2013 --- a new year with new promises and challenges.

 I will attempt to capsualize what the prophets are saying.  Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.  (Amos 3:7)

• We have entered a new era; as we prepare, God will enable us to ride the waves of change.  How do we prepare?  Keep our lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit! (Mt. 25:1-13)  This will enable us to know what to do beforehand so that our walk will prosper. And the even better news is that ordinary people will move in extraordinary acts!
• Do not let your soul be discouraged. The Lord has called us to be victorious and He will provide an oasis for us.  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isa 60:1-3)
• Do not grow weary because help is on the way! An army of young revivalists, fresh troops, is being prepared and they are preaching holiness as fiery teachers and campus reformers.
• God is sending His grace to enable us to see His glory. More glory means more miracles!
• Human trafficking will be THE major blight targeted by those who know their God and they will triumph valiantly. (Ps. 108:13)
• As we enter the 13^th year of the New Millennium, we should ask ourselves the question, “What ‘proactive steps’ have we taken to facilitate or help God’s promises come to pass?” Those may be the very things that are creating stress, confusion and division.
• Time for the Winepress! Press Out and Enlarge Your Boundaries:

Say “GOODBYE” to an Old Form of Provision and Receive New Provision!
“This is a day of freedom for those who will choose to say goodbye to an old form of provision and security, and who will embrace a journey of unknown expectations and rewards. For I have many new ways for you to have supply. I am creative, for I am the Creator. Therefore, I will show you how to create and gain wealth. I will show you supply that has been hidden. If you will worship Me, you will see! If you will proceed forth with Me now, you will learn as you go and see Me in new ways. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how set in your ways you are. If you take a step today, I will teach you in a new, fresh way. You will also hear Me in new ways, and the sound you hear will become fresh and directive toward your future. So enter in to the freedom that I have for you now, and do not rely on the freedom that you have experienced up until now. Be shod for the path of glory that awaits you today!” Read more at Glory of Zion Ministries, http://gloryofzion.org/communications.php

Betty's Blog, 7/2012:
 

What more?

What more has to happen before this nation turns around?  Fires, floods, droughts, tornados, mass shootings, etc. etc. etc.

I know that evil exists and will always exist (except when the devil is locked up for almost a thousand years in the millennium).  We are told very clearly in 2 Chron. 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  This tells me that it is God’s people (or those who call themselves His) that must act.  Why is so much of the “church” asleep?

We are now in a day and time when God is moving in amazing ways within his people—giving us revelation and inspiration on His Kingdom.  The days are short until His Second Coming, but only His Bride—covenant over-comers, walking in truth and holiness, having their garments washed in Jesus’ Blood--will escape the promised wrath and return to rule with Him. Sleepy-eyed church goers--Believers in name only--will remain during the darkest of days on Earth.

My passion is to see those I know and love take their expected place in the Company of the Bride.  This should be your passion too!

Oh, God, walk among your people, reveal your love and your power to them in ways they cannot deny.  As Your desire for Israel was to be their God and that they would be Your people, it is also for us, Spiritual Israel. Come Lord Jesus!

 Betty's Blog, 10/2011:

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Paul Keith Davis and Randy DeMain, on a recent White Dove Ministries’ “word for the moment” video regarding the current “seemingly” wane in Holy Spirit manifestations, agreed that this was probably due to the imminence of the expected great outpouring.  Could it be that “the miracles in the wilderness are drying up to make us hungry for the things in the Promised Land?”  “The provision in the desert is not the promised land.”  In the time of Moses, the people were content with desert miracles.  These needed to cease in order to motivate them to cross over into the Promised Land.  The past miracles were great, but we must seek/expect/contend for much more in the coming days—days when we will be living in the fullness of the stature of Christ!

I have heard the quote from a variety of sources, It will be the best of times, it will be the worst of times, a play on words from Dicken’s Tale of Two Cities, regarding what is coming on this planet. Obviously the “best” will be for the committed followers of Jesus, bringing in the Harvest, and the “worst” will be for the others.  This is no time to sit on the fence nor hide your head in the sand.  If world events alone have not convinced you of the times and seasons we are now in, just spend some time in the Book of Revelations and other prophetic books of the Bible.                                                             

Those of us at Hope of Glory know how much this city needs another shelter—NOW, not in future years!  Our hearts cry out for the increasing numbers of folks on the streets because the “inns” are full!  This is a huge undertaking—one that most ignore as no government funds are available for same.  God’s people are mandated to help and serve the poor.  This is where the funds will come from.

