Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FaceBook Spankin, The Legacy

Hmm,


"Friend Requests and Messages Blocked for 4 Days

"To prevent you from contacting people against their wishes, your friend requests and your ability to send messages to strangers have been blocked for 4 days.

"Friend requests are more likely to be accepted when you send them to people you already know, such as classmates, friends, family and coworkers.

"If you use Facebook to communicate with strangers, they have the option to report that they don't know you or to mark the communication as spam. If this happens repeatedly, you could be viewed as violating Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

"If more of your friend requests are later marked as spam or reported for being sent to strangers, this block could be extended. To prevent this, you can cancel your pending friend requests.

"After this 4-day block has been lifted, please only send friend requests to people you believe will accept your requests.

"I understand that this block could be extended if I ignore this warning."


Well, here we go again.

Yesterday, I said, "I haven't slacked off. I'm still sending friend requests every day."


Oh, well.

The first time was 2 days. This time it's 4.

Go to my FaceBook page (you have to be logged in to FaceBook)

http://www.facebook.com/duane.hatter

and send me a friend request, I'll approve you.

FaceBook Jail, AGAIN!

--

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Follow-up on FaceBook Spankin'

I had previously posted Facebook Spankin'

I'm amazed how many people have clicked thru and seen that. I'm far from being a viral web sensation, but that's a lot of page hits for me!

What I find most interesting is that FaceBook has lightened up and allowed me to send more friend requests than before.

???

That doesn't make sense. They told me that they were putting me in a 2 day timeout where I couldn't send friend requests. The next step was going to be worse, up to the termination of my account (or something like that).

I haven't slacked off. I'm still sending friend requests every day.

Were they bluffing (automated message), or do they just not want any negative press? I would assume they have better things to do than watch somebody like me, but...
It's not like I'm a heavy hitter in the blogosphere or anything.

I'm thankful anyway.

I'm not trying to hurt, bother, or spam anybody. Quite the opposite, I want people to live and live more abundantly.

I want people free!

Whether it's Twitter, Facebook, or anything else, all I do is post scriptures.

"I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24 (NLT)

Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life." John 6:68 (NLT)

Does not My word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29 (NLT)

"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT)

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the One to whom we are accountable." Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

"Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved." John 5:34 (NLT)

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." John 3:3 (NLT)

So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'  John 3:7 (NLT)

If you can't handle The Word, you can't handle life.

My intent is not to make you feel better;

I want God to make you better.

--

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Good Church Service Tonight

Wow, what a night in church.

It started with some good praise and worship.
Then, I ended up praying through the whole service.

I did that before, praying through a whole service.
This time it was better, much better.
Just like before, I got to wear Elijah's mantel.

That strong anointing was there too.

I had that anointing Friday also. God gave me a message, but I didn't get to preach it. I went to church, but didn't get to deliver the message. I'm not complaining, just observing.

Everything is getting really intense and it keeps increasing. I feel like I'm going to burst at the seams!
It's like I've got the gas pedal pushed to the floor, but the brake is on. I just want to dump the clutch, smoke the tires and roll!

But it's got to be God's timing, not mine alone.

I do have some stuff to follow up on tomorrow:

The morning service provided me with a brochure on becoming a "chaplain".  That's cool!
That's something God told me to check into again.
But, this would have me affiliated with the "Church of God". I'm not big on denominations or denominational affiliations.
I've only just recently become aware of "religious" demons. I don't want to have them cleared out of the way just to make room for spirits of "denominational pride".
I'm not going to be careful, but I will go into this prayerful.

The evening service reminded me of the nursing homes. The pastor said he worked the nursing homes for 10 years before he got this church. He said the pay is bad (try $0), but it is a wide open field.
Wide open? Cool!
I want to see people saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost.
God agrees with me on this.
I want to see devils cast out and people healed in Jesus' name.
That's what God called me to do.
I want to deliver God's message of "hope".
It's His message.

