After All These Years Still In the Backseat, Believing.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."... Romans 15:13


******


Remember how, in Miracle on 34th Street, (adorable) Natalie Wood asks Kris Kringle for the magazine house she'd clipped and after not receiving it, she's in the backseat, tired, but trying to stay positive, repeating, "I believe, I believe, I believe..."?

Well, this past Monday that was me. ッ

All weekend  I prayed in total faith for Tom's recovery, yet each time he called? He sounded worse. And I'd feel genuine surprise because, hey! My faith was so high. I'd watched a ton of healing testimonies lately and I was psyched. Prepared. I'd spoken aloud lots of prayers and declarations. 

God has so healed me in the area of worry, especially when, years ago, I got sick of it. Often that's what it takes for deliverance in any area: we must become sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Sick of doubting that God can change us. Sick of sin.

Anyway. By Monday night Tom's voice was so raspy I could barely understand him.

And oh my, time again to be all Natalie Wood-ish. I smiled, though. Thought of her in that backseat and then repeated, "I believe, I believe, I believe."

And truly, I did. 

Oh, of course by that night my head felt tired after believing all weekend, but you know? Days of strenuous believing are totally different than the exhaustion of Worried Days. 

I mean, worry can:


Make us sick. 
Paralyze us, (rather like zombies).
Color our perspective dark. Ugly.
Weaken us.
Make us hopeless. Afraid. Sorry examples.


And God cannot bless our worry. Certainly can't condone it. But He strengthens us in our believing! Give Him real faith and He'll mold that into something strong to support us.

Last night I went to bed and thought, "Good gracious, Debra. This 2020 will mark the 50th year since you met Jesus. Oh, how much work He's sown into you!

But oh dear, how much farther along could you be if you'd been more willing to change? Skipped the excuses? The procrastination?" Gulp.

Fifty years in the backseat of this crazy journey with Jesus. Given all that time and those adventures? Yeah, I should be father along, but oh how grateful I am that not once has He yanked open the door and walked away in frustration.

Nor will He as long as I keep trusting. Believing.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."   ...Philippians 4:6,7

"Worry implies we don't trust that God is quite big enough."   ---Francis Chan



*****

Speaking of making excuses.....

Oh!  I've watched hundreds of Youtube videos, but one of the best ones, ever? This one. Watch it and all your excuses will fly away, whether you're black or white. ツ

Larry Elder--wish I'd met him sooner.

(If you only have 4 or so minutes, start at 11:00, ok?)



******

How's Tom feeling? So much better. Thanks again for your prayers!

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

So There We Were On Friday Night In The Emergency Room---

"The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes."   ...Psalm 10:28

******

Friday afternoon--beautiful! The sun shone (finally), 'God College' still felt incredible, after paying bills I even lifted my hands in praise. Saturday our favorite, total day of rest was near. TV. Movies. Being together, totally relaxed.

Then Tom came home. 

All bent over, he hobbled across the lawn, moaned that he might have appendicitis. Oh my goodness! He showed me the painful portion, I told him the appendix is lower, I think (and recalled a favorite medical show had just featured an appendectomy. Hmmm.) But if he thought it best? We'd go to the emergency room, something never done in our 41 years together.

He did, so we did, after checking with his insurance company.

Fast-forward hours and hours into the night (waiting--isn't it exhausting?), the emergency room doctor says Tom has a kidney infection (later they discovered a kidney cyst had burst, as well). He would not be going home that night.

Oh dear. By the time we got Tom settled into his hospital room, I'd been awake 19 hours. So tired and now, how to get home on such a dark, crazy-rain night? Wisdom whispered, "Since you've only driven that car once, take a cab and leave the car in the parking lot." Whew.

Long story short? On sunless Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Tom didn't feel up to company. With each short phone conversation, he sounded worse, not better. By Monday they said he also had pneumonia. And a low red blood cell count.

Gah. Tests! Such tests. But oh Honey, I saw clearly how these months of  wee morning hour God College had prepared me for such a time as this. That, and these past 25 years (especially) of daily needing/enjoying Jesus every moment.

This weekend felt long, tiresome, but never desperate or lonely or fearful. Never.

What also helped enormously? You, my friends at Facebook. I kept asking for prayer for Tom and you kept commenting that you'd prayed! All those 3 1/2 days you prayed and encouraged me. An old Fallon friend even called. 

And again, thank-you all so very much.

Another helpful thing? Speaking firmly to myself aloud the very minute I'd get that sinking, fraidy cat feeling. The very minute! Not waiting till I'd actually sunk, when I'd have to p-u-l-l myself up.

