Creating An Opening For God's Presence

My prayer is that this message from Jim Goll will encourage you to press in and seek God's presence. You can find more from James Goll at http://www.encountersnetwork.com/

BLOWING THE ROOF OFF YOUR HOUSE

Making Jesus At Home In Your House

Read Mark 2:1- 5 slowly as a parable. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring personal applications to your life.

1. Mark 2:1 - Is Jesus at “Home” in your house - family - congregation- city? What would you need to do to have Him be more than the “honored guest” who occasionally shows up
2. Mark 2:2 - When Jesus is “in His temple” - people will gather and revelation will rest on the word of God. May God’s house be full to overflowing and may the crowds gather once again to hear the word of the Lord!
3. Mark 2:3 - Some became dissatisfied with the crowds as they were. Four men became desperate for a “break through” on another level. Through the heat of the day, they carried their paralytic friend on a stretcher to the house where Jesus was. They worked hard to carry this “dead weight” possibly at a distance. It cost them something to get him there, but they wanted more!
4. Mark 2:4 - They could not get near to Jesus due to the crowds. They could have given up, but instead - they moved from the natural into the supernatural to find their solution. Then hope came. We will tear the roof off the house. So they proceeded upon the roof to tear it open with their hands. Through great effort - they dug a big hole in the roof (opened heavens) and lowered their friend into the presence of the living Messiah.
5. Mark 2:5 - Jesus saw “their faith.” Whose faith? All their faith together! Then he spoke to the paralytic - “Your sins are forgiven.” This results in healing the body. May these words echo through our lives today and the sick Body of Christ be raised up to “wholeness.”

Examples of Opened Heavens in Scripture

1. Like in Genesis 28:16-17, we need the gates of heaven opened over our cities, churches and families. (For more on this subject see the lesson “Gatekeepers of His Presence” in my Revival Breakthrough Study Guide.)
2. Like in Mark 2:1-5, we need to “Blow the Roof Off” our thinking, concepts and believe the Lord for extraordinary works of grace. Desperate times take desperate measures. We need desperate laborers to arise who are not content with life as is to tear the roof off in order to lower another into the presence of Jesus!

THREE KEYS NEEDED

Prayer Opens The Way!

Testimony of the Hebrides Island Revival in 1952.

Two desperate women - Peggy & Christina Smith - 84 & 82 years old - were desperate for a revival on their island off of Scotland. They began praying from Isaiah 44:3,

“For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.”

They reminded God of His word. Then they began to claim Isaiah 64:1

"O that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Thy presence. . .”

The oldest sister was blind, but she received a vision and proclaimed, “He’s coming! He’s coming! He’s already here!”

The Spirit of God fell in a barn that night where seven young men were praying from Isaiah 62:6,7 where it tells us,

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

Sure enough God came. This began the great Hebrides Revival under the preaching of Duncan Campbell. A spiritual radiation zone was created and many souls were saved!

Testimony of Evan Roberts and the Welsh Revival of 1904.

At the age of 13 young Evan began to seek the Lord. At the age of 26 Revival came to his home town. He taught the people to pray two simple prayers. “Send the Spirit now for Jesus Christ sake.” The second prayer was similar. “Send the Spirit now more powerfully for Jesus Christ sake.”

Indeed, God’s Spirit came down and 100,000 souls were swept up into God’s Kingdom. Today, a cry is arising - “More Lord!” Yes, there must be a youth revolution come as it was with Evan Roberts. We must have a “transgernerational anointing” as it was with Peggy & Christina Smith. It is time for prayer to arise and to blow the roof off the house!

The Key of the Prophetic

The prophetic becomes a powerful took to open closed minds, closed doors and closed situations. Seek God, get His word, put the key in the door & turn it! Read the following scriptures.

1. Deut. 8:3 - man lives by God’s Word.
2. Matt. 4:4 - by every Word that proceeds.
3. Eph. 6:17 - the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
4. Luk. 11:52 - we must use the key and not hinder others.

The Key of His Presence

We need His presence more than anything in this life! The one outstanding distinguishing characteristic of God’s people is to be His presence among us!

1. Exodus 33:12-23 - God gave Moses his request and revealed His glorious Presence to Him.
2. Exodus 25:30 - the bread of His Presence (or shewbread) used by the priest in ministering to the Lord.

WHEN WE CARE FOR HIS PRESENCE

I want to tell you a dream that has recently gripped my soul. In January, 1999 while I was having some forced rest due to a hernia surgery - the Lord visited me with a piercing dream that is helping to set my course of direction right now and I believe is a clear word to His people.

In this dream, I was holding long loaves of bread each wrapped in their own individual napkin. I was holding these loaves of bread close to my chest right over my heart. Then I got our youngest child's (Rachel's) blanket she has had since birth. I now wrapped these loaves of bread in her dear baby blanket. I held the bread close to my heart and just kind of rocked the bread as you would a new born child. Then I heard the words,

"When My people will care for, cherish, nurture and love the "Bread of My Presence" like a parent does it's new born child - then revival will come."

I then found my self awakened out of the dream only to find my arms were held out as though holding and rocking something. I then heard myself prophesying out loud in the bedroom the same words I had just heard in the dream as the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit was lingering over my body. The Lord was emphasizing these words by having them be repeated twice!

This I know - He wants us to cherish and care for His Presence. Pray for His presence. Love His presence. Nurture His presence - after all - isn't this what you have longed for all your life? Isn't this what you were made laborers to arise who are not content with life as is to tear the roof off in order to lower another into the presence of Jesus!

Go for it in Jesus Name! You can have an open heaven over your heart and life and carry it with you wherever you go! Just love His presence!

BLESSINGS TO YOU!

James W. Goll www.enountersnetwork.com

I encourage you to set time aside to dwell in God's presence. There's no better place to be.

Rest in God

Daily Words:Upwords from the "Logos" (written Word of God) and "Rhema" Words (spoken Words) meant to build up, to exhort or comfort

Heb 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. NKJV

A message from Jesus

The Most Productive People ...

Discern the most spiritually productive people of all time and you will find their first priority was to linger in communion with Me for hours. You will know when you are truly abiding in Me because the more you are pressured to worry or to "do," the more you must "abide" in Me - listening - journaling - praising me ahead of time. Yes, you will do your part, like march around Jericho in silent faith, until the day I release you to shout. But, you will know that your battles are really won as you worship Me ahead of time and have quiet confidence in My strength.

Become more sensitive to your tendency to transfer your faith from Me back to yourself. When you feel that urgency to leave communion with Me because you must get up and "get something done," it will be wood, hay and stubble. True productivity (silver, gold and precious stones) comes when you are clear that apart from Me, you can do nothing. You will reproduce reproducers who are what 'you are' - not 'what you do.'

Try it; actively put your faith in what I alone can do.

I AM the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent One.

You Can Know God's Thoughts

Your life of faith is a response to God's power... 1 Corinthians 2:5

Who ever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God - except that he not only knows what he's thinking, but he lets us in on it. 1 Corinthians 2:11 - 12

Spirit can be known only by spirit - God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing ... Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit. 1Corinthains 2:14-16

God speaks to you through your spirit. God has given you His Spirit so that you can know all that He has given you. If you are in Christ, you have the mind of Christ!

God lets you in on what He's thinking. He communcates with you spirit to Spirit. When you are spiritually alive you have access to what God's Spirit is doing.

Christ knows what God is doing and you have Christ's Spirit, so you can know God's thoughts. It's simply a matter of waking up your spirit and learning to communicate spirit to Spirit.

God shares His thought with you through Jesus whose Spirit lives in you. The Bible tells you that His sheep know His voice. If you are a follower of Jesus then you can hear the voice of God.

If you want to learn to communicate spirit to Spirit ask Jesus to show you how. Quiet yourself in His presence and ask Him to lead you.

Jesus, I am so sorry for not living as though you live within me and for forgetting that I have access to the Father's thoughts through you. Forgive me for neglecting to spend time with you. Forgive me for neglecting to wait and listen for your Spirit communicating with me.

Help me to get to know you more and to live each day aware of your presence with me. I want to know you more.

The truth of your love and your presence is so easily snatched away. Let that be no more. Draw me closer to you, open my spritual eyes and my spiritual ears and help me to hear your voice.

Authority In The Name Of Jesus

As a believer and follower of Jesus you have power in His name.

Authority in the Name of Jesus

"Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?" James 2:19

We have it on good authoity that every knee will bow at the name of Jesus. Everything is subject to Jesus' powerful name. His name is powerful! His name is greater than disability, greater than cancer, greater than divorce, greater than depression, greater than anything you can name. When we stand clothed in Jesus' righteousness and use the authority that we have been given He sees to it that the words we utter do not return to us empty.

The Power of the Word of God

"The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God can be used to break every stronghold. The Word of God is living and active and it is powerful. When combined with faith it is lethal to the enemy.

I encourage you to read Epesians 6 and put on the full armor of God every single day so that you are prepared ahead of time to face the battles and withstand the enemy.

• Seek the Kingdom first
• Remember that you are seated in heavenly places
• Take hold of the your authority you have been given
• Submit yourself to God
• Resist the devil
• Cover yourself with the blood of Jesus
• Renew your mind with the word of God
• Declare the promises of His Word and
• Face each day prepared.

The battle is the Lord's and it is already won. I encourage you to speak out the victory you have in Jesus. Refuse to be defeated. Rise up and be who you are in Christ.

If you follow the links you'll find Scriptures to remind you who you are in Christ and to help to build your faith

A Powerful Prayer of Blessing

This prayer originated with TD Jakes and has been circulating as a powerpoint.

I hope you'll pray as you read. Be blessed.

Father in the name of Jesus, bless me and mine even while I'm reading this prayer. Open supernatural doors in our lives today and give us a double portion of Your Spirit as we take back everything that the enemy has stolen.

• Emotional health
• Physical health
• Finance
• Relationships
• Children
• Jobs
• Homes
• Marriages

I cancel every plot, plan and scheme the enemy has devised against us in the matchless name of Jesus. And I declare that no weapon formed against us will prosper.

I speak life into every dead situation. And I thank you that nothing is over until you say it's over! I speak prophetically into our lives and situations:

• Our households are blessed
• Our health is blessed
• Our marriages are blessed
• Our finances are blessed
• Our businesses are blessed
• Our jobs are blessed
• Our children are blessed
• Our grandchildren are blessed
• Are parents are blessed
• Our ministries are blessed
• Husbands are on the way
• Wives are on the way
• Mortgages are paid
• Debts are cancelled

Our heart's desires are on the way; according to Your perfect plan for our lives.

In Jesus' Name. Amen

I hope you prayed this prayer with me and that you'll send people here to pray it too.

Have a much blessed day,

Lynne

How Are You Responding To Life's Trials?

Is life a struggle right now?

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through - all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either.

It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?

We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! "

I hope you'll be encouraged by this article from Kathi Pelton:

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO ITS TRIALS

A Travel Trial and Encounter

It had been one of those days that it seems nothing goes right; actually it had been one of those years! I travel a lot and things were not going well financially. I was broke. It was the last day of another long trip away from my family and all I could think about was being in the midst of their love and warmth. I just had a call from my husband who told me that he and the kids had cleaned the house, were going to make a special dinner for me, and we could all sit around a warm fire together after I got home from another plane ride in the dead of winter. That was how my mood felt that day - like the dead of winter.

I didn't take a taxi to the airport because some acquaintances offered to drive me (over an hour away) since it was on their way home. I gladly accepted the offer, thinking that the company would be nice. They were late in picking me up and then informed me they had a stop to make along the way. I reminded them of my flight times and they assured me that I would have plenty of time to make my flight. As it went, their stop wasn't brief, but time consuming.

I looked at my watch as it ticked the minutes by and my concern about making my flight was increasing. Then the man driving me asked again, "What time is your flight?" I reminded him, and now concern filled his face. It was a half hour before the departure of my flight and we still weren't quite to the airport...I could feel my heart sinking! I felt sick inside at the thought of spending another winters night sleeping in an airport (because I couldn't afford a hotel) but worse yet, another long night away from the comfort of my husband and kids...and that wonderful fire that they had waiting for me to curl up in front of.

As we arrived at the airport, I knew that it was too late to make my flight. I hoped against all hope that maybe there was a delay due to the snow. I ran into the terminal and had to wait in a long line of other weary passengers. Finally, I made it to the front of the line only to hear that my plane had already closed its doors (I missed getting on by about ten minutes) and the next flight wasn't till the next day.

I felt sick inside, home sick and heart sick. I couldn't bear the thought of sitting up all night in the airport. I was hungry and exhausted, and missing dinner and a fire with my family. When my friends realized that I had missed my flight, they offered to drive me to the nearest hotel. I was embarrassed to tell them that I didn't have any money to get a hotel. I said, "I'll just stay here at the airport." Finally, they insisted that they would not only drive me to a hotel, but pay for it too. I wanted to say no (because I was feeling quite sorry for myself and didn't want a "hand out"), but they would not take no for an answer.

After driving me to a nice hotel nearby and checking me in, we said our good-byes. I was feeling so incredibly sad and I was having quite the "pity party" as I got on the elevator to go to my room, asking God, "Why does this have to happen to me when I'm so tired and homesick? And I was ministering for You! Can't there be some help for me?" As I got on the elevator, I noticed a man who was already in it. We were on the ground floor and he had come down from the upper floor so I expected him to get off. I waited for him to exit before I piled in with all of my baggage, but he didn't exit. I asked him if he was getting off and he said, "No, I'm going up." I got on the elevator and stood there feeling agitated, wanting to be alone. The man turned to me and said, "Having a hard day?"

I surely didn't want to talk to this stranger about my day so I just politely nodded. He said, "Life is all about how we respond to its trials. That's how we grow." Right then the elevator arrived at my floor (the top floor) and I stepped off. As the doors closed behind me I realized that the man was still in the elevator. He had gone through all the floors and had not gotten off any of them...but he had given me an important message from the Lord and I needed to respond.

God Questions Me

I felt the tears filling my eyes and quickly entered my room and before I could even set my luggage down, the Spirit of the Lord filled the room and God's voice began to speak to me in questions like He had asked Job thousands of years before in Job 38:3-18:

"Brace yourself like a man (or woman); I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell Me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?

Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.

Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this."

His voice was not angry, but intensely passionate. It was like a parent would talk to their child if they were being irrational and about to stray from their care. If God can sound "hurt," His voice in my spirit almost felt as though I had brought pain to Him through my lack of trust and the accusations in my heart of not being cared for by Him. I wanted the comfort and warmth of my family and He wanted to be my Comforter and my warmth. But first, He had to deal with my wandering heart that had left the place of "daughter" and had taken a posture of "forsaken bride." I had made demands for particular signs of ease and provision when God just wanted my dependence and intimacy, but I was too busy feeling sorry for myself. He had brought provision through my friends - but I wanted independence...not dependence.

Moving From Independence to Dependence

How often do we set up preconceived notions about how God should act with us? I can be very quick to correct my teenagers when they want to decide how and when my husband and I should do something. There were times we had surprises planned for them which were meant to bring them great joy, but their demand for "knowing our plans and purposes" almost aborted a great blessing from coming their way. I had done the same thing with God during that winter day. God had hidden surprises all along the way of my life, but I wanted the provision to come in a way that was predictable and sure. I looked at His surprises as if they were humiliating. I was embarrassed to depend upon others.

We often speak about it, pray for it, but do we really want dependency? Dependency requires a laying down of independence and a taking up of absolute trust.

Many read the story of Job and say, "That wasn't fair. How could God do that to a faithful man?" I felt the same way about my life! I had been faithful in His service. I gave and gave and felt that God was not treating me fairly. But God was jealous for something much deeper than my external provision, He was jealous for me to trust Him and to truly depend on Him. My "American" independence felt like a right that I had, but my independence had become a demand and a wall between a deeper place of intimacy. God wanted time with one of His beloved, and I was demanding some sort of contract to "what His part would look like to me."

Returning To First Love

Let us return to the place of trust and dependence. This is true intimacy. Love is not self-seeking, it is not demanding, it is not easily angered and it does not keep record of wrongs (or perceived wrongs either). I had strayed from first love and was demanding and independent with God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and
always perseveres. Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

May we return to the beauty and freedom of First Love once again...

Revelation 2:1-7, "These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found
them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

All My Love,

Kathi Pelton - Choose Life - Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

As posted on The Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com/

A Word Of Encouragement - Have Confidence In God

"Do Not Fear! Lean Back on My All-Sufficient Power"

"Confidence is an internal state that is made up of perceiving the risk, experiencing he fear, and overcoming the fear in order to take action."

I trust you are all persevering in the faith. While some of you may be sailing smoothly, many are in a season of warfare contending for a breakthrough. It is with that in mind that I wanted to send you a little word of encouragement. I have been reminded of late that it is Christ in us who fights the battle. Wigglesworth and Dr. Charles Price are both quoted as having said something close to this: "When my faith comes to an end, His is just beginning!" It is impossible to have intimacy with Christ without encounters with the powers of darkness.

