Category Archives: Relationships
A Voice of Faith
It doesn’t matter how long you have been walking in the Kingdom, every now and then you will find yourself in a fierce battle with the enemy. His intention is to steal your faith in Yahweh and the peace that His Holy Spirit provides. While you maybe able to stave off an isolated assault now and then – a barrage of continuous disruptions can find even the mightiest among us a little weary. When these situations arise, we have come to understand the importance of finding someone full of faith to speak life unto us and renew our zeal and vigor. There have been times –even with our resolve – that we have sought out a friend we could trust – that would not just sympathize with our dilemmas, but would draw out of the heavens the Kingdom perspective to combat the natural tendencies that bombard our minds. We mostly fulfill that role to one other as husband and wife, but we do have a circle of friends that we count on as mighty warriors in this Kingdom walk.
There have been times we have felt led to email or text an exhortation or word of encouragement to a friend, but we are learning the importance of not just the written word, but also the critical and decisive advantage of someone hearing a strong voice speaking and releasing faith on this earth. We are pretty sure that a tactic of the enemy to rob our younger generation of their ability to change the world is to eliminate their voice. Most teenagers are consumed with texting and Facebook entries. This is an excerpt from an NPR article Teen Texting Soars; Will Social Skills Suffer? By Jennifer Ludden: “In Los Angeles, Harvard-Westlake High School considered an outright ban last year. Nini Halkett has taught history there for two decades and laments the bad spelling and writing that seems to worsen as texting becomes more widespread. As her students are increasingly immersed in texting, Halkett also finds them increasingly shy and awkward in person. ‘They can get up the courage to ask you for [a deadline] extension on the computer,’ she says. ‘But they won’t come and speak to you face-to-face about it. And that worries me, in terms of their ability — particularly once they get out in the workplace — to interact with people.’” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126117811
As with anything else – if we as Kingdom believers will demonstrate and set the standard, the world – in their time of need – will recognize and seek us out to bring healing to them. So next time – instead of texting or emailing – talk to a friend, leave a voicemail, or as we have learned how to do recently – mms a “voice memo” from your iPhone. Let your voice be heard – resonate words of life to someone…
Do unto others….
Something Apostle Ball taught us early on was to rejoice with those who rejoice. If you cannot be happy for those who are receiving blessing, you’ll never sow the seed for the blessing to come to you. Some people become bitter and complain about their situations – only to prolong the agonizing wait. We have talked about it so many times – the law of seedtime and harvest applies to these situations – not to mention “the golden rule” – Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” It is a great lesson to think about as you go through your day. It can really become natural as you meditate on this law and interact with people and situations. For example: for Christmas we purchased a hostess gift for someone who had invited us to their home. It was an electric grinder for salt and pepper. We noticed that it required batteries – which it did not come with. Thinking about what we would want – to be able to use it right away –we purchased batteries, peppercorns, and sea salt and put them in the bag. We wanted the receiver to not have to look for the items in their home – maybe to be disappointed and unable to use the gift. A little forethought can make someone’s day and sow a seed for blessing to come back and overtake you – so that you can have everything you need.
We know that it can be hard to overcome your mind – especially when times have been tough. You may have been faithful and waiting on your harvest. Sometimes Yahweh tests our hearts. We need to be confident – knowing that our Heavenly Father knows what we have need of and in due time (as Pastor Ron used to say – “He is seldom early, but never late”) we will receive all that He has for us. It all comes down to a choice. Make a conscious choice to be happy for those around you who are reaping blessings in their lives – soon you will find those around you rejoicing with you as you receive all that you have sown for.
