The Poet Who Came To My Door Selling Water

If I never told you about this guy who came to my door to sell me a water system then sit back, and relax and I'll tell you another true story....


About 2 months ago, my doorbell rang and there was this guy from Africa trying to sell me or perhaps make me at least know about, this new water system for my home.

As I just begin to talk to him, I realize this is a "Holy SPIRIT set-up".

You see, it wasn't for me to get water (I already, like many of you have a 'water system' in my home) but for me to offer him Stephen water instead! i.e. remember the woman at the well in JESUS time?

So, I started to share as the LORD prompted me, all about GOD'S Un-Conditional LOVE.
You see GOD is LOVE...HE doesn't 'have' LOVE but rather HE is LOVE.
If you have something, you could lose it, but if you are something, well that is what you are! (you can't lose what you are!)

So, as mentioned, this LOVE of GOD is un-conditional.
HE loves you just where you are, and there isn't anything about your situation, that HE doesn't know.

As I continue to share the LOVE of GOD to Stephen (as I just learned his name), he told me that he was just getting by here in Canada, and his home was originally in Nigeria and that he was going to school to be a priest but that didn't work out, and that he is a published poet as well.

The LORD speaks to me - "buy his poetry book".

So, without asking the cost, I ask him if he 'sells his poetry book'? ...and that I wanted to buy one, if I could?

And sure enough he does sell them, and so does Amazon and I did the next time I saw him, bought one!

But that moment at my door, was another amazing GOD moment. Stephen ended up staying at my door for over an hour and was taking the GRACE of GOD all in, in wonder.

I told him he didn't have to 'be a priest', as he is already a priest.
And so are all of you, that are "In JESUS".

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9 

So, after a good long talk, and he and I were much amazed at this strange but interesting conversation, I then offered him a drink (since he was outside going door-to-door, and with his acceptance, I got him a bottled water.

So this guy comes to my door, offering me water and I give him the water of life and give him a water when he leaves.

Later that week, Stephen the Poet sent me this 'Poetry on un-conditional love'

I got his permission and am letting you read it here.

“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”

At the crossroad of life and existence(pause)

At the crossroad of thought and faith(pause)

lies opportunity to meet like minded souls

loving, sharing ideas, and given unconditionally

just like their maker

Love unconditional, is Love given, and love cherished

Love unconditional, is love that bears each others burden

highly priced, yet unknown by many

who dwell on the flesh, and within the blood

The spirit is in touch with this unconditional 'FORM'

Yet,the forms of Life, is the designs of Love

Designed to suit Love itself

Being cherished, all at once

This unconditional surprise is melting the Earth

with subtle consideration undeserved

This form and designs are, and where, present even at birth

 Nevertheless, 'IT'S  truth per excellence

Unconditional love smells like the rose around your enclaves

You're an inspiration to humanity, and to my 'inner child'

whose real consciousness was once in tune with

the earth, the moon , the sun and the stars

But now, in check to measure up once again lolls

Thank you for your unconditional love

'I AM'; and, are willing to embrace this love

with the grace that flows with it, 'being there' and 'now'

instead of being 'there, and then'

God loves us unconditionally once we realize

His love flows evergreen, like rain waters

till life pass eternal, and complete in 'I AM' '

.......

Poem Inspired by a friend -Mr. Eric Partanen

Written by Stephen Abara

August 2012  

Note: the LORD has told me that Stephen has a 'prophetic calling to write Prophetic Poetry'
which I've told him.

You never know who the LORD puts in your path.
Lean on HIM as it happens, and don't be afraid to let "love out" either!

Praise the LORD

My 2 Same BirthDay Cards - and what I learned.

I have these 2 aunts...whom I love.

And as my birthday was just 2 days ago, (on Canadian Thanksgiving) I like many of you received birthday cards... some funny and cute and some more serious..it was a blessed time.

Here is what the LORD told me and showed me, after receiving the same card.

We've all had it happen...similar or same gift, same card, its bound to happen.

Here is what I learned: (how I got it).

Like people, Like cards, we tend to judge them by the cover.
We know we shouldn't do it, but we do...like a book, like a birthday card.

