Tag Archives: Gifts of the Spirit

November 17, 2013 · 10:35 am

Inside Israel

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is …

Greetings, my brothers and sisters in the precious body of The Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua h’meshiach. May HE, our Head, be blessed and glorified and may you be blessed and encouraged.

…In every place where I record My Name I will come to you and bless you.” Exodus 20:24

Over the years I’ve come to understand that we often use different words to describe much the same experience. A Word can be quickened to us, jump out at us, be a rhema word to our heart, be made alive to us, but in any framework, the written Word becomes living Word and our faith is encouraged. So it was for me one day last week when the above Word put my heart to rest, yoked me to Him and encouraged me to no end. He is just so good!

Somewhere He has recorded His Name and that will be our next home. Period. End of the matter. Have we found it yet? No, but HE has and He will lead us to it at just the right moment. Thank you for your prayers.

As I listen to the planes overhead marking the arrival of the President of France, I’m tempted to write about ‘the situation’ in Israel; things surrounding us from our perspective concerning Persia (Biblical Iran), the ‘peace’ negotiations, and other BIG issues calling us continually to our knees.

HOWEVER…

I will resist. You can ask questions and I can do my best to answer or to point you to those who are called to write about these things with greater authority and clarity. I DEFINITELY have my opinions and views. He has made it clear to me that is not what HE wants me to write about today. Today I will be sharing, again, about our beggars.

Beggars in the Middle East are a unique group of people and I have come to understand them with far more depth then I did 19 years ago, when I deposited my money in every cup and listened to every story, praying with some. Oh, I still deposit my money (excuse me, HIS money) in cups and still pray with some, but this is a colorful group of professional people and I thought that you might like a peek inside.

Begging is considered a profession here. Perhaps not the most noble of professions, but a profession nonetheless. I have heard it excused as a very important and necessary profession, since it makes righteous people. “What?” you might ask. “Exactly how does that work?”

Well, the word for righteous in Hebrew is tsadik. When you give charity (which is one of the commands or mitzvot, in Scripture and very foundational in Judaism) this is called giving tsadakka (or the work or fruit of the righteous). So? When a beggar nudges you and reminds you that you need to give to him, he is indirectly making you righteous. Isn’t logic a wonderful thing? I wonder how often each of us rationalize some act in a similar way that would make The Lord sort of shake His Head (figuratively) with wonder.

AT ANY RATE, I have come to know some of the local beggars quite well. The first one that contributed to my education I met a full 19 years ago. He (an Israeli Arab) was sitting near the Old City with a pathetically grotesque looking leg, full of infection, swollen, filthy and covered with bandages. When I asked him if I could help, he told me that tomorrow he was going to have this gangrenous leg amputated in Bet Lechem (Bethlehem). He still needed so much money to pay for his operation. At that time, Beit Lechem was still part of Israel (before our last set of peace agreements). I said, “But aren’t you an Israeli Arab? Doesn’t the kupot holim (national health insurance) cover it?” I don’t remember his answer, but it DID fluster him for a moment.

His leg smelled so bad. I gave him 100 shekels and prayed for him in the street, laying hands on him and praying for his healing. What a QUICK answer to prayer! It was just a couple of days later that I saw him walking into a store. The plastic leg slung over his shoulder. It was a costume! Surely he could have been a good actor or artist or perhaps this is street art. In case you are wondering, he is in very good health, I see him almost daily, no longer near the old city but on King George Street. He’s given up the rotten leg game, but he is still begging. He’s younger then I am and quite able bodied.

There was a Bedouin lady with crutches sitting on the street as well back when we came and I often gave her money. She now sits there dressed as a religious Jewish lady instead as she begs. There are the really pathetic looking young Moslem mothers (deserted and unwed) who have been sitting outside of the Old City gates also for years. They hold equally pathetic looking babies. Over the years I have noticed that once a baby reaches a certain age they just get a different one. Very effective.

