Little Girl, Big Dreams by Pastor Karena Lout

I recently attended a Global Forum where great leaders from all over the world came to speak on what is being done to stop human trafficking. Jeremy Affeldt, pitcher for the Giants, shared how God spoke to him on the mound during the recent World Series. During the 8th inning, he teared up as God told him, “I’m going to expand your platform.” Jeremy knew that meant he was going to increase awareness about child slavery and do what he could to stop this injustice.

Other speakers were a senior producer at CNN, a member of the Canadian Parliament, a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, filmmakers, businessmen, authors and a rapper. Each person doing their part to see an end to modern day slavery in our time whether it’s funding programs, passing laws, telling the untold stories or literally going into brothels to rescue tortured children. It was a beautiful thing to see the Body come together, using their unique gifts to bring Heaven’s justice to earth.

Among all of these courageous heroes, I was most impacted by a young spunky 8 year old girl I met named Vivienne. She skipped around the venue in her pink ballerina type skirt, giving hugs to everyone she met, while keeping an eye on her cutely decorated lemon-aid stand. In May, Vivienne saw a picture taken by a humanitarian photographer of two boys her age in Nepal. They were carrying giant rocks strapped to their heads, while holding hands to comfort one another, as they work 12 hours a day. In Vivienne’s words, “It hurt my heart so I decided to MAKE A STAND. A lemon-aid stand… and a stand against child slavery.” She has been at her stand, rain or shine, for 160 days, raising money to free children through Not For Sale (an organization that has focused on the root issues of human trafficking, helping countless survivors all over the world).

Vivienne has raised over $60,000 and will be bottling up her special lemon-aid soon with all proceeds being donated to help children worldwide. She’s going to be featured in an upcoming Disney series that inspires other kids to do great things. And in a few weeks, Vivienne will be setting up her lemon-aid stand in the middle of Times Square!

If you’re like me, you may be thinking, it’s a good day if I can get to my meeting on time, spend time with the kids and get the laundry done. I don’t have time to change the world! But in the midst of busy, every day life, I also tend to be the type of person that wants to “be the change” I want to see. So what do we do with that tension? To quote little Miss Vivienne again she says, “Have compassion, be the change, smile and be happy. Gandhi was one person. Mother Theresa was one person. Why can’t you be that one person?” It’s so simple.

Be encouraged that your smile, your small act of kindness, your integrity is an undeniable, life-giving fragrance to all those who come in contact with you. Jesus is clothed in it like a garment. I also want to encourage you that if you have a dream in your heart, whether it may seem small or too huge to wrap your head around, God gives you 100% permission to go after it! Don’t listen to the voice that says you’re not qualified or you’ve messed up too many times to do anything. Let Jesus whisper His loving words of truth over you right now as you look into His eyes of approval. The more you rest in what HE’s accomplished for you, your deepest dreams become the natural overflow of your life.

“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongue with singing. They they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us.”

Psalm 126:1-3

 

Karena

Cultivating Gratitude By Susan Fochler

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.  Henry Ward Beecher

At this time of year our thoughts turn to family and friends, and we gather together to connect and enjoy one another.  For some of us this is easy and fun; for others this can be very challenging.  Family is, well, family.  But whether it is easy or tough, we get to choose, with God’s help, how to engage with the people He has placed in our lives.

Choosing Life is Powerful

As sons and daughters of the One Most High, we are powerful people.  The source of our power is found in how we align our hearts with the heart of God.  The power is in partnering, in love, with the One who is all powerful.  As we choose His heart, the essence of heaven flows through our very bellies and the river of life invades earth, changing the atmosphere and bringing light into the darkness.  Even with family!  

A Spirit of Gratitude Changes our Lives

One of the most effective ways to align ourselves with heaven is to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness in how we approach our lives and relationships, from the big things to the very small details.  Thankfulness is fertilizer for our hearts, that softens and creates a renewed receptivity to God.  It is a quality that brings healing and wholeness, and aligns our thinking with heaven’s ways.  Philippians 4 encourages us to “have no anxiety about anything, but in everything through prayer and supplication through thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  The scripture goes on to describe many amazing virtues that begin to fill our thought life as we allow thankfulness to saturate our perspective.

Gratitude: Prime Ingredient of the Kingdom of God

So cultivating gratitude in our prayer life and relationship with God leads to peace, freedom from anxiety, and an enhanced ability to focus on truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, graciousness and excellence.  I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want my mind to live!  And allowing thanksgiving to fill our hearts helps us enter into God’s presence; we “come into His presence with thanksgiving”! (Psalm 95:2)  Who doesn’t want more of His presence?

