That Devil Lied!!!

We are told that the devil is a liar and the father of all lies.  So much so, that when he lies he only speaks his native tongue.  No truth can be found in him at any one time.  Hence the reason why we should never allow him to speak to us.  

So I'm chilling by myself yesterday pondering my fast approaching birthday (I will turn 35) and considering all the things that I wanted to have achieved by now.  I have achieved much and I am on track with everything else except the marriage and kids thing.  Suddenly, from nowhere, I get hit by a feeling of despondency and despair and the devil begins to speak.  It took me a second to realize it was him speaking so I gave him ear for a minute.  

I start thinking that marriage will never happen.  Here I am waiting for God to hook things up in his time and the question pops into my mind, "what time?"  If I am turning 35 and he has not done it, which other time is there? Then another thought pops into my head "How about adopting kids and moving on with your life?" I'm like "Yeah!! I could do that!" then God, the voice of reason and peace breaks through all the demonic noise and says "Listen to your inner self.  Is that what you really want to do?"

So I close out all the noise and get quiet and just listen to my inner self.  The answer comes to me clear as crystal.  I don't want kids without a husband.  I want the security of marriage in which to raise my godly offspring according to Malachi 3.  What a relief to have all the crazy thoughts expelled and to know exactly what I want.  

Someone may ask, "Isn't it time to give up the notion and start working on plan B?" I have!  Plan B, C, D...Z are all the same and they are spelled out very clearly in Psalm 46:10 in God's own words: "Be still and know that I am God..."  I will be still and I will let God be God in my life.  Hallelujah! What peace!! What joy!! I don't have to worry about a thing.  My God is working it all out for me!!

Yes! I am almost 35, A Virgin and I Refuse to Compromise!!

I think the question that cracks me up and irritates me the most, at the same time, is the question about my marital status.  Everybody looks at me and wants to know why I am not married and now that I am officially in my mid thirties the question has become "When will you have kids?" I used to worry about those things and then I read in God's word that I should be anxious for nothing, but in all things I must let God know what I need and then let his peace guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7)

The statement that follows that question is usually "If you don't want a man (they assume men are a bother to me)  you should just find one to impregnate you so you can at least have a child or two to raise on your own."  I find that very interesting especially because it often comes from women who are born again.  In their minds, I am allowed to put aside my salvation, marry an unbeliever and trust God to save him, or get pregnant if I find men a bother and don't want to live with one.  Can you say messed up mentality???!!!

Many times I have been looked at as a fool for waiting on God well past the "acceptable waiting time."  I will be 35 years old in 3 months, I am still a virgin and I still refuse to compromise my faith.  How can I leave God, even for a moment, to go fend for myself on something as important as a life partner?  I trust God to know what I need, when I need it.  I trust him not to withhold any good thing from me in accordance with his word (Psalm 34:10, 84:11, 103:5).  I trust him to build me a house just like he told David he would do for him in 2 Samuel 7:11b "...Furthermore, the Lord declares that He will make a house for you..."  This same God shall make a house for me.  He will settle me in my own home as a happy mother of children.  I will indeed have a quiver full of them.

Psalm 127 is my portion indeed, for I have not waited on the Lord in vain.

 ¹Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 ²It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 ³Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 ⁴As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 ⁵Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

God will build me a house, he will give me a wonderful husband and together we will have the heritage and reward of a quiver full of children.  I am His in waiting and looking forward to marriage and my own home!

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness

This is the hardest verse in the Bible for me right now. How can he not be slack in his promises when he won't give me the one main desire of my heart? I don't understand. Maybe its about timing but Lord, I need you to help me wait on you with a joyful heart. I'm losing my joy and that has been my strength. Without joy i'm a gonna and you know it. Please help me stay joyful and keep my eye on the ball.

Remember Me Oh Lord!

Many times in this blog I have spoken of my desire to be married and have many Children of my own. At the age of 26 I remember calling my mother and telling her that I felt I was now ready for marriage. 7 years later I am still waiting on the Lord. But I thank God, because 7 is the number of completion. The Lord has used this lack of fulfillment in my life to teach me many things and continues to do so even today.

Reading the Bible I find that a woman's desire for a husband and children is natural. Having one without the other does not satisfy either. I read the story of Leah who even though she was married was an unloved wife. The need for her husbands love and attention made her a miserable woman even though God gave her many children. Her rival Rachel on the other hand was blessed by the love of her husband but her lack of Children made her life miserable. It is clear that one must have both a loving husband and children to feel complete.