1/2 Full or 1/2 Empty
A challenge in the world we live in today is to have a positive attitude. While the opportunities to be disappointed, fearful, disillusioned, sorrowful, etc. abound, it’s our responsibility to recognize the reality of what Yahweh has for us and not get caught up in the world’s “what if’s.” Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Throughout our walk we have experienced great highs and low lows. It’s in those “low” times that we sometimes have to check each other. We notice that during those times we tend to become more critical and slightly negative. We count on each other to recognize the signs and initiate an intervention. You may not even realize that it is happening. One thing leads to another and before you know it, your conversations are not ones of faith, but have a more negative tone. We have learned to recognize the signs and right then make the choice to rehearse all our incredible blessings from Yahweh – it does not take long – we end up so thankful and full of faith.
If we allow ourselves, we can be burdened with the cares of this life. We are not talking about keeping our heads “buried.” We need to recognize that someone living in a pit needs someone on the outside to throw a rope and pull them out – not someone in the pit with them consoling and providing no solutions. The world is looking for hope and peace. Only by seeing faith working in us and the serenity of His Holy Spirit upon us will the world begin to ask the question – “what is so different about you?”
Honoring Holy Spirit is so crucial. Romans 8:27 “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” We also sometimes quiet our mind by taking deep breaths – as if to inhale the breath of the Father – then with a slow and deliberate exhale – release all the junk that has built up inside. When you find your mind swarming with renegade thoughts – take each one captive and cast it down. (Paraphrased from 2 Corinthians 10:5)
True – there are a great many sad and tragic incidents happening everyday. On the flip side – if we can be cognizant – all of Yahweh’s resources are working on our behalf – positioning us for His purpose to redeem this earth. We are determined to be a light and source of strength to those in need. Yahweh is a great and awesome God. Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
How will this affect me?
Some wisdom that Apostle Ball shared with us early on is to look at the decisions that we have to make and ask ourselves “where will this put me 5 or 10 years down the road; how does this fit into what I believe is the word of the Lord to me?” We still use this approach today. It has saved us on many occasions from making a spontaneous decision that could have sent us down the wrong path. While we always consider that sometimes what Yahweh calls us to do requires faith, we recognize and understand that He is not foolish. Sometimes our decisions may not make sense in the natural, but with wisdom and help from Holy Spirit, we can hopefully eliminate those “I wish I wouldn’t have” moments.
The funny thing about decisions is one can lead to another. You may think that the one decision you are making right now is so small and insignificant, but it could cascade and affect so many people. Sometimes we think we are an “island unto ourselves” – yet we touch people around us everyday by the decisions we make. Friends, family, acquaintances, and many we do not even know are watching us – whether we recognize it or not.
There is such a balance in the Kingdom. While we walk by faith – it doesn’t mean that we throw common sense out the window. Our experience over the years is that Holy Spirit has helped us to see past flowery presentations, grand illusions and slick people looking to rob the very purpose of Yahweh from us. If it seems too good to be true – it probably is. Holy Spirit helps us to be wise and sharp. The Kingdom is all about seedtime and harvest. Honestly, we would not want it any other way. What Yahweh is looking for is a good and honest heart. He does not show partiality – what He has done for one person, He will do for another.
A great testimony is that Holy Spirit has helped us to make great decisions along the way. We set ourselves to get out of debt and made decisions based on that word. We set out to redeem all of those things that were lost, stolen, or given away – made decisions to shut every door of the enemy – so he would no longer have a claim on our inheritance. We are faithful today and also looking to the future. Yahweh make Your Name great in the earth in and through us all!
Don’t get stuck on a sniff
There was one thing that our previous Jack Russell loved to do more than anything else – that was to go for a walk. Jack would bring socks to inspire us to get up off the couch and get with his agenda of being outdoors walking. He had little patience for socialization along the walk and would tug the leash if stationary too long. Our greatest joy (and his) was to allow him to be “off leash.” We had worked with him so extensively that when a vehicle would come by – all we had to say was “car” and he would come and sit by us until the vehicle had passed. We have to say that it was so enjoyable to take him to his favorite park and allow him to explore and enjoy the trails as we walked and exercised ourselves. Jack had an occasional nemesis. Every now and then there would be an alluring smell that would just overwhelm him and cause him to either lag behind or get to far ahead. The distraction would override his ability to obey our commands and keep pace. He would get “stuck on a sniff.” We would have to stop our progression and in some form or fashion get his attention.
