Jesus said Repent and Believe the Gospel!

I was encouraging myself with this today! The words of Jesus! What did Jesus tell us to do!?

As Jesus came into Galilee he said:

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

Jesus said to repent, so we are to have a change of our will, a change of our mind, from what we are believing, to believing the gospel.

So what is the gospel Jesus told us to believe instead of what we are believing?

Paul declares it to us in 1 Corinthians 15, telling us we are to stand in it, to keep it in memory; and raising the question... Or did you believe the gospel in vain!? 

1: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

Here is the gospel!

3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

So what did Jesus tell us to change to believing? How that he, Jesus, died for our sins, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day for us. 

Romans 1:16 tells us that gospel Jesus told us to believe, is the Power of God!! And if we need the power of God to work, we have got to believe the gospel! 

We are to believe nothing else, we are to trust in nothing else, we are to look at nothing else, we are not to listen to anything else, we are not to stand in anything else, but the gospel! 

When you want to believe you missed it on a situation, or maybe you hear, "You should've done this or that", whatever the case; you must not look at believing those things, you must do what Jesus told us, change from that and believe the gospel!! 

Just encouraging myself to do the same today! 

God bless!

Misty 

A Cold Day in November

As I was growing up, I came to a place one day where I did not care about following the Lord. It seemed to me the people I saw who said they knew Jesus, had it all together, or at least tried to present themselves that way. I didn't hear people say well this is in my heart that God is dealing with, or God delivered me of this, if I had maybe I would've had some hope for myself. Instead I figured, if you had to be perfect or "so good" before you could know the Lord Jesus, well, that counted me out! I was honest enough with myself  I could see the ugliness in my own heart, and knew that was a definite sign that I did not have it all together. What I didn't know was that God already knew that was there, he had made me, and he would be the only one to perfect me, cleaning up my insides, cleaning up my heart.

Luke 11:39
...... Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter: but your inward part if full of ravening and wickedness.


Here's what Jesus said about me, and says about you.


Luke 5:32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 15:4 / 7
4: What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

7: I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.


By November 2006, I had already been born again having received Jesus, confessing him Lord, learning to hear his voice, but I had not been baptized into his death, by being baptized in water.

Romans 6:3-6
3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 


Now I could hear the Lord talking to me, and he was telling me that I needed to be baptized in water. Well, I still had some cares in my heart about what people would think or what if it had to be a big production which seemed to be what I had heard of, and then there was the fear concerning what this might mean in my life, would the Lord require more of my life now!? The answer was, and is, yes; but I wasn't so quick to just want to turn it over to him.

It was around the spring of 2006, and although  the Lord Jesus kept talking to me, I kept coming up with reasons to put it off. Summer had come and gone, and again I would find a way to reason my way out of doing it, in other words, I continued to disobey what I heard the Lord telling me to do. It was now late October, possibly November. I received a phone call that there had been an accident, the accident involved a person very close to me. When I found out the news immediately in my heart was, "It's because of your disobedience." I absolutely believed it then, and still do, and it scared me. Because of my rebellion I had allowed an opening for the devil to come in. God has a hedge around us, but I knew he could let it down too.

God had kept the person and they were absolutely fine, in fact they commented to me that I was more upset than they were; but God had my attention, and was teaching me. I saw the power of God that day, and that he controls everything, and has the power to give, has the power to take away, has the power to do whatever he wants. It put more fear of the Lord in this heart.

I knew God had been talking to me,  and that I could hear the Lord. Whatever I wondered, thought, questioned, it didn't matter, I was going to obey God, and he would work out the rest in my life. He would perfect those things concerning me.

So on a very cold day, outside in a swimming pool, I was baptized in water according to Romans 6.

Fully immersed under water as unto the death of Jesus, and raised up in the likeness of Jesus' resurrection, into a newness of life, the old Misty dead, from henceforth to not serve sin, but to hear and obey the Lord.

And the Lord Jesus, and his Father, which is also my Father,(John 8:19) hasn't stopped working in my life since, continuing to talk to me, directing my steps, and perfecting those things concerning me.

If you don't know Jesus, you can! And you don't have to be all put together either to have access to him. He's the only one who's going to get you all put back together. Don't let religion keep you from knowing Jesus, or the Father in heaven.

If thou shall believe in thine heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess him Lord, thou shalt be saved, born again. (Romans 10:9-13).

And the Father, and his Son the Lord Jesus will begin to talk to you, directing your steps on a daily basis, leading your life in a way that is pleasing to them.


John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me....

God Bless You,
Misty

Keep Believing God!

A friend reminded me today of this testimony from a few years ago. It is one that has ministered greatly to me and I know others as well.

Misty
(11-12-15)

(Reposted with additions June 20, 2013)
"As I was reading today I was reminded of a testimony I shared some time back. It was a good reminder to me today about some things in my own life and the days to come. I have also been considering the Israel children. God did many things for them over and over again.

Psalm 78:13 - 16
13: He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

14: In the daytime  also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

15: He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.  

16: He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 

BUT

19: They spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness.

20: Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? 

After all God had done for them, when they found themselves in situations they would question if God could bring them through it. That's unbelief!! That's sin!! It's sin not to believe God! And I encourage myself daily to NOT GO THERE!!!

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 

In Psalm 78:21 it goes on to say how the Lord heard them, and was wroth ( angry ).

Just been encouraging myself lately to keep in remembrance ALL the things God has done for me!! To keep believing God no matter what something looks like or seems!!  That's a good place to be!!


(Originally posted in 2011 with some changes added 2013:)
Back at the end of the school year, there were some things going on in our lives; school was ending, we were still traveling to Muskogee, the Joplin tornado had just happened, and we were traveling there as well. I had a personal connection to that in having a very close friend who was involved in it. Previous to the tornado, in a brief conversation with someone one day, they said, “Misty, I think it is going to be an exciting summer for you.” I didn’t say anything, but I thought, “WHAT??? What do you mean??? Do you know something I don’t!?!?”

Well, I certainly had no idea what lay in the days ahead. After the events of the tornado and having finally gotten in touch with my friend we were on our way to Joplin. We were also doing some things in the ministry as well there, along with me working out this situation with my friend.

