Behind closed doors

New Life

2012-01-09T21:52:00.003-05:00

Oh my how things have changed! In July of 2011, I met the most wonderful woman I've ever known. She is now my fiance and soon we shall be married. We've gone through some tough times already, my Jesus knows that! However, we're still running forward in all our strength in pursuit of intimacy with our Heavenly Father. This is the reason for the lapse in blogging updates. I will say that the holidays have been wonderful with an entire new extended family to experience!

Our home church, World Harvest Outreach, is so amazing. Life is going so well right now and it keeps getting better every day. We truly are blessed!

The Law of Love

2011-07-26T11:37:00.004-04:00

Yesterday while enjoying the fellowship of my family in the Lord, I came across a proverb that I hadn't noticed before. I know I've read it, but it didn't stick out to me. Proverbs 28:9 (NLT) tells us of God actually despising prayer from someone who ignores the law. In the NASB and KJV it says those prayers are an abomination to God!

During our discussion the conversation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit came up. My spiritual father explained to us that while the Corinthian church was operating in all the gifts of the Spirit, Paul wrote to them that they were yet still babes in Christ! He then instructed them to live a greater way of life, which is love.

Upon this, a dear brother and friend of mine recalled Matthew 7:22-23 where Jesus spoke of the consequences of operating in the gifts without love, and said it was lawlessness. That struck me suddenly and I recalled the proverb I had noticed just earlier that morning and something clicked. God considers it against the law to operate in the gifts without love. Also, if you find yourself doing that, your prayers are even despised as an abomination to Him!

In my walk with Jesus the most important revelation I received was also the first, that I am dead to sin. The second major revelation I received was how defeated the enemy is because of the overwhelming victory of Christ. After that, I received a revelation of love that I am still processing. It is my opinion that every believer should, at the very least, know these three things by revelation before entering into any ministry that would necessitate the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. It is also possible there is even more to be revealed to me before it would be lawful for me to function in these gifts. I now know to check myself with the law of love before doing anything or praying.

Sleepless Nights

2011-07-07T05:30:00.002-04:00

I've been having difficulty sleeping recently. The past three days have been fueled by roughly five hours of sleep in total. I have a lot on my mind and it seems to be working against me. The conclusion I've come to is to let it out and if necessary, lay a lot of it down and move on.

I've also realized that I miss my mom more than I knew. She was someone who I could go to with anything, and she knew me. Right now, I would say less than three people actually know me. Even more painful, it seems nobody wants to know me. So right now, it's back to God and I.

Warfare in God's Kingdom

2011-06-23T17:26:00.002-04:00

The enemy has been defeated. Fighting the enemy is like beating a dead horse, similar to the deception of trying fix your sin habits/problems. God dealt with sin once and for all at the cross of Christ. If we could fix them, Christ's sacrificial death wasn't needed. The enemy wants us to try and fight back, but we are told to resist the devil. If you are able to be provoked into a fight with the enemy, then you have been deceived that you have not been given victory!

Here's a football parable:

The game was going bad for mankind, then Christ came off the bench in the fourth quarter and put up eternity on the scoreboard, essentially defeating the enemy. He then gave us the ball, and said "Run the clock out." We're on offense, not the enemy. All we have to do is kneel on it in the VICTORY FORMATION. If you have seen this in football you see that the defense loses desire to play at this point in the game. (Psalm 112)

That is how overwhelming the victory is that Christ gave us. All we are left to do now is recover the spoils of war, take back what belongs to us. The enemy can no more resist our faith in Christ's work than darkness can resist vanishing when a light is turned on in a dark room. Faith is a violent force to the enemy camps.

The Kingdom has different ways of operating. You must die to live, you must humble yourself to be exalted, you must do it in secret to be known in public, you pick up your divine nature to put down your sin nature, you give to receive, and you fight by not fighting but resisting instead.

What does love look like?

2011-06-21T02:25:00.003-04:00

It has been said that people are "looking for love in all the wrong places." I basically understood that, as I think most people probably do. Before we can look in the right places, we need to know what love looks like. Otherwise, we won't know it when we find it! Oh how tragic that would be!

Let me take you back in time a little ways to expand on my quest for love. I was born again at a young age, probably around my early teen or pre-teen years. (I don't remember exactly when because I have developed some bizarre memory that struggles to assign time to memories that are very vivid!) Anyway, although I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I did not know Him or God. Nobody was there to teach me!

A long time passed and I found myself in a completely ungodly relationship. I was painfully in love with what knowledge I had of love. During this time I penned a poem that I knew was beyond my ability, but did not know how it happened. Here is that poem:

My Love
I love you just as I always have
Even before I knew you existed
You have been there waiting for me
I've found you now my soul is lifted
You are there when I need you most
When everything comes crashing down
Just when I think I'm all alone
You remind me you're always around
There are times when I want to die
When I'm depressed I cannot take it
You pick me up and hold me close
Assuring me I can make it
I think about you all the time
So until we meet again
I'm the one who depends on you
You're my love, my best friend.
- Rob Baer 15/April/04

I did not begin to know God until January of 2008. Yet, in reading this poem I wrote, clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit, my knowledge of God was in fact hidden away deep inside. Now let's go "back to the future."

It's been a few years and I've recently come to know God's love, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness. However a month or so ago I experienced something that shook me. I am not easily shaken so this really caught me by surprise. I recently began to share some intimate details of my relationship with Christ with some people I can trust, and this experience was brought back into my memory. I asked my spiritual father if he had ever had such an experience, and he did not. I was not prepared for that answer! He said to ask God, because He knows.

I came home yesterday and was so burdened I didn't eat dinner. I contemplated this for a little while with a wise friend then decided to go meditate on it. Several hours later, I received a life changing revelation of what love looks like. Before I share it, I want to share some Scripture to prepare some who may not be familiar.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 we are given a good definition of what love is, and is not. In verse 8, it states that love never fails. Among other things, we are told in 1 John 4:7-21 that God is love and as He is, so are we in this world . Jesus tells us in John 15:13 the greatest love man can have is to lay down his life for his friends. Later on, Paul goes into instruction in Ephesians 5:25 on the relationship between a husband and wife and states that husbands ought to love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Until last night and into this morning, that was about all I could understand of love. Then the Holy Spirit got busy! He connected dots, gave understanding, and opened my eyes. As a man he laid his life down for the church. But Christ wasn't a man to begin with! He put aside His divinity first to become a man, and picked it back up when he was resurrected. He then gave the church a divine nature to replace the sin nature. In 1 John 3:2 it basically states, when we see Him we will be like Him. I couldn't know what love looks like until I knew what Christ did for the church, and how He is now.