A great attribute of Holy Spirit is His ability to reinforce Kingdom principles through these everyday situations in our lives. Just like Jack – we believe that Yahweh enjoys us walking with Him. Being able to hear His voice keeps us on pace and free from danger. Our greatest adversary has to be the alluring “smells” along the way. We don’t need to get “stuck on a sniff.” Abraham is a great example – you can become stuck – even on a word from Yahweh. Abraham would have sacrificed his son Isaac if he had not been in the place to hear the current and ongoing word from the Father and find the ram in the thicket (Genesis 22:13). Whether the sniff is peer pressure, goals, lust of the eye, pride, or being weary in well-doing we need to be vigilant and alert for any course corrections from our Heavenly Father.
It really brought us great joy to see Jack do what he was created to do and know that we just wanted him to be obedient to us to keep him safe. How much more does Yahweh rejoice over us, as we are diligent to hear His voice, keep pace, and fulfill His purpose on this earth? Your Kingdom come Yahweh, Your will be done in and through us.
See it again for the first time… (a different perspective)
There have been many times that we have questioned what was happening around us. We have found ourselves in circumstances that were unsettling, uncomfortable, and at times unpleasant. Always believing that “our steps are ordered by Yahweh,” we would press on convinced that our situation was temporary and maybe if we bombarded Heaven with enough prayer – things would change. Something Apostle Ball said years ago has come back to us many times – “hopefully Yahweh doesn’t answer some of our prayers.” We have often joked that Yahweh must sometimes shake His head and say “bless their hearts – they’ll understand soon.” Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Apostle Ball taught us early on the importance of honoring Holy Spirit and giving Him every opportunity to show Himself mighty on our behalf.
Having a Jack Russell, we find ourselves walking quite a bit. We enjoy the time together and it gives us opportunity to talk. On one of these walks, we were dialoging – one of us complaining (we won’t say who) – about the environment we found ourselves in. To be honest, the observations and complaints were valid – but as we walked and talked a bigger picture unfolded. All of a sudden it was if a curtain had been pulled back and the importance of our environment was made crystal clear. We could see that if circumstances were any different it would impede Yahweh’s purpose for us. We really could not be in any better place – so necessary – so purposed – we (I) just couldn’t see it until my spiritual eyes we opened. Thank you Yahweh for giving us time and bypassing some of our petitions – keeping us in Your way and full of life.
Steady on….
Life, sometimes, can be a thrilling roller coaster ride. The ups and downs can be quite dramatic. When the pace of life speeds up and your schedule is not quite your own, you can get swept into a vortex of activity where it becomes a challenge to maintain a sense of peace and control. Emotions are good, but Apostle Ball taught us long ago that if you allow your emotions to dictate your relationship with Yahweh, you often find yourself off course, unsure and sore from the whiplash of life’s circumstances.
Recently we have been traveling extensively – many special occasions just happened to fall close together and required us to maintain a high energy pace. Through it all – it has been a challenge to keep our spirit in tune and not allow all the distractions to wear us down. We were not always successful, but thanks to Holy Spirit – those gentle words of “steady on” brought us back to that place of rest in Him and the reality that our emotions and feelings do not dictate our relationship with the Father.
What Yahweh is looking for is our obedience. When we honor Him with our first and best and keep our hearts a place for Holy Spirit to abide, we can be confident before Him and know that He is working all things for our good. Even when a few storms come our way, we can know that He will bring us through. We strive to maintain that “steady on” attitude. We try to not allow our emotions to reach too high when great things happen and not get too low when we are disappointed.
Yahweh promised to order our steps – our commitment is relationship and His will. No matter what comes our way, we have purposed to stay steady on. We will not be moved by what we see, but by what we know He has purposed and planned for us. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Your will be done Yahweh – in and through us. No matter what comes our way, Holy Spirit help us to be “steady on!”
