THE BATTLE IS UNFOLDING, THE VICTORY IS ASSURED

THE BATTLE IS UNFOLDING, THE VICTORY IS ASSURED by Vanessa Roemers

All of a sudden I heard the sound of the trumpet blowing very loudly in the spiritual realms, like an alarming war sound.

All over the globe, I saw His warrior bride snapping into attention, their wedding gowns were dazzling white, and with no exception, I saw them all wearing the full armor of God over their wedding dress, it was not disturbing at all it seemed like they were all tailor-made.

I could see and experience these were seasoned warrior brides on the front lines, their eyes were super focused and sharp like that of the eagle, their ears were inclined and trained to be able to even catch His slightest whispered order, their shields were shining and their swords were flaming razor-sharp blades.

I saw them from a helicopter view all across the globe, from all tribes, nations, social-economic backgrounds, young and old, and what struck me; most were women and children.  I could feel their heartbeat which was beating with an abandoned deep compassionate fiery love for their Bridegroom Jesus, there was no distraction in their hearts anymore He was sitting on the throne.

These are the laid down lovers who have been tested and tried through the fires of opposition, of loss, of trails, suffering, and persecution, and instead of shrinking back, they ran into the fire, where their love was purified and matured.

As I kept looking and listening, I heard thousands and hundreds of thousands of heartbeats and what struck me that though there were so many; they were all beating in perfect harmony and unity, all of a sudden I heard a very loud and strong heartbeat louder than the rest but beating in the exact same rhythm and as the vision zoomed out, even more, I saw that all those hearts where hidden in His, hence their beating in perfect unity.

What I also sensed and experienced very strongly was, on one hand, this was His seasoned warrior bride army who individually but also corporately has made history with Him in fighting on the frontlines and winning battles.

I could see and experience they were feared in hell and known in Heaven, on the other hand, they were like one big warm family, no competition, no jealousy, they know who and whose they are and though they are Satan’s biggest nightmare and you can't mess with them, they also were like a big warm cuddly fuzzy teddy bear family.

All of a sudden I heard the sound of many, many, many wings and I saw hundreds of thousands of warrior angels descending, they were assigned to individuals and groups to fight alongside them and do at their biding.

Psalm 91 came to mind "God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!"

Psalms 91:11-13 The Passion Translation — As I kept looking I hear to each group and individual special orders was given, Heavenly strategies, as they received them they heard which part on the globe was their frontline. Then like on a video screen I saw the army of the enemy and their different divisions, one could hear them talking about their plans, their next move, their next destination, their strategies; each warrior bride group had a main screen and every individual in that group had a smaller screen as well with more specific details of what was happening in the enemy’s camp.

They were not actual screens to hold but more like a movie playing in front of them and the sound was so clear it was like wearing earplugs, both to the main and individual screen 

It was glorious and amazing to behold, to see this end-time army being instructed and send out and the enemy had no clue their plans where kind of broadcasted in the spiritual realms, they had no clue God was rising up His warrior bride army to bring massive destruction in the enemy camp and set many captives free.

At the second sound of the trumpet I saw His huge army marching towards their places on the frontlines they were assigned to accompanied by legions of angels.

With no exception, young or old, male or female one sense filled the whole atmosphere; these where His laid down lovers who were willing to give their lives even unto the death for He is worthy of it all, they had one aim: DESTROYING THE WORKS OF THE ENEMY

Psalm 91 - Pray Every Word Over Yourself Daily

Psalm 91 - Pray Every Word Over Yourself Daily

A friend shared this (Joe) and so I took some liberties (making it first person) and posted it here. A good word for all of us in these days.

_________

When I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my Elohai (G-d), in Whom I trust.”

For He will deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover me with his pinions, and under His wings I will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. I will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it (the terror, arrows, pestilence, darkness, or destruction) will not come near me. I will only look with my eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 

Because I have made the Lord my dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall me, no plague come near my tent.

For He will command His angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways. On their (the angels’) hands they will bear me up, lest I strike my foot against a stone. I will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent I will trample underfoot.

“Because I hold fast to God in love, God will deliver me; He will protect me, because I know His name. When I call to Him, He will answer me; God will be with me in trouble; God will rescue me and honor me (because I held onto Him). With long life God will satisfy me and show me His salvation.”

Who Will Take Grandma?

This was one of my favorite poems growing up as a kid.  My mom, who worked for the Senior Citizen's of Minnesota found this poem and then shared it with me in the late 1970's.  I knew then I would always have room in my home for mom.  And I did.  💗

Here is the audio version as well.  ENJOY!


WHO WILL TAKE GRANDMA?

Who will take grandma? Who will it be?
All of us want her, - I'm sure you'll agree!
Let's call a meeting, - let's gather the clan.
Let's get it settled as soon as we can.

In such a big family, there's certainly one
Willing to giver her a place in the sun!
Strange how e thought that she'd never wear out,
But see how she walks, it's arthritis, no doubt.

Her eyesight is faded, her memory's dim,
She's apt to insist on the silliest whim.
When people get older they become such a care!
She must have a home, but the question is where?

Remember the days when she used to be spry?
Baked her own cookies and made her own pie?
Helped us with lessons and tended our seams,
Kissed away troubles and mended our dreams?

Wonderful grandma!  We all loved her so!
Isn't it dreadful she's no place to go?
One little corner is all she would need.
A shoulder to cry on, her Bible to read.

A chair by the window with sun coming through,
Some pretty spring flowers still covered with dew.
Who'll warm her with love so she won't mind the cold?
Oh, who will take Grandmother now that she's old?

What? Nobody wants her? Oh, yes, there is ONE
Willing to give her a place in the sun.
Where she won't have to worry or wonder or doubt,
And she won't be OUR problem to bother about.

Pretty soon now, God will give her a bed,
But who'll dry our tears when dear Grandma is dead?

by Clara Clark-Grantz [1910-1989]

The Potter's Wheel - Unknown

I received this from a friend and was moved by the story contained in these lines.  So many times, I find myself here, wanting things to change, to go my way and yet I have to wait on the Potter to mold me and make me.

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

The Potter's Wheel 
Unknown

Once upon a time
upon my bed,
all the worries of the world
weighing hard on my head.
So many problems.
And no answers it seemed.
But as I fell into sleep
I dreamed a dream…
          
I saw multitudes lying
by a miracle well.
They were sick.
They were crying.
They were under a spell.
But whoever was dying
in body or soul,
when they drank from this well
would be perfectly whole.

But they were weak & crippled.
It was so sad to see.
They couldn’t get to the water.
It was up to me!

So I ran to the well
to give them a drink.
but as I grabbed for the bucket---
What do you think?
The bucket was broken!
And I cried in despair.
I’d have to find help--
from someone, somewhere.

So I found myself running.
I searched far and wide.
Till I came to a Potter’s House
and I peeked inside.
I saw an old Potter.
He was nervously working.
His potter’s wheel spinning
and jumping and jerking.
He was forming a pot
from a soft lump of clay.
Then I saw something weird
about the pot he had made.

That pot was alive!
That clay was… talking!
That jar was squirming
and squealing and squawking!
The more that he shaped it
the more it would squeal!
Till it cried:
“No, Potter!
Get me off this wheel!”

So he put away the pot.
Then I cried to myself.
So many unfinished pots
were growing hard on the shelf!

The Potter gave a sigh
and took a new lump down.
But again the clay whined
with the same angry sound.
He tried and he tried
on those hard lumps of clay.
But each pot was soon
yelling: “No, Potter! No way!”

Those cold, old lumps
couldn’t take all the pressure
of being formed into a
beautiful, useful treasure.
Not one would be shaped
by the Potter’s fine art.
I saw tears on his face.
It was breaking his heart.

After a very long silence...

I heard a small cry:

“Oh, Potter…
Please give me just one more try.”

It was one of the pots
that hadn’t hardened too much,
still soft for the molding
of the Potter’s touch.

