Eternity Is Reality

Holli and I were just discussing Christmas. We were thinking of Christmas’ passed. We recount the excitement of the season, and how it was a whole month of buildup for the one big day! No, it was not excitement concerning the celebration of our Saviour’s birth, it was the anticipation of “what am I going to get for Christmas?!?!?” When the big day comes, it is so much fun to open the presents, our flesh is momentarily gratified. Then it happens, sometimes immediately after we open the presents, sometimes when we go to sleep that night, but it does happen. The feeling of unsatisfaction! It is almost a depressing feeling. It is not that we do not like the new toy or leather jacket, it is just that we are feeling a little unsatisfied or empty. I am pretty sure that everyone has had those same feelings. Surprise!!! That is the human condition!

Folks, we were lied to. That inner feeling that tells us that if we just have “this one thing” we will be happy and things will be great! That is a lie that the spirit of the age tells us! The truth is, we ALL have a longing for something. That is the way that the Lord has made us. We crave something. It is God. For the most part we are not spiritually atuned to the fact, that we are not feeding our spiritual cravings. We can fill ourselves with so much junk food that we have no appetite for real food. Many of us in the church are under the delusion that because we are saved, we can not be deceived. This blindness has allowed the enemy come in and completely saturate us with junk, that our spirit man is obese and really out of shape. Therefore we try to fill ourselves with television, more money, vacations, fantasy football, and many other permissible pleasures. The problem is that we feast on these permissible pleasures and never give the proper amount of time to the spiritual disciplines. In fact even the term spiritual discipline is either a foreign concept or is considered legalistic. This is why we are in the state we are in.

Advertisers feast on the vulnerability of the human craving for God, and exploit it for their financial gain. Hopefully this year I will not be deceived into thinking that my presents will satisfy, and will be aware that my soul is longing for God! Speaking of toys, like the old prophet GIJoe said, “Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!”

By the way, have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are planning a partner appreciation dinner in January. We have not set a date. It will be in Wichita. We want to bless our partners and anyone on our newsletter list. This will be a time of sharing what the Lord has been doing in our lives. We would welcome you to bring any guests that may be interested in partnering with us in our work. Also bring anybody who you feel may be interested in a house of prayer in their city.

Last week I started serving in the healing rooms on Thursday mornings from 6-8. It is so humbling that God uses us as vessels to help administer His miracles. There were over 10 people that were prayed for last Thursday. Each person that comes for healing prayer is first soaked in the prayer room. This is where a healing team member just prays quietly over the person for about 15-20 minutes. The person is then brought into the room were a team of three people lead them in communion and then pray for their specific need. The people my team prayed for did not have instant healing, but they did have a powerful experience. This is the best job I have ever had!! What an awesome God we serve. I am expectant that God is going to pour out His Spirit more and more with signs and wonders that include miraculous healings.

I have been so encouraged by the mothers that are here at IHOP. Being a mom is something that is very special to God’s heart. Only in this place of daily serving our precious children does all my weakness rage! How is it that a little child can truly bring out the best and worst in you? God knows this season of my life, and He is building in me character that will be used in the next season and then the season after that. We are intercessory missionaries, but my children are my main mission field. I get a choice everyday in how I will position my heart when I change yet another diaper and sweep the floor for the up-teenth time. I am building the foundation on which my children will view the world and life. What a responsibly and what an honor. I know God sees my everyday life and it is significant to Him. My 30 second prayers offered up through out the day can move His heart. I would do it all again and again because I can see that it is worth it. When Maycee wants to pray for the sick and Mick is praying for God to end abortion, it is all worth it!!