But my birthday cards (both the same) had 2 different messages on the inside. Two different encouragements and wording for me, to me...of course they were from 2 different aunts.

Here is the trap: (and its not how we judge a book by its cover, that is a different lesson).
Rather its this; we judge the simple things too quickly and often dismiss them. Like seeing 2 birthday cards the same, and not soaking up the words they are telling us.

Here is how it works in real life...

We see our parents or our spouse tell us things, and because we know it, we've seen it all before, we dismiss them, and not open up (the card) to see, to hear, what the Spirit (what is written on the inside) is saying!

We rarely get to the truth, because we judged the card already...we miss the good stuff.
We let them 'talk' but we don't really listen.

GOD often sends us our answer, our word in need, but it is coming in the most common way - maybe out of the mouth of a friend, or a parent or your spouse.  It could be a stranger or a child, someone close by, someone you have lost your dazzle for, they no longer shine in your eyes, losing lustre because they are what you see and hear everyday - they are no longer special...they speak, and you are not getting at the heart anymore.

They couldn't get beyond JESUS commonness, to the real TRUTH (the real HIM) so they missed HIS message.

Careful who you dismiss, because that is NOT how you expected the LORD to speak to you, or aid you!

Sometimes its your co-worker, or your child, or even your pet - trying to teach you something out of the hand of GOD.  But you aren't receiving, because your answer has to come from some other source, like your doctor or pastor or a vision - missing your opportunity for growth, for advancement.

Cards may be the same - but the written words inside are not.
They may be common - but the deep word inside speaks volumes.

My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. Isaiah 53:2

Heart Failure - why do we have it?

Luke 21:26

JESUS put it this way, (and this is the way HE showed me, one morning).

Ever heard of "heart failure"?

Who hasn't been hurt in their lives because of heart failure lurking and striking family members?

We've been studying in our Home Fellowship lately about how 'fear and anger' are the actual roots of every disease and disaster in the world, and in our lives.

Here is one of the biggest - Heart Failure.

So, where does it come from? Why do some of us have it?
Is it diet? Is it exercise (or the lack of it, or too much of it?).
Is it our heredity?

That all may give us clues, but JESUS already told us.
Man and medicine can only go so far - to the body, or the mind, but never get to the Spirit of /in a man.

Luke 21:26 JESUS told us plainly..."Men's heart fail them out of fear".
Where does 'Heart Failure' come from?

Fear....

Fear causes 'heart failure'.

So, if JESUS gave us the warning and the trouble, did HE give us the answer too?

Sure!
JESUS HIMSELF is our answer! You already know the answer!

Here it is:

"HIS perfect (complete) LOVE casts out all fear." 1 John 4:8

Start trusting HIS LOVE for you, and as you enter the Kingdom of LOVE, that fear will be gone.
You can live your life, without fear.  It is a lie,  it is "False Expectation Appearing Real"

Rest in HIS LOVE, no matter what life throws at you.

Lust, Porn, Shopaholic, and High School Math?

What a heading?
How does all that come together?

The Power Of GOD over Addiction....

Had a question on the Internet (a couple years back) about a wife that caught her husband looking at lustful things, dirty pictures on the net and that caused a whole butch of problems.

Now another lady, realized she was a shopaholic, spent on her credit cards, and they controlled her.  She couldn't stop, and loved every sale.

My son, taking high school math, hated it, and would refuse to study (or do it with anger) thinking he hated math.

My own Dad was an alcoholic, and they told him (years ago) that the only way he would quit, is when they buried him 6 feet under. (Today: My Dad is happy and hasn't touched a drink in 30 years, as JESUS alone keeps him well hydrated)

JESUS said: "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again!" 
John 4:14

If you drink HIS water, you wont be thirsty. (for anything that controlls you)
If you drink HIS water, you wont need alcohol.
If you drink HIS water, you wont need porn.
If you drink HIS water, you wont spend, and waste money.

Starting to get it?

Drink in the TRUTH of JESUS and the LOVE actual un-conditonal LOVE that HE has for you.
This is what I wrote: (then to these 2 ladies who had these 2 problems)

GRACE teaches us to say: "no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (see Titus 2:11-12)

We don't do it, it teaches us! (not your responsibility to change).

