Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Time

During our busy days, if we think about time we think I need more time, I am almost out of time. If we cannot sleep, we think about all the time we have been unable to sleep. How often do we think about the Lord's timing?

April 8, 2008 a friend of mine received a wonderful message from the Lord about time. That same day, I was reading about Jesus and His appointed time. Since then, much of what I have read in the Bible has been about time and seasons.

So many times the Lord reveals His plan to us, He tells us He wants us to do so and so in ministry, but we do not wait for His perfect timing or as Norma Dearing says, His anointed and appointed time.

Look at how we may try to push it when gardening. We try to plant pansies to early in the fall and they croak on a hot day or we try to plant vinca too early in the spring and a cold night causes them to dampen off. The timing/season was not right, as a result we wasted money and time.

The next time you know you are in the Lord's will, pray about the timing. It's so much easier to do it in His time than fix the holy mess created when we go off 1/2 cocked and not in His perfect timing.

Speaking of timing, I wonder why the gigantic roach had to crawl through my dining room during Bible Study last night. We are studying the Psalms of Ascent. We almost ascended...

The Bible says:

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope

I am not sure who suffered more, me or the roach.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

I did rejoice after I hit it with a giant shot of Raid.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Directions

My cousin Brian and his wife Cheryl were in town for a couple of days to see my father. It was great spending time with them. They were driving back to IN on Saturday and were leaving the same time I was and would drive through Lufkin. I teased them and told them if they saw a dark, blue Mercury in their rear view mirror to get out of my way.

I had to stop at an Exxon Station and ask directions to the church, I missed the street after I exited the highway. The cashier gave me directions. She said go this way and pointed left, then go through a few lights, then you will see a mall, pass it and another light, then turn left, then turn right. It's about 3 miles maybe 4 miles from here. I must confess I was just a tad bit confused because she didn't know the name of any of the streets.

I think sometimes we pray to God like that. Hey God, do this, and this, and this, and that, and You know what I think this and I would really like that. Aren't you glad He's never confused and aren't you really glad He never answers in such a vague way....Hey Annette, I think in my word I mention something about being a shepherd and I think I might lead you to still waters. He is crystal clear in His word, He speaks to us through it, that's why a verse you have read 100 times suddenly jumps out at you. He may speak to you through a sermon, a hymn or worship song, a friend my confirm something you have pondered in your heart. My advice is for you to listen, when you listen you will hear Him.

There were many answered prayers yesterday. People set free by our glorious Savior. Most people left with such joy. I made a new friend named Jan. What a heart for the Lord she has!

Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

Friday, April 25, 2008

Healing Weekend

I am off to Lufkin to be a prayer minister at an Order of St Luke prayer conference. This will be my 3rd trip to Lufkin in the last 3 or 4 years as a prayer minister, I am looking forward to seeing what the Lord has done up there.

Norma Dearing will be the speaker. She is a powerful woman of God, a gifted author, and a radio host. Her program The Healing Touch is nationally syndicated. I listen to the show on the Net, the next day. It airs 11p to 1a Central Time Sun through Thurs.

So many hurting people call for prayer and then call again with praise reports. I cry one minute and praise the Lord the next minute.

People say it takes a lot of guts to believe for healing. I know what they mean, but it's not true because believe me, it is all Jesus. He does the healing, we do the praying. We stand on covenant promises and His Word.

By His stripes we are healed, not by my stripes. The Lord God Almighty has the same resurrection power today He had when He raised our beloved Redeemer from the tomb. Call on Him, He's never too busy or too tired.

One of my favorite Bible passages is about John reclining at the table next to Jesus, can you imagine reclining with Jesus. I think if we reclined more with Jesus we would be physically, spiritually, and mentally much more whole because we would practice His presence in the words of Brother Lawrence.

Take some time this weekend and recline with Jesus.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Enthroned in Heaven - Update

We talk about how big God is, we say Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but do we in anyway comprehend the impact of those statements? Or do we say them without thinking and they have almost become a cliche in our lives.

As humans, it's hard to comprehend God our Father, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, the Lord God Almighty is in a covenant through Christ Jesus with us. It is hard to grasp how complete His love and care is for each and every 1 of us. We are all the apple of His eye.

