LAM Newsletter, December 2002

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my Newsletter Friends!!!!

What a terrific year it has been. Since we all live in this world together, we know all the "stuff" going on IN it. But there is good news for those IN Christ, because it doesn't matter what is going on IN the world because we are not of it. Sure, we have to jump over a few obstacles and handle some unpleasant situations at times, but our Hope is that we'll make it through without even being singed! The bible says that we are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. We are to view this world as temporal, a mere shadow, yet full of opportunities to experience God's love and mercy. This world is to help us learn to trust Him more. He's preparing us for the day He comes to get us because that is NOT the end. Eternity is ahead and I take a strong stand on the fact that what we do in this world will dictate what we do in the next.

So what has this to do with sending a Merry Christmas Greeting? A lot! Because if we live daily the way God wants us, everyday would be Christmas. What is Christmas anyway? Relationships, relationships, relationships!!! I don't know of very many people who enjoy the holidays alone - if they say they do, they are in denial because they've been hurt from one of those relationships.

Let me draw a picture for you of how we need to see this world in which we live. Picture yourself in a nice warm cabin with a blazing fire in the fireplace. You are wrapped up in a warm blanket on a nice cushy chair drinking hot chocolate reading a book (or whatever you like doing.) Then also imagine a huge wind, rain and snowstorm outside. You are safe and sound in that cabin, believing the walls are strong, believing you will stay dry, believing you are safe and sound regardless of what it LOOKS like outside. That's how our lives are to be. We are to be IN that cabin nice and warm and cozy place living our lives in fullness, joy, freedom of spirit, and peace. You won't find it in a husband, a friend, TV, your favorite pastor, or a book. You'll only find it IN God through Jesus.

This is my prayer for you, that you find that warm cozy place. So you ask how do I get there, especially with all the hustle and bustle around me this time of year? Your first have to get your internal priorities back in line - if you are getting caught up in all the "stuff" and getting frustrated, feeling hurried, losing your cool, then you have lost your focus on what Christmas truly is and who it is about. See, everyday is Christmas for a Christian cause we celebrate Jesus every day. So why do we get in such a tizzy this time of year? I personally believe it's to please men. Those who find themselves hurrying, getting too busy, and so on is because they are a "man pleaser." The bible is very clear that if you are a man pleaser, you are not a God pleaser. This is not to condemn anyone at all, quite the contrary. It's to help you get your focus back in line. Take a minute and repent if you have made Christmas more important than Christ in Christmas. It only takes a minute to do this. Then begin seeking FIRST (at all times) the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? Righteousness of Jesus, Peace within our hearts (including sound mind, stability and patience), and Joy. If you don't have these things, whether it's this time of year or not, then you have some "seeking" to do. See God wants to give His children so much, but the "so much" isn't what we think it is. When we read that scripture in context and include all the scriptures around it,..."and all these things shall be added to you." part doesn't describe a new car or lots of presents under a tree. You find provision. Of course, it comes without saying that when we put God in the right priority in our lives, we are blessed with the "stuff" of this world.

Tom and I hope your Christmas is filled with Joy and Peace, Compassion and Love, not only Christmas day, but also every day for the rest of your lives. I find that this kind of living only comes when we truly begin seeking God in every way. By seeking His love for us first, everything else will fall into place. Gee, doesn't that sound like a scripture we all know? (Matthew 6:33)

T.O.F. Love

Truth, Overlook, Forgiveness

Tough love, as I have been taught, is to draw a line in someone's life. After so many chances, you have to say "enough." Then to justify this decision, you say that you still love them but can't live with them. Well, I'm glad "we" aren't God because God doesn't do this. He has no condition to Him loving us and I thank Him for that. What He does do, however, is allow us to reap what we sew, but even in that, we experience His love and mercy and grace. God is Truth, and forgives when we come to Him confessing our sins. Then He overlooks that sin, as though it never happened. These are attributes we are to have with each other too. Being truthful with others, overlooking offenses, and forgiving. These three things represent true love and you have to agree that it is "tough." It's hard to be honest with people, we may fear rejection. It's hard to forgive and overlook time and time again someone continues to do us wrong. (Now there is a balance and this doesn't include abuse or things like that.) But, that's what Christianity is all about.

