Our Daily Bread

My Dad at this time of starting this was 80 years old. His 80th birthday was on the 19th March 2017 and we threw him a party and it was the first party I have known of him to have.  My Dad does't like to be the center of attention.

Just today (early 2017) I came to realise and see, that God is answering and unfolding my prayer for him.

My prayer for my Dad has been, Lord, please do not take him until he has come to Salvation in Jesus. Please show him your love in Jesus, speak to him, reveal Jesus to him.

My Dad grew up in Finland until he was about 14 years, and part of his upbringing was going to a Lutheran Church. From the age of 14, for a few years, he was living with his half sister, who was a minister, with her husband, in the Salvation Army, in country Perth.

My Dad has definitely had some strong Christian influences.  At my Dad's one day, we were looking at photos of Helsinki and we noticed a church. My Dad said he remembered that church clearly as that was where he had his confirmation. I had not thought of my Dad doing anything like that so I was surprised. I didn't talk too much about it as I know I need to move gently with my Dad. He will not be pushed into something that he doesn't want to do or talk about.  I only suggest things, which I think is not a bad way to be anyhow, and I have learn't this with my Dad.

Praying

Following on from my prayer that I have with the Lord regarding my Dad, I have explained in another post, the day that I felt something when I hugged him goodbye, a prompting in my spirit that something was wrong.  After I left, I sat in my car around the corner from his house praying for him and his protection, for the Lord not to take him until he has said YES to him.  A few weeks later I get a message that my Dad has had a heart attack. I had warned my sister that something was wrong and therefor she was keeping an extra eye on him. He ended up in hospital, having an operation as he had a blockage in an artery and had 3 stents put in.

That was a few years ago.

This year (2017) when I went to Perth, the day before I was leaving to come home to the Gold Coast, around the 6th April, I felt to give my Dad a little 'My Daily Bread' devotional.  I had been reading it myself and found this one, although old, very encouraging.  My Dad was coming to have lunch on the Tuesday and I was flying out on the Wednesday. On Monday night I had this quick thought come to my heart, 'give my Dad the devotional'. I was so excited to do that, and that was unusual as my Dad is usually so resistant to anything like that. But I felt it was a leading from the Lord, that there was grace on it.  My Dad had been recently reading 'Antiquties of the Jews' by Josephus, which I had also recently given him.

On the Tuesday, my Dad came for lunch and as he was leaving I walked him to the car and I showed him the book. I said "Dad, I know how you like reading so I am going to give you a 30 day challenge".  He laughed and said 'what is it'. I asked him to read this devotional for 30 days, just a little page each day, and after 30 days he can do what he feels to do with the book, keep reading or give it back to my Mum. So my Dad was happy to do that. I felt very happy and excited that he took it and very brave. My Dad is not scary at all but I love him so much, that I would not like there to be any confrontation with him.

Returning to QLD I rang him and he said he was reading a few books and he named the little devotional I gave him as one.  I was so happy, and have been praying for the Lord to speak to him and open his eyes and reveal Jesus and how much he loves him.

I had been reading a book about destiny and I was encouraged to write down some things I had received from God for my family.

So, with my Dad I wrote down a recent dream which I had of him before I found out he was reading the devotional.

Dream

I was sitting across from my Dad at a table. I was watching my Dad and then he started singing, breaking out into a song of worship to God. I was watching and listening and I was stunned and said, Dad, that is so beautiful. His voice sounded amazing. His voice sounded amazing as he was singing praises to Jesus and I was saying, Dad, that sounds so beautiful, that sounds so beautiful.

Dream ended.

The background to this and what is amazing is I have never heard my Dad sing. He was told as a young boy that he couldn't sing and the teacher would tell the class to get ready to sing 'except you Paul'. I never forgot him telling me that. So seeing my Dad sing in this dream and that it sounded amazing was so encouraging to me. Firstly, he was worshipping, and secondly, when we sing to Jesus, no matter what level of competency we have in singing, to God it sounds simply amazing, and spiritually, it sounds amazing. Also my Dad described himself as agnostic. So for my Dad to be singing in a dream praises to God I knew God was showing me something. I knew that it was a God dream.

