Special Request

Please visit my other blog (Do it now! Time is of the essence!) and sign the petition to save Pastor Youcef's life.  He is facing execution by hanging in Iran, simply for being a Christian .

Click here to sign the petition:

http://heartnhandsatnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/be-voice-for-youcef-nadarkhani.html

Let your voice be heard! Pray! And write the Iranian Embassy in your country, or go there and let them know you are against this unjust decision.

You Can Help

***FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HELP BROTHER YOUCEF***
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
(Hebrews 13:3)
The apostle Paul writes to the Hebrews commanding that they remember the believers that are in bonds.  This is not just an historical message, as there are many in prison today for the sake of the Gospel.
How can we remember them?  You can do this first and foremost by praying for them daily. The greatest power we have on earth is prayer. God works mightily and powerfully through the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous. Pray for their strength to overcome the pressure put on them to turn away from Jesus Christ. Pray that they accomplish the purpose of God in their lives through their bonds.   God is sovereign and has a purpose for everything. He has often used the imprisonment of believers to bring others to salvation and redemption. Finally, pray for their release and deliverance the chains of prison.

You can also give financially to support the work and spread the gospel in these countries. To find out more about what we do to help believers visit our Ministry page.

You can help them by writing to government officials, both in your own country and the country that the believers are from. Simply write that you appreciate that their government allows freedom of religion and that you have heard that such and such a person is in prison for being a Christian and that you would request that they look into this matter and take action.
Your Congressmen and MP’s will ask you what you would like them to do. In the US ask them to push this issue with the State Department. In other countries request that they call in the Iranian Ambassador and ask him about this case, Islamic Human Rights and whether Iran truly follows the human rights charter they signed at the UN.
Those from the United States please contact your Congressman by going to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and typing in your zip code. Then contact them either by phone or by email.
Those from Canada contact your MP at http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc
If you are from the United Kingdom go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

If you are from Australia go to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/find-your-local-mp.htm

You can also contact your UN ambassador by going to http://www.un.org/en/members/

Please write a letter to brother Youcef by going to http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_214_profile.html?_nc=c7d8efa49d5fd6ed0f64427b45c2f872 and under What You Can Do click on “write an encouraging letter” then follow the prompts.

You can also contact the following by email or Fax the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, + 98 21 774 2228;  the President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, requesting the release and remission of all charges against Pastors Youcef Nadarkhani, Behnam Irani and other prisoners of conscience in Iran.
You can also help by spreading the word to others about persecuted believers. Share information on Facebook, via email, Twitter, however you communicate with others.

Guidelines for writing to prisoners:
http://www.prisoneralert.com/vompw_writing.htm

Struggle Not With the Promises

I struggle so sometimes, 

but Daddy has said 

I am not to struggle and fret, 

that He's already hedged the bet!  

Because of Jesus-I win...

I just gotta not quit and give in 

to the lies in my head, 

but simply stretch ahead 

like the race horse on the final turn, 

Yes,soaring higher and freer- 

that is what I yearn.  

 

So with my eyes fixed on You,

I give it all I've got, 

and take hold of Your Precious Promises 

that cannot be bought.  

I look not at what may surround, 

but only at Your Grace 

which does always abound.  

I forget my past except to rejoice 

that I am no longer captive in that place 

For at last all my cares I can cast 

into Your loving. watchful care 

Help me Abba to give You 

legal possession and 

then, just leave them there!

 

There is nothing that is 

too hard for Thee

It's written in Your Word

for all to plainly see.

You spoke that, just like

You said, "Light Be!"

And both day and night

the sun and moon give their light

shining ever so bright.

 

You created the ocean waters

then put a boundary upon the shore-

You spoke and commanded, 

"This far and no more."

Today we watch waves play on the sand

with their ebb and flow

as they still obey the command

You gave them long, long ago.

 

I am the Lord, I change not!

Have I not said, and it shall surely be?

