While in His Presence...

I have the privilege of facilitating meetings where the sole agenda is to quiet our minds and focus on listening with our soul and spirit to see what the Holy Spirit would have to say.

We've called them soaking meetings, a name that was dubbed from Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and Catch the Fire Ministries through John and Carol Arnott.

There are so many life transforming intimate encounters with the living God during these meetings that I've lost count. We always take time to talk about what we've experienced at the end of the meeting. Occasionally it's good to write about the stories people report.

Here a few from last week, at Zion Road Healing Rooms.

One dear lady was intending to only stay for a short time, burdened by her to-do list. I told her she would probably want to stay until the very end and she took my advice. She was glad she had done so. She had a wonderful vision of the Lord taking her into a beautiful field. In fact, several of us had similar visions.

Another young woman came for the first time. She was set free of rejection and reported later that the heavy weight presence of Holy Spirit loving her was with her all through the night and still there in the morning. She'd left her job with great sorrow and concern about her future when she came in. She left happy, encouraged, hopeful and feeling assured of God's love.

There were wonderful stories from each one.

The meetings are increasing in frequency and intensity. I'll try to figure out how to make a calendar soon.

Right now prophecies

We can look at the Old Testement prophets all day and try to interpret the current events through them but God has promised that He will do nothing in the Earth without first telling His prophets. So, with that in mind, I fished out Kim Clement, who I believe has a pretty clean hearing ear and prophetic voice.

This is what He had to say about the latest tornado outbreaks: "These are truly signs, but not of God's judgement or punishment or the coming end of the earth. They are signs of acceleration." He promised to elaborate on that and on God's heart concerning American on May 26, 2011 at 6 PST on KimClement.tv

As for me, I had a vision on May 19 (last week)
In the vision, I walked into a room where Jesus was alone.
He welcomed me and asked me if I'd like to see what He was working on.
I said "Yes" and leaned over with Him to look at the project He was hovering over.
It was America!
Then He sat up so I could see His eyes. They were filled with the shape of America, ablaze.
He said "I need the right prayers now." Though He was calm in His statement, I understood it as an urgent call.
"Not prayers for a governmental solution. Prayers for hearts of the people to turn fully to me."

It was as though America's heart is not on fire for Him, but is like smoldering coals. He is stirring up a wind over their hearts so they will become ablaze for Him. In order to complete this, He's asking for prayers that call for hearts to turn fully to Him.

The fewer words I write, the more likely you'll remember and simply respond.

There you have it.
It's time to pray for American hearts to turn FULLY to the Lord.
It's important.

To the suffering, the overwhelmed, discouraged ones of the Bride of Christ

I went to church Sunday morning with a lot on my mind.

Myself being unemployed for over a year, there is a constant battle against the discouragement of the new world order of applying for jobs on the internet which are sought by my competitors from anywhere in the world, wondering if this time I hit the right keywords in yet another customized resume and cover letter. It's a roller coaster ride. I just came out of another wave of mental torment.

I was thinking of so many like me, in similar troubles and more severe. Many who are being badgered by physical pain or family drama. Many are aware that God has promised much better for us yet there feels like a vortex from hell has swept them into a consuming ache in their personal life.

And too, there is an expanse of loss in Mississippi River regions where people know that all they own is about to be washed away, plus the dear ones throughout the south who are still reeling from the sudden killer wave of tornadoes. It seems likely there will be more catastrophes.

As I carried all these in my heart, I looked at the church – I never look at the church as any single place, but collectively, as the beloved bride of Jesus, as the ones on earth with the ability and responsibility to represent her espoused. He left us in charge when He ascended.

I remember my Mom saying to me recently these words. “I heard Jesus say to me 'My bride is sick.'”

So as I came into the meeting Sunday morning, while we worshiped, I also prayed for His darling sick bride. She's is suffering with so many of the issues of life and she has no strength. She is barely praying.

As I lay on the carpet, between the rows of seats, thankful that we have loud worship so I could only be heard by God, I cried out for His help.

After a bit, I began to see her, both collectively and individually . I felt His compassion and He gave me a message for you.

Are you ready?

Here it is:

The suffering you are going through is NOT ABOUT YOU. ( not that He doesn't care)

The attack IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

It's about your fruit. Satan intends to keep you from bearing fruit.

The thief has come to steal, kill and destroy your life because you have the ability to make a difference in the earth. He intends to keep you focused on what is happening to you so you will not impact the world by being My mouth, My hands.

I'm asking you to push past your own trouble and fight. YOU MUST FIGHT!

Make a decision, that whether your circumstance changes or not, you will pray for someone else and focus on something bigger than you. If you do this, you will invoke the Kingdom of Heaven where I want to reign.

It's not about you. It's about your fruit. FIGHT to pull your mind and heart off of yourself. If, in the middle of your own pain, you will pray and care for others, you will overcome. Others will be helped and the enemy's grip on you will slip away.

You CAN pry your focus off of what's happening to you no matter how extreme it seems because Holy Spirit is here to help you do it. The world needs you to represent Jesus now, in the middle of your own pain. My grace will meet you.

SILENCE

I just back from a walk. It's now fully spring in north Florida and at 7PM, still cool enough to wear a light sweater, though plenty of people were wearing shorts.

I no longer walk like I'm in a rush to get somewhere. I'm more interested in the conversation I'm having with God , although I did most of the talking this evening.

On my walk, I noticed how safe this neighborhood feels. A couple of my neighbors have their garage door and door into the house wide open. There was no concern about being harassed by any of the passers by. All of us out walking were clearly satisfied in our safety.

These mundane little things can go unnoticed, but I think it's good to treasure a safe place.

As I walked, I rambled to God about everything from the beauty of the sunset to the need for laborers in Japan, New Zealand and other places. I finally shut up. After all, it's not polite to yammer endlessly without allowing the other party to get a word in. My greatest desire you see, is to hear whatever He has to say. You too, right?

I can't say I heard any booming response. I just know He was there, kindly listening and when appropriate, dispatching angels to carry out my request.

As I was ending my walk, turning the corner a few houses from mine, all the birds in the neighborhood seemed to be singing. The wind was blowing enough for the trees to make their AAAAAAAAAAH sound. I thought about the meeting we had at Zion Road Healing Rooms a few months ago when we were overcome with a heavy, intense awareness that the invisible Holy One was with us - and we could not, would not move or make a sound for a very long time.
It was silent. The music had long stopped. In that silence He spoke with no words and our hearts melted in His mesmerizing love.

It's the 3rd week of the month again - the week when we have our meeting at Zion Road on Thursday night. I wonder, would He do that again? How I wish everyone could experience that. Our world is noisy. I yearn to hear that supernatural silence again.