The Father loves the Son, and gave Him everything. So the Son loves the church, and gave her everything the Father gave Him. Christ is everything to us. God's personal name is YAHWEH which means, "I will be to you all that I am." The love of God that is greater than the love of man is this: While passionately desiring to be everything to us, knowing we don't completely want Him to be everything to us, He loves us anyway according to how much we love Him!

When discussing this with my wise friend I stated that I felt like the question being posed to me was, "I know you love someone enough to die for them. But do you love them enough to let them go?" That is harder than dying for someone! I didn't recognize it, but I was being invited into a divine love that is greater than any love man alone could give. The question is now more clear, "Will you love someone with everything you are, knowing they only want a portion of that love, give them the love they want, and yet still desire to love them with everything, even if they decide they don't want any love from you at all?" Suddenly Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19, and Matthew 5:43-48 make perfect sense.

Interestingly enough, Richard Bach seemed to have figured this out already, "If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was." Christ set us free and is waiting to see who belongs to Him!

I not only know what love looks like, but I have experienced this love. Now God has set before me an opportunity to express this divine love. I am excited that love is being perfected in me!

Warfare

2011-06-13T18:35:00.004-04:00

Often times I seem to forget that in order to have victory, there must first be warfare. A battle must be fought and won in order to be victorious. I share this now as I have just watched my faith and my hope, given to me by my God, shatter the teeth of my enemy, and give me my victory. I am in love with my Creator, I worship my King, and I adore my Comforter.

As I stand on the shoulders of those lovers of God who have contributed to my life, I look back at the battlefield. I see where I asked God for direction, and He answered me. I see where the enemy tried to cut me off at the pass. I see where we engaged in battle. I see the turning point of the battle, where I cried out to God and said, "All I can do is put my hope in you because you are, you have always been, and you will always be faithful to me." I see where God laughed and scattered the enemy of my soul!

This battle reminded me that the enemy isn't overly concerned with believers who have no desire to continue the mission of Christ, destroying the works of the devil. I am reminded that when the attacks hit and I find myself engaged in warfare, it's because the enemy realized what I was about to enter into and desperately wanted to stop me. Sometimes I think God is showing me off, saying to satan, "Behold my sheep, Robert Byron Baer III. Isn't he wonderful!?" The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Then suddenly, without warning, out springs the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Christ in me, the hope of my glory! He merely gazes upon the enemy and their entire camp trembles in fear!

Every thing I am, and ever will be, belongs to Jesus. He took the death I deserved, so I purpose to give Him the life that He deserves. After all, isn't that the least I can do?

Give as freely as you have received

2011-06-02T19:36:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was helping someone in need, and having a blessing of a great time doing so. While this was taking place, someone called me asking for money to help with a small crisis. I had the means to do so, and affirmed that I would provide. Later, the person whom I was helping rewarded me monetarily for my service. Part of me didn't want to accept this payment, but I have heard it taught to receive these things and present them to the Lord in thanksgiving. While traveling home, I realized the money I was given was the exact amount the other person had asked for. I found it very interesting that God provided the means to give to someone in need whom I intended to do so out of my own finances.

Earlier today the person who asked for that money and who received it, gave it back to me. Without going into too much detail, the small crisis was set around a financial dispute in which deprived this person of the last amount of money in the bank. That person experienced a victory and won the dispute. On my way back to my house, money in hand, I realized that my blessing became the victory for someone else simply because I freely gave it away. To top it all off, my blessing was returned to me!

The Holy Spirit flooded my heart at that time, telling me that my victories will become blessings for others. Those blessings will then become victories for even more. It is even more amazing that after expanding out, it has the ability to return back to the source. Then I realized how I got my victories, through the blessings of Jesus' victory. This is but one demonstration of how Jesus is exalted - give as freely as you have received.

Lord grow my faith!

2011-05-20T22:51:00.001-04:00

Regarding faith, Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, "... and nothing will be impossible to you." He also said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." What is it to do nothing? It's not abiding in Jesus. So by faith, not abiding in Jesus becomes impossible to me. Oh Lord grow my faith!

Disciple of Christ

2011-05-05T08:50:00.003-04:00

A conversation came up this morning that reminded me of a Scripture (Matthew 10)I wanted to check out. It's meaning was brought into light when I realized who Jesus was speaking to. I had thought this was Jesus sending out the 12 disciples. But it says He summoned the 12 disciples and sent them out as apostles with a specific set of instructions.

What does your banana look like?

2011-04-14T14:07:00.003-04:00

Everyone can see that the world has many problems. There is much violence, greed, disease, and many other things indicating a great moral decline. The world is at a loss for answers to these problems. As a Christian, I believe these problems have already been answered, with the answer being the Church. That means there is a greater problem of not applying the answer to the other problems. For example, if I have a problem with my car that I cannot fix, I take it to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnoses the problem and comes to a possible solution. Then he follows through with the practical application of the solution to the problem. If the problem persists, he diagnoses again to find another possible solution. This continues until the problem is solved.

The Church doesn't always work this way. Too often we diagnose the world's problems and come to possible solutions, and then either tell the world the solution and expect them to solve the problem, or worse yet we don't even tell them the solution! Imagine if your mechanic would only tell you how to fix your car, and maybe even what tools you need to do it. How helpful is that to you?

The mechanic gains wisdom by experience and by being taught. The Church is being taught by great teachers. We also have the advantage of the grace of God to give us wisdom that the world cannot compete with! If you don't believe that then ponder this. Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest prophet born of women, yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John! That means John was greater than Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who themselves had 10 times the wisdom and understanding of all the other wise men in Nebuchadnezzar's court. And we are even greater than John! So it seems to me that experience is what the Church is lacking.

The world has a saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." I suspect that in many areas the Church has tried, failed, gave up, and then invented a Biblical sounding reason why it should never be tried again. Last night, Kris Vallotton taught the reality of the statement Jesus made about the least in the Kingdom of God being greater than the greatest prophet John the Baptist. He also shared this little nugget:

Begin with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, and all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon the monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I've had enough of the status quo. I'm hungry and I'm going to for that banana. Nothing will stop me, because I am an overcomer. Now let me tell you what my banana looks like.

It's a Church where everyone coming for healing gets healed of everything they came for. If they came with aids they left healed of aids. If they came with cancer, they left healed of cancer. If they came for a common cold, they left healed of a common cold. If they came with a broken arm, they left with an unbroken arm. If they came with birth defects, they left restored to the image of God. If they came with amputated or otherwise missing limbs, fingers, toes, and so on, then they left restored to the image of God. If they came with a deceased loved one, they left with their loved one alive. My God is alive and has no birth defects and and He is whole on every account!

