Do you love Me?

Jesus said that the two great commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40). Love is the foundation for living like Jesus.

However, recently I was challenged to answer the question that Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love me?”  Of course, like most believers, I answered yes.  I know I love Him, but the more I thought about this question and my response, the more I began wonder about how I showed Him my love.  I soon realized that I really didn’t know.  Was this just empty words?  It never occurred to me how to show Jesus just how much I love Him.  I didn’t know how to do the very thing that is the basis of my whole life in Jesus – I was undone!

This began my journey into learning how to love Jesus.  Here is what the Lord told me about loving Him.

Defeating Fear and Worry

We all face challenges from the difficult situations that confront us.  How do we respond to scary news like losing a job, a family member being in a major accident, a loved one being diagnosed with a serious medical condition, an unexpected financial problem, or anything facing us that is out of our control?  How we respond in the midst of crisis is crucial to being an overcomer.

I remember the day my doctor told me I had multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer.  Knowing someone who had recently died from myeloma made this news even more of a shock and a definite spiritual battle for me.  How was I supposed to respond?  My first response was to get anxious and to worry – not a very overcoming attitude! However, I knew that this was not the response that God desired from me.  As I walked with Jesus through my disease and ultimate healing, the Lord taught me about the uselessness of worrying.  Some of the wisdom the Lord shared with me is given below.

Are You Seeking God’s Anointing?

How to experience an anointed life

Have you ever felt like you were “in flow” and your words came out with ease and power? Or during a conversation with a nonbeliever you had just the right questions and ideas to share? Or had scripture verses right there on your tongue? Have you ever had a surge of creativity, solved a knotty problem, or gotten a wonderful new insight? Shared a prophecy or word of knowledge that was right on the mark? Times like this are so exhilarating! We feel like we are operating at a level beyond our usual selves, because we are! What we are experiencing is God’s anointing, a wonderful gift He is delighted to give to His children.

I know this feeling well. Under the anointing I function at a higher, more effective level.  It isn’t my abilities, but the anointing that gives power to my prayers.  When God has anointed my prayers I have seen miracles: color vision restored, incurable diseases, broken bones, cardiac disease, injured backs, knees, ankles and shoulders, and GI problems healed.  As followers of Jesus we should all desire to have God’s anointing for our life and ministry. The question is – How do we develop and maintain an anointed lifestyle?  Below is how the Lord explained living under the anointing to me.

What does it Mean to Enter into God’s Rest?

Trusting God and Resting in Him

We all face difficult and troubling situations during our lifetime—no one is exempt from trials. The Bible instructs us to trust God and rest in Him. But how? There are many Bible verses that tell us of the benefits of resting and trusting in the Lord, but doing it isn’t easy! What does the “rest of God” look like, and how to we get there?  This is what the Lord said to me about resting in Him.

Trusting in Tough Times

Personal Communion Produces Intimate Trust

I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).  Ever been there?  This is just what we so often feel when life throws trials our way.

My wife and I faced a long series of major health and family challenges starting in 2011. There were times when trusting the Lord was not easy, but  I found that having regular times of personal communion helped me a lot.  During those intimate times I wrote out what the Lord said to me.  (His words are in blue).

What happens when the need looks bigger than your faith?

The power of prayer in the natural and in the spirit

Over the past months there have been a number of serious events in the lives of my family and friends.  These ranged from serious medical conditions to major relationship issues.  The magnitude of each seemed overwhelming.  My wife and I immediately went to battle in prayer and we enlisted others to join with us.  We know that nothing is too difficult for the Lord, so no issue is too big for Him!  I believe, and I have seen miracles many times in the past. But sometimes I feel the need is too large and my prayers are too small.  I can relate to the man who said to Jesus, “Help my unbelief!” This is what the Lord said to me about praying about such difficult situations (His words are in blue):

Why are Answers to My Prayers Sometimes Delayed?

