD. It is doing what is right because we have that inner voice telling us it is right. God’s awareness keeps us from many evils.

You know we are made in the image of Almighty God and bear his characteristics; so therefore we have a predisposition to do good. I know that we are born in sin and have a sinful nature, but we also have the DNA of our Father God. We desire someone bigger than ourselves to lead and direct us; God fits perfectly!

Holy Spirit, I am tuning my ears to hear from you. There is not anything any better than connecting with the one who created me and knows me better than anyone. I experience divinity infused into my situations, into my mindsets when I take time to just listen. Holy Spirit is yearning to meet with each of us to share the Father’s heart and the love of Jesus!

I was meditating on this concept of listening and also remembering some very important milestones in my Kingdom walk recently; as I was remembering I became aware that I could have missed some very important assignments had I not quieted and settled myself to listen. This brought the fear of the LORD instantly to me. Now, this is a good response, for it keeps me seeking and desiring to hear everything he has for me! I do not want to miss one thing!

So, tune your ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to you his church! It is critical in this day as it was in every past generation and generations to come. We do not want to miss our day of visitation which I think can be everyday. God’s grace is beyond limitation; he is patient and is intimately aware of the different seasons of our lives, so there is no condemnation being put out here! He is faithful to woo us back into rhythm! What an amazing Father we have.

Yesterday, I was listening and Holy Spirit began speaking to me about going to India.

My grace is covering your family and yes, my blessings are abounding. More increase and power will overflow into service. Continue to be yielded in obedience to what I am saying to you. The plans are great and encompasses many things; deliverance from oppression, healing for their broken hearts, salvation for many who do not know me yet. I will stand and partner with you and Nate. I have great plans. Prepare your hearts for harvest; the fields in India are ready. They are ready for harvesting. The fields are likewise plowed, furrowed and ready for planting. Turn your ear to me. Listen to what I want you to do and where I want you to go. I have great plans. They are beginning to unfold; you are catching a glimpse of the future.

Wow! What an amazing word to hear from the LORD. His plans are always bigger than our expectations, always bigger than our resources. They stretch us in our faith!

We have been invited by a young Indian pastor to go next July to India. He is getting married then and would like for us to be there. He also has connections for ministry while we are there. We began praying about the possibility of going to India two years ago. The plans are becoming clearer to us lately. So, we press into the LORD for wisdom and direction about making this trip, and he is speaking Kingdom thoughts back to us.

Isaiah 42:5-9
This is what God the LORD says- He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people and life to those who walk on it. I the LORD, have called you in righteousness, I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles to open eyes that are blind to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being, I announce them to you.

This is a prophecy of the coming King of Kings and LORD of LORDs Jesus Christ by the prophet Isaiah. This was being proclaimed to bring hope to the people of Israel. The nation of Israel would suffer great persecution and captivity in their future. They would need a God that would sustain them through these very awful times. Isaiah was declaring God as their Creator and affirming his supremacy. He encourages Israel that they are not alone in their captivity, that He will take them by the hand. He who covenanted with their forefathers will also hold to this everlasting covenant with them. Many thousands of years later the same God is speaking this promise to us. Encouraging us to take what he has invested into our lives and give it away. I love being stretched, I love that his will is progressive and ever changing. Enlarging us as we say yes, we will go.

Isaiah 54:2-3
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

Holy Spirit would you show me areas in my life that reflect pride and idolatry?

(He affirmed me saying) “There is no stronghold of pride or idolatry but you should always be on guard against these evils. Attitudes of your heart will spring up and test the waters. Will you take them captive through confession and repentance; submitting yourself once again to our Lordship? Do not for a minute entertain these thoughts or dismiss them as a weak moment. You will know when something is said or done in pride. Little foxes spoil the vineyard!”

Song of Songs 2:14-15
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

What an incredible passage of scripture! This is a depiction of a love relationship that has been separated by sin. Christ is the lover portrayed in this passage calling out to his Beloved, the church. You have hidden yourself from me in the mountainside, in the cleft of the rock. Today he would say; you have hidden yourself in your work, with addictions to food and alcohol, in the busyness of your day. Please, my beloved, come out! Show me your face; I desire to hear your sweet voice! Do not let sin separate you from me any longer.

Look at this beautiful picture of Christ our Lord. He is so tender, so gentle towards you and me. This reminds me of the Garden of Eden and what took place there between Father God, Adam and Eve.

Genesis 3: 6-10
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Wow! I love the scriptures! They are so appropriate for twenty-first century believers. They are timeless in wisdom. Let’s take a closer look at this passage. Adam and Eve were conscious for the first time in their lives that they were naked. The glory of God that had been their covering had departed from them. God had given them free reign in the garden except for eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they made the decision to eat from this tree; that is when sin entered and separated them from God.

Look at what they did immediately upon eating the forbidden fruit and discovering they were naked. They came up with a remedy for their nakedness. They sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves. Can we all say yes and amen! I have been there and done that! We sin and there are always consequences to our actions; so we begin thinking of ways to remedy the problem. Sometimes it is lying to try and cover it up; other times it is going deeper into debt to try and fix the first mistake. All the time avoiding the very One who says, “come to me!” “I have the remedy.”

Let’s look at God’s remedy for Adam and Eve’s sinfulness.

