In early January of this year, God compelled me to go and take a trip of faith to Arizona. A simple word “go” was all I heard; Oh what difficulty that one word would require of me to obey, My spirit was willing but my flesh is weak! There was much opposition to stop me from fulfilling the command that I heard very clearly in my spirit! At two different times in March, I had taken blood tests that indicated I had a low blood Hematocrit (red blood cell count). This situation had been causing me to be extremely fatigued. One week before our long road trip, I was at the hospital for X ray & Ultrasound exams for the severe pain and discomfort that I had been experiencing since the middle of February. We were happy to know that my organs were not the concern but I was suffering from a bleeding ulcer. How in the world could my body manage the call of God to visit Arizona the next week?? I could not do it! God would have to do it through me!

I tell my wife, “Lets go; Jesus is going to Arizona and he is taking this broken down body with him.” Glennis (after a confirming word in her spirit) says “yes, we will go by God’s Grace”! My wife is tireless and selfless with a fighting, determined Spirit of God within her. The others on this adventure were our kids; Justin, Jessica, Ashley and Kylee, son-in-law; Jerry, granddaughter; Korbyn, nephew; Austin and also our dear friends; Bob Nicholls and Terry & Susan Keller. All of these precious ones were used by God to either add or to make this faith mission possible. If they had not also heard God say to them to “go”; I would still be in my bedroom just dreaming about the trip to Arizona. By faith obedience we embarked on our venture March 26^th.

Our first night in town, our family had been invited for dinner at my Aunt Yvonne and Uncle Bill’s house in Sun City. Other relatives there were Aunt Pam and cousin’s, Bob and Jody. We had an enjoyable time catching up with one another since it had been several years. We appreciated their generosity for having all of us over for the evening. Although I personally could not eat food; I did enjoy the fellowship and was also looking forward to tasting spiritual food at the tent meetings.

May God bless evangelists Ken Dewey and his wife, Celeste, who shared my burden to reach souls in the Phoenix area and who inspired me, despite my health condition, to step out in faith obedience. They trusted God to hold a Tent Revival Meeting that would be sponsored by other churches to share the Gospel message. The Dewey’s left their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico and arrived in the Phoenix Metro Area March 18^th. Despite learning that the road to tent meetings is long and difficult within the city limits (because of rules and regulations, permits and expense) the Lord opened a door in Maricopa County just outside of Mesa City limits for the Church; New Life Worship Center to host the Tent Meetings. Pastor W. Graves welcomed the opportunity and was available to co-labor with Ken & Celeste Dewey. The Pastor and his congregation willingly permitted the tent to be set up on their property the following weekend; they also provided support of their worship team and other members. The Tent meetings began Monday, March 29th with a night of prayer and concluded Friday, April 2^nd. Ken did the majority of preaching and led souls to Christ. Glennis and others shared inspiring thoughts. I was filled with tears and only spoke a few words during the tent meetings because of the difficulty of my speech. “Come forward now!” “There’s more” and “The time is short” (I was compelled by God’s Spirit to urge people to come forward joining me in a surrendered life to Christ).

On Thursday afternoon, April 1st, we visited the Teen Challenge Men’s Center in Phoenix. Our friend, Susan Keller, through her previous contacts, was able to arrange a tour and introduction led by counselor, Scott Mosely, to the facility and Mission of the Center. Scott, a former student of Teen Challenge, is now a counselor for the Center. Teen Challenge operates Nation-wide with a Mission Statement to “To provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society. By applying biblical principles, Teen Challenge endeavors to help people become mentally-sound, emotionally-balanced, socially-adjusted, physically-well, and spiritually-alive”. We support and commend the work of this life transforming Ministry!

