Are You Part of "The First Fruits" Company?

"There is always a people in every move of God that are a "first fruits company.  But you've got to be hungry enough for that.  You have to be desperate!  The good kind of desperate in God." Dr. (Apostle) Mark Kauffman of Jubilee Ministries Int'l

My spiritual Dad, Pastor Rusty Bowles has also said similiar to me:  "God always has a Remnant." 

Those that are of the "First Fruits company" are strategically placed and strategically"wired" if you will, that they must cross over and taste the grapes and bring back the evidence to those living in the wilderness, that "there IS more" than what they have experienced and more than where they are right now.

Are YOU desperate for more?  I know I am!  Will YOU be one of those that will cross over and taste the  fruit and then lead your comrades into that promised land-which is their inheritance?  Now remember our true inheritance is not found in brick and mortar, or tangible, physical things!  This inheritance is a place in God that will bring all those other things into view and possession.  But our true inheritance is only found in a deep, continuing relationship with Christ. Out of that flows all else.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God...

Will you be a pioneer?  Will you not be satisfied to stay where you are, but instead GO and face "your wilderness" and conquer it and help others to conquer theirs?  There is no roadway in the wilderness-at least not the kind made by man.  
But there IS a roadway through the wilderness that is mapped out and planned by God!  It is written on your heart-deep in your Spirit Man.  It is a pathway of Holiness and it is beckoning to you!  

Holiness means being set apart, consecrated-living by a different standard than that of the world.  The world says, "get there first and get all you can for yourself.  Push, knock and shove aside others if you have to-just get there!"

But the Spirit says, "Go before and open the door.  Knock, shove and push out of the way all that would hinder those who will follow and come behind you."

The first is all about self, the second is all about others. But the neat thing about the second way is that you get the spoils AND you get to share them too!  Seeing others enjoying God and receiving their inheritance is so much more fun than just getting there first and getting something for yourself and hoarding it.  Father's heart is all about giving and sharing!  For God so loved... that He gave... And He keeps on giving!

In 2014 will your life be a testimony of "living to give"?  I challenge you, let's press into God together! Let's demonstrate God every where we go and by doing so we're carving a roadway in the wilderness of this world that will lead/show others to His Goodness, Grace and Glory.

Calling all pioneers. It's time to mount up with wings as Eagles. Time to spy out the land. Time to press and possess. It is time for breakthrough! Don't halt and don't hold back.  Press through, cross over... We're blazing a pathway of Glory, a pathway of Love, a pathway of Integrity and Righteousness.  We're tearing down strongholds and removing barriers.  We're preparing the way of the Lord, till all shall come to the saving knowledge that Jesus is Lord!

The Spirit is calling!  Can you hear Him?  "First Fruits Company- FORWARD-HO!"

Simple Message- Give it All to Jesus

Although Evie Tornquist Karlson's music is from a simpler time,and without all the technical adornment's we find today, the message is timeless and beautiful.

The truth of the matter is, everyday we live and breath, we have a choice- to try to do it all ourselves, or to give God the reins.  Even as Christians too many times we spin our wheels "trying" to help God! Trying to fulfill our dreams, or snared into helping others to the point that we find ourselves frustrated and burned out.

This is not how God meant our lives to be.  To all you good 'church folk" out there: it is not about church functions, it is about functioning in a living, ever expanding, loving relationship with God and our fellow man!  It is not about going to church, it is BEING the church. The one that is made up of lively and precious stones, being built up and fitly joined together to form a living temple fit for HIS habitation.  We are to be living epistles, read of men... our life an example of His Love.

Love can be practiced in so many ways.  Through words and deeds. How about kindness?  How about that cup of cold water given to a parched throat, that helping hand to get back upon your feet, that smile at a stranger that warms their heart to receive more than just the smile? That "word"  that is both encouraging yet reminding the hearer that it came from God's heart through you.

We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds tomorrow. It might look like tomorrow and all our futures are held hostage by maniacs bent on destroying life as we know it.  This is certainly true for the nation of Israel.  And really, it is true for many nations, as evil forces gather.

But even as those forces gather, there is also a gathering of God's angels.  God is not with out plans nor is He without power!  Although God put man in charge of the Garden of Eden and we blew it, He has not left us defenseless and rejected.  He sent a Savior.  He sent JESUS.  HE gave His best so that we can be our best - and actually be what HE created us to be.  His sons and daughters!

In a world that has gone so far from what the original intent of it was, and is so marred with sin and all of its by products, He still plants us in the middle of it. But this time instead of us being in a garden, we ARE the Garden. His garden.  And we are to meet Him there and share and gain what is needed for our day to day living.  Daily Manna, from Heaven.  It is still falling on the ground for us to pick up and partake of. Just come into the garden with Him and be refreshed.  And then go out into the world a firebrand, a flame, a torch, a candle that cannot be hidden!

