Ears to Hear (Part 12)

Good Morning, 
  
    Isaiah 61:4 deals with restoration in our lives after we are in our divine placement, or positioning. This happens as we draw closer to God and as we yield to the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis.  This year is a set time for this to happen, so we must be sensitive to hearing the voice of the Lord and He will lead us by those still and peaceful waters of change.  Change means the action of making something different; and the fact of becoming different; a departure from the norm; consists in realizing a potential that is not real yet; a deviation from established character, sequence, or condition; alteration, modification, variation or mutation; passing from one state to another marked by radically different makeup, whether by sudden or gradual development; a transformation. Well, this is where we are in the divine placement of the Spirit. 
    Do you remember your first encounter with the Lord?  I do!  I was in a state of deep depression, because I could not see any purpose for my life.  I was married and had two children and was two months pregnant with the third.  We were having a hard time financially, making it with the two children and therefore I concluded we did not need another.  Now, when I look back at my hard, callous heart I can't even believe it was me.  Well, we got the money together to go and have an abortion.  It set off a chain reaction in my life of devastation.  I begin to spiral out of control with memories that I'd tried all this time to just deal with.  I was molested by several male relatives during my childhood, a cousin, an uncle and my stepfather.  This was not a secret to anyone I knew, for I told everyone, trying to get somebody to help me.  It started from about the time I was nine years of age.  My parents dealt with my cousin, but the other situations started later.  My parents divorced and then it began again with my uncle and later after my mother remarried , my stepfather and his brother.  I grew up thinking that I had done something to cause these things, like most victims of abuse.  It traumatized me as a young married woman.  My husband was as understanding as he could be.  It is hard to understand the depth of the ugly root of these things unless you have been there yourself.  He does deserve his own medal for loving a crushed and devastated soul.  Well, after the abortion, all of these issues came flooding to the forefront of my mind.  I started praying for help. I needed to be healed for my two boys, they deserved a whole mother.  My husband deserved a woman who wasn't all broken.  I cried out,"God, if you are real, help me." I could not go on in the state I was in.  He came and delivered me.  That's a whole different story. 
    In Isaiah 61:4, it says, " And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations."  I have experienced the renewing of the devastation of many generations.  I stopped the familiar spirit of 'molestation and incest' from any future generations in my family.  When I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I soon found out about my authority in Christ and that it applied to my past, present and future.  As I grew in Him I took authority over those "devastations of many generations.'  I applied and still apply the Word over my children and my children's children.  After I was born-again, I had another child, a daughter.  I received mercy and forgiveness, for aborting a baby, God is worthy of my praise!  I hate that selfish spirit of abortion.  It is a murderer, but I am so thankful for my Redeemer and my Salvation.  He restores everything that the enemy takes from us.  He renews those things that have devastated our generations and set up a new paths for future generations, if we will yield to His positioning and placement.  Desolation and devastation are similar in meaning, it means—–a place of astonishment (in the negative sense) to lay destitute, to lay waste, to ravage, to destroy improvements, to bring havoc, and to destroy the good that was intended. Well, our God has turned what the enemy meant for harm, to shame, to destroy, to devastate, and to ruin us, into our good.  He delights in taking the very things that the enemy tries to give us as, 'crooked things'; our loving Lord uses, by straightening those places out, makes us whole and then gives us His voice on it. 
     Whatever state you are in now, God is still the same Redeemer, Deliverer, Salvation, Restorer and Healer.  He is still the same, He will restore, deliver, redeem, save and heal you.  He will not let you down.  Let Him position you for the great plan of good that He has for you.  The story of your life does not end where you are today, it could be a new beginning to a  great 'love story', that does end with the famous words "and they lived happily ever after." 