When I arrived to see her one afternoon we went to, I believe, a large church building that had been set up with numerous people and booths, FEMA, Red Cross, etc. I had never seen anything like it in my life! People so lost. It could overwhelm you if you let it, I endeavored to keep my heart and eyes on Jesus! I couldn't look at what I saw. We went in and there would be groups trying to get you to come to their booth for this or that. If I remember correctly there were people trying to pull you over to give you counseling. I was amazed at how these large groups of people who were suppose to be helping, seemed to in some degree take advantage of others' weaknesses or helplessness in that moment. At some point there was an exchange between me and my friend with, "We don't need counseling we got Jesus!!"

It was a new place for me. I knew I was responsible for believing God for her benefit, and her and I were going to have to be bold!!  Knowing there was nothing they could help with, we began on our way out. As we were leaving there was one last stop she needed to check. In hopes that there would be something for them to help her with, but each time with her question, their response was, no we can't do that, or no to this, etc. Needless to say there was NO ONE to help, but GOD!! There is so much I could share about what God did. He also did some things in my heart through it all that I am grateful for!! My friend had been staying in contact with me about things going on in their life through the years and more so during the last few months leading up to this time. I knew of the hardships without what had just happened. Now with the recent events in Joplin, there was much that became added to their life! 

We talked numerous times, and I would share with them about believing God and what we needed to do. I knew God would have to intervene in all this! Anthony was believing too, but this was my friend and I was getting a lot more on my end with all the details and such. One of the last days I was with them in Joplin before coming home, we were setting in a parking lot talking about the things of God. They told me what they believed was right  regarding their life with what to do, and I just said, “Well, we will believe God, and if this is what He is after, He will do it!” Shortly thereafter, they came to our home and I was going to go with them to take care of some business that day. At this point, they were now in the process of finding a home to live! They had “some” cash, but only a certain amount to find a place. We were on a time schedule as well with them finding a place and a job, etc. In short, there were a few obstacles going against us! So here I was, and here they were, needing some direction from the Lord on what to do, and believing that I would hear God and get/give some instruction and that they would hear God as well! So as we venture out, there was NOTHING in my heart! Nothing in my heart about where to go, where to begin. I just kept telling myself, “Okay, you’re gonna have to believe God in this!” We drove around and we weren’t talking about the things of the world, we were talking about God and what He was after, trying to get the mind of God in this whole situation. They had some limitations on where they believed was right to look due to expenses also, so I tried to consider that along with where my faith was. I wasn’t going to get out there and say, “Hey I say let’s do this or that!”  So we checked place after place, NOTHING!! I just kept saying, “Okay, well I’ll tell you what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna believe God!!!” That's what you have to do when it ALL looks like a mess!! Or seems impossible!! You can't go by what you see or how you feel!! You CAN though BELIEVE!!! We would go look someplace else, it would be too high, or you couldn’t move in till some way later time, someone already was getting it, whatever. We’d get in the vehicle, and I would say, “Well, I know God has done this for me, or that for me, ( encouraging myself in the Lord ) and we’re just gonna believe God!!!” That is ALL I kept saying! I kept encouraging us both in the Lord, and instructing my own self what I was going to do; and that was believe! At one point I thought as I was driving, “Do you really believe what you are saying??” I would immediately tell myself, “I don’t know , but I know this, I’m gonna believe God!!” I would disregard any thing that came into my heart or head that would try to move me off of what I was believing, or discourage me, and kept saying to myself and out loud, “We’re gonna believe God!!” "You're gonna believe God!!" That is exactly what I was doing!! That was all I KNEW to do!!! I didn’t dare tell my friend!! (We actually got a chuckle about it later), I thought, “Oh my gosh, she probably thinks that is all I know or can say!” It was at that time, cause nothing seemed to be going our way! No jobs, no nothing!!!

For the most part, usually there is something going on in my heart on what to do, or I get some instruction from God or Anthony; get some encouragement that I’m on the right track, but this was different. It was a "new" place for me. But I have come to learn that God will meet you where you're at, and do things for you to get you to believe Him! He will encourage you! Then there comes a day when your faith gets a little more perfected, and He begins to walk you through others things, and you have to learn to stay steady and keep believing!!! And use your faith!!! Don't be like those Israel children who got to a place and questioned...."Could God do this?"

So, at the end of the day, they left with no place to live, no job; and a few other needs here and there to say the least. We all just kept praying!! Kept believing!! Kept expecting!!! God to show His power in this!!! That was all we could do!! And not look at what it looked like!!! Within a week or two, God was moving!!! So many things, so many details, could be shared, but that is their testimony to share about the personal things that were provided, and the specifics, and I'll leave that to them.  But briefly, here is what God did!! A place that they loved, which was not available, the people unexpectedly backed out, and they got it!! With new items/features that had been recently added! A job that a person didn't show up for became available again, and they got it!! Things needing supplied for their new place and things, they got it!!! Someone, without knowing, but God knew; gave them some money which provided their last car payment they were to make. And some being set free and overcoming along the way, we both got it!!! All I can say is what a wonderful opportunity God allowed me to be a part of! They received all those things, I didn’t help them one bit!! All I did was drive the car a few times, and prayed believing!!! God did it ALL for them, and they KNEW it!!! He did something for me too in all of this that I am so grateful for, and those things happened in my heart!!

I hope you are as encouraged as I was that day, in that when the situation seems hopeless, and the world says you only have so much time for this or that, and nothing seems to be what you need it to be; JUST BELIEVE GOD!!! I know now, and it is true; when you think you’re not believin’ keep encouraging yourself that, “I’M GONNA BELIEVE!!!” and DO IT!!! Believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! God raised that man Jesus from the dead and that same power that raised Him from the dead works today for all of us, in every situation, for everything we have need of, when we believe!! And you watch God come through!!!"

God Bless You All!!
Misty

A Sunset to Comfort Us All

I grew up playing competitive basketball beginning in 3rd grade and continued on throughout my senior year of high school. In doing so, I traveled to various locations throughout a regional area where our school was located. You came to grow up in a sense with the kids you played ball with although attending different schools. You came to know the coaches, administrators, etc along the way. When I was in junior high I also competed at a state level in free throw competitions which took me out to some other places sometimes further north than I was used to traveling, and further west in Oklahoma. Often times I had traveled with my parents to numerous locations as well growing up as we would watch our high school basketball teams compete, or other teams at times as they would go to state play-offs. So many memories associated with so many places, and people. As the years went on, I found myself in far southern Oklahoma, and other places attending basketball camps, to playing AAU basketball as far out west as Yukon. When I became a teacher, it only seemed to add to the places, faces, down in my heart, and also add a love of a community I would be teaching in. Oklahoma was in my heart; the people, the places. And, I didn't realize how much so until March 2014.