If we really believe God is enthroned in heaven, on HIS (emphasis mine) throne, then we must acknowledge He is enthroned above our circumstances. He is enthroned over my dad's health matters. He is enthroned over your finances. He is enthroned over the USA. The Bible tells us He is so big, He must stoop down to look at the heavens and the earth. Cast your cares on Him and don't take them back. Let Him be God and handle it for you.

Let the following Scriptures build your faith:

The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.

But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

As some of you know, I have been attacked by satan via my insurance company overcharging me...they paid my doctor for something they denied in January. Today I received a refund check from my doctor. A refund I would have never guessed was due to me. When I said I was loosing the power of Jehovah on the insurance company last week, I was not kidding.

God is enthroned over my insurance company! Again I say, He is enthroned over every part of our lives, let go and Let Him be God.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Presence of God

Have you ever been in worship when the the presence of the Lord is so strong you can barely stand? The anointing is so thick, you want to weep? Compassion for someone comes on you so strongly that your hands heat up with the fire of God in them and you know you are to pray for someone or maybe several people?



Many times in that atmosphere people are healed before they come up for prayer.


Have you ever been healed or know someone who has been healed when they receive Communion? It happens.


Sometimes I wonder how many Christians expect God to show up at church and do anything. How many Christians think church is all about clothes, make up, committees, and luncheons. (I am not saying go to church without make up or clothes and I am not saying to ban committees.)


God loves us. He wants us saved, healed, and delivered. He does not want us to be the walking wounded just struggling to get by in life. We are victors not victims. Let's take a look at few verses from the Bible pertaining to what God wants to do for us:



The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.



For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility

When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Jesus never said I don't feel like healing people today, come back tomorrow. God never said, oh well this is Monday, I do not plan to prosper you and not harm you today. Call me Wednesday.

He didn't say the Blood of Christ is available one day a week so we are near to Him and reconciled to Him one day a week.

These are just a few of the many things He promised us. Seek His word, seek His presence, sit with Him a while. He'd like that because Jesus loves you...

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Weekend

The Lord showed up in a big way on Friday night and Saturday. Many people were healed physically and emotionally. Sunday, people wept after Jack preached the sermon.

Jack, Anna Marie and I prayed with people after they received Communion today. An adult woman who has attended and served in her church all her life, asked Jesus into her heart. Rejoice people. we have a new sister in Christ.

I managed to drive to Lake Charles and back without calling anyone an idiot or jerk...no matter how badly they drove. (that's a miracle! when I quit calling bad drivers names that were curse words, I thought I was doing good calling them idiots & jerks...but I was still cursing them with the words of my mouth.)

So many of the dear people I prayed with said I have begged God to___________(fill in the blank.) I reminded them we are His children, we don't have to beg. Many times like the widow, we must persist, but we do not have to beg. Luke 18 tell us:

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

So in the words of our Lord & Savior, Don't give up!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Lake Charles Update

I spoke with Unicare this morning. They offered to repay the overdraft charges, and acknowledged their error. They will not draft my account another 722.00 May 1. They now note I am paid through the end of July. My bank said they have never had an insurance company offer to pay overdraft fees. The customer service representative was shocked to say the least.

Part of me wanted to yell, part of me is too tired to yell, but the smart part of Annette let God take care of it all. It is amazing what happens when we let go and let God.

God is more than able...several praise songs come to mind....I will be making a joyful noise all the way to Lake Charles.

I look so forward to interceding for Jack and Anna Marie as well as praying for my brothers and sisters who need a touch from God this weekend.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Lake Charles, LA

I am off to Lake Charles tomorrow to attend a healing conference. I will intercede for Jack and Anna Marie as they teach tomorrow night and Sat. Jack will preach at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church on Sunday. I met many people from several Lake Charles Churches last year and look forward to seeing them this year.