 We are, however, on the verge of establishing a homeless medical respite facility for those discharged from hospitals who need a few days recuperation.  There are only a very few beds at shelters for this presently. We are dialoguing with some fine medical folks here and seeking grants for this.  Please pray for us in this matter and let us know if you want to be part of this.

In the meantime, we continue to help whom we can with funds available. We have certainly had challenges in this area and the Community Food Bank has been sparse lately as well, but when men fail, God provides.

 
Betty's blog, 8/2011:

Are you Preparing Your Wedding Garment?

There are two accounts of feasts in the Bible that caught my attention recently: Luke 14:16-24 and Matthew 22:1-14.  In both cases servants were sent to summon the guests to come to a feast. Luke 14:18 states, “But they all with one accord began to make excuses.”  The servants were then directed to go out into the streets (and “washes”) and invite people in.  The Matthew passage is different in that that the King was planning a wedding feast for his Son.  It also had “no takers” and the servants were directed to do the same as in Luke.  The difference here was that when the homeless and needy began to come in, some were found without wedding garments and were thrown to “outer darkness where there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

     We are in the day of “feast planning.” God is calling us to sup with Him.  Could it be that those who would logically be on the guest list—the religious people—are too busy to spend time with Him?  There is a hunger and certainly a need to come to God as never seen before by those we serve at Hope of Glory.  The biggest detriment to this is that most don’t feel worthy of a relationship with Him (and this is unfortunately what they often experience from many churches.)  God’s love and forgiveness, as well as their potential in Christ is what we endeavor to instill in those “who have an ear to hear.”  God is graciously accepting the least, lost and lonely, BUT, as in the Matthew passage, their garments must be clean (as in a wedding garment), i.e. Salvation is a prerequisite to God’s feast/kingdom. 

If you have a story or testimony to share with the “least of these,” or just would like to encourage one’s walk with the Lord, let us know and we will seek your help as a servant summoner to these precious people. Remember, we are a non-profit, 501(c)(3),  ALL VOLUNTEER organization.              
         
 Betty's Blog, Apr. 2011:

Are We Ready for God’s Kingdom Come?

As I sat down to write this, my eye was captured by a postcard from the Southern AZ Womens’ Chorus production "Freedom & Redemption." Last year I received some flack about an article I wrote regarding the "re-naming" of Tucson with these very words. (see April, 2010). Since then I have heard wonderful expectations spoken regarding Tucson. We are to be in the forefront of a great awakening which will be nation changing. How can this be? Only thru great changes in God’s people—not an easy feat—received only by their great sacrifice and by His great grace! Are we ready for this? Only God knows, but each of us must find his or her place in preparation for what God is about to do. We at Hope of Glory believe our commission is to prepare for the housing and discipling of many who are in need in the coming days. God has sustained us through difficult times and has blessed us in unexpected ways. (His ways are always superior!).

Many of you have heard about our Hope Center vision and even seen the conceptual drawings. The numbers of homeless are growing and even though the community Winter Shelter program does a great job for a few months, most of the year 2000 or more men, women and children sleep in river beds, drainage ditches, vehicles and on friend’s couches. The stressed social service agencies are doing their best with what they have, but chaos exists in all segments of Tucson’s underserved. It is very unlikely that any government money will be available for aid as HUD has for years focused on transitional and permanent housing. In any case, secular institutions cannot provide the primary ingredients needed to restore people: love and hope. This is why our Hope Center must be faith-based and faith operated. I believe that it will be more than a shelter, but will function as a "Freedom Outpost Center" as well. The Church of Tucson will step to the plate in matters such as these. Why will this happen? God will honor the gifs and callings of His people who are about their Father’s business.