So I started to write this with the intention that I am going to pray and remind myself of these things which the Lord has shown me.  I then went to ask the Lord about another member of my family. As I did I turned to another book I have that I write in. As I turned to it I was stunned at the last thing I had written in it, which I had completely forgotten about (but God hadn't).

7th February 2017.

Dream:

I was with my Dad and others. We were standing around a table and there were some devotionals on them - old Christian such as Spurgon and others.  My Dad took one, I took another and so did the others with me.  We all then went back to our homes with our books.  There were 2 ways to go back. Myself and the other two people went via a park or garden. We walked along the path to where we were going.

My Dad took a different way.  There was a big pond or lake - it went from where the table was on one side to my Dad's house at the other side. I watched as my Dad walked across the water on a board going toward home. I saw him walking carefully along the boards and I saw his thick ankles, thick because of the arthritis. He finally made it to the other side and I watched as he was opening the from door to his house. He still had the book in his had and as he turned waved at me with the hand holding the book, he gave me a big smile and he closed the door.  Dream ended.

In my diary I wrote:

As I am writing, just now I was reminded of Peter who went out of the water to Jesus. My Dad was walking on water but with the use of a board which I am sensing is trust. He doesn't trust the way of going to Christ, the faith that says, Lord, I'm walking on water to You and if I keep my eyes on You I can do anything. I can do it and come to You. He was interested though, and he definitely was stepping out there.

Father, I pray that as You know my Dad, you know how to spark his interest and his heart toward You.  Father, to trust you. Jesus, in Your name I declare Your praise and give thanks for my Dad and His salvation, You know Him. Father, help my Dad be like Peter, to walk on water to come to You, Jesus. My Dad, My Dad.  Lord, In Jesus name, in authority in the Lord I command every devil and blinding spirit to take their hands off my Dad.

Eyes be opened

Eyes be opened

Jesus, I pray and ask for that new heart for my Dad. That which is salvation, so that he has relationship with You God.

Father, that thing that my Dad has to read to help him please get it into his hands.

Thank you Jesus, Thank You.  Hope Hope Hope  (Biblical Hope)

When I saw all of this today, I was brought to tears. That last day in Perth saying goodbye to my Dad, I gave him the books that God intended to get into his hands.  God used me to give it to him. That my prayer unfolded before my eyes.  That my Dad is going to say, like Peter, when Jesus asks him 'who do you say that I AM', that my Dad is going to respond, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God".

I am still keeping this all in prayer, but I am so encouraged, as I today, even though I had completely forgotten this dream and prayer I wrote in February, in March I gave him the book that he needs.

Lord, come have Your way in my Dad.

So, if you are praying for loved ones, don't give up. Continue to do so. Don't give up.

The above is the outworking on my prayers and promptings from the Lord.

I am sure there will be your testimonies to give the Lord glory.

He hears your prayers. He loves your family. He answers.

God bless you.

** Update, my Dad became sick shortly after receiving the devotional and me starting to write this. I will update he story soon.  All I know is that my Dad went home to the Lord and Jesus saved him.

God Speak's today - Marriage

God speaks! Words and Dreams.

Recently I have been encouraged as I have seen something manifest before my eyes, something the Lord showed me.

Sometime in the first quarter of 2016 God showed me the following:

I was in church and helping with the lyrics. The musicians were in practice preparing for the service and I was standing up looking outward.  I could see this new guy sitting in the end chair, he was a part of the program run by the church to help with drug rehabilitation, and he was drawing in a book. On the stage were the musicians.

At this particular point as I was looking out, someone spoke something from the stage which happend to catch the attention of the Adam, and myself.  In my peripheral vision, as he looked up toward the stage, God highlighted Adam, to me, and one of the girls on stage, Rebecca. It was a very quick vision, and as they were highlighted to me I felt the word 'marriage'.

Marriage, God, are you saying these two will be married? I pondered on that for a while. I pondered on the situation.  Adam had only been here for a couple of weeks. When he looked to the stage, he wasn't looking any where in particular. The attention was not at all on Rebecca.  It was just something that God highlighted to me, it was a spiritual vision.

