It was spring 2008 and I felt God was wanting me to travel to Minnesota to visit a couple I had heard about from a friend here in Texas. I felt God wanted me to go there to encourage them, but I was waiting for a confirmation from Giod. Within a few weeks I received a call from a prophetic friend of mine who lives in Virginia. His name is Brian. "Steve, is God talking to you about Minnesota?" "Yes!" I exclaimed. "Me, too!" Brian said, "We need to go!" God then gave us clear timing for the trip which turned out to be August 2008.
We arrived at the airport in Minneapolis/St. Paul and met our new Minnesotan friends, Denny and JoAnna. God had sent us there to encourage them and accomplish two other assignments including anointing the headwaters of the Mississippi River with salt and oil. The next day Denny took us to Lake Itasca which is where the Mississippi River is born. We were about to pray as we stood near the headwaters of the Mississippi when Denny began to share some things that God had been showing him.
"God has been telling me that we are coming into a 'Season of Grace'. A time when we will see things improve. For example, gas right now is over $4.00 a gallon. It will come down to around $2.00 a gallon. We will also see the financial crisis that we are going through right now, settle down and some people will think we're going to get through this like we always have." Shaking his head and with seriousness in his voice Denny continued, "God is telling me, 'No.' He is showing me that this Season of Grace will last for 30 months. When the Season of Grace ends, the things we are now seeing will come back worse than they are now." Brian and I nodded our heads and we began to pray.
After we prayed, Brian anointed the headwaters of the Mississippi. From there we headed o the parking lot to begin our drive to back to Denny's home. At that time (August 2008) Brian had an 8-month old baby at home and as we were walking back to the car, Brian noticed a woman with a tiny baby in her arms. "Oh, what a pretty baby!" Brian exclaimed. "Is your baby a boy or a girl?" The mother responded, "A girl." "She's beautiful! How old is she?" Brain asked. "8 weeks old." replied the mother. "I have an 8-month old at home." Brian said with a big smile." Brian asked, "What's her name?" The mother responded, "Her name is... Season Grace." Brian's jaw hit the ground. "What's her name?" An utterly shocked Brian asked again to confrim what he just heard. Again the mother said, "Season Grace."
God had just signed His name to the information we had just heard.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
His Servants The Prophets
I am an ordinary man who listens to the Holy Spirit of God and obeys. When He asks me to turn left, I turn left. When He asks me to turn right, I turn right. When He says go straight ahead, I go straight ahead. The more I obey, the more I hear and the more I hear, the more I obey. This is how I got into ministry in the first place. Guatemala is not written in the Bible, yet I knew I was to go to Guatemala. India is not written in the Bible, yet I knew was to travel to India. God speaks through the Bible, through others, through circumstances and through His Holy Spirit. God has shown me and many others what is coming to the world through revelation, not because we asked to see it, but because God decided we should see it. I don't know why.
I have never been a "End Times" person. Never studied it, never had a passion for it. But one day God decided he wanted me to know some of it. The amazing thing is that since then (April 2008) He has confirmed what He showed me through many, many others and through His Word. This is not a distraction, this is what God is showing us is coming. "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. People thought Noah and most of God's prophets were crazy until they saw it happen. Please listen to "Challenging Times Ahead" at www.theLORDwillprovide.org and then pray, asking God what He wants you to do.
I have never been a "End Times" person. Never studied it, never had a passion for it. But one day God decided he wanted me to know some of it. The amazing thing is that since then (April 2008) He has confirmed what He showed me through many, many others and through His Word. This is not a distraction, this is what God is showing us is coming. "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. People thought Noah and most of God's prophets were crazy until they saw it happen. Please listen to "Challenging Times Ahead" at www.theLORDwillprovide.org and then pray, asking God what He wants you to do.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Dream - Spring 2007
I was given a dream in the Spring 2007. In the dream I was working with a few others on a green hillside when there was a nearby explosion. The few of us that were working immediately ran away. The next thing I saw, I was on a roof top looking back at the hill that I had just left. As I looked back I saw a row of houses (I just see the roofs) between me and the green hill. Suddenly from the left I saw a huge airplane with the words "United States" written on it (the way Air Force One has United States of America written on it) falling out of the sky. I noticed that there were many people (one on each roof top), including me just watching this happen... not doing anything about it. The plane then crashed into the green hill and exploded into a huge ball of fire. The entire hill was engulfed in flames. Suddenly from deep inside of me my voice welled up and I yelled out in my loudest voice for all to hear, "We're under attack!"
I woke up.
I woke up.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Former Jihadist, Kamal Saleem, shares his story and provides an inside look at radical Islam
Lebanese-born former Jihadist, Kamal Saleem, shares his testimony and gives an inside look into the world of radical Islam. He also authored a book which I highly recommend entitled, "The Blood of Lambs". Learn more about Kamal Saleem at http://www.kamalsaleem.com/
Friday, January 01, 2010
Look At The Signs
Stephen Burke Prophetic Word - July, 2008
Devastation is coming. Will be an unleashing - written in Scripture.
Clouds, clouds, clouds, clouds
We will be devastated, overwhelmed
We are going to be devastated
There is an unleashing coming. A bowl will be poured out. The devastation is coming.
I've been trying to tell everyone. Nobody is doing anything.
Devastation is coming. Hear me! Hear me!
It's coming. Warn my children.
It's coming. Warn my children.
It's coming. Warn my children.
My dear children. Warn my children. Somebody hear me.
Warn them. Tell them, tell them, tell them, tell them. It's time. It's time.
God is angry. He has been telling everybody and nobody's doing anything.
It's like we don't believe Him.
End times. Don't be surprised.
End times. Don't be surprised.
End times. Don't be surprised. It's coming.
End times. The Lion of judah.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Clouds, clouds, clouds, clouds. (Rev. 14:14)
I will pour out my Spirit.
I will pour out my Spirit.
