December 30, 2012
Letter to A church in Kogi State, Nigeria
To the Supreme Faith Ministries:
A video to bless you. You will have to copy paste the link into a new window... it doesn't play on my static pages. Mum
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
October 27, 2012
Letter to A church in Kogi State, Nigeria
To the Supreme Faith Ministries:
I greet you n the Matchless Name of Jesus! Do you know why it is matchless? Because it has no match. There is no equal to it!No rival, no one and
nothing that can even come close to equaling the Power or the beauty of His
Name!
There is no other name by which man can be saved.
Acts 4:12(AMP) And there is salvation in and through no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which
we must be saved.
There is no other name that can raise the dead, heal
the sick, cleanse the leper, open blinded eyes or set the captives free.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
ALL POWER. Not some power, or a little power, but ALL
power belongs to Jesus!
Psa 27:13 [What,
what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the
Lord's goodness in the land of the living!
(Our God is a GOOD GOD people! HE loves you. He wants
to bless you, help you, heal you. You don’t ever need wonder, if these things
are His will, because GOOD is who HE is, and GOOD is what HE does. He doesn’t put sickness, or trials upon us to
“teach us.” He teaches us through and by
His WORD, by His Spirit, by the examples given to us in the scriptures and what
Jesus showed us when He walked this Earth! Jesus said, “If you have seen Me,
you HAVE sent he Father!”Jesus never called down fire on the unbelievers. The people he was harsh with were the
religious leaders who supposedly knew the Law and yet perverted it for their
own good and made so many “rules” that God never gave that Jesus said “you keep
people from God.” He called them whitewashed sepulchers (graves) full of dead
mans bones. They were dead inside to God.
But HE wants you to be alive unto HIM.
Alive in Faith, alive in love, alive in a living growing relationship
with HIM!)
Psa 27:14
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and
let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the
Lord.
Don’t expect trouble,
trials and pain to always be your portion.
Yes, we will have tribulations here, Jesus warned us we would.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in
me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
Php 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,[JESUS] and given him [JESUS]
a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things
in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? [This is what you say:]
If God be for us, who can be
against us?
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
We are all going to die
someday. The important question is not
if, or how we wil die but rather it is this: Where will you go after your body
ceases to function? Your Spirit still
lives on, so where will you spend eternity? The 2nd question is
pretty important too. How will you live this life here on earth? Because you can be saved. but still live it
in fear and torment. OR you can say being a Christian is too hard and walk
away. But you are still going to die,
and you will still face all the things life can bring our way, but you will do
it with out a hope, without a Savior, without a safe place to turn to. But if Christ is yours and YOU are Christ’s
then all these things are but for a moment! Eternity with HIM is far more
glorious and worthy of our devotion and attention. Give HIM yur all, for HE has given His all
for YOU!
Pro 26:2
Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, so
the causeless curse does not alight. [Numbers 23:8(MSG) How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How
can I damn whom GOD has not damned? ]
You are redeemed from every
curse, even the ones spoken by witch doctors!
Gal 3:13 (MSG) Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating,
cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the
Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That
is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time[HE]dissolved the curse.
Beloved, Christ literally became the whole of the
curse… everything that is a result of the curse being upon us- HE took. He didn’t just put it upon himself, HE became
it, it consumed Him until HE consumed it with His pure Blood and overcame
it. That is why HE could go into Hell and
free the people. The curse could no
longer hold them captive- He neutralized it, and obliterated it! It was no more! He paid the penalty with His own blood and
then went into hell and took the keys (keys represent the authority that satan
had operated in, by virtue of mankind’s sin) to death and hell away from the
devil. He literally stripped him and took him captive and paraded him before
all of the realms of heaven as the defeated foe! All the saints of old got to see this, as
well as all the demons and all the angels!
When I king goes out to war, and he wins, he comes back riding in a
Chariot with a long train of captives from the defeated place trailing behind
him. This is called the Victory Parade
or the Train of Victory. We ride with
Christ in that chariot! See yourself there.
1Co 15:57(AMP) But
thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making
us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Co 2:14 (AMP) But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always
leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's
victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of
the knowledge of God everywhere,
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou
shalt condemn. This is the heritage of
the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is
of me, saith the LORD.
Dear ones, weapons are
formed against you every day! The enemy
of our souls goes about seeking whom he may devour. But God’s Word declares “
THEY SHALL NOT PROSPER! Every tongue
that rises up to judge you, to curse you, to condemn you- you condemn it! You declare it to be null and void of power to
harm you in anyway. This is your
heritage and portion given to you BY GOD.
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and
delivered them from their destructions.
These destructions are hand picked if you will. They
are specific to each one. Because what
may cause you to stumble, may not be what causes me to stumble, and vice versa.
The enemy studies us to know how we react to things and then he sets up traps, hoping
that we will walk into them. Don’t give
him that satisfaction! Cover yourself with the Blood of Jesus, draw the
bloodline around you and all that pertains to you and declare God’s Word over
yourself daily.
Isa 55:11 (JPS) So shall My word be that goeth forth out
of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, except it accomplish that which
I please, and make the thing whereto I sent it prosper.
God sent His Word.
Jesus IS the Word in flesh. Just because
we stumble or even sin, knowingly or unknowingly, does not void out what God
sent Jesus to accomplish on the cross! He gave us
1Jn 1:9 If we [freely]
admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true
to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our
lawlessness] and [continuously]
cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will
in purpose, thought, and action].
If we never believe God, it
does not make Him nonexistent, nor His provisions for us nonexistent! They just won’t operate as they should if we
don’t believe and receive them. But,
they are still there! So BELIEVE and RECEIVE them!
He gave the Word to prosper
us. Spirit, Soul, Body, Relationships,
Finances. In ALL areas. He sent the Word
and sends it again and again through the mouths of His ministers, to accomplish
what pleases Him. It pleases Him for you to be saved, whole, sound, happy, and blessed.
