Blog Spot

You are not defeated!

Perseverance is not just hanging on and grunting through the difficulties in life, it is actively being aggressive in our pursuits. It is being faithful and not giving up–surrendering to the will of God through prayer and the practice of His commandments as we see in scripture. Jesus persevered. Not only did He overcome our sin, releasing us from its bondage and its affect in separating us from Him; but Jesus healed the broken hearted, healed the sick, and fed the hungry. He brought peace to the troubled, and rest to the weary.

We persist in His strength as persistence is the salt of our souls in Christ–we are preserved (Revelation 3:10). Jesus tells us He will enable us to overcome through our perseverance. Trust in the Lord. He is faithful and True. He has overcome the world. Greater is Jesus in you than the evil in the world. Walk in His light, and we will see clearly. Love God, Love One Another. R.A.

See Dutch Sheets share on the steps Larry Tomzcak says will turn our nation around! https://youtu.be/S7t5r8OPcZM

Knowing God!

. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Phil. 3:10

“Until those toys of the senses are consumed, everything you do will be a mixture of good and bad. Your ‘humility’ will actually strengthen your pride. Your charity to others will give nourishment to your own self-love. ‘Our God is a consuming fire.’ “(Dutch Sheets–Heb. 12/29)

I just finished the book, Loving God, by Chuck Colson in which he shared many examples alluding to the importance of this. He did not know God until he was in prison, swept away in the Watergate scandal, and then became a major minister to the incarcerated. Today a close relationship with Jesus is essential! We are moving into a time when we must be in constant connection with the Holy Spirit, listing and obeying. He WILL show us the way to walk and it could be life or death for us or our loved ones!

“… today’s turmoil, though painful and deserving of our compassion for all affected, is not a sign of the world going to hell, but rather of the shaking of everything Babylonian (the World system devoid of righteousness, grace, mercy and creativity).” Ed Silvoso

Yes, many good things have been prophesied for 2024, but in order to take hold of them, we must be focused totally on God and His plans and purposes. Get ready to trash your own plans in favor of His. (Deu. 28:29) And seek the Holy Spirit for direction. (1 Cor. 2:11)

Our spiritual life will not be ‘business as usual.’ We must walk daily in the power of His Spirit, discerning all spiritually. (Gal. 5:16) As prophet Chuck Pierce shared in the link, his people, now walking in their full identity and calling, will be highlighted and many will be drawn to us (or the Jesus in us!) as the Great Harvest manifests. Betty Bitgood

The Power of the Cross

The cross is to cleanse us from sin and all unrighteousness, that we would be made presentable, introduced and justified in the eyes of God, and pleasing to Him, for nothing unrighteous is capable of being in His glorious presence. He is majesty in the fullest splendor and grandeur, un-imaginable to our human condition, beyond our full comprehension. We have a glimpse of that reality as we look to the cross, it is only through that door that we can pass through into God’s eternal presence. We tend to preach on the temporary effects of the power of God–healing, prosperity–when the cross prepares us for the eternal effect of its purpose. It allows and brings us directly to God Himself, putting our confidence in the Cross of Christ and its power to both cleanse and resurrect us from death to life eternally. (Galatians 6:14)

We are made whole and renewed when we are born again, even as the leper received new baby skin in his healing from Jesus–the blind see, the broken-hearted comforted. When John the Baptist doubted, Jesus sent word. All these things are happening and the gospel is preached; there is nothing greater than what has been given us, the great privilege to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, sharing His love which was demonstrated on the Cross of Christ….

To God Be The Glory! Thank You Lord Jesus, the Savior and Creator of the world! Amen & Amen! Hallelujah! Look To Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22) by Rob Anderson

Men Without Chests

“Much of what we battle in our culture today stems from a loss of virtue due to moral subjectivism, reflexive emotions that supplant truth. Then, we wonder how things got to be so chaotic.” Stephanie Smith of API, World News Group

“As I sat down to write this update, it occurred to me that many of API’s supporters might be experiencing what I’ve experienced this week; a simultaneous sense of hope and despair. The list of problems to fix and issues to address, yes even in Alabama, seems impossibly long and the timeframe with which we have to address them seems impossibly quick. We spent the week meeting with legislators, building coalitions, and communicating with stakeholders about what must be addressed in 2024. But, instead of making a list of the things we have done or hope to do, I ask that you indulge me in a week of stepping back to discuss the why behind the work that we do.

The phrase that kept leaping to my mind this week was “men without chests” and that is not yet another criticism of manhood. That quote is found in C.S. Lewis 1943, The Abolition of Man. ”

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.”

Lewis asserts that values are universal, but that values aren’t inherent. In other words, value systems must be taught as they don’t develop automatically or inevitably in children; those who have not been taught virtue lack the trunk that unites the heart and soul with the visceral appetite, and are thusly and rightfully called “men without chests”.

It is impossible to be a consistent moral subjectivist.

The only thing consistent about moral subjectivism is that it is consistently wrong; it’s consistently wrong because it has no mooring except for arbitrary feelings and continually changing emotions. Lewis said that the chest is the engine for virtuous action. But the chest (heart) cannot be unmoored from the truth for the action to be virtuous. The sort of emotion Lewis calls for is the desire for truth, goodness, and beauty; that sort of longing only comes from God. Our innate longing for truth, beauty, and goodness is distorted by sin and must be regenerated by God’s grace and cultivated by those also on the journey.

We are living in a time of heightened reflexive emotions and the overwhelming sense of chaos that swirls around us can be tied directly back to that lack of mooring. Experience doesn’t trump truth. Emotions don’t trump truth. Without education and discipline, the untrained heart lapses into uncontrolled emotional responses that lead to chaos and conflict. The current chaos and conflict in our society related to identity are the direct result of such uncontrolled sentimentality.

We chafe at chastity, but are shocked to find porn and promiscuity seeping into our homes and schools.

We refuse to acknowledge God, but are shocked to find hopelessness, violence, and selfishness in our communities.

We dishonor life and allow children to be used or thrown away like trash, but we are shocked to find we’re missing generations.

We boldly dismiss hell, but are shocked to find the cruelty that we would find there here on earth.

We laugh at fidelity, but are shocked to find divorce and brokenness to be the rule rather than the exception.

We dismiss fathers and make a mockery of manhood, but we are shocked when men act like boys.

We condone the rejection of creation, but are shocked when people find their identity in disorder.

We value dishonor and bravado over honor and bravery, but are shocked to find we have few heroes.

We teach to the test instead of teaching critical thinking, but are shocked when the masses blindly follow the paid pundits and compromised experts without question.

We minimize motherhood but are shocked to find we have no grandchildren.

We refuse to teach virtue, but we are shocked to find that virtue is no longer valued.

The adage “the heart moves the feet” is true in both politics and in life.

So, what now? We must stop being shocked as the result of what we’ve created. But where do we find hope while surrounded by chaos and hopelessness? The only right answer is to turn to the one who IS the truth and to the Word that is inerrant. “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).

The answer to so many of our problems, at the core, is not systematic reform, electing the right politicians, or having the exact right policies in place. The answer is in remembering the why behind the work before we sit down to do it. Remembering that in order to become men with chests we must first acknowledge who we were made by and what we were made for. Empty rhetoric, temporal philosophies and political ideologies will never heal society. Scrolling news feeds and angrily shaking our fists and banging our keyboards isn’t enough to make a dent in this mess. Our hope isn’t in this world and our bootstraps will never ever be enough. Let’s first become men with chests … and then let’s accomplish great things together.”

Stephanie Smith, President and CEO, Alabama Policy Institute

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE?

In the world you are a bar code.
In the kingdom you bear the image of God.

You are not your feelings.
You are not your past.
Your inner man is not the age of your outer man.
Your spirit is eternal.

Your real capacity is unexplored because it’s a new nature that came alive the moment Christ came into your heart by the Holy Spirit.You are no longer merely human – you possess an aspect of the divine nature. Your recreated spirit is the real you, and in that part you bear His image. As you behold the beauty of the Lord you are changed: ”But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The idea is, that by placing ourselves within the light of the gospel and by contemplating the glory that shines there, we become changed into the likeness of the same glory that shines on us.

The world system is called Babylon. Everybody losses their unique identity and becomes a brick, a unit, a number, a bar code – in a globally controlled economic system of total surveillance. The tower of Babel was built of brick. Each brick made to fit exactly like the other brick. The Temple of the Lord on the other hand is built of stones – “living stones” that fit together in such a way that each stone is unique.

The world pressures you to conform. It tries to make you a brick in a godless system. The kingdom challenges the bride to transform: to make you a living stone in a living temple.

You are a whole lot more than you think you are!

“When He appears you will see Him as He is and immediately be transformed to be just like Him ” (1 John 3:2). Do you know why? Because you are made of the same nature and material. Your life is hidden in Christ.

You only need to see Him to be like Him.

You only need to receive His words to activate what you’ve got.

Open the Bible and do it now. You only need to see to be.

Adapted from a teaching by Lance Wallnau

Welcome Holy Spirit!

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the date the body of Christ celebrates the release of Holy Spirit and the subsequent birth of the church. Second, this year Pentecost also marks the culmination of the global Isaiah 62 fast for Israel. Millions of people across the globe have engaged. Third, it also marks Memorial Day, when we as a nation pause to honor the men and women in our military and intelligence communities who have given their lives to secure the freedom of our nation for their generation, all three are important events to celebrate and thank God for a holy convergence!

The following is an excerpt from our Board Member, Pastor Gerry Watts’ teaching for today:

10 Things to know about Pentecost:

The Bible records Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13.
Pentecost Sunday marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. Acts 2:1-4
Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Passover/Easter.
Pentecost comes 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.
Pentecost is also known as the “birthday of the church.”
Pentecost fulfills Jesus’ promise to send the “Counselor” and “Spirit of Truth” in John 16:5-15.
Pentecost launches the large-scale spreading of the Gospel after Jesus’ ascension. After receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter gave his first sermon in Acts 2:15-39. He interpreted the events of that morning in light of a prophecy of the Hebrew prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32). Acts 2:41 records that after Peter spoke to the crowd some 3,000 people were baptized.
The Pentecostal movement derives its name from the New Testament events in Acts 2.
Jews also celebrate Pentecost, but not for the same reason as Christians. The celebration by Jews of Pentecost is to observe God giving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai 50 days after the Exodus. The Pentecost in Jewish tradition takes place 50 days after Passover.
The rushing wind filling the whole house is reminiscent of the presence of God filling the temple in the Old Testament (2 Chronicles 7:1; Ezekiel 43:5). Like the wind, fire is also associated with God’s presence in the Bible (Exodus 3:2).

A belief in the real presence of the Holy Spirit as described in this account of the Day of Pentecost is integral to the Christian faith. Today believers are still filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and call upon the Spirit whenever they are in need of strength or guidance.

Announce Freedom to all Captives

I have often said that the folks we serve are in need of more spiritually, than what we have been offering them through prayer. They need deliverance, as God wants them to live free and thrive!

God has opened a door of opportunity for us to partake of anointed teachings and demonstrations of His power in order to prepare us for this aspect of the Great Commission. (See HardcoreChristianity.org)

I was prompted to again read Is. 61:

The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me
because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness”
planted by God to display his glory.
They’ll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They’ll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks
and foreigners to work your fields,
But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,”
honored as ministers of our God.
You’ll feast on the bounty of nations,
you’ll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble
and more than your share of contempt,
Your inheritance in the land will be doubled
and your joy go on forever. ( Is. 61:1-7 Message Bible)

Jesus repeats vs. 1-3 in Luke 4:18-19; and In Mt.10:1. He gave the disciples “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

“We are moving into days when the Ekklesia (the church) must demonstrate its boldness, strength and unwavering faith. We have been prepared and empowered by the Holy Spirit to win great battles. Those who know their God will stand strong in Him and fight, using their spiritual weapons and wise strategies, to defeat hell’s evil agenda. Our nation and government will be changed and America will be saved!

. . . Holy Spirit is stirring the Ekklesia to carry out God’s spiritual battle plans for creating change and setting captives free. There are spiritual battles on the horizon that we must engage in and win.” Tim Sheets (posted in Give Me 15, 4/17/23)
I suggest you read the whole post: https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=e06948ba24&u=21ae4b9aa9f11e4a8320b5ed6&id=30168dfcc9 Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Are we ready to FIGHT for what belongs to us?

Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. (Is. 60:1-2 AMPC)

We have the same spirit of faith as David!

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. (Romans 4:20-21 AMPC)

Abraham did not doubt—neither should we!

Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord. (James 1:6-7 AMPC)

Knowledge ABOUT faith is not enough! We must lay hold of it, as faith is eternal not temporal! AND IT IS OURS! Focus on the eternal plan and confess the promise!

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak,⁽Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence. (2 Corinthians 4:13-14 AMPC)

CHOOSE TO BELIEVE GOD!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (2 Timothy 6:12 AMPC)

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 AMPC)

For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser, and for those with discernments, you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership. (Proverbs 3:5 TPT)

God has given us His word! He is able and faithful, and He loves us! HE WILL DO EXACTLY AS HE HAS PROMISED!

(This was adapted from Pastor Gerald Lawson’s teaching of 03/19/2023)

Are we thinking the thoughts of God?

Welcome to 2023—to pen a phrase from Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities, it is anticipated to be the “best of years and the worst of years.” This is what we are hearing from many trusted prophetic voices. It WILL BE a good year if we prepare for the worst! So do we stockpile tires, food, eggs, etc? Of course not, unless Daddy says! One of the best ways to prepare AND hear from him is to think His thoughts!

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. (2 Peter 1:3 MES)

If we want a dynamic personal life we must search intently for the ‘tickets’ which enable us to enter in and partake of the Kingdom!

Proverbs 23:7 tells us “as (one) thinks in his heart, so is he. Our thoughts—as well as our words—fashion us! What does occupy our mind? Aside from our work and daily routine, we MUST direct our thoughts to “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

^”So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 MES)

^“So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.”(James 1:21 LIV)

Therefore “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 KJV)

(taken from Pastor Betty Lawson’s teaching 01/22/23)

Who are the Dangerous?

