LAM Newsletter, January 2002

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2002!

What a thrilling time we are living in - yes thrilling. More is happening in this world now than the past all wrapped up together! Have you ever wondered why you weren't born in the 17th century or during the cowboy and Indian days? I have. But I also know that our appointed time to be alive is now, and for a special purpose and reason.

The scripture "the first shall be last and last shall be first" comes to mind. We are truly the 'last' to live on this earth, if not close to it. That means we'll be first! Whatever that means, but it sounds pretty good. I also know that we were created for "such a time as this". In each one of us is a special purpose and divine plan that we need to fulfill to help bring to pass what will be. Each of us has a dream and a desire - we need to simply buckle down and go after it. This world is made up of "mere men" we can DO ANYTHING if we are determined enough to do it.

I want to encourage you. I'm sure you can think of something you have wanted to ask someone, or even do yourself. Now is the time to "just do it". So what if they say no, so what if what you do doesn't end up how you wanted it to end up - at least you pursued. And I do know one thing - even though those doors are closed, other doors will open. I do know that if I didn't try those first doors, I wouldn't have been led to the other doors. We have to go through one door at a time - from the start. Some of us want to start in the middle or at the end where the blessings are - but unfortunately that doesn't work - only causes us despair and a 'give up' attitude.

If a door is closed, I know another one will open because those "visions" or "dreams" were not put there by us; they were put there by God to give us a direction for our lives. "People perish without vision". Without vision or moving forward we become stagnant and dry. So what if the "thing" you do doesn't work out, you are on the move and WILL be rewarded! I discovered as I have ventured forward in things, that not everything I did was "God". I thought it was, but finding out later it wasn't, wasn't a bad thing! See God knew my intent, He knew it was all for Him so he will reward me just because I believed I was doing it all for Him. Doesn't matter how it turned out, what matters is was I doing what I thought God told me. He looks upon the heart - remember that!

So I pray that each of us in this new year identify those things which were laid upon our hearts - some it was something years ago that we wanted to do, some could be something brand new. We only have one life to live, let's really LIVE it.

PERSONAL REVELATION

"Great Expectations"

For about 3 weeks I have been rolling over and over in my mind why I'm having problems being happy and content with my situation at work. I had been dissecting and dissecting until my dissecting was being dissected! I was going around and around. When I think I was OK with it, something would happen to bring it all up again. I had forgiven God for this situation. That was needed, but wasn't the only thing I had to do. I wasn't sure what was going on, but now do!

I was sitting in my usual chair writing in my journal the insights from the previous days and discovered this personal revelation I'm about to share with you about "our own expectations".

This experience had been going on for 6 weeks; I know that because ever since I moved into my new building at work did all this "stuff" begin tormenting me. I experienced a huge let down when I was placed in a location in the building that was small and cramped - compared to other spaces which were near windows, open spaces, and more room. I felt abandoned, rejected, of no value to the Department, used, and unappreciated. See I had just completed a major project that included the Director and Deputy Director's of the Department. Well, I thought after all that was over assuredly I would be treated with much esteem and honor? Not hardly. My expectations of "grandeur" came to a screeching halt as one of the Deputy Directors who was communicating with me continuously through this project began ignoring me. The same held true for the others. I didn't know at the time I had been building up resentment toward them. It wasn't until just a couple of days into feeling like this that I had to see my heart and confess the junk. See I had even been embarrassed for anyone to come visit me in my new location because it wasn't what I had thought it should be. (They KEY words here are "felt" and "thought" - two areas we can get into big trouble with if we let those two things take over.)