Genesis 3:21
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

God slaughtered an animal and covered their nakedness or sin with a bloody hide. In Hebrews 9:22 it reads, 'for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." God was not only making provision for their sin, but he was instituting a new sacrament called Atonement. He is a good example of how we are to discipline our own children in patience and love. He basically said, “Yes, you messed up royally but I have made provision for your mistake.”

The bloody hide applied to them reinstated their position with the Father. They again had access to him. This is of course a type and shadow of what was to come in the New Covenant between Christ and his church. God set a precedent of what we are to do when we sin. Sin separates us from God. The Old Covenant given to Moses by God instructed him to appoint priests who would, on a yearly basis, make atonement for the people’s sin through sacrificing animals. The blood of Jesus in the New Covenant restores relationship between man and God. Going back to the original text in Song of Songs; Christ our Lover is saying to his Beloved in verse fifteen.

Catch for us the foxes the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards in bloom.

He is passionately saying to his Beloved the church - Do not let sin take root! The sins you consider to be little are those that chip away at your steadfastness, the attitudes of your heart, your actions in secret. These will spoil and taint our relationship. He is saying that you have fruit-filled lives that are so precious to him. Don’t leave sin unchecked. There has been given to us a remedy for sin. His name is Jesus and he shed his blood on the cross at Calvary to atone for our sins. Seek the Lord, repent, confess, and acknowledge your sin. He will apply the blood and restore you completely. You have never gone too far for his blood to cleanse you and restore you back to fellowship.

Isaiah 55:1-3
Come all you who are thirsty, come to the water; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come; buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live.

The above scripture reference out of Isaiah is a call to humanity from the LORD through the prophet Isaiah. He is declaring, very clearly I might add, that He is the better way! Come, come; He is beseeching us to draw near to him and accept what he has to give to us! A value cannot be placed on it. It cannot be purchased with money. Why? Because Jesus Christ has already purchased it for us! It is a gift of unprecedented proportion! He says come and eat and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. I have only been in a few venues where I would consider it the richest of fare. My spirit, soul and body will delight; I will be filled with joy beyond words to describe! To top it all off; my soul will live! In fact, I will live forever and ever with my beloved LORD!

The year was 1986. We were living in the beautiful state of New Hampshire. At the time, Nate was working for the FAA as an air traffic control specialist. We had moved there a year earlier in our big blue van. The government was not paying for this move so we traveled with only those things that were absolutely necessary for a family of five. We were young and excited about a new adventure, a new beginning!

For the first month we lived in a motel as we were searching for appropriate housing. God soon provided the perfect large house for our expanding family. We were living in a small town called, Cornish. It set right on the Connecticut River that divided New Hampshire from Vermont. It was the most picturesque place we had ever lived. The seasons were distinct and quite amazing for a Florida girl. We settled right in, making friends and becoming part of this rural community. Our children were ages four, two and a half, and 14 months. I was a stay at home mom with plenty to keep me busy! I loved my husband, my children and my life.

Within a year of moving to New Hampshire; we were tested in our faith like we had never been tested before. We also had many encounters with Jesus that strengthened our faith. I began with the scripture in Isaiah because had I not been in relationship with Jesus, I would have been emotionally distraught and without hope.

In September of 1986, I became pregnant with our fourth child. We were excited about a new addition to our family. I remember in one of my quiet times the LORD speaking to me about this child. He told me that she was a girl and to name her, Ruth. Things progressed quite well throughout the next few months. In my sixteenth week of pregnancy I began to show signs that something might be wrong with the pregnancy. I wasn’t feeling any life. I had been pregnant three other times and knew what it should be feeling like. I then began having pain; and went directly to see my doctor. They could not pick up any heartbeat and decided to do an ultrasound. He came back with the results no pregnant woman wants to hear, “this is no longer a viable pregnancy.”

We lost our little baby girl twenty-four hours later. It was very difficult for Nate and me; as we had already grown to love this little one. A few days later, I was putting our children to bed and still grieving terribly. I remember thinking that; I needed to get a handle on my emotions. I just couldn’t continue on with the sorrow I was feeling. I still had to be strong for my children. They were so small and didn’t really comprehend what had taken place.

That night, Nate was working a midnight to eight in the morning shift. I went into my bedroom after putting the kids down for the night. I took my medicine that had been prescribed for me, and laid down in my bed. I was crying and also praying to my Father to help me through this tough time. I specifically asked him to take my grief and also to wake me up at three a.m. to take my medicine again. I fell almost immediately into a sound sleep. The next thing I know; I am awakened by what sounded like a mighty rushing wind. Keep in mind; it was in the middle of January in New Hampshire. The windows were tightly shut! I leapt from my bed because I was so startled. I looked at the clock and it read two forty-five. I thought to myself and may have even verbalized out loud, “You are early!” I took my pills and lay back down. I sensed a strong presence; it was sweet and completely filling my room.

The LORD then spoke to me saying, “Do not grieve for Ruth anymore, she is with me and she is glorious! Blessed is the fruit of your womb, you will conceive again.” I accepted his words and fell back into a deep, peaceful sleep. I awoke the next morning completely changed. I no longer felt the pain in my heart that had become a constant companion for days after the miscarriage. I shared what had taken place that evening with my husband, Nate. We both were comforted by the sweetness and sensitivity of our Savior. We experienced Jesus in a new facet as our comforter.We did conceive only two months later; and God gave us our beautiful daughter Rebekah Victoria. In preparing for this today; I was seeking Holy Spirit’s guidance as I always do when writing. This is what He shared with me.