And ok, watching Avenger movies. ツ Chuckle if you will, but they also reminded me to be brave.

Then Tuesday afternoon Naomi and I went to bring Tom home. Woo hoo! His lungs were said to be sufficiently clear and he just needs to rest till Monday. Our homecoming time and visit was lovely, celebratory, indeed.

Today's lesson? Go to all the goofy, I-don't-get-this places God takes you. If we do, we'll be as prepared as possible for what He knows awaits us on the road ahead. And we'll get through it just fine.

"Hope keeps expecting, 'Today is the day'!"  --- Joyce Meyer

Speaking of The Avengers... 

Tom said he wants to, in Heaven, learn how to surf. Me? I want to learn this Natasha move (advance to 2:20) where she spins down a guy's back. All in a fun, non-fighting way, of course!  ツ (P.S. I like to think my spirit resembles a strong, godly Natasha type.)


******


And to end this on a humorous note--


That Friday afternoon while Tom spoke to the medical insurance lady, he asked if she knew what the hours were of the hospital's Emergency Room.

Heh. I'm still chuckling about that one. 

Even teased him about it later, "Yeah, you've got to be sure to time your emergency just right so they'll be open."   ツ

******







"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

So Why Didn't Jesus Just Rent A Prayer Room For 3 Years?

"I pray for Donald Trump. That man stands alone so much. He stands with critics so much."   ---Lance Wallnau

"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."   Luke 9:50


******


I hear Christians say, "I pray  for our Country and our President everyday." 

And that's wonderful! It is. Many folks don't even do that much. There is power in prayer.

But is just praying for our Country/President enough? As I heard Lance Wallnau ask, "How's that working for us so far?"

Think about it. Oh my. What a cloudy, divided mess. 

And partly what's gotten us here? Our silence and smaller-ratio, anti-Bible-truth groups who've united themselves and spoken out for what they wanted--and gotten it. 

There's great power in unity, as well. People unified in spreading lies can take a nation down dark, ungodly paths to a new land where lies appear as truth.  

It's happened. We are in a spiritual battle, you know. 

But satan? He says, "It's just politics. Go on about your little life. There's nothing to see here. Don't stir things up. Your friends will snap at you if you stand for truth."

You've heard that, right?

So here's Today's lesson: Basically, Jesus had a 3-year ministry on Earth and how did He spend it? Well, He did not just rent a prayer room apartment for Himself and the 12 disciples, then pray 24/7 for or against stuff.

No. Instead--


" ... Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. "  ... Acts 10:38, John 21:25

Wow.

And before He left? He told us to:

Go.

Love.

Teach.

Heal.

Give.

Serve.

Pray.

Feed.

Sow.

Clothe.

Encourage.

Work.

Believe.

Meet.

Preach.

Follow.

Learn.

Save.

Worship.

Seek.

Forgive.

Visit.

Trust.

Stand.

Speak.

Lead.

Shine.

s

And expect to get this for it:

“An hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2).

And the way I see it? If God gave us President Trump as a bold defender of truth who's setting new precedents and holding back much of the darkness we were headed for? We need to stand with him. Vocally. Online. In Real Life.


If God truly sent us this President? I believe He expects us to 

Appreciate the gift.
Share the good which Trump does.
Stand with him.
Be ready with a (calm) biblical answer as to why we believe as we do.


But to remain silent out of fear? To be cowardly? Oh dear. God has a huge problem with cowards. (Go here.)

Personally, I'd hate for God to someday ask me,

"Why didn't you stand for truth? 
As Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses in battle, why didn't you do the same with my 'Cyrus Trump'? 
Why did you choose to view him exactly as the God-haters saw him?"

Oh, may that never, ever be. 








"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."   ...Isaiah 42:16


"We're in the days where the greys are disappearing. The greys become black. They become white. These are the days when you have to choose. Now that which seeks to stay on the fence will be swept away. 

But those who will stand, God will empower. A candle in the night lights up a room. We have gone past the days where we can be a candle in the daytime, comfortable with the culture. We are now in the times where we must be a candle in the night. We must shine, go all out against the darkness, go total for God."    --- Rabbi Jonathan Cahn


Yes, Jesus told us to win souls. And well, it's the soul of America for which we're fighting.


Faith without works is dead, you know.










The reference to Aaron, Hur and Moses during the battle can be found in Exodus 17.



******

And as I stated at Facebook:  


Wow. I am not a bigtime crier, but I cried during this whole speech. What a beautiful, historic day. Color me grateful to God that I would live to see this.