Love,

Pastor D.
                                                                                           

Ears to Hear (Part 11)

Good Morning, 
  Isaiah 61: 4-7, were the scriptures that quickened my heart this morning.  As we look at it together, let's keep in mind our shifting is for divine placement.  Proper alignment is necessary for us to fulfill God's purpose and plan.  Isaiah says this, " And they (you) will rebuil the ancient ruins, the old waste places in your lives, and you will raise up the former desolations, and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" {verse 4}  "Instead of your former shame, you shall have double (two-fold) recompense; instead of confusion (dishonor & reproach), you and your people shall rejoice in your portion: therefore in your land you shall possess the double (what you had forfeited); everlasting joy shall be yours." {verse 7}  Wow! This word is all about shifting and transitions taking place in our lives, for proper alignment and positioning. Earlier in this chapter Isaiah talks about exchanging, 'beauty for ashes', ' the oil of joy for mourning', and 'the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness'. I would like to highlight for us today that we will be able to rebuild the ancient ruins. The old places that we can build again, those places that have been torn down. Ancient denotes old; having had an existence of many years; various things that have had continuous existence of which for such a period that gives rise to a presumption of legal validity. Ancient ruins can be things (old familiar situations, circumstances,places etc.) that think that it has a legal right to still be in our lives.  It keeps cropping up in our new life.  We have to declare to these 'various things' that they have no more legal right to be in our lives because we have shifted.  Ruins or wastes denotes places of decay, desolation,those things that have collapsed, places that have been damaged or destroyed, wrecked or irreparable.We all have things or places in our lives that we came to Christ with that sound just like that. Still today the ancient ruins try to hinder our divine positioning. You must take the anointing and annihilate and destroy those ancient ruins.  Begin a rebuilding project with the power of God's Word, the diligence of prayer and the consistency of worship.  Refuse to allow the old and the ancient to be attracted to you any longer, keep your self oiled with fresh anointing. Whenever you see these old ruins, pray. "Beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; Stop the boomerang now!                             
  
                                                   Love, 
                                                   Pastor D. 


Transformation3


Emotions; Emotions

No one speaks their emotions.  People wear them as pieces of clothing.
You wear anger and hatred like gloves on your fist.
You wear guiltiness on your back like a jacket.
You wear your past like shoes that wear year after year.
When your are in love it is like a blindfold over your eyes.
You wear sadness like a mask on your face.  
You are a very strong person if you can take those pieces of clothing off.
Only your Lord and Savior can remove your past and bad relationships.

Lovin' it.

Poem by Breanna Berry

Ears to Hear (Part 10)

Good Morning,

The Lord says, all this time I've heard the cries for more of My glory and My presence.  I have seen the longing of your heart for more of My heart.  To love Me first, has become your desire.  I have brought you to My banqueting table.  I have opened doors to make you feel welcome to feast from all that has been prepared for you.  All of heaven is fully available to all that seek Me afresh and anew.  Receive!  For those who have been crushed by the weights of living in this worlds system, where you feel your hope has been dashed against the times of life, I say look up.  I have not forgotten you, your help is on the way.  Your latter days will far outshine any former days of darkness.  You have endured by fighting the great fight of faith while you cried out to Me to have a refreshing of our first encounters.  I shall do even better than that!  I will awaken you with songs of love that will revive you and quicken you with new strength.  You will hear My voice in the night season, to direct you with counsel.  I will keep you tight in the palms of my hands, I will not let you go.  I will restore your light with greater burning and your life with greater zeal.  I have listened to your heart, as you silently asked Me for deeper encounters with Me.  You have said that you really want to know Me.  Well, I will give you that request and much, much more.  I will hearken to the diligent desire of your pure heart, I will answer you.  Look for Me in the days ahead.  I will make Myself known to you, My beloved.

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear (Part 9)