When reviewing my email this holiday weekend, a title of one piece of mail caught my eye: “The Gathering of the Dangerous.” As I copied this phrase, I misspelled “gathering” and my spellcheck could have missed this error as it now said “fathering!” This was meaningful to me, a senior member of the remnant, as I have fathered (mothered) some who have become change agents for the Father!

The phrase “Gathering of the Dangerous” was coined by Lance Walnau* and describes a “divine collaboration of four key partners: prophetic, civic, sacred and remnant. The remnant are the ones “who refuse to give up and allow themselves to be intimidated by the powerful few, even when it feels like all hope has disappeared.” (These are the “Dangerous ones”, says Lance).*

Most end-time scholars agree that today’s “remnant” refers to those Believers in Jesus that have not let their “garments be stained” and are seeking Holy Spirit for their positioning and commissioning for final days’ assignments. It is this group that I am highlighting in this blog. The word tells us, “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong.” ( 1 Cor. 1:27). It gives me great honor and joy to know that some of “the least of these” we encounter– the challenged and beaten down men and women that God has pegged for His use (the Dangerous Ones)–will be used as forerunners in this work! But it will be only through much love, restoration and acceptance by us and of course God’s amazing grace!

I consider Is. 61:1-3 a call on my life, but notice in vs. 3-7 that the “they” & “their” refer to—those finishing up the work–those ministered to in the former verses!

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
and they shall repair the ruined cities, devastations of generation upon generation.
Strangers shall stand ready to pasture your flocks,
foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers.
You yourselves shall be called “Priests of the Lord,”
“Ministers of our God” you shall be called.
You shall eat the wealth of the nations
and in their riches you will boast.
1. Because their shame was twofold
  and disgrace was proclaimed their portion,
  They will possess twofold in their own land;
  everlasting joy shall be theirs,

* see https://lancewallnau.com/

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Have you lost your PEACE?

This is taken from Pastor Gerald Lawson’s teaching, Oct. 30^th.

As I sat down to write this today this was the Message Bible’s scripture of the day: Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (Eph. 2:7-10)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6) Believing in a true and GOOD God is basic to our faith! AND since Jesus is the Prince of Peace, it is always good to rehearse who and what He is!

The only TRUE peace comes from Him, the Father of Lights, AND our hearts must be fixed on Him and His promises to us—His kids. We must have FAITH in Him!

The opposite of faith is FEAR. There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. (1 John 4:18 AMP)

Have you perfected the ‘love walk?’ If your answer is “yes,” than don’t bother reading on.

LOVE is the key to gaining peace. It was said of David that he was a man with God’s own heart. Even one with such a checkered past walked in God’s peace and victory. Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. (1 John 4:4 AMPC) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (Rom. 16:20)

Jesus, on the Sea of Galilee–after the disciples had to wake him–calmed the storm in Mt. 8:23-27. They remarked, “even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Jesus is our role model and promises that we will do greater works than He! (John 14:12)

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. (Phil. 1:28 NLB)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Mt. 5:9)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. (Psalm 23:4-5) The table he prepares for us is covered with the finest of silver and linens; and He has provided the richest of meats, delicacies and the finest of wines! Let us labor to enter into the peace He provides for us in order to partake of His gracious provision and magnificent love! Betty Bitgood, Chairman

:Out of Reach

The high cost of housing 2022

Since Tucson has been majorly impacted by homeless issues, I decided to share a report dated 09/01/2022 by the National Low Income Housing Coalition which “highlights the mismatch between the wages people earn and the price of decent rental housing in every state, metro area, and county in the U.S. The report also calculates the ‘Housing Wage’ a full-time worker must earn to afford a rental home without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. This year’s national Housing Wage is $25.82 per hour for a modest two-bedroom home at fair market rent and $21.25 per hour for a modest one-bedroom home.” The report “. . . finds that in no state, metropolitan area, or county can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest two-bedroom rental home, and these workers cannot afford modest one-bedroom apartments in 91% of U.S. counties. Nationwide, rent increases have made affording and maintaining housing even more difficult for the lowest-income renters. Across the country, rents rose 18% between the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. These rent increases have been widespread: out of 345 metropolitan counties, all but two have seen a rise in rental prices since 2021. With rents skyrocketing and prices for goods increasing, workers may have to sacrifice necessities like food, medical services, transportation, and childcare simply to remain housed.

The report shows that the gap between wages and housing costs is largest for people of color, and particularly women of color. The disparities are the result of historic and continuing racist housing policies that have led to people of color facing disproportionate challenges accessing decent and affordable homes. At the same time, Black and Latino workers earn less than white workers: the median wage for Black and Latino workers is approximately $6.00 less than that of the median white worker. Because people of color are more likely to be renters at all income levels, increasing costs within the rental market disproportionately harm these households. Among renters, 55% of Black households are cost-burdened and 53% of Latino households are cost-burdened, compared to 43% of white households. The disparities grow even starker for women of color: more than 70% of Black and Latina women earn an hourly wage that falls short of the one-bedroom Housing Wage.

As rental prices rise, evictions resume, and COVID-19 policy measures expire, low-income renters will face insurmountable hardships finding and maintaining affordable housing without significant congressional action. NLIHC and our partners across the country are calling on Congress to address the far-reaching challenges that low-income renters face in accessing safe and affordable housing. Solving the housing affordability crisis requires expanding rental assistance to all eligible renters in need while also making deep, sustained investments in the national Housing Trust Fund and public housing to create, preserve, and rehabilitate affordable homes. Congress should also create a permanent National Housing Stabilization Fund to provide temporary assistance for households at risk of eviction and strengthen and enforce renters’ protections.”

In the downtown zipcode for Tucson, 85701, the amount is $19.23.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

We pray for a youth revival to ignite across our nation releasing a holy cleaning flood of God’s presence that will sweep millions of youth into God’s Kingdom (1 John 1:7). We declare that healing and deliverance shall break out over the nation and the Shalom of God will Fill our sons and daughters (Isaiah 54:13). God of revival, pour out your promised rain upon our sons and our daughters (Joel 2:28). Raise up youth who are not ashamed of the gospel and who release the power of your good news to blaze across the land.

Are you spiritually mature?

By Suzi Watts (wife of our board member, Jerry)

Christian maturity requires a reordering of one’s priorities, changing over from pleasing self to pleasing God and learning to obey God. The key to maturity is consistency and perseverance in doing those things we know will bring us closer to God, such as Bible reading/study, prayer, fellowship, service, and stewardship. No matter how hard we work at being spiritually disciplined we need the enabling of the Holy Spirit within us. Galatians 5:16 tells us that we’re to “walk by the Spirit.” The Greek word used here for “walk” (peripateo) means “to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities.” Later in verse 25, Paul tells us again that we’re to “walk by the Spirit.” Here, the word translated “walk” (stoicheo) means “to march, keep step.” It is learning to walk under the instruction of another—the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit means we walk under the Spirit’s control. As we submit more to the Spirit’s control, we will also see an increase in the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23).

How do I know if I am growing spiritually?

Be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

2 Peter 1:5-9

Spiritual life has often been compared to walking upstream. If you are not progressing forward, then you are going backwards. The waves of the world can be very powerful. TV shows, music, and the depraved culture of this world are always seeking to push a believer backwards. So, we must always seek to progress in our spiritual lives; otherwise, we will be spiritually declining.

Let’s look at Philippians 1:1-11. Paul wrote this letter to the church of Philippi. Here in this text, he was praying for them to continue to progress spiritually. He was not praying because they lacked maturity. As seen throughout the letter, the Philippians were a very special church that he enjoyed. They were the only church in Paul’s early ministry that supported him financially (Phil 4:15). He spoke of his pleasant thoughts and memories of her and how he loved this church as does Jesus Christ (1:1-8). In many ways, the Philippians were a model church. But this church was not perfect. and no church, if we are honest, is perfect. It needed to continue to progress. So, in Philippians 1:9-11, Paul shares his prayers for the church’s spiritual growth.

Abound in love.

Philippians 1:9
Matthew 22:37-40
John 13:35
1 John 4:7-8
Psalm 16:2-3

Abound in Knowledge and discernment

Philippians 1:9
1 Corinthians 2:12-15
Luke 12:56
Ephesians 4:11-14
Psalm 119:105

Spiritual Integrity. Be sincere and without offense.

Philippians 1:10
James 5:16
1 Timothy 3:1-15
Romans 14:21

In Phil. 1:10 Paul is praying for spiritual integrity. Integrity really is the practice of honesty and morality no matter the situation—even when nobody is looking. The word “sincere” carries the idea of testing something by sunlight. Our English word “sincere” comes from the Latin word “sin cere,” “without wax.” In ancient Rome those who made pottery often covered cracks with wax to deceive those who purchased them. However, one could discern if the pot was “sin cere” by lifting the pot to the sun and allowing the light to shine through it.

When Paul was praying for the Christians to be sincere, he was not praying for perfection. He knows they will not be perfect until Christ comes. He was praying for them to be free of hypocrisy—to not cover the flaws in their life with wax.

Be filled with the fruits of righteousness.

Philippians 1:11
Proverbs 11:30
32:17
James 3:18

Growing in your knowledge of God.

Ephesians 1:17
Colossians 1:9
Philippians 3:8-11
Exodus 33:18
Psalm 42:1-2

A mature Christian should grow in an intimate knowledge of God.

Test everything by the Word of God.

1 John 4:1-4
Hebrews 5:13-14
1 Corinthians 10:23
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Mature Christians test everything through the Word of God, and they are willing to abstain from all appearance of evil. They are pursuing “the best in priorities—the best in habits—the best in pleasures—the best in pursuits—the best course of action for themselves and for their families.”

Many Christians are unwilling to do that, and therefore, they remain in a state of immaturity. Satan continues to have a door into their lives.

Questions to ask yourself:

What fruit are you bearing? Do you spend time with God? Do you know Him intimately? Are you following the leading of the Holy Spirit? Are you easily offended? Do you say or do things that will offend others?

LIFE DECREE

Compiled by Jon & Jolene Hamill

INASMUCH AS the Court of Heaven has commissioned a hearing to render a verdict on abortion in the United States on the 40th anniversary of its legalization; and having considered the testimony of the Plaintiff as well as the cries even of the unborn; Let the record show that the following Amendments to the Baal Divorce Decree have hereby been rendered by the Supreme Judge regarding the abortion of unborn children:

“Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your pact with Sheol shall not stand” (ref: Isaiah 28:18). The Court finds that, in accordance with the Plaintiff’s unwavering plea for the blood of Jesus Christ to cover the sins of this Nation; and in accordance with the verdicts in both the Decree of Divorce from Baal and the Declaration of Covenant of Marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ; that the covenant with death empowered by nationally legalized abortion is hereby annulled.
Whereas the principality of Baal, the Defendant in this matter, demands the systematic sacrifice of innocent blood for the empowerment of his rulership and deception; and whereas this principality has heretofore accessed the unjust bloodshed from abortion for these said means; and whereas the life and blood of each unborn child is claimed by their true Father and purchased with the blood of His Son; therefore the Court finds that all claims by the Defendant to perpetuate this covenant with death through nationally legalized abortion are hereby rescinded.
The Court finds that the restraining order previously issued against the Defendant and for the Plaintiff in the Divorce Decree from Baal is extended to include restraining the Defendant’s access to all unjust bloodshed from nationally legalized abortion. This restraining order applies to the principality of Baal and all its vast extensions, not limited to but including the Queen of Heaven, Lilith, Leviathan, Set, etc.
The Court finds that the unborn are innocent of any sin or crime, and are counted as martyrs of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Court retains full responsibility to execute judgment to avenge the blood of these martyrs as deemed appropriate by the Supreme Judge. The Court also recognizes that those persuaded to abort their children do so based on varying personal motivations, heavily influenced by lies and deceit by the Defendant; and the Court stands ready to grant full clemency and restoration to all who earnestly seek forgiveness. This Court clarifies its position based on the unanimous request of children once entrusted to their earthly mothers and fathers.
After reviewing the founding legal documents of the United States of America, the Court finds that the legalization of abortion (ref: Roe v Wade) is a clear violation of both its laws and National legitimacy. “All men are created equal and have been endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights–that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The rights of humans are clearly conferred at creation, not birth. The unborn are thus entitled to the covenantal protection of Life.
False weights and dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, and the Court finds that lies and deceit are purposefully and consistently employed to deny justice to the unborn. Therefore all judgments recorded in Isaiah 28 pertaining to covenants with death empowering deception are to be executed against the principality of Baal, its vast extensions, and human principals who remain in covenant with this principality.
“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin” (ref:Daniel 5). The Court cites its previous verdict re:Belshazzar, king of Babylon, in the issuance of a restraining order against the human principals who remain aligned with the Defendant and resolved to perpetuate abortion. The name Belshazzar is defined as Baal protecting kingship. “You have been weighed in the scales and found wanting. God has numbered your days of rulership and brought it to an end.” This is God’s verdict on abortion, and His deadlines have been set.

Recover, Redeem & Activate!

We read the following prophetic message before our outreach April 23^rd. One of our volunteers remarked that God is already doing this! I agree, but another wonderful thing he is doing is not only causing us to reach out to the homeless in love, but that love is showered on each other in grace and cooperation! They will know we are His disciples by our love. (John 13:35)

“Dutch Sheets shared this in the Apr. 22^nd “Give Him 15.” In a series of dreams his friend Greg Hood had regarding wells of awakening, this one stood out to me regarding mantles:

“. . . .These ‘addereths,’ mantles, came in all colors, styles, and sizes. They also had different symbols and were arranged according to the seven spheres of influence in society (also called “pillars” and “mountains” by some). These spheres are generally seen as family, religion, government, business, education, arts and entertainment, and media. The point in the dream is that all believers, in all walks of life will be mantled in this coming awakening, as we stated above. This important truth will be rediscovered and reactivated, moving ministry from the church building to all of society: homes, schools, businesses, parks, street corners, everywhere! Salvation, deliverance, miracles and restoration will take place EVERYWHERE!