How do you start your day?
We have recognized our need over the last many years for divine intervention in and throughout our day. We have never liked to settle for the status quo. If you had access to incredible resources, wouldn’t you like to take advantage of those opportunities?
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Proverbs 24:5 (NIV version) “The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.” Our favorite: John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Wow – if there was ever a time when we needed to know what is to come – it’s now. Honoring His Holy Spirit can set you apart and on a path to uncovering your purpose and responsibility and equip you with all that you need.
We like to start our day by laying hands on each other and asking the Father for His wisdom, knowledge and good ideas. We entreat Holy Spirit to speak to us throughout our day and show us things to come. We charge our ministering angels to keep us in His way, to watch over us and keep us safe.
We can testify of His faithfulness in all of the above. We do not set limits and fully expect that we will continue to redeem all that has been lost, stolen or given away in our lives. We have resources and a mandate from our Heavenly Father. Let’s join together and unleash His Spirit and angels on this earth until all things are under His feet.
You know what…
In giving Yahweh full liberty in our lives, it should not amaze us that His Holy Spirit is faithful to touch those things in us that are hindering His fullness. While we are so appreciative, sometimes it becomes a tug-of-war between our flesh and spirit. We know the choice that we should make, but we often think – how could this really matter in the scope and scale of things? Or other people are not having any problem with this – why are you requiring this of us? Yahweh knows what He has for each of us and where we are in the process of redemption. Sometimes His Holy Spirit deems it necessary to bring around those areas of development over and over again until we get it right – believe us – we are not complaining – we are so thankful that He loves us so much. We know that our Heavenly Father is longsuffering, but we are sure that if we ignore His promptings, His voice will diminish in us until we repent. We cannot live without His voice – help us Holy Spirit to respond quickly!
About 20 years ago we heard Ron Corzine minister at the Rock of Panama City (the details are definitely not totally word for word, but the essence of the story is still the same). He told a funny story about a parrot on a perch out in front of a pet store in the mall. A man was walking by and this parrot yelled to him – “Hey you.” The man turned around and said to the bird “What?” The parrot proceeded to say, “you’re stupid and you look funny.” The man –astonished – turned around and kept walking. The parrot continued in his rant yelling at the man “Hey you.” Once again the man turned around and responded “What?” – only to have the bird yell “you’re stupid and you look funny.” Angered, the man was determined to find the storeowner and complain about the obnoxious parrot. The owner apologized for the unruly bird. He went to the front of the store – took the bird in his hands – shook it and told it not to say those things again. Satisfied, the man went on his way. After shopping, the man had to walk back by the pet store. To his amazement and shock, the parrot once again yelled “Hey you.” Not believing his ears, the man turned to the bird and said “What?” Smugly the bird responded – “you know what!”
There are times in our lives where Holy Spirit has had to keep bringing up areas in us that have to change. After repetitive attempts to get our attention, we have said to Holy Spirit “What?” – only to have His response be “you know what…”
Continue Yahweh to surface those obstacles that would disqualify us from ruling and reigning in the earth today. Thank you Holy Spirit for Your diligence and faithfulness to us. It may take a couple of times around the woodshed – but it’s worth it.
What we value…..
It’s amazing how we forfeit some of our most valuable assets by just not utilizing them. Things of value take necessary care and attention to keep them in working order. If we diligently maintain assets in our lives, they are always ready and waiting for use – much like keeping the battery charged on a cordless tool – at the time you need to use it – if the battery is not charged – it’s ineffective.
Our relationship with our Heavenly Father, by His Holy Spirit, is very much the same. Throughout history the human race has always had a difficult time with an unseen god. The most amazing thing is after having a relationship with Him for over 27 years, he is more tangible to us – as we have seen His hand in so many areas of our lives. We recognize the value and importance of a daily walk with Him – it’s crucial. Distractions from time to time draw us away, but His Holy Spirit is so faithful to “tap us on our shoulder” and we are quick to make the necessary adjustments to get back on track.