On April 2^nd, we traveled to Flagstaff (2 hours north) to visit Pastor Daniel Williamson, the boys at Teen Challenge’s New Horizon Christian Academy and also to attend The Lamb of God Church on Easter Sunday. Most of the hotels in Flagstaff could not accommodate our large group because they were already booked for the Easter weekend. Through our son-in-law, Jerry, we were able to make affordable arrangements for rooms at a four story nine bedroom Victorian Conference and Retreat Center (launched recently to the public to rent rooms and/or apartments in the adjoining cottages and Carriage house).  The kind owner, Wade, graciously permitted us to stay on the entire lower level with 5 beautifully furnished bedrooms (5+ bathrooms!). Wow! Glennis felt especially pampered; hours earlier we had no place to stay, and then out of no-where we find ourselves welcomed guests in this extravagant residence. Thank God for His unexpected, unmerited blessings! Once again we unpacked our luggage, medical equipment and supplies and settled in to our room. That evening, Glennis wanted me to see more of the house. There was accessibility to the second, main floor, so I would be able to go upstairs and explore the large, open “Great Room’ (with a Fireplace and Grand Piano). This living room had Office and Conference areas that branched off of it, in addition to the Commercial Kitchen, Dining Area and a Breakfast Nook with a beautiful view of Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona (elevation of 12,637 ft) within the mountain range known as the San Francisco Peaks and also a view of the Community Park next door. 

After we had gotten familiar with second floor; we sat in nice, oversized armchairs. Wade came to join us to become better acquainted. He was very congenial, a well educated professional and a deep thinker. After spending a little more time visiting; Wade began to open up to us. He had been searching for answers that religious thought, philosophy, education, money and this world’s wisdom could not satisfy. He seemed empty and desperate for hope and answers for future direction and decision making. We recognized that he needed to come face to face with the Truth of The Person of Jesus Christ. He was called to have a living relationship with Christ who fills the void for significant purpose and meaning of life. Glennis and I were privileged to lead Wade to make an eternal decision to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. Hallelujah! We gave him a DVD copy of our interview recorded with Natalie Nichols from www.shadesofgrace.org; “The Scott Brodie Story”. He suggested we view it together the next night.

Wade opened his home for us to have the Director (Pastor Daniel), Staff: Shannon and Neil along the boys from New Horizons Christian Academy (Teen Challenge). Also Sabine, Senia, Richard, Barak, and Andra joined us that Saturday evening. There were 26 of us altogether that gathered to view the 32 minute testimonial DVD followed by a time of sharing. Our thanks to Wade for his hospitality and openness to provide this opportunity of eternal value. We are also grateful for the life transforming work of the leadership at New Horizon’s. Saturday night became a time of weeping, rejoicing, foot washing and sweet fellowship that centered on the Love of God. Glennis spoke a message on Galations 2:20, how a believer’s life can be walked out by faith in Christ who loves us, guides and strengthens us because He lives within our hearts. She went to each of the boys and prayed with them individually. I shared a word on Revelations 12:11 & John 16:33 about overcoming through Christ. Many of the young teens we met had come from difficult family situations and had begun to make decisions that were leading them down a path of destruction. We want to keep in mind and in our prayers, the lives of Dustin, Micah, Shane, Christian, Brandon, James and both ‘Zachs’.

During the 3 day drive (3600mi roundtrip) to return home to in Puyallup, Washington from our recent road trip to Phoenix & Flagstaff, Arizona (3/26-4/6); God spoke into my spirit “To obey is better than sacrifice” (the passage described below).

“Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1Sam 15:22).

Saul was told by the prophet of God, Samuel “Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all they have; do not spare them” but Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. Instead of obeying God’s Word, Saul spared the best of the animals so he could make a sacrifice to God. Saul desired human approval for conquering the Amalekites; he wanted to be recognized for his efforts. In front of all of the people of Israel, Saul made a sacrifice the way he wanted to, not as God had instructed. The Sacrificial System had been instituted by God to Moses, so why wouldn’t this offering be good enough? Simply because God had not told him to sacrifice but to destroy everything! God was not pleased that Saul made a religious sacrifice rather than obeying His voice and command.

The best sacrificial offering we can bring to God is our broken and contrite heart (Ps 51:16-17). When we humbly approach His Throne, we can have full assurance of faith, from our acceptance of Christ, that God hears us. In our own efforts, we could make a thousand sacrifices to God; drive/fly thousands of miles for God’s service; or give thousands of dollars to His work. All of those sacrifices would mean nothing to God if there was not a surrendered heart that would simply trust Him by obeying his Word in faith.

