KEEP PRAYING - 2010 ELECTIONS ARE NOT THE REAL SOLUTION

Journal date 10/13/2010
After reading the book of Daniel chapters 7 through ( out of character for me), I prayed for America, asking if God to tell me what the next 4 years will look like to us. I thought it best to be specific since we are short sighted and God has a track record of speaking very far in advance. He, in His gentle voice began and I wrote as much as I could, as follows:

It will be glorious to those who are looking to Me. But it will also be difficult for many who expect everything to return to how it was when they were comfortably luke-warm.

The land, the farmers, the growers of food will see sorrow and the overfed will learn to be thankful for their food.


My people will slowly become awake and search their hearts, finding THE ONE they'd believed on to the there for them on every level.

Families will be restored in newsworthy numbers as the learn for the first time how I planned for them to work together.

My house has not yet learned my priorities. They are still a childish selfish folk. When you hear preachers instructing them to love one another, listen carefully. These are speaking my heart.

I have indeed set apart this nation to be a supplier for the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus Christ but she is still struggling in her adolescence. I have not left her. My hand is still upon her.

Pray for my American Bride.
Pray for the very land.
Pray for her to turn her eyes from her purse and to seek my priorities.



Do not condemn her for she is MINE!

Do not be distracted by the agendas of the other nations and religions.
Do not entangle your hearts with surface level events.
Focus your prayers on the heart and soul of those in authority, not their deeds.

The next election will not solve the ills of government. Only my people, turning their hearts fully to me will do that.

Pray for my American Bride and look carefully as I turn her face to me. You will see my glory if you look for it and do not tend to surface events.

I'm after your heart America.

Healing the Land

Last night I dreamed that coffee prices doubled and food prices had suddenly jumped so high that you had to notice. The land was in trouble.

AMERICAN INDIAN TONGUES
Lately I've noticed that I sound like an American Indian when I'm praying in tongues. I began to connect the American Indian tongue as a cry for healing of this land.


HAVEN'T WE DONE ENOUGH REPENTING?
On many official prayer meetings like Nita Johnson's Gathering of the Eagles and the Call, time was given to repent for injustices done to the American Indians. Then an American Indian would express forgiveness and speak a blessing of the land healing.

I thought we'd done enough repenting. But in my spirit the words from
this Old Testament verse have been rolling around.

2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

There needs to be a great turn around, on a personal level - not the kind that comes through a "prophetic act" in a corporate gathering. The cry from God's heart is not to ones who don't know Him yet. This cry is to the ones who say they DO know Him.

God wants to heal this land.
The Indian tongues are calling for healing of the land. More than that, though, He is calling you, His darling, to truly return to Him with all your heart. We have become much like the Jews who Moses led to freedom from Egypt. They had become saturated with Egyptian culture. It took 40 years to clean "Egypt" out of them.

Anyway, I'm asking Holy Spirit to come with a pure conviction that will open our individual eyes. We will see where we need to turn back to Him.
With each one, it's a different matter.
Some of us have become too conditioned to rely on doctors rather than the Great Physician. If we find ourself without insurance we think our life is in danger.

Some have hardened hearts to the poor or to their own families.

Others are simply lukewarm, skeptical, unbelieving.

If you know me at all, you know I'm a 100% grace girl. I'm not into condemnation or performance based Christianity. His love and kindness is totally unconditional.

Yet there is a desire in His heart to move on our nation. He needs some more knees on the ground, not beating ourselves, but asking Him to pinpoint unbelief. lukewarmness or compromises. When He locates it, ask for grace to repent.

I'll keep praying along these lines. It seems that all the other matters will fall into place as we allow Holy Spirit to totally possess us.
You who are reading this are probably not the ones who need it, so please stand in the gap for others with me, OK?

HEY GOD – WHAT DO I DO NOW THAT I'M UNEMPLOYED?

For the past ten years, I worked as an insurance underwriter of the jewelry industry. It was a great job. I thanked God for it everyday. I knew though, that the day would come when my company would make a business decision to stop the jewelers program and most likely end my job. I saved a little more than normal towards that time.

