When I speak Your Name...

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

WOW! The name of JESUS... it actually means 'he saves', and we cannot be saved by anyone else. Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins."

[This (Acts 4:12) was one of the first verses that I memorized as a young Christian, and it has become one of my favourite Bible Verses. I have had a frame with the verse in it since I was a little girl. It is now down in my rec room with two others that Mark has had, and are his favourites as well.]

Well, when we speak His name (in reverance & prayer) a lot can happen for us in the physical and in the spiritual. EVERYthing has to bow to the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:9-11 - "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.") There is no other name among men that has that power. Unfortunately, that's why the name of Jesus is also used not in reverance or prayer. People know that name has power, and when they curse, we do not hear them say "Oh Buddha", or "Oh Joseph Smith". Those religious leaders have all passed on, and unless those folks lived for the name of Jesus, then they are eternally dead, they have NO power today. Jesus however is eternally alive, and has ALL power, and He gives us the same gift. It is indeed a gift that we need to choose to open.

In the Bible, Jesus or God is referred to the "I AM" or "YAHWEH"! The first time this is mentioned is with Moses in Exodus 3, in the Burning Bush encounter. Verse 14 states, "God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "" Yahweh is translated, 'I am who I am'. God is it, basically. According to Mark Littleton, in his book, 'The Bible Bathroom Book' he says, "[God] used the words to claim, 'I am the one who exists above and beyond all others. I am the one who exists on his own: I am not dependent on any other.'" Jesus himself, uses the words "I am..." quite a few times in the New Testament. (Click on the verse to take you to Biblegateway.com to read the verse). Jesus says to you today, 'I am...'

1. John 4:25&26 -- '...the Messiah.'
2. John 6:35 & John 6:51-- '...the Bread of Life.'

3. John 8:12 -- '...the Light of the world.'

4. John 8:56-58 -- '...the I am.'

5. John 10:7 -- '...the Gate or the Door.'

6. John 10:11-15 -- '...the Good Shepherd.'

7. John 11:25-27 -- '...the Resurrection & the Life.'

8. John 13:13 -- '...Teacher & Lord.'

9. John 14:6 -- '...the Way, the Truth & the Life.'

10. John 15:1-13 -- '...the Vine.'

11. Revelation 22:13 -- '...the Alpha & Omega, the First & the Last, the Beginning & the End.'

What promises these verses lead to... Jesus IS... that's all I need to know. Whatever I need, He is.

Psalm 148:13 -- "Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens."

Jesus has given us the same authority that the Father gave to Him, but again we need to choose to utilize it in our daily lives. There is power and authority in the NAME of JESUS.

Luke 20:1-8 -- (Click verse to read the Scriptures from Biblegateway.com) In these verses, Jesus' authority was questioned by chief priests, teachers of the law, & elders. Jesus knew that these men were coming on authority of themselves, not of the temple or God (or else they would have known from which His authority came). He answered them with a question of his own, proving their motives for coming. The Word says, "if...", the men had to stop and think about their response. Either response would get them into trouble of some kind, so they replied, "We don't know where it was from". Jesus knew their thoughts and motives replied in all truth, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things", for He knew that they just weren't going to tell him the answer due to circumstances and consequences. WOW! What a thought is this, the church leaders arguing with Jesus about who He in fact is, and under whose authority He is working. So true is some of the church today...

Having the authority of the Father, has given us the power to act in someone else's name... and it's not just any name as we have mentioned. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." With God giving us the authority to use the name of Jesus, we also have to give Him the glory in all that we do. Too many times we find ourselves praying for healing for example, and the person on the receiving end thanks us for the healing. We NEED to right then and there thank the Lord for the healing. We can accept thanks for being an obedient vessel which allowed God to work through them, or to be one that God could use, but we cannot nor should ever take credit for the healing. The ability to pray using the 'name of Jesus' is not to be taken lightly. There is a matter of the 'heart' for it to be used properly and with the right authority. The attitude of our heart is the main way that we are going to be used by God. Just because one prays 'In Jesus' Name...' doesn't mean what was prayed is going to come to fulfillment. As has been said by many preacher, teacher or speaker, "in Jesus' name" is not a magic chant or a magic potion to be used in tough times. We need to pray in His will for the fulfillment to come about. There are two main scriptures, one in John 14 and one in 1 John 5 you can read below.

John 14:9-14--"Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, {insert your name here}, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.' "

1 John 5:13-15--"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

There are a lot of promises in the Bible stating things that God will do. However, in most cases there is an "If you..." before or after them. Too many of us want to slide on the coat-tails of other Christians or Christians who have gone before us. We have to discover the truth of Jesus, His life, His love & His miracles for ourselves. We need to do our part in the equation for the complete fulfillment of His promises. One thing we know is that God is faithful & true, so we know in our knower that He WILL do. In fact, in most cases, He will do 'exceeding abundantly more'. (Ephesians 3:20 KJV)

For more information you can check out, http://www.learnthebible.org/praying-in-the-name-of-jesus.html or just Google "in Jesus' name" or "power in the name of Jesus".

I close with the song "When I Speak Your Name" by GATEWAY WORSHIP... written by Elizabeth Clark / Klaus Kuehn

I pray that you will begin to use the AUTHORITY given to you to glorify God in all that you think, say and do! But first remember you have to get your heart right, and have the right heart attitude seeking after the Will of the Father, not your own. Be blessed as you walk in the power of His name!

BE ALERT & KEEP YOUR LIGHTS FILLED!

An interesting lesson has transpired from Sunday School. We were discussing Matthew 25: 1-13 (well I think we only did a few of those verses) and we were intriqued by the new revelations from Holy Spirit. The parable of the ten virgins has been researched and made into many sermons and messages worldwide. It is used widely regarding the last days, and the return of Christ.


However, as we were studying it, it became more revealed to me that this is basically part of my own testimony in a sense. The foolish virgins vs. the wise virgins... I became a Christian at a young age of 5, after my Mom and Dad had taken me to church, and I learned about Jesus from them, and from the church. However, I did not become a "wise" Christian until late in my teens. I went to church, did most of the things I was supposed to. According to my Mom, I was the 'closest thing to Mary', and only did a few things that weren't good. I was never the alcoholic or the druggie, nor was I the promiscuous teenager sleeping around. Thankfully, I had good parents (as I've said), and a BIG brother (who unfortunately got involved with all the stuff that I didn't) who still protected me. I also had pretty good friends, who understood my beliefs in God, and that I didn't want to be involved with any of that 'garbage'. I had a great extended family as well, who also believed in God (or tried to). We moved a bit when I was younger, so we left the church that I went to as a young girl. We ended up going to a couple of different churches with my Grandpa and extended family, and were involved in the busyness of 'church life'. Somehow I knew that Church and God would be a part of my life forever. I loved children, and being a child, and learning more about Jesus. I knew the Bible stories, and a lot of Scripture verses that I memorized. We were involved with different mid-week groups, and I enjoyed them all. I loved to learn, and still do. Groups like AWANA, and other mid-week groups for children (sorry I can't think of the other names. I do remember the theme song, 'This is my Father's World' though) were an important part in my childhood. Walking to the church for AWANA with my Mom or Dad, especially in the winter when we watched snowflakes behind the telephone poles was a favourite memory of mine. But with all this, I had all the 'tools' and Jesus, and knowledge like the virgins did... but something was missing.

As I said above, I didn't become a "wise" Christian until my teens. (Not wisdom in the sense of knowing it all, but wise as in the sense of the 'wise vs. foolish virgins'.) When my Grandpa had died, we no longer felt we needed to attend the church we were attending. We felt the Spirit leading us elsewhere. We were invited back to the church of my childhood, and it was there I 'experienced' God. In my youth group I was introduced to the God whom I thought I knew. I experienced His Holy Spirit in ways that I obviously only read about in the Bible. There is a great difference as I have said before, between knowing about God, and knowing God. What a revelation it is to truly 'know' God... or at least be in the process of 'knowing Him'. The 5 foolish virgins, and the 5 wise virgins had the tools and the knowledge of a relationship with the Bridegroom. However, the 5 wise virgins went beyond that and had the Spirit (and an excess of it), and also had the intimate relationship with the Bridegroom so that they were allowed in.