It's a Church that exhibits the great love of God to the world. "For God loved the world (not just Christians) so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." It's a love so great and it's demonstrated how God is interested in every aspect of everyone's life. Houses, cars, boats, you name it, will be miraculously restored/repaired. What wouldn't you do for the person you love?

It's a Church that raises up great leaders who live righteously and restore countries to greatness, so that their citizens rejoice as it is written in Proverbs 29:2. Abortion will be aborted. People will know God and love Him. We will be His people. He will be our God. He will dwell among us. The Church will be mature, fully reflecting everything Jesus is.

Do I chase an impossible banana? I don't believe so. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NASB - emphasis added)." "... All things are possible to him who believes. (Mark 9:29 NASB - emphasis added)." All things being possible means this is possible before Jesus returns.

I am hungry, and I am going for this banana. What does your banana look like?

Fruit of the Spirit

2011-04-06T19:21:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share this evening that I have been experiencing the fruit of the Spirit in a new way the last few days. I guess it would be better understand as a greater manifestation of these fruits, most particularly self-control. There is so much going on right now that the Father is pouring into my spirit that I really do not know what else to say but thanks! I have learned so much from the Body of Christ recently that it nearly leaves me speechless. My heart has changed as well, from what I don't know and can't say. Nonetheless it's evident that my heart cannot help but change as it draws nearer the Father's heart. Now I have a better understanding of the freedom in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP).

Recent Developments

2011-03-31T13:33:00.004-04:00

Some old habits had crept back into my life and until recently I allowed them to hold me in bondage. The only power they had over me is the power I allowed them to have. It took many months for these habits to accumulate all the power they had over me, yet it was all reclaimed in an instant of repentance! Glory to God!

I went to a meeting at the Five Forks Brethren in Christ Church the other night with a good friend of mine. The Evangelist presented a very sound message regarding our thought life. It has helped me a great deal already to walk in victory! Hallelujah!

I am going to attend World Harvest Outreach as my home church. I feel this is where God has called me to be. I'm looking forward to hearing Kris Vallotton there on April 13, 2011!

While chatting it up with some fellow believers one of them showed me a website that blew my mind. I had been thinking of the features and functions of this website for a day or so and was looking for it. Then behold, YouVersion was revealed to me! God is so great!

Problems with preaching hatred

2011-03-16T11:47:00.007-04:00

There are a lot of people out there preaching that God hates specific groups of people. I'm not sure if they realize the quandary they put themselves in. If you preach that God hates your neighbor, then you must agree with God and hate your neighbor. But therein lies the problem. God has commanded us to love our neighbor, as we would ourselves. God is not a hypocrite, God loves each of us and commands us to do the same.

Sympathy

2011-01-28T17:41:00.002-05:00

Please pray for the people in the Middle East who are living in such an unstable environment that is deteriorating almost hourly. It is God's will that none should perish, and God's children must remember that and act upon it.

A new year

2011-01-02T11:28:00.005-05:00

The last several months have been difficult to say the least. I found myself wandering in the wilderness and stubbornly refusing to come to God. Much like the prodigal son, the time has come to take action.

Yesterday I began reading The One Year Chronological Bible. It is "the entire text of the New Living Translation in 365 daily readings arranged in the order the events actually occurred." It's a good start to many things that need to take place. Last night in prayer/meditation I took an inventory of my relationship with Christ and was not happy at all. I have been holding back and that is just not going to work.

Yesterday during my reading an interesting question arose within me. In the beginning we are told God created the heavens and the earth, and then populated the earth with many things. These things (plants/animals/terrain) on earth, were they already created and existing in heaven first? It wouldn't make sense to me for heaven to be modeled after earth. His way are superior to ours though. Nonetheless I find it interesting to think about.

In this morning's reading one of my other questions seemingly was answered. We are told God created Adam and Eve. We aren't told he created anyone else, but also we're not told he didn't create anyone else either. When Cain was cursed he clearly had concerns about being killed by other people (See Genesis 4:8-14). For the first son of Adam and Eve to be aware of other people indicates to me God had created others as well. I cannot fathom any other explanation at this time.

A cry to God

2010-07-04T00:09:00.005-04:00

Here I am Lord.

Hear me quickly.

What good am I to you?

You are the Lord God Almighty,

and I am dust.

You've created all things good.

I've created problems.

Hear my cry God!

What shall the world say of me?

"Look how His God has failed him!"

"His God is not real!"

"He has placed his hopes in a false God!"

"He is just as bad off, if not worse, than the rest of us!"

I beg for your help.

I wait for your reply.

I'm at my own end.

I find myself angry without cause.

My flesh cries out for me to give up.

But I cannot.

For I have seen truth only in Christ!

I have had hope only in Christ!

I have had blessings only from you Father!

I feel worthless.

Yet you value me more than gold.

I feel lost.

Yet you know exactly where I am.

I feel alone.

Yet you have never left me.

Pick me up God and dust me off!

Straighten my crooked ways,

encourage my broken heart.

Draw me near to you Lord,

hide me in your heart.

Forgive my wickedness.

Forgive my ignorance.

Forgive my stubbornness.

Forgive my selfishness.

Use me God for your great purpose.

Show me why you have created me.

I shall remain in this desert,

awaiting your direction.

hope rises

2010-06-19T00:49:00.003-04:00

I've been feeling a little hopeless lately regarding my job search and relationship with God. I felt like my tanks were running on empty. I asked God what was going on and He said, "You're in the desert, try not to wander." When I arrived at work tonight I was really feeling down. I did not want to be there at all. However two semi-regular customers came in late as usual and we began to talk. I shared a run down version of my testimony and they invited me to their church! They gave me hope. I thank God for their obedience and willingness to witness! I have planned to attend their church, Bethel Assembly of God, this Sunday morning. I hope to find someone there who can further mentor me in my walk with Christ.

the mind

2010-06-15T13:43:00.005-04:00

Proverbs 23:7 and Colossians 3:2 have taken on a truer meaning for me today. The past few days the Holy Spirit has revealed Truth to me so intimate that I cannot yet share, or know if ever I shall be able to. I sat with a brother watching a Creflo Dollar sermon on the renewing of your mind. It wasn't something I hadn't heard before, but as always God had a plan. My Lord God knows the best way for me to learn is through experience based upon the Word. After hearing that sermon about the renewing of the mind, I found myself today talking to an old friend. In between those two events my mind had gradually began to focus on things of the earth and not of heaven. It culminated with me remembering my rebellious days in a way akin to bragging. It didn't even bother me, that is until I used profanity. It came out so natural that it immediately startled me. After the conversation had ended I asked for forgiveness for sinning against God and also asked for an explanation. God told me my mind was not focussed on what it should be. Immediately the Holy Spirit took me back to that sermon.

