WHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

There is a running joke in my family that I have a crush on theologian NT Wright. Anytime we are in a conversation and a certain truth is mentioned I interject and say "NT Wright says"...It causes quite a stir, eyes start rolling and the laughing begins. All joking aside I don't have a crush on NT Wright but it wasn't until I heard NT lecture on the book of Romans that my understanding of the message of the Kingdom of God started to invade my stinking thinking. 

Let me explain, as he expounded on the scriptures, I had read over and over again, it was like dots being connected and suddenly I started to see the totality of the message of the Kingdom of God.  My spirit leaped within me and when I heard statements like  "the new age had broken into the midst of this present age" and "we are called to be truly human after the model of the Messiah",it was as if I was born again, again. 

The Kingdom message has radically reordered how I see myself, unbelievers, the body of Christ and specifically all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ. I have laughed, cried and mourned as my life is being challenged with the most extraordinary message in the world.

I recently had a conversation with a friend on the topics of forgiveness, restoration, God's judgement and justices. As I sat and listened statements like these were said:

• I will forgive but won't forget.
• I believe in reconciliation but not necessarily the need for restoration.
• I am not the judge and God will judge those who have hurt me.

 I found myself agreeing with each of these statements. After all, I had said and heard them throughout the years.  
Hours after the conversation Kingdom thoughts started to invade my "stinking thinking".  "What if God's judgement is executed by an outpouring of love? Jeannette, will you be happy? What if justice comes in the way of blessing? What if Kingdom reconciliation is only seen in restoration? What if true forgiveness means covering over an offense as if it has never happened? 

Suddenly, I remembered the story of Jonah he went to preach reconciliation to Nineveh, they repented and God restored them. Then the Bible says, it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. What? The man of God brings the word of reconciliation and it angers him to see God's justice. God, challenged Jonah's stinking thinking. You can read it here;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A1-11&version=NIV
   
You may be saying this is Bible 101. Perhaps it is but honestly ask yourself have you wrestled with these kinds of questions? If God is creator and judge of all and we are His people, are we not to reflect his true character. Is HE not calling us to live in the  present as it will be when the Kingdom is fully restored? I believe He is and as we allow the Kingdom to burst into our lives, families and communities of faith we are proclaiming the story of our God.

Peace,
Jeannette
 

IN THE MIDST OF "DELUSIONAL" MEN

Years ago there was a young man in our fellowship that decided he was going to venture out and start his own business. Throughout his being a part of our community my husband had encouraged and supported this man in his endeavors. In spite of the fact that others considered him socially awkward my husband saw a man in need of affirmation and fellowship. One day this man came to our home offering his professional services and after some consideration we had to decline. The moment my husband let him know we were not interested his demeanor changed. Obviously offended he decided he was going to tell my husband what he really thought of our community and his pastor. Sitting in our living room he looked straight at my husband and said, "When are you going to realize you are delusional?"  He went on to question the call of God, in my husbands life, and "exhorted" him to give up.

Why did this man think my husband was delusional? Was it because our community was not in the hundreds or thousands? Could it be my husband did not fit a certain mold for today's pastor or leader? Was it that my husband never managed a successful business or served as an executive in a fortune 500 company? It was obvious his words, spoken from hurt and rejection, were meant to humiliate.

Since the month of October is pastor appreciation month I thought I would give a big shout out to all the men and women who have been told they are "delusional" for following the call of God. 

Just this past week I was in Kalamazoo attending a conference with pastors from around the country. During one of the breakout sessions I heard the stories of men and women who have given their lives to serve God and others. As these servant-leaders shared their stories, with authenticity and transparency, tears starting streaming down my face. But, why was I crying? In each story there was a common denominator that spoke to a deep place within my spirit. What touched me were the hearts of shepherds who are willing to give anything and everything to answer the call of God.

Story after story I heard the familiar burden of true shepherds. These are the unknown soldiers, serving in the trenches, who cannot abandon the call to serve. Many of these men ,according to western church thinking, fall into the category of delusional, unsuccessful, ill-equipped and failures. But I would suggest the following:

• These are the men who have prayed and pleaded, before God's throne, for our families. Would any person selflessly do this?
• These are the men who study God's Word so, above all else, our souls prosper. Is that not worth more than gold? 
• These are the men, with the eyes of a shepherd, who see us wandering before we realize we have strayed. Are not their words of counsel and wisdom worth paying attention too? 
• These are the men who in spite of adversity, disappointment and hardship endure to the end. Shouldn't we encourage and support them along the way?
• These are the men who give of their own limited funds to help you pay your bills when your in need. Did you know that?
• These are the men that rejoice with you when your child is born, you get a job promotion and your children marry. Ask yourself, when was the last time you rejoiced for your pastor?
• These are the men who will admit they are far from perfect and, at times, will make imperfect decisions. Are they not worthy of our mercy and patience? 
• These are the men that, when the phone rings at 5:30 am, are willing to get out of bed and meet with you as well as minister to your need. Would we do the same?
• These are the men that, when they are on vacation, will always answer your distressing phone call and never let it go to voice mail. Are we on call 24-7?

• These are the men that sacrifice their lives, and family needs, for a salary that rarely covers their living expenses. Would we do the same?

Holy, Holy, Holy......

When I was in my early twenties and began my search for truth and peace I lived several blocks away from Harvard University. The area was a hub for humanistic thinkers and a breeding ground to indulge in eastern philosophies, from restaurants to reading rooms, all doors led to “god’s love”.

For someone who was broken, depressed and desperately longing for love and peace it was like walking into a maze hoping to find the right path.  I remember someone recommending the Course of Miracles, they said this should help me find what I needed, forgiveness which would lead to love. The book was designed to help me achieve spiritual formation.

 One night my roommate invited me to go meditate with a group who promised we would feel love and peace like never before.  There we sat legs crossed eyes closed in front of some god chanting ohms for an hour. Needless to say I walked out the same way I walked in, empty, depressed and desperate. No love, no peace, no forgiveness.Why?

What I didn’t know was I couldn’t find or understand the true love of God until I had a divine encounter with the holiness of God.  Today, many false voices claim the love of god but only biblical truth declares a HOLY GOD.

The book of Isaiah tells us that the Prophet saw the King, the Lord of Host, and his kingdom, the King was on a throne and the train of His robes filled the temple. He saw the power of God and he saw the glory of God. He saw the angelic beings worshiping Him saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty…”

What was Isaiah’s response:

           

Isaiah 6:5

Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

What struck me about this passage and I would be bold enough to say struck Isaiah was that he saw that God was holy.  We all have heard so many teachings on the love of God but so few about the holiness of God.  I suggest that if we really meet GOD the first thing we will notice is He is a Holy God, unlike any other.  Can we truly understand the love of God without seeing his holiness?

 

What would you say is the most fundamental character of God? My answer, God’s holiness because the WORD tells us so.  When we see this Holy God our first reaction isn’t to run to Him, but run from Him.  We cry just like Isaiah and many others did, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Without an understanding of His Holiness how can we realize we need to be cleansed.

 I was searching for peace and love when I truly needed a revelation of the Holiness of God in my life.  If I had not encountered His Holiness I would have never experienced His love.

There is a divine order that starts with the realization that God is Holy. We cannot love God until we have seen Him as Holy.

This is the pattern of worship in the throne room "Holy,  holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come."

Let His Holiness do the cleansing so that Love can do the restoring. 

 

PEOPLE OF THE TRACKS

In my prior blog  “A tribute to Linda…Life Matters” I shared the true story of two lives that by the worlds standard seemed insignificant and quite ordinary. Shortly after, I received an email from Linda telling me how she and Al enjoyed hearing their story.  What I didn’t know about Linda is that she literally sacrificed her entire life, family and health for the “People of the Tracks”.  This “unknown” woman has lived her life doing extraordinary work in the ordinary of life.   

Do you remember the movie Civil Action starring John Travolta? It was a true story about a water contamination legal case in Woburn, Massachusetts. This is the exact town where Linda has been ministering to the homeless who lived by the train tracks all year round. 

Linda asked me if I could share the story of Captain Tom. He was another one of her homeless friends who always wore a captains hat, which is why he was known in the community as Captain Tom.  

Captain Tom like Al was another tormented soul that sailed the greater part of his life with a liquor bottle in this hand.  He might have started his journey differently than the others at the tracks but he eventually ended up at the same destination. It is told that Captain Tom was a “functioning” alcoholic able to work and be drunk at the same time.  He was familiar with the people of the tracks and lived a life of denial thinking he would never end up at that address.  As time passed his addiction consumed his entire life and he like the others had to dock his boat at the port of the train tracks.

For many years Linda witnessed to Captain Tom never missing an opportunity to tell him about the love of Jesus.  Week after week Linda invited him to church and finally one Sunday he hesitantly came along. The Lord touched Captain Tom and a seed of belief was planted in his heart.  He didn’t change he continued his life of addiction and approximately 15 years after that seed was planted Linda witnessed the fruit of her labor.  

Captain Tom ended up in a wheelchair when one day Linda saw him wheeling himself into the liquor store.  To his surprise Linda went after him and said, “Tom come to church with me the Lord does not want you drinking”.  

Eventually Captain Tom was so sick he lived his remaining years in elderly housing and Linda would visit him frequently. She would tell him how much the Lord loved him and she never quit inviting him to church. Until one day Captain Tom said if you cut my finger nails I will go to church with you. Of course, Linda was happy to fulfill his request.

Sunday came and as he sat in church he wept the entire service. The Pastor turned to him and said,” Sir, are you saved”? He looked at Linda and said, “What is he talking about?” Linda, said “Tom have you accepted Jesus as your Savior”?  That Sunday, Captain Tom received Jesus as his Lord adding his name to the Book of Life like many of the other “people of the track”.

A couple of weeks later Captain Tom was admitted to the hospital and Linda spent hours praying with him and assuring him he had nothing to fear.  As he laid in that hospital bed ready to cross into eternity he tightly held Linda’s hand as she told him about the beautiful journey he was going to embark. That night Linda received a call that Captain Toms soul had sailed across the horizon to be reunited with the many other "people of the track” that came to receive Jesus.

 I pray these stories have deepened your view of the value of a human soul as they have mine. For we serve a merciful God.

  Let’s us remember the words of King David in Psalm 136:

Who remembered us in our lowly state,
     For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies,
    For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh,
   For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
    For His mercy endures forever.

DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND

Nested in the history of Israel we find the story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. They were an abominable duo who did more to defile the land than any leaders before them.(1 Kings16:33). Their ungodly reign caused the faithful of God to be burdened with the consequences of their idolatry. Jezebel had the prophets of the Lord killed and was desperately seeking to kill the prophet Elijah. (1 King 18:13). Clearly, Ahab and Jezebel were no friends of God or of His people.

Such was the prosecution of the prophets that King Ahab had men hunt nations and kingdoms in search for Elijah to end his life.  The Bible recounts of a day when the Lord spoke to Elijah telling him to present himself to King Ahab. How would you like that calling? Here he had been protected of the Lord and know he is being asked to meet Ahab face to face. (1 Kings 18)

Can you picture this great confrontation? The arrogant wicked King sees Elijah and has the audacity to say  “O troubler of Israel”. Elijah responds with the boldness of a lion proclaiming Ahab is the trouble- maker because he has forsaken the Word of the Lord and followed the baals.  Elijah tells Ahab, gather the people of Israel and the prophets of baal and asherah to Mount Carmel.

 Elijah stands before the people and in a proverbial sense DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND saying:

 “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1st Kings 18:21).

 Now God’s people had not completely stopped following Him.  History tells us they tried to follow God and the false gods of the day. Elijah’s words were clear, concise and left no room for interpretation.

The Bible says that after Elijah spoke the people of God answered him not a word. 

Elijah than challenges the false prophets saying let’s make sacrifice, you call on your gods and I will call on the name of the Lord. The one who answers by fire HE IS GOD!

Baal didn’t answer then Elijah prepares the sacrifice and prays this powerful and amazing prayer:

"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."(1 Kings 18:36-37)

As Elijah finishes his prayer the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice down to the wood, stones and the dust.  The people of God saw this and fell on their faces saying:

“The LORD, He is God! The Lord He is God!

In an instant they went from faltering between two opinions to proclaiming HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD.

 GOD’S drawing a line in the sand is not about hate, intolerance, inequity, injustice, unfairness and single mindedness. It’s about LOVE, HIS LOVE for HIS people, plan and purposes. 

In His mercy, loving-kindness He revealed Himself in power so that Israel’s heart would turn to Him.

Have the voices of today brought you to falter? Has the accuser of the brethren caused you to doubt? Do you have little strength left?

The Lord is calling‑ rebuild the altar of your broken heart and tell the world:

              HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD…

Zoe Love

Ever so often my job requires me to travel to other offices within the company. As I pack my six year old Zoe sits by my suitcase and starts counting the days until my return.  This past week I returned from a two day trip and as I walked to the baggage claim there was Zoe with the genuine flames of love beaming out of her big beautiful brown eyes.  She ran towards me and blessed me with the biggest hug and kiss, as if I had been gone for years. Each kiss and hug was a reminder of her unconditional love, such was her joy she strolled my laptop bag to the car with one hand and tightly held my hand with her other hand. As we drove home she gave me a minute by minute status of all I had missed and in between each event she would say, Mom, I love you so much!

As the night came to a close I started meditate on “Zoe Love” suddenly I found myself praying and asking the Lord to teach me to love like Zoe loves. The beauty of that pray is that her name means “as God intended it to be” a simple prayer deeper than at first can be thought.

What, Zoe didn’t know was that I had endured some hardship while I was away and my heart was broken. Her acts of love where like a healing balm touching the depths of my soul. Just like the scripture says love drives out fear and it covers a multitude of wrongs. 

The apostle John left us many words of wisdom when it comes to the counsel of love. The same man who could call down fire upon men is also able to speak of the pure fire of love.  Beautiful it is when our flames become cleaner and our temper changes to compassion, unforgiveness to forgiveness, vengeance to mercy, frustration to peace.

Let’s acquire this love from the altar of the Almighty, we love because HE loved us first, nowhere else can this treasure be found. Though the journey at times can be painful I intend to advance towards the throne of God to understand the mystery and depth of this Love.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

I would like to introduce you to an old friend of mine. Many years ago He came into my life and totally rocked my world. He is that  friend that makes you feel larger than life. You know the kind that when you are with him it seems that you have no need of anyone else. He is that person who constantly pours wisdom into your life and is able to correct you without wounding you.  His words are like a healing balm soothing the soul.  The fruit of joy, peace and love are byproducts of our relationship.  Yes, He is the beloved Holy Spirit.

Several weeks ago I was sitting in my living room and our family was having a conversation about the importance of the Holy Spirit and His infilling.  As I was listening I asked this question, do you make an effort to commune with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis? I know we all pray and have relationship with the Triune God but I mean do you intentionally pray in the Spirit? The answers varied some said not as much as I use too, or no I don’t but I should.  The consensus was we should have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and like every relationship it should be cultivated.

After the conversation I started to go down memory lane and pondered on the day the Holy Spirit filled me to overflow. I was bound, weak and troubled and in an instance I was free, joyful and walking in a power I had never experienced before.  My spirit man was alive my prayer life excelled and walking in HIM was just easier than it had been before. 

Before you start running to conclusions and say she is one of those tongue  talking women I want you to know I am not necessarily talking about praying in tongues. We need to get out of our minds the baptism of the Holy Spirit equals tongues that is just an all to common misunderstanding. However, I will tell you I believe in the gift of tongues and I believe it is for today and I believe it’s for everyone.

The questions that I had to ask myself as I pondered on the day of my infilling were these:

1.    If the filling of the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father then why not receive it.  (Luke 11: 11-13Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a -snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

2.    If it’s a specific event as scripture is clear in telling us then I need to experience it.  (See Act 19 1-7, and that is just one of many)

3.    If being filled with the Holy Spirit thrusts us into relationship with Him then I must continue it.

This third point is what I want to emphasize if the infilling of the Spirit  thrusts us into relationship with Him then we must nurture it until we see Him face to face.

If you, like myself and some of the members of my family may have in one sense or the other neglected the relationship I want to encourage you to reignite the flame.  Or if you are reading this blog and you have no idea what I am talking about and need a life changing experience then ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill you.