So bring all your doubts, sorrows and pain

Simply Trust and Give them to ME!

Trust in My Goodness and like

Moses, My Glory you shall see.

For I have called you in Christ

to live and dwell in Me.

 

In Me is Life flowing abundantly

There is no shadow or lack

Trust Me my child, when I say

"I've got your back!"

 

My Plans for you my child are laid,

they are forever set in stone.

The Cornerstone gave His Life,

so that all these plans, you Can Own!

 

So, look full into the face 

of My Wondrous Love

Seek now My Wisdom

which is from Above.

 

Think not your old thoughts

of fear, lack and defeat.

But humbly come now

and sit at My Son's feet.

 

There you will find

all that you seek.

Take now His yoke 

for He is humble and meek.

 

Partner with ME and see

just how far you can go!

I desire to show you things

that you do not Yet know...

 

On the wings of My Spirit you can freely soar

Hear as I call to you to "Come up Higher!"

For it is there that you will experience "the more"

as you desire to know My Heart and to be filled with My Love and Fire!

NEM 

© 2-22-2012

 

Isaiah 55:6 (AMP)  Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near. 

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

 

Jeremiah YLT 29:13  And ye have sought Me, and have found, for ye seek Me with all your heart; 

 

1Peter 2:6-9  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
 

2Peter 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Loving Kindness

I was talking with my friend and we were discussing Loving Kindness. She actually called to say how much she enjoyed yesterday's post.  And one of her comments just confirmed to me that I was to write a post for today about Loving Kindness!  

Today is her birthday, and I pray that God's 
loving kindness is showered on her all 
day long in tangible, and measurable ways! :-)

Did you know that Loving-kindness is mentioned directly and indirectly by use of the same Hebrew Word 248 times in the Bible? Twenty-seven of those times are found in the Book of Psalms!

David was well acquainted with God's Loving Kindness and loved to extoll the fact that God is Loving and Kind. After all, he had experienced God's loving kindness and mercy in many different situations. 

If you look at the word in Strong's Concordance you will find that it is also used as "Mercy" in other verses like Lamentations 3:22-23  
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

King Solomon makes an unusual comparison between the righteous man and the unrighteous one's concept of "tender mercy" (ie: compassion) in Proverbs 12:10  A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. This comparison shows that without God, there can be no such thing as loving kindness or tender mercies!

Loving Kindness is from God. He embodies Love in every fashion and expression. It is an intrinsic part of His nature.  Yet, it was impressed upon the hearts of the writers to repeat this over and over, either by way of giving Praise and Honor to God, or by way of reminding us their fellow human beings that God IS good and His thoughts towards us are honorable, loving and kind! (Jeremiah 29:11)  

His Loving Kindness endures for ever!  
Believe it!  Receive it!

Psalm 106:1  Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.   

Mercy is the same word that is used for Loving Kindness elsewhere. It is also translated as: 
goodness, kindness, faithfulness,deeds of devotion(2), devotion(1), devout(1), faithfulness(1), favor(2), good(1), kindly(7), kindness(32), kindnesses(1), loveliness(1), lovingkindness(176), lovingkindnesses(7), loyal deeds(1), loyalty(6),mercies(1), merciful(2), mercy(1), righteousness(1), unchanging love(2). 

Hosea 2:16  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; [your Husband and Champion] and shalt call me no more Baali. [Master.] {Strong's definition}
Hosea 2:17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
Hosea 2:18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
Hosea 2:19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
Hosea 2:20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know {Yada-intimate knowledge by relationship} the LORD. {Strongs 3045}

Do you see by this verse, and all the many references that God has put into the Bible, that He is looking for a Love relationship, built on trust and fidelity? 

He wants to assure us of His intentions!  Loving Kindness, Mercy, Favour, Faithfulness, Unchanging Love...this is a Lover, wooing His Love.  This is One who is Love-sick and so in love with His intended!  This is our Lovely Jesus, drawing us with cords of Kindness and everlasting love and mercy, reaching to where we were and some still are, in degradation, sin, filth, squalor, self righteous rags covering the festering wounds brought about by the sinful world we live in!

With tender loving gentle hands and eyes of compassion, He speaks "Peace" and "Healing."  He wipes away the the stench, and lifts us from the dunghill, he cleanses us with His own Blood and the Water of His Word, and puts on us clothing that befits Royalty;  Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses.

He gazes tenderly at us, and speaking adoringly to us," You are My Beloved. My Eternal Prize Possession and Desire!  I Love you more than you can ever imagine. I Cherish you beyond your comprehension. I have not come to condemn and reproach you, but to release you from the heavy chains and shackles that have weighed you down for so long.  I have come to bring lightness to your step, songs of joy to your heart, new life to be lived in a new way, in the Kingdom that I have Prepared and have longed to share with you! 

Will you Trust Me?  Will you let Me into those hurt places, those dark places, those places that you shield so fiercely, to avoid being discovered and exposed?  I know they are there.  Try as you might, you cannot hide those broken areas from My gaze.  But will you allow Me to undress you and be exposed to the healing rays of My Love?  For unless you will allow Me, I shall be forever relegated outside the door, to continue knocking and asking for entrance into those private, shameful, distressful areas that you are so afraid of anyone ever seeing.
  
But I do not look with the same kind of eyes that men look with.  I look with Eternal Eyes, that see through the portals of time to where you will be, when you come to Me and let Me set you free.  I see the beauty hidden deep within, beneath all the layers of pain and sin. Living in this world brings sting and stain, but I have come to give you Life again!  I know your faults and failings better than you, and I have pledged to see you through... to completion in Me. Complete and Restored and Celebrated in Me! Fully Free! Living Life Abundantly! 
For there is an abundance of My Grace for thee.

So, now come! Take My hand. 
Do not be shy- look me in the eye. 
Listen not to the enemy's lies.  
Let all those things melt away, 
underneath the gaze of My Loving Eyes.

What will you answer?  What will you say? 

Will you close the door and run away? 

Or will you be brave and let Me in, 

to pierce the darkness and route the sin?

Love is calling, and kindness too.  

My tender mercies are waiting for you..."

Your Lovingkindness
Psa 86:5; 63:3; 130:6
Lord You are good to me,
Ready to forgive
Abundant in mercy,
To those who call upon You.
(Chorus)
Lord Your lovingkindness is better than life, (2x)
(Bridge)
As the watchman waits for the morning,
My soul waits for You. (2x)

Another Version about God's Loving Kindness:

Thy Loving Kindness

          C                       G7
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                                   C
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

           C                 G7
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                             C
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

© 1962 Singspiriation Music
Words and Music by Hugh Mitchell

References: for loving kindness:
 
References: for loving kindness: 

http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/2617.html

AV - mercy 149, kindness 40, lovingkindness 30, goodness 12, kindly 5,

merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity 1, reproach 1,  wicked thing 1; 248

favour  Esther 2:17. Job 10:12. Daniel 1:9.

good   Nehemiah 13:14.

goodliness  Isaiah 40:6.

goodness   Exodus 34:6. 2 Chronicles 32:32; 35:26. Psalms 33:5; 52:1; 107:8, 15, 21, 31; 144:2. Proverbs 20:6. Hosea 6:4.

kindly  Genesis 24:49; 47:29. Joshua 2:14. Ruth 1:8. 1 Samuel 20:8.

kindness  Genesis 20:13; 21:23; 24:12, 14; 40:14. Joshua 2:12, 12. Judges 8:35. Ruth 2:20; 3:10. 1 Samuel 15:6; 20:14, 15. 2 Samuel 2:5, 6; 3:8; 9:1, 3, 7; 10:2, 2; 16:17. 1 Kings 2:7; 3:6. 1 Chronicles 19:2, 2. 2 Chronicles 24:22. Nehemiah 9:17. Esther 2:9. Psalms 31:21; 117:2; 119:76; 141:5. Proverbs 19:22; 31:26. Isaiah 54:8, 10. Jeremiah 2:2. Joel 2:13. Jonah 4:2.