A number of things were going on during this time and they all worked together, but I'll just share the part that brought me to the conclusion as to why I wasn't satisfied. God was getting me to the place that I could be content and satisfied no matter what. This was a hard one as I wasn't satisfied and even hurt by the whole thing. I know from my own teaching that "hurt" will keep those things at the front of our mind and will play over and over again, causing more damage than anything. See I had been "trying" to handle all these feelings - pushing them inside, telling myself it'll be OK, that I'll get use to things. But over and over I was still rolling things around in my head getting hurt and angry all over again. Then one day after I had just about enough of myself, I went for a drive during my lunch hour to clear my head. As I was driving I blurted out to God, "I am tired of being on this roller coaster. I really want to be content Lord. I don't want to feel these awful feelings." Then I began confessing those same feelings. "Lord I don't want to feel abandoned, hurt, angry, jealous, bitter, unappreciated, of no value, I want to be OK but I know that I can't do it on my own because these feelings are real! So if you want me to stop feeling these things you're going to have to do something about them." This discussion was pretty forceful but it was the truth. It wasn't pleasant, but it was how I was feeling. (One thing I know to be true, is God wants the truth on how we feel no matter how ugly it is.)

I discovered that my expectations of what people should have done because of WHAT I've done were higher than they should have been. The scripture that comes to mind is, "We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we out to think." (Romans 12:3) And that's exactly what I was doing. I was "THINKING" that they should have treated me differently because I did some wonderful things. I was "FEELING" bad because what I expected they SHOULD have done, didn't happen. So I confessed the sin of my own importance. Then I began forgiving the Director and Deputy Directors.

That evening when I got home I began crying to the Lord confessing even more things within my heart. A purging was taking place and within minutes (after all that exposing of my heart) I had been restored to peace again. Those ugly thoughts and feelings were gone - well most of them.

I say for most of them, because even though I had faced many layers of my pain in this situation, the next day I was still feeling unhappy, discontent and the like. Not to the degree it had been, but it was still there - nagging at me. I didn't understand why.

That morning the final "root" was exposed. The Lord showed me that I was feeling HOPELESS. I been believing that this was IT for my life. That where I was sitting was the final destiny of my life in my job, that there was no more. I felt as though I was put aside to rot away alone - abandoned and feeling like all my efforts in this department was for nothing. I lost my hope! I then simply said, "Lord, I have lost all hope." He then replied (in my terms) BINGO! All the other things I experienced had to take place first and purged first so I could see the REAL culprit beneath it all ---- HOPELESSNESS.

I had placed my hope in man, not God. Without even knowing I was doing it, I had placed my hope in what MAN would do for me. I didn't even know I had been doing it until it was revealed. After confessing this, God restored my hope IN HIM! Many things in my life became clearer, my direction was clearer, I made decisions that were sound and wise for my life, I was standing at the threshold of wonderful things that were about to happen!

Let me close with a scripture I found that truly inspired and helped me in my plight. (Job 11:1 - 19 NIV)

"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, THEN you will lift your face without shame, and you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope. You will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor."

This passage has become a reality in my life. I turned my heart toward Him. I had learned that I was expecting from "men" and not from Him. I confessed my sin and was restored. I am no longer ashamed of my location at work and I have peace. I feel like I've risen above my own expectations and put my eyes on expectations on God. He'll never fail - and it has been proven AGAIN in my life. Peace was restored - but it took me awhile to get to the root of things. Once I realized I had hopelessness, confessed it, then restoration was well on the way. I am no longer afraid. I am free.

Thanks be to God He is patient and kind in his dealings with us as he tries to get us to a place of growth. As I said to someone the other day, "It hurts so good."

How do I know God's will?

This is the big question on every believer's mind - I believe - continually. As we make decisions, we wonder if it is the right one?

I have lived with a philosophy for many years, not knowing it had a spiritual truth behind it, and that was, "When in doubt, don't".

The bible teaches us to do everything will diligence (wholeheartedly) as unto the Lord. Hmmmmm.... how many things are we doing half-heartedly, or doubting we should be doing it all?

This was one of those revelations that impacted every part of my life. Amazingly enough, it was during the same time I was experiencing the revelation I just described in the article before this one! Boy, when it rains it pours!

Another foolproof way to know is to let peace be your guide! If you have NO peace about it, don't do it. In other words, when in doubt don't. It doesn't mean you won't ever do it, it may be the timing is off. And not to get confused with facing.

Many of you know I started holding church services a few months ago here in my hometown. Some of you even attended periodically. There were a few times when no one came, but that didn't stop me - I had the service anyway. Boy those were self-teaching times all on their own, but that's another story.

Well, during all this time of finding contentment, God was using the services I was holding as a way to work in me. Interestingly enough, the name of the church was called "The Meeting Place" He played on words the other day and said it was called, The ME-ting Place". Indicating that this meeting was all for me. Granted many were helped and have been experiencing the wonderful promises God gives, but this time was really for me. He had to show me a few things I still had within me so He could purify me more to be able to do more for Him. He told me that the whole purpose of us having to go through things, and recognize the junk in our hearts and so forth is so that we can become completely clean of the junk that ails us. These things PREVENT us from living full and productive lives and needs to get that stuff out of us so he can use us successfully!

The more junk that is purged, the closer we will be with God. Each layer that is removed is also removing the distance between God and us, not to mention with other people. I have noticed that as I am purged from my sin and iniquities, it not only helps my relationship with God but it impacts my relationship with others! See, the closer we get to Him, the holier we have to be. That is why we have Jesus! He's our "quick fix" you might say so we can have fellowship with God NOW allowing God time to sanctify us. Helping us to grow in grace one day at a time, from glory to glory.

So the question is, how do we know when things are God's will? Sometimes we have to learn what is NOT God's will first (unfortunately people don't want to take the risk so they don't do anything) and His will, will then come forth.

There are scriptures after scriptures that lists what something ISN't first before what it IS. For example: "The Kingdom of God is NOT meat and drink (stating what it is NOT first) but righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost (what it IS follows)." (Romans 14:17)

I believe it's the same with finding out God's will for our lives. For example, my stepping out to start a church I found out within a few months, that it wasn't God's will for me - not at that time if at all. His will for me right now is to continue ministering as I have been doing. To go out into the highways and byways as Jesus did and teach the good news. So consequently, I will no longer be holding church services in the Town Hall in River Pines.

I began looking at how Jesus ministered. Jesus never stayed in one place; He was always on the move. He taught under trees, along the waterfront, in synagogues, in people's houses, wherever He was needed, He was there. During this time, my call became clear - I am a teacher that will stay on the road teaching where ever a door is open.

You know when a door closes, you just know. When you start getting confused, doubting, frustrated, you are trying to push against something that God doesn't want you to have. Just last month I remember something happening in my life and saw very quickly that the door was being closed in that area. But then He told me this, "Linda I've closed a door but I'm opening a Garage Door". By faith I began getting excited in the spirit because I knew what that meant - something big and wonderful was going to happen!

I don't feel embarrassed or think I missed God when I started that church. I had to step out and find out for myself, I couldn't take someone else's word for it. My husband even said at the beginning he wasn't real sure about all this but would support me, he knew too that I had to experience it for myself. God used that time to help me see how much I wasn't relying and trusting on Him and Him alone!

God told me very clearly one day how to decide what to do and what not to do, He simply said two things, "Be the best Linda you can be" and "Whatever you DO decide to do, do it WHOLE heartedly otherwise you are wasting your time and mine." Well, this helped me decide on a lot of things in my life, what to keep doing and what to stop.

So I hope that you take a look at your "busy" life and see what your true motives are. Are you doing things because "That's how mom did it", or "What will they think if I don't", or "I want others to appreciate me"? These things produce NO fruit - only frustration, confusion, hurt and the like.

I'm hopeful for you right now that you will allow a pruning to take place in your life, ask God to expose any hidden agendas. What better time than right now at the start of a New Year to start afresh! Remember the old saying, "Quality is better than quantity". What is the quality of all your efforts? Take time to ask God to help you regroup - what a healing will follow in you - bringing peace, joy, hopefulness, contentment and experiencing the TRUE love and blessings God has for you!

Insight on Disease:

Hopelessness

Hopelessness isn't a disease, but it's a root that can cause many kinds of diseases and other emotional dysfunction. Hopelessness breeds anger, hate, fear, sensual desires, lying, discontentment, stealing, road rage (yes road rage), lawlessness, fatigue, and depression. The physical manifestations are diseases such as Parkinson's disease and other deteriorating diseases.