My ways are far above your ways. I have plans that cannot be explained or understood by you. You need to trust me. I mark your days and your nights. They are numbered. My strength is being perfected in you while you are here on earth. This is only a shadow of what’s to come. A momentary blink in eternity is what you are experiencing in your life. You taste my glory while you are here on earth; but when you pass to the other side you will be immersed continually in my goodness and my presence. That is why, I said to you, “Do not grieve for Ruth anymore. She is glorious.”

The LORD was telling me, “She is completely immersed in my goodness!” I could not mourn for her anymore. I look forward to being reacquainted with Ruth in eternity; but I know she is experiencing in fullness the glory of our LORD. I am forever thankful for the trials of life; for without them I would not have the assurance or faith that I have today!

Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night.

There is a story in the book of Genesis that captures the gentleness and compassion of a father. This is a beautiful depiction of Jesus our Shepherd gently leading his flock who is the church. I would like to give some background to this story.

It is the narrative of two brothers, Jacob and Esau born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the elder brother and rightfully should have received the father’s blessing from Isaac. However Jacob deceived his father and stole the blessing from Esau. So, for a number of years Jacob traveled about in fear of his brother Esau. Jacob looks up and sees Esau approaching him with four hundred men. Jacob quickly has his wives Rachel and Leah gather the children to protect them. He feared the worse case scenario, for he had treated his brother so poorly in robbing him of his inheritance. Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. Not exactly the reception Jacob was expecting. Jacob offers his brother Esau a substantial gift of livestock as a peace offering; yet Esau declines the gift saying that he already has plenty. Jacob insisted that he receive his gift and Esau concedes and accepts the gift.

The scripture that I am about to share with you is part of the dialogue between brothers.

Genesis 33:12-17
Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So, let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.

This is a great story of forgiveness and humility between Jacob and Esau. The point that Holy Spirit highlighted for me in 1995 and again today is the shepherd’s heart for his sheep, represented in Jacob’s concern for his flock and his own children.

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This is a picture of Jesus our Shepherd and how he leads his children. He is faithful to walk with us through all the stages of our life. When I first received this picture in my quiet time, it was 1995. I was in the middle of raising our four children, caring for our home and being a wife to my husband. I enjoyed this so very much, but it was not without trial. I needed the Lord to build a shelter, to cover and protect me. There are times that we experience a delay to our prayers being answered or he causes us to be sidelined for a while in order to give us rest or to fulfill another purpose we are not aware of yet. I believe those times are indicative of Jesus our Shepherd providing these protective shelters. We are not absent from life. In the midst of adversity we are covered by his grace and endued with wisdom and power. I needed wisdom on how to nurture and prepare these precious children for life. I was very dependent on Holy Spirit; but not anymore dependent than I was when all four of those children left the nest between 2004 and 2006; or when I was diagnosed with a rare cancer that should have taken my life in 2004; or when my husband almost had a heart attack and had to take an early medical retirement in 2004; or when we moved to Florida to become caregivers for my elderly parents. Wow! That is just a portion of my life. I want to repeat, He is a shepherd through all stages of life. He gently leads and yes, at times carries us.

This is a word from the LORD that came to me in my quiet time that September day in 1995.

I hear your cry; I have not turned a deaf ear to you. You are mine. I know the ones that belong to me. Call after me and I will hear you. You are dear to my heart. Jacob did not want to push the animals and the children hard. Likewise, I will not drive you hard. I will walk with you, show you the right paths; and I will build shelters along the way as Jacob did at Succoth. I am your shelter so run into me. I will shelter you through storms of many kinds. I am you peace and your shelter. I love you. You are mine.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription. “The LORD knows those who are his.”

He knows who you are and is intimately acquainted with the details of your life! I remember twenty-eight years ago now; I was consumed with a new baby and at the time wanted so badly to be a part of the ministry of the Women’s Aglow. The Lord specifically spoke to me about this season of my life. He said, “This is a very important season and it will be over before you know it.” Another time, He said, “I have a new ministry for you, it is to your children; teach them.” Seasons are interesting in that they are certain to change. We are to flow with them and of course with the directives we are receiving from the Lord.

I was obedient to the Lord’s directives for my life and such fulfillment came through our precious children. There wasn’t a ministry that compared to it in my estimation. I loved every minute of their growing up. The way the Lord orchestrates things are beyond what we could imagine. In 1996 Nate and I started a youth group in our home that expanded into an urban ministry with a couple of hundred kids. Our children were our worship team and they were an integral part of the ministry. Our children went on to be missionaries with Youth With A Mission. God’s plan is always superior to our own. He foresees what will be the best for us. It is our place to listen and do what he says; then watch the amazing plan unfold as he directs us, for his glory and praise!

Deuteronomy 33:12
Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long and the one the LORD loves rests secure between his shoulders.

Seeking wisdom from Holy Spirit today; and He never disappoints me!

Abstain from all that defiles you. I am calling you to live a life set apart unto me; a life worthy of my name. You represent me, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Be holy as I am holy.