Giving His Holy Spirit the liberty and mandate to keep us in His way will not guarantee an uninterrupted journey – after all He gave us the ability to make choices. We, day after day, have to decide – what has value to us? We have learned to guard our eyes, ears and hearts. The world has tried to dilute our sensitivity to Godly things through TV shows, movies, and music. We have made the choice recently to not watch certain TV shows – allowing garbage to get into our eyes and ears eventually gets into our hearts. We want to honor Him in all that we do. When the time to perform has arrived, the time to prepare has passed……
Can you ever have too many friends? (Not talking about Facebook friends)
Some people say you can never have too many friends; there are others that say that there is a limit to how many friends you can have. We believe that you can definitely have any number of friends. We predicate our statement on the aspect of learning how to be a great friend. We have heard stories of some people who are “very needy.” They are high maintenance and require constant attention to keep the relationship in good standing. We like to think of ourselves as very low maintenance. We can spend years apart from friends, yet in a moment, pick up where we left off. A good friendship is all about respecting one another. Hopefully the relationship we have with our heavenly Father keeps us grounded and not always in the position of needing ministry and constant encouragement from our friends. Understand, when we go through trials – friends are happy and ready to stand in the gap when we are unable to be strong on our own. Hopefully it is sporadic and not constant. We pray that Yahweh will help us all come to that place of maturity and completeness in Him – strong in His Spirit and always ready to be a source of strength to those around us.
We have no conditions in place in order to be our friends. We do, however, stay vigilant to always step back from friendships that would cause us to violate our own personal convictions. We have had to say no to some invitations. We are strong enough in who Yahweh is in us to be bold and confident. We believe we can be fun and adventurous without compromising the values we hold dear. We do not have to agree on everything to walk together – a great lesson we have learned.
As we have traveled around the country over the past 27 years, we have been given some of the best friends that one could ever ask for. Our friends come from all different backgrounds. Some are conservative, others are more liberal, some are funny, some are serious, but the one thing they all have in common is our love. As we think about how Yahweh takes our lives and shapes us into what He wants us to become, He often uses His Holy Spirit and people to accomplish this task. Thank you to all our friends – each one of you has marked our lives and we are better for it. We ask the Father for a special blessing upon each of you – you are a treasure to us and to Him.
It’s not just what you say…..
We have discovered that the greatest witness to winning people over might just be in what we do, not so much in what we say. If this Kingdom revelation doesn’t translate into a productive life-changing metamorphosis, why would any one want to accept Christ as their savior and repent of their sins. Being a believer is not about poverty, sickness, and sorrow. A true Kingdom witness is about excellence, wisdom, and integrity. We try to be excellent in everything we do. If it is a project at work, we dedicate the time necessary and try to go above and beyond what is required. We are on time, dressed appropriately, and being blessed by having Holy Spirit abide in us, look to have the next best idea or solution to problems that arise.
The wonderful thing about walking in the Kingdom is that, unlike the world, you don’t have to step on people on your way up the corporate ladder. Yahweh has a better way. Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” We are fully aware that this is a blessing to Abram, but we took hold of this word because it is so characteristic of who Yahweh is. This blessing of Abram has marked our life in so many ways. Yahweh has blessed those who have blessed us and many who have set themselves against us have fallen by their own deceptive ways.
The world is looking for an alternative to their chaotic lives. Most have to dull their stress and pain with drugs or alcohol. When they see that we can walk in peace – even in the midst of a storm – they may begin to ask how that is possible. John 14:16-17 “and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He many abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither see Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Holy Spirit has kept us and blessed us on this journey. He has given us insight and has allowed our lives to be marked with honor, blessing and peace.
Our prayer continues to be “Yahweh mark our life in such a way that those around will have to ask – how is it that you are so blessed – even in this troubling time?” 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Relating….
