Elise and Faith

I'm sure many are wondering what's going on with Elise, and our quest for healing for this obstinate tumor. 

For those who know us we have "walked by faith not by sight" since 1981 when Jesus became Lord of our lives. From that moment on we have been exposed to an "Acts" like experience on almost every level. 

For all others that have just recently "joined in" a new, our relationship with you might be a little strained because of our Faith in Christ and our Love for one another. We don't treat "religion" as a secondary thought but (religion being to us Faith in Christ by profession and practice), the only thing that we order our lives by and everything else in life is inclusive. For more about our walk of faith you can read more on: jerroldcavasin.blogspot.com

Scripture is the final definitive and unchanging Word period. It has the answer to all questions, sets precedence in all matters of morality, and sheds a dispelling light into all manner of darkness both spiritual and carnal. There is no wisdom loftier, knowledge more attainable, or life justifiable then what is "unchangingly" set in His Word. Follow His Word and partake of life "more abundantly" for "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed." 

The issue that always "comes to the forefront" in matters of "unreconciled" issues such as healing can only be one: Faith! Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen." Faith is a "substance" and an "evidence", the very reality of "hope" and "things unseen." It is impossible to understand this with the carnal mind for it is the most fundamental basis to begin and maintain a relationship with God. Without faith we cannot know Him, acknowledge Him, experience Him, hear His voice, or receive direction from His Holy Spirit. Shortly put "without faith it is impossible to please Him" the very thing that we were "created" (in His image and likeness) for. Even though faith is the means to Divine access it is also one of the most difficult hurtles to master to get there. Why? because we have been walking this vale "in the flesh" so long accepting what we see as being the only things that exist that we have become spiritually "blind" to what "really exists" in the heavenly's. Therefor what we can't see has less precedence over what we can see. This is at best a demonic lie which most all of mankind (through "religion" not faith) has adopted as "the norm." Because of this "lack of True faith in God" and the practice and Biblical exposition/experience of it, most church's don't even attempt to illuminate/preach on the subject let alone encourage the participation in it. "My people perish for lack of vision", most of Gods children have lost this "vision" and stumble around "blind" ignorantly trying to lead other "blind". The Scriptures affirm that both will fall into the pit.

Every evening we stand on the threshold of a new day and every sunrise we arise to "mercy's" that are new every morning. A renewed time to "fill our hearts" with joyful thanksgiving and praise so we can face the day receiving "grace through faith" to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to "know" and "do" God's will for that day. It says in Hebrews "today is the day if you hear My voice harden not your hearts", opening both a promise and a warning to the wakening believer to "choose" over the promise of God's verbal promptings or to harden your heart and proceed on your own. Know that, just like through the example of salvation: "you are saved by grace through faith" all things Scriptural that can be received is because of grace and comes only through faith. Without faith (as already said) it is impossible to please God, again the very thing that we were created to do. Regardless how "hard" Scripture seems to accomplish, faith makes all things possible for "nothing is impossible for God." God designed it this way so that the "True" believer can accomplish "walking by faith, hearing God's voice, and have power to "glorify His name". 

Nothing has changed concerning this "faith" challenge and ability to accomplish throughout the millennia of creation. God has set faith in His Word to be eternal as He is eternal, and a necessity for a relationship with Him. He has put in His Word every manner of impossible challenge as a norm for "His people" to practice and accomplish (daily) but only by faith. Throughout Scripture God reveals His simple answer to satisfy all the demands of faith: read, hear, and know the Word, recognize that it is the very "Word of God", (who it is that gives it authority), then simply without question, turn and walk away with your spirit set that it's going to happen just as stated. In fact every miracle that took place in Scripture happened that way. The fish and the loaves vs the 5000, Jesus took the limited number of fish and loaves then commanded that His disciples to feed all the people. It doesn't talk about how, it just said "do it". The disciples took and acted "on the Word of God" (the Word being Jesus). Hear and obey, like a little child, "unless you become as one of these little children you cannot enter the Kingdom of God." It takes faith to believe the Word of God, to hear, then having received the command walk away with the surety that "it is finished" according to the command/promise given. When God's Word demands "obedience" to a command it also "promises" that He will perform it and thereby prove and glorify His name to those who witness it. It's the same for "all" miracles, in Scripture and those that are brought forward for performance today. Nothing has changed as God never changes nor can His Word,  (the Lord Jesus Christ) so does nothing that "is written." God has attached His Word to Jesus because He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins and thus the promise of our "salvation". If any command or promise set in Scripture can fail, then because it comes through His Word, (Jesus), so can the promise of eternal life fail. Now we know that "the blood of the Lamb" cannot fail so we also know that all His promises and commands cannot fail. Salvation is "broad spectrum" in God's promises. In other words the Word "Salvation" has to do with more than just "eternal life through faith". It has to include every single gift, promise, command, position, and anointing that comes with "being in Christ." Again this is all by "child like faith", hear, read, receiving as a child being instructed by a parent. 