GRACE comes only by revelation - its a gift, so it has nothing to do with us
'going to get it', our job is to receive it (by believing).

The LORD has literally taken away my Dad's drinking by GRACE my Dad has not touched alcohol for 30 years (JESUS keeps him well satisfied).

The LORD has taken out of me, anger and lust. I would punch holes in walls, swear,
fly of the handle etc... (GOD calls it a work of the sinful nature "fits of rage".) Galatians 5:20

That sinful nature is not you! (because you with GOD'S nature want JESUS) also
you can't stop it - Paul says you can't do what you want! Galatians 5:17

But GRACE comes only by revelation because its JESUS HIMSELF all we do is ask
and receive and we receive by believing - that's it!

I will give you another example. My oldest son when he was in grade 8, started
to struggle in math.

Now when he started grade 8 it was in a new school. So, he doesn't know anybody, we are in a new
town (that the LORD brought us to) and he is struggling and also starts failing math.
The teacher is calling us, wanting to keep us updated and naturally concerned.

Our son is really feeling super weak, uneasy, stupid, because of this impression that
new boy comes to new town, new school and is no good in math.  The pressure of all that and the added pressure of what the other kids think? (the very ones he is trying to 'fit in with')

The final straw came when he got 9% on a math test! And angerly said "I hate math,
and my Math Teacher hates me too - I want to quit math!"

(Of course now he didn't even want to go to math class, and refused to talk about it, when we tried).

Then he had another math test coming up...

----------------------------------------------

How do you handle that?
Is there help from the LORD, for parents?
Is there help from the LORD for anyone?

Just like any other sin...take it to the LORD.
Believing HE changes hearts, its HIS problem not mine.

HERE is what we did. (actually what JESUS did).

We are around the kitchen table with him and his math book. My son
is not happy and can barely sit there for anger. (really fear working).

Knowing that is not the real him (showing anger) why? because
the JESUS inside him is wisdom, is loving, is good - not failing, stubborn, hostile!
My son doesn't want to fail and doesnt' want to live like that. (who does?).

Sound familiar?

This husband with this addiction, or this wife with a 'shoe shopping fetish',
or this one punching walls, or this one hating and failing math.

Is there a deliverer in the house?

We encouraged my son to pray - but our prayers are like this (no begging).
this is pretty much what he prayed (note we didn't pray it for him, he has seen
GOD do this before, and prayed alone - we agreeing).

"LORD, you know I hate math - can't stand it, I wish there were no such thing!
I don't want to study it, I don't even want to sit in the class, I can't pass it
and my math teacher hates me too. But can you change my heart, I am willing
for you to do your will - do it your way, because I can't"

That was it except we believe HE heard us and waited.

Within 5 minutes, my son wanted to study (not loving it yet, but as he
said GOD put a 'jolt of joy' in my heart and found the energy and joy in
looking at math to study again).

He re-did at home his math 9% math test and studied for almost 2 hours.

That has carried over, he has studied ever since (been 1 1/2 months so far).
He on his own, has gone to the teacher for extra help at lunch.
He also had the desire to ask his teacher 'math questions' too.

His math test that he was studying on? 70% Praise the LORD!

Great parenting? I think you know the answer to that!

I am not going to tell you he is a math wiz today, - not yet!
But what we've come to see in our family is that its just JESUS.
We've given up trying to do the Christian things and just found
ourselves at HIS feet, and that is where HE meets us.

When you experience HIS love, HE (not you) replaces that lust,
that wrong, that control of the sin nature - with HIS LOVE (HIMSELF).

You can't do it - but that is the trap most Christians are in, they
try to do it, try to live the Christian life.

Instead you are to believe so that you can receive.

Believe that HE loves you unconditionally - meaning there is nothing
you can do to adjust his love for you. Even when you are sinning, lost,
and losing it HE can't stop accepting you and loving you. When you are
at your worst, HE is drawing close to you and is ready to save!

When you give up all your effort - your struggles to be good Christians.
We used to think, (now its here I am probably going to offend some).