Nursing homes, here I come in Jesus' Name!

I'm still wondering about the jail. I'm called to Greeneville, but God is going to have to make a way.
I've got a way into the Morristown jail, but that's not where God called me to work. I've got a real burden for that place though. People are getting saved, and that makes me rejoice; but there is great resistance too. There are too many involved that bring that watered down synthetic Christianity. I can't work with people like that or be allied with them. I'll keep praying for those that have the Real Thing and for the conversion of those that don't. ;)

I'm on the TN "Volunteer" list with the prisons. We don't have any of those in Greene County...

Can you break a spiritual tooth by the proverbial "chomping at the bit"?

Maybe I need to work on my patience.

I know God loves me.
I love Him.
I know what He has called me to.
He is faithful. He will do what He said.

--

I Can't...

I Can't -  

by Duane Hatter

I can't stand by and watch,
I can't stand by and watch anymore.

Not while the innocent are trampled,
not while the children are mutilated.

The harmless are afraid,
and love is depressed.

I won't stand by and watch,
I can't stand by and watch.

Let my hands be the healing hands of God!
But not me, only for You.

Let my voice be the voice of God that drives out demons!
But not me, Lord; only for You.

I won't stand by and watch,
I refuse to stand by and watch.

Let these eyes be filled with Your Compassion, OH Lord!
but not me, Lord; only for You.

Let this heart beat in rhythm with Your Son!
but not for me, Lord; only for You.

Not my will, oh Lord; Your will be done.
I can't stand by and watch...

 - -

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Apostles, Prophets, and Revelations, Oh My!

I was a little bummed because I just haven't seen the power of God in church.
I think my post on "church pizza" was spot on.

Then, I got to working on a few pages on my website yesterday. There were some links that needed to go, some new ones to be added, but then there were a few links in particular that I hadn't even fully investigated myself.


When you get done reading my post here, you need to click through on that link and read that article.

Apostles and prophets? 
Prophecy, now I've been giving that a lot of thought lately. Back in May when things started happening, I noticed the prophecy. God was laying things on my heart and mind so I spoke them. But then, those things started happening. That caught me by surprise and was quite humbling. For some reason I thought prophecy was a strange thing for ME to do, after all, God called me to be a "missionary" and to cast out devils.

It goes back to revelation. God will reveal Himself and His plans to those who seek diligently after Him.

Why should we think that the occurrences of John and Paul were so unique?
John was just a young man when he started out. He didn't know anything, but he really loved Jesus.
Paul was a devout and zealous murderer; a christian killer to be exact.
Why were they so special?

God CHOSE them.

Has God chosen you? If you have any doubts, do a New Testament search for the word "chosen".

God reveals Himself... God's Kingdom has Power... apostles and prophets...

So, last night, I was just bummed. I didn't even want to go to church (Oops! Did I type that out loud?). My wife wanted to go so I "went with her".

We got there, and they didn't have a song leader so they commissioned my wife. It appeared they didn't have a speaker so I was asked (and I almost didn't go!).

As it turned out, they did have a speaker. Interestingly enough though, the scriptures I would have given if I spoke, were covered by somebody else via testimony; I made note of that.

As the speaker brought his teaching on "offenses" (interesting, considering the past month's events!), something he said grabbed me. He had something specific he was going to give me. At the end, he asked me to come up, and he prayed a specific (God-led) blessing over me. I gladly received that!

After the service I got to talking to the fellow that testified. It took a little while, but I realized he WAS A PROPHET!

OH MY!

He didn't go by a specific title of "Prophet So-And-So", but he was the real deal.

At the end of our long conversation he said, "We'll have to go to the hospital together."

What?! I have been thinking all week about the guy who was SUPPOSED TO GO to the hospital with me to minister, but never did (that was last year).

So here's this guy, didn't know him before this conversation, and, OH MY!

So where's the power? He's got it.