My husband and I had been a part of the ministry here at Water of Life for a few years now, he longer than I, but we would attend when it was right, and travel to Texas, or Missouri and other locations depending on when or where the ministry would be going. In 2006, my husband began leading the Water of Life Oklahoma Church, and Doyle and others here from Water of Life in Plano, Texas would attend there as God directed. In March of 2014, I was in my 14th year of teaching and going on spring break. Anthony and I had driven to Plano, to once again attend the church services. Shortly after returning home to Oklahoma, we believed it was right to begin attending each weekend, so, each weekend we began driving to Texas and attending the services at Water of Life, on Sunday mornings, and evenings, and afterwards making the 4 to 41/2 hour drive home.

There came a Sunday morning as we were heading out to church, and leaving the hotel that I had turned to close the door to our room. Immediately something within my heart seemed to turn, as if something were changing. I later told Anthony about it, and mentioning how it seemed as if God has his finger right in my belly, in my heart, stirring around and changing my heart. I didn’t really understand it, but I sure didn’t forget that morning at that door.  It wasn't long before it seemed as if God might be moving us to Plano, Texas.

There became times as we continued driving each weekend in April and on into May, I would just weep, sometimes hard, I wasn't hurt or sad, but I would just weep. I finally said, to Anthony one day while driving to Texas that I believed it had to do with Oklahoma. I hadn’t realized up until then how much that place was in my heart, how much I loved it, loved all the places, and loved the people. I said to Anthony, “How can a person love a state so much?!” It seemed so ridiculous to me. But that's what continued to happen.

There was something though I would come to find comfort in, something I remembered from when I was about seven or eight. My grandmother was from Texas. And, as a young girl, I would at times travel with her to see my great-grandmother here in Texas. I never told one person, but from that time on, up until I was 23 years old, and graduating college, I would say to myself, "One day you're moving to Texas." I had had a desire to be here since the 80's, a desire I now believe God put in my heart, but how God got me here was certainly not the way or process I thought it would be.

On the evening of Friday, October 23, 2015 my heart just seemed to hurt. I found myself that evening again weeping from deep down, and memories of certain places coming up in my heart regarding Oklahoma. I have said over time now when this comes up that I believe it is just God purging things out of my heart, so that it can be filled up with more of the Kingdom of God.

As the next morning rolled in, at 10:00 a.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma a tragedy occurred killing and injuring children and adults during a parade for the University. A place that I had attended a handful of times, and a place that since a young age had hoped to attend college. It was clear it shook the community, and others in the state of Oklahoma. I got on Facebook later that evening and a picture went up. It was a beautiful picture of a sunset. One of my most favorite things was setting at the window that faced west of my parents' home watching the sun go down in the evenings. So when this picture went up, I noticed it was a beautiful sunset that night. I found comfort in it. As I kept scrolling, my newsfeed began to quickly fill up with numerous pictures of the sunset that evening. It really was incredible, the colors; the pictures continued coming in from all over the state of Oklahoma of the sky that night, and people recognizing that it was God who had brought forth such colors, and such a sunset. God had comforted so many, including me in my own life, just by how he had painted the sky that night for us all. It was simply the goodness of the Lord, and I thank Him for it.

Psalm 27: 13 - 14

13: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14: Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Words That Have Comforted and Encouraged Me

These scriptures have been a comfort to me lately.... to keep on fighting the good fight of faith!! To not be discouraged, to not be afraid!! But to keep pressing on daily to what is ahead!!

Matthew 25:14 - 30

14:For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15: And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16: Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17: And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18: But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19: After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20: And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the lord.

22: He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the lord.

24: Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26: His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28: Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath.

30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Hebrews: 10 : 38 - 39

38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction ); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.


Believe who is in you!! Jesus!! And if Jesus doesn't live in you, all you have to do is call upon his name, Jesus!! Believing he died, was buried, and rose again, and there he will be; Jesus living in you, your spirit joined to the Lord Jesus' spirit. And you will come to find, that no matter what the situation, because of Jesus who lives in you, you will always have HOPE!!
God Bless,
Misty

Humble Yourself to Obey God

I Corinthians 1:18 ( NIV )

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Jesus had to humble himself to obey God, and we will have to do the same. Join me as I share some of what God required of me so I could seek his will and not my own.

                                             New Audio: October 8, 2015
                                         "Humble Yourself to Obey God"
                                              

CLICK LINK TO HEAR AUDIO!

I Saw the Lord and He Saw Me!

Years ago I was teaching at a school in southeastern Oklahoma. I drove 45 miles each day there and back. The Lord taught me to pray while driving that road daily. I remember six miles from our house there was a stop sign just after you passed my father-in-laws house; feeling the pressing to be praying I would say to the Lord, "Ok, I'll start at the stop sign." I didn't want to have to pray. I'd reach the stop sign and start praying until I reached the other point I had marked. But one day it came to the point where the starting and stopping points no longer mattered, I found myself talking to the Lord Jesus and praying on the way there, and on the way back.

We didn't turn out for bad weather since we seemed to rarely get any that far south, but one particular day in late January 2005 I received a phone call. On the other end a person was letting me know due to a water break, school was cancelled for that day. I was so excited! I thought maybe I could lay around, watch some T.V; relax for what I'm sure felt like a much needed day off! My husband who was also a teacher at the time, and taught just a block or so down the road was on his way out that morning. As he walked out the door he looked back at me and said, "You need to be reading today." I knew what he meant.... reading the word of God and praying.


After he left I got going with my day and was doing some reading. At some point I went to our work room where we had our computer and did office things. I was facing the west wall and I was on Water of Life Ministries pages reading through testimonies; in doing so, I began reading a friend's testimony. Just as I was finishing I physically felt something lifting and spinning up out through my chest and head area. It was incredible! Immediately I knew something had changed. Everything about the scriptures, God, the Lord Jesus became real and vivid to me. I've always said it was like in that moment I knew God was real!! And that, that day, the Lord Jesus showed up in that computer room!!

Knowing something had occurred and there was a presence in that room with me, I turned around as if the Lord Jesus was standing right behind me. I didn't see him physically, but the presence of the Lord was there in that room!! He was there!! My life forever began changing from that day on. Many of those things I have shared over the years, and now with some of you all here.

II Corinthians 3: 14 - 18
14: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail (cover ) untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away with in Christ.

15: But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16: Nevertheless when it ( the heart ) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17: Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.