A Thankful Heart can be developed

So although many of us weren’t raised in an atmosphere where thankfulness was modeled, we can learn, with God’s help, to incorporate this quality that will absolutely revolutionize your thought life.  Like any other “spiritual” muscle, this one can be developed with practice.  It is counter-cultural, as the world around us encourages us to complain and compare.  A grateful attitude makes us revolutionary in a world that says there’s never enough.  Our response: our Father says that everything He has is ours!  And we give praise with a thankful heart!

In love and gratitude;
Susan

To Live Peaceful Lives - Praying for Our Leaders and Our Enemies by Pastor Russ Fochler

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."

(1 Tim 2:1-2 NLT)

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." (Matt 5:43-45 NLT)

There are things that seem foolish and downright “hard to swallow” in the Bible.  The two passages above are among the hardest to obey for many of us.   But, I feel that Abba wants to help us see that these heart attitudes and prayers are additive, not subtractive to our life. 

Its also clear that these directions can only be embraced when our spirit is in communion with God’s Spirit (see 1 Corinthians chapter 2).

There are Bible stories that help us see the value of praying for leaders – and enemies more clearly.  I'm inspired by Daniel’s attitude towards Nebuchadnezzar and by Joseph’s attitude towards his brothers and towards Pharaoh.

There are modern stories too.   Last month (October 2012) was the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis.   As more of the background truths have emerged from that very scary time, we’ve learned how the courage of two men – one a leader of our nation and one an enemy submariner - saved us from nuclear destruction.   And yes, I believe that God’s Spirit empowered that courage.  And I also believe that God involved willing intercessors to agree with Him….

President John F. Kennedy gathered his “ExComm” to discuss and debate what to do next.   After aerial photos revealed there were Soviet nuclear missile sites being built on Cuba, the U.S. implemented a “quarantine” around Cuba – to try to keep further military supplies out.  The US prepared for an invasion of the island nation.   Private communications from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev indicated that he was fearful of the awful destruction of nuclear weapons.  Mr. Khrushchev had lived through the horrors of World War II.  But his public communication was more forceful – and demanded the removal of the U.S. nuclear missiles stationed in Turkey.

Every one of President Kennedy’s ExComm advised him to invade immediately.   But the U.S. did not know that there were battle-ready tactical nuclear weapons already stationed on Cuba.  An invasion would trigger their use – and then nuclear retaliation….

Both President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev were aware that once any shooting or bombing started, things could escalate quickly out of their ability to control.

But President Kennedy refused the pressure of his advisors and offered a secret deal via the Soviet UN Ambassador.   The US agreed to remove our missiles from Turkey in the future in return for the Soviets immediately removing their nuclear missiles from Cuba.  We would not publically acknowledge this part of the deal, but Kennedy would publicly promise that the US would never invade Cuba.  Thankfully Mr. Khrushchev believed Kennedy, took the deal and began removing the nuclear missiles.  (Whew!)

The other story was about one of four Soviet submarines sent to the Caribbean to support the struggle over Cuba.   Each one carried a newly developed nuclear torpedo.  And each captain was given authority (as long as their second in command agreed) to use those torpedoes if necessary without further Kremlin instructions….

The US fleet was energetically searching for any Soviet subs.  They had developed systems and processes for this very issue – and now they could show their capacities.   They located a Soviet sub (B-29) and began to “ping” it loudly.   They then started using “practice” depth charges to “encourage” it to surface. 

Inside B-29, things were desperate.  The batteries (it was a diesel electric submarine) were down to 5%.  The A/C couldn’t work, so the temperatures were unbearable.  The oxygen was running low.  The pinging and the depth charges were also unbearable.  With no new directions, the captain and his second-in command decided to go through the steps to use the nuclear torpedo against the US fleet.

But God.  But God had another leader on board that submarine.  Vasili Arkhipov had been the executive officer on K-19 when its nuclear reactor failed.  He had seen the men die of radiation poisoning.  He had braved the radiation himself to try to save the sub.   While he was equal in rank to the captain, Vasili was also commander of that fleet of four Soviet submarines.   Vasili ordered them to stop preparing to use the nuclear torpedo – and the captain grudgingly obeyed.  The submarine surfaced and began running it’s diesel engines.  The US fleet made no attempt to detain or board the Soviet sub.

Thomas Blanton (then director of the National Security Archive) said in 2002: "a guy called Vasili Arkhipov saved the world." 

Sometimes, what doesn't happen - makes all the difference.  There is a very high probability that most of us would not be here today if either of those two men (Kennedy and Arkhipov) had decided differently....

Further thoughts: Although it can feel diminishing to pray for leaders we don’t agree with or to pray for - and somehow love our enemies; our Dad does not see it that way.    As the scriptures quoted above teach; praying for leaders increases our likelihood of living peaceful lives.   And loving and praying for our enemies shows that we are living from our Heavenly Father’s values.  This is only possible when our identity as sons and daughters is securely anchored in Daddy God’s love for us.

