LAM Newsletter, September 2004

LAM Updates

Had a great month of August! I had the privilege of baptizing two individuals from the same family. I conducted a regular seminar, to include baptism teaching. The individual was a young man who was so excited about being baptized in the river like Jesus. His family came, and we all enjoyed the service at the river. Then with surprise and excitement, his mother wanted to be baptized. I didn't know her testimonial of salvation so I asked her. She indicated she wasn't sure, that she was saved all her life. Well, with that I knew because of her religious background, that her religion believes that they are saved when they are christened as a child. So I took her through the salvation prayer and she received Christ as Savior there on the spot. Within seconds, she was baptized! Truly a wonderful experience and blessing for us all! The angels were rejoicing with us in Heaven.

I had opportunity to conduct the ceremony for a couple who were re-affirming their wedding vows. That was a blessing too. To be a part of that event, to see a couple still together after so many years, and wanting to rededicate themselves to each other. What an honor that was.

That's the updates for now. I will be taking a few months off from conducting the 3-day home seminars - and begin again in March of next year. I will continue ministering on-line and providing insights and help as needed. If I do get a request for a seminar between now and then, that is still something I will do. So if you would like a seminar in your hometown, or in your home, contact me and we can arrange.

Got Guilt?

Do you feel bad about anything? I mean, perhaps you have said something, or did something that affected others, yet you aren't really sure who it affected? So you just feel "bad" about it. You can't shake it? You think about it and it consumes you from time to time? If it was something that you said or did recently, you are probably consumed with thinking of it right now! Well, this is what happened to me. Just today, and since I believe this is something we all do, no matter how spiritual we think we are, it's worth taking a look at again.

Here is my story. I was invited to a teleconference meeting. This is a meeting where those attending the meeting dial a phone number and we can all talk to each other without having to be in the room.

Well I was one of the first ones to dial in, so we were waiting for the rest of the team. Some of the team used a speakerphone from the office, while two others and myself were dialing in because we were at other locations for the day. While I was conversing with one of the others, I began saying things about the work I was assigned. I indicated that I felt like my supervisor didn't really give me the information I needed to do the job well and would have to do it over. As we continued talking, I'm not sure at what point the others chimed in but they said, "We were sitting here listening to the conversation and tried to talk but couldn't get in."

We then started the meeting, not even returning to the topic I was talking about at all. Later that day it donned on me - I mean like a ton of bricks, that what I was saying was about the situation between me and the lady who entered the meeting and was listening to the conversation. Like I said, I don't know what she heard, but inside I began feeling bad. I was trying to think of what I said that could have hurt her, or whatever. I know that what I said was true, but I didn't need to be telling anyone else, but her directly. So I started feeling bad. And the truth was, feeling "bad" is the same as feeling "guilty."

Since I know about what I teach, I decided to put it to the test. Once I figured out that it was guilt, I prayed. "Father, I feel bad at what I said. I didn't mean to talk about anyone, and didn't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to undermine anyone's authority, yet I believe I did. I am guilty for that, and did do that. I receive forgiveness for my part, and receive forgiveness for all guilt. You have nailed it to the cross years ago, and so I receive it now. I now ask that you fix any damage I may have caused others, repair the relationship I may have messed up, remove the words from the hearers of whatever they heard. I trust you with this and will not fear. In Jesus name, Amen." And guess what? Within minutes that "bad" feeling was gone! I had, once again, applied the forgiveness to my sin of guilt.

We are never to carry around any guilty feelings, whether we call them "bad feelings" or what. It's sin. We are saying that we have to pay for it because we did it. And yes, we may be "guilty" of what we did, which is our sin, but to immediately receive forgiveness and restoration is our "gift" as a believer. That is a mighty gift! Something we don't earn, deserve or work for. It's a gift, and we are to trade our sin for that gift every single time - immediately.

So the next time you feel "bad" about something, or "wished that never happened" stop and recognize it as guilt and apply the forgiveness that Jesus provided. Receive forgiveness immediately. Pray the prayer of reconciliation and restoration, and go on with your life. If you have to make amends later as directed by the Holy Spirit, then do so, but only after you have received forgiveness. I know for a fact that if you try to "fix" the problem while still feeling "bad" (or guilty) it will only get worse. Remove the sin before attempting to resolve anything - and most of the time you won't have to "do" anything at all - God will fix it, if you believe.

Here are the basic steps to resolving:
1) Identify the truth of the situation (your involvement, other's involvement)
2) Healing of the heart may be needed
3) Release soul ties to the person/situation
4) Forgive completely from the heart
(For more details on these subjects, go to http://www.mindsync.com/~lam and select "6 basic principles" on the header. The teaching information is found on that page. If you have difficulty locating, please contact this office.)

What's my job?

Have you wondered from time to time what you are doing here on this planet? When I have a few days of quiet time in my life, this is a question that pops up from time to time. I think that many of you have the same nagging question. A dear friend of mine, who is very godly, had the same questions going through her mind, just this week. So we all go through this at times. This question comes when we begin to doubt! When we begin to doubt our abilities, our call, if we really heard God leading us with what we are doing, and it's discontentment. This is a warning sign that we need to stop what we are "doing" and fall on our face and get re-acquainted intimately with our Father in Heaven. We have some how got off track for a moment. When this happened to me just the other day, it felt like I was a golf ball that was hit out in the sand dunes. I could see the green, but I was in the sand. It was dry there. I knew I was off the road God has called me to. So I decided to stop doing what I was doing, and ask! This did take a few days, and I had the time off work to focus as much as possible. And the answer came. I allowed something into my life that was robbing my joy. I asked the Lord to show me what it was. He showed me it was a movie I watched that dropped something into my spirit - something heavy and demonic. Immediately I repented, took the movie and tossed it out. Within seconds I felt myself back "in the green." My peace was restored, the uneasiness in my spirit was gone, my mind was clear again, and I felt my purpose again. The question then was no longer a question, because I knew what my job was. (I can't tell you what your job is, we all have different ones.) But once I got the "junk" out of my life, I was restored.