You want to be changed? You want to have hope? You want to know the Lord? Your spirit joined to the Lord's spirit.

You can! How?

By believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus! Say it, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" Call upon Jesus today!!


God Bless You!
Misty

The Perfect Room!

When I first began teaching Anthony and I use to spend a couple of weeks getting my classroom ready. Sometimes that was painting, building things, or whatever we thought it may need. We could sometimes put quite a bit of money into doing it all too. When we moved to Broken Arrow, there were things like this that I wasn’t able to do anymore because of what God was requiring of my life, and our life. This particular year was no different.

Every new year it was fun to get to redo your classroom with a new look, a new theme; kind of like a kid getting their new supplies for the new school year! People were going to be getting their rooms ready, and I knew for myself, I wasn't going to be making any large purchases like before, it would be something more of what God was requiring.

I went on up to the school to do what I could in unpacking and trying to come up with a "new" plan for the year. Oh, it was heart wrenching to walk by everyone's rooms. They looked so great! New teachers bustling around so excited with their new goodies of things, and seasoned teachers returning for another year doing the same. I went on to my room encouraging myself, "Misty, just believe God." I wasn’t going to try to believe God for this or that, it was just simply, believe, period to survive how I was feeling! I went on about my business in my room that day, still not knowing how or what to do to make my room look nice or new.

Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..

Well the Lord had put a song in my heart that morning as I was there. One I hadn't heard or considered in years. So as I spent my time preparing things I was singing,
"♫ God will take care of you. All you may need he will provide ♫". Never considering what I was singing just finding comfort that the Lord was with me. For a few days this song continued to just play over and over in my heart, and I continued to worship in my heart or out loud while I would be working on things.

One day upon arriving at school to work in my room I walked through our large media center. It was filled with flower arrangements, nice decorative items, nice pictures, pillow cushions, etc. I couldn’t believe all the stuff that was there! I asked someone about it and found that if it was out there and anyone could have it. Not unusual, but these were some really nice things! I began to look through it all and I found things that would look great in my room!! Things I loved! One of the teachers I work with was helping me carry things to my room and said, “All this stuff you are getting really matches the colors that are in your room”. I said, “I know!!” When I had begun the job I was also to get some of the new small bookcases, but was never able to. There were plenty of those out there now this day too. I now had flower arrangements, decorative items to hang on the wall, cushions for some chairs, and a few other items here and there; things that were somewhat tossed because of simply just a new year, or stored items needing to be gone. When I was growing up my mother and grandmother would often buy items for me to have for when I was grown one day with a home of my own. One of those things were these beautiful expensive baskets. A teacher friend of mine was cleaning her room this day and asked me to come down for a minute. I said, "Sure." When I got there she had one of those baskets and asked me if I would like it, how it came to her to ask me, and that I might like it. I said, "Sure!" Well, God did that for me!

  My room did not look the same!! It looked great!! And I was thrilled with it all!! And not a soul knew what God was requiring of me, but God knew what he was, and he was going to take care of me. I laughed at the fact that this was the most I had ever gotten and only spent about 4 bucks. After it was all set up and ready, and I thought it was just perfect!

♫ God will take care of you. All you may need He will provide
    No matter what may be the test,
    God will take care of you;
    lean, weary one, upon his breast,
   God will take care of you ♫

( Not all the words are sung, but I encourage you to look them up )

God bless!!
Misty

The Story of Jim Clark

I have heard about a man named Jim Clark for a few years now. Just recently Doyle, the president and minister here at Water of Life Ministries shared about him again. I remember once how when Doyle was questioned about Jim's too hard of playing on the piano, Doyle said, "I cared more about the man than I did the piano."

Exodus 34 describes the personality, the nature, of God.
.... The LORD GOD, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin....

Thank God for the love of God.....

The Jim Clark Story

"I walked into this sanctuary one night, I think it was a Friday night maybe in 1983. There was a young black man with Jane Whaley. Jane Whaley was from Tulsa, Sam Whaley's wife, 74 graduate of Rhema.  And this young man could play the piano. And he played it hard. There was a man setting out in the congregation that I'd never seen before, the Lord said, "That man is not a pastor." I thought, "Well why you telling me?" In about three days, the place that he was calling his church fell apart. And a man named Jim Clark attended that church.

Jim Clark came to Water of Life. He knew I jogged, he knew I walked a lot on Meandering Way in Fairview, he'd heard me say that. He asked me one day if he could come and walk with me. He said, "I'd like to talk to you." I said, "Sure. When you want to do it?" We set up a time, instead of walking on Meandering Way, I walked around my neighborhood on asphalt. Jim started telling me the worst testimony I'd ever heard in my life.

I was a veterinarian. I was bold, fairly bold. I wasn't the most timid person in the world. I'd been a hospital corpsman in the Navy, served in emergency services in Yokosuka Naval Hospital for 27 months; and I'd never heard what Jim Clark told me.

He said he was with a church in California, a faith church. And they told him if he'd confess his sins, the Lord would forgive him and so would the church. So he got up and told it and they kicked him out. God wanted him in Plano, Water of Life Church. It was an incredible thing, what he was involved in. It was homosexuality. His lover was a Methodist preacher for two years. The more he talked the more I was startled what man could do; what mankind would do. I even think myself now, I've been very naïve about the wickedness of a heart of a human being. I thought mine was bad enough. I'm not a judge but I am spiritual, and 1Corinthianians 2 says he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he is judged of no man; so take your judgement and go south. Thank God.

I talked with Jim over the years following that night of two hours listening to him. And one morning after Water of Life Christian Training School Jim came to me. He said, "Doyle, I've got to talk to you." I said, "Alright."  We went out on the northeast corner of this building, the sidewalk there is high enough there to sit down on, not have your legs under your knees. He said, "I've been to every church that I know of, Tulsa, California, Dallas. Not one of them could help me." He said, "You're the only person that I know that can help me. And if I don't get some help, I'm going back to San Francisco and continue my lifestyle and go to hell." I could not think, stand to think, of a man or woman going to hell. I can not bare the thought of any man or woman going to hell. Jesus describes hell. My friends you ought to read it and make a decision to never go there. It's not what you think it is. It is eternal. Torment. Torture. Torment, the fury of God upon the sins of mankind. The terror of God for eternity. You don't want to go there. There's a choice. Kathie D told you what the choice was. The gospel, believe on Jesus, his name where by no man, no name under heaven must be saved but Jesus. The name of Jesus. Call upon that name, call, that's all you have to do, call upon the name of Jesus. That's not my plan, or God's plan for me for the next few minutes, but the mercy, the love, the grace, the mercy, the compassion of Jehovah, my Father, and his Son, the man Jesus Christ.