So what is the cure? Hopefulness! We need to be restored to the Hope only God can give. As I had shared before, I became full of hopelessness when I was relying on MAN to fulfill me. At the same time, by trusting on MAN we are putting a wedge between us and God. There is a scripture in Psalm 119:8, "It is better to trust the Lord than put confidence in man." This is a simple scripture but holds a lot of truth.

As long as we have MEN meeting our needs, we will have a brokenness with God, and when we have a brokenness with God we will become disappointed, and disappointment breeds hopelessness. We have been disappointing others and have been disappointed since time began. We need to be restored to a hopeful state of mind - hope breeds joy, peace, contentment, free from worry, excitement, life, you'll begin seeing all the good in this world, it's because of Hope.

Do you need Hope? The bible says to "Hope in God" (Psalm 43:5). Let's get our eyes back on God and confess any hopelessness or disappointment you have -then wait for God to move on your behalf! Yes, seeing your condition and confessing your sin of hopelessness WILL cause things to change in your life! As I shared in the article prior. Faith, HOPE and Love are the three greatest attributes of a believer to live a fruitful and victorious life.

(Proverbs 13:12) "Hope deferred makes the heart sick...."

(I Corinthians 13:13) "And now abides faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love."

Comments from Readers:

"A Matter of the Mind" is a book I wrote about my life story. It's about me living a life in fear and anxiety to one without the fear and anxiety. I have had opportunity to distribute it at seminars, meetings and over the Internet. One lady whom is a health advocate and Christian uses my book to read to her patients as they are going through physical purging and detoxification programs. She told me of a lady who she was reading to who had wanted to take the book home and read it for herself - so she did. I was told that this person was so full of anger, frustration, fear, bitterness, and unforgiveness that when she got done reading the book, she has since forgiven someone that has truly hurt her. She now references the book to others to help them. She is getting free from all past pains and finding peace in her life. What a blessing!

Here's another note from someone that not only read the book but also reads the monthly newsletters. I had featured her in one of my earlier newsletters and she is still growing strong!

"I am truly amazed at what Love and Forgiveness can do; Not to mention, 'Silent lips 101' - which you taught me well. Who would have thought that "shutting up" for awhile would bring so much peace to my home? Too easy! But I'm reaping the rewards, just as you said I would! I sure love you for that and for the other things you took time to show me! There's a song by Cece Winas that says, "It wasn't easy... but it was worth it!" God knew it wouldn't be easy, but OH HOW TREMENDOUS HIS PEACES IS, AND WELL WORTH THE LEARNING!. God bless you sweet friend, and thank you so much for your newsletter, it really encourages me to start something in our community also. Let's see what God leads me to do."

What an encouraging note! I'm so glad she is gong to "pursue" her dreams and visions and I know her town will be shaken up for the Lord!

I recently received a phone call from a lady in Ireland wanting personal ministry. She found Life Application Ministries while surfing the Web - and now she is well on her way of getting the help she seeks. She told me that she has downloaded the Newsletters and has been reading them, which inspired her to call for ministry help. This was a real treat to know that people in Ireland are reading these newsletters!

And a finally a note from Japan - she wrote:

"Just a note from a sister in Japan. I have only been acquainted with Pastor Wrights ministry through his brochure and book (since 5-6 years ago). I've looked on and off for a few years on the Internet to try and see if any of his information or teaching made it to the Internet. I am so pleased to have found your site. I printed a multitude of article off your site just now and will be in the process over the next month of walking through the lessons for deliverance and freedom. Again, just a note to say I'm glad your site is on-line and I know it will bless many. I can forward your site address to many friends whom I know will benefit (spirit-soul-and body). Blessings to you and yours, keep up the good work of the Lord."

In Christian Love,
Misawa AB, Japan

If you have any comments you want to share, please respond by email. Your comments and encouragements not only touch my life but every reader as well - exhorting and encouraging!

PUSH!