I had opportunity today to exercise my TOF love. It was a small thing, but exercised this principle just the same. Sometimes we simply need to overlook things, doesn't have anything to do with forgiveness. For example - some of us may sometimes be very critical of others. We see what they are doing wrong and would have no problems telling them "the truth." But then, what about the overlooking part? I went to the post office today and thought it was closed because the flag wasn't flying. I was all geared up to ask where their flag was. I was being a busy body in someone else's business. I recalled my TOF love principle, and said, "Truthfully, I don't really care if the flag is flying or not, I'll simply overlook it, I don't need to SAY anything." And boy, is that freeing. It was no longer my job to point that out to them. This may seem like a small thing, but it impacted the rest of my day on how I handled things. This brought so much peace and joy to my day!

Then later that same day I was driving down the road and someone pulled out in front of me. The truth was they offended me, but I forgave them. This will keep any offense off me. Remember not to be spotted with the world? And this would have been a spot on me if I didn't choose to forgive. These three attributes, Truth, Overlook, Forgive, can work together or separately. But they all represent how we are to walk with others

I believe it's easier to not show mercy and kick someone to the curb when they treat us bad, but that's not what God did with you or me. If He did, I wouldn't be writing this newsletter nor seeing countless hundreds of lives changed. TOF love is not easy, but it's the only way. I've shared this with you before when my mother displayed TOF love. She never drew a line on my life nor did she refuse to help me when I needed it the countless times (and I even stole from her). She gave me that kind of love. The unconditional kind. The self-less kind. No greater love can someone has than that they lay down their lives for the brethren. She laid down herself for me. She risked pain and loss of substance for me. She sacrificed her life to save mine. And the end result is what I am reaping today. We only have a short time on this earth and the whole purpose is not to fear what we will lose, but what we will gain when we lose.

Phrases to Strike from Our Vocabulary!

I had a visit with my sister the other day after we shared some heart to hear things that had been on both our chests. We were truthful and forgiving and our relationship became closer that day. But out of that she said something that made me think. "Love means never having to say you are sorry." Remember the comic strip - Family Circus? This was one of the most famous sayings, and unfortunately we have adopted it into our lives and it's a lie. I think we need to say we are sorry to each other so that people know they matter to us and that our love and sorrowfulness is sincere. I think if love means never having to say you are sorry, then we should never have to confess our sins and receive forgiveness from God - cause isn't that what we are doing?

From this one liner, I began thinking of other phrases we say far too often that should really be stricken from our vocabulary. Let me see if I can come up with a few more. Perhaps you can think of some of your own. If you do, send them to me, I'd love to do a follow up article on phrases you would like to strike from your vocabulary.

"I can't help it"

"It's too hard"

"I'm starving"

"I'm so confused"

"But…."

"It figures"

"What now?"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that"

Why would we want to strike these? They all represent negative relationships with God, ourselves and others. The bible says to put every thought under captivity that exhalts itself over the knowledge of God. I suppose we have to first have the "Knowledge of God" to know if our thoughts are wrong. But I think you know if they are - they are thoughts that are negative and fearful in nature. By taking more notice at what we say, we can identify it as we say it, confess it to God and let him purge our hearts from the "root" of why we say these things. The reason we say these things is because of something that has happened. That "something" has to be healed in our lives and then the result will be we won't respond with statements such as these because our heart is clean. Out of the heart the man speaks (Matthew 12:34). Our relationship with God is most vital. Many of these statements are rooted in not having received the revelation on the Love of God for our own lives. The bottom line is - God is in control of everything that happens so when we say these kinds of phrases we doubt His sovereignty in our lives. Something to THINK about… after all, EVERY thought - I mean every teensy weenie thought - is to be examined and kept or cast out. That is the life of a believer - the battle begins in the mind. See I heard something that really made sense. If the devil can capture your mind, he has your spirituality and body too.