So where are the prophets? He is one.

So who has God revealed Himself to lately? He can tell you and so could the speaker.

So when are you going to release me to go minister in the hospital, God? Very soon.

I think the last thing he said got to me even more - when God calls you to do something, He just rolls it out and IT'S DONE!

Oh, ya.  

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:13 "NASB)

It's God's work. He's doing it. He will see it through.

What a night...

--

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

God Club

I'm still a little bummed (in Jesus Name).

Church prospecting, well, we're not just supposed to preach the Word; God's POWER should be displayed too.

Where Is the Power?

Not like a club meeting, but really seeing God's power. I crave it, and I know I'm not alone!

Then, there's this-

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."  Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)


Have you ever thought about that verse?

Have you ever sharpened a pocket knife or watched it done?

Dragging the blade across a stone... little pieces are scraped and ground off... I mean, OUCH!

Imagine yourself for a minute, being dragged across a course stone; little pieces of you being ground off...

Do you get this?

OUCH!

But it is for our good, right?

To be complete, and needing nothing... James 1:2-4

--

Facebook Spankin'

Uh boy!  Give me a break!

Facebook, Facebook, FACEBOOK!

I sent too many friend requests and somebody complained.

Now, I'm locked down for 2 days, in FaceBook Jail, and can't submit any friend requests.

I think in the state of New York, and maybe Illinois that would classify as defamation and/or degradation of character. Some hack attorney, a corrupt judge and I'd land half a million dollars! Maybe I could change it to

Face-Duane!!!

Anyway...

I'm laughing on the inside. There's a big smile on my face as I type this. I'm only just slightly perturbed.

We could have some fun though. Everybody that reads this pass this on to your friends. Tell them to click on my FaceBook page and send me a friend request.
http://www.facebook.com/duane.hatter
It will probably hiccup, but follow through with the error report. We could flood FaceBook with a million requests...
Demand that they release Duane Hatter from FaceBook friend request jail!
It will become a web trend.
If we hit this hard enough, they'll even talk about it on the evening news-

"A Greeneville TN man was wrongfully jailed for submitting too many friend requests on FaceBook. Police patrols have been increased for fear of riots and looting.  Mark Zuckerberg was unavailable for comment."

What is FaceBook? Is it not a book-of-faces? I mean, everybody in your friend list, do you know them?
I mean, do you really know them?
Do you really, really know them?

Come on, I've got 261 "friends"... do they really know me?

Of course not! That's my point.

I'm not "spamming" anyone. I'm not trying to link people to an offshore pharmacy website,
I'm not trying to get them to an online casino,
I not even trying to get anybody to check out a male or female, young or old, straight or otherwise, single or multicolored dating/sire/escort service website.

I'm not selling anything....

It's late. We'll pick this up tomorrow...

--

Monday, June 20, 2011

The New Living Translation - The NLT and Me

It wasn't that long ago, I was working with a fellow trying to disciple him in the things of the Lord. He was having a particularly hard time, but I know that all the answers are in God's word. I knew Romans had some of the answers I needed so I jumped on eSword to do some print-offs for our next study.

"I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." Romans 7:15 NLT

That's where it started, and I think it ended somewhere around the seventeenth verse of the eighth chapter.

I left the printout laying on the counter. My teenage daughter saw it and read it. She exclaimed how beautiful it was. Her comments were flattering, but I explained that I did not write it myself.

She was surprised even more.

I explained that it was out of the Bible.

She expressed she knew what the Bible was and says, but this particular rendering was so easy to read it was like a conversation between two people.

I told her it was the New Living Translation.

I then asked her if she would like a New Living Translation Bible of her own.

She ecstatically said yes!

I got her the "Student's Life Application Study Bible" NLT with a soft two-tone cover.

She tore into it like a little boy with a new comic book! I lost count of how many times since I have seen her reading it like a bookworm would a new novel.