Christ never changes! God never changes! He Holy Spirit never changes! So when did "things change?" It looks like all things "Spirit" has (eternally) stayed the same as they are "God" related, so where did the "change" come in. In a nutshell on the "carnal side". God cannot change so man decided to take matters into their own hands. Due to existing "heart conditions" of the spirit man started to "lack" in the spirit realm. First to go was several of the ministries, apostles, real "thus saith the Lord" prophets, for many churches those who speak in tongues, interpreters of tongues. Then gifts of the spirit next: healing, raising the dead, signs and wonders, immune to poisons, snake bites, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, ect. all removed by dispensationalism. God took second string to mans knowledge and logic His Word became void and there came a "famine in the land of Gods Word." Prideful preachers touted themselves "worthy" of all the gifts, so being that they "received not" then they just don't exist at all based on their own assumption. Hundreds of years brought us to where we are now: "my people perish for lack of vision", and my friends we are perishing! We now teach what "doesn't offend" or set True Scriptural doctrine, so now we reap what we sow. Faithlessness having a form of religion denying the power thereof. We claim Christ's salvation but deny all the rest that comes with it. We hold on to what we can't see "Eternal Life" and cast aside what we can see of miracles, healings, signs and wonders, the very things that God promised to follow True preaching of the Word to bare witness that it is from God! The majority of the Body of Christ has lepersy and the "body parts falling off" are the gifts, ministries, and anointing's of the Holy Spirit. All given to strengthen, empower, and prove that we are a "royal priesthood", and a peculiar people. I can go on but why? It's all in the Bible to read, believe then act upon. Go to it yourselves.

So for Elise and I:

We believe just what the written Word says, exactly how it says it. No if ands or buts about it. We don't "judge the Word of God" by whether or not we receive what it says. We know that God is all knowing and wise. He is also Loving and compassionate. He has His best in play for Elise and I. Over the years in the faith we have learned a good number of things about the workings of faith. The first 28 years of "walking by faith" with all the children we were blessed to receive into this life, we had no use for the medical profession at all. Once convinced of that (through growing in faith), Elise discontinued using doctors for birthing and went back to home births with a midwife. We homeschooled before it was "sanctioned" by the authorities. We prayed for the sick (our own and others) and they were healed. 3 times the dead was raised through prayer. Men on the jobs that I worked on were healed, people in comas came out of them, some with even a prophetic word. One man who was put into a vegetative state from a wreck was made instantly and "every whit" whole in Jesus name. Food at our table was multiplied, money also right before our eyes. These are just a few of the "manifestations" that became common place in our lives by faith. We read the Scriptures, believed what we read, the walked away as if commanded by Christ standing there in the flesh, and He manifested His Truth by allowing signs and wonders to follow. Note: His Word is eternal and designed to function the same for every person that will ever exist. That means you! 