I'll put it this way:

As Christians we go to these special places (buildings)
we go on a special or holy days.
we read out of our holy book.
we listen to our leader/ explain holy things.
we give to support this good work.
we repeat the cycle throughout the years.

Every religion in the world does that!
They all have their holy books, holy places, holy times, holy people etc..

NOT TRUE CHRISTIANITY - is so much NOT like that!

Its about 1 person - JESUS and HE is interested big time in you.

I've mentioned in this forum before, but when I was dating I (like many of you) had love
letters from my wife (then my fiance). She had some from me as well, but I would
love to read them and couldn't wait to get them, because I wasn't around her as much as I wanted to be - it was a way of keeping close in a distant world.

But the Amazing Thing Happened! We got married, and all those love letters are in
some shoe box somewhere - never opened, never looked at.

Why?

Because I've got her, and she is so much better in person than on paper.
She is so much better when she is around me, then when she was far away.
I've really gotten to know her, now married and living 24/7 together then
when we dated and wrote a shoe box full of love letters.

That is exactly where many of us are folks, we are living on JESUS
love letters (and that's OK for a while) but HE is talking
marriage, union, dwelling (living together).
POWER and TRAINING to OVERCOME in this world.

GRACE TRUTHS - Reconciled!

Lets not forget the 'Good News' as its the POWER of GOD unto our own deliverance.

And this 'Good News" says:

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

When we were our worst, and ignoring GOD there is where HE died for us, to reconcile us (we had nothing to do with it, as HE did it all!)

HOW MUCH MORE (now that we are reconciled) shall we be delivered from lust (or anything/everything) by living HIS Life, or Abiding in HIM, Trusting HIM! (all these are the same term in the bible, meaning resting or relying on HIM).

But we should be doing something, shouldn't we? (someone may ask).

NO.

When you were doing, you were doing your worst, and HE died for you then. While we were still sinners CHRIST died for us. (see Romans 5:8) You had no say in the matter, so that it could all be Grace.

The same now, you are trusting HIS Grace!

Wonderful Promise.
Reconciled Already! (whether you like it or not).

Had A Vison of Isaac and Abraham (This is Part 1)

 

Saw a young Isaac carrying the wood for the sacrifice and with his dad (Abraham) who was up ahead.

 

Abraham is sad (head down) and yet trying to be hopeful in GOD. And yet knowing what his son will have to go through, and what he will have to do.

Isaac is carrying the wood, just like JESUS carried the cross, just like all of us have to carry the wood/cross.

We carry it to our deaths, so that when JESUS died (like Isaac) we died too..and we continually die daily.

Isaac knows the steps and takes it seriously, not knowing he is going to pay the price himself.

JESUS knowing it, wept tears of blood.

Abraham sad and distraught yet looking ahead to the ONE who raises the dead.

GOD sad and distraught, yet looking ahead for reunion with HIS SON.

To teach that this angry GOD wanted to punish JESUS is the wrong picture, as you have to look to Abraham.

Yes the covenant was broken by man, and man (unlike hollywood movies) couldn't fix the problem, GOD did and HE kept covenant (on our behalf).  Abraham having to keep his end of the covenant, and when failure comes, death comes, but Abraham didnt' know that this GOD is the ONLY ONE who can keep covenant.  Nobody was worthy to take the scroll, and take death on.

Isaac takes the lonly walk, wondering where the sacrifice is - now realizing that he is the sacrifice, that walk up the lonely hill was gut wrenching.  Isaac knew that when he asked his dad (Abraham) where the sacrifice was, that 'GOD would provide, he realized it was himself that day.

Abraham knowing he was man's representitive with GOD in the covenant, knew that is required blood and death to the one who failed the covenant - not knowing yet, that it is ONLY GOD who keeps covenant.

Abraham promised that he would be the 'father of many nations' (and indeed he is to this day!), but had to give up the dreams (because without Isaac, there is no hope anymore), and die to the dream that GOD put in their to begin with.  But in so doing, wonderful resurrection power comes out of it!

And so like Isaac, we young full of energy, full of ideas and dreams have to carry the cross to death.