Those in positions of spiritual leadership will know how to mantle and release believers. No longer will the leaders attempt to do all the work of the ministry; it will be done by all in the body of Christ. This will be the biggest game-changer since the book of Acts.

Some of the mantles will have been received/imparted from past fathers and mothers in the faith – the dream says the old and new merge; others will be new gifts and anointings never before seen. Each coat label had the number 142 on it. The Hebrew word numbered “142” in Strong’s concordance is adar, meaning “great, glorious, honorable, noble or majestic.” These mantles, gifts, will be great and glorious, demonstrating the majestic nature of our King. There will no longer be a hierarchy of so-called ‘ministers.’” versus “laity” in the body of Christ. We will all be seen as “able ministers of the new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The dream states that this will bring forth the full weight of heaven to earth!”

Our Blessed Hope!

As I write this a war is going on in Ukraine and perhaps elsewhere. I recently spoke to a young man– expecting his first son in a month–who said that there is no use in getting a job as a nuclear war was imminent and besides Jesus is coming back soon! I can only guess that his expectation is that the government would take care of his family! What a picture of most of our nation: no hope, relying on government to meet their needs until a savior comes!

The Apostle Paul had some things to say about this. I chose the Message translation as it doesn’t mince words:

^6-9Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

^10-13Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

^14-15If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

¹⁶May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! (1 Thes. 3:6-16 Mes.)

Jesus had this to say in Mt. 24 about wars:

⁴And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. ⁵For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. ⁶And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

In Mathew 25 Jesus says:

³⁴“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; ³⁶naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.

We are admonished to remind others of the promise of His soon coming so that we would not be without hope. And, since you are reading this, I have hope that you are “blessed of My Father” in that you are about His business to those in need. Betty Bitgood, Chairman

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

We pray for a youth revival to ignite across our nation releasing a holy cleaning flood of God’s presence that will sweep millions of youth into God’s Kingdom (1 John 1:7). We declare that healing and deliverance shall break out over the nation and the Shalom of God will Fill our sons and daughters (Isaiah 54:13). God of revival, pour out your promised rain upon our sons and our daughters (Joel 2:28). Raise up youth who are not ashamed of the gospel and who release the power of your good news to blaze across the land.

POWER OF THE WORD

I doubt that there is anyone out there who hasn’t experienced grief, loss, confusion and ill health during this past season! We have been challenged in ways that require us to walk in extreme faith and love–which I have not experienced before. If this resonates, please read on. The following is taken from a message my pastor, Gerald Lawson, shared today.

¹²For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12 AMP)

We are God’s sheep and He certainly knows us. We listen and hear Him! He gives us eternal life so we never need to fear perishing nor being taken from Him. (John 10:27-28). “The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, ‘Destroy!’ (Deu. 33:27 AMP)

¹The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
²
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
³
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.

⁴
Even though I walk through the [sunless] ^[a]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
⁵
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with ^[b]oil; (the Holy Spirit, to prepare us for service.) My cup overflows.
⁶
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord. (Psalm 23 AMP)

David’s insight into his Lord is amazing, as he only had a few books of the Pentateuch available to him.

³⁸For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

John 8:51 tells us that by keeping His word, we will never, ever, experience death! (2288 in Strong’s Concordance shows root as “death,” both literally & figuratively.) And in John 10:10 Jesus says He came to give us abundant, overflowing life! These two verses should settle it! But we seem to be experiencing death all around us?

¹⁶But you will be betrayed and handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷and you will be continually hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name. ¹⁸But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls. (Lk. 21:16-18 AMP).

Physical death is NOT a cessation of life!

¹⁶Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! ¹⁸So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable. (2 Cor. 4:16-18 AMP)

¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him. (2 Cor. 2:14 AMP)

The word is life and we are needful of its sustenance! TRUST in its power and the power of His resurrection!

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

We pray for a youth revival to ignite across our nation releasing a holy cleaning flood of God’s presence that will sweep millions of youth into God’s Kingdom (1 John 1:7). We declare that healing and deliverance shall break out over the nation and the Shalom of God will Fill our sons and daughters (Isaiah 54:13). God of revival, pour out your promised rain upon our sons and our daughters (Joel 2:28). Raise up youth who are not ashamed of the gospel and who release the power of your good news to blaze across the land.

Contending for Victory Over the Real Pandemic

“Lord, we pray that we will not shrink back or be controlled because of fear or intimidation! We ask for strength to battle at the gates to see the victory. And for hope to cause us to engage and understand our role as the Ekklesia – to see the battle shift and healing come to our land.”

I believe we have entered into a season of Great Contending on the earth today. Contending for lives, lands, and our very future!

As we entered into this season of the pandemic, the Lord reminded me of the story in Matthew 8 where He commanded His disciples to get in the boat and cross over to the other side. If you remember, in this story it says that in the middle of this journey, in the middle of the lake, a furious storm arose. I’m sure the disciples could’ve wondered, where in Jesus’ word to us did He speak about such a terrible storm? He never mentioned it, He just commanded that it was time to cross over! However, the storm was so bad that these seasoned fishermen ran to Jesus who was in the boat asleep, woke Him and cried out, “Don’t you see, don’t you care that we are going to die!?” Jesus did care, it’s just that He also knew what He had already decreed!

Jesus was unfazed, He awoke, arose and rebuked the winds and waves as if He were speaking to a person – because this was not any ordinary storm, this was a demonic storm! You see, Jesus was getting ready to deal with a territorial, controlling spirit in the land of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake. I think that spirit understood the threat and stirred up a demonic storm to try and intimidate the disciples, to cause them to turn and retreat.

However, Jesus spoke with authority and dealt with the storm. But at the same time, He was not happy with His disciples; He rebuked them saying, ‘Why are you afraid and where is your faith?’ In other words, Jesus was saying, I commanded you to cross over and I didn’t leave you or change My mind. You didn’t need to wake Me up; you needed to wake yourself up to our mission and your authority to fulfill it.

I believe that is where we are today. God is speaking to his Ekklesia and saying, “I’ve called you to cross over, now use your authority to deal with every demonic storm and subdue every territorial, controlling spirit you encounter! Don’t be intimidated by this demonic storm. No, cross over, break the grip of the enemy, loose the people and set the land free as you’ve been called to do!

In 2020, as the whole world was drafted into this battle with a virus we have come to know as Covid 19, I heard the Lord saying, “This is not just a natural foe but a demonic storm!” And its strategy could be summed up in 3 crucial attacks:

…FEAR, FATIGUE & FATALISM.

Fear

The assignment of fear, panic, pandemonium, chaos, and intimidation in this season is real and is more than just the effect of the circumstances we are facing. Fear is a spiritual assignment formed by the enemy to try and get the church to withdraw and retreat from the battlefield. The purpose of the attack of fear is always control. Fear is also very contagious, like an epidemic. But do you know what is even more contagious? Faith. So stop listening to fear. It’s time to get around some people of faith!

The enemy’s plan behind this pandemic, both naturally and spiritually, is a full-on assault of the antichrist spirit to bring to pass an antichrist agenda. The enemy’s efforts have been focused on trying to get the church to back up, when we are called to advance. We do not fight with natural weapons, but we do fight! When we use them purposely and rightfully we are destined to win!

In praying about the word for the New Year of 2021, I felt led to do something I’d never done before. I felt the Lord ask me to look at the Strong’s Concordance numbers in Hebrew and Greek corresponding to the number “2021.” What I found was compelling.

The Hebrew word corresponding to the Strong’s number 2021 is the word, hotsen, and its meaning is “to be sharp and strong, as a weapon of war; like a chariot advancing.” And Strong’s number 2021 in Greek is the word, epicheireo, which means “to take in hand, to undertake, or put the hand to.” I believe God is speaking to the church that this is a time we must be strong and sharp and fearlessly put the spiritual weapons of war in our hands!

Fatigue

The assignment of fatigue is sent to wear us down and wear us out so the enemy can take us out! The book of Hebrews tells us that when we are running, we can’t afford to let our hands or our heads hang down, or allow our legs to be weak! It’s time to catch your breath and get ready to run some more! Get ready to run to the battle! We can’t afford to be passive or fatigued in the battle. Scripture is clear that the joy of the Lord is our strength and implores us to be strong and courageous and not afraid or dismayed. Joshua was instructed 4 times in the beginning of the book of Joshua, only be strong and courageous. God’s promise was that he would bring them into their land and they would possess it. They would fight, and God would fight for them! The Lord of Hosts would bring them victory as the Captain of the Angel Armies! They would possess their promised land!

The word for possess in Hebrew is yaresh, and it means to possess by dispossessing or driving out the previous inhabitants. In other words, receive your inheritance of promise by being a contender that drives out every pretender! It’s not a time to be discouraged (robbed of courage) or disheartened (robbed of heart for the battle) or to be weary in doing what is right or required. Keep praising, keep praying, keep fasting, keep prophesying, keep giving, keep living right!

Fatalism

The ploy of fatalism is to try to get us to accept the inevitability of the enemy’s triumph; to release a wave of hopelessness against us. However, the truth is that our God revels in impossibilities and impossible odds!

Don’t give in or give up in the face of overwhelming forces!

Remember Moses with Pharaoh’s army hot on his trail as he stood in front of the Red Sea!

Remember David facing Goliath!

Remember Gideon’s victory!

Remember Elisha’s decree, “More are they with us than they that are with them!”

And remember, in Esther’s day, it looked like it was too late and that the schemes of the enemy had been enacted and codified into law. But she made an appeal to the king and said “If I perish, I perish; I believe I have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” And because of her faith, a major, divine reversal took place for the people of God; Haman and his 10 sons were hung on the very gallows they prepared for Mordecai and Esther. It’s time for the Esther church to arise and make an appeal to heaven!

Fatalism wants to convince you that it’s over before you get started. It whispers, even in a prophetic sense, saying “don’t you know that it’s the end times? It’s too late, the antichrist will arise, this has been prophesied and there is nothing you can do about it.”

However, that has never been God’s word to his people. He said He will have a glorious church without spot or wrinkle before He returns, and that we are called to occupy till He comes. He said if his people will pray and turn, then He will hear from Heaven and heal the land! The Ekklesia is always the determining factor!

Jesus said that He will build His Ekklesia and they would be given the keys to the Kingdom; they would have the power to prevail against the gates of hell and open up the gates of heaven. Daniel declared that there would be a time when it felt like the enemy was prevailing or winning; but then a decree would come from the Ancient of Days that would loose favor on the Saints of the Most High so they could take the kingdom.

This is not a time to shrink back, kick back, or give up, but to advance God’s kingdom in the earth. Let’s contend for God’s purposes in the earth as overcomers filled with faith, power, and passion to welcome the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord strong in battle, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords

Don’t run away. It’s time to cross over and defeat fear, fatigue, and fatalism. Run to the battle!

Our Decree:

We decree that the Ekklesia will be bold and courageous, ready to run to the battle! We speak strength into every weary warrior and joy in the battle! We decree that our God will fight for us and the God of peace will soon crush satan underneath our feet! We will cross over! We will speak to every demonic storm, ‘Peace, Be Still!’ And we will take authority over every demonic, controlling spirit the Lord has sent us to conquer!

From Dutch Sheets’ Give Him 15, submitted by Pastor Tom Hamon.

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

We pray for a youth revival to ignite across our nation releasing a holy cleaning flood of God’s presence that will sweep millions of youth into God’s Kingdom (1 John 1:7). We declare that healing and deliverance shall break out over the nation and the Shalom of God will Fill our sons and daughters (Isaiah 54:13). God of revival, pour out your promised rain upon our sons and our daughters (Joel 2:28). Raise up youth who are not ashamed of the gospel and who release the power of your good news to blaze across the land.

His Faith & Mercy

Have you ever felt you had the weight of the world on your shoulders? I have had trouble shaking this heaviness, off and on, for some time. Sociology calls this being impacted by the “collective consciousness!” It is obviously COVID-19 and the havoc it has enlisted, but there have been many past events that have put a heaviness on us.

I have fairly recently acknowledged that one of my callings is to intercede. (I resisted this as I saw this ministry as confining me to my prayer closet (home) and knew that I needed to be—at least some time—out among those I am called to serve. When we say “yes” to God, we put a bulls-eye on ourselves and satan takes note, i.e. the burden. But god says, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:30) I am still learning to give burdens to the Lord.

Things ARE going well for me, but satan . . . I have an a-hah moment of recognizing his tricks, but then he comes at me from a different direction, more subtle than the last. I guess this is one of the aspects of growing—from Glory to Glory! Thank God that every challenge CAN end in a victory—i.e. God getting the Glory!

My pastor has been showing us how to survive in the hard times. Recently his teachings on Grace and Mercy have strengthened me! “Grace is God’s ability to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.” “In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 TPT) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” (1Peter 5:6-7)

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus . . . .” (Eph 2:4-6 NASB) RUN TO HIS MERCY SEAT as He is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort . . . .” (2 Cor. 1:3) His grace works in conjunction with His mercy. It is this mercy that sustains us! (Psalm 136) It takes over when OUR faith fails (or is dormant).

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” (Jude 20-21) Betty Bitgood, Chairman

His Breath in us is Life!

My apologies for the delay in getting this out. When I asked the Lord what to share, I heard the word “breath.” How apropos, as we are entering again into to a time of mask mandates (or not?). It seems that we are OK with the government giving us stuff, except when they give us orders! I have tried super-hard not to listen to the nay-sayers or conspiracy theories being spread abroad. I (reluctantly) wear my mask & do the vaccines just as I look both ways when crossing the street—basic precautions of safety, and in all things, trusting God for His promises. Breathing is basic to life; as Job proclaims, “. . . the breath of the Almighty gives me life,”(Job 33:4) as well as it’s being a vehicle for spreading germs, viruses, etc.