I set on that sidewalk that Wednesday morning and I was stunned. I said, "Jim I'm going to pray." It's been 27 years ago. I said, "Father" something like this, "Intervene into Jim's life." I don't remember saying anything else.

Friday he went to the hospital; healthy looking, you couldn't tell he was sick. They diagnosed him as having Aids. He was in the hospital several days. I went there one, every day, but I went there one morning but he couldn't talk. He pointed at a piece of paper and a pen, I gave it to him he said, "I'm not afraid, I'm ready to go home."  That night Jim Clark went to heaven.

I had to do his funeral. I said, "Lord what do I say?" He said, "Tell them where he's at." I said, "Well where is he?" [KD turn to Hebrews 12] The Lord said, "Turn to Hebrews 12, I'll show you where he's at."  What mercy what grace. How beautiful the Lord is, and how beautiful are the feet of them that publish good news.

Hebrews 12:22

22: But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23: To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. "


I encourage you to listen to the full story and testimony of Jim Clark in the video above.


Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

God Bless You,
Misty

If Possible Believe For Your Sake

This morning as I was getting ready I was talking to the Lord about one of my school kids. I was a school teacher for 14 years, and left that profession in May 2014 at the direction of God; my kids however, from all those years, have not left my heart. I remember years ago setting in a Braums Ice Cream Store, and God ministering to me how he had given me each one of those kids, put them in my life. I saw God remove and place who he wanted in my room every year, and those that would tell me all these problems I would have with this one or that one, only to be wrong. What people didn't know was I was believing God all I knew how for my kids.

I never had the desire to have children of my own, but I absolutely loved the children I taught as if they were. If they were in trouble or whatever the case I would often remind them that I treated them, disciplined them, loved them, as if they were my own. I read once in Lydia Prince's book "Appointment in Jerusalem" how she, a woman who had no children of her own, came to see one day it was simply the love of God in her for the children she taught and those she later adopted.

Today, my time is spent reading, fasting, praying, obeying God. Those children, some who are now adults with their own families, remain in my prayers, and are still "my kids". So this morning I was talking to the Lord about one of them, about their life, and so on; and I was reminded of another one in the process.

One that wasn't in trouble, or what you would call a "troubled" person, but one who in fact was successful. They were involved with another individual, in a situation that I believed was not God. They seemed thrilled of where things were, but when it came to my attention, I was praying. I never said a word to them, I just prayed. I prayed what I had been taught about believing the gospel, I prayed what God would put in my heart regarding the situation, I prayed, "If this is not you, not your will Lord, stop it!" Within a short period of time, maybe 3 to 4 weeks, something bizarre happened and the whole situation changed. God had intervened! You see, I only want the will of God in their lives.

This morning Doyle Davidson the minister and president here at Water of Life Ministries had some encouraging words to us all and the world. I pray they encourage you as they have me this day.

God Bless You,
Misty

If Possible Believe For Your Sake

Back in the 1970s a preacher sent a Baptist man to me because the preacher heard I cast out devils.  This man had a daughter that had moved in with a man and I was asked what I would do about it.  My reply was that I would go get her and bring her home.  Being politically correct he said that would be kidnapping! I answered, “Well, I obey God, and that would not be kidnapping”.  Some months later the man came back to me and said, “My daughter is pregnant”.  My response was, “Well what would you expect?” (What I would say today is “…with your unbelief.”)


Now God taught me over forty years ago the gospel and gave me a revelation of it.  The gospel is POWER! It is God’s power.  Do you hear what I am saying?  It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead.  It’s the power that will resurrect those that are dead in Christ. It is the power that will resurrect those that are dead but not in Christ.  Are you getting some idea of this power that I preach, that I minister, and that I walk in? Then if you are going to preach this power and believe it, it will rest upon the person you preach it to. 


Now that man whose daughter was pregnant said he believed the gospel, but frankly he believed nothing or the daughter would not have been pregnant.  Do you think that the gospel that I preach and believe and demonstrate could not keep a man or a woman’s daughter from getting pregnant? Well I’m telling you it can if you can believe that your daughters will not get pregnant because of the gospel that you preach to them. 


I had a young man that told me that Kathy Mai was his wife and he came through my door like some Judo-nut (All of your martial arts cannot stand in the power I walk in).  So after he left to go back to Denton, Texas, I prayed the power of God upon him.  That power came into his nice little baby blue Grand Prix Pontiac and shook it and shook him.  He was scared of that power.  Needless to say he didn’t marry Kathy Mai.  


Now you can continue to say you believe the gospel and talk doubt, fear, and flesh, and you will most certainly end up with a pregnant daughter if God does not have mercy on you. 


Let me give you an example that might help all of you worldwide.


II Corinthians 8:9 states God made me rich.  Well, I believe that and have for more than 35 years. If I do not have money in my bank account I shout, “Where is my money?”  And if I were in your shoes and the devil was telling me that my daughter was committing fornication I would break the power of the devil over her and speak (maybe not to her) “Flee fornication!” Now those things will work if you can believe the gospel and not believe flesh. 


My friends you have to be mean to the devil. You have to speak with boldness to the devil. You have to speak boldness to the devil that’s got your kids or your wife or your husband.  If you will listen to what I teach you, you will learn how to rule your house. 


My first wife (she is in heaven today and went in 2003) yielded her members to the devil and when I started to speak to the devil that had her bound, that devil in her said to me, “Doyle you used to love me, now you scare me”.  I was not scaring anybody but the devil. 


Believe the gospel!

Doyle Davidson
Servant and Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ

Can You Rebound?

I love that the Lord can take something so simple, and minister some wonderful things to one's heart!

I was a basketball player while in high school. At that time we played 6 on 6; the year I graduated was the last of 6 on 6 basketball in the state of Oklahoma. Over the years God has taken that, some thing I did in the natural, and has ministered to me things of the Spirit. One of those things has been regarding these scriptures.

Colossians 3:12-15
 12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14: And above all these things put on charity ( love ), which is the bond of perfectness.

15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Philippians 2:1-3
1: If there be therefore any consolation ( comfort, exhortation, encouragement ) in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2: Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

1 Corinthians 12: 12-27

12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

 

13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

14: For the body is not one member, but many.