I AM. I AM. I AM.
He's been warning everybody because He loves us.
Look at the big picture.
Look at the big picture.
I'm looking for those who will hear me speak.
I AM. I AM.
Time is short. Time is short. Time is short. Time is short.
Too much delay. Too much delay. Too much delay. Too much delay.
I ask people to do things -- they're putting it off.
I am your priority -- time is short.
No more playing around.
Tims is short -- the signs are there. Look at the signs.
Wake up! Wake up!
Ezekiel 33
His children are going to cry out and He will hear them.
The whole system we have put our faith into is going to collapse. It's a false secuurity.
There is going to be a shift. We have to adjust, if we are to survive.
Devastation is coming. Will be an unleashing - written in Scripture.
Clouds, clouds, clouds, clouds
We will be devastated, overwhelmed
We are going to be devastated
There is an unleashing coming. A bowl will be poured out. The devastation is coming.
I've been trying to tell everyone. Nobody is doing anything.
Devastation is coming. Hear me! Hear me!
It's coming. Warn my children.
It's coming. Warn my children.
It's coming. Warn my children.
My dear children. Warn my children. Somebody hear me.
Warn them. Tell them, tell them, tell them, tell them. It's time. It's time.
God is angry. He has been telling everybody and nobody's doing anything.
It's like we don't believe Him.
End times. Don't be surprised.
End times. Don't be surprised.
End times. Don't be surprised. It's coming.
End times. The Lion of judah.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Look for the signs.
End times. Clouds, clouds, clouds, clouds. (Rev. 14:14)
I will pour out my Spirit.
I will pour out my Spirit.
I AM. I AM. I AM.
He's been warning everybody because He loves us.
Look at the big picture.
Look at the big picture.
I'm looking for those who will hear me speak.
I AM. I AM.
Time is short. Time is short. Time is short. Time is short.
Too much delay. Too much delay. Too much delay. Too much delay.
I ask people to do things -- they're putting it off.
I am your priority -- time is short.
No more playing around.
Tims is short -- the signs are there. Look at the signs.
Wake up! Wake up!
Ezekiel 33
His children are going to cry out and He will hear them.
The whole system we have put our faith into is going to collapse. It's a false secuurity.
There is going to be a shift. We have to adjust, if we are to survive.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Challenging Times Ahead
In the challenging times coming in the not so distant future, God will raise up Cities of Refuge. These are cities and places situated all over the world where people will find food, shelter and safety. To learn more visit www.theLORDwillprovide.org and listen to the message "Challenging Times Ahead".
Saturday, December 12, 2009
They Are Abused And Give Blessing. They Are Insulted And Give Honor.
In the early church the lost world was deeply impacted by the lives of Christians, as evidenced by this letter written by Piagnetus, an early historian, in the year AD 180. Describing believers, he states:
"They are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by country, by speech, nor by customs. But although they live in both Greek and foreign cities and follow the local customs both in clothing and food and the rest of life, they exhibit the wonderful and strange nature of their own citizenshp--but as sojourners. They live in their own homelands. They share all things as citizens and suffer all things as aliens. Every foreign country is a homeland, and every homeland is a foreign country. They marry as all do. They bear children, but they do not discard their children as some do. They offer a common table, but not a common bed. They find themselves in the flesh, but they do not live according to the flesh. They pass their time upon the Earth, but are citizens of Heaven. They obey the established laws and supposit the laws in their own lives. They love all and are persecuted by all. They are put to death--and are made alive. They are poor--but make many rich. They lack all things, yet abound in all things. They are abused and give blessing. They are insulted and give honor. When they do good they are punished as evildoers. When they are punished, they rejoice as those receiving life."
"They are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by country, by speech, nor by customs. But although they live in both Greek and foreign cities and follow the local customs both in clothing and food and the rest of life, they exhibit the wonderful and strange nature of their own citizenshp--but as sojourners. They live in their own homelands. They share all things as citizens and suffer all things as aliens. Every foreign country is a homeland, and every homeland is a foreign country. They marry as all do. They bear children, but they do not discard their children as some do. They offer a common table, but not a common bed. They find themselves in the flesh, but they do not live according to the flesh. They pass their time upon the Earth, but are citizens of Heaven. They obey the established laws and supposit the laws in their own lives. They love all and are persecuted by all. They are put to death--and are made alive. They are poor--but make many rich. They lack all things, yet abound in all things. They are abused and give blessing. They are insulted and give honor. When they do good they are punished as evildoers. When they are punished, they rejoice as those receiving life."
Sunday, October 04, 2009
The Power Of God Over Death
I just returned from a blessed trip to Guatemala. I want to share one incredible story of God's power over death:
One evening I was invited to eat dinner with two of the leaders of our churches in Guatemala and El Salvador. The married couple was excited to tell me of the latest miracle God had done.
A woman who attends the church had become gravely ill and her four grown children had come to be by her side as their mother lay dying. The illness had come so fast and had quickly brought the woman to death's door. Over the course of the illness, people from the church had come, laying hands on her and praying for healing, but there was no improvement. She continued to get worse.
One evening the couple was called by one of the children, "Come quickly, mother has died!" By the time the two had arrived the woman had been dead for twenty minutes. The two checked for a pulse and confirmed that she had passed, but this was not the end. As the children huddled together in the corner of the room sobbing and comforting each other, the two began to pray. They lifted up the woman before God, asking Him to bring her back. They cried out to the One who had raised Jesus from the dead... to the One who had raised Lazarus from the grave. They pressed in.
After a time the woman's eyes began to flutter. There was life! They pressed in even harder and God continued to work. Soon she was speaking. The children could not believe their eyes. They rejoiced. The couple immediately saw an opportunity to tell the children about Jesus. And one by one, each one of this mother's four grown children gave their hearts to Jesus.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
Written By Stephen Burke; Edited By Jennifer Poppy
One evening I was invited to eat dinner with two of the leaders of our churches in Guatemala and El Salvador. The married couple was excited to tell me of the latest miracle God had done.