TOM's TIDBITS

"You don't have to be on the road all the time - that's why they make off road stuff"

I had just finished spending time with the Lord and began sharing what God was teaching me. I shared that God is now teaching me to enjoy my life. Not everything I "do" has to be what I think is spiritual in nature. That I can clean the house, water the garden, play with the kittens, make jewelry, sing, enjoy sitting outside, take a walk in the garden, and visit with friends, etc. That everything I do doesn't have to be super spiritual. Because it's not what I "do" it's the peace and love and joy I have in my heart while I'm doing it.

Tom then summed it up for me by saying, "You don't have to be on the road all the time, that's why they make off-road stuff - to play."

He is right! The bible tells us to rest on the 7th day and enjoy the fruit of your labor. Well, I haven't been. I would go to church and then perhaps mow my yard. I wasn't resting and enjoying the fruit of my labors at all.

I believe there is a balance to life. We have to learn to enjoy what we have, yet also be sensitive to the moving and prompting of the Holy Spirit. I was thinking that every minute of every day I had to "be" spiritual. Well, the truth is, I am spiritual. I have a re-born spirit in me at all times - so I'm trying to become something I am every day! I am now to simply walk in it. Simply "be." I recall Tom saying to me, "Linda, just Be." He is so right, because before we can LIVE we have to BE.

Has anyone ever seen God?

Well, I recall that Isaiah saw His backside… But in Daniel 7:9 it actually describes what God looks like - Let's get a good look at God for ourselves, shall we?

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire."

This is a good picture of God and the only description found in the Bible. How do we know God is the Ancient of Days and not Jesus, as some think? Because in Daniel Chapter 7:13, it says "…one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days…" He didn't come to himself, He came to God. So now lets look at what God is wearing. Garment white as snow. His hair (God has hair??) was like pure wool. I picture God with (pure)white (wool) thick hair. You can picture Him anyway you like, but that's how I see Him now since I found this scripture. It's nice to have a face to look upon when I'm praying, not just praying up into thin air.

I really like the last part of that scripture that says His throne is like fiery flame and His wheels like burning fire. I always pictured God sitting on a throne - in one place. But this tells me He sits on a throne that has wheels. Now I understand scriptures like, "God goes to and fro looking for someone in whom He can bless." He moves!!! He travels around. And those flames, in my own estimating, means speed. Have you ever seen a racecar with those giant exhaust pipes? What comes out of them? Flames. It makes the car go fast. That's how I see God. Boy, this scripture really put a new twist on my vision of God. So, has anyone ever seen God? Well, the bible says that those that are pure in heart shall SEE God. When shall we see Him? I believe we can see Him now, from our hearts. The cleaner our heart becomes, the clearer God is to see - whether it be what you sense, what you hear, or what you believe - He will become more real and more clear as our hearts becoming cleaner and cleaner. I suppose that's what it means to be made Holy?

Scripture of the Month

Psalm 1:3, " ….and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

I have read this scripture many many times in my 23 years of Christianity but it didn't really jump out at me with the correct meaning until just recently. How many times have you found yourself doing something that was a success only to find yourself feeling bad because no one praised you for doing it? Come on, lets be honest! Or perhaps you thought more would come out of it for you than did? Let me explain by telling you my story. I have produced many shows and musicals in the past 20 years of my life. They all turned out really well, but I still felt a bit sad afterwards and wasn't really sure why, not until I got this revelation. I didn't understand, but God showed me that I was looking for something for "me" to come out of it. I read this scripture (or memorized it incorrectly) as saying, "and whatsoever I do "I" will prosper." I thought I was supposed to prosper and become highly esteemed and get kudos and rewards. But I never did and it made me wonder if what I was doing was God or not. Then when I found this scripture, I understood why. God isn't going to prosper ME in the thing; He's going to prosper the "thing." This has made a huge impact on my life and has freed me too. I'm no longer attached emotionally to these events in a way that causes me to be sad if they don't succeed or overly happy when they do. I remain constant in them and enjoy watching God move in them.