I know the Lord is going to show up and make His people whole in a big way this weekend as attacks of the enemy have been fierce this week. The latest is via my health insurance provider. I mailed them a check to pay for 4 months of coverage, they received the check, cashed it and then decided to draft premiums out of my bank account. Of course when I read all this today, they were already closed for the day. I will rush to the bank tomorrow and make a deposit, Frost Bank was merciful and removed the overdraft charges from my account. In the natural, it's hard to imagine Unicare refunding money or working with me about overcharging me. But...I am going to loose the power of Jehovah on them, He will work it all out for me.

God the Father Almighty loves me and you so much, our cares are His cares, we are not to worry or be anxious. His Word tells us:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

It's time to visit my father and then I will come home and put on praise music and make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Night & Day

The difference in the hospital my father was in Jan, Feb, and March and the hospital he is in now is like night and day. This hospital is only a few stories, no valet parking service, and rarely is anyone on the elevator as I come and go. When he was in St Luke's, I used the valet service because it was the same price as the parking garage down the street, he was on floors from the basement to 20 something. Some elevators were so crowded I would wait for another one. I never saw anyone I knew unless they were visiting dad (with the exception of clergy I know from Community of Hope). At Oak Bend, I can usually park near the front door of the hospital and I see people from the area I know as I walk through the lobby.

One thing that is the same is the sad people I see as they enter and exit the hospital. They have a friend or family member who is ill and they don't have hope. The hopelessness is not because the patient is terminal, it's because they don't have hope in the Lord.

They may believe in Him, but they don't believe Him because they don't know what He says. I never thought as a life long Episcopalian (who really does not call herself Episcopalian any longer) my heart felt message for people everywhere would be: Read your Bible, know what God says, know that He can do what He says He can do. But it makes sense, coming out of an denomination in which leadership does not believe the Bible is the Word of God, many priests and members also do not believe the Bible is alive and active, sharper than a two edged sword, I know it's important and vital. The Word brings life. The Bible is a love letter to you and me and everyone who has ever lived and who will ever live.

We are so fortunate, we can buy Bibles in grocery stores. My cousin sneaks Bibles across the border from South Korea into North Korea. He risks his life to bring the Word of God to people who are so hungry to know Yaweh, the Great I Am. So as we live in a country in which there is freedom of religion, use that freedom, join a good Bible study, join a great church, and read your Bible. Godly friendships are so important and many godly friendships are born in Bible study and prayer groups. (You know I have to mention prayer once, I always thought that was my life message - pray, prayer, praying, etc)

Know what God says, so when the day of evil comes you are prepared to stand.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

PS:

I passed 2 men on horseback tonight as I exited the hospital parking lot, you might think I would say I wouldn't pass people on horseback around the Medical Center in Houston, but that would not be true....you never know where you will see Texans riding horses....

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Revised Church of Oprah

Oprah's belief system is anything but Christian...

Monday, April 14, 2008

This and That

On the right of this post is a picture of Zoei, click on her face, she will sing the Lord's Prayer. I think it must give God a thrill as she sings with such gusto.

I looked back last week at specific prayers in my life which were answered. One of them was a prayer concerning insurance payments and the local Richmond post office. I mailed several bills for my husband's company and accidentally threw 2 insurance payments in the mailbox. The envelopes weren't sealed, there was no return address, and no stamps because I had intended on delivering the checks to the insurance agent.

About an hour after I made the mistake, it dawned on me what I did (thank You Holy Spirit) and I called the post office. I prayed for a miracle and grace and favor with the post office. I told them what I did and how stupid I felt. They said do you know how much mail is in that box from last night not to mention what was deposited today???? I said I can only imagine, and immediately thought of Mercy Me. The woman put me on hold for a few minutes, she came back to the phone and said if we find it quickly we will put it in your P O Box, if not it goes to the dead letter center in Houston, they will open it and mail your checks back since they have your address. The process will take a month or so. I thought wait a minute, God is way bigger than the U S Postal Service. I prayed again to get the checks back asap.

The post office sealed the envelopes and delivered them to my house within 24 hours. This may seem trivial to some, but it mattered to me. I think the Lord wanted to reaffirm to me He is a big big God because Sunday my father collapsed and could not walk. We called 911 and once again his is in the hospital.