You have heard the old adage; birds of a feather flock together. Let’s look at this through our kingdom eyes. You become like the one you spend the most time with. You take on his or her characteristics and mannerisms. Likewise as we are ever before the Lord of grace we become more like him.

A few days ago before going to church the Lord spoke these words to me:

You are a reflection of my glory. As you gaze at me, you become more like me.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

When we come into the knowledge of knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior; a spiritual veil is taken down. So that we have better understanding of whom he is. We see clearly what was hidden before our conversion. The Holy Spirit makes this possible as he is the one that leads us into all truth. He directs us to Jesus, always.

So, as we are led into this truth, faith rises in our hearts. Once our hearts were shut up and dead to the things of God. We are now alive and transforming daily as we sit before him. Our acquaintances begin to see a difference in us. You may even hear that you look more rested, you are taking on a youthful glow! This is reflecting his glory! His ever-increasing glory!

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Many years ago Nate and I were leading worship in our church. I had struggled with being obedient to doing this, because I felt it was such an intimate act to worship. I did it reluctantly, but soon understood why Holy Spirit had asked us to do it. Holy Spirit told me:

You are an example of worship to these people. As you enter in to worship before me; you are reflecting my glory.

I heard more than once that my face was glowing. I tell you this was not outward beauty as much as it was the glory of the Lord manifesting as we honored and lifted him up. The people in this church lacked understanding of what worship really was. They didn’t know how to enter in. Holy Spirit used Nate and I as an example to them. I tell you the more time you spend in the presence of the Lord the more you will look like him. This in turn will cause hunger in the people you come in contact with. I hear questions like, “Are you always so peaceful?” “Do you never become impatient?” This opens doors of opportunity to minister Jesus to them.

Zechariah 4:6
This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel; Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

When the LORD requires a new level of holiness from you and me; it is not to be obtained by our own strengths and merit. It is only through humbling ourselves before him and relying on his strength and power to achieve what he has asked of you. When I heard him speak to me this morning about being more set apart; it did not cause alarm or dread. I can’t possibly accomplish holy living on my own. I believe that’s how we get over into wrong thinking; it is called legalism in the church. I do not begin putting restrictions on myself or my diet. I submit to Holy Spirit and wait and see how he prompts me. It may be as simple as attitudes of my heart or actions towards my friends. It is Holy Spirit’s job to lead me into all truth. It is not for me to put regulations and rules on myself and certainly not on others.

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

Grace has the power to change every circumstance. You only need to appropriate it. Apply this amazing grace to your present circumstance; and watch what God will do with it. He is able and willing to change that which concerns you. Holy Spirit will begin to show you and me what needs to be tweaked in our lives. We submit to his leading and apply grace to the area of need; then wait and see the beautiful transformation take place. I don’t know how long this process will take. There is no formula or timetable; so be patient and wait. You will see the deliverance and salvation of the LORD in your life!

Holy Spirit, I welcome you. Speak to my heart; treasures from Heaven.

*
I am opening up beautiful pathways into the heavenly realms. Still yourself once again and listen

I am singing, I am singing
singing for the King of Kings.
I am singing, I am singing
singing for the King of Kings

Bring forth shouts of joy
Bring forth shouts of joy

For the Great King
For the Great King
He has defeated our foe!

Psalm 20:1-8 Amplified Version
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high (and defend you); Send your help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen you from Zion; Remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. (Selah) pause and think of that! May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. We will (shout in) triumph at your salvation and victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God. They are bowed down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright. O Lord, give victory; let the King answer us when we call.

This is an amazing declaration from King David. It speaks volumes of his relationship with God. He had been anointed King of Israel, but the present King named Saul would not step aside from his throne. To make matters worse, Saul was relentlessly pursuing David to kill him. So, we can safely say David needed to be encouraged in the LORD. There are times when we are going to have to press in and declare as David did in Psalm 20; the Lord is my strength! Life is difficult and there are many assaults on it, but we can walk in strength and in the favor of the Lord!

2 Samuel 22:50-51 Amplified Version
For this I will give thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name. He is a Tower of salvation and great deliverance to His king, and shows loving-kindness to His anointed, to David and his offspring forever.

I read this entire chapter in 2 Samuel, and I would recommend that you take some time to study it in completion. It is again a declaration of victory by David when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. We are included in this blessing as we are David’s offspring; we are accepted in Christ at salvation!

Thank you Father: For your great examples of strength put forth on behalf of your servant David and also us! I delight in you; I rejoice in you, I will extol your name forever! Your praise will continually be in my mouth. Who is God that He thinks of me? He is great and powerful; Awesome in his deeds for man!

*
I will bestow honor and favor where it is due~
Rejoice~ be filled with joy!
I have overtaken the plow and the one sowing the seed.
A great harvest is coming!
A great expansion is coming!
Sowing the word of the Lord brings great fruit and bounty.

Amos 9:13-15
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills. I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

I know that this is a promise to the nation of Israel, but I receive it also! I say to you the days are coming that you will see your petitions, your intercessions being answered by the Lord. The cries of your heart for a broken humanity satisfied with God’s heart manifested in them. New wine represents being filled to overflowing with the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. The broken people torn by the enemy will be whole again. Once they were alienated from God; but now they are being brought back into relationship with Him. These precious people made in the image of their Creator will once again have hope! They will begin to rebuild what has been destroyed by the enemy. The outcome of all of these beautiful promises is fruit. We were all created in God for good works! I can speak from experience; having been very torn and broken. I am restored completely! This is God’s heart’s desire for his creation. He wants us whole, complete and fruit bearing. In response to his word, God says to our enemy, “Never again to be uprooted!”