Daniel 5:23 states–in reference to the evil Babylonian King Belshazzar—“And 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. “

Could it be that the apostasy of God’s people has brought evil upon us, attacking the lungs of those exposed? Oh that we could prophesy as Ezekiel did “. . . and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ‘(Ez. 37:9)

May we have the courage of Job (and the patience, too):

As God lives, who has taken away my justice,
And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
As long as my breath is in me,
And the breath of God in my nostrils,
My lips will not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.
Far be it from me
That I should say you are right;
Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go;
My heart shall not ^[a]reproach me as long as I live. (Job 27:3-6)

The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4)

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Ps. 150:6)

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

PTSD, grief, trauma, loss, mourning, etc. etc.

I took a day off yesterday and drove to Patagonia Lake, a place in AZ where I had never visited, as I felt I needed to take advantage of God’s beautiful works He has so graciously given us. I did feel a measure of peace as I drove home.

I have recently been made aware of negative effects of the Pandemic in others, as well as myself. The fall-out, globally, nationally and individually has been a new experience for all of us. The title of a blog I wrote two months ago, “Stop the world, I want to get off,” best explains my emotions. Why do I struggle? Am I not trusting God? Don’t I realize that we are in the last days? I believe it is BECAUSE we are seeking to walk with Him in a more intentional and intimate manner, that we are experiencing a time of repentance and cleansing we probably did not anticipate. I KNOW that I must not chart my own course any more, yielding all to Him as we seek His direction—even in the small things. He is preparing us for the great outpouring the prophets are speaking about! We have only counted the increase, but now we need to count the cost of a billion of souls coming to Christ. We are being prepared to harvest and disciple them! There is no room for carnality in His Beautiful Bride. Maranatha! Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Becoming His Hands & Feet!

I have just viewed a Moral Outcry video which was about the scourge of abortion in our nation. Of course this is the ultimate outcry, the sacrificing of our children on the “altar of convenience.” In a nation born on a commitment to God, an anathema. Acknowledging that I have been focused on the homeless in our community for the last 27 years, I declare that we have an issue right here that is also a “moral outcry!” It is probably no coincidence that Hope of Glory, on the eve of our new program Feed My Sheep, became very aware of the “clean up” of homeless camps in our city, just before or soon scheduled, as we began to serve these challenged people (most did not have any idea where they should or could go). Though not stated, the rescheduled Gem Show was obviously the reason for the mass “clean-up.” Money still talks!

A city the size of Tucson should be able to provide for some of the ‘least of these’ a piece of property where they can be safe, regroup and especially be found when their opportunity for housing comes up. Sgt. Jack Julsing, of the TPD Homeless Outreach Team, has come up with an excellent proposal to help those who have chosen to camp and/or those who have had no other option as shelters have either experienced reduced capacity or are now overflowing.

This plan has resonated in me in a way that I have committed to getting the proposal to as many people as possible, a first step in seeing it happen! I am well aware of all the negatives, draw-backs and challenges the project will engender, but, as Sgt. Julsing says, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

A coalition must be formed, the right property must be found and funding identified. If you or someone you know would want more information, please contact me and I will send you the power-point. I ask for prayer to cover this whole process. Our God has commanded that we have pity on the poor (Deu. 15:11) and with Him ALL things are possible! Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Stop the world, I want to get off!

This phrase came to me as I was bemoaning new laws being enacted in our nation and, of course, myself. Then I got word that a former client, and now friend, was close to death with pneumonia. This caused me to stop moaning and start doing—the only thing I can do now in her case, pray!

Looking for solace, I came upon a Word by Patricia King for this year: “The Spirit of God says, 2 Timothy Chapter 3 is being highlighted, magnified and illumined for My people in this hour. Take heed. Receive the revelation that lies within the verses. Allow this Word to convict you. Do not think that this Word is for someone else but allow it to penetrate your own heart. I have sent you this Word to prepare you for what is even now in your midst and for what is to come. For those who draw close to Me and separate their hearts and lives unto Me in this hour, there shall be great reward, for in the midst of times that are challenging and perilous, I will pour out My glory upon and through those who fear My name. Do not be deceived for I am not mocked. What a man sows, he will also reap. If he sows to the flesh, he will reap corruption but if he sows to the Spirit he will reap from the Spirit, eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). Remember, these are treacherous days. Be wise and prudent – act with care and thought for your future and the future of coming generations.”

We can always—and must—pray, but sometimes there is more we can do. If God leads, we can lobby—make our voice heard– for righteousness in our local, state and national government. This is not a time to quietly let usurpers get control! I believe there are some reading this whom God has tapped to enter into the political realm, even to just sit on a school board. Also we can get involved in meeting the many needs in our community. Homelessness is growing and causing camps to pop up all over our city. It is my desire to get food, hygiene and the Gospel to these camps.

Jesus is still Lord over our nation, so DRAW CLOSE TO HIM, and He will direct your paths (and get you out of the negative, and into the positive of serving Him, unconditionally!)

We Serve Because He Lives!

I recently met with some of our newest volunteers for our newest program, Love thy Neighbor! They are great people who help feed Tucson’s challenged neighborhoods. With the help of Midwest Food Bank and their affiliates we have been managing to serve 150-200 families per week AND the 604 resid. This is done by picking up and distributing food and other necessary items. If there is a time or temp concern, they hand it out immediately. However, we have been told this food-source will not last, i.e. now we are looking for grants and donations to help fund this! I have been sending in requests to markets for this, but so far it looks like they only want to give us money. Oh well, now we need shoppers as well! We are grateful for any donations and will put money to good use. We want to thank Albertson’s/Safeway & their Nourishing Neighbors program for their generous donation!

Here is our wish list: more volunteers, trucks or large vehicles and of course food.

Now to bigger things—but not just as important as feeding our neighbors—our nation! It is a very strange time we are in to say the least! Who do we believe? Who do we follow? Who is right, and who is wrong? Wish I could answer this, but I DO KNOW THAT GOD ALMIGHTY IS STILL ON THE THRONE—hopefully He is on your heart’s throne! If not, you need not read further.

Isaiah 40 was my reading for today. What a wonderful chapter! Please check it out, particularly vs. 3-8. Vs. 8 basically says that the only thing we can count on is the Word of God! And what does the Word say (even those Words quoted by all the amazing prophets today)? Trust God!

Dutch Sheets, one of my favorites, even said recentlly that we need to be on solid ground (grounded in his Word and in His Presence) just in case things don’t go as expected/predicted! He also reminded us that our focus should be on the Great Awakening, and the many souls we will be ministering salvation to and discipling! God is calling us to an unselfish, deeper and holier walk with Him. Let’s set our sites on Him, receiving his mercy and grace, and we will NOT be disappointed.

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

The TIME is NOW!

2 Chron. 20:20 tells us to believe the prophets and we will succeed. I was able to watch most of RESET 2020 last week, a most unusual conference where many of prophets gathered, but those who spoke were mainly older men and women and young firebrands. This focus was important as the Lord was emphasizing the synergy of the ages, fathering and mentoring.

Know that you are a “prince” or son of the King, with a responsibility to set your sons and daughters on fire as well! All of the generations will be laboring together in the Awakening which will cause men to seek God in a new and passionate way! God’s army—us—is being called forth to move out confidently, fully armed with His anointing, love and provision. The gates of hell will NOT prevail against us! Our “mountain” is our inheritance as we move fully out of the old into the new, including an increased ability to hear from Him. Allow Him to recommission you as you hunger for more fire and power. Do not be distracted by the tumult, but plow new fields, sow new seed and reap a new harvest—in our nation and in the nations of the world!

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

As A Little Child

Your people will be your love offerings,
In the day of your mighty power you will be exalted,
and in the brightness of your holy ones you will shine
as an army arising from the womb of the dawn,
anointed with the dew of your youth! (Ps. 110.3)

This verse gives us a challenge! I am not as excited about the arising army as I am about the renewed youth, but truly, we are to come to Him (and to those challenges) as little children. “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (LK 18:16)

None is more blessed than me about our 20+ years of serving the homeless. We have had volunteers who have gone many extra miles to serve and bless our guests whom we have made an impact on. My spirit is telling me that it is time for a change. I wish I could tell you the what, when and how, but I only know that it is going to happen. We will be able to impact our growing homeless population in a greater way! Please pray that the expected provision for this will come soon—as the need is NOW!

Keep serving as He provides opportunity and look unto the author and finisher of our faith! Betty Bitgood, Chairman

PEACE IN A TIME OF CHAOS

by Pastor Jerry Watts

It’s times like these that our faith is put to the test. We are forced to practice what we preach or throw up our hands and join in the complaining, the doomsday talking, the fear, the chaos. There is a way we can walk through this difficult time with peace. But it’s not easy. The reality we face is tough. Parents are forced to make tough decisions about working hours and schooling children. The peer pressure to keep kids stimulated and educated is hot and heavy. The countless daytime schedules are overwhelming. The grocery stores can’t keep up with the demand – and some are stockpiling everything they can think of, just in case. This leaves many without. We are living in a situation we’ve never found ourselves in before. The challenges are bigger than we know how to handle.

But there is one thing we can do.

PRAY FOR PEACE

This is the time. Today is the day! It’s time to stop reading the headlines and start lifting our head and heart to the One who can do something about it.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

While it is good to be informed, it’s also overwhelming to consume all the media surrounding the current situation. Instead choose to use your time to remember the promises found in God’s Word. Peace Is Possible, but Only Through Jesus. I’m sure you feel the heavy weight of the circumstances. It’s a lot for all of us. The unknowns are many. But there is one thing we can be sure of, peace is found in knowing Jesus. Maybe you know Him, and your heart is still heavy. I’m with you. But He promises to lift our burdens and lighten our load. When we feel that heaviness pressing hard on our souls, we know where to turn.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Maybe you don’t know him, but you feel Him calling you right now. Let today be the day you give your heart to God.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

PEACE IS TRUSTING GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR OUR NEEDS

What about the reality of providing for my family? I get it. I know the reality. No eggs. No bread. No meat. Yet we are still eating.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Remember who provides for you. While we want to pull up our bootstraps and do it all ourselves, perhaps God is calling us to let go and bend our knee to His provision.

PEACE DOES NOT ENTERTAIN CHAOS. IT EMBRACES CALM

You know the feeling you got, when you first heard there might not be toilet paper, or you turned the corner at your local market to find the shelves empty?

The anxiety creeps up our necks and into our heads and hearts quick. We can make jokes and create funny graphics to cope, but that doesn’t fix the problem or cut out the chaos inside. The place we find peace is found in God’s Word.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Peace HOLDS A “No Matter What” ATTITUDE

The real remedy is obviously getting the essentials you need to stay sanitary, but mentally it’s taking a deep breath and adopting a “no matter what” attitude.

No matter what, God is still on the throne. No matter what, I will still serve Jesus. No matter what, I still believe God is faithful. Even if there truly is no more toilet paper. Even then, I trust God.

We can chuckle at the toilet paper problem, or we can embrace the calm assurance that everything is going to be okay because it is. God is not surprised. He is not caught off guard.

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:2-3).

PEACE IS LOVING PEOPLE

There is no way to know how many days we will be encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing. This is an opportunity some of us have never had and some of us may never get again. Use this time wisely. But either way, practice loving the people under your roof. Make memories. Eat meals around the family table. Pray. Have fun. Take some time alone in your room, closet, outside, or wherever you can get a minute alone. Give smiles away freely. When the stress rises and the air gets thick with frustration, look up and remember the gift of being together.

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Peace IS WAITING WITH PATIENCE

Patience is probably one of my least favorite words, but it’s a lesson we are learning right now. The unknowns ahead and the lack of information about the timing is hard on all of us. Perhaps this is why God reminds us through David “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart” (Psalm 27:14).

Courage and strength will shine through those who are trusting God in this difficult time. Be courageous. Not in a “I’m not afraid of anything” ignorance, but in a “God is with us always” kind of confidence. Because He is!

God did not bring us this far to leave us now. I’m praying for you to embrace peace today.

Pick up Your Armor!

I hesitated to insert the Warrior graphic as not everyone is called to be an intercessor, however we all need to know and acknowledge that there is a good fight to be fought AND that we must be ready for it when it happens (1Tim. 6:12). “We can live in maintenance or we can have a conquest mentality. Conquest means you will keep moving and overcoming until God says rest.” (Chuck Pierce)
I know that NOW is my time to war—for myself, my family, the ministry and our volunteers! I would like to tell you God has shared a great plan for Hope of Glory’s future, but He has not let me in on it! However I do know that when we are allowed to minister again that it will not be “business as usual.” I again ask you to contact me with any opportunities and ideas of how we can serve. Please also continue to stand with me for our work with the homeless, that we will be strong and effective, in all we do, knowing that the Hosts of Heaven will be serving (and fighting) with us!
I can share that thanks to HUD, our city, outreach workers and case managers are doing their best to manage the homeless during the pandemic. Those who are deemed at high risk are being sheltered, fed and evaluated for permanent housing in one hotel and those who are COVID infected at another hotel. Please pray for health and healing for all involved AND of course those still on the streets.

Opportunities for prayer: Praythevote.org (The Presidential Prayer Team); Firewallusa (Patricia King, etc.) P.S. Please do all you can to get people to register & vote! Make the poorest voting block (Christians) the greatest!
Chuck Pierce prophesy (7/12/20, posted in Give Him 15, 7/16/20)
GOOD News: On June 20, a gathering flooded 11 locations in San Diego, Oceanside, San Marcos, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Chula Vista, Spring Valley, San Carlos and Santee. Prostrating, lifting their hands and kneeling down before God, it literally pictures a city on its knees. 700,000 were reported to be part of this event, as reported on God.TV daily. “We just want to bring the love of God and the power of God in every community in San Diego ,” a local pastor said.
The 2021 House and Senate State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill: This annual legislation appropriates $3.3 billion in American military aid to Israel. This assistance ensures Israel’s ability to defend itself and directly benefits the US as well. 75 percent of this aid must be spent in the United States, thereby supporting American jobs and ensuring America maintains our quantitative and qualitative military manufacturing superiority in an uncertain world. Encourage your congressmen to support this! (Ps. 122:6)
An interesting blog (with notes), The Fullness of Time on End Time events by House of David Ministry. You won’t find a date, but the season is imminent.