Persevering Through Challenges and Trials Increases our Faith

We all face challenges in our lives.  Right now I know a number of people who are going through very serious health concerns, major family issues, or significant financial problems.  In many cases these situations are long-term and prayer can seem unproductive and even futile.  The weight of their problems is often overwhelming and discouraging.

I too have faced similar challenges where my prayers seem to be ineffective.  When they are not answered quickly or the way I desire, I begin to question.  Why is it so hard and taking so long?  Where are you, Lord?  In these times my faith in God’s truths becomes challenged.  Promises like: “He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) seem to be just words.  Sometimes, I get discouraged and even angry.  Here is what the Lord said to encourage me when I talked to him about this (His words are in blue).

Are You Overwhelmed by the Current Madness in Politics and the Media?

God's Remedy: Prayer!

Does the negative reporting, fake news and politics of personal destruction we see every day in the mainstream news and social media make you angry?  You’re not alone – all this is driving me crazy!  I know it’s important to be aware of current events, but closely following the news and politics daily has not been good for me.  It’s distracting and produces feelings of anger and hopelessness.  Sometimes I become so upset I can’t even pray!  I know that I should be involved with the affairs of our world, but not consumed by them.  What am I supposed to do?  How should I respond as a believer to everything that’s going on?  When I asked the Lord about this, He gave me His perspective and prayer strategy.  (The Lord’s words are in blue)

The power of prayer

Pray about America. Intercede for your country, its leaders, and especially for Donald Trump.  He is a wild man, a loose cannon—but he is also on target and focused. What seems irrational is not his fault. He doesn’t yet fully trust Me. He has begun to turn to Me, but it is new and he is not comfortable waiting on Me. He is not yet comfortable praying. To him this is a sign of weakness.

He believes he can choose good leaders, effective people, who will give good counsel, and then take this counsel and join it to his wisdom and understanding to get his desired results. This only works in worldly situations. However, what he is currently facing is not natural but spiritual. So his natural solutions will not work; only spiritual solutions solve spiritual problems! He needs My wisdom, Solomonic wisdom, to govern well.  Pray for him to seek My counsel directly and through others.

The power of God’s choice

I have placed Donald Trump in the White House; he is My choice.  No other candidate would have beaten Hillary Clinton. He has a unique role: it is to get things done! Right now he is greatly frustrated because he is impeded on three fronts: in Congress, by the news media’s lies, and by lack of understanding of the system of government.

He is used to saying something and it happens; he is used to action, not words and political posturing. He is used to attacking a problem, getting the facts, and then acting. Now his actions are held back by others. However, his actions are making a difference! His actions are causing a combustible reaction that leads to a fire and explosion. Donald Trump is gasoline on a fire—he makes it explode. But this is the only way to move this ungovernable situation called Washington.

So don’t worry if there is fierce opposition. There is more force behind Donald Trump than behind the media and entrenched government. I am behind him! The opposition yells, lies, and tries to hurt him any way they can, but have you seen him stopped? No! He is moving forward, he is overcoming the forces arrayed against him by his sheer determination. All of these attacks have not weakened him but they have instead increased his resolve to overcome.

Don’t worry about what you cannot see. For in the background Donald Trump is at work. His people are at work. All the roaring is noise; he is moving forward even as we speak. He is setting things in motion even though you can’t see them. He is going to be victorious because he is My choice to save America. I created America, but the devil has tried to kill America. For over a hundred years demonic ideas have been gaining strength. This is because of a lack of leaders in every arena of life. But today an army of leaders is arising. Donald is the first to truly take on the enemy of America; he is taking on the cultural war. He is standing against the decay of a hundred years of progressive thought. He is standing against and deflecting the arrows of the progressive mindset. He is opposing lies and distortions that seemed to be set in stone.

The power of truth

Watch as the power of media disintegrates before youLies don’t create strength or victory. Truth is the force that is overcoming the lies of the media. Now truth is just beginning to flow, but the hunger for it is growing. Soon it will be a river and then a torrent. So much truth will be revealed that it will be impossible to stop. Never in history has truth been such a weapon! Only when I walked the earth did truth overwhelm and overcome the devil’s plans and lies so effectively. I only needed three years and 12 men to start a movement to change the world. Donald Trump is such a force. Though he is not elegant or polished, he is true in his words and this truth will overcome the darkness.