Betty’s Blog, Oct., 2010

Are You Neglecting Your Soul:

As I write this a multi-week outpouring of signs, wonders and heal-ings, is happening in Mobile, Alabama, and only God knows how many other places around the world. The prophets who have visited Tucson in the last two years are all in agreement that THIS CITY is where God wants to pour out His Spirit—big time—and are also calling it “The Third Great Awakening!” Come Lord Jesus! How do we prepare for this? 1. EXPECT God to do amazing things (and don’t put Him in a box). 2. PRAY and proclaim His Word for and over Tucson. 3. OBEY the voice of His Holy Spirit and be a doer of His Word. 4. FELLOWSHIP with others who are watching and waiting. 5. SIMPLIFY your life.  
In reference to #5, Robert Sterns, in his book, Prepare the Way (or Get Out of the Way)--who this very weekend he is leading meetings in Israel for The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem--  stated:

Not only do we have to deal with choices as an informed consumer, but we also have to deal with the smorgasbord of choices that the very nature of our affluent society affords us.  A vacation doesn’t just mean time away from work.  A vacation requires charting out an agenda of what to and where to go.  Affluent societies afford such options. By  distraction of options, I refer to all those choices that face us in our times away from work and responsibility—choices of leisure.  When people are able to find time outside of their necessary functions and duties, they easily get sucked into investing their time and energies into things that bring immediate satisfaction and thrill.  There are simply so many more “thrilling” and “exciting” options available that never were there before  As a result people neglect their soul by focusing so much on the gratification of the senses of their bodies.

We must learn to become ruthless about choosing those things that make for the health of our souls, if we desire to experience a measure of meaning and significance in our lives.  Central to such health are the factors of simplicity and quietness.  Just as we have learned to live lifestyles of distraction, so too must we learn to live lifestyles of simplicity and quietness.  Such actions are injections of health to our souls in a very unhealthy society.

The sensory overload of our generations is causing a reverse effect, and very frustrated and disillusioned people are turning to the well of simplicity.  People are desperate to experience freedom from the tyranny of society’s distractions and complications. They are making choices that promote a simplification of spheres of their lives. . . .  Such people have awakened to the reality that the truly satisfying and fulfilling life they desire cannot come by any of their own sanctified efforts or resources but only by the grace of God.  Only in the place of admitted neediness does God release such a quality of life.

 
Betty's Blog 7/12/10:

Heat, Monsoons & Summer Volunteers!
We have experienced all of this before, but the logistics of our present location are a real challenge! Of course the increase in people requires an increase in food and services—and we do deliver (with God’s help and that of His people in other ministries).  The Food Bank now allows us to stock our pantry from their donations; and of course the supply and items change with each visit to the Agency Market.  We are again getting produce and a few other items from Compassion in Action, and Gospel Rescue Mission.  Starbucks supply us with desserts and Pizza Hut with their buffet pizza slices. 

Our guests often bring us clothes and other items.  (One of our regular couples always has a bag of food for us!)  Red’s Beauty donates small bottles and Brenda Meisner cleans up prescription bottles as well (which we fill with shampoo and lotion). Occasionally our “cup runneth over with other ministries—our favorite being Poverello House, a day facility for respite and clean-up for several homeless men.  Of course all of these suppliers require pick-up and storage.  Thank you John Kanellos and Jerry Ransom for taking the helm in this!      A blessing we have only recently received are gift cards.  Sherry Green, Ministry Development Director, has spearheaded the quest for these.  Our regular supplier is Sunflower Market and we occasionally receive cards from Wal-Mart, Fry’s and Albertson’s.  These cards allow us to purchase condiments, some serving items, and other paper goods.  Thank you Sherry and committee members!

We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize our volunteers—some serving out of their abundance and many others out their need.  Our guests are so very helpful in setting up and tearing down, clean-up, etc.  This summer we are seeing more parents requiring their teens to help out—just because they should!  Our Bible teachers come from Oro Valley to St. David to share the Word, and one was on the streets herself just a couple of years ago.

While we are at it, a big THANK YOU to those who faithfully support us financially.  Yes, our donations have dropped, but, as you may have noticed, God keeps us supplied.  We have more on our hearts to do for our guests in the future.  We will keep you informed of progress.

 
Betty's Blog: 2/10/2010

There are three kinds of response to my blurbs on our newsletters.  1. I love it!  2. I hate it! or  3. I don’t read it because I don’t open the mail.  I guess you could equate this to Rev 3:16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  I’m not throwing up yet as I know we all get soooo much mail, electronic or snail.  IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND HAVEN’T GIVEN ME YOUR E-ADDRESS PLEASE DO—at least we can save a tree!

When I began sharing in this manner, I never thought my Spirit-led writing would be controversial, but . . .  Here is a quote from Rick Joyner, Morningstar Ministries, which says it all:

In Mark 10:29-30, the Lord gives us a wonderful promise: “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions.” In my ministry to date, I think every time I have taken a major risk to help someone, or to speak or write something that I was given but knew it would be controversial, the benefits gained always outweighed what I had risked by at least one hundred times. It is always right to do what you think is right regardless of the risk or potential reward, but the Lord is faithful to reward those who do so. Along with it, “persecutions” may be expected.

 Regardless of how right we are, if we are about to see a major revival break out, the persecution will also break out on a correspondingly high level. This too “comes with the territory” as the Lord Himself taught. With the increase of power and impact in Jesus’ ministry, the persecution went up accordingly. With the undeniable resurrection of Lazarus, the Lord’s enemies determined that it was time to kill Him. I have no doubt that the persecution will ratchet up dramatically with the increase of the favor of God. This is biblical. So what kind of favor is that? Ask the Jewish people who have been His “chosen people.” It may not seem like favor to those who care about earthly things and the favor of men, but to be considered worthy to suffer shame for His name’s sake is one of the greatest honors we can have in this life and will be an eternal honor in heaven. It’s not fun, but I’m not here to have fun—I’m here to do the will of God. I fully trust Him for any reward He thinks that I deserve or any honor such as persecution that He thinks I need.


I am writing this during Easter week, knowing that it is a banner one for Tucson!  Mayor Walkup proclaimed this a week of prayer and fasting for prosperity for our city.  I believe this is a “first,” and the first of many such proclamations for Tucson.  Last month the prophets assembled here, confirming that Tucson would be a forerunner in our Nation’s spiritual awakening.  God is honoring the “wells of revival” that were dug here by A.A. Allen and William Brannon AND has answered the prayers of those who refused to be discouraged by sayings such as “Tucson is a hard place.”

4/5/2010

Pastor Rick Leis (who has prayer-walked the streets and tunnels here for many years) recently “saw” four huge angels, lowering a “sheet” over this valley and singing different tunes, but in perfect harmony (different church streams working together) and renaming Tucson “Freedom” and “Redemption.”  It is obvious that God’s true Church is coming into glorious days—if they have an ear to hear and a heart to obey.  PLEASE prepare for this time—getting your spiritual house in order--as you do not want to miss your “day of visitation!”

Can you tell that I am excited? Of course, as this means that the vision (the Hope Center) that God gave us over ten years ago, will be accomplished soon—not just the building, but the opportunity for God’s people to sow, staff and minister to “the least of these!”  I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have stood with us over the years.  We have a faithful (and growing) Board which has “held my arms up” and will continue to do so.

 I cited Isa 66:10-13  in the last newsletter.  Psalm 132:13-18 will be added to my proclamations for Tucson: 

For the LORD has chosen Zion (Tucson);
He has desired it for His dwelling place:
"This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
There I will make the horn (strength) of David grow;
I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish." NKJV 

AND for the Church: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:23 NIV

 6/1/2010
I wanted to share on the topic of Destiny as I was inspired by JoAnn McFatter's posting on Elijah List: You Are Called to Choose Destiny.  I couldn't leave a thing out, so I received permission to reprint it--enjoy!  (JoAnn is an anointed vocalist, song-writer and worship leader as well.)

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."—Jeremiah 1:4-5  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.—Psalm 139:16

As with Jeremiah and David whose call came before entering into their mother's womb, so it is with every man and woman born. However, through the provision of free will, God has left it to each one's choosing as to whether or not that call will be lived out. Jesus said it Himself:

For many are called, but few are chosen.—Matthew 22:14

The choosing comes by the decisions we make along the way as to whether or not we are able to be a resting place for the fullness of His glory. He will not put on us that which we are not prepared to carry, lest it destroy us. Destiny calls each one of us, and it is the exercising of our free will that determines the outcome of that calling. As our hearts continually respond to the voice of our Creator, "I choose You! Above all else, I choose You!" we navigate our way through our destiny.

Our Destiny is Not the End Product, But Rather the Journey to that End.

He is our origin and He is our destiny. We were in Him before the world began and we return to reside in Him, and are even now residing, as we partake of His grace by way of accepting and receiving the benefit of the shedding of His Blood.

It is the journey from here to there as we "run the race" that plays out the days written in His book ordained for each one of us. It happens one day at a time, one decision at a time to choose Him above all else. In this living out of our lives, turning toward Him at every juncture and, once again, consciously making a decision to "choose Him," we find ourselves in the middle of our destiny, for it will only be found in Him.