I listened to my father tell Father Frankie, I am not afraid God is in heaven and Jesus is next to Him praying for me and waiting for me. Just typing it brings tears to my eyes.

At nearly 47, I still love being daddy's girl, and I must admit I want to keep the job title for many more years. Of course, I am my Heavenly Father's girl and so are you. It's a great job title too, in fact it's the best.

I am so thankful God is Who He is and can do what He says He can do.

I want to come before the Lord and sing praises with gusto like Zoei....won't you sing praises to Him with gusto too....

Psalm 9:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders
Psalm 9:2I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 18:46The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Psalm 18:49Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.
Psalm 21:13Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sin or No Sin

I hear people talk about their own truth, their own reality. Many new age leaders and their followers say there is no sin. I don't know how they justify murder, rape, victimizing children, stealing, and the list goes on...People used to hide the fact they played with Ouija Boards or consulted mediums (remember what happened to Saul???) Now Ouija Boards are sold at Toys R Us. Television shows and movies air which make witchcraft and seances casual and fun. If you search the Old Testament and New Testament, you will discover our Lord God Almighty does not take witchcraft lightly.

I was always drawn to vampire shows as a child, I loved the cheesy old soap opera Dark Shadows, I loved books about demons, at 15 I talked me parents into taking me to see The Omen, I wasn't allowed to go because it was R rated. I finally talked them into it, I told them it was not full of sex, it was just violent and satanic. That is about the only thing I talked them into as a child, and they were very sorry. The movie disturbed them, I laughed and said the writers took the Scriptures out of context.

I have friends who justify watching occultic shows because they like the cast. We have all justified sin - eating too much, not exercising, spreading gossip, all kinds of sin, but we must stop doing that. We must call sin SIN, and we must repent. We are not supposed to blend into society, we are to be the light of Christ. I John 1:6-8 tells us:

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sin, repent immediately. Really pray about the music you play, the books and magazines you read, the television shows you watch, and the games you play. Be the light of Christ through words spoken in love and truth not judgment, turn off the television set if need be, be a Christlike example in your sphere of influence. Non-believers really watch believers, they wait to see how we handle stress, bad news, etc...

Jesus died for you and for me. Let us serve Him with joy and love!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

One Step

Back in Sept or Oct, I discovered a famous talk show host had advised women to get into porn to enhance their sex lives. I found the info on the talk show host's website, even watched a clip of a woman saying I prefer to call it erotica, not porn. I thought well porn is porn is porn is porn. So American, put a nice spin on it and justify sin. I rarely watched the show because it airs while I am at work, but I know I will never watch it again unless she repents and renounces that sort of thing.

I looked at the website again this week, I was appalled at the new age (new age is anything but new, it's been around since the Pharoahs, Moses, and Babylon) junk on the site. Some of the new age material was just 1 step away from what the Bible says and some said things about a dead savior is not a savior...well 1st of all our Savior is anything but dead, He is alive, He died but He was raised from the dead by the hand of Almighty God...anyway...I am getting away from my point...ha ha ha, you are thinking what is your point...my point is: If we do not know what the Bible says how would we know we are 1 step off God's path. One step can be a big deal, you miss one step, you might fall down an escalator. (Not that this has happened to me..ha ha ha) You miss one step, you might fall down the side of a mountain. You miss one step, you might fall off the boat into the water. One step can be a very big deal.

John 10 says:

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

We must know His voice...we must read His Word to know His voice...know the Shepherd's voice, He loves you....

Friday, April 11, 2008

School Song

OK...after the stroll down chapel lane, I had to look it up because I could not remember all the boy's part...here is the St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and School's school song:

All:O God, help us all day to learn more of thy world,To find thee in parents and teachers and friends.Help us know the right ways and follow them truly;Let us see the light on which wisdom depends.
O come let us sing to the Author of Wisdom,O come let us sing to the Father above,And then let us thank thee for thy loving kindness;O keep us, thy students, in knowledge and love.
Boys:O make us thy heroes, thy young men, thy brave ones,And let all our strength in our kindliness stay.
Girls:O give us the beauty of true hearts and gentle;Keep us as thy daughters, our Father, we pray.
All:O come let us sing to the Author of Wisdom,O come let us sing to the Father above,And then let us thank thee for thy loving kindness;O keep us, thy students, in knowledge and love.