Watch as the power masters of Washington and Wall Street fall.  They too have lived in deception, lies, and man-made solutions. Now truth is exposing them. The dark side of the government I created for America is being revealed. While many thought it was evil and overpowering, I am revealing the evil so people will know. As they see this, they will know and overturn it.  Nothing can stop the power of truth.

Truth is coming forth. Truth about the lies and manipulations of power government is being revealed. Men and women are beginning to see. As Trump speaks and acts, the dark side of government is being exposed.  What looks like victories for the enemy are being turned to losses. You think these revelations are not making a difference, but they are. Each one opens the door to expose more. Nothing will remain hidden; everything will be exposed.

We are in a war

I hate lies! I hate those that harm others for their own gain. I hate those who ride on the weakness and lack of others to make a place for themselves. All will be made right.

This is not political—this is war! I never lose. I am neither for one side or the other; I am for truthI am for righteousness. Everyone who has thrived on lies, on deception, on personal power of destruction will be exposed and utterly destroyed. All it takes is a few to stand and speak truth, and to not back down. Notice how plans of darkness are being exposed? Next they will be defeated! For truth triumphs over lies. I AM truth, and My plans for America have not changed. She is to be a light to bring a wave of revival around the world. So it is time to clean up My land here in America so that she can stand for what is right and true. America will stand for Me again. My ways will become an underpinning to support America as an influence for good.

America is not the answer for all the world’s problems, but she is a strong part of My plan. America will strengthen Israel, so that Israel will stand. The focus now is to revive America. But know that My eternal eyes are still on Israel. America is a part of My larger plan to focus all of the earth on Israel. For when every eye is on Israel, it will be time for My return. Today Israel needs America, so I am making America strong again. This is part of My plan.

Your part is to pray, to pray and to enlist others. Your part is to go and make disciples who will live for Me.

I find it so comforting to know how God sees the current situation and how He wants me to respond.  It’s clear that my job is to pray and not worry or get angry.

There are a few things that have helped me.  First, I ration my news and social media input.  I generally only read the headlines and initial paragraph; they have all the salient information.  When I see something that stirs me, I try to pray right then.  I also set aside a time to pray each day for the important topics.  Norma and I pray together and I also have scheduled specific corporate prayer times with friends to intercede for important issues.  I also subscribe to reliable sites for specific prayer topics (like Intercessors for America and POTUS Shield).

How have you dealt with today’s media and the current political situation?  What ways have you discovered to help you pray more effectively?  I would love to hear your comments and experiences.  The more we share how we cope with daily issues, the more we all can benefit and grow in our faith.  You can share your comments below, or ask me any question by emailing me and I will get back to you.

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Being Aware of His Presence

What it takes to know that Jesus is with you

Do you ever feel like the men on the road to Emmaus right after Jesus rose from the grave? As they walked along, Jesus walked with them.  However, for much of their journey, they weren’t even aware that it was Him.  They didn’t recognize Jesus’ presence! (see Luke 24: 13-35)

The scriptures are clear that Jesus is with us always, ready to speak into our lives and help with our every need.  However, sometimes I don’t recognize His presence.  When I am oblivious to His nearness I have missed His input into my life.  I believe this is a common experience.  Here is what Jesus told me about discerning His presence (His words are in blue):

Do You Want to Minister Like Jesus?

The key is having faith like His disciples

Recently, I was ministering to a person who was struggling with depression and loneliness.  My prayers and the scriptures I shared seemed to fall short of the need.  I felt poorly prepared, weak in my response, and lacking anointing.  Perhaps you’ve been in a similar situation?  I know that Jesus would have ministered much more life and hope in this situation, and I want my ministry to be like His.  When I questioned Him, here is what Jesus told me about it: