Posted in Romania by Sammie Jo Marks on 5/9/2012
Lord I want to remove the adulterous look from my face and the unfaithfulness from my heart. God, please strip me of every unclean thought, desire, want, and comfort. I have shown you disgrace by choosing to find comfort, shelter and reassurance in things not of you. I have chosen to feed my soul with food that satisfies my flesh. So God I pray that you block these paths. I know that only you can truly satisfy my soul. I want you to be my comfort. In times of trials and struggles I want to go to you to be fed and go to you to find peace. I want your sweet presence and your arms to be the place where I rest my head. The place where I feel complete. All good, beautiful, intimate things come from you alone. You are the one I give glory and honor to. I will not glorify man or the creation, but the creator alone. I will not give my heart away to man, but to you alone.
Restore my heart O God. Make it new, clean and pure. Shine light on it and remove the parts that I have let rot. Refine it God. I want to shine for you alone. Lord I am so weak and scared to be in the desert. But Lord I want to just be with you. Please speak to me Papa. Do not turn from me. I need you and I want you. I want to drink your water and eat your bread. I want to be fed by your spirit, the only true provider for the provision my life solely relies on. Turn my troubles into hope, into life.
Give me a new voice. A voice that sings of your greatness. A simple honest voice that projects joy. The joy that comes from being completely reliant on you. Completley fulfilled by your love.
I want to call you my husband, my groom. I want to see you as the only lover of my soul. I want to be intimate with you all day long. I want you to be the only man I look to, to be romanced. I want to honor you, serve you and submit myself, submit my life to you. You are worthy; you deserve my whole heart. You first created it, you first loved it and you are the only one who can love it fully and perfectly. I will submit to you, but I will no longer call you my master. For you are my lover. As my lover, you only give me good things. You will never leave me dry as long as I continue to seek you face and gaze into the eyes who know and love me. As long as I open my mouth to let the healing and refreshing water into my soul.
Restore my lips with your cleansing balm. I want only your name to be upon them. Your name is sweet honey upon my mouth. Any other name is like poison to my soul. God destroy the beasts who are trying to devour my heart. Abolish the weapons that are surrounding my soul waiting for the right moments to shoot and kill. Place me in your garden, with your beauty encompassing my body and touching every part of my being.
Marry me. Betroth me to you forever. Take my hand and let us become one. I want to be united with you in righteousness, justice, love and compassion. My heart is yours and I will strive to love you always. I will love with justice and compassion because it is righteous in your sight. Let us make a covenant to one another to always be faithful. I will strive to always trust.
My love, help me to be faithful and to trust and to rest only in your arms. Respond to my heart God. Plant my heart in your land. In your rich soil that produces life in the most simple and fulfilled form. Water me in my obedience and continue to show me your love in my moments of weakness. You are my God, my husband and my true love. I am your daughter created in your beauty, your bride, perfectly lovely in your sight and your dearly loved one.
I wrote this letter to the Lord while sitting in a bus on a 3 hour trip across Romania. Sibui, our destination, was one of the most beautiful places I have ventured in. The weather was perfectly ideal and the company of my team and some of our new friends from Pitesti was completely blessed. But the reason that day was extra amazing was because I felt the Spirit totally encompassing my heart and completely in sync with my every thought and with my every move.
Usually when I write, I spend a lot of time meditating on my thoughts before I pour them out on paper, but that day was different. I put my green pen onto my journal page and a prayer from deep within my soul overflowed.
This is what God is doing in my heart! I wish I could put into words how amazing this God we serve is. He loves us exactly where we are. In the midst of all of our doubts and fears and laziness and stubborness, He loves us just the same. And that love is refining and transforming my heart. I no longer just want to love Him more, I do love Him more and it's all because He continues to love me through everything.
As many of you know it's my birthday very soon, (May 16th.) I will be turning 23! In honor of this day, the day that God created yours truly, my birthday wish is that you would honor the Lord...
My hope for the rest of this race, and for the rest of the time God has me here on this earth to serve Him, is to see His people and speak the Truth that Jesus is the lover of their soul into their lives. To bring hope to the hopeless. To bring peace to the striving. To bring love to broken. To bring healing to the wounded. To bring life to the dead.
If you would like to honor the Lord by seeing this dream of mine come true, then be apart of supporting me financially and continuing to lift my heart in pray. My next and final financial deadline is July 1st, and I currently need $2,132 more to be fully funded.
Thank you to all those who have and are supporting me. My life has been changed forever, and continues to grow closer to our good good Dad every moment I am on this crazy race. Your obediance and service to the Lord I do not take lightly and am greatly humbled and loved by you all. Thank you.
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Posted in Romania by Sammie Jo Marks on 4/22/2012
I have been in Pitesti, Romania about 2 weeks now. It is beautiful. The people are beautiful. We have been spending most of our time at a church called Living Hope. Cristi Golas, a wonderful wise man of the Lord has been pastoring here for the past 5 years. It has been an abundant blessing to serve under and with Cristi. He loves his country and all the people in it. He has a beautiful wife and 3 adorable children. Aside from being a husband, father and pastor, he also does ministry in Razboieni, a gypsy community, near the church. He has given us the honor this month to work alongside of him with the children in Razboieni.
It has brought me so much joy to be with these children. Teaching them English, music, dance and dramas have only been the surface level of what I am really doing here. Actually, I am not doing anything…what I mean is, I am not doing anything…without God.
God has opened up a door here in Romania to deeply love is children, to embrace and interact with them intentionally because of the overflow of love God has filled me with. It’s truly an amazing thing to see the face of God in children you have known for only 2 weeks. But when God gets a hold of your heart, His supernatural love starts to flow out of your every word, out of your every smile, and out of your every action in a natural way.
Alex- Day 1 in Razboieni was a little tentative having the strange English speaking lady (me) hold his hand to help him form letters on his notebook page.
Day 2, he insisted that I sit next to him during the English lesson and when it was time to leave gave me a big hug.
Day 3, I finished talking to the children about what it means to be a son or daughter of God and then sat down in a seat next to Alex. He took my hand and drew a heart on it in green marker. He then wrote His name in the heart.
(One of my most treasured moments on the Race)
I can love because He first loved me.
He first chose me and loved me, so now I can love others.
I can supernaturally shine Christ’s light onto darkened hearts
and bring restoration to broken lives.
And that overflow of unconditional love can become a natural thing.
Not normal, or ordinary, but natural.
It can become instinct; it can become life.
Because this God that I worship is crazy big.
And He is crazy in love with His kids.
He is crazy in love with you!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:37-39
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Posted in Honduras by Sammie Jo Marks on 4/13/2012
For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for His dwelling: "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I sit enthroned, for I have desired it- I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy." -Psalm 132: 13-16
Zion's Gate Ministries in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is a home for boys and girls who either do not have any where else to go, or the community that they are from is very unsafe for them to be in.
Tony moved to Honduras about 5 years ago and His heart broke for the children growing up in poverty. He invisioned a place where boys and girls could grow up in a family that was free from drugs and violence. A place where they could grow to be strong men and women. Strong in their faith, strong in their love for their country and strong in their desire to change the world for the Lord.
There are currently 8 boys and 3 girls who live here most of the time. Click on the links to see their photos. The boys and girls are precious. I wish you could spend time with them to really see how wonderful they are. It was a privelege to me to have spent the past month with them.
These boys and girls are beautiful and all have powerful stories to share to the world. This past month I had the chance to get to know them. My heart has been filled with so much joy because of the countless hugs, kisses and laughs we shared together.
I would encouarage you to get to know more about Tony and the ministry God has entrusted to him. Check it out on facebook. A website is also in the making right now. You can also contact Tony if you are interested in helping to support the boys and girls at Zion's Gate Ministries.
While I was in Honduras I also taught English in a school nearby, played soccer and painted. God gave me a great vision for Zion's Gate which I was able to paint on the wall of the building.
The verse in English says, "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." -Psalm 34:14
Thank you to all of you for following my blog and being with me on this adventure through your great support. It has been an amazing first 3 months on the race so far and God only has greater things coming ahead. I am currently in Romania and am working with a wonderful man of God who's heart is for the children who live in the gypsy communities around Bucharest. I will update you soon on how God is moving here!
Thank you to all of you who have supported me financially. I currently need $3,500 more to reach my final goal of $15,500 by July 1st. If you would like to help me finish the race click here. Much love and blessings!
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Posted in Honduras by Sammie Jo Marks on 4/4/2012
Time:
January 18th, 2012, 5:45 a.m.
Place:
Chimaltenango, Guatemala, Los Gozosos Orphanage, my tent
Situation:
I woke up to the usually clatter of Daniel setting the table, tents being unzipped and people dragging themselves out of their warm sleeping bags and into the brisk morning air, but this morning felt different. As I opened my eyes to greet the new day a heavy darkness come over me. I felt like a black cloud was looming over my spirit preparing for a downpour.
The spirit of depression was trying to seep it’s way back into my heart. I felt trapped, like the cloud was blocking the sun and I couldn’t see the light.
Ok, I’ll back this story up a bit…
This past October at training camp for the World Race, another member on my squad shared about the struggles she faced with depression. During that moment, I believed for the first time the words in 1 John 4:4…
“You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
I then threw away my anti-depression medicine, which I had been on since I was 15 years old.
I was free.
I was no longer chained down to the spirit of depression. A joy that I had never known filled my heart and captured my soul. A satisfying, fulfilling, everlasting joy.
So in Guatemala when I sensed the enemy trying to slink his way back into my life I felt disorientated and infuriated. I thought that I dealt with this. I thought I had victory over this.
And then God spoke to me, “You do have victory. I have already overcome the world.”
“That sounds really great God, but what do I do now?”
“In the past you have felt defeated by Satan because you didn’t trust in Me.
You didn’t put your hope in the truth that my Spirit is more powerful than the spirit that lives in this world.
Stand tall my beloved. And get ready for war.
Do not fear; I will be right there with you.
You will be on the front line, but you will be with me and first I am going to prepare you for battle.”
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6: 10-17
Since then, the Lord has opened my eyes to the ways that I rely on the world and the people in it to tell me who I am. I look to others to find worth and recognition and affirmation instead of looking to my Creator. And when I have moments where I feel like I want to give up and run away and hide, that that feeling of unworthiness is not from my Father.
That unworthiness comes from the lies that the enemy feeds me, because he knows that when I embrace my identity in Christ, he has no power over me.
Ok, so let’s bring this up to date…
Time:
March 28th, 2012, 11:00 a.m.
Place:
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, big yellow school bus
Situation:
I rested my head on the seat, felt the cool breeze from the open window and took advantage of the relaxing drive. (by relaxing I mean, I had a seat to sit in, and not just that, but I wasn’t sitting on anyone’s lap or packed so tight that I was sharing sweat with my neighbor) I closed my eyes, and was overwhelmed by what happened next.
I was standing naked in a field completely unashamed. There and then Jesus began to clothe me. He gently placed a soft white dress around my body, and secured it with an intricately woven leather belt. He then touched my hands and feet. Light brown flowers like henna appeared on them creating a simple design that led to my ankles and wrists. I then felt His hands running through my hair. He twirled His finger and created longs curls here and braided another section there. And then He placed lovely white daisies into my elegant mane.
Lastly He kissed me softly as a father would kiss his beloved daughter. And on my lips He left His living Word that made my spirit sing out in melodious praise.
“And now my bride, you are ready for battle.”
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Posted in El Salvador by Sammie Jo Marks on 3/8/2012
So this month went by so fast. It seems like we just arrived in El Salvador a couple days ago and now we are on in Honduras. It is hard to come up with words to describe this unforgettable month...
