Reindeer Meat

OK - don't cry, but we had Reindeer meat for dinner tonight!

We are back in Norway - about to begin a prayer retreat. This is a lovely place with such peace all around. However...hunting season has begun...

Very yummy..

Destiny

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Choose your words, for they become actions.

Understand your actions, for they become habits.

Study your habits, for they will become your character.

Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Sweden

We are now in the beautiful Scandinavian nation of Sweden for a couple of days. Sweden is the 5th largest nation in Europe after Russia, Ukraine, France and Spain. There is a population of nearly 9,000,000, and the folks we are with are absolutely delightful.

Stockholm - Capital City - sits on the eastern edge of the nation. it is a city with a great many islands:

Visby

The church we are in is The Arken: www.arken.org

This is a wonderful ministry - bringing healing and deliverance to thousands. They have 30 healing rooms where people can come for prayer and personal ministry. There are over 130 students in their Bible School this year. Praise God for this ministry in this great country.

Once again, these are not my photos. I don't think we have time for sightseeing, but I just wanted you to get a taste of Sweden. 

Righteousness Exalts A Nation - Proverbs 14:34

For over a month we have been travelling through this delightful country praying for Norway and ministering in a wide variety of churches and denominations. One highlight was a visit to the impressive Nidarosdomen in Tronheim and to nearby Stikelstad, where Norway’s great King Olaf the Holy was killed in battle. Buildings and sites such as these carry so much history and treasure for a nation. The dramatic stone statues of the cathedral’s western façade depict the crucified Christ and multitudes of saints from both the Old and New Testaments. There is an ancient legend, or prophecy, that when the final stone is placed into the Nidarosdomen, Tronheim will fall into the fjord. One of the  figures on the western façade is a stone mason who forever holds on to the final stone so that this dire prediction cannot come to pass.

I was reminded, however, that the true Cathedral of Norway is the present-day Church – the Body of Christ – made up of Believers of all generations and denominations. I also felt impressed of the Lord to declare over Norway that the final stone that must be placed into the Church in these days is the foundation stone of holiness. If the Church of Norway will pursue holiness with all her heart, then Tronheim will not fall into the fjord, but the sea of God’s glory will spill out of the Cathedral and cover all of this great nation:

For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

As the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

Here are 7 strategic foundations of holiness to pray over Norway and all the other Nordic nations:

• Holiness is not an option for the Church in these days. It must become the cornerstone of our faith just as it is the foundation of God’s throne (Ps. 89:14), and we must hunger for it and search for it with all our hearts (Matt. 5:6; Matt. 6:33).

• The Lord will hear the cry of those who are rooted in holiness (Ps. 34:15).

• The authority to declare the Kingdom of God and His reign comes from, and through, a holy people (Ps. 45:6).

• The Church must be clothed with righteousness (Ps. 132:9; Is. 61:10; Rom. 6:13-20).

• Holiness and righteousness will bring peace and life to God’s people (Prov. 11:19; Is. 32:17; Is. 54:14).

• Holiness is the light of glory that will be revealed in, and through this nation (Is. 42:6; Is. 56:1; Is. 58:8) – then God’s people will catch the attention of all nations (Is. 61:11; Is. 62:2).

• Righteousness (not riches or power) will make our nations truly great (Prov. 14:34).

Even as the façade of the great Nidarosdomen bears witness to the history of the Church — from Christ’s crucifixion onward—so, too, the history of God’s Bride is shared through our lives. We are the testimony of His greatness and we will be a demonstration of His glory in all the earth. Any nation’s destiny hinges on each of us building holiness into our lives, both personally and corporately. This is the great “stone” that must be placed into the Church in order for God’s glory to be revealed.

Nordic churches: Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)

Brain Test

Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this you have a strong mind: 

7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!

1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD!

0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. 

Eat Your Heart Out Lance Armstrong

Prophetic Parable - The Eye of the Needle

This is a wonderful prophetic parable that has affected so many lives. I have wanted to post it here for such a long time, so here goes. Take the time to read the whole thing:



A prophetic word/vision given by Charlotte Baker in 1981Worship SymposiumDallas, TX  ...The Eye of the Needle ... The Gate of Worship      The Ultimate Choice   
     "I have brought this people together today to make unto you a choice.  You can minister unto men...or you can minister unto the King of Glory!"  
     I stood among the sons of men, strong and tall.  My heart was filled with enthusiasm.  My life was given to the purposes of God. 
     Upon that day, I said to the Lord, "I will do mighty exploits in the name of my God."  The Lord came unto me and He said, "What is it, son of man, that thou would have?"  I said, "Lord, if I could only be among those who play sweetly upon an instrument and who sing well in the house of the Lord, then I would do great things for my God."  
     The Lord came to me and He gave unto me the desire of my heart. He let me play and He let me sing.  I saw the day when the hearts of men were moved by that thing the Lord had given unto me.  After hearts of men were moved, I stood back and I said to myself, "Now I will be content for I have been able to move the hearts of men." 

    But in my secret hour I bowed my head before my God and said, "Lord, You have given me what I asked for but my heart is heavy. I have a longing for something more."
     He came again unto me in the night season.  He asked me again, "Son of man, ask Me again the thing that thou would have of Me."  I said, "Lord I see men bowed by burdens low.  I see hearts that are broken.  I see sadness and discouragement.  Oh give me the power of the spoken word that I might speak the word and their hearts be delivered."  The Lord came unto me and said, "Son of man, I have given thee the things which thou hast desired." 

     With great joy, I marched before the people of God.  In my youth and in my enthusiasm, I spoke the Word and men were delivered.  I spoke the Word and their hearts were made whole.  I knew what it was to bind up the broken hearted and to pour in the oil of joy replacing their mourning.
     While men were yet praising Him, glorifying His name, I went back to my secret chamber, I bowed my head in sorrow.  I said, "Oh my God, my God, I am not satisfied." 

     He came again unto me and He said, "Son of man, what is it that thou desireth of Me?"  And I said, "Oh my God, give me power in my hands that as You did, I might lay my hands upon the sick and see the healing flow."  He said unto me, "It is done as thou has commanded."
     God healed the sick.  I went to the nations of the earth and I saw the sick raised from their beds.  I saw pain and suffering go away.  I was rejoicing as I went to my secret place.  I bowed my head before my God.  I said, "Now my God, I will be satisfied for you have given me that which I have desired."  No sooner had the words come out of my mouth when the heart within me began to ache and cry.  I said, "God, I don't understand.  Again my heart is sad.  Lord, will You, just one more time, give me the thing I ask of Thee?" he said, "It is done." 

     "God, I desire to go against principalities and powers, the powers of the wickedness of this world and spiritual darkness in high places.  He said, "Surely I give it unto thee.  Now go."  So I went and the Lord allowed me to go into dens of iniquity, the holes and dives where men hide from the light because of the sin and evil that is upon them.  There was a day when I saw demons cry out at the very presence of the power of God that rested on me.
    Then I went back to my secret place broken.  I said, "God, I have asked You for all that I desired and still my heart is not yet satisfied.  Nor do I feel that I have touched the thing that You have called me to.  In my youth I have expended myself with all the things that my heart had desired." 

     Then one more time a gracious and loving God visited me in the night season.  He said, "Now - what is it that thou dost desire?"  In brokenness of heart, I bowed before Him and I said, "God, only that thing which You desire to give unto me."
     He came unto me and said, "Come with Me and I will take you on a journey."  He took me past my friends.  he took me past those with whom I had come into the house of the Lord.  He took me into a desolate place.  He caused me to go into a place alone in the wilderness.  I said, "Oh my God, what are you doing to me? You have cut me off from those I love."  He said, "I take thee to the place where all men must come if their heart's cry is to be fulfilled."  At a certain hour, I bowed before a gate that is called... 

     The Eye of the Needle, The gate of Worship!  There before the eye of the Needle I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Bow low."  So I bowed lower.  He said "Yet lower.  Thou does not go low enough."  So I went as low as I could possibly go.
     But I had upon my back my books of learning.  I had with me my instruments of music.  I had with me my gifts and abilities.  He said unto me, "Thou has too much, thou can not go through this gate."
     I said, "But God, You have given me these books.   You have given me these abilities."  He said, "Drop them. or thou dost not go." 

     So I dropped them. I went through a very small gate that is called "the eye of the needle."  As I went through this gate, I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Now rise to the other side."  As I rose, a very strange thing happened to me.  You see, the gate which was so small on one side that I must lay aside everything, was now so wide I could not fill it.  As I stood in the presence of the Lord I said, "God, what is this thing that You have done unto me, for my soul is now satisfied?"
     He said, "Thou has come through the gate of worship. Now come up to the circle of the earth & I will show thee a great mystery.  I will reveal unto thee the thing that I doing among the sons of men." 

     The Spirit of the Lord caught me away.   He took me to the circle of the earth, higher than where the eagle flies, beyond where the clouds can rumble, beyond where the sun shines or the moon finds her path. There at the throne of my God, He said, "Look down upon My people." 

     I saw strange things. I saw my companions gathered around a very small gate that is, "the eye of the needle, the gate of worship."  I saw them wringing their hands and crying.  They were saying one to another, "But God has given us these instruments of war.  This sword is my sword and I will work with it against the enemy to bring him down.  I cannot go through this gate, for, if I go through this gate, I must put down my sword.  God has called me to be a warrior and therefore, I will not do it."
    And I heard another one say, ""Me? Lay down my instruments of music? Lay down all God has given me, just to go through that silly little gate, to be nothing but a bare man who comes out the other side stripped of everything?  I cannot do this thing."
     I saw them as they stood aside in their pride, afraid to bow themselves before a very small gate.
     Then I saw again, as the Lord brought me closer to the gate.  I saw a man bow low, laying down everything that he had.  As he came through the very wide gate on the other side, his instruments of music were there.  His sword was there.  His books were there. The power was there. 

     The Word of the Lord came to me, "Go now and tell this people before you, I have given unto this people extreme talents and much ability.  But I say unto you today, if you do not come through the very small gate, which is the gate of worship, and bow low and lay before me thine instruments, thy talents, abilities, vision and power, thou shall always be among those who will only be able to minister to the hearts of men, and bless the hearts of men. 

     But there is a gate open to the Church in this hour, a very small gate. And through this gate, only men and women who are worshippers will go.  These people will lay their talents before their God. These people will say, "God, we will be Your worshippers."  Through that wide gate they will come and they will arise on the other side, not to minister unto men, but to minister unto their God.
     I have brought you together this day, to make unto you a choice.  You can minister unto men and I will cause you to sway the hearts of men with your talent.  Or, you can go through a very small gate, that is "the eye of the needle, the gate of worship," and while making new worshippers, you will minister unto the King of Kings and Lord of lords!"  

90 Facts About God

The Lord desires that we would see Him (John 17:24)

But He dwells in unapproachable light (1Tim. 6:16)

  

We see Him in part (1Cor. 13:12)

He has made us after His image (Gen. 1:26) so we know a little of what He might look like

These instances of seeing Him through (descriptions of His person in the Word) should not be understood as describing exactly what God looks like, but rather as God revealing Himself to us in a way that we can understand. Exactly what God looks like is beyond our capability of understanding and describing.