I also got my wife a "Hands On Bible" for Christmas. I was hoping she would be able to use in children's church.

She fell in love with it and so did the kids. She had a hard time keeping it away from the kids so she could maintain the element of surprise when it came to game time.

Since then, she thought it would be good to have a "parallel" so she didn't have to lug several Bibles AND all her other supplies to and from church. I did a little searching around, and, sure enough, The People's Parallel Bible is just that - a KJV and NLT side by side. That has proved to be an invaluable tool for her.

Later on, the Lord blessed me with a surprise. I had entered a contest at a Bible ministry called Operation Worship.

I signed, I shared, I YouTubed,

and I won. The shirt is indeed cool, but the NLT Study Bible is an absolute treasure!

I have tried "study" Bibles before and have been very disappointed. These so-called study Bibles have notes that are drenched with denominational doctrines. Since they are generally so big, the only thing they are good for is adding stability to book ends.

The NLT Study Bible has been and remains to be a refreshing tool that stands up to its name. Every note, diagram, historical fact, time line, and piece of data is worthwhile, and not infected with false doctrines.

Reading the NLT Study Bible is like reading the Bible for the first time, or getting a Bible of your own in your own language after being taught from a Bible in a different language your whole life.

The NLT folks have a motto on their website,

"The Truth Made Clear"

Ya, that's it; I couldn't have said it better myself!

The study Bible had some special codes to get special access to some stuff on the website. That's pretty cool.

Through all this wide-eyed looking, I ended up at a personal blog of one of the NLT's big wigs. His name is Sean Harrison. In his blog he expressed his desire and concern for a venue for seekers of God and studiers of the Word to get together. He shared some stats from a conference and many thoughts and concerns regarding the situation. Through this I gained an appreciation for the people behind the NLT.

Mr. Harrison also mentioned a website, http://www.youversion.com

Thank you Sean Harrison!

That is the neatest site for studying and using the Word, particularly if you are on Twitter, Facebook, and if you blog. You will see bible.us links in all my stuff; that is from YouVersion.

"The Truth Made Clear"...

The reading and studying in the NLT has been a real blessing. I can say that it has really made a difference in my life. I have a better understanding of God and a better understanding of how God looks at me (and what He sees!).

My wife does a daily Bible study with the kids and part of that is from the NLT. It has really done wonderful things for the kids and their understanding of the Word.

 - - - - -

There is something very special about the NLT that I guess I'm having a hard time expressing in typed words. Maybe it's just too personal.

Let me try this-

Recently I went through a terrible trial. I mean, it was bad!
God was trying to tell me that I was about 3 steps from a terrible fall!
I didn't take heed to the warning and I fell! HARD!

I was mowing grass, listening to my iPod. I try not to waste time and strive to utilize grass mowing and yard work time by listening to good teaching/preaching and/or God's Word. That day I was listening to Mike Kellogg reading the Book of Job to me.

"In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." Job 1:22 NLT

Ouch!

I did NOT share this same testimony with Job. He had it 1000 times worse, but he maintained his integrity.

Hearing Mike Kellogg read that into my ears was like my best friend telling me, "bubba, you messed up, man."

The reading of the NLT version of the Book of Job helped me get back to a proper standing with God that day. The NLT was a friend in a time of desperate need.

That friend that bails you out when your in trouble, you never forget him.

The NLT has been that kind of friend to me.

Does that make sense?
--

The New Living Translation - The NLT and Others

I'll throw this out there to give this topic a well-rounded perspective.

There are 2 basic Bible translation techniques:

Literal (or word-for-word)

and

Dynamic Equivalent (thought-for-thought).

The NLT is a dynamic equivalent translation. Here are some links to Michael Marlowe's site that explain this-


Against the Theory of ‘Dynamic Equivalence’ - http://www.bible-researcher.com/dynamic-equivalence.html


Michael Marlowe is a true scholar. He's pretty smart too. I reference his stuff all the time. And, yes, you can see for yourself that his words about the NLT are not complimentary.

Mr. Marlowe can take the "Majority Text" (greek) and read it to you in English I believe. I can't do that. For guys like me, I think (this is MY opinion, not necessarily his) he would recommend a NASB for study.

I have one of those too, and I use it quite a bit.


--

Sunday, June 19, 2011

You'll Have to Teach Them, part 2

Remember what I posted previously? - 

God says, "You'll have to teach them."

"Who, me?!" I ask. "I barely know how to worship You myself."

"Teach them to worship Me"...
Then I find another jewel on YouTube


Did you hear what he was saying?

That just amazes me. Another metalcore group leading a massive throng of people is worship.

A metalcore group concert, and a huge group of people worshiping God, no hindrances, no worries, just worship.

So what about us "good, church-goin' folk"? How are we doin'?

Are we worshiping God with no hindrances, no worries, just worship?

Maybe we ALL ought to get tatoos and body piercings. 

Maybe we should all just show up as we are...

... AND JUST WORSHIP GOD!!!

Am I making any sense here?
--

You'll Have to Teach Them, part 1

The angels stand by, all with large golden bowls filled with oil. They line the walls of the church sanctuary. They wait for the people to start worshiping God.
They wait, and wait, and wait...

I ask myself, "why won't they worship God?"

God says, "You'll have to teach them."

"Who, me?!" I ask. "I barely know how to worship You myself."

"Teach them to worship Me"...

...then there's Mattie-


Ya, then check this out- the power goes out to the equipment, and they only have one guitar. Worship breaks out, the Holy Ghost starts blessing (check out the laying on of hands on the kid in the front row)...


Remember, this group is For Today. They are a Christian metalcore group. Kids are getting a fresh fill of the Holy Ghost at a Christian Metalcore concert, 

but how was church today?

I think I'm fixin' to get a tatoo and learn how to play guitar or something...

--

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Church or Pizza?

I was watching a vid I like


I got to clickin' around and found some other vids by them. 
In the comments, someone said "they sound like For Today."
So, who is For Today?

Oh!

 

You have got to get a load of this guy... Mattie Montgomery . He's the lead singer.
"For years, Mattie Montgomery and his wife Candice have spearheaded an evangelistic ministry that has seen tens-of-thousands of salvations..."

Tens of THOUSANDS of salvations?! This guy preaches AND sings in a metalcore band!

TENS OF THOUSANDS...

Now, for the past 4-1/2 years, I've seen what does NOT work first hand. 
I've gone to churches, churches that shrank instead of growing.
I've heard preaching ABOUT things, but never saw them first hand.
I heard about things that HAVE happened or USED TO happen.
I even saw GOD deliver a beautiful miracle one night, then the church threw dirt on top of it and swept it under the rug!

The church TALKS about a God that heals,
about a God that delivers,
about a God that saves,
a God that has power,

but let me tell you something-

TALK IS CHEAP!

Show me the goods baby!

You can tell me how good a pizza is.
You can show me pictures.
You can show me movies.
You can even tell me how many you've had and just how great they really are.
But, 
that isn't enough.

Go get me one and take me from being a "believer" and CONVINCE me!

I dare you!

I double dare you!

I double dog dare you!

--

Friday, June 17, 2011

God Works in Seasons by Frances Lloyd

This is the June 15th edition of "Daily Golden Footprints" by Frances Lloyd.

Enjoy!

 - - - - -


Daily Golden Footprints
God Works in Seasons                June 15, 2011

God has always worked in seasons…
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

There was a season without sin on the earth…Where man had dominion…
(Genesis 1:27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
(Genesis 1:28)  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

There was a season when the children of Abraham were in bondage which lasted for 400 years before their freedom…

There was a season when it did not rain on the earth…

There was a season for the flood…

There were seasons of famine…

There were seasons of war and seasons of peace…

There was a season for the old dispensation and a season for the new one…

When God gets ready to do something…He reveals it to his people in advance…
(Amos 3:7)  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

For example when he was going to use Joseph to deliver his people, he gave dreams 20 years before the fact…

When Paul needed deliverance from the blindness…God spoke to him, sending him to a certain man (Ananias) in a certain place (Strait St.)…Revealed by God in advance…
(Acts 9:11)  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Now God is speaking to his prophets again…
It is Breakthrough time…Breakthrough Season…

(2 Chronicles 20:20b)   Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

The breakthrough has begun…We are in the last days….God is pouring out His Spirit…
(Joel 2:28)  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
(Acts 2:17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(Acts 2:18)  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

(Proverbs 1:23)  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Maybe we're not in the very last day…But the last days…Definitely…
(Mark 13:7)  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

God is busy redeeming his servants…
(Psalms 34:22)  The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

He will never leave his servants or forsake them…
(Hebrews 13:5)  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In this season, God is doing a new thing…  He paid the price for our salvation…And for renewing our dominion…He is giving us a new anointing…
(Luke 4:18)  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

In the Old Testament, there was a season called Jubilee season. At the sixth year, each time, "mysteriously" there would be a double harvest come in…Then the seventh year was a year of rest…After there had been seven of those seasons, the whole year would be called a Jubilee.  It was a year of rest.  It was a year when all debts were forgiven.  Slaves were set free.  All kinds of things happened…
It is a type a shadow of what God is doing with us today since Jesus redeemed us with his blood shed on Calvary…Now we are freed from slavery or bondages.  Our debts are forgiven… there were many glorious blessings during that season…  God uses this to help us understand just what he has done for us...And what our rights are now…

The year of jubilee was a Jewish festival…
Our time of dominion bought back by Jesus on Calvary is also called Jubilee or the acceptable year of the Lord…
 (Luke 4:19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Acceptable year means—a set season; a fixed time for festival...

- - - - -

If you want to see the rest of this, go to


--

Monday, June 13, 2011

Biblical Foundations of Freedom

David Worley sent me this book today

Biblical Foundations of Freedom Destroying Satan's Lies With God's Truth

Oh! I'm happy!

Listen to this-

"...This book is about anger, hatred, jealousy, fear, pride, bitterness and other sins, and how they separate believers from God, creating "disease" in our souls and physical bodies...
"...I was prayed for and had hands laid on me by two different pastors and their elders in an effort to receive healing, but I was not healed...
"...I firmly believed that God could heal me, but He didn't....
"...Why should God choose to bless us if we choose to disobey Him?"

Yep, this is going to be a good book!

Thank you again David!

--

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Operation Worship, Sign A Bible

Lion Alert???

From yesterday-


Then, today-

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:8-10

Hmm...

That's making sense. No, that makes perfect sense.

Praise the Lord!

--

About Last Night...

Last night in church...

I am NOT forsaken

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

... none of us... as we ought

"If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;" 1 Corinthians 8:2

--

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Still In Shock, Still...

I need to get this behind me and move on.

It is real easy to type it, but doing it is something else.


I started typing this message yesterday, and walked away from the computer.

God showed me something.
He is always with me, He knows my heart, and He knows what I type.

I was looking for answers, but when God tells you something, you should ask God what He means, not man.
I had confided in a new friend, but I got a bad piece of advice. That piece of advice sent me down the road to some more bad advice and heartache.

God said what He said. 
He had already told me that He was either telling me this stuff, or I was crazy.
God had a lot to say Sunday. One of the things He said was "believe Me".

But there was that question, that question that faced me everywhere I went.
What was the answer?
Everybody has their answer, but I didn't have mine until I could explain it with the scriptures.
Anybody can have an opinion, and I do too, but I wanted God's answer in His Word.