 

15: If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 

16: And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 

17: If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

 

18: But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

 

19: And if they were all one member, where were the body?

 

20: But now are they many members, yet but one body.

 

21: And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

 

22: Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

 

23: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

 

24: or our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

 

25: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

 

26: And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

 

27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

While playing ball in high school, I was a forward. I was one of the three starting girls responsible for scoring the points. The forwards were always going to be recognized for how many points they scored. If you were making a game plan against another team, you always wondered about what forwards you had to look out for.  If you won, that forward's name was going to be in the paper for making that final shot, or for racking up the most points. The forwards seemed to be front and center. The defense, the guards, didn't always seem to have that kind of "light" shown on their behalf.

When I got suited out for a game, or if I was shooting around before ball practice, there was a always a girl who would come and rebound for me, she in fact was my best friend, and a guard. Someone might begin rebounding, but when she got out there, got available, she'd be there to rebound for me. I usually had some sort of routine I worked through; working around the goal from right to left, back left to right, move out some to again do the same pattern. I'd make my way to the 3 point line, and do the same; adding in some numerous free throws, or random perimeter jump shots. But she was always there, always there to help me, there to rebound. Maybe it might have seemed boring. Maybe it might have seemed monotonous, I don't know, I don't recall ever hearing her complain, she just did it, and did it with diligence. When my points went up in the paper, she wasn't recognized as "my rebounder" no one knew the effort she put in to help me, no one knew the help she, or others, put in for what I was doing. But you know what? I had need of her. She was a help to me for what I was doing, and us as a team, were trying to achieve. We as forwards, had need of all those guards, and we as the starting 6, had need of all those who sat on the bench; they encouraged us or relieved us when necessary. We were one team, and we were to be of one heart.

The year we were with one heart!

The Lord has ministered to me many times about this particular ball team, and the other day was just another example. I was encouraged by what he was showing me, and ministering to me about those who rebounded.

Just as the scriptures said, the eye can't say to the hand, I have no need of thee. Every member has its function, and all members are required for the body to function. All members are to have the same care one for another, to be likeminded to be of one mind, working together as one body, and with the goal to see the power of God!

Luke 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

God Bless You,
Misty
 

 

 



 

The Faithfulness of God

Lydia Prince was a friend of Doyle Davidson, the president here at Water of Life Ministries. Doyle has shared with many of us on occasion about Lydia, her faith, and has at times encouraged us to read her book, “Appointment in Jerusalem”. I did that a few years back; and it blessed me, encouraged me, and most certainly ministered to me. I remember one particular time when I was teaching. I had stood up in a situation believing it was right, and in doing so, I found myself in a serious spot. I was reminded of something Lydia had told God once; and  said to God as well this particular day.

 “It’s my job to pray, and your job to work it out!”  I watched an incredible situation turn around in my favor.

Lydia was a school teacher. She was successful, at the top of her game you might say in her profession. She didn’t feel she lacked anything. One day she sat down considering, “Is this all?” “Is this all there is to life?” “Could there be more?” She began to seek what more there might be, and then Jesus showed up.

I love this testimony she shares here. A testimony of how she learned to trust the Lord for everything, and a testimony that even when others’ unbelief tries to discourage faith, you don't have to let it, and she didn’t!

God Bless You,
Misty
 

“The Faithfulness of God”

( Note: Written from her account as given by Lydia. Note some areas {....} not transcribed due to uncertainty of word(s). )


After God had intervened in Lydia’s life, she was now living in Jerusalem at a most dangerous time.

"Now we could hardly get food at that time. We could hardly get out, but we had no bread; so there was nothing to do, but try to get out. And I’ll tell you a little about how God was faithful.

 

I said to the children, will you now be careful not to open the door for anyone, and be praying for me. It was a warm, it was a summer day, it was very hot. I was {….} then as now, it wasn’t easy.

 

I went down these dusty roads, came down to the Damascus gate. And there all the shops are outside with the wall, and there they’re selling everything, such to say. I went to a place where they were selling flour. And as I came in there, the first thing the man said to me was, “ You are a Jewess.” I said, “I’m not.” I didn’t dare say anything more, I thought I better be quiet. I stood there praying; and I thought what would happen. At that time a woman {…..} God sent my woman, who always use to come to the home and help me washing. When she saw me she got so excited. “You are very welcome here, and how are you?” “How are your children?” I thought, “Let her speak cause then he can hear, the man, that I’m not a Jewess.” If I had been a Jewess, as he said, “If you are a Jewess”, we’ll kill you. But I stood there and let her talk. And when he heard that I answered her in Arabic, he understood that I wasn’t a Jewess. He said, “Well you can have, you can have the flour.” I bought a sack of flour and paid her the price, I said thank you, will you bring it to the home? “Bring it to your home? Never” he said. “If we go down where you live, the Jews will kill you, kill us, and if you bring a Jew up here, we will kill him.” I said, “Well, will you give me my money back then?” “Oh no, there is the flour, that’s yours, the money is mine.”

 

 

 

 

So I stood there praying to God, and then a young {….} boy came. He said, “I am not afraid, I’ll go with you, I’ll be working for the Jews, I know them a little." And then we got the flour on the donkey, and off we went; the man and I running after the donkey. Sometimes it would stop and sometimes it would run. That was really a sight, I would like to of seen myself really.

Then at once the donkey stopped. It wouldn’t move. And the man he started to beat that poor donkey. And I started to tell him how wicked it was. I said, “Don’t do it, it’s just a shame.” And while we had the argument, the donkey ran off. And now I’ll tell you something, you may not believe it, but all the same it’s true. The donkey went exactly to my home. And when I came there, there were two roads; one that would lead to the synagogue, and the house where I lived; you have heard I’m sure about {….} I just lived there. That was the border between the Jews and {…..} Then there was another road I never went down {….} and there the donkey had gone I suppose, I don’t know, but at least when I came home the donkey was just outside my door.

 

 Now people say, “That couldn’t be true”; I say nevertheless, it is true. So they say, “Don’t you know that when a donkey has been in one place, one time, it will always go there again.” I say, “I believe that; but then again, wasn’t that marvelous that God knew to choose the right donkey for me.”

And that is how I have seen God’s hand time and time again."

How Did Jesus Conduct Himself?

One of the things that has ministered to me greatly is how Jesus conducted himself.

I John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ( Jesus ) ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Did you know Jesus is our example. If we are born again, having the Spirit of Jesus joined to our spirit (I Corinthians 6:17 ) then we too can, and are expected to walk as he did.

