Wow is it hot! August has been one hot month. It has been a time for change.
This summer my husband and I bought our fishing license and have gone fishing. It seems like all we do is bait our hooks and feed the fish. Yes, they see us coming and say, "here they come again". Gather round boys for a free meal.
It is nice to be out in nature, seeing the trees, water and the blue sky. It makes you wonder about our Heavenly Father and his love for us. He enjoys us and takes pleasure in us when we are fishing or when are ministering. He loves us even when life throws us a curve and we don't respond in love. That is hard to imagine, but it is truth.
When Jesus was out looking for disciples, he went to the water. He saw some fishermen and told them to follow him. Without hesitation they did. My question was did they really know what they got theimselves into? Did they realize that after three years of training that Jesus would be leaving? As they watched him being mocked and jeered by the "then church." Did they realize that this would be their fate also? I believe they loved him very much, but as for knowing the full extent of their lives, being persecuted the same as their teacher's, I don't think so. Many times he told them of his fate and even of their own. But like many of us involved with ministry, who would of thought that you would have to deal with as many situations that you have. How many times did you think, is this what I am supposed to be doing?
In Acts 1:6 the Disciples were asking if he was now going to set up his kingdom. What they didn't realize was the kingdom was set up. It wasn't set up like they thought. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he said Our Father who art in Heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ..... Thru his death and resurrection, he bridged the gap for us to bring Heaven to earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Through his death, he brought provision. Through forgiveness, he brings humility.
Jesus was telling the disciples about the Kingdom of God before he ascended to Heaven in the book of Acts. His life is the walking, breathing example of the kingdom of God. He fed the multitudes, by blessing the bread and fish. The food was multiplied by his blessing. He was moved by compassion. He healed the sick and raised the dead. In everyday life, we have been given the same ability. We first have been adopted into the family of God. We are not slaves or workers in the field, but sons and daughters. We have been given the same authority and are filled with the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.
It is of the utmost importance that Jesus did leave so that the Holy Spirit could come and lead us into all truth. We need him to fill us with His Spirit every day. Just like the Israelites needed fresh manna every day, we need his fresh infilling every day.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that they would receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit came upon them. In Chapter 4:31 the place where they were at was shaken and they were filled again. So once is not enough.
Should we be fishers of men? Absolutely. We, in our everyday walk should be imitators of Jesus, in power as well as in word. Do we need a microphone, a large audience, advertisement? No, we need to have a heart of love for Jesus, our Father and the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with him will produce our Fathers nature in us to love him because he first loved us and to win the lost, to have love and compassion for others.
The disciples where in a time of transition or change when Jesus ascended to the Father and the Holy Spirit Came. They relied on his Spirit's power to get them through and not only go on, but to excel with excitement and passion.
If we ever find ourrselves doing the work of the ministry and there is no passion, maybe what we are doing is not his work or we are doing a work without him. Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working ;for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Our Lord God has given us rest, to walk, work and minister in him.
Colossians 1:29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
His disciples learned as we must, to trust in the Lord with all our might. Allow him to transform us into passionate lovers who lay down their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let him make us fishers of men. If you are going through times of uncertianty or frustration stop and take time to refresh yourself in his presence. Rest in him. Ask for Fresh Bread from heaven.
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After last month's newsletter I received a note and a receipe from Rev. Margaret Dewitt. I wanted to talk to her by phone but was not able to reach her. I talked to Bishop Wanda Reeves for more information. She said Margaret was one of the most wonderful people she knew, and I know from the notes I have received from Margaret, she truely is a blessing to me.
Rev. Margaret Dewitt is not only a minister but also a Nurse at the Mule Creek State Prision. Being a Nurse is a ministry in it's self. Bishop Wanda told me that Rev. Dewitt's desire is to start a church at retirement. I would like to say I appreciate you Margaret and your kind words.