One thing that we appreciate about our relationship is that we are truly best friends. There is no subject off-limits for us to discuss. We realized early on that if we had a problem with one another, talking with someone else about the issue was not going to change things. By being open and honest with each other, there is nothing hidden. Stress does not build up in our relationship – which we believe keeps our marriage healthy. If one of us struggles with an issue – we purpose to join together to help one another through. It’s another reason we need to be strong in the Spirit and our spirit. If we both keep ourselves in right relationship with our Heavenly Father – as a couple – we can be strength joined to strength. A sign and a wonder.
Yahweh – You Know….
We have always said if we ever wrote a book, one chapter would have to be titled “Yahweh – You know.” Have you ever been treated unfairly? Have you ever had a situation where you believed for one thing, only to have something else be the outcome instead? Have you ever been disappointed? We have had all of the above happen to us. The only response that seemed to come out of our mouth was “Yahweh, You know.” These words encapsulate our thought process of – nothing happens on this earth for us that is not purposed and authorized by our Heavenly Father. Recently we realized that in saying this phrase, we actually are saying – Yahweh – we trust You with our lives – we give the situation and our frustration over to You. The great thing about releasing our anxiety to Yahweh is – in our experience – He has always come through for us in the end. In those times that we have been treated unfairly, in the long run, Yahweh has always made things right for us and in most cases vilified the offender. The times that we have been disappointed – we have often said that we suffered short-term disappointments, but in the long run, Yahweh has always provided more than we could ask or think. When we have believed one thing – by Holy Spirit providing a different perspective – we have seen that He had a better way for us ahead.
Just a word of encouragement – next time things are not going the way you thought they would or you’ve been treated unfairly – instead of complaining about the situation – just say “Yahweh – You know.” Trust and release all your frustration to Him – Romans 8:28 “and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Hearing His Voice
You would think after 27 years that we would be so confident in our ability to hear the Father’s voice. We have found that no matter how long you have been a believer, “Today if you will hear His voice” Hebrews 3:7. It is all about today. We have heard Apostle Ball say so many times:
It’s Yahweh’s responsibility to speak to you in a way that you will understand – you just have to keep yourself in a place to hear
Sometimes you may have too many voices around you – you may have to step away from some things in order to hear what He has to say
Don’t worry about missing it – He will bring it back around
Yahweh knows where you are – do not always be looking for a word – you might just hear one – it may not be from Him
Give Yahweh the authority to intervene if you are headed down the wrong road
About twenty years ago, we had the opportunity to adopt twins. The woman was making the decision between us and another couple, but leaning heavily toward us. We prayed and asked Yahweh if we were heading down the wrong path to intervene – He did – at the last-minute she chose the other couple. We wondered then, but know today that it was right. We may not have any natural children, but Yahweh has brought some children into our lives that are so one with us by the Spirit. We are able to sow into them – it’s a beautiful thing.
We have always recognized the most important part of this relationship is to keep our hands clean and our hearts pure. As the psalmist David said “do not take your Holy Spirit from me” Psalm 51:11. Honoring the Holy Spirit in our lives is of utmost priority. Yahshua (Jesus) said “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” We cannot tell you how many times that the Holy Spirit has spoken or made us aware of certain circumstances – only to find out – that we would very soon be put in situations where that information was so critical. We call those times “Holy Ghost set-ups.” He is always faithful.
The hardest times for us have been the quiet times. We have experienced a few of those seasons where we have felt that He was not speaking to us at all. We have taken great solace in the words of Apostle Ball that “Yahweh knows where you are.” We do a good heart check and if we are not convicted – we trust that when it is our time, He will be faithful to speak.
We all wish that the Father would just write us a letter and spell out His perfect plan. The only problem with that is – it would not be a walk of faith and would require very little of us. Walking out His purpose day by day requires relationship – isn’t that what our Heavenly Father originally desired from the beginning of time.
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