When the day came, the announcement that I would be laid off with five others in my office, I wasn't shocked, disappointed or unprepared. I was certain the timing was orchestrated by God. There were too many things in proper place for other explanations.

I really needed some “down time” but I'm too young and not financially equipped enough to retire. I am very thankful that my husband has grace for the season.

I calculated how long my savings could last with the help of unemployment and thought surely I'd have a clear direction and open door when I was ready. I've done all that I can think of: posting resume's on the right websites, looked for jobs, pondered business start ups and so one.


GOD, PLEASE JUST GIVE ME THE ANSWER I WANT, HOW I WANT IT.
As the months have gone by, I have become more anxious. Most mornings, my first thoughts and prayers are “ God, please talk to me. Tell me what to do with myself. Please give me a
purpose and show me your plan..”

The other day I clutched my Bible in my hand and said “Please Father, tell me plainly, what do you want from me?” His answer was pretty clear. I heard these words in my heart, repeated over and over, with emphasis on a different word each time:
“ I want you to know that I love you and that I am going to take care of you.”

How do you take issue with God when He speaks to you clearly in response to your plea? Yet, I am squirming because I am really crying out for a concrete plan. I am crying out for something more like this: “ Get on the internet and go to this site: http://www.yourjob.com/ where I will highlight the job that I have opened for you.” Yeah. That's the kind of direction I'm talking about.

Now I know God's not playing head games with me. He loves me. And I DO really believe He's going to take care of me. . . . but Hey – are you telling my husband the same thing? ( He probably IS, if I'd just check with him.)

AND SPEAK MY LANGUAGE SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU
Today I opened my Bible and was looking at Jeremiah 33:3. “Call to Me and I'll show you great and might things that you don't know.”

So I called – loudly, thinking that maybe He wanted me to yell instead of whine and whisper and mutter like I've been doing. “Show me! Give me a clear plan. You know – like my brother, who's fingers are so connected to the piano that he has no doubt about his purpose or my pastor, who knows that he must be in ministry. Please give me such clarity, such fire.”

I didn't hear a word, have a vision - I just got a subtle nudge to write. I thought, maybe this will help someone else.

And I realized that I have a fire, a passion. It's not exactly income producing – but it's clear. It is to know God intimately and to compel others into their own deep personal love with Him.

Once I read a book title “ Do what you love and the money will follow”...Yeah. Sure.

Big fat lie: “GOD IS NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NO DIRECTION” -
Many who are His appear to be abandoned. I know of more Christians who've lost jobs this year than ever before.

Some are wondering
“What am I doing wrong?”
"What am I doing that has turned Him away? “
"Why is He silent? “
"He does not care about the things of this life.”
"He only cares about the lofty things that I can't connect to because I need
to have peace and a plan.“
"I am sinning somehow and don't know what I'm doing wrong, but it's keeping Him from helping me. ”

I saw these thoughts like a radio broadcast.
Then I pictured Jesus saying “ Satan comes to steal, to kill and to destroy but I have come that you would have life and life abundantly.” Don't agree with the accuser who lies and says God is not pleased, is not listening and will not act.

SIMPLE TRUTH

Is God your delight? If you say “yes”, then you can be sure that He will give you the desires of your heart. Contradictions are from the accuser. Cast those thoughts away from you like you would flick a bug off.

To myself I'm saying “Keep thanking Him. Keep walking closely with Him. Keep guard against the accuser who would call God a bad Father, poor provider, unmerciful, silent punisher. “

He loves me.
He's taking care of me.

HE loves me.
HE is taking care of me.

He LOVES me.
He is TAKING care of me.

Plans – He has them and will take me by the hand to step 1, step 2,.. I trust Him.

THIS IS THE BEST STORY I'VE EVER READ - IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

Reading the Bible like you've never read it before, in the company of Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself is like read a love letter with the one who wrote it sitting beside you to explain between the lines. He watches your face as you read His words and you stop to ask "Can you still do that?" Sure.