I have come to the conclusion that renewing your mind comes through the reading of the Word of God. This most of us can agree on. I also have concluded that to pray without ceasing is something that takes place by keeping your mind on things of heaven. In whatever we do, no matter how insignificant it seems, should we keep our mind on the things of the Spirit I believe in my entire being that we shall be more receptive to the Spirit and His leading in our lives. Therefor allowing God to work through us to love His people.

The Great Gardner

2010-06-10T11:26:00.002-04:00

During my morning devotional reading of Psalm 65 a portion of it really stuck out at me. Don't you just love it when that happens! I will be breaking down my understanding of Psalm 65:9-13:

9 You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
[My job is to first plant the seeds. (See Matthew 13:1-32, Mark 4:1-34, and Luke 8:4-8]
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
[The river of God is the Holy Spirit. My next job is to allow the Holy Spirit to water where He sees fit to water. (See John 7:37-39 and Revelation 22:1)]
10 You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
[When the Holy Spirit waters the seed, He doesn't just sprinkle here and there, He drenches it! He also softens the earth to make it fertile soil and blesses it accordingly! (See first references in verse 9)]
11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
[Wow! Even the hard soil is overflowing, this to me speaks of a wonderful harvest that is about to take place on the earth! (Once again, see first references in verse 9)]
12 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!
[The Lord is my Shepherd! Praise God for the flocks of sheep! Praise God for the bountiful harvest! (See Psalm 23)]

Other than those references in Scripture I have used information from another website, The Prophetic Years, which provides it's own Scripture references regarding the end time harvest. This gives me great hope and joy that God is planning to redeem so many more than what we could ever imagine! Hallelujah!

the power of sharing a testimony

2010-06-09T12:24:00.003-04:00

Got Questions Ministries posed a topic on their blog, "What is the most traumatic event that has happened in your life? How did God bring you through it and what did you learn from it?" I shared the following testimony:

I was having a nervous breakdown while in the Army on extra duty, pending civilian legal actions against me, trouble with my fiancé, and just ruptured my L5 disc in my back. My commander and first sergeant took me to see the chaplain. While they were talking I felt this physical weight come upon me that caused my vision to actually wobble back and forth like I was dizzy. I didn't understand it at the time, but after that I felt at peace and not required to be admitted to a hospital for a mental collapse. Years later after I had given my life to Christ I felt the same physical weight upon me and immediately recognized it as the presence of God! Those are the only two times I have experienced that. That first time I was very close to going homicidal on my fellow soldiers and contemplating suicide by cop in the end. God came and calmed my spirit and brought peace to me before I was at peace with Him. That's one of the things that reminds me of how much He loves us!

Someone sent me a private message saying they were blessed by that testimony. I felt compelled to reply and this is what came out:

Thank you. It is written "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." (Rev 12:11 NASB) When an opportunity arises to share a testimony, it is an opportunity to hand the enemy a defeat in battle as we triumph in victory through Christ. Who would want to pass that up?!

You might come to a conclusion by reading that testimony that it was my rock bottom. I went much further down before I hit rock bottom. I thank the Lord that I had been broken and emptied of all my hopes and dreams that I had placed in the world. The emptier I am of myself, the fuller I am in Him.

Knowing that my past struggles and victories over them have blessed at the very least one person gives me courage to stare the current struggles in the face, and with that mustard seed of faith in my hand, command them to move!

The Kingdom of God is amazing. Your being blessed has in turn blessed me! I'm so happy that our Father has more than enough. Peace be unto you and yours. I pray the Lord Jesus speaks life into your purpose for the Body of Christ that you may clearly see it and embrace it with joy.

Your brother in Christ,

~ Rob

It's amazing where God shows up in our lives. In thanking that person I received a blessing and encouragement myself in how to face upcoming struggles. I'm glad that God not only uses our mouths as we speak, but also our hands as we write.

God is a gentleman

2010-06-08T10:04:00.004-04:00

There is a door that we have that leads to access to our heart. When the Lord comes he says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." God showed me just now there is something else that happens regarding this door. In my willingness to receive Jesus into my every day life I have left my door open so that he could simply walk right in. The problem is that many things want to come into that door. As each tries to enter I either welcome it in or have it leave, sometimes with a struggle. During this screening process a line forms. Lately, Jesus has been standing in line waiting to come to me. He is a perfect gentleman so He patiently waits. That's how much he loves me!

I don't like the idea of Jesus waiting in line to see me, how awful! I want to keep my door closed and return to my true love. I want Jesus to come in and get rid of these unwanted guests that I can't remove. I want Him to clear this temple!

God is amazing

2010-06-06T10:19:00.003-04:00

I had been irresponsible and only slept two hours before going to work yesterday morning. I had a feeling I should arrive early, and when I got there I realized why. I had two catering orders to do in addition to a lot of other work! I hadn't taken the time to pray or read the Word that morning and was feeling the stress mount up.

So I threw myself at the mercy of God, confessing my wrongdoings and pleading for His intervention and help. He responded! Normally it's rather busy in the mornings with plenty of customers coming in for breakfast and the store opener being alone for four hours. In those four hours I had very little customers! This mean I could work on the other tasks without interruption. God is amazing!

I was still a little behind when the other two employees came in to work their shifts. Our lunch time rush on Saturdays usually doesn't start until 12:30pm but yesterday it began at around 11:30. It was steady all the way up until I left, but never busy. That's not a typical Saturday afternoon at our Subway! I was scheduled to leave at 2:30 but stayed to finish the tasks we were behind on and ended up leaving closer to 3:30. That isn't something new for me, I always feel obligated to complete the tasks assigned to my shift regardless if my shift is over and the tasks are not done.

Later in the evening while reflecting on this and sharing it with my mother I came to understand why yesterday was different. The steadiness of the rest of the day that kept us from catching up completely was a consequence for how I began the day so irresponsible. It wasn't a severe consequence, but it surely caught my attention. Doing my part by staying and finishing the job was akin to restitution, even though it's something I normally do in that case.