Here is something to consider: How much spiritual authority and influence can Papa trust us with - if we live opposed to some of His core values?  I believe that this is why we’re called to stop letting narrow self-protection control our lives – and live by communion with Father God’s Spirit instead.

Gratefully,

Russ Fochler

P.S. Much of my information came from these two PBS videos:

“Three Men Go To War”  http://video.pbs.org/video/2289498535/   

“The Man Who Saved The World” (Secrets of the Dead)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/episodes/the-man-who-saved-the-world-watch-the-full-episode/905/

You can read more from the Wikipedia articles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Arkhipov and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_missile_crisis

Living in Greatness by Pastor Angela Ellis

Succcess is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. - Bookker T. Washington 1856 - 1915

There are times in life where we will feel stretched beyond measure. It's in those times when we are presented with a great opportunity to respond in righteousness. What do I mean by that? Right thinking! God thinking!

God never looks at a situation and say's "oh my, this is bigger than me!" Nor does he say "this is way more than I can handle." Rather, He is a God of infinite possibilities. He is a God who ALWAYS has a solution. He is peace and He is ALWAYS at rest.

As Lonnie and I recently shared we are in the midst of a major transition from moving from the bay area to Sacramento. Along with the move, we are being challenged in other areas to grow and walk into things that we have no real experience in. I personally have moments where I have wanted to agree with the worship of Hell, as Graham Cooke recently so eloquently put it by murmuring and complaining.   

As believers there is a choice to be made in the midst of all our stretching and growing we will go through in life. I have recently had to make choices multiple times a day as to who I believe I am and what I am capable of. Initially, I wanted to go into my old way of thinking. Which says " I can't do this " or "this situation is impossible." However, it is in that moment that Holy Spirit seems to quicken my spirit to remind me that there is yet another way of thinking. A more excellent way. A way of thinking that brings me into my true identity and makes my impossible situations possible. 

It seems I am having massive amounts of opportunities lately to stop and choose what I'm really going to believe for myself these days.I could easily choose to stay at my old way of thinking that tells me lie after lie about myself. But in that thought process I remember the fruit of my old thinking and quickly realize when I ate of that fruit I felt discouraged, defeated and hopeless. I remember the fruit of my old thinking and remember that it really did not taste good.In fact it was quite bitter and actually made me heart sick .On the contrary, when I ponder God's way of thinking and deliberately choose to see things through His eyes and His perspective, His thoughts immediately bread life, confidence, courage and strength in me. His perspective always seems to brings me to a place of peace and rest.

In Him I am guaranteed that I am growing and maturing to be more like Christ in every situation. After all He is the great I Am! If He dwells in me than how can I be anything other than great? As I'm agreeing with Holy Spirit I realize my spirit is responding quicker each time I am faced with choosing the truth of who I really am in Christ Jesus. No longer am I pulling up a chair to feast on the old rotten fruit because that's what I had always been conditioned to. I have realized as I agree with heaven it is easy to pass right on by that rotten table and fix my eyes on the splendor of the Kings banqueting table that fills me and sustains me! His food is sweetness to my lips as I choose to declare the truth of who I am in Him!

I realize for some choosing to see from God's perspective is very common ground, but for those like me that may struggle with righteous thinking from time to time I want to encourage you to push the pause button and think about the fruit your about to consume as you choose what thoughts you will agree with. Are the thoughts your about to agree with life giving? Does it agree with your true identity in Christ? If not I want to urge you to choose from the fruit that is sweet and life giving. We ALL have greatness in us. The key is simply to believe the greatness in your life through Christ! He's proud of you and so am I!

Abundant blessings and love,

Angela Ellis

The Veil has been ripped by Pastor Lonnie Ellis

All may enter in

Matthew 27:50-53 (NKJV)

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were

raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after

 His resurrection, they went into the holy

city and appeared to many

----------------------

God so wants  to be with us (His creation) that in His perfect love He made a way for us to have full access to Him 24/7. A direct connection. No internet provider needed. His hearts desire is a cohabitation with us not a visitation.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He laid down His life so we can now enjoy the same relationship that He has with Papa God and Holy Spirit. Now that is GOOD NEWS! Jesus was the perfect and only sacrifice to make this all happen and He says. "You are so worth it".

The veil has been ripped and all may enter in.

This Saturday night November 3rd I have the privilege to share on: Walking out the Christian Life in Regards to The Tabernacle of God. Come and hear what Papa has been speaking to my heart and just maybe it might impact your life as it is radically impacting mine.

Be Blessed and Be A Blessing! 

Pastor Lonnie Ellis