There are plenty of Jewish beggars too. Many old ladies wait at the Western Wall for money. That way, right before or after a person prays there, they can demonstrate their righteousness by giving. There is a fair line up at the entrances to the shuk, each with their own story. Some are legitimate, some are not.

One morning I watched a little old lady go up to a very fancy limousine and dump out her money into a bag extended by an arm, sort of the opposite of drive in banking. But as I said, they are doing society a service by teaching us to give.

I do have my regular beggar. He has become expensive, but has been a subject of much prayer for me as well. He comes to my work every Friday and his name is Mohammed. He’s my age and he is sort of simple. We verified this when we tried to find him a job and no one would hire him for ANYTHING! “Not Mohammed! He can’t do a THING right!” they would say)

Whatever I gave him was never enough. “What? Just this? We have no bread!!” he would say indignantly.

I tested him one day and brought sacks full of food, with plenty of bread making ingredients included. He was thrilled! He rifled through them and again there was that indignant voice: “What? No MEAT? We need MEAT!”

I sighed. “Mohammed! MY family doesn’t eat meat! We can’t afford it!”

Once again his defeated look appeared as if to say: “You don’t understand! You are starving me!”

He brought me his children. “Now you give Mahmud some money.” He was teaching his son the family trade!

I turned to Mahmud. “Why aren’t you in school?” I asked.

“I will mop your floor,” he answered.

“No, no! You are Israeli, right? What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor? President?”

He looked puzzled. “I will mop your floor,” he repeated.

I took on Mahmud as a project. I slipped Bibles and Bible story books in Arabic into sacks of food. Every time I saw him I encouraged him that he could be whatever he wanted to be and guess what? He is in university in Jordan! Of course, that is a BIG burden on Mohammed, who needs more money!

Over the years we have agreed on 20 shekels a week with no complaining. I taught him to say “thank you” and we shake hands. He has begun bringing vegetables and gives me a few as I hand him the money. It has brought some pride to him. I am also glad for that. It is funny how we have grown close over the years. I pray for them and am concerned for them and I see that he is also honestly concerned for me, and not just the money. We have an interesting relationship.

Yeshua told me in Luke 6:30 “Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.”

It was Mohammed who brought me to my knees concerning this verse. “Lord! If I obey this verse, I will be giving to the countless that line the street – some for drugs, some for alcohol… or I will be giving everyone 10 agarot (about 2.5 pennies) to soothe my conscience or I will be avoiding them all together! How do I obey this verse?’

He brought to my attention where the verse tells me to give to everyone who ASKS of me, not everyone who is lining the street begging. I began to notice that some people do come up and ASK of me and I prayed that The Lord would send me those He wanted to and keep away those who would use HIS money for other devices. He has been faithful. Isn’t The Holy Spirit wonderful?

So, there you have “Beggars of Jerusalem 101,” the introductory course. God is so creative. He is only Good.

Thank you for praying for our family over the years. Some of you may remember that beginning with the American holiday of Thanksgiving, my husband usually has a hard time. Well…this year appears no different – perhaps a bit early. The reality of all of our children and Grandchildren being gone becomes too heavy for him at times and he despairs. If he comes to mind, please keep him in prayer? Also our younger daughter’s due date for first Baby is 8 Jan. She still does not have health insurance. She is very dyslexic and is having a hard time filling out the paperwork for Medical. She and her husband live very near to our older daughter and family and our older daughter is a doula (birth assistant) and does plan to help with the birth, but younger daughter is far from a picture of health. I have found myself praying specifically that she would have an easy, blessed birth with no complications. She has asked for prayer that Baby will not be dyslexic or prone to depression (as she has been). That is a request from her and you may remember that they are NOT walking with The Lord. Her husband has not yet ever known Him.

And THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR THIS NATION AND PEOPLE; FOR HIS PERFECT PLAN…FOR HIM TO BE SEEN AND GLORIFIED…FOR THE FULLFILLMENT OF HIS WORD AND PURPOSE THAT THE WORLD MIGHT KNOW SALVATION, LORD! POUR OUT YOUR SPIRIT!

