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!

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“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).

We may think of strength in practical terms as in physical stature and ability or mental confidence through knowledge and practice but this is a natural view and is not what truly sustains us. It is the power of Christ’s Spirit that gives us inner strength; a fortitude that keeps us pressing forward in hope. When we are weak then He is strong. “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God for we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” (2 Cor 13:4). We are constantly faced with our inabilities, knowing that we lack and do not have the resources we need to be able to overcome in the battle(s) we face in life. We need strength to believe, strength to get up when we get knocked down, strength to persevere, strength to withstand the enemy. Basically, we need the power of God who is the source of all strength (1 Chron 29:12; Ps 68:35). STRENGTH we find is a title given to Yahweh “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent” (1 Sam 15:29). I love the biblical stories of men and women who overcame great adversity through the empowerment of God. Despite years of silence where there may have been no manifestation of their personal promise. Our biblical heroes may have been discredited, ridiculed and scoffed at but we see God through His providence using the weak things of this world to confound the wise. One such story is that of Zerubbabel.

 Zerubbabel was the first governor of the repatriated Jews (Hag 2:21); a descendant of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Mt 1:12).  In 586BC, Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon and the original temple that Solomon had built 400 years prior was destroyed. They took captive and exiled the Jews, including Zerubbabel, forcing them on a 1000 mile march to Babylon. I can imagine these people being worn down with malnutrition, sickness, wounds from battle and dying along the way. After arriving in Babylon many began assimilating into the Babylonian culture of comfort and ease. Fifty years later, King Cyrus of the Persia conquered Babylon. He was stirred up in his spirit by the Lord to make a proclamation that any person from Judah held in captivity could return to Jerusalem to help rebuild Solomon’s temple. Zerubbabel, with King Cyrus’ blessing led a remnant group of Jews that were moved with compassion in their spirits to return back to Jerusalem to help rebuild the temple (Ez 1:1-8).

 As they approached Jerusalem, the people of the land may have said, “Who are these pathetic looking people coming out of the wilderness”? After finding out these people were the remnant Jews that were returning from Babylon to rebuild the temple; this might have given them reason to scoff, laugh at, and despise their intentions. After arriving to a hostile crowd they began the work of rebuilding the altar and foundation to the temple.

 No sooner had the altar and the foundation stones of the new temple been laid then spiteful opposition arose to stop the work. “Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia” (Ez 4:4-5).

 For approximately the next 16 years Zerubbabel had to overcome discouragement, doubt, fear, and accusations with the thought that he may never see the temple rebuilt in his lifetime. By sight only the altar and foundation stones for the temple had been laid. Any attempt to continue the work of building the temple itself would have been quickly shut down. Where was Zerubbabel going to find the strength he needed to accomplish such great endeavor?

 Around this time Zechariah the prophet received a vision from God that he was instructed to tell Zerubbabel (Zech 4:1-10). The temple would be rebuilt by the perfect work of the Holy Spirit that flowed through the weakness of Zerubbabel!! “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (vs.6). God’s Spirit would equip Zerubbabel with supernatural strength and provision to finish the work of rebuilding the temple.

 The second temple would be built within the next 4 years (516BC), after King Darius reaffirmed the original Decree by King Cyrus. The mountain of obstacles that previously hindered the temple from being rebuilt would be leveled as a plain before Zerubbabel, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” (Zech 4:7) Zerubbabels own hands would finish the work he had started some 20 years earlier (Zech 4:9-10). Most likely not what Zerubbabel had expected when he first set his hand to the work but it was God’s plan. “Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy” (Ezra 6:16).  

 God also has a unique work for you and me to do while we are here on the earth. Don’t be discouraged if you do not see progress in the work. Over time God will make it plain, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim 1:9). We have been set apart for a divine purpose. God has something he wants to do through our lives. Invite God to be conformed to His Son in your soul.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor 3:18).  In trials, temptations, adversity and wilderness times or success, notoriety or blessings that God adds; we must agree with Paul to be content whether we are abased or abound and trust that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phi 4:11-13).  “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment” (Lu 1:37). As my good friend Natalie Nichols has said, “Our job is to rest, knowing nothing is impossible and GOD IS FAITHFUL! His job is to determine when and how he fulfills.”

“Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me”(Matt 11:4-6). What wonderful good news Jesus gave to the disciples of John the Baptist! The gospel was being preached and physical miracles were taking place. The prophecies in Isaiah were being fulfilled that only the coming Messiah could complete. Why then would John lose faith in Christ and tell his disciples to find Jesus and ask Him, “are you the one or should we look for another (Mt 11:3)?”