Here are 90 descriptions of God from the Bible: 

1.    GOD IS ... A Person (Job 13:8; Heb. 1:3)

2.    GOD  HAS... A spirit body (Dan. 7:9-14;  10:5-19;  cp. I Cor. 15:44,49; Phil. 3:21)

3.    Shape (Jn. 5:37)

4.    Form (Phil. 2:5-7; 3:21)

5.    Image and likeness (Gen. 1:26; 9:6; I Cor. 11:7; Jas. 3:9)

6.    Countenance (Ps. 11:7)

7.    A head and a mind(Rev.19:12, 1:14; Jer. 19:5, 32:35)

8.    A face (Deut. 34:10; Gen. 33:10; Ex. 33:11)

9.    Hair (Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14)

10.  Eyes (Rev. 1:14; Ps. 11:4; 18:24; 33:18)

11.  Ears (Ps. 18:6; 34:15)

12.  Hands (Ps. 102:25-26; Heb. 1:10)

13.  Fingers (Ex. 31:18; Ps. 8:3-6)

14.  Arms (Ps. 44:3; Jn.12: 38)

15.  Loins (Ezek. 1:26-28; 8:1-4)

16.  Feet (Ps 18:9; Ezek. 1:26; 24:10; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb 2:8; Rev. 1:15; 2:18)

17.  Back parts (Ex. 33:23)

18.  A mouth (Num. 12:8; Isa. 1:20)

19.  Lips (Isa. 11:4; 30:27)

20.  A tongue (Isa. 30:27)

21.  A voice (Ps. 29:1-9; Heb 12:19, 26;   Rev 1:10;  10:3-4;  Rev. 14:2l

22.  A heart (Gen. 6:6; 8:21)

23.  Breath (Gen. 2:7)

24.  GOD HAS FEELING AND AFFECTIONS  ... such as love (Jn. 3:16)

25.  Love and Hate (John 3:16; I John 4:8-9, 16; Pr. 6:16)

26.  Pity (Ps. 103:13)

27.  Anger (I Ki. 11:9)

28.  Repentance (Gen. 6:6)

29.  Jealousy (Ex. 20:5; 34:14)

30.  Pleasure and delight (Ps. 147:10)

31.  Fellowship (I Jn.1:1-7)

32.  Joy ( Neh. 8:10;  Gal. 5:22)

33.  Peace (Gal. 5:22)

34.  Longsuffering (Gal. 5:22)

35.  Gentleness (Gal. 5:22)

36.  Goodness (Gal. 5:22)

37.  Faith (Gal. 5:22)

38.  Self-control (Gal. 5:22)

39.  Spirit (Ps. 143:10; Isa. 30:1)

40.  GOD HAS SPIRIT FACULTIES... He has mind (Rom. 11:34)

41.  Intelligence (Gen. 1:26)

42.  Wisdom (I Tim. 1:17; Ps. 119:130; Ps. 51:6; 1 Cor. 1:30)

43.  Knowledge (Isa. 11:2; Rom. 1:20)

44.  Discernment (Heb. 4:12)

45.  Will (Rom. 8:27; 9:19)

46.  Righteousness (Ps. 45:4)

47.  Faith (Rom. 4:17; 12:3)

48.  Faithfulness (I Cor. 10:13)

49.  Hope (I Cor. 13:3)

50.  Truth (Ps. 91:4; Jn. 17:17)

51.  Power (Eph. 1:19; 3:7,20; Heb. 1:3)

52.  Immutability (Heb. 6:17)

53.  GOD DOES... sit on a throne (Isa. 6:1; Dan. 7:9-11; Rev. 3:21)

54.  Wear clothes (Dan. 7:7-9; Rev. 1:13)

55.  Dwell in a city (Jn. 14:1-3)

56.  Walk (Gen. 3:8; 18:1-8)

57.  Ride (Ps. 18:19; 68:17; Ezek. 1)

58.  Rest (Gen. 2:1-4; Heb. 4:4)

59.  Eat food (Gen. 18:1-8)

60.  Drink wine (Jud. 9:13; Mt. 26:29)

61.  Hear and answer prayer (Ps. 84:11; Isa. 45:11; Jn. 16:23; Phil. 4:6; I Jn 5:14-15)

62.  GOD DOES NOT... CHANGE (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Jas. 1:17)

63.  GOD IS ... Good (Mt. 5: 25; Rom 2:4; Acts. 14:17)

64.  Love (Jn. 3:16; Rom.15:30;  I Jn. 4:8)

65.  Truth (Dt. 34:2; Jn. 17:3, 17; I Jn. 5:20)

66.  Holy (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; I Pet. 1:16)

67.  Perfect  (Dt. 32:4; Ps. 18:30; Mt. 5:48)