It pleases Him when you PROSPER. Prosperity
isn’t just about money. Money can be lost
or stolen. Prosperity of heart, of
emotions, of mind, of your health, and your relationships are all part of
it. Seek ye first the KINGDOM of God
( His ways, His viewpoints, His way of doing and being right) and ALL these
things shall be added onto you.
Speak BLESSINGS over You now in Jesus Name. I
declare This day your Liberty
begins anew. Jubilee has come for you.
Rejoice!
Love, Mama Nancy
A video to bless you. You will have to copy paste the link into a new window... it doesn't play on my static pages. Mum
http://youtu.be/XkljgA5SQc8
Our God by Chris Tomlin
Our God by Chris Tomlin
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You
CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we Rise
There's no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You
CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we Rise
There's no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
October 27, 2012
Thanksgiving Day Celebration
Dear Jesus Christian Centre,
I want to greet you this day! Papa and I send our love to you. I have a collection of thoughts about the subject of Grace to share with you this
Day of Thanksgiving in October!
Day of Thanksgiving in October!
First let's start with the Hymn " Amazing Grace." You know how the song goes, right?
"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see..."
So,
first question. How does Grace "sound?" It's a sweet sound according
to the song, but WHAT does it sound like? I am glad you asked me! It
sounds like; "Forgiven!" It sounds like: "Accepted." It sounds like
"Chosen." It sounds like "Healed." It sounds like, "Loved!"
By
Grace we are saved. Ephesians 2:5. So, what is Grace? To a sinner,
it is God's unmerited favor; kindness, His Goodness and Glory being not
only displayed to the sinner, but actually being poured out upon him or
her.
Romans
tells us that it is God's Goodness that leads men to repentance. Not a
stern, angry countenance, that some think that He has, but His
goodness!
What
else is Grace? It is an ease with which you are able to do things.
Things that maybe you couldn't do with His Grace upon you. Jesus had
Grace for Grace.
He was full of Grace!
John
1:16 (AMP) For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received
[all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another
and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon
favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
Now, since He is God, and man, it could not have been "unmerited favor" that he had. So let's look a little closer at the Grace we receive when we ask Him into our hearts.
He was full of Grace. This was demonstrated in a variety of ways. So then Grace also means: God's Ability, God's Efficiency, God's Proficiency, His Sufficiency and His Strength. It is God's help, IN us, UPON us, WITH us and THROUGH us!
Ability=
Ableness to do, power to perform And yes he gives us power to meet
each day, and it is not by might, nor by power (man's power) but by His
Spirit.
Efficiency= best suited actions, especially in response to solving problems! It is the act of producing effects and the power necessary to do it. (The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much... has much power and effect. ) He shows us how to pray, and also how to respond to situations so that we can be effective, whether doing a job when working, or solving a problem, etc.
Proficiency= To advance forward, make progress in knowledge, and applying that knowledge in any given arena.
Sufficiency= Adequate, enough, possessing all that is needed to meet the task. Qualification for any purpose. Supplying what is needed until satisfied! HE is El- Shaddiah the All sufficient One, the Mighty, many breasted One, from whom there is a continual supply for what we have need of! We must draw from Him as a child nurses at it's mother's breast and draws life and nourishment from the breast.
Grace is His benevolent, His kind-hearted mercy filled character being worked into us and released THROUGH us to others!
Benevolence:The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love,of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.
There is a Grace for Giving. What is that? It is that disposition, to give and be generous and not stingy. It is God's "giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater." Keep in mind, there are times it is seed that is meant for sowing. But when God blesses you with bread, it is meant for eating! If you try to "sow" bread, you get wet, moldy bread, because it was meant to be eaten, not put into the dirt! Understand the difference.
It's always nice to eat together, of the bread He gives to us. So today we are Celebrating His Great Grace, His Great Goodness and Kindness, His Greatness and Glory!
For the JOY that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross and the shame. By His Grace- (His ability to submit and subject Himself and His body to unimaginable torture, pain and punishment) we are saved. That Grace carried Him. And the reward that awaited Him, and the Joy that kept Him motivated to move forward, what were they? The joy of obeying His Father, the joy of pleasing Him. The joy of being reunited again with His Father. And the Joy of seeing YOU set free and forgiven so you can boldly come into the Father's Presence, just as boldly as Jesus Himself!
It took Great Love and Great Grace and Jesus had both, and gives both to you now. Receive His Love and receive that Grace. Be strengthened, emboldened, and made able to Stand without falling, for this IS your portion and heritage. You have much to celebrate Jesus Christian Centre! Go forth and share This Love and this Grace with the world around you! Make disciples, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. For He IS with you! Amen.
I Love you!
Mama
Efficiency= best suited actions, especially in response to solving problems! It is the act of producing effects and the power necessary to do it. (The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much... has much power and effect. ) He shows us how to pray, and also how to respond to situations so that we can be effective, whether doing a job when working, or solving a problem, etc.
Proficiency= To advance forward, make progress in knowledge, and applying that knowledge in any given arena.
Sufficiency= Adequate, enough, possessing all that is needed to meet the task. Qualification for any purpose. Supplying what is needed until satisfied! HE is El- Shaddiah the All sufficient One, the Mighty, many breasted One, from whom there is a continual supply for what we have need of! We must draw from Him as a child nurses at it's mother's breast and draws life and nourishment from the breast.
Grace is His benevolent, His kind-hearted mercy filled character being worked into us and released THROUGH us to others!
Benevolence:The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love,of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.
There is a Grace for Giving. What is that? It is that disposition, to give and be generous and not stingy. It is God's "giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater." Keep in mind, there are times it is seed that is meant for sowing. But when God blesses you with bread, it is meant for eating! If you try to "sow" bread, you get wet, moldy bread, because it was meant to be eaten, not put into the dirt! Understand the difference.
It's always nice to eat together, of the bread He gives to us. So today we are Celebrating His Great Grace, His Great Goodness and Kindness, His Greatness and Glory!