lovingkindness   Psalms 17:7; 26:3; 36:7, 10; 40:10, 11; 42:8; 48:9; 51:1; 63:3; 69:16; 88:11; 89:33; 92:2; 103:4; 107:43; 119:88, 149, 159; 138:2; 143:8. Jeremiah 9:24; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18. Hosea 2:19.

lovingkindnesses  Psalms 25:6; 89:49. Isaiah 63:7, 7.

mercies   Genesis 32:10. 2 Chronicles 6:42. Psalms 89:1; 106:7, 45; 119:41. Isaiah 55:3. Lamentations 3:22, 32.

mercies'   Psalms 6:4; 31:16; 44:26.

merciful   1 Kings 20:31. Psalms 117:2. Proverbs 11:17. Isaiah 57:1.

mercy  Genesis 19:19; 24:27; 39:21. Exodus 15:13; 20:6; 34:7. Numbers 14:18, 19. Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9, 12. Judges 1:24. 2 Samuel 7:15; 15:20; 22:51. 1 Kings 3:6; 8:23. 1 Chronicles 16:34, 41; 17:13. 2 Chronicles 1:8; 5:13; 6:14; 7:3, 6; 20:21. Ezra 3:11; 7:28; 9:9. Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32; 13:22. Job 37:13. Psalms 5:7; 13:5; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 25:7, 10; 31:7; 32:10; 33:18, 22; 36:5; 52:8; 57:3, 10; 59:10, 16, 17; 61:7; 62:12; 66:20; 69:13; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 89:2, 14, 24, 28; 90:14; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:8, 11, 17; 106:1; 107:1; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26; 115:1; 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 29; 119:64, 124; 130:7; 136:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; 138:8; 143:12; 145:8; 147:11. Proverbs 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28, 28; 21:21. Isaiah 16:5. Jeremiah 33:11. Daniel 9:4. Hosea 4:1; 6:6; 10:12; 12:6. Jonah 2:8. Micah 6:8; 7:18, 20. 

Zechariah 7:9.

pity  Job 6:14.

reproach  Proverbs 14:34.

thing Leviticus 20:17.

—Exhaustive Concordance (KJV Translation Frequency & Location)

Bible Dictionary Strong's Concordance H2616

Kindness Makes a Difference

Dear Ones,

I read a mini devotion today from someone that spoke about us bringing hope back to someone's heart by our actions and words this day, As I read the words, a secular song from my teen years floated to the fore font of my remembrance. 

This particular singer has had his ups and downs in times past, but he has confessed Jesus as Lord  and Saviour and clung to Him as his only hope of Salvation. So, whether his music is your cup of tea or not really, and despite the fact that he has had some bad publicity from stupid choices he's made in the past, I believe at heart, this song embodies what he believes and I hope it's message gets your attention! 

Please understand, it is not a "bleeding heart" mentality.  It goes beyond giving money to the poor and skewed government legislation to take from the rich to do so.  It is a way of life, a mind set, a life style of servant hood, caring and respect for your fellow man, even when they are at their lowest and seem least deserving of anything other than a swift kick in the seat of their pants.  It is a willingness to open your heart and your hand , not just for a "hand out' but to give a hand up, to give a hand clap, to give a handshake of affirmation and encouragement and direction.