So to me, when I ask this question, "Why am I here? What is my job here?" Or those kinds of questions. It's a warning sign that we are out in the sand dunes somewhere, off track. It's time to stop and take some time to allow God to bring you back to the green. If you have to confess some sin that you haven't, forgive someone, or remove temptation from your life, or simply obey in an area you have been struggling with, whatever it is. Just do it, the blessings of God are much greater than that "thing" we are holding on to.

Just Do it!

Why is it hard to "Just do it?" We know what to do; yet we don't. Let me explain. Let's say I want to quit smoking. Why can't I just lay down the cigarettes? Let's say I want to lose some weight, but I can't seem to quit drinking sodas. Or let's say I want to fast all sugars, yet can't go a day without popping a piece of candy in my mouth. What's with that?

I asked my husband the other day because he is one who can "just do it." He can actually stop doing something on a dime, even when the stuff is looking at him in the face! Just recently he stopped drinking sodas. He would depend on them to get him going in the morning (instead of coffee) and pick him up during the day. He was really becoming dependent on them. Then he decided one day to stop. So he just did! You know how addicting soda's are, they are very addicting! But he just stopped. He did experience cravings, but didn't succumb. He experienced a withdrawal headache, but didn't relent. He's been able to do this with many things in his life; he has an amazing amount of self-control.

As we spoke about this, I told him that he was given a gift of self-control, more than anyone I've ever seen. He is very disciplined, and obeys God continually. Me on the other hand obey when it's convenient, (which it is getting easier as I've become more free in Christ) yet my self-control isn't what it should be. I'm compulsive too - I like to shop! So that gets me into trouble from time to time. I do have to say though that these last few years I've changed in that area, yet still have that desire to shop. I recall one day standing in a department store, arms full of stuff saying, "What am I doing here? I'm done." So I did leave the store, but I have to come to the point I've had enough! I just can't stop when I should or want to.

So this is my take on all this. Fear prevents us from being able to "just do it." Fear of missing out on something. We also need to address the area of addictions and wants. Someone with the spirit of addiction and wants will "always" be needy in some area. So if you think I have the answer right now, I don't. I'll be investigating this more in the weeks to come and see what God says about all this "just do it" stuff. I know it's obedience, I know its self-control, things that the Lord has given us in our spirit - so what's the problem?

Perhaps you have the answer to this, and your insights and comments may help me and other readers. Perhaps the next time I share, I'll have some more to share too. This is a process we may need to experience, and if we can help each other along in the meantime, terrific!

Speaking Truth in Love

How many of us have been told "I'm just speaking the truth to you in love?" But from your point of view, it wasn't filled with love at all, but accusation, hurt and offense. I understand now and I believe can help you too - whether you are the one saying it or receiving it - I believe I can help us grow in grace in this area.

I'll start with a story. I was in a group of people talking. Then out of the blue someone came up to us and told us to move the conversation somewhere else. We were all shocked at that request, but we did move. Later on it was brought up by the person who told us to move saying, "I needed to speak the truth on what I felt, but I did it in love." There was something wrong with that "in love" statement. Yes, she may have spoken the truth, and that's great, the Bible says to speak the truth with all men. However, I know for a fact it wasn't "in love." How? Because when someone has to tell you they spoke it in love, that is a high tell sign it wasn't, and the biggest sign of all is when you feel hurt by their words. (I'm not talking about words of rebuke for the edification.)

This is what I discovered: We are told in the Word of God to speak the truth in love, so that's what we "think" we are doing when we speak the truth - or have to face someone to say what we are feeling. So we think that by speaking what we feel, we are automatically doing it in love, but are we? The only way someone can speak the truth "IN" love, is when they are residing "IN" love at the time they speak. We are speaking from our heart, but if our own heart is filled with offense, hurt, frustration, and pain, no matter what we say won't be spoken "IN" love - because we ourselves are not "IN" it.

So if you truly want to speak the truth "in love" take these steps to ensure that happens.

1) Before confronting anyone, get your own heart right with God. Whether you are the one who has to apologize or if someone else offended you - you have to get it right with God. You get things right by admitting your own sin in the situation, receiving forgiveness, and releasing all guilt, shame, etc. If you are the one that was offended, you need to forgive the person in your heart before you can truly speak to them in love.
2) Once you have done this, and your heart is made clean before God, then and only if you still have the need to speak to the person, will you be able to do it "IN" love. Because now your heart has been purged and is prepared for you to speak from. Sometimes when we get things right with God, we no longer have the urge to speak to the person. Sometimes, however, there is still a need to speak to the person to clear up any misunderstandings, etc., and so do so if prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Like my husband said, "If you have to proclaim what you are doing, then you are not doing it. If they have to proclaim they are going to do it, they probably won't." It rings true when begin describing something, and then say, "I'm not that kind of person." The truth may be we are just that kind of person, otherwise why would we need to say we are not. This person is trying to convince others. My husband said, "Instead of proclaiming it, just be it."