A woman who attends the church had become gravely ill and her four grown children had come to be by her side as their mother lay dying. The illness had come so fast and had quickly brought the woman to death's door. Over the course of the illness, people from the church had come, laying hands on her and praying for healing, but there was no improvement. She continued to get worse.
One evening the couple was called by one of the children, "Come quickly, mother has died!" By the time the two had arrived the woman had been dead for twenty minutes. The two checked for a pulse and confirmed that she had passed, but this was not the end. As the children huddled together in the corner of the room sobbing and comforting each other, the two began to pray. They lifted up the woman before God, asking Him to bring her back. They cried out to the One who had raised Jesus from the dead... to the One who had raised Lazarus from the grave. They pressed in.
After a time the woman's eyes began to flutter. There was life! They pressed in even harder and God continued to work. Soon she was speaking. The children could not believe their eyes. They rejoiced. The couple immediately saw an opportunity to tell the children about Jesus. And one by one, each one of this mother's four grown children gave their hearts to Jesus.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
Written By Stephen Burke; Edited By Jennifer Poppy
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
An Eternity Spent With God
I was in Central America staying in the home of one of our local leaders in Villa Nueva, Guatemala. They are an awesome couple who are very involved in what the Lord is doing in that area. One morning the Lord put one of their friends on their hearts and asked if we could visit her later in the morning. I agreed.
We arrived at the home of their friend who was obviously upset. Her mother, who looked to be in her late sixties, was in the front room of the house and was very sick. Her face was ashen. Her eyes were open, but she didn't seem to be there. The family informed us that their beloved Christian mother and grandmother had throat cancer.
We immediately began to pray asking the Lord for healing. After a time, each one of us had prayed. The air was filled with the Lord's amazing peace. It was then the Lord asked me to anoint her with oil. Anointing her forehead with oil in the sign of the cross, I blessed her. Then I felt the Lord wanted me to repeat this act, but this time He wanted me to directly apply the oil to her throat. I dipped my finger in the oil and prayed peace over her, making the sign of the cross directly on her throat. The very second I made the last stroke, completing the cross, the woman's chest heaved upward. Then as her chest collapsed, her spirit left her.
Suddenly, I realized this was not a death, but this was a birth. God had been waiting for us. We had the privilege to attend to one His very own as she left this earth on her way to an eternity spent with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
Written by Stephen Burke. Edited by Jennifer Poppy.
We arrived at the home of their friend who was obviously upset. Her mother, who looked to be in her late sixties, was in the front room of the house and was very sick. Her face was ashen. Her eyes were open, but she didn't seem to be there. The family informed us that their beloved Christian mother and grandmother had throat cancer.
We immediately began to pray asking the Lord for healing. After a time, each one of us had prayed. The air was filled with the Lord's amazing peace. It was then the Lord asked me to anoint her with oil. Anointing her forehead with oil in the sign of the cross, I blessed her. Then I felt the Lord wanted me to repeat this act, but this time He wanted me to directly apply the oil to her throat. I dipped my finger in the oil and prayed peace over her, making the sign of the cross directly on her throat. The very second I made the last stroke, completing the cross, the woman's chest heaved upward. Then as her chest collapsed, her spirit left her.
Suddenly, I realized this was not a death, but this was a birth. God had been waiting for us. We had the privilege to attend to one His very own as she left this earth on her way to an eternity spent with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
Written by Stephen Burke. Edited by Jennifer Poppy.
Friday, September 04, 2009
No Longer Alone
I was at home and it was nearing lunchtime when the Lord asked me to go to "The Park" to get a hamburger and that I would be eating my hamburger at one of their picnic tables. “The Park” is a small hamburger stand in downtown Belton, Texas.
I pulled up and got out of my car to place my order at the window. I noticed there was a woman, probably in her sixties, who seemed to be waiting for her order. She was walking around talking on a cell phone.
Once I placed my order, I got back in my car and waited. Soon the woman who was talking on the cell phone got her order and suddenly walked directly toward me. I knew this was my divine appointment. I rolled down my window to greet her. She pointed to the "The LORD Will Provide Ministries" sign on my car door and asked, "Do you really believe what that sign says or is it just a sign?"
"Oh, yes I believe it,” I responded. “The Lord asked me to leave my job over 5 years ago and we've come to know God as our provider."
Soon, tears began to roll down her face as I continued to share about how God had provided for us over the years. My lunch arrived and I asked, "If you have time, maybe we can sit down at one of these picnic tables and get to know each other a little bit." She agreed.
She told me how she started hearing the Holy Spirit as a teenager. She felt so alone all these years, because she had never been able to find anyone who was like her. She was weeping as she shared. God had asked her and her husband to move to Temple nearly 2 years ago and nothing seemed to be coming from it. God had not connected her with any spiritually like-minded people. She had been pleading with God to move her somewhere else.
"You're not the only one who hears God like that," I said. "There are many of us. You are not alone."
I invited her to come to our prayer and worship meeting, "The Journey". She came and God touched her heart as the prophetic stream flowed through the group. She was not alone and could not hold back her tears of joy as God met her that night and brought her to like-minded believers whom she had been trying to find for 50 years.
Written by Stephen Burke. Edited by Jennifer Poppy.
I pulled up and got out of my car to place my order at the window. I noticed there was a woman, probably in her sixties, who seemed to be waiting for her order. She was walking around talking on a cell phone.
Once I placed my order, I got back in my car and waited. Soon the woman who was talking on the cell phone got her order and suddenly walked directly toward me. I knew this was my divine appointment. I rolled down my window to greet her. She pointed to the "The LORD Will Provide Ministries" sign on my car door and asked, "Do you really believe what that sign says or is it just a sign?"