******





"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Liar, Liar, Peace On Fire

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."   ... John 8:32


******

Uh-oh! During 2017 I believed a lie. Which one? The one that said I needed a different house, one which I could decorate with energy I believed I still had (way to go, Debra. Er hem.).

And oh dear. Instead of experiencing an average of 90% daily peace-of-mind like a normal year, it dipped to around 70%.

Not good, especially since part of me knew exactly where I was erring. But oh Honey, it's excruciating to release forever our longest seasons, isn't it? Especially when they last decades and express our strongest giftings/talents/delights/joy.

But what's harder? Believing lies, then speaking them to our friends. That makes us, uhm, liars (and have you read what the Bible says about those? Eegads.).

Finally, though, I gave up--the good kind. I surrendered what I (believed I) wanted and chose what God wanted for me now, instead. And then the 90% daily peace returned. Whew. It even carried along new dreams and visions, delightful ones. (But yes, being human, I  grieved during my healing in 2018. Alas.)

We cannot be and feel free while we're believing lies. (Did you check out the Bible verse, above?) God would have to erase some Bible truths and although oh how He loves us(!), He cannot do the opposite of what His Book says. He literally cannot. Not for any of us.

So today let me encourage you with this: if we wish to have daily peace of mind? We must loose, release the lies from our soul. Especially any popular lies like these:



Jesus believes 'love is love'. That God's creation of marriage can be tweaked by people and He's fine with it. (Go here to clear this up.)
Abortion is not murder.
It's okay with God when we blast ministers whose doctrines differ from ours.
"It is in hoarding that we receive what we need."
Our words don't matter. We can express all our feelings/opinions.
We don't need to confess our sins after we're born again.
Someday God will forgive everyone and we'll all be in Heaven.
God never uses a person/king/president who doesn't know Him to do His will.
Gossip is funny.
Anger/hate can be justified and used to accomplish God's will.
As Christians we're free to sin: Grace will cover it.
God understands when we choose not to forgive certain people who did terrible things.


Hmmm.

Yet if we crave peace badly enough? We'll choose to release all lies to the wind and instead, grasp and hold onto the truth which, for the rest of our days, will set us free to fly.

"They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!"   ... Romans 1:25

We expect to feel well and whole while we're believing and expressing lies. Kinda shows how blind we can be, right?

Having a problem with speaking against ministers? I hope you'll go here. This was awesome. Dare I say, life-altering.

"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."   ... Psalm 105:15

"The devil wants us to be fault-finders focusing on all the faults of others and being blind to our own faults. If a believer sees nothing wrong with himself and a great deal wrong with others, then the devil has won."   --- Joyce Meyer


"When we're deceived, we don't know we're deceived."   ---copied  (This is why we need to willingly receive God's correction.)





******




          Valentine's Day is coming! Are you preparing for it yet?

This French country farmhouse tour--what a delight!

                              (Tho' this photo is not from the tour.)  ツ




"You cannot carry offense and a cross at the same time."   ... Todd White


******





"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

The Fingerprints All Over My Computer Screen

 "And Jesus took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."   ...Mark 10:16

******

So I had this dream about Gordon Ramsay. Yes, the wild-eyed chef. ツ

In this dream, Tom and I went sightseeing with Gordon and his wife. We had a delightful time! (Years ago, while watching Kitchen Nightmares I came to appreciate Gordon's heart for clueless restaurateurs.) 

Anyway. Later while leaving them at an airport, I spied Gordon sitting alone, looking depressed. I turned around and asked if he was ok, to which he replied, "Not really." He went on to tell me what was wrong.

Immediately I said, "I'd love to pray with you about that--if that's okay." He said it was. Then I placed my hand upon his arm and prayed aloud for him, relying upon the Holy Spirit to give me His words, not mine. 

I love it when that happens, for it feels exactly like my spirit is very alert and doing something real, as opposed to just something imagined in a dream. Only a week before, this same thing happened in a dream, though with an old friend from high school.

From both dreams I awoke with an increased godly compassion for them and feeling blessed, grateful and ready to pray and lay hands upon anything that moved.  ツ

So back to today's title: What I'm noticing all over my computer screen? Fingerprints. For yes, lately I've been laying hands upon anyone online who God asks me to and praying out loud for them:


I found a Gordon Ramsay video then reached out, laid hands on his head, and prayed all sorts of good things over him.

The same with President Trump (what an honor I consider this!). 

And also, favorite new godly friends with battle-front-line ministries, ones who I touch with my fingertips and pray for their safety, added strength and favor. Folks like Lance Wallnau, Jonathan Cahn, Eric Metaxes. And more.