Anne Graves, 1957

And Lyn, just remember as the school song plays over and over in your head, we never sang it in the milk room. Here's to ugly uniforms and flying chapel caps...

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Psalms

I love the Psalms, at school we sang 2 Psalms everyday during our morning prayer service. During my teen years I was not thrilled with attending school, but I did love chapel. Intellectually, I did not understand the power of worship, I just knew I liked it.

Miracles happen during worship, especially during corporate worship. People can be transformed.

It's funny we all have different tastes and different ideas about how worship should be conducted. I am one of those people who raises my hands in the air during worship. Some of my friends would be hard pressed to raise their hands in the air during a stick up. Some people love loud, LOUD services, some people like quiet services. Some do NOT ever want to see the Holy Spirit manifest, others try to make the Holy Spirit manifest. I am somewhere in the middle, I like contemporary as well as traditional hymns played on modern instruments, I like it when people have words of knowledge, I like it if someone sings in tongues and there is an interpretation. I attended a church once who had a man making bird call noises during worship. I was not sure what that was about, but decided to remain focused on Jesus instead of the bird man of Katy. TX. That service was a bit much for me, but I admire the freedom in which the people worship.

Remember worship is not about us, it's about our Lord God - Yaweh!

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Compassion

Some people think I am a compassionate person, but I think my husband's opinion differs quite a bit.

Several weeks ago, I was going to visit my dad in the hospital and wanted my husband to come along. He said he would, he mentioned his back hurt and he was going to use some kind of creme (similar to Ben Gay) for arthritis. I thought how can my husband have arthritis. Good grief, I pray for people to be healed and my dad and husband are ailing...

When it was time to leave he said he could not go, I was a little irate. My husband never fakes illness, is not a hypochondriac, but I was so absorbed with my dad, that I didn't think, I judged....I thought you big baby, I don't feel well, but we are so much better off than dad.

I went to St Luke's and felt terrible as if I was catching a cold...then I thought I don't get sick, it must be fatigue and then I thought I better repent of my attitude and thoughts toward my husband.

He was still complaining when I got home, said after he got out of the shower he felt like he was on fire. I just stared at him, had some thoughts and needed to repent again.

2 days later, the creme he used was recalled because people were getting burn like blisters days after they used it and going to the ER for treatment...oh...no....he wasn't a big baby, he wasn't faking, and I had no compassion on him because I compared his complaint to my father's near death.

Aren't we fortunate God doesn't say hey Anna Marie, Annette is more ill than you, I am going to touch her with my healing power today. Why don't you come back and ask for healing again some other time. He has equal compassion and mercy because He is no respecter of persons.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Debby

I heard from my good friend Debby last night. I love this lady. She invites a few of us to her house a couple of times a year and we have Prophetic Girls Gone Wild in the Holy Spirit weekends. We have praise and worship at her house, read and study the Bible and we pray and pray and pray some more, we wait on the Lord and listen. Her gracious husband cooks for us and takes us out to eat..he makes Diet Coke runs...you name it, he does it for us. Kudos to Buddie. Few men can take several women invading their homes on Fri night and departing on Sunday around noon. And he was ok when we messed up his complicated, wide screen, satellite TV by using the incorrect remote. (There were so many to choose from....)

Debby is a woman of the Word, she always has the right Scripture to apply to any situation. Romans 10:17 tells us:

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

I know I frequently blog about prayer and staying in the Word, I do so because it is vital in our Christian walk. We want to mature in our relationship with Jesus, we don't just want to believe in Him, we want to believe Him..to believe Him, we must know what he has to say to us...

II Tim 3:15-17 tells us: and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How would we know our covenant promises if we never read the Bible, how would we know we sinned and needed to repent if we never read the Bible...how could we live in the Resurrection power of God, if we didn't know what it was.

If you have never read the Bible, don't be afraid, I recommend you begin with John 1 and ask the Lord to give you understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit. Join a good Bible Study. If you don't belong to a church, find one where the Gospel is preached in truth and love.

God loves you so much, He sacrificed His Son just for you and just for me...

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Friends

I was a prayer minister at a church in Kingwood a couple of years ago. Bishop & Betty Cox and Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield led the weekend. We had wonderful praise and worship and anointed teaching on community and healing that weekend.

On Saturday afternoon a woman walked in the sanctuary and said what is going on at my church. Her friends were so excited, they had begged her to come. She forgot it was the healing weekend. Her friends drug her as she protested up the center aisle with her oxygen tank in tow.

Turns out she drove by the church, saw the parking lot jammed with cars and wanted to see what was going on at her church and why she wasn't invited. Well...she found out what was going on at "her" church.

It reminded me of the paralytic in the Gospel of Mark, Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

We don't know if he asked his friends to take him to Jesus or he fussed all the way up to the roof and all the way down as he was lowered into the room, but we know he found Jesus and his body, soul, and spirit were healed. He walk out of the place. His friends had compassion and took him to Jesus.

The ladies dragging the woman up the aisle had been praying for several hours she would show up for the healing service. Her friends stopped in front of Jack and said please pray, the poor woman was grey, so thin, had terminal lung problems. She looked at Jack and yelled You know this won't work don't you. Jack said let's pray. He prayed for her, listening to the Holy Spirit and asked the Lord to give our dear sister a fresh revelation of His love. She yelled I am unlovable. We kept praying, her friends were praying, all the sudden she turned bright pink, started yelling, jerked the oxygen tube from her nose and said my chest is on fire. She took her 1st deep breath in years and was totally healed. She kept saying He loves me, He loves me. I was weeping.

The next day she was at church w/o her oxygen, went to the dr. that week and declared healed. Many things happened in connection with her healing. The friends had the faith like the paralytic's friends, the prayer ministers had faith, this dear woman knew for the 1st time in her life God loved her and Jesus died for her. Was her body healed that day, oh yes; but more importantly her soul and spirit were healed. She became whole in Christ Jesus.

Don't give up, keep praying....miracles happen every day....be like the friends of the paralytic and carry your friend spiritually to Jesus unless you have the opportunity to drag up the center aisle at church.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Obedience

Obedience is not a word most Christians want to hear. It's a word most associated with puppies in a phrase similar to: 6 weeks of obedience class. I heard Charles Stanley do a wonderful sermon on obedience. If you never hear sermons on sin, repentance, or obedience - start looking for a new church. We cannot mature in our Christian walk without obeying the Lord, acknowledging sin, and repenting.

About 3 years ago I was in Victoria for a healing weekend. Earlier that week the Lord had given me a word of knowledge for the priest leading the weekend. It was about 5am and I was drinking my 1st cup of coffee and reading a chapter in the Gospel of Matthew. I heard the still, quiet Voice say tell Jack to teach on this passage. I kept reading. I heard it again, I said I will after I finish my coffee and praying. (Can you tell I have a healthy father image and can sadly be overly familiar with my Heavenly Father?) I drank more coffee, spent more time in the Word, and prayed more. Then I decided to get ready for work.

I sat down at my desk, signed a database to begin a project and thought oh no, I never e-mailed Jack about that passage. I will look it up quickly and let him know about it. Guess what, I could not remember the passage to save my life. I prayed, I repented, I read and read at lunch.

I e-mailed Jack and said I had a word of knowledge, didn't send it to you, and now I cannot remember what it was. The next day I e-mailed Jack and said it's in the Gospel of Luke or Matthew. He called me and said Annette, that certainly narrows it down....I said I am still praying.

Friday afternoon it was time to leave for Victoria, I still did not know what the passage was. We prayed about it when I arrived at the church. I searched for it again that night. The next morning Jack began preaching, I was sitting between my former priest Steve Pope and an 83 year old man. Jack said I need a minute, I was going to teach from Mark, but the Holy Spirit is saying something about stones. I said that's it, that is the passage the Lord gave me earlier this week. It's Matthew 7:9-11,

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jack begin to teach on the passage and the goodness of our Heavenly Father. Thankfully the Father in His mercy, did not let my sin keep the person who needed this teaching from hearing it. It turned out, the elderly man sitting next to me felt he had been given stones to eat his entire life. He didn't think he measured up to his parent's expectations, thought he didn't measure up to his Heavenly Father's expectations and had lived for over 70 years feeling wounded and rejected. He has a wife who loves him, children and grandchildren who think he hung the moon. This man received so much healing that weekend.