Perhaps it was because John was in prison and King Herod was about ready to have him beheaded! John’s physical reality caused him to question what he professed to believe. What about his deliverance? What about his miracle? John had prepared the way for the Messiah  to set up HIS Kingdom (Is 40:3). His life’s calling and purpose was in doubt. John’s idea of a reigning Messiah did not tolerate this kind of injustice. Doubt and unbelief silently crept into his dark prison cell. The devil, like a roaring lion was encircling John the Baptist; ready to kill him and his witness of Jesus Christ. If the devil could get John to have disbelief and regret for proclaiming Jesus, then John’s claims of the Messiah would be lacking creditability. In fact, all of John’s life and dedication to God would be called into question. In His response to the inquiry made by John’s disciples, Jesus, lovingly told them to convey to John not to be offended by Him (Greek scandalizo-to trip up, trapped, ensnared). John was not to lose faith or be ensnared by the devil because of the trial he was in.

I have often wondered what happened to all the people after they were healed by Jesus (Mt 11:4-6) . Would they have been offended because physical healing did not fulfill all their expectations? Would they have lost their testimony because of persecution? Many probably wanted a healing so they could return to their old lifestyle. Others genuinely were converted to become living testimonies to God’s saving and healing power. Others may have been persecuted and forced to distant lands, thrown in prison or martyred for their faith in Christ. Some of us are also going through or may soon enter into trials that test our faith. The devil wants to steal our testimony and destroy our life by wearing us down. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Mt 24:9, 10). Be of good cheer, Christ has overcome the world! The trial of your faith is more precious than gold and our suffering is never wasted. God bottles every tear. You are so precious in His sight and He is not slack concerning His promises.

I continue to believe God for healing despite the many setbacks and losses I have faced. I get impatient at times and wonder why I still believe the dream/visitation I had one night In March 1998, while visiting Arizona. Jesus was loving and so personal throughout my encounter with Him that particular night; He put His hope and faith in me for healing. Although visibly and otherwise, it would appear impossible to fulfill the quest given to me; I cannot ignore, justify or reason it away. I just cannot shake it! I think of it daily; it has kept me alive. It is through patiently enduring  that we inherit the promises (Heb 6:12-15). God is working patience in my soul and wants me to depend on Him to fulfill what He has started (Rom 4:20,21). GLORY be to GOD!! Although I may get impatient and falter because my prayers have not been answered in the way and within the time I wanted them; I have set my heart not to be offended in Christ. I don’t want to let the enemy project to my mind that God does not have my best interest for HIS GLORY as the over ruling determiner. Only He really knows the works of believing I am to do for Him (Jn 6:29) . We overcome the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, not loving our lives to the death” (Rev 12:11). Fellow believer, we are to rejoice and trust Him during the trying of our faith.

The enemy of our soul wants to trip us up, causing us to lose faith in our loving Father and to think that there is no way out and we are stuck in a hopeless situation. As we pray for understanding and bring our petitions to the Father; stand on the promises in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will give you grace and enlarge your capacity to withstand testing. Hold onto the promises and direction God ministers to you in particular. The promise for your future is an anchor for your soul and gives you steadfastness to endure. What has God ministered to you personally? His thoughts toward you are good and not of evil to give you an expected end; seek His face and cling to the promises He imparts to you.

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jm 1:3, 4)

 Scott Brodie Praises w/daughters July 25 2010

Thomas, Semhar, Kelati, Iyda, Azieb with grandaughter, Lily

Our hearts are with Kelati Weldegaber who lost his wife, Azieb, to ALS  earlier in August of this year. We met Kelati while we were looking for a mobility vehicle. He and his younger daughter, Semhar, drove their van to our house in late August for us to see. When Scott and I came outside to view the vehicle, we were instantly struck by Kelati’s generous smile and kind disposition. His countenance seemed to radiate a supernatural joy. There was an immediate connection between us that is uncommon to total strangers. Semhar, had a quiet attentiveness that seemed beyond her 22 years. We test drove and learned more about the purchase of their vehicle but we were more taken with our new found friends. We invited them into our house, as we visited for the next few hours we learned more about the journey they had unexpectantly traveled this year.

Kelati and Azieb were originally from Eritrea (North Africa) a tiny country between Sudan and Ethiopia. The couple had just been delivered the diagnosis of ALS earlier this year, only 5-6 months before her passing. During these months, several things were important for her to do. Of these things they had traveled to Spain to see their son, Thomas, play basketball and had gone to Los Angeles to be in their older daughter, Iyda’s wedding. Azieb died days after the joyous wedding celebration.

As we sat in our living room visiting, Scott and I witnessed the comfort of the Holy Spirit and a settled assurance in God that rested on both Kelati and Semhar although they had many unanswered questions. The group of us were faced with the stark difference of the abrupt loss of a very much loved wife, mother, grandmother and friend and the slower progression of Scott’s 13 year sojourn into his ALS diagnosis.  Our common bond of fellowship, however, was not in the destruction and devastation of this disease but rather in the sufficiency of Christ. God had been meeting the needs of each of us and we were trusting Him to continue to do so. There was no awkward comparisons but an agreement of heart knowing that our loving Father has a reason and a divine purpose. One day we will each understand, when all things are revealed and God makes known His eternal plan.