Lovingly,

your sis J

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September 10, 2013 · 7:43 am

Why Should We Prepare And Plan Now?

Here’s a prophetic video for America, which none of us ever want to watch because once we do, we’re forced to make decisions.

Do we believe what Dean Odle says in the video?

If we don’t believe him, then there are no problems. We can continue on with our lives, believing Odle is another Harold Camping, deserving of having verbal rocks thrown at him.

Yet, if we do believe him, then what will we do? Just add the info to our mental archives, waiting for one of those rainy days which never seem to come. Or do we begin acting right now?

The choice is ours to make.

As for me, it’s a no-brainer. My books listed on the right sidebar− Jonah, Prophecy 101, Planning + Preparation = Survival, What’s In It For Me? − were especially written for the scenarios described by Dean Odle in the above video.

Like so many times in the past, my British friend, Mercedes, at Believe, alerted me to this video by posting it on her site. Thanks Mercedes and God bless you for your hearing heart.

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August 25, 2013 · 3:44 am

Inside Israel

It seems as if we barely turned around here and, wham! The fall feasts are upon us with Rosh h’shana (the head of the year – the feast of trumpets) just ahead of us. This year it is celebrated on the night of the 4^th of September and the day of the 5^th. I was blessed this morning as I read:

…I also gave them my Sabbaths (the Sabbaths are the holy days including the weekly shabat and the other holy days) to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I Am The Lord Who sanctifies them.

Hallow My Sabbaths and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I Am The Lord your God. (Ezekiel 20:12, 20)

That is the purpose of the sabbaths. It is ALL about HIM.

As you know, our Granddaughter Ana has been with us for the past month so we have been very busy. However, we were not the only ones taken by surprise one day about 10 days ago to see our local supermarket scrubbing down all of its shelves and changing their displays, lining the front with gifts and sales. Suddenly I heard a shofar blowing in the store so I followed the sound − which I love − to the wine and grape juice aisle. There was a rabbi, blowing the shofar to sanctify the fruit of the vine as kosher and clean. A week later I saw the same scene replayed at the meat counter.

It is summer. What is happening? The signs went up and we all scrambled for our calendars. Rosh h’shana? Already? Where did the time fly to?

Rosh h’shana is characterized by the blowing of the traditional rams’ horn − shofar. Added to this, it bears the identity of joy, celebration, meals together, gifts, apples and honey, almonds, new calendars, and preparing the heart for Yom Kippur, when repentance is sought and the book of life is said to be open in heaven. This occurs ten days after Rosh h’shana.

Yearly I argue with Rabbis about WHY the feast of trumpets has turned into the Jewish New Year, when scripture so clearly says that PASSOVER is to signify the New Year. No adequate answer are ever given. I trust God to set it all right in His time but still I am studying scriptures, preparing myself for the inevitable discussions.

Right now on the streets, there is cleaning and tidying up going on everywhere. The shuk display has changed subtly to include pomegranates, dates, figs, grapes of all sizes and colors, honey, apples, and plenty more. These nudge us into preparations. Will we host the large festive meal or will we be invited somewhere? For whom are we to purchase gifts this year? I, personally, begin to ask my yearly question of The Lord: “What special word do you have for me to know You in this year?”

Many years ago He began giving me a single word and having me look for Him in that word through out the year. It took me many years to realize that He was doing this, but yearly I begin to anticipate my new revelation of Him. This past year has been The kingdom of God/heaven.

One other thing characterizes this time period− the roosters crowing. Those of you who have been reading these letters may remember the strange custom that took root during the 2,000 years of dispersion from the promised land when there was no temple and no longer a temple sacrifice given for forgiveness of sins. The rabbis came up with the sacrifice of a chicken in a ritual manner, and a number of small communities continue to practice this. I will describe it as we get closer to Yom Kippur.