The above post is what I call "SOP", standard operating procedure for every one who professes Christ as their Savior. Yes, seeing and experiencing all the "signs and wonders" listed in the Scriptures is just common place by God's design. Yes common place! Scripture commands us all (all mankind) to be "born again" then to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" and endued with power from on high. Notice that both salvation and the baptism (not water) are free gifts from God through Jesus Christ only for the sincere asking. There is no mention of being saved and not following that up with Holy Spirit baptism (as many practice) for the Scriptures "commands" to "be saved and be baptized", there is no room for opinions here. You can "be saved" and not seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit but then that is only being obedient to part of the command! Jesus said "if you love me you will obey my commands and my commands are not grievous." Some say that you are "baptized with the Holy Spirit" at the time of salvation by faith but Scripture says there will be "the evidence" of that baptism when it happens. So yes you can be Baptized in the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation but whether or not it happens then the "evidence" is still the same, including tongues and "these signs shall follow." Some churches wrest what Scripture says in this matter but church, preacher, teacher, or any orator of Scripture, is no excuse to ignore what the "Truth" says about the matter. You are alone responsible to know Scripture and show your love for Christ by obeying His commands, all of them. Therein is another reason for the baptism as His commands are set in the spirit real but manifested in the realm of the flesh, and it's only the Holy Spirit that can "make them manifest" through you His vessel. So if you desire to "work the works of God" as He has promised them then you have to let the Holy Spirit work through you to do so. Thereby the Scripture that "you shall receive power from on High" when you are obedient to "tarry" and seek the baptism. Like I previously said "standard operating procedure." 

So back to Elise and I: We have put into practice every Scriptural means mentioned to release her from this tumor. We have fasted several types of fast over the last 18 month including the intermittent water fast being done now. Nothing seemed to be effective as shown by MRI's until we changed the way we are applying our faith. God is compassionate, all Loving and "He has His best in design for us" for our care and continuance. Sometimes I thought that we were relying more on "the process" of the fast to work over the "faith of the fast" to humble and seek His manifestation. In other words the fast became the intended deliverer instead of His Word and promises of healing. The cart was before the horse in our application sort of saying. As soon as the matter was put in the right order her symptoms started to diminish. God first, supplication by fasting second, results to follow. No matter what way God decides to work it we know that His Glory is what will be the end result. We just want to be there to see it. Needless to say that all who have been following this situation and all involved whether by prayer or mere curiosity, (or maybe those who just want to say I am wrong), will see the will and Glory of God made manifest. Right now our part is to "believe by faith" our petitions of God for healing in the name of Jesus Christ, laying on of hands, and binding this destructive organism in the spirit realm so that we can see the results in the physical realm. So far we have seen, using these methods, a reduction in the symptoms and better all round physical ability then she has had in the past. Faith is the key whether it's seen or not. Sooner or later it will make His will known.

Some day I hope to cover the Biblical subject of "Divine Healing" in greater detail and all the ways healing takes place. But for now we will continue to "walk our part through faith" believing that God's Word "will not come back void but produce that which it was sent to do."

Love

Jerry and Elise

Today seems to be a day that's rife with doubt, emotion, concern and everything that goes against what God promises victory over. In the comforting sometimes words just fall short of getting the job done. But the "Word" cannot fail because the Word is Truth and only the Truth can set you free. Nothing can be added to the Word to make it more effective.

But compassion is the other "hand" that Jesus gives us to help others receive the Truth. It's the "presentation platform" on which Truth is made real to the carnal side of comfort.

So, today, for all you out there who are drowning under the waves of adversity, loss, pain, doubt, hopelessness, fear, and weariness, here is my/our measure of compassion offered to you:

This picture representing God's beauty, grace, abundant life, Unconditional Love, hope for a full completion of development, and satisfying of every promise He has for you through His Word in Christ Jesus.

"Let those who are weary come into Me and I will give you rest".

And:

"Cast all your cares upon me for I care for you".

Be healed in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Right now in Jesus name, I command healing to go forth into the hearts, spirits, minds, bodies, and lives of all those who are reading this, to the glory of God the Father.

"And they defeated the devil by the "blood of the Lamb" and the "Word of their testimony".

What is the Word of their testimony? It's what can be assuredly spoken about of what God has intimated in your life. Causing others that hear to glorify God in their hearts for His power and mercy that has been preformed in your life.