After Jesus rose from the dead, He didn't just leave it for everyone to figure out. He made sure that it was understood.

He appeared to a couple of His guys, hung around all day and talked with them. How they did not recognize Him is a mystery to me, but they didn't ...not until He broke bread. And then, POOF! He disappeared! He can do that!!! He can pop in and out between realms of the spirit and flesh because He took His earthly body with Him. Way cool!

Of course they were exploding with excitement and ran to tell the others. While they were talking, POOF! He appeared again. He had to calm them down because - well, they were freaking out with fear and panic. I guess so! But that did not scare Him away.

The story just oozes with His love.

He wanted to be sure "they knew that they knew " He had risen as well as WHY all this had happened. He encouraged them to touch His body so they were certain it wasn't a ghost. He asked for food and ate with them. I can just picture them handing him a plate of fish and honeycomb, with their mouths hanging open and hands trembling, unable to mentally process what they were experiencing.

He told them to tarry for the "Promise" until they were "endued with power from on high." They didn't know what He was talking about ---yet.

And then, they all walked with Him to where He was "carried up into Heaven."

I held the book to my heart and laughed and cried and laughed and cried.


Read it for yourself : Luke 24

Being American

Today there was an article in the paper about people who had just become American citizens. There were people from South Africa, Guatemala, Albania and so on. All of them had chosen to leave their native country and come to the USA. After living here for at least five years, learning the language, taking an American history test , filing a 10-page application and being interviewed, they were finally taking the oath. Everyone of them was very proud to finally say "I'm an American."

It made me think of what it means to be American. I was born here. Being an American, for me, was a very significant birthright that I would not trade it for anything.

Being American means I can openly express my religious and political beliefs without absolute certainty that they'll not get me thrown in jail. Actually that goes for anyone on our soil, American or not. So, no - that's not what it means.

Being American does mean I an vote anyway I please in elections though.

In many nations of the world, Americans are seen as the strong and wealthy ones who might help them out of poverty and oppression.
I'm fairly sure the world still connects Christianity with America, regardless of what they see on
TV or what they think of Christianity.

This is a nation that was chosen by those who floated across the ocean as a home where God would be worshipped freely, without interference ,restriction or dictates from the Government.
The laws of the land were written by Christians. I don't what the new versions of textbooks say - that the truth.

So anyway, back to my pondering of what it means to be an American....
Well, to me , it means responsibility.
Responsibility to first of all, protect our purpose for being a nation...One Nation, UNDER GOD.

As an American, I have to do my part to preserve the Christian heritage which is the core of why we are free and so hospitable that the nations want to come here.

As an American, I must pray for the government officials who have been entrusted with so much of our future.

As for me, I cannot separate being an American with being a Christian. There are many who are not Christians, but are Americans, but without Christians, this nation would simply never have become anything good that it is.
It was the compulsion to worship Christ Jesus that brought them here.

What about the Indians? No I didn't forget about them. Who knows what this land would have looked like if European Christians had never had landed. . . but it would not be the United States of America.

Being an American to me is a gift from God. I love what she stands for. I love being knowing that any government leader of whom I disapprove is subject to removal in a short few years of time. I don't have to wait for their death...unless of course they are a Supreme Court Judge.

I'm an American, a citizen of the nation known the world over for freedom.

WHAT DOES THE PRESENCE OF GOD LOOK LIKE? IT LOOKS LIKE ANNA BEING FREE.

A long time ago my brother brought this girl home to be his wife, Anna. They've now been divorced for almost 20 years but I still keep in touch off and on with Anna. After all, she is the mother of my #1 nephew.

I don't know where to begin with Anna, except maybe at the here and now.

At the moment, she is living in one of those transient extended stay hotels. She's been there for about 6 weeks in a situation that makes me think of the Good Samaritan story in the Bible. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:30-36&version=NLT

This Friday she gets to move into her own miracle apartment - a new complex, with awesome amenities that has adjusted rent to her income level!

She doesn't have anything much to start with, but things will come.

