Miracle Christmas Card - from Heaven!

Some of you know I have a very dear Aunt (and I might add, that she is an 'Aunt' to many), but a few years ago, her husband (my Uncle) died.

He was an 'old school' kind of 'tough' guy, who never even learned to read or write until he was a much older adult.  Born in a time, when boys had to work and were not probably loved the way they should of been.

So, this (my) Uncle Doug was married to my Aunt Helen.

They had (like so many of us) a tough marriage at times, both looking for LOVE which only comes from GOD.  GOD is LOVE.

So my Uncle never did too many of those affection things that husbands and wives usually do for each other.

And like I said, that he never could read or write too well, made it much harder.

My Uncle Doug found the LORD (or rather the LORD found him) on his deathbed and found the ONE who is the Prince of Peace.

So where is the miracle?

We've seen and heard many testimonies of those in Heaven (after death) and JESUS HIMSELF, talking or in dreams or visions visiting us on this side.

You see Heaven starts here, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand - meaning its right around you, and touching it is not far.

Ok, so my Uncle has been missed by us for many years, my Aunt Helen of course thinks about her husband and the LORD has been so good, comforting her through these years here, without her man.

So, the other day, my mother (my Aunt Helen's sister-in-law) was cleaning some Christmas stuff up.  And we like many of you, keep Christmas Gift Bags to re-use again...and these bags of course fold flat and can be easily stored for next Christmas.  Its funny how you can recognize the same gift-bag, being used over and over again at times.

As she is folding the bags and putting them in the Christmas storage area, she sees a small bag she never saw before but it was already folded (bags fold shut when not in use, so they lie flat as mentioned.)

When this small bag caught her eye, as it wasn't 100% flat...but nothing was in it....or was there?

She thought maybe some wrapping paper might have been stuck in there, and she opened the gift bag only to be really surprised...

Inside this small gift bag, was a Christmas Card.

She didn't recognize the card - remember she didn't recognize the little gift bag either.

The card said "To My Wife".

Wondering how this card even got there, she was utterly shocked when she opened it...

It reads:

"For My Wife, My Reason for Happiness

You've created something wonderful in my life,

something beautiful that was never there

before I married you.

Being with you has given new meaning

to each sunrise we share and each new day

we welcome together.

And in all of our love and our closeness.

I've found something within, a confidence, 

a strength, I never knew without you...."

My Mother (in her own house) never saw this card, and my Dad never gave this card to her.

So she surprised wondered who the card was for and opened it...

"You are my inspiration

my reason for happiness.

You are my wife

and my joy forever.

Merry Christmas

with My Love Always."

Signed: "Doug" xxxxx

Note: 5 "X's" for kisses.

5 is the number of GRACE

Blown away and really wondering how this card got in our yearly re-used gift bags.

Uncle Doug had been gone for 4 years, but our family hadn't seen him for even more years than that.

Knowing our GOD is the GOD of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

And knowing the SPIRIT is also called "the Comforter". John 14:26

This would bring a lot of comfort to my Aunt Helen.

So my mother, feeling like something supernatural and strange yet lovely was happening, put the card back into the small gift bag, and gave it to my Aunt Helen a day later.

You should have seen their faces.

"They look to HIM and they are radiant" the bible tells us in Psalm 34:5

Seeing that JESUS by HIS SPIRIT gave a Christmas Card signed by my Uncle who never really signed anything or wrote much of anything to my Aunt from the other side of Heaven - well, we could hardly contain ourselves with great comfort and joy.

And isn't this time of year as Christmas the time we reflect on JESUS brings us "Tidings of Comfort and Joy"

See Jeremiah 31:13

Well, its not too often you get a card from Heaven.

We know of another story, of a man that lost his wife, and was so mournful over the loss and missed her to no ends.

Every night (this is also a true story) he went to bed, alone and weeping (for he really missed her).

One night he awoke, but wondered if he was dreaming, and saw an Angel at the foot of his bed.

Alarmed, and staring in wonder, the Angel told him "be at peace".  The man, felt peace but didn't know what to say or do.

The Angel then asked for the wet pillow.

"Why?" asked the man in amazement.

"Because GOD holds all your tears in a bottle, and cherishes them" said the Angel.

Then the man fell into a deep sleep.

When awaking, he thought, that was the most amazing dream, only to find his pillow case was gone!

My precious friend, if you've been lonely or sad over the loss of your partner or family member.

JESUS holds your tears.

Give HIM your sorrows, and trust HIM to bring you real comfort in your time of need.

And...

Don't be surprised that while you entertain stranger, you are entertaining Angels.

Don't be surprised if GOD comforts you with LOVE from Heaven in ways you can't describe.

As HE is the GOD of ALL COMFORT!

Amen

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...