My husband is hoping that I will finish up with the computer, so I will quickly fill you in on some personal issues and also mention the situation in the Middle East. Our 7 year old Granddaughter arrived home to her family in California,USA, safely late Thursday night. I was thrilled to hear our older daughter say that it is like we have pushed the re-start button. My times with her in His Word and around two old books: Treasures of the Snow and Rainbow Garden by Patricia M. St. John.

For those of you who have children or grandchildren, ages 6 or 7 up, these two books are gold for calling children to know Him. She was thrilled to memorize verses and earn the right to get a gift from my treasure chest, knowing that the verses, hidden in her heart were her true treasure. And I SPOILED HER no end and I am not ashamed as she is a middle child. I am praying that she will begin to understand what a gift His gift of Life really is. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

Our younger daughter is still quite sick, but HAPPY. They are making plans to move to California from Minnesota to be near to her older sister. Her older sister is a ‘doula’ (birth helper) and she so wants to be with family. They were hoping that they would come home but she is in no condition to travel such a distance. She is on daily intravenous (I.V.) infusions of rehydration and anti nausea meds and full rest. They don’t have a job or a place to live. Ah to be young! Thank you for keeping them in prayer!

The apartment that we have lived in for 19 years is for sale now at a HUGE price. It looks as if we will be able to stay until June/July, the time of year apartments go up for rent and people move here. We have been blessed with an unusually low rent for Jerusalem for these years. I ask for prayer for Him to lead us to the right apartment at the right time for the right price.

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‪LASTLY…

I had a friend who had given her life to serving Him in prayer. She was from America but lived here for a number of years, walking the streets and praying. It was a privilege to know her before she went to be with Him. I learned a number of things from her, but one incident that stayed with me over the years has just begun to teach me.

This dear sister told me, weeping, that in the valley below where she lived that witches were sacrificing babies and they would scream awful screams. One evening many years ago, I was there with her and she said to me: ‘There it is! They are sacrificing babies!”

And she began to weep. I listened. As gently as I could I told her that was the sound of cats mating. She had never heard that city sound before and was shocked and relieved. I kept it hidden in my heart but am just learning the lesson that I believe I needed to learn. This was a Spirit filled, praying sister who witnessed a fact but misinterpreted it. She was prayed something that wasn’t real.

Over the years I have longed to pray silver bullet prayers − prayers that hit the mark, agreeing with The Heart of God because The Holy Spirit prays through me. Truth is very important to me. In this day of internet and instant communication, we not only get to view photos, videos, read news reports, and ministry news letters, I have noticed that we tend to believe what agrees with our view, or what convinces us.

Living here I am shocked at the things that I have seen and heard in the media that come across totally convincingly as Truth, but are, in fact, distorted lies. It riveted my attention during our fighting in Jenin a number of years back. We awoke one morning to the world press screaming “Massacre in Jenin” and instantly the world was up in arms. You likely don’t remember, but it made a big impression upon me. The photos of the devastation were splashed across front pages world wide. The only problem was the photos showed a close up view of an area less then one block square. When the larger picture was finally shown, NOTHING around this terrorist hotbed had been touched. The 900 dead and buried alive turned out to be about 20. I DON’T remember the exact details, but it taught me that in this computer age, you can NOT trust photos or words.

Right now, in Syria and Egypt there is large scale fighting with many dead and injured. Yesterday many were killed in a suicide bombing in Bagdad. We were hit by 3 bombs from Lebanon and retaliated. Turkey has unrest as does Jordan. And there is Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and the list goes on. I looked at the photos today of those killed in Syria from chemical attack and I wondered: “Where is the Truth? Are they REALLY dead?”

I ask that because I have SEEN photos of dead caught jumping up and moving later on. Why was it reported that 3,000 had been killed and then revised to around 50? Who REALLY did this? I have my opinion, but what difference does that make? Is it Truth? For that I must hear from The Lord. I will pray for The Lord to reveal the Truth to those in positions of power.