For the JOY that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross and the shame. By His Grace- (His ability to submit and subject Himself and His body to unimaginable torture, pain and punishment) we are saved. That Grace carried Him. And the reward that awaited Him, and the Joy that kept Him motivated to move forward, what were they? The joy of obeying His Father, the joy of pleasing Him. The joy of being reunited again with His Father. And the Joy of seeing YOU set free and forgiven so you can boldly come into the Father's Presence, just as boldly as Jesus Himself!
It took Great Love and Great Grace and Jesus had both, and gives both to you now. Receive His Love and receive that Grace. Be strengthened, emboldened, and made able to Stand without falling, for this IS your portion and heritage. You have much to celebrate Jesus Christian Centre! Go forth and share This Love and this Grace with the world around you! Make disciples, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. For He IS with you! Amen.
I Love you!
Mama
»¤«»¤«»¤«»¤«»¤«»¤«»¤« »¤«»¤«»¤«
I have no greater joy than to hear that
my children are living in obedience to the truth.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
EASTER LETTER TO JCC 2012
Dear Jesus Christian Centre and ALL Branch Locations
I send you Easter Greetings from your Apostolic Mother in the work of the Lord,
and from all the partners as well as the Saints both here in America and your brethren in other lands. Daddy (Tom) and I greet you warmly with the Love of the Lord and BLESS YOU this Easter Season.
Happy Resurrection Sunday! To God be all the Glory for His Marvelous Gift and the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that makes us worthy to be partakers with God of all Heavenly Blessings. Thank God for the Blood of Jesus that washes us from every defilement of the enemy and makes us spotless to stand before Him both Now and on that day when all will appear before the Throne to be judged. Those of us in Christ will be judged for how they obeyed the vision and mandate given to each of us, the lost to be judged for their evil deeds and rejecting God’s Gift of salvation that is ONLY found in Christ Jesus.
Let us not fall short in running the race set before us. He makes us able and gives us all things necessary to live a godly life, the question now remains, what will we do with what He has given? What He sacrificed His life to gain for us? Will we squander and waste it, not coming to the full stature of Christ, nor using our gifts and talents for the Kingdom?
Or will we say, “Here am I Lord, send me, use me. I am a living sacrifice, a drink offering poured out before You, in service to mankind and to you Almighty God!”?
A life lived for Christ and serving in love those God puts in your path, is a life not wasted, but as 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says:
2Corinthians 2:14 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.
2Co 2:15 Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation--an aroma redolent with life.
2Co 2:16 But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. This is a terrific responsibility.
Apostle Paul goes on to ask: Is anyone competent to take it on?
He answers his own question in these verses:
2Co 3:2 [No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.
2Co 3:3 You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. [Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Jeremiah 31:33]
2Co 3:4 Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.
2Co 3:6 [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. [Jeremiah 31:31]
Each of you are a sweet fragrance of Christ, carried on the breeze of the Spirit and weaving a picture of Christ as you live day to day in harmony with and in obedience to the Gospels. It is by Grace you are saved and it is by Grace that you are kept and by Grace that you are carried along in this life! You simply must surrender your will to His Grace, and align your thoughts and words with His Word.
This is not saying you are to be a mindless robot! No, indeed! You are to consciously seek for His thoughts and His will day to day, until you are so entwined with Him, and so at one, in rhythm with Him that you are flowing with Him without struggle, like a fish swimming or a bird flying! Only YOU can be you in this life. He has given you a place and a purpose and has a plan that was put into place before you were born. He delights in you and desires to show you the steps to this Plan of Blessing He has chosen to give to you. The day you accept Him into your heart is the day you step into the plan. Then day by day destiny unfolds with each choice that you make. Trust Him to help you! Run to Him quickly if you sin and confess it and get right back on track. You Can Make a Difference in your church, in your neighborhood, in your village and in your nation. Live Godly! Love Deeply! Laugh at the devil and be Brave to follow God no matter what! This is your Calling, this is your Heritage Jesus Christian Centre!
We Love You! Have a Glorious Easter Season and Resurrection Sunday.
Mama & Daddy
Heart n Hands
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Letter to JCC of Busega Uganda 10-26-11
Letter to JCC of Busega Uganda 10-26-11
Greetings and much love to all of you!
It has been too long since last I wrote and spoke with you.As you celebrate your day of Thanksgiving, I would like to add some thoughts to the day.
We can always find reasons for gratitude when we have the right attitude.
If we look at the glass as half empty rather than half full... it will never be enough because we are looking from a view of lack and not joy for what we have.
Grumbling spreads a rumble of dissatisfaction and spoils the goodness around you.
A tightly closed fist indicates a tightly closed and stingy heart.
Sharing a burden lightens the load, but when we share joy it doubles it for ourselves and those around us.
When we open our hand to give, it opens our heart to receive.
A SMILE warms the world starting with yourself.
I pray your nights and days are warmed with His Love, filled with His Goodness and Grace. May you always find a song in your heart and God by your side. I send you my love and share in the joy of your day.
All my love and prayers,
Mama
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Preached in UK
African Church 11-21-2011
WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?
EXODUS 4:1-5
Exodus 4
1. AND MOSES answered, [a]But behold, they will not believe me or listen to and obey my voice; for they will say, The Lord has not appeared to you.
2. and the Lord said to him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A rod.
3. and He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent [the symbol of royal and divine power worn on the crown of the Pharaohs]; and Moses fled from before it.
4. and the Lord said to Moses, Put forth your hand and take it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand,
5[This you shall do, said the Lord] that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has indeed appeared to you.
2. and the Lord said to him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A rod.
3. and He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent [the symbol of royal and divine power worn on the crown of the Pharaohs]; and Moses fled from before it.
4. and the Lord said to Moses, Put forth your hand and take it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand,
5[This you shall do, said the Lord] that the elders may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has indeed appeared to you.