Good Morning,

    Every transition requires adjustments.  Adjust means to adapt, to rearrange for improving performance, to conform so as to make more effective, to correct errors for better operation and to change the position.  An example would be like changing jobs, you would have to adapt to your new employer's mode of operating.  Think about the change of the season.  Right now we are transitioning into autumn from summer, we try to adapt our clothing, our temperatures inside, even some of what we eat changes.  We are trying to improve our enviromental conditions so that we can be more effective by adapting to the change of the season.  That is why our loving heavenly Father is causing transition in our lives, to improve, to rearrange, to make more effective and to correct errors for better operation, most of all to change our position.  Isaiah 45:2 and 3 says, "I will go before you and level the mountains (those high, steep and difficult places; those things that you have spoken to) and make the crooked places straight (those places that have come by dishonesty or fradulently; things that were brought through swollen-prideful means); I will break in pieces the gates of brass (the openings and closings that affect us that are impudent and resistant to changing) and cut in sunder the bars of iron (those things that restrict, barriers or boundaries that bind, confine or restrain); And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who call you by name.  Treasures of darkness could mean the depository where you've had misery, destruction, ignorance, sorrow and wickedness bringing times of obscurity when you had depravity of sight or trouble from imperfect vision or understanding.  He is going to put those things in your hands now and you will have greater insight.  Hidden riches in secret places witll take care of the rest of your transition.  It means a secret, valuable storehouse or buried money.  Treasures are being brought forth, things that you could not see in you will be uncovered!

    I decree and declare that dreams that have died are now being resurrected in greater and stronger details than before.  Shifting and transitioning has brought you into the right position for this raining windows and open doors.  I decree gates that were closed are now swinging wide.  Gates and doors that were open, that should have been closed are now sealed.  Your way is like a raised highway, with clear and shining light.  I decree and declare fresh anointing to flow over every area that is being adjusted.  Targeted prophetic words, words spoken from the Father's heart with your lips; power words that you will skillfully hit what you are aiming for in your life.  I decree that this season of change will advance upon the people of God in the areana of technology, inventions and in creativity.  There will be breakthroughs in wisdom and revelations into the mysteries of heaven that will greatly benefit the earth.  There is a wave, a shift that will begin to flow like a great deluge of refreshing water.  Look for it, call for it!  Decree it over your life and your family.  Families will be supernaturally restored.  Walking on this highway will give you insight to all of your relationships.  God is now saying to decree, "I hear the sound of rain, it is the rain of change."  Let's line our words with God.  He is definitely perfecting those things that concern us.

Love,

Pastor D.

    

Ears to Hear (Part 8)

Good Morning,

    I read a story yesterday about a young boy who found a cocoon, and seeing how hard the insect struggled on the inside, he cut the cocoon open, thinking he would help the bug escape.  Instead, the butterfly died.  A butterfly expert told him that it is the struggle within the cocoon that gives strength to the butterfly and enables its wings to grow and develop.  Only then can it emerge and go free.

    If God cares so much for butterflies, to give to them a covering while they transition, I know He covers us as we change.  Is. 41:10 says, "Fear not, (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strenghten and harden you to difficutlties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice."

    Last week we saw that Is. 41: 18 and 19 says, "Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold I am doing a new thing!  We saw that we have to forget the past in order to move on to the new.  New means something fresh, existing for a short time, recently manifested, recently recognized or experienced, different or distinguised from what has previously existed, being other than the former of the old.  Are you expecting the new?  As you struggle to exit your cocoon of transition, remember you are developing wings so that you can soar higher in Christ than you have ever did before.  You are actually growing during this transition at an astounding rate.  I like what God said in Is. 41:10…"I will strengthen you and harden you to difficulties.."

    This "hardening" us to difficulty, is also where we receive strength to come forth from our God-given cocoon.  Harden means to make tough, to strengthen or confirm in disposition, feeling or a course of action, to make bold.  You see we become tougher and stronger to outer circumstances and easily pliable to inner change.  "I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,  thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jer. 29:11)  So, no matter what (if you stay in Him), you're outcome will always be better than your "start" into change.  We are getting ready to exit through transition, strong and prepared for the new.

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear (Part 7)

Good Morning,

    This week I accidently locked myself out of my house at 8:15 at night.  My daughter-in-law was leaving my house at the same time so I was able to use her cell phone.  I called around to see if I could get someone to come who had an extra house key.  I did!  Immediately I began to laugh at myself.  I was so busy trying to get a moth off of my door that I closed it barefoot and all.  There I was outside of my cozy familiar night time scene.

    After the laughter died down I sat down on the porch and looked up at the beautiful night skies.  The moon was full and there were soft puffy clouds moving across the sky.  I had been forced into a time of "change".  I actually sat down and enjoyed a moment in life.  I am usually busy all the time, even when I could be still and enjoy a quiet moment, I choose to stay revved up until exhaustion takes me down. 

    God loves to take every day living and reveal to us His Word.  Here is what was uncovered to me.  He said that in some cases in order for change or thansition to take place He literally has to "lock" us out of our familiar comfort zones to bring us into the "unfamiliar" surroundings where our change can proceed.  How will you respond when that happens?  Will you stomp, rant, rave and rage when change begins to demand you to transition?  Or will you stand and trust God to bring you out on the other side?  Phillipians 4:11 says, "..I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am."  State means circumstances, situations or conditions.  When you are taken outside of your "norm", do you remain calm and undisturbed?  Are you the person who "comes unglued"?  We must allow the Lord to have control, instead of feeling the need to be the one in control (or the one that regulates and directs the means and methods of operations, conditions, circumstances or situations).  I'll let you in on something; no matter how many people or things you may have controlled in your life before, you cannot control or manipulate God.

    In my mini transition, I was able to find the good in it.  I was able to look up and take delight in the beauty of God's night life.  It was a rare occurence.  The season of change is upon us, we must see the good that God is doing in our lives and appreciate the attention that He takes in detailing every aspect of the transition.  The old Debra would've cried, stomped and felt robbed of her important time that had been wasted and would have never sat down quietly and enjoyed the night.  Transition or change had been going on for awhile on the inside of me.  Romans 12:2 says "…but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."  He is requiring you to yield to the transition that He has in His plan for you.  Yielding is major!  Yield means to give your right to another, to give up possession of upon claim or demand, to surrender or relinquish to the control of another, to submit readily, to hand over as something owed, to bow, defer to, to relent willingly not by force.  Yield to transition!

    "Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 41:18,19).  Will you give heed to the new thing (transition/change)?  Change is springing forth, will you even know it?  Has your change started?  Have you been resisting it all along?  Don't kick against the pricks.  Rest, rest in the arms of our omniscient Father, He knows what He is doing.

Love,

Pastor D.

The Spirit says:

Intimacy is what I long for from you.  Intimacy is born from worshipping Me.  Tender moments together breeds trust.  Trust causes Me to share My secrets.  As you come closer to Me, I desire to lavish you will of Me.  Intimate relationship brings revelations.  When you worship with an intimate heart, I take the written Word that you could not understand nor live and breathe life into it and you receive fresh bread from heaven, that lives through you.  John the beloved entered into a high place because he desired more and more of Me.  I brought him up higher to see and hear things whispered from an intimate time.  He knew insights to Me, he knew Me, just as We desire you to know.  Deep is calling unto deep, come stand under My waterfall, so that I can flow over you in intimate revelations.  I am open to those who draw close to Me.  The more you love Me, the more you will want to love me more.  I am that good.  I will take you to a high place where you are able to stand in the days of evil, you will be inaccessible to the schemes of the evil one, you will be hidden in my love.  The strongest force ever known, nothing can penetrate my loves here.  Come away to Me, my love is your covering, worship is what true lovers do.          

Ears to Hear (Part 6)

Transition in part means to "let go" of the old in order to get to the new.  Are you ready to let go of old hurts, disappointments, regrets, mistakes, misunderstandings, lies, abuses, habits and anything that you are still carrying around in your heart or memory?"  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead: I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us" (Phil 3:13).  All of those things in our past are hinderances, snares and obstacles.  If we don't cast them out like the garbage that it is, they will grow like cancer to form a "stronghold", a pattern of thinking, reasoning, responding and feeling that will hinder our walk with the "lover of our soul."  As He tries to get us to step up highter (where He will be able to reveal more to us) those "old things" will always prevent us.  This is demonstrated perfectly for us in the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 15; "take for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards; for our vines have tender grapes."  As the "beloved" and the "lover" are going up higher places together, foxes try to attack her growth, which is new and tender (something that could easily be destroyed).  Foxes are burrowers, they snuggle up underground, they hide in passages underneath, tunneling in hidden places.  That is exactly what all of those things do that we keep holding on to in our minds and hearts.  They burrow down deep and pop out at the most unexpected time.  You know, like when you're trying to love, be kind, tender, forgiving, start fresh.  Any attempt to move up closer to God, up comes the flood of memories or maybe it's just that undesirable response that pops up. 