Good Morning Holy Spirit—
You have awakened me with your voice; “Come away, come away!”


Open my ears to hear your truth. Open my heart to more understanding.


*
I have a gift for you today. It is the gift of absolution. You have held on for too long. Let go of the obligation that you have felt; to hold things together. Release it all to me. The past obligations, the present obligations and the ones in the future need to be released to me. Your healing will quickly appear.
*

Wow! Holy Spirit is amazing. I love my kingdom life!

I feel I should give a little background at this point in writing of this sweet encounter. I have been experiencing a condition called gastritis. It is an inflammation of the stomach lining. I have had this condition for about 5 years, but it has become acute in the past few months. I experience nausea and burning in my stomach, and my appetite is very poor. I recently underwent tests and they concurred with a previous diagnosis of gastritis. I have been seeking the LORD for my healing and have felt very strongly that it was coming, as there is not a significant way to get relief from this.

So, after a not so great night of nausea and the like, I am awakened by a familiar voice beckoning me to come away.

He said, “A gift of absolution.“ My first thought is, “What could you mean?’ So, I grab the Webster’s dictionary and look the word up. I was raised Catholic and had some understanding of what it means to be absolved.

Absolution: To loosen from. a formal freeing from guilt or obligation.

Immediately, I have understanding into what is being said to me by Holy Spirit. To be absolved from something implies a setting free from responsibilities or obligations. I am a peacemaker. I have always been active in conflict resolution. I have been this way from the time I was old enough to speak. I take on things I have no business taking on. One of those things was not my doing though. It was spoken over me at conception and was repeated time and time again.

I was born to middle aged parents in 1959. They were not excited about a sixth child. But of course being Catholic they would go through with the pregnancy. My mom went to her priest to discuss her unenthusiastic discovery. She was with child at the age of thirty-nine. The Priest told her, “She may be the very one who takes care of you in your old age.” That statement in itself isn’t damaging, and I wouldn’t say it was a curse, but it became a chain around my neck. It was spoken over me many times over the years. I think it is called manipulation. So, unknowingly I took this obligation to heart. I carried it for many years. My husband and I even moved in with my parents in their elderly years and cared for them. I am not saying that caring for your aging parents is a bad thing. It is good as long as you are doing it from a heart of love. I loved my parents, but I think I was operating from an obligation spoken over me.

So, getting back to this morning and the encounter with Holy Spirit; I began to pray. I released any preconceived, self-imposed obligations from my past; releasing all guilt for falling short in loving from a pure heart and a pure motive. I broke free from those words spoken over me many years ago. I did all of this in the authority given in Jesus Name. I also dealt with the present, because unhealthy lifestyles are repeated and repeated for generations. I don’t want this to go any further. I submitted all future dealings with people to Holy Spirit. He is able to teach me how to love without being obliged in any area.

I love the people of God and do not in any way think it’s a burden to serve. Please hear my heart on this subject. There is healthy service, bearing one another’s burdens, being Christ to them. This is good! What Holy Spirit was addressing in me was something I unknowingly took upon myself. This was not good. I was in bondage. This was slavery!

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Wow! I am so thankful for Jesus! He is faithful to his children, and will not let us stay in our old mindsets. I spent a few hours this morning listening, releasing, and appropriating. The result is freedom in Christ.

John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

We are sons and daughters of the King if we have believed in Jesus. I no longer want to live in any form of slavery! Some forms of slavery I have willingly walked in to; others I have unknowingly found myself in. Holy Spirit knows all things and is our advocate. He promises to lead us into all truth! I am so thankful!

Psalm 107:1-2
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe!

So, after appropriating what Holy Spirit was saying to me; I remembered he said, “My healing would quickly appear.”

Isaiah 58:6-9
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of the injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away form your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer.

The above passage of scripture says it all. This is the heart of our Father and because I am made in his image and I desire to do what He says, it is likewise my heart!

I am excited about walking in good health! Presently, I am feeling none of the symptoms of gastritis! I plan on walking in this healing.

Good Morning Father!

I am thinking about all the different times you have spoken to me, and that started me thinking about how you spoke to some of the Patriarchs of the Bible. You are so relational, wanting to communicate to us your love, your affirmation, and your desires for our lives!

Abraham was a great man of God. We all know that. Let us look at how God began speaking to him. In the beginning he was called Abram. Later because of his faith in God his name was changed to Abraham signifying that he would be the father of many nations.

Abram was the son of Terah. They were from the land of Ur. I believe this is present day Iraq. We are not told why, but Terah set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to take his family to live in Canaan. I believe Terah was being directed by the unseen God, because God had a plan that was to be orchestrated through Terah’s son Abram. This reminds me of a scripture in Proverbs.

Proverbs 20:1
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

When they came to Haran, they settled there.

Genesis 12:1-4
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So, Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.

The LORD singled Abram out and began speaking to him of his purpose in life. He was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. When God speaks to his children, faith is imparted in a remarkable way. Abram left all that was familiar to him. His country and culture, his people, and its pagan worship.