Let’s pray and stand on the truth of the WORD of God,

“Fill me know afresh. Lord, wake up in me that which has grown faint. Revive my being with your refreshing power. In Jesus Name.”

I leave you with these beautiful words from CH Sprugeon :

Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. This is folly and ingratitude. He deserves well at our hands, for he is good, supremely good. As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah. Unmixed purity and truth, and grace is he. He is good benevolently, tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills; quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for the skies as a loving nurse fosters her child. How generous, forgiving, and tender is this patient Spirit of God. He is good operatively. All his works are good in the most eminent degree: he suggests good thoughts, prompts good actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, assists in good attainments, and leads to good results. There is no spiritual good in all the world of which he is not the author and sustainer, and heaven itself will owe the perfect character of its redeemed inhabitants to his work. He is good officially; whether as Comforter, Instructor, Guide, Sanctifier, Quickener, or Intercessor, he fulfils his office well, and each work is fraught with the highest good to the church of God. They who yield to his influences become good, they who obey his impulses do good, they who live under his power receive good. Let us then act towards so good a person according to the dictates of gratitude. Let us revere his person, and adore him as God over all, blessed for ever; let us own his power, and our need of him by waiting upon him in all our holy enterprises; let us hourly seek his aid, and never grieve him; and let us speak to his praise whenever occasion occurs. The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the Holy Ghost. He is so good and kind, that it is sad indeed that he should be grieved by slights and negligences. ^[1]

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.).

---

EMMAUS

Luke: 24 : 13-32

  

One of my favorite stories in the bible is when the two on the road to Emmaus encounter Jesus along the way without even realizing it.  Suddenly, I see a picture of my husband and I conversing about the recent events on the same road. Similar to the two on the road we experience this host of emotions that go from lack of hope, failure, to encountering a stranger along the way that may be a source of encouragement to finally realizing it was Jesus Himself burning our hearts with HIS TRUTH. 

They like us had such anticipation that Jesus was the one that was going to deliver them. Before the two could understand what was happening and who this stranger was they needed to be prepared.  What was the problem? Why couldn’t they see it was Him? Could it be that they like us  were reading the scriptures from the wrong point of view? Could it be that we are reading the scriptures through the pink lenses of post-modern Christianity and neglect to expound in order to understand where true deliverance comes from?  

When the Bible says Jesus interpreted to them the things about Himself he didn’t do it from a few verses or one or two books. What Jesus did was reveal the entire story from Moses to the Prophets. The bible says He expounded to them ALL the things concerning Himself.

 Could it have been that they initially didn’t recognize their deliverance because it came through suffering? Certainly, God would not deliver them through suffering or would He?

To me the story of Emmaus is an exhortation to pray that His presence invade us whenever we study the WORD. In turn we need to be prepared to receive revelation from Him and only with Him, on the road, will our hearts burn within us.

Can you remember the last time your heart burned within you when the scriptures where revealed to you?  If not I am inviting you come to the table of the Lord open the most wonderful book ever written and believe HE will burn your heart with refreshing truths and set you ABLAZE………

Timeless Words that Challenge US today.

 

I have been studying the book of Luke for the past several weeks.  As I reached the 13^th chapter I suddenly realized its tone takes a turn as Jesus gets closer and closer to Jerusalem.  Luke starts telling his audience about the miracle birth of Christ, the announcement of the Kingdom, instruction on loving our neighbors, grace and forgiveness.  Then suddenly, we start to hear a series of warnings that sound like this:

   Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees

   Watch out whatever you say in darkness will be heard in the light

   Make sure your dressed and ready with your lamps alight

   Beware there will be divisions amongst you

   Don’t’ be anxious for food, drink and clothing

   Fear the one who than can kill you and cast you into hell. ( in other words recognize the enemy)

   Narrow is the gate

I asked myself, what was Jesus doing as He was approaching Jerusalem? He was preparing his disciples for the journey ahead of them. We all have traveled and know preparation is essential for a successful journey.

Clearly, Jesus was preparing His disciples, as well as us, with a message of grace and love. However, he warned His disciples of what was to come and what would be required.