His blood has already defeated the devil at the cross, he only need to add our testimony to complete this Scriptural formula.

May your testimony, from this day forward increase until the "day of Christ Jesus" having His blood as the ground on which we have victory in this battle.

Love

Jerry and Elise

2Frank Sharpy and Shelly Addison

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Update on Elise and I

15 months ago I decided to "get disciplined" and start watching what and how much I ate. My starting weight was 268 lbs rather ponderous for the last 15-20 years.I set a goal of not weighing myself for 1 year but let that lapse into 15 months. That decision to get things under control also led me to following whatever food limitations Elise had to follow to further encourage the elimination of the rest of the tumor. An old song from our time as youth says "we all need someone to lean on, and if you want to baby you can lean on me." So we leaned on each other as we both entered into her fray.

Victory came for both of us as tenuous as it might be. Her tumor stopped growing as of the last MRI and when this "pandemic" subsides we hope to confirm with another MRI that the tumor is in fact shrinking by the healing power of Jesus Christ through constant prayer and supplication of you all.

Now for my good news........I just checked my weight this morning and have lost just over 40 lbs. This was my first "prime objective" when I started. My goal is to drop down to 210 lbs which is another 18 lbs. Right now we are eating "cleaner" and a lot of veggies. Most the time the proper meats and fish are only enjoyed 2-4 times a week. Grass raised animals with no antibiotics or hormones and Alaskan line caught fish. Still no matter what goes into the mouth it still has to be moderated as to portion. There in is the difficulty for me. Elise never seemed to have that problem in fact just the opposite. Making sure she gets enough protein to enhance her recovery of strength and endurance. But we are doing it together! That's the key. Together.

No one stands alone in this family. We may be apart by distance but always united by Love, prayer, and faith.

I am very thankful that God has seen fit to "extend" our relationship for how every many the appointed years hold for us, and His continued blessings, interventions, and guidance will mark our way with "Truth and Love and Life" for all eternity.

Yesterdays decisions become today's harvest.

Love

Jerry and Elise

A movie, a car for sale, an angel and God's divine intervention.

A movie, a car for sale, an angel, God's divine intervention!
We are enjoying a time of Divine Remembrance in our walk with God right now. For the past year the Holy Spirit has been bringing to recall prayers prayed, answers given, and other divine manifestations that get forgot on the everyday level.
I believe that if you Love God/Christ/Holy Spirit you will be aware of His presence and His working in your life. You will look for it as one looking for their lover "with passion." Doing so you will be blessed to see His manifestation in even the littlest memes of life, and you will not miss the big interventions. If you pray without ceasing covering all matters large and small you will be attune to those prayers being answered, if you do not pray, watch, or long for these "interventions", quite simply you will not notice them either major or minor.
Our practice is to pray and look for them as though our very life (if not faith) depends on them, as one looks for the next meeting of their Lover. "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you!" The opposite of this is true also. Be forewarned. Some treat their relationship with God as a religion not a "Faith of Love." As we have mentioned those that "Love God" continually and passionately anticipate His presence and manifestation, as one looks for the very part of life that makes it unlivable if it didn't exist. Those that chose religion set perimeters as to their "participation" which puts them in charge and eliminates "divine guidance." These will seldom see God's manifestations, certainly not the minor ones let alone the major ones. They will never be convinced that prayer is actually a "valid" petitioning of God's intervention, but a practice of hit and miss. If an answer does come they pass it off as coincidence thereby insulting God and sinning through their "lack of faith."
Here is the account of the title above that was just recently brought back to remembrance.
The car and the angel:
It was the very early 1980's right after we had been "bought with a price"saved through Jesus Christ. We were continually walking by faith in all areas of life as work was scarce. We decided to sell our full size Bronco for a vehicle that used less gas and hopefully have some left over for monthly bills. The add was placed and the first person that showed up was a business man from Ann Arbor, Mi. This man shows up and wants to buy the car but had to wait 2 weeks because he was going out of town. I told him I couldn't hold it unless he gave us a down payment. He agreed and we turned to conversation about how blessed we were and about the manifestation of God in our lives. Amist the cogitation he looked right in my eyes and said: "you'll never know how greatly you are loved." This from a complete stranger and that ended his conversation. Then he left. I was set back by what he said and how he said it. I had witnessed something in the spirit just then and was greatly effected by it. He came back in two weeks and picked up the car paying it off in cash (not a small amount). The very next day we had to get groceries so we went into town passing the Ford dealership on the way. As we passed by we noticed the Bronco sitting in the lot for sale. Curious about that we pulled in. As soon as we stopped a salesman came out and approached us as to our intent. I told him we had just sold that car yesterday and wondered what he had paid for it. The amount was $2000 less then what we sold it for! I tried to call the man that bought it but the number didn't exist. There was no way to get a hold of him. Just disappeared. "An angel" was the only explanation. We both were convinced of it.
The movie:
Last night we were watching a Christian movie on faith through adversity. During the movie a soldier drags a wounded soldier to safety saving his life. Doing that caused him to be mortally wounded and as he was passing he said to the man he saved: "you'll never know how greatly you are loved." That brought me back to the incident of the car sale 35+ years later.
God's divine intervention:
God has "intervened" so many times in our lives with such great and wonderful miracles that we now look with anticipation continually. We look by faith not by sight, with our spiritual eyes/hearts and are never disapointed. We believe in "Emanuel" God is with us and He is! We have seen and experienced almost every miracle in Scripture to date except the changing of water into wine, (a favorite of mine but not a safe one for me), lol.
The summary:
Read the Word, believe the Word, have faith in God, expect that He will "intervene" in your circumstances, never forget that He Loves you Unconditionally. Pray without ceasing about everything, expect an answer. Don't be afraid to have troubles come, that's when He will manifest Himself to you. "He will never leave us or forsake us." Spend some time and get to know your creator on a deeper level. Some day soon we will meet with Him face to face.
Love
Jerry and Elise