"Oh, yes I believe it,” I responded. “The Lord asked me to leave my job over 5 years ago and we've come to know God as our provider."
Soon, tears began to roll down her face as I continued to share about how God had provided for us over the years. My lunch arrived and I asked, "If you have time, maybe we can sit down at one of these picnic tables and get to know each other a little bit." She agreed.
She told me how she started hearing the Holy Spirit as a teenager. She felt so alone all these years, because she had never been able to find anyone who was like her. She was weeping as she shared. God had asked her and her husband to move to Temple nearly 2 years ago and nothing seemed to be coming from it. God had not connected her with any spiritually like-minded people. She had been pleading with God to move her somewhere else.
"You're not the only one who hears God like that," I said. "There are many of us. You are not alone."
I invited her to come to our prayer and worship meeting, "The Journey". She came and God touched her heart as the prophetic stream flowed through the group. She was not alone and could not hold back her tears of joy as God met her that night and brought her to like-minded believers whom she had been trying to find for 50 years.
Written by Stephen Burke. Edited by Jennifer Poppy.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Our Struggle Is Not Against Flesh And Blood
I traveled to a small town in Texas to speak at a Wednesday night church group. We gathered for a time of prayer, music and prophecy, much like “The Journey” gatherings we have in my home most every Saturday evening in Temple, Texas. As the meeting progressed, some of the people began to share about themselves and what God had been doing in their lives. It was then that the Lord asked me to share a series of God stories because He wanted to "increase the faith in the room.”
As I told these miraculous stories, I could literally feel the faith in the room rise up. Then a thirteen-year-old boy boldly proclaimed to a woman in her sixties who had been undergoing chemotherapy, “God has told me like thirty times that He is going to heal you.” I was getting the same message, but had not said anything yet.
At the end of the meeting, the woman who had been promised healing came over to say “good-bye.” As I stood up to greet her, I became overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. I began to hug her and as I held her I was compelled by God's Spirit to pray healing over her in the name of Jesus. While I was praying the woman's hands began to tremble and soon she was making sounds in her throat as if she were about to vomit. I continued praying. Suddenly she leaned back slightly, bending at the waist. Then she violently lurched forward as if to throw up. As she came back upright I could see the floor and my shoes were clean. I knew God had just freed her from an unclean spirit.
The woman's hands continued to tremble as I prayed in the name of Jesus. Suddenly her body went limp and she collapsed on the floor in a heap. She had passed out. I knelt down on one knee and continued to pray over her as she lay on her back. Soon she awoke and opened her eyes half-way. She seemed very groggy. Then, in an instant, she opened her mouth slightly and began praying in an unknown language. She had received the gift of tongues. Our eyes met and I could strongly feel God’s presence in our midst. There were about ten people left in the room including her friends who were witness to all of this. They spontaneously began raising their hands toward heaven and praising the Lord.
The ironic thing about this situation is that on the way to the gathering the woman had told her friends, "This guy we're going to hear tonight better not be one of those tongue-talking people.” Amazingly, she was the one who was speaking in tongues! How big is our God! God had come upon this woman in a very powerful way and I believe healed her body. Praise the Lord for His faithful love and healing power!
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
I just received word on Saturday, September 26 that the woman whom I have written about in this story went to her doctor and she no longer has cancer. Bless God!
As I told these miraculous stories, I could literally feel the faith in the room rise up. Then a thirteen-year-old boy boldly proclaimed to a woman in her sixties who had been undergoing chemotherapy, “God has told me like thirty times that He is going to heal you.” I was getting the same message, but had not said anything yet.
At the end of the meeting, the woman who had been promised healing came over to say “good-bye.” As I stood up to greet her, I became overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. I began to hug her and as I held her I was compelled by God's Spirit to pray healing over her in the name of Jesus. While I was praying the woman's hands began to tremble and soon she was making sounds in her throat as if she were about to vomit. I continued praying. Suddenly she leaned back slightly, bending at the waist. Then she violently lurched forward as if to throw up. As she came back upright I could see the floor and my shoes were clean. I knew God had just freed her from an unclean spirit.
The woman's hands continued to tremble as I prayed in the name of Jesus. Suddenly her body went limp and she collapsed on the floor in a heap. She had passed out. I knelt down on one knee and continued to pray over her as she lay on her back. Soon she awoke and opened her eyes half-way. She seemed very groggy. Then, in an instant, she opened her mouth slightly and began praying in an unknown language. She had received the gift of tongues. Our eyes met and I could strongly feel God’s presence in our midst. There were about ten people left in the room including her friends who were witness to all of this. They spontaneously began raising their hands toward heaven and praising the Lord.
The ironic thing about this situation is that on the way to the gathering the woman had told her friends, "This guy we're going to hear tonight better not be one of those tongue-talking people.” Amazingly, she was the one who was speaking in tongues! How big is our God! God had come upon this woman in a very powerful way and I believe healed her body. Praise the Lord for His faithful love and healing power!
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
I just received word on Saturday, September 26 that the woman whom I have written about in this story went to her doctor and she no longer has cancer. Bless God!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Becoming Shiloh Gospel Music Festival
The Lord sent Jeffrey Light and I to Vavenby, British Columbia, Canada to attend the 2nd annual Becoming Shiloh Gospel Music Festival August 5-11. I felt God was sending us there to encourage the oraganizers, Erin Dawson and her family.
Jeff flew in from Virginia and I flew in from Texas. We converged in Seattle, Washington, rented a car and began the 8-hour journey to Vavenby. A few miles out, we stopped at a convenince store to get some gas and as we walked in I imediately noticed a shelf full of homemade bread. "Communion" God said. I knew God wanted me to buy a loaf of bread with which to have communion.
I grabbed a single loaf and asked, "Juice?"
The Lord immediately responded, "No."
I told Jeff the Lord wanted me to get this bread for communion. "I guess we're going to have communion with Erin and the others," I said.
Shouldn't we get some juice?" Jeff asked.
