Change for Saturday + BFC's History, Vision & Values!

Hello Friends,

Just a quick e-mail this week to let you know two things.

No Stephen DeSilva this Saturday
Stephen DeSilva from Bethel Church in Redding will not be speaking at Blazing Fire Church tomorrow night due to illness. Nothing serious, but he needed to stay home and rest. We have rescheduled him to come on May 8th! The good news is that Jesus is still going to be there on Saturday and he wants to hang out with YOU!! I will be speaking Saturday night and we will also hear a bit from Karissa Glanville, author of The Realm, a fascinating Fiction story about the realms of light and darkness.

Blazing Fire Church's History, Vision & Values: March 13th!
On Saturday, March 13th, from 3-4:45 pm, I will share how God orchestrated things in my life that lead to the start of Blazing Fire Church 8 years ago and share a brief overview of our history as a church. I will briefly describe the vision and values of our church as well. EVERYONE is welcome to attend this meeting and it is especially an attempt to help those of you who have been coming more recently to catch you up as to who we are and why we do things the way we do. The meeting will take place at our regular place of worship, Harvest Valley Christian Church, 3200 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. There will be time after the meeting to go get a bite to eat for dinner before the service starts at 6:00 pm that night.

I declare MASSIVE blessings, favor, grace, love, joy, and peace upon you!!!

Doors Are Opening!

Hello Friends!

I continue to be GREATLY encouraged in this new year. Something within me has intensified--both the passion to know my Jesus more closely than I ever have before and the heightened desire to see my Father's Kingdom breaking forth upon the earth, and more specifically, in the Bay Area! No matter what is happening in your life, I URGE you to keep your attention focused on the great big smile of the Lord and on the steadiness of his eyes upon you, giving you the confidence and boldness to be who you truly are! There's no time for His Bride to be moping around in discouragement. We are LOVED! We are EMPOWERED! We are bringers of God's LIGHT! We are releasers of God's ENCOURAGEMENT! We are carriers of God's GLORY! We are GREAT beyond measure! We are UNITED with CHRIST! NOTHING is impossible for those who know their King! NOTHING!!

Recently, I had a dream where I could not open a door because the handle was missing. As I turned to get something to repair it, a "Fix-It Man" was already passing me by, not with a doorknob, but with an entire new door! Now just Who do you suppose that "Fix-It Man" was? You guessed it...Jesus was already on it! The things you haven't been able to fix or do for yourself or make happen, Jesus is ready to do for you! He's already on it!

This dream fits right into a portion of a word on the Elijah List by Taffie Furr that greatly encouraged me a week or two back. I pray it does the same for you:

Prophesied on January 8, 2010 in Albany, Oregon at The ElijahList's "What is God Saying for 2010?" Conference

"2010 is a year of your transitioning being established into positioning. Many doors, both big and small, that have been kept both hidden and sealed closed, shall be made obviously visible and opened.

"Your pathways shall be cleared away for a free and steady run as you seek My instructions and walk in obedience to both My rhema and logos word. Remain where you are until the clarity of My Spirit overtakes you for the next jog of your journey. Yes, this time will be known as being fast-paced because acceleration is upon you and set in motion upon the season, but it will not be without rest and it will not be aggressively strenuous. I am in it and all over it and I give rest and joy, not heavy burdens."

I have given the order—promises fulfilled for those who have been, and are willing to wait upon the Lord. Take it, receive it, move and live in it," says the Spirit of the Lord. "The vault of Heaven is opened to My children and I will pour out My blessings and treasures, multiplied, as you are willing to receive in faith, knowing that I am good and that My word produces, supplies and never runs dry.

"As the world looks for and is assuming the worst, I am fulfilling the desires of My precious Bride and giving you the best.

Taffie Furr

Finally, some of you have been asking for the links to the youtube videos I showed last Saturday night at Blazing Fire Church. Here is the one about how much your heavenly Father loves you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmd64f9C21s (the first few seconds are black, so keep watching!)

And here are the two clips I used to talk about our intimacy with the Lord being like the relationship Lucy had with Aslan, even burying her face into His mane! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0AwNDoUTbE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1qMwk7azBs

Enjoy!

Enjoy Me in the Journey!

Hello Amazing Passionate Followers of Jesus!