Praying in the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit.

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

What wonderful habits to get into. Practicing these two examples of prayer and thanksgiving till they become as natural as breathing, will open up the "experience" of "praying in the Spirit" a new level of prayer for most. 

Most people only ever get as far as "praying" a list, a carnal type of participation that was ingrained in us by whomever was responsible for our "religious" upbringing. That usually doesn't change unless we become "students" of Scripture coming across verses like the above and being challenged by posts like these. 

Rejoicing ever more, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks, and quenching not the Spirit, is being obedient to God's will in Christ Jesus as it concerns us elevating and deepening our "spiritual awareness" to new heights. We will actually begin to "pray through", have satisfaction in prayer, grow our faith because we "receive" answers to our prayers, and become confident that "Emmanuel, God with us", really is. To say the least that entering into prayer with rejoicing, thanksgiving, and praise is the fastest way to "get into the Holy Spirit" letting Him "pray through you" with groans and utterances that one cannot know. That's the most powerful type of prayer there is. All prayer is effective and necessary but praying in the Spirit is most humbling, edifying, faith building, and powerful application that can be made. Not only that but it also encourages one to "pray" more so as to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit "coming along side" to participate with you.

And yes here is where I add my latest experience of both "entering in" and "participation" with "praying in the Spirit." 

It can happen anywhere and anytime as this "sharing" will attest too.

Most of my deep prayer experiences usually happen between 4 am and 7 am and sometimes will also include new revelation in Scripture: an explanation, or application that I have not known before.

But, this time it took place while Elise and I were watching tv and I felt the Holy Spirit beckoning me into His presence and prayer.