"The Lord said, 'No'" I replied.
We arrived at the festival grounds along the North Thompson River. A beautiful place to worship God surrounded by mountains and trees. Erin and the other organizers welcomed us and soon we were gathered together for prayer. We sat in chairs forming a large circle. On one side of the circle was a picnic table, so I grabbed a seat there on the bench. As I surveyed the circle, I noticed a lone bottle of red wine atop the picnic table. I stared at it for a few seconds. Communion, I thoght. My mind immediately flashed back to the communion bread which we had just purchased. I had left the bread in the rental car not knowing exactly when we would need it. I dashed back to the car and returned with the bread setting it next to the bottle of wine.
We prayed together and shared in the Lord's Supper partaking of the bread which the LORD had so amazingly provided. God had signed His name to our trip. We were exactly where we were supposed to be and we knew God was in Becoming Shiloh. Praise God!!!
Jeff flew in from Virginia and I flew in from Texas. We converged in Seattle, Washington, rented a car and began the 8-hour journey to Vavenby. A few miles out, we stopped at a convenince store to get some gas and as we walked in I imediately noticed a shelf full of homemade bread. "Communion" God said. I knew God wanted me to buy a loaf of bread with which to have communion.
I grabbed a single loaf and asked, "Juice?"
The Lord immediately responded, "No."
I told Jeff the Lord wanted me to get this bread for communion. "I guess we're going to have communion with Erin and the others," I said.
Shouldn't we get some juice?" Jeff asked.
"The Lord said, 'No'" I replied.
We arrived at the festival grounds along the North Thompson River. A beautiful place to worship God surrounded by mountains and trees. Erin and the other organizers welcomed us and soon we were gathered together for prayer. We sat in chairs forming a large circle. On one side of the circle was a picnic table, so I grabbed a seat there on the bench. As I surveyed the circle, I noticed a lone bottle of red wine atop the picnic table. I stared at it for a few seconds. Communion, I thoght. My mind immediately flashed back to the communion bread which we had just purchased. I had left the bread in the rental car not knowing exactly when we would need it. I dashed back to the car and returned with the bread setting it next to the bottle of wine.
We prayed together and shared in the Lord's Supper partaking of the bread which the LORD had so amazingly provided. God had signed His name to our trip. We were exactly where we were supposed to be and we knew God was in Becoming Shiloh. Praise God!!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Nicaragua 2009
I just returned this month from an impactful trip to Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. God continues to open new doors for us to join those He has called in northern Guatemala and in El Salvador. He has led us to a woman who is from El Salvador and called to the mountains near Coban, Guatemala and a couple who are living south of San Salvador.
The Lord also led us to a group of 1,200 people who live next to an old garbage dump. They were displaced due to flooding from Managua, Nicaragua to a very desolate place north of Managua near Tipitapa. We will help with the construction of a simply built feeding center. Our Guatemalan team will return next month to continue our outreach. We would also like to place a fulltime missionary there from our Guatemalan team. Please pray for wisdom as we approach this new challenge and opportunity for us to be Jesus' hands, feet and heart to these who are so poor.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
It All Stated With A Simple Question
Five years ago on April 9, 2004 I leapt from a cliff... a place of security and manmade comfort because I had fallen in love. With faith in my heart, I spread out my wings, jumped as I was asked and found that I could fly. My eyes were focused on Jesus and I could not see the ground below, even though I knew full well it was there. I held on to God and my wife held on to me. We jumped and there was no turning back. My flesh felt the humiliation and death that awaited me. My wife's tears showed what I should have feared, but my love for my Lord and His call were all that I saw.
The ground should have rushed up at us, but we found we were being held up by the mighty hand of our God. Over these five years, we have made mistakes and even taken wrong turns. But our ears heard a voice behind us saying, "This is the way, walk in it." We have experienced the mountaintops seeing God's hand of provision and we have gone deep into caves of despair. We have heard the sound of heaven rejoicing and known the breath of hell on our heels. We have experienced the encouragement of God's whispers and known the strength of His correcting hand. We have seen God remove mountains before us and experienced the thrill of seeing His redemption, healing and love that changes lives. We have been privileged to come alongside those who are faithful to their Creator living out their own calling in the most remote of places.
And to think it all started with a simple question. "Steve, do you love me?" Three times He asked me in early 2004 and I responded with all of my heart, "Yes, Lord You know I love You." In tears I laid my life down before Him, "Lord, I will go anywhere You want me to go. I will do anything You ask me to do and I will say anything You ask me to say." Soon afterward, the adventure began. I have not yet entered my Land of Promise, but I know it is soon to come. I have seen evidence of what I cannot see and praise the One who made the promise for He is faithful to keep His promises. I have come to know Him so intimately as the lover of my soul. He is so big, yet so small. He is so far, yet so close. He is so natural, yet supernatural. The skies and earth declare His glory to all mankind. In an instant He can supercede the natural laws He put in place and allow His creation to see Him move supernaturally. He is not limited. He is real. His power is real and the most amazing thing is this... that this most holy God loved us while we were yet sinners. He sent His Son to die for you and for me. He is love and He is our Savior if we will only believe and receive His free gift of eternal life with Him. Our lives are in His hands and our deaths are in His hands. May our future... your future be in His resurrection.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.
Peace In Christ,
Steve
The ground should have rushed up at us, but we found we were being held up by the mighty hand of our God. Over these five years, we have made mistakes and even taken wrong turns. But our ears heard a voice behind us saying, "This is the way, walk in it." We have experienced the mountaintops seeing God's hand of provision and we have gone deep into caves of despair. We have heard the sound of heaven rejoicing and known the breath of hell on our heels. We have experienced the encouragement of God's whispers and known the strength of His correcting hand. We have seen God remove mountains before us and experienced the thrill of seeing His redemption, healing and love that changes lives. We have been privileged to come alongside those who are faithful to their Creator living out their own calling in the most remote of places.