I now strive to listen to the Lord and obey Him. Jesus of course is the ultimate example in this area, as He knelt at Gethsamene, He asked for the cup to be taken from Him, though He wanted His Father's will done. Jesus was obedient unto death for us.

Try to remember that the next time you feel the urge to cut someone off in traffic, feel the Lord tugging you out of your comfort zone, you want to tell your spouse what you really think...

Thy Will Be Done

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Expectations

Earlier this year, my father was hospitalized and gone from home for 60 days. He certainly received many miracles from the Lord as did my mother and I. As the days passed, I got behind in housework, grocery shopping, and yard work. I thought I had enough coffee to make one more pot the next day. I got up and found I was a scoop short. Then...it happened, my brain kicked in and I remember a dear friend Kathryne had given me a coffee mug at Christmas with a small bag of Community Coffee (our brand) in it. I grabbed that bag, opened it, and put a scoop of coffee in the pot.

A few minutes later, the coffee was ready, I poured a cup for my husband and a cup for myself and took them to our bedroom. He took a 1st sip as I was walking to my side of the bed and said is this some of your hazelnut stuff (not an exact quote) left over from your Christmas party? I said no, took a sip and said how sweet....like dessert. I put my glasses on (should have done this earlier) went to the kitchen and looked at the coffee...it was Creme Brulee Coffee. There was nothing wrong with it, it's just not what we expected at 5:30am.

Isn't that how we feel about God occasionally. He answers our prayers, but not in the way we expect Him to answer. We look at the expectation we have with our human eyes, in today's vernacular we don't always see the big picture. God sees the big picture, He saw it before the foundation of the world. He gets it. He sees it with His perfect, holy, pure eyes.

One of my favorite Bible verses is in Daniel 7, you need to read the chapter to put this in context, but the verse mentions the Ancient of Days, God - Who is Just's throne:

As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze

Guess what, He is never off His throne, it goes where He goes and He does not need us sitting in it or sharing it with Him. He is God. As I have told myself over and over, He created the world without me, He does not need my advice.

The day of the creme brulee incident, my husband went to Wal Mart, he bought 5 - 1 gallon containers of coffee. Now I am going to drink a cup of coffee and put on my glasses.

Worship God today. There is no other God!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Works

Sometimes I think there is no scarier word in the Christian language than "works". I know people who think works can get them to heaven, I know people who avoid works saying you can't enter heaven by works. And no you cannot enter heaven by works, but every Christian young and old has Kingdom work.

Eph 2:10 states: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jesus sent out the 12:

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. (Sounds like work to me.)

Then Jesus sent out 72, Luke 10:1 says: After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Still sounds like work to me.)

John was still preaching at 90; that's work.

We all have ministry while on this earth. Pray for discernment, minister where God has called you. Seasons change, many times ministry changes. For years I was called to teach Junior High Sunday School, when that season was over it was OVER. If I had tried to hang on to it, I would have kept someone else who was called from serving in that area and not gone on to do what the Lord had called me to do. I led a ladies' Sunday School class for a few years, I loved it. I love studying the Bible with women. I love praying for people at the weekend conferences. I may not always be up for travel on the weekend to wherever, but once I am there I am so thankful I am there in the midst of people who have come for teaching and prayer. I am privileged to see many miracles. But let me tell you, those weekends are WORK. I wouldn't miss a single weekend. I am looking so forward to Lufkin and Lake Charles later this month. I will admit it's a longer drive home from Lake Charles than it is driving to Lake Charles, but it's a drive I in which I will blessed!

Pray and go where the Lord leads you in serving, it may be serving the saved or the unsaved, the young or the old, it may be in your community or a mission trip to Africa...go serve the Lord in gladness and thanksgiving....