Well, we know what to do, so let's just do it!  It is for our good and our growing!  Let's toss out the trash!  Let's dig down and clear out the passageway of our hearts and minds.  Let us give the Word of God some ground to be rooted in.  2 Corinthians 10:4 and 5 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (carnal), but they are mighty through God for the overthrow (pulling down) and destruction of strongholds, casting down imaginations (arguments, theories and reasoning's in our thought life) and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and bring every thought (all the little foxes) captive to the obedience of Christ."  Our first weapon that we will use against the "foxes" and the "old things" will be forgetting.  Forget is to lose the remembrance of, let go from from the memory, be unable to think or recall, to lose the power of use, to disregard intentionally, to become oblivious to.  Are you ready for transition?  Then let's forget the past, so that we can press on!

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear (Part 5)

Good Morning,

Today I will share a word that was spoken to me this Wednesday in prayer.  I thought as I wrote what the Spirit was saying that I would float out of the presence of the Lord and from that moment on everything would be super easy.  You can imagine what happened;  I was cursed at by someone behind me on the road because I didn't speed up so that they could get the light that was turning red, a loved one called me to give me a red-hot piece of their mind, I had to spend money on something that I had not planned on and I had to stand and believe the word of God for my healing.  This glorious word that I received that morning began to lose it's power and meaning, I'd almost forgotten the meaning of change and transition.  Change – making or becoming different; a departure from the norm, a deviation from established character, sequence or condition, a passing from one state to another marked by radically different makeup or operation.  Transition – a passage or movement from one state, mode, condition or place to another, in which a shift is gradually effected.  We are in a season of change and transition, but remember the enemy of our soul is still trying to prevent our change.  Mark 4:15-20 reminds us how the enemy tries to steal the word that was sown in our hearts, no seed, no production.  We must give more thought and attention to every word spoken by God if we are to yield to His changes in our lives.  Mark 4:24, "…the measure of thought and study you give to the truth your hear will be the measure (of power and knowledge) that comes back to you…".  For those who have ears to hear, listen up:

The Spirit says:

It has always been My desire that My children would allow Me to lead them.  They would find that I will always bring them beside the still and peaceful waters, even though the crushing waves would try to knock them over.  I would cause them to truly know peace as they go in and through the storms of life.  Instead of expecting Me to fit into their plans and purposes, they would find out how great and elaborate My plans are for them.  If only they will let Me lead.  They would find fresh new things going on in Me at all times.  For I am the quickening, you know, the life-giving, light-giving One.  I bring a fresh new expectancy to everything I touch.  You would never tire of Me.  I am so exciting!  I bring new surprises every morning, if you would open your eyes to behold my wonders.  Look around you at the world I made for your enjoyment.  There is always something new and fresh going on around you all the time, but very few catch it.  It is never "boring" or "uneventful".  Yet in My house My people have let their love and their relationship with Me become tedious, uneventful and sometimes boring.  I am not the one who others have portrayed Me as.  There is so much more to Me than your imagination could every conceive.  I have longed for you to desire to really get to know Me better than you do, crossing over the boundaries that was set to keep you from immeasurable pleasures and limitless joys.  I have longed for you to come up higher, so that you can hear and see better.  I want you to let Me train you how to flow with Me in the days that lie ahead.  I want to teach you how to effectively flow in My gifts that I have given to you, so that you would have clearer insight into Me and My best.  Thoroughly enjoying life and all that I have lavished upon you.  Get ready, for the process has begun to awaken you to life and living it fully to Me.  My church that will allow Me to lead are up for exciting times ahead!  My glorious church is straining their necks to hear and see.  Such singing and dancing in My house has never been heard to the degrees that are coming; chains breaking, healings breaking forth and restoration flowing like a river.  The times that were spent in weeping will be multiplied into great laughter.  Great peace and great joy will be known by all who stay in My house.  You will be taught how to enjoy to the fullest, all I have for you.  Yes, I am aware of all that you face in this life, challenges, trial and tests.  You will not grow weary through these things, you will find a new perspective from Me.  As you come up higher you will see things differently and obtain greater and clearer knowledge.  You will begin to know.  Come up higher!