On this journey that we are on with Jesus, we often get really down on ourselves if we don't think we are where we ought to be. The problem is, I don't know anyone who is completely where they want to be since all of us are still in the catch up phase of apprehending all that has already taken place when we received our brand new life in Christ.

In light of that, I hear God saying to each one of you,
"Chillax and enjoy Me in the journey more! It doesn't always look the way you think it should, but I assure you that I am taking you to good places! And don't be so hard on yourself as we travel together. I am constantly changing and molding you to look just like my Son, Jesus, and I know JUST how to do it in your life. I have given you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), one that is responsive and sensitive to my touch and my voice. Yes, you DO hear my voice (John 10:27) and I am lovingly teaching you that responding to my Spirit within you is your life-line. I want to remind you that anything the enemy does to try and slow you down, I will use to accelerate your growth! I AM trustworthy!! I AM faithful!! I AM good in all that I do!! I AM convincing you that the death blow of my Son's death on the cross to your old sin nature was 100% complete! Nothing from your old way of life has power over you any longer! (Rom. 6:6) You live solely to please me now. YOU ARE MINE! I won't share you with another. I am causing a distaste in you for anything that draws you away from me. I have put within you a voracious appetite for my presence. You will continually eat from my Tree of Life and continually drink from my River of Living Water! 2010 is a year of MASSIVE victory for you! You will stand at the end of this year, look back, and be amazed at all I have done. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!!"

The Sparkle in My Eyes!

I asked the Lord how He wanted to encourage you today and this is what I heard:

My Children,

Look into my eyes and see the sparkle. That sparkle is there because I am looking at YOU! Don’t lose hope! All is going according to my plans. Trust me and enjoy the journey more. You are worried about many things that you do not have control over, but I have already told you that I will take care of you. I know how to get you from where you are to where I am taking you. And where I am taking you is a GOOD place. Do you know why? Because I am a GOOD Father and I am taking you deeper and deeper into where and who I am! I will do all that I have said I will do in your life and in this world! Whenever you start to fear or become discouraged, look even deeper into my eyes. See the joy, the delight, the absolute certainty that all is well!!

Then the Lord highlighted these three verses from the book of Isaiah:

“Lord, you will grant us peace, having completed all our undertakings for us.” (Is. 26:12)

“Do you hear? Long ago I prepared this, from days of old I actually planned it. Now I carry it out.” (Is. 37:26)

“The jealous love of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this!” (Is. 26:32)

Extended Worship this Saturday the 9th + Encouragement from Doug Addison!

Hello Amazing Friends!

About two weeks ago, I met an amazing woman, Lani Netter, who is the wife of Gil Netter, the producer of "The Blind Side" as well as many other movies ("A Walk in the Clouds", "Fever Pitch" & "Marley and Me", to name just a few). Lani has been interceding for Hollywood for quite a while and is seeing the fruit of her labor coming forth. She has a great passion to see the mountain of entertainment ruled by Jesus! I am super excited to announce that Lani Netter will be coming to speak Blazing Fire on January 23rd, as well as speaking at Wildfire (youth group) on Monday night, January 25th, and at our Kingdom Training School of Supernatural Ministry on January 26th. She will be sharing about how and why "The Blind Side" is shaking Hollywood (it has grossed well over 200 million dollars!) as well as sharing some of her own personal journey in how God has prepared her for such a time as this.

Also, I want to encourage you to come this Saturday, January 9th, for our Extended Night of Worship from 5:00-11:00 pm to spend 6 hours enjoying the presence of God and also receiving prophetic or healing ministry (come at 5:30 pm for sign-ups to receive ministry).

Here is a really encouraging word from Doug Addison, who will be coming to speak at Blazing Fire in April:

A really great thing about God is that He sees us as who we are becoming through His love and power. As He looks at our lives, He knows our past, understands our present, and can see us in the future, all at the same time. His love, mercy, and grace are unfathomable. Imagine the possibilities if we could see ourselves the same way that God sees us. Much of the time we are not able to see our purpose and destiny with much clarity, so we are required to rely on faith. The principle of faith allows us to trust that there is something special and unique for us, even if our experiences have been the opposite. Sometimes there is great resistance or even setbacks before we are able to get into the fullness of God's desires for us. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

We need to be certain of the fact that God has nothing but good intentions for us, even though we may not see them yet. You'll see this in this powerful Biblical principle: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

These are God's intentions for us. His plans are to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. If you read on, you'll see the benefits of grasping this. Then (after you discover God's plans for you) you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV

We must see what God is doing in our lives and work with Him to bring it about. It's time to take a stand against what satan has in mind for us and come into line with God's wonderful intentions for us. If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18 The Message

Our Identity is in Christ!