With the parable of the virgins, the 5 'foolish' virgins tried to get oil from the 5 'wise' virgins, yet they didn't want to give any of theirs up, or else they would not have enough. They were sent to a store to 'buy' more oil. We as Christians and Spirit-filled believers need to stop doing just that. We cannot give the 'oil' or the Spirit or annointing from ourselves. We cannot just go to conference after conference to get filled by man. We need to stop following men and the annointing, and we need to seek it from the Supplier Himself. We cannot 'buy' salvation, or more of the Spirit. We need to seek it from the source... and we need to seek it for ourselves. I cannot seek God for you, nor can you seek God for your children, etc. God does not have grand-children. Now don't get me wrong in what I just wrote, You can seek God in prayer and ask God to move in your lives, your friends/family's lives, and those unbelievers around you, but you cannot save them yourself. But WE NEED TO TELL OTHERS what they need. We can't just leave them to suffer in their own fate. Most people who read this parable judge or put shame upon the 'foolish' virgins, however, when you look deeper, we can also say 'tsk tsk tsk' and look down upon the 'wise'. We will look deeper at this, and the Scripture itself below...

In our parable in Matthew 25, Jesus states "1At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (I have left the verse numbers in for reference)

In verse 1, the virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. (No where does it say he is right there.) These virgins according to history customs used to carry 'wedding torches' (you can Google for yourself) not 'lamps' as is translated in some versions of the Bible. They would lead the way or prepare the way of the Bridegroom's arrival. They would spend a lot of time together preparing, and waiting for the Bridegroom.  Verse 2 says right away that 5 of them were foolish and 5 of them were wise. Right away we know there is a problem, the art of foreshadowing is telling you there will be a problem upcoming. Verse 3 explains the beginning of the problem, the foolish virgins took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them. Verse 4 says that the wise took along oil in jars as well as their lamps. Up to this point the lamps were just being held with remnants of past lightings, they had not needed to be lit yet for their intended purpose of greeting the Bridegroom.

Verse 5 states "The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep." Now using my imagination, and picturing this event, I am assuming that the girls did not light their torches and fall asleep, or else there would have been a bigger problem. They waited with their unlit torches, and after a long time of waiting, they fell asleep. Verse 6 says that they were woken to the shouts that the Bridegroom was coming. Verse 7 says that they (all 10) awoke and began to prepare their lamps. It says in NIV above, "Then ALL the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps." It doesn't say they lit their lamps, but we assume that they will light them after they trim and prepare them. Then in verse 8, the foolish cry out for help, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out." Therefore they are trying to light their lamps or torches with 'old oil remnants', and they burn briefly, but they are going out. (According to history, their 'wedding torches' would be made of rags that would need to be trimmed before being re-lit, and that they need to be re-lit every 15 minutes.) This is reminding us that we need to receive an infilling of the Spirit, and not just once. We need to 'trim off the old' and be refilled and refuelled again and again. We can not be happy with the 'remnants' of the past. We need fresh new oil and new oilskins. "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." ~Matthew 9:17 NIV Verse 9 continues, "No...there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves." Like I said above, we cannot seek God for others. We cannot hold the Spirit in us for others around us. BUT, we as 'wise' have to stop sending the 'foolish' to seek oil on their own from someone who is none-the-less selling the oil. The oil is the HOLY SPIRIT, and His annointing. We cannot buy, or even sell the Spirit or His annointing. The true Spirit and annointing can only come from one place, the Source of the supply or the Supplier (who is the Bridegroom Himself). Unfortunately we send others to seek elsewhere, and as verse 10 reads, "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Verse 11 continues, "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' Verse 12 continues, "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'" Because the 'wise' sent the 'foolish' away, they missed out on the 'Wedding'! This is what they had waited for, what they had tried to prepare for. But they didn't prepare enough... SHAME on them.... 'tsk tsk' !

However, I said earlier that, "Most people who read this parable judge or put shame upon the 'foolish' virgins, however, when you look deeper, we can also say 'tsk tsk tsk' and look down upon the 'wise'. All ten virgins were sent with a mission, they were to light the way or prepare the way for the Bridegroom to come. Easy enough said than done obviously as we learned when the story continued. I said earlier that "the 5 foolish virgins, and the 5 wise virgins had the tools and the knowledge of a relationship with the Bridegroom." However, the virgins in fact did NOT have the full knowledge of their own lives and their true mission. The 'foolish' didn't bring enough oil, or in our case Spirit or annointing of God. If the torches had to be re-lit every 15 minutes, why didn't all of the virgins bring extra oil? The 'foolish' didn't have the knowledge regarding their torches and the oil. They had the tools, and they knew that they were to prepare the way for the Bridegroom, but they weren't totally prepared to actually complete the mission. They didn't know the TRUTH. The 'wise' however brought extra oil in jars along with their lamps. But, why did the 'wise' not tell the 'foolish' they need more?? These young virgins would have spent a lot of time together before the actual coming of the Bridegroom. Did the 'wise' not see the 'foolish' didn't have any extra oil? Wouldn't the 'wise' have been more wise to share this knowledge with the 'foolish' before it was too late?