 “But the just shall live by his faith”   ~  Habakkuk 2:4

Our son, Justin, recently made a comment to me after reading several posts on my website. He said, “I see a lot of blogs talking about your vision for Phoenix, Arizona to reach souls for Christ but not much progress”.  I agreed and determined to post an update about my vision to be in Phoenix.  Justin has overseen our family business for the last several years. By God’s grace he has done an amazing job of operating, managing and expanding (to Arizona) our small family business. His selfless and sacrificial dedication along with his tireless work ethic contributes greatly to our family. I am blessed beyond measure with incredible children that know Jesus!

Here it is March, 2010, twelve years from my visitation with Jesus in Arizona. By God’s loving grace I am planning to make an 1800 mile road trip to Phoenix Arizona with my whole family, tomorrow!  Just last year at this time, I underwent my trachestomy surgery and was gasping for every breath I took. Taking a trip outside of my bedroom became enough of a challenge for me. How could I even imagine going to Phoenix?? But God works in the supernatural and is outside of  time as we know it. I told my wife “I throw myself at  Jesus’ feet”  “I cannot do anything without Him!” I am too weak and frail that only God’s strength can get me to Arizona. Jesus IS my Sustainer; Amen! He is the only way for me to get anywhere. Since my vision/visitation in 1998, I have been to Phoenix two times, once in 2001 where I ministered Christ in a Bible Study to a small group of believers and again in 2007 where I attended two churches and was prayed over for healing.

God has opened a door in the Phoenix Metro Area for Tent revival meetings March 28- April 3^rd on the corner of Crimson road and Akron Street in east Mesa, Arizona. Evangelist, Ken Dewey, has been directed by God to host these meetings for all to come including the hurting and those desperate for Jesus! Brother Ken has said to me, “I am very glad your family is excited about the meeting.  I know that this meeting will be a GREAT EVENT FOR GOD AND MANY PEOPLE.  It certainly will be one we will never forget nor stop talking about. Many WILL BE SAVED AND TOUCHED.  I guess you know Scott; WE ARE IN THE END TIME HARVEST……  SO GET READY THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT GOD WILL DO!  HE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR HIS MIRACLES!”

Praise you Lord!! Nothing is impossible with our God who desires to use us for His eternal purposes. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (Jn17:15-18).

Glennis and I are excited not only for the Tent Meetings but also to visit Teen Challenge in Phoenix Phoenix Men’s Center  and  New Horizon Christian Academy (azteenchallenge.org) in Flagstaff, AZ with our family and friends.

Please pray for us and for God to be Glorified mightily!

.

“For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Is 57:15)

What are the things God is looking for in our hearts? The contrite (genuinely sorrowful for wrong doing) and lowly (those who are not proud and arrogant, not self reliant) have gone through a valley that has stripped them of self dependence and arrogance and left them brokenhearted. They have been brought down and humbled by life’s trials to places where, naturally speaking,  it’s impossible to get out of. God allows these trials to reveal to us what is in our hearts and He exposes it.

All day long God spreads out his hands and says to us, “here I AM, here I AM!” but we don’t see or hear him because our hearts are deceitful and infected by sin (Je17:9). We are not only blind to our own needs but also cannot hear the cries of others who desperately need help. “I have spread out My hands all the day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts— (Is 65:2).“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev3:17). Without life’s testings and being brought to a place where our hearts are exposed, we may fail to understand our dependence on God and His direction for the purpose of our life.

I was reading about David Livingston and his missionary journeys into Africa during the 1840’s. In one account of his travels he met a chief from a certain village. This chief embraced the Gospel of Christ and loved the Word of God. None of his brethren joined with him believing in Jesus Christ because of the hunger they experienced from a severe drought. In their thinking they associated the drought with the discipline of God therefore they would not serve the God of an “empty stomach”.

Dear friends, I speak these words to myself. Why would I think any different than these Africans? Is God only interested in causing me to suffer? Has my trial continued so long that God has forgotten my cause? Yes, these questions may be natural to think but this is not the full understanding. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Is40:28, 29).

Israel was tested numerous times in the wilderness and yet would not truly rely on their need for God, instead their tendency was to murmured and complain. All the while, God was trying to bring forth a testimony in His people, The children of Israel could have gone through the wilderness and testing and said “God is with us! God will bring us through”.  The Israelites are used in the Word as an example of unbelief. We can trust that God will never leave us, He desires to bring us through our wilderness. Halleluiah! Praise God; He is our Deliverer!