God in His never ending mercy told me to ask a certain man about that question. He is revered by all those in this circumstance. Certainly his answer would prove interesting. I sent him an email and asked what his scriptural answer was to the question that bugged me.

Next, I got to watch a movie of a dearly departed brother in the Lord. It was a beautiful testimony of how his ministry started with all the seemingly chaotic circumstances. I could really relate to him in these. As I watched, I could imagine how desperate he felt; I feel that way. I could see how the rejection tripped him up, but it caused him to find favor with the very people he was to minister to; REALLY?! - note to self. And the story went on, then he prayed for a miracle, God gave him the miracle, and people not only got saved, but got involved in the same ministry.

Hmm, I needed that. Thank you, Lord.

Basking in the afterglow of God's power in that testimony, the email came in with the answer.
This was not an opinion, it was God's Word.


2 Timothy 2:20"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  
21Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."

The last 2 verses but in the ESV

2 Timothy 2:25-26 ESV  "correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,  (26)  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

They are my "opponents"?
Those that "oppose" me in this matter need to repent?
They have been captured by the devil, and they are forced to do the devil's will?

Okay. So that's it.

The demonic presence was very strong in that place.
What God said would happen, happened.
God said I was done, and I'm done.
This is not God correcting His children, and it's too late to put a "watchman on the wall".
The trumpet already sounded, but nobody harkened to it.
The Sword of the Lord is ALREADY in the camp.
This is judgement.

They would rather believe there are no demons there,
but we all saw it with our own eyes.
Nobody said "PRAISE GOD".
It was treated as a problem and it was swept under the rug.

I saw a miracle that night. I won't forget it.
As I stand alone in that, it puts me in mind of this verse-

  "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." 2 Timothy 4:16

The next verses are a revelation-

"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:17-18

I was pulled out of the mouth of a lion.

I'm not in shock anymore...

I am VERY thankful!

Thank you Lord for delivering me.

Thank you Lord for delivering me from the lion's mouth and every evil work there!

Thank you, Lord.

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Friday, June 3, 2011

The Word "All"

A nice devotion that came in from Restoration Ministry.

Enjoy!

Duane

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Daily Golden Footprints
Evangelist Grady & Prophetess Frances Lloyd
The Word, All
June 1, 2011
 
Daily Golden Footprints Family,
Let me first give these scriptures found first in (Act 10:38)  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  He has promised to heal all that are oppressed of the devil.  If you have any sickness, you have his promise to heal ALL.

With God ALL things are possible.  No matter what you need, God can and will do it for you.  (Mat 19:26)  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

When you pray, ALL things you receive. (Mat 21:22)  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

When He poured out His Holy Spirit in the last days, He poured it upon all flesh.  It was not just the privileged few or the man and not the woman.  He poured out His spirit on ALL(Act 2:17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Next time you think about God, think about the fact that He is a God concerned with ALL not just one.

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The Fellowship of God's House

Another great devotion from Restoration Ministry

Enjoy!

Duane

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The Fellowship of God's House

"And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."  (EPHESIANS 2:22)
Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2:11-22

Almost everyone has known loneliness - people separated from people. But loneliness is not necessarily the absence of other people alone. Sometimes it can happen in a crowd. The lack of meaningful relationships with others brings on a loneliness all its own.

In Christ we are being built together as a dwelling place for God. John speaks of fellowship as being "fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). Notice, John refers to fellowship as being with us, the Father and His Son. That important intertwining of lives is more than human; it also is spiritual.

God is building all of us who are in Christ into a glorious dwelling place that is characterized by fellowship with the Father and the Son as well as us. Being in Christ and participating with His church is a sure cure for loneliness. Find ways to connect with other believers at your church. This will be the richest form of fellowship possible, for it includes the Creator of the universe!

Insight: As You Take Opportunities To Enjoy The Company And Fellowship Of Others, Remember That Because You're In Christ, He Is There, Too!
 
Michael D. Inman
 
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