I was preparing to speak at a conference many years ago. I was praying in one of the back rooms. My sister was out walking the room praying for the meeting and she began passing through each isle of empty chairs. I happened to look out and saw her kneeling by this one particular chair and as she prayed she began to weep. Later, just before the service, she came to me and said that she didn't know who was going to sit in that chair but whoever it was God was going to do something very special.
After I spoke, I called for any one that needed prayer to come forward. Out of almost 70 people about half came forward for healing or salvation and some for just a refreshing in their heart from a prophetic word spoken over them. As I was ministering to the ones in front of me, I looked over and saw the person sitting in the chair that my sister,Cindy, had so earnestly prayed over. The woman was crying and sobbing. When she looked up at me she became very upset and terrified. By the Spirit of God I saw a dark black mass hovering over her. I had seen this demonic spirit before. The spirit of mourning and death. I motioned for her to maybe come forward, she stood up shaking her head "no" and proceeded to run out the door into the parking lot. I told two women on my staff to run after her and make sure she was alright. I knew the enemy was trying to take her life. We stood and took authority over it and prayed protection over her in the name of Jesus. I went on with the service but at the end I inquired after her to my staff. A couple of people knew her. They said they had not seen her in a long time at church. Her husband had been really sick and then passed away a few months back. I told my sister and the other intercessors to pray for her and for those who knew her to try to call her. We had another meeting scheduled there the next month and we were all in prayer over the next thirty days for her to come back.
The next meeting was awesome and God worked in a mighty way that night. I was praying for people at the front as she sat in her seat crying. She got up and started to leave. My sister was standing at the back. Other ladies were trying to talk to her and keep her from leaving. The Lord had my sister just walk over to her and put her arms around her. As I finished praying for the ones at the front, one of the ladies asked me to come back and pray for this woman. I started to walk back there and the Lord spoke to me and said "No, have them bring her up here."
As I prayed over her I took authority over that mourning spirit of death and told it to leave.
It stood off about three feet away. The Lord told me "She has to tell it to leave, it has a soul tie to her" I told her to say "I want to live." She couldn't do it at first but when she finally did, it broke the tie and she was free!! She came to church the next week jumping and leaping and praising God. She has continued worship dancing with banners and streamers. We even watched while she celebrate her wedding day with an interpretive dance of worship as she married our brother.
They have now graduated Bible college together and work in the ministry in Colorado.
What I learned:
Mourning comes as a false sense of comfort when we grieve over the past.
I'm reminded of the widow that mourns with a veil over her face.
If we are not careful to guard our heart we can let what "was" create a vacuum that sucks the life out of what "could be".
The veil of a loss, whether it be a loved one or a business or a relationship or even looking at the past when economic times were better can cloud our vision of the future.
I know churches that celebrate the past revivals and way God used to do things. It keeps them from going forward and reaching the generations to come.
What is the most important lesson?
That real love conquers mourning because pure love already defeated death for us. Jesus was victorious over sin, death and hell. Through His resurrection power we can see our future without the veil. My sister demonstrated that love and it turned everything around so God could show up mighty and strong. The love of God is more powerful than anything that we have done or will ever do. He is a safe place no matter if the economy is stable or not, whether everything is going the way you want it or not. God has a future not just in heaven for us but here right where we are right now.
Praise God for His amazing love for you. Get to know it more and more.
It will turn your mourning into dancing along the way.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
FLYING LESSONS
Many years ago,my husband Harvey and I were in Colorado ministering. Back then we traveled with a national prison ministry, where my brave husband had the opportunity to skydive into hundreds of prisons. One of my jobs was to drive to the prisons and set up the target and gear for landing. I would also MC as he jumped from the plane, landed and then spoke to the prisoners.We had a wonderful friend who piloted the small plane for us for many of these weekends.
This particular weekend, we were in the heart of the Colorado Mountains. If you love the mountains like we do, you would understand the sense of awe we both felt just seeing them from the ground. On this Friday morning, I drove the car to the prisons for two jumps that day. When we were done and it was time to return to the airport, Harvey turned to me and said " I'll drive the car, you fly back in the plane with Ellis. You'll love the view from the plane I'll see you at the airport".
Ellis and I climbed into the plane and took off. My husband was right, I loved it! Ellis skillfully navigated through and around the majestic mountains. It was breathtaking. He looked at me and said "Harvey and I thought it was time for your first flying lesson".
"What! No way! You fly the plane- I just want to look around," I said shaking my head. He smiled and said "Put your hands on the wheel, you"ll love it" After I argued a bit, he finally convinced me. I took a deep breath and gripped the steering yoke tightly with both hands until my fingernails dug into my palms. Knowing he had the other steering yoke completely in hand did not help me relax my white knuckled grip. Then he did the unthinkable! He let go! What was he thinking! Didn't he understand how nervous I was already. He didn't realize that driving in Atlanta traffic was intense for me. This wasn't fun anymore. I very quickly had had enough.
I said to him " I don't like this take it back!" He calmly put his hands on the grips in front of him.
Then he smiled and said "Okay if you don't want to learn I won't make you."
As I sat there, looking out the window, I thought to myself, "This is fine. I don't have to experience the piloting to enjoy it, I'll just enjoy the view. Just then , the Lord spoke to me so clearly, "If you want to just watch, that's okay. But if want to experience more , you can. Don't let fear rob you and cheat you out of it." Determination, then courage rose on the inside of me. I grabbed the steering yoke with both hands and said to Ellis "I've got it. What do I do next?"
He let go, then began instructing me on altitude and speed. He told me he was going to talk me through a turn. My grip began to tighten again. Then he said these words, "I'm right here beside you, listen to my voice. Follow what I say. Don't worry. There's no mistake that you can make that I can't fix."
With just his voice calmly instructing me through the headset, I truly enjoyed navigating us through those beautiful mountains, I even made a complete turn by myself. I met Harvey at the airport so excited to tell him that I had had my first flying lesson. And oh what I learned along the way.
I think about those words that helped me navigate through those mountains that day. "I'm right here beside you. Follow my voice, there's no mistake I can't fix."
When the fear of making a mistake is gone, we can truly enjoy new challenges and experiences.
I have faced many challenges and mountains over the years. They've only served to show me how high I can fly and even enjoy the view, along the way.
This particular weekend, we were in the heart of the Colorado Mountains. If you love the mountains like we do, you would understand the sense of awe we both felt just seeing them from the ground. On this Friday morning, I drove the car to the prisons for two jumps that day. When we were done and it was time to return to the airport, Harvey turned to me and said " I'll drive the car, you fly back in the plane with Ellis. You'll love the view from the plane I'll see you at the airport".
Ellis and I climbed into the plane and took off. My husband was right, I loved it! Ellis skillfully navigated through and around the majestic mountains. It was breathtaking. He looked at me and said "Harvey and I thought it was time for your first flying lesson".
"What! No way! You fly the plane- I just want to look around," I said shaking my head. He smiled and said "Put your hands on the wheel, you"ll love it" After I argued a bit, he finally convinced me. I took a deep breath and gripped the steering yoke tightly with both hands until my fingernails dug into my palms. Knowing he had the other steering yoke completely in hand did not help me relax my white knuckled grip. Then he did the unthinkable! He let go! What was he thinking! Didn't he understand how nervous I was already. He didn't realize that driving in Atlanta traffic was intense for me. This wasn't fun anymore. I very quickly had had enough.
I said to him " I don't like this take it back!" He calmly put his hands on the grips in front of him.
Then he smiled and said "Okay if you don't want to learn I won't make you."
As I sat there, looking out the window, I thought to myself, "This is fine. I don't have to experience the piloting to enjoy it, I'll just enjoy the view. Just then , the Lord spoke to me so clearly, "If you want to just watch, that's okay. But if want to experience more , you can. Don't let fear rob you and cheat you out of it." Determination, then courage rose on the inside of me. I grabbed the steering yoke with both hands and said to Ellis "I've got it. What do I do next?"
He let go, then began instructing me on altitude and speed. He told me he was going to talk me through a turn. My grip began to tighten again. Then he said these words, "I'm right here beside you, listen to my voice. Follow what I say. Don't worry. There's no mistake that you can make that I can't fix."
With just his voice calmly instructing me through the headset, I truly enjoyed navigating us through those beautiful mountains, I even made a complete turn by myself. I met Harvey at the airport so excited to tell him that I had had my first flying lesson. And oh what I learned along the way.
I think about those words that helped me navigate through those mountains that day. "I'm right here beside you. Follow my voice, there's no mistake I can't fix."
When the fear of making a mistake is gone, we can truly enjoy new challenges and experiences.