And to think it all started with a simple question. "Steve, do you love me?" Three times He asked me in early 2004 and I responded with all of my heart, "Yes, Lord You know I love You." In tears I laid my life down before Him, "Lord, I will go anywhere You want me to go. I will do anything You ask me to do and I will say anything You ask me to say." Soon afterward, the adventure began. I have not yet entered my Land of Promise, but I know it is soon to come. I have seen evidence of what I cannot see and praise the One who made the promise for He is faithful to keep His promises. I have come to know Him so intimately as the lover of my soul. He is so big, yet so small. He is so far, yet so close. He is so natural, yet supernatural. The skies and earth declare His glory to all mankind. In an instant He can supercede the natural laws He put in place and allow His creation to see Him move supernaturally. He is not limited. He is real. His power is real and the most amazing thing is this... that this most holy God loved us while we were yet sinners. He sent His Son to die for you and for me. He is love and He is our Savior if we will only believe and receive His free gift of eternal life with Him. Our lives are in His hands and our deaths are in His hands. May our future... your future be in His resurrection.
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.
Peace In Christ,
Steve
Saturday, January 24, 2009
An Unanticipated Miracle Trip To El Salvador
I just returned from a trip to Guatemala January 6-21 where we saw God move day after day. However, I want to share about an unanticipated short miracle trip to El Salvador. One of our Guatemalan leaders, Annie, received a dream from God one night in which a woman named Sorina from El Salvador thanked Annie for coming to see her. Sorina is a friend of the ministry whom we had not seen for two years and who had since become pastor of her very conservative denominational church. They believed that God did not move anymore as He did when the Bible was written. We checked on Sorina by e-mail. In her response, Sorina informed us that her ministry was fine, but her health was not. She could not eat and was having serious colon and digestive problems.
Two days later, we made the 6-hour trip to Sorina's church in El Salvador and met with Sorina and 25 of her church members and leaders.The group was sitting in a large circle of chairs when we arrived. As ll sat and prayed, pastor Jorge, our Guatemalan team leader shared how a small, poor church from Villa Nueva, Guatemala had been doing missions totally led by God. It turned out that this El Salvador church made up of professional people had just made a commitment to missions beginning January, 2009 (Divinve appointment I'd say). During this time I looked around the circle asking God what He was doing... where He was working.
As I scanned the people, He kept showing me one particular woman over and over who sat directly acorss the circle from me. At the end of our meeting, we had one on one prayer. I approached the woman (who I later learned was named Blanca) whom God had been highlighting to me. I placed the tips of two of my fingers very lightly upon the woman's forehead and began to pray. Her hands were partially raised about head high and her eyes were closed. After a few moments she began to fall backward, she caught herself as her eyes opened with a start. She had obvious fear in her eyes. She looked at me as I continued to pray and then closed her eyes again. After a few more moments, the Holy Spirit moved upon her again and she fell backward into the arms of one of our team members. Blanca laid on the floor for many minutes sobbing as the Holy Spirit ministered to her. The team prayed for every church member and we also laid hands upon Sorina asking God for her healing.
At the end of the meeting, I sought out Blanca and asked her if she was alright, knowing that she had never experienced the Holy Spirit like this before. She looked up at me nodding her head approvingly, saying in Spanish, "I was really blessed by this new experience." She continued, "Two or three weeks ago a man gave me a word that the Holy Spirit was coming to our church. I have been praying ever since that the Holy Spirit would come through me." God answered her prayer. Praise God!
In addition as we gathered the next day around mid-morning, pastor Sorina, who previously did not believe that God spoke through dreams anymore or still did things like He did in the Bible, praised God for sending us to their church through a dream. Sorina also announced that she had been able to eat a big supper after our prayer meeting the night before and even had a large breakfast that morning without any problems. She praised God for her healing.
I believe this church will be a much needed base for our continued work to the poor in the rural mountains of El Salvador. Please pray that God will continue to move through these people and teach them about His Holy Spirit. How sweet and gentle is our God!
As an overall update, we started 3 1/2 years ago with 20 people in a very dangerous and poor area of Guatemala called Villa Nueva. Today we are ministering to over 550 people in Villa Nueva and the mountains of Guatemala and El Salvador. Plus this group in Villa Nueva is going weekly into the Villa Nueva schools to share Gospel stories with 2,000 school children each week. I am so blessed to be a witness of how they are operating in power and going deeper with God.
Two days later, we made the 6-hour trip to Sorina's church in El Salvador and met with Sorina and 25 of her church members and leaders.The group was sitting in a large circle of chairs when we arrived. As ll sat and prayed, pastor Jorge, our Guatemalan team leader shared how a small, poor church from Villa Nueva, Guatemala had been doing missions totally led by God. It turned out that this El Salvador church made up of professional people had just made a commitment to missions beginning January, 2009 (Divinve appointment I'd say). During this time I looked around the circle asking God what He was doing... where He was working.
As I scanned the people, He kept showing me one particular woman over and over who sat directly acorss the circle from me. At the end of our meeting, we had one on one prayer. I approached the woman (who I later learned was named Blanca) whom God had been highlighting to me. I placed the tips of two of my fingers very lightly upon the woman's forehead and began to pray. Her hands were partially raised about head high and her eyes were closed. After a few moments she began to fall backward, she caught herself as her eyes opened with a start. She had obvious fear in her eyes. She looked at me as I continued to pray and then closed her eyes again. After a few more moments, the Holy Spirit moved upon her again and she fell backward into the arms of one of our team members. Blanca laid on the floor for many minutes sobbing as the Holy Spirit ministered to her. The team prayed for every church member and we also laid hands upon Sorina asking God for her healing.