Oh, and I've also found photos online of the adult children of my friends who've moved to Heaven. I know they appreciate from there around Heaven's portal my adding prayers to theirs. (Hebrews 12:1)


Some of you might find this silly, but what I know? God asks us to do some silly-appearing things. His ways are not like ours, after all, and often the test becomes will we follow Him if what He asks results in powerful changes, but with losses of friends, money, jobs, book clubs or social media respect?

As for me, no small losses can dim the bright, marvelous(!) time I'm having lately while attending 'God College' in the wee morning hours or later, laying hands upon folks within my computer screen.

Oh, to know that unique, deep joy of obeying God even if no one else gets it!

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."   ... 1 Timothy 2:1-4



"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."  ... Luke 18:1





******


Speaking of prayer.... If this video doesn't convince you Who's moving upon our President's heart, well, I seriously wonder if anything ever will. Alas.

"In the Lord's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him."   ... Proverbs 21:1


******

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Her Secret Agent Life (And The Exciting One To Come)

            "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"   ... Genesis 18:14


******

1965. A springtime Sunday afternoon in Newcastle, CA. Fifty-five years ago, yet feels like only last week to me.


I was 6. We'd just returned from church, my dad was parking the car inside our garage and I stood upon the front patio of our ranch-style house with my little sister and mother as she searched inside her purse for her keys.

That's when I looked at my mom's protruding stomach and considered the baby inside. Suddenly I questioned to myself, "But how did the baby get in there?" I began to wonder at this, but soon concluded simply: "I think God must put babies inside of mothers."

I smiled, felt such peace about that answer, then stepped inside the house with my family.

Aww ... sweet and childlike trust, right? Perhaps my favorite story about myself, ever. And hey, I wasn't all that far off, considering it's God who places our spirit within us at conception.

Anyway. As a teenager my 'God can do anything' belief became stronger, even though--at times--preachers and people surrounding me believed and taught otherwise. In fact, I became almost a secret spy, an after-church-service listener to tiny groups amongst wooden pews.  (We mousy, average-looking girls easily blended into backgrounds.)

Folks might murmur, "I believe the book of Acts was a one-time thing. God moves differently today." Heads nodded in agreement.

Me? I'd casually pretend to read the church bulletin, yet think, "If God did wild things back then, why couldn't He still do them now?" There'd be more discouraging talk, then I'd step away, often into the church library. I'd check-out another couple books about real-life modern miracle stories, devouring them at home. On Monday while walking to school, I'd meditate about the books' miracles and our huge God.

Yes, I was one weird teenager.  ツ And I'm glad. I'm also thankful that never have I lost faith that our God can do whatever miracles He wants.

And that's why I'm so excited to see that many pastors/teachers/prophets are in agreement (oh, how pleasant, powerful, is unity!)-- that this new decade will be the beginning of God 'saving the best wine for last' (as Jesus did at the wedding). He'll do new, glorious things upon the Earth. Here is just a hint:


I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
    and on the earth...
And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved. (From Joel 2)
 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge 
of the glory of the Lord 
as the waters cover the sea."   (From Habakkuk 2:14)




There's more, but this is only a blog post. And hey, of course you're free to believe what you will. That's fine. I get it.

But as for the young girl still inside me? The one who never considered stuffing God inside a box of dry tradition? As for her and her house, she will welcome whatever changes God brings in this decade ahead, even if it means--first--God using her in dicey battles to help soften hardened hearts so they'll run to God, not from Him, when He shows Himself mightily in the years to come.

In fact, she can hardly wait for any of it. For all of it.

                            (I'm looking forward to these sorts of things once more!)

******


Again, there's work to do beforehand to help 'make straight the way of the Lord' (from John 1). Lance Wallnau said it convicting-ly well--


"Many Christians who have been called to this battle... they aren't gonna go because it's going to interrupt their finances, their popularity. It will create controversy and they'd rather be spiritual than dangerous. God is looking for dangerous people, ones who are willing to go where the battle is and where the opportunities are.  

Saul was chosen to deal with Goliath, but Saul didn't... David may have been a man of superior heart, but He wasn't God's first choice. Saul was, but he didn't do it. And there are a lot of people under a religious spirit right now that will simply not do what God is calling them to do. There are people under a fear spirit and they're afraid they'll lose business, lose their platform or money or their social media. And so they harden their ear from hearing the call of God because they don't want to hear the call to dangerous living."   ---Lance Wallnau

God spends years preparing us to win battles, not to sit on couches and hide.




And here's some of that unity I mentioned: 20 Prophetic Words for 2020. Oh my, so much encouragement and anticipation for this new decade!



******







"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15