Trusting HIM who raises the dead, to bring to LIFE (as HE is LIFE) to us, and bring the dreams to the level they were meant to be!  Part 2 next..called Isaac and Abraham on the Mount...

Isaac and Abraham on the Mount (this is part 2)

This is Part 2 of "Had A Vison of Isaac and Abraham"

 

 

Did you know that the same hill Isaac was to be sacrificied was the same hill JESUS was?

in fact:

a) Jerusalem was built on the mountain and became the capital city of Israel
b) the Temple of Solomon was built on the southern end of the mountain (cf. 2 Chronicles 3:1)
c) Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, the highest elevation of the mountain, just outside of Jerusalem

Did you know how many logs of wood, Isaac needed to carry - it is the same amount of wood to buld a cross.

Think of how much wood you need to get a camp fire - well you need more for the sacrifice.

This is the first time love is mentioned in the bible and it all has to do with sacrifice.

JESUS slain before the foundation of the world.

3 days was the journey for Isaacs resurection. (when he saw the Ram caught in the thicket)

3 days JESUS raised too.

 

IRAQ - and the Bible

 Read all of this one, it is interesting!!

VERY INTERESTING-

1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq . 

2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!

3. Noah built the ark in Iraq ... 

4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq .. 

5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq ...

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq ...
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq . 

8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq ...

9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel .. 

10. Amos cried out in Iraq .. 

11 Babylon , which is in Iraq , destroyed Jerusalem .. 

12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq .

13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the Fiery Furnace!). 

14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the 'writing on the wall' in Iraq . 

15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq ... 

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq ...   

17. The wise men were from Iraq ... 

18. Peter preached in Iraq ...

19. The 'Empire of Man' described in Revelation is called Babylon --which was a cityin Iraq.  And you have probably seen this one: Israel is hte nation most often mentioned in the Bible.
 
But do you know which nation is second?

It is Iraq !

However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible.

The names used in the Bible are Babylon , Land of Shinar , and Mesopotamia ... The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris And Euphrates Rivers .

The name Iraq means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible. 

No other nation, except Israel , has more history and prophecy associated
with it than Iraq ..

Taken from Sigler.org

No Effort Needed!

Question: Do we need to do anything for salvation?

When we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us. Romans 5:8

Not when we got 'good', but while we were at our worst.

Also, there is no boasting in HIS presence, (1 Cor 1:29)nothing we can say or do that qualifies us for GRACE. If you could 'qualify', then you did something to 'earn it', and thus it is NOT GRACE then.

In fact when JESUS came, HE kept 'disqualifying' everyone.
HE tells Nicodemus to be 'born again' but never tells anyone else that. (John 3)
HE tells another to 'sell all they have' but never tells that message to anyone else. Luke 18:22
HE tells the demoniac that wants to follow HIM, JESUS tells him "NO, but go home and to your friends, and tell everyone what GOD has done". Mark 5:19

Why doesn't HE tell the demoniac that wants to follow him to 'sell all he has to follow him' and do so? But wouldn't allow him to even follow?

How many preachers do you know, that when someone asks the preacher that they want to follow JESUS. That the preacher would say "NO, just simply go home and tell people what GOD has done".

NO preacher dares to say the things GRACE (JESUS is GRACE) says.
They would tell the guy, go to this church, get under the teaching of 'so & so', get a bible, read these chapters, pray everyday, and serve in the church.

JESUS said "go home".

To another group HE says "Be perfect"

Why doesn't HE tell Nicodemus to sell all he has?
Or tell the woman at the well that she must be 'born again'?

No wonder the disciples asked "who can be saved then?"
This whole thing is impossible.

Here is the scripture in GRACE.

Paul said it like this in more than one of his letters.

"HE (GOD) has locked us all (mankind) under sin, so that HE can have mercy on us all". Romans 11:32

They all didn't qualify.
News Flash:  Either do you...
No one does!

All locked up under the sin, under law (which increases trespass) .

Why?

So that HE can have mercy on some? A few? The elect? The Church?

NO

So that HE can have mercy on them all!

Everyone has sinned, we all have missed the mark.
We all like sheep have gone astray, every man has turned his own way.

