What I have learned..

Remember the song line from Sound of Music, "I must have done something good in my childhood..."? The star was trying to figure out why something good so good could be happening in her life because she knew in her heart she did not deserve it...Well, I came to Bethel Church in obedience and not really wanting to leave my beloved Alaska, but what I immediately started  to receive was exceedingly abundantly above all I asked or thought...God has visited and spoken to me so personally since my arrival. Even during my stay, the first weeks with Laura and Lucas, (pictured above)...I had dreams every other night or so from the Lord, revealing things to me, and coming to me with His love...it was so incredible. I know I didn't do something good in my childhood, in fact I was quite aware of how bad I was! but God knew what to do about that...need I say more? He is the one who did something good! He sent His Son and all the blessings, favor and goodness coming our way are because and only because He is good (all the time)!

A side note about Laura and Lucas....Laura knew me when she was a teen in Fairbanks, and found me on myspace in January right about the time I was seeking confirmation for my Redding relocation...and of course she was here in Redding, going to church at Bethel. We wrote and became friends all Spring and she, along with her precious husband Lucas offered me a place to stay for a bit, when I arrived. They were wonderful to me and helped me in a 1000 small ways and now they are like my family here in Redding along with Trenton, Sky, Trinity and Trusty...He puts the solitary in families! 

Back to the journey......

So back to our trip down the ALCAN (above are pix of a few animal encounters right on the road). Both Diane and I felt impressed at the border to take communion and we prayed over Canada and the USA relations to Canada. We so felt the Holy Spirit witness to this prayer... As we drove into our neighbor country, prayer and divine encounters occurred including one young man, having given up on God due to a recent tragedy in his life, who began to talk with us at Liard Hot Springs. We ended up sharing about the love of God to him and he said he felt greatly encouraged and it turned out had been around a praying grandfather all his life! We found ourselves praying revival and awakening over Canada and then took communion on the way across the border into Washington state. It touched our hearts so much and we couldn't help but wonder what God has in store for this continent! 

Good Morning Holy Spirit!

So I read this book years ago, but it is striking me anew as I read it as an assignment for school. I am practicing considering His presence and His friendship everywhere I go, and it is awesome. He is so good and we forget about Him, that it is He who will not leave us and comforts us and loves on us when we need it. If you haven't read this recently, pick it up and check it out. Its hard to put down and He is hard to ignore once you remember again that He longs to be a personal God with us and its a wonderful thing!

Friends advice : The DONATE button.....

Thanks to a friend of mine brainstorming recently, I am doing this blog in part because so many friends ask how I am doing and it is difficult to update everyone I love since my schedule has become so busy. This is in place of a support letter and also gives viewers an option of supporting me financially if they feel so inclined. Any and all gifts will be greatly appreciated and by no means do you have to feel any pressure to do anything in that regard! "Beloved I pray that you may prosper and be in health just as your soul prospers" 3John 2. That is my prayer for all you readers! 

Moving

Yup, Spring of '08 consisted of goodbyes, packing, and exchanges of love between friends .... the adventure ahead of me undefined, but God's plan, of that much I was sure. I got an interview for school entry in March that left me feeling I was not accepted...BUT. I knew God told me to go to Redding and go to school, so I felt I should proceed with the plan. Leaving Sheila, my daughter and Jason and their little Mia and all of those close to me was difficult, I will not lie! But there is something about receiving a mandate from God that gives you abilities far beyond your strength. Finally when I thought I was doing the ALCAN alone, my friend,Diane, called and offered to do the hiway trip with me! God is good! May 1, was our day of departure and it snowed right up to the day I left! 

JOY Unspeakable...a poem

What did I feel once I made this drastic life changing decision to say yes to this dream and my God???? 

Joy Unspeakable

Joy unspeakable

Overshadowing like the noonday sun

Warm rays of His Glory

Like hot oil pouring down

Peace, contentment

Bubbling up, tickling my heart

Laughter in the Love of my Father God.

Through the snowy winter in my cozy house at LIWA, as you may have guessed by now, God continued to make Himself clear to me. How do I know I hear His voice? well, I ask Him to confirm what I think I am hearing from Him in His Word. The Bible says in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let everything be established...So I ask for Him to show me in the Word...but also I continue to submit to obey when HE does speak to me and I have a long time habit of reading the Bible daily and talking to Him and relating to Him personally as my Father while I am studying it and then of course, worshipping Him is also part of my daily time with Him. He is personal, a Father, a Friend, Comforter, Guide, Savior, and many more things and He has a perfect plan for my life..its better than anything I can come up with! for sure!!!! I am His sheep and He promises in the book of John, that His sheep hear His voice and another voice they will not follow...so I have His assurance, I will hear Him and He will not lead me astray. So by Christmas of 2007, Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California was planted firmly in my searching and seeking heart...He was telling me this was the next move for me. I told God YES! I had 4 months to be out of my house at Camp Liwa in Fairbanks so I prepared for the big move! wow. I felt thrilled, sad and scared and excited all in one! hard to imagine a place you have never lived in and only visited once stopping for gas ...(above right pix is of the prayer house at Bethel Church...24hrs prayer ..open to the public ...a wonderful place to listen for His voice and tell Him you love Him! ) 

41 years later.......

The dream continued.....I was busy quilting for my coming grandchildren this past winter living in Alaska. My friend Teresa, and I were listening to a conference we had ordered on ministering to children. It was really good, but it made me hungry for more...for training, for mentoring by those more experienced in the field, and to see God move among children in power. Listening to tapes was just not going to do it for me anymore and there was the dream....serving God full time, writing, preaching the Word (anyone who knows me will tell you I do it when I get excited, preaching that is). Seeing fruit and changed lives in people you minister to...I needed more. SO that got me praying and something came back to me that I heard while I was driving 2 years before: "I am sending you to Redding". I heard it clearly and I argued back with God..it's too hot there, I don't want to leave Alaska, etc. You know the routine...argue all you want, He will wait. I dismissed it. Now here I am in fall of 2007 and its coming back to me. So I told God I will do whatever you want! (ok that is a scary prayer)....

The Dream

It came at age 12 after reading "Christy" ...but let this poem paint the picture....

The call it came softly when youth was still fresh,

Through the years it  grew stronger;

Zeal sought to posess. 

Then death to the dream fought its way in, 

Till hopelessness imprisoned and the dream caved in.

The Word, it was testing in tears and in pain,

The fruit undetected there seemd no gain.

One last cry for deliverance uttered,

A word came softly, the prisoner unfettered.

Freedom came but with a cost

The dream, the self, all seemed lost....

Now secure in Dream Giver's Hand,

Works of striving forever banned.

Days in the cave coming to close,

Dreams to resurrect as the Dream Giver rose.

Hope once lost comes to substance now

Faith is the victor; to the Dream Giver I bow.