Month: July 2015
Let Your Joy
From the book of James. We are instructed how to go through the tests and trials of life and come out on the other side be complete and lacking nothing. In this part we see that the way we enter a test determines how we leave. Our joy must enter first if we are to see victory.
Dear Burd and AP and Church Family,
Dear Burd and AP and Church Family,
Boy , it’s been busy, but a nice cool few weeks, We’ve been seeing daily miracles of food multiplication and the weather is just wildly “cool”, max 80 degrees with a cool wind. I’ve been trying to send pictures all week as new children arrive and the playground is chock full of VERY early laughter and good use of the equipment so many of you contributed to get built.
Something happened I felt a particular urge to share with you tonite.
A couple of weeks ago. on a Friday (our Church day) a new 24 year old girl showed up with Theodora.. Theo explained that she was approx. 6 months pregnant (the girl Hilaria, doesn’t speak Spanish so Theo had to translate) She explained that this was Hilaria’s 7th pregnancy, that Hilaria was in a dual marriage , 1 man 2 women, and that her husband was very physically abusive, had beaten and kicked Hilaria that morning and Hilaria was having contractions and bleeding. Hilaria had gone to Sector de Salud, and been refused any treatment until she showed up with a sonogram.
Immediately, my jaded flesh smelled a quest for money. Money that we did not have. But there lay a surprise in store for me.
Praise Yahweh, Theo and her sister Catalina said they could each put up $100 pesos to help- but asked if we could pitch in the rest- about $150.00.pesos. ($15.00 US dollars) to get the sonogram done.
We obviously were so moved and excited that Theo and Catalina , struggling themselves to support very larg (or more truthfully, not too much) hesitation, pitched in the rest and got the sonogram done at a 24 hour lab and had her seen/ treated at SDS.
The pregnancy is high risk, Hilaria is so malnourished (her weight is 98 pounds at 6 months along) and she really needs our prayers that she can escape this abusive relationship. But the FRUIT in Theo and Catalina is so very encouraging to us.
The BIG DEAL here lies in seeing two very new sisters in the Gospel pull out their wallets to show love to a new believer. Unheard of amongst different tribes, UNHEARD OF. Remember they believe that there is NOT enough GOOD in the world for everyone so they scrabble amongst themselves to the death for the smallest scrap of blessing; a kilo of rice , beans, a sack of used clothing………and here we have these 2 offering to HELP a stranger.
I must remind you that we , Frank and myself are just people , people like you all. People with doubts and fears and very real bills to pay. But like you, whether you know it or not , people who know that others look to us as BELIEVERS for guidance by seeing how we respond to such pleas, and circumstances
Honestly, when they arrived and started telling me the circumstances that day, I thought, well I thought, it was just another way of asking “the Church for money” without really understanding that we/they/us ARE the Church,
We have no mysterious headquarters somewhere in the USA that supplies our every need. We don’t even really have a clue as to what money we we just know we better do ocome in to keep or not keep us going each month. It’s just us and a Very Awesome Great Faithful God and our mixing our faith (believing the unseen ) with actions (in this case giving what we could not)!
The oxygen sensor was just deemed “history” in our only vehicle, The brakes front and back are shot, I owe the dentist for my dry socket etc…but there was no IGNORING HOLY SPIRIT, saying “give, join your faith and actions with theirs.”
And so we did, and that we just as you are RELYING on the spiritual principles of sowing and reaping and of demonstrating our love and faith by loosening our purse-strings
I don’t think it ever becomes so EASY as I believe that we just come to KNOW that when we feel the nudge or the PUSH of Holy Spirit to give, well, we just do so.
As I recall, in none of the
Gospels did anybody pop up and give Jesus a pep talk when His spirit was vexed about going to the cross and dying that ugly yet unbelievably awesome death for us. No one showed up and URGED Him on or reminded him His flat bread bill was due (Feeding 5000 could not have been cheap.). He heard the Father, He knew the Plan and His part in it and He stepped up and took his place. Some folk have the thinking it was easier for Him than it would be for a regular “man”. But he was 100% man as I get it and He sweat tears of blood that that awful death would pass by Him.
He became like us and we must bit by bit become like Him and yes , we canA couple of weeks ago. on a Friday (our Church day) a new 24 year old girl showed up one day during a time while we were having visitors with Theodora.. Theo explained that she was approx. 6 months pregnant (the girl Hilaria, doesn’t speak Spanish so Theo had to translate) She explained that this was Hilaria’s 7th pregnancy, that Hilaria was in a dual marriage , 1 man 2 women, and that her husband was very physically abusive, had beaten and kicked Hilaria that morning and Hilaria was having contractions and bleeding. Hilaria had gone to Sector de Salud, and been refused any tretment until she showed up with a sonogram!