Just recently when I got this revelation, I was in the middle of the 4th annual Help for the Holidays event. Because of this revelation, I was no longer looking for what I would get out of it, because I wouldn't. God will prosper me, but not through these kinds of things. He doesn't want me to think that when I do a "good" thing, I'll be blessed for it. He wants to bless me through ways that I no not of because He doesn't want me to get the impression that I'll be blessed by what I do. Granted, I do get blessed because I get to be a part of His great plan. But when I was secretly expecting things, for some reason it put a "cap" on what God could do. Now that I realized it had nothing to do with me, the 2002 HFH event grew and grew and grew. It was the biggest one yet, helping over 350 people that day in a few short hours. We gave away food, clothing, gifts and household items. It was bigger than me - that's for sure - and it was a thrill. Those that worked with me even noticed the difference that this revelation played on me and the event. It was smoother, peaceful, and we worked really well together. There was no upset or confusion at all. It was GREAT!

So now when I begin to do something, I check my motive, and realize that God will bless me in other ways, not necessarily through the event. And that has been awesome to experience. I feel lighter, freer and enjoy doing the events more than ever.

I did another event just a week later at my job and only 13 people came out of a possible 300. So how did that make me feel? No way in particular. See, even in the things that don't prosper, I don't connect emotionally to it. (And by the way if you go back and read verses 1-2 it says what the conditions are to for the "thing" to prosper - and apparently my "thing" at work didn't prosper because it didn't fall under those conditions. I didn't put any effort in it and really didn't want to do it.) This way I won't "feel" any negative things at all. Now my dear friends, that is true freedom! Folks, this is a huge step for me. Ask my husband. I would feel disappointed for weeks after something I did failed. Now I don't! I keep on keeping on enjoying the blessings God gives me through other means, not of my own "doing".

10 commandments

1 - communicate/relationships

2 - communicate/relationships

3 - communicate/relationships

4 - communicate/relationships

5 - repent

6 - communicate/relationships

7 - communicate/relationships

8 - communicate/relationships

9 - communicate/relationships

10 - repent

INsight on Disease

Gleanings from Pastor Wright's Book - A More Excellent Way (to purchase the book you can access his Website at www.pleasantvalleychurch.net.)

Note: It is important that I share with you how conclusions are made that relate to spiritually rooted diseases. Pastor Wright at Pleasant Valley Ministries in Georgia has been in ministry for over 25 years - many of those years he has kept case studies of individuals he has ministered to and the result of that ministry. Then he realized a pattern in people's lives. The same diseases were in individuals with the same problems. So now we take what we have learned from those who have been healed and help others.

Topic: Colic

Colic can be from an inherited spirit of fear. Colic is a neurological manifestation in the child that is a direct result of a spirit of fear coming in at conception, in utero, or at birth. It could be from the mother who may have been rejected or abandoned in her life, which then passes it onto her child within the womb. But when the parent stands in for the child and identifies the spirit behind the trauma, that's when healing takes place. So how do you get the spirit of fear out of your child? First confess to God your own sin of fear, unforgiveness, bitterness and hurt, confess the sins of your father on both sides, and confess the sins of the child's father and his father - both sides. Then cast the spirit out of the child. Brake the curse between you and your child and receive God's restoration by faith. If you need personal ministry in this area, you can contact Life Application Ministries.

PERSONAL TESTIMONIAL:

Ungratefulness

I was wondering why I had been struggling with my job for over 2 years. Ever since I've been in this unit which has been about 2 years, it's been a struggle. I have been praying for peace and contentment, and have gotten it but then it leaves again. Up and down in this area of my life. Mixed feelings. Perhaps I'm to go to another job. So I begin to look and get shot down. I even took a promotional exam and flunked it. So I was wondering what God wanted me to do or not to do. I had just finished a two-week vacation and the night before returning to work I began "thinking" of work. I started crying and crying and crying. My husband was home that evening with me and I cried and talked with him about things at work. Not even sure WHY I was crying and not even sure WHAT I wanted?

The next morning I got a revelation - one that I know will impact the REST of my life, I am sure of it. The Lord had me look at my job and all the things I've done in it. So I put on my memory cap and began recalling the past 2 years. Here's what I came up with: I conduct training all over the state - a dream of mine that I had for years and is finally come to pass. I have traveled to San Diego, Manhattan Beach, LA (Disneyland trips, etc.), Long Beach, Palm Springs, Fullerton, Monterey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Jose, and on and on! I arrange my own travel time and training schedules. I have overcome the fear of flying, as my job afforded me to do that. I went to conferences in San Francisco, and other places in Southern Ca. I am in a video with the Governor of the State of California. I made a "CAL-Buy saves lives" video with the team I'm on. I put on the ZIGfilled follies (a huge musical reenactment of the original Ziegfield Follies of the 20's and 30's) - spent a day with Dennis Dunne the Assist. Director of the Department of General Services - filming and riding around in his BMW. I meet lots of people every day. Conduct demos for dignitaries from all over the world - Thailand, Japan, etc. I help people all day long on how to use our purchasing system on line. I am free to put on events, parties, and craft fairs at work. Everyone knows me. I have 9/80 (which is every other Friday off) and I can work from home periodically. My hours are flexible and I have the freedom to be creative in my job. The people are great I work with, the building we moved into is beautiful, and my space isn't even so bad any more. The Lord used this job to teach me and change me in SOOO many areas of my life. As I was pondering on the many things I've done in this job, I realized this is more "stuff" I've done than all my jobs put together in the past.

Then the Lord let me have it; He told me I was ungrateful. Ouch! I realized that I had been totally ungrateful in my job. So immediately, without further delay (2 years mind you), I received forgiveness for my ungratefulness and began thanking God for everything He's given me that I took for granted. Then I forgave myself for being so ungrateful. I then thanked God for not moving out of this job as I had been pressing Him to do. No wonder I was still here in this job - it's where He wants me. Gee... that took me awhile to get!

Insight:

We have to learn how to be mistreated. Before you stone me, let me explain. It doesn't mean that we are to just sit there and take it and become hurt and abused and bitter about it. What I am saying is that when we are mistreated we need to know how to respond correctly. There is a scripture that says overcome evil with good.. I have seen it over and over again. Let me share a story. I have been going to a local restaurant for a number of years. The waitress has been there just as long as I have been going but she has an attitude problem. She is rude, pushy and not friendly at all. We've even had our "moments" from time to time. One day around Christmas time, I decided to give her a present. It wasn't much, it was a small basket full of goodies. Oh my goodness! The next time I saw her what a difference! It was like we were best friends. And ever since that day, which has been 2 years now, when she sees me coming in the door she puts me in her section at the best table and gives superb service. The interesting thing is that I still see her acting incorrectly toward others, but no longer toward me. I also did this with another waitress at another restaurant - with the same results. I mean this one snarled at me all the time - really and truly. I didn't even want to look at her and be near her cause she was so awful. But I did the same thing. She responded the same way and every time I went in that restaurant she would serve me personally. We began talking and became friends.

Being mistreated is an opportunity to respond with Love. Love puts the flame of hate out. Love quenches the fiery darts of the Devil. Jesus was the ultimate example of mistreatment - yet he sinned not against anyone. I think we need to see how Jesus handled mistreatment - don't you? Isn't that who we want to be like anyway? Stop looking at the TV for the answers or a Pastor for "a hero", look upon the life of Jesus. Why settle for a substitute when you can have the real deal?

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