All fell under Adam - Oh, I know you believe that - you can see that as you judge by your own eyes and understanding.

But

You don't' believe that all shall be made alive in JESUS...1 Corinthians 15:22

Wonderful, unstoppable GRACE.
Imagine a LOVE that doesn't fail - not once!

Does GOD treat us all the same - answer "yes" and "no".

Does GOD show favouritism?

Answer: "For God does not show favoritism." Romans 2:11
and also Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism." Acts 10:34

And JESUS is the WAY - right?

But here is the key, so we don't judge incorrectly.

There is only ONE way, JESUS is that WAY.
But the LORD (your and my DAD) like any good DAD (and HE is the best), treats HIS kids all differently - to get the end result.

I have 2 boys, whom I love dearly.  Both have the same access to me, and both are deeply loved by myself and my wife but they are brought up or 'handled' differently.  Some need 'pulling' the others need a little 'push'.

When I was younger, our friends had 2 children a couple years apart and they were playing on a swing set but were getting (in my own estimation) potentially rowdy and perhaps dangerous and could fall. After watching them for a few moments I told them both to "STOP IT" with a firm tone as I was the only adult in the yard at the time, the rest were getting drinks from inside.

The point is this, after I ordered them to stop, one started to cry, the other laughed and shrugged me off!  I didn't know what to do.

When you have children of your own, you should get to the point where you (as Dad or Mom) know what you have to do, to get your kids to follow the rules (what is best for them/ best for the family) so they can grow up to be responsible, loving leaders - that this world desperately needs.

Anyway, back to the main point.

We as people tend to judge others, when they are going through a tough time instead of knowing that they all have a FATHER in the Heavenlies (the heavens are all around us, its the Spirit world, or the Kingdom that JESUS referred to all the time).  And this FATHER knows how to 'pull' one and 'push' the other, to get them to be mature, loving sons and daughters.
Doesn't the bible tell us that we should be joyful in suffering, because it is working for our own good? James 1:2

When you learn to live in LOVE and TRUST even in the times of testing, you are maturing fast.
Complaining and fighting is not the way through it, that way only slows you down.
Not my will, but your will be done is our prayer.

Isn't that what any good parent wants?
The child to say 'ok mom' or 'you are right dad'.

Isn't that the same thing with GOD?
And it doesn't matter how far you've gone, remember HE doesn't show favouritism.
We all can come, and enjoy LIFE (HIMSELF - JESUS is LIFE) the way it was intended all along!

Don't let the enemy (devil) give you thoughts that make you feel that you can't come to JESUS.
Take HIM up on HIS offer, that there are no favourites...simply come.
Only a lie would keep you from coming to HIM.

What praying in "JESUS" name really means.

I had (as many of you know already) a vision a few years back about a kid breaking into my house and although I had a 'gun' and 'my title deed to my house' in both hands, he (which represented a weak but cunning devil) tried to get that gun and title deed from me.

The gun represented power.
The title deed represented authority.
I had both.

That is what praying in JESUS name is all about.
It is NOT a way to end a prayer, although you can say it, it doesn't guarantee that your prayers will be more successful by ending it "in JESUS name ...amen".

What it really means, is that you understand or our conscience of the fact that JESUS is in you and HE is you.  It is no longer "I" but CHRIST that dwells in me.

When HIS life (because HE is LIFE) becomes 'you' then you are starting to pray 'in the SPIRIT' and that prayer is 'in HIS name'.  That prayer is in HIS nature, HIS authority - that is what praying in HIS name is all about.  It is using the power and authority that HE is in you.  Not what you have, or try to get psyched up to get, but who you actually are.

CHRIST who is your Life - the bible says.

And it always has to do with LOVE (which is what is best for others).
Which is DADDY'S will (FATHER'S will). JESUS only wanted to do or say what HE was shown by the FATHER who was 'in HIM'.  That is no different then us - what the FATHER says (HIS will) is what we want.  That is the 'nature' of JESUS, that is praying in HIS name, HIS nature and then using HIS power and HIS authority over evil.