The best thing about all of this is that the Holy Spirit was moving upon me during all of this. I had an uncontrollable urge to sing and didn't really recognize this until later in reflection that it was an urge to sing praise to God! I believe that may have been God's response to me lifting my hands and singing praise to him at work.

ears that hear

2010-06-03T19:17:00.004-04:00

Recently I have sensed in my spirit that I was supposed to do something. I had stated to the Lord my reasons for not wanting to do it and it wasn't impressed upon me to do it. However yesterday that changed. My spirit sensed a change in the environment and I heard the Lord say to me to begin what I knew I should begin. I obeyed. Earlier today at work I received a phone call from my former employer stating there are some positions open and wanting to know if I am interested. I must say that lately I have had growing concern for my finances and brought it before the Lord. He has heard my cry and responded with confirmation of such! Tomorrow I will call these people and find out more about this position they are seeking to fill. My father owns the cattle on a thousand hills! All praise and glory to the Great God Jehovah!

justified by faith

2010-06-02T10:00:00.003-04:00

While reading some of David's psalms it caught my attention that in some places he states he has never sinned, while in others he is saying otherwise. I realized, by revelation of the Holy Spirit, that David understood forgiveness. He understood the mercy and grace of God to forgive us and look upon us just as if we never had sinned. God knows we're not perfect. He knows because he sent His one and only Son to the cross to redeem us. I now have more confidence to go boldly before the throne of God in my life.

moving on

2010-05-30T21:15:00.003-04:00

Much has happened in the last half hour. I found myself hungry without cause, or so I thought. I had been reading a book of someone else's experiences and became hungrier. As I sat down and shared this with some acquaintances the Holy Spirit began to minister to me. I thought about what I knew, or thought I knew. Then I realized how much I don't know, and that there's even more that I don't know than what I thought. I caught a glimpse of the depth of God's Word. I replied to this with the simple thought, "It's so deep!"

Immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me of the question He had prophetically asked me through another person during a session of prophesying over one another. I was asked if I wanted to go deeper. I replied, "Absolutely." Then the prophetic words spoken over me were along the lines of me being taken so deep that I would feel like I couldn't breathe. When I got there, the Lord would show me how to breathe.

Tonight I came to the beginning of that place. I felt I could not breathe when confronted with the depths of the Word. I had reached the edge of my comfort zone where an increase of faith would be required to move on. Nearly all I have learned has been from reading the books or listening to the teachings of others who have received the revelations and had the experiences. I had been living off of scraps so to speak. Mind you, that you can live a long time off of scraps. But now I found myself hungry for something more, something solid, some true meat.

This is the time in my life when I rely on the Holy Spirit to teach me the things of which I must know. This is where I move a little more forward in my faith.

forgiven

2010-05-29T10:05:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the Holy Spirit, I lived through Psalm 32 yesterday. It's so wonderful to be forgiven when you have sinned before the Lord. He does not hold a grudge. He places it as far as the East is from the West, and loves me just as He always has!

Last night was probably the best night of sleep I've had in a while. Thank you God for guarding my dreams and my spirit while I slept! Let us see what is in store today for your servant.

exciting fellowship today

2010-05-27T20:22:00.003-04:00

I stopped by Candleheart, a ministry where I worked in the past, and had a great long talk with a brother in Christ! We encouraged each other in tremendous ways as we shared our experiences and what the Lord is doing with us at the moment. He spoke some words over me and suggested that I go to the Lord regarding a specific topic. I haven't done that yet, but I did research the word spoken over me a bit and took that to Heaven for an answer. It lines up rather neatly with what God's been revealing to me lately.

Oh, and work today was the busiest day I've worked in quite a long time. However, it didn't seem like it at all, not one bit! God is my strength and my shield, and He has become my victory.

pondering the Word

2010-05-26T09:27:00.002-04:00

In Nehemiah 8:10 it is written, "... the joy of the LORD is your strength." I have always understood this as I gain strength in the LORD's joy. Last night though, a thought came to me. Perhaps the LORD gains joy from my strength in Christ Jesus. It really struck me and gave me something to think about the rest of the night. I will say this also, on my way home I was beaming with joy! I had a smile fixed on my face that was not typical of me. I can only chalk that up to my delight in Jesus.

Also, last night at work there were only two of us. The weather was gorgeous, and based on recent trends we should have been quite busy. However we were not! My co-worker even did most of the work, citing she wanted to give me a break from all the work I've been doing as I worked with the newer employees. What a blessing from God! It's beginning to dawn on me the power of prayer and the utter necessity of intercession. Oh what exciting times these are!

the big picture

2010-05-25T12:31:00.002-04:00

It's becoming clearer to me know. What also is becoming clearer is how essential it is for me to yield to the Holy Spirit. Lately this has been improving with much reward. I am stumbling far less in my daily walk! What a joyous Lord I serve, whom I can also call my friend. I am so thankful He knows my needs, especially the ones that I don't know how to ask for. God, I love you.

deeper still

2010-05-24T06:04:00.003-04:00

The idea is to find out where I end and Christ begins in my life. There are so many things I just cannot do. It boggles my mind why I feel that I should be able to do them, when the Jesus clearly states, "...apart from me you can do nothing." Now I believe I know that when these situations arise that I must quickly recognize that I cannot go forward in my own strength. I must rely on the Holy Spirit to proceed, otherwise I fail. Just this morning the Holy Spirit rescued me from doing something I clearly did not want to do. I did not sleep very well at all last night. Oddly, I dreamed about work, in great detail. I'm not sure what to make of this. It feels like the enemy had attacked me in my sleep, trying to instigate work-related stress there since God has relieved the stress at work itself. Nevertheless I say praise God who is able to keep me from stumbling!

a dream

2010-05-22T07:20:00.002-04:00

I began reading a book by T. Austin Sparks titled 'Prophetic Ministry' last night. He briefly mentioned Cherubim and described the four-fold aspect: the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle. Where the lion is a symbol of kingship or dominion; the ox of service and sacrifice; the eagle of heavenly glory and mystery. He then goes on to talk more about why the man was the predominant aspect of the Cherubim.

Early this morning I had a dream that the Lord was telling me something. He was pointing down to something that was written, and I was beside him looking at it. I don't remember what it was we were looking at. I remember Him telling me something along the lines of, "You have the lion and the ox, you are only lacking the eagle. That is what you will be moving into now, heavenly glory and mystery."

I actually reminded myself several times throughout the night to take note of this when I woke up. That's never happened to me before. I have something to talk about now when I have my quiet time with the Lord later on.

More Victory!