So, what am I getting at? This: It is all about HIM and always has been. We live in dangerous times − spiritually dangerous times. The Truth is HIM and we MUST discern Truth in the midst of so many lies. I believe that a key is to walk very simply and humbly before Him with face turned to Him, trusting Him to lead AND correct us.

But as you form opinions about what is happening in the Middle East, I know that you will base those opinions first on what He has already said in His Word − for that IS TRUTH.

God bless and keep you and make His Face to shine upon you and give you HIS shalom!

Lovingly,

your sis J

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August 9, 2013 · 11:49 am

“It’s About The Economics, Stupid!”

Yes, we should give to the poor out of our love and compassion, following Jesus’ example. But also, there is a economics reason for giving to the poor.

If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you. (Proverbs 19:17 NLT)

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord… Ephesians 6:7-8)

If you check any prospectus for investment purposes, there will be fine print, disclosing the possibilities of your losing money. Why? Because bad things can happen to even the best of companies, organizations, municipalities, and nations. No investment on earth can ever be guaranteed 100% safe.

But giving to the poor is a heaven-backed investment, guaranteed by God and His word, which He honors above all His name. Plus, the extra benefits of giving to the poor are better than Medicare or any insurance policy:

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble. The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The LORD nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. (Psalm 41:1-3)

So, if giving to the poor is an economics’ issue with you, you just might want to check out the facts before shaking your head.

And while you’re at it, consider Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope Program, where 100% of your investment helps children in India.

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July 28, 2013 · 6:12 am

Inside Israel

Answered prayer is always for His glory and I want to update you on how our younger daughter is doing, as so many of you have been praying for the situation and it has indeed stabilized. Thank you SO very much.

I told you she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. She is now in a ‘home care’ situation with a nurse visiting every other day. The nurse first arrived with boxes of medical supplies, an I.V. (intravenous hydration bag with the water solution balanced with electrolytes to keep people hydrated, like those given in hospitals), an IV pole, boxes of IV saline solution bags, syringes, and anti nausea meds to insert into the IV 6 times daily. Plus a course to teach her how to administer the IV with the meds by herself, etc.

This was the most ‘exciting’ part to her because from the time that she was a tiny child she wanted to be a doctor. Finding out that she was profoundly dyslexic dashed that dream for her and now, here she is, being given a real hospital to play with at home. That was her response when she FINALLY skyped us the other night.

She was weak and puffy but felt encouraged, and even happy. There are standing orders at the hospital to admit her immediately if she comes to the emergency room. She has seen a doctor, dietician, and psychiatrist and heard the Baby’s heartbeat. She is not fearful anymore and is convinced the Baby is healthy and that this will all pass, at least by the end of 9 months. She has even felt the Baby move.

I located an organization dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum and have learned a great deal for myself. They were very supportive and sent a local volunteer to encourage her and loan her a baby heart monitor. They gave her a $100 gift certificate for Baby needs. Wow! The head of the organization explained that they do this because women are so ill they often opt to kill their babies. They need to meet others who have endured and let them know it is truly worth it and that it does eventually end with the joy of having a child. I am impressed and thankful and know this is TRULY an answer to your prayers. I even believe that she will NOT be this ill for the full 9 months.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, several of you have contacted me to tell me that either you live in the area or know someone who does and who would be willing to go and encourage her and or do some meal preparation. This was my main prayer − outreach ministry through believers.

Our daughter truly has known The Lord and loved Him. Her husband has not yet known Him as I explained. He was brought up in a Jewish ultra-orthodox (Haradi) family (the oldest of 15 children). They are both backslidden, but both from different places. Both are really tender ‘Truth seekers’ so I believe with all of my heart that The Truth, The Face of Yeshua, will and IS pursuing them. Our daughter knows who my friends are. Yet she was so happy when I offered for each one to contact her and to come and visit. (She is alone in bed everyday.) THANK YOU DEAREST BODY OF MESSIAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND WALK.