IN HIS NAME

IN HIS POWER

IN HIS AUTHORITY

As HIM

Hockey cards and 11 year old boys.

The other day my son Timothy and his good friend Josh, wanted me to take them to the dollar store to see about getting some packs of Hockey Cards, which they collect.

Part of the excitement is of course opening each package and seeing if you get that special card, or unique card that you knew about, but never had.

So of course their eyes large with rack upon rack of hockey cards...hmm...which ones do we choose?

Josh says "why don't we pray to the LORD for it?" Timothy agrees and the 2 of them are praying out loud to the LORD to first give them certain cards and then they changed their prayer to 'show them, which card packs to buy'.

Right there, loud and clear as two 11 years olds could be, they were praying! In the store!

Our boys call prayer "cheating", because you are relying on the help of another (not on your own ability).

At then end, Josh was contemplating about finally this 'box' or 'that one'.  "Timothy" he asks, "you know about these things, you chose for me".

Note: know about these things, meaning spiritually see, not visually see.  Because all the cards are in wrapped packages and some inside even larger boxes (with packs inside), nobody can tell which has what.

Josh grabbed the small box, there were like 7 others he could have chosen, but he chose this one, but looking at Timothy he gestured "you show me, which one". Re-emphasizing what he just asked him.

Timothy quickly said "not this one, but that one".

Note: some hockey cards come in individual packs, others in small boxes of multiple packs.

So they make their choices (after prayer) and we go for ice-cream and go home.
I mentioned some caution, as we walked out of the store, about GOD not being a 'Santa Clause', careful not wanting any hearts to be disappointed.

Boy was I in for a surprise!

All that trust in ME will never be disappointed is the scripture. Psalm 25:3

They got what they were looking for and more! They were surprised as well as my older son, who wasn't there at the time, but just as much, I was surprised!  Not that the LORD answered prayer, because we've seen HIM come through for all kinds of things - everything is small to our BIG GOD!

Surprising, because of the audacity of what the kids were asking for!  The Boldness for that thing and the joy in it all!  The whole thing was fun and exciting.

5:40 I wake up the next morning to the LORD asking me

DAD/PAPA :  "When did you get so serious, that you weren't free enough to pray like the boys did?"
HE continued, "When has life for you got to be so stringent, that prayer can't be fun and frivolous?"

"Frivolous?" I protested, here I was trying to protect GOD's reputation, or was it the reputation I had built about HIM?

DAD/PAPA: "Where is the spontaneous joy? The childlike faith so expecting, so simple?  Not the badgering, not the demanding, not the crying but the joy of it all?"

DAD/PAPA:  "and one more thing about your theology son.  You are right, I AM not Santa, I AM way better than Santa.  Santa only got where he got, following me, and so will you".

Ask anything in MY name and I will give it to you!
Come before MY throne with boldness!

-eric

Heart Disease Heart Problems - what the LORD showed me.

Heart disease is not part of the Christian Life and its not part of the blessings, we would call it a curse wouldn't we?

But why? Why is this attacker everywhere?  Is there any answer from our DAD (the LORD)?

Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
But when desire is fulfilled it is a tree of life!  Proverbs 13:12


Let us look at the word "sick" first.


This word in Hebrew is clearly our word 'sick' or more closely 'disease'.


Thus you get "heart disease'.


Once I was helping a brother on the telephone, and he, a young man, was telling me
about his heart trouble.  These same heart troubles plagued his parents and his grandparents as well.


I asked the LORD (in my SPIRIT) about it and the LORD asked me this:
"Who broke his heart?"


So I asked him: "who broke your heart?" And he was partially stunned and was giving it thought.
We then prayed together on the phone and hung up. I don't know what happened since, but that made
me think, 'who broke it'....why is his heart broken?


Heart Sick is Heart Disease.


What is this "Hope" anyway?


Hope is what 'you think is certain expectation' in your life.
You may feel fairly certain you were going to marry, or go to this school or travel to a certain place.


So you are really expecting something, maybe a dream of yours. It's not a maybe 'iffy' thing but more
than that, more like confident expectation.


Ok, but it's deferred?  What does that mean?