2010-05-20T00:13:00.002-04:00

The night before I was able to send a person home early (to her delight) due to the slowing down of business. It was a very relaxing night. Tonight however, was quite busy. So what did God have in mind? Another relaxing night! Despite the steady rush of customers and having a new employee to train, we were doing well in the hands of God. And despite having a high rate of business, I was still able to send another person home early, once again to her delight! God is great! Praise God! He is surly in control of all things and does as He pleases! I'm thankful it pleases my Lord God in Heaven to ease my burdens and stresses! I am so thankful my prayer life is also rejuvenated due to these amazing results. That in itself is an answered prayer. Victory in Jesus, what a way to live!

Victory!

2010-05-18T23:56:00.003-04:00

The Lord has honored me at work and given me relief! Praise God for the victory! I also have a desirable schedule, another victory! Hallelujah! I love my God and He loves me. He has given me his shield of victory.

answered prayer & victory

2010-05-16T23:46:00.002-04:00

God is great! Praise God! The peaceful night at work tonight was one like never before! I'm glad that the night before was so rough for me. If it weren't for that, I would not have cried out to the Lord in my distress. However, I did cry out and He did hear me. In His abundant mercy God saw it fit that I would have a slow paced relaxing night at work.

The more important lesson gleaned from this experience is that reading the Bible and praying can have immediate results. I'm so happy that God in Heaven is drawing me near to Him. Hallelujah to the King of Kings!

annoyance leading to anger

2010-05-16T11:35:00.004-04:00

While at work the last couple of nights we were not busy and it should have been a cinch to close the store and get home before midnight. However, I had to deal with an unusual amount of late night customers coming in and interrupting the closing process after 10PM. I'm starting to wonder why this phenomena seems to happen primarily to me and not the other closers. Long gone are the days where you seldom saw a customer after 9PM. Welcome to the Age of Annoyance where you work by yourself and are always interrupted while trying to close the store on time.

I don't know how it works with other people. For me, it begins with an annoyance. Then the annoyance continues and I become bitter in my heart towards customers, but by the grace of God it stays in my heart, and doesn't come out of my mouth! Quickly frustration washes over me and if things continue without being taken care of, anger arises.

Last night the anger was intense enough that I contemplated going out to a bar for a drink after work, or worse yet picking up a six pack or two to take home. Praise God for sending his Holy Spirit! Immediately after that consideration the Spirit asked me, "Are you going to allow your anger to lead you down this path? We both know where it leads." The temptation and desire to drink fled upon hearing that! I instead opted to come home and look for something in the Psalms to relate to my emotions, which I did not do. Nonetheless the anger subsided and I was more at peace.

I realized that this job is more of a battlefield than I had ever perceived. I don't like losing battles and I sure am tired of losing them there at work. I have come to the conclusion that I must prayerfully prepare and equip myself to go into this battle just like I would any other. I worship an "against all odds" God who is always on my side cheering me on towards victory in Christ!

Heaven

2010-05-13T13:37:00.002-04:00

Someone was discussing Mary K Baxter's divine revelation of hell with me and I brought up the book 90 Minutes in Heaven. This other person then shared another account of Heaven from an experience of Jesse Duplantis. I quickly googled it and came to this video of him discussing this experience. After watching it, I decided to purchase this book and read it myself. I was deeply moved by this and am very excited to begin reading this book!

encouragement

2010-05-10T19:36:00.002-04:00

Today at work this were on the verge of becoming very annoying, causing me to be quite irritated. However I received a phone call from a customer who thought she might not have received her due change yesterday. Within a minute she realized the error was on her behalf and then quickly perceived her reason to call must have been to give encouragement. She said to remember that no matter what people do or say, the Lord is always with you. The words God delivered through this obedient servant's mouth calmed my spirit and soothed my soul! The day did indeed get extremely more discombobulated which would have driven me mad to say the least. However with those words from the Lord in my mind and in my heart, the circumstances had no ill effect on me at all. I love how God works! I thank God for that women, whomever she is, and hope she receives a blessing for her obedience.

pleasant weekend

2010-05-09T17:15:00.004-04:00

I had a smooth day at work yesterday and some wonderful conversation with fellow believers in the evening. The Lord has shed some light on a few issues I have been having. Thank you Jesus! Today at work was very slow and relaxing actually, almost unreal honestly. A few other things were made clear to me today at work. I'm truly thankful for all I have and understand my blessings come from the God who gives and takes away. Thank you for taking care of me Father.

greater works than these

2010-05-07T11:49:00.002-04:00

If you take look at what these sheep have been used to do, it is very amazing! There is no doubt their shepherds have some skill.

Now with the Lord as our Shepherd, imagine what great works God could accomplish through us if we would just let go of ourselves and follow Jesus with all our heart! Far beyond what we could even think of or imagine, that's for sure!

please Lord

2010-05-06T01:33:00.002-04:00

I invite you God to manifest yourself in my dreams and thoughts. Please open the eyes of my heart so that I might see what you show me and give me the wisdom to understand it Lord. I want to know you as my best friend!

resting

2010-05-04T11:22:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a peaceful day of rest, even though I worked a semi-busy shift. Tonight however I don't know what to expect. With only two people manning the store and this good weather we could very well be overwhelmed again. It's likely that I will be working late if that happens. I wonder what God has planned.

simple thought

2010-05-02T16:32:00.003-04:00

The world is looking desperately for love. I see this almost everywhere I look. The lengths of which people will go through and suffer for what they know as love is amazing and mind boggling. Now if only the Body of Christ would realize this as a whole we would see the will of God in motion. It was love, perfect love, that saved us all. The world does not know this love, mainly because the church is trying to talk to the world in a language the world doesn't understand. Maybe that's why all throughout Scripture it's the common man or woman that God raises up. For it is this kind of humble spirit that does not forget where it came from, what it used to be, and how it used to live. It sympathizes with those hurting and seeking help from a broken system that can only relieve the symptoms at best. I am thankful for God using me to communicate to the world on His behalf. I am thankful I am able to convey the principles in the Word of God to the world in a way that is so simple it makes sense and doesn't come off at all religious. I am thankful that I am not alone in this. Because I know God loves the world, He has proven it. Therefor I know He surly must be using many others as He is using me. Nonetheless it is my prayer that the Father raise up the common people to reach their lost brothers and sisters.