While we have no desire to pay undue attention to the enemy, C. S. Lewis reminds us of the two extremes that the enemy seeks to purport on the children of God, being that we either pay too much attention to him or pay no attention at all. There are some seasons where I never even give a thought to spiritual warfare, and there are other seasons I am reminded by virtue of the tests, adversities and strange occurrences that I experience and endure while there is a war going on--this is one of those seasons.

For what it is worth, during these kinds of seasons you have to remember Paul's admonition:

"Having done all STAND."

When that kind of season is one you are enduring, you have to remember to get plenty of rest, and make sure you are adequately nourished, and stay in a place of internal quietness and confidence according to Isaiah 30:15,

"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

You also have to remember:

"Do not throw away your CONFIDENCE which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have DONE the will of God you may receive what was promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

The rest of this chapter is all about possessing your soul by faith in seasons of endurance through adversity:

"FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:37-39).

Overcoming Fear with Courage

Here is a thought: ever wonder what was going on in the lives of the apostles when they were called to write what they were writing? We see men of strength, the giants of the faith, incredible exploits of power, yet what was going on in them during those incredible seasons? Don't be fooled by the world's idea of how success and courage manifest. Courage requires an ingredient we talk little about: FEAR.

Paul says to the Corinthian Church that at a certain season in his life, he was with them "in weakness, and in FEAR, and in much trembling." He also speaks in another place of "fightings without, AND fears within." This is the same apostle who tells us that "God has not given us a spirit of fear!" Is he contradicting himself? Never! He is talking about how he learns to master fear and turn it into courage!

Courage is a form of CONSTRUCTIVE COPING! Courage travels with CONFIDENCE. Confidence comes from the Latin "con fideo," which means "with faith." We are most vulnerable to the enemy when we are lacking confidence (lacking the "with faith" factor). Courage travels with confidence because courage requires a number of components: fear, risk, purpose and ACTION (when you have DONE the will of God...Hebrews 10:36).

It would seem that the writer to the Hebrews is telling us that confidence (which requires courage, and we are commanded to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS) is an internal state that is made up of perceiving the risk, experiencing the fear, and overcoming the fear in order to take action. When you throw away your confidence - think in self-ebilitating ways; when you hold fast your confidence and your confession - think in self-nhancing ways that strengthen your experience in Christ.

Just remember that in Christ - faith begins where yours ends. And He is the HOPE of GLORY within you. That means that the higher your level of hope in the acting out of courage, the lower your fear goes. Hope shows you that your success is on the pathway of faith.

God will give you what you need. In Christ's faith you already possess all the necessary resources, skills, abilities, the will (for it is Him doing His Father's will through you), and the pathway to overcoming (He is THE WAY or the pathway), and you have what it takes to overcome any setbacks you may be facing.

When the enemy comes, there is a standard in you that God raises up. See yourself succeeding and discover that as Kingdom success is your goal (which is basically being faithful to The Father), you will regulate your actions in the face of opposition from the enemy while he is threatening to undermine your existence.

Your perseverance will be for the possessing and the restoring of your soul!

A Prophetic Word of Encouragement

Here is a fresh prophetic word that the Lord gave me for you:

"For in this season of turmoil, do not fear! Lean back on My Power, My All-sufficient Power. For I am not unaware of your troubles or the assails of the enemy. I have seen his foolishness in thinking he can persuade you to give in. This is only a season for the perfecting of My faith in YOU. I have conquered what you are facing already. I AM WITH YOU, I AM IN YOU. I WAR FOR YOU, I WAR THROUGH YOU. Let My faith be released against your enemy. He fears Me and therefore He fears you.

This will be a decisive season in your maturity for My Kingdom, and I will prevail through you. I will protect you in your going out and your coming in. Your tears will be tears of release and tears of joy, I will also restore your soul. Goodness and Mercy are following you, remind yourself of these things. This temporary affliction will pass in spite of the lies of the prince of darkness. Let your heart be strong and take courage, soon there is a new level of enlargement coming your way.

For every clash between the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness, I will release My Spiritual Titans in this season! The wars of the Lord will be fought against the gates of hell and the Warriors of the Lord will prevail. And for every fight there will be a new kind of split decision! Not a split decision as to whether the enemy won or My people won, rather the enemies of My people will be split on whether I defeated them or My People defeated them. For these will be days when the enemy will not be able to distinguish between Me and My people for there is a new level of the manifestation of unity between Heaven and earth. Hell is in confusion for the saints are rising in this day of warfare!

While there are tempests and trials, there is a deep underlying assurance I have given to My people in this hour. The people of God are on the brink of a great surge of the release of My power and My irresistible PEACE!For My Peace will crush the enemy under your feet in the days of battle.

And know that there are hidden factors lying in the secret places of the hearts of My people that will come into play in these days. Even as John the Baptist was in hiding in the wilderness before the days of his public appearing, there are hidden factors in My people that have been hidden for a season and for a time that will now be made manifest for the purpose of Kingdom advancement.

Rejoice My People, for these are days when things long-waited for will begin to emerge from the deep places in your hearts. The secrets of your hearts are being revealed. War with Me for sweet victory lies just ahead!"

Much love,

Mark J. Chironna Mark Chironna Ministries
Email: markchironna@markchironna.com
as posted on www.elijahlist.com

When You Fail You Simply Learn A Way NOT To Do Something - You Have Not Blown It When You Fail

Be encouraged to see apparent failures as stepping stones. When you fail you've simply learned how not to do something. Pick yourself up and try another way.

I hope this article by Robert Riccardelli will encourage you to dust yourself down and have another go.

THAT'LL PLAY! YOU HAVE NOT BLOWN IT WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED

There is a golf term that is used often after a player has hit the ball in the direction of the green. The ball may have not landed in the desired location (the place you were aiming), yet, there is still hope to get the next shot one step closer to the mark. An encouraging phrase that is sometimes used is, "That'll play," which means, "You have not blown it." You are still in the game and can believe for a better shot on your next swing.

A friend of ours was recently playing golf with his son. His son is grown, has a family, and has experienced success and failure along the path of life. On one of the fairways, the son hit a wayward shot that would normally frustrate the average golfer. The father said, "Son, that'll play." The son reflected on the many times his father had encouraged him with this phrase on the golf course, but also, how many more times this expression had encouraged him as a principle for life. His Dad had always been there to remind him that no matter how many times he blew it--it was okay. He knew his dad was proud of him, and had felt continual love and encouragement to trust the Lord's abounding grace in every situation.

What a wonderful picture of a father who loves and encourages his son no matter how many times he misses the mark in his life. This is a tremendous example of the Father's love for us when we have failed. He is always saying, "My dear children, in Me and through Me--that'll play."

What a comfort to know that we do not have to worry about our past. The Father is saying, "It does not matter, take another swing towards the upward calling I have for you." So, if you have hooked your life into the deep, rough, and have sliced your life onto the fairway of failure, that'll play--just readjust your aim, lean into the wind of the Holy Spirit, allowing His presence to guide you, swing again, and continue to walk the course the Lord has set for you.

Get Back Into the Game

Some helpful reminders in getting back into the game of Spirit-led, Kingdom living:

Start Where You Are: No matter where you have been, you can start now by turning away from unfruitful living. Repent and the Lord will forgive you and not hold your past against you. Begin where you are. Where you are is good enough for our God as you give the rest of your life to Him today, this very moment.

Use What You Have: The Father has created you in His image with incredible potential inside of you just waiting to be released. You have gifts and talents beyond what you realize and they can be used today. Do not be deceived in thinking you do not have enough to give to this world. You have everything you need and you have the Father to fill in the gaps along the way.

Do What You Can: You do not need to hit "a hole in one." You only need to stay in the game and do the best that you can as the Holy Spirit navigates your steps. All you can do is truly--all you can do. So, be at peace and rest in Him.

Love, Love, Love: Love is the answer. God is love, so Jesus and love are the answer. Love God with all of your heart and love yourself, because God loves you and created you with greatness in mind. As you build from the foundation of love, you can love those around you and even your enemies. Watch as His Presence in you begins to extend from your life to impact others and even transform the spiritual climate, wherever He leads you. This is all to the glory of God as you begin walking anew this day.