We are going to break down this Word today so you can take home an understanding of WHAT God is saying to you so you can make application in your everyday lives. Is that ok?
Notice the question. God didn't ask him what do you lack Moses? What do you need, or think you need to be successful? How much schooling and what school did you go to?
We all know there will always be people who want to put you down, and declare that what you have and who you are just isn't good enough. The devil will always tell you this.
The word 'hand' means in the Hebrew Strength and Power! It is also symbolic of Authority. The rt. hand represents Fellowship and blessing.
Look Next:
He said. It is Important that YOU SAY! Said means to Answer, say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to call. Proverbs. tells us 'As a man thinks in his heart so is he.' Prov 23:7
What are you Saying is in your hand church? \What are decreeing? What are you calling to yourself? I never have enough money. I can't do anything right...
Are you commanding or are you complaining?
A rod. = staff, branch, a tribe, a company led by chief w/ staff.
You were made to lead. Set the example! Be the chief!
Are you leading, or are you being led about? (Like a cow with a ring in it's nose?)
Moses dropped the staff and it turned into a snake- which represents curse and all the stuff the world tries to put on us! Moses jumped back.
But what did GOD say? Put forth they hand... stretch out, extend, direct, let loose thy strength, thy power, thy authority!
But what did GOD say? Put forth they hand... stretch out, extend, direct, let loose thy strength, thy power, thy authority!
TAKE IT by the tail! Grasp, take hold, seize, take possession, be settled.
Until you make something your own possession, then it is not really yours. You've got to have it settled in your heart that when God said, I KNOW the thoughts I think towards you, they are thoughts of GOOD and not of evil, thoughts to prosper you in all areas, thoughts to bless you, to guide you, to correct you and keep you on a good path, thoughts to show you My Love, thoughts to give you an end that has a hope and a future to it, not a dead end!Not thoughts of evil but of Good!' You have to lay hold of this and make it reality in your heart and soul, so no matter what winds blow, you know that you know that you can trust Him to keep you if your heart is tuned to Him.
He told Moses pick it up by the tail. Tail means the extremity the end, it's the furtherest away from the matter... and you might feel that you are too far from God for Him to hear you, you don't have a good hand hold on the Word, but if you will just grasp the little bit that you have and stand on it He will open more up to you and show you His salvation. Just as He did for Moses. You don't have to feel like you have it all together, just give it ALL to Him. God does not tell you to use what you don't have, but rather what you do have!
If He says you have something, then regardless of whether you see it, feel like it or anyone else believes it, baby You Have it and you must act on it, like you have it!
Pres. Teddy Roosevelt once said in a speech in 1903, 'Speak softly and carry a big stick.'
Moses was known as a very meek man, yet he successfully led millions out the bondage of Egypt because he believed God and used what was in his hand. He had a stick. We too have a stick a rod it is called the Word of God and we need to learn how to use it!
In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let something be established, so turn to 2KINGS 4:1-7
1. Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
3. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
My Pastor is fond of saying that poverty is not just a situation, but it is really a mindset of thinking that not only do you not have enough, but that what you do have, you won't get any more of. In Industrialized countries such as England, Germany and America, there are people always singing the blues to the tune of "I ain't got no..." I love how God demonstrates things to me so I can have a clear picture of what He means. We recently took in a stray cat. He's a beautiful cat but a bit quirky! I feed him sep. from the other cats so he won't feel threatened you know, as he adjusts. One day, I was just sitting on the end of bed, watching him as he ate and he finished all he wanted for right then, and he looked around and saw a paper he had knocked on the floor. He shredded it with his claws and heaped the paper over the remaining food in his dish and actually pushed the dish under the desk! Instantly I understood. He had been a feral cat living out doors for a long time before he found us, and he was used to saving part of his food and hiding it for 'Later' in case he didn't find anything else! He hasn't learned yet to trust that I am going to give him food every day morning and evening. My cat still has a poverty mindset!
A certain woman- a wife of one of the sons of the Prophets- her husband was in the school of the Prophets, he was a jr. minister if you will.
Just because you sit under a prophet does not preclude or mean that YOU will be prosperous!
Your pastor's job is to teach you to profit, to teach you to be wise in your finances and the handling of your affairs in life. He can teach you principles, but YOU must apply your heart to know and understand Wisdom, to learn Kingdom Principles, apply them to your own lives and to live godly!
What did the man of God ask? What do you have in your household? Not even just in your hand, but in your household!
Notice first words were. 'nothing!'
Man of God, if I had something in my hand or in my house, certainly wouldn't I have brought you an offering? Moreover, if I did have something, I would not have needed to come crying to you!
I have nothing except a jar of oil. A LITTLE jar of oil...
Oh but I mustn’t get ahead of myself...
let's break it down!
the word Hast or have in the Hebrew is YESH: To stand out or exist. My girlfriend used to work in a convent for retired nuns and one of the Dutch nuns named sister Carla used to always say, ' the NO you have, but the YES you can get!'
Find your YES. Find your point of agreement. Like finding a stud in the wall so you can hang a picture. The Word of God is a Nail in a sure place.
Every promise in Christ Jesus is Yes and Amen” But there are prerequisites to walking in them. What was the 1st command with promise? Honour your Mother and Father that it may be well with thee and that you live long upon the earth. You can't just mouth promises without walking out the Word!
House= house, dwelling, habitation, human body, receptacle, house hold, ON THE INSIDE!
You need to recognize what is in your house! And WHO is in your house. Is your habitation in Christ? Does HE have a dwelling place in You? Are you daily making room for the Glory? Have you given Holy Spirit permission to take up residence? He lives on the inside of you you know! Everyday we need to make more room for the Glory and Presence of God in our lives and that may mean getting rid of some things. Like watching a certain TV show that is highly suggestive. Holy Spirit is saying, "I am not really comfortable with that" so you need to not be comfortable w/it either.