The same word in Hebrew is used when Joseph is 'dragged away' by the Midianites and sold into
slavery by his brothers.  Being taken away at such a young age (he was the youngest) from his
family, from the father that he adored.


That is deferred in Hebrew.


You can read the story in Genesis 37.


This 'deferred' means that your hope is snuffed out, or taken away (dragged away) right before
your eyes!  You see it but you can't have it, its the most evil 'tease', as you think its yours but it isn't!


The LORD talks about this exact thing in Deuteronomy 28:30. HE says that you will plant an orchard
but not eat of the grapes.  You will be pledged to marry but she will be taken by another and ravished 
(strong words). You will build a house but someone else will take it (repossess it) and live in it, but
you will only watch.  Your dreams and certain expectations are right there but you won't enjoy it, instead
it will be happily taken from your grasp and used.


Are you starting to get the idea?


Can I let you in on a little secret?


Joseph, sold into slavery, seemingly had all his hopes taken (dragged) away when he saw his home
life and family removed and watched it go, as he was chained in a slave caravan of the evil
Midianites.  But Joseph was hearing something deep down in his SPIRIT (inside himself).  About 
another dream, reminding him about his real dream.  The dream where the big wheat (himself) had
all these other wheats bowing to him.  Showing him one day that all his brothers, and yes even these
Midianites would all bow to him and 'serve him'.


Here is the secret the LORD showed me once.


DAD said this to me: "Why when I give you a promise (a dream) the very first thing you want to do
is go out and try to fulfill it?"


You see it is only DAD (your LORD) that can fulfill Joseph's dreams and yours too.
Let that anchor you, when it may seem like everything is unraveling around you.


Because if you allow it, it will kill your heart - give you heart trouble, Real HEART DISEASE!
I can't get any plainer than that!


But here is the good part.


"A desire fulfilled is like a tree of life."


The 'tree of life' was first mentioned in the garden of Eden.
The 'Tree of LIFE' represents the LORD JESUS and all that HE is; LOVE, LIFE, JOY, TRUTH.
That LIFE is real healthy LIFE. You coming fully alive! The opposite of heart problems isn't it?
You know when we are hoping for a certain outcome, maybe in your children and they may not 
'turn out' the way expected.  Well we don't need to be a medical scientist to know that that
causes stress and worry.


When you worry, you forget that you have a DAD that LOVES YOU!


But those stresses, are the beginning stages of hope deferred, giving the heart trouble.
Instead seeing (by your SPIRIT) what GOD is doing and how HE is leading you and then
praying into all that (like Joseph as we discussed) starts to put our hope into something 
(yes SOMEONE) greater, and keep our hearts, protect our hearts.


Guard your heart is the command.
These commands are not for GOD'S good, but for your good.
GOD your DADDY, doesn't need help, or need anything - but you do, and I do!


So, what are you hoping for?


Don't let the lies and people nor the devil steal these deep down desires and good dreams.
Because they will if you let them.  Why do you let them?


Keep looking to JESUS to fulfill them trusting your situation and dreams to HIM and thus not
allowing for hope to be dragged away from you - so close but so far!


There is an entire study on people's dreams and desires that become crushed and destroyed.


Can I pray with you right now my friend? About your dreams?





DAD, I thank you for my friend, your child, reading this right now. YOU'VE given them dreams,
real ones, big ones, and they have allowed demons of lies, and people they trust that tell them
that it isn't going to happen, that it isn't so.


LORD, I know those are YOUR dreams that have been given them.  Would YOU right now and
I thank YOU and can see YOU doing it, restoring their broken dreams and desires they have that
have been suppressed and pushed down that they've almost forgotten them. But YOU LORD put
those hopes and dreams and expectations in them, and I can see YOU dusting them off and
restoring them and then let them be fulfilled in them like Joseph.  Encourage the reader right now,
give them a hope a real revelation and understanding that it will be done -but not by their ability
less they boast in themselves, but YOU doing it through them, giving them the desires of their heart.


"Delight yourself in the LORD, and HE will give you the desires of your heart". Psalm 37:4


Blessing: (spoken over you).


"May HE give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed" Psalm 20:4