So, Adam and Rebecca will be married. I was pondering on that over and over, Adam and Rebecca, Adam and Rebecca. I was not 100% certain I had seen correctly but I stored it in my heart.  I thought, if the Lord wants to do that, He can.  I also reflected on another time, some years ago, where the Lord highlighted two people to me as they were walking in a line, and they ended up getting married. Therefore, what God had just highlighted to me, I didn't think was out of the question.

So I decided that I would watch them for a while.  To see if this relationship would start to develop. I was not sure what to say, if anything, to anyone, so I prayed, Lord, Your will be done in their lives.

Over the weeks, I could see them have small conversations together. They were only small and it came about because they were needing to liaise with each other as they both served at church. During some of these times, although the conversation was to do with their areas of serving, I could see at times just a glimmer on his face, something like he liked her, as he spoke to Rebecca. I thought, that is interesting! Although it was minimal and I am not sure if anyone would pick it up, I saw it.

One day Adam came to one of my classes. His demeanor had changed - it was very positive, one that seemed to breath vision and hope in his life. I felt that something had happened between him and Rebecca. This hasn't been confirmed, but I sense it to be so.

First dream:

I had a dream that we were all in church. Rebecca and Adam were both serving, and others two, but Rebecca was in a night dress. It was very innocent, nothing untoward, but I felt that it was too intimate for the occasion.  

At this stage, I still was not sure of their relationship, because nothing was being shown or talked about. So when I woke, I felt that it wasn't the right time for them as yet, especially as Adam had not yet finished the program. By the stage he had recently gone into Stage 3.  My reaction was to pray for the Lord to help them and if anything was happening that was causing intimacy too early, that the Lord would move on their behalf.

Life went on and I could see them talking together more and just hanging around in a general area together.  Then all of a sudden things changed. I could see Rebecca was burdened. I was not sure what was going on.

The Lord had given me a couple of words for Rebecca and as I shared them to her, in my heart I knew that this also involved Adam, although I did not feel I could mention that to her.  One day Adam's dad ministered at my church and he called Rebecca out and he put her head on his shoulder as he prayed for her. He was encouraging her that the Lord was doing things on her behalf and not to be in a hurry, and as he was praying this I was thinking 'he is praying for his daughter in law, that is his daughter in law'.  

Again, I kept all these things in my heart.

Second dream:

I saw Rebecca in a dream and she seemed to be working, and she was talking to a male. Adam came up close behind her and stood along side her. He was staying very close to Rebecca. As Rebecca moved, Adam moved too, so as to remain close to her - like, I am here!  Next they were by a car, Adam was sitting in the passenger seat. The passenger door was open, and Rebecca was on the other side of the door; she had a cloth in her hand. As they were talking, Adam seated, and Rebecca leaning through the open window of the open door, they were laughing and talking and I thought, they get along so well. I was enjoying watching them talk and laugh together and just thinking, they get on so well.  As they were talking Rebecca was using the cloth to dust off around the trim of the car, just sorting the final touches.

When I woke, I thought, this is about their life, and that where they are now, it is close for them to get together.  That Adam was in the final parts of the program and Rebecca was helping with the final dusting off of things, possibly in prayer?  I also said to myself "this is close"! The reveling of it all is close!

Again, I prayed and thanked the Lord for His will to be done. I was surprised that I was seeing all of this and still, was I to do something more with it, along side prayer?

One day, I went to the Rehab to do my weekly teaching and I sat down with the director. I felt to tell her as both Adam and Rebecca were a part of the program in some form.  As I started, I said that I felt God has shown me that two people will marry.  She said is it 'Adam and Rebecca' and I said yes. The Director asked me to go on with what God had shown.

I explained the vision when I first was shown, then dream 1 and dream 2.