A Step into the Unknown?

I have put the latest communication from Parks & Rec. in our newsletter. Many of you have contacted me and we have several new people who want to help. Fortunately, the homeless haven’t been hit as hard by the virus to date—an answer to prayer! But I want to prepare to serve them again, soon. If anyone has any ideas of where, please let me know.

I just looked for some scripture and this hit me in the face:

“Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things.I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 TPT

I do believe we must seek him for the brand new!

Here are some more:

‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:9

And who pours new wine into an old wineskin? If someone did, the old wineskin would burst and the new wine would be lost. New wine must always be poured into new wineskins. Yet you say, ‘The old ways are better,’ and you refuse to even taste the new that I bring. Luke 5:37-39

Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

I look forward to hearing from many of you! Betty Bitgood, Chairman, 520-471-1720

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PEACE in the Storm

If you look over the previous blogs you will find a lot of positive verbiage regarding 2020. Were the prophets off? NO! I must admit it is so easy to overlook those “negative” words or references to viruses. I am a “glass half-full” person, and 2 Chron 20:20 (hmmm!) says, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” I have seen how the COVID-19 virus has caused extreme concern or fear in many individuals as they come to gripps with their eternal condition.

Just today, Patricia King taught on this: “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus showed up, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said,” Peace be with you.” (Jn. 20:26) The disciples were inside—as we still are—and were still grieving over the loss of their Master. Jesus supernaturally appeared, declaring PEACE! This is the Greek word “ Eirēnē” which could be translated: national tranquility, exemption from rage and war (virus), peace between individuals & in marriages, harmony, security, safety, prosperity, happiness.

Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” This new era we have entered into is all about establishing His word and His Kingdom! (Jn. 16:33) Make His PEACE yours and declare it for others.

COVID OR CALVARY?

As I write this it is Palm Sunday, Passover AND Easter week AND the acceleration time of the Covid19 virus! It is as though a huge PAUSE BUTTON has been pushed and chaos unleashed. Were we taken by surprise? It seems so, but:

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Mt. 24:6-8)

My past themes in these blogs have been to encourage us in what is in store, but it is obvious that many of us had not anticipated that “the Awakening” we expected—and still expect—would be a result of a trial that would effect all of us! At this time, the virus has not taken anyone close to me, but I am sure there are some reading this who are grieving lost loved ones, and for these I also mourn.

There are “those in the know” who have said that this is a time for rest, repentance and renewal for the remnant of true Believers, God’s Bride. I think it is also a wake-up call or call-to-arms. If we are to shine (as in Isaiah 60) there is a lot of polishing to be done!

Let’s not let the virus take our eyes off this very special season of what God has done for his covenant people, old and new, calling them out of bondage and us into the glorious light of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection! In fact, we must focus all the more on His love!

Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned that this coming week—when Passover begins—could be the hardest in terms of loss. “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,” said the Surgeon General. “Only it’s not going to be localized. It’s going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that.” In other words, the death angel passes over the nation this week. But I believe that the Lord is moving in power to turn the tide–a covenantal shift from a covenant with death empowering a culture of death to a covenant of life empowering a culture of life. From abortion to awakening! Let My children go!

We need to declare to people and even many states that their sins are forgiven, and a loving Savior and Father is waiting for the prodigals—that would be all of us—to come home. Let’s not hoard the light for ourselves. This season let’s extend God’s light and covering over all who are seeking His refuge.

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

A response to the Coronavirus

Shelter in Place

Is this what “victorious” Christians do? Yes! We have entered into a season of the “pestilence that walks in darkness.” Our city, state and nation are issuing orders which—they hope—will curb this virus. Even though we have had our ability to gather curbed, there is a lot we can do! #1. Fear not! (The Bible has 150 verses that tell us this!) #2. Pray! #3. Read your Bible (Ps. 91) daily. #4. Take Communion daily. #5 Volunteer (as the Lord leads).

The following is excerpted from a passage in GIVE HIM 15 by Chuck Pierce: “The Lord is rearranging our time and space, and we need to submit in this rearrangement. I am calling it a PAUSE… and we need to submit to it. This will help all of us to develop new mindsets, new ways of operation, and new thinking processes. I was recently asked by a reporter if the Coronavirus was signaling the end of world. The Lord does not want us to have a defeatist or fear mentality. Rather, He wants us to triumph! In this year of the voice, we must be capable of discerning whether the voices we are hearing are from the Lord’s direction or are coming from another source to create fear. I pray and decree that during this Passover season we will fully pass over! God has put a PAUSE in place until He sees who is willing to cross over with Him through His blood at Passover.

There are times when God stops us from moving and causes us to pause. Why? Because we need a HEALER! The current issue is not about a plague or the Coronavirus. Rather, it’s about God pausing us because we need a Healer and getting things in His order. The enemy will work until we pause to allow the Healer to work. The Healer will reveal what you need and how to walk in this pause so the glory comes behind this mess and covers it. Times of distress are opportunities for miracles. Walk in faith, choose to praise God, and cry out for mercy! People are longing to hear good news. This is our time to pray that people turn and find the Healer in the midst of chaos.”

ARE YOU WILLING TO CONTEND?

Last month I listed many prophetic words about the year 2020. It is an exciting time we have just entered! I know that many miraculous events are happening all around the world, but not many of us have observed these in our country. Did God lie? Did the prophets miss it? Did we miss it? NO!!! Of course one might say, “Be patient!” And this is good advice, but haven’t we “been patient” in the past, some of us for 10 years or even much longer?

How do we know that we will receive “the promise” we were promised in this new era? WE DON’T. Hebrews 11:13 speaks to this. My question is: Are you in a place to receive these promises? By “place” I not only mean physically, but spiritually. God isn’t about to bless those who are not ready to endure persecution and hardship to properly steward and distribute His gifts. The devil knows this and does all he can to divert us from our “place.” One of his main tactics is to make us comfortable with where we are. Settling for the familiar (which satisfies our flesh) and those things the world would say are valuable, keep us from following the destiny God has planned us for! Our Heavenly Father knows this and permits challenges for us to overcome so that we will be polished by them and call out to Him for help and guidance, humbling ourselves in the midst. HARD TIMES MUST COME!

Do we want God’s best for us and for others enough to contend for it? If you cannot answer this with an energetic, YES! BRING IT ON! Then the miracles will pass you by!

My prayer for you is that you will be obedient to what the Holy Spirt is speaking to prepare you and that you seek God and His great GRACE as never before– in preparation for ALL that God has for you.

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

What the Prophets of God Say About 2020

The following is from Cindy Jacobs and the Global Prophetic Movement:

INCREASE: Increase is coming, and it will be wonderful.

NEW ERA: It is literally a new era. We’re going to grow into the purpose of God that He has for us. There will be Jerichos to take, so there will be battles. We want to give you hope for your future. Maybe you’ve gone through terrible times of loss, terrible times when you feel like you’ve had setbacks, but I want to say to you: believe God. that He does have something wonderful for you, no matter how many things have happened to you, how much loss.

YEAR OF THE VOICE:“Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe in His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20. This is a season where we’re going to have to go to war to come into our reset and our blessings and our purpose. God’s words spoken by faith through His people are words on assignment to effect miraculous change!
A voice of warning; a voice of righteousness; an increase of guidance given through the prophets to world leaders; we’ll be able to watch and be watchmen. There are going to be marketplace prophets.

WORDS CONCERNING NATIONS: This is a time of very strong violence in the heavens. As we look at nations, we see there’s violence in weather. Brexit will come to an exit. Many nations are having godly government rise up in connection with Israel. God is giving more and more of His people a love for the Middle East and the Middle Eastern people – People that are in the Muslim world, both Arabic and non-Arabic speaking, for Egyptians and so forth. God is going to move, and we’re going to see millions come to the Lord. Miracles are going to keep playing a greater and greater part.

YEAR OF RESET AND RESTITUTION: This reset will bring a breakthrough for relations, for families, for the nation. God is going to turn impossible situations around. And so we see that God wants to re-establish what Satan has robbed from you.

So this is a year of reset, this is a year of blessing, this is a year of roaring, this is a year of claiming and decreeing the promises. And if you do this, you are going to see this will be a year of blessing. God bless you.

AM I A CHRISTIAN?

Many people will state that they are Christians. This article, submitted by Lisa Beevers, points out common misconceptions, and debunks them!

‘ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED.’ HEBREWS 3: 12 SAYS, “TAKE CARE MY BROTHERS, LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL, UNBELIEVING HEART, LEADING YOU TO FALL AWAY FROM THE LIVING GOD. (MATT 24:10) AND THEN MANY WILL FALL AWAY AND BETRAY ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER.

THERE ARE MANY MORE VERSES ABOUT FALLING AWAY, LOSING YOUR FIRST LOVE, BEING CUT OFF THE VINE AND BEING REJECTED OF GOD. ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED IS NOT TRUTH. FOR THE BIBLE TO SAY “FALL AWAY” MEANS YOU HAD TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOSPEL FIRST. REV 3:16, “BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOST YOUR FIRST LOVE AND YOU ARE LUKEWARM, I WILL SPIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH.”

‘I WAS BAPTIZED OR CHRISTENED AND THEREFORE I AM SAVED.’ THIS IS NOT A SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR SALVATION. BAPTISM IS A COMMAND AFTER YOU ARE SAVED, BUT IT IS NOT WHAT MAKES YOU A CHRISTIAN. JOHN 3:3 SAYS, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”
‘I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE CHURCH, MY PARENTS ARE CHRISTIANS.’ HAVING A FAMILY WITH CHRISTIAN ROOTS DOESN’T MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN. YOU WERE BORN INTO AN EARTHLY FAMILY, BUT WE MUST BE SPIRITUALLY BORN INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. CHRISTIANITY IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. WE DON’T RIDE INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON ANYBODY ELSES SHIRT TAIL.

‘I PRAYED THE PRAYER OF SALVATION ONCE.’ DID IT TAKE ROOT? DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS? OR DID YOU WALK AWAY AND NEVER PAY HIM ANY MIND AGAIN? ONE OF THE TRANSLATIONS I LIKE SAYS THAT WE ARE “CONTINUOUSLY COMMITTING”. IF YOU ARE NOT CONTINUOUSLY COMMITTING DAILY, THEN I WOULD BE QUESTIONING WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.
‘I BELIEVE THAT GOD EXISTS.’ JAMES 2:19, “YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE GOD? GOOD! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THAT, AND THEY SHUDDER.”

‘I PRAY ONCE IN A WHILE.’ WHEN YOU MAKE A 911 CALL, IT MEANS YOU WANT OR NEED SOMEONE TO GET YOU OUT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IMMEDIATELY. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

‘I LISTEN TO PREACHING AND I READ THE BIBLE.’ THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU RECEIVED JESUS AND MADE HIM LORD OF YOUR LIFE. IF YOU BELIEVE IT, YOU MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO JESUS AND BE BORN AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. (JOHN 3:3)

‘I AM A CHILD OF GOD, AND GOD LOVES EVERYONE. HE WON’T SEND ONE OF HIS CHILDREN TO HELL.’ WE ARE ALL CREATIONS OF GOD. WE ONLY BECOME A CHILD OF GOD WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. HE DOES LOVE US, BUT HE DOESN’T CONDONE SIN. SIN CANNOT DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD. WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM GOD. IT IS NOT HIS CHOICE. A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP MAKES US HIS CHILD. (ROMANS 2:5-9)

‘I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH/ I AM A GOOD PERSON.’ BOTH OF THESE FIT INTO ONE CATEGORY. THE BOOK OF ROMANS TELLS US THAT WE ACCEPT JESUS BY FAITH. IT IS NOT BY WORKS. IF WE MUST DO ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS, THEN HIS DEATH WAS FOR NOTHING. WE WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH BY WHAT WE DO OR HOW WE ACT. IT IS BY GRACE AND MERCY. MERCY IS NOT GETTING THE PUNISHMENT WE DESERVE. GRACE IS GETTING FAVOR WITH GOD THAT WE DON’T DESERVE. NOT ONE PERSON IS WORTHY OF HIS OWN ACCORD TO BE CALLED A CHILD OF GOD. ROMANS 3:10, “THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE.” ROMANS 3:22, “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.”

‘ I KNOW ABOUT GOD.’ KNOWING ABOUT GOD AND KNOWING GOD ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I MAY KNOW EVERY DETAIL ABOUT ELVIS PRESLEY, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN I KNEW HIM PERSONALLY AND HE CERTAINLY NEVER BOUGHT ME A CAR. JOHN 15:4-6, “DWELL IN ME AND I WILL DWELL IN YOU.”

TAKE OFF THOSE DIRTY CLOTHES!

And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire. Jeshua’s (Joshua) clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.” (Zechariah 3:2-3)

“Moses my servant is dead . . . .” (Joshua 1:2) This passage refers to the commissioning of Joshua as the people of Israel cross over the Jordan and are instructed to take the land. God lists promises to him (No one will be able to stand against you from taking the land given to you, and God will never leave you) and Joshua must be strong and courageous and to never let the Book of the Law depart from his mouth.

But, why were Joshua’s clothes filthy? Perhaps he had been in Moses’ shadow so long that he did not see himself as worthy to lead the Israelites? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN YOURSELF AS FILTHY OR UNWORTHY?

As Joshua was standing there, the angel said, “Take off his filthy garments.” Then he said, “See that I have removed from you your iniquity, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” (Zechariah 3:4)

Joshua needed to see himself in the same light that God saw him! WE DO TOO!