Love,

Pastor D.

Scripture Reference: Ps. 126, Jn. 10:10, Eph. 3:20, Ps. 23, Is. 61:7

Artistic Gifts from God

Good Morning,

Here is the Word of God in artistic form. Poetry and art given by two "daughters of Z"; Perinda Lowe and Adrienne Berry. God desires for us to become a "whole body" utilizing every gift, talent and ability for the fullness and the maturing of His body. Romans 12:4-6; "For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs and members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use. So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them…"
Enjoy, receive, grow, be healed and set free as you enjoy the gifts that are being used for your growth.

Love,
Pastor D.

The Change of Life

What does it mean to change anyway?
Is it something you feel?
Is it something you say?
Is it something that you can wish for or away?

To change, to transform
To become something else
To leave behind all the former parts of yourself?

Some say, that change is good
To just go with the flow
And not to resist
Or rock the boat

Some ancient cultures hold onto their way
And they’re still the same as they were then, today

Change is the agent that rips your soul out
It’s what makes you fear
It’s what makes you doubt
It’s the something that most never figure out

Change

Change is the anger that drives you to act
It’s the fire that burns
It makes gossip fact

Transformation is swift
Like the flick of a blade
Shining and gleaming with a hint of rage

Ready to take and ready to steal
Ready to give and ready to heal

Change is a pain
Like you’ve never known
That squeezes your heart
Until you’re alone

It’s the ripping apart of your family or friend
It’s that feeling
You just want it all to end

Turmoil, hurt, pain, and grief
They all walk with change
While you look for relief

Change is that thing that you’ve always feared
That you looked for to happen
But fought it with tears

I had cried out for change
But I didn’t think that You’d hear
Change me, O God
I whispered in Your ear

And you started to work
And my world started to crumble
You searched my ways
For things you could humble

And the process was hard
Making stone into clay
My life became darker
The sun went away

You said there’d be shaking
And every moveable thing
Got torn away as I stood in Your rain

My heart broke
And You spoke again
You called me Your child, Your lover, Your friend

How God, could You even say that to me?
Did You see what just happened?
You let these things be?

One by one, they left me
As I cried out to You
And You did nothing
Of what I thought You would do

They beat me, they hurt me
I cried out in pain
As the world turned against me
Again and again

God, don’t You love me?
God, don’t You care?
How much more do You think I can bear?

It was quiet
But I was desperate
And I searched for You
For Your love, Your voice
That touch I once knew

And I started to hear
And You started to speak
Past my pain and my suffering
And the darkness, so bleak

And you rolled the tape
When You heard my cry
When I asked for change
And You heard from the sky

And You started working out things in my life
That were holding me back
And getting me off my off track

And You took them from me
Per my request
And You started moving things
Where they fit best

And I started feeling the pain of the growing
Which started blocking the love You were showing

You are that change
That one that we fear
Will rip us away
From what we hold dear

Transforming us into what?
And since we don’t know
It halts us from moving
So, that we can’t grow

But that one small prayer
That fell from my mouth
Was enough for You
To take control of my doubt

The pain that I felt
As I was transforming
That sense of dread
That led me through mourning

Was replaced with a strength
That I’d never known
That started to grow
From the seeds You had sown

The shaking You spoke of
Put me in a place
Where I started to walk
In the fullness of grace

Not relying on man
Or woman or child
Every false idol
Was left in a pile

Change is a thief and bandit all right
But it stole my fear
And renewed my fight

It’s that process
Of a slave becoming the free
When the ugly
Becomes the picture of beauty

There’s a shifting
When the bound is let loose in the streets
When the one that was forgotten
Does amazing feats

Change is that suddenly
That was always in the works
Change is the life
On the other side of the hurt

Change is the hope
We always crave for
It’s the future, the healing
It’s the open door

Change is our Savior
Redeeming the time
Making us into
A people that shine

Propelling, moving, changing, growing
Pushing you forward
Without you ever knowing

Making you do
What you thought you never could
Making you love
Like you thought you never would
Higher heights, deeper depths
Closer than your next breath