There are sectors in American society that are really poor and barely making it. But by and large most of America is prosperous and rich by comparison to 2/3rds of the rest of the world!  If everybody gave $3.00 a month steadily, to a cause of your choice to alleviate pain and suffering somewhere in the world...  not a faithful few, but every American who works and pulls a paycheck or retirement check or disability check. Or every kid that can cut grass or babysit... you get the idea! What a DIFFERENCE in the lives of men, women and children overseas, Especially the children.  I read the most incredible story of 1 young boy who raised $10,000 to drill multiple wells in Africa, so the people could have clean water to drink! And we adults say we can't make a difference?  

  If we would but sow seeds of kindness, in Jesus Name!  If we made time to just say hello and acknowledge someone we pass by- the maid cleaning in the hotel, the  window washer, the floor clerk... even if you don't get to say "Jesus" - you just let Him shine through you onto their lives. And as you walk away pray for them and the seed that you've sown to be watered. 

So don't say you can't make a difference! Do the "little" with much love and watch God grow it into something big for Him!

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he... Proverbs 23:7a

Be not deceived, God is not mocked, as a man sows, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

Luke 10:25-37  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
 

And Jesus went and did likewise himself: Acts 10:38 (AMP) How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him. 

I think we need to listen to this song!


Glen Campbell   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX7NNMKBPsw

Faith n Love

Faith worketh by Love...have you checked your supply lately?

If Faith is sagging and dragging and you're feeling low
I have just the place that you really should go!

For when our Faith lags and we feel weak,
It is the arms of Jesus that we need to seek.

Looking into the Eyes of Love there is no fear
How can we fail to "just believe" with His Love so near?

Great Grace awaits all those who seek
The Yoke of Jesus, who is gentle and meek.

He bids you come to the fountain for a fresh supply
Come all those weary, whose well has run dry.

Come be refreshed, and re-fired again,
Let Him fill and quiet your soul within.

Rest in the arms of the One who loves you so
Let your Faith arise, Trust and let go!

©  NEM 2-15-12

My Valentine Poem to God

Happy Valentines Day Daddy!
Happy Valentine's Day Jesus!
Happy Valentine's Day Holy Spirit!
Happy Day of Love!

This day for lovers- I have no greater 
lover of my soul
No one else that can make me whole.
No one knows me thought by thought like You!
No one loves me the way that You do.

Friends send greetings, spouses buy cards
There's chocolate and flowers and
ribbons by the yard!

What a lovely day when you are in love
What a lovely day of blessings from above!

Lest i forget, let me stop and say "Thank You."

Thank You for the Love You bestow day by day.
Thank You for the Love that lights up my way.
Thank You for the love found in Your eyes,
when You say, "Take wing Eagle, it's time to fly!"

The Blessings you grant in abundant overflow,
are only a small part of the Love that You show. 
For deep in my heart there is peace, there is joy untold,
That the Creator of the Universe seeks me out as His very own.

On Valentine's Day, I come to You
no gift can I give but to be bold
Declaring who you are, Oh Ancient of Old.

You are brighter than the Sunshine,
or glittering star, You Are
closer than my heart beat or
breath that I breathe,
You Are Life to me

Thank You my Bridegroom and King
for setting me free.
Thank you for opening
my eyes that I might see. 

Thank You for speaking
and calling my name
Thank You for Your Love,
I'll never be the same.

Glory, Glory, Glory
to Your Most Holy Name.
You are Lord, You are Love and
this forever I'll proclaim

I love You, I need You,
I adore You so...
Please accept my feeble attempts
to somehow let You know!

© NEM 2-14-2012

Global Word of Prophecy ~ Pastor Rusty Bowles

What is about to be shared could well be the most important message that you will hear in 2012.  It is important, but not because it is from this church and not because I am the one delivering it.  We have been through a year of testing and challenges. Many of us said good-bye to 2011 during a watch night service and hello to 2012.

This year holds great promise for mighty things, but those things are not automatic. God started dealing with me in a deeper and more serious way then He has in a long while. Much is at stake and we have to be ready. Thus, I am publishing this global prophetic word. I truly feel inadequate and if I let the flesh rise up, unworthy, of what the Lord is telling me. It will not be received at first in some areas and possibly never received in others. That cannot be my concern.   