As the Israelites received their inheritance and began a new journey (now without the daily manna), we are entering a new era—a time when God has promised to pour out his Glory on his people! But we have more than manna—the Bread of Life is leading and supplying “for He has clothed us with the garments of salvation, He has covered us with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) For the righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:22). Some of the aspects of this righteousness include: Salvation (Isaiah 61:10); Praise/Joy (Isaiah 61:3); Power (Luke 10:19); Glory (Psalm 8:1-2); and Humility (1Peter 5:5-6).

LET’S CLOTHE OURSELVES WITH HIS GLORY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Excerpted by Betty Bitgood from 9/22/19 sermon by Rev. Gerald Lawson

Why Are There Still Sick Among US?

Could it be that we are not taking advantage of the awesome gift of communion often enough OR in the right way? My Pastor, Jerrold Lawson, preached an awesome message last Sunday that clarified something that I had been confused about!

1 Corinthians 11:28-30 Amplified Bible (AMP) But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not^]recognize the body [of Christ]. That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death]. Jesus had to take on human form to provide redemption for us. We must acknowledge and thank Him for all that He did suffer!

Without becoming weak in faith Abraham considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and Sarah was only a few years younger than him. (Rom. 4:19) Heb. 11:11 tells us Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even when she was long past the normal age for it, because she knew that God was faithful. We need to trust Him, knowing that He is able to perform what He has promised, and HEALING is promised–and already attained by the Cross! (Is. 53:5)

Our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ, (Eph. 3:12) so we can establish the dominion He obtained for us. We are justified through His blood. We are His kids—His legal heirs! (Colossians 1:12-14) And in Him we are complete (Col 2:9-13) —nothing missing and nothing broken–as we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit!

I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ. (Philemon 6)

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Are you struggling? TRY JOY!

In these times of much turmoil, we must be constantly reminded of God’s mandate against dejection and sadness, but to be joyful as it is our strength. (Neh. 8:10) 1 Pet. 1:7-8 tells us we must prove our faith “even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

“I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.” (Ps. 89:1) This tells me that our joy must be outward—with boisterous shouts and laughter! Always “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) Jesus utilized the joy of OUR salvation to bolster himself to endure the Cross! He loves joy so much, He instructs the mountains (Tabor & Hermon) to “shout for joy at Your (His) name.” (Ps. 89:13)

I love Psalm 27:5-6 in The Passion Translation (TPT):

In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me,
for he hides me there in his holiness.
He has smuggled me into his secret place,
where I’m kept safe and secure—
out of reach from all my enemies.
Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise,
singing and shouting with ecstatic joy!
Yes, listen and you can hear
the fanfare of my shouts of praise to the Lord!

Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Thank you Pastor Lawson for sharing this timely word at New Day Believers’ Church 6/23/19!

Oh Death, where is your Sting?

Christ the Lord is risen today! Allelujah! Son of God and Son of Man. Great Redeemer, Savior, friend. Jesus! Our deliverer, our comforter, our healer and deliverer. Jesus. When the sun rose that resurrection morning and the tomb was found to be empty, Hope dawned. Life pushed death aside. Humanity would be forever changed. A choice now stood before us all from that day to this—accept the Son or reject Him. God’s Son, God’s Love, God’s plan right from the very first. Before a word was spoken at creation, this moment was planned for sin-filled man. Redemption, then, on the third day, Victory! Nothing and no one would ever come between God and man ever again. Rejoice in Him and choose Him daily. Over every other thing, over every other one, over every other choice, choose Jesus! Love became yours. Joy has become yours. Peace is yours. As you have freely received, now, freely give. Spread the Good News—Jesus lives!

Jesus, You gave everything for us, now work all Your work of righteousness in us. We glorify Your marvelous Name! We will make Your deeds known, as we encounter others who need to hear about You. We will tell the lost, You save. We will tell the sick, You heal. We will tell the addicted, You deliver. We will tell the poor, You are Provider. Lord, You reign! You reign over our lives and You reign over America! You reign, Jesus. (Dutch Sheets, Give Him 15, 4/20 & 21)

Prepare for Victory!

In the Charismatic Movement of the 60’s and 70’s, millions were saved, healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit (awakening), YET, there was no discipling of our society and nation (reformation). The result of this failure, ironically, was a gain in salvations but a loss in kingdom influence (the honoring of God and His ways declined in society). We actually regressed spiritually in every aspect of American life. It has always amazed me that a nation could experience one of the greatest outpourings of Holy Spirit in history, yet when all was said and done, had lost ground spiritually!

Thankfully, another great awakening has begun in America. And I have great hope that the coming season of revival will produce far different results. There are a growing number of Christians who believe the Church is Christ’s Kingdom government (ekklesia) on earth and, as such, has both the assignment AND ability to disciple nations according to His commission in Matthew’s gospel.

This current emphasis by Holy Spirit on influencing the 7 mountains of society (Family, Religion, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Business, Education, and Media) is an example. This teaching, first taught in the 70’s by Bill Bright of Campus Crusade For Christ and Loren Cunningham of Youth With A Mission, did not gain any real momentum at the time. Believers simply did not have the faith or, frankly, the theology necessary to embrace such a radical concept. Thankfully, this has changed and many now embrace the teaching.

The importance of this understanding cannot be exaggerated. It will fully restore America’s purpose and destiny, not only as an international voice of the gospel (Mark’s commission), but also as a discipling light to the nations (Matthew’s commission). As we enter 2019, prepare yourself for an even greater surge of spiritual power and momentum. The best days of the Church—and of America—are not in our past; they are in our future.

Be encouraged…and prepare for victory! (Dutch Sheets, “Prepare for Victory”)

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RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness is a theme one sees often these days in reading posts, blogs or in attending/viewing teachings. Dutch Sheets is reproducing Love Ministries’ 70 day prayer focus “Righteousness Exalts a Nation” in his “Give Him 15” daily posts. I guess God is using this to get our attention!

Do you consider yourself RIGHTEOUS? Most would say no, even though the Word says we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21)–after all we must always be humble! WRONG! It is true that our righteousness is as filthy rags, but being IN CHRIST changes who and what we are! (Is. 64:6)

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Rom. 5:17)

It is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Cor.1:30)

So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin* which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us.(Heb. 12:1)

*See info on Killing Kryptonite in our Feb. newsletter

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Lazarus! COME FORTH!

Jon Hamill in a recent blog drew the analogy of America and Lazarus needing new life! Truly, we need to recover the American Spirit of our forefathers.

He asked the question of the pulpits in our land: “ Has the feel-good message usurped the covenant flame of holy conviction.” He went on to call for a new way forward, just as the first two Great Awakenings set the course of our nation, the next will do the same—“Same God, same glory!”

Lets pray and decree together:

“We come into agreement together for the restoration of the true American Spirit to our land. Holy Spirit come again! River of fire flow! Restore Your life-giving Spirit as the spiritual undercurrent and overarching influence of the United States. From coast to coast. In Washington DC. Restore your anointing of holy conviction, such a hallmark of the first two Great Awakenings. Reveal Jesus!

Lord we say, COME FROM THE FOUR WINDS O BREATH, and breathe on these slain that they may live! AMERICA, AWAKE! By verdict from Heaven’s Court, we command Your shift from a covenant with death empowering a culture of death to Your covenant of life empowering a culture of life. We call the true American Spirit—Holy Spirit—back into the heart and body of this land. AMERICA NOW COME FORTH!”

RECOVERING THE AMERICAN SPIRIT, 11/17/18 http://jonandjolene.us/lampostings/

MAKE YOUR STEPS COUNT!

I try to seek God daily for His direction by claiming that He orders my steps (Psalm 119:133). At Moses’ commissioning, the Lord said to him, “Put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Ex.3:5) God promised Joshua that “every piece of ground the sole of your foot treads upon is yours to take.” (Joshua 1:3 ) Obviously the path we walk is very important to God—to us (& others).

We are now in a season when it is important, not only to seek what is ahead, but to claim what the enemy has stolen from us , our family and our heritage. The following was from a recent post from Jon Hamill: “ You and I are being summoned by the Lord to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers, to in some way carry the torch and complete the turnaround they gave their lives to gain. They did it for us. Right now the Lord is taking His place at the head of your year, and at the head of your movement through the gates this year.” Since it is the beginning of the Jewish year 1779, join me with the resolve to gain all that is ours and reclaim all that is due us!

God desires us to be blessed because He loves us, BUT also, “that Your way may be known on the earth, and your salvation among all nations.” (Ps. 67:1-2) As we step into this new season, all that we claim and reclaim will be a witness to others—even the nations! Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Discerning the TRUTH

Don’t you just love it when your schedule gets re-arranged by the Holy Spirit and suddenly there is now time to seek God and His Kingdom? This happened to me this last week. I stumbled upon a conference in San Diego hosting two of my favorites, Cindy Jacobs and James Goll. For two days I was able to squeeze in teaching, worship and my household and ministry chores. It was glorious! Here are some quotable quotes (or paraphrases??) from General Cindy: As a believer you have the opportunity to change atmospheres. A Heavenly atmosphere drives out darkness! Faith is the booster rocket for creative miracles! (And miracles are the carrots that will bring in the unsaved.) 2 Tim. 21-7: Hear God’s Word; activate it through the laying on of hands; encourage faith through the rehearsing of testimonies—so they will happen again (Rev. 12:11)!

James Goll taught on Discernment. The mature believer MUST discern between good and evil. He must seek to have his senses trained as he surrenders to the Holy Spirit. (Heb. 5:14) The enemy mostly speaks to us in the first person. This is how he beats us down when we think we are hearing our own thoughts about ourselves and take them as “truth!” Does what we hear produce life or death? (2 Cor. 3:6)

“And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them,… “ Make sure you listen and hear! (Jer. 25:4) Betty Bitgood, Chairman

Developing a love for TRUTH

…the Lord said He’s changing the appetites of people.

“Instead of the public now rejoicing in rumors, they will now become excited to hear the truth again. They will develop a love for the truth and reject the lies, as well as the liars. This will not be true of everyone in every place, but a shift has already happened. Truth had fallen in the streets but I tell you I’m lifting it up again and it shall cause great rejoicing. I the Lord have done this by My power by My right arm of might, and by My justice.” John Kilpatrick, January 29, 2017

When I heard this prophetic statement, I rejoiced! It is obvious that God is exposing and dealing with evil, particularly when it comes to sexual harassment. (60 Minutes had another expose’ this week on this issue in the restaurant business.) There seems to be a search for truth that I have never seen in my lifetime! It is no wonder that our children have lost respect for their parents/elders as they continue to offer lies and half-truths to them. Another quote I read this week, “words are like molten steel that enter a young person and shape their character and identity.” (Francis Frangipane)

I am sure that many of the folks we serve have ended up where they now are due to lies—their own and others. It is way past the time that WE must be purveyors of TRUTH—and even offering excuses, tho valid, are not the answer. Fess up! Repent! And choose the higher road! Put on the belt of TRUTH and the whole amour of God! (Eph 6:11-13) Betty Bitgood, Chairman

TO LIFE!

We celebrate LIFE this month, the LIFE of the pre-born, the abundant LIFE of those afflicted with addictions and abundant LIFE of those who have been exploited and trafficked!

“Large events like the Super Bowl have created an increase in the instances of exploitation, including human sex trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of fans descend upon the state that hosts the event. This time in history becomes optimal breeding ground for exploitation, including trafficking. All people should be free, but exploitation means that slavery still exists. In the past, this injustice has been hidden, but is now being publicly addressed by policy, law enforcement, and news media. This injustice is also being addressed by abolitionists and watchmen who will not be silent and who refuse to be inactive.

Minnesota will host Super Bowl 52 in 2018. The Minnesota Apostolic Prayer Network, joined by Action169 will host Justice Awakening 52.

Who will cry out and fight for righteousness and justice? Our sons and daughters are not commodities to be sold.

What if a justice sound, a war cry sound was released by those the industry once held captive? What if former captors and former users joined in the war cry? What if abolitionists and watchmen became equipped to intervene in the places where exploitation and trafficking was happening?

The alarms are sounding in this awakening 911 hour, for the abolitionists and watchmen to answer the call by combating that which fuels the sales of souls. Justice is awakening at the sound of the Bride who is tuned to God’s justice heartbeat.” Danielle and Corey Freitag

A Word from the Lord: “God is bringing a new womens’ movement empowered by the prophetic and releasing His justice, especially to other women. What one carried, many will soon carry. God’s justice is that they grow and mature into full stature in their identities and lives. The weight on their backs which mandated their sexuality be emphasized to gain favor and attention will be broken. Many who have been subject to sexual abuse and trafficking will be freed from this weight of bondage.” Jolene Hamill.

The following excerpt is from Jon Hamill, president of Lamplighter Ministries (www.lamplighterministries.net )

UN: Empowering Anti-Semitism
Later today the United Nations will vote to impose its will on Jerusalem. If memory serves, this congress of global governance convened this time last year for a similar pursuit. Right around the anniversary of the date in which Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig in the Temple of God, dedicating it to Zeus and Baal, the UN Security council voted to declare the Western Wall as Palestinian land illegally occupied by Israel.

Former President Obama pushed the declaration through.

And as we approach the final moments of Hanukkah 2017, the elite of nations gathering once again around a similar quest. This time attempting to counter President Donald Trump’s simple acknowledgement of reality. Honoring Jerusalem as the historic and present capital of Israel.

Right now a midnight cry is again resounding from Heaven. My spirit is consumed with a prophetic warning.

Countering anti-Israel sentiment is actually countering anti-semitism itself. Especially when it is advanced through the global convocation of the United Nations. The dramatic, unmistakeable rise of anti-semitism in Europe and the nations mandates for us all an immediate response of prayer and action. Like Churchill in his hour, President Trump has taken his stand. We must honor the mantle and now take ours.

The Globalist Pursuit of Jerusalem
According to the darkened theology of the United Nations, Jerusalem was never supposed to be the restored capital of Israel. It was instead supposed to be a capital city of the globe. In the resolution decreeing Israel into existence on November 29, 1947, the United Nations also claimed Jerusalem as an international city under its own jurisdiction.

