2008--New Beginnings
Happy 2008!
Well, it is good to be back writing again...at last, the hiatus has come to an end and it's time to start sharing with you all again. :) With no further adieu, I have a couple things to write about. First, I want to share the scripture passage the Lord has given me for 2008, from the book of Haggai, especially chapter 2.
Haggai 2:6-9) "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty."
Specifically for the American Church I see it like this: we are like a bag of flour being poured into a giant sifter. A hand squeezes the handle and the metal thresher grates the flour against the meshing and a fine powder falls into a pile. Now, that flour is ready! "I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory," says the Lord Almighty (Hag 2:7) Yes, the shaking and sifting will result in the "desired" piling up at His feet, a pure white pile of fine powder ready to be mixed with other fine ingredients for a perfect blend. Be sure, the shaking is increasing our faith. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay. But the righteous will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:36-39).
The passage in Haggai also talks about the Lord bringing peace and prosperity to His house, ie, His people, the ones who have begun to launch out in the callings on their lives. Those who will firmly hold onto and pursue the Lord's will for their lives--and allow their own personal ambitions to take a back seat, those will shine with His glory. "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the Lord Almighty (Hag 2:9). At whatever point they were at in their walk with Jesus, 2008 will bring a new level of glory to those who have endured the sifting and now are desiring to lay down the building of their own houses to build the Lord's house, as was the call to the people in the book of Haggai. The Lord will abundantly pour out His blessings with those who set their hearts to "build the Lord's house." "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3) Yes, the Lord's glory will cause the righteous to shine like never before! Beacons of His light splitting the darkness!
And what about that darkness that covers the earth? Is it not also increasing? Yes, it is. On my way out to Denver, Colorado the Lord gave me a vision for 2008 that illustrated what it will be like for Spirit-filled Christians in America to split the darkness with His light in us. 50 miles to the east of Denver, the snowy hills all around me suddenly looked like raging white-capped waves on the sea! Raging waters, symbolic of the many voices speaking out against the Lord and His word, even against His anointed ones. Yes, 2008 will be a year of many voices speaking out against the precepts and will of God. But, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (Revelation 12:11). It will be a year of much attack and slander against those who have loved the Lord, submitted to His authority and the authorities He has put over us, especially as a nation. In 2008 we will have many opportunities to speak out boldly for Jesus and share our testimonies, pray now for the Holy Spirit to full you with His boldness, knowing that you can and will endure hardships from arrogant and godless people, with the assurance of a blessed and heavenly reward. Psalm 56 tells of "slanderers pursuing" and "attacking," "twisting my words" and "plotting;" "They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life." (Ps. 56:6). Oh, but the Lord will turn back His enemies! We are to call on His name and watch the Lord work on our behalves!
"In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise--in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 56:10-11.
~2008 is the year of, "In God I Trust." Be blessed and be a blessing.
Well, it is good to be back writing again...at last, the hiatus has come to an end and it's time to start sharing with you all again. :) With no further adieu, I have a couple things to write about. First, I want to share the scripture passage the Lord has given me for 2008, from the book of Haggai, especially chapter 2.
Haggai 2:6-9) "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty."
Specifically for the American Church I see it like this: we are like a bag of flour being poured into a giant sifter. A hand squeezes the handle and the metal thresher grates the flour against the meshing and a fine powder falls into a pile. Now, that flour is ready! "I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory," says the Lord Almighty (Hag 2:7) Yes, the shaking and sifting will result in the "desired" piling up at His feet, a pure white pile of fine powder ready to be mixed with other fine ingredients for a perfect blend. Be sure, the shaking is increasing our faith. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay. But the righteous will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:36-39).
The passage in Haggai also talks about the Lord bringing peace and prosperity to His house, ie, His people, the ones who have begun to launch out in the callings on their lives. Those who will firmly hold onto and pursue the Lord's will for their lives--and allow their own personal ambitions to take a back seat, those will shine with His glory. "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the Lord Almighty (Hag 2:9). At whatever point they were at in their walk with Jesus, 2008 will bring a new level of glory to those who have endured the sifting and now are desiring to lay down the building of their own houses to build the Lord's house, as was the call to the people in the book of Haggai. The Lord will abundantly pour out His blessings with those who set their hearts to "build the Lord's house." "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3) Yes, the Lord's glory will cause the righteous to shine like never before! Beacons of His light splitting the darkness!
And what about that darkness that covers the earth? Is it not also increasing? Yes, it is. On my way out to Denver, Colorado the Lord gave me a vision for 2008 that illustrated what it will be like for Spirit-filled Christians in America to split the darkness with His light in us. 50 miles to the east of Denver, the snowy hills all around me suddenly looked like raging white-capped waves on the sea! Raging waters, symbolic of the many voices speaking out against the Lord and His word, even against His anointed ones. Yes, 2008 will be a year of many voices speaking out against the precepts and will of God. But, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." (Revelation 12:11). It will be a year of much attack and slander against those who have loved the Lord, submitted to His authority and the authorities He has put over us, especially as a nation. In 2008 we will have many opportunities to speak out boldly for Jesus and share our testimonies, pray now for the Holy Spirit to full you with His boldness, knowing that you can and will endure hardships from arrogant and godless people, with the assurance of a blessed and heavenly reward. Psalm 56 tells of "slanderers pursuing" and "attacking," "twisting my words" and "plotting;" "They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life." (Ps. 56:6). Oh, but the Lord will turn back His enemies! We are to call on His name and watch the Lord work on our behalves!
"In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise--in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 56:10-11.
~2008 is the year of, "In God I Trust." Be blessed and be a blessing.
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