The Director then went on to explain the situation that had to do with the fist two stages of what God had shown me.  Initially the Lord had shown Rebecca quite early that she would marry Adam, and the vision was confirmation. With my first dream she said that they had to encourage them to cool their relationship as they wanted Adam to finish the program.  (Hence, why Rebecca was downcast for a while). The 2nd dream, in the car wasn't explained then as I understand now, we hadn't got to it.

So I can see that the Lord was showing me, like a movie, the steps along the way.  That is also what the Director felt.

With the final dream, they were in the car, the finishing touches were being made, and they were really connected.

So, 

In March this year I went to Perth and just after I left I receive a message from Rebecca wishing me well and saying goodbye, she is moving to Sydney. I had recently seen Adam in Sydney helping his Dad and I still was not sure what was happening. When I got back I understood.

Adam had left the program for Sydney and to be in ministry with his Dad, and Rebecca had left for Sydney as she felt the call to go there as well and be with Adam.  They went there separately, but some short time later I see a video with them both together, family around, and Adam gets on his knee and asks Rebecca to marry him. I was so happy for them both.

The Lord has done great things, again, always, forever!

As I thought on this all, the outworking of this was such a blessing to watch, and to see what the Lord will do, and I was encouraged that I was led to pray for His plan into this situation that I felt the Lord showing me, although I didn't see anything taking place in the natural.

It has also encouraged me with the prophetic and to understand how God speaks, and how he speaks to me. It has taken me a while to understand this, but this particular event has encouraged me so much.  It is about trusting that God speaks to me and that I hear Him, that I see Him, that I feel Him. 

I am hoping that it also encourages someone else. That God fulfills His plans. That He has plans for people's lives and He will orchestrate things to come to pass. I since told Rebecca that the Lord showed me they would be married and the dream I had regarding the car and the dusting.  Rebecca was encouraged and said that it was totally like that.

I asked her about the progress of their relationship, how dd it progress, and one key was that her heart was open and she and Adam had times where they spoke to each other about the plans that they felt God had for them.  As they spoke to each other they could see that they seemed to be on the same page.  Adam would leave little notes of encouragement for Rebecca and Rebecca would pray for Adam and his walk in the program.

God is good. We can not put Him in a box.  He definitely has plans for people. He definitely identifies people to come together for marriage, He prepares people's hearts.  It had been a desire for Rebecca to be married and God is a God who fulfills the desires of the heart. So do not be afraid to have Godly dreams and desires because He hears them, He sees them, He knows them.

Be blessed.

Words of Knowledge

I was reflecting on some of my first few words of knowledge and the stories behind them.

My first word of knowledge:    SORE BACK

We were in church and we were asked to look around the room and see if the Lord impresses on us anything for someone in the congregation. I looked around and over the other side of the room I saw an older gentleman (55yrs approx.) who I hadn’t seen before sitting next to a couple who went to the church.  I felt that he had something wrong with his back.  We were encouraged to get up and call out what we were getting but I was fearful. At the end of the service I was talking to the girl of the couple and she said that the older gentleman was her dad, visiting for the first time.  I asked Angelina that when I looked around the room my sights stopped at her dad and I felt that he had a bad back.  She said to me that he has a very bad back and she was excited because the Lord had picked him out.  She ended up telling him what I saw and he was encouraged that this took place.  It was his first time in church and hence he was also very wary about the things of God.

My second word of knowledge:   YOU ARE PREGNANT

It was again a church setting and this couple was in my home group. They were having trouble conceiving and it was causing some heartache.  They already had one child but dearly wanted another. In the meantime I had bought a book from Koorong called ‘Healing the Sick’ by TL Osborn and it really impacted me. One day I felt to lend this book to the lady to read.  So I left it with her.  A few months later I was sitting in church, Marissa had finished reading the book at this stage, and we were on other sides of the room.  I had such a great urge to stand up in the middle of the service and the congregation and yell out to her ‘you are pregnant, you are pregnant’ but I didn’t.  A few weeks later they told everyone that she was pregnant and she ended up having a girl.