Pull Out That Driver: So you have blown it like every other human being. Maybe you hit the rough more times than others. In the agape love of our wonderful Savior, it does not matter. It matters that you do not give up. It matters that you get on the course again, put the ball on the tee, pull out that driver, and rip it down the fairway of your new life.
Do not fear as you give it a go, because whether you hook, slice, or hit the mark, in Jesus--"That'll play."

Robert Ricciardelli Vision Advancement Strategies Email: info@vision2advance.com

As posted on the Elijah List www.elijahlist.com email: info@elijahlist.net

We Are A People Who Will Do Great Exploits

Consider This

You are a child of God and were born again in order to do great exploits. In the Old Testament these exploits were perhaps more exciting and visible as the mighty men of David killed hundreds and thousands of enemies for God.

You were born again not so that you could wait and enjoy the God-life upon your death and entrance into heaven. No, you were born again so that you could experience the God-life (the abundant life) right now; right here where you live, work, and play regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in.

You may not free a nation thru miraculous signs and wonders, you may not slay a Goliath in front of a multitude of men, and maybe you will not get promoted from menial housekeeper to ruler over the land. But, then again, maybe you will!

Consider this: YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD and were created to do great exploits.

Great Exploits = Defeating the works of the enemy
Great Exploits = Expanding God's dominion of love and grace

You can be this person. You are this person of great exploits. God says it about you and I believe it. Believe it with me!

Your great exploit may be praying and slaying a co-worker's giant of cancer. It could be standing in the gap for a family that is going thru a financial catastrophe. It may look like a smile and an encouraging word each and every day you walk into work.

It could be stepping up to the plate and leading a needed ministry and providing a service in your community. It might mean being a dad or a mom and providing for someone without family.

Maybe it looks normal to you and you are already naturally doing it. Look at it again and do it as unto God and it will produce supernatural fruit.
Learn to THINK BIG, BELIEVE BIG and BE BIG; not for your selfish gain but for the sake of the rest of the world around you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Les_Herron

A Year of New Beginnings

This is a long post but well worth the read. I hope it will inspire you to look for more and raise your expectations.

May the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

"Embracing the Year 5768

Be Simple and Let this be the Year of the New Beginning!"

Introduction by by Jessica L. Miller:

Many years ago, when I was in my early thirties, I had a profound prophetic dream that filled me with unquenchable longing for revival (the manifest sustaining presence of God). The dream was long and detailed, the following is a small piece of it:

I was walking up a green hill carrying a hard bound book. I reached the top of the hill and stood under a huge majestic oak tree. I realized I was middle aged (which is about now in real time - the dream being 14 years ago). I looked at the book in my hands and saw that it was bound in beautiful elegant cream colored paper. Embossed on the cover in gold was an enormous oak tree (similar to the one I was standing under). In a circle around the oak tree were the words, "The Full Circle of Life," also in gold.

I opened the book and read about my life, about my future and about the greatest revival of all time (a revival with a beginning but with no end). One of the hallmarks of the revival that stood out was "creative miracles" - not just blind eyes opening - but eyes forming where there had been none, and much, much more. I wept as I read the account of the impact that the miraculous would have on the world, and the mind boggling masses of people who would become born again lovers of Jesus as a result.

In all the years that have followed, that dream has never been far from my heart or mind.
As publications manager here at the ElijahList, one of the great things I get to do is chase down prophetic authors for articles. While working on a recent project, I realized we were entering into the time frame of the Jewish New Year 5768. We asked Chuck Pierce for the prophetic meaning of the year 5768, which begins at sundown September 13th. You can imagine my surprise and thrill when he told us this:

"The Year of Samekh Chet...The Year of the Full Circle of Life...A New Beginning Is Yours."
jmiller@elijahlist.net

Chuck D. Pierce: Embracing the Year 5768 - Be Simple and Let this be the Year of the New Beginning!

For years, I have taken the Hebrew calendar and looked at the meaning of the numbers and prayed for my year to reflect His year! When we are serving the Lord and seeking His Kingdom plan, I believe each year brings new challenges and new joys for each of us. The Hebrew number system has always helped me as I focus each year on decreeing the "best" the Lord has for me and my family and those connected with me.

I do not think you have to understand the Hebrew year to know the will of God. However, in Hebrew, numbers have word meanings, which have picture meanings, which have sounds. This brings a fuller perspective than just saying we have entered the year 2008. The Hebraic year 5768, which will encompass the Gregorian calendar's, Year of the Lord 2008 A.D., is the "The Year of Samekh Chet!" That means we are coming into "The Year of the Full Circle of Life - A New Beginning Is Yours!"

Time is an interesting concept. God is not in time as we are in time. Our Father has access to every moment in our lives from beginning to end as though they were the present. By the Holy Spirit, we can actually access those times in our pasts when we felt abandoned, abused, betrayed, fearful, happy, fulfilled, or any other emotion or condition. Not only can the believer be forgiven for the past, they can also travel back in time with God, see Him as "a very present help" in the past, and redeem those past times that the enemy wanted to use for evil.

Stepping Into Time

Imagine for a moment that all of eternity is represented by a large piece of paper. This is where God is: unlimited by time and space. Now draw a line on that piece of paper that represents time with a beginning and an end. This line begins when God instituted time at creation, and it will end when God says, "Time's up!" Man lives on the line, while God can step in and out of time according to His purposes and plans. God sees all of time at once and doesn't have to wait for anything to happen; all is present for Him. This is a simplified explanation of a complex idea, but it works.

We, however, must learn to respond to Him within time. We are called to represent Him as ambassadors in our generation. The decisions and actions we take now affect three generations ahead. Therefore, when we know how the Lord wants us to respond and we do so, His glory infiltrates the earth and we see Him change our atmosphere and environment. Because of God's position relative to time, He can - and often does - seem to answer our prayers before they have been uttered!

God has chosen us as the necessary link to bring His will from Heaven to earth. He wants us to commune with Him, listen carefully to His voice, gain prophetic revelation, and decree that revelation into the earth. This will unlock miracles and release His blessings. Once we hear God, we can intercede. We can also prophesy. Prophecy is declaring His mind and His heart. When we receive prophetic revelation, we need to decree the prophetic revelation and then the atmosphere into which we decree goes on "Heaven's time" instead of "earth time."

A Season Of War!

Issachar was the tribe that knew how to move into the new. They were a tribe that understood times and seasons. Consequently, I have tried to present that tribe in the earth today so God's children would know the times we are living in and what we should do to ready ourselves to advance in the earth. We entered a new season of war in the Hebraic year 5762.

Before I share on the year ahead, I felt the necessity of reviewing the last several years. This will give you a good record of how we have gotten to where we are today. By looking at the Hebraic numbers, we can perceive the revelation we need to decree a new thing. Once we decree a thing, we then watch to see God's will manifest. Revelation builds! Revelation overcomes the gates of hell! Revelation gives us the keys to the Kingdom.

Because I could foresee the war season ahead of its onset, I wrote "The Future War of the Church" to help God's people get prepared with the mindset of the season. This season is very real to most of us now. Here is a summary from a Hebraic perspective of the season we have been living in:

5762/2001-2002: The Beginning of Wars for 7 Years. This was ushered in with the tragedy of September 11, when the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorist activities. This war over God's covenant plan in the earth began. The war over passing the mantle to the next generation began.

5763/2002-2003: A Sabbath Day Rest Year - A time of increasing faith; a year to ride the bull. Changing economic structures began and will fully manifest over the next five years.

5764/2003-2004: The Year of Samekh Hei! A year filled with secrets, mysteries and surprises; a year to run with the horses, gain new strength and roar louder than the roaring lion.

5765/2004-2005: A Year to Circle, Surround and Plunder the Enemy's Camp. A year of violent praise! A year of hurricanes! A time the wind of Heaven brought change in the earth.

5766/2005-2006: The Year of Samekh Vav! A year of staking your claim in the midst of the whirlwind. A time to overthrow old mindsets that have held you captive!

5767/2006-2007: The Year of Samekh Zayin! The year of seven is always a year of completion and fulfillment. This was a time to finish strong. The number seven, Zayin, is a sword with a crown. How you have overcome in the past season causes you to receive favor for your future! The sword is the Word so we are living in a time of the prophetic decrees!

Hebrews equate the passage of time as the life cycle. The Hebrews saw man as participating in two time dimensions. One "age" of time was temporal. We were placed in nature and we interact with the laws of science around us. The other dimension of time was an age to come. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 says,

"However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Wisdom is available that God has stored for a time such as this. We can get to a place to gain wisdom that no enemy of hell has access to. From a Hebraic mindset, events that occurred through life created smaller styles of review of a bigger picture of life. When one summed up all of these smaller temporal cycles, the finite age was determined. We are living in a year of "summing up." We are not just living from year to year, but when you look at the season as a whole, you see the Lord doing something in our generation. He is preparing us to move more quickly and advance in Kingdom purpose in days ahead.

