LAM Newsletter, January 2003

Happy New Year!

It's time to put old things behind us and reach out for the new things ahead. Isn't that what Happy New Year means? We get a fresh new start to try and do things better. The New Year always gives us that opportunity to start again, with New Hope. But did you know that we have that opportunity every day? God's mercies are NEW every morning. So in reality, we as believers should have a Happy "New" Day, 365 days a year. But is that reality? It's a spiritual reality and available for every believer, but I don't think many people live it.

Why can we feel so wonderful one day and the next day feel the complete opposite! Have you ever put on a nice outfit and felt ugly in it, yet other times you felt great in the same outfit? Nothing outside of us has changed; it's what our mind is thinking about what is going in us at the time.

Let me ask you a question. Right now, as you are reading this article, do you feel like you are "under" something? Perhaps you feel like you are in a slump and you don't know why? Perhaps you feel sluggish and tired all the time? Perhaps a "dark cloud" is hanging over you? You are not alone - at least I can attest to this in my own life. I've even felt lazy and uninterested in things that use to give me great joy. So what was my problem?

Well I knew who knew so I decided to take my lazy little self to the Lord and ask, "What's my problem?" I wasn't told anything immediately but just happened to turn on the radio to Joyce Meyer about the same time I was praying. What she said "unstuck" me from my feeling. I had been doing something that perhaps many of you are doing. We go to God with how we feel like this, "Oh God, I just can't take it any more. I am so tired. Please take me home. I'm under something and I can't figure it out. Why is this happening to me? I need help, but what's the use? I'm trying so hard but nothing is working! I don't think I'll ever change!" Sound familiar? All we are doing is whining and complaining. God cannot move on our behalf through unbelief - and that's what whining and complaining is. The Lord wants us to come to Him boldly and make specific petitions in line with His Word and receive what is ours.

As I continued listening to her broadcast she stopped and told everyone to stand up and repeat after her, "I receive your strength by faith RIGHT NOW in Jesus name." I too joined in and right after I said it, something happened. I felt like a plug was removed and a flow began again. I had stopped my own blessings by my own complaining and murmuring which was a result of me trying to do things in my own strength (but at the time, I didn't know that's what I had been doing). We can only do all things through Christ's strength. The minute I prayed that, I was immediately changed and felt it right away. My attitude changed and my words changed that quickly! This is something we have to ALL be reminded of from time to time because we get going so fast in life we begin taking things onto ourselves to complete instead of letting God.

Let me go on to say that day was fantastic. I had opportunity to minister to a few ladies at work who came to me. I felt great that day! I thought it was because I ministered to these ladies, but the Lord showed me later that it was because I came to Him first, which restored my joy, the ladies were just the icing on the cake. As I look back these past several years, I notice that to be true. When I'm flowing with the Lord He opens the doors for the ministry to flow. When I'm complaining and taking things upon myself, there's not much action in my ministry. I learned some time ago that God cannot move by fear only by faith. Faith is believing. The words I say are containers for power. Are my angels sitting around twirling their thumbs or are they moving in my behalf because of the bold truth I speak and believe?

My New Year prayer for you is that you get UNSTUCK right now in Jesus name by receiving HIS power once again. Sometimes we just get so caught up in the "thing" God has led us into that we start doing it ourselves. This is just a gentle reminder that we can do NOTHING without Him. Nothing! By receiving His power and strength right now He will equip you to handle whatever it is you are trying to handle right now on your own.

Repeat after me: "Father, I receive your strength RIGHT NOW in Jesus name. I can do nothing without You. Forgive me Lord for forgetting that and restore me to you once again. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Comments from You:

Here are a few comments from readers who either access the web site, receive personal ministry or comments from readers of the book "A Matter of the Mind."

"Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list and updated on your events. I have experienced tremendous breakthroughs in my life and health in the last 2 weeks. I can't thank you enough for the ministry time you gave to me and for you praying for me. The fear is almost completely gone - it tries to come back of course but I treat it like a bully that is trying to steal my lunch money. I say, no, and go. My allergies and asthma are almost totally gone. You told me back in March when I was stricken with the panic/anxiety asthma/allergies that one day I would be free from all of it and that I would be breathing much better and I held on to those words on many dark and gloomy days and nights. Thank you so much Linda and keep getting the word out to get people free. P.S. I have flown 3 times since we spoke!!!!! All of this is to the Glory of God. He is beyond faithful and a covenant keeping God." (Scottsdale, AZ)

"There is just something that the Lord is doing in my life through your book. He is drawing me closer and I have been praying for faith and I believe that He is using your book to answer that prayer." (Out of state)

"I'll always be so grateful to you for helping me as much as you did, when I needed it the most! Your words still ring soundly in my mind whenever I feel attacked by the evil one. Thanks for teaching me how to stay firm! The Jesus in you anchored me, when my seas were raging rough. You shared His son-light into some of my cloudy days and helped to bring hope back. You're a gem, in the treasure God had in mind for me. And now I can minister to others going through the same issues. I could go on and on… but I'm very thankful to you Linda!" (Georgia)

If you have comments you want to share, please contact me via email at: TruthFrees@mindsync.com.

Competition

As I was looking at things that go on in this world I found something that remained a constant - and that was sports! On every radio and TV station some time during the year, there are games of all kinds: golf, basketball, football, baseball, tennis, soccer, Olympics, you name it, we have it. One important thing they all have in common is "competition." Competing against each other to be the best. When I watched a football game recently, which was the first one I really sat and watched in my whole life, the faces were torn apart of those who lost. I even began praying for them because they looked downcast and utterly destroyed. The other team, however, was jumping and screaming and making a big deal about their win. Someone always has to lose and I'll add have never learned to lose well.

We have been "conditioned" to compete. It's everywhere we go! It's not only in sports, but also in our every day life. We see billboards that have beautiful shapely models on them, and we begin comparing. Comparing ourselves with others is the same as competing with them. We also know, if you've been on this planet long enough, someone is always better at what they do than you are. Better at making friends, drives a better car, lives in a better area, has better clothes, has more talents, better finances, etc. We will see this all throughout our lives. The sports arena has set the stage for us to be in competition with each other. This nation has been geared to compete, no wonder we are in such a disarray.

The bible says that we are not to love this world or the things in it. It means to not hold tight and crave and desire what this world has to offer, yet this is exactly what people are doing. There's a bumper sticker that says, "He who has the most toys when he dies, wins." These people have gone after their desires of wealth, possessions and other substance, yet I do believe with all my heart, they never attained what they needed to be completely fulfilled. They knew there was a void in their heart, but didn't know how to fill it, so being tempted by all the "stuff" around them, they took off after those things, finding out that they needed more stuff to continually fill that void. What a vicious cycle. Does this sound familiar?

There is a thirst that can be quenched; it's from Jesus. Let me say that most of the people that are thirsty and craving are Christians, they do have Jesus as their Savior, yet they still live in a vacuum of not being satisfied. Let me give you some insights on how you can become fulfilled and no longer crave what the world has for you to "feel" complete. A person who craves these things are not 1) Believing God loves them 2) Not receiving God's love for them 3) Does not trust God 4) does not know God. A person who craves these things, (same with addictions), does not have a sound relationship with our Father God. That's where we all have to start. Some of you say you do have a great relationship with Him, but if you recognized any of these traits in you I described, you are in deception. Having a relationship with God looks like this: No worry, no fear, no doubting His love for you, stability (not being tossed up and down with every circumstance), inner peace, inner joy, just to name a few things. If you don't walk in what I just described, your relationship can improve.

How do you learn how to believe God loves you? How do you receive His love? How do you understand what it means to have a relationship with God the right way? How do you trust Him? The Bible says we have not because we ask not. And also says, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering (James 1). I believe that's our problem! How can we ask God in faith when we cannot believe or trust Him? How can you receive anything from someone you don't really know! You can't believe God loves you until you KNOW Him. You cannot receive His love, until you KNOW Him. You cannot understand His ways, until you KNOW Him. Paul said his biggest desire is that you get to KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection (speaking of Jesus). Jesus came to show us God, we get to know Jesus, we get to know God. That is where you start!

Go to God and say, "God I don't really KNOW you. If I knew you, I would truly know you love me, I wouldn't be so fearful. I desire to know you deeper than ever. Teach me. Help me to receive your unconditional love toward me right now. Help me to gain wisdom and understanding. Teach me your ways Oh Lord and Lead me in a plain path. In Jesus name, Amen."