The contacts that we worked with this month were wonderful examples of what it looks like to be true servants!
Victor and Sara gave up the comforts of their own homes to live with us gringos where they prepared our meals for us, took us to communities to be with the people of this beautiful country, welcomed us into their church, translated for us and befriened us. My words cannot express how much my heart loves my new brother and sister!
God has blessed me immensely this month. God took us into places this month, and showed us miracles. I saw the Holy Spirit move through people and heal backs and heal eyes and heal hearts. I felt that same powerful Spirit reveal identities and restore souls.
It's hard to say goodbye. To El Salvador, to the friends and faces we encountered in the communities, to the church and the community we formed there, to the brothers and sisters that were added to the Kingdom through the ministry we got to be apart of, to the beautiful starry night skies and the long windy truck rides, to the delicious pupusas, to singing worship songs on top of mountains, to jumping off waterfalls, to my new little sister Mabil, to Victor and his kind family, to Juan Carlos and to my sweet sweet sister Sarai!
But it's not goodbye, it's see you later! See you later my El Salvadorian brothers and sisters! See you later Victor and Juan Carlos! See you later Sara! If we never meet again in this lifetime, we will have all of eternity to be with each other! All of eternity to reminise on this past month, all of eternity to make new memories, and all of eternity to praise our wonderful Father together!
See you later El Salvador! I love you!
My April 1st deadline has been reached! Thank you to everyone for your loving support! $4,400 to go by July 1st!
With that being said, two of my teammates have not reached their April 1st deadline of $11,000. Please help them stay on the field. Help Emily and Wes finish the race!
Thank you!
Check out this video that my teammate Wes made! It's a great recap of month two in El Salvy!
How Great Thou Art from Wesley Vickers on Vimeo.
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Posted in El Salvador by Sammie Jo Marks on 3/3/2012
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
-Matthew 6:25-34
Verse 28 and 29 says, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
The lilies of the field do not labor or spin. They do not try to be beautiful, and yet they are more beautiful than Solomon, a king who attained and sported the most expensive and elegant possessions.
So why do you worry about your clothes? Why do you waste time on trying to make yourself look better?
The lilies are beautiful because they rest in who God created them to be.
When we rest in who God created us to be, we too display God’s beauty. He cares much more about us than He does about the beautiful flowers, so how much more will He take care of us and provide for us?
So how do we rest in that? How do we find peace in who God created us to be?
By not worrying…
Not worrying about what we wear, or what we eat
Not worrying about the material things in life that have no heavenly value
Not worrying about the circumstances in our life that we can’t control
Which is everything! He is in control and our lives are in God’s hands; He knows what we need.
And by seeking first the kingdom…
By laying down our worldly worries at the foot of the cross and directing our focus on experiencing and sharing God’s love.
What are you worrying about? What fleshy fears, doubts and uncertainties do you need to give up to God? What do you need to let go of?
Where in your life do you need to humble yourself and admit that you are not in control?
Is your focus on things of this world or is it on bringing His kingdom to this world, on shining His light onto the darkness of this earth?
Don’t you know He cares for you so much more than this world does?
You were not created by the world; you were created by God.
This world and everything in it will pass away, but God will reign forever.
And we can be with Him.
He wants us to be with Him.
He wants to clothe us in His righteousness.
He wants us to experience His Kingdom here on this earth.
So we must lay down our fleshly worries and desires and trust that God is Provider and that His plans for us are good.
So I’m on the World Race. There are crazy awesome things going on all around me everyday. People are giving their lives to Jesus for the first time. Men and women are being healed of their sicknesses. God is giving me revelations daily. He is more real to me than ever before; everyday His presence becomes thicker and more tangible. This life is no ordinary 9 to 5 profession.
And still, with all this going on around me, I fall into worldly thinking. I find myself worrying about what outfit I will wear. I find myself comparing my body with the beautiful women around me. I find myself consumed in thoughts about what to eat and how the food I eat will affect my figure. I find myself worrying about the emails I have to send and the blogs I need to post and the photos I need to upload and the list goes on…
And then God brings me back to His Word, back to the Truth!
We are God’s glory, but we can’t display His glory when we cover it up with worldly worries. So do not spin or labor. Rest in who God created you to be.
Do not worry. Seek first the Kingdom!
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Posted in El Salvador by Sammie Jo Marks on 2/24/2012
Walking down the street of Apastepeque an older woman in her 70s stuck her weary wrinkled face out of her door. She smiled and invited us into her home. Through Sara’s translation, (one of the women involved with the ministry our team is working with this month), we discovered that this dear sweet lady, Emelia, knew of God, but didn’t know God. She had been going to catholic church, but it was only religion to her. God was just a man who gave her a list of rules to obey. She didn’t know that God wanted to know her, and love her and have a personal intimate relationship with her. She didn’t know in her heart that Jesus died for all the sins of the world (John 3:16). And that God longs for all His children to come back to Him (Luke 15:11-32).
As we started to pray for Emeila, the spirit took over and spoke straight to her heart. We prayed that her eyes would be opened to see that Jesus and only Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). We prayed that her Creator would heal her calloused heart and that her new heart would beat only for her Savior. Emelia received the words of Truth that the Holy Spirit spoke through us and her dead soul became alive in Christ (John 5:24).
She went from death to life before our eyes!
Praise the Lord!
So before I left for the race, I asked God to allow me to be with someone when they invited Jesus into their heart. Thank you Lord for letting me hold Emelia’s hand when she opened the door of her heart to Jesus and handed over the keys to her King!
Thank you for my new sister Emelia. Thank you for always waiting for us to come back to you with open arms! Thank you for creating us with a spirit that cannot be satisfied by anything but your love!
So I am in El Salvador! Month 2!!! I am staying in a city called Apastepeque. My team is working with a ministry called GPS (Generacion para Salvacion- Generation for Salvation). We attend church with out local contact Viktor Reyes four times a week. This month we have been performing dramas and sharing our testimonies in schools around the area. We have also been going into poverty stricken communities and praying for the people. Tomorrow we will be going to a Compassion International Orphanage and loving on the kiddos. This place has already stolen my heart.
Financial Update: I am at $10,000 at this moment. My next deadline is April 1st. (About 5 weeks away) I have to have $11,000 in my account by then to be able to finish the race. If you would like to support me and continue to see God’s Kingdom grow here on the earth, click on the link that says support me please to your left.
Thank you!
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Posted in El Salvador by Sammie Jo Marks on 2/22/2012
Tall tropical trees lined a dirt road that lead to a simple house in a very calm and rural community. A small black pot was boiling on a warm fire under a tin roof. Dogs and chickens were scattered about the area looking for scraps of food to eat or a bit of shade to lie in. Five beautiful children were giggling timidly at the four gringos who had just walked into their home. And Alicia, mother to 3 of the children was sitting in a wooden chair sharing her life with us.
 
All was peaceful; all was ordinary.
And then the Holy Spirit decided to move…
Alicia shared with us that her back was in a lot of pain. We gathered around her and began to pray. It was a simple prayer. Simple, but powerful. We asked our great and worthy God to be with us, and He was.
“Father God, we thank you for bringing us here to be with Alicia. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ that you heal Alicia’s back. Take away the pain. Give her strength to continue to raise these children. Be with her in this place and comfort her heart. Bless Alicia.”
I opened my eyes to see tears streaming down her thankful face. She told us that when we prayed she felt the pain leave her back!
She felt the pain leave her back!
What? I couldn’t believe it! So I asked again.
And she responded again, “No mas duele!”
No more pain!
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” -John 14:12-13
When Jesus walked this earth, He preformed miraculous healings. And so can we. Not by our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has given us. And not to bring ourselves glory, but to bring our Father in heaven glory.
This is so hard to understand and accept, but it’s Truth.