I can remember growing up, and over the years even as an adult hearing people say, "Oh no one is perfect." It wasn't until I started hearing, reading, and seeing, that yes, we don't start out that way, but.... when we have the Spirit of Jesus in us, we have the opportunity to become PERFECT! Look what the Word of God say regarding that.

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

What a glorious thing! If we have the Spirit of Jesus in us, and we are taking up our cross daily following him, being led by the Spirit of God, believing and walking in the gospel (death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus-I Corinthians 15: 3-4 ) which I have shared with you many times; we can, and will, be brought to walk as Jesus did, being perfected along the way. If it weren't possible, if it weren't true, God wouldn't of had it in his word.

I remember a time when I had a person after me you might say. It seemed as if everything I did would upset them. I wasn't trying to, but it just seemed to happen that way. Some might call it picking, and I felt picked at, picked on. One day I finally had enough for that particular day and started to mention it to my husband. Immediately out of his mouth came, "You have not resisted unto blood." You can find that in Hebrews 12: 3 - 4.

I set there considering all the wrongs I felt that had been done to me, then I considered Jesus. When they spit on him, mocked him saying, "If you be the son of God come down from there!!" Plucked his beard out, falsely accused him. Yet he knew what the truth was, he knew he had to obey God in all things in front on him; and if that meant speak, he spoke; if that meant hold his peace, he held it. He remained steadfast to obey the spirit of God through it all. It couldn't matter what was happening to him, what they were accusing him of, he had a job to do. What if he had acted like we can or do when offense comes, it does make one consider selfish ways.

Well that day, that ministered to me. I said, "Well if Jesus was able to keep his mouth shut, and he is my example, then I will do as Jesus did." And I endeavored to do that.

I've shared many times things out of the ministry, and today I would like to do that again. It is something I have found encouraging as well, as I have been reminded of the things I have just shared with you. It is a chapter from the book, "Jesus on the Cross." It is from the writings and teachings of Doyle Davidson, the minister and president here at Water of Life Ministries. I hope you find it just as comforting and encouraging as I have.

God Bless,
Misty

Jesus Was Betrayed ( Chapter 2 )

Let us continue to look at the way Jesus conducted Himself on the earth and on the cross. Jesus' behavior on the earth and on the cross is important, because you and I have His Spirit. We have His Spirit in us--remember, "he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." If we have that Spirit within us, then we can certainly obey God as Jesus did.

Turn to Luke 22: 47 - 53, and you will see the strength of Jesus' Spirit:

 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him (v.47).

 

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss (v. 48)?

 

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword ( v. 49)?

 

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear (v.50).

 

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. (v.51).

 

Could you heal the ear of a person who had come to arrest you?

 

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves (v.52)?

 

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (v. 53).

 

Jesus was betrayed by Judas--one of His closest associates, one of the twelve disciples. Jesus chose Judas in obedience to the Father. Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. How would you feel if someone whom you had anointed to cast our devils, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and heal the sick kissed you as a sign that you were the one to be taken?

 

Jesus did not become offended when Judas betrayed Him. You have that same Spirit in you. At some time, you will be betrayed. You might as well be ready for it. If you walk in the Spirit of Christ, however, and if you walk in love and obey Jesus, the betrayal will not harm you, because He has already been betrayed, and it did not harm Him.

 

The only way the devil can harm you is through your soul. He cannot harm your spirit. The Spirit of Christ that is in you has been tried and tested in every way. If you will walk in that Spirit, and pray in tongues, read the Word aloud, fast, and obey God, your spirit will not be harmed. And know this, to walk in the Spirit, you will have to walk by faith.

 

  Doyle Davidson



Click on Book to read more...

Other Books By Doyle Davidson:
He Rose Again ( Book 1 )
The Gospel is Always a Blessing ( Book 2 )
Jesus Did the Father's Will ( Book 3 )
God's Plan For Reconciliation ( Book 4 )
Jesus on the Cross ( Book 5 )
What is the Gospel 

 

♫ I Have Returned ♫

Recently I posted a testimony about my Great Grandmother Sibyl.  You can find that testimony here:"What Will I Do?" I would like to share an addition to that post with this song. It reminds me of being at the very young age of 3 or 4; and her story she had shared with me of how I spoke of Jesus.

Over time I'd gotten off doing my own thing, and in doing so over the course of years, I had gotten away from the Lord Jesus and the Father. But God intervened in my life, and I have returned.

Sibyl said to me once when she wasn't too happy with me, "I'll have you know I prayed for you all these years." I said, "I know ya did Mim, they just didn't turn out like you thought they should."

But her prayers, were answered, and I was brought back to walk with the Lord.

I came to find over time that she had prayed for many of us, including my dad; and I too expect that prayer to be answered.

God Bless,
Misty

                                                                   

                                                           

What Will I Do?

1980/1981

 When I was a young girl I spent many, many days down the road with my Great Grandmother Sibyl. When I got off the bus each day from school, that’s where I went. We would set and work on school work, she’d fixed my snack, and then we would watch a daily routine of comedy shows, followed by Jeopardy. She was my friend.

She attended my school functions, basketball games; and I always kept her informed about my life. When I was old enough to drive, attend college, and so on, I still made frequent stops to see her and visit.

May 2000

When I was married I moved a little over an hour away. One evening after being married maybe about five years or so,  I made a comment to my husband. I said, “I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever lose my Mimmie.” He simply said, “You’ll be fine.” I crawled on into bed and the thought of it hurt my heart.

                                                                                                           
In 2007 God began to intervene in my life more and more. That summer God gave me a prayer. I prayed it frequently while walking in a park in 2007. My prayer, “I thank you for the sanctification of my spirit unto God.” Sanctification is being separated unto God. I had no idea what was being brought forth in my life, but in late October of 07, that is what had begun!  

In the book of Job, the scriptures speak how God let down the hedge around Job. Job was tried, and tempted to not believe God. God allowed things to be taken away, but told the devil, “You can’t have his life.” Well, God allowed some of my hedge to be taken down, and the devil began to stir up some things in my life. Would I keep believing God no matter what came? 

 

One day someone very close to me said, “I think you are taking God too seriously.” A separation was at the forefront with those I had known my whole life, and I soon became cut off from many.

