Catch the Fire!

I have thoroughly been enjoying the Catch the Fire conference at CBN this week (click the link to watch online). God has been touching so many lives - healing people from physical sickness and pain as well as emotional, mental and spiritual issues. God is AWESOME!!!

I know that many people are leary and unsure about all the "manifestations" - the shaking, falling down, laughing, etc that goes on at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and the Catch the Fire Ministries. I was too at first. However, I loved what Duncan Smith said tonight at the conference about it! He said "I'm a man that is just trying to cope with God on the inside of my skin!"

Just imagine . . . the God of the whole universe comes and touches you, comes and fills you up with His spirit . . . . . with His indescribable and overwhelming love . . . .

Do you really think that you could just sit there quietly, not moving?

If you have never experienced that kind of love, that kind of power, that kind of encounter with the creator of the whole universe - I can understand your point of view. I didn't get it either. I thought they were all a bit kooky . . . a bit nuts. But as Duncan also said - "I may be a nut . . . but at least I am screwed onto the right bolt! Jesus!"

There is fruit coming from this ministry! I don't judge by appearances - but by the fruit.

Matthew 7:15 - 20
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

I know that I would be dead today (literally) had it not been for the Holy Spirit coming in and filling me up and touching me (19 years ago) in a way that I had never experienced before! I would be dead had I never learned - not just through books and knowledge - but experientially learned - about my Daddy's love for me (God the Father's heart for me as His daughter)! I needed to FEEL His love for me - FEEL His heart for me - FEEL His forgiveness - be delivered from some things spiritually and more. I couldn't get all that from just listening to a nice sermon or reading a devotional. As a pastor's kid I grew up knowing and hearing all the stories and knowing in my head,intellectually, about God. But I didn't "know" him experientially till I was 19.

I had to EXPERIENCE an encounter with God . . . my creator . . . my savior . . . my Daddy! It is that experience - that LOVE that will change you forever! It will ruin you for the normal. It sure did for me!! I don't want "normal" anymore . . . I want GOD!

Still think I'm crazy?

Have you ever been in love? . . . . . So in love - all you could do is just think about that person all day long. You wanted to be with them every waking moment. You wanted to hug them, kiss them, touch them, laugh and cry with them . . . You just couldn't get enough of them! When you thought about them a huge smile came to your face. And if you were ever apart for an extended period of time - when you saw them again - you couldn't contain yourself - but wanted to run right to them - screaming or laughing or crying and reaching out to hug and hold them tight.

I see some of the same emotions and expressions of love at the long-awaited homecoming of the navy crews on the carriers. I see alot of the same antics at rock concerts. Jumping, screaming, shaking, longing, crying, laughing, etc. People do get a bit "nuts" when they are in love with something or someone.

Well . . . I am in love with Jesus!!! So, yes . . . .I may act a little strange when I get around Him. But I really don't care - because I know how His presence has changed my life!!! I NEVER want to go back to my old life again!

If you are curious as to what I am even talking about here - ie. you've never heard of Duncan Smith with Catch the Fire Ministries, or John and Carol Arnott from the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (ie - the Toronto blessing) - then watch some of the conference online at CBN.com. They will be streaming it live tomorrow (10am, 2pm and 7pm) and have archived the other sessions from this week. CBN also does a weekly Spiritual Gifts Seminar on Mon, Tues and Thursday nights (Thur is from TACF in Toronto, Canada).

Check it out!

You may just find the love of your life! I pray you do! You will never be the same again!

Christianity is not about religion. It's about a relationship. God doesn't want to be in your life (and you be in His life) because of how much work you will do for him and how loyal you will be. He is in it for LOVE! Just like a marriage. Would you be in a marriage if all your spouse had "contracted" to do was just work hard for you, stay loyal and clean your dirty underwear?! No - you want to be loved, to love them.

It's the same with God! Christianity is about a love relationship with God . . .not religion!

I challenge you to seek after that love! God is ready and waiting to shower it on you (no matter what your past or present situation or life looks like!!! Trust me!!)!

Be brave to go deeper!

L :)

The Super Bowl and the Super-Natural

I've said it before . . . but this year I want my family to live in the supernatural!

I am tired of the ordinary.

I believe God is calling all of us to live more in His presence than ever before!

He WANTS to release His power to perform miracles (healings, provision and more). He wants to release His power to transform lives.

Time is crucial!

There is no more time to be sitting around on the sidelines just waiting for things to happen. We have to get out there and bring in the harvest. We need to minister to those around us. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves - our selfish desires, our needs and wants, our "future ministry" - and focus on the people around us that God has put in our path to minister to. . . . . your neighbor . . . your mom or dad . . . . your children . . . the woman at the grocery store . . . . the man fixing your car. . . . . your co-worker . . . even your boss.