The Story of Hannah also puts this into perspective. Here is Hannah, a woman so loved by her husband that he blessed her in double portions. Yet her heart yearned for children of her own. The taunting of her rival did not make things any easier. The Bible says that she poured out her heart before the Lord and asked him to remember her. What does it mean for the Lord to remember you?

In the Bible, the word "Remember" as in when the Lord remembers his people, means to go into action on their behalf. It is not just to recall or to bring to memory. It is to look on their misery and do something to remove it. It is to express concern for that person and to act with loving care for them. When the Lord remembers you, he favors you and meets your need. Hence when he remembered Rachel, she got pregnant and bore Joseph. When he remembered Hannah, she too conceived. He went into action on their behalf in order to meet their need.

May the Lord remember you today. May he meet you at your point of need and shed light and favor where you need it. May he step into your situation and act on your behalf.

Have mercy on me NOW!

I have read the story of blind Bartimaeus before but it has never had this particular effect on me. I noticed that he said "Jesus, you son of David" I wondered why he insisted on calling him son of David until I found out that Son of David is the name that identifies Christ as the Messiah. Bartimaeus had heard the word of God concerning the Messiah in Is 42:6-7

"I the Lord have called You [the Messiah] for a righteous purpose and in righteousness; I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations [Gentiles],

To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison."

He was yelling at Jesus saying fulfill the prophecy in my life. And then I saw something else in the amplified that I had never seen before either.

Mark 10:47-52

"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

And many severely censured and reproved him, telling him to keep still, but he kept on shouting out all the more, You Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, telling him, Take courage! Get up! He is calling you.

And throwing off his outer garment, he leaped up and came to Jesus.

And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight.

And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has healed you. And at once he received his sight and accompanied Jesus on the road".

Now! He told the Lord have mercy on me and implied a Now type of urgency. Have you ever cried out to the Lord and told him to come now! Like he cannot delay anymore and he cannot ignore you? That was Bartimaeus. He was telling the Lord 'you are my Messiah, you are my hope and the hope of all Israel. If you pass me, who shall help me?' He also did not know when Jesus would be passing that way again so he was crying out for a Now miracle. I have been there many times before and I am there now.

Jesus, you son of David, take pity and have mercy on me NOW!

DUMB AS A ROCK

I am the first girl of three in my family. I have two sisters both of whom are married with children. I love my sisters and we have a great time hanging together. I was saved at an early age. I give thanks for that because salvation has caused me to escape many traps of the enemy. I have been blessed in the past and continue to be blessed even now. God has given me all things that I have asked of him, but in one area he has caused a delay. The area of marriage. In that area the stillness and quietness speaks. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING has happened in that area for a long time.

My youngest sister, 6 years my junior, is legally married but her husband has never completed his traditional marriage requirements. They sent word that they would be coming home to finalize that and we were all happy to hear it, but suddenly I was engulfed by a new emotion where marriage is concerned. Embarrassment. I felt like the girl at the dance who nobody picks because she is either not good looking or is a bit too chubby. Standing at the sidelines hoping against hope that someone would ask her to dance to no avail. Horribly embarrassing!

As usual I took my complaint to God. I don’t understand the delay. I told him that he should not keep me waiting in vain. If there was no man coming then he should let me know so I can stop hoping year after year. I prayed a sincere prayer in this regard and literally gave up the dream of marriage. However, God was very quick to correct me and to let me know that there is a man for me. There is a husband for me as surely as there was an Isaac for Abraham.

Abraham’s wait for a son and the God ordained delay that he experienced encourages me greatly. Abe looked just as dumb as a rock too as he waited on God. Here was a man who when lot was captured, went after him with 318 men of his own household. He owned these men with their women and children. He probably owned about 1000 people, bought and paid for. He had so much wealth that on returning with his plunder he wouldn’t touch any of it but gave it all away lest it be said that it made him rich. He could have taken more wives and concubines, but instead he kept waiting on God for the promise. You see, it’s not just any husband I want. I want the husband of the promise. Just like he did not just want any son, he wanted the son of the promise.

Abraham looked so dumb that his wife decided to assist the poor man. She offered him another woman to impregnate and get a son with. We all know how that do-it-yourself project backfired in her face, yet a son was born. If all God had wanted was a son for Abraham then Ishmael would have been okay. However, when Abe tried to give up the dream of a son with Sarah and begged God to let Ishmael live before him, God said No. Ishmael was Abe’s son, but he was not THE son that God was going to work with on his holy project. He was not the son of the promise.

Many times older, married and more experienced women have pointed out that I am getting older every day. My doctor has brought up the issue of fibroids several times urging me to hurry up and get pregnant if I want to have children at all. My mother has looked at me with that sad look of resignation that only mothers can give. Many others have advised me to say yes to any man that asks me. “There are no perfect men,” they say. They assume that my standards are too high and ask me to bring them down a notch or two. But none of them understand. I have a promise. Just like no son could take Isaac’s place, so no man can take the place of the husband of the promise.

I may be embarrassed by my state right now and look dumb as a rock as I wait for the Lord, but I know that they that wait on the Lord shall not be cut off. In the end, they shall not be ashamed. So the Lord says to me and to all who are experiencing delay like I am:

Isaiah 40:27-31 (Amplified Bible)

27”Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God?

28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

29He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Therefore wait and keep on waiting for the Lord. Expect him to do it, look for him in the midst of the stillness and continue to hope in him. In that stillness, when nothing seems to be happening you will hear the still, small voice. Just like Elijah did. Whatever he tells you to do, do it and be eternally blessed.

Scholarships from Heaven

It's not all bad. A bad situation can somehow give rise to something good. God has aw way of taking the bad times and getting some advantage out of them. Today the Lord pointed out that he gives full scholarships to his children and he told me to look at Daniel. I had never seen it this way. Daniel Chapter 1 talks about 4 guys who got a full scholarship to the best school in the world at the time. Who knew?!!!

3And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring in some of the children of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility--(B)

4Youths without blemish, well-favored in appearance and skillful in all wisdom, discernment, and understanding, apt in learning knowledge, competent to stand and serve in the king's palace--and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5And the king assigned for them a daily portion of his own rich and dainty food and of the wine which he drank. They were to be so educated and so nourished for three years that at the end of that time they might stand before the king.

They got a free ride. Everything was paid for. Tuition, books and stationery, living expenses were catered for and in all this they got the best. It's important to note that their training was so that at the end of it all they would enter the Kings Service. I believe they did not just enter the service of the earthly king but of the Heavenly King as well. Why I'm I so sure? Because verse 17 says: "As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all [kinds of] visions and dreams." God had an agenda!

At the end of it all the King spoke to the young men and he was amazed at the wisdom they had. None equaled them. And so they entered his service and the service of the Almighty God. In every matter that needed wisdom and understanding the king found them 10 times better than all his wise advisers, magicians and enchanters.

I believe that God poured out on them his Holy Spirit described in Isaiah 11:2-3

"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord--

And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, neither decide by the hearing of His ears;"

How wonderful is the Lord?! I pray that he will pour out that same Spirit on me as I look forward to studying my masters and after I am done, I will enter the service of my King in a new capacity.

Praise Him you his saints!

This word shared by my newly found friend Cathy has really blessed my heart. Romans 4:18 - 22.

"[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.(A)

He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb.(B)

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,

Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.

That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)"



One of the main feelings assaulting me in this time of grief has been loneliness. An acute feeling of being all alone in the world. I have prayed to God over and over again about marriage and children in this season. Yet he has not answered in any tangible way. It is wonderful to know that just like me, Abraham had a promise. Yet there was no indication of the fulfillment of the said promise. In fact, everything looked dead. He was impotent and Sara's womb was dead. But he continued to keep his gaze on the Almighty God.He took note of his condition, but chose to dwell on God's ability instead of his own dead state.

BTW whatever God did to get rid of the impotence had long term effects on Abe. In Genesis 25 we read that he took another wife when Isaac was all grown up and Sarah had passed on, and she bore him 6 children. Nothing can beat God's viagra!!

Abraham was empowered by Faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Looking at the greatness of God and the ability of God he was able to have faith that God would do it for him. What a mighty God we serve!

Let us not look at our limitations but see God who is limitless. Nothing can stand in his way. We must keep praising him for who he is, regardless of the situation until he comes and delivers on his promises to us. He is a good God.

Grief, Sorrow and Pain

I am weary on the inside. Worn out and burnt out. Dad passed away on the 13th of March and we had a hectic few days of funeral arrangements and such. Then my friend Mama Jimmy, passed away yesterday the 22nd of March. I have not even come to terms with my dads death when a woman I consider a mother also passes away. What is this? It feels like I am under siege and only God can take me out, yet he has allowed it to happen and refuses to get me out of this sinkhole.