That being said, do you have your sword with you? Turn with me to Daniel 5, and let’s read verses 17-31. 

 Daniel 5:17 - 31 (NKJV) ¹⁷Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. ¹⁸O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. ¹⁹And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. ²⁰But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. ²¹Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. ²²“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. ²³And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. ²⁴Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. ²⁵“And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. ²⁶This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; ²⁷Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; ²⁸Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. ²⁹Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. ³⁰That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. ³¹And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

This is a very prophetic word to the church today. Many ministers have lifted themselves up to a position of power and influence. They have perverted their God given talents and callings into something that makes a nasty smell in the nose of God. They have used pride and arrogance in their ministries and churches to promote themselves and not the kingdom.

Last year every minister was tested. In this year, every minister will be weighed in the scales. What God spoke so very clearly is ‘do not be found wanting.’  Do you understand what that means? This is a final warning. This warning has gone out and now in February the “weighing” has begun.

Some of you reading this are saying, “But, I am not a minister.”  Be very careful with that. Better to divorce yourself from pride [and false humility,] than to find out that you are being weighed.

Understand! This is not about salvation; this is about who God will promote and who God will demote. The process is already starting. I believe it will start with those who will be promoted first because God said He would raise up pastors after His own heart. As it was in (the book of) Daniel, I believe that the demotion or pulling down will be swift. That is why I have to get this word out now. Some will say ‘who are you?’ I am a nothing and a nobody in the world, but I am a servant of the Most High God in the kingdom and so are you. We are going to have to be bold, so you may as well start now.

Still have your sword?  Turn to John 5. Read verses 1-17

John 5:1 - 17 (NKJV) ¹After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ⁵Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” ⁷The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” ⁸Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” ¹¹He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” ¹²Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” ¹⁵The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. ¹⁶For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

This passage was brought out yesterday morning during prayer and it rang through my spirit. What did Jesus do?  What did the Jewish leaders see? All they saw was a lawbreaker.

Pastor Rusty Bowles
Church of the Latter Rain
1456 Beltline #139
Garland TX 75044

new_colr@verizon.net

Nancy’s footnote:

Know this: God IS judging His ministers! If He judged the shepherds of Israel, then how shall the shepherds of His “other flock” (the Church) escape?  Whether we stand behind a pulpit in a church, or whether we minister via phone and internet, in written words or spoken words or song… You/we have been measured.  What will He decide when you are weighed?  Will you be set aside or will you be one who is used by God?  In the Great House, there are many vessels of both Honor and dishonor.  How sad to have been a vessel of Honor only to now be set aside as a vessel of dishonor! Do not be surprised when you see this happening. It is time to examine our hearts lest as the Word says, “we be found wanting…”

According to Acts 10:38 Jesus went about doing good…

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Ezekiel  (AMP) 34:1-22  And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?

You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep.

The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them.

And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field.

My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them. [Matthew 9:36]

Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:

As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My sheep became a prey, and My sheep became food for every beast of the field because there was no shepherd--neither did My shepherds search for My sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not My sheep--

Therefore, O you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:

Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My sheep at their hand and cause them to cease feeding the sheep, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. I will rescue My sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself, will search for My sheep and will seek them out.

As a shepherd seeks out his sheep in the day that he is among his flock that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep; and I will rescue them out of all places where they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness.

And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

I will feed My sheep and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God.

I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which has strayed, and I will bandage the hurt and the crippled and will strengthen the weak and the sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hardhearted and perverse]; I will feed them with judgment and punishment. [Luke 19:10]

And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between the rams and the great he-goats [the malicious and the tyrants of the pasture].

Isaiah it too little for you that you feed on the best pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? And to have drunk of the waters clarified by subsiding, but you must foul the rest of the water with your feet?

And My flock, must they feed on what your feet have trodden and drink what your feet have fouled?

Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I Myself, will judge between fat sheep and impoverished sheep, or fat goats and lean goats.

Because you push with side and with shoulder and thrust with your horns all those that have become weak and diseased, till you have scattered them abroad,

Therefore will I rescue My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

Please pass this post along!

My Word and My Name

Beloved when you speak My Word, you are breathing life into your very surroundings.  My Word holds all things together and is the cohesiveness of life!
For in ME you live and move and have your being.  My Words are SPIRIT and they are LIFE.  Release My Word with your faith and expect to see the performance of My Word in the lives and situations around you. For is it not written that My Word will not return to Me void, but it will accomplish that which I please,and make the thing whereto I sent it prosper?  

Likewise, when you speak My Name, let it be with purpose and proclamation! Let it be with Praise and Purity!  All of Heaven backs up My Name, so do not put it to shame with flirtatious, casual use.  

Remember how I changed Abram's name to Abraham?  This was because the saints of old did not live in the time that they could be born again. So I gave Abraham a piece of My Name and injected Myself into his name to change his image and who he was into who I said and saw him to be.  But you beloved, hae been changed from within!  You house within you the precious Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit!  You do not need a name change, for you have had an entire radical makeover!  You have been given a new heart, a new name in Glory, a new beginning to fulfill your Destiny and purpose.  And you don't do this alone, or by your own steam and power!  No, indeed.  It is by cooperation and partnership and fellowship with Me and by My Spirit working in and through you!

Glorious, is how I see you! And it is how I want you to see yourself- through My eyes, not the eyes of flesh or the lies of the enemy.  You do not yet see nor fully comprehend what it is that I am working out, but deep with in there is a work being wrought.  'Oh! But it is so slow you cry! I can only see the flaws!  I see how many times I still fall down!'  Ah, but beloved, look at how many times you have gotten up!  Look how many times you have trusted and how far that has taken you. You only fall when you begin to faint in your focus on and your faith in Me.   

All that you need, you will find in Me.  It is My desire to set you free- so come up higher, live closer to Me.  Shake loose from yourself, the doubt and fear, whisper My Name and you will find Me near.   A longing with in that you don't understand, is a Cry from My Heart piercing through contending for the heart of man.  It is your own soul groaning in reply, The Spirit within yearning to fly! It is at once pain and yet sublime, for it is the eternal struggle and question, will you be totally Mine? 

Ah Lord, what can I reply? Shall I like Peter brag of my love and undying pledge, only to falter when it came down to the edge?  Like David I cry, 'Try me and see if there be any wicked way in me!'  Like Paul when apprehended, I too want to apprehend You. I want to live behind the veil and see you face to face.  I am not content to stay in this place.  
I am a bride, love sick and forlorn, without your touch, your Presence covering me, I am naked and shorn.

Do not stand beyond my reach! Come! Speak to me in familiar speech. I long to stay in the secret place and gaze upon the beauty of Your face!  There to hear the lovely sound of Your Voice speaking to me, 
"Rise up my dove my fair one, come away with Me!"

Yes Lord, I will come, again and again. 
I will seek you out in the midst of the din.  
I will look for You, for I know I will see, My Beloved Bridegroom, who is waiting for me!

© NEM 2-11-2012

No Other Name

No other Name but the Name of Jesus...

No other Name but the Name of the Lord...

No other name but the name of Jesus...

is Worthy of Glory, and Worthy of Honor
And Worthy of Power and all Praise!

There are many names out there. And they are all screaming and demanding our attention.  Let's see we have,  Old age, social insecurity, islamic terrorists who hate us and the Jewish people, simply because we exist!  We have economic melt down, war, famine, earthquakes, nuclear threat, aids, alzheimer's disease, stroke, cancer, bird flu, swine flu, murder, rape, violence, civil unrest... the list goes on and on.  (And I purposely did not capitalize them.) All these things have a name.  Their name can invoke varying degrees of anxiety, fear or downright terror into people. And it is meant to!  Fear, manipulation, domination, control and isolation and shame are main tactics the enemy uses, and he uses people to work through

 to implement them.