I have faced many challenges and mountains over the years. They've only served to show me how high I can fly and even enjoy the view, along the way.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
DRIVING LESSONS
One morning driving to Eustis from Titusville, Fl, I was running a little late to help my mother in her bookstore. I was on a two lane road that I had driven hundreds of times. Sailing along (let's just say faster than the speed limit) I came up on a slower car and passed it with no problem. As I looked down at the speed I was going the Holy Spirit said firmly " slow this car down". I immediately hit the breaks and slowed to a normal speed.Then I looked over the crest of the hill (if there is such a thing in Fl) I saw coming at me a State Trooper car. I realized at that moment it could have been very bad for me if I had not listened. I said " thank you, Lord". He said to me " Jody if you don"t listen to the Spirit of Grace,you"ll run right into the law".
For over an hour I meditated as I drove to Eustis and as I arrived I had a whole different perspective on Law and Grace.
What I learned:
There's too much to tell . We as believers in Christ have the opportunity to heed the wisdom of God and live it out in the power of His Spirit. I saw His grace different that day but I saw the law different also. Soulish or natural thinking and doing takes us down the road steered my our emotional reactions. It can get us into trouble or at the very least make life harder. The law was meant to protect those who choose to live in that realm. But for those who are believers in Christ we are of a different kingdom. Ruled by the Spirit of God. His wisdom and His mind and heart in every situation brings us to our destination with ease enjoying the trip. Given the choice, I choose grace. Life is much better on the high road.
For over an hour I meditated as I drove to Eustis and as I arrived I had a whole different perspective on Law and Grace.
What I learned:
There's too much to tell . We as believers in Christ have the opportunity to heed the wisdom of God and live it out in the power of His Spirit. I saw His grace different that day but I saw the law different also. Soulish or natural thinking and doing takes us down the road steered my our emotional reactions. It can get us into trouble or at the very least make life harder. The law was meant to protect those who choose to live in that realm. But for those who are believers in Christ we are of a different kingdom. Ruled by the Spirit of God. His wisdom and His mind and heart in every situation brings us to our destination with ease enjoying the trip. Given the choice, I choose grace. Life is much better on the high road.
ALONG THE WAY (intro)
Since I was a little girl I've talked to Jesus as my best friend totally knowing in my heart He could hear me and that He cared about everything I thought, dreamed,desired and faced in my life. I always wanted to do the right thing even if I wasn't sure want it was. I even believed everything would turn out ok if I had done the wrong thing as long as I could go to Him with it. I could go to Jesus, my friend and Savior, Tell him that I was sorry and that I was wrong, trusting Him with the mess I had made. I knew He would fix it, make it ok and teach me something through it.
Through my years of growing up I was given an image of God that only does good things if you beg Him and if you do everything right and only hears you if you say everything right. This did not sound like the friend that I would talk to or the Heavenly Father I had come to trust. By my late teen years I had come to depend on not only talking to Jesus but also hearing Him and loving Him and what He had on His heart. Through the most difficult times in my life I've always had that constant voice of the Holy Spirit guiding me, directing me,comforting and teaching me
This has been not only a journey but an adventure.
The experiences I've had and what I learned through them is what ALONG THE WAY is all about. More than experiencing the voice of God as the Holy Spirit, its about relationship. More than the miracles I've encountered,it's about the power I've found in who He is.More than visiting and seeing heaven, it's how to bring heaven a little closer to home. More than what He's done in my life,its about what He can do in others as I share walking with Him
ALONG THE WAY.
Through my years of growing up I was given an image of God that only does good things if you beg Him and if you do everything right and only hears you if you say everything right. This did not sound like the friend that I would talk to or the Heavenly Father I had come to trust. By my late teen years I had come to depend on not only talking to Jesus but also hearing Him and loving Him and what He had on His heart. Through the most difficult times in my life I've always had that constant voice of the Holy Spirit guiding me, directing me,comforting and teaching me
This has been not only a journey but an adventure.
The experiences I've had and what I learned through them is what ALONG THE WAY is all about. More than experiencing the voice of God as the Holy Spirit, its about relationship. More than the miracles I've encountered,it's about the power I've found in who He is.More than visiting and seeing heaven, it's how to bring heaven a little closer to home. More than what He's done in my life,its about what He can do in others as I share walking with Him
ALONG THE WAY.
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