This latest situation all started around Thanksgiving. Through Facebook, I realized that her only local family had left town and it seemed Anna would be alone. I called her and was ready to abandon my own family to take her to dinner but a friend of hers had invited her to spend Thanksgiving, so she was good for the day.

Her living situation was a NIGHTMARE. With very little money, only social security disability, she'd taken a room for rent with people she thought she knew. They turned out to be crack users, would steal her med's and one night they had attached her locked door with a knife until the broke through. They went after her, but "something" kept them from following through.

The plumbing was broken. Their bathing involved bailing the tub, then boiling water.

Anna was born crippled and not expected to live. There have been complications with her health always. She's had a mild stroke, heart attacks, diagnosis of a brain tumor, some kind of lung disease, and more.

As I joined my family on Thanksgiving, my heart was apprehended by God's broken heart over Anna. She needed help. Big help.

...and she has been a high drama, high maintenance person who's not made wise choices for many years. The one's who perhaps should help her would not or could not. Reality was I had to do something. There was no one else.

I prayed for wisdom. You need lots of wisdom when facing an ocean of need. What do you tackle? What do you not?

I heard Father say "IF she is willing to leave the west side of town and cross the river to live, I'll take it as a sign that she believes I can help her. And I WILL help her." She wanted to stay on that side of town: her doctors were close, her car wouldn't make it across the bridges, it was cheaper to live - mostly it had become her prison and oddly, her comfort zone.

I offered to give her a break for a week and put her in an extended stay in Orange Park - she liked that. Then she's ask her doctors to expedite getting her into a nursing home.

I then told her what I'd heard as I prayed. I was surpised when she said "It's settled then. I'm following you." We got as much of her stuff as we could gather in our cars and crossed the river. She'd broke through her fear of driving her sad excuse of a car on the interstate that day.

Into the Value Place she went and over the past weeks, I have witnessed no less than Resurrection. She's transformed from a very difficult drama spaz , who talked non-stop on the verge of panic and wished for swift death into a joyful, hope filled, Bible confessing lover of His presence. She said the other day " I'm enjoying just being alive. "

In the Christmas Carol , Scrooge saying "Are there no workhouses,?" sounds like so many of us who have plenty. I looked into HUD vouchers, United Way assistance and every imaginable institution to seek resolve for Anna's living situation. I could not pay that hotel bill forever. Did you know that for any institutional help like she needed, there was a two year waiting period? Truth be told, I was hoping I could rid myself of this difficult chore by finding an institution I could pawn her off to.

Then I heard that Still Small Voice "Call apartments that begin with the word "Pine"". The next call I made was to Pine Meadows Apartments. After finding out their normal rent rates I said that's too high and quickly blabbed a short version of what had been going on. The gal said "It is a miracle that you called today! These apartments are never available! We have one on the first floor with rent proportionate to her income. Come tomorrow and we'll start the paperwork to get her in around the first of the year. "

I didn't really want to foot her hotel bill until then, but what alternative was there? None. By the way I didn't do all that myself. I had some help.

Anna is living evidence that God's Presence looks like multiple chances.
He is the Father who always looks for ways to get us back home.
She's been rescued before...from a guy who beat her to a pulp.
A very bad marriage to a "Christian" followed.
After that, alcoholism, accidents and major medical troubles.

But today - she's full of purpose and faith and joy. She believes again.

I've been a Christian for a long time. This was a rare time when I've co-labored WITH HIM. There has been so much grace, so much grace! It is undeniable that He is wild about Anna and my blessing her makes Him happy.

That friend that had her over for Thanksgiving has been overwhelmed with God's demonstration toward Anna. Her relationship with Jesus is growing as Anna ministers to her constantly.


This Friday Anna gets her apartment.
I am looking for help to do the things I was planning on doing:
-rent the Ryder truck,
-pick up donated furniture from the warehouse
-gather her other belongings from the old landlords ( with bodyguards and evangelists)
-buy a bed (if one isn't donated)

God is faithful.

About her car - Oh! Does she need a better one. She takes her friend who is poorer than she
to the doctor with a smashed up little thing that goes forward only up to 40 mph. . . but that's another day.