Praise Yahweh, Theo and her sister Catalina said they could each put up $100 pesos to help but asked if we could pitch in the rest- about $150.00.pesos.
We obviously were so moved that Theo and Catalina , struggling themselves were finally showing LOVE to their “neighbors” that we pitched in the rest and got the sonogram done at a 24 hour lab and had her seen/ treated at SDS.
The pregnancy is high risk, Hilaria is so malnourished and she really needs our prayers that she can escape this abusive relationship. But the FRUIT in Theo and Catalina is so very encouraging to us. I thought you guys would want to know that as well. Praise Jesus!!!!
We thank you all back there at Harvest of Faith for all you do for the people here..nd pray the Lord multiply your giving……….,
beyond our wildest imaginings. Hang on , stay the course and believe in the I Am. He Is whatever you need and more.
Much love and many many blessings,
Pastor Frank and Sis Detra
3 Keys to Communion with God” John Belt, Oklahoma City, OK
3 Keys to Communion with God” John Belt, Oklahoma City, OK
The Three Foundational Facets of Biblical Meditation
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Photo via John Belt)
How important is what we meditate upon? With all the false practices of meditation associated with false religion some have wrongly categorized meditation as a bad thing. But the fact is that we are always meditating on something, thinking about something, or giving our thoughts over to something.
Psalm 1 makes it clear that there is a right kind of meditation that God wants us to engage in. In simple terms, where we place our thoughts determines how we will think, what we will act like, and where we will end up in the long term.
There are specifically three areas of meditation that we can engage in as Believers so that our heart and mind will be captured in the glory of Who God is. These areas include the Word of God, the voice of God, and the testimonies of God.
1. The Word of God
Psalm 119:1-2 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! (Photo via Pixabay)
Everything begins with His Word. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh (John 1:1). In the beginning God spoke (Genesis 1:3). Understanding the power of God’s Word, we need to prioritize our lives to meditate upon it.
In Hebrews it says the Word of God is sharp and powerful to the division of our soul and spirit, bringing distinction to what is actually coming from our own self versus that which is after the Spirit. This gives us wisdom, discernment, and understanding for our lives to walk after God’s will and ways.
The Word of God:
– Cleanses, purifies, and protects the heart (Psalm 119:11)
– Separates the soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12)
– Brings light of revelation, driving out the darkness (Psalm 119:130)
– Washes by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:26)
– Prospers our spirit, soul, and body (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
– Brings healing (Proverbs 4:22)
– Revives (Psalm 119:25)
2. The Voice of God
Another powerful area of meditation is the revelation that God gives to us through His voice speaking personally to us. How is God speaking to you? Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice…and they follow Me” (John 10:27). This is the next important step: to walk with God, hearing His voice.
There are things outlined in the Word of God that are across the board in application to every one of our lives. Then there are the specific directions that God gives each of us according to His individual plans for our lives. This is where it is most important to hear His voice. (Photo via Pixabay)
Some might take the attitude that they are not important enough for God to speak to them. Nothing could be further from the truth. All of us are valuable. He is just looking for willing vessels. If you are willing, He is there and ready to use you. We have to make ourselves available for His plans.
Understanding that we have a role to play is foundational for us to even be motivated to seek the Lord and hear His voice. If we don’t have motivation, then we have no desire to hear. And we must hear the voice of God to obey. Have faith that God wants to flow through your life to impact others.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Our belief and faith give us the following action of diligent pursuit to lay hold of the reward that He has for us. Believe God, hear His voice, and diligently seek Him.
3. The Testimonies of What God has Done
As well, we have the area of testimonies of what the Lord has done to meditate on. Has He spoken to you? That is amazing in itself to meditate on! What prayers has He answered in your life? What is your personal testimony of coming to Jesus Christ? Then we also have all of the testimonies of what God has done in the Bible. These are our own testimonies as well, through inheritance. (Photo via Pixabay)
The world is filled with bad testimonies of defeat, sadness, and self-consumption. God wants us to meditate on the great things He has done! Because of all the bad testimonies in the world, we need to focus on the “good news” and the “good testimonies” of God’s goodness. This is how we give “witness” to the goodness of God, His nature and Person.
We see it all through the Psalms, how we are to remember the works of the Lord. We should meditate on all the things that Jesus did in His earthly ministry: the miracles, healings, deliverances, including other acts of His love and truth. The Book of Acts is a book of the things God did, how He worked through His Church, showing He is alive and active.