A brief update from our ever volatile front row center seat is called for right now:

Unless you have been enjoying a wonderful remote vacation, you likely know by now the Americans have succeeded in announcing the re-start (yet again) of ‘peace, peace, where there is no peace’ talks. The talks are scheduled to begin next week and already the rhetoric is heating up. Here are two quotes:

“The collapse of the upcoming round of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians may lead to the eruption of another intifada,” Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) warned on Monday. Tibi, who served as an advisor to deceased Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat and remains close to the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah, said he has sensed the “bottled-up rage on the Palestinian street over the occupation and the missing of the opportunity.” (Please understand: Ahmad Tibi is a member of our Israeli Knesset (Parliament). He is not part of ‘Palestine,’ part of the ‘other side,’ he is Israeli.)

While Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas said: “While Netanyahu declares any agreement will be brought to referendum, Jordanian paper releases interview with PA chairman conducted immediately after renewed talks statement. Abbas says ‘any solution must remove Israel permanently from Palestinian land’

When we arrived in 1994, the first ‘peace agreement’ had just been signed on the White House lawn by Arafat and Rabin. It was signed amidst pools of blood and further negotiations continued as the pools widened and deepened. Oh, that is Israeli blood that I am talking about. There were bombings, terror attacks, kidnappings. Through it all, the world kept telling us ‘Israel, be patient! It is ‘only’ a few frustrated extremists trying to kill the fragile peace.’ ‘Peace’ became a holy word- a god – where human blood became a sacrifice upon the alter to the god of peace.

As a front row viewer, I believe that I am being honest when I say that there is NO ONE IN THE WORLD who longs for peace more then the Israeli people, but it is NOT peace at any price. We know this land is not ours and it has been taken away from us before by The Owner because of our disobedience. It is not ours to give away, that would be stealing what is His and despising our birthright.

Speaking the Hebrew language has opened up an honest window to see into the Israeli heart. As I listen to the songs on the buses and even in the liturgy, ‘peace’ is possibly the main longing of the soul and subject of the songs.

I have been so very grateful for the MANY opportunities I have to ‘make peace’ one on one with Palestinians, to sit and talk and open hearts and allow them to see into mine. That one on one honesty opens REAL doors of peace. But even that is not the Real Peace which ONLY comes clothed in Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Aside from Him there just IS no peace.

My prayer is that He will anoint me and all of my beloved sisters and brothers here to EFFECTIVELY share Him – to freely give as we have received, to plant into fertile ground that which will produce kingdom FRUIT, 100 fold and make way for The Prince of Peace again. This time I pray He is recognized and embraced by all.

As I close, I would like to ask prayer for a 41 year old Mother of 4 (?) who is in home hospice care, dealing with great pain in the last stages of breast cancer which has overtaken most of her body. She had initially refused treatment for the cancer until it was too late. Her name is Ayella Weitzman. I have loved this dear woman. I told her husband, Daniel, I would be praying for them. Thank you.

May His Peace rule in your hearts (and mine) through the knowledge of Him and as we gaze at Him face to Face.

Lovingly,

your sis J in Jerusalem

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July 23, 2013 · 11:01 am

Prayer: So Easy To Talk About, Yet So Hard To Do (Part 8)

When my son played basketball in high school, I was a member of the school’s sports booster club. We sold drinks, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and other treats at sporting events to raise money for athletic needs. Another fund raising activity was the annual 9th and 10th grade basketball tournament held each March.

One year, I coached our 9th grade’s third string basketball team. The youths were energetic and great, but they lacked talent, height, and speed. Most coaches would have considered them cannon fodder, but that’s not how I play or coach.

At our one practice before the game, I told them, “I’m coaching to win the game and expecting you to play to win. We’ll have fun together.” They gave high-fives and loud cheers.

With 30 seconds to go in the fourth quarter of the game, I called time-out. The kids all gathered in a huddle around me. “Coach, do you have a play for us?” said a blond-headed guard.