Why?

To follow the One true God who had given him incredible hope for his future!

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

God always speaks with an end in mind and it involves his purposes and plans for our lives.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

These plans are prepared in advance! Our part in following these plans is to seek the Father, listen to what he tells us and then to be obedient.

God had such an amazing plan for Abraham’s life that would stretch throughout generations! Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.
It is because of Abraham trusting and believing God that I and many other people have come into the kingdom.

Ruth is another person in our Judeo-Christian heritage. She was grafted into the vine in an interesting way. Ruth was from the country of Moab. Moab was one of the sons of Lot. The Moabites were a pagan people involved in idolatry and worshiped many gods. Elimelech and Naomi moved from Judah with their two sons to live in Moab because of a famine in their land. Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons to live in Moab. They married Moabite women. Ten years later both of these sons died. Naomi decided to return to Judah once the famine was over. She encouraged both of her daughters-in-law to stay with their people in Moab. Orpah listened to her mother-in-law and stayed in her homeland, but Ruth would not give up. Ruth made a declaration to her mother-in-law found in the book of Ruth.

Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth replied; don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

I love this passage of scripture! A portion of it is engraved in my wedding band. Ruth is making a declaration of commitment to Naomi, yes, but also to her LORD. I believe Ruth was converted during her marriage to Naomi’s son. God made himself known to her. She renounced her pagan upbringing turning to the God of Israel. In the above passage of scripture she declares him as LORD. Ruth knew him! Faith rose in her heart, and she was filled with faith and declared,” Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” Ruth found great favor in Judah and went on to marry into what would be the lineage of our Savior Jesus Christ! Wouldn’t you say that God had an amazing plan for this little Moabite girl? He singled her out and began to speak destiny to her. It is through Ruth’s faith and testimony that I believe today.

As I think about all the men and women in the Bible, I am smiling on the inside and out. They delight my heart because of their faith and trust in this unseen God.

• Moses with his awkward low self-esteem was really a Deliverer.
• Gideon hid in the winepress to thresh the wheat in fear of the Midianites, when God saw him as a mighty warrior.
• God singled out Esther, an insignificant Hebrew girl, living in a time of great persecution to deliver her people.

Then there are my favorites such as Nehemiah, Isaiah, Hosea, and Zerubbabel. All were average men who took the time to listen to God and obey Him! What amazing exploits they all did because they stepped out in what they knew God was planning for them. His purposes took precedence over their own thoughts, ambitions, and desires. When God begins to share his heart for humanity with us; we become passionate to do what he is asking us to do. There is a burning in our hearts; we are compelled to do it.

John 16:13-15
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

We are no different than these men and women of God. Seemingly insignificant but filled with the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. God is speaking and sometimes whispering in our ears. Go this way-

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it.

The LORD longs to be gracious to us. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are so relational. Their desires run deep, for their children. We desire good things for our natural and spiritual children. In the same way God longs for us to be fulfilled in Him, but so much more.
He has specific purpose for each of us individually. So, if we have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to us, He will enlarge our thinking. Go here….and do this…..

This is a word I received in my quiet time on September 20 of this year.
I have captured your heart as you have sought after mine. Steady yourself and learn from me. I have so much to share with you. Be steadfast in all that you do. Learn from me. I only followed the Father and did what he told me to do. Follow this example.

Jesus is the Son of God and yet He always met His Father early and received His directives from Him. We should do likewise!

Colossians 2:2-3

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.





Holy Spirit….. I am asking for all of these things!

• The full riches of complete understanding
• To know the mystery of God, whom is Christ
• Reveal the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ

I know that all the promises are yes and amen to all who believe!
I have expectation of more revelation!
You are giving me a more complete understanding of who Christ is and, I am determined to do my part by digging these nuggets out of your precious Word!

A word from the Lord after my prayer above:

It’s yours! When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you. It is my good pleasure to reveal Christ to you in ever increasing fullness. There are many facets to God Almighty! If you lived to be very old you would only scratch the service of his complete goodness. Seek after the Many-faceted One as if you were seeking after a lost treasure. You will not be disappointed or turned away!

Let’s look at the word complete as it pertains to understanding in the preceding verse.
One definition of complete is, thorough or perfect, lacking none of the parts; full; whole; entire.
I want that kind of perfect understanding! Don’t you? I can think of at least ten things right now that I need better. No, not better, I want perfect, complete understanding. The Lord says in the above scripture that he wants us to have the full riches of complete understanding!

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

This understanding that is available to all of us who are His children, well it’s limitless!
I can keep asking, and asking, and asking. He does not grow weary of our questions. He delights in us coming to him.

Matthew 7:7-8 Amplified version
Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.

Sometimes I feel less than equipped to write these cassia offerings. I quip, “I am not educated enough.” I don’t entertain that thought, and other thoughts we won’t mention in this blog. I have this “knowing” that it is not me entirely. It is not just me. Holy Spirit inspires me when I sit down for my quiet times with Him. He imparts understanding of the scriptures and then I write!

Psalm 119:130-131
The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.

He…the Lord, the Holy One, the Many-faceted One, gives understanding of the scriptures and then I write. You may not enjoy writing like I do, but we all need understanding of so many things pertaining to life.

This understanding in the above scripture was given so that we would know the mystery of God, namely Christ.