Choosing what we meditate on is hugely important because it is the difference between meditating and “communing” with the spirit of the world versus the Spirit of God. God has designed us for victorious living, but we have to make the right choices. In the Book of Deuteronomy God promises the blessings because of those who chose to make their meditation the Lord and the things that He values. We are not blessed just because we got the ticket to Heaven, but we have to live in pursuit of His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
John and Brandi Belt
Overflow Global Ministries
An Amazingly Encouraging Word to the American Church” byJohny Enlow
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An Amazingly Encouraging Word to the American Church” As I was praying today, I was able to see in the spirit some important things over our nation. I saw what I believe is our nation’s great angel named “Union,” and he was active, arising, and huge over Washington, D.C. I saw he had the colors of the American flag over his chest, and he was immense – as in he dwarfs sky scrapers. The imagery of size, strength, and power was profound. As I was seeing this, I began to sense other things. It is true that Washington is out of control. It is true that the Supreme Court has overstepped its bounds on several fronts. It is true that there are major conspiracies and plans of the enemy against our nation. It is true that the economy doesn’t have sound underpinnings. It is true multiple terrorist organizations are desirous of inflicting maximum damage on America. It is true satan himself is trying to destroy America from within and from without. It is true that he is working at it from all seven mountain avenues; satan has a governmental angle, an economic angle, a family angle, an education angle, a media angle, an arts and entertainment angle, and a religious angle. If you were to look at what satan has been working at for years and years, you would join in with all the voices of “We are doomed.” But here is what I saw and what I know. It is God Himself who is preserving us, and He has sent massive angelic firepower to make sure we don’t disintegrate and we don’t collapse. We are not being preserved by our own righteousness, as our nation has many laws and ordinances that are below righteous standards. We are not being defended because our churches are so full of God. Many of you correctly see that, based on our righteousness level or our church level, we could be destroyed. What many people have not seen, is that we will not be destroyed. Not only will we not be destroyed, but we will be brought through into a great strengthening beyond anything we have experienced as a nation. We are about to experience a transformational national renaissance. This is part of a sovereign design of God for this age of restoration of all things, and He is working with the minority. He is working in conjunction with discerning prophets of His who are able to see Him and what He is doing. Many of His prophets have become stuck and struck, seeing into the second heavens and all that satan has said he will do. Many are terrified, and it is coming out in their words and in their writings and in their videos. However, 99% of what satan has been plotting and planning for the destruction of America WILL NOT HAPPEN. In most cases he doesn’t know he won’t be able to accomplish his plots but he is about to go through a series of startling and humiliating setbacks. He is going to be humiliated in the eyes of his own powers and principalities. They have again underestimated the King of kings – and will suffer accordingly. We are about to go through a great national renaissance that will defy even most of our possibility thinking. The great angels being sent are much more key to that work then the present state of the American Church. I saw that angels have been seen to block the power of words from the mouth of many Christians. Right now the enemy has deceived many Believers into cursing America, and our Father has sent angels to block the effect of these words. I saw angels catching a gray slime and I was instructed that this was the words they were blocking. It was gray because it came out of gray matter, which was the mind processing things outside of God’s perspective. What we do, even what often seems like brilliant logic – is just slime. The time of the Gideons is upon us now. God is going to use a very small courageous and hope-filled minority, even while the bulk of His Church is either asleep, fighting on wrong battle fronts, or defending ridiculous doctrines and positions. These Gideons will soon have the enemy in so much flight that the rest of the Church army will adjust and join in. Even as in Gideon’s day, when the majority saw that just 300 were chasing hundreds of thousands and decided that victory was possible, so too will we see that today. The “300” (not a literal number) are those who run now to the beat of another drum. They are immune to fear, immune to hopeless reports, immune to reasonable caution, immune to influential religious voices of doubt; they are “all in” on a Pollyanna narrative that sees things entirely different than anyone else. These “300” are driven by crazy, radical hope. They have committed to seeing either the greatest victorious days in their lives or being crushed in their “foolish” attempt to make that happen. These “300” who are “all in” are running with God’s great renaissance narrative for today. The invitation is for many to follow this crazy trumpet sound – and if you could what they see – you wouldn’t hesitate, but you would arise and exterminate the fear. Johnny Enlow Johnny Enlow is a social reformer, international speaker, spiritual mentor, and author of The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, and Rainbow God. He and his wife Elizabeth are focused on awakening individuals to their call to provide practical solutions from the heart of God for every problem in society – until the real God of all of life is displayed in the seven primary areas of culture in all nations: Media, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Family, Religion, Economy, and Education.  |
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Harvest of Faith 