Transformation, the word is a beautiful thing
When you should be crying, you can now sing
When you should be crumbling
You can now soar
When you should be dying
There is joy to your core

There’s a peace to the saying
That this too shall pass
And while our world keeps changing
God’s love with last

Poem by Perinda Lowe © 2008

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Artwork by Adrienne Berry © 2008

Prophetic Word – October 1, 2008

Good Morning,

Today I will be relaying the prophetic word that was given to our church, Hesed Ministries.  Before I do, let me remind you of two important biblical facts that give us a look into the heart of God and His infallible character.  First, God always, always, warns His people of impending disaster…if you have ears to hear.  Listen to what He said to the prophet Ezekiel; "Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at My mouth and give them warning from me." (Ezekiel 3:17).  The second thing we must understand that even a nation that has been founded on God’s word and then began to serve other gods and turn its back to God, then that nation will receive the harvest of that seed that was sown.  God chose Israel as the "apple" of His eye, He loves Israel.  Yet, when they rejected Him for other gods and refused His way, He allowed them to go through captivity and even having them lose their land.  It hasn’t changed His love for them, but their disobedience brought them a harvest of great devastation.  When they cried out to God with a pure heart of repentance, he heard and began a process of restoration.  Remember this as you read the following, and keep in mind the account of Jonah and Nineveh.  Jonah warned Nineveh of what was going to come upon them because of their sin, yet Nineveh repented and God showed Mercy.  Hear what the Spirit is saying!

Let us cry out between the porch and the altar for our nation.

The Prophetic Word:

Listen and take heed!  It will be as in one moment the sun is shining and in the very next as dark clouds looming.  Darkness is violently trying to overtake the light, but the light will prevail in greater force.  For this nation has pushed the Almighty to the side.  Yet, I have some who refuse to bow their knees to Baal.  They are the reason for my long-suffering, My bride, My church, those who love Me so deeply.  I have been calling for my bride, the church, to purge, purify and prepare for her soon coming King.  Some have not heeded My voice at all and it has been as if I am crying in the desert.  They refuse to draw close enough to hear Me.   Still some are sensing an urgency, even some who have left My house are coming back for they sense a drawing to Me.  For those who have been close, I hear your cry and you are why I am stirring Myself up.  Some of my children have become distant and hard-hearted, and I continue to pour oil and fire to aid and assist them to stay interested in Me.  They have fallen and deceive themselves into thinking they stand.  I am crying, "awaken and stir yourself up to Me." I have been the one upholding preserving, and sustaining you from the evil around you.  Our enemy is running with vengeance to try and deceive this nation.  I need My people to be alert!

I have held My peace and soon I will let go, because of the cries of My little ones.  In my house there will be only holiness. This is a time for a repentant heart, My people should be crying out on behalf of this nation.  Otherwise this great nation will be brought to shock and horror, for their acts of discarding Me, their only hope.  They have built their own gods and they have become their own source.  Shortly, there will come a great shaking that will begin in the northeast which will be duplicated in the west.  It will cause fear and dread in mens’ hearts, but not for long.  They will turn and curse Me, for their trust is in themselves.  I will allow them to have what they have spoken against Me.  They will reap sorrow, because they continually reject my mercy.

My children who have prepared themselves by praying in the Spirit and building themselves up in their faith, the Spirit has brought them to My feet to learn My voice and the voice of My word.  They have hearkened to My call and renewed their first love.  They shall be strong and victorious, they will overcome darkness and shine forth, they will be radiant, for their hope is in Me.  They will be brought forth as pure luminous gold.  I will not disappoint her, for she is Mine, and nations will look and see My glory through her.

Those who have ears to hear, hear clearly.  Prepare with a time of fasting, prayer,and worship.  Desperately seek Me, for your living does depend upon it.  I will hearken to your voice, for you have hearkened to Mine. You have made Me your refuge and I will come and cover you.  I will reveal Myself to you as El-Shaddai, the Almighty God who takes care of His own and supplies needs and gives hearts desires.  For you there will be an everlasting sun even through the days of darkness.

Love,

Pastor D.