In the midst of all my sorrow and pain I am aware of only one thing. That I am alone. That no one can really truly know how I feel or what I am going through. That I have to go through this on my own and come out on the other side. There is a light at the end of the tunnel right? I need that light. My soul is dark and sorrowful. I need laughter and joy. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. But how far away is the morning? How many more hours before the morning comes?

Why so downcast oh my soul? Put your hope in God. I will yet praise him, my redeemer, my friend, my love, my life. I will yet praise him. In the midst of my tears, with my heart heavily burdened, I will praise the Lord my God who holds my future in his hand.

Haba na Haba Faith

With Dad in ICU and Mom at the end of her tether I find that my faith is challenged. How do I believe God? What do I believe for? Sometimes it seems like he would be better off with his maker and at other times he looks well enough that we think he will stick around with us for a while. Reading Heb 11 I find myself out of my league. Here are the giants of faith and I can’t even master enough to see God heal my dad. I feel like a faith loser. So I’m wondering, can I use the Haba na Haba approach to faith?

The Swahili saying Haba na Haba hujaza kibaba encourages us to do things in bite sizes in order to achieve a greater objective. What if I believed God for small things step by step? Yesterday dad came off the ventilator and I was so blessed. I celebrated one small victory. What if today I believe God that he will be able to stay awake more and even drink some tea or something else? Isn’t that faith? Then I can believe God that he will breathe without the need for oxygen the next day. And then I can believe for God to get him to a regular ward and so on and so forth. At the end of the day will my faith not have caused the mountain to move?

Most people are overwhelmed in their faith walk, just like I have been, because the level of their faith in certain areas is not quite so developed. Let us take a bite size approach to faith. Haba na Haba utajaza kibaba.

My Lost Coin!

THIRTY THREE. That is how old I will be on Sunday. I am not sure I want to be that old just yet. Not that I am against my age, not at all. I think the thirties are awesome and I am having the time of my life. I finally have enough money to do things like go out and have a good time with friends on my birthday without having to ask anyone for it … ya know?!!

But there are things I thought I would have accomplished by now and I still have not seen any sign that God has answered those prayers. Like marriage and a family of my own. Sometimes my heart is very downcast when I contemplate my age, my gynecological history and the lack of a man in my life. I get to the place where I ask like Abraham, "You have given me all these things and all these fabulous promises, but what good is it for my servant Eliezer will inherit it all when I am gone?" (my paraphrase).

I thought I was being ungrateful and silly until I read the story of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-9

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'"

Without a husband and a family in my life I don't feel complete. I have 9 coins and I, like this woman, am frantically searching for my lost coin. I am sweeping and cleaning looking for this lost coin. And when I find it, for I SHALL FIND IT, you all must rejoice with me. Why I'm I so certain of this? Because God exists. He is, and is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. I know for sure because the Zeal of the Lord shall accomplish it for me. He shall do it. I am so blessed. I love this God so much. I love him to smithereens!!!!

Wow!!

God just connected these two verses for me. I'm so amazingly jazzed.

Joshua 1:8

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful"

As you keep God's word on your mind, mouth and actions the results are 3 John 2

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

You prosper all round. Your soul begins to prosper from the revelations that God downloads, you get material wealth and health as well.

I just never saw that before. So the way to fulfill God's highest wish for man "...I wish above all things..." is to keep his word in your mouth, meditate on it and do it. Are we blessed or what ya'll?!!!!

Hidden Treasure

This year has started off strange for me. I have such an intense desire to leave this job and move on to my next place. I also have a great desire to go to school. I have identified Regent University as the place for me. I want to see everything in light of God's word because that is the only way we can bring social reform in our countries. By the word of God.

As such I am a bit frustrated because I want things to move along faster than they are right now. Not likely to happen. I just have to understand that God is sovereign and that his time is always the best.

Today in my morning devotion I read Mathew 13:44-46 about the treasure.

Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

God asked me a very strange and difficult question. He said to me, "If you had to choose between going to do your masters and getting married, which one would you take?" If you knew me in the past, you would know for sure that I would take the education over the marriage. However, today I found myself answering differently. I said to my Lord, I will choose the marriage over the education and great career path. In that instant I knew that my mind had been renewed by his word in the area of marriage.

How much would I be willing to give up to have a good marriage ordained by God? Would I be willing to forfeit all else (that would work against the marriage) and all others? I have never been ready to say yes before. I have always put career and education above all else. But not today. Not ever again. My seasons have changed!!