The Kingdom Of God Is Moving Forward!

"The Kingdom is ruled by grace and love--not by rules, regulations and laws."

Kingdom life in the earth realm was used to help individuals understand the Kingdom of God. There are two terms throughout the Bible that we must embrace and understand: the "Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven." Anyone who willingly subjects themselves to the sovereign rule of a Holy God is aligned with Kingdom Principles.

The "Kingdom of Heaven" represents the rule that God asserts on the earth at any given period in time. This is what links Kingdom understanding to time. John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles all announced that the Kingdom of God was "at hand." As a matter of fact, the Lord said, "the Kingdom of God is within you." If this is so, then when the King moves, we must move with Him.

The manifested rule of God on the earth is ever-maturing. The Kingdom of God represents God's rule in the earth realm. The King is moving us from "just going to church" to understanding His Kingdom in our territory. He is bringing us into a place of dominion, occupation, and ruling with Him in the spheres and places He has assigned us. Jesus taught so much on the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is GOOD NEWS! Kingdom life was proclaimed throughout the three years that we have record of Jesus ministering in the earth realm, with His authority.

The Kingdom is NOT based on needs, since "the poor will always be with us." Jesus gave us a responsibility to work with the poor, orphans, and widows, but on the other hand, He also showed us the necessity to lavishly worship Him as Mary did in John 10.

The Kingdom cannot be controlled by civil government. Through the ages, civil government has made the attempt to govern and rule God's government in the earth. However, the Kingdom is not based on worldly patterns. Another important fact that we must all recognize is that we cannot comprehend the Kingdom by our natural mind. The mind is at enmity with God and longs to be conformed to the world around it. However, as we renew our minds, we break out of worldly conformity and move into seeing Kingdom life in the midst of the societal structures that are molding us.

The Kingdom cannot be obtained by ambition. The exciting thing about the Kingdom is that it cannot be POSTPONED! The Kingdom is filled with power. Over these last two decades, we have seen Kingdom government for the next season of God in the earth realm.

A Kingdom people understand Kingdom grace. The Kingdom is ruled by grace and love - not by rules, regulations and laws. God has appointed Kingdom administrators for every age. We find those gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11-14.

We Are Moving From Glory To Glory - The Year 5768

You are being positioned to make a transition into the next realm of glory. Here are eight key issues that we can look forward to as we enter the Hebraic year 5768 and mature through the year ahead! First of all, the last two years actually come together to form this year's momentum. The two symbols of Vav and Zayin come together to form the symbol for Chet. In other words, the staking your claim and the sword with a crown actually join together to produce your new beginning.

You will begin something new! Even if you refused to shift into a visible new dimension, your present state is your new state. With God, He will meet you where you are and cause you to start new if you yield! You can catch up quickly and gain momentum even if you have resisted change. If you do not yield, your new place will be your old cycle with the old structures reinforced seven times.

The number eight is always linked with "new beginnings!" This Hebrew word is linked with life and being hot! We are entering into a year where we must choose to be hot, filled with passion, so we conceive our future! Choose the fire and the zeal of God!

1. This is a year of manifestation! There will be a physical manifestation of what you have been watching and waiting to see!
2. You can supernaturally transcend your limitations and begin your new era.
3. The land and the Heavens align to create a new Divine Presence in your atmosphere.
4. "Dominion" will be the key word for this year! Rule where you have been positioned. Rule or watch the "wild beasts" gain ground in your land.
5. This is a year that God's people will have great authority over their enemies. The nations against you can be driven out of your land! All squatters must go from your inheritance or they gain "squatters rights" and their encroachment will remain another season. Land is equated to the state of our mind. Therefore, this is the year to transform the mind so we have a new victory mentality in the war season we are living in.
6. Subdue your "animal impulses." Find your place of deliverance and do not let any wild beast enter your highway. Be aggressive to overthrow all poverty mentality! "A lion is on the road, I will hide myself," should not be your theme. Stand firm and face any transgression so you can move down your path! Isaiah 35 is a key for us this year.
7. Exodus 23 is also key this year. God forms His covenant with us to advance into our future destiny. This applies to families, regions and nations. If we have forgotten and rejected His covenant in areas, that will not be a part of our future. We must return and review our covenant roots and realign now!
8. Fasten yourself to the Lord. Don't let the enemy's hook drag you off the stage of your future! Break your orphan spirit! Return to a place of innocence! The secret place calls you forth. Stay in the secret place so you can be sent forth on key missions. The book of John and all of his Epistles are key for our transition this year.

I am writing this article earlier than usual. However, I started thinking of the year ahead at Passover time this past year. I left early one morning and came to the office to seek the Lord. While I was meditating on where we had come from since September 2001 and the year of seven, and looking at various Biblical words linked with the number eight, my wife, Pam, called to share a dream.

You should first know that Pam's favorite Scripture passage is Ephesians 5:8-16,

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

To redeem means to "buy back" or "to be released from prison." We have been in a buying - back season. This year we must receive the prize of our battles!

This is the dream she shared: "I woke up slowly this morning, to the sound of singing birds, and it was as though I was walking through a curtain that divided the dream world from the waking world. As I lay there, I began remembering my dream: 'I was with a group of travelers, none of whom I recognized, but I knew they were important to me. We were told we had to take a trip, but we had no luggage, tickets or itinerary. We were standing in a hallway similar to one you might see in an airport, waiting for our departure.

Suddenly, this strong wind began to blow down the hallway (wind tunnel) and push us toward the open end of the corridor. As we got closer to the end of the corridor, some kind of portal opened up, but it wasn't like what you see in the science fiction show, Stargate! The light was warm, and as we entered the portal area, we were disembodied and transported to another place. Strangely, the other place didn't look any different than the place we had just been. However, it was not the same place. We were inside a building, made mostly of glass.

We all knew we had to fly to get where we needed to go. Well, none of us knew how to fly, but we just took off and started flying around the lobby. The people in the lobby were amazed and started reaching for us, saying they wanted to fly, too. We knew we needed more momentum to get to where we needed to be, so we landed softly, turned around, and got a running start before launching ourselves from a mini trampoline in the cafe area of the lobby. Instantly, we were outside the building, in a country setting, and we knew our mission: rescue a captive in the nearby village and bring him/her back with us.

The mission itself is still vague, but I remember what happened when we were ready to return. One of the villagers wanted to go with us but knew it wasn't possible, so he gave each of us a tiny jewel case. Mine was a small, gold case encrusted with pearls. Inside the case were bits and pieces of broken jewelry: pearls, gold beads, crystals. Each case had a word on it. The word on the outside of mine was "Simplify." We thanked the one who gave us the gifts, then turned to launch back into the sky for the return trip. That's when the birds woke me up."

5768 Will Be A Year Of Momentum!

The year ahead will not only be a year to begin a fresh season in your life, but 5768 will be a year when the Body of Christ gains momentum. An object with momentum is difficult to stop. To stop such an object, it is necessary to apply a force against its motion for a given period of time. The more momentum which an object has, the less likely to stop its forward motion. Thus, it would require a greater amount of force or a longer amount of time (or both) to bring an object with more momentum to a halt.

As the force acts upon the object for a given amount of time, the object's "velocity" is changed. When a force acts for a given amount of time, an object's "momentum" changes. If the force acts opposite of the object's motion, it slows the object down. If a force acts in the same direction as the object's motion, then the force speeds the object up. Either way, a force will change the velocity of an object.

This will be a year when forces vie for momentum. God will be moving on us! Will we respond to Him? The enemy forces that we have not resisted will be moving with force to slow down a Kingdom that is advancing in the earth realm. We must bind the strongman's operation and gain access to the spoils. We must start moving as the people of God did when they left Egypt and keep moving until we reach the manifested Promise for this generation. We must not allow the voices of fear, unbelief and doubt to stop us from advancing. There will be three 40-day periods when we overthrow major strongholds that are holding treasures captive.

5768 Will Be A Year Of Impulse!

In physics, force when multiplied by time equals the mass multiplied by the change in velocity. This is known as impulse. Impulse is one body, individual or kingdom working against another. Impulse is the effect of force being communicated. This results in motion. Once things get in motion, they are hard to stop. The Body of Christ will advance with great momentum in the year ahead!