Another word of knowledge:    YOUR CALLING - TEACHER

It was at a time where I was on a trip to Adelaide for a church conference. I had met one of the girls new to the church, who I didn’t know really well, and it so happened that she ended up being my flat mate for a couple of years following on from this.  During the ride home from Adelaide to Sydney, going through the inland road home, I asked the Lord, ‘what do you see for Imelda’. And I instantly got a picture of her sitting on a chair with children around her and some of them with their arms raised like they were in school.  I thought, wow, she is a teacher.

So during and from this time she was not sure what she wanted to do in life. She worked, and years on, once we stopped sharing, she started studying. First she went to bible college and then she did a counselling type course, but now, just now, 16 years after that picture, she is heading toward her final year of study for a teaching degree for primary school children.  I emailed her last year, I felt to encourage her to keep going with what she was doing and told her the picture I had all those years ago.  She was very encouraged.

There is more, but that is all I can think about right now.

With the first word of knowledge, it would have been best for me to pray for him.  But, still, in him knowing, he was blessed that it was revealed, as he was seeing that it was God that did the revealing.

In the 2^nd word of knowledge, because I had such an excitement and urge bursting in me, I don’t know if it would have been right for me to get up in the middle of church, but again I think I spoke to them after.  But it truly was a God miracle.

With the 3^rd word of knowledge, I think it again is an encouragement, both to me and to my friend, especially at the place she was at when I revealed that vision to her. But also I can see that the Lord will give me other prophetic utterances for people.

The key in this one was to remember to ask!

Dream: Work together

A few nights ago I had a dream where two men were working on the same item.  They were kneeling on the floor and seemed to be dismantling or working at the metal feet of a table or some sort of structure that is able to carry something.  I was watching this unfold.

They both had the same equipment to use whilst they were working on this item but one person was struggling and the other was going quite well.

As I was watching on I saw that one of the ladies from church was there, kind of like the person who yell's out in a rowing team.  She was calling out "you need to work together, you need to work together".  Then she said something about being in either of two places and I can only remember the name of the second place which was 'Bedrock'.

The dream ended.

I initially thought of the Flintstones when I saw Bedrock and thought, what is this about?  :)

Firstly to establish that Rock is the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and we are to stand upon that foundation alone.

But as I thought of the word as 'Bed Rock' and working together.  Friendship and love in the body of Christ working together.  To remember that we are to run our own race keeping our eye's on the prize, but we are a part of a body, and as The New Living translation explains Eph 4:16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV    For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

I could also see two other meanings of the word Bed Rock.

 

I have established what Rock means, but bed speaks of rest and or intimacy.  To be in that place or rest and intimacy with the Lord, find out His heartbeat, and work with each other fulfilling the plans he lays out.  Last night I was speaking with my Connect leader who has spoken that we will be working through our prayer life and establishing it for a closer walk with Jesus.  This Connect leader is the one in the dream who was yelling out 'work together, work together'.  I see it for individual's with the Lord, I can see if for the church as the body working together, but it can speak also of marriage, for those who are  married to work together, encourage each other. Be kind to each other. Pray with each other.

The other meaning of Bedrock is what my friend described as when they are building a tall building, or any sort of building, they ensure that they dig down to the bedrock so that what is being built will be stabilized against anything that may come against it.  That seemed to also fit in to what was being done in the dream, as they seemed to be working on the feet, the part that stabilised.

So in the dream I saw the encouragement for the church to work together, in doing so one can help the other.  That as we support each other, as we walk together in Christ, as we dig down into the bedrock of what our Christianity is all about, who it is about, and what the Lord want's to do - even in the particular part of the body where He calls us, then we will grow together as Eph 4:16 puts it He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

 

I had been holding onto a picture that I saw the other day and it really touched me and I had been wondering how to share it, but I felt that I could use it here.  It is from a Facebook photography page that I subscribe to and I felt that as the body work's together then we will fly together.  I have also added a picture of two Eagles as I felt this was a powerful picture as well.

 

The words that came to me: 

 

Work together, Fly together.

Dig Deep.

Find Rest and Intimacy.

 

Things I've Known

It is quite interesting as I reflect back over my life and the years before Salvation and after, the things that I have known  ....