So as we see, the 'wise' in the story are actually 'foolish' too... and it reminds us, those who see themselves as 'wise' that we need to share the truth and knowledge of the Bridegroom before He comes, so that it's not too late.

What would have happened in our parable, IF the 'wise' had actually been 'wise'? If in verse 8 when "The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' then in verse 9 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. What if they went on to say, "You have to make your lamps right, repent & seek oil for yourselves from the Bridegroom"? Verse 10, may have then stated, "While they were making their lamps right, and waiting, the 5 'foolish' virgins repented and sought after the Bridegroom's heart, and the bridegroom arrived. The 10 virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." Then Verse 11 may have continued, "You need to be ready for the return of the Bridegroom, so as verse 13 actually states, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." If this actually transpired, then ALL 10 of the virgins would have went in and feasted with the Bridegroom at the Wedding banquet. This last paragraph is obviously only a 'what if' scenario, but as verse 13 firmly states, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour" should be a motivator to help us get out there and tell others they need to have 'their lamps prepared and have extra oil'. YOU need to have made your life right with Jesus, and have the annointing of the Spirit so that you can have that intimate relationship with Him now, and when He returns for His bride.

In this passage, we are like the 'virgins', but we ourselves are not 'virgins'. We have given ourselves over to fleshly desires, and are no longer pure and innocent as a virgin. We need to stop allowing our flesh take over. We need to use more of our 'spirit-man' and change our mindset and allow God to move once again. We need to daily repent to him, and ask Him to once again re-light our fire. He can make us pure once again. BUT, we cannot buy the 'fire of the Lord' elsewhere. That's why it's the 'OF THE LORD' not the 'of men'. Too long we have sought after the 'fire of men'. However, when we seek the fire, we forget what a fire does. We need to stop putting limits on God and His works. If we call down for God to have His manifest presence fall in our midst, we cannot expect God to work on our terms. Too many times in church (or even in our home worship), we cry out to God and then when He wants to fully come to those who are hungry and thirsty, we stop seeking, and we quench the Holy Spirit from moving fully, by moving on to another "tradition" in our order of service.

God is not a God of conferences and guest speakers alone. He wants to move in every church, and every heart of every believer YOUNG and OLD. My spirit-man is grieving now, because I know that I myself am in this category too. I am not where I should be either, so don't think I am just speaking to you. I know that the Spirit reveals things to me to share, but to also live out in my own life. I cannot write these Scriptures and revelations down, and not use them in my own life. I would be a hypocrite, and that is not the example I want to leave those who are watching me.

Too many times you and I settle for the 'ordinary' when God wants to let out the 'extraordinary'. We get jealous, or seek after the "Azuza Street Revival" or the "Brownsville Revival", but don't want to fully commit to His Will and desires. We spend time seeking the annointing only, and not the glory of His manifest presence. As I said, "Too long we have sought after the 'fire of men'. However, when we seek the fire, we forget what a fire does." A fire is designed to burn. The 'fire of the Lord' is designed to burn and consume, and also to refine & purify us into what He has designed us to be. That causes our 'flesh-man' some pain, so we don't allow Him to fully 'burn' us. We cannot truly sing songs like "Fire Fall Down" or "Consuming Fire" if we don't mean what we sing. Our bodies, souls AND spirits were made to worship God. Because of sin, our bodies and souls have other desires. Our lives are broken without Him, and we need Him to fix that which is broken. But we need to do exactly that, come to him 'broken'.

"Cause I know that You're alive. You came to fix my broken life,

and I sing to glorify Your Holy Name, Jesus Christ!"