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with
light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do,
and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that
the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up
to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of
the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man
returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been
spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to
enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "you have been
pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus,
giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and the he was a
failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill
myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the
minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

And that is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a
matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he
said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength
to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even
budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me
and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock
with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to
you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you
come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is
that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your
back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your
legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much,
and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't
moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to
exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now, My
friend, I will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to
decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple
obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves
mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong ... just P.U.S.H.!
When the job gets you down ... just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't react the way you think they should... just P.U.S.H.!
When your money looks "gone" and the bills are due...just P.U.S.H!
When people just don't understand you ... just P.U.S.H.!

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

How to Get In Touch With Us:

For information about the seminars, events, or personal ministry you can call (530) 620-2712, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday through Sunday (Pacific Standard time). You may need to leave a message, but your call will be returned within 24 hours. Web site is www.mindsync.com/LAM, email is TruthFrees@Mindsync.com. If you are wanting to speak to Pastor Wright, you will need to contact him by email at pvcm@alltel.net.

Tom's Tidbits!

"If we live looking at the past, we rob the present resulting in losing the future".

This is a simple quote and some of you may have heard something along these lines. But do we heed these words or are we still fretting about regrets from yesterday? I discovered why some people who are old when they look back upon their lives they see it as a blurrrrr. I believe it may be because the never LIVED in that moment, always in yesteryears or on ahead. We need to live in the moment. The bible says, "Faith is Now" not yesterday or tomorrow.

The bible clearly says to put the past behind us and forget it, and not to look into tomorrow because "sufficient in the day is the evil thereof". (Matthew 6:34) In other words tomorrow has enough stuff of it's own to try to add it to today's stuff. Boy that can be a real mess if you look at it that way. Take a minute right now and think of what you have been thinking about today. Has it been about where you are right now or where you should be or have been? Ask God to help you focus and seize every moment He has given you and watch how your life becomes more enjoyable and full of peace. You may even notice your quality of life improve!

Scripture of the Month

Psalms 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart OH and renew a right spirit within me."

This is only one scripture of many throughout the bible that talks of being clean in the heart with having our spirits lifted. Matthew 23:26 says that we need to clean the inside first and the outside may become clean also. It appears to me that our heart condition has to be clean before we can be made right (or out actions, health is made right) - not that we do everything right, but that we confess our heart to God and allow Jesus to cleanse us. Then and only then can God RESTORE whatever it is we need to have restored. I do find that a lot easier than me trying clean my self up and fix all my messes! My husband told me the other day that during these last several years of sanctification, I had a whole lot of angels having to keep up with me! And I agreed! My life was so messed up, distorted and perverted, I didn't know what was truth, what to believe, who I was, where I was going, what I was supposed to do, why I felt the way I felt, why I acted the way I did, well, you get the picture. But I also learned that God has to clean my heart and that is done by recognizing and confessing.

David, when he wrote this psalm - had just realized (a year later) that he had sinned against God with Bethsheba. The bible says that our sins will find us out. I pray that those sins get found out sooner than a year, because I know that David did not have peace, joy or contentment during that time - he even lost the baby that was conceived from Bethsheba. But when he saw into his own heart and confessed what was there, then and right then did God restore to him "The joy of his salvation." (Psalm 51:12) In other words, restore Him to his relationship the same as it was BEFORE he sinned!

BOOKS and other materials:

We offer a number of books, please see price list below:

A Matter of the Mind: $20.00
A More Excellent Way: $25.00
How to be happy though married: $5.00
The Truth Shall Make You Free: $5.00

If you are unable to pay full price, any donation amount is acceptable. If you are unable to pay at all, we may offer them free of charge.

If you make a donation above the cost of the item, it is tax deductible. For more information on these books, please call the Life Application Office at (530) 620-2712 or e-mail in your request and/or questions to TruthFrees@Mindsync.com.

Upcoming Events

March 30th - Seminar To be held in Sacramento, CA.
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Please call for details (530) 620-2712

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April - Seminar - to be held in Sacramento
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Please call for details (530) 620-2712

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May - Seminar to be held in Sacramento
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Please call for details (530) 620-2712

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Seminars can be scheduled upon request by calling (530) 620-2712.