1. Children

Somewhere between 9 and 11 years old I knew that I probably wouldn't have children.  Initially the reasons from my understanding were due to the pain, putting on weight and ultimately I thought, how can I love something that comes from my own body.  This was only because I felt so unloved myself and of so little value, so my weight was a focus and  coming from such poorness in love, how was I to love something that came from me?  I did sometimes say to myself that I will be the 'best Aunty' or maybe foster or adopt, but it depended on who I would marry.  I would also say that I would love others so that they never feel unloved the way that I did. At one point I asked the Lord to do whatever He wanted with me, including children. When saved I would say it is now up to my husband and I when we get married to decide if children were coming. That it wasn't just my decision. I wonder though now, that maybe it was the Lord's plan for me to not have my own children. I believe I have been healed from a lot. So at this time I can see in my life, through Christ, I will have children. Spiritual children.

2.  Citizenship of the Year Award

In Year 7 the above award is given to 2 students, a male and female.  The two Year 7's chosen for this award are chosen by fellow Year 7 student's and teachers of the school.  1980 was the year I was graduating primary school and the girl's name was being called first.  I was so honored and surprised it was me. I went up to get my award and I sat down.  One of the teacher's who had organised the event asked me a question as to whether I wanted to do something first or wait until the male was awarded their prize.  I remember saying the teacher, 'it's OK, I will wait until Mark get's it'.  It just flew out of my mouth.  The teacher was so surprised and said 'how did you know it was Mark?' and I said I don't know. Then the next person they called out was Mark Smith the male winner of the Citizenship of the Year award.

2.  Separation

I was now 13.  One day I remember seeing my Dad smoking and he was shaking. He had just picked me up from netball and I said Dad, are you OK. And he said yes, it is OK.  So one day mum and dad told us kid's to go into the bedroom and they will call us shortly.  In the bedroom I was saying to my brother and sister, Mum and Dad are going to tell us they are splitting today.  My siblings said 'they are not' and things of the sort.  I said 'yes they are, I bet you'.  They called us out eventually and there they told us they were separating.  I was sitting on the chair swinging my legs, listening, in a way that was saying, 'see - I told you' but I was hurting inside.  Us kid's were given the choice of who we wanted to go with but Dad said to my sister and I that because of our age we should go with mum.  My brother felt bad as he didn't want my Dad on his own, so he decided to stay with Dad.  The  day we were leaving my Dad hugged me.  My Mum was going to live with someone else.  A family friend we had known for a long time.  They had been seeing each other.  Dad hugged me and said 'watch, it won't work out'. I never told Mum what Dad said.  I kept it to myself....  One day I told my sister that I didn't cry when my parents told us they were splitting and my sister said, yes you did, you cried the most out of us all.  I was so sad about it I had blocked it out and couldn't remember.  When I was 40 years I had to go to a course on relationships as the Christian lady I knew encouraged me to go.  This was when my heart was healed from the broken relationship of my Mum and Dad.  It was acknowledged by someone that my 13 year old heart had been broken into a thousand tiny pieces and when this was said I bent over on my chair, face to the ground and I cried uncontrollably for 20 minutes. All other groups had left and my group was waiting for me to stop crying and I had people around me praying.  Since then, I have been OK. And yes, I also hate yelling and fighting!

3.  Who will Brendan Marry?

I was at the Vision Valley 3 day camp the church held each year.  I  was on the balcony and there was a bunch of us watching Brendan, as he had or was being groomed towards being the next Youth Leader.  He was walking on the grass and behind him indian file, were walking 4 or 5 girls.  They were all pretty new to the church and youth and we were seeing them altogether for the first time.  Everyone was saying that this one particular blonde girl would be for Brendan to marry and I said 'No, it's Christina'.  No one said anything really and I was surprised that I said that so convincingly.  Well, 6 or 7 years later Brendan and Christine were engaged and preparing to be married.  They have 3 beautiful children now.

There are more, but that is all I can think of right now.

I think of these times, I wonder if there was a prophetic gift working in me or something of the like.  When I was about 8 or 9 I said that God lives in my heart so I do not doubt that God had awaked me by His Spirit at this young age, but I didn't walk in the fullness of it until I was 29.  Anyway, just thought's....

Little Leadings

A friend posted something the other day. It was how the Lord led him and it reminded me of something that the Lord led me with the other week.

On Thursdays I get to hang out with some very inspiring people and I am honored to be able to take them through a couple of modules for a program they are in.

I had been wanting some one on one time. That morning I felt promoted by the Lord to take all my notes for the 12 sessions for the courses. I usually only take what I need.

I left the folder in the car and when I was about to start the second course one of the administrators asked if I had time to do a one on one with one of the guys so he could finish that part of the course. Therefore, it so happened that I brought my notes and was able to go to the particular lesson with preparation because the Lord had prompted me that morning.

So I did 3 courses that day which included a one on one, my prayer answered and I was prepared.

God is good.   Listen for His voice and those inner promptings.

He often prepare us before hand!

Encouragement - I am unlocking you!

Word of encouragement from Leon Bites.   06/2016

I heard the Spirit of the Lord say,

 

‘There is unlocked potential in you and promises spoken over you that have been unfulfilled. But see now ...that I am taking the keys and unlocking the dusty chest to release these things. You are going to form new skills and abilities that you never knew you had, even in areas that you struggle in, and promises once spoken over you are going to come to pass.’

 

This is a journey that He wants to take with you.

 

That you would sit with him when He opens the chest, to find the hidden potential together. And that you would co-work with God, to move and grow in these previously unknown abilities and know the promises that are going to be fulfilled.

 

For, just like a parent, God enjoys and loves seeing you thrive and do well with what you have. He wants to share in the joy with you as you rediscover yourself, and see blessings come into your life......Lion Bites

 

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This was an encouragement that I saw on my FB page and it spoke to me.  I can see the Lord doing things in my life now, and thankfully I am responding like I have not done in the past.  I am responding with FAITH, and with obedience more than fear.

 

I have been asked to facilitate and share with new Christians and people who have gone through tremendous tough times the foundational studies in God.  This is all wonderful but I have always felt like...

 

Moses:        'Lord, I can't speak'.

 

Jeramiah:    'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth'

 

even though Jeremiah used the reason for I am a youth I have only just now seen that reason.  All I could see were my reasons... reason's why I can't speak.  Why I am not qualified.

 

But God said to  Jeremiah:

 

"Do not say, 'I am a youth' (or I am this or that), For you shall go to all to whom I send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord

 

But God said to  Joshua:

 

"Be strong and of good courage, Only be strong and of good courage, and finally...

Have I not commanded you, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go".

 

 

It must be the Lord as I am walking through the fear and stepping out in FAITH.  I prepare the lesson and each time I drive to the ministry centre I am praying, Lord, today, give me the anointing to teach, to speak, to comprehend and share what I know is in my heart and spirit.  Holy Spirit, speak through me the words that the class needs to hear and be encouraged with.

 

Last week, although I have notes as a guide it was important to asked myself, what do I know that is real to me on this topic, so that insight flows from my heart to the heart of those here.

 

So, at the end, as we were packing up I heard one of the guys say 'that was mad' but meaning GOOD.  And I thought, thank you God, thank you.  Thank you Holy Spirit.

 

I was reminded of a time (approx. yr 2002) when I was listening to a visiting speaker and in his sharing a scripture, I knew that God was speaking to me as I felt the fire of God from the top of my head to the tip of my toe and it sat on me for a short while.  I was emotionally moved and thought, God, what are you trying to tell me, and I believe that God was encouraging me way back then but it really has taken me all this time to really trust and put aside my own view of inadequacies.

 

1 Cor 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

I still am not sure what God is doing as I am not a natural teacher, but often God will use people where they are not necessarily 'natural' in, for His 'supernatural' purposes.  But, to be confident in who my God is and to know that I am a vessel.  To not be afraid of the faces, and to do my best, and if I fail... it is OK.  It is OK.  To trust God.  He is working.  He is doing something.  I know this is God leading me to this moment.  To let Go and Trust God.

 

Amen.