Now the Potter worked quickly,
and to my surprise,
there was no grumbling,
no griping,
no angry outcries!
Just a few prayerful groans
from his work on the wheel.
For thru the pain, the clay knew
it was becoming more real.

Then a bright finish glaze
was applied by the Potter.
And how it shined in the blaze
as the furnace grew hotter!

Then he said: “It is ready!”
And he gave it to me.
And we rejoiced in His work
the world would soon see.

So I raced back to the well
as the sun was setting!
Oh, what life from that well
those folks would be getting!
What miracles I saw!
What healings that day!
As living water poured out
of that new jar of clay!

But then… I woke up.
My dream was through.
And I felt the Lord
speaking to me
and to you…

How are the world’s
problems and pain ever healed?
It’s when some clay will remain
…on the Potter’s wheel.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.  - Isaiah 64:8

SHIPWRECKED

SHIPWRECKED

A voyaging ship…was wrecked during a storm at sea.  And only two men were able to swim to a small, deserted island; the two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God.  However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing the first man prayed for was food.  The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat its fruit.  The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife.  The next day, another ship was wrecked.  And the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island.  On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon, the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food.  The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him.  However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could leave the island.  In the morning, he found this ship docked at his side of the island!  The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.  He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.  As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming,  “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”

“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered.  “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him.  “He had only one prayer, which I answered.  If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

"Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?’

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone…but those of another praying for us.  Remember that when Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!

The Bible - according to a child.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much of what we teach our children really makes it into understanding.  Here is a cute story, from a child regarding their understanding of the Bible.  Too cute!

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas.  The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one', but I think He must be a lot older than that. 

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. 

Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve.  Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. 

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham.  Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a raincheck.

 After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast.  Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston.  Moses led the Israel Lights out of  Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people.  These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti.  Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies.  Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David..  He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot.  He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines.  My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets.  One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. 

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament.  Jesus is the star of The New.  He was born  in  Bethlehem  in a barn.  (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.

The worst one was Judas Asparagus.  Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man.  He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot.  Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus.  He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again.  He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum.  His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Meet Me in the Stairwell

I received this as an email and had to share it this 9-11 with you all.  We can NEVER FORGET all that happened to us, our fellow Americans and our country that fateful day in 2001!

Following is a poem called Meet Me in the Stairwell and also a video link called I Was There.  Either way, this is a different view of the tragic events of 9-11.  I hope you will take a minute to read the poem below and also to watch the link above! 

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

 

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

- God

This is the end of the poem.  I would like to close this email with a personal  opportunity for you.  There were many on this historic day who were walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as they faced the end of their lives.  I am sure there were also many who did not spend their lives in fellowship with Christ but because they were given of few minutes to face their destiny, they stopped and said a prayer tasking God for forgiveness of their sins and requested salvation.

My question to you is are you ready?  Have you made this decision to trust in Christ with the REST of your life; whether that is a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month or for many years to come?  You see, one of the 'rules' of this life is no one knows when their days are coming to an end yet we all know our days are numbered.  I pray that you would take a minute and get your affairs in order.  It is simple and historic.

To begin you have to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God and that His death on the cross was as a sacrifice done for you!  Make it personal not just historic!  Take a minute and confess to Father God that you have failed (sinned).  Again, we all know that people fail, this is a time to make it personal; confess your failures, your sins!  Finally, allow God to apply His sons' blood that has already been shed as a sacrifice some 2000 years ago to your life today; not just to cover your sins but to wash them away, as far as the east is from the west.  The whole process that we call salvation is to make historic facts PERSONAL through confession and therefore entering into relationship with God Himself.  We all have heard about Jesus, the Bible, the need for God but have you personally taken it from the realm of historic and applied it to YOUR life?  This is what God wants from us; a personal relationship with Him!  Think about it; the KING of KINGS wants to be friends with YOU!

He sustains me and keeps me going day and night. Without Him, I am no one but with Him, I can do everything. Christ is my strength!  Thank Him now for ALL the great things He has done for you.  This is called prayer...talking to God.  When we begin to extol Him, thank Him, rejoice in what He has done and who He is we move from prayer to Worship.  Worship the God who gave His son as a sacrifice for you!  Thank you Lord Jesus and Welcome to the Family of God!

To Be Like Christ - Joni Eareckson Tada

So a friend had this poem posted to their wall on facebook and I did some research about it as they had it listed as unknown.

Well it was actually penned by Joni Eareckson Tada and was quoted in her book A Step Further. 

The discussion in her book leading up to the poem was on the topic regarding our attitudes during trials.  "In short, am I going to be like Christ?"

So when suffering comes, and it does come, the choice is yours.  Read her poem on the matter.

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man, and skill a man,
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Then watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects,
Whom He royally elects;
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into shapes and forms of clay
which only God can understand
While man's tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands...
yet God bonds but never breaks
when man's good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with might power, infuses him,
with every act induces him to try
His splendor out,
God knows what He's about!

When I Say I Am A Christian

When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that 'I am clean living.

I'm whispering 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Unknown

...'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

the Woodcutter's Wisdom

Many years ago, my husband shared this tale with me.  Since then, it has been added to my little "bag of treasures" and call it one of my "nuggets" in life.  A nugget, to me, are those things that you happen across in life that change you, or speak to you and they are special.  You KNOW you will have to save "it".  It is not only for now but you know you will use it again later.

I liken these "nuggets" unto doing a puzzle.  Have you ever done a really tough puzzle?  You are looking for that ONE piece.  You look and look and you KNOW you will recognize it when you see it.  Well, maybe you find it that day, and maybe you don't but either way, when the day comes and you do find it, you KNOW it and you know EXACTLY where to put it.

See, as I stumble across things in my life and I KNOW they are important and I KNOW I need to save them, I "pick them up" and place them in my imaginary bag that holds all my "nuggets" or "treasures".  Then, one day, I draw from that bag with just the RIGHT piece needed for that day or for that situation!  I save it.  I hold it.  I keep it.  Then when needed, I apply it!

God gives me "nuggets" or these "pieces" sometimes for me, sometimes for you, sometimes ... well, I don't know yet, but I do know to hold onto them and I am certain that one day, ALL these little pieces will be assembled and it will be a beautiful Mosaic of my life.  I pray that it resembles HIM!

So, here is one of my FAVORITE "nuggets"!  I pray you are as blessed by it as I was and am!

The Woodcutter's Wisdom

by Max Lucado

WOULD YOU buy a house if you were only allowed to see one of its rooms? Would you purchase a car if you were permitted to see only its tires and a taillight? Would you pass judgement on a book after reading only one paragraph?

Nor would I.

Good judgement requires a broad picture. Not only is that true in purchasing houses, cars, and books, it’s true in evaluating life. One failure doesn’t make a person a failure; one achievement doesn’t make a person a success.

"The end of the matter is better than its beginning," (1) penned the sage.

"Be…patient in affliction," (2) echoed the apostle Paul.

"Don’t judge a phrase by one word," stated the woodcutter.
The woodcutter? Oh, you may not know him. Let me present him to you.
I met him in Brazil. He was introduced to me by a friend who knew that I needed patience. Denalyn and I were six months into a five-year stint in Brazil, and I was frustrated. My fascination with Rio de Janeiro had turned into exasperation with words. I couldn’t speak and a culture I didn’t understand.

The COLD Within - Poem

Years ago my mother came across this poem The Cold Within and she shared a copy with me.  Immediately it was a piece of information that gripped my heart.  It was one of those moments that spoke into my soul.  I was about 10 or so, old enough to capture the meaning of the writing yet still young enough to desire to decorate my bedroom door with all the things I loved.  I taped the copy up for "all the world" to see!  Ha - the only world that was viewing it was my parents and family members as they hurried past my door on the way to their lives.  Oh, the innocence of youth.

Well, now I post here...like my bedroom door, I have no idea if anyone is stopping from their hurried life to read what is here, but yet I still post.  So, some things in life never change.

The Cold Within 

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,

Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within.

-- James Patrick Kinney