THAT is where your ministry begins! THAT is where the supernatural begins! It all starts with having compassion on those around you!

Are you willing to go there?

Do you want more of God's power in your life?

Do you want to experience the supernatural in your own life instead of just hearing about it happening to someone else??

Then get up and get going! Get out there and do it!

All it takes is to simply ask someone "Can I pray for you right now?" When your neighbor's husband is leaving her, or your best friends just lost his job . . . instead of just having sympathy and saying "you poor thing" . . . or saying that you will keep them in your prayers. Simply ask them if you can pray with them right then and there! I can guarantee that very few people will ever turn you down on with that offer (whether they are christian or not)!!

Ask the Holy Spirit to come . . . to fill them with His presence in their lives and bring them peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to come . . . He loves to be invited places! :) And then watch what happens! And remember what happens . . . so that next time you will be empowered to do it again!

Sometimes the result might be dramatic and instantaneous . . . . and other times it may seem like nothing happens at all. But keep doing it. Keep "practicing". Keep trusting God with the results. Don't do it just because you want to see a miracle - do it because you have true compassion on the people you meet. Do it because you love the Lord and want to see other people's lives transformed when they experience His love too!

Several months ago in church, God showed me that He was holding a big wooden bowl FULL of His oil. He was waiting and wanting to pour it out on his people. They had been content to just reach up and dip their fingers in the bowl. But only a few people were doing that even - not too many. He wants to pour it all out on everyone! AND the best part is . . . the oil will NEVER run out!! :)

Do you want that oil? Do you want a fresh anointing and release of His presence in your life? Then ask Him to pour it out on you . . . and then go USE it to minister to others!! It's not just for us . . . it is to be used for others!!

The Lord had also showed me in October that He had a bottle of wine left to give to us. The last bottle in his wine room. It was labeled "Elijah". He is ready and waiting for us as Christians to be filled with this wine - to be able to live in the supernatural on a DAILY basis - to counteract and fight the spiritual battle that our friends, family, neighborhoods, cities, states and nation have going on all around them every day (the spirit of Jezebel that is trying to control our country!). See my October post about this wine.

Please read this ElijahList email that contains a word from Bill Yount. It is excellent!! It goes along with all God has been saying lately through his prophets and even what our pastor preached on this morning . . . . that living the supernatural life begins with compassion!

Bill Yount:

"It Takes Practice to Get into the Super Bowl AND the Super-Natural"

So - get out there and practice the supernatural! I want to hear your testimonies of what God is doing in and through you this year!!

Drink Deeply!

L :)

CBN Spiritual Gifts Seminars

I just wanted to let you all know about a little known secret . . . .

CBN (The Christian Broadcasting Network) has been doing an online Spiritual Gifts Seminar since this summer (2008). It started out just one night a week, but now is up to 3 nights each week (and hopefully more to come)! You can check it out live on Mondays and Tuesdays from CBN, and Thursdays from Toronto, Canada (and the Catch the Fire School of Ministry) at http://www.cbn.com/. You can view archives of the previous sessions as well. Click on the section in the middle that says "Spiritual Gifts" (webcasts).

Whether you watch the program live or the archived version - God is doing miraculous works in people's lives - in person at the events and online in people's own homes! God is awesome!

The wonderful aspect of watching it live, is the ability to interact with other people while it is going on - the people in the chat room as well as the hosts and guest speakers (through calling in, using skype, etc).

Whether you just want to know more about what "spiritual gifts" are, who has them, how to use them, or you want an avenue to use your gifts - or have someone use them on you (for healing, etc) - then this program is for you! I have been blessed on both ends - the receiving and the giving! For a mom who is stuck at home most nights with a quiver full of kids - it has been a blessing to be able to be used by God (and ministered to) from my own home and computer.

This past week, however, I was able to go to the CBN studio and was truly blessed - TWICE! Monday I was prayed over by Cindy Jacobs (she was right on!) and then Tuesday by Duncan Smith! God is awesome!! I am thankful that these servants of the Lord are being obedient to what God has called them to do!

But the question is . . . am I (are you) being obedient as well?? What blessings (healings, miracles, timely words from God, etc) are people missing out on because we are not being obedient? It's not about us . . . . it's about what God wants to do THROUGH us in the lives of others.

Think on that this week. Are you being a blessing to others? What has God told you (or that you feel you should) do that you are not doing? . . . . Step out in faith this week and DO it! I'll be doing the same here!

Blessings!

L :)