The foundation of my life is this: in Christ, I am a new creation, and all the old thoughts and behaviors no longer have power over me. I am being renewed every day with God's love and character. I share in God's divine nature because God's Spirit lives in me. I am free from condemnation and have the strength to live my life free of despairing thoughts and the competing desires of my flesh. I am God's workmanship, created to do good works, which God has prepared ahead of time for me to accomplish. I am more than a conqueror through God who loves me. I have a clear mind and can make good decisions. I am increasing daily in faith, strength, wisdom, and love. I am able to love others because God has first loved me.

New Years Bliss!

Hello Wonderful Friends!

I am declaring over each and every one of you the most blessed and favor-filled, outrageous, amazing, and stupendous New Year and New Decade in Jesus!! You are further along in your destiny than ever before and God has not forgotten a single one of his precious promises over your life! Each day that you are given the gift of life on this earth, you are one step further along in the journey that the Lord has planned for you before the foundation of the earth--A plan to prosper you and not to harm you, a plan to give you hope and a future!! (Jer. 29:11) Be massively encouraged that you are right in the heart of God's best for you! Don't lose hope! Keep going! You are doing so much better than you think!!

Thanks for the friendship and love and encouragement that you all keep on pouring over Suzanne and myself. You're the best!

If you are looking for some place to go tonight to celebrate the New Year, I have 7 suggestions for you:

1. IHOP, East Bay--8 pm to Midnight at Parkway Baptist Church, 7485 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA

2. Fred Long's place--7 pm, 785 Hampton Road, Hayward, CA

3. Charles & Tina Razzel's place, 8 pm, 1805 Brooktree Way, Pleasanton, CA

4. Sausalito Christian Fellowship--7 pm at 131 Filbert Ave., Sausalito, CA. Blazing Fire's Janet Shottelkorb will be leading worship!

5. Harvest House in Fremont, 6 pm-Midnight--Worship & Praying for the 7 mountains of influence! - 40645 Fremont Blvd., Suite 10A, Fremont, CA

6. New Ecstatics w/Ben Dunn & John Crowder, 9 pm @ Studio E, 152 Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz, CA

7. Stay at home and sit at the feet of Jesus! Now there's a choice that will never be taken away from you!!

We are going to have an extremely powerful time together this Saturday night, January 2nd, at Blazing Fire Church as we make bold declarations from heaven to earth!!! Expect shifts to happen! We will most likely end in a New Year's blessing tunnel!! It all starts at 6 pm at our usual location, 3200 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton.

I look forward to seeing many of you and ushering the new decade in with authority and much joy!!

Christmas Night - 2009

Hello Wonderful Friends!

Just a quick note to share something that was on my heart for you today. Sometimes because of all the stress getting ready for Christmas, there can be a feeling of let-down. You might think to yourself, "I did all that for this?!!"

If you are feeling any sort of post-Christmas blues whatsoever, let me assure you that nothing of eternal significance has changed since yesterday, nor will it be different tomorrow...You are still Daddy's favorite! You are still the delight of His eyes! You still touch his heart more deeply than you will ever know! Wonderful Holy Spirit still lives within you! Jesus has still paid the full price for your freedom! And you still have a destiny as a world-changer, loving people one heart at a time!

No matter how you are feeling, remember this:
"Jesus is so completely able to rescue and preserve those who come to God through him because he is always alive to intercede on their behalf." (Hebrews 7:25)

You know what that means? You can have on off day, but Jesus never does! He's always on and He's always for you. He neither sleeps nor slumbers (Ps. 121), but his eye is upon you, and he is declaring God's truth over you, finishing the good work he started in you!

Hope your day-after-Christmas is filled with the joy and peace of knowing that you belong to the Lord...and the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that...