At the end of the meeting, I sought out Blanca and asked her if she was alright, knowing that she had never experienced the Holy Spirit like this before. She looked up at me nodding her head approvingly, saying in Spanish, "I was really blessed by this new experience." She continued, "Two or three weeks ago a man gave me a word that the Holy Spirit was coming to our church. I have been praying ever since that the Holy Spirit would come through me." God answered her prayer. Praise God!
In addition as we gathered the next day around mid-morning, pastor Sorina, who previously did not believe that God spoke through dreams anymore or still did things like He did in the Bible, praised God for sending us to their church through a dream. Sorina also announced that she had been able to eat a big supper after our prayer meeting the night before and even had a large breakfast that morning without any problems. She praised God for her healing.
I believe this church will be a much needed base for our continued work to the poor in the rural mountains of El Salvador. Please pray that God will continue to move through these people and teach them about His Holy Spirit. How sweet and gentle is our God!
As an overall update, we started 3 1/2 years ago with 20 people in a very dangerous and poor area of Guatemala called Villa Nueva. Today we are ministering to over 550 people in Villa Nueva and the mountains of Guatemala and El Salvador. Plus this group in Villa Nueva is going weekly into the Villa Nueva schools to share Gospel stories with 2,000 school children each week. I am so blessed to be a witness of how they are operating in power and going deeper with God.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
God's Mercy in Honduras - July 2008
A group of 15 people from Virginia and Georgia made their way to Honduras to come alongside a missionary family whom the Lord led us to in December. The Rose family's mission is to help the local people help themselves through job training and business development while evangelizing, discipling and displaying Christ. The trip saw many dozens of people receive Jesus as their personal Savior while many dozens of others recommited their lives to Christ. Many were healed, but there was one day that stood out to me... a day that only God could orhestrate.
One Saturday afternoon, several of our group made the one mile or so trek from the Rose's home to the small town of nearby Pena Blanca. While there the first time in December, the Lord led me around along with Sylvester Mathews and pastor Jeff Light. the Lord would say to me, "Turn left," and we'd turn left. "Turn right." We'd turn right. "Go in there... there's a pastor I want you to meet." We'd meet him. And so this was the way I expected God to lead this time. However, the Lord remained quiet and closed all the doors that had been previously open in December. I finally asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. He replied, "Relax and enjoy the day. I will send them to you." So I did.
The afternoon quickly turned into evening and we found ourselves back at the Rose's home. We had been working with a local group of missionaries who were putting on a evengelistic crusade. Saturday marked the second night of the three night event. We had left a group of mostly womwne back at the Rose's home to interced in prayer for the event. A crowd slowly filled the community building as I found a seat in the back. I began to pray when suddenly the Lord spoke to my heart, "Go outside and walk the perimeter of the property in prayer." I circled the property a few times and went back inside to pray for the speakers in a small back room. After we finished, the Lord spoke to my heart again. "Go back to the house." I was confused. "Why?" I asked. I struggled with this since I felt I was needed at the event. But again I obeyed and went back to the Rose's house.
I walked into the home where i found 7 or 8 people praying. I joined in and soon one of the women had a vision. "I see demons over this region linking arms and preventing our prayers from reaching heaven. Jesus says, 'We need to get loud.'" We began to raise the roof with praise and worship. We stormed heaven at the top of our lungs while drumming on table tops and banging pots with wooden spoons. The worship was awesome and the battle became intense. unbeknownst to us a group of drunken men had gathered outside the house and were throwing rocks at the house and on the tin roof accompanied by loud shouts of displeasure. Our noisy congregation never heard their attempt at disruption. We were making a joyful noise to the Lord that got the enemy's attention. After one hour and a half, we found ourselves in perfectly peaceful air. The Lord and His army had cleared the way for what was to happen next.
As the members of our group returned from the crusade a very drunk man entered our room. He wanted us to pray for him. Behind him in the street were two more men. The Lord said to me, "It's time to worship." I gathered the Rose family's two oldest daughtyers and their friend and asked them to begin to sing and lead us in Spanish worship songs. They quickly got organized and soon we had a spontaneous worship service going. The men who had earlier been throwing rocks and shouting curse words at us were now slowly trickling into the room one or two at a time. They came in smiling and ready to sing. We set before them chair after chair until we had 15 men singing and praising the Lord. They raised their hands in worship and between songs lifted their voices shouting "Halleluiah!" I have never seen anything like this before. It was God who had drawn them to us. And His words echoed in my mind, "I will send them to you." By the time the night was over all 15 men either recommited their lives to Christ or accepted Him for the first time and many who came in drunk left the meeting sober. What a glorious night I will never forget.
In Christ,
Steve
One Saturday afternoon, several of our group made the one mile or so trek from the Rose's home to the small town of nearby Pena Blanca. While there the first time in December, the Lord led me around along with Sylvester Mathews and pastor Jeff Light. the Lord would say to me, "Turn left," and we'd turn left. "Turn right." We'd turn right. "Go in there... there's a pastor I want you to meet." We'd meet him. And so this was the way I expected God to lead this time. However, the Lord remained quiet and closed all the doors that had been previously open in December. I finally asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. He replied, "Relax and enjoy the day. I will send them to you." So I did.
The afternoon quickly turned into evening and we found ourselves back at the Rose's home. We had been working with a local group of missionaries who were putting on a evengelistic crusade. Saturday marked the second night of the three night event. We had left a group of mostly womwne back at the Rose's home to interced in prayer for the event. A crowd slowly filled the community building as I found a seat in the back. I began to pray when suddenly the Lord spoke to my heart, "Go outside and walk the perimeter of the property in prayer." I circled the property a few times and went back inside to pray for the speakers in a small back room. After we finished, the Lord spoke to my heart again. "Go back to the house." I was confused. "Why?" I asked. I struggled with this since I felt I was needed at the event. But again I obeyed and went back to the Rose's house.
