LAM Newsletter, October 2002

REMINDER! Pastor Wright from Pleasant Valley Ministries in Georgia is coming to Sacramento!!! Mark your calendars and plan on joining us. Pastor Wright is the minister who helped me five years ago find the "missing link" in my Christian walk. He has been instrumental in helping me build Life Application Ministries! You won't want to miss these meetings.

Location:
Pioneer Baptist Church
7600 Old Auburn Road
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(Location may change due to the demand - please call 1-888-708-3232 a few days before to verify location)

Date and Time: October 31st (Thursday) 7:p.m., November 1st (Friday) 7:p.m.; November 2nd (Saturday) 10:00 - noon, 1-3 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. until??????

For more information call 1-888-708-3232.

A New Horse!

Scripture comes to mind that says not to put new wine into old wine skins because it will break the bag and both will be ruined. (Matthew 9:17). How many times is God trying to do a "new" thing in our lives, but we try to continue doing the old things? No wonder we get confused and frustrated and struggle. We are "trying" to do something like "push a dead horse up a hill."

This insight came about when I had an experience this last month that I realized God was moving me into a new thing. Something happened that knocked me off my horse, your might say, in the spirit. I did get back up, but I tried getting back on the same horse. My husband told me that they took my horse too! I didn't understand that until days later, that he was right. God didn't want me "back" on the old horse, but wanted me to sit on a new horse taking me to a new thing. So now that I know something "new" is about to happen, I began looking for the new thing. God then told me not to look for the new thing, but keep looking toward Him. He'll bring the new thing to me. I think we as believers try to make things happen God has promised us, only resulting in disappointment, discouragement, confusion and doubt. But I think I'm getting it! I recall reading somewhere in the Bible that "We have never traveled this way before." And I believe that I can't know what is going to happen, because I've not traveled this way before. Knowing this has given me great hope with great expectations! But in the meantime, prior to any manifestation of that "new" thing, I'll continue seeking God and God alone - not the thing!

TOM's TIDBITS

"Do you know why God never changes?"

Tom and I were talking one morning about how people are continually changing. That sometimes when we make a statement, later on, we may change that statement because we learned something new. That we are humans and subject to change, and to change our thinking more and more to be like Jesus. I then said to Tom, "God never changes." He then asked, "Do you know why God never changes?" I answered, "Because He's God." He said, "Well, it goes deeper than that." And I said, "So why doesn't God ever change?" He said, "Because He's always right." We both began to laugh, because Tom was absolutely right. People are not always right, we have to continue to change, but God is ALWAYS right.

INsight on Disease:

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 can address specific areas in people's lives to help them find the roots and blocks to their diseases.

Attention Deficit Disorder

There are three ranges: the lower range, the mid range, and the high range. The high range is hyperactivity. We primarily deal with ADD in children. Dealing with ADD in adults is more difficult. ADD is coming out of a dumb and deaf spirit. There are many classes of psychological diseases that fall under the category of dumb and deaf. Jesus cast out a dumb and a deaf spirit from a person who could not speak (Matthew 11:5: Mark 7:32 and 37: Mark 9:25; Luke 7:22).

Dumb and deaf spirits rule over the second heavens and try to control the minds of men. Your mind is the Lord's and your spirit is the Lord's, and your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. You are the Lord's and the enemy of your life, Satan, wants to rule you in your thoughts.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that we are to bring every thought into captivity, casting down every imagination and every thought that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God. We have to subject our thoughts to higher thoughts ALL the time. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8). The most man's wisdom could ever be just begins to approach the foolishness of God according to Scripture. (I Cor. 1:25).

Our minds have to renewed by the washing of the water of the Word (Ephesians 4;23; 5:26) and we have to bring every thought into captivity of the knowledge of God.

(Gleaned from "A More Excellent Way" by Pastor Wright)

If you need personal ministry in this area, please contact the LAM office at TruthFrees@Mindsync.com or Pleasant Valley Ministries at pvcm@alltel.net. or their website at: www.pleasantvalleychurch.net.

Insight

"We walk in lies or in truth - there is no in between."

Scripture that comes to mind is, "Let your words be yea or nay, anything else is of the Devil." (Matthew 5:37). There is no in-between of any kind. It's either up or down, left or right, above or beneath, black or white, etc. But how many of us live in between. This place is a place of confusion and doubt and fear. There is no stability when we live in the middle. Are we believing TRUTH or believing LIES? We can only live what we believe. If you believe you are good for nothing, guess what, you will manifest those things in your life and then others will agree with you. You then wonder why no one likes you - it may be what you believe about yourself! If you believe you are a child of the Most-High God, then you will live and walk in fearlessness, love, security, peace, stability, and the like. Others will see '"the light" and draw to you wanting what you have.

We as believers walk in truth or we walk in lies. The truth is positive and uplifting, lies are negative and down. Truth speaks GOOD of all men, lies causes us to be critical, judgmental and suspicious. How are we talking?