How do we know Christ?
To know someone implies intimacy. In Biblical history to know someone meant you had sexual relations with that person. One of the definitions of the word know, simply means to be acquainted or familiar with.

Some ways of getting to know Christ is by spending time with him. Communication is essential to building a strong relationship. The Apostle Paul compared Christ’s relationship with the Church to the marriage relationship, in Ephesians chapter five. Include him in your decision making, hence ask and keep on asking.

And, of course studying the scriptures is essential to knowing him; it also shows us how he lived his life. Jesus said that He sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is vital to knowing Christ. In 1 Corinthians Chapter two the author talks about how the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us.

My favorite part of this scripture is the final sentence. Let’s look at it. “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” We can rephrase that. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

This is where we get to dig for the hidden treasure that is available to all of us who believe.

God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. Who? In Christ all the fullness of God Almighty dwells. Oh my goodness! This is exciting, because we have access to all that fullness through Christ! I love wisdom, I ask for it always. When I think of all the things I need, wisdom is at the top of my list.Wisdom is the power to judge rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc. It is having good judgment. I am so thankful that I had access to this hidden treasure as I was raising my children! We can’t go it alone and be successful in life. I am very dependent on Jesus!

I am going to close this rather lengthy cassia offering with two short parables Jesus told to his followers.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

I believe this with all my heart. And I live in expectancy of incredible hidden treasures in my life. This amazing walk we have with Jesus in his kingdom of love is full to overflowing with surprises and discoveries for us.

To name just a few:

• Special encounters with people…including salvations, walking them through physical and emotional healings,
• Speaking words of encouragement at just the right time.
• Blessing someone financially or preparing a meal for a family.
• Finding incredible revelation in the scriptures
• Connecting with the heart of Jesus during worship.
• Having the knowledge to solve difficult problems
• Knowing the cure for cancers of all kinds.
• Creativity of all kinds, including painting, writing, singing, song writing, playing an instrument, dances.
• For me, having the Holy Spirit download a children’s story in my dreams.

Last year my husband and I went to a writer’s conference in California. A large church hosted it and the keynote speaker was the author of “The Shack”, William P. Younge. He was truly a humble man. After he spoke to an audience of probably a thousand people, he came down into the audience to pray with people. I witnessed him embracing someone as he prayed on their behalf. He was given that incredible book by the Holy Spirit. Yes, it was based on a true life tragedy that would have broken most people but God turned this tragedy into a treasure for him.

That same week during the conference Holy Spirit gave me back a beautiful memory that I had blocked out for many years. My husband and I are co-authoring this little memory that has been turned into an amazing story of redemption! I believe with all my heart that God has given me a treasure in this book. I am so excited and looking forward to its completion.

That is the amazing God Almighty that we serve!
Seek him and keep on seeking him! He will be found by you!

I was listening to a worship song on the way to work, and several scriptures were kicking around in my mind. I began pondering, meditating on the goodness of our God. His Sovereignty was the theme that was at the forefront and as always was bringing peace and joy to my heart.

Psalm 29:10-11
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; The LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; The LORD blesses his people with peace.

I love the fellowship I have with Holy Spirit! He is forever my friend, my ally. All I have to do is begin talking to him and he typically responds. There is a familiarity that is comfortable. Like my husband or close friend, he is my companion.

When I read a scripture like the one in Psalm 29, I am taken aback by it. I stop and reread it and say to myself, “whoa” I am not familiar with this!

Who is this, that sits above natural disaster? Who is this, who is King forever?

This is a healthy Fear of the LORD! I believe we need a good steady dose of it! Why? Knowing who God is, and what He is capable of doing, puts our lives in proper perspective. This doesn’t negate who we are in Christ or our authority as co-laborers. It actually works together beautifully.

I operate in this kingdom of love by faith, as Holy Spirit leads me into all kinds of kingdom stuff.
I rest knowing my Father God is sovereign, and has the best in mind for others and me.

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

How many of you in recent times have felt the waters of life were overtaking you? Issues of life have been rather difficult in this season, and I have cried out, “save me!” This is an amazing promise of deliverance. I believe God is there lifting me up and saying to those waters of circumstance, abate! Abate!

Mark 4:38-39
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Jesus said to me recently as I was crying out to him. “I will take care of you and I will see you through this situation; just know who I am. I am everything you need me to be at any given time in your life.”

Then he said these words, “ Still yourself child.”

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him

Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

I can trust that God is over all circumstances in life! I don’t have to be in fear of our government, any foreign government, bad decisions, good decisions, and the earth quaking in many regions, floods, famines, and pestilences, nuclear, and biological warfare.
I need to know my God; and then I need to still myself before him. Rest comes when faith is put into action.

Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength

Again the LORD says to me, “Quiet yourself and trust me. Think upon my character. I am the warrior you need. I am the gentle shepherd directing you “this way,” I am the roar of the lion when the enemy gets too close.

In the quietness and trust of your heart rests you salvation. Salvation is many things including our eternal security when we put our trust in him. It is also, deliverance from strongholds of addiction, incessant doubt and fear. Really it encompasses anything we have need of regarding life.

Jesus has set us above and not beneath the issues of life, all we need to do is to know him, trust him and still ourselves. He is faithful and will come through for us!

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.




