I heard this declaration years ago and loved it then, as I do now. Reading it again recently makes me check myself in all aspects of my spiritual walk. Are we really completely and fully “sold out” to Jesus? I want to know Him, and be know by Him as His disciple! READ MORE
What Easter Means to Me
On Easter Sunday, 1989, I wandered into a wonderful church and heard the pastor tell me that I could be forgiven and saved by grace; I didn’t have to do it myself. That day my scarlet sins became white as snow. And for the next ten years, I went through God’s training program, conducted by the people of the church. Little did I know that God was preparing me to speak to millions of women and that I would be an instrument to help heal their scars from abortion, drugs, and sinful living. Nor did I know that He was also preparing me to be the wife of Jim Bakker. But I’m beginning to learn that broken and wounded people make the best healers. READ MORE
The Passover Celebration with Rabbi Cahn
This week, we are airing the Passover Celebration that Rabbi Cahn conducted here at Morningside. This is a deeply spiritual event that is very timely with where we are in these Revelation Days in which we live. There are so many things that are coming together right now – believers are coming back together, and Jew and Gentile are uniting in their recognition of Jesus’ soon return and the eternal drama that is reaching a crescendo in the earth.
We are seeing all of the signs of Jesus’ return in our world right now and they are increasing! Just this week, we have seen even more meteors in the sky! These are signs in the heavens and we must not miss them!
In all of the excitement, we are reminded of an ancient ordinance that God instructed over 3,000 years ago. This is a permanent ordinance to remember Christ, our Passover Lamb and to prepare our hearts to receive Him when He comes again. READ MORE
“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”
Recently, we were in Charlotte, North Carolina where we visited the Billy Graham library and placed flowers on Ruth Bell Graham’s grave. As most of you know, Ruth and Billy Graham were valley-walking friends with Jim when he went through some very tough trials.
Billy Graham visited Jim in prison several times, and Franklin sponsored him when he was released. The very first week Jim was released from prison, Ruth made it possible for Jim to attend her church and sat with him in a very public display of love and support.
To say that the Graham family has been a friend to us is an understatement.
The Bible says that the spiritual people restore others when they have fallen: “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1 ASV
Jim and I attended Ruth Bell Graham’s 80th birthday celebration and the program that evening presented her life through music and drama, using her own writings, and it was very moving. PBS was there filming a documentary on her life.
That evening, when Jim introduced us, Ruth Graham reached up from her wheel chair and cradled my face in her hands.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said. “God hand-picked you for Jim.”
I was so touched by her words, I nearly cried. I managed to thank her for what she had done for my husband and for being such a great example of a woman of God.
Ruth Graham had much to be proud of in her accomplishments in life, but instead of pride, Ruth exhibited the ultimate humility by recognizing her life as a work in progress all the way to her home-going, her meekness engraved in her self-chosen epitaph:
“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”
A Critical Time
This is a critical time. Any time after this, we will have done all we could do and our time is over. Then the seals will open and the trumpets will blow and nothing we do or say will affect anything when that begins.
I’m struck with a sense of profoundness for this very small window of time. God uses vessels like us to discern and alert and inform. We cannot err in discerning the Times – and after we discern, we must alert and inform others. These are truly the days we were born for… for this, the grand finale.
One of the dangers of the End Times is hearing so much and understanding so little. Even the church fails to discern the meaning of End Time events because they have heard it so much and so often, it has lost its impact. We can’t become desensitized to End Times events!
We are bombarded every day with information from every direction. So much information, so many words coming at us from everywhere; our televisions, smart phones, ipads, and even our proximity to others is constantly feeding us information. I know that the plan of the enemy includes distractions and confusion caused by so much ‘noise’ that it makes it hard to hear the important things!
In all this information (knowledge), the greatest thing we must be listening for is the voice of our Lord.
Many times, in the Bible, when men of God received a special message from God, it was after withdrawing themselves to a time of solitude to be able to hear from Him alone. If ever we needed to hear from God, it’s now.
We have a supreme challenge in the days we live in to not only discern the Times, but to find the time to be still before the Lord in order to hear His voice.
A few Sundays ago, my son Ricky ministered a profound word that we all need to hear. He said, “There’s a time to stop speaking and listen. Sometimes we just need to be quiet before the Lord, and now is God’s time to speak to us.”
Sometimes, a constant flow of information is just a distraction from the greater thing.
I learned about distractions years ago when I was trying to spend quality time with the Lord and a honey bee began buzzing around me. I heard the Lord say, “even the buzzing bee distracts you!”
Even when life demands our time and attention, we must find the time to spend alone so that God can speak to us. That’s why I often get up in the middle of the night and sit quietly before the Lord. That’s the only time I can be without distractions!
Wouldn’t it be a tragedy if, after we have studied, talked about, and generally saturated ourselves with information about the End Times, that we become so busy, busy, busy in our thoughts and activities that we miss the voice of the Lord instructing us in every move we make in our own strategic mission?
Only after we have “been with Jesus” can we hear Him and His instructions for these amazing final days.
“I Pray and I Obey”
Sometimes it’s hard to get our priorities straight but it doesn’t have to be. One of the greatest leaders of our times, Paul Youngi Cho of South Korea who has a church of over one million members, simplified the way he conducts his days by doing two things FIRST.
Every morning, Cho prays for five hours before starting any other work. Many have asked him how he can find time to pray that much. He answers, “You don’t understand. If I don’t pray for five hours, I don’t have enough time to do everything. But when I do, then God does everything I need.”