How do we open our eyes to see His ways and open our ears so we can we hear the cries of the brokenhearted and weary? We need to have God’s heart of compassionate love for others that He reveals through testing and what lacking in our own heart. God says to ask and seek Him (Is 55:6).  Beloved Saints, call upon God when you are in a time of personal drought because He wants to use you as a testimony to your generation. He will never leave or forsake you (Heb 13:5). He is near to the brokenhearted and He is an ON TIME GOD!!

After Jesus had been in the area of Galilee where he healed the nobleman’s son and in region of Samaria where he had spoken to the Samaritan women about living water and true worship. The time came for Jesus to get up and go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Jews (Jn5:1). We aren’t told specifically what feast this was, but it was probably one of the major three feasts in which attendance was required; the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Pentecost.  Although he was the anticipated Messiah,  Jesus kept these feasts and used them as an occasion to teach and to work miracles.

Whichever Feast it was Jesus would be going to he entered Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate. The lambs destined for Temple sacrifice during Passover were brought in through this gate. Jesus is our perfect Passover Lamb (I Cor.5:7; Isa.53:5-6). Just inside of the gate there were a great multitude of sick people laying, sitting or standing around by the pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:2-3), a well-known place where people gathered because of the pool’s reputed healing occurrences.

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had” (vs. 4).

These needy people may have desired to attend the feast inside the Temple but their physical condition kept them waiting by the pool for a healing. There were many sick laying all around but Jesus notices one man in particular lying helpless on a sleeping pad. Jesus took the time to stop and consider the plight of this man (already knowing why this man had been in his paralyzed condition for 38 years). Jesus, full of compassion, approached him and asked “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus gave this man an opportunity to respond to His question and patiently waited for the paralyzed man’s answer. I wonder why would this man be languishing there if he didn’t want to be made well. The sick man answers Jesus’ question by saying, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me” (Jn5:6, 7).

We are not told much of this man’s history or about the years that he had been in this condition. We don’t know for certain how he got to the pool that day but he was there. As we follow this story we read that he just needed someone to bring him to the pool. He still had hope; maybe this would be the day for his healing! When Jesus approached this man he not only didn’t recognize  Jesus, the man, standing before him. He didn’t recognize and wouldn’t have fathomed that it was Jesus, the Son of God, Creator of the Universe, The Messiah.  The God of the miraculous was standing before him asking if he wanted to be made well. Possibly this man had only hoped that Jesus would pick him up and carry him to the edge of the pool. God had a different plan for him; this was his day of healing! Jesus asked him again in a different way, this time with a command “Rise, pick up your bed and walk”! He had to get up! At that very moment Jesus forced the man to make a decision. In essence, Jesus was telling him I’m not going to help you live in weakness by carrying you to the pool when you can get up and walk to the feast in the power and strength of my Word. From the authority of His spoken command, the man instantly became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked (Jn5:8, 9).

Jesus’ instruction was unconventional from the way healings at the pool had previously been manifested. It is possible that we may limit God by thinking that He has to do things the only way we understand them. God is beautiful for situations (Ps 48:2), He can intervene whichever way He sees fit. Jesus asked this man to respond, to act on His Word; “Rise Up”. This paralyzed man must have recognized the authority in which Jesus spoke; he subsequently obeyed the command to take up his bed and walk. I wonder if we sometimes wait around, witnessing God working in the lives of others but cannot quite believe to receive a touch for ourselves. Do we stand upon the authority of the Word of God recognizing the presence of the Lord himself?

The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]”  (Jn14:21 AMP)

This man rose up from where he had laid and walked into a future with new potential. He went to the Temple most likely to offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God. A little later Jesus found him there and said, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (Jn5:14). No doubt this word was received with gratefulness by the man. He had 38 years to speculate about the possible reason(s) for his condition or personal sin. Somewhere deep in his spirit this man must have known Jesus’ words were true. Going back to old habits could no longer be an option, not after such a demonstration of the changing power from the Word of God.  Jesus had set him free from his paralysis; he was healed! The Jews, who had questioned this man about his carrying his bed on the Sabbath (vs.10) also did not believe that there should be healing on the Sabbath because of the strict laws requiring the people only to rest on the first day of the week.  This man proclaimed that Jesus healed him. Amen! I love this mans attitude…He “got up!” went to the feast and testified of the healing power of Jesus!