TOM's TIDBITS

Do you know what a revelation is?

One morning Tom and I were talking about some of the revelations I had received the day before. And it occurred to me that when I'm shown something I want to go and tell it to the world. But learned that sometimes it's just for me and my personal growth in the Lord. As we continued talking, I then began sharing another revelation on what I believe God wants me to be doing. As I was sharing that with him, He asked me, "Do you know what a revelation is?" I said, "It's something you learn that changes your life." He asked again, "Do you know what a revelation is? (Obviously it wasn't the answer he had in mind.) I said, "What?" He said, "It's something you don't know." I pondered a second and said, "You are absolutely right, that's a perfect definition of what a revelation is!"

Scripture of the Month

Proverbs 2:1-5
What does it mean to have the "Fear of the Lord?"

"My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea of thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver and searches for her as for hid treasures, THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD."

It's all in this one passage. Let's take a look closely.

If you

NOW you've got the picture. Once you have accomplished all these things and began walking them out in your daily life, you will understand the fear of the Lord. BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST. I know for a fact that you cannot receive His words, or hide the words in your heart, or do any of what this scripture is saying until you KNOW His love for you is deep, unconditional and unwavering. You cannot receive what you don't believe. And in the area of "fearing the Lord" I can't tell you how to. I can tell you what the scriptures say, but it has to become a revelation to you personally, and that's up to you! I found that I Fear the Lord in ways I never thought about only because I've been living the "If's" of this passage. It didn't happen over night. It has taken me a few years to get a grip on this verse and walk it out. But now I can say I truly understand the fear of the Lord. And frankly, it's not what I expected - it's a great place to be with the Lord, a place of liberation and freedom!

PERSONAL TESTIMONIAL:

Feelings vs. Facts

Here's a little revelation I received this month. I was driving home after work and needed my sunglasses. Instead of pulling over to find them I began feeling around in my purse for them. I pulled things out while driving down the road, yet I couldn't find them. Then I decided to stop and look. The glass case was sitting right in plain sight!

I got an insight about this. If we go by our feelings all the time, we will get frustrated, angry, confused and end up in a mess at times. If we just look a minute and see what's truly going on, this grief would never happen. This is just a tip on how to stay in peace.

Can't get away with nothin'!

I had been car searching these past few weeks. I am looking for a nice comfortable car, with good gas mileage, but fun to be in too. I've been to many lots and talked with lots of sales people. I don't particular find that too thrilling, but it's what has to be done if you are looking in lots for a car. The last one that I went to was a used import dealership because I was curious about the Lexus. As I test drove about 4 of them, I spent a lot of time that day with the sales person. I didn't know if I was going to buy one or not, I just wanted to drive one to see if it's what I wanted IN a car. And as I thought, it was exactly the "feel" I wanted. The seats adjusted perfect for me, there were lots of features in the car that I really liked, but of course, didn't like the price, even on used vehicles. Well, as the salesperson was taking another car back that we test drove, I was standing out in front of the lot. I decided to leave. So I went inside and told the receptionist to tell my salesperson that I was leaving and that I'd call him later. And I skipped out without saying a word.

Well, I didn't think much of it, I knew I wouldn't be going back there for some time, if at all, but you'll never guess what happened next! I went to the movies the next evening and guess who was standing right in front of me in line? The sales person!!! That's when I said to myself, "I can't get away with nothin'! We were cordial with each other but didn't mention anything about cars. I then realized that I had allowed myself to have "the fear of man." See when I was at the lot, I was afraid to tell him I wasn't interested that day in buying because I had spent a lot of time with him when he could have been talking to actual buyers that day. So I skipped out without saying anything to him. But God didn't want me to live like that, so he gave me an opportunity to make things right by putting it IN my face! So the next day I gave him a call and apologized to him for not speaking to him before I left. He accepted my apology and that was that. I had no idea what I did at the time, not until God put him in front of me. The Lord said, "He's a salesman, but he's a person first." I needed to treat him with as much respect as I would a guest!

I then thanked the Lord for caring about every single detail in my life in helping me live fearlessly!