I walked into the home where i found 7 or 8 people praying. I joined in and soon one of the women had a vision. "I see demons over this region linking arms and preventing our prayers from reaching heaven. Jesus says, 'We need to get loud.'" We began to raise the roof with praise and worship. We stormed heaven at the top of our lungs while drumming on table tops and banging pots with wooden spoons. The worship was awesome and the battle became intense. unbeknownst to us a group of drunken men had gathered outside the house and were throwing rocks at the house and on the tin roof accompanied by loud shouts of displeasure. Our noisy congregation never heard their attempt at disruption. We were making a joyful noise to the Lord that got the enemy's attention. After one hour and a half, we found ourselves in perfectly peaceful air. The Lord and His army had cleared the way for what was to happen next.
As the members of our group returned from the crusade a very drunk man entered our room. He wanted us to pray for him. Behind him in the street were two more men. The Lord said to me, "It's time to worship." I gathered the Rose family's two oldest daughtyers and their friend and asked them to begin to sing and lead us in Spanish worship songs. They quickly got organized and soon we had a spontaneous worship service going. The men who had earlier been throwing rocks and shouting curse words at us were now slowly trickling into the room one or two at a time. They came in smiling and ready to sing. We set before them chair after chair until we had 15 men singing and praising the Lord. They raised their hands in worship and between songs lifted their voices shouting "Halleluiah!" I have never seen anything like this before. It was God who had drawn them to us. And His words echoed in my mind, "I will send them to you." By the time the night was over all 15 men either recommited their lives to Christ or accepted Him for the first time and many who came in drunk left the meeting sober. What a glorious night I will never forget.
In Christ,
Steve
Thursday, July 10, 2008
India Report from Sue - The Ring
It had been prophesied that our ministry would be working with the Jewish people around the world. I didn't think that meant me, since I was presently assigned to India. "Surely there are no Jews in India," I said. So I hit the Internet and found that I was quite mistaken. Granted, there are fewer today than 50 years ago, but there are still small pockets and large concentrations in places such as Bombay (Mumbai). There are even Jews in Manipur, which was my destination, so I was excited about what God had in store.
One Sunday after our church's Bible study in Texas, a man in our class approached me and started taking off his gold ring. He told me that God had spoken to him. "Give this ring to Sue, she will meet a down and out man in India and she is to give it to him," he was told. As he laid the ring in my hand, I saw the Hebrew lettering and said, "It is for the Jewish man." He asked me what man and I told him about the prophesy. I wore the ring a lot as time for my trip grew near because it was a reminder to me that God was in control and had interesting things planned for me in India.
I had been in Manipur about two weeks when we had to go to Calcutta to meet with the US consulate regarding our friend in India Alex's visa to the US. He was denied this time, but we know now what is needed and feel confident he can get one next year when he is allowed to re-apply. We stayed in a quaint little hotel on Sudder Street that had quite a history. It had been owned once by a Jewish family because, according to the brief history in the lobby, we were in the old Armenian and Jewish sector of the city. After that I saw the old buildings with different eyes, imagining the families living in the big apartment buildings.
On the last afternoon of our stay in Calcutta we went to a travel agent to get tickets to fly back to Manipur the next day. On a door in the lobby was a brass name-plate: David Cohen. After our second visit to the travel agent, I looked again at the name and knocked. No answer, but we knocked on another door which turned out to be the kitchen of Mr. Cohen's apartment. We were let in and got a chance to meet Mr. Cohen. He was happy to have visitors and very talkative. He was using a walker and explained that he had broken his hip four years before and had to sell his business to pay his debts and is now a beggar. This got my attention, so when he mentioned again his financial condition, I removed the ring and
handed it to him.
Mr. Cohen was suprised and said he couldn't take it. I explained the whole story and he was incredulous. He asked me again who told me to give him the ring and I said, "God, Jehovah!" When I said Jehovah he sank back into his chair in resignation. We talked more and he said as I left, "You are a Godsend." I replied, "Exactly."
Later I went back to give him the shawl that Melba Knott had given me to give to him. He was asleep and I didn't get to see him, but I will return someday and check on him. He is 94 and told me that there are only 25 Jews left in all of Calcutta. Out of 15 million people, God had led me to the one man he wanted to show His love to.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Miracle Birds In Alaska - June 2008
As a child I grew up admiring the life of St. Francis of Assisi. I was especially drawn to him and his way with animals. They apparantly had no fear of him. I have always been intrigued by this and desired the same for my own life. Throughout my years, as I would spy a deer, squirrel or bird, I would yearn for the gift of St. Francis, but to no avail. That is until my last trip to Alaska.
I traveled to Alaska May 19-June 2 to speak and minsiter. I had spoken at a church one Sunday morning decided to go outside and spend some time with the Lord that afternoon. I would be speaking again that evening. I took my Bible along with me outside into the cool Alaska air. As I made my way to a comfortable spot on the stairs of a friend's house that led to their second story wooden deck, I opened my Bible to read Acts chapter 2.
I was about ten minutes into my study when all of a sudden there was a flutter. And instantly there was a bird perched next to my feet and a second bird perched on the handrailing near my head. I dared not look at the bird near my head for fear I might scare it away. I was astonished. I studied the black and white headed chickadee at my feet for a few moments. Then, another flutter. The sound of wings and a suddenly there appeared a third bird. It was soft and gray with black, charcoal eyes. It landed on edge of the open Bible in my hands. As quickly as it landed, it cocked its head and stared directly at me as I stared back in disbelief. There we were looking at each other, natural enemies, for many seconds. Then a terrible, yet comical thought filled my head.
"This bird is going to peck my eyes out." (Strange thought I know)
As soon as the ugly thought entered my mind, there was another flutter and just as quickly as they appeared, the birds were gone. I quickly ran inside to ask my hosts if the birds in Alaska were different somehow of birds in other places.
"Are your birds not afraid of human beings?" I sasked. I shared what had just happened. TMy hosts smiled and informed me that they were no different in Alaska than anywhere else.
Blessings,
Steve
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