Just this week (at the writing of this article), I began a study on truth. I decided to look up the word TRUTH in the Strongs Concordance. I haven't finished because there are hundreds of references and I have only begun, but I have seen a pattern. If you look at Genesis 18:21, Joshua 24:14, I Samuel 12:24; they all say for us to "Walk in the fear of the Lord and in Truth." This tells me clearly that when I walk in truth, that IS fearing the Lord. So if you aren't sure how to fear the Lord, here's one way. Simply walk in Truth. Live each day with integrity, honesty, and forthrightness. It doesn't matter how tiny the thing is - as a matter of fact, it's those little things that can spoil everything. Don't forget about the unleavened bread? One drop of leaven can raise the whole loaf!

As I began this study, God gave me opportunity to walk this out. For an example - I wrote a letter to the local churches asking for their help for an event LAM is sponsoring in November. I had printed them, began stuffing envelopes, and at about the last one, I glanced down and read a portion of the letter that hit me wrong. I had said that for questions, they could call me at my home number AND my work number. Well, it was a little thing, but I don't want them calling my work number. So I removed all the letters and rewrote that paragraph. Sure, it was a little more effort, and even cost me a little money to replace all those letters, but it was integrity. Each of us every day has opportunity to "do" the honest and true thing. When we are saturated with TRUTH from the Word of God, it leads and guides us to "do" the right thing. I cannot in of myself DO anything right. I know that only God is Good and can do all things right - but because Jesus lives in me, I have the ability to do things right. When I saw that phone number, it wasn't I that saw it, but the Holy Spirit within me that prompted me to remove it.

This is what being a Christian is all about. It's not having a big ministry, helping hundreds of people, writing books, or even doing a newsletter! It's what is going on inside of us. That's what will dictate how we do things and treat people. Are we offended easily? Are we living in hurt and pain about past wrongs? Are we suspicious? Or are we living in truth in our hearts? (Hebrews 2:10,12,19)

God told me something very profound that answered my question about living peacably among all men - as the bible teaches us to. He said, "If you think GOOD of all men, you will NEVER be offended." I began to think about that and realized that is a truth! The bible says in I Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) that we are to look at the good in all men. As I thought about that I began looking at situations around me. Here's an example: Let's say you are driving down the road and your lane is ending up ahead. You are about to move over, you haven't put on your blinker or anything yet, but the car next to you speeds up. What are your thoughts? Are you thinking - "They sped up on purpose so that I couldn't move over." Then of course, that leaves you feeling offended and mad - this is what causes road rage. Not walking in love and seeing the good in ALL things and ALL men. So let's look at this again - The situation is the same, but this time you ON PURPOSE thought only good. You began thinking, "That person didn't know what was going on ahead, they were busy on the phone or talking with someone in the car - I wasn't even on their mind." Man, what a difference. There was no hurt or offense taken at all. No road rage!

As the Lord began testing me in this area of "thinking good of all men", the Lord revealed to me that I was very suspicious. I knew I was at times, I think it's from wanting to protect myself - but what the Lord showed me was that I was ALL the time! I didn't even know it. Because as I was being "set up" to "think good" I wasn't. I would think suspiciously of people's actions. Assuming their intentions! Yuck! I am in the process of allowing God to change my thoughts so that instead of "thinking" that my housecleaner stole my necklace, I would not. Because this has happened to me in reality. I was unable to find something in my house and blamed my housecleaner for moving it or taking it. But, eventually I would find the thing I was missing. But I was still being suspicious. Suspicion comes from distrust. You know I even felt suspicious about myself at times? I had to laugh at that one. For example: I began going to a community church in my town. I had only been going a few weeks, but during that time I was also preparing letters for churches in the community about the Help for the Holidays event in November. I found myself thinking, "Oh no, the pastor is going to "think" I'm only going to church so he would put my announcement in the bulletin." Then I said, "I will not think that. It's no big deal and they can think what they want, I know that is not true." I had to force myself to see past my suspicion of even myself, and look at the truth.

If this is all we as believers do for the rest of our lives - live in Truth - God is pleased. (God is pleased when His children walk in truth. III John 3:4).

Revelations 21:27 says "----anyone who loves making a lie" is not worthy to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I think lying (or living a lie or believing lies) is very serious. It's the opposite of Truth. Jesus is the Way the TRUTH and the Life, no one can come unto the Father but by Him. And what I see even clearer now, is that Jesus affords us the ability to walk in His ways, to walk in His Truth and to walk in His life.

See, I had been so caught up in "doing" things for God, I wasn't living it fully. I would feel guilty enjoying my life and the blessings, thinking I had to be doing more stuff. Well, as my husband pointed out to me today, "Maybe you need to begin enjoying the reaping that you have sewn?" Hmm… perhaps he is right. That is a hard thing for me to do because I've been one to 'accomplish'. So, that's a whole new concept for me - but one worth venturing into. After all, it's not what we "DO" that's important, it's the TRUTH we live every day within our heart.