But first give it all to Jesus.  And receive His All into your heart and life.  Amen.

Taking Away to Establish

Remember the Robert Frost Poem, about two roads? It is actually entitled, "The Road Not Taken." It illustrates a biblical point actually that my Dad and I were discussing of recent..  Here is the poem first: 

Robert Frost (1874–1963).  Mountain Interval.  1920

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Now the most obvious thing about that poem is that for him
to go down one road meant that he could not go down the
other road.


I recently went through a situation that was most uncomfortable and a little perplexing to me. I sought the council of my Mentor Dad, who simply stated, “There is a Law of ‘taking away to establish.’”  This has set me pondering this, and of course looking for biblical examples.


The first that HE brought to my mind, has been a scripture that in my early walk with the Lord, quite frankly frightened me to no end! It frightened because I did not understand it, and so the enemy used it to condemn and torment me with fear of being cast out as worthless wood!

That scripture is John 15:1-8 Below is the Amplified Version

John 15:1  I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

John 15:2  Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

John 15:3  You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].

John 15:4  Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

John15:5  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

John 15:6  If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:7  If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:8  When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

We are not worthless wood!  We are grafted in, by the Blood! But, He trims and prunes what He should, knowing it is for our own good. We may not understand, and that pruning may be severe, cutting to the quick. But scripture says, when He wounds HE heals, and there is a balm applied as the sword cuts deep and wide.He is divinding asunder bone and marrow… removing what will hinder us tomorrow.  He knows our thoughts and intents, even when we do not, and He calls us his own for with a price we were bought!

Look, He called “Abraham, come out and away.”  Abraham picked up and left that very day! He told him, “I must take away to make covenant with you.” And so, He removed from him, all that he knew.  Then put him on a journey of total trust and obey, saying. “Come I have a city prepared, I’ll show you the way.”

As I pondered these things, I heard Him say:

“For I am taking away some things, to establish something better.  This includes all things that would hinder you from following me, completing the Call that I have placed upon your life.  You will find that some people are removed from your circle because they will not help you in this journey with me, they are a stumbling block you see. 

There are commitments that you will put down.  And pursuits, that although they are good, they are not from ME.  I need you to see.  I NEED you to BE. Be what I have called you to be. Not what you think or what you think others think you should be.  I need you to be free. Free to follow Me in a bold new way, in a dimension of my Glory and in a freedom from fear and self-doubt.  Don’t you see, I am calling you to ME. I need you to BE. Be my witness, be my mouth, my pen with which I write upon peoples hearts. But to BE you must first BE STILL WITH ME! 

I am taking away to establish, far more than you can see. It stretches out to Eternity.  Yes my love, you are touching into Eternity, with every breathe you breath, every stroke of your pen, every Word shared that comes from ME. God breathed Words, God Breathed inspiration, God breathed moves at my direction.   

Ah, I heard your question, “how will I know, how can I be sure, that it isn’t just me?” You hear far well, and you see, now I’m teaching you, it’s all about leaning on ME. “Practice makes perfect,” in the things of this world. But, with ME, “Patience makes Perfect,” as you wait on ME.  Be Patient with yourself, Be Patient with ME as you hold out your being, heart and soul, waiting expectantly.  I will not be late, I will bestow.  Give yourself time to Grow in the Art of Waiting so you will know. 

Remember the scripture, Paul did write?  That these light afflictions, are really so slight in view of the Eternal weight of My Glory.  Afflictions are vexations, not just outward, but inward too.  These are the things I am taking from you.

For My Glory will cover and blanket you and you must learn to wear it well. The weight of my Glory is a “show and tell.”  I will show you and I will tell you, and it will show and you will tell.  For I cover you with my Glory, My Princess Bride, I take you for My Queen to live by My side.  You must know your worth, how dear to Me you are!  You are far more beautiful than the millions of stars. For you sparkle and shine with a light Divine that comes from within, as I bid you to “Come and Dine.”  Feast at my table, prepared just for you. At this table, there is room for only us two!  This is a private banquet, for my love and ME. For I desire your face to see. I desire you voice in My ear as you whisper sweet nothings of how I am so dear. Does that shock you, or surprise you that I would say, “I desire you My Love, so Come Away?”  For as much as you long to hear My voice, loud and strong, I long to hear your heart beat out to ME, it’s own special Love Song.  It is the song, that only “we” can sing, it is the song of My Bride in Love with Her King.”