Maybe you feel paralyzed by years of addiction or other weaknesses that seem to overwhelm you; controlling many aspects of your life. The enemy’s projections and condemnations beat you down with powerlessness and shame. It is hard to believe how you could ever be free from this bondage. In the account above of the man that was healed, we recognize that God is speaking to us about getting up and walking away from sin but somehow it’s beyond our ability to do. We hate willfully repeating sinful behavior and ask God to heal us often, but we continue in the cycle of sin. We must be willing to allow God to expose and bring into the light our sin so he can lovingly correct our course now while we still have breath on the earth. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries”  (Heb 10:26, 27).

Saints of God it is Jesus who has come to set you free. Ask Jesus to forgive you, to heal you, and be your perfect sacrifice for sin! Do you recognize him? Do you hear his voice? He says both to you and me, “Get Up! Get up, the time is short! Get up, from the sin that has paralyzed you so long from entering His presence. Get up and enter the Feast!!”

 “What will you do in the appointed day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?” Hosea 9:5

I have been having some very intense vivid dreams for the last several days.

In one dream I found myself standing on top of a fortress called “High Tower” I noticed a ladder in front of me where a very powerful looking man with supernatural strength was climbing. This person climbed to the very top of the tower where he found me standing. I knew he was Satan and his purpose was to destroy. I looked him in the face and said, “I am in Christ!” He became furious and just as I repeated “I am in Christ” he reached out his arm to hit me. He disappeared but I found myself freefalling off the tower. During this fall I thought to myself, “just do a back flip and you will land on your feet.” This thought became my action much to my delight. After landing safely on my feet I noticed the same ladder used by Satan in front of me. I climbed it all the way to the top whereupon finding my battle weary brother who was happy to see me. I asked, “Where are the other brothers?” He replied, “Sleeping, they told me they are coming later.” (End of dream)

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong”

The short story in the beginning of 2 Kings 6  speaks to us today of a miracle performed by Elisha that caused an iron axe head to float upon the waters of the Jordon River, contrary to the law of gravity.

Elisha, as the prophet of God, was given headship over the school of the prophets. When the student prophets felt their residence was too small they approached Elisha saying, see now, we have outgrown our living place and we desire to build a larger house at a place along the Jordan River. The beams we will need to build our home can be cut out of the trees that grow along the banks of the Jordan. Elisha tells them “go”. One of them asks Elisha if he will go with them, he says “I will go”. So Elisha went with them to the Jordan and they began to cut down trees. As one of the student prophets was cutting down a tree, his axe head slipped off its wooden handle and plunged into the Jordan River. He cries to Elisha “What am I going to do? I borrowed the axe”. Elisha asked him “where did it fall?” The student shows Elisha the exact place where the axe head fell into the muddy Jordan River. Elisha cuts off a stick and throws it into the river where the axe fell and suddenly the weighty iron axe head floated to the water’s surface. Elisha tells the man to “Pick it up for yourself”. The man reached out his hand and took it.

(I pray God ministers to your heart this portion of scripture the same way He did mightily to me.)

Sometimes it may seem as if a personally ministered promise or dream that has been given to us disappears and slips away under the dark murky waters of life. Just as illustrated in this account of one of the student prophets. He was especially distraught over losing the axe head at the bottom of the Jordan River because it wasn’t his, he had borrowed it!! Our dreams and promises belong to God; He is the originator of everything we have. It’s His plan!! It is His gift! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jms1:17). God commissions us in His work as His vessels and light to the world. He has called us according to His purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2Tm 1:9). At times along the way, we may lose our focus and confidence in God, realizing that our dreams and aspirations have died.  The man in this story (also a learner) cried out and sought the help of Elisha, the prophet of God. Almighty God is the only one who can revive sunken dreams and resurrects dead promises! He is the Restorer and Giver of Life! He is the great “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex 3:14). This covenant name manifests the eternal availability of God’s love and power. When we call on His name, He comes to give us what we need.