Rev. Margaret Dewitt's Recipe
Rasberry Supreme Cheesecake
2 cups Graham CrackerCrumbs
1 cup chopped toastedAmonds
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup butter,melted
1 pkg. (8oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 cup Lemon Juice
1tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 pkg. (6 oz) Raspberry-flavored gelatin
2 cups hot water
2 pkg. (10 oz.each) frozen Raspberries, partially thawed
2 cups Whipped Cream
1/4 cup toasted slivered Almonds
Combine first four ingredients. Press into the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch baking pan; chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, milk, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Poor over crust; chill. Dissolve gelatin in water. Add raspberries and stir until completely thawed; chill until very thick. Pour over filling. Chill until set. Before serving, top with whipped cream and almonds. Store in refrigerator.
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I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK BROTHER & SISTER MINNEY FOR THE FINE JOB THEY ARE DOING ON THE VOICE. GREAT JOB!!
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL YOU WHO RESPONDED TO MY LAST LETTER. SOME HAVE BEGUN TO SEND IN SOME MONEY EACH MONTH AND THIS HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY. THANK YOU. HOWEVER THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAID THEY WOULD BUT NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT. YOU ARE STILL IN OUR PRAYERS. WE LOVE YOU.
SOME OF YOU REMEMBER REV C.D. SEUM WHO HELPED MY HUSBAND START THE ORGANIZATION. HE PASSED AWAY SOME TIME AGO. WE ARE SORRY TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE HE WAS A WONDERFUL FRIEND.
WE ARE COMING ALONG IN THE HOME OFFICE. I HAVE RECENTLY SENT AN APPLICATION FOR MINISTRY TO A MAN AND HIS WIFE IN RENO, NEVADA. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM AS YET. IF YOU KNOW ANY WORTHY MINISTERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE LICENSED WITH US BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW. WE DEPEND ON OTHER MINISTERS FOR OUR REFERRALS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT VOICE AND TO SEE IF YOU HAVE SENT IN YOUR ARTICLE.
IN CHRIST, WANDA R. REEVES
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Here is one of the best stories I have heard in a long time.
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Assoc. Minister Robert Strahler.
Fisherman of men
One rainy Sunday morning while camping by the Ohio River, my father-in-law and brother-in-law said, "lets go fishing."
We were setting side by side on the riverbank catching very little fish. We had more snags than anything, except one little blue gill that I caught.
It was raining on this morning, I put my umbrella up over me and looked into my tackle box. I noticed three little books that a very good Christian friend had given to me. This friend told me to carry them with me and read them when I felt the need for words from God.
I had been feeling bad that morning because I hadn't gone to church and I very seldom missed church in my life.
I took out a book and read, "A was for admitting you were a sinner. B was for believing in Jesus Christ. That Jesus is your savior, C was to confess your sins and to change your life for God. Then it said just ask and you shall receive.
I talked to God and said, "help me Lord to catch some fish to show my father-in-law it was because of you that I caught them."
I took the blue gill I had caught and cut it into three pieces. I put the tail on my hook first and cast it out into the river. Moments later I had caught a very nice size catfish. My brother-in-law said, "I was just lucky." I told him that I had help and he just laughed at me.
Next, I used the head of the little fish for bait. I cast it out and started reading my little book again. My father-in-law asked me what I was reading. I told him, it was Gods words, how to be a Christian. He laughed a little and went back to where he was fishing.
Just then, I had another bite. I reeled it in to the riverbank. It was another three-pound catfish. Both of the men by this time wanted to know how I was catching these nice fish. They came over to me, and I said to them, "It says in this book, just ask God for help and you shall receive." They laughed at me again and went back to their fishing.
I took the third part of the little fish, put it on my hook and cast it out into the river. As I set back into my chair and picked up my book, I read more of God's words. God said Jesus was a fisherman of men. We were to be fisherman of men with Gods words. We were just like Jesus.
I was to talk to these two men about God and what he had to offer them. It was everlasting life with him. I felt God was very close to me at that time and I asked God to help me catch a very big fish.
It was some time later I thought that I had a bite, so I started to real in my line. I thought it was caught on a snag. I tried to pull the line to brake it. Then there was a hard pull on the other end of my line. I reeled in and the fish pulled my line out. My line would come in and go out again. This went on for at least twenty minutes before I got the fish to the bank of the river. My brother-in-law went down and took a hold of the fish. It was too big to pull ot with the line. He picked it up and brought it up the riverbank. It was a catfish, that was 48 inches long and weighed about the 48 pounds. It was the biggest fish caught at that campground.