Imagine this, someone you love is out in a thunderstorm soaking wet and freezing cold. Add to that fact that they've done many things you disagree with. Compound that with the fact that they are wandering around in the storm right in front of your house yet haven't come to your door and asked for entry. Should this person you love have to knock? If you love this person, wouldn't you be out looking for this person? When you find this person are you going to preach to them? Or would you invite them in out of the rain, give them a set of dry clothes, warm them up by the fire, and prepare a warm meal and drink for them? I love how Misty Edwards puts it in her song when she sings of Jesus, "He had arms wide open, his heart exposed." The church needs to open her arms and bring in the lost and tend to their needs. Show the love and mercy of our God to all!

sucess

2010-05-01T01:51:00.002-04:00

I went to the gym and had a great workout! Then afterward, work at Subway was very busy and I ended up staying very late to finish closing the store. It's almost 2AM but I really am not tired. I have to be at work at 11, so I probably should get to bed. After all, tomorrow my nephew is spending the night with me! Oh happy day! I wonder what God will have in store for me when I wake up...

i have failed

2010-04-30T12:38:00.002-04:00

I did not go to the gym yesterday as I had intended. I was instead overcome by my circumstances throughout the morning and procrastination in the afternoon. However, I will be heading to the gym before work this evening!

So far in my events of the day a Catholic friend of mine from Egypt shared a YouTube video with me. This was a video posted by Islamic supporters claiming that Muhammad's name is found in the Holy Bible but English translations intentionally removed/replaced it. Doing some research on this subject lead me to a fascinating website. This site, Answering Islam, has now been added to my favorites.

In my quiet time last night before going to bed I realized how so much of my natural life is an echo of my spiritual life. I believe that perhaps I have been going about changing aspects of my life the wrong way. Does it make sense to try and change an echo, or to change the sound making the echo? I reckon it's spiritual spring cleaning time!

getting fit

2010-04-28T20:41:00.002-04:00

I just can't take it anymore. I look at myself in the mirror and I'm not happy. Well now it's time to resolve this situation. With the Lord's help I will honor Him with my body by getting into a healthy physical state of fitness. This will begin tomorrow morning by heading off to the gym with some much needed cardiovascular work! This also means I'll be going on a diet as well... I honestly think that will be the harder of the two things to maintain! I know I can't do this without God. I believe I will need prayer support through this as well so tomorrow I will enlist some intercessory help. Look out world for Rob 2.0!

taking the day off

2010-04-27T23:14:00.002-04:00

Today I basically took the entire day off. I didn't leave my apartment to do anything and even took a nap late in the evening. I only watched a couple hours of TV or so and that itself is more than usual for me. While watching a commercial for a medication and once again being shocked at the horrible side effects I had this thought.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are among the common side effects reported with Christianity. Side effects that are not as favorable include persecution and hatred from the world. Certain side effects are more evident in some than others. These can be explained by variable growth in understanding and are easily treated with more Christianity.

It amused me slightly so I put it as my status on facebook to see what reaction it would get. So far after six hours, one person likes it.

I watched a few things today on the History Channel regarding alien activity in ancient civilizations. The evidence the researches provided does indeed make one wonder. I have heard some of these arguments before being the science fiction fan that I am. However, after watching Alien Encounters - A Christian Perspective on GOD TV many of these claims make so much more sense. It also makes many things a little bit more disturbing. Rather than try to explain it all myself I suggest watching it for yourself and forming your own opinion. I will openly state that at this time in my life, I am convinced that Chuck Missler's view on this is correct.

not quite there yet

2010-04-26T18:12:00.002-04:00

Today in some quiet time God told me that I am simply not ready for some aspects of ministry. Mainly because of pride issues. I trust God that He knows what He's doing, naturally. It helps explain some other things going on in my life as well. I will have to learn to walk in more humility.

I also seems that although my hearing is good, my listening could use some work. I've noticed in the last year or so that I was having trouble understanding what people were saying sometimes. I can hear the sounds just fine but for some reason I don't comprehend it well. It's like selective hearing. I have to be ready to listen to someone in order to understand what they're saying. Often when someone begins a conversation with me and I'm not expecting it, I don't understand what was said. I bring this up because I believe this happening in the natural was a sign to me that it's also been happening in the spiritual sense as well. I have not been expecting to hear from God on a routine basis and who knows what I've not comprehended or didn't hear at all! So now I will aim to be ready to hear from God at all times.

Interesting way to begin the morning...

2010-04-25T19:39:00.003-04:00

An IM popped up from an unknown contact on my Windows Live Messenger and the conversation began with this:

unknown: hi rob
me: hi
unknown: i wnt u to become a muslim :]
me: you have already lost then
unknown: lol , y not ?
me: i will never become a muslim
unknown: y ? r u christian
me: yes
unknown: have u ever tried reading Quran
me: nope
me: i've never tried eating broken glass either, but i also know that's not the right thing to do

I especially took notice to the response when I stated I would never become a Muslim. Immediately the other person seemed to suspect I was a Christian. I think that is a good thing indeed, to be recognized quickly for not believing a lie.

This conversation went on for an hour with the other person posting a link to a YouTube video in the middle. This was a video of a debate between an apparent Muslim and Christian regarding "scientific errors" in the Bible. I listened to the video and paused it on occasion to explain the error in the Muslim's reckoning. Further research also showed me that this Muslim is even rejected by the majority of Islam for misrepresenting it as well! I shared this "Even that which he defends does not accept him, because he is in error himself. It is all confusion! It is not of God at all," with the person who gave me the link.

I hope to figure out who this person is and why did this person approach me with this. Nonetheless I enjoyed the rest of my day reading, hanging out, shopping, and eating dinner with friends. Now it's time for some thunderstorms (hopefully) this evening!

struggling

2010-04-24T22:50:00.003-04:00

For some reason I couldn't sleep very well last night. It lead to an unusual day, and a difficult evening. I now believe the dreams I have effect me more than I had previously realized. In the future I must rely on the Holy Spirit to help me discern my dreams and rely on God for translation of them. In hindsight I can see how my dream last night manifested itself throughout the day. I will chalk today up as another lesson learned.

God is awesome!

2010-04-23T21:21:00.002-04:00

I worked a rather long shift today and it was quite a busy day to say the least. However in the midst of it all, the time went by really fast and a lot was accomplished. I can only pinpoint the source of the efficiency of the day to the Grace of God released upon my life. I've never felt so refreshed, unstressed, and happy after working such a long busy shift at Subway! I wonder what God will have in store for me tomorrow...

new book!

2010-04-22T18:20:00.003-04:00

I just received my copy of Vishal Jetnarayan's book titled "Designed to hear God." I am very happy to see it has workbook type practical application exercises in it! I'll be sure to share what I glean from this awesome book.

Today was a busier than usual day at work, but we made it through just fine. There were a few times where my patience was tried but I held my own. If there's just one thing I gain from the experience from this job it will be patience with people, that's for sure!