So what is in your house? What giftings are in you, your spouse, your children? How can you encourage them to blossom and grow? Do you have a child who loves to worship? Encourage them, buy them children's worship cd's ask them is God is giving them their own songs... the song of the Lord! Worship with them, but at their level. Don't push them but let Him draw them up.
Same with your spouse. Ask, Honey, what is God saying to you? Then shut up and Listen! Don't correct, or find fault, but encourage and ask them oh, lets find something in scripture that goes with that, and look together. Make sacrifices to help them grow!
Kenneth Copeland tells the story of God asking him if he really wanted his wife to become all she could be? He sputtered, "Well of course I do God!" "Then make your own breakfast Kenneth and give her that time to study my word and develop a hunger for Me, beyond where she is now.That is the only time she has with two small kids to look after... are you willing to make the sacrifice?" And look at the result. They are both powerful teachers and preachers!
Don't discredit, negate and nullify what you have in your house by failing to recognize it, nurture it and appreciate it!
Scripture tells us 2 Cor.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit and represents Anointing! In the Hebrew it means fatness, fruitful land. Fatness, like grease. Have you ever tried to catch a greased pig? They just wiggle out of your hands! When we are walking in the anointing, the devil can't get his hands on us and hold us down!
And in the Greek it is the word geyshameni.
UH OH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE GETHSEMANE! The place of the oil press. Yes, you are right. And when the world comes to press and try you, will they find the oil of the Holy Spirit flowing out of you, or will they find bitterness?
The anointing destroys the yoke, but are you willing to endure until you see the desired results? The world comes to press and conform us, but the Word says No weapon formed against us shall prosper...shall press us into a corner...but rather we will condemn those tongues of doubt, and failure and lack and we will push back until our mind is renewed with the washing of the water of the Word. We will let the Oil of the Spirit flow out to the world around us so they can see the sons of God manifest upon the earth!
"Go get empty vessels!"
Do you know any empty vessels? Why haven't you brought them to the Master to be filled? If you aren't sure about ministering salvation to them, bring them to church! Duplicate yourself!! Go get empty vessels and pour into them. Find someone who needs a mother, father, a brother, a sister, a friend... and be that In Christ!
And when you are come into the house... when you enter, shut the door, close inclose, give up, give over...
Give God legal custody of your problems, your concerns.
MATT.6:6
- But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
When you enter into your prayer closet shut the door! Door means gate, it also means to shut the jaws of the crocodile!!! Gate again symbolically represents Authority, position, and Power.
Use your authority and shut the devil's mouth against you and your family! Draw the boundaries and say- “no further devil!”
Door means an entrance, a passage way, an opportunity and access.
We have full access to the Holy of Holies. God says to come Boldly to the THRONE of Grace.
Set aside what is full. Journey, go forth, depart, cause to lead out.
Stop staying behind the 4 walls of the church. It is time for the Church to BE the Church! Get out there and win the lost! Touch people, pour your oil out that this dying and thirsty world can be touched and transformed!
God is speaking to you today it is time for you to depart from where you have been. Stuck as it were. It is time to recognize what is in your hand and in your house and to think about what you are saying with your mouth and to Grasp and take possession of what He has already given to you! You ARE the Head and not the tail. You just need to learn how to walk in it! You have a purpose and you have authority and you have all of Heaven at your disposal to accomplish the dreams and visions that HE puts into your heart. Arise Shine for Your Light has come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee!
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To Jcc of Busega Uganda
Crisis or Chrysalis? Repost with additions
(First posted April 2009)
When Jesus went to the Cross, it was a time of tremendous emotional upheaval for his Mom, His Disciples and even his distant followers. It was also a time of upheaval for Heaven and Hell and Earth itself as evidenced by the natural happenings of eclipse, unusual darkness, earthquake and ripping of the temple Veil.
Some of you may indeed feel that you are in a crisis, even as you read this. But the Lord gave me a Word today that will set you free! Do not allow your vision to become eclipsed by the things in your immediate surroundings. Nor fear something that may loom in the distance. It may seem all dark around you. But the Light of the Gospel and the Love of God has been shed abroad into your heart. Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, even as He told us I am the Light of the World. He is lighting and lightening your way.
What may sound like thunderous cheers at your struggle by the enemy is really signaling the beginning of the end of Hell's grasp on your throat. The enemy has tried to strangle you. He has wanted to keep you down, keep you quiet, keep you unable to rise and soar. But! What he perceives as your "end" is really his end!
Even as a caterpillar goes into a cocoon, and it seems a death is taking place to the caterpillar, so too it seems you have entered into a "Valley of death" from which you wonder if you will escape. But there is a transformation taking place. Do not let the crisis of the moment and the tyranny of the things being demanded cause you to look away from the Face of the One who Loves you and Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for Your sins [and to save and sanctify You], in order to rescue and deliver You from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father--
Do not doubt, HE WILL bring you OUT!
The Veil that hides Him from your view is being removed.
Your eyes have seen and will yet see again the Glory of the Lord. But, you need to see that it is not just in HIM, but it is in YOU and has RISEN upon you! He has taken you into the Holy of Holies with Himself and ushered you past everything that cries out that you are not worthy, you are not ready, you can not do this. He makes you both ready and worthy and He tells you when to fly and when to stay under His wing. He alone can make your tired, heavy heart to sing! He alone is your strength, your reason for being. He alone is Life and in Him is the Light you need for right now.
You are not in crisis as you suppose. You are in Chrysalis- and He is transforming
what was, into what He says IS and you shall be-
the gift of Beauty and Grace to this Earth that He has created you to be.
Selah and give thanks!
Some of you may indeed feel that you are in a crisis, even as you read this. But the Lord gave me a Word today that will set you free! Do not allow your vision to become eclipsed by the things in your immediate surroundings. Nor fear something that may loom in the distance. It may seem all dark around you. But the Light of the Gospel and the Love of God has been shed abroad into your heart. Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, even as He told us I am the Light of the World. He is lighting and lightening your way.
What may sound like thunderous cheers at your struggle by the enemy is really signaling the beginning of the end of Hell's grasp on your throat. The enemy has tried to strangle you. He has wanted to keep you down, keep you quiet, keep you unable to rise and soar. But! What he perceives as your "end" is really his end!
Even as a caterpillar goes into a cocoon, and it seems a death is taking place to the caterpillar, so too it seems you have entered into a "Valley of death" from which you wonder if you will escape. But there is a transformation taking place. Do not let the crisis of the moment and the tyranny of the things being demanded cause you to look away from the Face of the One who Loves you and Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for Your sins [and to save and sanctify You], in order to rescue and deliver You from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father--
Do not doubt, HE WILL bring you OUT!
The Veil that hides Him from your view is being removed.
Your eyes have seen and will yet see again the Glory of the Lord. But, you need to see that it is not just in HIM, but it is in YOU and has RISEN upon you! He has taken you into the Holy of Holies with Himself and ushered you past everything that cries out that you are not worthy, you are not ready, you can not do this. He makes you both ready and worthy and He tells you when to fly and when to stay under His wing. He alone can make your tired, heavy heart to sing! He alone is your strength, your reason for being. He alone is Life and in Him is the Light you need for right now.
You are not in crisis as you suppose. You are in Chrysalis- and He is transforming
what was, into what He says IS and you shall be-
the gift of Beauty and Grace to this Earth that He has created you to be.
Selah and give thanks!
As you can see by this, it was written back in 2009. I have walked through many a “crisis/Chrysalis” moment since then. And yes, HE has brought me out of all of them, and IS bringing me out, even of what is now in front of me. I am no different than you. I
Must walk by Faith, day by day. Chrysalis is the process of a caterpillar spinning a cocoon and then being locked away… the worm is transformed and becomes a beautiful butterfly. That butterfly must beat its wings and struggle to get out of its cocoon…but in that struggle it is strengthened to take on the harsh realities of living in the world no longer secluded and hidden from view in its former prison- the cocoon.
These days, finds your surroundings in crisis. Uganda is experiencing daily black outs. Kenya & Uganda have had drought and so has So. Africa. India has seen soaring prices on everything, as you also have seen.
My dear ones, our earth is in crisis! The world is speeding headlong into a worldwide crisis that they have no clue how to stop! Scripture is urgently calling out to us to take our place, to fulfill our destiny, to run the race. We must stop majoring on inconsequential things and become Kingdom minded! We must look at what we (think or in reality) lack, but what we have already at our disposal and within our reach. All of Heaven stands ready for action; they are waiting on our move! It is our voice speaking
HIS WORDS, that propels the angelic host to do His Bidding at the sound of His Word.
It is our actions of Faith and Obedience that puts into motion events spiritually, which translate into the natural.
It is our actions of Faith and Obedience that puts into motion events spiritually, which translate into the natural.
Rom 8:18 (AMPLIFIED) [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!
Rom 8:19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].
Rom 8:19 (WNT) For all creation, gazing eagerly as if with outstretched neck, is waiting and longing to see the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:22 (MSG) All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs.
This world order- the world’s way of doing things, is pregnant with the sin it has engaged in. The creation, the world and it’s animals and it’s people all created by a loving God are being held captive in the grip of the sin that so easily besets us. (Hebrews 12:2)
It is when we come out of our cocoon, just like when the butterfly emerges from its cocoon, the world will see the transformation. That transformation is now taking place with in us as we renew our minds and set our affections on things that are above. As we pursue HIM, to KNOW HIM and be KNOWN of HIM as Paul wrote in Phillipians.
Php 3:8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
Php 3:9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
Php 3:10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
Php 3:11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
Php 3:12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
Php 3:13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
There is an upward calling. It is taking the high road, of Honor and Righteousness, instead of resorting to fleshly, worldly and carnal desires and actions, even when in the face of great persecution, fear and disappointments.
The small choice you make today to live holy, to speak the truth in love, to walk away from an argument, to not say the last word… to not frustrate the Grace of God, but rather to grow in grace as He is helping and enabling you day by day. All of these things matter! The smallest details of your life MATTER in the great scheme of things. YOU matter to HIM. And you matter to the course of things here
On earth.
Now I can hear you saying, “Me? I matter, I can change the course of a Nation? Oh come on, you have got to be kidding me!” No, I am not joking, I am speaking very seriously and honestly. You name the Name of Christ, then, LIVE like Christ! Live in Divine union with and to and through Him. For as you do, you are a living Epistle, read and known of men. 2Cor. 3:2 in the Message Bible says it like this:
(MSG) You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.
As you live for Christ, and are HIS, then as they read, they are reading Christ in you the Hope of Glory. They are SEEING Christ in you the hope of Glory.
I had a bumper sticker sign on a car once that said, “Jesus, Changing The World, One Life At A Time.” As your life changes, people see and they begin to want to change too. Then you share the love of Christ, you share the Word of Christ, you SHOW the World Christ, by your very life. There will be change. As you speak to the things around you and command them to line up with the Word of God, you command a sphere of influence. As that influence is exerted and then your neighbor gets saved and is taught, and they speak to their surroundings… do you see how this works?
Begin where you are, but begin TODAY. YOU speak the Word. YOU live Holy. YOU walk in Love. Because Beloved FAITH only WORKS by LOVE!
Galations 5:6
(AMP) For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
Let me put it in simple terms. Whether you are educated or uneducated, whether you have money or have none, whether you are black or white, or yellow or red, male or female, pretty or plain, none of this matters where faith is concerned. Did you act in love
And walk in Faith? The anointing beautifies and changes you from the inside out. And like a bug in the night is drawn to the light, so all of creation is drawn by and to the LIGHT that is inside of you. That “Light” is CHRIST, and His Glory residing on the inside, begging to be activated and loosed to come to the outside! You are more valuable than any riches this world can offer. Your life matters. You matter. Live like it. And make a difference!
Papa Tom and I send our love to you, along with Aunty Karen, Aunt Raymonda and all of our partners of Heart n Hands. My own Dad and Apostle, also sends his greetings as well, encouraging you to keep the faith.
I love you.
Mama Nancy
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Nov. 10, 2011
To the attendees of the Annual "Living Ambassadors Church" Nov. Convocation;
Greetings! I bring you warm wishes and greetings from the Saints here and around the world, of which I have the privilege of covering and sharing in fellowship with. We are One Body- the Body of Christ and Joint Heirs and partakers of the Divine Mystery-Christ IN us the Hope of Glory!
I congratulate you on taking time to come aside and to gather together to refresh and refire. I pray this time will give you more than you ever imagined!
Before I speak to you I should like to remind you that this Sunday the 13th is the Int’l Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I urge you to remember those in bonds and those who have lost loved ones to persecution, torture and death for the cause of Christ. Some of you have been touched personally by this and all of you have the national pain of this reality in the lives of your countrymen. I shall be giving a presentation Sunday and leading in prayer, and I want you to know that you are being remembered!
Now, I want to speak to you from the heart; His and mine. You’ve come for school of ministry, you’ve come for a refreshing, you’ve come seeking “a Word” and a touch. Some of you have come seeking an opportunity to expand your ministry through the connections you’ll make here. You all have your own reasons for being here.
However, I have news for you! GOD has HIS own reason for you being here! Moreover, I pray that as this week unfolds that you will discover that very special reason and experience that His ways are NOT your ways and His thoughts are higher than your own. But one of the most wonderful things about our Heavenly Father is that although He is God- the High and Lofty One of the Universe- HE bends down with His ear to hear our voices and draws us upward to hear His. He has purposed to meet with you here- not for the sake of your ministries, nor for the advancement of your programs, or even so much as the desire that you have for self improvement. Rather, He has come to draw you to Himself, to His Great Heart and to teach you its’ nuances and its’ cadence. He has come to bid you to renew relationship with HIM. This is not for seeking His help with all your preconceived agendas, but to seek HIM, the Lover of your soul!
Solomon said in Proverbs Wisdom is the principle thing. With all your getting get understanding. What is Wisdom? We are told by scripture that if it the fear of that Lord, that is reverential awe, respect and honor to and for Him. It all begins with our relationship with and to Him. We also read that he who wins souls is wise, and the wise who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
We are told that while getting wisdom we must also get understanding. That is the practical application of knowledge. You can have all the book knowledge and have multiple degrees, but still be a very foolish person, destitute in your soul. The Apostle John speaks about this when he says: “Beloved I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.” So, what is soul prosperity?
It is the state of being filled up to overflowing with no lacking of knowing by personal experience and reality of how loved and cherished you are by God Himself. It is having your memories and wounds healed, and rewriting the story of your life with a bright and happy view! It is then being able to extend this acceptance and love to those around you.
This comes through relationship. It is one thing to know about God, know about the scriptures, but quite another to have personal experience, reality and revelation in your heart!
Listen, there once was 10 girls… They had dreams of their futures. They were “proper” girls, who learned all they could about cooking and sewing and even went to school. Their attendance was perfect and they studied hard and passed all their tests. Their reputation was stellar! They busied themselves with going to church and making a living and preparing for “Mr. Right.” They all got engaged and were waiting for their marriages…but 5 of them missed their own wedding day because they were out shopping! How can these be? Besides, these are just silly girls, what does this have to do with me? What is the purpose of this story you ask?
Indeed there is a purpose! Let’s look at it in scripture:
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
All were virgins- but Jesus said 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. Let’s explore what sets them apart.
You all have lamps- lives that have accepted the Lord. You have even consecrated yourself, living lives of ministry and in Service to the Lord. You are busy in the things of the Lord. You are shining up those lamps! No smudges! You are proud of your lamps and want them to look their best, right? Of course!
Ahh, but what was the difference in these 10 virgins? Hmm, all were virgins; meaning they had kept themselves and were not polluting themselves sexual trysts. ( But are we polluting ourselves spiritually by attching more importance to other things than to God?)
All had lamps. Yes, each is given the lamp of the Holy Spirit when we are born again. And each had oil to start out with. He deals with us as we permit Him to, but many have turned down the volume to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to let Him into the closets and locked doors of our hearts and lives!
All had gone out to wait for and meet the Bridegroom with oil in their lamps. They had oil for the start of their journey, in other words. And time went on, and they waited.. Revelation tells us to “Occupy till He comes”, transact business as a banker is one translation of that. SO they busied themselves with the affairs of their lives while they waited. And they grew tired and fell asleep. Even here, Jesus did not chastise or scold!
God is not interested in you burning yourselves out being busy and never taking time to rest or take care of your physical bodies. So what DID set them apart? They all heard the shout and they all quickly arose to go meet him. Now we see here the 5 foolish found that their lamps had grown dim and were going or had gone out. They were busy shining them up and running around getting ready to go, but they did not take time to put oil INTO the lamps
Let me seg-way for a moment. Look at Luke 18:18-22
Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Now we know how the rich young ruler reacted to what Jesus said. What I want to point out that what Jesus was offering and what the 5 foolish virgins were lacking is the exact same thing. The rich young ruler was a ruler… that meant that he was a Prince and had people serving him as well as those he ruled over. He was not a bad guy, as we see he had carefully kept and done the letter of the law. Yet in his heart he KNEW there was more than this.
Let’s put the story it in ministry terms. He ( and the 5 foolish virgins) grew up and became a Christian ( a ruler) went into the ministry and had a church who looked up to him/them, people who served him and he/they were busy in the work of the Lord. He knew protocol ( as did the virgins.) He did everything that was required to be thought of well. He knew how to present himself, could pray impressive prayers and kick and shout with the best of them! He was rich by some standards and had the trappings of success. Yet Jesus said he lacked one thing. He told Martha that Mary had chosen the 1 thing that really mattered.
I know you’ve been taught the oil is the Holy Spirit. But dig a little deeper with me, and go beyond the top layer, the religious knowledge and let’s go for a mystery.
The call to follow him, the need for oil, the ONE THING that was the most important, is all the same thing here!
Jesus did not dispute the good things about these people. He did not say that their work, their, activities were wrong or displeasing to him. He simply said they all lacked 1 thing.
I do not see that Nigeria lacks for Prophets! Nor does there seem to be any shortage of Bishops. And sufficient is the quantity of those proclaiming the Title of Apostle. But what IS lacking is integrity and relationship. Integrity that is borne of relationship. I am not just speaking of integrity of character, but integrity of integral, fundamental, intrinsic foundation of personal relationship with God the father, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
There is no lack of spiritual activity, but of depth of relationship there is a famine. You must KNOW HIS LOVE FOR YOU! He wants to pour it out upon you.
Some things can only begotten by spending time with someone. Even in the natural, pregnancy results after intimacy!
Sell all you have( put aside every distraction and thief that would steal you from me) and follow ME. Become intimate with ME. The wise virgins said, “Go buy oil for yourselves.” Oil= reality of relationship and intimacy with God for yourself. How do you buy this oil? Where can you find it?
Isa 55:1 Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].
Isa 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].
Isa 55:3 Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.
Come to the waters buy with out money… How do you do this and what are these waters? Jesus is the Living Water. You cannot buy what He is willing to freely give. But you cannot receive it if you will not spend time with Him. You find it in the tiem you invest at His feet. Just you and Him.
There is no shortcut to getting this oil. There is no one who can give you some of their intimacy with God, some of their reality of relationship. We can share many things that have come out of our time we’ve spent with Him, but we cannot fill your lamp for you. We can teach, we can point you in the direction and tell you to go buy oil before it is too late.
I have so much more to share, but let this suffice for now. I pray that it will whet your appetite and that He will create a hunger in you- one that only HE can satisfy!
Like the Apostle Paul desiring to be with those he wrote to, I too desire to see you and say, “By the Grace of God, I hope to see your faces in His timing.”
May God Bless and keep you close to Him and may YOU Bless God and keep Him close to you!
Until next time we meet, whether by written page, other media or face to face, I admonish you as a Mother in the Lord to Grow in Grace and remain steadfast in Love and Faith.
Mama Nancy
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
To Jcc of Busega Uganda Oct. 17, 2009
Dear Church Family,
I greet you in the only Name that is Worthy of our Praise, the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I wanted to take a moment to congratulate you and to celebrate in my heart with you as we hold this day of Thanksgiving at the Church.
Jesus Christian Center we have so much to be thankful and grateful to God for. He has carried us through some rough times, He has seen the toil and labour of our hands and the cares and joys of our hearts. He has never left us but has always been faithful. He is faithful even if we were faithless. He lifted us and renewed our strength and gave us hope in place of despair, a smile in place of a frown, a song in place of tears and Faith in place of doubt. He called us and marked us for His Own treasure and joy. May we ever be found to bring joy to HIS heart, and a smile to His face!
I want to encourage you to stay steady in serving Him. Allow Him to develop you and use you for HIS Glory. Even as we draw closer to Him may His Presence astound us and His Glory Surround us and His Love overwhelm us and may we be contagious carriers, infected with His Joy, Peace and Praise.
God Bless each of you and keep you for Himself.
I remain your Mother in the Lord, toiling with and for you in His vineyard.
Love,
There is no other, no friend or brother who knows me better and is always there.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
To Jcc of Busega Uganda Oct. 17, 2009
Dear Church Family,
I greet you in the only Name that is Worthy of our Praise, the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I wanted to take a moment to congratulate you and to celebrate in my heart with you as we hold this day of Thanksgiving at the Church.
Jesus Christian Center we have so much to be thankful and grateful to God for. He has carried us through some rough times, He has seen the toil and labour of our hands and the cares and joys of our hearts. He has never left us but has always been faithful. He is faithful even if we were faithless. He lifted us and renewed our strength and gave us hope in place of despair, a smile in place of a frown, a song in place of tears and Faith in place of doubt. He called us and marked us for His Own treasure and joy. May we ever be found to bring joy to HIS heart, and a smile to His face!
I want to encourage you to stay steady in serving Him. Allow Him to develop you and use you for HIS Glory. Even as we draw closer to Him may His Presence astound us and His Glory Surround us and His Love overwhelm us and may we be contagious carriers, infected with His Joy, Peace and Praise.
God Bless each of you and keep you for Himself.
I remain your Mother in the Lord, toiling with and for you in His vineyard.
Love,
Mama
~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Personal letter
God is God. Even when man falls. God is in control even when the winds blow. Even when our tears fall, our hearts are heavy and everything seems to be going against us.
He is God when our heart sings, and the sky is blue and everything is going right. He is not changed by our circumstances or trials or our good times. He remains faithful, even if or when we are without faith.
I KNOW my Redeemer lives. I Know to whose hand I cling. I know who makes my heart to sing. Even if everyone walks away, turns their back or scorns me, STILL my heart is fixed on My Saviour, My Redeemer, My Bridegroom and King. He alone is the reason I can sing. He alone is my everything.
There is no other, no friend or brother who knows me better and is always there.
That is my Hope. That is the Hope that I pass on to you. Our God will never fail. We MAY get thrown into flaming, fiery situations. But He is the 4th man in the flames and there to deliver us.
Look UP! God told Abraham that and said- As far as you can see- I am giving it to you. Not because Abraham was seeking to build a kingdom=-but because he was seeking a city whose builder and Maker was GOD. We are on a pilgrimage. Sometimes we may only have our faith but we must always, ALWAYS stand together in LOVE and FAITH> Not just in earthly love for each other, but the Love of God for His call, His Kingdom, His HEART.
God Bless You.
Love, Mama
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