People came from all over the park to see it. They asked me how I caught it. I told them it was from God. I asked God for a big fish and he gave it to me. My father-in-law wanted to read this book I was telling them about and so did his son.
I told them to just set down and talk to God in their own words and he will listen to them. Ask God for forgiveness for what they did wrong. Believe in Jesus, that he died for them to give them the right to go to Heaven. Then ask God to help you and believe it and it will happen.
My father-in-law asked, "will this work?" I said, "God can do anything, just ask him."
God had me that day to be a Fisherman of men.
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me and I will make you to become fishers of men.
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Assoc. Minister Deborah Cain
Prophetic Artwork----Prophetic art is like any other art with one major difference, the inspiration, subject matter, and meaning, colors and story are from the Spirit of the Lord rather than from ones soul alone.
When we, as believers receive from the Lord the Spirit of Prophecy in any form such as dreams, visions, revelation of the word, these events foretell or reveal the will of the Lord, the beauty of the Lord, the character of the Lord, the truth about the Lord. For the testimony (evidence) about Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. Rev. 19:10. The key is that the Holy Spirit will always show us Jesus or point us to Him, or help us experience Him. For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours). Amplified Bible
Therefore, when it comes to art, paintings, drawings, sculptures, these are simply another avenue in which the believer can express what the Lord is revealing, and that same rule applies, pointing to Jesus. For it is the Lord himself that speaks to you. The Spirit gives evidence, and there you experience relationship.
The prophetic can be in various degrees, from glimpses to full visions. Much of what is expressed in the area of art work in my own experience with the Lord, has begun mainly with glimpses. Maybey during worship, getting images and beginning to draw out what I am seeing from the Spirit.
Usually once I begin to draw, I will start to receive more. This is not to say that you can’t draw spiritual things from your natural mind. People have expressed their love, theology, likes and dislikes, interpreting their own ideas through art. One drawing that I created began in the natural. I just wanted to sketch some pictures of people. But then an idea came to me and I began to combine the sketching of many people into one large group. In doing so, I began to feel, experience the drawing in my heart. That drawing is titled “Purchase of God”. Another example is featured on the “about us” page at windsofchangeintl.com. Titled “Winds of Change”, this painting began as a still life for an art instruction class I was conducting. I taught the class then later finished the painting, I thought. For then I dreamed about the painting. In the dream someone was standing to my left painting that same exact painting as I was painting it, at the same time! I reworked the painting with a spiritual attitude, I could “feel” the painting from within me. I now know that the Lord was leading me into a new area of ministry, He wants to use my talent!
If you want to capture what the Spirit is showing you, using art, I would recommend starting with an easy medium such as pencil, charcoal, crayons, or pastels. These are easy to carry with you at all times, even to church. There are no harsh chemicals or water to spill over. I prefer pastels or a medium with color because so much of the time I see color as well as the image.
Imagine John, the author of the book of Revelation if he could have drawn or painted the colors he saw around Gods’ throne! He was good to obey the Lord and he wrote what he saw. Maybe He, the Lord Jesus, will ask you to paint what He shows you so others can see also?
Don’t become frustrated over trying to create “perfect” artwork during worship. Artwork is an extension of your worship, and creating it is like worship, your eyes are on Him. It is more important during a worship service to remain worshipping. Try to capture the colors and some of the image. Later you can take it home, enter in and spend hours in revelation with the Lord. Just like the musician, who must at times figure out the music so that he can write down what he is hearing so it will not be lost. Many prophetic streams are moments, but they are moments that can be captured.
In the scriptures, you will see the Lord giving instruction for how to create something, the ark Noah built, the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, the Temple. I don’t believe the Lord has a problem with creating what we see in worship, only with creating idols does He have a problem. We do not worship the thing we have created, but we worship Him. This is true with all prophetic experiences, let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!
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