Impulse can be very negative. We must know what is driving us. The Holy Spirit must be preeminent in our lives. The year of 5768/2008 will be the year that we are driven to accomplish our desires. This will be a year that supernatural power has access to mankind. We must stay under the influence of the Holy Spirit or else other spirits will drive us to agree with the plans of darkness in the earth.

The violent are taking the Kingdom of Heaven by force. There are certain changes in the earth that have occurred in the last seven years and have created motion that cannot be stopped. The kingdom of darkness must give way to the Kingdom of God that is advancing with new strength. The supernatural power of God being released on His people is creating much motion and change in the earth.

We are under the impulsion or driving force of a King who wants to see change in the world today. We must gain momentum now! As we learn to move in our proper spheres of authority in the earth realm, we will harness God's power and then release that power. The year ahead will be a transforming year for God's people. Once we are transformed, we will see cities, regions and nations changed. Harvest fields that are ripe will be entered with great enthusiasm. Do not let carnal impulses guide you!

God will visit you in time. Be expectant to watch for His coming visitation in your life. We are a people on the move. God has a Kingdom that is within us. The Kingdom of God is advancing. We are moving from fellowship into war. We are moving from praise to jubilation as we see a manifestation of His promises in our life cycle. This is a year of transcending and taking back what has been held in captivity. However, remember Pam's word, "Simplify," to go back and forth with ease until the new is established.

To summarize, this will be the year to "Go through the eye of needle!" Remove all and get through your narrow place and into the new!

Chuck D. Pierce Glory of Zion Ministries
As posted on the Elijah list http://www.elijahlist.com/ info@elijahlist.net

If you'd like a copy of "The Kingdom Is Within You" by Andrew Murray, there's a download link in my current newsletter. When you subscribe you will have access to the archives and to download links for

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Cup of Hope - Amazing Faith

Cup of Hope - Amazing Faith
By Hope Wilbanks

On Monday night, April 9th, around 11 pm, I was awakened by the sound of someone yelling and crying and beating on the door. Alarmed, I woke up Robert then ran to the door to find my little sister Faith standing there in her pajamas crying, “The house is on fire!”

My stomach sank to my toes.

“Where are the kids?” I asked Faith.

“They’re in the car,” she replied. “James in still in the house!” I ran back inside and told Robert to hurry, that Faith’s house was on fire.

Faith’s four-year-old son, Dylan got out of the car and came towards where we stood in the driveway. His entire body shook as he tried to tell me that his house was on fire. I ran inside and grabbed a blanket to wrap around him, then brought him and Faith’s baby, Katie into the house.

I went back outside to where Faith stood sobbing in the driveway. We watched as the billowing smoke erupted into flames.

I wrapped my arms around Faith and did the only thing I knew to do—pray. As I prayed, so did Faith.

“Thank You Jesus, because I know You know what’s best,” she prayed. There Faith stood, no shoes on her feet, only pajamas on, watching her house go up in flames, and thanking God.

A little bit later Faith wanted to go make sure James was okay, so we got in her car and I drove us across the road to her house. Two fire trucks, an ambulance and countless cars lined the small road. We located James and the EMT checked all four family members vitals to ensure that none of them had suffered from smoke inhalation.

Standing in the drive, watching the firemen put out the last bit of flames, I heard Faith say to someone, “The devil is so stupid. He has tried every way possible to get to me. You’d think he’d have learned his lesson by now that I will NEVER turn my back on God.”

I felt an awesome power of God that night. I watched my little sister lose absolutely everything she had in that fire, yet her faith in God held her steady and strong through it all. She never once wavered, or asked God ‘why?’ She simply stood. It was almost as if I could see invisible roots, wrapped around the foot of the Cross, that held Faith up that night.

I desire faith like that. I want my faith to be so rooted and grounded in Christ that nothing on this earth can ever shake my foundation or faith in God. I want to be so close to God that I trust in His will, whatever that may be.

It’s so easy to get mad at God when things don’t go our way. It’s easy to throw up our hands and walk away when the going gets rough. But God promises us in His word that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. So no matter what trials we face, or what problems we have to work through, we have the assurance that God is right there beside us, carrying us, holding our hand through it all.

Cup of Hope is an uplifting devotional e-zine, devoted to today's Christian women and men. Cup of Hope brings encouragement to you through inspirational articles and ideas. A fresh edition of Cup of Hope is published monthly. Visit us online at http://www.cupofhopemag.com

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Speak To Your Mountain And Tell It Where To Go

I hope you'll be encouraged to persevere by this word through Bill Yount.

"Keep MY WORDS in Your Mouth, and Tell Your Mountain Where to Go!"

"Heaven and hell are being activated in this hour by certain words being spoken on the earth...Be Careful What You Think and Say!"

Your Mountain Was Probably Made Out of a Molehill

In a vision, I saw a range of gigantic, rocky mountains looming tall before God's people. Our words of fear and thoughts of doubt caused some of these mountains to seemingly grow out of molehills. Hell was pushing them upward against us - through even our thoughts that had formed into negative words. These mountains towering before us now represented impossible situations and insurmountable circumstances that we, the Body of Christ, had come up against in our walk with the Lord.

These Mountains Stood Immovable in Our Path, as though Defying Us to Go any Further

Many in the Body of Christ were standing on the Word of God, believing and speaking to the mountains to be removed, persevering for a season until their lack of patience convinced them to lose hope and give up.

These mountains seemed to remain steadfast and unchangeable; indifferent to our believing for a miracle and our faith in God's Word. Then, as though through a telescopic vision, I saw in the Spirit a closeup shot of these mountains - I saw hairline cracks coming upon these huge mountains.

I then heard the voice of the Lord speak as these cracks appeared...

"IS NOT MY WORD LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK IN PIECES?" Jeremiah 23:29

A remnant of the Body of Christ, standing on the Word of God and speaking to these mountains persevered in their faith with patience, even though they saw nothing change in the natural. But each time they spoke God's Word with authority, I saw a hammer striking each mountain that was spoken to. Following the cracks, I began to see small pieces of rock falling here and there from off of these mountains...perhaps still not visible to the naked eye of the believer below. Line upon line, the cracks increased...here a little, there a little...while small pieces of broken off rock were falling. Slowly but surely, these mountains weakened as this hammer gained momentum - pounding these mountains of solid rock relentlessly, as though God's own vengeance was in each fatal blow!

God's voice then spoke so LOUD and clear, shaking the very foundation of these mountains:

"IF YOU CAN BREAK A ROCK IN PIECES, YOU CAN MOVE A MOUNTAIN! THESE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE REMOVED BY MY SPIRIT," says the Lord, and "IT IS MY 'WORDS' THAT ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE! KEEP MY WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, AND TELL YOUR MOUNTAIN WHERE TO GO!"

Bill Yount - Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
as posted on www.elijahlist.com

Understanding Your Dreams – Seven Foundational Principles To Help You Unlock The Meaning Of Your Dreams.

Throughout the ages God has spoken to people through their dreams and He still speaks through dreams today. He uses dreams for many things. Dreams

• counsel
• heal
• direct
• instruct
• reveal
• inspire
• make you aware of God's plans and intentions...

Why does God use dreams rather than speak to you directly?

Dreams bypass you conscious mind. God often speaks through dreams as a way of getting past your natural defences and resistance.

Here are seven things to bear in mind when trying to understand what God is saying through your dreams.

1. Your dream is likely to be about you and for you, 95% of the dreams you dream are about you.


2. Most dreams are symbolic. Remember to look at your dreams symbolically. Dreams are rarely literal. The meaning of the symbol may be personal to you. Ask yourself, "What does this symbol mean to me?" When interpreting dreams, look for metaphors and similes.


3. Your dreams are often about concerns that you are facing now. Ask, "What issues were concerning me when I had the dream?" When you know what you were thinking about before you had the dream, it's easier to understand the dream.


4. Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you to interpret the dream. Ask Him to help you to understand what the symbols mean.


5. When you arrive at the correct interpretation you'll know. If your conclusions don't "feel quite right" you've probably not got it yet.


6. Dreams will help you see things that you've been blind to but dreams are not given to condemn you. Ask yourself, "What's the purpose of this dream? Why did God give me this dream and cause me to remember it?"


7. Never make a major decision based only on a dream. Look for confirmation through the many different ways that God speaks to you. Peace in your heart, the counsel of others, God's Word, His still small voice, prophecy...

Learn to think outside the box. God often uses unexpected ways to speak to you. Look for plays on words and learn to think laterally.

