Here's your June 2013 Trail Mix. May it spiritually nourish and bless you!

Years ago, I worked as a field supervisor and then program manager for old federal/state funded CETA [California Employment Training Act] Program. We recruited folks that were chronically unemployed or underemployed and had no where to go but up in life. Through CETA we matched them matched up with training courses and employers who were willing to train these folks to fill the do jobs at their place of business. It was so gratifying to assist folks in finding employment and give them back their dignity!

The Family of God and steady growth in the family is comparable to the old CETA Program. It takes folks from this life, lost in their sin nature and with nowhere to go but up, into the Family of God through their personal remorse, confession of faith, and act of repentance and places them in a spiritual, life long, On-the-Job-Training-Program for the Kingdom they will one day enter and reign as the bride of Christ, even sitting over the angels in judgement according to 1 Corinthians 6:3.

Because we are in an OJT for the Kingdom, it is imperative to understand the importance of prayer and to grow in the use of prayer through faith, which is having total confidence in what we hope for, being an assurance about what we do not see.

With that said, let's examine some profound statements about the power of prayer!

"Prayer may just be the most powerful tool mankind has." - Ted Dekker
"Prayer is our most formidable weapon" - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the mighty arm of God" - Charles Finney

"We can do nothing without prayer." - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer puts God's work in his hands-and keeps it there." - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer, like faith, obtains promises, enlarges their operation, and adds to the measure of their results." - E. M. Bounds
"Wherever the Church is aroused and the world's wickedness arrested, somebody has been praying." - A. T. Pierson,
Finally, and never forget this: "Satan trembles when we pray...The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayer less studies, prayer less work, and prayer less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, BUT TREMBLES WHEN WE PRAY!" - Samuel Chadwick,

Prayer is merely talking to the Father as a child. It should be something each of us wholeheartedly welcome. It should be done, as Paul said, "without ceasing!" I have discovered over the years that talking to God is the most productive part, or parts, of each day I live. In fact, I look forward to talking with Him. And in contrast to when I was younger, I now look forward to talking to Him, as many times as possible, in order to break through walls, climb out of pits, and get over the a mountain!

Prayer serves to draw me closer to Him; and it reassures me that no matter where I am on the Narrow Path, He is merely a word away. I grow more confident with each chat, that whatsoever my needs; He is willing and going to provide a way....after we talk! In fact, praying is akin to taking a spiritual bath, I come out of those chats with God, fresh and alive with having drawn closer to him in prayer.

Finally, prayer allows me to do something for others. Something each of us have been asked and expected to do. It is our responsibility as a church to lift up those around us in prayer. It is so uplifting to exit prayer knowing that during my many daily interludes with the Father, I have unselfishly taken the needs of my brothers and sisters to Him, and on their behalf, believing along with them that He has not left them, and more importantly, that He is going to make a way for them as He does for me. Truly I am learning as Paul tells us (Romans 12:15), " Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Shalom sweet Lisa..A blessed memorial day to you and yours. May all your memories be of the goodness and blessings of our Lord.

Love and Hugs.

May 2013 - TRAIL MIX, Enjoy!

As we traverse the Narrow Path, we often like to refer to ourselves as Christians, born-again believers, Baptist, Catholics, Methodists, non-denominational, Assemblies of God, Charismatic, spirit-filled, or simply believers in God [if I omitted your particular denomination, I am sorry, I only have so much room to write].

However, if I am interpreting Jesus correctly in John 20:21-23 (RSV), where Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" he was deputizing* each of us to go forth into the world and be his proxies with the full spiritual power of authority of heaven to do his work, in His name, to a lost and hungry world.

This is an amazing directive, and it places upon the shoulders of all believers the spiritual mantle of authority to carry things out, here on earth, in His name for His glory.

Think about this....when you say, I am calling the local Sheriff's Department to report a crime, who shows up? The elected Sheriff himself, or a sworn deputy? The elected official is not going to be available for a large area of people, so that official deputizes as many men and women as needed to represent them and do the work of enforcing the law of that particular county. Try telling the deputy that stops you for breaking a traffic law, or when they have a warrant for your arrest that you will only surrender to, or accept the ticket from the "Man" himself?

You will be in handcuffs before you finish your statement, and the sad thing is, you may never see the Sheriff himself, because the deputy was sworn to uphold the laws and do the work of that person, giving them full power to act in the Sheriff's name, no matter what the circumstances may be.

That brings me to this month's Trail Mix. Jesus told you and I, that while we sojourn this Narrow Path, we are to traverse it as if he were himself traveling across it. Meaning that you and I have ALL His power to do his bidding to enforce his divine will in His stead. And that bidding is accomplished through prayer. Prayer is the main job of the church. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLV), Paul reminds the church that they are to," Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus."

And we are being entrusted with this ultimate power of prayer because as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:3 (NLV), in heaven, God will trust us to take charge over, and judge the angels [who, by the way, have no need to pray, because prayer is a gift given only to mankind]. I consider the fact that we are deputized t do the bidding of the church while here on earth, to be a form of on-the-job-training!" We are learning with each step we take on the Narrow Path, so why are you standing around complaining or wringing our hands over the difficulties that beset you?

Do you not realize that he promised to not only be with you on the path, but as He said, we have the very presence of His spirit within us while he is in heaven building and preparing our condominiums? Child of God, you were deputized for a reason, and that was to grow in your authority to take full control over these things you come personally with along the path, in Jesus's name. And by taking full control in His name, we are enforcing the heavenly principles here on earth, as they are in heaven [like in the Lord's prayer - pray: that our Father in Heaven shall permit his will do be done here on earth as it is done in heaven]!

Does this mean that we can have anything our heart desires? No! However, it does mean that we will always have what is allowable within his perfect, and sometimes permissible will, for our life and the life of those we pray for! Now, that is one awesome truth and a promise for the ages! Selah!!!

Shalom,

Pastor Paul

*Credit for the teaching of "deputizing" the church goes to Dr. Paul E. Billheimer and his best-selling book, "Destine for the Throne!"

May the peace, mercy and love of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

God Bless You Ms.Lisa!
I'm trying to be a better manager of my time and miss being at your site, hope to be coming there more often in the near future.

Thank you God's Blessings

Blessings