“Yes,” I said, pointing at one player. “I want Joe to take a long shot and the rest of you to block everyone out.”

We stuck our hands in the middle and shouted, “Let’s go.”

The play worked to perfection with Joe hitting a long shot. The final score: 86 – 14. We lost.

Yet, if you would have seen the two teams on the court at the buzzer, you would have guessed my team had won. They hugged each other and me. Yes, we lost the game, but we were winners when we walked off the court because we did the best we could and had winning attitudes.

Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you. (Mark 11:24)

The Greek word pas is translated into the English words all things in Mark 11:24. The Greek actually means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, and everything. So, there’s no wiggle room in this verse. All means all!

Like the basketball team, our job as believers is to pray in faith, trusting and believing God will move on our behalf every time we pray. If we do our part, God will do His part. Sometimes, we’ll see unbelievable miracles and sometimes, He’ll collect our prayers in a censer to be used later. The choice is His, not ours.

Now, the worst thing we can do is pray without faith, using careless, idle words because we will eventually give an accounting to the Judge for these prayers.

(Continued in Part 9)

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July 19, 2013 · 1:28 pm

Larry the Lizard Slayer

wildherps.com

I had no intention of causing the little lizard problems, but it’s hard to convince him now because he’s dead.

It all began with me looking out the window and seeing a six-inch fence lizard resting on the patio. I opened the door and watched him scamper toward the BBQ grill. I followed him with my finger poised on the camera button of my i-Phone. He dove into a hole in the butane tank which proved to be his downfall.

Although his head and front legs fit through the hole, his larger back legs could not. He was stuck. I tried helping, but his fear proved too great. I walked away and prayed, asking the Lord to free him.

The next day, I checked again. He was still stuck.

On my walk around the neighborhood, I decided the lizard was in desperate straits and needed help now. I prayed and asked the Lord to relax the lizard, maybe even put him into a deep sleep.

I softly crept up behind the lizard. I reached down and gave him a quick jerk, hoping to surprise him and free him at the same time.

Let’s just say, it did not work out quite like I planned. He died in my hand.

I felt terrible and asked forgiveness of the Lord for killing the lizard. An empty feeling hung on me for hours like a funeral shroud. If only I wouldn’t have bothered the lizard, he’d still be alive.

Now think about it, okay?

There are probably 500, 000 of these fence lizards in my neighborhood alone, ranging in size from itsy-bitsy to six inches, measuring from head to tail. Cars, lawn mowers, cats, birds, snakes, and dogs remove thousands of them every week from my area. So, what’s the big deal, right?

He lived in my yard, under my care. I let him die for no good reason at all.

Do you know what made me feel better?

I received a letter in the mail from a child we sponsor in India. Her words warmed my heart, knowing she thinks I’m someone special, but in reality, I’m not. She’s the special one who God laid on our hearts to love and help.

If you’re interested in knowing how to sponsor a child in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program, click here.

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July 15, 2013 · 3:53 pm

Prayer: So Easy To Talk About, Yet So Hard To Do (Part 7)

When J. Hudson Taylor was born in 1832, his mother and father prayed, “Lord, grant that he may work in China.”

The parents saw little evidence their prayer had any effect on their son’s life as he grew up in Yorkshire, England. In fact, he became a skeptic and wandered far from his Methodist upbringing. But when Taylor reached his teenage years, God grabbed his heart while he read a Christian tract in his father’s apothecary shop. A short time later, Taylor felt God had called him to be a missionary to China.

Then, Hudson Taylor’s training began in earnest.

Taylor read George Mueller’s newsletter and believed he needed strong faith and a prayer life like Mueller’s to succeed in China. To accomplish this, Taylor moved miles away from home to live in a poor area. He vowed to never ask people for help, but instead, like Mueller, he prayed, asking God to meet his needs. An absent-minded employer and sickness brought him close to starvation and death, yet God proved Himself faithful, delivering and healing him.

In 1853, Taylor sailed as a missionary for a new missionary society to Shanghai, China. The society seldom sent funds and Taylor refused to ask for help. “Depend upon it. God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack for supplies,” he proclaimed.

After seven years of hard work, he built a church of only 21 believers in an inland city. But because of illness, he and his wife returned to England. It was during his stay in England, when he felt defeated and depressed, that God gave him a vision for a new missionary society for China. Struggling with the vision and his lack of faith for it, Hudson Taylor eventually told God: “All responsibility as to the issues and consequences must rest with You. I am Your servant and I will obey and follow You.”

From this point forward, Hudson Taylor began praying for missionaries to join his missionary society: China Inland Mission. By 1895, 641 missionaries and 462 Chinese helpers at 260 missionary stations were the results of his prayers, more than half of all Protestant missionaries in the nation.

Missiologists and historians refer to Taylor as ‘one of the profoundest Christian thinkers of all time’, ‘a visionary pioneer’ and ‘one of the four or five most influential foreigners in 19th century China’.

Taylor’s own assessment was somewhat different: ‘I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and that He found me.’

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July 8, 2013 · 3:51 pm

Prayer: So Easy To Talk About, Yet So Hard To Do (Part 6)

One morning the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder, and no money to buy food. The thirty children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when George Mueller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.”

Lifting his hand he said, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”

There was a knock on the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Mueller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”

Mueller thanked the man.

No sooner had this transpired than there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the Orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.

(Life and Ministry of George Mueller by Ed Reese, Reese Publictions, Christian Hall of Fame Series)

George Mueller (1805 – 1898) pastored the same Baptist church in Bristol, England, for over sixty-six years. Yet, he is best known for his orphan ministry, with stories like the above being common in his life. His orphanages cared for over 10,000 orphans at a time when destitute children were locked up in prisons to keep them off the streets.

Armed only with prayer and faith, he went through daily spiritual battles to provide for the increasing number of orphans under his care. He admitted his faith was nothing special and any believer could do it. What he did was simple enough in that he meditated in scriptures and then prayed the promises before God’s throne. He continued praying until He had peace about his prayers being answered by God.

God never failed him.

Near the end of his life, Mueller stated he had received over 50,000 answers to specific prayers from God. The amazing thing is that George Mueller never once asked people for money. Never once. Every prayer request was made alone before God.

Thousands of believers have been encouraged by the many books on George Mueller’s life. We’ll talk about one of them next time.

(Continued in Part 7)

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July 3, 2013 · 10:19 am

Prayer: So Easy To Talk About, Yet so Tough To Do (Part 5)

Successful prayer depends on our relationship with the Father and little else. The following story, as related by Rev. Kenneth Hagin on one of his radio programs, demonstrates well this principle:

In the 1850’s, a slave woman watched in agony as her husband was led to the auction block. She knew her husband would be sold to another plantation and they would never see each other again. Life without him would be horrible, she thought.

As she stood there, in her hopelessness, wondering what she could do, she looked up toward heaven. “Lord, if I could help You right now as easily as You can help me, I would,” she prayed in a soft whisper.

As the slave husband slowly trudged up to the auctioneer, a young boy in the audience turned to his father. “Dad, could I have ten dollars to buy a slave?” he asked.

“Sure, son,” said his father, knowing that each slave would sell for hundreds of dollars. He handed his son the money.

“Let’s begin the bidding on this young, strong slave,” said the auctioneer. “Who’ll start it off?”

The young boy raised his hand. “I’ll bid ten dollars,” he said in a loud voice.

The crowd turned to look at the young boy and laughed in unison at the ridiculousness of the boy’s bid. Each shook his head, and yet, there were no other bids. The boy purchased the slave husband for ten dollars

Afterward, the young boy walked to the cashier, paid his money, signed the papers, and took possession of his slave.

Then, he took the slave husband over to the wife. “Here, you can have him. He’s yours,” he said to her.

…For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

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