The easiest way to interpret a dream is to identify the main symbols first. Start with the first symbol and try to interpret it. Do the same with the next symbol. Continually ask yourself "What does this symbol mean to me?"

Once you know what the symbols mean, replay the dream seeking revelation until you sense that you know what God is saying to you.

If you don't already, I recommend that you start recording your dreams and set time aside to seek God for their meaning.

For more on understanding your dreams, I invite you to visit

God still speaks through dreams

Understanding your dreams

If you visit my Christian life coaching website you'll find lots of free resources to help you in tour walk with God. And if you subscribe to my newsletter - The 5 Minute Life Coach - I'll send you a valuable free guide - Be Your Own Life Coach Now. This step by step guide will help you to start changing your life straight away.

How To Be At Peace - Rule In The Midst Of Your Enemies!

True peace does not come from extreme indifference, nor does it originate from becoming so "spiritual" that you fail to notice the world around you. Peace is the fruit of being confident in God's love; it is born of the revelation that, regardless of the battle, "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). You are not self-assured, you are God-assured.

The God Of Peace Will Crush Satan

To wage effective spiritual warfare, we must understand and use spiritual authority. Spiritual authority, however, is not forcing your will upon another person. When you have spiritual authority, you have established God's peace in an area that once was full of conflict and oppression. Therefore, to truly be able to move in authority, we must first have peace.

The apostle Paul taught, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom. 16:20). When we maintain peace during warfare, it is a crushing deathblow to satanic oppression and fear. Our victory never comes from our emotions or our intellect. Our victory comes by refusing to judge by what our eyes see or our ears hear and by trusting that what God has promised will come to pass.

We will never know Christ's victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. When you truly have authority over something you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory. Jesus' authority over the violent storm (see Matthew 8:23-27) was the exercise and expansion of His peace over the elements. He did not fight against the storm, nor did He fear it. He faced its fury and subdued it with His authority in perfect peace. In Pilate's court, in a world stirred to an emotional frenzy by the powers of hell, a holy tranquility surrounded Christ---peace that was born out of His resolve to do God's will no matter what the cost. His Spirit emanated a calm that perfectly represented the peace at God's throne. In a matter of moments it was no longer Jesus who was on trial, but Satan, Pilate and the religious establishment in Israel.

Satan's arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace, you have war. Conversely, wherever you have peace, you have victory. When Satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ's victory.

Paul tells us to be "in no way alarmed by your opponents---which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you" (Phil. 1:28). Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in focused submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are "in no way alarmed" by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him.

Peacemakers Are Sons Of God

Peace is spirit power. Peace is an attribute of the Holy Spirit, and when you are walking in peace, you are walking in power. A peacemaker is not merely someone who protests against war; he is one who is inwardly so yielded to Christ in spirit and purpose that he can be called a son of God (see Matthew 5:9). Where he goes, God goes and where God goes, he goes. He is fearless, calm and bold. Peace emanates from him the way light and heat radiate from fire.

In the battles of life, your peace is actually a weapon. Indeed, your confidence declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see, the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, He did not confront Satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any other voice than God's. His peace overwhelmed Satan. His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.

Rest Before Rule

In the 23rd Psalm, David declared, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me" (v. 4). There is a place of walking with God where you simply "fear no evil." During his lifetime, David faced many enemies including a lion, a bear and a giant. In this psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he feared no evil. David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "You are with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God. David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (v. 5). The battle you are in will soon become a meal to you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.

Only God's peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. Indeed, "before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal" (Rev. 4:6). The glass sea is a symbol: there are no ripples, no waves, no anxieties troubling God. The Lord is never worried, never in a hurry nor without an answer. The sea around Him is perfectly still and totally calm. All our victories flow out from being seated here with Him.

God is our Father. The heavenly Jerusalem is our mother, the birthplace of our new nature (see Galatians 4:26). And you, you are a beloved child of God, part of the Father's family and a member of His household (see Ephesians 2:19). You must know by revelation that you are not struggling to get into heaven; rather, you were born there in spiritual rebirth (see John 3:1-8 AMP). Let your heart be settled and positioned correctly in your relationship with the Almighty.

To those who have been born again from above, He says, "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet" (Ps. 110:1). Before you go into warfare, recognize that it is not you that the devil is afraid of; it is Christ in you! We have been raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places (see Ephesians 2:6). This is why the Holy Spirit continues to speak to us that worship of God is our first response in battle. Position yourself in the presence of God. Sit, at rest, in the knowledge that Christ has already made your enemies the footstool for your feet. From a position of rest, the Word of the Lord continues, "The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of Your enemies' " (Ps. 110:2).

Rest precedes rule. Peace precedes power. Do not seek to rule over the devil until you are submitting to God's rule over you. The focal point of all victory comes from seeking God until you find Him, and having found Him, allowing His presence to fill your spirit with His peace. From full assurance at His right hand, as you rest in His victory, so will you rule in the midst of your enemies.

Copyright Francis Fangipane - used with permission
www.frangipane.org

What Is Your Nevertheless?

Here is an excerpt from Max Lucado's latest newsletter. Be encouraged and press on to be an overcomer.

Nevertheless…by Max Lucado

And the king and his men… spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” …Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).- 2 Sam. 5:6–7

Did you see it? Most hurry past it. Let’s not. Pull out a pen and underline this twelve-letter masterpiece.

Nevertheless.

“Nevertheless David took the stronghold…”

Wouldn’t you love God to write a nevertheless in your biography? Born to alcoholics, nevertheless she led a sober life. Never went to college, nevertheless he mastered a trade. Didn’t read the Bible until retirement age, nevertheless he came to a deep and abiding faith.

We all need a nevertheless. And God has plenty to go around. Strongholds mean nothing to him. Remember Paul’s words? “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4 NLT).

You and I fight with toothpicks; God comes with battering rams and cannons. What he did for David, he can do for us. The question is, will we do what David did? The king models much here.

Two types of thoughts continually vie for your attention. One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures. One longs to build you up; the other seeks to tear you down. And here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why listen to the mockers? Why heed their voices? Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?

Do what David did.Turn a deaf ear to the old voices.Open a wide eye to the new choices. Who knows, you may be a prayer away from a nevertheless. God loves to give them. Peter stuck his foot in his mouth.Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt. The Samaritan woman had been married five times.Jesus was dead in the grave …

Nevertheless, Peter preached, Joseph ruled, the woman shared, Jesus rose ??? and you?
You fill in the blank. Your nevertheless awaits you.

From Facing Your GiantsCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado

You can sign up for Max lucado's newsletter using this link
http://www.crosswalk.com/newsletters/

Change is in The Air - Are You Ready To Embrace It

Are you ready for change?
Will you recognise the opportunities when they come?
Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and take some risks?

This word from Kathie Walters is for Jazz and Janson and for everyone being called into a new season.

WAKE UP--THE ANGEL OF CHANGE IS HERE!
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU

I had a vision for a good friend just a couple of days ago. This morning when I woke early, I saw it again and then realized that what the Lord had for my friend is also available to you.

In the vision, I saw my friend squatting on the beach in the sand. He was turning over in his hands an old, English threepenny piece. The old threepenny piece was disregarded a long time ago and is no longer relevant for use, even though it's an interesting-looking coin.

As he was playing with the coin, a lovely sailing ship passed by--it had huge white sails and a good wind carrying it.

Just last weekend in Colebrook, NH, I saw the Angel of Change. I have only ever seen him 5 or 6 times in the last 10 years. He comes to anoint people just before changes happen. Do you know that you actually need an anointing for change? Well, the Angel of Change is here, so you can receive the anointing for change and also "catch the wind" or "jump on board."

Several years ago, the Angel of Change appeared in my living room while I was watching a movie (my friend Bunty, from England, was doing some ironing). I saw the angel out of the corner of my eye, and then he suddenly was standing behind me as I sat on the sofa.

He was the biggest angel I had ever seen at the time.

He had in his hands a small silver jug full of oil. He poured the oil over my head. It seemed to turn into a river, and I felt it go down my chest, arms, shoulders, and head, and I slipped out of the sofa onto the floor.

"What are you doing?" Bunty asked.

"Can't you see that angel?"

"No," Bunty replied, "But I can smell oil."

I scooted over and said, "Sit there," pointing to the place on the sofa I just vacated.

Bunty sat there, and the angel poured oil over her head. Next thing I knew, she was sitting on the floor.