What an exciting day it must have been! After the student prophet lost his borrowed axe head in the Jordan River, he did not attempt to find it himself, instead he cries out for Elisha expressing the grief of his predicament. Elisha asked him in calm, reassuring voice…. “Where did it fall?” The man tells Elisha the exact place it had sunk in the muddy Jordan. The next thing we know Elisha is cutting off a stick and throwing it in the river where the axe-head sat on the bottom of the Jordan. Very peculiar behavior! But what happens next is why I am so excited about this account in scripture! Once the stick touched the water, the iron axe-head resurfaced, symbolizing new life, new future and new possibilities! Also, the retrieval of the axe head relieved the man from the anxiety of shame and disappointment of having lost what was borrowed. It was a miracle! Halleluiah, Praise you Jesus! It rose off the rivers’ bottom and swam to the surface.

Elisha tells the man, “pick it up” and that’s exactly what he did. I believe God wants us to pick up our hope! To take hold of our promise! It does not matter where you lost it…maybe you lost hope because of addiction, accident, illness, failed marriage, bankruptcy, prison or other hardships…go to God and tell Him you want to “pick up” your lost dream or promise!! When we are symbolically dead, lying on the bottom of the Jordan River with waters encompassing us; the Supernatural Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit will revive us.

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rm 8:11).

Jesus Christ, our example, died on a wooden Cross and rose again 3 days later! Even though for a time you may sorrow, YOU WILL REJOICE! No one or no circumstance can take joy out of your heart…..the person of Christ who lives within you and He is not sad. He has finished the work and is entered into His rest and we can too. Jesus wants to bring us into the glory He has right now, not only when we die and go heaven. “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (Jn 14:20).

That “day” is now! Just as sure as Jesus was resurrected from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God in the Throne Room, so are we because we are in Christ! We are seated in heavenly places, in the throne room! “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col 1:27.

Do you believe it? Reach out now and pick up your promise!!

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey…

I asked for health, that I might do great things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things…

I asked God for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise…

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God…

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things…

I got nothing I asked for-but everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among men, most richly blessed!

A Fallen Confederate Soldier

Scott in Death Valley 2000

Many times I have thought that the path I am on is not easy but if it is God’s pathway I must trust Him. What is God’s way? The children of Israel were told  “remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deut 8:2). God’s way for them was through the wilderness (a place of desolation or wasting). Before the children of Israel could enter into the Promised Land, God would lead them into the wilderness to humble and test them revealing their hearts of unbelief. God’s way for them exposed their human frailty and weakness and revealed their need and dependence on God. If they were never tested then their hearts would be full of pride and self sufficiency saying to themselves ‘we have entered the Promised Land by our own strength and effort’.

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion’, says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lam 3:22-26)

 Moses knew God’s way through the wilderness; (Ps 103:7) it was a narrow path that required total dependence on God. All flesh (human effort, pride) would be consumed there (Deut 2:14). “He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years”(Acts 7:36).

 Jesus knew the path into and out of the wilderness where he would be tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1). The devil tested him in the wilderness by accusing and lying to him. Jesus was led there by the Spirit for a greater purpose than just survival. He overcame the devil’s temptation by depending and believing the Word of God.  It was the path of victory on the way to the Cross. God allowed Jesus’ suffering so that others could be saved. Jesus was crucified for our eternal salvation (deliverance).

God sometimes will allow suffering on our life’s path so others can be helped. We may never know why but we can ask God to teach us in our spirits what our eyes cannot see. Our adversary, the devil, is also on our path encircling us and wearing us down with taunting thoughts and words of despair. He tempts us to doubt our way and our God. If we listen to his subtleties and lies we will quit before we see our victory. He will suggest “the Lord sent me to afflict you” or “God is teaching you a lesson” or “your life is too messed up for God to change you”. The accuser of the brethern wants us to believe there is no relief in our affliction because our circumstance have not changed. In fact, by sight things have gotten worse! But this is a LIE, if God has led you into a wilderness of affliction; He won’t abandon you there. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Ps 34:19).  God wants us, first of all, to go to Him and “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16b). Then, we are to take the comfort and strength that He gives us and share it with others who are despairing  in their souls. By this declaration, God is glorified on the earth.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor 1:3-5 NKJV).