I would treat marriage like the pearl of great price, like the field in which there is hidden treasure. Because in it is hidden treasure. I get to fulfill my original purpose of helper and to bear godly offspring for my king. Is there any greater purpose than that? Blessed be the Lord my God, who this day has renewed my mind and changed my life for the glory of his name.

The Day of my Visitation

One thing is for sure, I do NOT want to be like Jerusalem, not knowing the day of my visitation and therefore suffering a lack of peace and even defeat.

Luke 19

41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

The Lord is talking to me about a very significant opportunity that I must catch or I will be pretty miserable thereafter. He says not to look at the wrapping in which he sends the gift. Not to judge by outside appearance (1 Sam 16). He is sending me a gift this Christmas and I thank him for it. Lord, open my eyes to see your gift. Help me to see past the outside, the wrapping paper, but to take the time to open my gift and enjoy it. Lord, I am human and you know my tendencies. Help me to see as you see, put some salve on my eyes so that they can be opened to see truly. I open my heart and mind to this gift. I acknowledge the time of my visitation and believe that this is both my chronos and kairos time. I bless you Lord for you are good. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take off the Veil of Singleness!

I got this off of Elijah list. I was feeling very restless and I knew the Holy Spirit was trying to say something to me. I heard him mention Elijah list so I went over there and searched with the keyword "marry". This is one of the words that came up and the moment I read it, I knew that is what I was looking for. It is such a confirmation of what I have been hearing in my Spirit. It was a word Bill Yount gave in Dec of 2004 but the word of God is a Rhema word. I am blown away by God!

December 16, 2004

"2005...THE YEAR OF THE BRIDES!"
by Bill C. Yount
www.billyount.com
theshofarhasblown@juno.com

As the threshold of the New Year is approaching, I heard wedding bells ringing throughout the earth at the striking of the midnight hour...January 1st, 2005.

In the Spirit, I heard a huge order of "Bridal Veils" being called into the throne room of Heaven.

"Make that an extra large order," the command came from the Father of the Brides.

I sensed that not only was the Father excited over His own Son's wedding that would soon take place, but He was seemingly beside Himself for the joy of a multitude of long awaited "end-time" weddings that would take place upon the earth, just preceding the greatest wedding in the Universe.

"Get those six water pots out again and fill them with 'living' water! I've saved the very best wine for last, for these end-time weddings."

"BEGIN TO LIFT THE VEILS OF 'SINGLENESS' OFF OF THEIR FACES!"

I saw veils of "singleness" that had been covering many single men and women for years in spite of their desire to marry. These veils were actually covering them to protect and hide them from wrong relationships.

Many thought, "What is wrong with me? No one seems to notice me or seems to even look at me!" But I saw the wisdom of God hard at work to preserve these chosen ones for the person whom the Lord was preparing and keeping separate for them also.

I sensed the Father saying to their guardian angels, "Begin to lift the veils of 'singleness' off of their faces! It's time for them to see and be seen by the one whom I have ordained for them. I will continue to order their steps and 'stops' and cause their paths to cross as they faithfully continue serving me.
"As I sent an angel to direct the steps of Isaac's servant to find Rebekah for him, I am sending angels before them to guide them. In the everyday, ordinary walk of life they will begin to discover My surprise appointments with Divine contacts for the desires of their hearts."



EACH WEDDING BRINGS HEAVEN AND EARTH A LITTLE CLOSER

Veils were coming off of many "widows and widowers" as the Lord was proclaiming, "Your lonely days are coming to an end!"

I saw some divorce papers being shredded to pieces as some who had divorced each other were now making plans to renew their wedding vows and start over!

All of Heaven seemed to be ecstatic over earthly weddings. To them, each wedding brings heaven and earth a little closer, with the intent to portray the ultimate marriage that all creation awaits...the marriage supper of the Lamb!

An angelic conductor was about to move his baton for angel choirs to come in on Heaven's grand finale of -- "Here come the Brides!"

A WITNESS TO THE EARTH OF THE LOVE OF THE FATHER

These end-time marriages were being brought into the Kingdom to witness to the earth the love of the Father between a husband and a wife. This demonstration of God's love would be contagious and influence many in the earth to become the Bride to be -- whom the Father is preparing for His Son.

I sense a "Ruth and Boaz" anointing coming upon single men and women. A word to the Ruth's (single women) is: "Keep serving and gleaning unto the Lord where He is leading you...your Boaz is near!"

And a word to the Boaz's (single men): "Untie your shoe* laces...and prepare yourself to redeem your 'Ruth'"!

* In the days of Boaz concerning redeeming and purchasing, a man would pluck off his shoe, and give it to his neighbor. This was a testimony to confirm things in Israel.