There were a couple of people in our office on the floor below, and Bunty went to fetch them. Sure enough, when they sat on the sofa, they ended up on the floor. Well, word got around, and for 3 1/2 weeks, people in my area called my house, asking, "Can we come and sit on the sofa?"

"Help yourself," I would respond.

Suddenly, the angel went away. "What was that all about?" you may ask. I am not sure--I didn't invite the angel, and I didn't ask him to do anything. I did, however, notice one thing: during the following weeks, most of the people who had sat on my sofa received a major, direction-changing word for their lives. That was the first time the Angel of Change appeared to me.

The problem with being around prophetic people is that they are always trying to get you to move on--out of your comfort zone. It can get cozy there, can't it? Have you ever been "out on a limb" as the saying goes? Actually, it's not hard to go out on a limb, because you can crawl back to the tree. When you get out there on the limb, and then you hear the sound of the saw behind you, that's when you have to believe that underneath are the Everlasting Arms!

God doesn't push, but He does give invitations and make opportunities. Don't let them pass you by. Don't fiddle around, playing with old things that are really redundant right now in your life, like the threepenny piece--old things that are no longer valuable currency in the Kingdom.

Yes, maybe you'll have to stretch your faith and maybe leave some things (or people) behind.

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). You live today by the word you receive today. You can't live on yesterday's manna.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Sometimes we dig in our heels because we have preconceived mindsets.

DON'T MISS THE SHIP...Don't Let It Pass On By

A friend who came on a trip to Ireland a New Year's ago was desperate--he knew he should come but had no money. At the last minute, he borrowed his brother's credit card. Well that doesn't sound very spiritual, but you can't put God in a box either. When he got back, his brother was waiting, amazed. An uncle had decided to pay off everyone's credit cards in the family!

Am I advocating putting everything on a credit card? Of course not. But on the other hand, you need to listen. Maybe you have some mindsets, and God wants to break the concrete over your mind.

Don't miss the ship; don't let it pass on by. Windows open and close. Doors open and shut. Sometimes it can be a long time before that window opens again.

Welcome the Angel of change. Sure, he might make you a bit uncomfortable, but what do you want? Do you want to stay where you are and go in circles, doing "good" things, and miss the GOD thing?

I was in a meeting one time, and I had a vision of a door. The Lord told me that there were people there who were asking God to open a door. I saw a few people actually leaning against the door, some were busy a little further away, but they were keeping an eye on the door. Others were busy doing good stuff, but they were oblivious of the door.

Suddenly, this door opened, and the people leaning on it fell through it; the others a little further away made a dash for it. The very busy ones didn't even know it had opened!

That week, my daughter, Lisa, who wanted to go work on Capitol Hill, had an invite, but she only had one day to decide and take the opportunity. Fortunately, she was leaning against the door, and she fell through it when it opened.

Another young girl in that meeting was waiting for an opportunity to go to England. She only had a certain amount of money, not enough for a ticket. On Tuesday, the Lord told her to call British Airways. Guess what? They had a 24-hour ticket sale. That door opened and closed in a day, but she fell through it.

CHANGES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEART--Good for Your Soul, Good for Your Spirit.

That ship I saw, "The Opportunity," looked very inviting, but it was going quite fast because it had a purpose and destiny. Jump on board. Do something I sometimes do in my meetings: Get all your loose change and strew it on the floor, then get a praise CD going and dance on change. That way you are saying, "I'm ready and willing, and God is able."

There are two things you can do with change: 1) Embrace change and have an adventure, or 2) resist change, and you know, that can be painful.

God is planning for you--even while you sleep.

Kathie Walters
Good News Ministries
Email: kathiewalters@mindspring.com

Only Intimacy With God Makes You A Better Person

Are you struggling to live life the way you think you should?

Could it be that you've got things upside down?

Could it be that it's time to let go and let God?

Read this inspired teaching from John Paul Jackson and allow it to draw you to intimacy with the Father.

From the Beginning

Many, many years ago in a garden far, far away, there lived a man named Adam and his wife, Eve. They were both very happy and loved each other very much.

But then one day, an evil snake told them that they could become better, stronger, and wiser people if they simply set their minds to doing so. They could even become like God. They listened to the snake and chose fruit from the wrong tree--a decision that caused a separation between them and God.

A lot of time passed, civilizations came and went, and now, thousands of years later, every culture (with the exception of the Judeo-Christian culture) believes that God has failed. You see, time has a way of twisting things in the human mind--this is true even today.

The "Good Person" Category

The secular arena will tell you that if you want to become better and stronger, you need to embrace "the good" that is within you. As Christians, most of us realize that this isn't true, BUT we don't live like it isn't true. Despite its pagan roots, this mindset soaked very securely into the Church, with only a slight twist: If you want to become a better person, you need to trust God--and then work really hard to get yourself into the "good person" category.

Therein lies the rub. The idea that you can do anything to help yourself, does not come from God. It's fruit from the wrong tree. You were created in His hands; He held you and formed you with His fingertips. If your very creation did not require your assistance, what else would? The theory of evolution was born from the belief that we do not need God; that we as humans can fill God's role if we just have the time.

If we truly can perfect ourselves, then the last thing we need is a savior. After all, who wants to be the servant if they can be the master? That's what satan suggested to Adam and Eve, and it's the same battle we fight with every choice we make today.

Accordingly, we think God wants us to try very hard to be everything He's called us to be, and that simply is not true. Yes, we do need to make the conscious decision for His will and not ours to be done in our life, but that's about it. We can't, by our own strength, carry ourselves down the path of His will. This mindset is very hard to break, because we've been taught this since "The Fall."

For example, our parents reward us if we're good and behave ourselves. Nothing's wrong with that practice, but it naturally produces within us the belief that we need to be good for God, and if we have issues we're working through, God must be upset and disappointed with us, which just isn't true. Why did the issue come up in the first place? Because He's dealing with it in us!

As difficult as breaking this mindset is, it can happen with this simple realization: You cannot get rid of your issues by yourself. You cannot save yourself. You are not and cannot be a good person by yourself. You do not have your life under control. You are not in charge of your fate. You...you...you...are not the final answer.

Only Intimacy with God will Make You a Better Person

Only one thing will truly make you a better person--and consequently "enlighten" you, as people like to talk about--and it's called "intimacy with God." Getting past our issues happens automatically as we grow closer and closer to Him, but it is not the process itself. Once we realize who God is and who we are in relationship to Him, all of Heaven will open to us, and we will walk in our true calling and destiny. Oh, and we'll become better people, too. That's the proper order, not the other way around.

John Paul Jackson

Streams Ministries International

http://www.streamsministries.com/

Dream Killers - Don't Accept False Labels - Do Whatever God Puts Into Your Heart

This is part 5 in a series on dream killers written by Jill Austin. I hope it plays a role in releasing you to fulfil your God given destiny.

You'll find more articles by Jill at www.masterpotter.com

Counterfeit labels give the appearance of the real thing, but they are cheap imitations. In the case of dream killers, this means losing sight of the fact that you are an original, custom-designed by God, and accepting the false assessment that you were made in a sweatshop.

Labels have to do with unwritten rules. It happens like this. You have a calling from God, but you never seem to be put into a place to let it grow. Perhaps you are divorced and your church frowns on divorce. Or you are married, but your spouse is not saved. Or you are single, and your church is not comfortable putting single people in positions of leadership-particularly a single woman. Or perhaps you feel on the outskirts because you are in a racial minority or are elderly or your son is homosexual.

Whatever the reason for the labels that are put on us, we see others positioned ahead of us-the young couples, the financially well-off, the popular-and our hearts faint. We compare ourselves with others and jealousy shuts us down. We think, I'll never be able to fulfill my dream. I'm disqualified by the system.

The Lord goes beyond labels when He gives out marching orders. We could name many people in Scripture who defied convention, some of them pairing with other candidates who were just as unlikely. Simeon was an old priest and Anna was an old widow and prophetess, but the two of them were brought together in an assignment to announce the arrival of the Messiah.

Esther, an orphaned Jewish girl, teamed up with Mordecai, her cousin, and delivered the Jewish nation from destruction. Deborah was a judge and prophetess during a time when Israel was being harshly oppressed. She teamed with Barak, a great military commander, and, with the courageous efforts of a housewife named Jael, their enemy was destroyed.

All of these characters ignored conventional labels that could have disqualified them to achieve great things: age, marital status, race, sex, job descriptions. Because they were not afraid to dream, God could give them creative and dangerous assignments.

Copyright - Jill Austin

I hope this article has encouraged you to rid yourself of everything that gets in the way, and to run with determination the race that lies before you. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.