68.  Merciful (Rom.12:1-2;  2 Cor. 1-2;  Tit. 3:5)

69.  Faithful (I Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:20; Heb.6: 18)

70.  Provident (Job 38:41)

71.  Comforter (Isa. 51:12; 2 Cor. 1:4; 7:6)

72.  Deliverer (2 Sam 2:22; Ps.40: 17; 70:5; Rom. 11:26)

73.  Preserver (Ps. 12:6-7; 30:3; 33:19; 41:2; 12:7)

74.  Healer (Ps. 103:3; Ex. 15:26; 23:38; Isa. 33:24; 35:5-6; Jas. 5:14-15)

75.  Helper (Heb. 13:6; Ps. 37:40; 46:5; Isa. 50:7,9)

76.  Invisible (Col. 1:15)

77.  Immortal (1 Tim. 1:17)

78.  Life (Jer. 10:10; Jn. 5:26; Heb. 7:16; Rev. 11:11)

79.  Self-existent (Ex. 3:14; 6:3; Jn.1: 4; 5:26)

80.  Ever present (I Ki. 8:27; Ps. 139:7-12; Mt. 28:28))

81.  All powerful (Mt. 28:18; Rev. 19:6)

82.  Eternal (Dt. 33:27; Ps. 90:2; Isa. 57:15)

83.  All knowing (Rom. 11:33; Ps. 44:21; 139:1-6; Pr. 24:12)

84.  Omnipresent through His spirit (I Ki. 8:27; Jer. 23:24 Ps. 139:7-12; Mt. 28:20)

85.  Unsearchable in greatness (Ps. 145:3)

86.  GOD WILL... Reign on the earth (Dan. 2:44; 7:13-14, 27; Zech. 14:9; Rev. 5:10)

87.  Regather all Israel (Isa. 11:11-12; 61:4-6; Amos. 9:14,15; Ezek. 11:17-20;)

88.  Resurrect the dead (Job 14:14-15; I Cor. 15; 2 Thes. 4:14-17; Rev. 20:4-6)

89.  Judge all (Ps 7:8; Ps 82:8; Heb 13:4; Ps 98:9; Ezek. 33:20; Heb 13:4; Rev 19:11)

90.  Fill all the earth with knowledge of Himself (Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14)

These facts come from:

Lloyd W. Cary

(Member of W.C.G. for 27 years.)

(Written sometime in June, 1994)

Hanging Out

Hanging out in the car

Hanging out in a tree

hanging out in the blinds

Hanging out with my favorite smelly shoe

Hanging out with my buddy

Hanging out on an iceberg

Hanging out for a free ride

Hanging out on a limb

Hanging out on my new furry mattress

I would love to know which of these pics is your favorite

Raelynn asked for a picture of me hanging out on a Viking ship. You might not be able to see it, but that is me standing in the middle of the ship - under the sail:

7 Things The Shepherd Does For Us

Psalm 23 is an all-time favorite of mine. Here are the 7 things the Shepherd does for us in this psalm:

v2 He makes me lie down in green pastures
         

v2 He leads me beside the still waters

v3 He restores my soul

v3 He leads me in the paths of righteousness 

v4 His rod and staff comfort me because He is always with me

v5 He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies

v5 He anoints my head with oil 

How Beautiful!

My friend, Richard Oddie (A New Zealander living in Australia) sent me these beautiful pictures of birds - if birds are so beautiful, then how much more are we - the Bride of Christ. Then we must consider: how beautiful is our King who reigns in splendor. He is the one who designed each of these creatures.

Revelation 4:11 “ You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”