You can feel Luke’s sense of urgency; it’s as if Luke is repeating Christ’s WORDS of LOYALTY in the face of opposition. Just like Luke we the people of God need to proclaim LOYALTY to the KING and HIS WORD. I am not implying we walk around clothed in legalism. No, absolutely not! However, in a time when words matter we must be balanced in our teaching and understanding of the WORD of God.  There is a battle in our culture and faith to steal, kill and destroy all who desire to live and obey the WORD of GOD.  As true and loyal believers of Jesus Christ the warning is as clear today as it was in the days Luke was sharing the story.

Though we may be in the midst of the battle with trust in God and devotion to His WORD we can remain alert to the schemes of the enemy. Like Luke and the Apostles we the followers of Christ must stand and be loyal to the WORD. The WORD (Logos) is not an abstract concept. The WORD was with GOD and the WORD is GOD.

HE STILL VISITS

King David said, “What is man that you are mindful of Him and the son of man that YOU visit him?

On Friday, December 21, 2012 I had dream. In this dream there were several of my colleges friends. I looked around I saw two particular ladies conversing, as I glanced at them I heard the Lord say, one of them is barren go pray for her. My response was Lord I can’t tell her she is barren that would be devastating. Once I uttered those words I woke up and wondered what does this mean? I went to my facebook list of friends and there she was I had not seen nor spoken to this person in 20 years.

On December 24, 2012 after several days of pondering on the dream I decided I would message her. This is what I said:

Merry Christmas and I pray you have a blessed Christmas!

You may find this email a little strange and I would say to you read it and if you feel like it's a message for you receive it fully and if it's not then disregard it.

 

This past Friday night I had a very short dream. In the dream there were several of our college friends. As I looked around I saw you conversing with *****. When I saw you in the dream the Lord spoke to my heart saying that I should pray for you, and He said she is barren, so I responded Lord you know I can't say that to her. As soon as I said those words I woke up. I went about my day asking the Lord what it meant and if I should even write you. (I did pray for you!)

I know from just living life we can have barrenness in any area work, marriage, soul, spirit, finances, whatever it may be.

I want to encourage you if there is any area of barrenness, the Lord see's all things and He does concern HIMSELF with your affairs even if at times you may not feel nor see it in totality.

My prayer for you is that in this coming year the Lord will rain on any barrenness and that this coming year be a year of great productivity that you prosper spiritually and naturally. That from within your being the promises of God will resound, knowing that He is Faithful and He is the one who makes a way where there seems to be no way.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Lord Bless, The Lord  keep you and the Lord Shine His countenance upon you, and the LORD grant  you peace.

Merry Christmas,
Jeannette

On December 31, 2012 eight days later I received an email reminding me HE STILL VISITS.

Dear Jeannette –

I haven’t written you since I could not find the words to write. In this moment that I am writing you I saw a group of doves which I understand are a sign of peace and love. God knew how much I needed a sign that He has heard my prayers and that I am of value to Him.  For this reason I was paralyzed when I received your email.

This year in particular has been extremely difficult with many trails.

On Friday night the 21st I drifted to sleep, totally exhausted, after asking God to send me encouragement. I felt devoid of hope, will, spiritual strength and much more. Barren, as you said. So, I requested a sign – a message – from Him. I told Him I was afraid that for a while now I’d been missing or misunderstanding His messages and His direction for my life. I needed to hear from Him in a peculiar way. I begged Him to speak to me, to let His message be known in a way I would know it could only come from Him.

Then, I received your message on Christmas Eve. What a great gift, Jeannette! God answered me through you. I couldn’t think of a more peculiar way, at this time, to receive His message.

Your words touched my heart deeply. It felt as if you were God’s angel delivering his specific message to me. I felt that I mattered to Him – that he hasn’t forgotten about me.

Thank you for listening to God’s voice and following His direction. It made a difference in my Christmas as I face a new year filled with unknowns and challenges.

Of particular comfort was the bible passage you included. I have read Isaiah 43:19 over and over again since I received your message. It comforts me every time.

Thank you, Jeannette. God bless you and the work your family does for the Lord.

****************************************************************

Amazing, the same night she prays is the same night I receive the dream.  He is the LIVING GOD, who NEVER FORGETS AND STILL VISITS HIS PEOPLE.