Bill Yount
Hagerstown, MD
theshofarhasblown@juno.com
www.billyount.com

What are families for?

The first thing that is going into my hope chest is my vision for the family God is giving me and the roles of each family member according to God's word. As I have been studying the family as God intended it to be, I was stunned to realize that I had no clue what families were for. I have always wanted a husband and kids, but why would God institute families. I had no idea. So I went back to Genesis chapter 2, the creation of man.

Turns out, that man was created for dominion and to rule over the earth. That was such a huge chore that he needed a helper suitable for him. So God created woman to assist the man so that he can rule on the earth effectively. As such, her purpose is wrapped up in her husband. That explains why women feel empty even with everything else going for them.

So I did a study of the purpose of the man and the woman and realized that my hubby is the sun and I am the moon. I get my light from his light. The brighter he shines, the brighter I shine, and if for whatever reason his light dims or is eclipsed, then my darkness is greater still. Therefore, in the role of helper, it is in my best interest to ensure that he turns out as God intended by being a comforter, encourager, uplifter, prayer warrior etc for him. I am a light on a hill that cannot be hid. But my light is tied up in his light. So if I want to shine I need to make sure he is shining. I must never do anything to bring him grief, sorrow, distress or any kind of sadness. I must have that gentle and quiet spirit that is of great worth to both my husband and God.

My successes are wrapped up in his successes. I must do everything I can to ensure he is successful as a man, as a Christian and as a father. That does not mean that I take responsibility for his failings, but that I point them out in love.

Marriage is for destiny and so are families. The people in a family are a support system for one another. They are to encourage and help each other into fulfilling the will of God in their individual lives and as a family. As such, I want to raise a family that is centered on making the Kingdoms of the earth the Kingdoms of our God. A team that takes dominion in their spheres of influence. We are to mold our children in the ways of the Lord. Help them discover their destiny and purpose in life at a young age, and live out their lives here on earth being everything God created them to be. What a blessing!

A family is meant to be a comfort to its members, kind, loving, intimate in a godly sense, caring, rebuking, helping each other find the paths of righteousness and so much more....

Now that I finally have a clue of what a family is all about, I need to draft my vision and family mission statements. I will share them here with you as soon as I am done.

It is not in vain!

My righteousness is not in vain. My abstaining from evil is not in vain. My obedience is not in vain. God who is the judge and the keeper of the books has recorded it and counted it to me as righteousness. So I will sing, shout and jump, rejoicing in his faithfulness. And I will wait on the Lord... yes, I will wait on the Lord!

Is it in vain?

Many times the Bible commands the righteous man to rejoice. To sing and shout because the Lord knows the uprightness of their hearts and will reward them. He has said in Isaiah 45:19

"I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right"

I know in my heart that I do not seek or obey him in vain. I know that he watches over me and will repay me for every thing that I have done, or not done in obedience to him. But sometimes I am tempted to speak harshly against him or to think badly of him because I cannot see the reward or the benefit of my obedience. It seems that those who have blatantly dishonored him and sinned against him are reaping blessings while I sit in darkness. He says that is speaking harshly against him though.

Malachi 3:13-15

13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD.
"Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'

14 "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?

15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "

That is so me right now. I feel as though it has all been in vain. I feel like I could cry a river. I feel like I could scream at the top of my lungs, and shake my fist at God. I feel like I could wail endlessly. When will it end? When will the pain cease? When Lord?

Psalm 51:10-12

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 19:14

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer".

It's a faith walk. That is what it is. Why Faith? Because most of the time you cannot see what you are talking about in the flesh, yet you know that God will bring your desires to pass. His word says that he gives us the desires of our hearts.

I have many heartfelt desires, but right now the greatest of them is that he may settle me in a home of my own, with a husband of my own, and children of my own. I am not sure why there is such a delay, but he knows and that is all that matters. Every now and then I ask questions, but I am learning to enter rest and live in quietness and trust.

Meditate on Psalm 20:1-5

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desires of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests."

Words From a Grateful Heart

This psalm says it all! God has been good to me!

Psalm 34

1I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.

3O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

4I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.(A)

5They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.

6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.(B)

8O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.(C)

9O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

10The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.

11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord.

12What man is he who desires life and longs for many days, that he may see good?

13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

15The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

16The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.(D)

17When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.

18The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

19Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21Evil shall cause the death of the wicked; and they who hate the just and righteous shall be held guilty and shall be condemned.

22The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.