Did I blame God? No. I hurt, I was alienated, but knowing God had put that prayer in my heart, I found some comfort. One day the Lord said to me, “Misty, it had to be this way.” I grabbed onto those words, believed them, and never let them go. What a comfort! God and the Lord Jesus had done enough in my life to that point, I knew I could trust what they were saying.

Dec. 2000

That separation was needed for me to walk on with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You know nothing can be in front of them! Nothing! Not a man, or a woman, not a friend, not a child, no object…. nothing. They are idols, and I had idols in my heart. I had things, I had people, I frankly loved more than God.

I could not, and would not, have sought after God like I did, had he not intervened in my life like that. I would of needed no reason to. I had all the love, all the material things, friends, successful, I wasn't lacking anything, but where would I have ended up?  

In late 2008, my husband and I moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, believing it was God, endeavoring to make decisions in our lives only after seeking direction from the Lord. You know it was sometimes comforting to read in the scriptures how Jesus seemed to upset everyone because he did the will of God, and not what everyone else thought he should be doing. At one point when his mother questions him about the wine while at the wedding, he responds with, “Woman, what have I to do with you?” I wonder if anyone thought he was so disrespectful, or so rude, or maybe what had gotten in to him?

This decision, again, only seemed to upset those I loved, and it upset my great grandmother. She was upset that I didn’t come down as much, she was upset that I didn’t seem to be involved in all the family get togethers, she was upset thinking I was off not following God, that I had missed it. Everyone had thought I had lost my ever loving mind! That’s not a fun place to walk when you are endeavoring to obey God, and those who have been your biggest supporters all your life, now suddenly have no support of what you believe to be right.

You know there was a time in the fall of 2003; my grandpa Bill said to me, “There will come a time when you and Anthony will have to do what you believe is right no matter what anyone else thinks.” I thought that was a random and strange comment, but today I believe that was God speaking out of my grandpa’s mouth. Those words comforted me during some tough times.  

My husband and I went on to move, and as I have shared before, we entered into some difficult days while in Broken Arrow. Days that I believe God brought us to, to deal with us individually, to deal with our hearts, to show us our hearts. Places where no man or woman could help us, places to where we knew we had to depend on God to survive. You know what…. those days built a confidence in God!! Those days had to be done! I couldn’t live the way I had been living and of received the confidence in God like I did without going through those days starting with me being separated; my confidence would have remained in man.

I hadn’t spoken to many during those years due to what I was walking through. I only seemed to upset others when I attempted to speak or see people, and again, one of those were my great grandmother. One day in March 2011, I was standing in my classroom, I turned to put some papers on my desk, and I heard the Lord tell me to go see her. I said, “Lord, I don’t want to. I’ll just go in the summer.” He said, “There won’t be time in the summer.”

The woman was 100 years old. Her mind sharp! She was strong in spirit. Not sick! And she could still put up a good fight, and I wasn’t looking for one! She had spent her whole life involved with reading the word of God and so on, but I still didn’t know if the woman was born again…. had she ever received Jesus? I have had people tell me that they went so many years to church and rarely ever missed, and because of that, they believed that was worth something, that that would get them into heaven. Jesus says you must be born again. 

Sibyl Younger Years

 

John 3: 3 .... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  How can we do that? How can we be born again, born from above?
Romans 10: 9 - 10  says that we must believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess him Lord; and we shall be saved. 

 We must call on the name Jesus. It does not say if we attend so many church services we are good to go. So… was my great grandmother born again? Was this part of why the Lord had told me to go? 

I found myself in a dilemma! God had told me to go see her. Now, here is the first time I have seen her in awhile and I’m going to have to ask such a question. But God is gracious and merciful! And he had sent me to see her. I just had to believe God no matter what she might think, or no matter what my own head was trying to think.

We chatted about my childhood, and about hers. She shared stories of her life. She sang the songs she expected to be played one day when it was her time to go. It was the most wonderful time, and now I was going to have to get the guts to ask. I said, “Mimmie, are you born again?” Her response, “Well I’ll have you know I hammered nails in that church upteen years ago…, is that what you mean?” “No Mimmie.” “ Are you asking…..”, “No, Mimmie.” “Well, are you asking ….” “ No Mimmie.” I was getting no where, and we kept having these exchanges. I finally said in my heart, “Lord, I can’t do this, I won’t fight with her, you’ll have to do something. ” No sooner than I said that in my heart, she pointed her finger directly at me and said, “Are you asking me if I have received the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Saviour?” I said, “Yes Mimmie! That is exactly what I’m asking you!” “Yes, honey, I have”. I thanked God!! We had spent the best day together.

I left that day, took in every detail of her, believing that would be the last time I saw her. Within 3 to 4  weeks, she fell and went to be with Jesus!

So, what will I do if anything ever happens to my Mimmie? I’ll go on! I’ll keep believing! I rejoiced that she was forever to be with Jesus; and I will continue to thank God for all he did leading up to that point, to bring my life to the place where my confidence was in him, and his Son Jesus, and I wasn't that same person who crawled into bed that night thinking... "I don't know what I'll do.."

Do you know if God had not intervened in my life like he did, I could not of walked through that like I did. I wouldn’t of been seeking him, listening for his direction on what I was to do daily, I wouldn’t of had confidence knowing that was him talking to me, telling me,  “Go see your Mimmie.” Do you know all that I went through, was nothing but the love of God for me!! The love of God. That kind of love is available for you too!!

You know my dad discplined me, corrected me. He would always say, “I do it because I love you, if I didn’t love you I wouldn’t care what you did.”  I never could understand that until I became a teacher, and was repsonsible for “my kids”. You know God corrects us, corrects our steps because he loves us! Although we may not understand it because of how it hurts, or what it looks like, it is still the love of God.

Hebrews 12: 5 - 10
5: And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7: If we endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9: Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

If you want to know the will of God for your life. If you want to hear the voice of the Lord, so you’ll know what to do in your life. If you want to have the confidence that God is with you, and Jesus is with you in every situation no matter how grim or scary it looks, or maybe you were like me, and could find yourself thinking….”What will I do if…”  You know what you will have to do?  You will have to have the spirit of Jesus in you!! You will have to be born again!! There’s no other way!!

Romans 10:9-10

9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

 

Acts 4: 12 tells us, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Call on him, Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!! And when you do, you will be born again; and every day you will have to seek him; what will you have me do today Lord? You will not be sorry!!

 

Through all this I was learning to love because of the love of God that was being brought forth in my life. I was learning to lay down my life and follow Jesus.
 

John 15:13  

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 
God Bless You,
Misty