Starting out with praise then moving quickly into thanksgiving with rejoicing, I was drawn into prayer for my wife Elise. My eyes were open but I lost cognizance of the tv and started "praying" with my mind as God gave the words, repeating them quietly, Elise not knowing. Soon, as the Apostle Paul states, "pray with your mind and also with your spirit" this transformation started to take over "mind to spirit". Words began to flow without thought or effort and my heart broke for the privileged of being allowed to participate in such a "sacred oneness" with the Holy Spirit. I was most aware of His leading and "joined" my heart and spirit to His, noting all that was said deep in my heart. I experience, at one time, both prayer, praise, thanksgiving, rejoicing and worship, again all at once, simultaneously. It was a perfect mixture of "participating" with Him, His Spirit, just as I can imagine that it would be like in heaven. In that prayer moment, (I don't know how long it lasted but for sure many minutes), I could see His hand in the "continuance" of my wife, how God has used her to glorify His name, how many people were (and will be) effected by her testimony, not counting the impact this has had on our children, their spouses, and grandchildren, friends and relatives. It was (in the form of a vision/premonition) like trying to take a drink from a tidal wave, to capture it all. Although it consisted only of words given and prayed it also was in form like a canvas coming to life with those words to form a visual presentation. I could not help but to silently weep humbled by the presence of God and His Unconditional Love for not only Elise and I but also for all of mankind from Adam and Eve till "Kingdom come". How that He, the God of all creation, would fulfill His promise to be "Emanuel, God with us" including me, a broke down bricklayer who has nothing more to offer than humbly to serve Him at His behest.

As I have stated before: "this is only a beginners participation" in Christianity. Our faith should be a continuing "experience" in the communing with God our Father. Man with his Creator. As Father and son. Always growing daily in intimacy and familiarity with Him on earth till we are reunited with Him in heaven. 

I exhort you all who read this put this to a challenge. Take time to spend with Him quietly, waiting on Him to move in your heart and reveal His presence to you. 

Invite Him to be your "Emanuel", God with you.

I hope you have been encouraged. I have.

Love in Christ

J&E in Tn

What's plaguing the Church in these end times!

This post is odd to my normal sharing of revelation with those who read them.
My heart is deeply troubled "in these end times", (let there be no doubt that they are upon us), and the passive condition of the Body of Christ in general. So as not to "blanket" all Christianity with a cover of "futility" I will state at this time that there has always been a "remnant" of believers who have not succumbed to the "doctrines of man" in other words the "lies of the devil". I will also state at this time that many, (most, except for the aforementioned remnant), have gladly and comfortably sat back and accepted these weakened doctrines and teaching do to the "lack of experiencing" the gifts of the Holy Spirit made available to all who believe. Those "promised" gifts which come from above, are given to PROVE that the Word of God is True, (the Gospel), and to do so Divinely so as to show the Supreme power and hand of God are not of man but of God Himself!!! This is His plan to prove the Truth of His Word both to the believer and non believer. To the believer so that he might be encouraged and convinced that the Gospel is Divine and True, and to the unbeliever so that He would be speechless to comment otherwise having "SEEN" the Divine manifestation of God. 
For those who would argue in there heads right now let me make this clear:
Faith in the Gospel (Jesus's death and Resurrection) is the only way one can be saved. Period!
"And", like it or not "THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW".
Mark 16:15-18

 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;b 18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

As we see in the Scripture above the Gospel is a finished work for Salvation but not a finished experience for the one who is saved. Hence the "practice" of "I'm saved so that's it" falls short of both the Truth and life experience of what is written and promised of those in His service. I have read the Bible and agree with all that it says, completely, questioning nothing, but embracing all of it's Words as the very Words of God. 