Revelation 12:11 tells of of saints of old, who are now part of that "great cloud of witnesses." It says specifically; "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

The Blood of the Lamb!  Who is that Lamb? What is His Name?  It is JESUS!  The word of their testimony... "what you say is what you get"  more oft than not...So are your words agreeing with THE WORD?  The Word of the Lamb who gave His Life for you?  Who declared, "IT IS FINISHED." The battle and victory were already won, already paid for, already secured... we have skirmishes down here... but the next ALL OUT BATTLE is yet to be fought.  But take courage, read the back of the book- "WE WIN!"  And the last part of that sentence says, "...and they loved not their life unto the death."  What does that mean?  The Amplified Bible reads this way: ..." for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]."

Paul said it this way, " To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord."  For the believer, death is the final enemy and we are promised that it has no hold on us, no sting, the grave has no victory.  Billy Graham said it is the business of  dying, that he does not look forward to, but death itself? It is nothing to us, for We are HIS and HE is ours and Heaven is our home!

Am I advocating we just rollover?  Not at all! Go down swinging! ( If you have to go down.) Keeping fighting the enemy who constantly bombards us, bombards our flesh, bombards our minds, bombards our emotions.  It IS a war we are engaged in.  Once you get past being a baby Christian, you will be expected to learn to fight with the weapons of our warfare.  They are NOT fists, knives or guns.  They are powerful and varied. After all the word says weapons, plural.  One of our weapons is our words and not just any words, but the word of our testimony.  What is our testimony?  It is what we beleive at the very core of our being.  Do we really believe that God is "for us" as stated in Romans 8:31. Do we really believe His Word is true?  Not only true, but that it has power to save?   “Preaching about the cross sounds foolish to those who are dying in sin. But it is the power of God to those of us who are being saved from the punishment of sin.”   1Cor 1:18 NLT

Whose words, will we believe? Who will we listen to ? And what will we speak?   Our own negative talk, the voice of the world system, as it further decays?  The voice of earthly, sensual and devilish wisdom, or the Wisdom that is from above?  Which is peaceable, gentle, easily entreated?

Sin drives, but LOVE leads.  Yes the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert, but that was not the same kind of “drive.”.  That was compelling Him, making it irresistible, to lead, urge, draw out, to cause a thing to move straight on its intended goal…”  Jesus had intimate fellowship with the Father and the Spirit.  He would go spend the wee hours in the mountains being alone with them.  Remember, in Heaven He and the Father were intertwined and had never been separated.  So, the wilderness experience that Jesus faced, was not God deserting Him! It was a time to put into practice, to voice the Word that HE had hidden in His heart. So when satan came at him, He could counter each time with “It is written.”  He could do it, because it was part of Him. He BELIEVED IT and staked His life on it, because He knew His Father, intimately, deeply, personally.  The same way we are invited to know Him!

As we become so intimately acquainted with our Father who art in Heaven, and with our Lovely Jesus our Bridegroom, and with the incomparable Holy Spirit, we will not fall for satan’s tricks and masquerades. He always tries to cause us to doubt God’s character, God’s word.  But when we have waited on God and become tie dyed or entwined with Him then we will KNOW that nothing can separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  And that Love is a driving force! It drives out fear, sickness, doubt, pain, loneliness, guilt, shame.  Let the Love that is found in the wonderful name and Person of Jesus, wash over you today.  Come to the Lover of your soul. Come let HIM make you whole!

For there is NO OTHER NAME!  Acts 4:10b, 12  J.B. Phillips New Testament  …”it is high time that all of you and the whole people of Israel knew that it was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! In no one else can salvation be found. For in all the world no other name has been given to men but this, and it is by this name that we must be saved!”