It's such a wonderful feeling to be able to relax and find rest in the Lord. I am so thankful that He lead me here.

in position

2010-04-21T10:36:00.002-04:00

I arrived at my interview this morning and took a test on a computer to gauge my warehouse knowledge. I did very well, surprising myself the most probably, being that I was going by warehouse training I had in 1998! After that I took a brief tour of where I would be working, and shown what daily operations basically looked like. Then came back for the interview, which went very well. Finally came the portion regarding a security clearance. As I expected, my felony conviction would disqualify me for this job.

One might then be disappointed I suppose. But not me! I then was called back into the office with the interviewer who marked me for work in areas on the Army Depot that did not require security clearance. She then offered to forward my resumé to another department of the company that she felt, given my warehouse knowledge, I may likely be able to get a job there. This is a commercial entity where the employees have a stock option, making it employee owned it seems.

I left there filled with joy unspeakable. On my way home and still currently I am just bubbling over with joy. I can only describe it as knowing that I am where God wants me to be, doing what God wants me to be doing, when God wants me to be doing it. I have found myself to be in the will of God for my life! What an awesome place to be! I feel His hands all around me, comforting me, guiding me, loving me. I recognize that God has positioned me with this company for a reason and that all is going according to his plans.

What else I find interesting is that a long time ago this company called me as they were interested in me for another job. I had agreed to come in and interview for it but there was a hiring freeze and it never went through. Many months later out of the blue they called me to offer me another job that paid over twice as much as the first one they contacted me for! I was interviewed and hired for that one. That is the job I recently was laid off from. What I have noticed is that when you are following God's plan for your life, there really is no such thing as a disappointment. All that I can see are opportunities and positioning going on while God moves things around to accomplish what He has planned. God is so great!

more potential

2010-04-20T16:41:00.002-04:00

I just received a phone call from the company that laid me off about three weeks ago. They have some material handler positions available and I will be interviewing for one tomorrow at 9AM! This is almost what happened last time. I just got a raise at Subway and then they called me to interview for a job, which I was subsequently hired for. The only thing I had done to warrant a call the first time was place my resumé online. I did nothing at all this time. I imagine they are calling most if not all of the people who recently were laid off.

This happened today as I was doing things God had told me to do weeks ago. I believe He knew it would take me weeks to get around to doing them due to the depression I was going through. When I see how intricate and far reaching God's plans are for my life I just sit in awe.

Happy Day!

2010-04-19T17:38:00.003-04:00

Today when I arrived at work (Subway) the manager and I were talking about the next week's schedule and a few other things. It was at this time she shocked me and told me that her and the Area Manager had decided to offer me a Shift Leader position! This promotion couldn't have come at a better time because I had just been laid off from my other job.

For some back story, I took this job as a part time job while I was working as the Resident Manager at Candleheart, a program offered by Maranatha Ministries. I worked there for four months and then resigned from the ministry position. I had been there a year and it was clear that I need to grow more in my walk with Christ and that had to be done in another environment. Subway was a blessing from the Lord as they had no problem moving me to full time status! I worked there probably another five months, still looking for other employment, and then received a call to work as a contractor at an Army Depot. I took this job as it paid over $10/hr more than what I made at Subway. I knew that God provided me the job at Subway as well as this job at the Depot, and God had not told me to leave the job at Subway. I remained on and was graciously returned to part time status. Four months later the Depot laid off hundreds from the department I worked at, this was April 1, 2010. Subway once again happily returned me to full time status and 19 days later, promoted me!

Oh how great it is to know you are where God wants you to be, and that He loves us so much. I received a prophetic word at weekend gathering for the School of Ministry at Christ Community Church. It spoke of how obedient I was when it came to waiting upon the Lord. The person saw in the spirit that I was standing on a gear, and the Lord was moving the gear with me. This one gear was connected to many other gears, putting many things in motion. Then the Lord asked me to step onto an even smaller gear, and I obeyed. This put different things into motion. This immediately confirmed my decision made a month before to resign from the ministry position at the Lord's direction. I didn't have a home to live in, and only a part time job. But I stepped out in faith trusting God that He had a plan.

I ended up moving in with my sister and her boyfriend. We split the rent three ways and things were tolerable for a month or so then began to spiral downhill quickly. I was clearly not happy where I was, yet did not hear from God that it was time to move. One day I was praying on the phone with my mentor from the School of Ministry and I reminded him of the prophetic word spoken over me regarding my obedience. I said in a sense that "I'm not happy where I am at, yet I will remain here where You have placed me until You send me some where else. Just show me the next step to take, I'm not taking any steps unless they've been shown to me by You." I think it was within a week that I found an apartment for rent while flipping through a newspaper at a friend's house. This was on a Wednesday, and I began moving in that Friday!

Right around this time I received my first raise and promotion at Subway. This too was also prophesied over me by a guest speaker at the First Pentecostal Church of Chambersburg. She said I would be receiving more hours at my job, in fact so many that it will likely anger others, and also that I would be getting a raise. That came to pass, and one week I even had more hours than my manager! She then looked at me and stated, "You don't have any benefits at your job, do you?" I replied that I did not. She said something along the lines of, "You are looking for a job with benefits and the Lord has heard you. You will get a job with benefits." I received this word, even though it confused me. "If I get more hours and a raise," I thought, "that still wouldn't give me any benefits. My manager doesn't even get benefits..." I just submitted it to God and kept believing. It was only a few days after the second part came to pass and I was at work discussing my raise when there was a phone call for me on the store phone. That doesn't happen to me at all. It turned out to be a company that saw my resumé online and was trying to contact me to offer me the job. This turned out to be the job at the Army Depot, with benefits!

I find great comfort knowing God speaks to us and through us. He wants to tell us what He has planned for us so that we know everything will be good in our lives, just as Romans 8:28 tells us.

Forewarning

2010-04-18T23:28:00.005-04:00

I was on my way home on March 20, 2010, and the vehicle in front of me had it's brake lights on but wasn't slowing down. It was going rather slow but not slowing. I was waiting for a passing zone to pass but then God said to me, "I want you to follow. This driver may get into an accident and I want you to be behind that car." So I followed for miles and miles and then on a sharp turn less than a mile from my house the car in front of me ran up on a herd of deer standing on the road and hit one of them. I saw the deer cartwheel and the driver kept going, then turned around in a wide driveway I guess to go back and look for the deer. It didn't have any headlights out that I could tell, but I did smell what seemed to be overheated brakes. I am just overwhelmed how God directed me so I wouldn't be in the position where I may have hit those deer. How great is our God?!?!?