In Psalm 26 David asks God to search his heart to see if he is lacking in trusting God (walking in integrity, truth and honesty). Because it then says when we trust God, we will not slide (backslide).

PERSONAL TESTIMONIAL:

Self-Preservation

This is a "biggy" for me! Along with learning how to think good of all men, God was also showing me how I had been taking care of myself far too much. When we judge or criticize or assume what other's intention are, we are protecting ourselves. We are making them look bad so that we look good.

This revelation is not an easy one to share, but I believe it will be worth my effort if it helps one person. God began showing me examples of self-preservation. Let me share them with you and perhaps you can identify with them as well.

Going to the Dentist. Many of you know my plights with the dentist. I really don't like going and even was so bound in fear at one time about even making an appointment But now I understand why. I was in self-preservation. I was protecting my body from experiencing any pain or discomfort. I don't like "feeling" numb. I don't like the shots. It's very uncomfortable to keep my mouth open for a long period of time because my jaws begin to hurt. So if I didn't go to the Dentist, my body wouldn't feel any discomfort. Well, when I learned this about this particular situation, I made a dentist appointment. I told my body, "Body, you will go, I don't care if I have to take you screaming and kicking - your teeth need to be fixed for it is best." So with that I did go and take care of much needed work.

Going on a trip. I wouldn't go on far away trips, especially now, because I didn't want to be far away from home in case something happened in the world. I was protecting myself from being far away from my husband. When in all actuality, no matter where I am at the time things happen, it'll be exactly where God needs me to be!

As you can see, fear is still the underlying culprit in self-preservation! Even though I no longer have anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, I still have opportunity to be tempted to fear. Until I knew that self-preservation was a form of fear I couldn't resist it. But now that I know - I am on the look out for self-preservation. Now, things are so different. I even shared this concept with a friend of mine and she too is now seeing all the ways she is in self-preservation. Let me share one with you. She found herself in self-preservation about her reputation at work. Without going into details, we know that trying to "make" everyone OK around us is hard work and very frustrating. When she realized what she was doing, she threw her hands up in the airs and said, "I'm not taking care of myself in this area any more."

What peace she received. What peace comes when we stop trying to figure everything out and trying to fix everything ourselves.

The bottom line is that self-preservation is simply protecting ourselves and in fear all along trying to accomplish it.

If this describes you - then agree in prayer with me. "Lord, thank you for revealing this to me. Help me to recognize when I am in self-preservation and fear and let me confess this sin before you and receive your love and forgiveness in a deeper way. Help me to see the situation in Truth, not through self-preservation or fear. Let not self-preservation or fear prevent me from seeing what you want me to see and doing what you want me to do. In Jesus name, Amen."

Scripture of the Month

Jeremiah 1:8 and 1:17

" v8…..be not afraid of their faces.." "v17…. if you are afraid of their faces, I will confound you before them."

Aughhh!! I surely don't like the sound of that. This scripture really ministered to me this month though. I had conducted a meeting the weekend following a hard experience that left me "feeling" inadequate. Because I was still feeling this way, it reflected in my meeting. I believe this was the hardest meeting I ever conducted. I was about 1/2 hour into the meeting, and already people were looking at their watches, yawning, staring at me, one person was falling asleep and another lady would do a "fake" smile every time I looked at her. Boy, I was drowning. So I said, "Let's take a brake." What I wanted to do was jump in my car and leave! But I didn't. I went into the bathroom and had a heart to heart with the Lord. I said, "Lord I know this isn't going so good, and will not look at their faces. I will trust what you have called me to do, and that's that." So I went back out there, and with determination and believing that's where God wanted me, I continued with the meeting. Much to my surprise (and believe me it was a shock) at the end people wanted to get more information on the ministry to share with others, and so forth.

Without me even realizing it, I had "lived" that scripture. I was no longer "afraid" of their faces. And I was no longer feeling "confounded" (incapable) before them. When I changed my thoughts about my abilities and about the right to be doing what I was doing, the whole atmosphere of the meeting changed! It didn't matter if they were listening, I kept on keeping on! And it did pay off. Though I didn't think they were listening - they were.

And, now that I know the rest of that passage - that IF I was afraid of their faces God would allow me to be confounded in front of them - so now I know to keep on keeping on regardless of their stares.

LAM 2002 Schedule

October 31 - Nov 2nd - Pastor Wright is ministering at Pioneer Baptist Church in Sacramento. (Call 888-708-3232 for more information.)

November 30th - Help for the Holidays event to be held this year at Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth CA. It's not too soon to talk about "Help for the Holidays" event. This is where individuals who need a little help during the holidays and come and shop for free! We set up the facility like a department store, we have many individuals helping in the different departments. We provide live music, door prize drawings, etc. This year it's being held in Plymouth, CA in Pokerville Hall at the Amador County Fairgrounds. We are taking donations now of slightly used and new items. We want to have a good selection of quality items. All donations are tax deductible.

Please call at (530) 620-2712 or email back for more information on these seminars or on the Help for the Holidays event.