When a friend first informed me of this I thought it was just a whispered conspiracy embraced by only a handful of UN leaders and global elites. But my assumption proved patently false. In a recent Fox News interview, former UN ambassador John Bolton informed us that from the beginning, the plan for Jerusalem was to for her to be an international city under UN jurisdiction. A Wikipedia article called “Corpus Separatum (Jerusalem)” details their plan. The resolution “Resolves that the Holy Places…in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured,…; that arrangements to this end should be under effective United Nations supervision…”

Jerusalem, an international city. A seat of global government covertly rooted in globalist idolatry. “Many religions forming one altar to the great architect of the universe,” as they say.

The primary pursuit of this globalist expression of idolatry remains the capturing of the only city and space on the planet which God expressly claims as His earthly throne. We cannot forget this. “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. ‘This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it…’” (Psalm 132:13-14).

Nor can we forget that the ultimate empowerment of globalist idolatry always unleashes anti-Semitism, elitism, racism and subjugation. Even if cloaked in benign humanism, it is lethal to the core. Just ask those who suffered under Nazi persecution.

Jesus warned about those who would claim Zion and the Temple Mount for their idolatry. Referencing the prophet Daniel, he told His followers to run for the hills when you see the “abomination which causes desolation” standing in the holy place (Matthew 24). By no means is it time for this yet.

UN: Remember the Shoah!
Against all odds, Jerusalem was secured by Israeli forces in 1967. Even the Temple Mount was restored to Israeli sovereignty. And Jerusalem became the viable capital not of the United Nations, but of Israel for the first time since Biblical days.

Restoring Israel’s national sovereignty was the primary quest of the Maccabees who experienced the miracle of Hanukkah in their day. They restored their Temple to the Lord, and the nation turned as a result.

Watch this now. Preserving Israel’s national sovereignty, including her right to Jerusalem, is a primary quest of the Maccabees of today.

Jews and Christians could certainly justify Jerusalem’s restoration as Israel’s capital on scriptural grounds alone. But an even greater reality, an even greater social responsibility has seemingly been forgotten in the midst of the rancor and debate holding the world captive.

Israel was birthed out of the horrors of the Holocaust, or Shoah. At the time, many European nations felt a moral responsibility to provide a homeland for the Jews that they and their leaders had ultimately betrayed. Further, shipping the survivors of the Shoah to Israel avoided many awkward legal settlements with friends and colleagues who preyed upon their Jewish neighbors.

Because contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t only the Nazis who betrayed them.

And in any case, the Shoah survivors and the land they emigrated to were both guaranteed to fail. Neighboring Arab nations would see to that. And this time the pillaging of the Jews would no longer be their responsibility; the results would be similar, but the blood would not be on European hands. The conflict envisioned would even provide a viable excuse for UN military intervention. Jerusalem could be reclaimed, with the UN bringing peace. An easy and morally justifiable pathway for the city of God’s Throne to become the seat of global governance for the United Nations.

Against all expectations, against all odds, this tattered army of Holocaust survivors and the dispersed of the earth soon gained the miraculous breakthroughs which defined the military legacy of their forefathers. They joined the ranks of Moses and Joshua, of Gideon and David and the Maccabees. Israel not only survived, but thrived.

And in 1967, Jerusalem was reclaimed—not by the intervention of UN troops, but by the intervention of the Lord of hosts and His people.

For Zion’s Sake
That said, it’s only been seventy years since Israel became a nation. And only 73 years since the horror of the Shoah was fully revealed in the waning hours of the Second World War. Once again the nations who finally bequeathed justice to the Jewish are now on the precipice of another great betrayal.

How quickly they—we—forget the great debt still owed to God’s covenant people.

Beloved, President Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of the sovereign nation of Israel stands as an unrelenting barrier against globalist claims in this hour. Further, it stands as a torch of justice for the nations to remember their own legacy of depravity, which led to the rebirth of this miracle nation in the first place. Instead of seeking to delegitimize God’s covenant people and His covenant land, we really should be regaining the resolve, “NEVER AGAIN.” Instead the tide of hatred towards the Jews increases daily. And the nations gather today to again defraud God’s covenant land.

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns” (Isaiah 62:1).

Today especially, please shine for Zion’s sake.

5778 & Open Doors!

“The season we’re in that will take us to 2019 is the season of 70 (Ayin) according to the Hebrew calendar. We just entered into the Hebrew year 5778. Every year we are coming to a new crossroad and we’re having to choose which way we’re going to go. All 70’s are linked with the breaking of captivity. Whatever has been in your bloodline canbe broken in this season. Set your face like a flint and say, ‘I’m not going into the nextphase of my life and ministry without the old structures being broken.’ Ayin also means the eye of God is watching and seeing how we react – how we respond by faith.” (Chuck Pierce)

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18; ESV)

These are challenging, but amazing times! The “Third Great Awakening” will make its way on the scene soon. The best way to describe this would be a mega outpouring of God’s Spirit on all mankind, bringing many to salvation, healing and breakthroughs in every area of man and his environment. Take a minute to think about this and ask yourself if you are ready to help usher this in? We all have a long way to go! Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us, hence our developing a close relationship with Him will be invaluable. I recommend Benny Hinn’s book, Welcome Holy Spirit.

“Intercede for the nation . . . to set our nation free! Is it the salvation of the lost, the ending of abortion, exposing human trafficking, or justice for a racial group or the poor? Is it financial stability, job creation/mentoring, or healing of the sick, dying and mentally ill? Whatever it is, be confident that you have been prepared by the Lord to set the captives free!” (Dutch Sheets, Give Him 15, Oct. 22, 2017)

UNITY

No, we haven’t changed our name/brand! But, we are very proud to share that we are partnering with this vibrant organization, chaired by Terry Bernier! Their vision is from the same source as our Hope Center vision: The Dream Centers (a national networking of places serving the disadvantaged, which S AZ Dream Center is now part of).
Not only are we locking arms with a strong and righteous organization but we are anticipating a place to serve our city: the Holiday Inn, 4550 S. Palo Verde Blvd. See the Tucson Star article, Sept. 23. “Tucson foundation converting south-side hotel into ‘Center of Opportunity’.”

As I prayer-walked the Holiday Inn property last week, I could see such potential for all of our city in this place. It was almost as if it was built for this day and use as a “Center of Opportunity.” In addition to a shelter, we see a long-term drug rehab program, a place to bring those who have been sex trafficked (the in-place security system works well for this), medical respite beds for homeless recovering from serious medical conditions, and a place to provide nutritious food for those in need. A home for a 24/7 Prayer Room and a chapel hosting services from many streams in the Body of Christ. In order to defray expenses, we even have plans for a thrift store and restaurant (where folks can train for the food-service industry).
This is not a “done deal” yet. The Foundation must make the choice of which organizations that will occupy space in this amazing place. This is where YOU come in. This facility will be a great place for you to volunteer to help “the least of these!” Please pray that we have favor with all the powers that be, and that we have the wisdom and grace to step in and oversee the ministries we have a passion for. Also, please contact any of the city or county fathers you know, write letters to the editor, add this request to your social networking group, etc. etc. Then pray some more!

It’s Time to Ask!

We are coming into a season to make our appeal. God is waiting for us to come to Him with our petitions. We are already beginning to see Him act on our behalf, as we humble ourselves and join with other like-minded Believers to see Tucson blessed. Our 23 yr. old Hope of Glory Center vision is now within reach as we align with The Southern Arizona Dream Center (rooted in the same vision). We are finding favor with God (and man) and will be a source of blessing to all of Pima County in the near future. Just keep praying and preparing for the ministry God has put in your heart!

This flag has become a beacon for prayer and because it was introduced by Apostle Dutch Sheets, a symbol and teaching of his national ministry. One of the tools he created and has maintained for a few years is GIVE HIM 15 Minutes in Prayer, a daily prayer focus. I am reproducing a recent one here, as it presents one of the aspects of the importance of prayer:

Air Superiority – Part 1

There was a man in the British military in World War II named Sir Arthur Harris. They called him “Bomber Harris”. He had a plan that he finally “sold” to Winston Churchill and the allied forces. He called it “a bomber stream.” He said, “My plan is to release one thousand bombers in one night against the Nazis.” He wanted to overwhelm them, to break their back. It had never been done and it worked! He said, “The Nazis entered this war under the childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone else and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw and half a hundred other places, they put their rather naïve theory into operation. They sowed the wind, but now they are going to reap the whirlwind.” It had turned out to be a God-idea.

“They sow the wind, and so they will reap the whirlwind!” (Hosea 8:7a; NET)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesian 6:12; NASB)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

Understand that we are not fighting a natural battle, but a spiritual one against rulers, powers, and world forces of darkness.
Commit to the Lord to pray passionate prayers daily to keep striking in intercession until there is a full victory over these demonic thoughts and actions against America.
Declare that all leakers are going to be caught and removed from governmental jobs.
Declare that all leaks will be stopped up for the sake of our national security and so President Trump can do his job.
Intercede between those that want to keep us a secular, globalist, socialist culture and God’s will to turn the nation back to His plan and path.

A prayer you can pray:

Father, we thank you for the air superiority You are giving the Church. Lord, we are going to take it and unleash a terrifying reign of prayer on the enemy in this next six months or so. We believe a turn-around is coming in February. We will pray and keep on praying until we see a turn-around and the turmoil end. We say that You are going to deal with the sources of leaks and those who are desperately trying to keep from happening what You want to happen in this nation. You are going to deal with those who want to keep us a secular, globalist culture, wearing away our destiny as a nation. We say, “No! We are not going to allow that.” In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Today’s decree:

We, the Ekklesia, will continue to bombard the heavens with our intercession until we see the enemy dealt with. We will not stop until they are turned away from their plans to stop the destiny of this nation from coming to pass.

By DutchSheets on Aug 17, 2017 from “Give Him 15”

Principles

I have been mulling the topic of principles. I am sure that everyone can agree that we should aspire to good principles and seek leaders and candidates with the same. BUT, just what does this mean? I believe that we begin to form principles almost from birth. As small children, we see those in our lives saying “yes” and “no” to many things, and from this we develop our view of what is acceptable and what is not. My daughter recently shared that she believes early childhood experiences are so important that they shape one and potentially our culture. (She is a trainer of foster families & case-workers and attempts to bring this concept into these trainings.)

I believe that our society is generally bereft of principles, hence the rise in violence and the drug epidemic. We even see those in respected positions being exposed for negative behavior every day. It is obvious that from early childhood on, the principles being exhibited and adopted have no root in “goodness,” “kindness” or “brotherly love.”

Where have we missed it? I can only submit that true principles of life are ONLY derived from its creator, God. He has provided, through his saints, a handbook that covers every human condition—in the broad sense of the word. Our forefathers recognized its importance and utilized the Bible as a teaching aid for over a century. God’s principles are always true and produce positive outcomes. They are stable, above man’s own reasoning and even supersede circumstances.

We are blessed today with many unique translations which make this awesome manual alive and applicable in today’s world. Betty Bitgood, Chairman

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8, ESV

Adjusting Our Nation!

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)

“Prepared” is the Greek word katartizo, which means “to put something into its proper position.” It’s a word used to describe setting a broken bone or popping a dislocated joint back into place. It’s also the word for alignment. We know that God aligns and, when necessary, realigns the ages. However, He also realigns history’s dislocations. He heals the breaches. As the Great Physician, He adjusts misaligned humanity back into alignment and He snaps history’s dislocations back into place. Give Him 15 minutes in prayer by Dutch Sheets, 2/19/17

Another word I have heard from multiple places: “We need a new wineskin for the new wine!” What I understand this to mean is that, not only do we need to think “out of the box,” but we must expect a new box. Even though God will repair what has become broken, we need to expect a new look!

Thank you Lord that when we mess up Your plan, You are able to snap it back into place and get us back on track! Help us to stay vigilantly in prayer until this is accomplished and to expect the NEW!

MERCY

Saturday, Jan. 21^st I was privileged to hear Apostle Dutch Sheets (fresh off the plane from the Inauguration) speak in Phoenix at the Bridgebuilders’ Start the Year Off Right Conference. Here is some of what he shared: We have stepped into a new beginning and now we are in a new phase of His refreshing. We have the unique opportunity to reach the nations. We will experience a new refilling of Holy Spirit. He will make us look good in spite of our mistakes as we are being prepared to steward the greatest revival the earth has ever known. We are stepping into a new beginning—think MERCY!

He is preparing to re-mantel us—the Holy Spirit is equipping us to do a task. Healing miracles will be common.

Our new president will have awesome dreams, and 24/7 prayer is coming to the White House.

We must shift our thinking to open ourselves to the river of revelation. No man-made boxes!

The state of Arizona is a BEACHHEAD for what God is going to do in our nation! We will have the heathen for our inheritance! (Ps. 2:8). We must be infused with a victorious attitude!

The AZ border will experience the most conflict but great glory will come. Welcome renewed joy–the ruling characteristic of God’s people. (Neh. 8:10)

MERCY is our new currency. We have a window to tap into a new root of MERCY. God delights in showing MERCY. Declare it! We are entering the days of Joel 2 and Acts 2. It is time for even 20 year-old dreams and visions to be fulfilled and we will see the family, the church and the government working together.

God says: “Never underestimate My MERCY!” Lord, help us to find our treasure field. Help us to be willing to pay whatever the price to invest in our gift of MERCY!

My prayer for you: “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have MERCY upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Is.30:18)

Hanukkah

The following is taken from the Lamplighter blog, 12/20/2016, by Jon Hamill:

Hanukkah marked the time when God’s Temple was reconsecrated to Him after it had been horrifically defiled. A Syrian army aligned with Greece invaded Israel. The leader of the army, Antiochus Epiphanes, seized the Temple and turned it into a worship center for his god, known in Greece as Zeus and in Syria as Baal.

The enemy is always seeking to defile the things which are most precious to God and to you. He is always plotting to overtake the thrones of our lives, claiming them for his own glory. Maybe you have noticed this. And his rule is never kind.