Hard to understand because it’s all about faith. It’s not about what is seen, but what is unseen. It’s about trusting that God hears me and answers me even if it’s not in the way I think it should happen.
Hard to accept because it’s all about God. It is by the power of God that healings and miracles happen. Not by my power. I have to continually deny myself because my fleshy desire wants to believe that I deserve some credit for the work I do. But I have no power apart from Christ Jesus. Therefore all the glory goes to God. I have to continually speak that the glory does not go to me upon myself…
And when I do that, God allows me to see into heaven. He allows me to see people’s lives be transformed by His love. He blesses me by allowing me to see the Holy Spirit heal Alicia’s back.
This is what God is walking me through right now! It’s challenging and wonderful. It’s supernatural and life changing. And it’s rocking my life!
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Posted in Guatemala by Sammie Jo Marks on 2/11/2012
You know you’re in a Guatemalan hospital when…
Before giving your name, the first thing you do is hand over a stool sample in a baby food jar
The doctor sticks an IV in your hand without getting any background information from you
You realize after your IV is in you still have your sweatshirt on
The waiting room is also your bedroom
You get goody bags and one of the items in the bag is toilet paper
There are 6 patients total in your room
Your bed is on the floor
The nurse doesn’t care if you share a bed with another patient for the night
Your sheets don’t match and they have the last patient’s dried blood spots on them
You get served cooked bananas for supper
The bathroom in your room is out of order for 30 minutes while one of the workers leaves to buy a replacement pipe for the running sink
Patients from the other room come through your room (with IVs in tow) because your room has a bathroom
Blood starts making it’s way out of your IV and the nurse laughs and says “No problema”
If you need the nurse you just yell, “Jackie”
The nurse does her rounds at night with a flashlight and times the drops of your IV with her cell phone
The doctor greets you in the morning by saying “hola amoeba party!”
The head nurse waves you good bye, she tells you how much she will miss you and to look her up on facebook
This past wednesday I went to the hospital with the rest of my team, and after our poop samples were examined, we were informed that we all have parasites! And then informed that some of us would have to spend the night.
It was an experience that I will never forget. I was angry and frustrated at first, but through many laughs with the rest of my parasite infected friends God healed my heart and reminded me that He is in charge (not me!)
God also reminded me after receiving the $350 (US$) hospital bill that it's His money (not mine!)
I was able to pay the bill using most of my spending money for this year.
If you feel that it is on your heart to help me pay for the hospital bill, please send me an email (smarks333@yahoo.com) and we can make it happen!
Thank you so much!
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Posted in Guatemala by Sammie Jo Marks on 2/5/2012
Last night Marko Tulio and His friend Carlos came to Los Gozosos. We ate smores and laughed around a warm fire with the children.
After sharing his crazy awesome testimony with us, Marko spoke these words over me:
“You are very little, but you have a very big heart.
And it speaks the truth. You strive to be truthful in all you do.
That Truth is Jesus who lives in you.
You are small and some may not see you, but God sees you.
He sees you as mighty.
You will bring big blessings to people through the truth that you speak.
Through the Truth that lives in your heart.”
How encouraging!
I was reminded of this verse:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” -1 Timothy 4:12
Some of you might be thinking, “big whoop dog, so he told you, you are small and have a big heart.”
But, I believe that God was speaking through him straight to my heart. And that it is a BIG whoop!
Ok, so if some of you just got a little tense or uncomfortable by me sharing that God spoke directly to my heart, it’s ok. It should make us all feel a little out of our element. Because it’s not normal, it’s supernatural. It’s prophecy!
Some of you might also be thinking, “prophecy?! Stories about prophecy are from the Old Testament. And that’s it.”
But the truth is that God can and wants to speak through all of us, right now! He desires for us to speak His words in order to build up the church.
1 Corinthians 12: 7-11 says:
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
And 1 Corinthians 14: 1 & 3 says:
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.”
So, according to God’s living Word, prophecy is a gift. It is something that we should desire. It is something good that draws us closer to Him and binds us, the church, together as one body united in Christ.
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