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring."—Acts 17:26-28

In our western mindset we have made our destiny to be an end to a means, a job or a title that we attain to. It is a form that we desire to create for ourselves, a position to be held such as a singer, a pastor, or perhaps a banker. I'm not sure that is what God had in mind at all. For many of us it might just be the reason that our destiny seems to elude us as the years wear away on our hopes of stepping into what we perceive as our destiny. We try to create a form within which we will function. Form first, and then function comes as a result of our Greek reasoning that has so enamored our culture.

Our true destiny is hidden in the function of "living out" the days He fashioned for us, not a title or job description. It's not about being a prophet but rather the process of learning how to hear His voice and prophecy in love with the heart of the Father. In that functioning as a prophet we truly find our destiny, which is to become like Him. It's the same for every job and/or ministry title you can come up with. Though we all have different days written out for us in His book, still the process of learning how to function in it is the walking out of our destiny—to be like Him, to be one with Him.

Our destiny is not the end product but rather "the journey" to that end—our days lived out as God Himself has written them in His book. Our life lived in Him day by day is our true destiny as we become more like Him; the form in which that takes place, whether it be, as I said, as a teacher, evangelist, or a baker is secondary to the function of walking out that process. I'm afraid we lose the joy of that journey because we are waiting to attain a position or name or whatever. It's the days that we have lived up to this point with all of the mistakes and all of the failures and even successes that make up our destiny.

Destiny is a Verb—Destiny is a Person

I believe we get misled by regarding destiny as a noun, when, in God, it really is as much a verb as it is a noun. It is probably even more accurate to say it is a Person—the process of becoming one with the personhood of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the job, the process is the same. The functioning of our calling and the process that brings us to maturity concerning it is our real destiny. It is the same for all of us.

So we are exhorted to "not despise the day of small beginnings" and to "count it all joy" as we maneuver through life, through the good, the bad and the ugly, through the gory and the glory of it all. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are IN your destiny right now. All of our days are the summation of who we become in Him. The ones lived out behind the scenes are just as, if not more, important than the ones in front of people in that perceived place of successfully functioning in our calling. I find that very encouraging, knowing that this is ALL working toward the fulfillment of our destiny.

It's about the choices we make in those days of disappointment, heartache and being betrayed that bring us to the place of love and unity with God. We can choose to feel sorry for ourselves, or to complain about where we are at and how long we are there, or the seemingly bad break, which actually probably kept us from going through a door that would have led us in the wrong direction. Our other option is to look into His eyes and say, "I choose You! Whatever that looks like and however long that takes, above self and all else, I choose You!"

It is also about how we handle promotion, favor and prosperity. The point is not that we receive those things, it is about how we rule and reign in that position. Do we take advantage of it for ourselves or do we use it to pour out on others? Do we use our favor to strengthen and lift others in their calling, even above ourselves? In the midst of all the advantage it affords us, is there still an automatic cry that comes from within, "Lord, I choose You! You are my portion, You are my destiny!"? Song of Solomon says it well:

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.—Song Of Solomon 8:6-7

He Is Our Destiny!

The questions asked when we pass from this life are more like, "Do we look like Him?" "Did we learn to love?" "Did we die daily to ourselves so that it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me?" Our true destiny is IN Him, to become like Him, regardless of our calling. That puts us all on the same level before Him no matter what our job description or calling is. As the Bride of Christ we are to take on the very nature of our Bridegroom and move through life as He did. To look like Him, to act like Him, to respond like Him, to be one in Him is our destiny, regardless of the form. He IS our Destiny!

...that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on the earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.—Ephesians 1:10-11

As we approach this "fullness of the times" there is a gathering together of those who function with this understanding. We are to be those who love as He loves, to the extent that we become walking love and would be willing to lay down our very lives, preferring others before ourselves. That is our destiny in this hour. Regardless of what form our life takes, the purpose is to function in that kind of selfless love as we become one with Him in His likeness. That level of maturity, death to self, will draw His Presence.

We are called to be the Bride of Christ, fully functioning in our Destiny as we live, move, and have our being in Him. It is only out of this place that He can trust us with the never before seen authority and creative word that is about to be released through those with the cry of, "We choose You! Above all others and all else, we choose You!" We have walked out our destiny as we have made Him and Him alone our boundaries and borders, a city whose walls are made of His fire; His jealousy, His authority, His very presence upon us as we become His resting place.

"For I", says the Lord, "will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst."—Zechariah 2:5

JoAnn McFatter
WhiteDove Ministries
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