But God has a way forward to deliver us from oppression and restore us as His Throne of Glory. During the siege of the Temple, a group of spiritual revolutionaries known as the Maccabees arose against the occupation. Like the soldiers of the American Revolution, they were mostly untrained and hopelessly outnumbered. But still they faced down the strongest army in the known world and took back their Temple!

And when they took it back, they discovered just how vicious the desecration by the Greeks actually was. An altar to Zeus stood in the holy place, openly defying God’s covenant. The Greeks had even sacrificed a pig on the altar.

And for the first time in hundreds of years, the fire of the menorah, commanded by God to be kept burning night and day, had been completely snuffed out.

As an act of restoration of covenant with God, the Maccabees relit the flame of the Menorah. They reconsecrated the Temple to the Lord so that it could again become a Throne for His Glory. There was only enough oil in the lamp to keep it burning a single day. But supernaturally, the lamp blazed for eight days straight!

The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah is centered on this miracle. And it conveys a clear message to all mankind. If you will step out in faith to see restoration, God will work with you. No matter how strong the desecration, the sacred places of your life and your world can again become a Throne of Glory to Jesus.

But the Lord was summoning us to join together with Him by covenant, on the first day of Hanukkah, to receive a new beginning. A journey out of brokenness, into the honor and stability and purpose and love He had always dreamed for our lives.

Turnaround. It is always a journey. God specializes in taking wounded lives, seemingly beyond repair, and bringing restoration. Hope and love can replace despair and pain. Your heart can come alive again. Your honor and dignity can be restored. You can have a new beginning!

You can become a Throne for His glory once again.

^{Love Wins!}

by Deb Garrett

I’m often asked by people what they can do to help others. There are lots of things a person can do to help someone in need but the simplest and hardest one is LOVE, it is the greatest gift and strongest weapon we have in a world where everywhere we turn people are hurting.

Hebrews 13:1-2 says, Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Jesus said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mt. 22:37-39)

When you are out doing your life, remember to listen to The Holy Spirit inside you. Look for opportunities to love on people. They are everywhere! It can be as simple as a smile, a hug, or a prayer. It can be a meal for the hungry, buying the car behind you coffee, helping someone you see in need of assistance, and of course sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and His love for us to those who don’t know Him. Don’t let fear limit you in how you love on others. I have yet to experience a person who got mad at me for showing them love and if they do, say a prayer for them and love them anyway.

One of the things I really love about Hope of Glory is that I get the opportunity to show people love. I get to listen, talk, hug, sit with and serve God’s children and remind them how much their Father loves them. We pray together and give thanks for the grace and mercy we don’t deserve but get anyway. God loves us so much, we need to share this love with others everyday.

Since we’re on the topic of loving each other, I wanted to share with you an experience of love from a stranger that changed my life:

About 16 years ago I was really struggling. I was severely depressed and trying to drink my pain away. I was suicidal and thought that a solution was to take my life, and perhaps the lives of my children so they wouldn’t have to suffer without me. I know what you’re thinking, that’s crazy! When you’re in the grip of addiction, the enemy feeds you lie after lie to keep you there. I was at a place in my life where I felt alone and had no self-worth. My kids were 3 and 10 and I had no money for food. I thought I would take some of my belongings to Persnickety’s, an upscale second hand store, and sell them so I could feed my kids. The owner, Debi, informed me that she couldn’t buy my belongings and I started to cry. Debi asked me why I was crying and I explained my situation. She asked me to go to a restaurant that was a couple doors down from her store and wait for a few minutes. When she showed up, she had $50 cash and $50 in gift certificates for food. That gesture gave me hope, it fed my children and it saved my life that day. I couldn’t believe that a stranger would do that for me.

On October 1st I will have 15 years of sobriety, I am born again today and I am blessed beyond words. Today I have a life filled with love, faith and hope. Today, I pay it forward every chance I get.

Persnickety’s is partnering with Hope of Glory and donating clothes to help clothe the homeless!! They are located at 5811 N. Oracle Rd. Stop by and check them out when you can and tell Debi thank you for me.

^{Remnant Champions Arise!}

It is time for the convergence of the ages! “The greatest days of church history are not in your past, but in your future.” “America’s history will now be changed.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 tells us that those in the tribe of Issachar were ones who understood the signs of the times and knew the best course to take. We must follow their lead, take heed of the unmistakable signs happening now and follow our Supreme Commander! God is releasing His Angel Armies to come to our aid! We need not fear the hordes of the enemy as God’s Mighty Armies outnumber his 3 to 1. “The command, prepare for God activity” has been heralded, order executed and miracles are coming. His angels are sent to connect and direct us in the End Time work He has called us to. The Ecclesia (Church) is coming together in new ways and will create a synergy—a multiplication of action and energy for a greater flow of God’s purposes (“the mighty river of God”) which will accomplish far more than has ever been done—and it will be done in OUR times! “The King will have His harvest!”

“I am activating My Remnant Champions now and My Remnant will prevail” with the unveiling of: signs, wonders and miracles… billions of souls saved… Radiant Glory… darkness penetrated… demons destroyed… the world visibly being shaken….

“I am activating My Remnant Champions NOW and My Remnant will prevail!”

From Tim Sheets, 8/20/16, author of Angel Armies and the Standing King http://www.timsheets.org/

Understanding Mercy in the Judgements of God
by Rick Ridings
(USRPN Network)

At the beginning and end of the Gregorian calendar, there are always prophetic words coming out on the Internet and various places. In some prophecies, everything is gloom and doom. Then in others, everything’s going to be glorious and the Church is rising into her finest hour. Sometimes I just look at it all and say, “LORD, what’s right in this?”

Jesus described what is coming forth in Matthew 13:24-29. When the kingdom was growing, the enemy planted weeds, things that looked at first as if they were like the kingdom. Jesus said when they both come to maturity, it will be really clear. “This is wheat, and this is a weed,” and there will be no question. We need to thank God that there will be less and less room for compromise.

Balance in Intercession

To the intercessor, the LORD said there must be balance. He said in Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NIV): “I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” So we’re not just called to uproot. There is also the positive balance of planting. And we’re not just to plant, because if you only plant without uprooting the weeds, the weeds can choke the planting of the Kingdom of God.

Some think we’re going to bring in the Kingdom of God on our own, that the world is just going to get better and better. Honestly, that’s quite a naive view.

Then there are others who only see all the bad that’s happening in the world, and it’s almost like the Kingdom of God can have no influence until Jesus returns.

We ourselves will never bring in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. We need Jesus to come back. The balance is that the Kingdom of God can have a lot of influence on society before Jesus returns to complete the work. We can pray and be powerfully used of the LORD to affect areas of society, cities and nations. Yet, at the same time, we see the Scriptures speaking about the darkness that is coming upon the nations.

God is the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

Someone shared with me recently that they were with a wonderful ministry that I love and respect, and they were shocked when they heard a leader there basically say that God now is totally different than the God of the Old Testament and that He doesn’t judge anymore.

I, too, was shocked when I heard this, but I realized there’s a subtle thing that can happen. The leader was overreacting to people who were only wanting to give prophesies of the judgments that were going to happen to that city, state and nation, so the leader developed a theology that God is different than He used to be. This is dangerous. It’s saying that God changes.

The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of New Testament. He never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NIV). Jesus is saying that He is not different from the Father and that He did not reveal a new way. God hasn’t had a change of heart and is different now.

It’s very important as intercessors that we say, “LORD, help us to understand Your mercy and Your justice – Your holiness and Your compassion – and how all these things fit together, how You can be all these things at the same time.” If we do, then we can come to say, “Good and righteous are your judgments” like the saints in Revelation 16:7 and 19:2 (NKJV).

What is Judgment?

Judgment is the lifting of God’s wall of grace or hand of protection for a period of time because of a refusal to repent from sin.   It’s not so much “I’m going to send this horrible thing upon them.” It’s more like “I’m going to lift off My protection which is the norm for a short period of time, because in My grace and mercy, I know that over the long term they are going to destroy themselves if they don’t repent and change.”

In Isaiah 5:5-7, God talks about the judgment that He allowed to come upon Israel. He says to Israel, pictured as a vineyard, “I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled” (verse 5, NIV).

He doesn’t say He will trample on Israel. He says He will take down the wall of protection and allow Israel be trampled on by another nation, so they will turn from the sin that would otherwise destroy them.

The Judgments of God are Redemptive

The judgments of God are redemptive, a form of discipline to keep us from destruction. We are told in Hebrews 12:4-11 not to make light of the LORD’s discipline because it shows we are His children.

Judgments are corrections by God for our good. God disciplined the proud Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. If we don’t humble ourselves, God will humble us. Once humbled, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God and had the blessing of a kingdom that recognized God as the ultimate king.

Judgments Expose Sin and Teach Righteousness

There are judgments that expose deception, unrighteousness and injustice to pull people into the truth. “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness,” says Isaiah 26:9 (NIV).

What do we do about Syria right now? What is the long-term purpose of God, in allowing His wall of protection to be lifted, resulting in war?

Isaiah 19, though it speaks of Egypt, lays down a pattern for how He will deal with nations.

The chapter ends with a promise of a confederation of worship in the Middle East. That’s an amazing promise. How does Egypt get there?

– Internal strife – “I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian.” (Isaiah 19:2 NIV).

– Great economic shakings – drought, famine, failing industry (Isaiah 19:5-10)

– Oppression that pushes people to “cry out to the LORD” (Isaiah 19:4, 20 NIV)

– “The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them and heal them” (Isaiah 19:22 NIV)

God’s heart for Egypt and all the nations of the earth is not civil war, famine, economic collapse and sickness. It is to “respond to their pleas and heal them.” (Isaiah 19:22 NIV)

Some say God doesn’t use such judgments in the New Testament.   In Acts 13:6-12, the sorcerer who tries to keep the leader of Cyprus from believing the Gospel is struck with blindness. That is a judgment. The leader believed in part because of the judgment on the sorcerer.

Judgments are Opportunities to Repent

God gives many warnings and opportunities to repent before sending a more severe judgment. The implied purpose of the Revelation judgments is to bring people to repentance (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9).

Imagine someone driving very fast toward a cliff. If they keep going, they will fall off the cliff and die. Yet, there is one roadblock after another. Judgments are God’s roadblocks in His great mercy to stop people before they destroy themselves. The final roadblock is the most severe judgment that will hopefully wake them up and keep them from destruction (see Jeremiah 25:4-7).

In Psalm 83, the writer, Asaph, calls on God to defeat the nations of the Middle East as they come to destroy Israel.

Cover their faces with shame, LORD, so that they will seek Your name …

Let them know that You, whose name is the LORD — that You alone are the Most High over all the earth. (emphasis added)

We, too, should desire that all the nations would seek to know God. That may involve praying that certain things be torn down, so that there can be a building up of the Kingdom of God in them. May we all pray, “Teach me Your ways, so that I may know You as You really are, and that I may pray according to Your unchangeable character.”

You are not defeated!

Knowing God!

The Power of the Cross

Men Without Chests

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE?

Welcome Holy Spirit!

Announce Freedom to all Captives

Are we ready to FIGHT for what belongs to us?

Are we thinking the thoughts of God?

Who are the Dangerous?

Have you lost your PEACE?

:Out of Reach

The high cost of housing 2022

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

Are you spiritually mature?

LIFE DECREE

Recover, Redeem & Activate!

Our Blessed Hope!

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

POWER OF THE WORD

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

Contending for Victory Over the Real Pandemic

A Sample TURNAROUND TUESDAY Prayer

by the Bridgebuilder’s

His Faith & Mercy

His Breath in us is Life!

PTSD, grief, trauma, loss, mourning, etc. etc.

Becoming His Hands & Feet!

Stop the world, I want to get off!

We Serve Because He Lives!

The TIME is NOW!

As A Little Child

PEACE IN A TIME OF CHAOS

Pick up Your Armor!

A Step into the Unknown?

PEACE in the Storm

COVID OR CALVARY?

A response to the Coronavirus

ARE YOU WILLING TO CONTEND?

What the Prophets of God Say About 2020

AM I A CHRISTIAN?

‘ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED.’ HEBREWS 3: 12 SAYS, “TAKE CARE MY BROTHERS, LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL, UNBELIEVING HEART, LEADING YOU TO FALL AWAY FROM THE LIVING GOD. (MATT 24:10) AND THEN MANY WILL FALL AWAY AND BETRAY ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER.

TAKE OFF THOSE DIRTY CLOTHES!

Why Are There Still Sick Among US?

Are you struggling? TRY JOY!

Oh Death, where is your Sting?

Prepare for Victory!

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Lazarus! COME FORTH!

MAKE YOUR STEPS COUNT!

Discerning the TRUTH

Developing a love for TRUTH

TO LIFE!

The following excerpt is from Jon Hamill, president of Lamplighter Ministries (www.lamplighterministries.net )

5778 & Open Doors!

UNITY

It’s Time to Ask!

Principles

Adjusting Our Nation!

MERCY

The following is taken from the Lamplighter blog, 12/20/2016, by Jon Hamill:

The enemy is always seeking to defile the things which are most precious to God and to you. He is always plotting to overtake the thrones of our lives, claiming them for his own glory. Maybe you have noticed this. And his rule is never kind.

And when they took it back, they discovered just how vicious the desecration by the Greeks actually was. An altar to Zeus stood in the holy place, openly defying God’s covenant. The Greeks had even sacrificed a pig on the altar.

And for the first time in hundreds of years, the fire of the menorah, commanded by God to be kept burning night and day, had been completely snuffed out.

But the Lord was summoning us to join together with Him by covenant, on the first day of Hanukkah, to receive a new beginning. A journey out of brokenness, into the honor and stability and purpose and love He had always dreamed for our lives.

Turnaround. It is always a journey. God specializes in taking wounded lives, seemingly beyond repair, and bringing restoration. Hope and love can replace despair and pain. Your heart can come alive again. Your honor and dignity can be restored. You can have a new beginning!

You can become a Throne for His glory once again.

Love Wins!

Remnant Champions Arise!

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^{Love Wins!}

^{Remnant Champions Arise!}