When you strip away all the promises due us through salvation, you strip away all the "God given excitement" out of the Christian "EXPERIENCE" that was put there by our "all knowing Father", which was meant to make walking by faith a daily new experience. Giving us joy and expectation in our hearts of Emmanuel "God with us", watching and praying daily for Him to "glorify" His name locally and in all the earth. 
Faith is the key to keeping God alive in our hearts thereby keeping Christ alive in our lives, actions, words, motives and attitudes that are witnessed by all around us. 
I again say Faith, not carnal understanding! Faith gives us the hope of experiencing God in the very real sense that He meant us to as shown in Scripture. We must "walk by faith", we must "live by faith", we must "season every conversation with salt by faith", in the hope of seeing the evidence of faith being manifested in it's "promised substance". 
Faith is the fundamental "necessity" of our Christian experience, some having forsaken and by so shipwrecking their potential as "witnesses" for Christ. 
It's by faith we are saved, it is by faith we embrace the Sovereign Truth of His Word, it is by faith we lay hold of every precious promise of God to us ward in Christ Jesus. Remember that anything outside of faith is sin! Sin! That element of Christian service that robs us of our precious intimacy with our Father in Heaven. Sin, which causes us to loose excitement about Emanuel "God with us" because it blinds us from the Truth "which sets free", free indeed. 
God's design for "His people" was to experience and walk in the "full measure" of His Salvation, (Jesus Christ). The full measure, not partial measure, the distinct fullness and power of the "Living God" so we can be seen as "set apart", a "holy priesthood", a "peculiar people", a representation of faith, hope, and power like no other people exhibited before. So let me set this in stone: faith is the doorway to the most unimaginable joy and excitement that one can experience in this life. The word Salvation is not just limited to "a ticket to the golden streets", a guarantee of a heavenly home, it is a promise to receiving "ALL" that the Scripture holds for the believer. It is obvious that those who do not give Scripture full place in their hearts by faith, will struggle with what they base their beliefs on and try to find some other way to secure Scriptures validity. We are the "living" proof that God's Word is True because of the change He made in our lives through Salvation in Jesus Christ. And this is an effortless manifestation on our part as we "by faith" follow His commands written in His Word. If you lack the followup that God has promised by faith then what you believe about Scripture is wrong! Scripture is not wrong, you are wrong, you have believed a lie and will go searching for some other way to validate scripture. 

Note: Scripture needs no validation because it is Truth, Truth so powerful that it sets free. Free from the need of our help to prove it's True. Free from the need of our explanation. God said it and that should be enough. Needing to add more to prove it outside of "more Scripture" weaken's "Who" it is; the very deity of God. Paul said something like "in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction", and "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." Just speaking the Word of God by faith is all that is needed to bring God's power to witnesses. By saying this lets make it clear that the Word of God can be preached without faith even doubting that it will have any effect at all. This is why God set it's redeeming power with this Word: "my Word will not come back void until it has accomplished what I have sent it to do." (Paraphrased). How does this happen? When a preacher doesn't "wait on the Holy Spirit" for a "Word" for that time, instead he looks up someone else's sermon that sounds good.  The Scriptures say "today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your hearts". Yesterdays messages were meant for yesterday, "today is the day" to hear His voice and speak the given Word to the people given for them that are present. We are to "walk by faith" today! We are to "season every conversation with salt" today! We are to "speak as though speaking the very Word of God" today! "Today is the day, "IF"you hear my voice". I find it very challenging that word "if". Do you think that the "all wise Father" knew the slim possibility that we would want to hear? Never a word so powerful as the way this "if" is used. Explains a lot doesn't it? Reveals a lot doesn't it? Says a lot, yes? 

The deception and lie in many church's today is that half truths and incomplete Scriptures used in doctrines are a standard now in many cases. Why? Because as society has become more sensitive to being offended so has believers. Many believers today are contentious about what the Scriptures say about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe that they have received it as part and parcel with Salvation but argue about the proof that it has taken place. Like it or not there are proofs that you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit: Tongues is one of them, prophesy is another, gifts of healing is another, being endued with "power from on high" is another, great boldness is another, and yes mighty rushing winds or tongues of fire have happened too. Whether you like it, accept it, believe it or not, your thoughts don't count here. Jesus said: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?" and this to His disciples! Are we looking in a mirror here? God's Word commands us but we debate as to whether or not we should do it. Sorry brothers and sisters. No I'm not! Wake up. If we claim Salvation through Christ then we have claimed the entire Word of God to be as True as the Salvation we claim. In fact the very Word which opens the door to our salvation is the same Word that became flesh for our Salvation. If we claim one, by nature we claim it all. God cannot be divided. He is whole, complete, True. If you are saved then you have already received every precious promise that God has for us in Christ all we have to do is embrace them. Doing so "glorify's our Father" and proves the power of His redemption. To not embrace and employ them is to embrace a "half truth" and makes us liars by our incomplete lives. To not preach these gifts is to rob believers of the God ordained power promised them. To not challenge their activity in the believers lives is to encourage lethargy over time and lack of excitement, even failure, in their walk/faith. For we "walk by faith" brings a looking/excitement for God manifesting His promises in our lives so that we will "ask for things above what we can think or imagine", knowing that God has the power and heart to answer those seemingly impossible prayers. We seem to forget that it was mentioned in the OT that God told "His people" that when the peoples of other lands see the great provisions that God has given them they will say: "who's god is like unto their God"? Nothing has changed. We are still his people and He is still God like no other only needing a chance to "manifest" that Truth. We either give or deny this longing for God to "call all men unto Himself. That's His purpose isn't it? "That none should perish" is His goal? If that be so lets "lay aside" all vain jangling and old wives tales along with weak or false doctrines of man, then once again pick up the "joy of our salvation" with the expectation of actually seeing God move in and through us that others will believe with hope also inspired by our faith.