What a simple, yet profound TRUTH in this statement! Jesus’ life was one of constant PRAYER! We can read in the Bible where many times that Jesus went up into the mountain to PRAY – Matthew 14:23 & Mark 6:46 & Mark 1:35 & Luke 6:12. Jesus removed all distractions and focused on communion with God. Even though He was God, Jesus prayed and so should we!
Since Jesus, who is the Son of God, understood the need to be in constant prayer, we should do the same. Jesus heard the Voice of the Father, and then He obeyed exactly what He heard the Father say!
This is a time like never before in the history of the world. This is a time that we should be in constant communication with the throne room of God so that we can hear His voice and DO what He tells us to do!
Lord, remind me to PRAY and OBEY every day so that I can be sure that what I am about to do is what You have said to do with my day!
Amen!
Proud of My Kids
Can I just brag a little? I am so excited about what has been happening with the Generation NOW network and our kids in the Master’s Media. Not only are the kids in the school excelling and finding favor with God and man, but our own kids are moving in the gifts of the Spirit with power and anointing!
It’s time to be filled with the Holy Spirit! We need some Holy Ghost ministers! We have to have the Holy Spirit Who gives you power to make it in these Last Days! Ricky and Marie are prophesying and laying hands on people and praying powerful Holy Ghost prayers! God is anointing our children! READ MORE
Time Has Come (Pt. 8)
Get ready! I am coming soon.
One of the most frightening passages in the Bible is, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14, nkjv). I fear there are many on the broad way, even in our churches, and they do not know it. They are not focused on the Bridegroom; they are not prepared for the wedding.
In prison, whenever we went to the prison yard, there were grave restrictions on what we could do, including how long we could be out there. I still tremble in fear knowing that if I was in the yard a minute too long or disobeyed a rule, I could have been shot. When I was in the yard, I looked up above the spirals of razor wire on the compound walls, and I could see an image of heaven. I kept my eyes fixed on that heavenly city that God said He had prepared for everyone who loves Him, and peace came to my soul.
As soon as my feet touched the yard, I often thought of a song my dear pastor’s wife, an amazing evangelist and singer, Fern Olson, used to sing: “I’ve Had a Vision of Jesus.” I found that if I lived in that vision, and kept my eyes on Jesus, the reality of my present existence seemed tolerable.
I’ve had a vision of Jesus,
I’ve caught a glimpse of my Lord,
Down through the clouds He is coming,
Just as He said in His word;
See the bright light in the heavens,
Shining from east to the west,
I’ve had a vision of Jesus,
Bringing that glad day of rest.
As on the wings of an eagle,
We shall go soaring away,
Over the mountains and valleys,
Past all the cares of the day;
If we but live in the vision,
Just a short time it will be,
Soon the vision will have vanished,
Swallowed in reality.32
No matter what circumstances you find yourself in today, look above the situation and keep your eyes on Jesus. Now is the time to get ready. Keep your lamp trimmed and burning. Stay ready and keep watching. The Bridegroom is about to appear. The wedding will take place soon. I want to be there, and I know you do too!
Clay in the Potter’s Hands (Pt. 7)
STEP 6: THE SECOND FIRING
With raging intensity, the second fire starts to burn through the kiln. Quickly you move from separation into a time of death. There are impurities within each clay vessel that only the fire can purge.
The Lord and His angels shut down the dampers on the kiln, cutting off the flow of oxygen and filling the kiln with carbon dioxide. Black soot along with heavy smoke and flames consumes every vessel in the kiln as it becomes a black fire, your personal Gethsemane or dark night of the soul.
Abandonment, isolation, and death itself are all around you. The fire is so intense that you can’t hear or see the dear friends who have been your comforters and intercessors for so many years. Everyone you love seems to leave you as you die in the blazing inferno.
You say, “Lord, the fire! I’m dying in the midst of it! Everything I’ve built and loved my whole life is being consumed!”
Your heart breaks as your reputation and your walk with the Lord are condemned. Competition, position, jealousy and pride are driven out of your life by the purifying flames.
You feel as if you’re going to explode under the ever-increasing pressure. The Lord tenderly explains, “My child, in the midst of the black fire, a mystery takes place. Brilliant color is pushed deep into the body of the clay vessel.”
“My mysteries and My revelations are revealed in the tremendous pressure of the high glory fire. This is a hidden time when the most beautiful colors are formed in the earthenware vessel. The richness and depth of color come from the darkest hours of agony and grief, just as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds come from hot fires inside the earth. In the midst of the second firing, My glory is being released into the depths of who you are.”
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This is the hardest imaginable step to go through. Has it ever gotten so hot you thought you were going to die? I have. This is a step you can only speak about in whispers because it is so intense.
Clay in the Potter’s Hands (Pt. 6)
STEP 5: THE GLAZING ROOM
Something deep inside you stirs—that first call, that sense of destiny you felt as a new believer. “Lord,” you cry, “I don’t want to just sit in the back pew and die. You made me to be a lover of your people and to go out and find broken vessels and bring them to the Potter’s house.”
“I know it won’t be easy,” you continue. “I know I will pay an incredible price for the anointing I will carry for You. But, Lord, I want to become Your bride.”
So the Lord takes you into a huge glazing room filled with tables. Angels are moving pitchers from one table to another and placing them with cups on other tables in preparation for the high firing. The soft sound of weeping is heard as vessels that have been together all their lives are being separated.
God is sovereignly moving His different vessels to prepare them for His Great Commission. Some will be staying home while others will be going to different cities and nations. The angels continue to carefully pour, paint, and brush glazes onto each vessel before carrying them into a large kiln.
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Have you considered the cost of the anointing? When you say, “I surrender all” to the call of God, you will be immediately put through the processes of God and I can promise you, it will not be easy… but it will be worth everything!