I pray that all we do from this moment on will be done to glorify the Holy Name of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Pray to God in YOUR OWN WORDS regarding your lamps [your heart & spirit], the need of His Holy Oil [His Holy Spirit & annointing], and repent of the things in your life that you have done in thought, word and deed, intentionally and unintentionally. Repent also of the things you have done that have quenched His Spirit. You (like me) may not have done too many 'bad' things like alcohol, sex, drugs etc... but you would have most likely done something to quench the Spirit, intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or subconsciously. I am praying these prayers along with you, and know that any words I can write here in a prayer for you to read and pray are less powerful than the ones you can pray from your own heart! If you desire help in your prayer life, check out your local SPIRIT-FILLED church, and get into the Scriptures and SEEK the SOURCE for yourself! He will give you immeasurably more than you ask or imagine. I pray as Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21, "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Be blessed and BE ALERT & KEEP YOUR LIGHTS FILLED!

...and the two shall become one!

"Love is patient, love is kind..." --

"...and the two shall become one..." --

"...but the greatest of these is love."

So, I am in midst of 'wedding plans' for my sister-in-love and her fiance. We have been checking more off of our 'to do list' lately which is good. Yesterday we secured the rental of the tuxes for the 'men'. What fun it is actually planning for a wedding. The 'girls' finally picked out and purchased the fabric for their dresses a couple weeks ago (or last week). I am creating and designing the wedding invites and other "papercraft" items that are needed. We have picked out and purchased the flowers (they are artificial as we can make them way ahead of time, and know they are done, as I am involved in this creation process as well). They (the lovely couple) obviously have the hall rented & the caterer, and the church rented and the plans are underway for the BIG day. WOW! It brings me back to remembrance of my wedding day, and all the plans it took for just ONE day to come off without a hitch... or seemed to come off to others without a hitch. It was funny that I was so organized, and yet forgot one simple thing like 'Boutonnières'. Ha ha! Did we end up without boutonnieres? NO, because I have a great Mom. What fun it must have been for my Mom to go to the floral shop to purchase 5+ little flower decorations for a wedding THAT day. I of course designed and created my floral bouquets, and wanted real roses for the men that day, but forgot totally about them, until I was asked where they were on the morning of my wedding day. Anyway, it's really funny that we put so much work and tiresome stress sometimes on our lives, just for one day... one 'seems to be called a' perfect day, and yet leave some things to the 'last minute' causing more stress.


As we are coming into the 'last days', it gets you thinking more about the 'really' perfect day, when our Prince & King of Kings will come for our 'wedding'. Our earthly preparations and plans for our earthly weddings are nothing compared to the preparations and plans we should be making towards our spiritual heavenly wedding. Too many of us are leaving it to "the last minute". According to "BEST OF LIFE Magazine", (see http://www.emotionofgod.com/saybygifts.html and click on 'Get your FREE issue here') in the article 'Increase the Measure of Your Faith' (pg 12-15), the author compares our planning and preparation for the 'Wedding of the Lamb' with that of an engaged woman. It states on page 14 and continuing on pg 15 that "She believes her fiance's promise of marriage, and begins to make the necessary preparations. She does not wait until the day of her wedding to see if it's true and then start organizing things. It can't be like that, it would be a catastrophe for her wedding day having such a short time to prepare! However, because she has a close relationship with her fiance, she knows his character, his heart, his love for her and how much he values her, she can have the confidence to prepare for her wedding day knowing it will come to pass."


Too many of us have lost the faith, or not even used the faith that we have been given to trust in the promise of the 'return of the King' for our wedding day. Too many people today are in the spot where they feel that God does not exist, or maybe He does exist, but I can wait to receive Him and live life to its best (according to the World's view of 'best') before that 'wedding day' does come. WOW! Looking at the words of the article above, why on earth would you start preparing on that day? This brings us to the parable of the ten virgins. {I have been in the editing version of a devotional regarding this parable, due to Sunday school lessons and the revelations of Holy Spirit - will link to it here, when complete} In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a story of ten virgins who are preparing to meet the bridegroom. Making a short story even shorter, 5 of the virgins didn't bring enough oil with them to keep their lamps lit. They had to go out to purchase more oil, and return to find the other 5 virgins gone inside, and the door to the wedding banquet was shut and locked. WOW! A major eye-opener, thanks to Holy Spirit! We need to be prepared!

Take time right now to be sure YOU are prepared, and not rushing around the 'day of the wedding' to prepare for something that you might just miss. Did you know that it's been said that 'it takes more faith to believe there's not a God, then to believe that there is a God'. It's also been said that 'If you believe in God, and in the end find out He's not real, then you haven't lost anything. But, if you don't believe in God, and in the end find out He is real, then you have lost everything!' (or something to that extent, I had to paraphrase).

Pray that prayer today, read my "Salvation Prayer" poem, and talk to God in your own words. No words that I could give you could be more powerful than you using your OWN words to describe your feelings to God.

Salvation Prayer Poem...

Everyone knows "God loves you", how many believe it's true?

You want to have 'eternal life', here's what you should do...

ADMIT to God you are a sinner, 'cause all humans are.

REPENT from the sin, and turn away, you gotta' raise the bar.

(Romans 3:23)

The wages of sin, is death for sure, but God has made a way,

He sent his SON so you could live, an ETERNAL life someday.

(Romans 6:23 & John 3:16)

BELIEVE in Him, God and His Son, & Holy Spirit too,

believe that Jesus gave HIS OWN LIFE, all for me & you.

CONFESS your faith in Jesus as your Saviour and your friend

The blessings you will receive & His love will never end.

(Romans 10:9&10)

But one thing you must REMEMBER, the road itself is long

There will be STORMS, & rough spots, but He will make you Strong.

(Philippians 4:13)

So finally one day, hopefully, after you've lived til' old

You can press on and win, your medal made of GOLD!

c M.H. 2010

May God bless you as you begin or continue your preparations! Remember to refill your lamps, and be full of His Spirit!

TAG! You're it! ~~ The CHASE is on!

I have been reading "The God Chasers" by Tommy Tenney, and through new revelation (as I had started reading it before, but put it aside and never finished it), I am sooooo excited to know that God is making a move in the world again today. If only we are found faithful in our pursuit of Him, it is Him who actually pursues and gets a hold of us.

Because I work with children, and love children I know that one of the games we love to play, especially now that Spring is coming is TAG. The children love to run and be chased. However, when it comes to them being the 'chaser' or in this case, "It", some don't seem to like it as much. They love when I (or other teachers) are "It", as we chase them we grab them and tickle them, and love them. When they are "it", they love to pursue us, and the game continues. It is the same with God. We are called to pursue Him and to love Him with our whole body, soul and spirit. (The tri-parts of man are another lesson altogether - coming soon). When we pursue Him, and 'chase' after Him (as the book says, become "God-chasers"), He in fact becomes the pursuer, and we are the ones being caught. He grabs hold of us, and we have an intimate relationship with Him.

The last days are approaching us, whether you believe in God, or not. I am not one to believe in the 2012 end of the World thing, but the last days are coming... and we have to be ready. We need Him and Holy Spirit more now than ever. We cannot just be satisfied knowing 'about Him', we need to fully 'know Him', and to know Him intimately. There is a scripture in the Bible (Hebrews 8:11) that says that we are to stop telling people to 'know God', and others are using this verse unwisely. The verse itself says, "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:10-13 NIV)

 For ALL the world needs to hear about God before we can STOP telling people about Him. There is a verse in the Bible that also says, "But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?" Romans 10:14-15. Continuing the Scripture also says, "But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: 'Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?' The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to." Romans 10:16-17 (The Message)

There are people (even Christians) in the world today, who are blaming God for all the trouble. If you want to blame someone, and let it be truly fair, blame the devil. (Or even Adam and Eve) The devil is in control of our troubles, diseases and sicknesses. Too many people (I have even said it in the past), are quick to say "God doesn't care, or else He would be helping and preventing this..." However some of our troubles are because of choices we have made, or that others have made, and we are involved in the consequences. WOW... what an eye-opener this is when you allow Holy Spirit to reveal this to you.

Speaking of which, Holy Spirit is able to reveal more to you when you have that intimate relationship we spoke of earlier. We want His power and annointing in our lives, so that we can live as Jesus did. But it isn't just the annointing we are aiming for. Too many people are following after signs and wonders and the annointing. We need to become annointed through the annointing so that our flesh can truly enter into an intimate relationship with the manifest presence of God!

I pray that as I write these words not only for YOU, but for myself as well, we will truly become GOD-CHASERS along with so many others in the past and present (and in the future). We will become the people spoke of in 2 Chronicles 7:14-16, "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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

Have faith to birth new things, and make room for God, His presence, His Holy Spirit and all the things He wants to do in, for and through you. "satan cannot steal what God has birthed, but God will only birth things to PEOPLE WHO MAKE ROOM FOR THE MIRACULOUS by faith!" (T. Tenney- God Chasers)

Be blessed as you CHASE and get caught in the process!

Check out some more books by Tommy Tenney that you might be interested in... (I read the "Prayers of a God Chaser" before reading "The God Chasers", it's really good!)

Check out TOMMY TENNEY'S AMAZON PAGE

*The God Catchers
*Prayers of a God Chaser
*How to Be a God Chaser and a Kid Chaser
...and more!

It's Your Life Lyrics & Video | Francesca Battistelli

This is the moment
It’s on the line
Which way you gonna fall?
In the middle between
Wrong and right
But you know after all(Chorus)


It’s your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It’s an open door
It’s your life

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget


(Chorus)


To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way


(Chorus)

In the end, WE WIN...

"Those who win the victory will receive this, and I will be their God, and they will be my children." Revelation 21:7 NCV

When you read a book, or watch a movie, do you like knowing what the end is? Not really, because then it ruins the whole thing. My husband sometimes doesn't even like reading the book synopsis/book cover, or the back of the movie. We go through the book or the movie not knowing what is going to come, if the good guy will actually beat the bad guy, or if the lead actress will marry the lead actor, etc.

However spiritually, it is good to know the END of the Bible, because it reminds us that WE WIN! The devil loses, and is thrown into a lake of fire with all the other evil doers, or those who do not know the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. HELL is not going to be a party. The world will want to tell you different, but nowhere in the Word does it say that HELL or Hades is going to be a party. It is a place of eternal death... hell just keeps on burning and burning... just like the Energizer bunny keeps going and going...

TO BE CONTINUED... enjoy the video below!



SING TO THE KING because "...satan is vanquished and Jesus is King!"

GO FOR "GOLD" -- PRESS ON...

"...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." Philippians 3:13-15

OH CANADA!! Well as most of us know the Winter OLYMPICS 2010 are finished, and every country involved, did their best at pressing to toward the goal to win the prize... the GOLD medal. Somehow, even some of the SILVER and BRONZE medallists were still very unhappy. To the human eye, it seems, well come on, 2nd and 3rd in an event with 30 other people should make you very happy. I was saying that throughout the Olympics this year. "C'mon people, be happy, you medalled at least." Especially when fellow Canadians were dissing our athletes for coming in like 5th or later. 5 out of 30, is still really good...

However, they didn't make it all the way to their 'goal'!

Spiritually, and also physically, according to the verse in Philippians, our goal is to "win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward." We will not be happy with a SILVER or a BRONZE in this case, for it means we have missed the mark. SIN came into the world to leave us 'tarnished' like the bronze or silver. When we sin, the devil tries to allow us to think its okay to disobey God. He likes to leave us that way, because sin separates us from God.

We need to stop allowing the devil to use his voice in our heads, and let God's voice reign in our hearts and lives. God still speaks, and it just takes a few minutes of listening sometimes. When God speaks, we need to act on it. We shouldn't have to stop and think, "Is that really YOU God?" We should "know His voice". ("To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10:3-5) There are other verses that follow, explaining that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and he states, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:27-30)

Our 'goal' as humans here on earth, is to reach our goal heavenward, which is ETERNAL. We are running the race of our lives, and our goal is within our grasp. For at our 'goal' eternal life awaits us. Heaven is usually referred to by it's "streets of Gold". So c'mon 'athletes', GO FOR GOLD... PRESS ON! Everyone can win the 'GOLD'... if only you BELIEVE!

Salvation Prayer Poem...
Everyone knows "God loves you", how many believe it's true?
You want to have 'eternal life', here's what you should do...
ADMIT to God you are a sinner, 'cause all humans are.
REPENT from the sin, and turn away, you gotta' raise the bar.
(Romans 3:23)
The wages of sin, is death for sure, but God has made a way,
He sent his SON so you could live, an ETERNAL life someday.
(Romans 6:23 & John 3:16)
BELIEVE in Him, God and His Son, & Holy Spirit too,
believe that Jesus gave HIS OWN LIFE, all for me & you.
CONFESS your faith in Jesus as your Saviour and your friend
The blessings you will receive & His love will never end.
(Romans 10:9&10)
But one thing you must REMEMBER, the road itself is long
There will be STORMS, & rough spots, but He will make you Strong.
(Philippians 4:13)
So finally one day, hopefully, after you've lived til' old

You can press on and win, your medal made of GOLD!

c M.H. 2010

GO FOR GOLD... PRESS ON...
Don't quit!