Stick to the Word. Prove everything that is said to be Scripture by searching the Word itself. Don't let anyone deny you the experience, joy, and expectation that are promised you "with power" from the Scriptures. 

These are evil days, but rejoice that Jesus has already given us the victory if we walk by faith. Only by faith can these be the best time to live in.

"Redeem the time for the days are evil!"

Love

J&E

My first vision

I believe that my first vision was this Psalm by the hand of an angel after my salvation experience. It was at lunch time and I was working at a stainless tubing plant in Mich. My spirit was restless and burdened for more of God. I went to sit by myself outside and pray and seek God. I wept to be receive "more of Him." My soul ached to have His presence and to receive some intimacy that would describe my longing. That's when the vision happened. All vision of the body ended and I seen a blue field with a robbed arm descending. It was the arm of an angel holding an open book that was gold gilded both the covers and the pages. The book was open to a writing which was not numbered. I didn't know where it came from in the Bible. I was told to read it and that when I was done it would be taken away from me. As I started to read I told myself not to finish it until I had read it at least 3 times, this I did. As soon as I started I broke down and wept. It described my longing perfectly. I was satisfied in it's Words.
I never knew where it came from till a couple of years later when I was teaching a Bible study and was led to this page by the Spirit to read it to the participants. As soon as I started to read it I broke down and wept reminiscing the vision all over again. As we read the Psalm we all ended up weeping having one heart and one purpose which the Psalm expressed so beautifully. This longing has never left my heart from day one till today.
Please read it and pray this will always be the condition of your heart.
Love in Christ
Jerry and Elise

Psalm 63 King James Version (KJV)

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

Great Sunday start

BEST SUNDAY MORNING SINCE THE LAST ONE.

Started out by waking up in time to sit for a few minutes and watch my wife sleeping, thinking that I am blessed beyond belief. That followed a night of prayer and praise spending much time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit as He reminded me of all things Jesus had said and done. I marveled that all those precious promises were God's to preform and mine to posses. What little sleep was given was more than enough because God was pouring out the addition to the Revelation of Jesus Christ which He started at salvation. These times are especially exciting when they are attended by dreams and visions. When these promises are present in ones walk then revival is on going and continuous embraced by a hungry heart that desires more of Jesus.

I hope that your day started this way, if not better get with the program as "time's a wast'n."

He is returning for those who "love and look for His return."

Just a thought.

Love

J&E in Tn

Saturday morning Worship

Saturday morning:

Best Saturday morning.

We started off with a great scramble breakfast ham, cheese, mushrooms, and onions.

After eating Elise and I were talking about what worship song we had on our minds before we arose from bed.

Mine was "You raise me up."

Elise's was "Reckless Love."

As we sat and listened to the one that was on her mind we both started to weep in the presence of the Holy Spirit as we held hands. The line that said "I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, you give Yourself away" set the revelation of His timeless sacrifice and our unworthiness to be the benefactors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE

Such truth.

God is a rewarder of those that seek Him diligently and what could be a greater reward than His presence. Emanuel God with us.

We are blessed.

Enjoy your day in His presence.

Love

Jerry and Elise