As the armies of nations came against Jerusalem and are still threatening her, I stand mighty and strong to deliver! I declare that I will deliver her! I am faithful to the covenant I have made with Israel. I will also be faithful to you and your descendants. You do not have nations assaulting you, but you have demonic and soulish forces pressing in on you. I say to you that I will be strong and mighty on your behalf. Cry out to me as Isaiah and King Hezekiah did so many years ago. I will send my angels to have charge over you. You will come forth victorious!

I Chronicles 16:15
He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations.

I was struggling this week with attitudes of my heart that were not pleasing to me or to my Father. I began by confessing known and unknown sin. Holy Spirit is able to search my heart and reveal what is known and what is hidden from me. I found great solace in His Presence and His word. I love searching the Old Testament for real life situations that tell of a surrendered heart and a willing God. I found such as that this week. I studied the life of Moses, but who really caught my attention was King Hezekiah! I would like to share out of 2 Chronicles Chapters 29-32.

King Ahaz was Hezekiah’s father and preceded him as King of Judah. Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He was an idolater and engaged in many evil practices during his reign. Ahaz did away with the furnishings of the Temple and shut it’s doors.

Hezekiah became King of Judah, after the death of Ahaz his father. Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The scripture tells us that in the first month of his reign, King Hezekiah reopened the temple doors and repaired them. It is always interesting to see what our President does the first few days of his presidency. I believe it says a lot about his morals, his character, and his agenda that has been mostly hidden through out his campaign. King Hezekiah did not waste any time. This was priority to him! He had lots of wisdom for a man of twenty-five. I believe he had to have had a godly mother who taught him how his father David loved and served the God of Israel.

Hezekiah knows of the many regulations of getting the temple reopened. He calls for the priests and the Levites to consecrate themselves. He gives orders to refurnish the temple.

2 Chronicles 29:10-11
Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.

He knows how to get in right standing with God. He desires peace in his kingdom. He has lived in chaos and oppression for too long. His father openly welcomed spiritual darkness by his evil practices. He states I am going to make a covenant with God. He knows God’s character is good and just. He wants his favor! He is beseeching the priests, and the Levites to do their jobs.

The priests and the Levites were obedient to the King’s requests. They did everything according to the Law. They slaughtered goats and presented the blood as atonement for the sins of Israel. The Levites sang and worshipped the LORD. This was part of consecrating themselves, and then it was time to bring thank offerings to the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29:35-36
So the service of the temple of the LORD was reestablished. Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.

Look at this beautiful picture of redemption. Let’s bring this into New Covenant for a better understanding. We come before the LORD soiled with sin; we apply the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are forgiven. We worship Him because he is so worthy to be loved and praised. He inhabits our praises and we experience more release of our bondage. We are overflowing with gratitude because of his mercy and sweet deliverance. This is readily available to all of us who call on his Name!

The LORD spoke this to me in my quiet time before him:
Quiet yourself with love. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love covers.

2 Chronicles 31:20-21
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

This hit me hard as I read Hezekiah’s story this week. He did everything he knew to do that pleased God. The word says, “and so he prospered.”

2 Chronicles 32:1
After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.

Wow! What on earth could this mean? God saw Hezekiah’s faithfulness and his wholehearted worship. He prospered him. He allowed the King of Assyria to invade Judah. That doesn’t seem to fit in the flow of this sentence. Yet, it is there in 2 Chronicles as big as you please. This is such an amazing testimony of how Hezekiah was definitely tested and how he did not waver. I believe with all my heart that God is more concerned about perfecting our faith than making life easy for us.

I Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Can we all agree with this scripture? Well, it’s not always easy when you are suffering grief in all kinds of trials. I believe it’s hard to say thank you LORD for perfecting my faith during the process, but oh how sweet when we come out on the other side. I can honestly say thank you for all that I have been through. I would not be the woman I am today apart from the hardships, trials, sorrows, and disappointments of my life.

Let’s get back to Hezekiah’s story for just a bit longer.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of the flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

This is such a proclamation of faith! He encouraged or imparted courage to his people. He stated so profoundly, the king of Assyria was coming against them with the arm of the flesh but the nation of Israel had the LORD God to help them.

I John 4:4
You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

The king of Assyria taunted them by saying, “How then can your god deliver you from my hand?” “Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.”

The enemy is ruthless and he will taunt you the same way as the king of Assyria taunted the children of Israel. It happens in our mind. He comes against us with fear foremost but also with doubt and unbelief. We have to stand our ground as Hezekiah and Isaiah do.

2 Chronicles 32:20-21
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.

This is exactly what we are to do. We need to cry out to the LORD! He will send his angels with a charge to fulfill His own desires concerning us. The LORD wants us to step out in faith, trusting him to save us. He will in turn send forth help. What a sweet victory this was for Hezekiah, Isaiah and the Israelites! What a sweet victory it is for us also! The enemy will be cut down by the power of the Holy Spirit in us and through the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God!

Hezekiah’s story is told also in Isaiah chapters 37 and 38. I enjoyed reading it in both 2 Chronicles and Isaiah. I discovered both of these books were being written about the same time in Israel’s history. Some of my favorite scriptures are found in Isaiah chapters 40 and 41. It makes more sense to me now that I have studied Hezekiah’s story in Chronicles. These chapters in Isaiah are proclaiming God’s strength and our victory in relying steadfastly on Him!